the sweetheart deal | excerpt + giveaway

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about the book

“One day I’m going to marry you…”

Jake Harper had said those words to Vanessa Conroy since kindergarten, but after watching her parents’ bitter divorce and living with her mother’s devastation, Vanessa made a promise to herself—she’s never getting married. She’ll stay single and pursue her dream of being a ready-to-wear fashion designer.

In high school, Vanessa dated and broke up with every bad boy in the book, while Jake remained her consistent buddy. He was her wingman, her best friend, her go-to person for special occasions, but she held him at a distance. Why ruin a wonderful friendship? On the night of their final prom, Jake takes a risk and kisses her. Stunned by how right it feels, Vanessa rashly blurts out a deal: if they’re still single at thirty, maybe she’ll marry him.

Now, thirteen years later, they’re back in Sweetheart Bay to be part of her sister’s wedding. And they’re both still single at thirty. Vanessa begins to see Jake in a new, more romantic light, but Jake, a successful architect living in California, hasn’t said a word about their old pact.

As family drama bubbles and old feelings resurface, Vanessa must face the one possibility she’s always run from: what if her true love has been standing beside her all along? Can she and Jake find their happily-ever-after back on Sweetheart Bay?

publisher: independently published

release date: september 10, 2025

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excerpt

He turned to her on the big hotel balcony and decided he’d make one last pitch. "You know, I'm available again. Just saying."

Vanessa slapped his arm. "We discussed this, Jake. I don't want to get married or have children. No two a.m. feedings and messy diapers, no dinners where we fight, no divorce, and no regrets. I'm going to travel the world and remain an independent woman who can take care of herself. I'll design clothes and make my way in the fashion world like Lilly Pulitzer and Eileen Fisher." She touched a hand to the boutonniere his mom had insisted he wear. "New York is just the beginning."

Yes, they’d discussed this a lot. He'd tell her one day they'd be married, and she'd laugh and talk about the latest trends in fashion. From elementary through middle school and now with graduation coming up and then college, he'd held out hope. He wouldn't give up. Tonight might be his last chance to prove to her that they belonged together.

Then the strangest thing happened after they smiled and laughed while getting their pictures taken. She surprised him by saying, "Of course, if we reach say—thirty—and we're both still single, I might consider it. But that probably won't happen. I can see you married with three or four children and a big house with a fun backyard. Marriage isn't my thing. It only brought my mom heartache, and I don't trust a man to take care of me.”

Jake stood staring into her kaleidoscope eyes, wishing he could change her air-tight distaste of domestic life and thought “It will happen. I know it will." So he seized the moment. "Let's shake on that deal.”

Never one to ignore a dare, Vanessa shook his hand. "You're on, Jake Harper. If neither of us is married by the time we turn thirty, I will marry you."

about the author

A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Honor Roll, Lenora Worth writes romance and romantic suspense for Love Inspired, sweet romance for Tule Publishing, and single-title Amish stories for Kensington Books. Three of her books finaled in the ACFW Carol Awards, and she received the Romantic Times Pioneer Award for Inspirational Fiction. Lenora is a NY Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA bestselling writer and a 2019 RWA RITA® Finalist. With one-hundred-plus books and novellas published and 5.3 million books in print, she enjoys adventures with her retired husband and loves reading, baking, and shopping … especially shoe shopping.

Go to lenoraworth.com to sign up for Lenora’s newsletter and find her book list and upcoming releases.

giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Amazon gift card, print copies of Designing His Bride and The Widow’s Unexpected Suitor, and beachy goodies!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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