SKU: 3579720021

KAWAI DIGITAL PIANO CN201 (WHITE)

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Description

KAWAI DIGITAL PIANO CN201 (WHITE)KAWAI DIGITAL PIANO CN201 (WHITE) Experience music, together. Featuring the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action with 88 key counterweights, stunning SK EX and EX concert grand piano sounds, and a high quality audio delivery system, the piano focussed CN201 offers best in class touch & tone, Bluetooth MIDI and Audio connectivity, and built in lesson and recorder functions within a compact, elegant cabinet. Gallery Video Catalog Dealer Locator CN201

KAWAI DIGITAL PIANO CN201 (WHITE)

Experience music, together.

Featuring the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action with 88-key counterweights, stunning SK-EX and EX concert grand piano sounds, and a high quality audio delivery system, the piano-focussed CN201 offers best-in-class touch & tone, Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio connectivity, and built-in lesson and recorder functions within a compact, elegant cabinet.

Gallery

Video

  • CN201 Premium Rosewood
  • CN201 Premium Satin Black
  • CN201 Premium Satin White
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HIGHLIGHTS

■  Improved Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
■  Ivory Touch key surfaces, triple sensor, let-off, counterweights
■  Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound with 88-key sampling
■  Shigeru Kawai SK-EX & Kawai EX concert grand piano sounds
■  High quality audio processing and amplification hardware

■  Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless technology
■  Built-in classical etudes and Alfred lesson books
■  Spatial Headphone Sound for enhanced depth and realism
■  Cheekblock control panel with high resolution OLED display
■  Attractive, modern cabinet available in three wood finishes

 

Experience music, together.

Kawai’s latest CN series digital pianos provide a realistic full-sized keyboard, beautiful grand piano sounds, and headphone jacks that allow silent practise at any time of the day. These affordable instruments also offer a variety of inspiring features suitable for everyone in the family, and have attractive cabinet designs that will complement any room. The new CN series from Kawai – experience music, together.

  

TOUCH

The Touch of a Grand Piano:
Responsive Hammer III keyboard action

The CN201’s acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action has been developed to recreate the touch feeling of playing a Kawai grand piano.  Each key is authentically weighted using metal hammers which are ‘graded’ (i.e. slightly heavier in the bass region, and lighter in treble) just like an acoustic piano.  These weights also allow released keys to return to their original position without the aid of springs, resulting in a smooth, natural playing experience.

 

 Ivory Touch key    Counterweights    Triple sensor
 Let-off mechanism    Weighted hammers    Key pivot point

 

The chassis of the action mechanism is produced using reinforced materials that ensure the keyboard will remain rigid and stable when played with force.  In addition, a series of felt-lined rubber cushions absorb movement energy from the keys and hammers, helping to reduce unwanted ‘thump’ noise, and earning RHIII a reputation as one of the quietest digital piano keyboards available.

 
Ivory Touch key surfaces

The Responsive Hammer III keyboard action features Kawai’s authentic Ivory Touch key surface material, which possesses an attractive matte finish that is smooth but not slippery. These characteristics are not only beneficial in aiding finger control, but also contribute to the overall impression of playing a high quality, authentic piano.

88-key Counterweights

In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also incorporates counterweights embedded within each black and white key. As with an acoustic piano, these additional weights help to balance the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages, while providing a feeling of greater substance and solidity when playing with force.

 
Triple sensor key detection

Supplementing its authentic touch weight, the RHIII keyboard action also includes Kawai’s latest triple-sensor key detection system for enhanced playing realism. This additional third sensor greatly improves responsiveness when striking the same keys repeatedly, allowing rapid trills etc. to sound much smoother and more acoustic piano-like when played.

Let-off simulation

As the most authentic digital piano keyboard action in its class, Responsive Hammer III even reproduces the 'let-off' characteristic of acoustic piano actions. This subtle 'notch' sensation can be felt when playing the keys of a grand piano very gently, and may be used by experienced pianists to aid control when playing pianissimo passages.

  

SOUND

The Sound of a Grand Piano: Two world-class instruments

Earning a reputation as the ‘premier pianos of Japan’, Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions throughout the world, and are prized for their outstanding tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range. The CN201 captures the magnificent tone of the flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.  This peerless instrument is hand-built by Master Piano Artisans at the Shigeru Kawai Piano Research Laboratory in Ryuyo, Japan, and widely regarded as one of the finest instruments in its class.

 

Learn more about Shigeru Kawai grand pianos >

 

In addition, the CN201 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai’s highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions, among others. Both the SK-EX and EX are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using advanced Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology, to establish a new standard in digital piano tonal quality, and allow musicians to appreciate the contrasting properties of each.

 
Piano sound demos

 

Full 88-key stereo piano sampling

The rich, expressive sound of the SK-EX and EX concert grand pianos is at the heart of the CN201, with all eighty-eight keys of these world-class instruments painstakingly recorded, meticulously analysed, and accurately reproduced as high-fidelity digital waveforms.

