The Deal (Off-Campus #1) (Elle Kennedy)

TheDeal

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 LOVE THIS BOOK! I’m totally in love with it. The book. The characters. The writing. EVERYTHING!! I’ve been seeing the book around everywhere on the blogosphere, and a lot of people recommending it, but I really didn’t know what I was missing. People… READ IT! If you like New Adult books, read this series, please!

I loved the writing. It’s fun and witty, and it’s dual POV – which I absolutely love. More, Garrett and Hannah had totally different voices, that complemented each other amazingly well. I started this book on Thursday night, and ended on Friday morning – with a little interruption for sleep. It was easy and fun!

Although it was a fun read, it deals with a few uneasy subjects, and I have to commend Elle Kennedy for the way she wrote Hannah and Garrett. From the very beginning of the book you know that Hannah was victim of sexual abuse when she was 15, yet she doesn’t see herself as a victim once during the book. She’s strong and independent and sure of herself… she’s beyond amazing. Garrett has his past too, and while both of them are “broken”, they aren’t really. It’s fresh and wonderful.

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Have I said how amazing Garrett and Hannah are? Oh well… their relationship is amazing! They go from slight enemies – because Hannah doesn’t want to help him, to friends, to great friends, to something more, and to everything. It’s a beautiful journey. I loved them both, individually and together. And Garrett, OMG, freaking Garrett! He’s beyond perfect! 😀 I’m a sucker for guys who know what they want and go after it ;-).

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Another great element of this book – and I’m guessing, the whole series – is the friendship between Garrett and his roommates and friends, Logan, Tucker and Dean. They tease each other, but they have such a family life, and it’s beyond endearing.

All in all I loved this book! I’ve already read a few sections more than once, and I need to get onto the second one soon. 😀

Musical Mondays: Depois by Marisa Monte

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I’m totally cheating here, because I’ve posted this music before here on the blog… but it was over 1 and a half years ago, and I’m really into it again. Depois by Marisa Monte was a part of a Brazilian telenovela that I was a bit obsessed with around that time, called Avenida Brasil. Listen to it. It’s beautiful and sad and lovely.

Depois de sonhar tantos anos,
De fazer tantos planos
De um futuro pra nós
Depois de tantos desenganos,
Nós nos abandonamos como tantos casais
Quero que você seja feliz
Hei de ser feliz também

Depois de varar madrugada
Esperando por nada
De arrastar-me no chão
Em vão
Tu viraste-me as costas
Não me deu as respostas
Que eu preciso escutar
Quero que você seja melhor
Hei de ser melhor também

Nós dois
Já tivemos momentos
Mas passou nosso tempo
Não podemos negar
Foi bom
Nós fizemos histórias
Pra ficar na memória
E nos acompanhar
Quero que você viva sem mim
Eu vou conseguir também

Depois de aceitarmos os fatos
Vou trocar seus retratos pelos de um outro alguém
Meu bem
Vamos ter liberdade
Para amar à vontade
Sem trair mais ninguém
Quero que você seja feliz
Hei de ser feliz também
Depois

And because you should know what all of this means, here are the lyrics in english 🙂 :

Just then, after having dreamed all these years
After having made many plans
Of a future for us
Just then, after many disillusions
We left each other as many couples do
I want you to feel happy
Then I shall be happy as well

Just then, after I passed the whole night
While waiting for nothing
After I dragged myself across the floor
In vain
You turned your back on me
You didn’t give me the answers
That I need to hear
I want is you to be better
Then I shall be better too

You and I
Have had the special moments
But our time has passed
That’s something we can’t deny
It was good
We made up stories
To keep on our memories
And to follow us wherever we go
I want you to live without me
I’ll also make it

Just then, after we’ve accepted the facts
I will change all your portraits for someone else’s
My precious one
We will be free
To love as much as we want to
Without betraying anyone else
I want you to be happy
Then I shall be happy as well
Just then

Bookish Bromances

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There’s one thing I love to see in books, sometimes even more than the romances themselves, and that is: a good bromance! I mean, seriously, is there anything better than watching/reading about friendshio? Especially between 2 guys? I think it’s magical :D.


1. Will & Jem – The Infernal Devices

Will and Jem are the definition of bromance. They are more than brothers. The way they love each other is epic!

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2. Jace & Alec – The Mortal Instruments

Like good parabatai, the bond between these two is beyond words… now, I just wish that the show would do it justice.

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3. Dorian & Chaol – Throne of Glass

I loved this friendship in the first book and I hated that Chaol’s relationship with Celaena made a dent in it. Luckily, it is all good now, right?

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4. Harry & Ron – Harry Potter

Even fighting sometimes, they always had each other’s backs.


5. Tamlin & Lucien – A Court of Thorns and Roses

The way Lucien makes fun of Tamlin… LOL! These two are adorable!

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6. Aedion & Rowan – Queen of Shadows

They are hostile for a moment there, but they develop a true bond and it’s beautiful.

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7. Seth & RyanSecond Chances 

What Seth and Ryan go through during the two books of this series clearly shows the love that exists between them… #goals!

                                                   


8. Garrett, Logan, Dean & Tucker – Off-Campus

One of the funniest and greatest part of The Deal was watching the relationship between the 4 friends and roommates. I sill have to read the other 2 books that are already out, but they are awesome together.


9. Thorne & Kai – The Lunar Chronicles

Thorne and Kai share a wonderful moment in Winter that made them apt to join this list. I wish we had some more moments of bonding between the guys, but one can always imagine them :D.

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10. Simon & Clive – Wallbanger

I’m cheating here, but come on, can you really blame me? Clive is the most awesome cat ever! And he bonds with Simon just like a person. I mean, Simon puts him on the counter to watch him cook, and goes retrieve him so he can sleep with the… it’s cute as hell!