In Irresistible by Susan Mallery, Walker Buchanan has just moved into his new apartment. After years of being in the Marines, Walker wants nothing but peace and quiet. Then he meets his new neighbor, Elissa Towers, a single mom struggling to make ends meet. Both of them keep telling themselves that they are just friends, but things keep getting heated between them with stolen kisses. Will these two commitment – phobes admit that something is going on?
I thought the first book in this series was awesome but this book manages to top it! We get to see all of the Buchanan siblings and of course nasty Gloria with concurrent story lines. The chemistry between Walker and Elissa is hot and their story is well thought out. One of the overriding themes of this book and series is family. What makes a family? Mallery showcases the unconditional love of families, the devotion between siblings, as well as the arguments between families that are part of living.
Mallery had me tearing up towards the end of the book. In one scene, Zoe, Elissa’ s young daughter is talking with Walker about her father, a no good dead beat dad that she has never met. Walker tells Zoe that any man can be a father but only a daddy can love a child. Then he tells Zoe that he is her daddy. When Elissa tries to correct Walker, he remains firm that he is Zone ‘ s daddy.
I love Penny’s character in this book.She is a delightful combination of feisty and independent. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when she finds out Cal has been hiding a secret from her for years, one that eventually led to their marriage failing. When Cal sees Penny for the first time after she has learned the secret, Penny throws a meat cleaver at him, barely missing his head, and claiming it “slipped” from her hand.