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5
Ms. Kennedy Scores Again!
Format: Kindle
I am absolutely addicted to Elle Kennedyās Off-Campus series. When I picked up The Deal last year I had no idea what to expect. I love her Navy SEAL series but a New Adult? I have to say, I fell so hard for that book it was ridiculous. Donāt tell anyone but I think I might even love this series more. Ack! Iām an adult. Iāve been out of college for more years than these characters have been alive! Whatās wrong with me? Whatās wrong with me is Iām a sucker for young love stories that have substance, well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and just enough angst to make it interesting without making me want to kill myself. And this is exactly what we get with Off-Campus. Itās not a given that each book in a series will top the last, or even equal its predecessors, but Ms. Kennedy has blown that theory out of the water. The Deal, The Mistake, and now The Score are all deliciously entertaining. I canāt say I love one more than the other because they are all unique. Each book focuses on one of four members of Briar Universityās hockey team, all roommates in what I imagine in my head to be a large, rambling off-campus house. These guys are hardcore athletes, so of course, theyāre gorgeous, sculpted of yummy muscles, confident, and can pretty much snap their fingers and the girls come running. But under those pretty exteriors and horndog antics lie endearing personalities. The thing I love most about the four guys sharing the house is they all have each otherās backs no matter what the circumstances. When itās time to man up, be mature, and offer advice they excel at it. I love these guys. Theyāre also hilarious as hell.
The Score is book 3, featuring self-professed man-whore Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes, Hannahās best friend (from book 1, The Deal) . These two couldnāt be more different. According to The Life of Dean, there are no repeat performances with girls. Ever. Heās not remotely interested in anything that involves the dirty word relationship. Allie, on the other hand, has dated the same guy for four years. Granted, theyāve broken up four times but this time, itās for real. Sheās even high tailed it out of the dorm she shares with Hannah and is hiding out at the guysā house for the weekend. The couples are out of town, which leaves only Dean at home. Allie can surely smack down on his ridiculous flirting. But after some well-deserved tequila shots and a joint or maybe two, things get blurry andā¦
"The memories come crashing back in vivid Technicolor. The terrible movie. The tequila shots. Theā¦ rest. I slept with Dean last night. Twice. My heart beats faster as I stare up at the ceiling. Iām in Deanās room. Thereās an empty condom wrapper on the end table. Andā¦ yep, Iām naked."
What surprises Allie, even more, is that she seems to recall enjoying herself. A Lot. Sheās got a kinky streak that her ex wasnāt on board with but Deanā¦wow. Regardless, it was beyond wrong and Hannah will kill her if she finds out, so Dean and Allie make a pact to keep it between them.
Only problem is, Dean canāt stop thinking about Allie. It surprises the crap out of him because this is certainly a first but he needs, at least, one more taste.
"After last nightās performance, Allie Hayes proved that sheās fully capable of leaving her mark on a man. Jesus. That girl can f***. Damn, and now my dick is semi-hard. Itās been doing that all day, chubbing out every time I think about Allie."
Likewise, Allie canāt stop thinking about Dean. When Dean begs for more, sheās shocked. Maybe what she needs is indeed a fling. She may be a card-carrying member of the Team Boyfriend, but it hasnāt done her any favors in the last few years. A change might be good. But can she handle it?
Allie and Dean are hilarious together. She isnāt the starry-eyed coed type heās used to. She doesnāt say How high? when he says Jump. Their verbal sparring is exquisite! Itās not only entertaining, itās also revealing. The more she treats him with nonchalance the more he falls for her. Sheās not being a tease. Sheās being realistic. Dean isnāt a long term keeper. Heās rich, spoiled, and gets what he wants. Heās only hanging around because she isnāt begging for his attention. Besides, sheās spent four years as a drama major, sheāll be graduating soon, and needs to focus on her acting career. But Dean is relentless, being all adorable and sexy, watching French soap operas with her and generally making her forget about her ex. Plus, Dean is just so damn HOT itās irresistible.
Dean is on a fast track to win over Allie. He canāt explain this all-consuming fascination and need and he doesnāt care. What little Dean wants, big Dean does his best to procure. Allie might consider this thing between them merely a fling but thatās not how itās going down if he can help it. She makes him want to be a better man and, I must admit the more we learn about Dean, the harder I fell in love with him. Heās put on a good act for a long time; a Richie Rich man-whore who skates by on his charm and looks when in fact, heās extremely intelligent, caring, and kind.
Ms. Kennedy has once again given us another exceptional story that is not only fun, witty, and chock full of sexy chemistry. Unexpected and shocking surprises deepen the tension and pull at the heartstrings yet are by no means superfluous. The writing is beautiful, tight, fast-paced, and so entertaining I didnāt want it to end.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
