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the_librarians_daughter 's review for:
Deal Breakers
by Laura Lee
This was a fun read with a little bit of everything mixed into the plot. So much so that I reached the end and immediately downloaded the next book in the series.
I’ve read Laura Lee’s Wicked Liars trilogy so I am aware that she can write a deep, evolving, twisted, and dark plot.
Deal Breakers, and what looks to be the rest of the Dealing with Love Series, is the opposite side of the coin. Ms. Lee still delivers a wonderful story with some great steam. There are engaging characters, side stories, and a solid basis for a well told series.
Our two main characters in Deal Breakers are Devyn and Riley. Riley sees Devyn from across the quad on the first day of college. Instantly attracted to her, he “accidentally” locks his bike to hers in order to force a meet cute. Which, is sort of cute. Devyn calls him on how “accidental” it really was and Riley surprisingly confesses to just wanting to have a reason to meet her. Much to Riley’s dismay, Devyn stands firm in her “just friends” trench.
Devyn is a smart, sassy, and well balanced character. She is fun, intelligent, and sticks to her guns. She’s attending school fresh off of losing her last parent. She just needs friends and people to belong to. Riley becomes her person. Surprisingly, Devyn becomes Riley’s person.
In the first half of the novel we see the two open to each other and let each other in more than anyone they date or are attracted to. When the last year of college rolls around, these two are each other’s support system.
Then the plot starts to twist a bit. After graduation Riley is off to the east coast while Devyn starts a competitive and dream job internship in Portland. There is also one last thing that Devyn asks Riley to help her with - shedding her virginity.
After a bit of wrangling back and forth, Riley finally agrees to Devyn’s request. The sparks that have been coming off of these two in their playful banter and the different times they’ve realized an attraction to one another are hot, and always cut short.
For Devyn’s request Riley pulls out all the stops. Full on seduction based around what he knows his girl loves the most. From the start of the evening Ms. Lee builds the chemistry between these two beautifully. It’s edge of your seat “just go get to the good parts!” writing. When we finally get to the “good parts” the chemistry between the two is amazing. Culminating in Devyn finally admitting to herself, and Riley, that she loves him.
Here is where we start the downfall of Riley. In typical guy knee jerk reaction..he’s scared. Then he proceeds to do all the guy things which make you want to throw the book at a wall. Dodging calls, ghosting her, leaving for grad school without a goodbye? All checks. Add in years of unanswered calls and texts till we reach the last wall - a change of number without giving Devyn the new one. Yeah. Riley is high on THAT list.
Once Ms. Lee gets us good and angry at Riley, she redeems him a bit. Riley finally grows up and wakes up. He realizes that he’s spent five years of running from the woman he loves. So he finally gets his business together, moves back out west and plans to track down and romance Devyn.
It doesn’t take long to find her though. Turns out Devyn is Riley’s new acquaintance Drew’s little sister. Drew was Brody’s old frat brother. Brody is Riley’s best friend from grad school. Drew is NOT a fan of Riley’s (unknown to either of them) as Dev has been living with Drew for the last five years. Drew knows ALL about the guy who broke his sister. The scene in the bar where Dev walks in, Riley sees her and everyone slowly yet quickly puts all the pieces together is amazing.
Dev has picked up a kick butt, blunt as a hammer, no filter, protective best friend. Rainey isn’t taking any prisoners just names. Riley AND Brody suffer her wrath through the second half of the book.
Ms. Lee also redeems Riley further by helping him grow the rest of the way up. Four years of having to struggle and compromise has left Dev even more centered with herself and her worth. Yes, there is a guy in her life, but he seems like decoration. She knows what she wants and there isn’t any more compromising.
For the first time, Riley has to work for something and someone. Not only does he have to convince Dev that’s he’s grown up and sees her for the woman he has always loved, but now he’s got to convince and get through Drew and Rainey as well.
The second half of the book is the ending the first half deserves. The frat bro grows up. He works hard to show and tell Devyn how he feels about her.
All the while, Ms. Lee is starting to build Brody, Drew and Rainey as full colored characters. Ms. Lee uses each dialogue and character interaction to give our side characters more definition, personality, traits and hot buttons. It’s very well done.
Ms. Lee also delivers a final, realistic, and happy ending to Devyn and Riley. No, it isn’t an easy road to their ending, however it does their characters justice. Even better, Ms. Lee sneakily slips in the beginning of Brody’s book as we are settling into Devyn and Riley’s ending.
