The Debt by Karina Halle

The Debt (The McGregor Boys, #5)

by Karina Halle

A STANDALONE ROMANCE.

Keir McGregor has a deep, dark secret that could destroy the woman he loves...

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Pact and The Lie comes a new standalone contemporary romance to make you laugh, cry and swoon.

Jessica Charles shouldn't have even been in London when the unthinkable happened.
She should have been back at home in Edinburgh, perhaps hanging with her boyfriend, having drinks with her sister or doing yoga with her group of friends. She should have been going on in her normal, dependable life as always.

But on that fateful day in August, when a mentally-ill ex-soldier opened fire in public, Jessica's world changed forever.

Now single and crippled from the gunshot wounds, Jessica finds herself scared and alone, losing faith in herself and humanity with each agonizing moment that passes.
That is until a stranger enters her life. A stranger who makes her live again.

Keir McGregor has always been the strong, silent type. Throw in tall, dark, and handsome and you've got pretty much the perfect Scotsman.

Except Keir is anything but perfect. He's got a past he's running away from and a guilty conscience he can't seem to shed. But the more time he spends with Jessica, the more he falls in love with her.

And the more his secret threatens to tear them apart.

He may have been a stranger to her.
But she's never been a stranger to him.

NOTE: The Debt is a complete STANDALONE novel...you do NOT need to read any of the other McGregor books to read this one.

The Debt is rated 18+ for dirty-talking Scotsmen, profanity, and numerous sexy times. For those sensitive to bad language and explicit sex, please be aware.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

4 of 5 stars

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I hunted you down. I felt nothing but guilt for what he did to you. I wanted to...I just wanted your forgiveness, that's all. You were a debt I had to pay back

Another excellent McGregor book. This book brings Keir, an army vet with PTSD together with Jessica, also with PTSD and a victim of a homegrown terrorist attack. Keir sought Jessica out, to repay a debt he believed he owed her. Along the way, he fell in love.
What Lachlan doesn't know is that I'm not running from something. I'm running to something. Absolution. She has red hair and a sunshine smile.

I don't know what it is about these books with the beautifully broken MCs that I love so much, but they always get me right in the feels. This effect is especially heightened when there is mutual healing involved. These two together were unstoppable. I was so taken with the things Keir did for Jessica. OMG! The nail polish and swimming scenes just melted my heart. Believe me, you will understand when you read it.
I see a woman that you don't see

This book is pretty much what I expect from Halle. It has steamy sex, intense characters, and humor. Seriously, whoa! I was all in with that prologue. I really felt the terror Jessica was experiencing quite vividly. I also appreciate that Halle sheds light on current issues. In this book, the plight of our servicemen is addressed without being preachy. It's a reality that many of the men and women who serve and protect, come back with some issues, and these issues need to be addressed properly so that they can successfully assimilate to civilian life.
I love every broken part of you and how well it fits with every broken part of me.

One thing I really loved was the trip through the Highlands. The travel writer side of Halle was obvious during this part of the book. She totally made me want to take a trip to Scotland. This travel portion was seamlessly woven in with the plot, and I loved it.
"I love you, little red." Bam. His words hit me square in the chest.

Overall: Great story, lots of emotion, fantastic characters, AND I got an update on all my fave McGregor boys and their mates. I hope to get Keir's siblings' stories in the future.
I'd already opened my soul and he's finding more cracks and climbing on in.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 August, 2016: Finished reading
  • 30 August, 2016: Reviewed