I just finished reading Irresistible by Darcy Burke, and let me tell you, it's an absolute gem of a romance novel!

First things first, the characters? Total heartthrobs. Burke has a knack for creating protagonists you can't help but fall head over heels for. And the chemistry between the leads? Off the charts! You'll be rooting for their happily ever after from page one.

Now, let's talk about the setting. Burke's attention to detail shines through, transporting you to a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous secrets, and swoon-worthy romance. It's like stepping into a Jane Austen novel with a modern twist.

But what sets this book apart is the depth of emotion. Burke isn't afraid to delve into the complexities of love and relationships, weaving in themes of forgiveness, redemption, and second chances that will tug at your heartstrings.

And the romance? Oh boy, get ready for some serious swooning. From stolen glances to passionate embraces, Burke knows how to write a love story that'll leave you breathless.

Now, fair warning: this book isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Some moments of heartache and conflict will have you reaching for the tissues. Isn't that what makes a romance so satisfying?

Overall, 'Irresistible' is a captivating read that'll leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart. So grab a cozy spot and get ready to be swept off your feet!

This story is so entertaining. Jess and Dougal have the best conversations with themselves. And the Chesmores are so eccentric and amusing. The ending will take you by surprise, make you gasp and cringe. I got totally wrapped up in this book and couldn't put it down.

I've been thoroughly enjoying this Phoenix Club series, and carried on that tradition with this one. This romance has two very interesting characters - a hero with feet in more worlds than he has feet (including spy and reluctant viscount) and a too-smart-to-want-to-be-married heroine who's brilliance extends to cracking codes. When they're thrown together go on a mission (her first as a totally amateur spy) to try to determine whether an eccentric couple might actually be spies, sparks inevitably fly. The characters are both fun and sympathetic. It's a bit of a slow burn with both of them initially reluctant to admit to or act on their mutual attraction. Overall it's a fun read, and I look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Lord Dougal MacNair was never expected to be his father's heir, or the Viscount Fallin. He always had his older brother, and then there was the fact he clearly wasn't his father's son either. No matter what, he was loved by his family, and he had found his place working for the Foreign Office. Now though, he had his father's ill health, his new title and responsibility, and after a couple of bad missions, he believes forces are working against him. His final mission, in a remote home on the coast comes with a snag, a new recruit, who is posing as his wife. Jessamine Goodfellow had managed to avoid marriage for six seasons, but after a chance encounter with an unknown agent, Jess finds herself recruited to the Foreign Office. As the pair find themselves navigating the difficult waters of hiding their identities, and their feelings, it seems that their case is more than it initially seemed.

Another book in the Phoenix Club series, this one was quite enjoyable. It took a little getting into, but Jess and Dougal's relationship was wonderful. Yes, neither of them really wanted to have to work together, and they were both keeping secrets from the other, but it was real the way they fell for each other. I liked the mystery as well, and clearly Dougal's work and issue with the Foreign Office is setting the scene for the main action in the rest of the series. A great addition to the series.

Gah. I love a good fake romance, especially when there is espionage and treason and enough sexual tension you could cut it with a knife. Smart, witty, and full of heart, Irresistible is well written and intriguing. I enjoy how well the books in this series align and tell a larger story, though you can enjoy them out of order or as stand alones. This series isn’t one that simply continues a story - it’s layers and depths unfold beautifully.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are mine alone.

Historical drama ,part of a series featuring the Phoenix Club. Lots of drama and excitement,dashing hero ,bluestocking heroine,plenty of twists.

Thrown together by work/posing as a married couple... this theme never gets old. I love the story of Jess and Dougal. We know what's going to happen to these 2, but wow it's enjoyable to watch!

<strong>Intrigue</strong>

I really enjoyed this one. A little bit of intrigue, pretending to be married while investigating. A dramatic unveiling at a ball.

Love a spy romance, and she does this well! For our heroine being a first time spy, she is a rapid study and picks up what the hero teaches her quickly. Reading how they interact and the chemistry that keeps between them is entertaining, not to mention the humor that is at play throughout while they investigate this interesting couple. The constant affection, sexual tension, and close proximity makes this an inevitable romance for these two obviously compatible people. One of my favorites, if not my favorite, in the series! #netgalley #Irresistible

I have to start out by saying I absolutely love Darcy Burke, but the fact that the main character was of colour just didn't make sense to me, it was like she was jumping the band wagon or something. That just turned me off completely- but once you get passed that, which you should because this book is quite exciting with spies and all its a really good book. I just felt making the main character black was forced.

Spoiler alert we could have had a bit more under cover work and I wish Lord Falin and Jessamin that more of a secret "marriage and there was a bit more excitement when they were spying- that was a bit of a disappointment

But other then that it's a great book overall

An enjoyable read. It was perfect for this genre. Darcy Burke does not disappoint. It is her usual writing that keeps the reader coming back.

I love this series and it just gets better and better. I am kicking myself for putting off reading this one.

I knew from the moment the spy plot line was introduced that this was going to be 5 stars for me and it didn't disappoint in the slightest. I absolutely adored the fake marriage, the espionage, and the eccentric Chesmore's. I ate this up. It was also so freaking swoony and sexy. The final conflict in the ballroom - I was so close to screaming.

I can't recommend this series enough. It deserves so much more hype. (however I would really appreciate a guide at the back of the book as to who all the couples and characters are because it's getting hard for me to remember the titles and family names and keep them separate.)

