I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
An Irresistible Bachelor
by
J.R. Ward, Jessica Bird
It is part of the An Unforgettable Lady #2 series and is a contemporary romance in Paperback edition that was published by Signet on July 5, 2011 and has 296 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Dark Lover, Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Covet, Crave, Lover Revealed, Lover Unbound, Lover Enshrined, Lover Avenged, Lover Mine, Lover Unleashed, Envy, Leaping Hearts, His Comfort and Joy, Lover Reborn, Rapture, Lover at Last, Possession, The King, The Shadows, The Bourbon Kings, Blood Kiss, The Beast, Blood Vow, The Chosen, Blood Fury, “Dearest Ivie”, The Thief, "The Reception", "The Rehearsal Dinner", Consumed, The Savior, Blood Truth, Where Winter Finds You, The Sinner, A Warm Heart in Winter, Claimed, The Wolf
Second in the Unforgettable Lady romance series revolving around a group of friends and their families on the East Coast.
My Take
Another warm and intelligent romance between two people one of whom combines the artistic with the scientific while the other is ruthless in business. It explores the insecurities of a woman fed up with secrets yet unable to throw off a lifetime of keeping them while it delights in a man’s first experience with love. No real surprise there after reading of his parents!
Ward continues to use misperception between Jack and Callie to create the greatest tension although Callie’s accident with the painting incorporated a good bit of fear. What I don’t understand is why Jack didn’t throw his mother’s origins back at her?! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Nor why Callie didn’t get on the phone to Grace a lot sooner.
I appreciate Ward not insulting us or her intelligent characters’ understanding of the realities of political campaigning. I also adored Jack continually stepping up to defend Callie!
The Story
Oops, one isn’t supposed to fall in lust with someone other than one’s fiancée! After getting engaged in An Unforgettable Lady, 1, to Blair, Jack then fell in lust with Grace’s half-sister, Callie Burke, an art conservator Jack hires to restore the Copley portrait of the first Nathaniel Walker.
Even worse, he intends that Callie restore the painting at his home in Boston. A recipe for disaster when neither of them can keep their hands off each other, setting off flashbacks for Callie of her parents’ interactions while Jack is troubled by his own inability to resist.
When Callie refuses to tell Jack about her parents, he becomes conflicted over his growing love for her and his need to implement the changes he believes will help the state of Massachusetts if he becomes governor. A political race that could have disastrous results because of their relationship.
The Characters
Jackson “Jack” Walker is the younger twin who is engaged to Blair Stanford. The same twin who saved the family’s bacon after Nathaniel VI, his father, pissed it away. Arthur is Jack’s Irish wolfhound. Mercedes Walker is his scheming bitch of a mother. Elsie is Mrs. Walker’s secretary.
Callie Burke is Grace Woodward Hall’s dirty secret. Too loyal to betray Grace and angry over her father’s betrayals, Callie wants nothing to do with the wealthy Jack Walker.
Thomas is the Walker family’s one-armed cook. Grayson Bennett is helping Jack determine if he should run for governor and the first man Jack considers talking to as to whether he should take Callie on a date.
Grace Woodward Hall and Ross Smith (formerly John Smith) get engaged and play a small role (see An Unforgettable Lady). Karl Graves owns the hotel which Blair is currently renovating; I suspect he may become more involved in Blair’s life later.
The Cover and Title
The cover definitely gives off that playboy air with Jack Walker looking out at us, his shirt unbuttoned to display a gorgeous chest and his bow tie undone as he stands at the foot of a curving staircase. Jack definitely has the look of a determined and sexy man with that five o’clock shadow and his assessing gaze.
The title sums up what An Irresistible Bachelor Jack Walker is as well as an indicator of the reputation he must overcome with both Massachusetts and Callie.
