Looks like a good deal at that price. Not sure how important disc brakes are to you, but if rim brakes are okay, I wonder if the Nashbar steel touring bike would not be a better deal. For $650 you get 105 STI shifters, and FD and RD. The Peace has Microshift shifters, and low end FD and mid level RD Shimano.

I think the Peace is better looking bike - the triple triangle thing and the color are pretty sharp.

If you friend gets the bike for you at the discount, is he or the shop going to do the set up on it? If so, and things like wheel tension etc were going to be checked, I would lean toward the Peace.