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Arranged #1
The Deal
On my eighteenth birthday my father, the senator, gives me the gift he thinks every little girl dreams of.
The man of my dreams, and the wedding to match.
Stefan Zoric is heir to an elite worldwide modeling agency. Practically a prince.
My arrangement is simple, as far as sham marriages go.
I give him my virginity, behave as the perfect wife and he'll pay for the college degree my father found irrelevant.
But I don't want to be the perfect wife.
I want him to want me the way I want him.
I want him to confide in me.
But Stefan has secrets that he holds close, dangerous secrets.
And soon I'm wondering what kind of devil have I made a deal with?
The man of my dreams, and the wedding to match.
Stefan Zoric is heir to an elite worldwide modeling agency. Practically a prince.
My arrangement is simple, as far as sham marriages go.
I give him my virginity, behave as the perfect wife and he'll pay for the college degree my father found irrelevant.
But I don't want to be the perfect wife.
I want him to want me the way I want him.
I want him to confide in me.
But Stefan has secrets that he holds close, dangerous secrets.
And soon I'm wondering what kind of devil have I made a deal with?
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2019
7041 people are currently reading
4493 people want to read
About the author
Stella Gray
64 books744 followersStella Gray has always had her head in the clouds and has been writing since she was in high school. A contemporary romance author, she loves dark romances with morally gray men. When she’s not writing, she’s either in the kitchen testing out a new baking recipe or spending time in the great outdoors.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 537 reviews
November 28, 2019
Raise your hand if you attended college on a Fafsa-Scholarship-Debt combo. Would you have married a stranger or traded your virginity for tuition? Is this 1960 and no one told me? Are women chattel to be auctioned by their fathers? Isn’t 18 the legal age at which you tell your parents to faff off?
Smh. This book is so far from logical it can only be described as farcical.
September 29, 2019
Is there less than one star????
Enough. I quit at about 55%. Right after the first semi-sexual encounter between the two main characters, some 6 weeks into their marriage. When, after the doorbell interrupts them, he tells her to get herself presentable so that she doesn't look like "a whore who just got f**ked in a closet." This follows exactly zero civil interactions between bride and groom since they met.
This is awful. This man is awfiul. This girl-child is ridiculous. This would not even work well as an historical. I really like a good arranged marriage - marriage of convenience. One where the parties at least start out agreeing to support the other in reaching their separate goals. That is not this book. He is abusive, verbally and emotionally. She is worse than a doormat. She is a six year old child with absolutely no sense or self-respect. Her daddy is abusive. Her stepmother has reached her goal - doormat with money. There are no worthwhile people. There are no worthwhile relationships. There is no interesting story. There is no reason to read this book.
This may be the worst thing I read this year. I am insulted. Rant complete.
Enough. I quit at about 55%. Right after the first semi-sexual encounter between the two main characters, some 6 weeks into their marriage. When, after the doorbell interrupts them, he tells her to get herself presentable so that she doesn't look like "a whore who just got f**ked in a closet." This follows exactly zero civil interactions between bride and groom since they met.
This is awful. This man is awfiul. This girl-child is ridiculous. This would not even work well as an historical. I really like a good arranged marriage - marriage of convenience. One where the parties at least start out agreeing to support the other in reaching their separate goals. That is not this book. He is abusive, verbally and emotionally. She is worse than a doormat. She is a six year old child with absolutely no sense or self-respect. Her daddy is abusive. Her stepmother has reached her goal - doormat with money. There are no worthwhile people. There are no worthwhile relationships. There is no interesting story. There is no reason to read this book.
This may be the worst thing I read this year. I am insulted. Rant complete.
October 9, 2021
Holy cow! Yes I know in this centurt, it was very unappealing reading a story about a virgin selling herself to a man just to get a tuition for her degree.
And yet despite all that, I still enjoy The Deal very much.
I have to admit Miss Gray has a brilliant talent in writing The Deal. The story is interesting especially reading it from Victoria's POV. How she seduces her way into Stefan's heart.
It is also clever strategy from Miss Gray to not put too much Stefan's POV to keep him mysterious and aloof. This strategy definetly pays off!
I am so looking forward for the next book.
4 stars
And yet despite all that, I still enjoy The Deal very much.
I have to admit Miss Gray has a brilliant talent in writing The Deal. The story is interesting especially reading it from Victoria's POV. How she seduces her way into Stefan's heart.
It is also clever strategy from Miss Gray to not put too much Stefan's POV to keep him mysterious and aloof. This strategy definetly pays off!
I am so looking forward for the next book.
4 stars
March 6, 2020
Victoria is the daughter of a senator lived a very secluded life and for my 18th birthday all she wants is for her father to pay for her linguistic degree her father the senator has other plans. At her birthday ball he says he had the best birthday present ever and would reveal it at the party. So Victoria couldn't wait for the reveal that is until she meets tall, dark and filthy rich Stefan Zoric. Victoria father has arranged for Victoria & Stefan to be wed. Victoria of course was furious but her father explained no man wanted a smart girl he just wants eye candy on his side, and to obey him to be a trophy wife no more.
Stefan Zoric wants to rule his fathers company more than anything the international modeling agency, however he must get his father to trust him by doing the one thing he never thought he would. His father arranged a marriage for him to a senator daughter who is pure and innocent and all she wants is for me to pay for an linguistic degree so all I have to do is convince her she can trust me by sealing it with a kiss. She just don't know yet she made a deal with the devil!!!
