Kate Meader’s first sports romance follows on the heels of her successful foray into the lives of the Dempsey foster sibling firefighters in the Hot in Chicago series, of which Playing with Fire ended up on my top ten of 2015 list. With Chicago as the setting once again, this time hockey is the name of the game. The Chicago Rebels, a losing NHL team, has a chance to turn around its fortunes under the leadership of three sisters, Harper, Isobel and Violet. In doing so, they’ll also achieve their own goals of finding a happy ever after.

Harper Chase has tried for years to prove herself worthy of being part of the Rebels franchise, a place her father never supported. Even in death he’s thwarted her again, giving ownership of the team equally to his three daughters instead of just to her, and making their successful run at the playoffs a condition in the will for not selling off the team to the highest bidder. She’s determined to do what she can to make it happen, including adding Remy DuPre to the roster. He’s a long time NHL player with a strong following and leadership qualities that she hopes will show the team that she’s serious about investing in their future.

Remy ‘Jinx’ DuPre is jinxed indeed. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride when it comes to winning the Stanley Cup, finding out he’s been traded to the poorly performing Chicago Rebels for what could be his final season on the ice is very frustrating. With the diminutive but feisty Harper on his case to lead the way he strikes a bargain with her – three months of solid gamesmanship in return for a trade to a team that has a real chance at winning the Stanley Cup so he can retire with pride. But as he shows the team what he’s capable of, he also finds himself drawn to Harper and her dedication. A mutual sexual attraction between Harper and Remy soon leads to some steamy off the ice action. But will the bargain they’ve struck lead to a loss for the Rebels and for love?

I love reading about nice guy heroes, and Remy’s down home charm and gentlemanly manner put him firmly at the top of my book boyfriend shelf. Though he’s initially upset over the trade, for clear personal reasons, once he’s on board with Harper’s plan he gives the team his all. He also makes it clear that if Harper is interested, he’s all for a little one on one time with her. He’s a hero in pursuit in a subtle but determined way. He understands the repercussions should news of a relationship between them leak out, and how important it is for her to maintain a spotless reputation while she works long hours and puts her heart and soul into making the team a success. Family is of utmost importance to Remy, and his visits to New Orleans never pass without a trip home. A protective, caring man and a generous lover – he’s real hero material.

Harper hides her insecurities well, but a past relationship with a hockey player that turned violent makes her sometimes nervous in the face of the hulking men who dominate the locker room. But with Remy, she knows she has found someone she can trust. Her dedication to the team and her determination to work with her sisters despite their difficult past are worthy of respect. I really liked her character and her drive to succeed. But I also liked seeing her emotional and passionate side with Remy. They share some steamy love scenes that make them both realize how difficult it will be to part at the end of their three months. Harper is determined to stick to her end of the bargain no matter what her feelings are for Remy, and how much she will miss him. It’s up to Remy to determine what it is he really wants for his future, for his career and after.

With her debut sports romance, the author does a great job of showing hockey from all sides – the players, management, locker room discussions and on ice scenes. The team finds that Remy’s arrival gives them a new spirit and puts them on the right track. The series will continue with Harper’s two sisters getting in on the game and I can’t wait to read those too! Irresistible you is a sexy and spirited hockey romance that will make you a permanent fan of the Chicago Rebels.

This review has been posted at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. It has been posted at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews and feedback updated with the link.

A fun, hot, and sexy read that had me captivated from the beginning to the end. Remy DuPre is "jinxed"and all he wants is to lift the cup, the Stanley Cup, above his head before he ends his career and that is coming to an end. Just as he thinks this is his year, he is traded to a team that has the worst, or second worst, standing. Harper Carson lives and breathes hockey and all she has ever wanted was to run the Chicago Rebels and now she has her chance. The only thing in her way, her two half sisters who now own it with her and have to make all the decisions with her, oh and the stipulation in her father's will they must make the playoffs or sell. From the bottom to the top in one season. Game on! Harper brings on Remy who doesn't want to work until he strikes a bargain to be traded mid season but chemistry, good food, sexy cajun, good hockey, and lots of fun what could go wrong...or right...

I highly recommend this one! This is a new to me author and I have discovered I have a book of her's in an anthology I'm going to go back and read. This will not be the last one and I'm definitely looking forward to the next one in this series. Bring on more sexy hockey players!

**Received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley**

Unfortunately this book fell flat for me. It lacked substance and focused more on just the romance side of things. Given that one of the main plot points in this book has to do with the stipulations the sister's father put on the team ownership and all of the trials that come with being women in a man's world, there was barely anything about it. Almost everything was centered around Harper and Remy's romance and how it would look bad for Harper to be with a player. That story line pretty much encompassed the whole book. I wanted MORE. More content, more resolution, just more than romance fluff. I started skimming at around the 50% mark.

