Irresistible by Melanie Harlow

I’m a full-time single dad to three daughters and CFO at Cloverleigh Farms. I don’t have time to fall in love—I’m too busy trying to run a business, keep the red socks out of the white laundry, and get the damn pillowcases on without owing a dollar to the swear jar.

Sure, Frannie Sawyer is beautiful and sweet, but she’s twenty-seven, the boss’s daughter, and my new part-time nanny—which means she’s completely off-limits. It’s bad enough I can’t stop fantasizing about her, what kind of jerk would I be if I acted on the impulse to kiss her?

(Exactly the kind of jerk you’re thinking.)

Actually, I’m worse than that—because I didn’t stop with a kiss, and now I can’t stay away. She makes me feel like myself again. She reminds me what it’s like to want something just for me. She’s everything I ever needed, but nothing I ever imagined.

I’m a former Marine. I should have had the strength to resist her from the start.

But I didn’t. And now I have to choose between the life I want and the life she deserves.

Even if it means giving her up.

There was nothing wrong with this book per se and it likely is because this is a contemporary romance but I'm really tired of characters saying they don't want kids or marriage but then the epilogue doing a 180 with a proposal and/or pregnancy. I don't think it is asking that much to want books where characters are together and happy without tying the knot or having kids.

Loved this single dad/nanny romance!
Absolutely adored the kids. They were so cute and funny.

Naturally Mack is a grumpy single dad, trying to do the best for his girls but not giving himself what he wants. He wants the nanny, Frannie, but tells himself he can't be what she wants. Even though she tells him time and time again that he is what she wants.... MEN.

Anyway, extremely heartfelt and charming romance.

Most was good, but some was meh. Frannie was way too forgiving than I would be that's for sure

Looking forward to more of this series.

2/5

I'm disappointed. The book started well and was promising but I was disappointed with the characters' choices. Frannie wanted very much to be thought a grown-up BUT she was still going by a very childish (for me) nickname Frannie instead of Francesca or Frances or whatever her full name was and she acted like a teenager who was all sunshiney and bubbly and giddy. It was too much.

Her mother was overbearing and stifling and controlling and I was rooting for Frannie to move out and go full no-contact with her mother. Would serve Daphne right. (also, they're both named Daphne and Frannie and her father's name was John. Bridgerton here we go lmaooooooo)

Mack was a grumpy grump who tried to be so masculine and manly but was too stupid to function. really, after so much time he still couldn't cook dinner for the girls and himself? Had to have frozen pancakes? Making them is not quantum physics. It just takes time to fry all of them, that's all.

Mack was pissing me off too. He wanted Frannie but he pushed her away, but was angry when she ignored him. like what the hell, dude? You broke her heart, told her you can't see her anymore and you had the audacity to be angry with her when she ignored you afterward? Of course, she did, any sane person would! You hurt her and she tried to keep it together the only way she knew how: by IGNORING YOUR DEMANDING ARSE. She was still polite and lovely with the girls but of course, she ignored you, you asshole. Why wouldn't she?

He wanted to eat the cake but to still own it as well.

Speaking of girls, there's no way a 4-YEAR-OLD os that is articulate, smart, and amazing that she knows what different types of love can be. Be for real. If you want to write kids at least make sure they're age and the way they talk and act is believable.

Also, the entire reason for his hesitance was “She's my boss's daughter it's forbidden” where Mack was freaking out about John's reaction to him dating Frannie and then... It all went nowhere? There was not even ONE SENTENCE about John's reaction. NOTHING. Oh, this is bad, I can lose my job, my boss can hate me, I can't do that to him blah blah blah... And then nothing. At all. Not even a mention of her father later on. It all fell flat and was completely unnecessary.

Another thing that annoyed me: a single father is so horrible at raising his kids and in the kitchen and who didn't get laid for a while, but here comes a woman who not only loves to cook (for him and his kids) but also is amazing in bed. And when he misses her, that's what he misses the most: the fucking sex. COME ON. UGHHH.

The fucking apology was so cringe-worthy, I hated that. Of course, Mack has to go to her work and stare at her in silence and then make his big speech next to her boss. And of course, there are other people around because god forbid they talk about their shit in private. But nooooo, let's have a man put social pressure on the woman so she's forced to forgive you, otherwise she's a bitch. And THEN not only they were around, but her boss's husband was also making stupid comments throughout and inserting himself where he wasn't wanted. Are you kidding me? Was that supposed to be romantic? Because it was cringeworthy and I had to take a break after that. So stupid.

And can we PLEASE normalize engagement until after AT LEAST a year of dating? Cause they only got together in February, broke up for a few days, and then that following summer he suddenly proposed and she said yes? NORMALISE LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE ONE PERSON PROPOSES IN ROMANCE BOOKS, PLEASE, AND THANK YOU.

I had such high hopes for this author! I really hope that the next books will be more interesting with better-written characters and plot, though I don't hold my breath.

3.5 stars

This was a quick easy read and I thought it was cute and steamy at times. I was into this while I was reading it but something kept me from being fully sucked in but I don't really know why. There was something that just wasn't working for me but I don't know what that something was. This is an age gap friends to lover romance with a single dad. I loved all of that about this book. I even really loved the kids. Normally the kids are the reason for the 3rd act breakup in stories like this but as much as the hero wants to blame everything on the kids that was not the case at all. I loved that the kids were ok with this relationship the whole time.