 

Recording each key individually in this way – as opposed to stretching the same tone over several different notes – preserves the grand pianos’ unique harmonic character, and guarantees that the sound heard when playing any one of the CN201’s weighted keys is a faithful representation of the original acoustic source.

 

Harmonic Imaging technology

When playing a fine piano, the amount of pressure applied to the keyboard affects not only the volume of the sound produced, but also the unique tonal character of each note.  Therefore, in order to construct a realistic acoustic portrait of each grand piano, not only is each key recorded individually, but also at a wide variety of different volumes, ranging from gentle pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo.

 

The CN201 offers a highly detailed acoustic portrait, employing Kawai’s proprietary Progressive Harmonic Imaging sampling technology to ensure smooth tonal transitions across the keyboard and throughout the entire dynamic range.

 

Variety beneath your fingertips

Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX and EX grand piano sounds, the CN201 also showcases a selection of Jazz, Pop, and Modern variations suitable for a range of musical genres.  A traditional Kawai upright piano sound is also included, for pieces that suggest a feeling of nostalgia, or call for a slightly more intimate tonal character.

 

Personalised piano adjustments

The knowledge and skill of an experienced piano technician is essential to bring out the best of a fine acoustic piano. In addition to tuning each note, the technician also performs numerous regulation and voicing adjustments that allow the instrument to truly sing.

 

The CN201’s Virtual Technician ‘Smart Mode’ simulates these refinements digitally, with ten preset configurations that intelligently adjust characteristics of the grand piano to match different musical styles.

 

For greater flexibility, ‘Advanced Mode’ allows players to perform touch weight and voicing adjustments, regulate hammer and key release noises, and fine-tune string and damper resonances from a smart device using the dedicated PianoRemote app.

  

DELIVERY

Advanced audio technologies

Developed by Kawai R&D’s highly experienced audio engineering team, the CN201 features a redesigned motherboard and speaker system, and a brand new high quality power adapter. These components combine to deliver best-in-class audio quality, producing an extremely rich, clear sound with minimal distortion.

 
High quality sound hardware

The CN201 motherboard and sound hardware is engineered for precise signal conversion and optimum sound quality.  Advanced low-noise circuit designs and premium audio components combine to ensure crystal clear, high-fidelity sound with minimal distortion.

Full range speaker drivers

The CN201’s high quality speaker drivers were selected for their flat frequency response and ultra-low distortion characteristics, ensuring the most accurate reproduction of the original Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano.

 

Impressive speaker system
(with Low Volume Balance feature)

The CN201’s stereo speaker system delivers an impressive 40W of output, providing more than enough power to fill a medium-sized room with it's beautiful Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds.

 

Moreover, when playing through speakers at a reduced volume setting (so as not to disturb family members), the CN201’s Low Volume Balance feature intelligently adjusts keyboard touch and piano tone characteristics, allowing pianissimo passages to be played smoothly and more naturally.

 

Superior headphone experience

The CN201’s Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) technology enhances the depth and realism of the instrument’s sound when listening through headphones or earphones. The player can select one of three different acoustic presets that adjust the spatial positioning of the sound, while also helping to reduce auditory fatigue when using earphones or headphones for extended periods of time.

 

In addition, the CN201 also allows players to select a variety of headphone types (Open, Semi-open, Closed, In-Ear, Canal, etc.) for an optimised listening experience.

Learn more about the Kawai SH-9 headphones >

  

FEATURES

The Variety of a Digital Piano: Convenience & Flexibility

Complementing the instrument’s acclaimed Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and Progressive Harmonic Imaging piano sounds, the CN201 also offers a variety of convenient digital features that further enhance one’s musical enjoyment.

 

A selection of different instrument voices, built-in lesson songs, and the ability to record and playback performances are just some of the features accessible from the cheek-block control panel, while built-in Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio functionality allow connecting to smart devices wirelessly for running apps or streaming music.

 

Integrated Bluetooth® connectivity

In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connecting to computers, the CN201 also features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio technologies that allow the instrument to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly.

 

Once paired with a phone, tablet, or laptop, CN201 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream audio from songs and videos directly through the instrument’s impressive speaker system without the need to connect additional cables.

 

* Availability of Bluetooth® function may vary depending on market area.
* For more information please refer to the Bluetooth MIDI Information support page.

 

PianoRemote app

The CN201 is compatible with Kawai’s latest PianoRemote control app for iOS and supported Android devices. This app connects to the piano wirelessly via the instrument’s integrated Bluetooth feature, providing an effortless way to change sounds or adjust settings from an attractive touch-based user interface.

