Irresistible

Rating:
Summary: The book is irresistible!
Review: I did not realize unil now that this is the 3rd of a series- but, yet, I enjoyed it by itself. I just recently discovered MB books and really enjoy them. So far, they don't seem empty and silly. The characters are well-developed and intelligent. There isn't the silly conversations used to develope the story as in some books.

Nathaniel (Nat) Gascoigne is one of 4 friends that went thru war together being nicknamed the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Since the war, 2 friends have settled down in marriage. Nat returned home to take over family obligations since his father's death but has no desire to marry. His ideal life is that of finding a widow that is interested in having a relationship without ties. First, though, he must find husbands for the last sister and cousin living at home. So off to London they go to participate in The Season of balls, parties, etc.

Sophia Armitage is a widow of a colleague of the Four Horsemen who died in the Peninsular War. While traveling with her husband she became close friends with the 4 men. She is now residing in London and comes across the 4 friends after losing contact with them over the last 3 years. Friendships are renewed- and after escorting her home after a party Nat and Sophie agree to try a relationship with no strings attached. Nat has no idea that Sophie has had a secret love for Nat all these years and discoveres that shy, plain, little Sophie has a side of desire, passion, and beauty to her that has been hidden all these years. But the relationship doesn't last long due to a blackmailer that threatens to bring light on his discovery if Sophie doesn't detach herself from her friends. But Nat is not satisfied with Sophie's reasoning for breaking this off and it determined to find the source of the problem.

The book has a good story to it that is one of passion. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to finding the first two- Indiscreet and Unforgiven that are about the 2 friends that are married in Irresistible.

Rating:
Summary: LIVES UP TO ITS TITLE!!!!
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. I reccommend reading Indiscreet and Unforgiven first as you can then appreciate the full scope of the story. The heroes of the three books are the men of all our dreams. It was a pleasure reading about the adventures of Rex, Kenneth, Nat and Eden.

Rating:
Summary: A heart-warming story
Review: I have always been a fan of Ms. Balogh, and have enjoyed all the books in this trilogy. The story of Sophie and Nat is a great story of friends, lovers and intrigue. Unlike most stories today, where the main characters seem to meet and have sex immediately thereafter, this story allows the characters to grow. Longtime friends who refind each other. The secondary story of the book is amusing too. Anyone who has a close group of college buddies or friends will find the relationships in this book very realistic.

Rating:
Summary: A moving love story between two very likable characters
Review: I have read several of Mary Balogh's novels, and IRRESISTIBLE is by far my favorite. Ms. Balogh is very adept at creating poignant moments in her books, and many such moments involving the characters Sophie and Nathaniel in IRRESISTIBLE are simply beautiful. I found myself re-reading some of the more touching passages, trying to savor every description, every thought, every emotion. Like another reader/reviewer, I enjoyed this book so very much that I didn't want it to end.

Rating:
Summary: SUPERB!
Review: I loved this book so much I did not want it to end! I read most of Mary Balogh's novels, some of them I really enjoyed,others I liked less, but this one is my favorite! The characters are so endearing and the story is simply beautiful. I strongly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Irresistible indeed!
Review: I loved this book. It is my favorite of all the longer Regencies and Regency-set historicals Ms. Balogh has produced. I have always much preferred her short Regencies for Signet, and this book felt like one of those, with its deep, emotional characterizations and uncomplicated plot. I'm a sucker for stories where friends become lovers. Nobody does it better!

Rating:
Summary: simply beautiful
Review: i've read all of the horsemen book and i must say that this was by far my favourite. the characters were beautiful, and they seemed so alive. i truly felt for both characters, and though this is so cliche it was as if i was there myself. this book was so poigantly sweet, i found myself rereading my favourite parts of it over and over again after i finished the book. i especially loved all the references to nat's beautiful smile.. had a few sighs over that. i really recommend u read this book, as u will not be sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Resistible
Review: I, unlike the other reviewers, did not appreciate this book. I am normally a Mary Balogh fan and have loved her other books. This book however lacked inspiration. The stroyline was different but the plot could have ended a lot earlier than it did. There is of course the superfluous separation at the end of the book where the heroine needs to be away from the hero to be able to admit how much she truly wants to be with him and then the hero of course has to convince her that this is the case in the final scenes.

I liked Nat but did not like Sophia or Sophie as her friends know her to be. I do wish that Lavinia's story was told in more detail in another book as I like her better as a heroine. Yes I go for the feisty independent women. Though Balogh tries to portray Sophie as one, by circumstance as opposed to by choice, I still think her whimpering lady side shone through at every opportunity.

What also irritated me was the continuous reference to the 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse' which was such an unpleasant and forced phrase whenever it was inserted that it just made me skim over certain sentences just to get over the irritation level. My irritation was further accentuated when this phrase was uttered in conversation. To reminiscent of a pantomime for me.

Read a Summer To Remember - a far superior romance novel to this one.

Rating:
Summary: must read
Review: Mary Balogh does it again, her books are hard to put down once you start reading, and this book is no exception. Her romantic scenes are always passionate and sweet. Stories of "plain" heroines that catches the handsome hero is pure romance.

Rating:
Summary: From friendship to love
Review: Nathaniel Gascoigne comes to London with the firm intention of finding husbands for his sister and cousin. He has no wish to get married himself. But brothels don't have the appeal they used to have, and after one night of debauchery, he realises that he's not quite cut for that type of life any more. What he needs is an arrangement with a woman who wouldn't be a prostitute, a mistress, or worse, a wife, but with a widow still young enough to be attractive, who could become his occasional companion and relieve his needs without the inconvenience of any other solution.

His plans are half-thwarted, half-fulfilled by the unexpected night he spends with Sophia, widow of Major Walter Armitage, with whom he fought in the Peninsula. Sophia was always a good friend to him, but he'd never pictured her as the passionate lover she becomes to him.

Sophie, on the other hand, knows that her newborn relationship with Nathaniel makes her play with fire. She'd developed a crush on him when he was fighting alongside her husband, but it had never occurred to her to enter an adulterous relationship when Walter was alive. Now that he is dead, her reputation isn't at stake, and Nat's attentions are so unexpected that she surrenders to the moment, even though she is aware that their arrangement will only last for a Season. But how can she let the affair continue for even that long when she's trapped by shameful secrets?

The characters of this book are very attaching. Sophie, for example, is multi-faceted, contrary to what her friends think at first. She appears as 'good old Sophie' to them, but in fact she's a woman with insecurities that run deeper than anyone suspects. She approaches life with a no-nonsense attitude, convincing herself that whatever Nathaniel can see in her, it will pass when he moves on to a more enticing lover. In the meantime, she's determined to enjoy what he can give her.

The novel is even more enthralling thanks to the presence of Nathaniel's cousin: Lavinia is a fascinating character who quickly becomes Sophie's friend. The antagonism between her liberated views of women and Eden's rakish behaviour makes their relationship very unpredictable and delightful. I wish they had got their own book, but on the other hand, they were a nice counterpoint to Sophie and Nathaniel.

But the real fascination of Irresistible is in the development of Nat's feelings for Sophie, and the ambiguity of the way he views her: Walter's widow and his lover; a placidly cheerful friend who dresses plainly, and a sensual, passionate and beautiful woman. Can he reconcile both images? And how can he make Sophie realise that he really cares for her and wants to help her?

This wonderful love story deals with touching heroes who will move you with their inner strength and the truthfulness of their feelings.