The Offer

Another hot and steamy book under Halle's belt. The Offer is a spin off of The Pact but can be read as a stand alone. Nicola is a loving single mother to 5 year old Ava, whose struggling. Bram is a hot Scottish man whore that makes Nicola an offer she can't resist. I was happy Nicola resisted Bram and there was time for them to be friends before lovers. Their scenes as lovers were HOT! Ava was absolutely adorable and stole my heart. The novel is a great summer read that is worth your time. The epilogue was the perfect ending to this hot love story. You can't go wrong with this novel.

Loved this story and I love this series. The Pact is still one of my faves and this story is right next to it. Bram was definitely the man and Nicola was so cute and tried to be strong. Ava won my heart. Didn't see the twist coming but it all turned out well, go hea! You can always count on a great story including hot guys, strong heroines and good sexy time! Who's next in this series of sexy Scottish men? Oh yes the hot Scottish cousin, can't wait!!!!

Well, I was enjoying the book until it began missing sentence, or paragraphs, or entire pages. I am not certain about how much of the book is missing but WOW...this thing needs a proofreader and an editor. Completely ruined the book for me. Never again for this author.

I enjoyed reading Bram and Nicola's story. The overall story had its ups and downs but of course everything worked out in the end. I think Ava was my favorite character in the book. She was adorable and I enjoyed her carefree spirit she brought to the story and of course her interactions with Bram were priceless. Looking forward to reading the next book, The Play, about Bram's cousin and Kayla.

Love,love,loveeeeeeee it! Iwas caught up in the strory from page one till the end. It was really addicting, couldn't put my kindle down! Love Bram,Nicola and too cute Ava. Love their banter and the passion.......Love seeing Steph,Linden,James again hoping that Kyla gets her own story and her HEA with the cousin of Bram ?? Looking forward to other books of KH ;)

Another great story by Karina Halle!! I love reading Nicola and Bram's story.. There was so much sexual tension between them. I love it when a book builds up to the main characters finally being together.. Bram is such an nice guy and I can't believe no one seems to know this. I think he would do just about anything for the people he loves.. Their love will be tested by a surprise I never saw coming.. It's definitely a must read

Love Karina Halle, her books are refreshing, emotional but they make you happy. It's that book you want to read right after you're done with a really dark erotica lol... it's still fun and exciting but refreshing. Def recommend the offer, you can read it as a standalone but I enjoy getting to know all the characters, you get a better understanding on how they are when you read all the books.

5 Bramalicious Stars
Karina, has done it again. I loved this story, the characters feel like friends to me. The story was funny, girly, and very real. These are everyday people, with everyday problems.
Heres hoping there is another installment of this series coming. Hopefully Lach will be back.
Jennifer Gauthier

I'm really disappointed in this book. I should say that I haven't read The Pact but after reading this one, I'm not sure I'll get around to it. I like most of Karina Halle's other books but this one was just so predictable. I feel like this book was written by some other young adult author who only writes about the same stories over and over again. YA books all seem to blend together nowadays and there doesn't seem to be much that sets them apart. "Independent" girl meets guy, girl hates guy because he is a playboy, guy wins over girl, a lot of sex, someone screws up, make up, happily ever after. Ugh!

Same old story lines are getting old and honestly, I'm close to just saying adios to all YA/Romance books for this reason.

wham bam, thank you Bram!!! this book was, just...Bramtastic!! this was my second Karina read & they just keep getting better! these McGregor men!! I thought Linden was awesome, well Bram the Man just knocked his brothers lights out!!! the eyes, the muscles, that accent?!? *super swoon* I loved the dynamic between him & Nicola, everything was perfect! and Ava?? cute as a bugasaurus!!

This was a well put together, well written story. For me, though, the characters were a little boilerplate, a little lacking in everyday chemistry, which is why I'm giving 3, not 4 stars. The sex, however, was off the charts good...Bram was a terrific bossy bedroom alpha. By all means read this book, you may feel differently about their spark.

