ARC Review: BUTTERFLY DREAMS by A. Meredith Walters

Summary:

In a powerful romance hailed as “heartbreaking, real, and breathtakingly beautiful” by Stacey Lynn, New York Times bestselling author A. Meredith Walters tells the story of a troubled young woman and the unforgettable guy who teaches her to live—and love—to the fullest.
 
She’s waiting to die. . . . Corin Thompson is paralyzed by her obsession with mortality. Having lost both of her parents, she is terrified by the idea that she too will die young, and she loses control at any sign of illness. But when Corin connects with someone who has survived a very real brush with death, she begins to see the world in a whole new way.

He’s learning to live. . . . As Corin struggles under the weight of her neuroses, Beckett Kingsley is attempting to rebuild a life that feels all too temporary. With the ever-present threat of heart failure never far from his mind, he just wants to make the most of whatever time he has left. And that means pursuing the girl he never expected to find.

Together, Corin and Beckett finally learn to let go of their fears and take solace in everyday pleasures. Who knows what the future holds? After all, nothing lasts forever—the only promise they have is right now.

 

Buy links:
 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | All Romance eBooks 

Connect with the author:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Review:

Rating: 3 stars.

Butterfly Dreams is only my second book by A. Meredith Walters, but from what I've read in those novels, and what I've gathered about some of her other works, I've come to the conclusion she's an author who doesn't shy away from difficult subjects, and making her characters go through a lot of suffering over the course of a few hundred pages. Unfortunately for Corin and Beckett, the stars of Butterfly Dreams, they weren't spared the heartache, and not the emotional kind.


Beckett had suffered a heart attack, and diagnosed with genetic heart defect. Corin's heart problems, on the other hand, were in her head. Ever since losing both of her parents when she was a teenager, she'd become obsessed with her own mortality. She was convinced there was something seriously wrong with her even if all her test results kept coming back normal. Her latest source of anxiety was her heart. So certain she was she had some kind of heart disease, she joined a support group for people with heart issues. That was how she and Beckett met. 


I have to admit, their story sounds more appealing to me in theory. What I actually read about them, well, I wasn't overly impressed. I did like Beckett from the start, but I wasn't so lucky with Corin. That girl, she would not be winning Miss Congeniality any time soon, that's for sure, but I don't think it was just her prickly personality that made me unable to care for her as I did for Beckett. I'm no stranger to anxiety, so Corin's troubles should've made her more relatable, but I failed to connect with her. Instead of understanding her actions, I was more annoyed by them than anything. To be honest, I didn't get Beckett's fascination with her, or why he was so determined to become a part of her life. Come to think of it, their transition from friends to boyfriend-girlfriend didn't feel as a natural progression of their relationship. It just sort of happened. I knew it was coming, but I didn't care for the way it happened. 


What I did like was what came next. Beckett, ever the optimist trying to make the most of every day, was an excellent influence on the always focused on death Corin. This was the point where I finally grew to like her, and every step she made be it in being a better girlfriend, friend, sister, or learning to enjoy life, living in the now, letting go of the past, or making progress in controlling her anxiety, it was great. Most of all, I liked the epilogue. The story got sad towards the end, and that epilogue was everything. I loved how it was done. 


Butterfly Dreams will be joining the books I read and wished they were written differently to give me more feels, but even so my heartstrings were tugged at, and that was all I wanted. I'm not an expert on A. Meredith Walters' books, therefore I'm not sure whether this would be the right first book by her to read or not, but to those who are already her fans, this could be another book to their liking.  



***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
 

 
P.S. Both Purple and I were given the opportunity to read an ARC of Butterfly Dreams, so if you'd like a second opinion on it from someone who liked it less than I did, click here.


 
Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO,

 

Review: OFF CAMPUS (Bend or Break, #1) by Amy Jo Cousins

Summary:

Everyone’s got secrets. Some are just harder to hide.

With his father’s ponzi scheme assets frozen, Tom Worthington believes finishing college is impossible unless he can pay his own way. After months sleeping in his car and gypsy-cabbing for cash, he’s ready to do just that.

But his new, older-student housing comes with an unapologetically gay roommate. Tom doesn’t ask why Reese Anders has been separated from the rest of the student population. He’s just happy to be sleeping in a bed.

