Blog Tour + Character Interview, Release Day Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway

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Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Hearts of Fire! We have Jack and Lille here with us on the blog for a character interview! Make sure to check out my review, an excerpt, and a giveaway below!

Character Interview: Jack & Lille from Hearts of Fire

Lille and Jack, thank you so much for being here today!
Jack, can you tell us about what you do in the circus?

I’m a fire breather and knife-thrower. Come and see for yourself.

Jack, how did you become a fire-breather?

In my teens I became fascinated with fire and burning. One day I saw a guy on the street eating fire and thought, I could do that. I began researching and learning everything that I could and a year later I was the guy on the street, performing fire tricks for passers-by.

Lille and Jack, what’s the first thing you think of when I say the word “circus”?

Jack: *grumbles* Hard work.
Lille: Elephants!

What are your guys’ favorite thing about the circus? Your favorite acts?

Jack: The freedom of travel. I like the lions.
Lille: Getting to see new places and new people every week. My favourite act is Jack’s, of course *blushes*

Lille, what’s something interesting you’ve learned since joining the circus?

I’ve learned that a gigantic tent can be built overnight. Like seriously, I’m still amazed at how quickly it gets done. I’ve also learned that travel broadens the mind.

Lille and Jack, how do you two feel about falling in love?

Lille: It’s pretty simple. I love being in love.
Jack: *gives Lille an affectionate look* What she said.

What were your first thoughts when you were falling in love with each other?

Lille: This is scary and wonderful.
Jack: I’m falling for her and she’s too good for me.

Do you have any regrets in your life?

Lille: Not running away with the circus sooner!
Jack: Believing lies. Not having faith in my brother.

Where do you see yourselves in ten years?

Lille: Anywhere. Everywhere. With Jack.
Jack: *drapes an arm around Lille* Maybe in a little house in the mountains with a couple of dogs.

And lastly, how would you two describe your relationship?

Jack: Peaceful. Exhilarating. Mine.
Lille: *looks to Jack and smiles* What he said.

Thank you so much for the interview!

Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway

Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway
Series: Hearts #2 (full reading order below)
Release Date: March 9th 2015
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The Circus Spektakulär is proud to present Jack McCabe: Fire-breather, knife-thrower, risk-taker.

My uncle lied. I never died.

I breathe fire, eat the poison that almost killed me.

Crowds come to see me night after night. Men for the spectacle, women for the thrill. I’m an oddity to be stared at and desired. With each flame I spit, I risk my life.

I wear scars on my body that will never go away, but the scars inside my head are far more difficult to overlook.

My brother doesn’t know the truth, and if I have it my way, he never will.

Life was going exactly the way I’d planned until Lille came along. She wanted to run away with the circus, have an adventure, but this world was never meant for her.

I try to keep her safe, because she doesn’t know the dangers that are out here on the road. She doesn’t know the monsters that lurk behind the bright lights of the ring. In truth, I could be considered one of them.

We were fashioned from different cloths, never intended to mix. So I watch her. I try not to touch, even when her eyes invite me.

Join us in the Spiegeltent and let us give you a show. Allow my Lille to draw a picture for you in paint and sweat and skin.

The truest love is always the hardest to let in.

*This is a standalone romance that tells the story of Jack McCabe, Jay Fields’ long lost, presumed dead brother. It is not necessary to have read Six of Hearts in order to enjoy Hearts of Fire.*

Buy Links:
Amazon • Amazon UK • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Smashwords

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Having read Six of Hearts (which you don’t need to read prior to Hearts of Fire, but I highly recommend it!), I’ve been so excited for Jay’s brother Jack’s book! Jack was previously presumed dead, but obviously, he’s not… And his story was an absolute delight to read! I adored Jack and Lille’s story – it’s a heartwarming, engaging, fun read that everyone should enjoy.

Lille is a girl who wants… more in life. She’s always followed the rules, her mother’s rules to be exact, but she wants an adventure. She wants to experience everything there is in life, and her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity comes in the form of the circus.

After all, there’s no point to an adventure if safety is guaranteed. The whole purpose is the unknown, the danger.
I craved it more than anything.

When Lille joins the circus, it’s a whole new world for her. She’s meeting new people, seeing new things,  visiting new places, and most importantly, she’s having the adventure of her life. But there’s one little hiccup in her adventure – Jack McCabe. He doesn’t want Lille to join the circus for some reason, so he’s a jerk to her. But Lille won’t let anything dampen her adventure, not even sexy, moody Jack.

