Book Review: Irresistible by Darcy Burke

About the Book:

Title: Irresistible

Author: Darcy Burke

Series: The Phoenix Club #6

Publication Date: July 19, 2022

Publisher: Zealous Quill Press

Synopsis: Jessamine Goodfellow has spent six Seasons avoiding the parson’s trap, and spinsterhood is finally within her grasp. A brilliant scholar, she longs for adventure and new experiences, things her family frowns upon. Presented with the opportunity to use her puzzle-solving talent on a secret mission for the Foreign Office, Jess eagerly accepts. Even when it means posing as the wife of a scorchingly attractive Scotsman who she must also covertly investigate as a possible double agent.

Lord Dougal MacNair, the new Viscount Fallin, has always completed his assignments for the Foreign Office alone. Now he’s saddled with an overly enthusiastic amateur partner. She possesses a remarkable intellect, but something about her isn’t quite right, and after two failed missions, Dougal is certain someone is working against him. Battling their secret suspicions, Dougal and Jess dive deep into their cover as a married couple, which arouses temptations they find irresistible. Danger is all around them, but it’s their hearts that may be the most imperiled.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

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My Review:

Irresistible is another great story in The Phoenix Club series! The characters and mystery are really interesting as they are embroiled in a mission to uncover potential spies, and the romance is wonderful. I love the fake dating trope, so when Dougal and Jessamine pretended to be married so they could spy on a suspicious married couple, I knew I was in for a treat.

Jessamine and Dougal are dynamic protagonists with a ton of chemistry. As a skilled cipher, Jess’s first mission pairs her with the more experienced Dougal. Their mission to investigate a married couple who could be French spies leads them into a potentially dangerous setting, some awkward and uncomfortable situations, and a ton of temptation. Acting as a married couple, Jess and Dougal act like a couple in love, and the lines between reality and illusion begin to merge. The couple finds it difficult to ignore their attraction to each other, but many obstacles stand in their way.

In addition to the fact that they are partners and feel they should be strictly professional, Jess has no intention of marrying and is determined to become a spinster. It’s interesting to see her perception of love and marriage change. Dougal is also determined to remain professional and emotionally controlled, but the closer he gets to Jess, the more he realizes that’s not what he truly wants. I like that both characters grow and change as their connection deepens and they begin to fall for each other. They are a well-matched pair and a great complement to one another. Plus, their chemistry sizzles.

The secondary characters, much like in the other books in the series, are also intriguing, and I like that we see some of the people from previous books in this book. I always love seeing how characters’ stories have progressed. These characters, including Dougal and Jess, are all connected by The Phoenix Club and its owner. I can’t wait for his story!!

The book also tackles issues like racism, gender biases, parental and societal pressures, grief, and more. I thought the author handled these topics with sensitivity, and I found it interesting that these issues are still so relevant today. Times have changed, but in a way, they haven’t, as this story highlights.

I love The Phoenix Club series. Each book is unique and interesting, the characters are compelling and united in their ties to a unique and fantastic club, and the romances are always super swoon-worthy. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

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