Customer Reviews

Irresistible (Berkley Sensation Historical Romance)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

This was the first book by Mary Balogh that I read. I must be older that some of the others doing reviews as I can understand exactly what Sophie has gone through in her marriage. I loved the book and thought that it was well written. I enjoyed the enteractions and descriptions of other persons depicted. I have to applaud Ms Balogh for the way she approached Sophie's problem about her husband. I remember how such things were NOT spoken about even when I was a girl. I can imagine how difficult it was for Sophie to overcome such problems. I also. enjoyed the discussions between Eden and Lavinia. I laughed quite a lot at the byplay. Irrististible is a beautiful story. I knew that Ms Balogh was a very good writer after reading this story. I've always looked for her books ever since.

Nobody does yearning better than the marvelous Mary Balogh. Irresistible is truly irresistible, a delicious love story that will keep the reader turning pages into the wee hours of the night. (I was up until 3 a.m.) Widowed Sophie Armitage is being blackmailed by a thorough cad who would ruin her late hero husband's memory (he died saving the lives of Wellington and several of his officers)and seriously injure her family's standing in society.When she was following the drum in Spain, sophie and her husband were friendly with four popular noblemen known as the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, officers she never forgot---particularly one of them,the handsomest in her eyes, and the kindest, Nathaniel Gascoigne. Sophie runs into them again just as the blackmailer is about to drive her into deep debt. Her pride, however, forestalls asking for help, and not until she has become intimately involved with Nat is the story of her predicament revealed. Added to Sophie's distress is the emotional toll her love affair with Nat is taking; lacking in self-esteem, she cannot believe he really cares. Recommended for all readers who prefer live, breathing, REAL characters rather than the 1-dimensional clones found too often in the genre.

This is the third and final volume in the trilogy Balogh started with 'Indiscreet'; an excellent series about four friends who fought in the Peninsular war together, came home, planned to have a riotous time together as bachelors... and, one by one, succumbed to the lure of love and marriage - though not necessarily in that order!

After Rex and Kenneth's stories, in Irresistible we finally get Nat's, with Eden's thrown in as an extra (I wasn't surprised to discover that Ede didn't get his own book: throughout the series, he was the least well-drawn character. However, his and Lavinia's fiery relationship made a pleasant diversion in this book).

Two years after going home to deal with family responsibilities, Nat returns to London, partly to see his friends again, but mainly because he has one remaining sister and a cousin to marry off. He is also feeling quite sexually frustrated, and looks forward to some carousing... until he realises that sex with prostitutes no longer has any appeal. So he decides to look for a willing widow of his own class with whom to have an affair.

In the meantime, Sophie Armitage, widow of an old friend of the four, is still in London; the four run into her and remember how much they all liked her in years gone by, so she joins their social circle. An unexpected sexual attraction strikes between Sophie and Nat, and they take advantage of it; Nat then is amazed when Sophie suggests that they have a discreet affair. Not that he's at all averse to the idea, of course...

But there is more to Sophie's current circumstances than meets the eye. She's being blackmailed, and gradually she is forced to deny all her friendships, including her relationship with Nat, as her blackmailer becomes angry at the actions of the four in trying to protect her. So can Nat find out what is going on in time, and can he and Sophie realise what their feelings really are for each other before they say goodbye for ever?

This is a heart-warming love story about two friends who begin an affair and fall in love. Both were always fond of each other, even though Nat never saw Sophie as a possible romantic or sexual partner before this; each has a high degree of respect for each other. And this fondness and respect is always there, even during the points in this book when they're at odds or when Sophie has to withdraw from her friendships with Nat and his friends. It's a delightful read, and one you'll want to keep.

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.

This book tells the story of Nat and Eden, two of four close friends nicknamed the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

For those who read Indiscreet (Catherine and Rex's story) and Unforgiven (Moira and Ken's story) this is a chance to read about them again as they are still a part of Nat's and Eden's world. Irrisistible rounds out the package nicely.

Like all of Mary Balogh's books, the characters are believeable in their motivations, actions and reactions. Their intelligence and perception (and the author's) shows in their conversations, decisions and inner thoughts. They grow on you in a mellow and honest way--much like friendship.

The plot and situations are interesting and well-developed, without ridiculous heroics,embarrasing sentiment or insults to your intelligence.

Before long, you find you genuinely care about the people and their lives, and you see something of yourself and real people you have known as you turn the pages.

Its the kind of book that is good company, and you hate to have it end.

This story is charming and endearing, and is one which I have re-read too many times to admit. The heroine and hero are the most realistic of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" trilogy characters. Even though the subplot involving the romance of the last of the Horseman and Nathaniel's younger cousin is very stylized and pluperfect Regency, it is also hilarious. Buy this for the wonderful writing and the darling characters.

I'm a real fan of Mary Balogh. Her Regency romances have far more to them than most other modern-authored novels, her characters seem more three-dimensional and her historical setting is more accurate than you usually expect. She's well known for the Bedwyn "Slightly" series, as well as the new "Simply" series; "Irresistible" is an older novel, published in 1998, and it felt a little different in tone.

