Spotlight & Giveaway: The Graham Effect by Elle Kennedy

Today, HJ is pleased to share with you Elle Kennedy’s new release: The Graham Effect

The first book in the delicious, icy-hot Campus Diaries series, a spinoff of BookTok sensations Off Campus and Briar U, by New York Times bestselling author Elle Kennedy.

Gigi Graham has exactly three goals: qualify for the women’s national hockey team, win Olympic gold, and step out of her famous father’s shadow. So far, so good, except for two little things. Fine–a little thing and a big, grumpy thing. She needs to improve her game behind the net, and she needs help from Luke Ryder.

Ryder is six-foot five, built, opinionated, rude…and sexy as hell. But he’s still the enemy.

Briar’s new hockey co-captain has his reasons, though. The men’s team just merged with a rival program, leaving Ryder with an angry roster where everyone hates one another’s guts. To make matters worse, the summer coaching spot he’s angling for with the legendary Garrett Graham is out of reach after he makes the worst possible first impression on his hero. So, really, this compromise with Gigi is win-win. He helps her make the national team, she puts in a good word with her dad.

The only potential snag? This bone-deep, body-numbing, mind-spinning chemistry they’re trying to ignore. It’s a dangerous game they’re playing, but the risks just might be worth it.

Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from The Graham Effect 

 

I spot another small group of donors making their way toward us. Pure, single-minded purpose.
“Oh God, no,” I moan. “I just need five minutes of peace and quiet.”
“C’mere.” Ryder grabs my champagne flute and deposits it on the tray of a passing waitress, then takes my hand.
The next thing I know, he’s whisking me across the ballroom toward the stage. There’s a curtained area on either side of it, blocking off the two sets of steps leading up to the wings. I blink, and suddenly we’re tucked behind the curtains. Enveloped in darkness.
“Better?”
His rough voice tickles my ear.
I gulp, my pulse speeding at the realization that Ryder and I are standing in the dark, scant inches apart.
“This wasn’t what I had in mind,” I murmur over my pounding heart.
“Yeah, well. Best I could do.”
I draw a breath, falling silent for a moment. The music in the ballroom is muffled now, not only because of the barrier provided by the curtain, but because my heartbeat continues to thunder against my rib cage. The scent of him surrounds me. Woodsy and spicy, with a note of leather I find odd because he’s not wearing leather. It’s deliciously masculine. I probably shouldn’t enjoy it as much as I do.
“I don’t get you,” I confess.
“Nothing to get.” He shrugs, and the action causes his shoulder to nudge mine.
“Seriously, I can’t figure out if this grumpy Mr. Silent thing is an act. Some cool persona you put on.”
“Sounds like a lot of effort.”
“Exactly, and that’s why I’m leaning toward it being genuine. That you really are just this grumpy, dangerous—”
“Dangerous, huh?” he cuts in. A soft rasp.
My eyes are adjusting to the darkness. I note that his are heavy-lidded, slitted as he looks me up and down. One side of his mouth lifts mockingly.
“Do you feel like you’re in danger right now, Gigi?”
“Should I?”
“No.” He chuckles. Low and smoky.
“Well, then I don’t.”
Something dangerous is happening, though. A strange thread of awareness traveling between us. Or maybe that’s a natural consequence of being in the dark with an incredibly hot guy. Ryder eases a bit closer. Still watching me.
“What?” I ask self-consciously.
“You look nice.” His voice is gruff.
Surprise flickers through me. “What?”
“I should have said it earlier when you showed up. That was rude of me.”
“Since when do you care about being rude?”
“I don’t.”
A laugh slips out. “Well. Thanks, I guess. You look nice too.”
Another beat of silence.
“Do you think we can hide in here forever?” I ask hopefully.
“No. Eventually somebody’s gonna pry you out of here so they can rave about how amazing your father is.”
“I hate this, you know.” I tip my head to look at him. “Whatever you think about me and my last name, I don’t use it to get ahead. I never have. Hell, I would legally change it if I knew it wouldn’t break my dad’s heart. But it would kill him. And, really, it’s not his fault he’s the greatest hockey player of all time. He deserves all the love and accolades.”
“But…you hate this,” he prompts.
I bite my bottom lip. “Yes. I hate these events with a passion. I’ve never enjoyed myself at a single one. Like, I’d literally rather be anywhere else.”
“You used to go out with Colson, yeah?”
“Yes…?”
The query comes out of left field, but he’s quick to connect it to the topic at hand.
“Did he ever come with you to these things?”
“Sometimes.” I shift awkwardly. It feels weird to discuss Case with Luke Ryder.
“And he didn’t get creative? Find ways to make these shindigs more fun for you?”
“What do you know about fun?” I can’t help but tease.
He offers his trademark shrug.
“No, tell me,” I push. “What would you be doing right now if you were Case? How would you make it fun?”
“If I was Colson.”
“Yes.”
“And you were my girl.”
“Yes.”
Ryder leans in, his warm breath on my ear, sending a tiny shiver through my body. “We would have been behind this curtain five minutes after we got here.”
“Doing what?”
I regret the question the moment I voice it.
“Getting you primed.”
My throat closes up with arousal. I struggle to swallow.
“Primed,” I echo weakly. “Primed for what?”
“For me.”

Excerpt. ©Elle Kennedy. Posted by arrangement with the publisher. All rights reserved.
 
 

Giveaway: 2 Signed copies of THE GRAHAM EFFECT

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Meet the Author:

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She is the author of more than 50 titles of contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels, including the global sensation Off-Campus series.

Shop: https://www.ellekennedy.com/coming-soon