The Mistake by Elle Kennedy
Series: Off-Campus, #2
New Adult
April 28, 2015
Self Published

Reviewed by Tori

Favorite Quote: “I love it when you talk homonyms to me.”

John Logan, a star hockey player and junior at Briar University, has no problems getting girls…except the one he wants. She happens to be dating his best friend, Garrett Graham. With his family issues bearing down upon him the closer he gets to graduation and his seemingly unrelenting crush on Hannah, he is surprised by a sexy chance encounter with freshman, Grace Ivers. The more time he spends with her, the more confused he becomes over his feelings for her and Hannah until a thoughtless remark pushes her away. After a summer of calling, texting, and begging for another chance, Logan plans to spend his senior year winning Grace back  and proving to her she is the only one for him.

Grace’s freshman year was not so stellar and she is determined to not repeat the mistakes she made last year…especially her mistake with John Logan. Now a sophomore, she is putting herself out there making new friends and breaking out of her shell while trying to ignore the gorgeous hockey player she almost gave her virginity to. She refuses to be another one of his conquests and demands he prove to her he is worthy of another chance. Because this time Grace is calling the shots and she is looking to win.

His Mistake is a sexy, humorous, and moderately emotional new adult (NA)  romance that takes us back to Briar University and the four gorgeous and talented hockey players whose ability to score on and off the ice is often complicated by family issues and affairs of the heart. I’ve been a long time fan of Elle Kennedy and her erotic romances. Her voice and obvious talent in creating realistic and personable characters is a breath of fresh in a genre that seems too stagnate at times. While we do see some prerequisite drama and angst, it never tips into melodrama or used as a predictable device to propel the conflict into never never land. She digs beneath stereotypical young adult behavior to give readers an engaging and swoon worthy romance that requires some work and compromise from both parties.

We first met John Logan in book one. Funny, sexy, gorgeous, and far more complex than we first assumed, Logan is a mess of epic proportions. His family situation is extremely sad and he hasn’t much to look forward to after graduation. Similar to the set up to The Deal, Logan maintains a devil may care attitude, sexing his way through the female student population, while silently screaming inside.

I’m totally destined for the NFL. Going pro all the way!
I love spending my summers as a grease monkey in my dad’s hop. It’s great pocket money!
I’m not lusting over Hannah. She’s dating  my best friend!

Lies, lies, and more lies

Best friend to fellow hockey player Garrett Graham, he helped Garrett win the girl but unfortunately developed a crush on her at the same time. This leads to some uncomfortable situations in the first part of the story. Though it directly feeds the conflict that Grace and Logan’s story is based upon, Kennedy resolves it fairly quickly and easily. In fact a little too easy for the depth of emotion Logan seems to have towards Hannah.  I can’t believe I’m sitting here saying this, but I wish that plot line had played out a little more.

“I’m comfortable enough in with my hetero status to say if I didn’t play for the other team, I wouldn’t just fuck Garrett Graham, I’d marry him. That’s what makes this a trillion times harder. I can’t even hate the dude who’s tapping the chick I want.”

Meeting Grace Ivers made me feel much, much better. She is the perfect NA heroine. Pretty, sweet, and shy but no pushover. Witty, intuitive and a touch of snark to let us know that she has no problems speaking her mind nor staying true to herself. She is also NOT a hockey fan which just adds to her appeal. She finds it boring, has no issues telling everyone she finds it boring, and that made me love her a little more.  While I didn’t feel she fleshed out as well as Hannah as an individual; she doesn’t star in a viable separate storyline that revolves just around her, I do believe personality wise she was more harmonically balanced with Logan.

“It’s funny. Less than a week ago I was bemoaning the lack of excitement in my life and now look at me-sexy hockey players showing up at my door to excite the hell out of me. Fuck it. I’m giving myself an award.”

The romance slowly builds (after the V Day/V Night fiasco) between Logan and Grace, infusing the story with yummy sexual tension and laugh out loud scenes that Kennedy uses to show us and Grace that Logan had indeed changed. I cheered Logan’s grand gestures and attempts at groveling to get back into Grace’s heart. They have such addictive banter and delicious crazy chemistry. In the beginning, it was all about the sex but now, it’s all about getting to know someone you like and propelling the spark between you into a roaring flame. To find out what makes them smile, what makes them happy, what makes them…them. Though the romance is the main theme, Kennedy intertwines it with some mild external plot lines, using them to further elevate Logan and Grace’s romance and guide it along the path to true love.

“We’re same-siding? That’s…”
“That’s…?”
“Perfectly fine by me.”

A dynamic and rambunctious cast of secondary characters helps keep the story following its predestined path and offer clues to the next possible hero and heroine’s book. We see some new friends made and some old friends left behind as Logan and Grace grow both individually and as a couple. “Lorris” *snort* Laughter is the prime ingredient on which they are developed and they certainly kept me laughing with their advice, observations, attempts to help.

Once again, Kennedy captivated me with her fun, sexy, and playful romance that reminds me why I enjoy her stories so much. While I admit I didn’t get quite the same charge from this installment as I did with The Deal, my love for this one was still quite high. I really, really, REALLY hope Dean’s book is next. He looks to be the dark horse of the group.

RATING B

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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

One lucky commenter will win an e-copy of Elle Kenney’s The Mistake. This contest is for an ebook only-no substitutions can or will be offered. US entries only.  Winner will be chosen April 30th,  Copy of ebook will be sent to winner directly from publicist.