Book Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy

The Deal (Off Campus #1)

By Elle Kennedy

Release Date: February 24, 2015

Source: My mother for my birthday! 

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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.

Oh. My. Gosh. Elle Kennedy was already one of my favorite authors because of her romantic suspense series. But throw together one of my favorite authors and my favorite genre and BAM. You get one addicting story. I don't know what Elle Kennedy has been doing, but she seriously cannot stop writing new adult because she is a master at the genre. 

Hannah Wells hasn't had the best of luck when it comes to her more intimate relationships. When she finally meets a guy that makes her feel all tingly inside, she doesn't know where to start. Garrett Graham is the stud hockey player on campus and would normally never talk to a girl as plain as Hannah, but he needs her to tutor him in philosophy in order to still have eligibility to play hockey. Hannah wants nothing to do with Garret, but when he comes up with a proposition that could finally get Hannah noticed by her crush, she finds herself helping out the arrogant, cocky hockey player. The more time they spend together, Hannah and Garret actually start to enjoy each other's company. Garrett isn't prepared to like Hannah so much and finds himself not liking how much attention Hannah starts to get from guys who are not him…

OH. MY. GOSH. I know that I already said that, but seriously! I was up until 2 am reading this book because I could absolutely not put this one down. The first thing that I loved about this book was the relationship between Hannah and Garrett. They start off not really liking each other and they banter non-stop, which is definitely entertaining. Then, they start to become friends and actually like to spend time with each other. I loved their Netflix binge-watching sessions and how much they really worked together to help Garrett pass his exam. Of course, it was so adorable how Garrett started to realize how much he actually liked Hannah and how they started to deal with their budding attraction for one another. You could see their relationship grow and develop, which is often skipped over in romance novels. The pacing was perfect and made you fall in love with these characters even more. 

Speaking of falling in love with characters, it is IMPOSSIBLE not to fall in love with Garrett. Sure, he comes off as cocky and never says no to a new Puck Bunny, but oh boy is he sweet. SO SWEET. *sigh* When Garrett cares for someone, he really cares for them and you could see how much he liked Hannah by the way he treated her. He was so sweet and showed her how much of a gentleman he really was. And, of course, he was amazing on the ice and I loved those sports moments thrown into the mix. There are not enough hockey romances out there and I do love my hockey players! 

Can you tell I loved this book? Because I completely and utterly loved it. There were emotional moments regarding both Hannah's and Garrett's pasts that were heartbreaking but they were there for each other to work through them. Oh, and let's not forget about the undeniable, intense chemistry between Hannah and Garrett. Like I said, I could not put this book down until I was at the very end. I am dying to pick up the next book and see what else Elle has in store for us in this new adult world with some irresistible hockey players!

Waiting on Wednesday (213)

This is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where every Wednesday bloggers highlight a book that they are eagerly anticipating the release of! 

The Bronte Plot

By Katherine Reay

Release Date: November 3, 2015

Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious measures to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy's secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend James—leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt, and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change.

In a sudden turn of events, James's wealthy grandmother Helen hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy's predicament better than anyone else.

As the two travel across England, Lucy benefits from Helen's wisdom, as Helen confronts the ghosts of her own past. Everything comes to a head at Haworth, home of the Brontë sisters, where Lucy is reminded of the sisters' beloved heroines, who, with tenacity and resolution, endured—even in the midst of change.

Now Lucy must go back into her past in order to move forward. And while it may hold mistakes and regrets, she will prevail—if only she can step into the life that's been waiting for her all along.

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I had no idea that Katherine Reay had a new book coming out so soon! Her previous books have been based off of Jane Austen's novels and I am so excited for her newest one to come out! I love the Brontes and the main character of this book sells rare books! How cool is that? From the summary, I'm not sure how much romance will be in this one, but it sounds like the main character has a lot of reflecting to do on her life! And Helen sounds like a great character to help her along the way. Can't wait to read this one! 

Top Ten Tuesday: Author Duos I Would LOVE to See Write a Book Together

 

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Author Duos I Would LOVE to See Write a Book Together

1. Colleen Hoover and Jamie McGuire

I don't even know where to being with these two. I mean, seriously, do I need an explanation? I am obsessed with these two authors and the kind of books they can create. There is always so much emotion and even more chemistry and heat between the main couple. Any romance these two could write together would actually burn through the pages. PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN! 