Stefan Zoric wants to rule his fathers company more than anything the international modeling agency, however he must get his father to trust him by doing the one thing he never thought he would. His father arranged a marriage for him to a senator daughter who is pure and innocent and all she wants is for me to pay for an linguistic degree so all I have to do is convince her she can trust me by sealing it with a kiss. She just don't know yet she made a deal with the devil!!!
December 4, 2019
My review encompasses all three books. I'm not going to provide any spoilers so you are safe.
I was hesitant when I picked up this book and actually put it back on my shelf after I noticed there would be more books to come. So...I waited...until Stella published all of them. Yes, I cheated. Regardless, the collection was unique and spellbinding. The storyline could have fallen into my cookie cutter stack of reads but Stella brought the characters to life and told their story in such a fascinating way. I am now hooked and I cant wait to explore more from this author. Happy reading
I was hesitant when I picked up this book and actually put it back on my shelf after I noticed there would be more books to come. So...I waited...until Stella published all of them. Yes, I cheated. Regardless, the collection was unique and spellbinding. The storyline could have fallen into my cookie cutter stack of reads but Stella brought the characters to life and told their story in such a fascinating way. I am now hooked and I cant wait to explore more from this author. Happy reading
March 24, 2020
I blame quarantine for reading this entire series .No other way I would finish book after book of series
October 1, 2021
Rating 2-2.5
This wasn't exactly what I signed up for. Anyway, not to my taste at all.
I did read till the end with some skimming.
Not going to read the rest of the series.
This is almost like a mafia themed book. The heroine is 18 years old.
And the dialogue was just not for me either.
This wasn't exactly what I signed up for. Anyway, not to my taste at all.
I did read till the end with some skimming.
Not going to read the rest of the series.
This is almost like a mafia themed book. The heroine is 18 years old.
And the dialogue was just not for me either.
November 28, 2020
What the flying fuck was this book?
TW: sexual abuse, sexual assault, graphic sex, misogyny.
This review will contain spoilers, but in all honesty, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, and therefore I'm not going to hide it due to spoilers (however, you have been warned).
In a nutshell, what is this book? 18 year old girl meets charming man. Girl's dad pawns daughter off to charming man so man can pay for her college fees, so Daddy doesn't have to. Girl and man marry. Man becomes Christian Grey but worse, girl becomes a dumb sex-crazed bimbo with no self respect. Man and girl think about banging. Man is rude to girl, so girl wants to bang him even more. They bang lots of times in the most distanced, unloving way. Man has epiphany and treats girl nice about 5 pages before we conveniently find out that man and his dad operate a sex trafficking ring so the book is left on a cliffhanger.
And * b r e a t h e * for a second. Right, here we go.
I thought Fifty Shades was bad, but this was just on another level. This is a really short book, at only 300 pages on Kindle, but it felt like an eternity. At least in Fifty Shades there was a plot line (albeit a shite one), whereas in this book, my above summary has more substance to it than the actual book did. You've probably noticed me comparing this book to Fifty Shades a lot, but honestly, this book is the fanfiction of the fanfiction that is Fifty Shades.
In all honesty, I don't know where to begin with dissecting this book. Let's start with our main man shall we? The sexy hunk that treats his wife like a piece of shit but it's okay because he is rly hawt tho. Not once is this man pleasant other than when he first meets our main character and lures her into his "I'll send you to college if you bang me" snare, and like I say, about 5 pages before we find out he is even worse than we thought he was. For a man whose seems to think that misogyny and abusive sex are substitutes for a personality, he sure does seem to have got a sweet deal in life. A young wife (virgin, as per his request) that does nothing but sit locked in her hotel room all day waiting for him to come home from work, make an inappropriate comment about her genitals, and then bugger off. A high paying job. Abs for days. He's the full package. But this guy doesn't just stop there, oh no. he certainly fancies himself a bit of a romantic wordsmith, a connoisseur of the language of love. Let's look at some examples, shall we, kids?
"I'd spin her around, shove her against the wall before unzipping and slamming into her...I wouldn't keep torturing myself with thoughts of her on her knees, her pouting little mouth wrapped around my cock...or taking her from behind, her hands fisting the blanket as I gripped her hips and jackhammered her into moaning submission"
....hubba hubba. Another, shall we?
"'I signed up to marry a virgin' he told me, as if it were a threat. 'Make sure that's what I get'."
For context, the above quote comes from quite possibly the most glorious mindfuck of a scene a book has ever had to offer. Mr Charming says this line to his brother in response to his brother trying it on with his loving wife. As opposed to being mad at his brother for sexually assaulting his wife, and protecting her, he is more concerned that he would not be the one to rob her so romantically (see first quote) of her meaningless social construct. And they say romance is dead!
Yet, this scene does not stop there, oh no. But wifey also has a wonderful reaction to everything that happens here. Later that night, Mr Charming does the nasty to her ever since his awakening realisation that someone else may take her virginity (without consent, not that that is what matters to Mr Charming). Wifey has had quite a day, as we can all see; Sexual assault followed by...well, sexual assault (but he is proper fit tho, so it's all gucci). Her thoughts?
"I was grateful - because [the brother's] actions were what had led to me and Stefan [Mr Charming] finally consummating our marriage"....silver linings, eh?
Honestly, I can't even handle anyone in this book. This girl is just so horny that she doesn't care how this man treats her, she just decides to use his disgusting behaviour to her advantage;
"At least, he had kissed me [following an argument between the two of them that obviously had to lead to sexual attention because aggression is hot]. Maybe that was the trick...getting him angry enough that he would loose control [and bone her]".
Excellent, we love healthy relationships where both partners are toxic that is makes it okay because they can be toxic together.
I could honestly go on about this book forever but I don't even think it deserves this much attention, good or bad, because it is just disgusting. I can't even. I'm done, and am now off to burn my Kindle. Thank you for reading.
TW: sexual abuse, sexual assault, graphic sex, misogyny.
This review will contain spoilers, but in all honesty, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, and therefore I'm not going to hide it due to spoilers (however, you have been warned).
In a nutshell, what is this book? 18 year old girl meets charming man. Girl's dad pawns daughter off to charming man so man can pay for her college fees, so Daddy doesn't have to. Girl and man marry. Man becomes Christian Grey but worse, girl becomes a dumb sex-crazed bimbo with no self respect. Man and girl think about banging. Man is rude to girl, so girl wants to bang him even more. They bang lots of times in the most distanced, unloving way. Man has epiphany and treats girl nice about 5 pages before we conveniently find out that man and his dad operate a sex trafficking ring so the book is left on a cliffhanger.
And * b r e a t h e * for a second. Right, here we go.
I thought Fifty Shades was bad, but this was just on another level. This is a really short book, at only 300 pages on Kindle, but it felt like an eternity. At least in Fifty Shades there was a plot line (albeit a shite one), whereas in this book, my above summary has more substance to it than the actual book did. You've probably noticed me comparing this book to Fifty Shades a lot, but honestly, this book is the fanfiction of the fanfiction that is Fifty Shades.
In all honesty, I don't know where to begin with dissecting this book. Let's start with our main man shall we? The sexy hunk that treats his wife like a piece of shit but it's okay because he is rly hawt tho. Not once is this man pleasant other than when he first meets our main character and lures her into his "I'll send you to college if you bang me" snare, and like I say, about 5 pages before we find out he is even worse than we thought he was. For a man whose seems to think that misogyny and abusive sex are substitutes for a personality, he sure does seem to have got a sweet deal in life. A young wife (virgin, as per his request) that does nothing but sit locked in her hotel room all day waiting for him to come home from work, make an inappropriate comment about her genitals, and then bugger off. A high paying job. Abs for days. He's the full package. But this guy doesn't just stop there, oh no. he certainly fancies himself a bit of a romantic wordsmith, a connoisseur of the language of love. Let's look at some examples, shall we, kids?
"I'd spin her around, shove her against the wall before unzipping and slamming into her...I wouldn't keep torturing myself with thoughts of her on her knees, her pouting little mouth wrapped around my cock...or taking her from behind, her hands fisting the blanket as I gripped her hips and jackhammered her into moaning submission"
....hubba hubba. Another, shall we?
"'I signed up to marry a virgin' he told me, as if it were a threat. 'Make sure that's what I get'."
For context, the above quote comes from quite possibly the most glorious mindfuck of a scene a book has ever had to offer. Mr Charming says this line to his brother in response to his brother trying it on with his loving wife. As opposed to being mad at his brother for sexually assaulting his wife, and protecting her, he is more concerned that he would not be the one to rob her so romantically (see first quote) of her meaningless social construct. And they say romance is dead!
Yet, this scene does not stop there, oh no. But wifey also has a wonderful reaction to everything that happens here. Later that night, Mr Charming does the nasty to her ever since his awakening realisation that someone else may take her virginity (without consent, not that that is what matters to Mr Charming). Wifey has had quite a day, as we can all see; Sexual assault followed by...well, sexual assault (but he is proper fit tho, so it's all gucci). Her thoughts?
"I was grateful - because [the brother's] actions were what had led to me and Stefan [Mr Charming] finally consummating our marriage"....silver linings, eh?
Honestly, I can't even handle anyone in this book. This girl is just so horny that she doesn't care how this man treats her, she just decides to use his disgusting behaviour to her advantage;
"At least, he had kissed me [following an argument between the two of them that obviously had to lead to sexual attention because aggression is hot]. Maybe that was the trick...getting him angry enough that he would loose control [and bone her]".
Excellent, we love healthy relationships where both partners are toxic that is makes it okay because they can be toxic together.
I could honestly go on about this book forever but I don't even think it deserves this much attention, good or bad, because it is just disgusting. I can't even. I'm done, and am now off to burn my Kindle. Thank you for reading.
October 16, 2019
Well i was disappointed by this book. It was like the female character was so confused with what she wanted it was actually stupid. I stopped reading it after chapter 7. If you want to read about a 18 year old teenage girl making stupid decisions then this book is for you
Disappointed
Disappointed
February 22, 2020
This is the book for you if you enjoy:
Some good-old-fashioned sexism
Emotionally abusive relationships
18-year-olds making stupid fuckwit decisions
Basic premise: 18-year-old Tori is arranged to marry a man she's never met in exchange for tuition money. Thank God her new husband is an absolute fucking sexbomb AND loaded AND so hot all the girls want him AND did I mention he's filthy rich?! Unfortunately, he refuses to treat her like a human being, much less acknowledge her existence at all. While Tori is flip-flopping between desperately wanting to seduce her husband and wanting to rebel against him, Stefan "God's Gift to Women" Zoric is flirting with other women (and it's implied he fucks them too), ordering his wife around, dragging her away from any outside social interaction, and forcing her to have a babysitter while he's busy working/flirting. Oh- and here's the kicker! He's the second-in-command for a major prostitution ring!
SWOON!
The entire time I was reading I was rooting for Tori to run away and leave him (even though I knew it wasn't going to happen.) And he only got WORSE. I actually SKIPPED the sex scenes because I hated him that much.
The entire book goes like this:
Tori: Ahhhhhh, he's so sexy, he's so hot, I want to rip his clothes off and fuck him into next Tuesday, ahhhhhhh! But he's such a raging dickhole to me, sadface! :( :( Why is he so sad? It must be because I haven't had sex with him yet. But he doesn't want to have sex with me. SADFACE! How can I make him have sex with me? :(:( I'll ask my MOM how she seduced my DAD!
Stefan: I want to fuck the shit out of her...but I won't, because.........reasons.
Tori: UGH, Stefan is such an asshole! I'm going to rebel and waste his money and flirt with other guys.....WAIT, but he's sexy, and he's probably being mean to me because I'm a VIRGIN! I need to have sex with him ASAP! But he doesn't want to have sex with me!!!!!! How can I force him to have sex with me?!?!?
Fin. That is the entire book. You don't even have to read it now.
Oh wait, I left out the most important part: the prostitution ring! It was supposed to be a "twist", I think, but there was no subtlety to it whatsoever, and it made Tori come off as a really naïve dumbass. Women are pairing off with "clients" and going home with them, and some of the women look distinctly unhappy? Wow. Color me shocked. I couldn't see that coming from a mile away. Something else I can't see coming from a mile away is the author's attempts to begin a redemption arc for Stefan. I have no idea how the fuc* he is going to be redeemable, but I bet $0.05 that it'll happen in the next book.
Questions?
1. Who the hell voted for Senator Lindsey? A sexist, antiquated old fuck who thinks women should still be in the kitchen instead of going to school? And he got elected in the Chicago area? Gerrymander all you want, there are STILL not enough sexist antiquated old head-jammed-up-arse old fucks to get this guy in office.
2. On average, the University of Chicago costs ~$25k a year after financial aid. Tori even had a half-scholarship to offset the balance. She literally sold herself and her freedom to save herself from maybe $100k of student debt. Who does this?????
3. What does Tori even see in Stefan? He's sexy. Whatever. There are tons of sexy guys out there who'll date you for your personality, rather than dating you because they need a wife, any wife, (right now!!!!!) (ASAP!!!!!) so they can be in line to inherit daddy's prostitution ring.
Favorite quote?
"I dropped my pants to the floor and slid hard into her, pumping back and forth like a piston in hot oil."
And then this absolute gem at the end of the book: (which is supposed to be some sort of tagline to draw you into the next one)
“Tori and Stefan have had a rocky start to their marriage. Can they work through their latest challenge?”
Challenge? Challenge? Getting your husband to pick up his dirty socks is a challenge. Snoring in bed is a challenge. Finding out that your husband is head of a human trafficking ring is not a challenge.
Some good-old-fashioned sexism
Emotionally abusive relationships
18-year-olds making stupid fuckwit decisions
Basic premise: 18-year-old Tori is arranged to marry a man she's never met in exchange for tuition money. Thank God her new husband is an absolute fucking sexbomb AND loaded AND so hot all the girls want him AND did I mention he's filthy rich?! Unfortunately, he refuses to treat her like a human being, much less acknowledge her existence at all. While Tori is flip-flopping between desperately wanting to seduce her husband and wanting to rebel against him, Stefan "God's Gift to Women" Zoric is flirting with other women (and it's implied he fucks them too), ordering his wife around, dragging her away from any outside social interaction, and forcing her to have a babysitter while he's busy working/flirting. Oh- and here's the kicker! He's the second-in-command for a major prostitution ring!
SWOON!
The entire time I was reading I was rooting for Tori to run away and leave him (even though I knew it wasn't going to happen.) And he only got WORSE. I actually SKIPPED the sex scenes because I hated him that much.
The entire book goes like this:
Tori: Ahhhhhh, he's so sexy, he's so hot, I want to rip his clothes off and fuck him into next Tuesday, ahhhhhhh! But he's such a raging dickhole to me, sadface! :( :( Why is he so sad? It must be because I haven't had sex with him yet. But he doesn't want to have sex with me. SADFACE! How can I make him have sex with me? :(:( I'll ask my MOM how she seduced my DAD!
Stefan: I want to fuck the shit out of her...but I won't, because.........reasons.
Tori: UGH, Stefan is such an asshole! I'm going to rebel and waste his money and flirt with other guys.....WAIT, but he's sexy, and he's probably being mean to me because I'm a VIRGIN! I need to have sex with him ASAP! But he doesn't want to have sex with me!!!!!! How can I force him to have sex with me?!?!?
Fin. That is the entire book. You don't even have to read it now.
Oh wait, I left out the most important part: the prostitution ring! It was supposed to be a "twist", I think, but there was no subtlety to it whatsoever, and it made Tori come off as a really naïve dumbass. Women are pairing off with "clients" and going home with them, and some of the women look distinctly unhappy? Wow. Color me shocked. I couldn't see that coming from a mile away. Something else I can't see coming from a mile away is the author's attempts to begin a redemption arc for Stefan. I have no idea how the fuc* he is going to be redeemable, but I bet $0.05 that it'll happen in the next book.
Questions?
1. Who the hell voted for Senator Lindsey? A sexist, antiquated old fuck who thinks women should still be in the kitchen instead of going to school? And he got elected in the Chicago area? Gerrymander all you want, there are STILL not enough sexist antiquated old head-jammed-up-arse old fucks to get this guy in office.
2. On average, the University of Chicago costs ~$25k a year after financial aid. Tori even had a half-scholarship to offset the balance. She literally sold herself and her freedom to save herself from maybe $100k of student debt. Who does this?????
