Simply Irresistible [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 30, 2008

Georgeanne Howard leaves her fiancé at the altar when she realizes she can't marry a man old enough to be her grandfather, no matter how rich he is. Hockey superstar John Kowalsky unknowingly helps her escape, and only when it's too late does he realize that he's absconded with his boss's bride. This bad boy isn't looking to be anybody's savior but his own. Still, a long night stretches ahead of them—a night too sultry to resist temptation.

Seven years later, Georgeanne and John meet again. She is on her way to becoming Seattle's domestic darling and he is past his hellraising days. Shocked to learn that he has a daughter, John's determined to be part of her life. Georgeanne has loved John since the moment she jumped into his car, but will he risk the wrath of his boss, and one final chance at glory, to prove that this time his love will be everlasting?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this saucy romance, charm-school graduate Georgeanne Howard has only two real talents: cooking and talking. Her Mae West-like body, though, is what attracts Virgil Duffy, a man old enough to be her grandfather but richer than Croesus. But when it comes time to actually marry Duffy, Georgeanne just can't go though with it. She makes her escape with bad boy John Kowalsky, the star hockey player for the team that Duffy owns. John has no idea that the gorgeous babe he is about to have a one-night stand with happens to be his boss's bride-to-be. It's not an auspicious start for a romance, but romance Georgeanne he does. Seven years later, Kowalsky discovers that their one night of unforgettable passion produced an incorrigible little girl who is even wilder than her parents--and Georgeanne is even more beautiful than he remembered.

About the Author

With the publication of New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson's first book,readers discovered one of contemporaryromance's freshest voices. Four of her novelswere named among the Top Ten Favorite Booksof the Year by Romance Writers of America.She has won numerous awards, includingBorders Bestselling Romantic Comedy, National Reader's Choice, and two RITA® Awards for the Best Single Contemporary Romance Title of the Year.

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California andnow makes her home on an Idaho farm.She's experienced life in such diverse waysas working in a Hollywood recording studioto chasing down wayward steers. Only onething has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily-ever-after.

Jennifer Bernard is a graduate of Harvardand a former news promo producer. The childof academics, she confounded her family bypreferring romance novels to . . . well, anyother books. She left big city life for true love in Alaska, where she now lives with her husbandand stepdaughters. She's no stranger to book success, as she also writes erotic novellas under a naughty secret name not to be mentioned at family gatherings.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Avon (December 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380790076
• ISBN-13: 978-0380790074
• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (195 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With the publication of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Gibson's first book, readers discovered one of contemporary romance's freshest voices. Four of her novels were named among the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year by Romance Writers of America.

Rachel's storytelling career began at the age of sixteen when she ran her Chevy Vega into the side of a hill, retrieved the bumper and broken glass from the ground, and drove to her high school parking lot. With the help of her friend, she strategically scattered the broken pieces and told her parents she'd been the victim of a hit and run. They believed her, and she's been telling stories ever since.

When not writing, Rachel can be found boating on Payette Lake with Mr. Gibson, shopping for shoes, or forcing her love on an ungrateful cat.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is Incredible! July 15, 2000

By Shannon

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I must have read this book at least 5 times already! I always come back to it when I want a good comic, steamy, and touching story. Geaorgeanne and John are so good together. John, a professional hockey player, is the sexiest male lead character I've ever read about!

When John meets Georgeanne, they spend one incredible night together and Georgeanne has given her heart to John. John's life is a mess and he has no intention of furthering the one night he spends with the Georgeanne. He dumps her off at the airport the morning after and never looks back.

Georgeanne is heartbroken with no real home to go to, no job, and not much education, but she finds that she has the courage and strength to pull it all together.

Now it's seven years later and Georgeanne is a co-owner in a successful catering business that is catering a fundraiser that John is attending. He is dumbstruck when he sees her across the room.

And from this point on, I gaurantee you wont be able to put this book down!

You'll also fall in love with Mae and Hugh. Mae is Georgeannes best friend and co business owner, and Hugh is John's team mate on the hockey team he plays on. The dialog between them had me cracking up!

This book deals with more than just romance. It talks about Georgeanne's learning problems, and John's first wifes suicide and what it takes for people to rise above their insecurities and mistakes.

