Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

Posted November 9, 2016 by Rowena in Reviews | 3 Comments

Review: The Goal by Elle KennedyReviewer: Rowena
The Goal (Off-Campus, #4) by Elle Kennedy
Series: Off-Campus #4
Also in this series: The Deal (Off-Campus, #1), The Deal (Off-Campus, #1), The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2), The Mistake (Off-Campus, #2), The Score (Off-Campus, #3), The Score (Off-Campus, #3), The Deal (Off-Campus, #1)
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 26th 2016
Point-of-View: First
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 350
Add It: Goodreads
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Series Rating: four-stars

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

I feel like we’ve been waiting so long to finally get Tucker’s book. He’s been so absent from the other books and I’ve always wondered where the heck he spends his time away from the house. Well, we finally find out and the answer is…everywhere. He’s in his truck, hooking up with girls, crashing at Fitzy’s house and lately? Chasing one specific girl around.

He’s graduating soon and should be focusing on making some plans for after college, making arrangements to move back home to be closer to his Mom but he can’t seem to stay away from Sabrina James. Even after she rejects him soundly, he can’t stand away. Lucky for him, she can’t seem to stay away either.

Sabrina James is one smart cookie and she’s got plans for her future. She grew up knowing exactly what she wanted (a good paying job to get her out of the squalor that she grew up living in) and what she didn’t want (getting stuck in the squalor that she grew up living in). She’s so close to making those plans come to life so the very last thing she needs is a distraction and that’s exactly what Tucker is.

It took me a long time to read this book but honestly, that had more to do with my mood than the writing of this book because when I went back to it, I finished it up pretty quickly. I enjoyed the story, I adored Tucker and I came around where Sabrina was concerned so all in all, it was an enjoyable book but it’s not my favorite of the series.

John Tucker. This guy had me right from the jump. I love characters who know what they want and don’t waffle back and forth, giving me whiplash and Tuck was one of those characters. He was strong and charismatic and honest. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. There was no game playing where he was concerned. He knew that one of his friends had history with the girl he wanted so he made sure to go and talk to his friend about his intentions and I just about swooned over that whole thing. I loved his attitude toward Dean’s issues with his girl. His whole, “Deal with it” attitude. He made me swoon at every turn and I just absolutely loved the hell out of him.

Sabrina was a lot harder to take. It wasn’t her drive to succeed or her smart brain that turned me off but her attitude toward certain things that got on my nerves. Her hot and cold attitude toward Tuck in the beginning, her inability to take the help that is offered by those that care and love her and also her me against them attitude. Sure, she works hard at everything but the bitterness she shows toward those that had it better or easier than her (Dean, all the athletes, etc…) made it hard for me to like her. I wish she had been above all of that stuff, that she’d take pride in her accomplishments without the short cuts instead of spending so much time pissed off about shit that in the long run, didn’t matter. When she finally lets go of all that animonisity toward Dean, Tucker and everyone else, I liked her better. I thought she grew a lot throughout the book and I was glad for it.

I really enjoyed how much of a team these two were once they made the decision to be together. I loved that Kennedy didn’t let a set back change Sabrina’s course and I really loved how Tucker took to being a father.

Overall, this was a great effort by Elle Kennedy and another solid story for this series. I always love seeing the other characters and seeing them in this one wasn’t any different. I loved seeing Graham and Logan compete to be the baby’s Godfather. I also really liked seeing the girls welcome Sabrina into the fold. Dean coming out and fixing things with Sabrina made me smile and when the book ended, I was one happy camper.

I’m mighty curious to see if Elle Kennedy announces a spin off to this series featuring the next round of boys that moved into the house. I don’t want to leave this world so I’m hoping that happens.


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4 out of 5

Off-Campus


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3 responses to “Review: The Goal by Elle Kennedy

  1. oh lovely review Rowena!!! I have been excited for Tucker’s book! I really have enjoyed seeing what Kennedy has done with this series. Even if the heroine is a bit too bitter in parts, I like that we a growth and positive change in her.

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