Jack was a character I had a hard time warming up to, but then found myself loving by the end of the novel. He’s a jerk in the beginning, yes, but he’s a jerk with a lot of hero potential. And when he starts showing that potential, by protecting Lille, caring for her, that’s when I started loving him. I absolutely adored how Jack and Lille were together – they have a hot chemistry, but they’re also so sweet and adorable together!

“You smell like me. Do you know how much that drives me crazy? God, you’re perfect, too perfect. You make me feel so wretched. I want to consume you, steal your light and make myself a little bit more. You’re more, Lille. I want to be more, too.”

There’s so much heart in this novel. First with Lille and Jack’s wonderful romance, and then with Jack’s past and his relationship with his brother Jay. We find out Jack’s side of the story, and my heart broke for him. He hasn’t had the best life, but the way he came out stronger in the end is so admirable. He’s a character that’s just so intriguing and unique, and I love that he’s a fire-breather in the circus!

If you’re a fan of Six of Hearts or anything circus related, you definitely don’t want to miss this book! The romance will sweep you away and the circus life is riveting to read. When I first started this book, I wasn’t too into it, but soon enough, I found myself unable to stop reading. When I read more about Lille, Jack, and the circus, I got hooked – this is definitely a book I can highly recommend!

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Now here’s an excerpt from Hearts of Fire! ❤

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Somebody swore profusely from behind me, and I turned to find Jack trying to light a cigarette. The wind wasn’t doing him any favours, and he couldn’t get the flame to stay lit. Not wanting him to see me, I began walking swiftly in the opposite direction. I didn’t get far when he was suddenly behind me. He looped his finger through my belt and practically dragged me to the corner he’d been standing in.

“What the fu….”

“Stay still,” he ordered. “I need you to block the wind.”

I didn’t have any snappy comebacks, so I simply stood there, amazed by his gruffness. Hadn’t anyone ever taught him simple manners? When I looked at him, I thought that maybe they hadn’t. I could easily imagine him as a little Mowgli type, being raised by animals in the jungle.

He flicked the lighter and finally got the smoke lit. Inhaling deeply, then exhaling, he watched me all the while. I shivered, and not from the cold. I felt like there was an atmosphere between us, but it was more than likely all on my end. I was good at imagining things, especially sexual tension. And I was well-acquainted with the one-sided kind.

“Are my services required further, sir?” I asked with a hint of sass. I mean, I’d been his wind-blocker, and he hadn’t even said thanks.

Just like last night, he almost smiled, and I hated that it was wondrous. I could have painted an entire mural of his jaw line alone. He flicked off the ash and leaned back against the wall behind him.

“So, you’re staying with Lola?”

“Yes, and Violet.”

“That’ll be fun.”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“Are you?”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re weird.”

He took a step forward and stared down at me, teeth flashing as he spoke. “And I bet I could make you like it.”

Reading Order: Hearts series

Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway

#1 ~ Six of Hearts: My Review • EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Hearts of Fire: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ King of Hearts: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hearts of Blue: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Thief of Hearts: Goodreads (2016)
#6 ~ Hearts on Air: Goodreads (2016)

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L.H. CoswayL.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon Page

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Hearts of Fire tour prize

The author is giving away (open internatonally):

1st prize: Hearts of Fire tote bag
Signed copy of Six of Hearts
Signed copy of Hearts of Fire
Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

2nd prize: Signed copy of Hearts of Fire
Hearts of Fire pocket mirror

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ARC Review: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha & Omega #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 3rd 2015
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way…

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

First off, I’m a huge fan of Patricia Briggs! Her paranormal world of the Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha & Omega series (Charles and Anna’s series) is unlike any other. And though I adore Mercy’s series, I have to say I love Charles and Anna’s books more. Every single book of theirs, I’ve wholeheartedly loved – I highly recommend reading this series (and the Mercy books too) if you’re a fan of paranormal and/or urban fantasy.

Anna and Charles make up one of my all-time favorite fictional couples in the history of fictional couples. I love them as a couple, but I also love them as individuals. From their very first book (or more like, from their first novella), I was hooked onto them and their story. They’re not the typical badass hero/heroine of urban fantasy books. I mean, they definitely are badass, but they’re way more subtle about it. As an Omega, Anna has a calming effect on werewolves, and she doesn’t feel the need to obey werewolves who have a higher rank in the pack. Charles is pure alpha – as the Marrok’s son and enforcer, he is one of the most dominant werewolves and he delivers justice to those who deserve it. Despite their differences, I honestly can’t think of anyone better suited for Charles than Anna, and vice versa. The mutual respect and love they have for each other is palpable in each book – they’re the refreshing sort of couple that I could never get tired of reading about.

