The Mistake
by Elle Kennedy
Self-Published
Book 2 in the Off Campus series
He’s a player in more ways than one…
College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he’ll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he’s worth a second chance.
Now he’s going to need to up his game…
After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She’s not a charity case, and she’s not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He’ll have to work for it. This time around, she’ll be the one in the driver’s seat…and she plans on driving him wild.
RATED: 18+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Steamy New Adult Sweet & HOT
The Mistake is the second book in Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus series, and features Logan, Garrett's (The Deal) roommate and best friend, and Grace Iver, a Briar freshman who finds herself attracted to the bad boy hockey player. When Logan tries to distract himself from his feelings for his best friends girl with the beautiful and innocent Grace, a mistake and betrayal has Grace fleeing to spend the summer in Paris with her mother. With the new school year, Grace returns as a new woman. But Logan's priorities have changed. No longer tormented for feelings for Hannah, he has one girl in his sight: Grace. But Grace isn't going to make it easy. If he wants her, he needs to prove it. And she doesn't plan to make it easy for him.
I really enjoyed The Mistake. It's original, the story is fun, romantic, and sexy, and just like The Deal, the chemistry between Logan and Grace is great, and the banter is amazing. The obstacles each character has are different from other romances, which made The Mistake delightfully refreshing. Logan's issues with his alcoholic father is not fresh in terms of plot, its made so by the deal he made with his brother to take over after graduation with the shop and taking care of their father. His conflicting feelings with his father are so different from other books I have read, where the MC usually just hates the parent. And Grace's obstacles, in particular, are what makes this book stand out even more. The girl who finally stands up for herself after letting her best friend walk all over her for years. The girl who let things go too far with a man because she liked him, but when she realized he wasn't in it for the same reasons she was, she left. And instead of simply giving him another chance, makes him work for it. The nice girl who finally see's her worth and she deserves more. I loved it. I loved it.
If you are on the hunt for a steamy book, with a great story, you can't go wrong with The Mistake. Hell, so far, the Off-Campus series has been a hit with me. :)
The Ted Bundy rambling
The run
Grace yelling at Logan for declaring his intentions with Grace to Morris
Logan writing a poem for Grace, and the guys making fun of him for it
The guys giving Logan advice on which pose to use in his picture to Grace
Logan pretending to be video chatting with Grace's mother, and telling her about the amazing blowjob Grace just gave him.
Their first time
Logan meeting Grace's dad for the first time
Grace telling Logan she loves him while yelling at him
Logan's phone call to the station saying he loved Grace on the radio
Logan: "Don't worry, gorgeous. I'm just using your phone. I'm not going to murder you."
Grace: "Oh, I know that. Or at least I think I know that. I mean, you seem like a decent guy, but then again, lots of serial killers probably seem decent too when you first meet them. Did you know that Ted Bundy was actually really charming? How messed up is that? Imagine you're walking along one day and you meet this really cute, charming guy, and you're like, oh my God, he's perfect, and then you're over at hi place and you find a trophy dungeon in the basement with skin suits and Barbie dolls with the eyes ripped out and -"
Logan: "Jesus. Did anyone else tell you that you talk a lot?"
Her cheeks are even redder now
Grace: "Sorry. Sometimes I babble when I'm nervous."
I shoot her another grin.
Logan: "I make you nervous?"
Grace: "No. Well, maybe a little. I mean, I don't know you, and ... yeah. Stranger danger and all that, though I'm sure you're not dangerous. But ... you know ..."
Logan: "Right. Ted Bundy."
Grace: "Oh. Okay. Uh ... cool."
I chuckle.
Logan: "Were you expecting me to say no?"
Grace: "Kind of."
Logan: "Why would I? Seriously, what guy turns down Die Hard? The only thing that could sweeten this deal is if you offered me some booze."
Grace: "I don't have any. But I've got a whole bag of gummy bears hidden in my desk drawer."
Logan: "Marry me."
Ramona: "Hey, remember the year at the spring fair? When your mom crashed the stage during that folk band's set and performed a birthday rap for you?"
Grace: "You mean do I remember the day I researched how to emancipate myself from my parents? Vividly."
Mom: "Sweetie, he obviously feels bad about what happened, otherwise he wouldn't be truing to contact you. And ... well, you were going to, ah ... give him your flower -"
I do a literal spit take.
Grace: "Oh my God. Mom. Don't ever say that again. I beg of you."
Mom: "I was trying to be parental."
Grace: "There's parental, and then there's Victoria England."
Mom: "All right. You were going to fuck him -"
Grace: "That's not parental either!"
