Series: The O’Malleys #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 26th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about the O’Malleys-wealthy, powerful, and full of scandalous family secrets.
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.
If you love forbidden romances and a well-written mafia story, The Wedding Pact should definitely be on your radar. It’s the second book in the O’Malleys series, though it can be read as a standalone. I enjoyed the first book, and the little teaser in The Marriage Contract for Carrigan and James’ book had me so excited for this sequel! While I liked The Wedding Pact, it was a bit too slow and long-winded for me to fully love it like I wanted to. Still! If you loved The Marriage Contract, I have no doubt you’ll love The Wedding Pact too.
The O’Malleys and the Hallorans are two of three prominent mafia families in Boston, so for Carrigan O’Malley and James Halloran to be anything but enemies is unthinkable. Carrigan is forced to choose a man to marry for the good of her family, while James is trying to step up as the leader of the Hallorans since his older brother’s death. These two star-crossed lovers couldn’t be on more different paths, but try as they might to stay on opposing sides of a brewing war, they always manage to somehow find their way back to each other.
Carrigan was the calm in the middle of the hurricane that was his life. It didn’t make a damn bit of sense because half the time she drove him up the wall, but the second her hand slipped into his, the tightness in his chest loosened, just a little, and he could breathe again.
The Wedding Pact is a great enemies-to-lovers romance. The connection and chemistry between James and Carrigan is fierce, and the forbidden aspect of their relationship makes things even hotter. They keep their relationship a secret from their families, but when it’s just the two of them, they can’t deny their growing feelings for each other. I really enjoyed James and Carrigan’s romance – so much so that I wish there had been less of the mafia plot, which I felt overshadowed the romance too much at times.
“You’re strong and you don’t need a man to lean on.” He cupped her face. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t lean on my. It has nothing to do with need and everything to do with me wanting to be the man who’s by your side every step of the way. Your man, Carrigan O’Malley.”
Katee Robert has written a suspenseful, sexy story in The Wedding Pact. She takes us deep into the mafia world of Boston, and even though I found it a little tedious sometimes, if you love highly detailed mafia stories, this shouldn’t be a problem for you. I loved the sweet ending, and I’m super excited about the setup for the next book. I’m eagerly awaiting Cillian O’Malley’s story next!
Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.
Reading Order: The O’Malleys series
#1 ~ The Marriage Contract: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Wedding Pact: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads (April 26, 2016)
#3 ~ An Indecent Proposal: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (Aug. 30, 2016)
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Thanks for the review. Looks really suspenseful.
You’re welcome! It definitely was suspenseful – if you like that sort of thing, you should check this out! 🙂
Thank you for your honest review, much appreciated!
You’re very welcome! ❤
Oh, I love enemies to lovers. I love it.
Same!! This book has a great enemies to lovers romance 😉
Great review! I also found the excessive mafia story/backstory a bit tedious but can’t deny the heat between Carrigan and James! Definitely a fun read for lovers of forbidden romance!!
my review
Thanks so much! I’m glad you felt the same way as I did, even though we both didn’t love it. Hopefully the next book will be better! 🙂