The books in this series are very much stand alones, but it is a series that will pull at you so much you’ll find yourself opening the next one as soon as you finish the current book.
I’ve read Laura Lee’s Wicked Liars trilogy so I am aware that she can write a deep, evolving, twisted, and dark plot.
Deal Breakers, and what looks to be the rest of the Dealing with Love Series, is the opposite side of the coin. Ms. Lee still delivers a wonderful story with some great steam. There are engaging characters, side stories, and a solid basis for a well told series.
Our two main characters in Deal Breakers are Devyn and Riley. Riley sees Devyn from across the quad on the first day of college. Instantly attracted to her, he “accidentally” locks his bike to hers in order to force a meet cute. Which, is sort of cute. Devyn calls him on how “accidental” it really was and Riley surprisingly confesses to just wanting to have a reason to meet her. Much to Riley’s dismay, Devyn stands firm in her “just friends” trench.
Devyn is a smart, sassy, and well balanced character. She is fun, intelligent, and sticks to her guns. She’s attending school fresh off of losing her last parent. She just needs friends and people to belong to. Riley becomes her person. Surprisingly, Devyn becomes Riley’s person.
In the first half of the novel we see the two open to each other and let each other in more than anyone they date or are attracted to. When the last year of college rolls around, these two are each other’s support system.
Then the plot starts to twist a bit. After graduation Riley is off to the east coast while Devyn starts a competitive and dream job internship in Portland. There is also one last thing that Devyn asks Riley to help her with - shedding her virginity.
After a bit of wrangling back and forth, Riley finally agrees to Devyn’s request. The sparks that have been coming off of these two in their playful banter and the different times they’ve realized an attraction to one another are hot, and always cut short.
For Devyn’s request Riley pulls out all the stops. Full on seduction based around what he knows his girl loves the most. From the start of the evening Ms. Lee builds the chemistry between these two beautifully. It’s edge of your seat “just go get to the good parts!” writing. When we finally get to the “good parts” the chemistry between the two is amazing. Culminating in Devyn finally admitting to herself, and Riley, that she loves him.
Here is where we start the downfall of Riley. In typical guy knee jerk reaction..he’s scared. Then he proceeds to do all the guy things which make you want to throw the book at a wall. Dodging calls, ghosting her, leaving for grad school without a goodbye? All checks. Add in years of unanswered calls and texts till we reach the last wall - a change of number without giving Devyn the new one. Yeah. Riley is high on THAT list.
Once Ms. Lee gets us good and angry at Riley, she redeems him a bit. Riley finally grows up and wakes up. He realizes that he’s spent five years of running from the woman he loves. So he finally gets his business together, moves back out west and plans to track down and romance Devyn.
It doesn’t take long to find her though. Turns out Devyn is Riley’s new acquaintance Drew’s little sister. Drew was Brody’s old frat brother. Brody is Riley’s best friend from grad school. Drew is NOT a fan of Riley’s (unknown to either of them) as Dev has been living with Drew for the last five years. Drew knows ALL about the guy who broke his sister. The scene in the bar where Dev walks in, Riley sees her and everyone slowly yet quickly puts all the pieces together is amazing.
Dev has picked up a kick butt, blunt as a hammer, no filter, protective best friend. Rainey isn’t taking any prisoners just names. Riley AND Brody suffer her wrath through the second half of the book.
Ms. Lee also redeems Riley further by helping him grow the rest of the way up. Four years of having to struggle and compromise has left Dev even more centered with herself and her worth. Yes, there is a guy in her life, but he seems like decoration. She knows what she wants and there isn’t any more compromising.
For the first time, Riley has to work for something and someone. Not only does he have to convince Dev that’s he’s grown up and sees her for the woman he has always loved, but now he’s got to convince and get through Drew and Rainey as well.
The second half of the book is the ending the first half deserves. The frat bro grows up. He works hard to show and tell Devyn how he feels about her.
All the while, Ms. Lee is starting to build Brody, Drew and Rainey as full colored characters. Ms. Lee uses each dialogue and character interaction to give our side characters more definition, personality, traits and hot buttons. It’s very well done.
Ms. Lee also delivers a final, realistic, and happy ending to Devyn and Riley. No, it isn’t an easy road to their ending, however it does their characters justice. Even better, Ms. Lee sneakily slips in the beginning of Brody’s book as we are settling into Devyn and Riley’s ending.
The books in this series are very much stand alones, but it is a series that will pull at you so much you’ll find yourself opening the next one as soon as you finish the current book.