Mom: "We need to do something drastic."
Crap. The last time she used the word "drastic" in conjunction with an outing, we went to a salon in Boston and she dyed her hair pink.
Grace: "Like what?"
Mom: "We're paying a visit to Claudette."
Grace: "Who's Claudette?"
Mom: "My hairdresser."
Oh God. I'm going to have pink hair. I just know it.
Hannah: "Seriously, dude, put on a shirt."
Dean: "Hey, you know what they say. If you've got it, flaunt it."
Hannah: "No, I'm pretty sure they say put on a shirt when you go for a run, you cocky narcissist."
His jaw drops
Dean: "Narcissist? More like realist. Look at these abs, Wellsy. Actually, touch them. Seriously. It will change your life."
She snorts.
Dean: "What, you're too intimidated by al this masculine beauty?"
Hannah: "You know what? I would love to touch your abs."
In the blink of an eye, Hannah scoots down and grabs something from the planter next to the garage. A handful of dirt. Which she proceeds to smear on him, leaving a line from his belly button to the top of his waistband. And since it's hot as hell outside and Dean is already sweaty, the dirt cakes to his skin like a mud mask.
Logan: "Holy shit. You shaved the beard."
I glare at Garrett
Logan: "Why didn't you tell me? I would've thrown us a party."
Dean: "You mean thrown him a party."
Garrett: "No, he means us. We're the ones who had to stare at that ghastly thing for half a year."
I smack Tuck's ass as he breezes past my stool.
Logan: "Welcome back, Babyface."
Tuck: "Fuck off."
Yup, it's good to be home.
Pierre: "Coach twisted his arm and convinced him to practice today, but even if he makes the cut, there's a good chance he won't wanna join the team."
Dean: "Oh, he's joining the team. I don't care if I have to suck his dick to get him to agree to it."
Laughter breaks out all around him.
Logan: "Sucking dick now, are we?"
An evil gleam lights his eyes.
Dean: "You know what? I won't just suck it. I'll suck him off. You know, give him an orgasm."
Logan: "Hey, gorgeous. I got you a muffin."
Grace: "Why?"
Logan: "'Cause I wanted to get you something, and you already have coffee. Ergo, muffin."
I raise one eyebrow.
Grace: "Are you trying to buy your way into my good graces?"
Logan: "Yup. And excellent pun, by the way."
Grace: "I wasn't punning. My name just happens to be a homonym."
Logan: "I love it when you talk homonyms to me."
Garrett: "I take it we're wooing again tonight?"
Damn right we are.
Text:
Grace: Are you home?
Logan: "Yup.
Grace: Txt me your address. I'm coming over.
Logan: What if I don't want any visitors?
Grace: Srsly? After all your "wooing" you're really gonna say no?
His next message pops up in no time at all. It's his address.
Ha. That's what I thought.
Grace: "What is wrong with you? You went to Morris's dorm and declared your intentions?"
He offers a faint smile.
Logan: "Of course. It was the noble thing to do. I can't be chasing after another guy's girl without his knowledge."
Grace: "I'm not his girl. We went on one date! And now I'm never going to be his girl, because he doesn't want to go out with me again."
Logan: "What the hell? I'm disappointed in him. I thought he had more of a competitive spirit than that?"
Grace: "What did you say to him, Logan? Did you brainwash him or something? How are you guys family? You don't even know each other!"
Strangled laughter sounds from Logan's direction. I spin around and level a dark glower at him.
Logan: "He's talking about the joint family we created in Mob Boss. It's this role-playing game where you're the Don of a mob family and you're fighting a bunch of other mafia bosses for territory and rackets and stuff. We played it when I went over there, and I ended up staying until four in the morning. Seriously, it was intense. We're the Lorris crime syndicate."
I'm dumbfounded.
Oh my God.
Lorris? As in Logan and Morris? They fucking Brangelina'd themselves?
Logan: "What rhymes with insensitive?"
Garrett: "Sensitive."
Logan: "Yes, G, I'll be sure to rhyme insensitive with sensitive. Gold star for you."
Garrett: "I just have one question."
Tuck: "Really? Because I have many."
Sighing, I put my pen down.
Logan: "GO ahead. Get it out of your systems."
Garrett: "This is for a chick, right? Because if you're doing it for funsies, then that's just plain weird."
Logan: "It's for Grace."
My best friend nods solemnly.
Then he keels over. Asshole. I scowl as he clutches his side, is broad back shuddering with each bellowing laugh. And even while racked with laughter, he manages to pull his phone from his pocket and start typing.
Logan: "What are you doing?"
