Sweeten the Deal | Katie Shepard | Romance Book Review

Katie Shepard’s novel Sweeten the Deal throws all gender norms and stereotypes in the trash for a sweet, juicy, and unique contemporary romance that was simply refreshing and fun to read. The writing and banter was elevated from the average romance novel (no criticism intended to any novel, just something I noticed about this). I found the story to be subtle and more elegant than what I expected.

Caroline is a sheltered, 22-year-old MBA student who is driven by making her grandmother proud of her. When she inherits $2 million from her grandmother, she suddenly becomes aware by how much she has sacrificed in relationships with others in service of her goals. She doesn’t have friends, a boyfriend, or many experiences outside of school and tennis.

Adrian couldn’t be more different from buttoned up Caroline. He’s a struggling artist with no money, not home of his own, but a wealth of talent and creative energy. If only he had money to fund a gallery, he could finally make something of his passion.

When is roommate lists him on an escort site, he ends up assisting Caroline. Young, naïve, and uninterested in intimacy, Caroline is nothing like he expected. But perhaps she can learn to open herself to culture and creativity while he can get the cash he needs. These two have nothing in common, but it soon becomes clear that they may be exactly what each other needs.

I found it interesting that Caroline wasn’t written as the typical, neurodivergent character whose “quirkiness” is a symptom of her struggles she’s looking to overcome. Instead, Caroline knows exactly who she is, and she’s just looking to open up to more experiences that she shied away from in the past due to her goals.

Caroline has a bright and sunny disposition and a caring soul. I thought she often read older than 22 years, despite her admitted lack of life experience. Caroline is a character who thinks first before leading with her heart, so part of her story with Adrian is about testing the waters in leading with her heart and curiosity rather than pragmatism and intellect.

Adrian was bringing romance and passion, while Caroline is bringing a desire for self-exploration. The two were balanced and somehow compatible. At times gender reversal in romance can feel forced or broken, but it didn’t at all here. There was a symmetry to their dynamic that I can’t quite explain—you’ll have to read it.

An intelligent concept delivered with elegance that is unique to the genre. Feel-good, heartwarming, refreshing, and engaging—this was one of the better romance books for me and I loved it!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.

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About the Author | Katie Shepard

Katie Shepard is a writer and author who has published two contemporary romance novels. In her own words:

“I write love stories. I write about people whose jagged edges happen to match up with someone else’s. I write love stories because I wanted to make happy endings for people who are afraid they won’t get them.”

Katie studied Soviet history and worked in human rights law before burning way, way out and achieving professional tranquility as a simple country bankruptcy lawyer. She lives in Texas with her husband, kids, and elderly rescue cat, but can often be found hiking in the mountains of Montana or the virtual woods of Thedas.

Katie’s first book Bear With Me Now features two lost souls who find their way to one another unexpectedly in the wilderness of Montana.