Review: The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan

The Sweetheart Deal

by Polly Dugan

Publisher: Little Brown

Pages: 320

Format: book

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Leo has long joked that, in the event of his death, he wants his best friend Garrett, a lifelong bachelor, to marry his wife, Audrey. One drunken night, he goes so far as to make Garrett promise to do so. Then, twelve years later, Leo, a veteran firefighter, dies in a skiing accident. 

As Audrey navigates her new role as widow and single parent, Garrett quits his job in Boston and buys a one-way ticket out west. Before long, Audrey's feelings for Garrett become more than platonic, and Garrett finds himself falling for Audrey, her boys, and their life together in Portland. When Audrey finds out about the drunken pact from years ago, though, the harmless promise that brought Garrett into her world becomes the obstacle to his remaining in it.

Kritters Thoughts:  Two men are friends from a young age, through high school and then into adulthood.  One decides to be a firefighter while raising a family and sees the danger in his daily life due to the job he chose.  One New Years eve he is really feel the anxiety and asks his best friend to swear that if he were to die, he would marry his wife and help raise the three boys they have.  Trust me no spoilers, but he does in a skiing accident and Garrett is held to the promise he made on a drunken New Years eve.  

First, this may be minor, but I love how this book was written.  Most of the characters involved in the story get an opportunity to tell the story from their perspective.  The wife of the deceased, the friend and all three of their sons each take chapters to move the story along and tell their story.  I LOVE multiple perspective books, I love seeing the same story from more than just one character's point of view.  

This book felt familiar.  The storyline felt familiar, but not in a negative way in the least.  I feel as though I have recently read a book where a dying wish was made and the characters felt as though they had to do anything to uphold the wishes of the deceased.  This plot was also easy to predict.  BUT the ending.  Without spoiling anything, I felt as though this book ended in such a weird spot and I wouldn't have minded a chapter or two more.  I was almost nervous that I was missing a few pages!

After reading this book, I looked up the author and was excited to see that she has another book published, so I am in pursuit to read that one and see if she will be added to my authors to watch.  


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from BooksSparks PR.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.