Reese isn’t about to share his brutal story with his gruff new roommate. You’ve seen one homophobic jock, you’ve seen ’em all. He plans to drag every twink on campus into his bed until Tom moves out. But soon it becomes clear Tom isn’t budging.

Tom isn’t going to let some late-night sex noise scare him off, especially when it’s turning him on. But he doesn’t want any drama either. He’ll keep his hands, if not his eyes, to himself. Boundaries have a way of blurring when you start sharing truths, though. And if Tom and Reese cross too many lines, they may need to find out just how far they can bend…before they break.

Warning: This book contains cranky roommates who vacillate between lashing out and licking, some male/male voyeurism, emotional baggage that neither guy wants to unpack, and the definitive proof that sound carries in college housing.

Buy Links:

Samhain Publishing | Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Kobo | All Romance eBooks  | iBooks 

Connect with the Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Review:

Rating: 3 stars.

A little while ago Real World caught my attention on NetGalley. I wanted to read it, so I requested it, and got approved. But before I could read it and see how Tom and Reese were doing five years into their relationship, I had to read Off Campus and see how it all started. Bend or Break series was one of those I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read or not, so getting that ARC made my decision. However, reading Off Campus had me questioning if it was the right one.


It started well enough. Both Tom and Reese seemed like the characters I'd have liked to know more about, and I was looking forward to seeing how the romance developed between them. Tom obviously had a lot of baggage, and Reese appeared to have some secrets of his own. Plus, Reese couldn't have been less enthusiastic about having a roommate. Based on such beginning, I expected theirs would be roommates who can't stand each other to lovers type of romance, or maybe that was wishful thinking on my part. Either way, it didn't go as I imagined it would, which I would've been perfectly okay with had I found the story more interesting.


There isn't much going on in Off Campus plot-wise, or, at least, not in my opinion. It didn't take long for it to start dragging, and for me to start wishing the book had fewer pages. I still liked Tom and Reese, and I wanted to get to their happy ending, but, unfortunately, the story didn't hold my attention. I believe this was a case of bad timing. I've had a lot of my mind lately, and this would've worked much better if I had a more peaceful state of mind. Alas, there's no going back.


However, even with all my frustration over my lack of focus, I did enjoy getting to know these characters, even if one of them made me want to smack some sense into him. I'm, of course, referring to Tom, although I can't really blame him for having so little trust in people after so many betrayed him, nor can I blame him for wanting to stay away from everyone. His wanting to conceal his relationship with Reese, and the worrying someone might see them together wasn't easy for Reese, therefore I didn't like it, but still I understood. I'm not an expert on the behavior of people who went through what Tom, and Reese had, but it seemed plausible. I will say for Tom, his dedication to make it in life despite all the derailments his father's actions caused was commendable, though for his own good I wished he let someone give him a hand from time to time. Luckily, he had a boyfriend and two friends to teach him to have some faith in the people in his life.


What I missed in this book was Reese's POV. I kept waiting for it, but it never happened. It would've been very nice to have gotten to know him not only through what Tom thought and learned about him, and it also would've been nice to see Tom from another perspective.


Tom & Reese, given their pasts, had a lot of issues to work through, and having the fun Steph and Cash in their lives did them good. I know I liked whenever they were a part of a scene. I must make a note to read their novel when I get a chance. Their book I think I will have much more fun reading.


Overall, to me Off Campus was an okay book, one I wish I read at a different time, because I bet it could've been way better than okay. Ah, well, it is what it is. Time to see how how they're all doing five years later.

Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO,

 

My Top New Adult Choices

Lets talk about the New Adult genre!

Some people love it, some people hate it. I personally love it – but when it’s good. NA centers on characters in their early 20s, those who are entering the adult world, but are still quite unsure of where they belong. In theory it should contain the best of YA and adult worlds, and by its very definition, it should be my favorite genre.

I’m sad to say that I’d read more NA I hated than those I loved; therefore I always look for good NA books to read. I know some people even gave up on the genre, but I refuse to do that because I believe NA has some good things to offer. So here I’ve decided to share my favorite NA books and authors, and of course to ask you for some recommendations. Here are my best of the best! 

