The Deal (Off-Campus, #1)

by Elle Kennedy

New York Times bestseller Elle Kennedy brings you a sexy new Off-Campus novel that can be read as a standalone…

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.

• ISBN10: 1508706255
• ISBN13: 9781508706250
• Publish Date: 9 April 2015 (first published 24 February 2015)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 342
• Language: English

Reviews

[Rowena]

OMG, this book.

This book was one of the cutest NA romances that I’ve read all month. From beginning to end, I was grinning like a schoolgirl because Garrett Graham is one sexy mother shut your mouth. He had me laughing throughout the entire book and when I wasn’t laughing, I was swooning over how hot he is and loving the heck out of him while he was trying to come to terms with Hannah.

Hannah was just as great too. I loved that she didn’t let Garrett get away with anything, right from the very beginning. I loved that she kept him on his toes, that she was super duper smart and was a home-body. I thought she was such an interesting character. What we get from her background and then just seeing her interact with the people in her life (Garrett included) was just so normal and lovely that I enjoyed getting to know her. I loved seeing how awkward she was with Justin too.

So this book starts off with Hannah acing a test in the class that she has with Garrett. Garrett failed the test and is troubled about it because he needs to keep his grades up so that he can play hockey. He needs to play hockey so that he can finish college and play for the big leagues. He’s failing this class and needs Hannah’s help so to get her help, he tells her that he’ll help her with her guy problem if she helps him with his grade problems.

What a great book this turned out to be. I haven’t read anything by Elle Kennedy but I’m never going to miss any of her contemporary NA books from here on out because this was such a fun book.

I laughed so much with this scene:

I clench my teeth. “I’m not a virgin, Garrett.”
“You’re not a puck bunny either.”
“So that means I’m not allowed to sleep with a guy I’m attracted to?”
He rakes both hands over his scalp now, looking equally aggravated. Then he takes a breath, exhales slowly, and meets my eyes. “Okay, here’s the deal. I believe you’re attracted to me. I mean – one, who isn’t? And two, you moan like crazy whenever my tongue’s in your mouth.”
I bristle. “I do not.”
“Agree to disagree.”

These two bickered their way right into my heart and I had a grand ol’ time reading their story. I enjoyed this book so much that I’m looking forward to the next book, which comes out in June 2015 (according to Goodreads). I heard it’s Logan’s book and Logan is Garrett’s best friend so I’m looking forward to that one.

I can’t even remember anything that I didn’t like about this book….there’s so much good in it that the bad just kind of cancels it out, or doesn’t exist. I understand that this is one of those gushing, happy dance reviews but I can’t help it. I liked this one, a lot. Hannah had some issues that she was working through and Garrett helped her out with them and I just about swooned with how patient he was and how gentle he was with her. He didn’t let her make light of her issues, he cared enough to want to help her and he did. I loved that they both needed each other (even when they didn’t know they did) and were there for each other. They protected each other and wanted what was best for each other. I loved it all….even when Hannah does something boneheaded and Garrett finds out. What Garrett does to get back at Hannah had me laughing so much. I’m serious, these two were great.

This is a fun book so if you’re in the mood for something funny, cute and with a romance that will steam up your e-readers and print pages, pick this one up. You won’t regret it.