IRRESISTIBLE by Susan Mallery

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IRRESISTIBLE (The Buchanans: Book 2)
Author: Susan Mallery
Source: Contest Win
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HQN Books; Reissue edition (February 1, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373775105
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373775101
SYNOPSIS:
When ex-Marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it’s just the neighborly thing to do. And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she’s just returning the favor…right?
Both of them have sworn off dating—Elissa’s determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men…especially former Marines with dark secrets. Walker knows that he’s not cut out for hearth and home…his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won’t stop flying between them.
Now the two are struggling to keep their relationship “just friends,” but with every kiss, their rules fly out the window… 
MY THOUGHTS:
I loved this book even more than the first book in the series.  I was so glad that Walker’s book was the next in the series.  This had more of the relationship progression that I like instead of the on again/off again that most romance books have. The relationship between Walker and Elissa slowly builds until the end.  I will say that near the end I found myself with a little bit of tears in my eyes, and that was mainly because of what Elissa’s daughter Zoe says to Walker.  It is such a sweet and tender scene in the book.  Another great book by a talented author that never disappoints. I am so happy I found this authors books.  The author knows how to capture your interest in the book and will keep you hanging on until the last chapter.  This could easily be read as a stand alone book, but I do recommend reading the first book, Delicious, first so you can understand the other characters involved better.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

DELICIOUS by Susan Mallery

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DELICIOUS (The Buchanan’s: Book 1)
Author: Susan Mallery
Source: Contest Win
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HQN Books (February 1, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373770561
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373770564
SYNOPSIS:

Cal Buchanan needs a top-flight chef to take over his failing Seattle restaurant, The Waterfront. He can afford to hire the best in town-the only problem is that the best happens to be his ex-wife, Penny Jackson.Penny really needs this opportunity, but she doesn’t need the distraction of working with her ex. She’s sworn off romance-she’s even having a baby on her own. But before she knows it, the heat is on and the attraction between her and Cal moves from a low simmer to a full boil!The rest should be easy as pie, but a secret from Cal’s past could spoil everything. Maybe it’s true that too many cooks spoil the broth-or maybe two is enough to make it irresistible.
MY THOUGHTS:
I can’t help it. I am so in love with this authors writing style and her true romantic plots. To me, this author has perfected the art of writing romance novels. The characters are smart, wonderful and interesting. The plot always flows nicely and at the right pace.  
In this book, the main characters get a second chance at making love work. Even with Penny being pregnant, Cal still loves her.  They start out working together and it blossoms into love all over again.  Each one has some things to work through individually, but they find working together makes it easier.  I also love how the author introduced the rest of the family that will be in future books of this series.  After reading this one, you will be anxious to read what will happen with each Buchanan involved. Even though you will hate their Grandmother Gloria, you will still want to see what the old bat will do in the following books. Maybe she will get what is coming to her in those as well. 
Overall a wonderful and romantic book with witty humor and brilliant characters that will keep you warm at night and hungry for even more of this food family business!
MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

SWEET TROUBLE by Susan Mallery

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SWEET TROUBLE
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HQN Books (September 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373773056
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373773053
SYNOPSIS:
Home, sweet home?
Jesse Keyes has done some serious growing up. With a steady job and a vibrant four-year-old son, she’s in a far better place than when she left Seattle five years ago…pregnant and misunderstood by almost everyone in her life.
Now it’s time to go home and face her demons. But her sisters, Claire and Nicole, aren’t exactly impressed with the new and improved Jesse. And then there’s Matt, Gabe’s father, who makes it clear that he never wants to see her again despite the lust that still smolders between them.
Jesse doesn’t know if she can make up for all the mistakes of her past. But the promise of sweet nights with Matt might just give her the extra incentive she needs to make it worth the trouble…
MY THOUGHTS:

This is third book in the Bakery sisters trilogy.  This is the romance focused on Jesse, the youngest sister.  I like how the author set this book 5 years from the last one.  We got to not only see how Jesse matured after 5 years, but we also got to see how each of the sisters have grown as well.  Even though it is set 5 years ahead of the other books, the author does have chapters of what happened in the past and what Jesse has been up to since then. 

When Jesse came back to town, I found myself rooting for her.  Having a child made her grow up and realize the mistakes she made and how to move on from the mistakes. She even had her baby, a boy named Gabe.  When Matt first comes into the picture, I wanted to haul off and hit him.  He was so mean and cruel.  Yet, I could also feel sorry for him for the things he missed in the last 5 years of Gabes life.  The author did a wonderful job of finishing up the series and I was sad to see it end.  I will miss the fun loving Jesse, the smart yet witty mouthed Nicole, and the innocent and loving Claire. 