I didn't care much for Harper because I thought she wasn't as strong of a character as she was originally made out to be. Her backbone was lacking and under the surface she was always shaking with fear. Given what she does for a living I was expecting her to make difficult decisions and to really do an overhaul of the team. The only changes she made were firing the original GM and taking on Remy. Nothing else. I felt the whole story line with Billy was unnecessary and was only put there to create a conflict when really there were so many other situations and stories that could have been told.

Remy was an okay character. The constant French phrases/words got very old very fast, though. It made Remy's character very cheesy and inauthentic. I did like how he treated Harper and how he was patient with her though, so that was a bonus.

Overall, I can't say I recommend this book and I won't be checking out the rest. It was just too cheesy, too predictable, and the ending was ridiculous. That bit with the reporter was so overdone it felt like an ending to a bad Disney movie.

Irresistible You and the characters were irresistible to me! Harper Chase has now found herself at the helm of the hockey team, The Chicago Rebels. She was VP with her late father, but that was in name only. Now, she is trying to make this lackluster team into champions. That is easier said than done. She has to share the responsibilities with her estranged half-sisters, Isobel and Violet. They have until the end of the season to prove themselves, or they will lose it to a consortium and a scholarship to the University of Wisconsin. Granted, they will get their inheritance, but Harper wants to prove her father and the media wrong about a woman’s capability of running a hockey team. Her solution: acquiring center, Remy “Jinx” Dupre. He has his own goals…getting the cup before retiring. Harper has just taken that out of his grasp. This was to be his last season. The two don’t like each other at all, but underneath is a whole lot of lust. After much disagreement, the two come up with a business arrangement that will benefit them more. What they didn’t count on was falling in love!

Harper is determined to prove her ability in a man’s world, and because of this and her troubled relationship with her late father, she has built defensive walls around her heart to protect herself. Underneath that, she is still the hurt little girl her father rejected. She rationalized her loneliness as independence and “turned it into a badge of honor.” As her and Remy’s relationship blurs the lines between professional and personal, she begins to crave his protection instead of always taking care of herself.

“His kiss would be protective. His body covering her would keep her safe.”

The question is will she be able to do that.

Remy is quite irresistible! He’s got it all…looks, sexiness, a naughty mouth, and he is a gentleman. Who could resist that! He fights his feelings for Harper, but there’s something about her he can’t resist. He wants to protect her and take care of her. Problem is: they don’t know whether to kiss or kill each other. He begins to slowly see the vulnerable side to Harper, and she begins to see he is very different than who he first appeared to be. He has such a different relationship with his parents and siblings, and I think Harper craves that with her own sisters.

This was most definitely a sexy yet sweet romance, but it was also a story about family. Harper never had that. She does recall the first time falling in love was with her baby sister, Isobel.

However, her father ruined any chance the two had to bond. Now, they have a sister neither one knew existed until several years before. Violet is completely different than the two of them. Their getting to know each other and care about one another was one of my favorite parts of the book. Cannot wait until the next one in the series!

***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***

This was the first book I’ve read by this author. There are several hockey books out, in fact I read and reviewed one earlier this month. I don’t think there was anything specific in the blurb that drew me in, but I was pleasantly surprised. Especially because this book is pretty darn sexy. Way sexier than I imagined it might be.

On the outset, it seems like this is a fairly standard issue hockey romance. Harper, the heroine, has become the co-owner of a hockey team with her estranged sisters. Remy, the hero, is a disgruntled hockey player, disgruntled because he got traded to the Chicago Rebels, the worst team in the league. Remy is feeling his age and really wants this year to be his best. Harper is determined to be the best team owner that she can be and that definitely does not mean getting involved with one of the players. For me, the thing that really set it apart was the connection between the two MCs, the sexiness, and Remy’s overall lovableness.

Harper and Remy have instant chemistry and Meader did a really good job building the tension with the two characters. It takes a little while, but once they decide to give in to their attraction, the payoff was worth it. There is even a scene where they are playing a video game while having sex.

Harper is a little prickly, as she didn’t have the best childhood and her previous romantic relationships weren’t great. It takes her some time to really trust Remy and his feelings for her. Harper is also working on building a relationship with her estranged sisters. Remy comes off as a jerk at the beginning of the book, but his gruff exterior melts away and we get to see plenty of his squishy insides. Remy has a great relationship with his sisters and his whole family.

