The Deal (Off-Campus, 1)

Hannah Wells is a music major with a huge crush on the newest, and gorgeous, member of the football team. Unusually, he makes her nervous and she’s struggling to get his interest. Garrett Graham is the hockey team captain who wants to go pro. However, he’s failing in one subject and needs a tutor. Hannah is one of the few people managing to pass the class and he is relentless in trying to persuade her to tutor him. Hannah is not interesting in tutoring who she believes is just another privileged, dumb, (who cares if he’s gorgeous?) jock, but in the end she makes a deal. She agrees to tutor him in return for a fake date to get her crush’s attention. Obviously, this will all work out fine until they start to like each other a bit too much, of course, and end up doing more than a bit of tutoring. I like Hannah, she’s experienced so much trauma (she was drugged and raped in high school) but she’s worked through it, even though she’s still battling some lingering fears. But she’s not a victim, she’s trying to get on with her life and I really respect her for it. She just has a confidence problem with this one crush. Garret is interesting too, he’s not just the dumb jock who swans through college on his reputation, or just the popular sports hero who sleeps around. He’s clever and he works hard to keep his place on the team both on and off the ice. That doesn’t mean he’s not a player though, but he appears to have a conscience about it and doesn’t lead girls on. He’s decent and he’s the first to admit that the girls that sleep with him do so for the bragging rights, not because they actually care about him personally. Oh, they are so cute together. The reader is a witness to their journey: the reluctant acceptance of their deal, the morph into friendship, the banter, the attraction and the stronger feelings that grow between them, then the realisation that they’re much more than friends fooling around. They are so good together, so very understanding and supportive of each other, and turned me into a yummy mush of awww. Here’s a snippet: ‘“Baby, I could watch you watching paint dry, and I still wouldn’t be bored.” Garrett Graham, my own personal sweet-talker.’ This book gives the full feels and it’s not disrupted by jerky prose or grammatical errors. It flows so nicely and is easy to read. The sex scenes are also the perfect combo of heat and emotions. I only had one little niggle which was a little disappointment at the overused plot device of blackmail by the narcissistic parent, which I felt Hannah succumbed to far too easily. All that’s left to say is I love this book: I love the characters, I love the plot, I love the yummy, cosy feels I got throughout.

I read this because a friend recommended it and I was sceptic, thought it will be the same as every romantic new adult book with silly romantic fluff and stereotypes. Not that anything's wrong with those😁 But it was great, instead! First thing is that Garret Graham is my dream bad boy from now on! He's handsome, he's playing hockey, he's not dumb, he's a freaking sweetheart if it comes to his loved ones and he's HOT! Obviously I'd accept him to my bed without doubt! Hannah is a really complex character, I don't know much about rape victims and their coping but this book provided a little insight! I'd gladly read more about it but I learned so much as it was! The other tragic issue mentioned in this book is domestic violence and in my opinion it was perfectly described! The effect it has on a family and on the victim's life, how it has an influence on every part of their life, it's just something everyone should know more about! The love story is cute! I love the hate/prejudice to love realtionships and I enjoyed every minute of seeing the music student and the star athlete falling for each other! I had this High School Musical in collage feeling at the beginning and it was a little nostalgic and fun to read it like this! The characters and the conversations were funny and amusing! The bickering, the shamelss flirting, student life and the growing up feels make this book a really enjoyable read! Also, the smut was great! I recommend this book to the lovers of NA romance, and to everyone who wants to read a not so light, funny romance with some smut and also a message!

First chapter the h casually says after the rape she has been attracted to two guys, like it is no big deal. The second chapter, the H is a manwhore and has a hookup. I deleted it from my Kindle. Not my mind of "romance" if that's what you call this.

4.5/5 stars The Deal is the first book in the Off-Campus New Adult contemporary romance series. The book takes place at college and alternates chapters between Hannah and Garrett. Hannah is a gifted music major who has a crush on a boy in her Ethics class. Garrett is the cocky captain of the hockey team. When playing hockey is in jeopardy because of a failed test Garrett desperately needs a tutor. The book is much lighter and funnier than I thought that it would be. Even though much of the story is predictable NA I really enjoyed the tone of the book. Both Hannah and Garrett had undergone traumatic events in their lives. But the book, especially in Hannah's case did not dwell so much on these issues. I liked that even though Hannah had been through something horrible in her past, she had mostly dealt with it before the book started. I really enjoyed everything about Garrett playing hockey. And I really enjoyed everything about Hannah and her singing, especially everything to do with the music showcase. This book was a quick, enjoyable read. There was only one part of the story that wasn't resolved enough for me. It had to do with Hannah's parents situation. I wanted more with Hannah's parents. The Deal is a sports-themed college New Adult romance. It is funny and charming and if you enjoy NA then you must read this book.

I gave up on the book after he hooks up with another woman right after he meets the h. Seriously? I don't want to read about the main character having sex with someone else!! Why do guys in romance books today have to sleep with a bunch of women to be cool??