The Dare by Elle Kennedy: The last book in the ‘Briar U’ series is, unfortunately, the weakest in my opinion. Funnily enough, the same thing happened with the Off Campus series. I found the plot more than a little unbelievable, especially the initial connection and sudden attraction between Taylor and Connor. He is, of course, one of the hockey players, while she is a sorority girl. Both are carrying emotional baggage from their pasts. The story starts with fake dating, turns into fake dating for completely different reasons, and eventually develops into a real relationship. If that sounds a little odd, it also feels that way while reading. Even so, it is still an entertaining book. Elle Kennedy definitely has a way with words.
The Legacy by Elle Kennedy: It makes more sense to read The Legacy after finishing the ‘Briar U’ series, because there are very few spoilers if you decide to read it straight after ‘Off Campus’. After all, the book focuses on the four original hockey players from the ‘Off Campus’ series. I found the book a little bland, to be honest. I had hoped for more substance in their lives three years after college. Some developments felt completely unrealistic. Tucker, I am looking at you, Mr. Already Wildly Successful. Other parts did not quite fit the characters we had come to know. Graham and Hannah, you are not entirely off the hook either. Still, who can resist a longer epilogue? Getting an entire book dedicated to catching up with these characters was a lovely treat.
The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy: Gigi, the daughter of Graham and Hannah from The Deal, met Ryder years ago and was anything but impressed. At college, however, Gisele and the so called “Prom King” are forced to work together to achieve their goals, and before long the sparks begin to fly. I really liked these two. Gigi, in particular, turned out to be far more than a copy of her parents. Both main characters are a lot of fun to follow, and Ryder’s friends receive plenty of page time and meaningful character development. Gigi’s friends, on the other hand, remain more in the background, and I would have liked to see a stronger female friendship dynamic. Even so, I loved the book and cannot wait to pick up the next novel in the ‘Campus Diaries’ series.
The Dixon Rule by Elle Kennedy: Diana and Shane are a bit like an old married couple. They live in an off campus housing complex and even enjoy dancing together. Of course, the story is not quite that simple. There is fake dating, plenty of complications, and the emotional baggage that seems to come with every Elle Kennedy romance. Her characters are never allowed to be just happy, there always needs to be some emotional trauma. Shane, however, is refreshingly optimistic and comes across like the epitome of a human Labrador. Even when something unexpected turns his life upside down, he manages to bounce back surprisingly quickly. Compared with some of the other books in the series, this one is definitely on the fluffier side, but it is still an enjoyable read.
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