• First of all, the ADDICTED series by Krista and Becca Ritchie. These books represent to me what NA genre should be about. These are my absolute favorites! *insert heart eyes* I can’t even talk about NA without mentioning these books. Tag line goes: 9 books. 6 friends. 3 couples. 1 epic series. And there’s no better description than that. Read this if you want a series that a little bit angsty (it’s about a female sex addict and her alcoholic best friend), but with plenty of funny moments too; it’s also about brotherhood and sisterhood, exploring sexuality, public opinions, growing up.. and a lot more. With these books I cried, I laughed, I fell in love. You can begin reading from the first book – Addicted to You (which is free for limited time, so better grab it!) or you can read Calloway Sisters spin-offs starting with Kiss the Sky.

*A2Y Goodreads link
*KTS Goodreads link
*Krista & Becca Ritchie's website 


 • My other favorite NA author is Leah Raeder, with her books Unteachable and Black Iris. (Cam Girl is coming out in November, and they’re all standalones.) Her books are definitely more mature, with edgier themes; Raeder definitely talks about things that need talking about (e.g. issues of gender and sexuality). But in my opinion, her finest feature is the writing style; if like me, you enjoy poetic and descriptive writing, you will certainly love these books. It’s like Raeder sees the world in madly vivid colors, and sounds and by reading we glimpse the world little bit differently too. It’s an unique and unforgettable experience.
Unteachable deals with teacher/student romance, and Black Iris’ main theme is revenge. I love and recommend them both.




*UNT Goodreads link
*BI Goodreads link
*Leah Raeder's website

Some other NA books I enjoyed are: Deeper by Robin York, which at first glance it may seem like a typical NA book, but the story is actually quite good (it explores a very important theme of revenge porn). Then Faking It by Cora Carmack, it’s lighter and more on the fun & fluff side, but still good nevertheless. And I really need to read more books from Carmack, I like how she writes!




There are of course a lot more NA authors I’d read and loved, such as Tammara Webber, Colleen Hoover, Penelope Douglas, but I feel they are very popular and quite familiar to everyone by now.

Now, if you’re a NA guru, please share some books I might’ve missed. What are your favorite NA titles?

xoxo, 

Beatrix

REVIEW: Black Iris By Leah Raeder

Genre:

Thriller/ Contemporary / Romance

Buy The Book:

AMAZON / B & N / BOOK DEPOSITORY / KOBO

Connect With The Author:

Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Blog

Synopsis On Goodreads:

The next dark and sexy romantic suspense novel from the USA Todaybestselling author of Unteachable.

It only took one moment of weakness for Laney Keating’s world to fall apart. One stupid gesture for a hopeless crush. Then the rumors began. Slut, they called her. Queer. Psycho. Mentally ill, messed up, so messed up even her own mother decided she wasn't worth sticking around for.

If Laney could erase that whole year, she would. College is her chance to start with a clean slate.

She's not looking for new friends, but they find her: charming, handsome Armin, the only guy patient enough to work through her thorny defenses—and fiery, filterless Blythe, the bad girl and partner in crime who has thorns of her own.

But Laney knows nothing good ever lasts. When a ghost from her past resurfaces—the bully who broke her down completely—she decides it's time to live up to her own legend. And Armin and Blythe are going to help.

Which was the plan all along.

Because the rumors are true. Every single one. And Laney is going to show them just how true.

She's going to show them all.

Purple's RATING: 5/5 STARS

Beatrix' RATING: 5/5 STARS
Glass' RATING: 5/5 STARS

*** Buddy-read REVIEWS ***

~ Purple:

“I am not the heroine of this story. And I'm not trying to be cute. It's the truth. I'm diagnosed borderline and seriously fucked-up. I hold grudges. I bottle my hate until it ferments into poison, and then I get high off the fumes.”

I've read a fair share of good books this year, but this is only the 2nd one I've rated full 5 stars and it more than deserves it because for me it's on a totally another, I would even dare to say superior level from the the rest of them. My first book by this author was Unteachable. While I loved the author's writing style there, the story as a whole was more of a 3.5/4 stars read for me, but with this book Leah Raeder won me completely over. And what better way to read her newest book than buddy-reading it with my friend & co-blogger Beatrix, who was also the one who first introduced me to this author.