3. What does Tori even see in Stefan? He's sexy. Whatever. There are tons of sexy guys out there who'll date you for your personality, rather than dating you because they need a wife, any wife, (right now!!!!!) (ASAP!!!!!) so they can be in line to inherit daddy's prostitution ring.
Favorite quote?
"I dropped my pants to the floor and slid hard into her, pumping back and forth like a piston in hot oil."
And then this absolute gem at the end of the book: (which is supposed to be some sort of tagline to draw you into the next one)
“Tori and Stefan have had a rocky start to their marriage. Can they work through their latest challenge?”
Challenge? Challenge? Getting your husband to pick up his dirty socks is a challenge. Snoring in bed is a challenge. Finding out that your husband is head of a human trafficking ring is not a challenge.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2020
The Deal
Arranged, Book One
By: Stella Gray
Narrated by: Sebastian York, Elena Wolfe
Overall 1 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 1 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 01-31-20
Unoriginal story and irritating characters. The immature female lead, aloof male counterpart. You know the story: YA virgin heroine and a filthy rich man with dominant traits.
Elena Wolfe is pleasant to listen to and Sebastian York great like always but I couldn’t get past the storyline and stupid characters.
Arranged, Book One
By: Stella Gray
Narrated by: Sebastian York, Elena Wolfe
Overall 1 out of 5 stars
Performance 5 out of 5 stars
Story 1 out of 5 stars
Reviewed: 01-31-20
Unoriginal story and irritating characters. The immature female lead, aloof male counterpart. You know the story: YA virgin heroine and a filthy rich man with dominant traits.
Elena Wolfe is pleasant to listen to and Sebastian York great like always but I couldn’t get past the storyline and stupid characters.
November 18, 2024
Slow, too long, but mainly the FMC is a totally dumb twat and after I finished the trilogy - I can honestly say this entire thing SUCKED.
Victoria (18, virgin) thinks her father (a senator) is about to surprise her with a birthday present of college tuition, instead he introduces her to her new fiancé. Stefan Zoric (26) wants to take over his father's "modeling" company, but to do that, he has to prove his worthiness to good old dad, and one way to do that is to agree to marry the senator's daughter.
Tori isn't surprised that she's being forced to marry someone she's just met - so we just go with it. Stefan tells her that they'll make the best of it, and she'll get the college degree she longs for, and he'll get the company - win/win. They go three months without speaking and then it's the wedding night. She's all prepared to lose the V and he falls asleep instead. He has no desire to be with her or even talk to her in any way. They go on a honeymoon where he completely ignores her, doesn't want to talk to her, only wants to work. She sees him slipping into an elevator with another woman, his hand on her lower back, whispering sweet things into her ear. Tori doesn't do shit. Doesn't even confront him about it. They spend more honeymoon time with her trying to seduce him and he keeps ignoring her. All the while - she spends time talking ENDLESSLY about the meaning and origins of words. Did I tell you she wants to be a linguist? Anyway - there's more time spent on that than anything else in the book. So, they still haven't had sex or done anything at all when they find out her dad had a heart attack. He arranges for the private jet to fly them home, but he also packs it full of supermodels - who are all partying with champagne while he flirts with them - all while she's sitting there in shock because of her father. Then she sneaks off to the bedroom and crawls into bed to cry. He comes in and cuddles behind her and says "it'll be ok" and she's all like "oh he's so sweet. i didn't realize he cared so much" I'm like bitch he was just outside partying with supermodels instead of consoling you!!!!!
FYI - he only fingerfucked her - but still - he's awful.
This book ends with Tori finding out the truth about the "modeling" agency.
Originally - I DNF'd at 55%, but I was bored so I went back and picked up - and ended up finishing the series just by hate reading. I can honestly say - this book is awful and the series is even worse.
For this first book, I listened to the audiobook because Sebastian York - duh. But Stefan's POV was about 1% of this entire series so that doesn't give you much motivation to read it anyway.
SERIES INFORMATION. This contains spoilers.
Stefan is such a dick. He's horrible to her, even though she is a dumb twat. She lets him treat her like shit and just goes with it. Like I said - she's so completely stupid. In every single way. We also find out that Stefan was in love with someone else and he is surprised to have a kid with that woman. In the 3rd book - Stefan goes from a cold hearted douche to a simpering wienie boy. It's just gross. He's ends up being just as dumb as she is. They deserve each other. OH!!! I will say - once they start having sex - mainly in book 2 and 3 - the sex is really hot.
Victoria (18, virgin) thinks her father (a senator) is about to surprise her with a birthday present of college tuition, instead he introduces her to her new fiancé. Stefan Zoric (26) wants to take over his father's "modeling" company, but to do that, he has to prove his worthiness to good old dad, and one way to do that is to agree to marry the senator's daughter.
Tori isn't surprised that she's being forced to marry someone she's just met - so we just go with it. Stefan tells her that they'll make the best of it, and she'll get the college degree she longs for, and he'll get the company - win/win. They go three months without speaking and then it's the wedding night. She's all prepared to lose the V and he falls asleep instead. He has no desire to be with her or even talk to her in any way. They go on a honeymoon where he completely ignores her, doesn't want to talk to her, only wants to work. She sees him slipping into an elevator with another woman, his hand on her lower back, whispering sweet things into her ear. Tori doesn't do shit. Doesn't even confront him about it. They spend more honeymoon time with her trying to seduce him and he keeps ignoring her. All the while - she spends time talking ENDLESSLY about the meaning and origins of words. Did I tell you she wants to be a linguist? Anyway - there's more time spent on that than anything else in the book. So, they still haven't had sex or done anything at all when they find out her dad had a heart attack. He arranges for the private jet to fly them home, but he also packs it full of supermodels - who are all partying with champagne while he flirts with them - all while she's sitting there in shock because of her father. Then she sneaks off to the bedroom and crawls into bed to cry. He comes in and cuddles behind her and says "it'll be ok" and she's all like "oh he's so sweet. i didn't realize he cared so much" I'm like bitch he was just outside partying with supermodels instead of consoling you!!!!!
