Susan Mallery, Irresistible

Susan Mallery has done it again as far as writing an incredible series about the Seattle Buchanan family. Her second in the series (Delicious being the first), IRRESISTIBLE is just that. It's full of family issues, love, some danger, betrayal and includes short snippets about the Buchanan siblings. However, IRRESISTIBLE is Walker Buchanan's story.

Walker decides he must retire early from the Marine Corp. He's seen and been through way to much and he has a mission. His friend took a bullet for him and died with no family, no one to mourn with the exception of a young woman who he mentioned many times to Walker. Walker returns to Seattle and his family the the main purpose .. to find his friend's girlfriend and to deliver a letter to her. He is immediately thrust into two situations the first being family duties to sit at the helm of the family corporation because his grandmother has to be hospitalized due to a heart attack and fall. The second; he moves into a neighborhood and meets three incredible people ..the beautiful Elissa, her daughter Zoe and Mrs. Ford who all reside in his building.

Neither Walker nor Elissa are looking for love but the forces of nature bring them, their families and a horrible ex-boyfriend into the mix. Lots of emotion with lots of emotion and intensity in the mix.

This story is one I could not put down. Once I began Walker's journey, I read it immediately from cover to cover. Susan Mallery is a master storyteller and this series is such an entertaining one, one that will top the charts for the year and next year as well.

Irresistible, Susan Mallery, HQN, Jul 2006, $6.99, ISBN: 0373771177

After fifteen years as a marine, Walker Buchanan leaves the service to come home to Seattle. When his beloved died from breast cancer Walker vowed never to love again as his loss wrenched his heart. To love is much more difficult to deal with than fighting terrorists.

When his neighbor single mom Elissa Towers needs her tire changed, Walker's code of ethics makes him take over in spite of her irritation that he does so. Elissa admits to herself he is a hunk, but has pledged to never go out with a man ever again. However, her five-year-old Zoe desperately wants a daddy and believes the ex marine is the perfect person to fulfill the mission. To their mutual chagrin, each is attracted to the other, but both swear to themselves to only fantasize about the others. Neither factored in other stakeholders like a precocious child, their families and their neighbors' matchmaking the reluctant pair.

This is a fine contemporary romance starring two likable walking wounded souls who find more than just love with one another; each obtains solace as they have someone willing to listen. The support cast augments the audience's understanding of what motivates the protagonist to not fall in love. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this fun throwback tale in which the stars do not wish to risk their already burned heart. The second installment of Ms. Mallery's Buchanan family is a DELICIOUS winner.

Harriet Klausner