"I never wanted to be saved. I wanted someone to follow me down into the darkness. To hold my hand as I fell."

Without spoiling anything all I can say is that Black Iris is one dark, gripping, twisted, riveting, poignant, thought-provoking page-turner which will leave you speechless after every new unpredictable twist of the story. What's special and compelling about this book is the fact that the main character Laney is nor the heroine nor the true villain. The lines between good and evil get blurred and disputable, at times over-weighing on one and at other times on the other side, therefore messing with our heads all over again and of course I loved it, the weirdo that I am.

This book was so good that not the even infamous "love triangle", which is usually a deal-breaker for me when choosing my next read, bothered me. That says it all. I won't say anything more about the plot, because when it comes to mindfucks like this the best way is to experience it without any prior knowledge. The writing was supreme. One of the most highlighted books in my collection.

Highly recommended to every fan of dark thrillers/mindfucks!

“Strength is not in the body, it’s in the mind. It doesn’t lie in flexing your muscles and crushing those who oppose you. It lies in being the last one standing. By any means. At any cost.”

~Beatrix:

“Darkness isn’t bad. It’s only darkness.” Those fingers relaxed. “All it means is you don’t see the world as they do. You see what’s really there. They see what they wish was there.”

Revenge. Suspense. Ecstasy. Sex. 

BLACK IRIS was my most anticipated book of 2015, and it did not disappoint. That’s saying a lot since I’m a huge fan of Leah Raeder and I’ve been craving this book basically since I’ve read Unteachable back in 2013 when it was first published. In my opinion Raeder is a true artist when it comes to the art of words. I feel as if she sees the world with different eyes and then transforms that onto the page and gives us her more poetic, vivid, and colorful version of reality. Here’s a paragraph to illustrate what I’m saying: 

I smelled the storm on him. There’s a word for that scent, the breathy fragrance that’s released when rain soaks soil and floods your sinuses like a drug: petrichor. Petros, stone. Ichor, the blood of gods. There was a disturbing loveliness in that image, gods opening their wrists to slake the earth with their quicksilver blood.

This is the kind of novel which will definitely make you question everything. Not only will you constantly be on the edge of your seat with questions such as: what is happening; but this book will also make you question your beliefs and morals. Characters in this book are constantly doing some morally ambiguous acts and let’s just say this is not for those of tender heart. If you’re bothered with excessive drinking and drug abuse, F/F sex, revenge, cheating, love triangles, unlikeable protagonists – then this book might not be for you. 

Don’t expect a typical NA story, or a morally encouraging book. However, what you can and should expect is an incredibly well written and important book, with its message about labeling, sexual fluidity, bullying, and mental illness. 

Something ineffably sad rose in my chest, a drowning feeling, as if my lungs were filling with water from the inside. My hand raised but not touching. My voice unheard. I’d spent all my life in moments like this.

Nothing here was black and white. These characters are so complex and my attitude towards them was ambivalent. I didn’t like Laney, but I understood her. Furthermore, she is not meant to be a role model, nor is she trying to be one. BI is unapologetic and that’s why I like it. Characters are entirely messed up and they’re not trying to hide it. Laney is not attempting to set an example with her behavior. She does what she wants and if you don’t like it, then she’s probably tell you: “Screw you, I’m not trying to impress anyone.”

I’m saying this because I’ve noticed how some negative reviews state that Laney sets a bad example for young girls with her drinking, sleeping around, and basically being high the entire duration of the novel. If you’re so sensitive, then don’t read this. And you’ve probably missed the point as it’s stated right on the first page what kind of novel this would be. This is not the story with a typical HEA; don’t expect a heroine to overcome her issues. This is a dark and twisted story and that’s why it’s so unique.

Furthermore, a few words on the writing style and a quick comparison with Unteachable. Obviously both books are written in the same lyrical, purple tone and if I’m being completely honest I have to admit that maybe, just maybe this style was more suitable for UN and the reason for that is the genre. 

