Review: The Pact by Karina Halle (Goodreads Author)

The Pact by Karina Halle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Having first met Linden and Stephanie in The Play….I actually didn’t read this trilogy in reading order…..I was eager to delve into their story.

Linden McGregor is a sexy and charming helicopter pilot, a loyal friend, fun to be with but he’s also egotistical, selfish, self-centered, and arrogant and spends his life having lots of meaningless and fleeting sex hookups.
Stephanie Robson is beautiful, ambitious, witty and fun.

These two have been friends for years and enjoy a close friendship.

Celebrating Stephanie’s 25th birthday, they discuss how weary and tiring it is having relationships that go nowhere. Linden makes a proposal…

It all started with a pinky swear…

“If neither of us are in a serious relationship by the time we are both thirty,” he says, looking at me so dead in the eye that I can’t help but hold my breath, “then we agree to marry each other. Agree?”
I find my voice. “Agree.”

What I liked

The premise of the friends to lovers story.
The San Francisco setting
The dual POV which gives an insight into each other’s lives from the beginning of their friendship to it ending in love.
The family and friends dynamics. Linden and Stephanie’s parents are more than just dysfunctional….how on earth these two remained sane is something to admire.
The determination that Stephanie showed in making her dream come true…..opening her own fashion store and buying her own place.
How they tried to come to terms with their new relationship and worrying about the consequences…..

“This is huge, isn’t it?”
He cocks his head and grins, nodding his head. “Well, the ladies seem to think so.”
I roll my eyes… “I’m serious,” I tell him. “One minute we’re just friends and the next…”
“The next I’m kissing you. And I realize I’ve been a fool for not doing it sooner.”

The pace of the story.
The fantastic writing.

What didn’t work for me

All the drama and angst – so many times I wanted to kick Linden and Stephanie’s backsides!!!!! Why just not admit your feelings and get on it with instead of dragging it on and on.

Their friend James – I am not able to even like this guy. He was no friend to either Linden or Stephanie….his behavior and how he created a break in their relationship is totally unacceptable….never mind that in the end, he tried to mend the fences with all his apologies and sorrys!!!! What a damn pathetic reason he used for his behavior….really James!!!! Get lost!!!!

I almost started hating Linden at one point. Allowing James’s feelings towards Stephanie get in the way of their relationship and the decision he made to make things right for his best friend, James. Never mind that he breaks Stephanie’s heart!!! And the reason for his decision???? How pathetic or irrational!!!!

Hiding their relationship so they wouldn’t hurt their best friend!! So lame and stupid!!!
It’s not exactly something I could understand….Stephanie was not involved with James for the last six or seven years…..Linden didn’t steal her away from him. So what’s with this entire guilt thing???

I liked the story but didn’t love it as much as The Play.

One of my favorite quotes:

“Life isn’t a linear journey. Sometimes it’s one step backwards, two steps forward and then a jump out to the side. It’s kind of like the “Time Warp”, when you think about it.
Life follows many directions and hopefully, eventually, your mind and body and life and love, all catch up with each other.”


View all my reviews