Deal Breaker

by Susie Tate

Everyone loves Poppy. She’s pure sunshine vibes with an infectious snort-laugh, and nobody is immune to her outrageously flirting. Nobody, that is, apart from her much older brother’s best friend, former Scottish rugby star and grumpy fun sponge, Rory Wallace.

The last thing Rory wants is a woman who represents everything he cameras, chaos and constant attention. The irony is that although Lady Poppy Sterling flirts with the world, the man she’s had a crush on since childhood can’t stand her. At least that’s what he tells himself…

It’s only when Rory's betrayal leaves Poppy vulnerable to both paparazzi and predators that he realises too late what he stands to lose. Her celebrity lifestyle might be his dealbreaker, but his failure to protect her? That's hers.

DEAL BREAKER is an enemies-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine contemporary romance featuring family secrets, red carpet drama, and a grumpy hero who'll move heaven and earth to protect his sunshine girl—once he realises she's been his all along.

Content warning: discussions of drink spiking and predatory behaviour.

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 28, 2026

About the author

Susie is a top 2 Amazon bestselling author who writes addictive, feel-good contemporary romance with heroes who may make you a little ragey, but who always redeem themselves in the end! She’s been a doctor in the NHS for over twenty years and lives in beautiful Dorset with her wonderful husband, three gorgeous boys and an even more wonderful dog.

Reviews

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Poppy Sterling is a diminutive ray of sunshine, while organising charity fundraisers for her family's personal foundation she also interviews celebrities on the red carpet and has a reputation as a bit of a party girl, which might have been true when she was just starting out but now she takes her responsibilities seriously.

Rory Wallace is a Scottish rugby player, and Poppy's brother Rafe's best friend. Poppy has had a crush on him for years, ever since he patiently helped a dyslexic Poppy with her homework. Five years ago they became an item and then ... he ghosted her. Pathetically, she still fancies the pants off him and his very presence on the red carpet is likely to turn her into a gibbering wreck.

Rory thought Poppy was the one, but when she deliberately set him up with an interview when he was drunk he realised she was just a scheming aristocrat pretending to slum-it to get a story. He hates her party-girl persona, the drinking, and the partying. Living up to the Scottish stereotype Rory is grumpy and avoids the press at all costs.

Now the two of them are being flung together in a worthy cause, a Guinness World Record breaking attempt as a fund-raiser for Motor Neurone Disease which affects one of Rory's best friends and former teammates.

Will these two get a second chance at romance in this opposites attract, best friend's little sister romance? Or will Rory only see what's in front of his face and listen to false friends? I think you know LOL.

What a wonderful gift Susie Tate gave me - an ARC for Valentine's Day, I devoured it despite having many, many overdue ARCs that I should have been reading instead.

I received an ARC from the author via BookFunnel.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. I love the story of Poppy and Rory. Poppy is the younger sister of Lord Rafe Sterling (from Lawmaker) who is the close friend of Rory a rugby player who played for Scotland. Poppy has had a crush on Rory for years and they got together briefly 6 years ago only for a misunderstanding to tear them apart. Rory is a bit of a grump and Poppy is fun and outgoing. They eventually find their way together again with twist and turns on the path only for Rory’s aversion to the press to cause further issues. There is a good grovel which I always enjoy. There is a very moving back story about Connor a friend and former teammate of Rory who is suffering from Motor Neurone disease (MND). The courage of Connor and his wife and family and the support of their friends was so heartbreaking yet uplifting against the sadness of that awful disease. Made me shed a tear. It was good to catch up with characters from the previous book lawmaker and I think it would help to read them in order but not essential.