UN is first and foremost a romance novel – it explored emotions, maturing, growing up, love, etc. However, BI proclaims itself to be a suspense novel and I believe it’s difficult to build up tension with adjectives. You need lots of dynamic verbs, descriptions of processes, not states. That taken together with switching timelines, I can see how some readers were lost or found the book to be too slow. I personally was not bothered by that, and I’ve raved enough how I love Raeder’s writing style, but I can understand some of the frustration I’ve noticed in several reviews.

Some of the things I've loved: the sex scenes. Hot damn. This is how you write steamy. Nothing overly vulgar, but so poetic and sizzling hot. Moreover, let’s not forget the poetry. T. S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson are some of my favorite poets and it made me so giddy to recognize all the references. I truly think BI wouldn’t have been the same without it. 

In conclusion, BLACK IRIS is at its core a powerful story which explores the darkness within a person, triggered by someone else’s darkness. It portrays how one act of violence may initiate entire chain of such deeds and how a person may end up trapped in that vicious circle. Have you ever been bullied, misunderstood, and rejected for who you are? Sometimes it’s difficult for a person to see the light, sometimes a person is so weakened, tormented by their own demons that it’s easier to drown than to swim back to the surface. 

Leah Raeder wrote a book for anyone who has ever felt that way. She is the voice of the downtrodden, of the underdog. It’s okay to feel malice and rage, those too are human emotions. Therefore, what I’m saying is – don’t expect a redemption story. But, if you do prefer dark, challenging, and gritty stories, then BLACK IRIS might be just the right book for you! 

I’m the black iris watered by poison. The wolf that raised its head among sheep and devoured its way, ruthless and bloody, to freedom. I never forgave, never forgot.

PS: I’ve found the song which perfectly fits the book, with its lyrics and overall atmosphere -- Sick by Chelsea Wolfe: 

This suffering brings me closer to you

And time is broken and moves slow

Your pure heart, your white light

I should be put to death for ever being cruel to you

…

Come closer now and step right into

The wide mouth, the sharp teeth of the one you love

I’m not the kind of sick that you can fix

Don't you worry about me baby 

xoxo, 

Purple & Beatrix

Review: THE MISTAKE (Off-Campus, #2) by Elle Kennedy

Summary:

He’s a player in more ways than one…
 
College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.

Now he’s going to need to up his game…

After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

 
Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Connect with the author:

Website | Facebook |  Twitter | Goodreads

My review:

Well, this is



So very awkward. 2,5 stars from me. It's as high as I can go.

I have recently jumped on The Deal train to see for myself what is it about that book that has almost everyone raving about it, and after I finished it I became one of those readers. I raved, and I raved, happy that book two was already out so I could continue with this series almost immediately, which is exactly what I did right after I was done with another book I needed to read. I wish I could tell you I loved it, I wish I could tell you I had as much fun with Logan and Grace as I did with Garrett and Hannah, but I can't. Just as I knew I'd love The Deal very soon after starting it, I knew that wouldn't happen with The Mistake. Since I didn't start it right when it was released, I got to see quite a few ratings and reviews before I got to read it; most of them were positive, but there were others written by disappointed readers. Sadly, mine is the latter.

Garrett had made a deal with Hannah, and like the title and the blurb say, Logan made a mistake with Grace.
John Logan had a crush on his best friend's girlfriend, and his solution to that was avoiding them, and when he wasn't playing hockey, he was partying, drinking, and hooking up as much as possible. Grace was a freshman worried about her status as a virgin, who had the hots for one John Logan. When fate brought Logan to Grace's door, she welcomed him in, and that was the beginning of Logan & Grace. After that they hung out, made out, and then the mistake happened when they almost had sex, and Logan ran off because he was crushing on another girl. The school year ended. Grace went to Paris to visit her mother, where she got a makeover, pined over Logan, and avoided his and her best friend's, who tried to hook up with Logan behind her back, calls. Logan went to work in his father's shop, and after realizing the truth about his feelings for Hannah, he was determined to make everything right with Grace, and win her back. Come new school year, that was what he did.

