The Deal by Elle Kennedy

Book one in Off Campus series

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: February 24^th, 2015

Source: French paperback

Rating: 4 hearts

Synopsis

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, cockycaptain 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.

Review

I’ve heard a lot about this book and when it came out in mass market French book, I didn’t hesitate to buy it.

Hannah was raped (not a spoiler we know from the beginning) and even if it’s still not forgotten, she managed to continue her life and even to be happy. Obviously in love this is not perfect but she hopes that Justin, the boy of the football team on whom she cracks will help her. All that if she dares finally go talk to him. Not to mention the perseverance of Garrett, the captain of the hockey team, sure of himself, who wants Hannah to help him catch up in order to continue playing.

I love this book, it’s great, Hannah has character, she knows what she wants and especially she does not like being given orders. She’s going to have a hard time resisting the charm of Garrett, who does not like being told no. Hannah is funny and although I didn’t always agree with her, especially towards the end of the book, I can understand her choices. I love her strength of character, she was raped but doesn’t let this act ruined her life. She goes ahead and wants to find a man who will fill her.

Garrett is sexy and seductive, the fact that he plays Hockey is a plus because I love hockey players … His past isn’t simple but he goes ahead, he’s smart, funny and has no tongue in his pocket. I love his perseverance, he doesn’t let go of the piece, he wants Hannah to help him and he will do everything he can to make it happen.

The relationship between Garrett and Hannah evolves in an interesting way; it begins with a duty, then finally turns into friendship to finish as you guessed it in love, all with ups and downs as always.

Not too much surprise in this book but it wasn’t what I was looking for. I like the pen of Elle Kennedy, she gets to feel different and varied feelings to her readers and the story is sympathetic.

I have already bought the second volume in french and I will read it with great pleasure.

Quick Word:  An adorable romance between a hockey player and a girl both wounded by life.

About the author

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal 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 writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!