2. Katie McGarry and Simone Elkeles 

These two ladies know how to write a bad boy love interest and make them totally irresistible. I love how the girls in their books are always so adamant about NOT falling for the bad boys but, of course, always do. I would love to see what kind of new couple Katie and Simone could come up with together and what situations they would put their characters through to give their readers a heart attack. Ughhhh I can just see the amazingness now! 

3. Stephanie Perkins and Rainbow Rowell

Both of these authors create books with the most lovable, quirky characters ever. Could you imagine what would happen if you put their brains together and out came a story? The characters would be even more lovable and you know that the romance would just be too sweet to handle. 

4. Cora Carmack and Elle Kennedy

I am obsessed with sports romances, specifically the new adult sports romances written by Cora and Elle. I think that putting those two tighter would be absolutely beautiful and they would be able to create some breathtaking men. Their stories have girls who are feisty, but also could use a guy to help them through some of their troubles. Their books never have a boring moment and I can just see the heat they could create! 

5. Susane Colasanti and Sarah Dessen

I grew up on these two authors and loved their adorable YA romances. They always dealt with sweet couples and main characters who were going through very emotional times. Their books are the staple to any YA romance collection and I think they would come up with the best YA romances together. 

Stacking the Shelves (164)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what books they got throughout the week!

From Publisher

Three very different books this week! How adorable does Tell Me Three Things look? I am so excited that I received an ARC copy and will be a part of the blog tour! Also, I am so so so excited for What Happens Under the Mistletoe. It's never too early for Christmas! 

From Half Price Books

This weekend is educator's weekend at Half Price Books, which means that all educators get 20% off! You bet I went there first thing on Saturday morning! I picked these three up from the clearance section, so with my discount, these three were only $4 total! I read Nevermore when it first came out and loved it, so I was very excited to find a perfect paperback edition. I picked up Insurgent for my classroom and couldn't resist The Silkworm for such a cheap price. 

From OTSP Secret Sister

I received a super adorable package from my OTSP Secret Sister!! I am so excited to finally have Emmy & Oliver and how cute are those macaroon stickers?!? I'm also excited for the coloring book! Thanks for the awesome package, secret sis! 

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week? 

Waiting on Wednesday: The Harder You Fall by Gena Showalter

Gena Showalter’s THE HARDER YOU FALL is coming! Being released on November 24^th, this fantastic contemporary romance in the Original Heartbreakers series is a scorching tale featuring an aloof bad boy and the rowdy Southern belle who rocks his world, published by HarlequinHQN! Pre-order THE HARDER YOU FALL from the links below for an sneak peek opportunity! And don't miss the exclusive teaser we have for you below!

 

Pre-order THE HARDER YOU FALL here!

Amazon * Kindle * Barnes and Noble * Nook * Book Depository * Powells * iBooks * BAM * Kobo * IndieBound

About the Book

From New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter comes another scorching Original Heartbreakers tale featuring an aloof bad boy and the rowdy Southern belle who rocks his world… Millionaire video-game creator Lincoln West has a dark and tragic past. The sought-after bachelor lives by a rigid schedule and a single rule—one relationship per year, lasting no more than two months. No exceptions. When he gave up the big city for a small town, he hoped to escape the worst of his memories—until a brash beauty dredges up long-buried emotions. A reformed party girl, Jessie Kay Dillon is determined to walk the straight and narrow. But her love-hate sizzle with West is just too irresistible. They can't be near each other without tearing off their clothes, but the last thing she needs is to be his next two-month dump. Will she become the one exception? Because as any former girl-gone-wild knows: rules are made to be broken. "Emotional, heart-tugging, kept me turning the pages!" —Carly Phillips, New York TimesBestselling Author

Add it to your Goodreads Now!

Pre-Order THE HARDER YOU FALL, Register your Pre-Order and be one of the first to have a sneak peek at the newest book in the Lords of the Underworld series!

   

About the Author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series--Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles--and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader's Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she's appeared onNightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black--if you ask her about it, she'll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages. She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfan   

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Novel Goodreads ** Author Goodreads

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Things I Want to Quit but Know I Can't

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given. So hopefully I'll have a new list to share with you all each week!

