Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you take a chance on love.Amazon Top 11 Bestseller; #1 SportsWanted: one hot guy with rock-hard abs and a big stick.Broke and desperate, Sugar Ryan has no use for arrogant, bad-boy athletes…until she’s forced to bargain with the cockiest of them all.If only he knew she … with the cockiest of them all.
If only he knew she was alive.
Her mission? Get on this hockey player’s radar any way possible.
Zack Morgan is the king of the ice and the bedroom, but nothing prepares him for the mystery girl who shows up everywhere he does–frat parties, his favorite bar, and finally his front door with an offer he can’t refuse. The only rule in her boyfriend bargain: no falling in love.
But after one (um, two) smoking-hot hookups, he’s done with pretending and vows to make their fake relationship real. Too bad she can’t trust a player with a reputation for breaking hearts.
Will this hockey star score his forever girl, or will this boyfriend bargain end in heartbreak?
“Who can turn down a bad boy hockey star with a big . . . stick? Zack is hot hot hot, and Sugar is the perfect blend of sweet and sassy! Their chemistry sizzles in Boyfriend Bargain!” ~Melanie Harlow, USA Today bestselling author
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New adult sports romance at it’s finest, Ilsa Madden Mills delivers a hat trick of love, angst, and hotness in the Boyfriend Bargain.
Zack Morgan , also referred to as Z, has one year of college left and he’s already been drafted to the NHL. Tall, gorgeous, and on top of his game, everyone wants a piece of him. Zack suffers silently though, putting on a brave face. His struggles are so real, so relatable. Then Sugar comes along and slowly changes the game for him.
Sugar Ryan, I just adored this girl. Her parent’s relationship has been her driving force in what she doesn’t want in a relationship, while her own past relationship has her heart locked up like Fort Knox. I admired her strength and courage when it came to dealing with Z and her family situation. I loved her quirks. She was charming and sweet, yet sharp as a whip when bantering with Z.
Both characters had to get over the emotions that were driven from past, yet controlling their present and future. In order for them to work things out, they both needed to let go. Could they do it?
I truly enjoyed this book. From the witty banter to the off the charts sex, Boyfriend Bargain is a must read. Even the secondary characters bring so much to the table. Im really hoping for Eric to get his own story.
I do love a good college sports romance and this author never fails to craft a fun story with the right mix of seriousness and humor with likable characters.
Sugar is a hard worker trying go get into law school and believes she needs a boyfriend to achieve that goal – more specifically she needs, Zach “Z” Morgan. She was burned in the past by a cheating boyfriend and she has no desire to have a “real” romance with this playboy hockey star. Sugar is one of those characters that is easy to relate to and the type of girl that I would have loved to had as a friend and even as a college roommate. I adored Zach – he is kind hearted, but he also has secrets. The author did such a great job describing Zach’s mindset that I felt like I was actually there experiencing those emotions. That is one of the things that I love about this author – she always has characters that are not only likable, but also ones that have hidden depths and are easy to relate to.
I want to give a shout out to Zach’s fellow hockey teammate and best friend, Eric. He is hilarious and a good friend and I am really hoping that he gets his own book. I also liked the other secondary characters of Julia and Reece. I am dying to discover Julia’s story and Reece seems so broken. So basically I am saying that I loved the secondary characters as much as Sugar and Zach and I hope that the author writes more books featuring them!
Boyfriend Bargain is a fake relationship romance and so it is a bit predictable in that we all know that the hero and heroine will develop real feelings towards each other. Nonetheless, I love watching the evolution of Sugar and Zach’s relationship.
A steamy and swoon-worthy YA sports romance!
Sports romances are my kryptonite, and Ilsa Madden-Mills is the Superwoman of them. Zack (Z) and Sugar are everything together. They may have started off as a bargain, but can they become something more? Between the action on and off the ice, these two make you melt. Z makes you want to date him, and Sugar makes you want to be her best friend. Boyfriend Bargain is a fresh take on a mish-mash of tropes, and the story pulls you in from beginning to end. Gah! I absolutely loved it, and you will as well!
Ilsa Madden-Mills just never disappoints. With The Boyfriend Bargain she has delivered an amazingly heartwarming story of two people who’s past has left them broken.
Zach and Sugar are absolutely perfect for each other. They had my heart from the beginning and definitely had me fanning myself from all the heat they were putting off. Their story was so much more than I expected and took me on an emotional ride that I did not want to get off of. They had me in all the feels and I couldn’t get enough.
