Simply Irresistible

Fates #4

by Kristine Grayson

HOLDING OUT FOR A HERO

My name's Vivian Kinneally, and I can't believe this is happening to me. I just moved here to Portland, Oregon, to take over a business left to me by my favorite aunt --- nothing earth-shattering ... or so you'd think, right? I've always been a little bit psychic --- but my powers never hinted at what was to come when I let three gorgeous, terrified women into my home at 6:45 this morning. As The Fates would have it (did I mention these supermodel lookalikes are The Fates?) my life was about to change forever. It seems they're temporarily powerless, and need my help to escape a mysterious enemy. Knowing I can't do it alone, they've sent me in search of one Dexter Grant. And now that I've found him ... wow. We're talking Superman, here --- hold the tights, cape, and big red "S". I've always been an independent kind of gal, but something about this guy makes me want to let him fly me to Paris --- and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't need a plane to do it ...

Genres: Romance, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Magic, Contemporary

319 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

A pseudonym for Kristine Kathryn Rusch, other pseudonyms include:
Kris Nelscott
Kristine Dexter
Kris DeLake
Sandy Schofield
Kris Rusch
Kathryn Wesley

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I think I'm more critical as a reader than I used to be because a lot more things bothered me about this. Like one why introduce the Quixotic crew if they aren't going to be involved in the finale? Two if the prophecies about love are between mages, why match them so many years apart but make the men unable to father children after their early 20s especially since the supposed reason the women don't get their powers until after menopause is to give them the chance to be mothers?

I mean for the most part I love these characters but I can't say I loved the gender imbalance. In fact in general I kind of agreed with Eris on her thoughts about the "gender challenged." Not saying that I rooted for the bad guy, but the dude totally should have been made into a rat. But back to the imbalance, all the male mages were controlling and to a point seemed to see the women as people to be managed. None of the female characters outside of the bad guy had come into powers yet, see above for nonsensical reasons. Dex lies to Vivian and she just forgives him instantly without so much as an apology and the women are treated as little more than a distraction to the "real" fighters. Also there's the whole scene where they're trying to figure out how to defeat the bad guy but she has to keep being reminded to focus because she can't stop thinking about how hot he is? Maybe if she was a teenager I might buy that but from an adult it just read as demeaning to me as if she was just a silly female. You can't build a character up the way Vivian is and then just give her all these silly female moments without it just seeming all sorts of wrong.

I mean I still liked the story but a lot more things stand out to me now than I noticed when I first read and rated this.

[Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the author's take on the origin of comic book heroes as well as the Fates without their powers. I did think the book suffered a little from trying to wrap up too quickly, but it was a fun read.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love her books always a little irreverent, will keep you laughing.

[Emily Masters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one’s like a 3.5. I liked bringing in the pop culture bits but it was draggy compared to the first three.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the powerless and hunted three Fates (yes, those Fates!) show up on psychic Vivian's door, she quickly realizes that she needs help keeping them safe from a determined evil. She ends up teaming with Dexter Grant, a mage who has kept to solitude with his animals for quite a while.

I really liked Vivian and Dexter, and I didn't mind the storyline. A few things bugged me, though. First, the obligatory appearances of past couples in the series really annoyed me, as they were quite unlikeable. Did I ever root for them or empathize with them? Not while reading this, I didn't. Secondly, I hated the way the bad guy was caught--it felt rushed and too convenient. And what happens with the Fates? That storyline was dropped abruptly, which I suppose means it will be fixed in an upcoming book, but there was no indication of that at all.

[Chantel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Simply Irresistible
Author: Kristine Grayson

Ok, this is another supernatural romance, not really my cup of tea. The author attempts to create a wonderfully funny ensemble cast with Psychic Vivian Kinneally, her love interest pet store owner Dexter Grant whom is the real superman in disguise, three older women who call themselves the Fates, three gum-chewing valley girl style teens who take over for the elder Fates, & some bumbling bad guys. Of course the main character must do what she can to put the world back in order, protect the threatened fates and to return the fates to their rightful place. The author doesn't do as well as she should with her menagerie but if you are looking for a light beach read and don't mind an easy romance, this one will be alright for you. I wouldn't read the book again, but I don't hate that I gave it a shot.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this series - light and funny fantasies - lots of sexual tension but not a whole lot of sex. They made me laugh.


• 6 TOTALLY SPELLBOUND

• 5 ABSOLUTELY CAPTIVATED

• 4 SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

• 3 COMPLETELY SMITTEN

• 2 THOROUGHLY KISSED

• 1 UTTERLY CHARMING

[Kieraanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book. These stories are light and fun with a delightful mixture of fairytale in the modern world. I read Utterly Charming years ago and was happy to discover there were many more books to the series that I had never heard of. Granted I skipped a couple 'cuz they sounded boring, but they weren't really necessary for the plot or anything.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my favorite in the series so far. Vivian and Dex make a cute couple and I genuinely liked them, unlike many of her earlier couples. I thought Viv and Dex's relationship was too hurried...you've known each other one day and you're falling into bed together? But other than that, a wonderful read.

[David Macpherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted something light and frothy to read and picked this one up. Rusch is a fine writer and the story of the Fates of Greek Myth losing their jobs and being hunted down by other mythical beings was cool enough. The romance in it is there because that's the genre. It was well done. I wanted light, I got light,

[Howard Brazee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting part of 2 trilogies with the same fantasy setting - one trilogy young adult with girl protagonists who were interim fates (Greek mythology), living without magic in modern US high school families. The other trilogy is love stories fighting against an evil magician.

[Patty Bartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly, but fun

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the myth/fairytale/paranormal aspect to this. Curious about what happens to the fates, that part was unresolved. Liked the animals in this one (since I have 3 cats).

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's easy to read and a fun story.

[Rauli · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh fluff

[Heidi J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light paranormal romance in the old style (this is NOT urban fantasy, nor erotica with a side dash of romance). I enjoyed it quite a bit; it was exactly what I was looking for.

[Jim^^Ross Jim^^Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming!

Playful, nail-biting scared, pretty much like every day life- IF you just are coming into your own powers....
Thank you for a good read, I am looking for more!