This Week's Topic: Top Ten Bookish Things I Want to Quit by Know I Can't

1. Ugly crying after seriously emotional books

I don't cry that often when I read sad books. But when I do, I go all out. The culprits? Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks. I had full on sobs and I know that I can never stop that habit when it comes to those seriously emotional books. 

2. Spending hours on Amazon looking at books to add to my Wishlist

Whenever I get an Amazon gift card, I end up spending at least two hours looking through the book section, trying to decide which books I just have to own. It's always such a hard decision and I always feel super pressured. And after I purchase the books I've finally decided on, I always find more books that I get mad at myself for not thinking of before. Ugh, the decisions are just too hard! 

3. Getting excited whenever we pass a Barnes & Noble or a Half Price Books

Just ask my sister. Literally any time we pass a book store, I say something and joke about stopping by. She just rolls her eyes and tells me no and reminds me that I already have wayyyyy too many books. But still, nothing beats going to a book store! 

4. Doing a happy dance whenever I get book mail

I may have been blogging for over four years now, but the excitement that comes with opening the mailbox to find those beautiful packages inside never grows old. I still love book mail and look forward to getting the mail every day to see if anything good has come for me!

5. Obsessing over characters like they are real people

Any time I read a book that I am just instantly drawn in to (pretty much anything by Colleen Hoover), I start thinking of the characters as real people and I become obsessed with their story. When I was reading Confess with my friend Sarah from Words With Sarah, I would text her so many OMGs and exclamation points over what was happening in that book. I felt like those people were so real and I truly cared about how their lives would turn out!

6. Buying books when I already own way too many

I just can't help myself! I want them all. 

7. Freaking out if ANYTHING happens to any of my books

If anything comes even remotely close to hurting one of my books, I have a major freak out. My dog chewed the corner of one of my books and I was FURIOUS. Then, a couple of weeks later, my sister spilled Diet Coke on my copy of Confess by Colleen Hoover and not even a second later she said she'd buy me a new one and repeatedly said she was sorry. She knows how crazy I am! Don't worry, a couple of days later my new copy arrived and all was forgiven :)

8. Completely fangirling over authors

I get SO nervous when I meet an author in real life. The day I met Colleen Hoover, Abbi Glines, and Jamie McGuire on their tour last year, I was a mess. What was I supposed to say? How was I supposed to act? I was so so so nervous and all I ended up saying was something like, "Oh my gosh, I love your books!" And that was it. Creative, right? It's not even when I meet them in real life, either. If an author even so much as favorites one of my tweets or replies to one of my tweets, I freak out. They're like celebrities to me and I can't help but fangirling over them!

9. Judging a book by its cover

If a book has an ugly cover or a cover that's just okay, my desire to read it goes down a couple of notches. If a book has an utterly gorgeous cover, I am much more likely to pick it up. I can't help it! I'm a cover snob!

10. Getting mad at myself for not reading enough

No matter how many books I read in a month, it never seems like enough. I can read 3 books a month or 10 books a month and still feel like a failure for both of those instances. Ugh. There are just SO MANY BOOKS out there that I want to read and I know I'll never get to them all…but a girl can dream!

Stacking the Shelves (163)

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where bloggers share what books they got throughout the week!

From Publisher

Three very different, yet equally amazing books arrived for me this week! I love me some Maya Banks, so I can't wait for her newest book. I'm really intrigued by Rebel, Bully, Geek, Pariah and am excited to see how that one turns out as well. I haven't heard of A Song for Ella Grey before, but just look at that cover! Guess I'll just have to see how that one is! 

From Amazon

I am beyond excited to finally own this book. My sister read it a long time ago and raved about it, so I'm shocked that it has taken me this long to get myself a copy! Hopefully it's as good as everyone says it is!

From OTSP Secret Sister

I got my September package from my OTSP secret sister and I absolutely love it! The coloring book is so pretty and I HAVE A COPY OF EMMY & OLIVER!!! This book is a highly anticipated book for me and I am so excited to have a copy! And can we stop and look at those adorable macaroon stickers?? I'm obsessed with them! Thanks secret sister!!

That's it for me! What did you all add to your shelves this week?