The conflict was a little predictable but it worked. I really enjoyed the way that Remy didn’t give up on Harper. I really liked Remy and they way he wanted to stand by Harper as a partner and not take away from her ability as a women to run the hockey team. There was definitely some underlying issues of outsiders not believing in Harper’s ability to run a male hockey team. One issue I did have with the book is that even though Harper wants to be treated as an equal and fights to dispel the misconceptions of a woman running a hockey team, there is still some usage of words like skank and bitches when referring to other women, particularly women that were showing interest in Remy. This rubs me the wrong way and feels like a mixed message. But I also know that people aren’t perfect, not in romancelandia and certainly not in real life. It is just something that sticks in my craw and always feels a little lazy, to describe other women in books as skanks because they flirt with the hero.

Otherwise this was a really enjoyable book. It was was sexy as hell. The author dropped some bread crumbs for future couples and I am already interested in them. There is a novella in this series that introduces the series and characters, but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything by not reading it. I believed in the love story and happy ever after for Remy and Harper. I look forward to future stories in this series.

Grade: B

Having received a few less than subtle nudges from a good friend—combined with my craving for something fun—I decided it was time to give Kate Meader a chance. Despite the daunting pile of books I have to review and the many that have been sitting and collecting dust on my bookshelf for way longer than I’d care to admit, it’s still my mood that dictates my reading selections the most. Contemporary romance has become my go-to genre when I need a break from the dark and depraved and I find myself with an appetite for something sweet—think a palate cleanser of sorts.

Right off the bat, Harper was a woman to admire—determined, strong-willed and unafraid of chasing her biggest dream. It’s always been taking over ownership of her father’s professional hockey team at the top of that list. What she didn’t expect was that it would take her father’s death for that dream to be realized or that she would have to share the role with her two estranged half-sisters. Left with no choice but to make drastic changes in an effort to improve the team’s standing, she makes a trade for Remy DuPre, aka ‘Jinx’.

A gorgeous girl needs a gorgeous guy, right? Cue Remy, the hardbodied Cajun with a little bit of a bad boy edge. Do I have your attention yet? Seriously though, Remy doesn’t make the best first impression. In fact, he comes off as somewhat of douche, kind of disrespectful to Harper’s authority, but I guess he had a valid reason for it. He planned on finishing his career in Boston on a winning team, not schlepping to Chicago to join the roster of one the worst teams in the league. It doesn’t take long to see there’s more to him than meets the eye though. Under the persona, he’s actually a true gentleman and a family man, not a guy interested in surrounding himself with puck bunnies.

What makes a book like this successful is chemistry. There has to be undeniable chemistry or it just won’t work. Well, rest assured Remy and Harper have it in spades. They share some really great scenes; there's an underlying intensity from the go, some unabashedly sweet moments shared between the two and then there’s those that made me blush. I’m surprised that can even happen anymore, considering some of the books I’ve read, but it did. Maybe it had something to do with reading it on an airplane—sort of like keeping a dirty little secret.

The one thing that stopped this from being a new favorite was the lack of tension and buildup. I like it thick. Remy went from “she’s not my type” to dishing out the pet name “minou” pretty quickly. It was hard for me to pinpoint exactly what happened to spark that change in him. The author focused more on Harper’s side of the equation and her wishy-washy decision making. Granted, Harper had to deal with all of the haters just waiting for her to fall on her face, so why hand them a scandal as big as her dating one of her employees, right?

Being this is the first in a new series, the author took the time to establish relationships with a lot of the secondary characters and from what I can tell, the upcoming books will follow-suit with this one—strong women at the helm and the hockey gods that can’t seem to resist them.

Review of "Irresistible You" by Kate Meader

ARC kindly provided by Net Galley in exchange for an honest review

--- SPOILERS AHEAD ---

5 Stars - Help! Panties going up in flames 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

This was such an amazing read! I loved every single sizzling and witty moment between Remy and Harper. And oh my god, just reading about his Cajun accent and the words he used with Harper melted my panties.. And he is a phenomenal cook and enjoys reading about Darcy and Elizabeth, then uses the context to tell Harper that they've been doing the same thing.. pre-conceived notions and all that jazz! Woah!.

This was a great book with lots of secondary characters that kept the story interesting and fast-paced. I cannot WAIT to read about Isobel and Vadim! Not to mention Violet and her "Nessie"... but I digress.

Remy's POV melted my heart - the parts where he is slowly coming to appreciate Harper for the woman she is and realising how she is THE women for him. And the part in the interview where he says he plays for HER.. oooo my heart melted into a mushy puddle.

I am not even a hockey fan (born and raised in Bangladesh and currently residing in Australia, cricket and football is what I know best) but you really don't have to be one to enjoy the book. But if you are, I can safely surmise that you will definitely enjoy all the "lingo" and technical details associated with the sports that's been depicted in the book.

And did I mention how hawt I found Remy?? I did?? Oh. But I think it's worth repeating. Melted. My. Panties.

All in all, a truly awesome read!

