Seven years ago, I went from being America’s Golden Son to That Idiot faster than you can say, “Foul ball.” At the time, I thought I was making the right decision by ditching my professional baseball career and today, I know I did. But I’ll admit, being the punchline of every late night comic changed me. The paparazzi no longer follow me and the media’s moved on, but I still live by rules created … live by rules created to ensure I would never be a laughingstock again.
My rules are restrictive and controlling. They dictate what I do and who I do it with.
They do not allow for a free spirit, bound and determined to get a recording deal in Nashville. A woman actively chasing a public life I turned my back on. And they certainly will not accept the little sister of the man who recently married my ex.
Unfortunately, this siren with the voice of an angel, is the only woman I want.
So I made a deal…
THE DATE DEAL
PRAISE FOR TARA’S CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES
PUBLISHER WEEKLY on AMERICAN ASSHOLE
“Scorching sex, well-developed characters, occasional bursts of humor, and skillful plotting make Me’s series launch a must-read.”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review for THE MASTER
“An erotic, deeply loving BDSM romance…Fans of erotic romance will delight in its mix of heat and heart.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES
“For those Fifty Shades fans pining for a little more spice…the Guardian recommends Tara Sue Me’s Submissive Trilogy, starring handsome CEO Nathaniel West, a man on the prowl for a new submissive, and the librarian Abby, who is yearning for something more.”more
Charming & Sexy! Flawless from start to finish, with great dialog, and the perfect amount of sweet and tender moments. Tara Sue Me knows how to bring you romance that will melt your heart and set butterflies soaring. This was blissful.
Tate and Carsen are a breath of fresh air. Their distinct personalities, and their attraction will win you over immediately. We definitely see a different side of Tate, then when we met him in “The Date Dare”. But after losing Darcy, his mind set has changed, no more strict rules that he has lived by for years. Carsen captures Tate’s attention immediately and when their paths cross again, he is a goner. But Carsen has big hopes and dreams, will she give it all up for Tate?
This was such a treat. A romantic treat for the heart! I’m absolutely smitten with every little detail that makes up this story! I loved it!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Finding your own path and self worth and being independent of the opinions of others is generally the theme of this heartwarming romance. Tate “Tommy” Maddox walked away from riches, fame and being Atlanta’s Golden Boy because his career was consuming him. Carsen Taber Clarke is trying to start a career in Nashville but gets sidelined when she’s fired from one of the jobs keeping her afloat while she’s trying to be discovered. She and Tate meet briefly in odd circumstances and twice more including her brother Elliott’s wedding. They hookup with a definite end date but both walk away changed by their relationship.
I so enjoyed the Date Deal. Tate & Carson are a little older with some life experiences that make them the adults they are and know what they think they want in life. I enjoyed seeing their romance grow and them to realize what they really want/need.
Book Two~The Date Deal (Book One~The Date Dare)
Just because this book isn’t as steamy and alpha as the usual reading you find with Tara’s work you won’t want to miss out on Tate’s story. This book is filled with emotion, life lessons, humor, chemistry, and stepping outside your comfort zone. Don’t panic some steamy scenes are sprinkled in as well. You will not be left disappointed!
“For a few precious moments I allow myself to be free. Free from the restrictive rules I have.”
This story hit all the marks for what I needed as a current read. I loved it! I always do when it’s Tara Sue Me’s words I’m reading.
This was such a cute read! I read The Date Dare last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was really excited to see Tate’s story. He was so closed off and it was nice to see him open up. He is such a good guy and he really deserved to truly find happiness. And Carsen! I adored her. She was such a fun character and so strong. And together they had fantastic chemistry. I loved that Tate broke his rules for Carsen and I loved that Carsen got to see what she really wanted. You just root for these two right from the start. Even though their lives seem to be going in opposite directions, they just work. It was also great getting to see Elliot and Darcy again and see that they are so happy together. What I also really loved about this book was that it was really light on the angst. Tate and Carsen have some things to work out but it was never over the top and was the perfect book to get lost in for a few hours and read cover to cover. Overall, The Date Deal is a really quick and sweet read that’s just easy to devour.
At first I was a little apprehensive when I found out Tate Maddox was about to get his own story.. he wasn’t exactly my favourite character in the last book, and rightfully so.
If you are going to read this, I recommend reading The Date Dare first to get a better feel of the main characters and their story before this book.
To my surprise, I felt myself warming up towards Tate, he was different when it came to Carsen, she brought out a side of him that I actually fell in love with. It goes to show just how much the right girl can change a man. Carsen did just that.
These two are a little older and more experienced in life and all the struggles it comes with, in this book. It was somewhat of a slow burn love, yet a shortish book, it held my attention from start to finished and I was intrigued to see where this relationship was headed, and of course Tara did not disappoint. She never does.
Although this isn’t exactly my go-to read, and it’s not exactly the romance Tara usually writes, I did enjoy it! It still held a certain amount of heat, and a few twists and turns inserted into the plot, but all in all it’s a fairly lighthearted kind of read. it’s certainly a lovely change and both book 1 and 2 have made me look at this sub genre a little differently.
It’s a 5 star rating from me
3.5 stars—THE DATE DEAL by Tara Sue Me is the second instalment in the author’s contemporary adult romance series. This is former professional baseball player Tommy ‘Tate’ Maddox, and wanna be Nashville star Carsen Taber ‘Clarke’. THE DATE DEAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Carsen and Tate were originally introduced in THE DATE DARE.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Carsen and Tate) THE DATE DEAL follows the building relationship between former professional baseball player Tommy ‘Tate’ Maddox, and want be Nashville star Carsen Taber. Seven years earlier Tommy Maddox walked away from a multi-million dollar baseball contract opting for a life working with at risk and under privileged children. Now going by Tate Maddox, our hero finds himself on the outside looking in when the woman with whom he was falling in love, fell in love with Tate’s friend , and her best friend Elliott Taber. When a potential abuse situation is stopped by a familiar face, Tate Maddox steps in and makes an offer that cannot be refused. Enter Carsen Taber, Elliott Taber’s sister, and the woman with whom Tate will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Tate and Carsen, and the potential fall-out as Carsen’s time with Tate comes with an expiry date.
Carsen Taber diffused a potential situation but in doing so was charge with ‘disturbing the peace’, a charge that will be served working at Tate Maddox’s camp for at-risk youth. Tate Maddox knows his time with Carsen is limited but an surprise phone-call finds their time together shorter than expected.
The relationship between Carsen and Tate is one of immediate attraction ; a friend’s younger sister situation that finds Tate falling for a woman in light of the rules he has set for himself. A bit of a ‘martyr’, Tate is willing to sacrifice his happiness for that of everyone else including our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are passionate but limited.
The secondary and supporting characters included Elliott and Darcy Taber (The Date Dare #1), as well as Tate’s assistant Susan, her daughter Jane, and Jane’s daughter Haley.
THE DATE DEAL is a quick read; a sweet story of friendship, sacrifice, and falling in love. The premise is engaging; the romance is energetic; the characters are lively and animated but I struggle with Tate’s need to sacrifice for the sake of everyone else, sacrifice that continues from book one.