I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The book starts with Sarina returning to Blossom when she was contacted because her grandmother was very sick. Her grandmother left her the ancestral home. It needs lots of fixing up to restore it so it can be used as a bridal and party destination once again. Sarina has a very good job in advertising and isn’t sure she wants to leave the city to return to Blossom. A strange man shows up and she thinks it’s the contractor she called for a quote to fix some of the problems. Sarina thinks she wants to sell but feels guilty about selling off the family legacy. The man is Drake, the son of a man who buys up old property and tears it down and rebuilds a resort. In the case of Blossom, this would not only destroy the historical mansion, but also the town. Drake and Sarina fall for each other. She worries he will not be good for her due to his job. There is some suspense and romance and angst. I give it 5 stars.

I really enjoyed this romance. The gorgeous old Victorian house was nearly a character. Such a fun, feel-good story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a story of a grand old lady who wanted her granddaughter to live her dream and find her peace. Being at her grandma’s wedding cake Victorian shape home never really did.

You see Sarina was a young girl stay with her grandma when her parents were killed in a car accident. And now the place that used to be her happy place felt like a prison.

She tried to be happy for her grandma as she got older. Then, she realized all the visitors were because the home was a B & B really. Never allowing her to feel settled. As a teen, she stayed busy to not dwell on how she felt.

She and her two besties Kayla and Mona that she met in kinder all went off to college together. She being advertising. The two girls came back she stayed in the city.

So, when her grandma passed, she finds out she inherits the B & B and all its debt. Now what? Enter, handsome man wearing a tool belt standing in her gazebo. He just happens to be a real estate developer who wants to buy her property. She has no clue she thinks he is the handyman she had called is early. He doesn’t convince her otherwise. Lie number one.

Let’s just say Drake after this point figures out, lying is not good for his deal and for some reason he doesn’t want to. Withholding evading, and skirting the truth is holding strong with what he was taught by his boss, his father. Something he also very quickly is not good for his well being when the townspeople (all) that love Sarina step in on her behalf when he, tip-toes around the truth.

This started off slow for me and at first, I wasn’t too sure but once I got past the first couple of chapters it really got interesting. I love Kayla, Sarina’s friend she is the take no prisoners kind of friend so poor Drake a few times. Yeah, cute!

I give this: 4 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com.

Closing the Deal is a well written romance. I enjoyed the plot and the author’s writing. I recommend to fans of romance books. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

Sarina inherited he grandmother's run down Victorian mansion. It needs a lot of work, but can she just sell it and walk away? Drake wants that property to develop it. Growth is good for the community, right? He decides to try and persuade her to sell him the aging money pit. As Sarina learns the deep history of the mansion she is driven to save it. When Drake offers to help her restore the old house he ends up spending a lot more time with her. He falls for her just when she is starting to doubt his true intentions. Can she trust that his only interest is to save the mansion or is it all just a ploy to develop the prime piece of real estate? Great read!

A great start to a new series, Sabrina has inherited a B&B wedding venue, that is rundown. Now the likely decision is to sell but her heart tells her otherwise. Sabrina soon finds family secrets that might help save the B&B. Drake has arrived to make a deal on the buying the B&B but he will need to sweet talk Sabrina into the sale but soon he finds himself falling for Sabrina and helps her in saving the B&B.

This is a sweet romance of listening to your heart and following your dreams. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

When love becomes the deal, anything can happen.


After Sarina Gabriel's grandmother suddenly passes away and leaves Falling Blossoms Inn to her, Sarina is left with a big decision. Should she sell the inn and disappoint everyone in the town of Blossom, Texas, or should she stay and try to fix up the inn that so many people love?


Drake Dunmore arrived in Blossom to convince Sarina to sell her grandmother mansion. His father wants the land to build luxury condos on. But Drake loves historic homes and dreams of owning his own one day. He hates the thought of seeing this beauty tore down, but he does have a job to do. As Drake gets to know Sarina better, he starts thinking more about his future and love and less about his father’s wishes.


This is the first book in a new series and I can't wait to read the rest of the books. I really liked Sarina and Drake's story. I enjoyed the banter between them and the way they spoke in rhymes was different. There was a little historic mystery to figure out and hearing the background of how Fallen Blossoms Inn and the town came to be was interesting.

Closing the Deal is a sweet romance story. I enjoyed the development of the main characters. Sarina and Drake are brought together by a historic house. I love old houses and the stories that go along with them. This is a satisfying read.

