The List (Irresistible, #3)

by Anne Calhoun

Who’s on top?
 
Matchmaker and stationery shop owner Matilda Davies brings people together. For those on her list, Tilda will find the man or woman of their dreams—whether it’s for an hour or a lifetime. But due to a painful past, the British expat has never put her own name on the list. Instead, she limits herself to emotionless and commitment-free hookups. Then she meets Daniel, who wants not just her body, but also her heart…
 
Daniel Logan hides the soul of a poet under the suit and tie of an FBI agent. Specializing in financial crimes, he pieces together stories of greed and ensures justice is done. He plays by the rules—until he meets Tilda. He’s drawn in by her passion as well as her mysteriousness. Daniel knows that no matter her secrets, he’s the perfect match for Tilda. But even pleasure doesn’t come with a guarantee…

• ISBN10: 0425276899
• ISBN13: 9780425276891
• Publish Date: 3 March 2015
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Berkley
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425276891

Reviews

[leelu92]

I'm going to make this simple.  I was pretty much dumbfounded when I finished this book.  It was a book that I took my time and completely savored to the very last word.  Speaking of the last word(s)... best ending ever.

This is the kind of book where, when you finish it, you blink, look around and realize that life was going on without you and you really didn't miss a thing.

Anne Calhoun is on my short list of authors that I know I'll love whatever she reads.  As I read this book, I had descriptive words flowing through my brain...

Elegant

Subtle

Quiet

Complex

Intense

Erotic

You can't turn your brain off with this one.  You also have to make sure that you are in a patient mood because Tilda (the female MC) has some serious issues and I can assure you that it's not worth giving up on this book.  Tilda likes to keep things very controlled and she sometimes comes off as cold. Her issues are a big deal but I just adored Daniel and how he loved Tilda despite the difficulties that they faced.  Daniel had crazy ridiculous chemistry from the first moment they spoke to each other and like all of Ms. Calhoun's books, this one was crazy hot.

I loved the way Ms. Calhoun told Daniel and Tilda's love story and how she wove Tilda's stationery store into the plot and how it played such an integral and influentual part in her life.  There's a lot of detail I could go into about this but I won't because I feel like it's better experienced on your own.

 

She opened her eyes, saw him in ger peripheral vision, his solemn profile.  The light from Louise's living room picked out the silver in his hair, the dusting of gold on the backs of his hands.  In that moment, the space of a couple of heartbeats, no more, she loved him so passionately her throat closed.  She loved him.

 

See?  Isn't that gorgeous?  That's simply beautiful prose right there, the kind that makes you just want sit for a minute (or more) and absorb it.  Yeah, that's this whole book.

 

Purchase:

[Cocktails and Books]

THE LIST is a compelling story about a married couple on the verge of divorce. The story opens with Tilda asking Daniel for a divorce after one year of marriage. Daniel is surprised by Tilda’s request and hopes to somehow change her mind. The reader is then taken back to the first time Daniel and Tilda meet and we learn their story and what brought them to the point of divorce.

I like Daniel, he’s a serious guy, but he also has a fun and sexy side. In their relationship Daniel is flexible and accommodating. He cares about Tilda and is always warm, sensitive and willing to do things her way. Tilda is skittish about relationships and Daniel tries to hold back his strong feelings for her, so he won’t scare her away. I had a hard time warming up to Tilda. She tends to be secretive, selfish and self absorbed. Tilda’s a hard person to get to know and continually tries to push Daniel away. However, there is something about Tilda that draws Daniel to her and he finds himself unable to stop thinking about her. She intrigues Daniel; he loves a puzzle and wants to figure her out. Daniel knows Tilda has secrets and he hopes, if he’s patient, she will eventually open up and share them with him.

I love to read anything by Anne Calhoun, she is a wonderfully talented author and I was excited to read THE LIST. However, I have to admit, I found this story disappointing. The biggest problem was connecting with Tilda. She didn’t have many redeeming qualities and I thought Daniel deserved better.

Reviewed by Karen for Cocktails and Books