The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert

May 27th, 2016 Kimberly Review 43 Comments

27th May
The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert
The Wedding Pact
by Katee Robert
Series: The O'Malleys #2
Narrator: Charlotte North
Length: 8 hours and 29 minutes
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame
Narration: 4 cups

Carrigan O'Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she's ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1. Hallorans vs. O'Malleys-that's how it's always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family's empire instead of how silky Carrigan's skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he'll be if he can't get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

Family ROMANCE SUSPENSE Audiobook

The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert is the second novel in the O’Malley’s series and once again, I chose to listen on audio. Charlotte North was the perfect choice as narrator. Her accent to the way she captured the character’s emotions made the listening enjoyable. The Wedding Pact offers us a forbidden romance with heat, danger and tender moments.

The Wedding Pact focuses on Carrigan O’Malley. In Carrigan’s world, daughters are pawns for alliances and power plays. Her father demands complete compliance and gives her thirty days to choose a husband from his list of approved candidates. I kid you not. All of the men are cads, but to disobey her father is unthinkable.

While she is checking out perspectives husbands, her path crosses again with James Halloran, now head of the Halloran family after the events in the Wedding Contract. While this could work as a standalone, those events have me strongly recommending you read/listen to book one first.

James and Carrigan have unbelievably hot chemistry, and Carrigan decides to explore those passions. They play this hot sexy game filled with banter, denial, and disinterest but you can feel the sexual tension. What begins as an emotional escape from reality slowly develops into more. James may be enemy number one in the O’Malley household but he seems to be the only man who likes Carrigan for herself.

Robert delivers a hot and spicy “Romeo and Juliet” romance surrounded by danger, power struggles, alliances, and betrayals. I found the world James and Carrigan were born into fascinating. Arranged marriages, women who silently stand behind their husbands, illegal activity laced with legitimate business. Bodyguards follow you everywhere and disobedience will not be tolerated. These men in power are ruthless and death, kidnapping and more are all part of daily life for these warring families. I cannot imagine coming from privilege but finding yourself trapped in a gilded cage. *shivers*

Despite her struggles with family obligations, I enjoyed the progressive growth we saw from Carrigan. Siblings and even her mother surprised me and added to the overall tone of the story. I felt the author did an excellent job of making Carrigan and her siblings reactions to their father and this life believable, while still giving us hope for a better future.

Robert delivered plenty of suspense and action from Carrigan’s dates with prospective husbands to betrayals within the Halloran clan. Despite the fact or maybe because James heads a criminal family, I loved how Robert’s was able to show me his redeeming qualities. She exposed his softer side and the way he treated Carrigan was sweet. In both novels, she has shown this younger generation looking to change or escape the life.

I felt the Marriage Pact had a stronger storyline and romance than the Wedding Contract. Fans of criminal family sagas, forbidden romance, delicious heat and suspense will enjoy the O’Malley trilogy. I am excited for the next story An Indecent Proposal that will give us Cillian O’Malley story. It releases in July 2016 and I will be grabbing the audiobook.

 

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

43 Responses to “The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert”

  1. Lover Of Romance

    Oh I so had a blast with this one!! I think I enjoyed the first book a bit more, but I quite enjoyed this and I am loving this O Malley family though.

  2. Wattle

    I don’t think I’ve come across this series before, but I definitely like the sound of it. I’ll have to give book 1 a whirl some time soon 🙂 thank you for sharing!

  3. Melanie Simmons

    I haven’t tried this series, but I like the idea of the crime family. I like the darker storylines that usually are in them.

  4. Lorna

    So it’s about a couple of mob families?Arranged marriages. Ugh! I am glad this was such a good one for you Kimberly, hopefully the next one will be just as good!

  5. Ramona

    Sounds positively wicked! 😀 And what a concept indeed! Brilliant. I haven’t read the first book, but I can certainly smell the potential a mile off. Criminal family sagas and a pair of star-crossed lovers? It would be hard to deny the appeal… Brilliant review, Kimba.

  6. Shari

    I didn’t finish the Wedding Contract, but I wanted to like it so much. Just didn’t happen. I am glad this one seemed to redeem itself, but I don’t think crime family romances are my thing.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Bummer, that happens. This story was stronger, but I am thinking if you did a DNF of the first this is probably not for you.

  7. Melissa (Books and Things)

    Oh let me tell you that this has me wanting that first book more just to get to this one. I know you said it could be a standalone, but I would heed your warning and read/listen to the first one… well, first. 😀 Brilly review!

  8. Cyn

    Oooh, this sounds like a spicy read! I’m definitely intrigued by the Romeo and Juliet feel and I like the family aspect. And who doesn’t love a Irish hottie?
    Lovely review, Kim!

  9. kindlemom1

    Ooo a family saga! It sounds great and I love that parts of this were even better than the first book.

  10. Debbie Haupt

    Wow Kim what a premise I had to re-read that it was a contemporary romance, sounds like arranged marriages in historicals. Love the heat level and yes you have managed to make my tbr pile leaneth more LOL 😉

  11. Nick

    Yay Kim! I’m so happy you were a fan of this. Hot and spicy is the best way to describe the romance between Carrigan and James! Phew! I loved the emotional way they grew too.
    Fabulous review! I’m glad this was better for you than the first!

  12. Bookworm Brandee

    Gah! I still have to read The Marriage Pact, which I one-clicked after reading your review. 😉 I like the sound of The Wedding Pact as well. I can’t imagine living in this sort of world either but I want to see how Carrigan deals with it, especially since you reference a Romeo and Juliet vibe. 🙂

  13. melliane

    it’s interesting to have a romeo and juliet story like that! I’m glad to see you had a good time with it!

  14. Kristin

    Oooo, I love your Romeo and Juliet take on this! How the heck did I miss that??? Could have been the hot sex… o.O Awesome review!!!

  15. Angela

    I have the first book in the series glaring at me from my TBR pile. Since you loved this one on audio, I may go for that route.

  16. cindy

    I am glad that you enjoyed this book. Thank you for this review, you always bring new books to my attention and thank you for that:) enjoy this nice long weekend:)