“The day I met you was the first day I ever felt joy.”

As a birthday present for Anna, Charles wants to buy her a horse. He takes them to see an old friend of his who has a horse ranch, but there’s trouble stirring in town when they get there. I don’t want to say much about the plot because it’s so much better to just experience it in its entirety, but I want to say that Patricia Briggs never fails to make me hooked onto her stories. The plot is perfectly paced with just the right amount of action, and the mystery is well-written and intriguing. I also loved seeing a new side of Charles and learning more about his past – Joseph is one of the few people Charles loves and can truly call a friend, and it was great seeing him happy around someone who wasn’t Anna, Bran, or Samuel.

The writing is impeccable as always. I don’t know how Patricia Briggs does it, but the way she writes the Alpha & Omega series is simply beautiful, this book especially. As someone who knows almost nothing about horses, I can say that that aspect of the story was flawlessly incorporated. I fell in love once again with Anna and Charles – they are truly one of the few couples who are near and dear to my heart. Their subtle humor, their sweet, tender moments, everything was perfectly written. I honestly wish their series would never end, because I could read about them forever!

Dead Heat is another fantastic, gripping, gorgeously-written installment in one of my favorite series ever. I loved every single word of this book!

5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Series Order: Alpha & Omega series

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs Fair Game by Patricia Briggs Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

#1 ~ Cry Wolf: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Hunting Ground: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Fair Game: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Dead Heat: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

Release Day Review: Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy

Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy

Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy
Series: The Fowler Sisters #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 3rd 2015
Purchase: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Emma Chase—the second novel in New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy’s sizzling series about three powerhouse sisters and the men who would have their hearts.

People say the youngest child has it easy, but nothing can be further from the truth. Unlike my two sisters, Violet and Lily, I’m never in the limelight. I just work my butt off for Fleur Cosmetics and get little to no thanks for it. I’ve been pushed too far one too many times, and I’m finally brave enough to do something about it.

Maybe my newfound courage has something to do with the amazing pink and white diamond necklace I wear to the party in Cannes. The instant those dazzling heirloom jewels touch my skin, they excite some deep, aching need inside. And when that guy—that totally gorgeous guy—locks eyes with me, I know this nice girl is going to be naughty.

For once it’s my turn. My turn to say no to my father, to outshine my sisters, to walk away from it all—straight into the arms of a mysterious stranger. But what if Caden is much more than I bargained for? Sure, he makes me feel sexy and free in a way I never have before, but there’s something else I can’t quite place—something dangerous. Maybe our “chance” meeting wasn’t so random. Maybe he was looking for me for a reason. Whatever his motive, there’s no going back now.

And maybe I don’t want to.

I highly enjoyed the first book of The Fowler Sisters series, so of course I was looking forward to Rose’s book! Unfortunately, Stealing Rose fell a bit flat for me. I definitely didn’t enjoy Rose’s book as much as I did Violet’s. I had a hard time liking or connecting with the main characters, and though the plot held potential, because I didn’t like the characters, the story just wasn’t working for me. My heart just wasn’t into this book, sadly. It mostly an okay read – though if you’re a fan of Owning Violet, I still think you should give Stealing Rose a try. You might like it more than I did.

I don’t measure up. I’m in Lily’s and Violet’s shadows and I hate it. The biggest obstacle I’ve ever had to overcome is being their baby sister. They’ll always be ahead of me, no matter what I do or what I say.
Being the youngest sucks.

Rose is the youngest of the three Fowler sisters, and she’s the sister that’s always overlooked. She doesn’t feel appreciated at her job at Fleur Cosmetics – she’s a hard worker, but no one, not even her father, the head of the company, notices. And when her father is promoting his nasty bitch of a girlfriend instead of Rose, Rose decides to say fuck it, resign, and take some time to herself.

Caden Kingsley is a thief. He cons and steals from the rich to help support himself and his mother after his late father left them destitute. He’s good at what he does, even though he’s not exactly proud of it – he’s a criminal, plain and simple. When Caden and Rose meet for the first time, Caden is aiming to steal a necklace of hers, but he never expects to feel a connection with her. He decides to pursue her, but he can’t have both the necklace and the girl. So which would he choose?

For once, I want to stick. I want to live a real life, not some constant con game. I want to be real with Rose. And if that means sometimes it gets ugly, and sometimes I’m scared, mad, sad, or whatever-the-hell emotion I’m struggling with, I still want to do it.
So I’ve got to fight for it. Own it. Own me. Own her.
Own us.

It’s a whirlwind romance for Rose and Caden, though Caden is keeping what he does a secret. He’s no longer entirely sure about his ‘career’ as a thief. It threatens what he has with Rose, and he has to decide whether he can give up his life as a thief for something that could turn into so much more.

You stole my heart, Ro. I may be the professional, but with us, you’re the thief. You reached right into my chest and took my heart like it fully belonged to you. And I think it does.

Stealing Rose had tons and TONS of sex! Oh my lord, Caden and Rose no doubt heat up the pages, but sometimes it felt a bit too excessive. In this case, I would have rather had more character and story development than sex. This was mainly why I didn’t grow to care for Rose or Caden – all they did was have sex. The romance just didn’t feel like it grew in a genuine way. I didn’t understand how these two fell in love with each other. As for the characters themselves, Rose didn’t feel strong enough to me – the development with her and her father/job wasn’t too clear, and it felt rushed at the end. I liked Caden a little better, with the way he wanted to change into a better man for Rose.

I wasn’t a fan of Rose or Caden, but that didn’t entirely ruin the book. I enjoyed it well enough. Caden was redeeming at the end, which ended the book on a much better note. If you’re a fan of a hot and steamy book with an intriguing storyline, you might enjoy Stealing Rose more than I did.

3 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.


Reading Order: The Fowler Sisters series

Owning Violet by Monica Murphy Stealing Rose by Monica Murphy Taming Lily by Monica Murphy

#1 ~ Owning Violet: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stealing Rose: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Taming Lily: My Review • EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads


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Blog Tour + ARC Review: Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams

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Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams

Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams
Series: Lost and Found #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 24th 2015
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If we didn’t know darkness, we couldn’t fully appreciate the light.

Garth Black’s more familiar with this concept than most people are. He hadn’t just lived in the dark for the majority of his life—he thrived in it. With a mom who’d bailed on him and a dad whose understanding of coddling started and ended with a bottle of whiskey, Garth had never been expected to rise to any sort of occasion other than following down the same dead-end paths.

That changed when he fell in love with Josie Gibson. After years of pulling each other closer before shoving the other way, they finally stopped shoving. Josie’s love is like nothing Garth’s ever experienced. He holds it close. He holds it sacred. He would do anything to preserve it and keep it from pollution, even if that means removing himself from the picture.

Garth might have been allowed a temporary furlough to bask in the light, but that pass has been revoked, and he’s been swallowed again by the dark. Will he revert to his old ways of hurting those he cares for most? Will he go back to the same destructive patterns . . . or will it be worse this time?

We can’t know light without first knowing dark . . . and Garth Black’s about to get acquainted with the dark in a whole new way.

Buy Links:
AmazonBarnes & NobleiTunes

review

Oh, how I’ve missed Garth and Josie, Jesse and Rowen!! I freaking adored the cast of characters from Nicole Williams’ Lost and Found series, and I am SO happy we’re getting more books from BOTH couples! Losers Weepers is Garth and Josie’s second book, and it was an utter joy to read. This book is full of Nicole Williams’ classic heart and humor – fans of the Lost and Found series definitely shouldn’t miss this!

“I get more things wrong than I get right, but there’s one thing I’m really damn good at, and that’s loving you.”

Garth Black!!!! I’ve miss you and your sardonic, sexy, cowboy self. In the previous books, Garth used to be very pessimistic and just plain angry at the world, but ever since falling in love with Josie Gibson and having her fall in love with him back? He feels like the happiest and luckiest guy in the world. Sure, he’s still got his asshole moments, but for the most part, you can’t help but love him and his sarcasm and dry-humor.

At the start of Losers Weepers, Garth is at the top of world – he’s got the love of his life and he’s at the height of his bull-riding career. But what happens when a terrifying accident threatens to take all that away?

My whole life, everything I’d been and everything I’ve wanted to become, was spiraling away from me. Fragments of the man I’d been and the man I’d wanted to become were gusting out of reach. My life as I’d known it was over. My life as I’d hoped it would be would never come to fruition.

I could feel the devastation and hopelessness Garth faces with because of his accident – it’s difficult to come to grips with what happened and he reverts to his old ways of hurting and pushing away the ones he loves most. Josie, Jesse, and Rowen are all there for him, they all want to be there for him, but Garth is stubborn and tries to refuse their help. Luckily, his girlfriend and friends are just as stubborn as he is and won’t let Garth fall back into his darkness.

I loved seeing Jesse and Rowen again! They have plenty of scenes in Losers Weepers, which I was so happy about! Jesse and Rowen stick by Garth no matter how much of a jerk he is, and they’re the type of friends who aren’t afraid to tell him to his face how much of a jerk he’s being. They also have their own little storyline within the book that I’m sure will be continuing and expanding in their next book!

Garth was pretty frustrating in this book. I get why he wanted to push people, namely Josie, away, but sometimes it did get tedious while I was reading. What made up for it was how tough and stubborn Josie was, never giving up on Garth. It’s so clear that she never stops loving him, and she won’t ever stop loving him no matter what he can or can’t do, and it takes a while for Garth to see this. But when he does, my heart was just bursting from happiness!

Neither space, time, nor situation would change that there was only one person in this godforsaken world for me. I could push her away and shove her away in my best attempts to save her from me, but nothing could change that Josie and I were bound to each other in such a way that nothing could sever the bond.

Losers Weepers is another deeply emotional, heartwarming read from Nicole Williams. If you haven’t started this series, I highly recommend it! It’s well-written with unforgettable characters – definitely a must read series!

4 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Lost and Found series

Lost and Found by Nicole Williams Near and Far by Nicole Williams
Finders Keepers by Nicole Williams Losers Weepers by Nicole Williams Heart & Soul by Nicole Williams

#1 ~ Lost and Found: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Near and Far: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Finders Keepers: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Losers Weepers: EbookPaperbackGoodreads
#5 ~ Heart and Soul: Goodreads (June 16, 2015)

about the author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

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Release Day Review: The Deal by Elle Kennedy

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

The Deal by Elle Kennedy
Series: Off-Campus #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 24th 2015
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

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.

I am so IN LOOOOVE with this book!!!! Seriously, I don’t know how some authors do it – I so do NOT relate to sports and athletes, and yet I keep falling in love with these sports romances, with these athlete heroes! Gah, this book. The Deal was perfection – it had me smiling and giggling so hard, my heart was just bursting from reading this book. It’s a pure, feel-good, heartwarming read that I think everyone will enjoy!

Hannah Wells has a crush. Buuut, that crush never seems to notice her. Enter Garrett Graham. He’s the star hockey player at their college, but he may no longer be able to play unless he improves his GPA. Lucky for him that Hannah is acing the class he’s failing in. So Garrett proposes a deal – if Hannah agrees to tutor Garrett, he’ll go out with her to improve her social status and make her crush, Justin, jealous.

Hannah shoots down this deal, hard. And what ensues is a hilarious, heartwarming game where Garrett tries to persuade Hannah to give their deal a chance. Garrett is annoying, in that cute, adorable way, as he is unrelenting in making Hannah cave. After some funny texts (and maybe some naughty ones), and getting to know each other better, Hannah finally agrees to their deal – but neither Hannah nor Garrett expected to find something more, something beautiful, deep, and profound with each other.

I never expected her. Sometimes people sneak up on you and suddenly you don’t know how you ever lived without them. How you went about your day and hung out with your friends and fucked other people without having this one important person in your life.

From the get-go, I adored Hannah and Garrett. The Deal is told in dual POV, and both Hannah and Garrett are hilarious! They’re so easy to relate to, even though they’re vastly different characters. Hannah is shy and likes to keep to herself, while Garrett is the outgoing, sexy manwhore everybody loves. Both have their own painful pasts, which add more depth to their characters. I loved the way Hannah never let her past bring her down, and how she makes Garrett see the same. I loved them, I truly did.

Living well and being happy is how we get over the shit in our past.

The thing about this book is that even though these characters appear formulaic and nothing new on the surface, Elle Kennedy brings them to life, putting a spark in both Hannah and Garrett that made them shine to me. On the outside, they’re typical new adult main characters, but when you read this book, you see the gems in their characters through their thoughts, words, and actions. The blurb makes The Deal sound like any other typical new adult book, but it’s not. It’s well-written with exceptional characters who will grow in your heart. I was wholeheartedly charmed by this book – I loved it!

5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.


Reading Order: Off-Campus series

The Deal by Elle Kennedy The Mistake by Elle Kennedy The Score by Elle Kennedy

#1 ~ The Deal: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Mistake: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Score: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads


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