Just finished The Offer and let me say Karina Halle did not disappoint! As soon as I found out the she was writing a story about Linden's brother I just knew I had to read The Offer since I loved The Pact so much. Bram was everything I hoped him to be and even a little more. Hopefully we find out Kayla's story next!

I have a soft spot for "single mom" stories & this one was perfect in every way! Nicola's look at motherhood while being alone was realistic and on point. There's constant struggle, worry and it can be lonely even with a cute mini companion like Ava. But thank heavens for BRAM MCGREGOR!! He swoops in and rocks Nicola's world in more ways than one! Loved reuniting with whole gang from The Pact too!

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

As a big fan of The Pact, the previous book also set in San Fransisco, I couldn't be more excited to read The Offer.
To be honest, it didn't captivate me as much as The Pact or LIE did, but it was very good and I recommend it to all of the author's fans (it can be read as a standalone but it's definitely more enjoyable if you've read The Pact before, its characters make quite an appearance in The Offer, which is always fun to meet folks you already know).
The story follows Nicola Price, Stephanie's best friend and Bram McGregor, Linden's older brother. Both in their early thirties, Nicola, a single mom of a 5-year old, and Bram, a notorious player, couldn't be more different but their chemistry is undeniable from the very beginning. I liked the tiny enemies-to-lovers theme, it feels like a wrong idea for them to get involved but life keeps putting them in each other's vicinity and you need to discover how the story unfolds.
Nicola, though overwhelmed by life's obstacles, lonely and hurt by a man before, is deep down a strong heroine that you like and feel for from the start. She's open to the reader, you get to know her pretty fast.
Now Bram is more mysterious and reserved, mostly because of always being labelled as a manwhore and whom not even his family seems to take seriously but he just can't stay away from Nicola, yet at the same time holds a secret no one knows about. He's also much deeper hero than I gave him credit for at first.
The plot twist was good (I did not see it coming, prepare to be surprised), although what happened after revealing it felt a bit rushed, the conflict seemed kind of too easy to reconcile and what I haven't gotten enough of was maybe more of Bram's POV. The majority of the story is told from Nicola's perspective, probably to keep the mystery longer hidden. Still, I wanted more of Bram "The Man".
Really sexy (because of a dirty-talking Scot included here ;) ), The Offer is 100% enjoyable, dual-POV contemporary romance with great amount of steam, humor (all the hilarious Bramisms) and a couple serious moments, a great summer read that will keep you excited to finish in one sitting!

If you are a newbie to Karina Halle, then you should absolutely reach for The Pact&The Offer duo, as well as her other novels and yay, her next book is coming out next month, I'm really looking forward to it! <3

Favorite quotes:

“I know you’ve been burned. But I’ve been burned too. Maybe our ashes can make something beautiful together.”

"Whatever happens, happens and it shapes us all to the here and now, where we are supposed to be.”

Okay, I've tried Ms. Halle's paranormal stuff and they just did not agree with me (and believe me, I've tried numerous times, thinking "oh, look at all these great reviews! I must have been having a bad day when I tried that book, let's try it again." Each attempt at trying to like her paranormal stories FAILED). Anyway, I thought, well, this is a new setting - it's contemporary romance (I love that), it's about an older woman with a child (I like that - especially since I REALLY dislike the new genre of New Adult angsty bull-cr@p), the hero sounds like an alpha male (thumbs up)....okay, all the qualities that I like in a book. The "inside look" was pretty good. So I went ahead and bought the book to be read on my beach vacation. Well, this book went the way of the paranormal series.
What didn't work for me? I didn't like how the main hero suddenly transitioned so quickly from a doucheb@g to a thoughtful helpful non-alpha. The first few chapters show him as a man-whore for crying out loud (with details about sex with other women) and then suddenly he's all over this woman....because he pities her? Wait, whaaa? How is there an attraction with that?! And the heroine's over-the-top drama about her daughter's diabetes. The heroine has supposedly dealt really gracefully with a lot of junk in her life. So, when she starts to fall apart over her daughter getting a treatable illness - that's just kind of strange when juxtaposed with her experience. Overall, this ended up being a New Adult angsty over the top drama read that I truly disliked. If those are things you like in a romance novel, this book will absolutely do it for you.