"Pull yourself together," he growled. "And make sure you look presentable, not like a whore who just got fucked in a closet."
FYI - he only fingerfucked her - but still - he's awful.
This book ends with Tori finding out the truth about the "modeling" agency.
Originally - I DNF'd at 55%, but I was bored so I went back and picked up - and ended up finishing the series just by hate reading. I can honestly say - this book is awful and the series is even worse.
For this first book, I listened to the audiobook because Sebastian York - duh. But Stefan's POV was about 1% of this entire series so that doesn't give you much motivation to read it anyway.
SERIES INFORMATION. This contains spoilers.
Stefan is such a dick. He's horrible to her, even though she is a dumb twat. She lets him treat her like shit and just goes with it. Like I said - she's so completely stupid. In every single way. We also find out that Stefan was in love with someone else and he is surprised to have a kid with that woman. In the 3rd book - Stefan goes from a cold hearted douche to a simpering wienie boy. It's just gross. He's ends up being just as dumb as she is. They deserve each other. OH!!! I will say - once they start having sex - mainly in book 2 and 3 - the sex is really hot.
Your role is to go to college, play nice at social events, and at the end of the day you come home and suck my dick every night. You can’t dwell on the men’s business.
November 28, 2019
A mixed bag for me.
I enjoyed the main story, arranged marriage, controlling father.
But the virgin heroine who is throwing herself at the Hero who is turned down all the time was too much.
It has a lot of sex and dirty talk when they eventually get together and it gets very repetitive throughout the series, to me anyway.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine but the heroine thinks he's seeing other women.
Cliffhanger end.
I enjoyed the main story, arranged marriage, controlling father.
But the virgin heroine who is throwing herself at the Hero who is turned down all the time was too much.
It has a lot of sex and dirty talk when they eventually get together and it gets very repetitive throughout the series, to me anyway.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine but the heroine thinks he's seeing other women.
Cliffhanger end.
January 4, 2020
I give this 3.5 stars for starting off pretty slow and taking a bit to get into. I was frustrated that heroine, Tori, wasn't more assertive and that the hero, Stefan, was so hot and cold. This is told mostly from Tori's perspective with a couple chapters from Stefan's, which I would have liked more of. They are definitely attracted to each other and the sexual chemistry is super steamy. It ends with a cliffhanger and has me intrigued enough that I am going to continuing reading the series.
Read
December 27, 2021Just couldn’t deal with the h, she had no self respect, he insulted her and she was still salivating for his di* 😑🙄
July 7, 2020
2.75 stars may seem a little generous tbh
This book was just weird and not a ride I enjoyed . Victoria was a next level doormat and naive which annoyed the HECK out of me .
- the first time they met and he was presented as a gift to her instead of being disappointed that in this era she would marry a total stranger so young and being afraid of him maybe being some creep she was instantly hot for him and whenever I thought now she has to be angry at him she would see him and start getting aroused . Like lady have a little self-respect for yourself. I started feeling bad for you.
- if he would act a little civilised like he should she would assume oh yes we are building a very strong relationship now and then immediately he would start acting like a a-hole to her she would shrug it off and start thinking about their wild sex life. I get it girl you were a sex deprived horny teen to adult girl but atleast have a little brain to use it sometimes when it’s necessary .
- she would let Stefan act like a douche and blame her for shit she wasn’t to be blamed for and like a “trophy” wife she would apologise without pointing his mistakes.
- Stefan was a next level jerk too . He never really showed reasons for his anger . He just got angry on everything she did and even after promising her to not keep her confined like her dad , he did exactly that on top of humiliating her saying you deserve it and I’m in here only for my benefit blah blah like wtf and tori who should be furious when he says that gets HOT and starts shivering from the heat she’s suffering and starts acting like a sex addict .
- Stefan was also such a jerk when he blamed tori for wasting his time in her school event where she didn’t even expect him and got furious for forcing him to come there when she asked him if he could come ONCE . This was a different level of exaggeration would be a understatement.
Well I have rant about this book for this long now
This book was just weird and not a ride I enjoyed . Victoria was a next level doormat and naive which annoyed the HECK out of me .
- the first time they met and he was presented as a gift to her instead of being disappointed that in this era she would marry a total stranger so young and being afraid of him maybe being some creep she was instantly hot for him and whenever I thought now she has to be angry at him she would see him and start getting aroused . Like lady have a little self-respect for yourself. I started feeling bad for you.
- if he would act a little civilised like he should she would assume oh yes we are building a very strong relationship now and then immediately he would start acting like a a-hole to her she would shrug it off and start thinking about their wild sex life. I get it girl you were a sex deprived horny teen to adult girl but atleast have a little brain to use it sometimes when it’s necessary .
- she would let Stefan act like a douche and blame her for shit she wasn’t to be blamed for and like a “trophy” wife she would apologise without pointing his mistakes.
- Stefan was a next level jerk too . He never really showed reasons for his anger . He just got angry on everything she did and even after promising her to not keep her confined like her dad , he did exactly that on top of humiliating her saying you deserve it and I’m in here only for my benefit blah blah like wtf and tori who should be furious when he says that gets HOT and starts shivering from the heat she’s suffering and starts acting like a sex addict .
