Briar U – Readaholic Book Reviews

The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

Genre: Contemporary Romance / Hockey Romance

Heat Level: 🔥🔥🔥

Series: Campus Diaries #1

Release Date: October 31, 2023

I received a complimentary copy of this book from GetRed PR/the publisher.

I was a bit hesitant going into The Graham Effect, because The Deal is easily one of my all time favorite romances. But I can honestly say that I LOVED this book and cannot wait to read the next book in the series!

SYNOPSIS

Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine–a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder.

Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he’s still the enemy.

Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another’s guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word
with her dad.

The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.

REVIEW

What you can expect to find in The Graham Effect:
-hockey romance
-grumpy hero
-banter for days
-spicy 🌶🌶🌶
-swoony
-dual pov
-cameo’s by Garrett and Hannah
-no third act breakup

Gigi Graham has big shoes to fill, she can’t go too far without it being mentioned that her dad is The Garrett Graham. Gigi has always wanted to be great at hockey, but being a female hockey player she has a few disadvantages. Since she can’t win the Stanley cup, she’s going for gold – Olympic gold that is. Only problem – the coach thinks she needs to improve her game. Luke Ryder has idolized Garrett Graham since he started playing hockey. His goal is to be a coach for the summer camp that Garrett has every summer. Only problem – Garrett doesn’t think too highly of Ryder after he got into a scuffle with a former hockey teammate. These two realize that they can help each other – Gigi can put in a good word with her dad and Ryder can help Gigi improve her game. It’s a win-win situation, except the more time these two start spending together the more their chemistry comes to the surface. Neither of them are looking for a relationship…will they be able to keep their feelings out of their friends with benefits arrangement?

Elle Kennedy is easily one of my favorite hockey romance writers. My first book by her was The Deal and I’ve read and reread that book too many times to count. I admit – I was a bit worried if I would like The Graham Effect – often time second generation books don’t always do it for me. BUT! I was wrong and I loved The Graham Effect so much 🥰.

Ryder and Gigi were such a fun couple. Grumpy heroes are my favorite kinds of heroes and Ryder was grumpy, sarcastic and so funny! I loved the banter between these two – I always had a grin on my face whenever they were together 😌. But underneath their tough façade, both Gigi and Ryder had their own vulnerabilities and the way they were always so honest with one another was what I loved the most about The Graham Effect. The slow fall from indifference to friends to lovers was done so well in this book. It was funny, spicy and swoony – the perfect combination!

And gah – the cameos of the OG Off Campus/Briar U characters was so fun! And yes, any scene that Garrett and Hannah was in was pure perfection – I love them together and even more as parents 🥹.

SPOILERS
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The twist at the end left me with a HUGE GRIN on my face. The respective my wife and my husband made me alkjf;lajdflkjaflkj 🤭. I loved Ryder for his patience with Gisele and always backing her up – even with her dad who he idolizes. Love this couple so much

If you’re looking for a fun hockey romance with plenty of banter and spice I highly highly recommend The Graham Effect. I cannot wait to read more from this universe.

The Dare by Elle Kennedy releases on Tuesday June 16, 2020 and I am so excited to share an excerpt! I’ve loved the Briar U series and just started my ARC of The Dare .

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.

EXCERPT FROM THE DARE BY ELLE KENNEDY

“Thank you,” she breathes the moment we’re alone.

“No problem. Mind if I make myself comfortable?”

“Um, yeah. I mean, no. I don’t mind. Sit if you want. Or—wow, okay, you’re lying down.”

I grin at her visible nervousness. It’s cute. While I stretch out my six-foot-two frame amid the stuffed animals and decorative pillows on the bed, she remains the startled rabbit plastered against the door and breathing heavily.

“Gotta be honest,” I tell her, entwining my hands behind my head, “I’ve never seen a girl so unhappy to be locked in a bedroom with me.”

This has the desired effect of loosening her shoulders and even eliciting a shy smile. “I have no doubt.”

“I’m Conor, by the way.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, I know.”

“What’s the eyeroll for?” I ask, playing wounded.

“No, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Just, I know who you are. You’re, like, campus famous.”

The more I watch her, hands braced at her sides against the door, one knee bent, dirty-blonde hair a little messy and draped over one shoulder, I can’t help picturing myself holding her arms above her head while I explore her body with my mouth. She’s got very kissable skin.

“Taylor Marsh,” she blurts out, and I realize I don’t know how long we were silent until then.

I scoot to the far side of the bed and put a pillow beside me as a divider. “Come on. If we’re going to be in here awhile, let’s at least make friends.”

Taylor laughs out a breath and with it she releases a bit more tension. She’s got a nice smile. Bright, warm. It takes a bit more coaxing, however, to get her on the bed.

“This isn’t like a move,” she tells me, lining up stuffed animal guards to patrol the pillow wall between us. “I’m not some sort of weirdo who tricks men into getting in bed with her and then mauls them.”

“Sure.” I nod with mock seriousness. “But a little mauling would be okay.”

BLURB

Get ready for another binge-worthy romance from New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy!

College was supposed to be my chance to get over my ugly-duckling complex and spread
my wings. Instead, I wound up in a sorority full of mean girls. I already have a hard time fitting
in, so when my Kappa Chi sisters issue the challenge, I can’t say no.
The dare: seduce the hottest new hockey player in the junior class.
Conor Edwards is a regular at Greek Row parties…and in Greek Row sorority beds. He’s
the one you fall for before you learn that guys like him don’t give girls like me a second glance.
Except Mr. Popular throws me for a loop—rather than laughing in my face, he does me a solid
by letting me take him upstairs to pretend we’re getting busy.
Even crazier, now he wants to keep pretending. Turns out Conor loves games, and he
thinks it’s fun to pull the wool over my frenemies’ eyes.
But resisting his easy charm and surfer-boy hotness is darn near impossible. Though I’m
realizing there’s much more to Conor’s story than his fan club can see.
And the longer this silly ruse goes on, the greater the danger of it all blowing up in my
face.

The Dare purchase links:
Amazon: https://geni.us/TDrAmz
Apple: https://geni.us/TDrAp
Kobo: https://geni.us/TDrKobo
Nook: https://geni.us/TDrNook

Other Links:
Briar U series: https://geni.us/BriarU
Elle’s Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKNL
Blogger Newsletter sign-up: http://geni.us/EKBlog