Grace & Logan's story I'm sure will be to the liking of the majority of Off-Campus fans -- that's already evident. I'm a part of the smaller disappointed group who loved book one and thought this one was just meh. I am not a fan of NA novels, but The Deal had so many positive reviews that I thought it was safe for me to read it. The Mistake, on the other hand, just reminded me why I avoid books with college students as main characters, as they and their actions tend to annoy me. This book had a few parts that irritated me, but for the most part reading about Grace and Logan was putting me to sleep, and since I was feeling very sleepy those days I spent reading The Mistake, it wasn't helpful. It's shorter than The Deal, but it felt infinitely longer. When you have to give yourself pep talks to get yourself to finish a book, you know it's bad. With Garrett and Hannah's book I couldn't wait to read what happens next. They were so much fun time would just fly by. Not with Grace and Logan.

Grace... *sigh* Grace barely left an impression on me. When I think of her, this is all I come up with:
*She was a virgin. (This is the first thing that comes to mind because it was on hers more times than I cared to read about it.)
*After Paris she was blonde and made Logan do some silly things to agree to give him a second chance.
*She had a shitty BFF.
Aaand... That's it, really.

Logan grew on me gradually. At the beginning his party-drink-and-hook-up-as-much-as-possible ways went on my nerves, but when he changed those ways I liked him better. His situation at home, and his sacrifice for his family won me over to his side. I was glad for him when it was resolved, but I wasn't particularly pleased with how fast and easy it all played out. Also, his willingness to jump through hoops to win Grace back was sweet.

It wasn't all bleak; there were a few fun parts, but in general, this didn't work for me, and it confirmed I'm doing the right thing by avoiding the NA genre. In short, me reading The Mistake was a mistake. Which leaves one question: What to do when Dean's book comes out?

 

Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO

 

Review: THE DEAL (Off-Campus, #1) by Elle Kennedy

Summary:

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.

 
Buy links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks

Connect with the author:

Website | Facebook |  Twitter | Goodreads

My review:

Rating:  ★★★★★

My thoughts after reading The Deal in short are: I loved it! I loved it! I loved it!

But, I don't want to keep it that short, so here comes the longer version.

Some books remind me of certain weather conditions, and The Deal was like a warm, sunny spring day with just enough breeze to make it even more enjoyable. That may be a weird thing to say--it probably is--but that's how it was for me.

To be honest, when I first noticed this book in my News Feed, I didn't find it appealing: I've never read anything by Elle Kennedy, the title reminded me terribly of The Pact which I basically hated, and the words college and sports pushed me even further away. However, my mind was completely changed when all the five-star reviews started pouring in. My curiosity had to be satisfied. This time curiosity didn't kill the cat--it made her purr, purr, purr.

The Deal was one of those books after you finish it, you want to write a thank-you letter to the author for writing it. The plot wasn't overly complex: the heroine, Hannah, got an A on a test, and the hero, Garrett, failed it, and badgered Hannah to tutor him for the makeup test so he could keep his GPA up so he wouldn't be kicked off his hockey team. In return he would help her get the attention of the boy Hannah had a crush on. That was the deal. But its successful outcome ended up not being enough for them--they wanted each other, and they made sure they got it, no matter what.

It was so refreshing, the way the main characters behaved. No excess drama to be found anywhere. Every chapter, every page was interesting. Most of them were lots of fun, but there were others dealing with some awful, serious subjects. There was not a moment that I felt bored; both Hannah and Garrett were awesome MCs, fun, smart, and witty--I could read about their bickering for days on end. Most importantly they were all around good, mature fictional college people. There was only one instance when I got worried about where the story would go. Almost the exact same thing happened in one of the books I recently read, and it didn't go well there, but Garrett proved to be a bigger man. If I hadn't already been all googly-eyed over him, that would have done it. He often had his cocky-bastard moments, but instead of being irritating, they were adorable. Garrett even sometimes called Hannah "baby", and it didn't bother me. The book has some serious magic powers--there's no other explanation. And Hannah was the perfect heroine. I'd love to read more about young women like her.

In conclusion, I loved everything about The Deal: the story, the writing style, the main characters, all of it! I picked this to read to at least partially forget about the disaster of a TV-series Grey's Anatomy has turned into, and it worked! The book has magic, I stand by it.

Now I'm genuinely looking forward to reading Logan's book. There wasn't much of him in this one, but enough that I adored him, and would be more than willing to comfort him. Lucky for me, his book just came out, so I'll soon be once again enjoying the company of Off-Campus men. YAY!

 

Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO