The Deal: Stefan

Zoric Family, Book 1

By: Stella Gray

Narrated by: Sebastian York, Elena Wolfe

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

On my 18th birthday, my father, the senator, gives me the gift he thinks every little girl dreams of.

The man of my dreams, and the wedding to match.

Stefan Zoric is heir to an elite worldwide modeling agency.
Practically a prince.

My arrangement is simple, as far as sham marriages go.

I give him my virginity, behave as the perfect wife and he'll pay for the college degree my father found irrelevant.

But I don't want to be the perfect wife.

I want him to want me the way I want him.

I want him to confide in me.

But Stefan has secrets that he holds close, dangerous secrets.

And soon I'm wondering what kind of devil have I made a deal with?

Book One of Three in the Arranged Series.

Suggested Listening Order:

The Deal - Stefan (Zoric Family Book 1)
The Secret - Stefan (Zoric Family Book 2)
The Choice - Stefan (Zoric Family Book 3)
The Sham - Luka (Zoric Family Book 4)
The Contract - Luka (Zoric Family Book 5)
The Ruin - Luka (Zoric Family Book 6)
The Lie - Emzee (Zoric Family Book 7)
The Act - Emzee (Zoric Family Book 8)
The Truth - Emzee (Zoric Family Book 9)

©2019 Paige Press, LLC (P)2019 Paige Press, LLC

Bad characters good narrators

*spoilers* the main girl character likes and is attracted to her husband solely based on looks. He treats her like crap for the entire book other than some initial flirting the first time they meant. And she’s convinced he’s that person rather than being duped into a shitty arranged marriage. He holds her hand one time for months and that’s all she thinks about it’s a bit ridiculous. The story itself was great but 5 hours into this it’s her pining and him rejecting her for no reason.

MEH.. MEH.. THEN BOOK 3 FINALLY SAVED IT.. but

This is a story of a young naive virgin’s plight who thought the arranged marriage and handsome husband her Father picked for her could be romantic and could be backed-up with a real emotional connection. Sadly, instead all she got was coldness and heartache. Even though it was just a business agreement, eighteen year old Tori was led to believe (and hoped) her marriage could lead to more.. however, twenty-six year old Stefan had impenetrable walls erected as soon as their marriage vows are exchanged. Tori’s silly and naive bubbles of hope get popped over and over.. and over and over.. and over again but annoyingly the poor, naive, delusional, optimistic, meek young woman kept believing in her fairytale. And she kept making excuses for her mentally and verbally abusive, hot n cold running, hurtful husband.. and she also continued to make-up sexy hot mental images of irrelevancy. Despite the aggressive, yet possessive, stranger who now lives with her.. despite all the secrets he keeps well away from her.. despite his actions, words and deeds.. and despite all the emotions he’s clearly holding back, Tori continually dreams of more.

Over the three books things DO eventually warm between them.. rough sizzles DO come with some hot scenes.. Sebastian York does get a chance to give Stefan’s POV.. and revelations DO eventually clarify, justify, make perfect sense and gave the drama, suspense and angst I was hoping for from the start. BUT, there was a whole Hell of a lot of rinse and repeat going on in sweet Tori’s ever-hopeful mind as she longed for the fantasy life where her loving husband.. and her happily ever afters would be just around the corner.

Worth a credit? I persevered because I needed a background distraction.. however, I nearly turned it off a couple of times because of the too ’teen’ elements and only one or two SebYo chapters.. so those two books maybe a sale purchase. However, the third book yes, it built and built, had character growth and much more of Sebastian giving Stefan’s reasons, hopes, fears, wants, wishes, emotional turmoil and his feels of love, respect and devotion for Tori, his very patient wife. Book 3 turned out to be an addictive, good, action-packed, suspenseful climactic eye-opener.. but I’m sadly not sure this whole drawn out Trilogy deserves three credits.