You may read a lot of reviews that promise that this book or that book was the best they ever read. I give you my solemn word that this is absolutely the best book I've ever read. I cant wait until Rachel Gibson comes up with another sweet, sexy, and comical book to read. Also, dont miss SIMPLY, MADLY YOURS. It is an awesome book too.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of two flawed people working their way toward love April 23, 2003

By baltimore0502

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've read two Rachel Gibson books - first her most recent "See Jane Score" (loved it!) and now her very first book "Simply Irresitible" - both stories of hockey jocks tamed by the right woman. The reviews for this book are definitely mixed, so you have to understand from the start that neither John nor Georgie are perfect and there will be times you will dislike both of them. This was not a problem for me as I found it realistic, but I have to agree that how the love develops between these two is not well drawn.

Georgeanne Howard is a girly girl (ugh!) whose childhood leaves her feeling that her only assets are her looks, charm and cooking skills in that order. She was set to marry a man old enough to be her grandfather for financial security, but bails at the last minute. She begs a ride from John Kowalsky who she discovers is a hockey star who plays for the team her former fiance owns. When John discovers who she is, he wants nothing to do with her as it could ruin his career, but hormones and jocks and girly girls with self-esteem issues being what they are, they wind up in bed. John then displays his ability to be a tremendous jerk by unceremoniously dumping her at the airport the next morning, driving away without a backward glance. Crushed, Georgie finally has to face facts, grow up and take charge of her life and so she does.

Seven years later, she is a partner in a successful catering business and runs into John at an event she is working. Stunned, scared and desperate to get away from him, she drops her checkbook on her way out the door. When he shows up at her house to drop it off, he discovers to his shock that their night together resulted in an adorable, incorrigible, irrepressible six year old girl! The last thing Georgie wants is John Kowalsky back in her life, but he is determined to be a part of his daughter's and so it seems she has no choice. Time spent together, while John gets to know Lexie, draws them back toward each other. Their mutual sexual attraction reignites, but is something more lasting possible?

If you have no tolerance for jocks (you know - huge egos, short on sensitivity) then you likely won't care for John. But I'm usually amused by the type (though any guy that called me "baby doll", especially in public, would get a swift kick!). It was John's relationship with Lexie - especially the first time she called him "daddy" which was sweet and funny (he was such a [pushover]!) - that salvaged his character for me. The romance between John's pal goalie Hugh and Georgie's partner Mae was also a kick. But I wish more time had been spent on John and Georgie's relationship, I mean they really didn't know much about one another to start with and it would have helped if you knew better what made John, in particular, tick. Not without flaws, but still recommended!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully charming January 30, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Mass Market Paperback

"Simply Irresistable" by Rachel Gibson, is, quite simply, irresistable. Reminiscent of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' "It Had To Be You", this book is filled with warmth, humor, and marvelous characters. Southern-belle extraordinaire Georgeanne Howard has just left her extremely wealthy and much, much older fiance' at the altar. Skilled at charm and flirtation, but not much else, Georgeanne hitches a ride with John "The Wall" Kowalsky, an up-and-coming hockey player. John recognizes a high-maintenance woman when he sees one. He is definitely not interested, especially when he learns the beauty in the shrink-wrapped wedding dress is his team's owner's runaway bride. John, however, cannot resist Georgeanne's charms for long, and they share one unbelieveable night. But come morning, John puts Georgeanne on a plane back home. His career is just taking off and he is not ready to settle down, especially with a helpless, useless bimbo. Georgeanne, on the other hand, has other ideas. She has no desire to return home, but has no resources to stay. Searching the want ads, Georgeanne applies for a chef's position at a faltering catering firm. Seven years later, John spots Georgeanne at an extravagant benefit dinner. John is now a high-profile hockey star and Georgeanne is co-owner of a successful catering business. John also learns he and Georgeanne have a daughter, a result of their one night together. Determined to be a part of his daughter's life, John tries to convince Georgeanne to accept him back into hers.
The ensuing courtship is hilarious and touching. John and Georgeanne's daughter is the most realistic and charming child character I have ever encountered. The secondary characters in this book are wonderful. This is a laugh-out-loud story, a story to be shared with friends. I can hardly wait for Rachel Gibson's next book.
Nina M.