Irresistible You is book one in Kate Meader's new Hockey series - and I have to say that if the rest of the books follow the same path - it will be a winning one. Pun absolutely intended.

Irresistible You finds our heroine, Harper and her two half sisters, sisters she doesn't know well or get a long with, stuck in the position of finding a way to work together to bring the team they are now responsible for back up to snuff - while also dealing with their family issues.

In an effort to prove herself and turn the team around, Harper brings in Remy - much to his dismay - to pull the team together and give them a chance at a winning season; more importantly a chance at the playoffs. But once Remy lands in her orbit - more than pucks are flying and Harper isn't sure how to handle it all.

Irresistible You pulled me in from the first page, from the struggles between the three sisters, to the sports drama, and Remy and his own struggles, I was hooked. I found myself not only rooting for Harper and her sisters to succeed at the plans for the hockey team - but also for them to find something to bond them as sisters, to bring them together in a way their father had not. And I also was rooting for Remy and Harper to find something together they didn't expect.

This book was full of drama and angsty moments, there was amazing banter among the characters, and a chemistry that exploded on the page at times. I loved how Kate Meader took something less often done - women in charge of the sports teams - and gave it her own special spin turning it into a highly unique story to kick off a series of what I suspect are also going to be future highly addictive reads.

Remy was a fun character to get to know, a bit upset at first and kind of a jerk - but he had his reasons, and really it was what was at the heart of him that mattered. Harper was a strong female lead, she wasn't one to take anything lying down, though she had her own struggles, she didn't waver - she didn't break. It was a beautiful thing to see within the pages of these story - these two characters who seemed so different - and yet had a desperate pull to each other.

I look forward to reading more books in this series and seeing what Meader has in store for us with the characters in them.

Irresistible You is book 1 in the Chicago Rebels series. This is the first book I have read by Kate Meader and I am impressed.
 
When their father dies and leaves behind a failing hockey franchise, three estranged sisters come together to save the business. None of them are happy about it, the least of which is Harper. Harper is hell bent on saving the franchise and she isn't going to let anyone stand in her way.
 
Remy is close to retirement from the hockey world and he knows this year is his time to shine. When he is shipped off to join the Chicago Rebels and finds Harper is a ball-buster who expects him to lead this misfit team to victory, he is reluctant at best.
 
Kate Meader does an excellent job at taking a sports romance in which the norm is a slutty jock with a woman to tame him and making it so much more. The character development is excellent and the addicting plot makes this book irresistible. I look forward to more in this series.

Irresistible You showed a different aspect of hockey-teams and trades, and while it's not the first one I've read with female owners, it was one of the best! Good hockey, strong romance, and great character development.

Story:
After their father's death, three half-sisters who didn't know each other well inherited ownership of the Chicago Rebels hockey club. Harper had been working with the franchise for years, and she wanted the team to succeed. Bonding with her sisters or the hot, new player she had acquired for the team was not part of the plan. Irresistible You played with my heartstrings, and I also enjoyed all the hockey talk. Strong female characters, and a male lead that made me drool sure made things very good!

Characters:
Harper Chase is the oldest sister, Isobel the middle sister, and Violet the youngest, all three grew up with their respective moms. Remy DuPres has to be one of the hottest fictional hockey players I have ever met! The rest of the hockey team in Irresistible You were side characters who were well fleshed out.

Writing style :
Third person, past tense, mostly from Harper's and Remy's perspective,  but with some insights to Isobel and Violet. The dialogues were snappy and let the characters' personalities shine.

Feels :
Quite a bit of sadness at first for Harper, she thought being tough and removed was the only way she would make it in this man-dominated world. There was hope, love, and loyalty as well, and I can't wait to read more about the Rebels.

After reading the introduction to the series In Skates Trouble , I was all fired up to read Remy's story. The previous book was just an appetizer in comparison to this full course of skillful characterization and sharp wit. Meader managed to fully flesh out an entirely new set of characters, create a swoon worthy, forbidden (ish) romance, and tantalize us with the prospect of Harper's sisters' future stories. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I started this, but once I started reading I couldn't get enough.

Winning her father's affection and trust in her abilities was an uphill climb that Harper never managed to conquer. She spent her entire life trying to prove herself to him, to be valued. And now that he's passed away, even in death, Clifford managed to give her the big middle finger one last time. As excited as she is to be at the helm of his failing hockey franchise, she has new, seemingly insurmountable challenges to overcome. If she thought earning her dad's faith in her ability to run the team was impossible, it was nothing compared to the sexist league ready to draw blood from the get go.

Luckily, she's one tough lady, with a will of steel. Filled with determination and drive, to prove every last one of them wrong. Whatever the cost. Firing the team GM was immediately scorned, but she didn't let that bother her. If he couldn't get the job done, then she would do it herself. And Remy DuPre, her new veteran player's blatant disrespect was next on her list to be addressed. After meeting in Boston and reaming him out, let's just say that a bad first impression was made by all. Resentment, pride, and anger started their relationship off as adversaries.

Remy was bitter. A player with pure talent and star quality, but always cheated out of the ultimate prize: the championship trophy. Now in the sunset of his career, and his last shot at his dream, he's traded to a team at the bottom of the barrel. To top that off, his new boss is as about as uptight and unreasonable as they come. So why is it that he can't seem to keep his eyes off of her? She wasn't his usual type at all: hard as nails, his boss, guarded heart, his boss, and her lack of desire for a family. Plus she's his boss. End of. But her spirit and fire laid waste to every one of his mental protests.

In a weak moment, they both succumbed to the desire that was boiling under the surface. With one scalding hot kiss, it spilled over and consumed them. And there was no looking back.

"Harper Chase’s mouth could tempt a man to forget everything that was good for him."

Pandora's box had been opened, and his resistance fizzled out fast. He was soon determined to pursue these feelings that he was confronted with. Remy was just everything. He's what I would describe as a wicked gentleman. Southern to the core, a family man, and one sensual and sexy guy. He opens doors, defends the honor of those he loves, and knows the meaning of respect. A bit of a player in the past, but now he'd like nothing more than retiring in one last blaze of glory and finding a partner to start a family with.

As Remy peels away Harper's tough exterior, he discovers the world of damage she's hiding that extends much further than her trust and abandonment issues. Her ex left a deep wound that has never really healed. This was a big contribution to her inability to open up to him and let him inside her heart. On one hand, I completely understood where she was coming from with her impenetrable defenses. A relationship with Remy would risk what little ground she'd managed to gain with her career, and her goals for the future. On the other hand, I have to admit I was starting to get impatient with her stubbornness. She was bound and determined to push him away and unwilling to take a leap of faith.

"He cut her words off with a kiss. A take-no-prisoners, you-are-mine kiss that she’d hold inside her heart as long as she lived . He’d already burrowed his way into each bleeding fissure. Now every kiss was salt, every word a piece of grit."

The plus side to her resistance was seeing him pursue her full force. He wasn't the type to sit idle and take no for an answer, and I loved that about him. He saw the fragile parts of her and took the care with her that she needed. By the end, he had put her at the top of his priorities and proven without a doubt that she came first in his life. He was truly a force to be reckoned with.

I enjoyed this couple so much overall. They had heat, a delicious amount of humor, and a mildly angsty romance due to their secret relationship. I also loved seeing Harper's bond with her sisters find a foundation and start to grow. We learned a lot about their family history and the reason for their distance with each other. I'm without a doubt fascinated with the fate of the team, and the sisters' budding relationship. So Over You comes out in December and I'll be ready and eager to read all about Isobel and Vadim.

4.25 stars--IRRESISTIBLE YOU is the first installment in Kate Meader’s contemporary, adult CHICAGO REBELS erotic, hockey, romance series focusing on three estranged sisters-Harper Chase, Isobel Chase and Violet Vasquez- who recently inherited the struggling NHL hockey franchise the Chicago Rebels. This is Chicago Rebel’s owner, thirty one year old Harper Chase, and Rebel’s newly acquired and aging center, thirty five year old Cajun power house Remy DuPre’s story line. Remy and Harper were first introduced in the prequel novella –IN SKATES TROUBLE-found in the hockey anthology HOT ON ICE that focuses on right winger Ford Callaghan and model Addison Williams.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Remy and Harper) IRRESISTIBLE YOU is a story of forbidden romance between team owner Harper Chase and her reluctant, new player acquisition Remy DuPre. Remy’s reputation precedes his introduction to our story line heroine but Remy’s lack of a Stanley Cup is distressing and the one reminder of his otherwise stellar career. Traded to the worse team in the NHL Remy’s attitude and behavior is less than professional, but his attraction to team owner Harper Chase is off the charts. When a deal made in haste forces Harper to accept Remy’s conditions, three months and then a trade, Harper knows her time with Remy is limited, and so too, is the possibility of another broken heart. What ensues is the building relationship between Remy and Harper, and Harper’s ongoing reluctance to accept and acknowledge that man with whom she has fallen in love.

Unlike Harper’s estranged and fractured family dynamics, Remy DuPre comes from a close-knit family with four sisters, and seven nieces. As the only unmarried sibling Remy’s family is constantly pushing our story line hero to settle down, and start a family of his own. Remy’s current plans don’t include a wife and child but retirement seems like the time to settle down with someone to love. Harper Chase is a rarity-the only female owner (along with her sisters) in the NHL-a position that comes with preconceived notions and Harper’s determination to prove that a woman is just a capable as a man in the world of hockey and sports. To this end, our heroine struggles with having it all, including a relationship with a player-someone considered an employee-and the possibility of negative press and scrutiny from players, owners and the public at large. Harper’s has been hurt in the past and doesn’t want a repeat or any more reminders of the who, what and why.