Sophie Armitage is a widow living quietly in London in a house given to her as a pension when her husband died heroically at the Battle of Waterloo. She's been living there for two years now but life hasn't been plain sailing - someone is causing her anxiety and money troubles, although we don't initially learn what the problem is or who is involved.

Nathaniel Gascoigne is a baronet and, since Waterloo, has been living on his estate trying to get three of his sisters and his ward married off. He's been relatively successful and now only has one sister and his ward to dispose of so he takes a house in London for the season to fire them off; probably successfully with his sister who is young and engaging but his ward, Lavinia, is a 24-year-old feisty problem.

Sophie and Nathaniel knew each other whilst she followed the drum with her husband. Nat is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, so-called as they were army Majors who were always involved in excitement during the fighting, plus were all attractive men. Two of the Four Horsemen are married off (I presume these were featured in earlier novels although I haven't read them) and it's just Nat and Lord Eden Pelham left. When Nat comes to London and meets up with the other three Horsemen they bump into Sophie and renew the acquaintance.

Things are different now, though. Sophie is a widow and the soft spot she's always had for Nat becomes something more. When she and Nat get involved she discovers that it's not easy to separate emotion from action and that her four friends want to help her out, even if their help causes her more problems.

The love story in this book is a little different from some - partly because the protagonists are older and wiser, perhaps also because it's friendship turning into love rather than a coup de foudre for those who have just met. There's a side story of Lavinia and Eden but most of the attention is on Sophie and Nat who have to overcome hurdles - on her side the money problems, on his the fact he doesn't want to be tied down. I found, as I sometimes do with a Mary Balogh novel, that the plot device of heroine holding back a secret which causes problems felt a little unrealistic at times; I wonder if other women would have confided in their friends rather than cause the friends such pain. Who knows. It's a good read and I liked Sophie's calm, gentle character but it isn't one of those books that stays with you, like "The Secret Pearl" or "More Than A Mistress" by Mary Balogh. Worth a read but perhaps not a keeper.

Sophia Armitage, widow to the respectable Major Walter Armitage, is considered one of the guys among her male friends. After all, she's fun, sensible and could be trusted during male-related conversations that ladies have no business listening to. And that is why she is adored by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, four friends who battled the Napoleonic wars together, and they would do just about anything to protect her. Nathaniel Gascoigne, a confirmed bachelor turned country squire, is in Town for the season to see if he could marry off the two young ladies under his guard, his sister and his rebellious cousin. He hopes to enjoy some debauchery while in London by indulging in an uncomplicated sexual relationship with a willing and discreet widow. However, he hadn't anticipated that that woman would be none other than his chum Sophia. But he couldn't resist the fact that, underneath her plain facade, lies a beautiful and passionate woman. So, they agree to become lovers until the season ends and he returns to his Bowood Manor. But will they be able to part? During the course of their secret affair, Nathaniel suspects Sophie is hiding something from him. She is being blackmailed by the ruthless Mr. Pinter, someone who fought the wars with Nathaniel and Walter, someone who knows a secret that could ruin her late husband's good image and her chances of living a respectable life.

I have read Mary Balogh before and her novels are either a hit or a miss for me. There have been no in-betweens. I loved The Secret Pearl, Dancing with Clara and More than a Mistress (especially the first two) and detested Slightly Married and No Man's Mistress. Irresistible falls into neither category, for although it is a wonderful, romantic read, it does not outdo my two big favorites by this author. That is not saying much. Irresistible is wonderful, especially the backdrop of Regency England. The historical accuracy in her novels have always impressed me and she truly makes you feel the period. She also makes you feel the romance. There is strong chemistry between Sophia and Nathaniel from the very beginning and I enjoy how the romance and the inevitable conflicts and obstacles between them flow without infuriating misunderstandings or over the top plot twists. Balogh makes you feel their frustrations and pain and, most of all, their growth from mere physical attraction to undying love. The protagonists are wonderful and the secondary characters, especially Lavinia and Eden, are well developed and enjoyable as well. Things fall apart a bit by the end though. Sophia and Nathaniel seem so set in their ways and eager to live separate lives that for a while I thought it impossible for them to get together (though at this point we know they love each other and want to be together but both think the other wants something else). They are so cold and civil in some scenes that I became frustrated with them. I know politeness, even when alone, was part of the norm and mores of those times, but sometimes I wish Balogh would use a little bit of artistic license to create more romantic tension between her protagonists. (Not too much artistic license though. I wouldn't want to read about protagonists making out in the middle of a crowded ballroom or reading about unmarried women going about town unchaperoned, for instance.) Also, it would have been nice if Eden and Lavinia had had their own novel. Lavinia is a very interesting character and she would have made a great heroine. Alas, Irresistible is the last installment in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse series and a great historical read to boot. I wish I had been able to read the other installments, but they're out of print. If you're tired of reading historically inaccurate romances, give this author a whirl. In terms of period accuracy and language, you will never go wrong with Mary Balogh.

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.