This is a very sweet romance about letting go of grief and living life. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Lenora Worth always delivers a sweet emotional story where the main character is at a crossroads in his/her life. In Closing the Deal, Sarina Gabriel is at such a junction having inherited a home that she is not sure what to do with; keep it or sell it. As she finds out more about the older home along with the town she finds out more about her family and herself.

Drake Dunmore would tell you at the beginning that he knows exactly where his live is headed and he is pleased to be on that path. Well, perhaps not so satisfying as he might have once thought. Things begin to change for him once he meets Sarina. The memory of a lovely older lady and a small town community round out this cute contemporary romance.

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CLOSING THE DEAL is the opening story in the Brides of Blossom, Texas series by Lenora Worth. I can’t even call this one a slow burn although Drake and Sarina certainly do have chemistry between them, this one is a clean read all the way through. There is world building in this one, and while I expect that in the first story of a series there wasn’t a lot to draw me to this couple beyond the surface. Don’t get me wrong though, I completely enjoyed their story but there are many small stories, secondary characters that might play main ones later in the series and background to gather – so I simply wish that Sarina and Drake had gotten more personal on the page time so that I could deeply care about them. Having said that, this story is novella length, so that has a lot to do with how much of their story was packed into CLOSING THE DEAL. As it stands I liked them just fine, I simply didn’t fall in love with them.

Sarina’s now deceased grandmother’s Bed and Breakfast/Wedding Venue old Victorian mansion is important to the town, to the people who work there, and to Sarina’s finding out the truth of her heritage. She’s torn between staying and building a life here with a renovated mansion or selling quickly and returning to the city. A few surprises within that building may just change her mind, and one handsome developer could hold the key to her heart and her future in this town – if she can trust him. And here comes the catch, for Drake and his father’s company have far different plans for the property should she sell. Watching Sarina come to her decision and Drake changing his priorities was an interesting journey. I’m definitely looking forward to learning more as the series continues.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I liked this sweet, easy to read , and enjoyable novel that was really about finding your true self and calling all wrapped around an in trouble B & B, also in need of restoration.
Sarina Gabriel is bequeathed the Falling Blossoms B & B by her grandmother. It is under water in debt and desperately needing repairs. Drake Dunmore comes to (what he sees) her rescue offering to buy the whole kit and caboodle. What he finds, though, is Sarina vacillating between hanging onto the mansion or selling it. No one seems like they will end up the winner in the contest.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Closing the Deal by Lenora Worth is the first book in the new contemporary romance The Brides of Blossom, Texas series. This opener to the series is a clean romance novella and is fine to be read as a standalone as it seems the series will be one to change characters each book.

Sarina Gabriel returned home after the passing of her grandmother after spending the last several years in the city. Sarina finds her grandmother has left her her Victorian mansion that she has been running as a business catering to long time clients. The property however will need a ton of work so Sarina will need to decide whether to stay or sell and return to the city.

Sarina knew a lot of townsfolk relied on her grandmother’s business and those along with her long time friends would like her to stay. She had set up a meeting with a contractor to see what would need to be done but ins tead of her appointment she finds Drake Dunmore, a real estate investor, checking out the property.

As odd as it sounds I almost think the market that would most appreciate this short and sweet novella would be those with a fascination for architecture and renovation, HGTV anyone? Sarina’s inheritance plays almost a bigger role than Drake, her love interest. I would have liked more depth to the two of them together instead of throwing in so much around them in a short read leaving me to rate this one at 3 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Closing the Deal is a charming, clean romance of Sarina and Drake. She struggles with her past, while he looks to the future. Sarina has good and bad memories at the home/bed and breakfast/wedding venue she inherited from her grandmother. Drake struggles to live up to his dad’s expectations in their development business.

Drake approaches Sarina about buying her inheritance so his family company can develop the area. They both know it will change the community in numerous ways, good and bad. Yes, they are rivals, they open to each other, they lose trust in each other, but their HEA is beautiful in the end.