The relationship between Harper and Remy is one of immediate attraction but the tempestuous back and forth, and Harper’s fear of exposure makes our heroine wary of any sort of romance with Remy Dupre. Remy is determined to prove to Harper that she is capable of having it all including falling in love with an aging hockey star. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Harper’s sisters- former women’s professional hockey player Isobel Chase, and Vegas tattoo parlor receptionist/ biker bar waitress Violet Vasquez- two women more or less strangers to our story line heroine. Remy’s Rebel’s defenseman Cade Burnett, team captain Bren St. James. Right winger Ford Callaghan and his love Addison Williams (In Skates Trouble) play secondary and supporting roles .We are also up close and personal with Remy’s parents Blue-grass Grammy award winning musician Alexandre and musicology professor Marie DuPre, as well as three of his sisters Martine, Josette, and Elise, and several of Remy’s nieces. Isobel’s story line is next.

The world building looks behind the scenes of a struggling professional hockey team; the players, the management, the deals and acquisitions., as well as the infighting, the jealousy, and betrayal between players and teams.

IRRESISTIBLE YOU is a fast paced, engaging and enjoyable story line. The premise is playful and lighthearted with moments of drama and tension. The characters are colorful, charismatic and fun; the romance is passionate, tender and provocative. IRRESISTIBLE YOU is an energetic and heartwarming introduction to the Chicago Rebels.

Copy supplied for review by the publisher

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First things first .... #DELICIOUSCoverWIN ... amirite?!

Let me say something real quick about the series concept: LOVE . Normally you see this kind of story being more male dominated. What I mean by that, it would be brothers coming together to save the team. But not this time. This time we have sisters coming together to save the day! ALL THE YESsssss!!

Okay, now the book ... I really loved everything about it. It was a page turned from page 1 all the way to the end. I couldn't wait to read more and more. Both Harper and Remy are so well matched is ridunculous. They made for an amazing story. SO much depth to both of them and so well characterized by Kate. This book has now jumped to the top of my favorite list for Kate's books. She did an outstanding job unfolding this story and setting up future ones as well. There is a lot to be learned about this three estranged sisters and I can't wait to find it all out!

Copy provided for blog tour review

On the surface, this book had everything that appeals to me: a hot male lead, a strong and independent female lead, and a setting in the sports world from an author whose stories I love. Unfortunately for some reason, this book just did not pull me in and evoke the same feelings that I normally experience in Kate's stories and I found myself struggling to push through to finish it. Perhaps it was just my mood when I was reading, but once I put it down I had a very difficult time going back to pick it up again. I really enjoyed the introductory story to the series featuring Ford and Addie that appeared in the Hot on Ice anthology, and I am curious to see how the 2nd sister Isobel's story plays out so I will still be giving the 2nd book in the series a try when it is available.

I’ve been steadily rereading Irresistible You ever since I finished it the first time, and yet I still don’t know how to articulately review it in a way that gives the book justice.

Harper intrigued me in In Skates Trouble, and I grew to admire her in Irresistible You. She is a smart, astute businesswoman, and I love how strong and determined she is to succeed in a male-dominated field. She is fearless and passionate in saving a failing legacy her father left her and her estranged half-sisters. Despite their awkwardness with each other, I love Harper and her sisters Isobel and Violet. I’m fully rooting for them to bond and become the power trio in the hockey business.

Remy is hard to dislike. Sure, he’s hella cocky, and when we first met him I, like Harper, wanted to smack him for being so uncooperative, but he won me over with his easy temperament and Cajun charm. Seriously, Remy might be my ultimate favourite Kate Meader hero yet (sorry, Eli, but I will always love you). He’s devoted to his family and aims to settle down and have a family of his won, he’s awesome with kids, he’s funny, he cooks, he even sings... He has the ultimate package (ahem) and ladies, he is the ultimate package himself. Harper doesn’t stand a chance (and neither do I).

I enjoyed the whole hate-to-love vibe between Harper and Remy so much. Oh, the progression from you’re a pain in the ass to you’re MY pain in the ass is absolutely delightful. They just suited each other so well. I love how Harper is happier and more relaxed around Remy, and I love seeing her interacting with Remy’s family. I love how Remy’s priority (he’s so single minded about winning the Cup) changes the more he’s involved with her.