Learn more about the PianoRemote app >

 

 

Built-in lesson function

The CN201’s convenient lesson function allows aspiring pianists to learn piano with classical Czerny, Burgmüller, Beyer, and Chopin etudes, or collections of songs from the popular Alfred's Basic Piano course books.

 

The left and right hand parts of each etude/song can be practiced separately, using the adjustable metronome feature to perfect timing in difficult passages, before recording the completed piece for self-evaluation.

 

* Notated scores and Alfred lesson books sold separately.

 

Additional sounds & playing modes

Supplementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, the CN201 also features a modest selection of additional sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar or church organs, to strings, human choirs, and synth pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances.

 

Dual playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the Four Hands mode divides the keyboard into two independent 44-key sections.

 

This feature is particularly useful in learning environments, allowing teacher and student (or student and student) to play together at the same time using a single instrument.

 
Instrument sound demos

 

Grand Feel Pedal System

Reinforcing the CN Series’ reputation as the most realistic digital pianos in their price range is Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal System.

 

This unique feature accurately replicates the position and individual weighting of the damper, soft, and sostenuto pedals of a Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, ensuring that players master the proper pedalling technique required to perform on an acoustic piano.

  

DESIGN

Grand performance within a modern, compact cabinet

The CN201's modern cabinet incorporates a curved leg design, with minimalist toe blocks for additional stability.  Its flat fascia and tall upper board give the instrument a traditional, upright piano-like quality, while at just over 40 centimetres deep, the CN201's compact body is suitable for apartments and other narrow spaces.

 

Broad, adjustable music rest

The CN201’s broad music rest is engineered to accommodate the most ambitious musical works, with a high-quality surface and attractive round design.

 

As with a grand piano, the viewing angle of the instrument's music rest can be adjusted to suit the performer's playing position, or laid flat for convenience when notating scores or sketching musical ideas.

 

Easy to use interface with OLED display

The CN201 features an easy to use control panel neatly embedded within the left cheekblock, with a high resolution OLED display providing information about the currently select sound, function, or setting.

 

Unlike most other digital pianos in its class, the CN201's various sounds and functions are all selected directly from the control panel, without needing to press and hold buttons while remembering different key combinations.  This helps to simplify operation, and ensures that the piano can be enjoyed by even the youngest members of the family.

 

Cabinet Finishes

The CN201 is available in three attractive cabinet finishes: Premium Rosewood, Premium Satin Black, and Premium Satin White, allowing musicians to coordinate their piano with a range of modern interiors.

 

* For a visual representation of the piano in each finish, please refer to the Gallery function at the top of this page.
* Cabinet finish availability dependent on market location.

  

DIMENSIONS

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Keyboard ・ Responsive Hammer III action
 - 88 keys
 - Grade-weighted hammers
 - Ivory Touch white key surfaces
 - Let-off simulation
 - Triple sensor key detection
 - Counterweights
Pedal ・ Grand Feel Pedal System
 - Damper (with half-pedal support)
 - Soft
 - Sostenuto
Piano Sound ・ Progressive Harmonic Imaging (PHI)
 - 88-key stereo sampling
 - SK-EX, EX, K-60 recording
 - 192 note maximum polyphony
Piano Resonance - Damper Resonance
- String Resonance
Piano Adjustment ・Virtual Technician (18 parameters, via PianoRemote app)
 - Touch Curve
 - Voicing
 - Damper Resonance
 - Damper Noise
 - String Resonance
 - Key-off Effect
 - Fall-back Noise
 - Hammer Delay
 - Topboard
 - Decay Time
 - Release Time
 - Minimum Touch
 - Stretch Tuning
 - Temperament
 - Temperament Key
 - User Key Volume
 - Half-Pedal Adjust
 - Soft Pedal Depth