I enjoyed ever second of this angsty, sweet, swoony story! I can’t wait to see what Ilsa brings us next.
Another stellar College Romance from the amazing Ilsa Madden-Mills!
Sugar and Z are extremely complex characters who have both suffered their fair share of heartbreak and grief. Neither one of them are on each other’s radar, until Sugar is in need of a specific ‘Fake Boyfriend’ to help out with her potential law school problems.
Z is carrying around so much guilt and heartache over the loss of someone special, and has sworn off relationships. His only focus is Hockey, leading his team to the Championship as Captain and his NHL contract that’s waiting for him.
When Sugar propositions Z, can they keep their arrangement strictly business? Or will their hearts take control and end the game for them?
I absolutely loved Sugar and Z’s story. Their pasts are both heartbreaking and messed up, and the ways in which they’ve dealt with their issues really struck a cord, the touch on mental health issues were really honest and relatable, Building more of a connection to the characters. I thought I had this story pegged about halfway through, but I was overwhelmed by the unpredictable twists and turns that it took.
I’m a huge fan of Ilsa’s books, her ability to write these deep, intricate college romance stories are unlike any others I’ve read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and am hoping for more stories for the other characters!
5
I’m a sucker for hockey players. But moreover, I’m a sucker for hot hockey players with plenty of heart and soul. Oh hello, Z… Yes, I was talking about you! He’s a bit tortured with a dash of cocky. All he needs is some sugar…in the form of Sugar. Seriously, love this southern name. She is sugar and spice with a whole lot of fiest. And while Z becomes captivated by her and she doesn’t want to be the flavor of the month.
Yes, it’s a sports romance on the surface, but you get a whole lot of the expected and anticipated angst Madden-Mills is known for plus an incredible story with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. While the chemistry between Sugar and Z was flaming hot, I think what got me most was how she slowly peeled away the layers of Z. She let him be way more vulnerable than Sugar and made us want to root for them to sort their issues…and stop pretending. In fact, it was Sugar who took way longer to figure out herself and her motivations. But the journey they took certainly showed us that they couldn’t have been better paired.
It had a slight feel of Briarwood Academy (which is perfect in my book), but the story and characters were fresh. I’ll call it a win/win in my book!
The blurb said swoony and they were fantastically, 100% right…
University found Zack and Sugar struggling with some tough problems. Sugar’s proposition to Zack meant solving one of them but it ended up doing so much more…
These characters, their story, had me hooked right away, making this a one-sitting read! Zack’s outgoing, confident personality hid so much pain and struggle. At the same time, Sugar needed that brash, arrogant, popular façade if she was going to gain entrance into law school. Stubborn for sure but that was only going to help her as she faced off Zack.
A fake relationship may be how it started but the chemistry between them was not going to allow that for long. They wanted each other but fighting it was almost as much as giving in…
Breaking their rules was going to make or break them and how it all played out was a wild ride of steam and emotion. If you’ve never read this author, be wary.
This will cause a new reading addiction…
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
4.5 stars
Ilsa Madden-Mills teased me for months. She dropped the Mic and told us she was writing a new sports romance. She released some teasers and eventually a blurb. But she held back, she taunted and teased us. She made us shiver in anticipation for the cover reveal! Now I have this gorgeous specimen on my kindle…
I couldn’t hold out. I couldn’t put him aside. So I jumped right in and I don’t regret one second of it! Boyfriend Bargain is sexy and intense. It was emotional charged and deep. It’s also fun and flirty. With an incredible cast of characters that leave stars in our eyes and future stories waiting to be written. Everyone is sure to find someone or something they need in what I hope is the start of a new series!
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
Wow! Just WOW! This book is amazing. I love Z so much, him and Sugar are the perfect book couple!!
If you’re looking for a cute, fluffy hockey romance, this ain’t it. This book has SOUL! It has heart and it has all the things that make me love Ilsa’s writing. My heart literally bled for Z, it cried for him and with him! He’s so much more than he thinks he is and I love Sugar for teaching him that, for getting him to see his value, his worth.
***I’ll follow him to the ends of the earth. If he goes through darkness, I’ll go with him and bring him back out every time.
Being a hockey god is hard, all the girls, the parties, the pressure, but for Z….it’s seems worse considering all that he’s been through. I love the development of his character, the sweet times, the funny times and even the emotional times. It makes pulling back his layers to see the real Zack so much more rewarding. I loved every tear filled moment of this story! It was simply breathtaking!
