Broken Pact Has Arrived – Should It Be Your Next Obsession?
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Broken Pact by Penelope Black has arrived, and it’s already creating waves in the world of Avalon Falls. If you’re wondering whether this blood-pact-filled book should be your next read, I’m here to break it down. As the latest installment in Penelope Black’s thrilling series, Broken Pact dives deep into the twisted loyalties and high-stakes drama that Avalon Falls is known for.
This story is not just about broken promises but the return of characters facing impossible choices, leaving readers questioning what is true when the line between friend and foe is blurred. Whether you’re picking it up on Kindle or diving into a physical copy, this current book is a must-read if you’re ready to count on the twists, turns, and emotional rollercoaster that Penelope Black consistently delivers.
Let’s show you why Broken Pact might just be the next book to dominate your TBR list.
Title: Broken Pact (Avalon Falls, 1)
Author: Penelope Black
Genre: Contemporary Suspense, Contemporary Romance, M F Romance
Release Date: August 22, 2024
Pages: 445
Star Rating: 3.5
Spice Rating: 1 chili pepper
First Comes a Broken Heart. Then Comes a Blood Pact.
I have previously read only one Penelope Black book “When It Ends”, which I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed a few months back. So, when Penelope sent an email saying I would be getting an eARC for Broken Pact, the first book in the Avalon Falls series, I was overjoyed.
Jasper (Jagger) Devereaux is the golden boy of The Reapers, Coraline’s ex, and the first man to break her heart. Now, he’s her fake boyfriend. Agree to a pact—act like they are in love to deal with their problems: her persistent ex and his mother’s blind dates.
The rules are simple: keep it fake, don’t blur the lines, and don’t fall for each other (we know how that goes it’s a romance duh). But every touch feels too real, and as sparks reignite, danger follows with a string of murders rocking our town. What started as a temporary fix might just put my heart—and life—on the line.
Going into Broken Pact was smoother than when I read When It Ends. When I picked up that particular novel I hadn’t read anything by Penelope so I wasn’t familiar (of course) with her writing style.
“I can’t resist. I have to taste her. swiping my tongue along her slit, and she groans.”
Black is great at writing romances. Penolope’s writing is smooth and easy to fall into. Like wading into a pool with the perfect incline to the deep end and getting lost in the flutter of the words. This tale is sweet (and of course swoon-worthy) but has funny moments and heart-stopping ones too. Her voice as an author shines through every page. It is a distinctive voice that gives me the same warm and fuzzy feelings as reading When It Ends. And while that was a post-apocalyptic story (and really shouldn’t have been giving me warm fuzzies) the romance Penelope writes despite the particular genre is still swoon-worthy.
This book is a relentless assault. It is the kind of thing that gets you addicted to the author’s writing needing to consume everything they write with enthusiasm. The kernel of satisfaction grows with every passing word, sentence, and phrase.
This particular tale is about fake dating with a sort of second chance (some may not consider it a second-chance romance). However, Coraline and Jasper had dated two years prior. They broke up suddenly, so I would consider this rekindling via the fake relationship as a second go-round because, of course, they ended up in love. Jasper was in love from the moment he posed this plan to Coraline. It just took her a while to catch up.
Fake dating has never really been one of my go-to genres. There are so many subgenres that I can lean into that fake dating never crossed my mind. I guess I always felt like it would be a little too “fluffy”. But after reading Broken Pact I think I am going to have to add it to my repertoire. Or maybe just more of Penelope Black fake dating (but why limit myself right?).
“I love you endlessly. Until the world stops spinning and the stars fall out of the sky.”
Coraline and Jasper’s fake relationship is perfect. We already know that there is a connection and attraction there. Adding to this great push and pull between Coraline and Jasper. You get thoroughly invested in their “relationship”. There is a moment when the POV header goes from Jagger to Jasper, showing the subtle progression of their relationship. It is little moments like that, that give you a sense of warmth.
But, it must be said that Broken Pact isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, with pots of gold at the end. Coraline and Jagger initially broke up for something that could be considered frivolous. I won’t give anything away but Coraline thinks Jagger doesn’t make a quick enough move and instead of talking with him about it she’s dust in the wind.
In addition, while I can’t put too much stock in it (I read an uncorrected proof) there are a lot of mistakes. One only wishes that they were corrected before release day. These mistakes after a while, pull you out of the story.
Overall, will Broken Pact be your next obsession? I think so. The story is well written with ties to a previous series that will make you want to go back and reread Penelope’s backlist. Broken Pact is officially out now (available on Kindle), with the second book Forsaken Oath coming out in January.
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