Another good read from Mary Balogh but not her best
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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.
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Likable and entertaining.
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I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. However, I feel that Nat missed that extra something special as a hero and Sophie, well, I always find it hard to believe that there are women who exist and that they are immediately interesting to everyone; even as a friend. I thought the storyline about her army husband and his preference was very well written and have never come across that before in a regency romance.
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Irresistible indeed!
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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!
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LIVES UP TO ITS TITLE!!!!
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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.
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simply beautiful
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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.
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