The Debt Audio CD – Unabridged, November 15, 2016

~ 4.5 Stars ~I freaking adore Karina Halle. It seems like no matter what she writes, it just speaks to me. I first fell in love with her work with the The Artists Trilogy, which is a darker series. Ever since then, I've just devoured whatever she puts out. I love the fact that her writing flows together and just grabs my attention from start to finish, no matter what genre/style she is writing. Dark, funny, light, angst...she's done it all and I've enjoyed every one. The Debt is absolutely no exception. In fact, it brought me my second favorite character out of all her books. Sorry, Keir, Javier still has my heart but you chipped away at it and broke a piece off for yourself. :)Jessica Charles was victim to a mass shooter while visiting friends in London, turning her world upside down. Now she finds herself struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered world and body. The life that she had known before is now all drastically different. She's scared and feels alone and has to take each day as it comes. Some days OK, some days not OK. It isn't until a chance run in with a handsome, rough edged man that she discovers just how much she needs someone by her side and help her get through everything.Keir McGregor has his own story and is also struggling to rebuild his life. His past haunts him constantly and he's holding on to guilt that is festering inside of him and eating him up. He hasn't really faced his past as he should but when he meets Jessica, his plans change. He also realizes just how much he needs someone and she seems like the one that just might be made for him. Will his past continue to haunt him and keep him from getting the girl or will he face it head on and conquer them both?"The world is unforgiving, and if you don't fight your way though it, you'll be left behind."This story will gut you. Not once, but twice. Possibly more. And to some, that may sound scary but that's what makes a good book, right? Something that makes you feel so passionately about that you experience the emotions along with the characters. I certainly did that with this. But overall, there's hope and it will mend you back together. It won't always be pretty. It will hurt. There are a lot of things in this book that many people can and will relate to one way or another and I think many will be able to connect with both Keir and Jessica.So, I've already said this when I started my review but I love Keir. When I went back to look at my highlights and to process my thoughts about The Debt, almost everything was about him. Something that he said or did that made my heart thump harder and my entire body tingle. He's this strongly built guy with a huge heart but his haunted by his past. When Jessica comes into his life, you get to really see how kind and loving he is. He ALMOST stole my heart."You deserve to feel beautiful""I want to make you feel beautiful. Will you let me?"I think that Jessica is a very relatable character. She's strong and bold and tries to use that to piece her life back together but she's afraid to admit that she needs help. She's feisty, stubborn, loyal and loving but a lot of insecurities come from her tragedy. That's what makes her so human. So relatable.Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a little angst and a lot of hope, coupled with a few "broken" characters, then this might be the book for you. I will always recommend Karina Halle books and this is close to one of the top ones for me.

"Sometimes… we have a war in our hearts. We’re torn in two directions. The way we feel and the way we should feel. They rarely align. The battle goes on."I went in to The Debt expecting some kind of light and fluffy contemporary romance. I don't know what I was thinking. Apparently I forgot where I was for a minute, forgot who the author was because within a few pages my stomach was stuck somewhere in my throat and my heart was pounding out of my chest. Holy. S#@t. This book began on a seriously heavy note and only grew heavier as I read.Jessica Charles and Keir McGregor are linked by an invisible, tragic thread, but only one of them knows it. I'm not sure Karina Halle believes in fate enough to write a contemporary romance around it, but The Debt is a story of two shattered hearts finding exactly what they need in the person they'd least expect. It felt a lot like fate was at work in this book, even if their meeting was a combination of luck, chance, and design. Jessica's been physically broken in the worst possible way, Keir's been emotionally marred by the same course of events. One blames themself, the other is just trying to put their life back together. Together they somehow begin to heal despite the lies of omission sitting silently between them.The Debt is about falling in love. It's about two broken people finding strength and hope in each other, in the unexpected bond they've forged during the darkest days of their lives. The Debt is romantic and sexy and you'll fall in love right along with Keir and Jessica. At times, the connection between them is so palpable, their chemistry so profound, it's easy to forget how deep the deceit between them actually runs. It's easy to get lost in the romanticism of The Debt, the steamy eroticism that burns the pages. It's easy to get lost in the sweet, the sultry, the humorous aspects of this richly layered plot. But not for long.The Debt will speak to your mind as much as it does your heart. This story is important. This story is powerful and raw and devastatingly honest. Woven through this lush romance is the stark reminder that we need to take care of the brave men and women who so bravely take care of us. The Debt is, at times, hard to read and it's hard to forget. It's about the scars we can see and the ones we can't, and it's about finding the strength to heal and forgive; it's about rediscovering the will to live. It's about war, it's about the battle that occurs within each of us over our own survival, the fight to push on or to admit defeat and throw in the towel.As always, Karina Halle mesmerizes with her stunning writing style. I get lost in her words every single time, in every single book, and yet I've never taken that for granted. To this day, every time I begin a Karina Halle novel, I'm blown away by her words. You'd think after having read so many of her books, I'd just expect it by now. But it surprises me every time just how superbly she illustrates a story. I'm in awe, yet again, with her masterful storytelling and luminous writing in The Debt. The vivid imagery, the edgy dialogue against such lush prose, the layered, multifaceted characters, the raw, palpable emotion that just gripped me as I read, all of it is just so special. I've run out of unique ways to describe Halle's writing... it's just remarkable. The Debt is visually stunning; I could see every page as if it were playing out before me on screen. Both breathtaking and devastating, The Debt is a bittersweet love story that will linger long after the final page, without a doubt.(Note to the reader: The Debt is a STANDALONE novel. You do NOT have to read any of the previous Karina Halle books before you read The Debt.)

