Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 
 While at RT this year, I had a great time talking with other readers and of course, the most prevailing question was, "What do you like to read?" Here at SBTB HQ, we all tend to have our little niches. There's some overlap, but there is usually a genre or two that each of us really, really loves. For me, I'm a huge fan of contemporary romances with athletes. 
 Whenever I would answer that inevitable reading question with my love of sports romances, nine times out of ten, the follow-up response would be, "Have you read The Deal?" I had not and reading recommendations seem to be an occupational hazard around here. 
 This was like a mix of a relationship of convenience trope and She's All That. And if you know me, you know that I love the shit out of She's All That. In fact, after I finished this book, I found that puppy on Netflix. 
 Normally, I'm pretty critical of anything having to do with rape and sexual assault in romance, especially as backstory. But I think the way it was handled in The Deal is one of the best things about this book. 
 From a romance perspective, The Deal was all right. I seem to be picking books lately where the couple gets together rather quickly or easily, and most of the conflicts come from outside sources, rather than issues within the relationship. 
 - Amanda