My Thoughts
It’s sad; the more I love a book, the harder it is to write a decent objective review.
I loved Irresistible Enemy by Mary Costello. For me, it was like coming home. There is something comforting and familiar about returning to beloved genre and finding a well-written book that also flows and strikes a genuine chord in all aspects; character, plot, pacing, romance, conflict, conflict resolution. Perfect.
Mary Costello’s characters were quirky and adorable. Initially, I found them to be a little “over the top”, but it wasn’t long before they found their place in the novel, and I came to accept and love them all.
The story centres around the conflict between environmentalist and developer, with all the clichéd elements one would expect in such a situation, especially when it is building towards romance. Yes, it was clichéd and yes it followed the traditional formulae for this genre - Don’t go reading this book expecting anything less… or more. There is no pre-tense here, which is also refreshing and honest.
At one point, it seemed that the author had written herself into a corner. I became convinced that there would be no resolution, no “happily ever after” for Cassie and Hart. How was this possible? A cheerful little RomCom HAS to HAVE a “happily ever after”! Right? Well, this is where Mary Costello truly excelled… but you’ll have to read Irresistible Enemy to find out; there will be no spoilers here!
My Rating
❀❀❀❀+
Disclaimer
I obtained an ARC from the publisher (via Netgalley) with a view to providing an honest review. The thoughts expressed above, are entirely my own. I don’t really like the concept of rating novels as they are subjective and subject to change. A five star book today, may be re-evaluated when compared to future novels.
The Summary
Cassie Bowtell adores her idyllic life in the bush and after a chance encounter by the roadside, even her love life is looking up. So when a housing estate is planned right next door to Cassie's beautiful rural property, she vows to fight it with everything she has.
Wealthy businessman Hart Huntingdon can't stop thinking about the mystery woman he met in the country. And then he discovers Cassie is the one of the people responsible for holding up his plans and doing her best to turn the locals against him.
With both of them firmly believing they are in the right, Cassie and Hart are soon locked into battle, a battle every bit as fierce and passionate as their growing obsession with each other. But sometimes love has a way of bringing happiness where it's least expected…
About the Author
Mary Costello is an Irish-Australian freelance writer, and despite living most of her life here, she hasn't lost her accent, or the sense of being somewhere exotic. She lives in Melbourne's bushburbs with her husband of many years, who, oddly, bears no resemblance whatsoever to a romantic hero. They live with a flock of recovering battery hens and their two daughters, for whom Mary aspires to arrange advantageous matches to men of large property.
Mary's first book, Titanic Town, Memoirs of a Belfast Girlhood, was published twenty years ago, but she only recently turned her pen to Romance, inspired by the heroics of the men of Aussie Rules footy. Through the thrilling nexus of footy and love, she hopes to fulfil her romantic Destiny, and keep on writing.
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