Karina Halle has done it again! Another fast moving, interesting novel. She is a quick think fantastic author. She holds the interest of her audience and keeps them guessing what will happen next. She peaks your interest to the point you don't want to set the book down until you finish. She is a lover and includes a lesson in her novels. The Offer encourages people to be up front and don't keep secrets that might damage an important relationship. I enjoyed the relationship between Bram & Nicola so much love and passion!

Karina is one of my top three favorite authors and an automatic 1-click for me. I was thrilled when she announced a follow up book to her smash hit, The Pact. You definitely don’t have to read The Pact to enjoy this one, but you’re missing out on awesome book if you don’t. I wasn’t much of a Bram fan in The Pact, but I was excited to learn more about the other McGregor brother. He seemed a little over the top and a player. After the first few chapters, I was still feeling the same way about Bram. However, ever so slowly he began to show his true colors to Nicola. He is simply Bramtastic!

“I know you’ve been burned. But I’ve been burned too. Maybe our ashes can make something beautiful together.”

I adored Nicola throughout this book. She is a single mom doing the best to love and provide for her young daughter. I also appreciated her imperfections; she is not a size 2 model with the perfect body. Her insecurities and vulnerabilities made her even more endearing to me. She loves her daughter and it shines throughout the book. Her sassiness and banter with Bram is priceless. This book is a slow burner, so don’t expect an insta-love connection. The buildup is sweet torture and I was giddy when these two finally figure out they really like one another.

“Human beings are complicated. Love is simple.“

There are definitely some sizzling scenes with Bram; he certainly gives Linden serious competition in the hotness department. However, what really stole my heart were his kind moments. He really is a good and selfless man. The way he treats Nic’s mom and daughter is so heartwarming. It never felt fake or an attempt to score points, he is just a sweetheart underneath the cocky facade. I truly can’t decide which McGregor brother I love most, so I will keep both.

If you are looking for a quintessential feel good romance for summer, read this book! It’s Bramtastic!

I love Bram what a classic character who is misunderstood and is hurting and who is trying to turn himself around. Nicola a wounded person who guards her heart has so much strength for herself and her daughter Ava. What a great story of unlocking hearts and redeeming love.

It's good to encounter complex characters in literature. The sexy story definitely helps as well. The author makes you cheer for the woman and the man I the story, knowing that no matter what their love will shine through.

I love Bram... when he meets Nichola the sparks fly.. when Ava comes into the picture my love grew even more for Bram.. I love when they go to Disneyland... I was just there so all the references were so vivid for me.. this was a very fun, fast read..

Ms Halle writes some engaging and funny books and this is another winner. I was looking forward to knowing more about Bram and I'm happy I also got Nicola's backstory as well. Theirs is a story of love, temptation, redemption and sacrifice and was a pleasure to read.

Another fantastic Karina Halle read. I was lucky enough to win an ARC copy of this book from Karina Halle (thanks again!!) for an honest review.
So in all honesty, I loved it.
Nicola is a single mom who is down on her luck. Her BFF is Steph who we met and loved from The Pact (side note, if you haven't read that book yet, please stop what you're doing and read it). Steph's husband, Linden's (who I thought had my book boyfriend heart) brother Bram now lives in SF. Sorry Linden, I may have really been into you but Bram. Oh Bram.

Great banter between Bram and Nicola. I love when characters can dish it out to each other. Dual POV, which I always love. Real characters and real situations that make the story so good. I love the lead up - Nicola and Bram know each other from Steph and Linden. Through the story, they really get to know each other more. It's not a hi, we met, we have sex, we're in love story. (Nothing wrong with those) It's a great slow lead up, and it is Bram-tastic.
I could say so much more about this, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. Just read this book. You'll love it. If you read it for one reason, that Bram is a dirty, sexy talker. Oh yeah and that dirty talk comes with a Scottish accent. Total swoon.

4.5 "Bram + IKEA = HOT!!!" stars

Karina Halle knows how to write a book that I love. She sucked me in with the EIT series and since then, I rush to read everything she writes. The Offer is no exception.

As I started this book, I gotta admit... Bram seriously pissed me off. I felt like I was Nicola and wanted to junk punch him. But as I kept reading, he made me love him and has become one of my favorite characters of Karina's. He is a dirty talking, sexy, loveable, sweet guy that would do anything for those he cared about. I loved him.

And Nicola... I loved how strong she was. Even when it seemed like she kept getting knocked down, she was always able to get back up and be strong for Ava. I loved their relationship together and several times, Ava stole the scene. Bram-a-lama-ding-dong!!

Bram and Nicola are very hot together. Theirs was a bit of a slow build.. Acquaintances/friends first with a bit of lust on the side. I enjoyed watching them grow and loved we got both POV's. And I really loved that these were older, more mature characters.

This was a great read and really did not want it to end.

I was gifted an ARC of this book by the author for an honest review

This was a great story. Karina wrote a realistic love story. I felt for Nicola's predicament, but thankfully Bram came along at just the right time. I loved that they built a relationship on friendship first even if there was a little flirting mixed in! Great book!

There is something really fun & light hearted about the way obnoxious Scot Bram is written, it really makes the book. I also appreciate a heroine who is not a shy inexperienced 20 year old. Nicola is a college graduate single mother down on her luck. Fun book.

I have tremendous respect for anyone who puts pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and develops a story with characters who dialogue and get into all sorts of situations. But.. these characters are a little weak and the story of constant sex is too much. Fifty Shades has been done already.

Thank for another amazing fantasy. Bram like his brother were amazing and so lovable and we can't forget well backed. I hope to read more on these two amazing couples. Stephen and Nicola need to get prego. I am sure I am not the only one that wants more. Aye

I love Katrina Halle, and her writing. And while this book - or it's predecessor The Pact - aren't as good as her masterpiece that is the Sins & Needles trilogy, it's still a joy to read a book by an author who really can w r i t e. Solid 3,5-4 star read.

I like the fact this author has the main character as a single mother in her 30's. I get tired of reading about tiny bopper loosing there virginity and how it is awesome the very first time, bahaha. Anyway the characters seem mature.

Karina Halle is quickly becoming one of my favorite go-to authors. Everything she writes resonates with me in one way or another. Each book is a little different and hits a different cord with me. I had previously read her book, The Pact, and quickly became enamored with the characters and their lives. In that book, we briefly met Bram, the older brother of the main character Linden. He was described as this sexy Scottish playboy who loved to spend their parent's money and live the life of the ultimate manwh*re. We also met Nicola, who was the best friend of the main character Steph, a single mom to a cute 5 year old little girl.

Whatever preconceived notions the reader has of Bram and Nicola from the previous book are blown out of the water in this story. Yes, this book starts out with Bram being cocky and arrogant, an encounter with Nicola at the wedding of Steph and Linden leaving a very sour taste in her mouth. She has a motto, "Live with no regrets." but she regrets everything about her encounter with Bram. On the surface, Nicola looks like a very put together, successful single mom, but under the surface, her life is unraveling quickly. After her daughter's father abandons them, she closes herself off and focuses all her attention on her daughter. A series of events finds her unemployed, living in a bad part of town, and her daughter suddenly lands in the hospital and diagnosed with a serious illness.

Enter Bram, the last person Nicola or any of their friends would ever think would be the guy to step up and be anyone's saving grace. Nicola is reluctant to accept any help from Bram. One - she is stubborn and doesn't want to admit to anyone that she needs help. And secondly, Bram bruised her pride and dignity, making her feel unwanted and unworthy in their last private encounter. How does Nicola trust someone like Bram to be on the up and up, to be there for her and her daughter in the way that she will need him to be?

Bram totally blew me away in the transformation I saw in him in this story. I wasn't sure in the beginning if I was going to like him, thinking he was only helping Nicola because he wanted into her pants. But as the story unfolded, I saw a whole other side to Bram that I wouldn't have believed he could be. Nicola sees this also, and she struggles with letting herself be free and wild in the way she used to be, before she unexpectedly got pregnant and had Ava. Bram wants to bring this side of Nicola out, not just because he wants her sexually, he wants to help her rediscover her true self.

This story flowed so seamlessly for me, alternating chapters between Nicola's POV and Bram's. I really love stories that give us insight into what both main characters are thinking and feeling. I almost loved Bram's chapters the best, getting a glimpse inside his head to what he is really thinking, not just what we see from his friends and families perspective. He has been through a lot in his life that really no one in his family even knows about, and parts of his past come to a head in this story. Getting to see how Bram handles that from his point of view was crucial for me in cementing my love for him.

Karina does an excellent job of rolling out the dynamic between Nicola and Bram, not rushing their relationship along. And she has such a quick wit, throwing "Bramisms" in throughout the book. "Once you go Bram, you won't give a damn." My favorite one: "InstaBram" sounds close to something else doesn't it?

I loved just "watching" the relationship between Bram and Nicola. They work together so well. They play off each other, help each other, complement each other in ways their friends and families would have never expected. There are tons of bumps in the road along the way in their story, and I found myself trying to figure out what was going to happen with these two before it actually happened. I adored Ava, Nicola's daughter. She was just a wonderful breath of fresh air and you can't help but fall in love with her and her story. We had plenty of interaction with the supporting cast of characters, most of them from Karina's book The Pact, so if you read that one already it was great catching up with them. If you haven't read it though, it doesn't matter, Karina gave us plenty of background to pull them all into the story.

Awesome job, Karina!! Truly loved reading about Bram and Nicola, and loved seeing the transformation these two went through to get to their happy ending.

**An advanced reader's copy was provided in exchange for my honest review**

I love Katrina Halle, and her writing. And while this book - or it's predecessor The Pact - aren't as good as her masterpiece that is the Sins & Needles trilogy, it's still a joy to read a book by an author who really can w r i t e. Solid 3,5-4 star read.

I like the fact this author has the main character as a single mother in her 30's. I get tired of reading about tiny bopper loosing there virginity and how it is awesome the very first time, bahaha. Anyway the characters seem mature.

Holy hell, Karina said it best herself. Bram McGregor is Bramtastic! When I read The Pact I adored Linden & thought he was my number 1 McGregor brother but damn I if I don't adore Bram just as much.

Nicola is a struggling single mother. Bram has a reputation of being a playboy & not taking life serious. But when Bram makes Nicola an offer she can't refuse she finds herself falling for the type of guy she swore she'd stay away from.

First of all I'm never going to be able to look at another IKEA store again without thinking about Bram. It was great having appearances from Steph & Linden too. I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of books that involve children. I tend to stay away from those stories but I absolutely adore Karina Halle & I trusted that with her writing skills she'd have me loving this story. Nicola is one hell of a strong character. Being a single mother can't be easy. I admired her because with as tough as life has been for her lately she wanted to be independent, not wanting to ask for help. I felt bad for Bram because with his reputation people tended not to take him seriously. But under that hard exterior he was just a guy trying to do the right thing & make a difference.

This story had me literally laughing out loud & smiling from ear to ear. Some of it even broke my heart & made me shed a tear or two. If you are wondering if this story is worth it, yes it is. I promise you won't be disappointed, especially when you meet Bram McGregor! "Once you go Bram, you won't give a damn!" :)

This book is awesome. It really gets deep into feelings and how people can change their whole life around. Katrina Halle writes such inspirational books. I loved The Pact and I love this book too. She is an amazing writer.