・Virtual Technician Smart Mode (10 presets)
No. of Sounds 19 voices
Reverb 6 types
Brilliance
Other Effects -
Speakers 12 cm x 2 (full-range speakers)
Output Power 40 W (20 W x 2)
Headphone Enhancements Spatial Headphone Sound
Headphone Type
Display 128 x 128 pixel OLED
Key Cover Sliding type
Music Rest Collapsible type (3 angle adjustability)
Product
Size & Weight
Width 136 cm (53 1/2")
Depth 40.5 cm (16")
Height 86 cm (34") [music rest flat]
102 cm (40 1/4") [music rest raised]
Net Weight 43 kg (95 lbs.)
Packing
Size & Weight
Dimensions 147 (W) x 60.5 (D) x 37.5 (H) cm (without bench)
158 (W) x 55.5 (D) x 51.5 (H) cm (with bench)
Gross Weight 52 kg (without bench)
59 kg (with bench)
Available Finishes Premium Satin Black (CN201B)
Premium Satin White (CN201W)
Premium Rosewood (CN201R)
Basic Functions Dual
Four Hands
Transpose
Tuning
Startup Setting
Low Volume Balance
Internal Songs Sound Demo 19 songs
Piano Music -
Concert Magic 40 songs
Lesson Songs Burgmüller 25 (25 Etudes Faciles, Opus 100)
Czerny 30 (Etudes de Mécanisme, Opus 849)
Beyer 106 (Vorschule im Klavierspiel, Opus 101)
Chopin Walzer (Chopin waltzes series 1-19)
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1A
Alfred’s Basic Piano Library Lesson Book Level 1B
Internal Recorder Total Memory approximately 10,000 notes
No. of Songs 3 songs
Parts 1 part
Metronome Time Signatures 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8
Drum Rhythms -
Bluetooth * Bluetooth (Ver. 5.0; GATT compatible)
Bluetooth Low Energy MIDI Specification compliant
Bluetooth Audio (Ver. 5.1; A2DP compatible)
USB Audio Recorder Record/Playback -
Other Functions -
App Functions PianoRemote (iOS/Android)
PiaBookPlayer (iOS/Android)
Connector Jacks Headphone 1 x 1/4", 1 x 1/8" Stereo jacks
MIDI USB-MIDI, Bluetooth MIDI *
Line Out -
Line In -
USB to Host
USB to Device -
Others -
Power Consumption † 12 W
Power Power cable
AC adaptor (PS-154)
Bench Fixed-height or height-adjustable bench *
Headphones Headphone hook
Sheet Music -
Others Warranty Card *
Owner's Manual

* Depending on market location.  |  † Power consumption information.Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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SKU: 3579720021