I finished it in one go, skipped Dinner since the story was picking pace , I hate when the story ended, please take pity and write a bit about the Wedding🙌

This was one emotional read about forgiveness, self discovery, and finding your one true love. Another fantastic story by Karina Halle - she really just is a wonderful writer that can transport the reader incredibly well. I love reading about broken and flawed characters and Karina delivers them in spades. The prologue to The Debt literally grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading. It was so unexpected, so shocking that I needed to know how things resolve amongst all that pain. I loved Keir and Jessica. Their relationship was perfect in epic proportions. Jessica thought her way to survive was to isolate herself from people who could hurt her emotionally - which is understandable considering what she'd encountered, until the moment she meets sexy and mysterious Keir in a bar. She is immediately intrigued by him. Keir is a man with his own demons from his past. Keir is such a wonderfully broken man. He has had a rough couple of months. Escaping death and living to tell about it has been a difficult thing to do but nothing compares to the guilt. Now he's on a mission to right a wrong and when he meets Jessica, the guilt that's been waging a war inside his head will soon take a back burner. But secrets always have a way of coming out and the aftermath will soon be his demise. These two really pulled at the heart strings - there is so much light and shade, but it is believable. Once again, Karina Halle wowed me with her beautifully descriptive scenery, that always makes me feel like I'm present with the characters. This is simply a great love story about two people who have to repair their very broken pieces. If you've read the previous books in the series, then you're going to love this one. If you haven't it doesn't matter as they are stand alone. Keir and Jessica were the epitome of love and strength and I highly recommend The Debt. I simply adored it.

Like all the books in this series this is quite a touching read. Quite topical at the moment with the mass shootings etc. This author makes you feel the characters & their stories.Both have secrets & while Jessica has revealed hers Keir is quite reluctant as his will impact her greatly. While they fall in love his secret comes back to haunt her. A lot of this deals with PTSD & its implications on their lives. Mention is also made of previous characters in this series.Overall a very emotional read.

Another great read from Karina Halle! Keir (hero) is flawed and struggles with some issues from his past, yet brings strength to Jessica. Jessica knows that he has flaws and issues, but she brings peace to Keir. Ms Hale brings to the front some serious issues that affect many in society and she does it so well.

I think this is my favourite book by Karina Halle and you should know that she is one of my favourite authors so the bar was already set pretty damn high.This story brought together a hero that got under my skin and a heroine that will, I think, always hold a special place in my Kindle heart. They both will because each of them is written so beautifully and although they are both vulnerable , they each have such strength and vitality, you find your thoughts going back to them long after you have turned the last page. And can I just say.....gorgeous ending!The writing in this book is the author's best in my opinion. The first chapter literally made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and my heart beat faster. Then when the setting switched to Scotland , the description of the scenery and places was just spellbinding. You just felt like you were there. Afterwards I realised there is a whole set of photos of the actual places on Ms Halle's Instagram page-the link is at the end of the book & is well worth a look.The chemistry and passion between these two feels like it shimmers and crackles off of the pages. Wowsers.....they are HOT. Keir puts the other McGregor men in the shade. Even Lachlan has dropped down a notch in my estimation since Keir rolled into Kindle town!!I have rarely been so captivated by both the Hero and heroine in a book. Jessica & Keir make quite the impression. Grab this book, pick up a glass of smooth malt....or ale.....and just sink into the pages. I would suggest tissues, chocolate and a good book friend to be on standby too.