Review: The Pact by Karina Halle

Dear Karina Halle,

I know I'm way late on starting this series, but better late than never, right?! If you were anywhere near me right now I'd totally tackle hug you for writing The Pact. 

I absolutely am infatuated with novels that feature older "young adults" and not only did you follow them for years but you captured so many of the emotions and expectations that many people feel and have when they think about what those years will be like. As someone older than your characters, I appreciated that you took a chance and wrote something for us old folks.  

In addition to having an "older" couple, you took Linden and Steph's wedding pact and made it complicated and fun and sexy and angsty and completely amped up the friends to lovers trope to a whole new notch of friends-to-loversdom. There were so many times when I slapped the cover of my Kindle closed and just ugggghhhhh-ed because you had me so wound up at their missed chances, the misplaced loyalty + doubt, and James and Nadine's douche-baggery. SERIOUSLY--I wanted to hurt someone several times during this book. But, in between those times you smoothed my ruffled feathers with lots of sweet and funny moments... and the heat between Linden and Steph...GEEZUS.

Thank you so much for writing this series. I know it was an unexpected deviation from the original writing plans you had and I'm so glad that you took the time to explore these characters. You keep 'changing lanes' with your writing and storytelling and I'm enjoying reading each new thing you put out there; I can't wait to see what you do next.

NOTE: This review was written years ago and has been hanging out in my drafts folder until this week. OOPS.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/2MVmqSj

SYNOPSIS:

It all started with a pinky swear…

Linden McGregor is tall, rugged, and gunslinger handsome; a helicopter pilot with a Scottish brogue and charm to spare. He’s also one of Stephanie Robson’s best friends and has fit into that box for as long as she’s known him.

Beautiful, funny and an ambitious businesswoman (with one hell of an ass), Stephanie Robson is one of Linden McGregor’s best friends and has fit into that box for as long as he’s known her.

But some relationships can’t be boxed, can’t be classified, can’t be tamed.

Back in their mid-twenties and tired of the competitive hit-or-miss dating scene of San Francisco, Steph and Linden made a pact to marry each other if neither one of them were in a serious relationship by the time they hit thirty.

It sounded like fun and games at the time but as the years to thirty tick past and lovers come and go out of their lives, the pact becomes larger than life.

Sex is inevitable. Friendships are tested. Hearts are on the line.

The pact is about to change everything.

Note: due to the dirty talk and sexy times, The Pact is not meant for anyone under the age of 18. All characters in THE PACT are in their thirties, therefore this is NOT a new adult book...even though love can mess you up at any age.