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4.3 ★★★★★
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chrissycf
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Absolutely the best in the series so far!
Format: Kindle
I've been wanting to get Dean's book since we met him in The Deal, and let me tell you, this book did NOT disappoint! Dean is the playboy of the hockey team, he doesn't do relationships, and he just takes life as it goes. Allie is Hannah's best friend and roommate, and is a relationship type of girl. When she realizes her and her boyfriend are moving in separate directions and she can't do it anymore she breaks up with him. When she needs a place to hide out, Garrett offers up his house while they are away. She never expected that weekend to change everything for her. Dean and Allie definitely have amazing chemistry, but one night together doesn't change things for them, or does it? Dean can't get Allie out of his head, and Allie knows she can't do a casual hookup, but they can't seem to keep away from one another. I loved how Dean finally wore Allie down, and how Allie finally got to have someone with her that understood her and was just as adventurous as she was. I don't agree with how she didn't want anyone to know about them, but I think the way everyone found out was perfect for them. Dean and Allie's "relationship" is full of emotions, and you can slowly see this turning into something way more than what they thought it would be. Dean is amazing with Allie, he's supportive of her, he cares about her, and he's insanely jealous of anyone who dares look at her. Allie is loving how Dean makes her feel, and is also a huge supporter of his. For once in his life Dean opens up about himself and you can tell how nervous he was telling her about his ex, and everything involving the fall out of that situation. Their escapades are hilarious and sexy all at once. I loved watching them during Thanksgiving with Beau and his sister, where you can see that things definitely changed for them. I also adored their watching of the french soap opera, and all the little things they did together. Not only does this book have a true romance that you can't help but fall in love with these amazing characters, but there are some absolute laugh out loud moments. When Logan walks in on Dean and "Winston" I spit my drink out I was laughing so hard. Also the hilarious Twilight references on imprinting! There is also a very serious aspect to this book that had me in tears. My emotions were definitely all over the place while reading this book, and I must say I think I love Dean more than Garrett, and he's been sitting at the top of my BBF list for a long time! It's been a long time since I've read a book that I absolutely loved both of the main characters. I felt so connected to them, and their group of friends, that I thought I was right there with them experiencing their love, their laughs, and their heartbreak. This book definitely took me on one hell of a ride. I can't remember laughing so hard one moment, swooning and falling in love, and then balling my eyes out, only to have my heart put back together at the end. This is a beautifully written story and I could NOT put it down. I am definitely looking forward to Tuck's book, especially with the bomb-shell he dropped at the end of Dean's story! Even though this book can be read as a stand-alone, I highly suggest reading each of the previous two books in this series, so you can get a good feel of how much Dean has changed since we met him, as well as how the group dynamic works. Each one of the books are 5 star reads, and trust me, you will definitely fall in love with Garrett, Logan and Dean!
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2016
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Ivy D.
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 4
The Good, The Bad and Everything In Between
Format: Kindle
Another excellent entry: The Off-Campus series is among the very, very best in new adult romance and there is little that isn’t done well in this entry. Dean DiLaurentis is charged with watching out for Allie, Hannah’s roomie, one weekend while everyone is gone for various reasons - with, of course, the obligatory threats to his penis if he were to touch Allie. She’s just gone through a painful breakup with her boyfriend from book one, since they’ve had a fairly tempestuous relationship, she needs some time away from her apartment, where he’s been trying to get her to change her mind. Of course, Allie and Dean are young, hot, single and there’s tequila. When you do the math, it’s fairly obvious that yes, Slot A goes into Tab B, and yes, romance happens. I love their banter, the humor throughout really establishes these characters and their friendships and makes the ride all the more enjoyable. Speaking of riding... Dean’s what I expected: Dean’s the manho who beats all the previous manhoes in this series. He makes no apologies and I loved that he didn’t. He’s intrigued with Allie but he isn’t in love from the moment he lays eyes on her. When he falls, though it’s hard and it’s clearly life-altering. His moments with his friend Beau when they discuss his issues with little Dean (I can’t stop giggling at that silliness) were priceless. He has a good journey towards adulthood, though I was saddened by the events that led to this character growth. It was the perfect (sad yet realistic) touch of bitter to make the sweet all the richer. Allie was a surprise: I’ll admit, this is mostly because I didn’t remember her. Allie isn’t a big part of the first book and what I did remember of her was a bit flaky. I loved getting to know her and seeing what made her tick and as with Ms. Kennedy’s previous heroines, there is more than meets the eye. She’s concerned about being slut-shamed by the prospect of no-strings sex, considering she’s only ever been in committed, long term relationships, so I love that she has to learn to accept that there’s nothing wrong with two consenting adults doing what they want to do, damn public opinion. I found it an interesting twist that the only person truly slut-shamed is Dean, by other men and women. Beats played out as I expected: If I have any issues with this is, while it is entertaining, charming, and funny, it also felt the same as the earlier books, which were also entertaining, charming and funny. When the quality is so high, that’s not a horrible thing, but I can’t help but struggle to keep each set of heroes and heroines separate in my mind. That said... I’m really intrigued by where this series is going next: The setup for the next book is markedly different and it has me really eager to see how Ms. Kennedy handles it. The heroine for the next book is NOT in the mold of the earlier women and the hero is a bit of a wild card, since he has been more on the periphery so far. I’m looking forward to seeing what they have to contribute to this universe. The Bottom Line This is an excellent new adult romance with likeable characters, funny banter, hot sex scenes and room for the ‘verse to grow. If you haven’t read Ms. Kennedy’s series, I highly recommend it. **ARC provided by author for review**
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Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2016