- Stefan was also such a jerk when he blamed tori for wasting his time in her school event where she didn’t even expect him and got furious for forcing him to come there when she asked him if he could come ONCE . This was a different level of exaggeration would be a understatement.
Well I have rant about this book for this long now
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2020
The premise itself is antiquated, esp for a book published in 2019. Instead of sending his daughter to college for what he considers a useless degree - despite her having partial scholarship and instead of convincing her to tack on a more "practical" field of study in addition to the less practical one - Victoria's politician father arranges a marriage for her because "men don't like women with a degree". An odd statement! What political party IS he? Imagine the backlash if this were real life! But I was willing to suspend my disbelief in hopes that it would get better. He gave his daughter to this man because his family is rich and its all ~*PoLiTiCs*~ but she's a child who knows nothing about anything.
No one in any contemporary novel ever heard of student loans or work-study programs or community college or any other alternative. Ok fine, I'm used to that. So Victoria marries this older man, Stefan, who treats her like garbage and I've never seen anyone more desperate for attention. I actually SCREAMED when she admitted that she decided she had feelings for him because I could not figure out why. He for the bulk of the book he treated her like a child. He got her a BABYSITTER on their honeymoon so he wouldn't have to spend time with her. He left her alone in 2-3 countries so he could work, barely looked or spoken to her. I couldn't even pinpoint a single time he was nice to her until her father was in the hospital. She described him as charming and I have no idea why. Because he was handsome?
It isn't just her husband that treats her like an object for her husband to just do whatever to. All of the advice she gets is bad, she has no friends. She's told that what she wants or needs doesn't matter and her only purpose is to serve her husband. A man who doesn't even speak to her. She read so much into this one kiss and seemed to completely forget that she had to practically beg him to kiss her.
She was a naive doormat and I felt sorry for her. What the girl needs is therapy and a life away from all of this.
UGH
No one in any contemporary novel ever heard of student loans or work-study programs or community college or any other alternative. Ok fine, I'm used to that. So Victoria marries this older man, Stefan, who treats her like garbage and I've never seen anyone more desperate for attention. I actually SCREAMED when she admitted that she decided she had feelings for him because I could not figure out why. He for the bulk of the book he treated her like a child. He got her a BABYSITTER on their honeymoon so he wouldn't have to spend time with her. He left her alone in 2-3 countries so he could work, barely looked or spoken to her. I couldn't even pinpoint a single time he was nice to her until her father was in the hospital. She described him as charming and I have no idea why. Because he was handsome?
It isn't just her husband that treats her like an object for her husband to just do whatever to. All of the advice she gets is bad, she has no friends. She's told that what she wants or needs doesn't matter and her only purpose is to serve her husband. A man who doesn't even speak to her. She read so much into this one kiss and seemed to completely forget that she had to practically beg him to kiss her.
She was a naive doormat and I felt sorry for her. What the girl needs is therapy and a life away from all of this.
UGH
October 2, 2019
good debut but it irked me when he called her 'kitty cat' in the bedroom
Want to read
January 7, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (1/7/2020)! 🎁
April 27, 2020
Cliffhanger. Not one story in a series--it's a multi-book plotline. Hate these. Just package it all together for me. Unless it's an epic, I don't want it.
October 24, 2020
Dnf 72%
This was awful. Stefan espesially and i felt like he did not evolve at all. So i quit. She was a child, and he was awful, controlling and mean. Just nope.
This was awful. Stefan espesially and i felt like he did not evolve at all. So i quit. She was a child, and he was awful, controlling and mean. Just nope.
October 2, 2021
(1.5) how the fuck did tori fall in love with stefan after having five conversations with him? also the ending… i’m not sure how i feel about that
May 26, 2022
this was kinda eh. i don't like how it broke my five star streak
September 24, 2019
"I couldn’t stop staring at him. Because he was mine. He was all mine."
The Deal is a debut novel by new author Stella Gray and I am definitely hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its characters. This story had a little bit of everything to offer. Virgin heroine, check. Mysterious hero, check. Arranged marriage, check. Age Gap romance, check. Enemies to lovers, check. Scandal, double check. Everything about this story pulled me in. It had some typical troupes, but was far from your typical love story. It was a original, and refreshing read. And major kudos for that explosive ending! I am definitely ready to find out what's going to happen next. I love dual POV's. However if I had any major complaints it would be that I wanted more from Stefan's POV. Two chapters just wasn't enough. Stefan and Tori may not have your usual relationship but their chemistry was out of this world. I could not get enough of how explosive these characters was together. From their fantasies to real life they knew just how to ignite your kindle pages. Stefan and Tori are off to a wild start, and this is only the beginning.
"She was starting to spread her wings, rebel against her boundaries. And like it or not, I had to respect her for it."
Tori is one of those heroines who knows how to keep you on your toes. You had sophisticated, well breed senators daughter Tori. Or nerdy, naive, reckless teenager Tori. I was never quite sure which side of her I was going to get. But honestly I loved both sides. Tori came out of her shell alot this book. Don't get me wrong, her character still has alot of developing to do. But in The Deal she is off to a good start of finding her own way. I admired her characters drive, and willingness to fight for her dreams.
"He was still so often a mystery to me. One that I desperately wanted to uncover."
Stefan's character was also one big contradiction. He constantly ran hot and cold. You either loved his character, or hated his character with no in between. Stefan was this ever revolving door of mystery you desperately wanted to open and solve. He was brooding, calculated, and utterly dominant. His character commanded your attention. While owning your heart with his sweet, caring, and protective ways. There is more than meets the eyes with Stefan and I'm ready to uncover every delicious, yet secretive layer.