Want a great hockey story with heart and soul? With relatable characters that you just want to reach into the story and hug? Want witty banter, a cocky and sexy AF hockey player, a sweet and sassy southern girl, hot and steamy scenes and an all around great story? Then this is definitely for you!
I’m a huge fan of Ilsa. I love all of her books. When I first discovered her, I binged on her books (well the ones that were available). Every time she comes out with a book I just know I’m going to love it and the guy (HELLO SPIDER, still dreaming over him).
I love Sugar and Zack. I mean their chemistry was off the charts! It’s as if there was a string attached to the two of them and they were constantly pulled together. No matter how much Zach was wounded, he always tried.
Both characters were fiercely independent they both worked on fixing their self. I loved the effort Zack was constantly putting in, it really impressed me.
Madden Mills as always tackles such interesting issues while writing it in a great way. I’m obsessed with her writing, honestly. The story had the steamy sex moments, powerful emotions and more. It’s everything you’d expect in one of the books and then some. I give this book five stars. Congrats Ilsa for blowing my mind, again.
I absolutely loved Sugar and Zack. The chemistry they had was off the charts and we could see it instantly. I loved how Zack was a troubled soul but open to mending. Sugar was just the independent kick butt woman he needed. Their “relationship” started with each one needing something from the other but quickly progressed to something else. I loved the underlying element in his story was thrown in their to show him what love really is. I also loved the secondary characters in the story. Definitely great world building. 5 star rating all the way.
4.5*
Boyfriend Bargain was a fantastic read! There was so much more to both Z and Sugar than I was expecting, and Ms. Madden-Mills did a wonderful job telling their stories. Full of heartache and despair, but sweetly hopeful and crazy sexy, BB was a book I couldn’t put down.
Z may seem like your typical manwhore college jock on the surface, but when you dig a little deeper you’ll find a young man with more than his share of troubles and worries. I really liked the way his struggles with guilt, anxiety, and panic attacks, were handled. They weren’t just glossed over, never to be spoken of again.
Sugar also has a past that weighs on her- it’s colored the way she’s lived her life to a certain extent, and what she wants for her future. Which leads to her propositioning Z to help her with her plans.
What neither Z nor Sugar expected when they came to their agreement was the feelings they would develop for each other. And did they ever develop feelings! I loved that these two were so good for each other, even if they couldn’t see it. There were some tough truths they each needed to face, before they could really let themselves fall. It was quite a journey for both Z and Sugar, and in the end it was so worth everything they went through.
I love a good college sports romance that pulls you in from that first chapter and holds you hostage until that very last page. Boyfriend Bargain by Ilsa Madden Mills is that book! Z and Sugar are very complex characters and their backstories were difficult, to say the least. However, their story was full of emotion, HOT sex and shows you that everyone is dealing with something, no matter how well put together the package seems on the outside. Truly, a great story and I highly recommend it!
Sugar Ryan has always wanted to be a lawyer, and get her law degree from Vanderbilt, but for some reason they are not opening the doors and welcoming her in, even though she has everything it takes to get in. Which leaves her more than a little sore, she has to get into this school… she has a lot to prove and the only way to do it is to graduate from there. With little other options she decides to formulate a little plan, one that includes landing a hot hockey boyfriend…and she has her eye on the perfect one for the job! Question is will he go along with her little bargain?
Boyfriend Bargain is a swoon-filled sports romance story that comes brimming with everything needed to leave you swimming in feels! From beginning to end this one had me hooked, once I met these two fell hard for them and had to see if their little faux relationship would bring a love connection, and I am happy to report I found just what I was looking for, and much more! I loved these characters, they had a real feel quality, undeniable chemistry, and an uber steamy story to tell. This first time read did not disappoint, it was enthralling, riddled with heart squeezing emotion, and left me aching for more. I think it is safe to say that I will be back for more, Ms. Madden-Mills just scored herself a new fan with this one! Highly recommend!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
I adored these characters!! Sugar was sassy and quirky, and Z was sexy and sweet!! This was a great read with sone good twists and turns. It was super sexy and sweet and i loved it!! And i am hoping that we get more of some of the supporting characters
Sugar Ryan needs hockey god Zack Morgan help into getting into her dream law school. Only problem is they don’t know each other, yet she is going to work hard to become his fake girlfriend. While Zack life seems perfect, he is hiding so many secrets that are eating at him. Being a fake boyfriend to Sugar seems like a great idea to help him focus on hockey and school. Rule one don’t fall in love, problem is Z likes to break rules.
