Irresistible You (The Chicago Rebels, #1)

by Kate Meader

Hot in Chicago series author Kate Meader returns with her all new, scorching Chicago Rebels hockey series, featuring her signature “steamy sex scenes, colorful characters, and riveting dialogue” (Romantic Times). Three estranged sisters inherit their late father’s failing hockey franchise and are forced to confront a man’s world, their family’s demons, and the battle-hardened ice warriors skating into their hearts.

Harper Chase has just become the most powerful woman in the NHL after the death of her father Clifford Chase, maverick owner of the Chicago Rebels. But the team is a hot mess—underfunded, overweight, and close to tapping out of the league. Hell-bent on turning the luckless franchise around, Harper won’t let anything stand in her way. Not her gender, not her sisters, and especially not a veteran player with an attitude problem and a smoldering gaze designed to melt her ice-compacted defenses.

Veteran center Remy “Jinx” DuPre is on the downside of a career that’s seen him win big sponsorships, fans’ hearts, and more than a few notches on his stick. Only one goal has eluded him: the Stanley Cup. Sure, he’s been labeled as the unluckiest guy in the league, but with his recent streak of good play, he knows this is his year. So why the hell is he being shunted off to a failing hockey franchise run by a ball-buster in heels? And is she seriously expecting him to lead her band of misfit losers to a coveted spot in the playoffs?

He’d have a better chance of leading Harper on a merry skate to his bed…

• ISBN10: 150116855X
• ISBN13: 9781501168550
• Publish Date: 14 August 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Pocket Star
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[stacey_is_sassy]

An ending can make it all better...

How do you rate a book that you thought was just OK throughout most of it but loved the ending?

Well, this little ducky is pretty easy to please. If I'm left with a big goofy smile at the end, you've pretty much sold me.

I think, in this case, I just wanted the heroine and hero to WAKE THE HELL UP...and accept that love is better than a hockey puck.

I think that's the endgame in the book world, well, the romance book world. We're supposed to push aside career goals, life ambitions and deep desires and sacrifice it all for love. Don't get me wrong, that is exactly what I'm looking for in my romance reads, but in reality, not so much.

The main reason for the "OK" was that it was a pretty textbook read. Nothing really new here and I felt that the conflict was drawn out a lot longer than it needed to be. The fact that the catalyst was provided from the outside, made it even more frustrating. I'm not a big fan of the main characters only sharing their secrets because they have to instead of because they want to.

To me, the foundation for a strong relationship is learning to trust the person you're growing close to. Harper's biggest failing is allowing others opinions to guide her judgement and relationships. If she'd allowed her sisters and Remy to help her, a lot of her problems would have been solved.

I guess, the main problem for me is that I couldn't relate to Harper. I'm pretty much an open book, what you see is what you get, kind of person. If I'm struggling with something, you'll know about it. If you want to share my load, join me, I'm generous like that.

Anyways, Irresistible You left me with a smile. Love was the endgame and the conflict was the gameplay. I'm definitely interested in going on in the series...soon...ish.

Should maybe have been a 3 star but I bumped it up. You know...because of goofy smiles and all. Oh, and Remy had some pretty awesome moves and could cook up a storm...HOT!!

[Rowena]

What a delightful romance this turned out to be. This was the start to this series I hoped In Skates Trouble would be. Harper and Remy were great together and I just know that I’m gonna love Isobel and Vadim!

[Sam@WLABB]

My goodness, Remy DuPre! I loved everything about him. He had so much passion and commitment, and I adored each and every interaction with his family. Remy and Harper were a perfect match! Now I want my own Cajun werewolf.

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
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.

Excerpt:

Big, strong shoulders, as wide as an ox, topping back muscles she could swear she saw defined through the gray T-shirt drawn tight across his body. As for what was happening below those trim hips... Yet again, she was staring at DuPre's ass and imagining what that warm slab of marble would feel like beneath her greedy fingertips.

Even with all these God's-honest reasons not to think of Harper in that way, putting that No Trespassing sign on it guaranteed that was the one place his mind would go.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Holy Hotness! Wait until you meet veteran hockey player Remy "Jinx" DuPree. This sexy Cajun hockey player stole my heart. The man can cook, reads books to discuss with his tween nieces, loves his family and whispers sweet, sexy French terms of endearment. Remy has his eyes on obtaining a Stanley Cup and retiring. He is tired and ready to start a family of his own. His team has a shot but those plans go all to hell when he is drafted by the worst team in the league the Chicago Rebels. Worse yet, the franchise is in financial trouble and run by three sisters who are rumored not to even like each other.

From the onset the chemistry between Harper and Remy was electric, but Harper is trying to fill a position in a man's world and all eyes are upon her. She cannot afford to be distracted, and she needs Remy focused on bringing the team together and winning. I love the back and forth stubbornness between these two and enjoyed the way things heated up. The romance felt genuine and Meader kept the drama to a minimum.

I fell hard for Remy and Harper has Daddy issues. She is very focused on her career but sees her successes and failures as a reflection of her personal worth. She has been hurt by her sisters but also doesn't open up and keeps her emotions checked. As their friendship and relationship develop we see character growth in Harper. I loved seeing her loosen up and enjoy stolen moments of happiness.

Foodie lovers will enjoy all of the Cajun dishes mentioned in this story. My only disappointment was not finding recipes to accompany them. We need a Remy DuPree cookbook. The man was hot in bed and sizzling in the kitchen.

We learned a little about the sisters and I am looking forward to their stories. We also spent time with key hockey players. I will be curious to learn more about this motley crew. A lot of time is spent at the rink, and we get some hockey talk. It was nice seeing that these threads were well researched. Meader also took us to New Orleans and anytime a book does this I smile and long to visit the city again. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Cocktails and Books]

Kate Meader has brought some Cajun hotness to hockey! I loved Remy and Harper's story. Despite a rocky start, these two balanced each other perfectly. Neither of them tried to change who the other was, instead wanting to be the one that stood behind the scenes supporting.

As with any Kate Meader book, she manages to give the perfect balance of witty, banged up characters, chemistry, snappy dialogue and sexiness to make you wish you could jump right into book 2.

I look forward to reading more of the Chicago Rebels series.