ARC Review: Deal Maker by Lily Morton

Blurb:

Sometimes your mouth makes deals that your heart can’t honour.

Jude is a highly successful model, but a very reluctant one. His life is full of casual hook-ups with pretty men in glamorous locations, but it’s still empty. However, circumstances decreed a long time ago that this was his path, so he’s resolutely stayed on it and accepted his fate with good grace. He made a deal with himself and his hook-ups. Get in, get out and no ties with anyone.

However, an accident at home one night leads to him making a new deal and accepting the offer of help from an unlikely source. It leads to an unexpected summer of falling in love with a larger than life man and his child.

But by the end of the summer his reasons for not staying are still valid. Will he turn away? Can he?

Asa is a talented actor who has spent time away from the scene to look after his son. But now he’s back, and the last thing he needs are complications from the gorgeous man who is staying with him. Scarred from too many betrayals, he has no intention of forming a lasting tie with anyone. However, he can’t resist the beautiful man with secrets, and to his horror he develops feelings.

But a deal’s a deal and they said it was just for the summer. What can Asa do with a man who has forever in his eyes and goodbye on his lips?

Jewel's rating:



​Ever since I read ​Rule Breaker, I've been keeping my eye out for new books by this author. ​Rule Breaker had some epic banter and I was hoping the trend would continue -- and it did!

​​Deal Maker is about family and friendship and learning how to let go of responsibilities that aren't yours and learning that you, too, can find happiness. That you deserve to find happiness.

I really enjoyed Jude's voice and his general approach to life. He may seem like he doesn't take anything too seriously, but the truth is, he takes everything way too seriously. He took it upon himself to drop out of school and take up an offered modeling career so he could help his family financially. He puts his own happiness last, and though that's not a healthy or sustainable way to live, indefinitely, I admire​d​ him for it​, for a good portion of the story (a bit more on that later)​. Family is the most important thing to Jude and he pays it more than lip service and holidays.


Asa has a tendency to get wrapped up in his life, too, and he plays his cards close to his chest. He's had awful luck with relationships because he is a nice guy and always wants the people around him to be happy. That a dangerous way to be when others want to take advantage. Asa sees the best in people and he's not in the least bit snobbish. He loves socializing with people from all walks of life and just likes to be around real people.

Once he and Jude start a relationship, Asa knows he's in trouble because he's already too far gone to keep things at the 'just sex' level. Just watching Jude with Billy (Asa's adorable 5 year old son) sealed that deal. Asa tries, anyway, because Jude is a force of nature and Asa just can't say no.

They have a lot in common - they both love to read, they have similar temperaments, the people they consider to be family are very important to both of them, they're both dedicated and hard working and not afraid to make important sacrifices. They just fit. Jude is too stubborn for his own good, though, and nearly threw away a real chance at happiness because he couldn't get out of his own way -- and that's my only real niggle in this story.

​Even still, ​​Deal Maker is a solid 4 star read and I definitely want more!

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ARC of Deal Maker was generously provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.

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Happy reading!