Madden-Mills gave me all the feels in this novel. It has personal drama, funny moments, sports loving, and steamy sex scenes.
Oh my goodness…I LOVED this book! Zack and Sugar were so relatable and real This was definitely a darker (ish) book than what you would typically read in this genre but I really enjoyed it.. You can’t help but root for these two as they go on this journey from “Boyfriend Bargain” to so much more. Jam packed with
undeniable chemistry, all the swoon, angsty goodness, a full cast of some of the best secondary characters (that I hope we get to see more of in the future ), and a genuine and real story that got me right in all the feels I honestly cannot say enough how much I enjoyed this book & I hope you enjoy it as much as I did
***ARC provided in exchange for an honest review- Megan/Scandalous Book Blog***
When I started reading Boyfriend Bargain by Ilsa madden-Mills, I thought it was going to be like most of the books in this genre (which I love, I have to admit) but I was wrong. This is darker and edgier than any I’ve read before. Darker and edgier than anything I’ve read by Ilsa as well.
Zack is the star hockey player and team captain who is asked by Sugar to be her fake boyfriend. It might seem as simple as that but it’s not. Sugar needs Zack’s help to get into the university of her choice and he’s battling demons from his past that are making his life, on and off the ice into a nightmare.
Sugar makes Zack feel things… things he hasn’t felt for a long time. Some he has never felt before, but there’s something he’s not telling Sugar and it might just be enough to bring everything crashing down around him.
Sugar has a little baggage from her past too, plus she just recently broke up with her cheating ex-boyfriend. Since then, she’s been guarding her heart, not looking for love, or anything real. Hence the ‘be my fake boyfriend’ request. She needs Zack for his notoriety not his good looks. But she wasn’t prepared for how she’d fall for him all the same.
This story runs a gamut of emotions. Love, happiness, depression and sadness. Repressed frustrations and guilt. It quite the rollercoaster, but none of it felt forced or too much. The conflict between them could have been handled a little better, but they were still pretty young, barely more than teenagers so their reactions were kinda understandable.
Zack’s emotional growth was painful and painstakingly hard to watch, but his feelings for Sugar shone through all the darkness.
This was an edgy but sweet and sexy sports romance and definitely one for the One-Clicker section. I heartily recommend it to anyone thinking of reading it.
This was such a great new adult sport romance! These are types of stories that I love to read! I loved the characters and how they came together. They were characters that you want to root for the entire time. Through out the story there were a lot of little bits and pieces of drama that made the story interesting. In the middle of the story there was a lull in the story that was centered around the characters and them hooking up. During that time I want more story and why things were happening. Overall the story and the characters were great!
Ahhhh this book oh my gosh!!
I’ve read a few books by this author and every single time they get better. Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of those authors who’s books are different from the others and ones that’ll call your attention straight away.
The Boyfriend Bargain was so much more than I expected. A fake relationship, a whole lot of laughs and sexiness mixed with emotions. Sadness and anger make up parts of this book and when they do, they gut you. It’s upsetting and horrible and simply heartbreaking to read about.
Zack and Sugar’s story is a ride you’ll definitely want to be on. She’s closed off from love after everything she’s experienced and seen happening. She keeps her heart locked up and away from any future hurt. He’s the kind of guy who can get any woman he wants and his eyes just happen to land upon her but he has secrets, secrets that could rip everything from underneath him.
Watching these two from the beginning has been a real pleasure, watching them interact and be together is fun and beautiful and I enjoyed this book, I really did but there’s one part that just annoyed the hell out of me…and that part was how much of a pushover she was for him especially after everything that went down she just let him do whatever he wanted because he was there near her and I hate that, it’s sad to see her drop all her feelings because she’s strong a woman and she does this all because this guy comes back and decides to throw himself on her again and then still not explain a damn thing to her.
So with the exception of that little bit everything about this book was perfect. I mean, you know one is doing their thing properly when you get ticked off by a fictional character, I love feeling these emotions.
Also, I would absolutely love a book from Eric, this guy seems like he’s so much fun.
Ilsa did incredible with this book. This woman puts her all into every book she gives us and it’s clear to see.
The Boyfriend Bargain is fun, sweet and captivating. It’s sad and heartbreaking and it will leave you wanting so much more from them.