Garrett: "Texting Wellsy. She needs to know this."
Logan: "I hate you."
Logan: "Jesus Christ, will you quit dictating this conversation to Hannah? Bros before hos, dude."
Garrett: "Call my girlfriend a ho one more time and you won't have a bro."
Grace: "Oka, well, your choice of restaurant? Perfect ten. Chivalry ... you opened my car door, so that's a ten too. Conversational prowess ... nine."
Logan: "Nine?"
Grace: "I'm taking a point off for the hockey talk. That was rather dreary."
Logan: "You've gone too far, woman."
Grace: "Affection levels? Ten. You had your arm around me and held my hand, which was sweet. Oh, and the last one - goodnight kiss. Yet to be rated, but you should know, you're starting at minus-one because you requested a performance review instead of making your move.
His blue eyes twinkle.
Logan: "Seriously? I'm being penalized for trying to be a gentleman?"
Grace: "Minus-two now. Your opening is getting narrower and narrower, Johnny. Soon you won't -"
His mouth captures mine in a blistering kiss.
Sabrina: "Richie."
Dean: "Sabrina."
Sabrina: "I noticed you actually bothered showing up for class this morning. You realized the TA is a dude, huh? You poor thing. Can't fuck your way into a passing grade this semester."
Dean: "Blow me, Sabrina."
She cocks a brow
Sabrina: "Yeah? Pull it out, big boy."
Dean raises a brow of his own.
Dean: "I should. Maybe having something in your mouth will finally shut you up."
Sabrina throws her head back and laughs.
Sabrina: "Oh, Ritchie, you really think that'll shut me up?"
She winks at Beau
Sabrina: "Tell him the kind of noises I make when your dick is in my mouth."
Grace: "Uh ... I'm closed for business tonight. It's my moon time."
I choke out a laugh.
Logan: "Your moon time?"
Grace: "What? It sounds a lot more whimsical than I'm menstruating."
I cringe, instantly transported back to those awkward moments in sex ed class.
Grace: "See? My way is better."
I'm about to put down the laptop, but when I hear footsteps nearing the door, I suddenly have an idea.
AKA the perfect payback for Grace's desertion.
Just as the door opens, I look intently at the screen and act like I'm still chatting with her mother.
Logan: " - And she stuck her finger in my ass when she was blowing me, which was fucking incredible. I never thought I'd enjoy having anything up there, but -"
Grace scream in horror.
Grace: "Oh my God!"
She dives onto the bed and grabs the laptop.
Grace: "Mom, don't listen to him! He's just joking -"
She stops abruptly, blinking at the screen before turning to glare at me.
Grace: "You are such an asshole."
Grace: "Scared? Why would I be scared?"
Logan: "Because it's a scary movie. A ghost is killing people in gruesome ways, Grace."
I roll my eyes.
Grace: "Horror movies don't scare me. They piss me off because the characters are so frickin' stupid. They make the worst decisions possible, and we're supposed to feel sorry for them when they die? No way."
Logan: "Maybe these characters will be smart, levelheaded adulted who do everything right but still get killed."
Grace: "There's a ghost in the house and they choose to stay there. The levelheaded response? Leave."
Grace: "You're huge."
Logan: "You calling me pudgy?"
Grace: "Don't worry, I like being in bed with a big, manly hockey player. But seriously, you're huge. Big chest, big legs, big hands -"
Logan: "Big dick. Don't forget about the big dick."
Grace: "You mean this teeny thing/"
My fingers travel to his groin, running over his satin-smooth hardness.
Grace: "Hold on. Let me find a magnifying glass so I can get a better look."
Logan: "Shut your mouth, woman."
Laughing, he flips me over so I'm pinned under the muscular body I was just admiring. He leans in to kiss my neck - nope, the jerk doesn't kiss it. He blows a loud raspberry that makes me shriek in delight.
Logan: "What were you saying about my dick?"
Grace: "Nothing. It's the perfect size for my needs."
Grace: "No. I'm not listening to this bullshit anymore. I'm going to leave you to your sulking, and maybe when you're finished with your one-man pity party, we can actually have a rational conversation. And just in case my reaction to your idiocy didn't make it clear where I stand with us, then let me spell it out for you. I love you, you stupid jackass."
Morris: "Sweetheart, we're at work. Show some decorum."
Daisy: "Says the guy who ripped this shirt off me in the supply closet."
Grace: "I can't believe you said all that stuff. I don't pan on ever breaking up with you."
Logan: "Good. Because I'm never breaking up with you. Actually, I think I'm going to marry you one day."
Check out the rest of the Off-Campus series below