Elle Kennedy’s The Deal offers a potent mix of humor, emotional depth, and sizzling romance, all set against the backdrop of Briar University, known for its elite hockey program. Garrett Graham, the charming hockey jock with a past, and Hannah Wells, the brilliant and resilient heroine with her own trauma, navigate the complexities of university life on their journey towards embracing an unexpected love that blooms to life between them.

Hannah, a rape survivor, is not your typical college girl, harboring the painful secret which casts its shadow over her life, especially as she tries to move forward with her love life. Even as Hannah excels academically, she finds herself unable to do what it takes to make her crush notice her, someone who is painfully oblivious to her existence.

Garrett, the quintessential jock is in need of maintaining his GPA to stay on the hockey team. Hannah and Garrett’s paths cross when Garrett notices Hannah’s academic prowess and persuades her to tutor him, even with Hannah’s misgivings regarding the arrangements. However, a captivating dynamic unfolds between the two from the onset making the story worth delving into.

While Garrett promises to help her with her dating skills, what starts as a transactional arrangement between the two slowly evolves into something deeper. Ms. Kennedy masterfully executes their character development, revealing that when it comes to Garrett, behind the image of the average jock lies a heart of that yearns for deeper and meaningful connection, a man whose emotional depth and capacity alone is sufficient to set hearts afire.

Garrett’s background reveals a childhood that was far from perfect, trying to live up to the expectations of his famous hockey player father. Through his interactions with Hannah and encounters with his father, there emerges a picture of physical and psychological abuse, the trauma of which Garrett has never properly had the chance to heal from.

Hannah’s trauma is just as real, and it is Garrett’s sensitivity that helps her to move forward, especially when it comes to her struggles with exploration of her sexuality. The snarky character she is otherwise is a stark contrast to the vulnerability that she shows to Garrett, and this is one of the best aspects of the story as it unfolds.

The romance between Garrett and Hannah is intense and heartfelt, and I can understand why Garrett is such a favorite amongst romance readers. It is certainly an exhilarating journey to witness how the initial physical attraction between the two grows into something more profound, and ultimately into love. The protective instincts that are roused in both Garrett and Hannah when it comes to each other proves to be the icing on the cake, making both characters appealing and relatable.

In The Deal, Ms. Kennedy has crafted a story that is not only entertaining but also deeply moving, with characters that leave a lasting impression once you turn that last page. Highly recommended for fans of emotionally charged and character-driven love stories.

Final Verdict: The Deal is a compelling romance that balances humor, sensuality, and emotional depth, making it a standout in the New Adult genre.

Favorite Quotes

I falter.
Fucking hell. He can’t be serious.
And I can’t actually be considering meeting this inane challenge. I’m not attracted to Garrett, and I don’t want to kiss him. End of story.
Except…well, it doesn’t feel like the end of anything. My body is engulfed with flames, and my hands are trembling not from nerves, but anticipation. When I picture his mouth pressed against mine, my heart races faster than a drum-and-bass track.
What the hell is the matter with me?
Garrett inches closer. Our thighs are touching now, and either I’m hallucinating it, or I can actually see his pulse throbbing in the center of his throat.
He can’t possibly want this…can he?

“Come on,” he mocks. “We don’t have all night, baby.”
Now I’m bristling. Screw it. It’s just a kiss, right? I don’t even have to like it. Shutting that smart mouth of his will be reward enough.
Arching a brow, I reach up and touch his cheek.
His breath hitches.
I sweep my thumb over his jaw, stalling, waiting to see if he’ll stop me, and when he doesn’t, I slowly bring my mouth to his.
The second our lips meet, the strangest thing happens. Pulsing waves of heat unfurl inside me, starting at my mouth and then rippling down my body, tingling in the tips of my breasts before traveling even lower. He tastes like the peppermint gum he’s been chewing all night and the minty flavor suffuses my taste buds. My lips part of their own volition, and Garrett takes full advantage by sliding his tongue inside. When my tongue tangles with his, he makes a low, growling noise in the back of his throat, and the erotic sound vibrates through my body.

When he speaks, it’s so nonsensical I’m genuinely caught off-guard. “I thought your name started with an M.”
“You thought my name was Mannah?”
Garrett snickers. “No, I thought your name was Mona, or Molly, or Mackenzie. Anything with an M.”
I don’t know whether to be insulted or amused. “Okay…”
“For almost two months, Hannah. I went two months without knowing your name.”
“Well, we didn’t know each other.”
“You knew my name.”
I sigh. “Everyone knows your name.”
“How did I go so long without noticing you, damn it? Why did it take seeing a stupid A on your midterm to make me notice?”
He sounds so genuinely upset that I scoot closer and kiss him. “It doesn’t matter. You know me now.”

“Ohhh,” I cry out, sagging against him as a rush of sweet bliss races through my body.
Garrett rubs my back as I gasp in pleasure. My sex contracts, milking his hard shaft, and his fingers dig between my shoulder blades as he curses. “Hannah…oh fuck, baby, that’s hot.”
I’m still catching my breath when he starts thrusting upward, fast and deep, his hips snapping up as he fills me, over and over again until finally he gives one final thrust and groans. His features tighten, dark brows drawn together as if he’s in pain, but I know he’s not. I kiss his neck again, sucking on his feverish flesh as he trembles beneath me, holding me so tight he traps all the air in my lungs.

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