Overall, it’s such a great story and I’m still in love with it. I can’t wait to see Harper’s sisters finding their own HEAs.
The sneak peek about Isobel’s second chance romance story with Vadim makes me impatient for their story, and the little hints about Violet and St James also make me long for more.

I love a good hockey romance and Irresistable You is a great start to this hockey series. Harper is such a strong heroine who has had a crappy father and mother and not much family to speak of. Remy is the total opposite. He knows what it's like to have the love and support of a great family and wants nothing more than to be Harper's person. They start of as enemies, but quickly find that there is so much heat beneath the fiery looks and heated words. Harper and Remy were hot and I loved how Remy truly did what he needed to do to become Harper's person. Sometimes what you think you want isn't always the grand prize when you get there. Great story! I really enjoyed it.

Irresistible You by Kate Meader is written in the same world as Hot in Chicago Series and has a very similar vibe. Just like the books in Hot in Chicago, Meader kept this story sexy and sweet and full of men in uniform and strong minded heroines.

This book reminded me of Jennifer Probst’s Billionaire Builders Series where the estranged brothers inherited their father’s business with stipulations of working together before the ownership finalizes. Despite family drama, daddy issues, and with their careers in the same field, the siblings are able to work together. In this case, Harper and her sisters are left with a Hockey Team. Again, despite daddy issues, family drama, and current careers, they are willing to give it a go. Of course, since this is Romance, eventually getting a happy-ever-after.

The similarities from another series made the story predictable for me but I still think it was a fun read overall. Remy is just to die for and his love for Harper was super romantic. Harper on the other hand is a hard ass. I do love her crave for success. Meader did a good job portraying women’s struggle to be on top of the business-food chain. I’m glad the fear, emotions, etc were not overly done.

I enjoyed reading about the team and I’m excited to read more. Almost all of the players are interesting and would like to see their individual stories. I’m confident that this will be a good series to follow.

Kate Meader steps into the world of contemporary sports romance with the heartfelt, sexy, entertaining, and refreshingly different Irresistible You, the first book in her Chicago Rebels series. You will not find the often-characterized hockey playboy in this engaging love story, but rather a mature and level-headed man who respects women and isn’t overly impressed with himself. Neither will you find a heroine who is in awe of a professional athlete, because she’s his boss and a damn good businesswoman. These two variations on some of the norms of the sub-genre make Irresistible You unique and a particularly interesting and enjoyable read.

Remy DuPrue is a veteran hockey center with the unfortunate nickname Jinx. He’s considered the unluckiest guy in the NHL, because he’s never been on a team that’s won the Stanley Cup although he’s an amazing athlete, reliable teammate and has been playing for seventeen years. At thirty-five, he knows this might be his last year on the ice, and he believes he finally has a chance to win the championship with a team he’s helped build, the Boston Cougars. Well, at least he had a chance of finally achieving his ultimate career goal – until he was traded to the worst team in the league, the Chicago Rebels. The charismatic, easygoing Louisiana native and proud Cajun is angry about the move and pissed at his new boss, Harper Chase.

Harper just inherited the Rebels along with her two estranged sisters, who are not particularly interested in running the organization. Harper loves the team and has worked for them for years, and she’s committed to seeing them succeed. She’s acting as the general manger and she needs Remy’s leadership and teambuilding skills to get the team on track and into the playoffs this year; and if she can’t get them that far the team will be sold, as stipulated by the terms of her father’s will.

Remy acts out his outrage by missing his first practice and playing with subpar effort in his first game, which angers and frustrates the strong-willed Harper. The two begin a feisty battle of wills, their instant and intense mutual attraction complicating an already difficult situation.

Notwithstanding his initial juvenile behavior, Remy is reasonable and thoughtful when he candidly explains his stance and feelings about the trade to Harper and asks for a quid pro quo that might allow him to return to Boston before the end of the season so he can get his Stanley Cup. They agree to work together, and their new partnership ignites the unrelenting chemistry building between them to a fever pitch. They also begin to get to know, like, and respect each other, and Ms. Meader progresses their sexual relationship in parallel with a developing emotional connection.

Harper understandably struggles with the idea of getting involved with a player and employee, but Remy isn’t as concerned about mixing business with pleasure. He turns on the full force of his Southern charm to win her over, and readers will find him irresistible. Jovial and persuasive, Remy is extremely likeable and makes for a wonderful break from the cocky, man-whore athlete so often found in this sub-genre. He’s all-around swoon-worthy, except I sometimes found his Cajun-isms a bit overdone – accurate but a bit much. I’m a little Cajun myself, so perhaps my tolerance level is a bit lower than most reader’s.

Both Remy and Harper’s families are included and make for enjoyable secondary characters and an entertaining addition to the story, especially Remy’s. He’s an only son with four sisters and seven nieces, and their interactions are endearing and fun. His family’s dynamic explains a lot about his respect for women and his wholehearted acceptance of female boss in the male dominated world of professional sports.