"None of the furtive kisses I’d shared with boys over the years could hold a candle to this. Because Stefan was a man. A man who knew how to kiss."
*4 STARS*
Well earned for a great start to The Arrangement series. Would I recommend this book? My answer would be absolutely! I already have book two on pre-order anxiously awaiting October's release.
The Deal is a debut novel by new author Stella Gray and I am definitely hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and its characters. This story had a little bit of everything to offer. Virgin heroine, check. Mysterious hero, check. Arranged marriage, check. Age Gap romance, check. Enemies to lovers, check. Scandal, double check. Everything about this story pulled me in. It had some typical troupes, but was far from your typical love story. It was a original, and refreshing read. And major kudos for that explosive ending! I am definitely ready to find out what's going to happen next. I love dual POV's. However if I had any major complaints it would be that I wanted more from Stefan's POV. Two chapters just wasn't enough. Stefan and Tori may not have your usual relationship but their chemistry was out of this world. I could not get enough of how explosive these characters was together. From their fantasies to real life they knew just how to ignite your kindle pages. Stefan and Tori are off to a wild start, and this is only the beginning.
"She was starting to spread her wings, rebel against her boundaries. And like it or not, I had to respect her for it."
Tori is one of those heroines who knows how to keep you on your toes. You had sophisticated, well breed senators daughter Tori. Or nerdy, naive, reckless teenager Tori. I was never quite sure which side of her I was going to get. But honestly I loved both sides. Tori came out of her shell alot this book. Don't get me wrong, her character still has alot of developing to do. But in The Deal she is off to a good start of finding her own way. I admired her characters drive, and willingness to fight for her dreams.
"He was still so often a mystery to me. One that I desperately wanted to uncover."
Stefan's character was also one big contradiction. He constantly ran hot and cold. You either loved his character, or hated his character with no in between. Stefan was this ever revolving door of mystery you desperately wanted to open and solve. He was brooding, calculated, and utterly dominant. His character commanded your attention. While owning your heart with his sweet, caring, and protective ways. There is more than meets the eyes with Stefan and I'm ready to uncover every delicious, yet secretive layer.
"None of the furtive kisses I’d shared with boys over the years could hold a candle to this. Because Stefan was a man. A man who knew how to kiss."
*4 STARS*
Well earned for a great start to The Arrangement series. Would I recommend this book? My answer would be absolutely! I already have book two on pre-order anxiously awaiting October's release.
September 7, 2020
Hmm I'm a bit torn on this one.
I usually love the "arranged marriage" trope as it adds a lot of drama but this was a bit too much for me. Mainly Tori just ruined the book :(
I wish she stood up for herself. She was such a doormat! I like my female leads to have a bit more of a backbone! I hated how much she threw herself at Stefan...girl, just get some frickin' self respect. She was constantly flopping back and forth between wanting to seduce him or just acting like a rebellious brat.
Stefan was also a bit too hopeless...I enjoy a possessive, alpha male type as much as the next girl but flirting with other women after getting married? Implying that they've slept together? Oh how romantic...insinuated cheating.
The only interesting aspect of the book was the .
I usually love the "arranged marriage" trope as it adds a lot of drama but this was a bit too much for me. Mainly Tori just ruined the book :(
I wish she stood up for herself. She was such a doormat! I like my female leads to have a bit more of a backbone! I hated how much she threw herself at Stefan...girl, just get some frickin' self respect. She was constantly flopping back and forth between wanting to seduce him or just acting like a rebellious brat.
Stefan was also a bit too hopeless...I enjoy a possessive, alpha male type as much as the next girl but flirting with other women after getting married? Implying that they've slept together? Oh how romantic...insinuated cheating.
The only interesting aspect of the book was the .
January 27, 2022
3.5 Stars
I have mixed feelings when it comes to this book.
It started off super strong and then took such a nosedive. I completely understand that she’s younger and is married off to an older man but to allow him to manipulate her the way he does is absolutely ridiculous. He asks things of her that he is unwilling to do himself and even though she knows that she still does them. It’s just frustrating when instead of making a decision for her own well-being she chooses one for her husband who doesn’t do the same for her.
The spice is good and overall it’s written well. I don’t know if I’m gonna go to the second book though.
I have mixed feelings when it comes to this book.
It started off super strong and then took such a nosedive. I completely understand that she’s younger and is married off to an older man but to allow him to manipulate her the way he does is absolutely ridiculous. He asks things of her that he is unwilling to do himself and even though she knows that she still does them. It’s just frustrating when instead of making a decision for her own well-being she chooses one for her husband who doesn’t do the same for her.
The spice is good and overall it’s written well. I don’t know if I’m gonna go to the second book though.
September 9, 2020
*** 3,5 stars ***
November 3, 2019
I didn't like the way Tori was treated. Her father and stepmother treated her like she was a mindless idiot. That garbage that Michelle the stepmother told her about pleasing her husband in all ways. She made it seem as if Tori was the problem. Tori needed to get a backbone and stand up to her father and Stefan. Stefan blowing hot and cold was just too much for me. It was clear that KMZ modeling was a front for a prostitution ring. All the characters were extremely irritating.
January 15, 2020
I finished this book and let me tell you , right off the bat , stefans name for Victoria is “ Kitty Cat” bad sign right there and things don’t get much better.
I’m so over arranged marriages for 18 year olds
Of course I am not moving on with this series
I’m so over arranged marriages for 18 year olds
Of course I am not moving on with this series
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