Peckers: The Pact

by HR Burkett

Four women. One pact: no dating, no sex, no distractions.

After heartbreak and betrayal, Jenny Jennings and her best friends make a pact: stay focused, avoid relationship drama, and build the future they’ve always dreamed about together.

Now, that dream finally has a name—Peckers—a bold fantasy restaurant designed for women.

But while juggling friendship, ambition, and the pressure of turning an outrageous idea into a real business, Jenny meets Leo Wilcox: sarcastic, dependable, and impossible to ignore.

What starts as flirtation quickly becomes something much more complicated, forcing Jenny to choose between the rules she swore by and the feelings she never saw coming.

Set in Chicago, *Peckers: The Pact* is a heartfelt contemporary romance about friendship, ambition, found family, and what happens when love refuses to follow the plan.

Perfect for readers who love:

* Found family
* Slow-burn tension
* Workplace romance
* Strong female friendships
* Dual POV romance
* Humor with heart
* Emotionally grounded contemporary romance

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2026

About the author

H.R. Burkett is an indie author whose current work focuses on contemporary romance with a broader love for women’s contemporary fiction rooted in friendship, humor, emotional connection, and strong female characters.

A lifelong storyteller, Heather was writing songs and stories by the age of three. By eighteen, she had already earned recognition for her writing and creative work, helping shape the character-driven, emotionally layered storytelling style readers now know her for.

Her debut series, The Peckers Series, blends romance, found family, ambition, and chaos with plenty of heart and humor along the way.

When she’s not writing, Heather can usually be found brainstorming her next big project, laughing at her own jokes, spending time with her husband Angel, or loving on her cats, Nova and Yaya.

Reviews

[_bookswithhart_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to beta read Peckers: The Pact, and I’m so glad I got to experience this story early. It follows a group of best friends, Jenny, Sierra, and Roxie who make a pact to swear off dating, drama, and distractions for a full year so they can finally focus on building the futures they want. It sounds simple…until Jenny meets Leo.

After a rough day at work, Jenny crosses paths with Leo, who steps in at just the right moment. She knows it’s the worst possible time to catch feelings, no matter how kind or cute he is. Determined to stick to the pact, she throws herself into a new idea, opening a restaurant geared towards women with her friends. But as they chase this dream, Leo keeps showing up in ways she never expects, and ignoring her growing feelings becomes harder than she planned.

Jenny and Leo’s connection is sweet with just the right touch of spice. Watching Jenny wrestle with her heart, her friendships, and her goals made her story feel real and refreshing. Her best friends Sierra and Roxie bring so much fun and energy, and they left me wanting more of their stories too. This book is heartfelt, uplifting, and full of charm.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate to get an early copy of this book and boy was i surprised!!!

Loved jumping into this new series. It grabbed my attention right away and kept it throughout the entire book. I loved the FMC and her journey, not only her romantic journey but her journey with her closest girlfriends. This book wasn’t just a typical book with a trope; it added a business venture with friends that kept me as interested in its outcome as the love story involved. The business plan with her friends kept me laughing out loud and I want to follow the business to see how it works out as much as I want to see the character growth!

I can’t wait to jump into the next book and find out which friend we will be following!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to read an advanced copy of this book and immediately fell in love with the characters and the concept. Romance is always my go to but to then have the additional layers of girlhood and women in business make it so much better! I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and see what happens next.

[Jea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peckers: The Pact is the first book in a new series, and I already can't wait for book 2! The storyline was new and different - friends who have an idea for a female-centered restaurant, and who make a pact to avoid relationships for a year while they work toward making this idea a reality. Of course, even the best laid plans often go awry, and Jenny is evidence of that. She meets Leo, and is drawn to him, but doing her best to stick to the pact and focus on her dreams. Leo just won't seem to go away, though, and ignoring him gets harder to do. This story is sweet and humorous, and the friendship between these ladies is just as important to the story as the romance between Jenny and Leo.

[Addicted · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read romantic comedy!
A pact between friends you just know is going to be, and look forward to being, broken.
With a title such as Peckers this book is apt to catch the eye of any romance loving book reader looking for their next find. And then, what’s even better, by the end of the first chapter you’re hooked and wanting more.
The story line is unique, the characters are relatable and the heat is just the right amount of temperature.
Highly recommended, bound to become a hit!

[Maria Arias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed my attention right from the start! It was funny, fresh, and kept me entertained the entire time. I loved the friendship between the girls and how they navigated the challenges that came up when one of them entered a relationship during their “pact”. The characters felt relatable, and their dynamic made the story even more enjoyable. I’m already very curious to see who the next main character will be and can’t wait to continue the series!

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great balance of humor, growth, romance. Loved the character development. No spoiler alerts but you're gonna love this book. And you'll love the characters even more.
AND we need a chain of these restaurants around the country!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was selected as an ARC reader and I am so grateful!

I couldn’t put the book down! I read Peckers: The Pact in a single day, in between enjoying some snacks!

H.R. Burkett does a beautiful job with storytelling throughout the book. The character development is incredible — not only for the main characters, but also for the supporting characters who appear along the way. I resonated with many of the main characters in different ways, and I definitely have a few favorites already. As this is Part 1 of 4, I’m excited to see what lies ahead for all of them.

I enjoyed the storyline from start to finish. Maybe not intentionally, but the book also made me reflect on my own relationships and communication. Without giving away any spoilers, I really appreciated the different perspectives from each character, along with the conversations that took place throughout the story.

I especially enjoy books where I can see parts of myself in the characters or their situations, and this book delivered exactly that. I found myself genuinely feeling certain emotions alongside the characters while also reflecting on how those moments related to my own life.

As an ARC reader, I learned that there are release dates for Parts 2–4 — and those dates are officially marked on my calendar! This book was so well written, and I’m incredibly excited to see what’s next in The Peckers series. Hats off to H.R. Burkett for creating storytelling that feels relatable, fun, lighthearted, and layered with just the right touch of romance. I’m already looking forward to Part 2!

P.S. Don’t miss out on the bonus content! If it wasn’t already clear from the story itself, the time, care, and thought put into every aspect of this book is evident. You definitely won’t want to miss what’s included.

5/5 stars - without question!

[Bianca Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! A fun fantasy world. This is a funny, heartfelt story with just the right amount of sweet and spicy.

[Allyson Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a beta reader for this book. It was a short read for me but I would absolutely read it again. It made me have feelings as if I was in the book. It was relatable and a fun read!

[C.M. Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start...I LOVED this book! Si Si is my soul sister lol. I cant wait to continue on this crazy adventure with these amazing women!