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5
Ms. Kennedy Scores Again!
Format: Kindle
I am absolutely addicted to Elle Kennedyโs 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. Donโt tell anyone but I think I might even love this series more. Ack! Iโm an adult. Iโve been out of college for more years than these characters have been alive! Whatโs wrong with me? Whatโs wrong with me is Iโm 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. Itโs 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 canโt say I love one more than the other because they are all unique. Each book focuses on one of four members of Briar Universityโs 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, theyโre 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 otherโs backs no matter what the circumstances. When itโs time to man up, be mature, and offer advice they excel at it. I love these guys. Theyโre also hilarious as hell.
The Score is book 3, featuring self-professed man-whore Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes, Hannahโs best friend (from book 1, The Deal) . These two couldnโt be more different. According to The Life of Dean, there are no repeat performances with girls. Ever. Heโs 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, theyโve broken up four times but this time, itโs for real. Sheโs even high tailed it out of the dorm she shares with Hannah and is hiding out at the guysโ 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 andโฆ
"The memories come crashing back in vivid Technicolor. The terrible movie. The tequila shots. Theโฆ rest. I slept with Dean last night. Twice. My heart beats faster as I stare up at the ceiling. Iโm in Deanโs room. Thereโs an empty condom wrapper on the end table. Andโฆ yep, Iโm naked."
What surprises Allie, even more, is that she seems to recall enjoying herself. A Lot. Sheโs got a kinky streak that her ex wasnโt on board with but Deanโฆwow. 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 canโt 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 nightโs performance, Allie Hayes proved that sheโs fully capable of leaving her mark on a man. Jesus. That girl can f***. Damn, and now my dick is semi-hard. Itโs been doing that all day, chubbing out every time I think about Allie."
Likewise, Allie canโt stop thinking about Dean. When Dean begs for more, sheโs shocked. Maybe what she needs is indeed a fling. She may be a card-carrying member of the Team Boyfriend, but it hasnโt 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 isnโt the starry-eyed coed type heโs used to. She doesnโt say How high? when he says Jump. Their verbal sparring is exquisite! Itโs not only entertaining, itโs also revealing. The more she treats him with nonchalance the more he falls for her. Sheโs not being a tease. Sheโs being realistic. Dean isnโt a long term keeper. Heโs rich, spoiled, and gets what he wants. Heโs only hanging around because she isnโt begging for his attention. Besides, sheโs spent four years as a drama major, sheโll 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 itโs irresistible.
Dean is on a fast track to win over Allie. He canโt explain this all-consuming fascination and need and he doesnโt care. What little Dean wants, big Dean does his best to procure. Allie might consider this thing between them merely a fling but thatโs not how itโs 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. Heโs 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, heโs 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 didnโt want it to end.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016