I wasn't excited for Evie's story until I read that blurb at the end. Evie and the Vicar! and I can barely contain my excitement for Lucien and Kat.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The intriguing plot about romance and workplace espionage had me reeling with excitement.
The characters are easy to read and made me laugh out loud at times. Their interactions are so well developed and the chemistry between them is on a high scale level.
A fake marriage is always something that I’m looking forward in a historical romance because we rarely get that trope in the genre and this was excellent in all aspects.

This story was so fun. It's historical romance with espionage! Jess and Dougal are a fun couple and I love watching them get to know each other. I also love their spy relationship. Dougal has to teach Jess how to be a spy and it's really fun. Honestly, just an enjoyable read, I can't wait to read more in this series.

Jessamine has had a number of seasons and all she wants is to be a spinster. She is surprised when the Forigen Office approaches her to take part in a secret mission. The mission involves pretending to be married to the Viscount Fallin.

I love this series so much. This book was excellent and I loved it so much. I really liked our main character and I enjoyed the spy aspect of this one. I think the author's writing is engaging and I always get sucked into the story.

This is one of my favourite historical romance series and I can't wait to read the next one.

So long as we’re together, even the most mundane will be exciting.

A lot of fun moving parts combine to make this a solid book.

This story is just downright fun. We’ve got spies, disguises, hilarious eccentrics, an exclusive club, Highlander brogue, a spinster heroine… way more than I can remember. If this sounds like a lot, it is, but somehow it works.
It took me a bit to be hooked. At about 20% I really got into the book. The Phoenix Club, Jess’s transformation, and Dougal’s protectiveness of her are all great. Then, at about 70% I could not understand what else could happen. Turns out not much compared to the intrigue of the first half of the book, although I still enjoyed it. These pacing problems did make me knock off half a star.
The characters, however, are amazing. Jess is very intelligent and I am always here for a brilliant heroine! Dougal is such a sweetheart and his character development was great to read about. But the side characters make it! His Da is so adorable, the first scene with him is one of my favorites. I already have Evie’s book queued up on Netgalley and I am excited for it! Her support for Jess and women in general is so refreshing.
I would definitely recommend this book for someone looking for a little action, a lot of humor, and a sweet romance. This was my first book by Darcy Burke but it absolutely won’t be my last. However if you haven’t read others in this series it doesn’t need to stop you.

Star Rating: 3.75/5
Tropes: Highland hero, fake marriage, spies, bluestocking heroine
CW: Death of family member, guns

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Irresistible is book six in the Phoenix Club series and I am completely wrapped up in it.

Jessamine Goodfellow is a happily committed spinster and Lord Dougal MacNair is the new Viscount Fallin after the unexpected death of his brother. The two join up to investigate a couple reported to possibly be spies, for the Foreign Office. Of course they must pretend to be married. With this you get forced proximity and a fake relationship. Two of my favorite tropes and a spy plot on top of that. It was a wonderful combination of intrigue and romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lord Dougal MacNair, the new Viscount Fallin has grown up knowing that the person he calls dad isn't his real dad even though his father is white and he's black. the man has claimed him no matter what. Cause of this he never thought he'd be a Scottish earl, so he went working for gov. as a spy. When his brother dies, he heads home a few days later his friend 0wner of the Pheonix club and who knows what he does calls him back to London. Jessamine Goodfellow has had six season and never found a man she wanted to marry but she is good at solving puzzles which brings her under the eye of the government. they requit her and Dougal who has never worked with a partner to go check out a couple that may be working for the French. they pretend they are husband and wife and end up falling for each other. this is book 6 in The Phoenix Club series which i love I just reviewed Irresistible by Darcy Burke. #Irresistible #NetGalley
https://www.netgalley.com/book/262334/review/682058

I love the Phoenix Club by Darcy Burke and found this sixth installment to be absolutely wonderful. Burke's world is full of interesting and charming characters and in this novel she brings to life two of my favorite in this series so far! Burke's writing is engaging, entertain, well-paced, delightfully sensual and perfectly balanced in plot and relationship. If you have never checked out Darcy Burke, I would highly recommend her and this series, I think this series as a whole is extremely strong and well written and definitely has something for everyone with all the the tropes Burke has been able to explore throughout. While this is the sixth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone, but I will definitely say I have truly enjoyed reading this series in order!

Jessamine has spent the last six seasons avoiding matrimony and she is just in reach of full spinsterhood, which is her goal, so she can finally be free to explore and create her own adventures. Jessamine also has a great talent in code breaking and when she is asked by the Foreign Office to go on a secret mission she jumps at the chance. She is to partner with Dougal, a newly appointed viscount who is use to working alone and probably on his last mission. These two most pose as a married couple to investigate a couple who might be selling secrets to the French.

I was so immediately swept up into this story and Jessamine and Dougal's romance. Burke perfectly balances the spy plot with the building of chemistry and attraction between Jessamine and Dougal. Dougal is a black man who was adopted by his father, this does play a role in the story and how some people see him. I think that Burke did a really lovely job with his character and I do feel like she took time and care to address prejudices of the time while not making them the point of the story. Jessamine is immediately attracted by Dougal, she finds him breathtakingly handsome and her feelings only grow as she sees how much of a kind, strong and smart man that he is. Dougal is also taken with Jessamine, his respect for her grows each day they work together as he sees her intelligence and her true inner beauty. Burke has a way of building the perfect sensual tension between these two while steadly growing it until it boils over. I think Burke also does a wonderful job showing the build up of chemistry and respect between Jessamine and Dougal. They are both always on the same page with each other, you can see the respect and consent they have with each other and their budding love is really wonderful to watch.

To me this is a must read and one of my favorites in the series! I am so excited to see where this series goes next!

Normally I enjoy stories by Darcy Burke. This one just did not do a thing for me I am sorry to say. It was a challenge for me to want to finish it.