Review: “Irresistible”
I downloaded a free copy of this via a newsletter promotion.
The Premise
Lauren has cultivated a reputation for herself as a sexy, independent woman who only needs men for one thing — but then she meets her match when she has a chance encounter with Hunter. Playgirl meets playboy is bound to steam things up quickly — but they have to pull up the brakes on things when she soon realises he is her new client. She needs him to help her win a prestigious home design contest — lest she lose a high-stakes bet to her nemesis. Her good intentions soon crumble as they spend more time together, but they agree to keep it casual. Can they resist the scariest gamble of all — falling in love?
The Pros
This was a good, steamy romance read that kept me entertained all the way through. The chemistry between the main characters was really good, and I liked their first encounter especially! Lauren is blazing her way through men, leaving a trail of broken hearts in her wake, and I liked her independence and feisty demeanour; meanwhile Hunter’s suffering under the weight of his family’s expectations and meaningful relationships are not his top priority.
The relationship issues and conflicts are relatable and believable, and it’s easy to fall into their world of luxury and success. It was heartwarming to see them build a relationship gradually — despite each claiming they didn’t want one — as their feelings evolved into much more, and I loved how they struggled against their beliefs and resisted opening their hearts because they had been hurt before. The novel’s shining grace is its excellent dialogue, which I really enjoyed reading.
The Cons
Though I liked and enjoyed the story overall, the bits and pieces of other characters were distracting. It was evident to me that the book was part of a series (which is fine), but every so often there was an info dump about other characters — her friends, his friends, his sister, etc. and they all had huge events happening to them: a baby being born, surviving a disease, overcoming grief, having a contentious affair, etc. It’s like I was supposed to get invested in these other people, but I really was too wrapped up in the main characters’ story (a good thing!) so it just made the overall story longer and more difficult to follow. All these side characters are great on their own, and the author is talented at creating memorable and lovable characters, but I just would’ve preferred them to get less real estate in this particular book!
I also felt like Lauren’s family drama, though a great story arc, it was somehow not blended into the story aptly — one minute she had no intention of going to see her father, and then she showed up with no real event in between to nudge her in that direction. Also, not really a con, but it’s marketed as an “age-gap romance” but the age difference seemed negligible (not sure why it was even mentioned in such a big way!)
Conclusion
Despite my few niggles as a picky reader (especially one that has high expectations if it’s a trope-filled romance!) this was a good book and I would recommend to others. I would rate it high on the steamy scale, so buyer beware… not for the kiddies! I would like to read more by this author, and may pick up others in the series to learn their stories more in depth.