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Verified Purchase
IslandDeb
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Ms. Kennedy Scores Again!
Format: Kindle
I am absolutely addicted to Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series. When I picked up The Deal last year I had no idea what to expect. I love her Navy SEAL series but a New Adult? I have to say, I fell so hard for that book it was ridiculous. Don’t tell anyone but I think I might even love this series more. Ack! I’m an adult. I’ve been out of college for more years than these characters have been alive! What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me is I’m a sucker for young love stories that have substance, well-developed characters, witty dialogue, and just enough angst to make it interesting without making me want to kill myself. And this is exactly what we get with Off-Campus. It’s not a given that each book in a series will top the last, or even equal its predecessors, but Ms. Kennedy has blown that theory out of the water. The Deal, The Mistake, and now The Score are all deliciously entertaining. I can’t say I love one more than the other because they are all unique. Each book focuses on one of four members of Briar University’s hockey team, all roommates in what I imagine in my head to be a large, rambling off-campus house. These guys are hardcore athletes, so of course, they’re gorgeous, sculpted of yummy muscles, confident, and can pretty much snap their fingers and the girls come running. But under those pretty exteriors and horndog antics lie endearing personalities. The thing I love most about the four guys sharing the house is they all have each other’s backs no matter what the circumstances. When it’s time to man up, be mature, and offer advice they excel at it. I love these guys. They’re also hilarious as hell. The Score is book 3, featuring self-professed man-whore Dean Di Laurentis and Allie Hayes, Hannah’s best friend (from book 1, The Deal) . These two couldn’t be more different. According to The Life of Dean, there are no repeat performances with girls. Ever. He’s not remotely interested in anything that involves the dirty word relationship. Allie, on the other hand, has dated the same guy for four years. Granted, they’ve broken up four times but this time, it’s for real. She’s even high tailed it out of the dorm she shares with Hannah and is hiding out at the guys’ house for the weekend. The couples are out of town, which leaves only Dean at home. Allie can surely smack down on his ridiculous flirting. But after some well-deserved tequila shots and a joint or maybe two, things get blurry and… "The memories come crashing back in vivid Technicolor. The terrible movie. The tequila shots. The… rest. I slept with Dean last night. Twice. My heart beats faster as I stare up at the ceiling. I’m in Dean’s room. There’s an empty condom wrapper on the end table. And… yep, I’m naked." What surprises Allie, even more, is that she seems to recall enjoying herself. A Lot. She’s got a kinky streak that her ex wasn’t on board with but Dean…wow. Regardless, it was beyond wrong and Hannah will kill her if she finds out, so Dean and Allie make a pact to keep it between them. Only problem is, Dean can’t stop thinking about Allie. It surprises the crap out of him because this is certainly a first but he needs, at least, one more taste. "After last night’s performance, Allie Hayes proved that she’s fully capable of leaving her mark on a man. Jesus. That girl can f***. Damn, and now my dick is semi-hard. It’s been doing that all day, chubbing out every time I think about Allie." Likewise, Allie can’t stop thinking about Dean. When Dean begs for more, she’s shocked. Maybe what she needs is indeed a fling. She may be a card-carrying member of the Team Boyfriend, but it hasn’t done her any favors in the last few years. A change might be good. But can she handle it? Allie and Dean are hilarious together. She isn’t the starry-eyed coed type he’s used to. She doesn’t say How high? when he says Jump. Their verbal sparring is exquisite! It’s not only entertaining, it’s also revealing. The more she treats him with nonchalance the more he falls for her. She’s not being a tease. She’s being realistic. Dean isn’t a long term keeper. He’s rich, spoiled, and gets what he wants. He’s only hanging around because she isn’t begging for his attention. Besides, she’s spent four years as a drama major, she’ll be graduating soon, and needs to focus on her acting career. But Dean is relentless, being all adorable and sexy, watching French soap operas with her and generally making her forget about her ex. Plus, Dean is just so damn HOT it’s irresistible. Dean is on a fast track to win over Allie. He can’t explain this all-consuming fascination and need and he doesn’t care. What little Dean wants, big Dean does his best to procure. Allie might consider this thing between them merely a fling but that’s not how it’s going down if he can help it. She makes him want to be a better man and, I must admit the more we learn about Dean, the harder I fell in love with him. He’s put on a good act for a long time; a Richie Rich man-whore who skates by on his charm and looks when in fact, he’s extremely intelligent, caring, and kind. Ms. Kennedy has once again given us another exceptional story that is not only fun, witty, and chock full of sexy chemistry. Unexpected and shocking surprises deepen the tension and pull at the heartstrings yet are by no means superfluous. The writing is beautiful, tight, fast-paced, and so entertaining I didn’t want it to end.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2016
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Verified Purchase
Nmmomof4
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 4
4 stars
Format: Kindle
Overall Opinion: This was a fun read. I liked it. The banter and friendship these two had was great, and I loved how Allie knocked Dean off his feet. My main criticisms are that we really didn't need to experience the almost threesome at the beginning. I mean -- we get it...he's a Manho! BUT I didn't need to know descriptive details! The other is that I needed a jump ahead epilogue -- like I always do ;). They had some great things lined up for their futures, but I really wanted to see how it all went for them when they were older. Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Allie and Dean's story. Allie has (yet again) broken up with her boyfriend, and turns to her best friend Hannah (who we met in the first book The Deal). Hannah is out of town with her boyfriend, Garrett, and he offers to let Allie stay at his house to avoid the ex that keeps on texting and saying that he is coming over. That is when she runs in to Dean because he lives with Garrett. They spend the rest of the evening together with Dean being deemed her relationship coach with the job of keeping her from texting/calling her ex and taking him back. They end up getting drunk and sleeping together. Dean is ruined after that night for other women and is hooked on Allie. They start a friendship-with-benefits of sorts that of course turns into more. There are some laugh out loud moments, some sad moments, some sexy moments, and some sweet moments...and the couple get their HFN ending. POV: This alternated between Allie and Dean's POV. Overall Pace of Story: Good. It flowed well, and I didn't skim. The major drama did happen later in the book than usual, so it was cutting it close for things to get back to good IMO, but I felt like it was sufficiently addressed and handled. Instalove:No. They had some good development before they were into love status. H rating: 4 stars. Dean. I was surprised I'd like him so much, but I really did. We got to understand why he was the way he was regarding his sexual history, so that made him a lot more likable. I loved his interactions with the kids, and he was an overall good guy regardless of his past sexual acticities. h rating: 4.5 stars. Allie. I really liked her. She was super sweet, a wildcat in the bedroom, and she was really ambitious. Sadness level: Low/moderate. I had one time that I teared up, but I didn't need tissues and it didn't turn into an ugly cry. Heat level: Moderate. They had great chemistry and had some steamy times (some were just mentions of the experiences so it didn't become just about the sex). Descriptive sex: Yes. Safe sex: Yes. Condoms were used until they were in a committed relationship, and then testing and birth control discussions happened. OW/OM drama: Surprisingly no for OW, but yes for OM. The h's ex showed up and texted trying to win her back. Sex scene with OW or OM: Yes Closure: This didn't have enough closure for me at all. I really wanted a jump ahead epilogue to see their lives when they were older. I would call it a HFN ending (which I think is the norm with this series). How I got it: I paid the $4.99 on Amazon.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2016
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descartesrocks
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 3
Too Many Problems Deterred My Enjoyment
Format: Kindle
Elle Kennedy's was one of my favorite romances from 2015. I loved the progression of the relationship between the two leads and felt that the book handled the issue of past sexual assault really well compared to other books in the genre. Then came . The romance in this story was not as compelling to me, but I appreciated how the author really put thought and effort into portraying the hero's struggle with familial obligations versus the pursuit of his dreams. Both these previous books in the Off-Campus series depict college relationships and the struggles of emerging adulthood realistically--something that I feel is oftentimes missing in New Adult novels. It is rare for me to find books in the genre relatable (ironic, given that I was a college student less than a year ago and should theoretically be the readership these books are marketed to), which makes my enjoyment of Elle Kennedy's books especially precious. I was counting down the days to its release and finished it in a matter of hours. And it was...kind of meh. The published synopsis really does not properly describe the story, so let me first quickly summarize the key points anyone needs to know: Allie is an aspiring actress who is trying to figure out whether she should aim for a television or a stage career. She recently broke up with her on-again-off-again ex-boyfriend and in her heartbreak, she cannot even imagine getting into a relationship with anyone else. She has a one-night stand with Dean, a rich college hockey star, who is only after casual sex. They decide to have a fling, but must keep it a secret because they have many mutual friends. There were so many things that bothered me about this book, I actually had to make a list. 1. The gratuitous scene involving Dean in a threesome with two girls is unappealing and unnecessary. I am not marking this as a spoiler because it is a scene found at the very beginning of the book (2% into the Kindle version) and really does not have a point. I do not understand why this scene was not cut out or at least shortened in the editing process. What does it serve to do? To show that Dean is sexually promiscuous? It is pretty clear to the reader that Dean is sexually promiscuous. He mentions it all the time. Other characters mention it all the time. Girls hit on him and he flirts with them all the time. There is no need for us to read in explicit detail his fun fun times. Perhaps the scene is there to titillate the reader? It just made me feel very uncomfortable because I was wondering the entire time whether these two women were actually into each other or whether they were merely performing for his sexual satisfaction. We later find out that, yes, these two are in fact interested in having sex with each other as well, but that is later on. During the scene I remained unsure, which makes it kind of icky. 2. The old "she ruined my penis for other women" trope. This is a convention I hate in romances. Nothing pulls me out of the story faster than this because it is not realistic, nor do I find it particularly romantic that the hero cannot get sexually aroused by anyone but the heroine. People, no matter how in love (and Dean was most definitely not in love when this occurs in the story), can still be aroused by others. It is basic biology. No one has the voodoo genitalia that can prevent their partners from feeling sexual attraction to another person. It is whether your partner will act on this attraction that will make or break a relationship. This is especially important when your partner is someone like Dean, who makes it a point to never get into serious relationships. Whether he can actually commit to Allie is a serious question, but the author decides to wave this aside by giving Allie a magical vagina. I mean, if she's the only one his penis will respond to, is it any wonder they get together? She's his last hope! 3. Neither of the characters are particularly well fleshed out. It is as if Kennedy just listed a bunch of traits she wanted the characters to have in order to keep them interesting and then just decides to write in whatever plot points she wanted without bothering to explore the characters. For example, Dean is a rich playboy who does whatever he wants. His motto is to live by his own rules and desires and outside of a few incidents here and there, his life is pretty swell. The only potential problem in his life is that he plans to attend law school after college even though he does not have an interest in it. Dean honestly bores me to tears because for most of the book nothing is done with his character. He lives in his happy Dean world and if anything disturbs his world (Allie's magical, yet elusive vagina) he rushes to solve it with a gusto, and then settles back to his happy Dean life. I mean, does this guy even have any hobbies outside of hockey and sex? I guess the previous heroes in the series were caught up in hockey and sex too, but at least they were intensely serious about hockey. Dean isn't as interested in the sport, which is fine, but that means his main interest in life that we know of is sex. Which is kind of sad (this is the last time I will mention magical genitalia, I swear!), since Allie's basically ruined his willy from sex with other people. Seriously, though, Kennedy tries to give him more interesting things to do by having him volunteer to coach a boys' hockey team but this is really something his new assistant coach forces on him and even when he finds interest in doing it, it does not even begin to fill the blank