A great series for all romantics at heart that will leave you with the feel food feeling we all look for in romance books.

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!

SWEET SPOT by Susan Mallery

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SWEET SPOT
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HQN Books (August 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373773145
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373773145
SYNOPSIS:
If only her life was more sinful than sweet…
“Responsibility” should be Nicole Keyes’s middle name.  After all, not many people would sacrifice their lives to run the family bakery and raise a younger sibling.  But with Nicole’s twin sister now blissfully married and her younger sis turning out more femme fatale than girl next door, superreliable Nicole is getting sick of putting everyone else’s needs first!
Enter Hawk.  The deliciously sexy former NFL player offers Nicole a taste of the freedom she craves.  Hawk may know the way, blindfolded, to her sweet spot, but Nicole’s not about to let him get close enough to break her heart.  Of course, she might not have a choice in the matter if Hawk’s past keeps getting in the way of their present…
MY THOUGHTS:
This is the second book in the Bakery sisters trilogy.  I loved the first book, and this one was even better.  In the first book, we got to see Nicole throughout the story, but in this book, Nicole is at the center of the romance theme.  I love how Nicole is so independent and how Hawk is so fun!  Put them together and you get the wittiest and funny dialogue while you fall in love with both of them.  Here are a few funny scenes so you can get an idea of the authors humor.

A scene between Hawk and Nicole-

    Now that he studied her, he could see it in the slight slump of her shoulders and the paleness of her skin.  “Someone hurt you.”
    ” I’m fine,” she told him, then shrugged.  “It’s nothing.”
    “I was married for twelve years. ‘Nothing’ in this context is female code for ‘you’re going to have to keep asking to prove you’re seriously inerested.’ What’s wrong?”
    “I’m fine.”

Another scene between Hawk and Nicole-

     “I should go.”
     His dark gaze settled on her face.  “How long are you going to run from me?”
     “I don’t know.”
     ” Admitting you have a problem is the first step in solving it.”
     ” How very bumper sticker of you.”

I wish I could share more of the funny scenes with you, but seriously, they are all throughout the book.  This romance was fun and light and I loved all the extra characters in the plot.  I loved how it all began, the romance and bickering in the middle, and the hot and heavy romance in the end and all through the book.  I can’t wait to read the next sisters story!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!



SWEET TALK by Susan Mallery

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SWEET TALK
  • Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: HQN Books (July 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0373772971
  • ISBN-13: 978-0373772971
SYNOPSIS:
Is there anything sweeter than a first love?
Don’t ask Claire Keyes.  The twenty-eight-year old piano prodigy has never had a regular boyfriend, much less a real romance.  Her music career has left little room for friends or family — which is just part of the reason she’s estranged from her two sisters.
But now Nicole is sick, and Jesse is AWOL.  Despite the fact that Claire can’t boil water, she’s determined to play caretaker.  Connecting with her sisters tops her to-do list….along with falling in love, or at least in lust, for the first time.
Ambitious?  Maybe.  But a girl’s gotta dream.  And ruggedly sexy Wyatt is a dream come true.  Although he keeps telling himself that he and Claire come from entirely different worlds, he lights up hotter than a bakery oven whenever Claire is near.  If this keeps up, she just might sweet-talk him into her bed….and her life. 
MY THOUGHTS:
This is the first book in the Keyes Sister Trilogy. This book is centered on the romance of Claire and Wyatt.  Claire was whisked away at a young age after she was discovered to be a concert pianist genius.  She left behind her twin sister Nicole and baby sister Jesse.  When Nicole ends up having to have surgery, Jesse calls her sister Claire and tells her she needs to come home and take care of her sister.  Claire hasn’t spoken or seen her sisters since the death of their father many years ago.  She shows up trying to make things right and to reconnect with Nicole and Jesse.  What she didn’t expect was to fall in love with Nicole’s friend Wyatt. 

This book was one of those romance book that gives you that happy feeling while reading it and when the story ends, you want to know what happens afterward.  I loved the sweetness of this book and how it focused on family.  Wyatt’s daughter from a previous marriage, Amy, was 8 years old and was deaf.  I loved how the author also threw that aspect in the story as well.  You could also tell the author had done her research on that topic, as I have a daughter who is deaf, and she knew what to write on the subject. 

Overall a wonderful read that I enjoyed so much I finished it within a few hours.  So sweet and romantic.  I am now hooked on this author and have almost completed the whole series.  A great new author for me and I am glad I was introduced to her wonderful writing and sweet romance!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading!