Title: The Deal
Series: Off-Campus #1
Author: Elle Kennedy
Release Date: February 24, 2015
She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…
Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.
…and it’s going to be oh so good
All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.
Yes! Yes! Yes! YESSSSSSSSS!!! Oh don't mind me, I'm practicing my Meg Ryan impression because this book gave me a total f--king bookgasm! Yes, it's the old college jock meets girl story. College jock needs said girl to tutor him because he can't play sports if he doesn't pass his class. I know, it's been done before. But, NOT LIKE THIS! This is a totally new spin on an oldie but a goodie.
Hannah aced her ethics midterm. Big Man On Campus, hockey team captain, Garrett did not. And if he doesn't get a better grade on his makeup test, he can't play hockey. He needs Hannah, but she wants nothing to do with him. Everything he offers her in exchange for her tutoring services is shot down. Until he finds out who she's crushing on and finally makes her an offer she can't refuse.
I loved the way this story played out. The way the characters grew very gradually into their feelings for each other; it wasn't rushed, there was no insta-love. It was perfectly timed and it made them more believable as a couple. The dialogue in this book is spunky and funny but also has its serious moments when called for. Elle Kennedy has written a fun and amazingly fresh romance. When I reached the end of this book, I had a big old smile from ear to ear. I want a Garrett for myself!
The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus series. Dual, first person POVs. Standalone with no cliffhanger. This New Adult romance definitely deserves a One-Click!
~ Review by Erin
I am a sucker for a college romance, and the idea behind The Deal was most definitely a winner. It looked sweet and sexy and funny, and it certainly was. Even if there was a little something heavy beneath the surface.
One crappy grade on one paper is enough to change Garrett Graham's future....unless he can save it. And to save it, he needs the help of Hannah Wells. But Hannah isn't particularly interested in helping Briar's hockey captain bump his GPA. No, Hannah is interested in someone else.
With a promise to help her in the areas she may be lacking socially, Garrett secures Hannah's tutoring skills. Except one hot kiss and a bucketload of chemistry leads these two down a path neither was expecting...
There is SO much to like about this book. The dialogue, the flirty, funny, charming banter was on point, and the absolute highlight ofThe Deal. The excellent secondary characters with all their quirks were spot on, and made me hope for more from this new series (Logan next, please!) The slow-but-steady development of Garrett and Hannah's relationship was great, if a little too slow at the start, and very realistic. The sex? Seriously HOT. And Garrett himself? Totally SWOON-WORTHY.
However, there was one underlying storyline that took away from this excellent book for me. It felt a little heavy-handed early on, although the development and handling in the second half was very good. Each time it was mentioned, it jarred me from an otherwise sensational story, and left me feeling a little...unsure. I admired the characterization of Hannah, for the most part, with all her strength and confidence and that's life attitude, and I loved her with Garrett, but there were moments that felt a little contradictory... It's hard to explain without dreaded spoilers, so I'll say no more on that subject.
The Deal was otherwise a truly enjoyable, very, very funny and scorching hot book. One I would highly recommend to anyone that loves college romance, or simply straight-up good reads, as I do.
~ Review by Beth
A USA Today bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle currently publishes with Signet Eclipse, Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Samhain Publishing and Entangled Brazen. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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