Heated Rivals

By: Katee Robert

Narrated by: Charlotte North

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katee Robert continues her smoking-hot series about two feuding families—and their wealthy, powerful, and scandalous 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.

(previously published as The Wedding Pact)

©2016 Katee Robert (P)2016 Hachette Audio

GREAT START TO A EPIC STORY

Any additional comments?

Though this story did not end the way I expected, I loved it. I would have liked longer nukie scenes but it got the job done. Very Enjoyable

Tag, you are Dead

Another Irish mob story,with death,deceit and corruption.If you have to live with constantly looking over your shoulder for fear of something bad happening,all the so called “perks “that come with being a mobster is short lived and not worth it.To gain so little you lose too much.As long as Carrigan has her siblings,she is better off with out her parents who are so easily able to let her go.

Enjoy this series!

This mafia story continues with the O'Malley's eldest daughter who is a spitfire. They say these are stand alone books but they should be read in order. I tried reading this before The Marriage Contract. It was a mistake. I went back to purchase the first book so I could understand this second book. I'm so glad I did. All of the familial characters are introduced in the first book. This book has kidnapping, passion, hot sex, stubborn relatives, and bloody warfare. Again, with Audible, I like the narrator with the Bostonian accent.

Kicks the series into high gear great

In the last novel, we learned how the families treat their daughters. They are nothing more than pawns to be married off to increase family power. So too with Carrigan O'Mally. Her father makes her make a choice. A choice would be fine if she wasn't hooked in James Halloran.

If you recall from book one, James stuffed Carrigan in the trunk of his car and almost got her killed. Her transformation from James as enemy to love is the story arc. It is a good story, but I think the story could use a little editing. It might be a little long in the second half, it could have moved faster. Clocking in at eight-and-half hours, it would have been much better at six. That being said, there is good character variety and interactions.

Apparently the next installment is due out August 30th. I'd get it on pre-order so you don't miss it. This series has grit. Also, there is hardcore sex, so if you want to avoid that, you should not read this one.

GREAT LISTEN.... EVEN BETTER THAN BOOK ONE

Jeeeez this was a gripping listen - it's like a cross between the Sopranos and Romeo and Juliet but thankfully with a happier ending.... despite it being touch and go for a while. Boston is split up and run by three feuding Crime families - the O'Malleys, the Haloran's and the Sheridans and the previous book's forced marriage/love match successfully united the Sheridans and the O'Malleys. But a murder and kidnapping by the Halorans left them despised and hated by the other two families... which is unfortunate because James Haloran has become obsessed with Carrigan O'Malley. She's the woman/pawn he'd kidnapped, the woman he'd had earth shattering sex with and the woman his evil Father had planned on torturing before killing. And, despite it all, Carrigan can't stay away from the dirty talking handsome blonde James either.

But Carrigan is now being forced by her manipulative Father to marry for his own thirst, greed and ambition for more power. Carrigan knows there's absolutely no way out for her - she's been given a shortlist of potential husbands and a deadline so all she can do is to steal some precious time for herself before her freedom runs out. At first she avoids, then denies, the sexual pull attraction and chemistry sizzling between herself and James but he is too big a temptation for her hungry labido. So she thinks she'll enjoy a few secret hot rendezvous before duty calls.... and yes, the passion runs hot between them and the sex is great..... however things aren't going to be quite that simple.

James is head of the family business which he's trying to clean up after his Father's shady, dangerous and illegal ventures but James' mind keeps wandering to Carrigan the woman he'd kidnapped months ago. His brother is a loose canon wanting more and wanting to follow in their Father's skin trade footsteps by illegally bringing in captive women and James has to 'deal' with him - but even that can't keep James' mind off his obsession with Carrigan. And, when their relationship heats up, he takes one too many chances that will start to stir up a whirlwind of trouble - but the worst is yet to come.... when Carrigan chooses a mysterious powerful Russian for her husband.

What an entertaining listen this was.... a storyline with lots of angst thanks to their families, drama from various sources, a nicely paced romance with passion emotion and heat, a cast full of differing secondary characters, a loveable hero and heroine and a doomed 'end date' love story with absolutely no way out.... but never say never. Multiple POV's, well written, great narration and Teague and Calli (from book 1) make appearances too.

Worth a credit? It's about crime families - so there's chills, thrills, danger, bullets, bloodshed, twists and deaths in a world where deals trades and alliances are made under the guise of loveless arranged marriages. Yes creditworthy, I was totally hooked from the start,100% captivated by the lover's hopeless dilemma and blissfully happy with the way things all worked out for them. But the story's ongoing, there's lots of single siblings left and next it's the turn of Carrigan's brother Cillian to overcome all obstacles for love.... as the taster at the end of this listen hints at.

SO GOOD but….

I love the story. I love the mob family feel. This is just personal preference the GD word was used far too much for my liking. It doesn’t add anything to the story and got to be irritating. I would have liked a warning before listening. Everything else about it is wonderful. Just a warning if it bothers you.

Strong plot, fast pace, great listen

First, let’s start with Charlotte North and an amazing performance. She bring these characters to life in a compelling way.

Second, Katee Robert created a thrilling ride through the believable characters, a tight plot, and a story that remains true to the genre and adds to the lore created about Boston.

As dangerous as these characters are, you still feel like you’d enjoy a drink and a heart to heart.

Most definitely worth the listen!

Needs 2 narrators

Story was good, but this definitely needed a male and female narrator. Accents were a bit much.

Sexy, Hot, Dirty, but so much love

I loved this story as much as book 1, maybe even more. A forbidden man & a trapped woman who loves her family, but refuses to let duty get in way of her love for a man who would give her his forbidden self, world, the moon.

I wish the book would have continued the story a little long for more closure to the reader.

Overall I really enjoyed this book & would recommend it for anyone needing a little dirty romance action in their brain for a few hours!

Narrator is excellent

Charlotte north is GREAT, but I wish a little bit there would’ve been a male narrator.
I also damn near cried at one point when James told Cerrigan that she can call him whenever she needed someone to take the pressure off. So frustrating that she didn’t just say “F IT ALL” and ran to be with him.