Irresistible You is a feel-good sports romance with steamy interludes, tender moments, humor, and an interesting story that is distinguished from the typical sports romance by the use of refreshingly non-stereotypical characters.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Remy is on his way to winning the Stanley Cup – or so he thinks. For years he's been trying to achieve that last prize. Known in the league as Jinx, he hasn't been able to shake that. Despite coming towards the end of his career, he isn't keen on being traded to the last place team – or a team that is trying to rebuild with an unorthodox manager – the first woman, Harper, and her sisters.

Harper has been trying to prove herself to her father all her life. He was a hockey player, a hockey manager, and a horrible father. He cheated multiple times and had several daughters. Each daughter was given a place – but they must fulfill his will in order to obtain the money he left them. It's his finally dig at Harper. She's a strong, confident woman, but she kind of turns to mush when Remy looks her way.

Harper and Remy are an explosive duo. They both have tempers and both know they should stay away from each other. However, their chemistry and pull are difficult to ignore. With Remy's New Orleans charm and his awesome family, Harper sees what she has been missing.

When a blast from Harper's past comes back to nag at her, her sisters and Remy will stand up for her. This is truly a story about overcoming the past, putting to bed old demons, and knowing your own worth.

I cannot wait for the next story.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Harper Chase needs something, anything, to go right. Having to run the Chicago Rebels with her half-sisters is only one of the major challenges she faces. Failing to make the playoffs this season means that everything they work hard for will be for naught. Their dear old dad put a stipulation in his will that if the Rebels fail to make the playoffs then the team has to be sold. For all that he loved hockey, Clifford Chase didn't believe that women had a place in the front office.

Remy DuPre is ready to make his final run at the Cup after having missed it last season. That was until he was traded to the worst team in the league. With a huge chip on his shoulder, he's determined to do the bare minimum until he can get Harper to trade him.

What Harper and Remy failed to take into account was the attraction between them, and not just physical attraction. Remy listens to Harper and Harper inspires him to be better, to do better.

With the odds stacked against them, should they keep their romance hidden or bring it out into the light? The choices they make not only affect them, the team, but their families as well.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Wow! This action packed, knicker-melting hockey romance had my feminist heart doing a happy dance by the end of the second chapter. The first in a series about three half-sisters who inherit a failing NHL franchise, this is the story of Harper, the oldest sister and the team’s general manager. Harper is fierce and she is determined to see her team through to the playoffs.

This series is a breath of fresh air in an oversaturated sports romance market. While I love hockey and enjoy sports romances, too many of the books – even those by really popular authors – have become predictable and formulaic. While the romance here is slightly predictable, this story is much more than a romance and I really enjoyed reading about hockey from a female owner’s perspective. Only Bianca Sommerland has attempted this angle before and this series will work for a wider, more PG audience than Sommerland’s fabulous books attract.

In this series, the focus is as much on the on the three Chase sisters and the complicated relationships between them as it is on the romance between Harper and Remy. All three are fascinating women. Harper is a businesswoman. Isobel has a coaching career after retiring from hockey and Violet works part time in a tattoo shop. Their father’s will forces them to work together, but his death and their proximity also dredges up family secrets and skeletons.

The oldest sibling, Harper seems cold, hard, and a little ruthless at first. I respected and admired her from the start but it wasn’t until we learned some of her history that I was able to warm to her. As she lets her sisters and her team into her life, Harper becomes a much more likeable character and I really loved watching her fight her attraction to Remy.

I’m not sure if there are any real life Cajun NHL players but I’d like to think so. Remy is a charming bastard and he also gets better as we learn more about him, his family, and his past. The chemistry between these two is hot. There are a few steamy scenes in this story, but there is much more story than sex and I really liked the balance. I loved this book and I’m already looking forward to the next story in the series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 stars for the sports-based story,
at least 10 stars for the writing

This book has one feature above all others which I need to tell you about – the wonderfully funny conversations between Harper and Remy – these two people are so perfect for each other; trading humorous sentences better than possibly any couple I have read about... ever. Ms. Meader has surpassed herself in creating two wonderful characters who just come alive off the page and had me chuckling every time they spoke to each other. It is such intelligent banter, sometimes witty, sometimes flirty, sometimes sexy; I was utterly enchanted.

The story is a winner too. It has plenty of layers, and lots of opportunity to become (I hope) a long running series – there were plenty of people I cared enough about to want to know more. I am very hopeful of more of this wonderful duo too – as they really brightened up my day!

My advice? Get yourself a copy as soon as you can and give yourself a treat. Thank you, Ms, Meader – and do we really have to wait till December for the next installment?