This is a great ‘feel good’ book for a summer afternoon at the beach. You will love the characters and the way they support each other. This is a great lead to the series. Thank you, Net Galley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Closing the Deal by Lenora Worth
Can discovering her past create her future?
Sarina Gabriel recently inherited a Victorian money-pit of a mansion. Logic dictates that she sell it, but, still grieving her grandmother’s death, she longs to keep something from her mysterious past. As she explores the house, she discovers some family secrets that just might put the historic mansion on the Hill Country map and give Sarina the roots she’s always wanted. But can she trust Drake Dunmore who promises to help her restore the mansion to its former glory, or will he break her trust and her heart?
Drake Dunmore knows a good deal in houses, and in women. He wants to buy Sarina’s historic mansion and develop the property. Confident, he sets out to charm and persuade the beautiful new owner, Sarina, to sell it to him. Funny thing happens. He falls for Sarina and volunteers to help her restore the mansion and discover her heritage. His father and his ex-girlfriend stand in their way. Can he prove to Sarina that he has her best interests at heart?
This is Sarina Gabriel and Drake Dunmore's story.
Sarina Gabriel stared up at the white Victorian mansion that stood amid the rolling hills like a dollhouse lost in a forest, a sense of home pushing through her overwhelming need to turn around and run. Memories swirled around her in the same way magnolia leaves and crape myrtle blossoms swirled in the springtime wind.
Falling Blossoms Inn—where dreams come true. That’s what the sign at the end of the lane promised. But not everyone’s dreams came true here.
“It’s yours now, Sarina,” the lawyer for her grandmother’s estate told her this morning after they’d buried the woman everyone called Aunt Frances in the town cemetery. “She wanted you to have it and as the last remaining immediate relative of Frances Gabriel, it’s yours by law.”
Drake Dunmore knows a good deal in houses, and in women. He wants to buy Sarina’s historic mansion and develop the property. Confident, he sets out to charm and persuade the beautiful new owner, Sarina, to sell it to him. Funny thing happens. He falls for Sarina and volunteers to help her restore the mansion and discover her heritage. His father and his ex-girlfriend stand in their way. Can he prove to Sarina that he has her best interests at heart?
I highly recommend reading.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book."
Closing the Deal by Lenora Worth is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
Lenora's Books with Tule:
The Southern Cowboy
Driftwood Bay
The Southern Hero
Driftwood Bay
The Southern Bride
Driftwood Bay
Undercover Princess
The Castles of Dallas
Lone Star Princess
The Castles of Dallas
Runaway Princess Bride
The Castles of Dallas
Closing the Deal
The Brides of Blossom, Texas

This is the first book in this new series by Lenora Worth. I found it to be a very sweet romantic read. Sarina's grandmother passes away and leaves her a Victorian mansion. The mansion needs a lot of work. Sarina is not sure if she is going to keep it or sell it. Drake is in this small town to try and buy the mansion from Sarina. When these two meet their is definite chemistry between them. As the two of them try to work together to try and get what they both want they grow closer. Will they be able to find a solution that will work for both of them? Will they be able to figure out how to deal with how they both feel? Thanks Net Galley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable read, but I didn’t find any real passion or chemistry for the main characters. Which with a romance kind of loses the interest for me if I don’t connect. Nice story, but lacking.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

‘Sarina is grieving the unexpected death of the grandmother who raised her. She finds that she is now the owner and proprietress of the family mansion that now operates as a bed and breakfast. However, Sarina believes that her life is in the big city and believes that she may need to sell the inn.

Drake is the heir apparent to his father’s real estate development company. He has arrived at Blossom, Texas after having received a tip about a property that is expected to go on the market soon. As soon as he sees the historic property, he falls in love. First with the property and then with the new owner.

Can two people who have trouble trusting other people work past their issues and find love? This is the first book in a new series about Blossom, Texas.

Sarina’s grandmother passed and leaves her a wedding venue in the form of the family home. In order to keep the home, Sarina will need to do a lot of repairs and make it make money again. Enter Drake a real estate developer on a quest to buy the property and develop it into a resort. What will happen when these two get together?

While I really enjoyed the story itself, I didn’t find myself connecting with the characters. Personally I felt their emotions were rushed and therefore it fell flat for me. I won’t count out reading another book by this author because it could just be that I didn’t care for these characters.

This was a sweet clean romance but there were a number of editing errors that I usually don’t see in Tule books, even ARCs - including a few places where the character’s names were wrong. I felt that the author did more telling than showing - especially at the beginning so that conversations between close friends were stilted as they explained things to each other that they clearly would have known - it would have been less awkward to have that explained other than through conversation. I generally wish there had been more detail in the characters’ relationships and even how Sarina was going to save the Falling Blossom (esp before she knew that Drake was back). That said, this was an enjoyable read that held my attention and I look forward to the next in series.