canvas that is his life. The author then, again, tries to challenge and deepen Dean's character with the story's final conflict, but it just does not work for me (see below). Allie's character is more interesting, yet more frustrating because of all the wasted potential. She's an aspiring actress who is struggling with her future career plans and worrying about how to take care of her father, who has multiple-sclerosis. Making it as an actress depends a great deal on luck and opportunity and very talented people can spend years and years without getting anywhere. It is a very risky career choice, especially when you have a dependent who requires close care-taking and high medical costs. But does the story focus--nay even attempt to address these potential problems? Noooo. Instead, Allie spends most of her time debating whether she should look at casting offers in L.A. or trying to make it on Broadway. And banging Dean, of course. Her father vaguely factors into her worries about her career, but not to an extent that one would expect him to. I mean, I guess it is great and all for her to have so many opportunities as an actress, but, really, what is the point of making this career choice a part of her character if she does not even have to struggle with one of the most basic aspects of it? 4. Interesting relationship conflicts are brought up, but never resolved satisfactorily. An ongoing worry for Allie is her inability to separate sex from relationships. She cannot keep it casual and since adolescence she has never gone long being single. She even worries later in the story whether she has a co-dependency problem. It does not appear to me, personally, that she has a co-dependency problem, since she makes most of her life and career decisions with her own interests in mind and actually breaks up with her ex-boyfriend when he wanted to dictate her future for her. Nevertheless, I think it is perfectly valid and even healthy for someone who has always had long-term relationships to want to stay single for a while. Unfortunately, Allie does not get to experience this at all. She goes from breaking up with her ex to being sex buddies with Dean (since they decide to be exclusive and she admits she has a hard time separating sex from commitment, I do not count this as being single) to being Dean's girlfriend. She does experience a minor break from Dean toward the end of the book, but that is only for about a month before she is back with him again for their happily ever after. And since this is a romance, happily ever after means permanence. While an HEA is good and all, I am left feeling a bit sad that Allie never really got to experience adult life not being romantically attached to another person. The bigger conflict of the series is whether Dean, with his pampered life, will actually be able to support Allie when the times get rough. Allie's dad does not think so, which is a huge foreshadowing that Dean's ability to be there for her will be no doubt be tested by a Tragic Incident. I will not elaborate on the Tragic Incident, because spoilers, but suffice to say that it is definitely devastating for the people affected. However, the strange thing is...the incident does not affect Allie. Instead, it is an incident that is pertinent to Dean. And he falls apart and has a very hard time coping. And Allie makes a decision that, while I think is reasonable, ruins the entire climax of the story for me (see spoiler for details). **********SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!**************** After a few weeks of not being able to pull him from his grief, Allie just leaves Dean. I have two major problems with this: firstly, how on earth does this prove that Allie's dad is right in saying Dean would not be able to support Allie in trying times? If anything, this shows that Allie might not be the best pillar of support for Dean when tragedies happen. Secondly, I honestly understand why she leaves--she has her own life and she cannot and should not be jeopardizing her future to be his caretaker. That said, it really, really baffles me that she does not make any attempt to get him any help. She reasons that he is not in a bad enough state for professional help, but couldn't she at least contact his family? She knows his sister. She should have at least given her a call to make sure someone would be there for him rather than just leaving him to his own devices. Sure, he is still highly functional when she leaves him, but his behavior is also getting more and more self-destructive. This is kind of a terrible thing to do to anyone, never mind your boyfriend. Again, perhaps she really should have tried out that single life for a while. **********END OF SPOILERS**************** 5. The ending is way too pat. Everybody gets what they want and potential conflict (Dean's changes in future aspirations, having a long distance relationship after college, etc.) is completely resolved by the rosy wand of plot. I would rejoice at this if I actually felt that the story ever attempted to explore any of its major conflicts. Alas, it does not, so the fairy tale conclusion does not feel hard-earned and just makes me feel grumpy. Whew. That was really a long rant. Now briefly on to the good things: The saving grace of this book and why, to a certain extent, I understand why other people would give it a high score is that the characters actually fare much better when they are together than when they are apart. Not only do Dean and Allie develop a happy, loving relationship, but their relationship is also one based on mutual respect, communication, and trust. Fancy that! A romance novel where characters actually talk to each other and trust that their partners will keep their promises of commitment! I especially like how their feelings of love grow not from outside forces (like jealousy over potential suitors) but from extended time spent with one another. Their conversations are quirky and fun to read and you can tell how much they genuinely like and care about each other. If this is enough to satisfy you as a reader and you are not bothered by the things I mentioned above, you would like this book just fine. I think I just have a stronger bone to chew on regarding this one because the characters are so close in age to me, so I have a harder time waving away problems with my "But it's just fantasy!" hand. What is especially disappointing to me is that this was written by an author whose work I had really enjoyed in the past. Again, I am not a huge fan of New Adult romances. College is a time of great personal development and life transitions. I wish NA books will take this setting into more serious consideration. You can have romance and still have characters dealing with complex situations that are relevant to this stage in their lives. But c'est la vie, I suppose. Oh, by the way, since I guess I should mention it: the sex scenes are pretty steamy. Unfortunately, the squick I felt from the aforementioned threesome scene poisoned any hot lovin' the rest of the book had to offer, so I just skimmed. But there was a lot of skimming, so the book is packed for those who wish to know! Rating: B-
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Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2016

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