Love So Irresistible

The Lawson Brothers #3

by Marquita Valentine

All former Navy SEAL Mason Lawson craves is solitude. Unfortunately, his new neighbor won’t allow him the peace he so desperately needs. Between the traffic and the music, Mason is constantly on edge—not exactly what the doctor ordered for someone recovering from a bullet to the leg. However, when he finally has enough and confronts his neighbor, nothing can prepare him for how hot he’d get for the teacher next door.



Piano teacher, Skylar Jernigan, loves everything about the town of Jessamine—from the quaint Main Street shops to the people who own them. Unfortunately, once she’s chewed up and spit out by her sexy neighbor, Skylar begins to question her decision to move to a new town. Until, that is, she learns he’s suffering from a war wound and refuses to have anything to do with his family.



Now, Skylar is determined to help Mason recover—mentally, physically and socially—until he turns the tables and sets out to seduce Skylar right out of her meddling ways. Only seduction turns into something more and soon, Mason can’t stop looking for excuses to be with her. But when the Navy wants Mason to reenlist for a dangerous mission, will Skylar be too irresistible for him to leave?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Military Fiction, Fiction, Amazon, Military Romance

Unknown Binding

Published April 14, 2015

About the author

Marquita Valentine is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance.

When she's not writing sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the south.

You can sign up for her newsletter here: https://goo.gl/3XFh3k

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review



I adore Love So Irresistible by Marquita Valentine. In this third installment, we finally get Mason's story and what a sweet and beautiful this story was. Mason Lawson is a former NAVY SEAL and is back home. All he wanted was peace and quiet and to keep to himself, but unfortunately or I like to say luckily for him he has a neighbor who is willing to look after him when she learns that Mason's suffers from PTSD. This story is one of those reads that you can't help but swoon for when you have sweet, funny, charming and lovable characters. I adore Skylar's love and affection for Mason. Seriously, this story is simply irresistible as you watch two people found healing and love with one another!!!

[Sybil aka Lala · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Mason Lawson wants is to be left alone. Recovering from a leg wound after his last tour as a SEAL and suffering from PTSD he just wants peace and quiet and to simmer in his own guilt and orneriness. That means staying away from his friends and meddling family and living on a dead end street that nobody ever drives down. But his peace and quiet is about to be dumped into his own personal hell when a sassy music teacher moves in next door and the host of brats she attempts to teach music to couldn’t play a harmonious note if their annoying little lives depended on it.

Skylar is perfectly OK with ignoring her curmudgeonly new neighbor and even takes some pleasure in annoying him. When Mason has a public PTSD attack she comes to his rescue she sees so much pain and vulnerability in him, and she sets out on a new mission to help him heal both physically and mentally.

This was my favorite book in the series and by favorite Lawson Brother to date. I just love a broken hero and they don’t come much more heroic than a Navy Seal. The interactions between Skylar and Mason were sometimes hilarious as he tries to set boundaries and Skylar runs circles around his grunted declarations and manages his grumpiness with her cheerfulness and the patience of a saint. She calls him out on his BS and soon Mason is hopelessly addicted to the smart-mouthed teacher next door.

I just loved this entire series set in a quaint little southern town with it’s quirky characters and sassy women. The plot lines are a little predictable but the books are ridiculously addictive. Just like with a box of chocolates where you can never have just one, these short little books are a guilty pleasure that leaves you wanting more. If you’re looking for a short and sweet read, I definitely recommend picking up one of the Lawson Brothers.

(ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review)

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, I have no words for how the Hero behaved here. The first three were freebies, I need to ponder if I shall continue.

[rj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this! Grumpy former Navy SEAL and his next door neighbor who teaches music to children. Mason is dealing with PTSD and isn't the most fun guy to be around but Skylar doesn't give up on him and helps him live his life instead of wallowing in guilt. The heroine did most of the chasing in this, and sometimes I like a heroine who knows what she wants and goes after it but I would've liked seeing Mason give a little chase as well.

I gotta take one star off since this is one of those books where the hero "loves women" but the heroine has had only one lover who could never give her an orgasm. Learned that wayyy into the book but I moved past it. Kinda.

Safety: Safeee! No OW/OM or cheating.

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT!!!! And now I CAN'T WAIT for Tristan and Lemon's story!!!!!

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mason on a sedative is funny, "she twisted her lips as Mason’s hand crept up the side of her shirt. “Let me guess. Drugs make him a lover and not a fighter.” His large hand cupped her right breast." Mason he sometimes asks stupid questions I mean no one can resist a sexy Lawsons body, "anything else you can’t resist?” he asked and she jerked up her gaze, blushing hotly at being caught ogling him." Mason is a tad bit touchy when it comes to his tattoo, "emblem.” His clenched his jaw as she slid her hand along his shoulder, tracing the twin skulls. “I got another one on my a**. Wanna feel me up there, too?" When he started to loosen up I fell in love with him so much more, "no. Sex isn’t a laughing matter. Little Big Mason would never come out again." I'm hoping Tristan's book is next I love this series

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far in this series this book has to be my favorite! I loved Mason and Skylar! This couple is not only funny but they have this spark about them.

Skylar is a music teacher and is new to the town. She lives next door to Mason who is a navy seal that is recovering from a injury. Skylar brings out a side of Mason that he never knew he had which I absolutely loved!

Since Mason has been back he has been staying away from his big family but little by little he is letting them back in because of Skylar.

This story had some emotional parts but I thought Valentine did an excellent job in bringing in some humor to balance it out.

One of my favorite parts is when Mason was drugged up and unhooks Skylar's bra when thinking she is a pillow. Lol

This is definitely a cute read and I wish this was a full length book. I can't wait to see more of this couple in future books!

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars!!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite military romance but still an enjoyable read! Not overly steamy but plenty of chemistry along with a good plot.

[Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, emotional, and slightly steamy standalone romance that deals with PTSD.

[Kimberly (Kimmy Loves to Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's Mason's turn. He is back from the war and recovering from some serious injuries. Unfortunately for him he has a noisy neighbor. Well Skylar isn't noisy but her instrumental students definitely are. Mason finally has enough and goes over to talk to her, the drums cause him to have a flashback. He falls to the ground, aggravates his injuries and Skylar comes to his rescue. Before she knows it, she is his kind of nursemaid and the two of them are spending a lot of time together.

Here is what I really liked about this story: Mason had basically shut out his family. They know he is hurting, physically and mentally, but he won't talk to them about what happened. He begins to trust Sklyar because she isn't out to heal him. She doesn't need him to talk about his past, but she is willing to listen if he does.

It was clear from the moment they met (which actually turned out to be quite funny) that these two had a connection and it just grew the closer they got. They were comfortable with each and just REALLY CUTE.

"Go Team Maylar.”

“No.”

“Skyson?”

“Really?”

“Works for celebrities.”

“We’re not celebrities.”

“You might not be,” she said all ridiculously haughty. “But once upon a time, I was famous.”

“Do tell.”

“On the Carnie circuit, I was way famous,” she said with a grin.

“Dancing bears and bearded ladies stood in line for hours just to hear me play.”

“I bet they did.”

“You didn’t laugh.”

“On the inside I was dying.” Actually, on the inside he had been dying until she came into his life.

Awwwwwww. The also had great chemistry. There's this scene where Skylar is playing the piano and Mason...well you should just buy the book and read it. Because it is HOT.

I just LOVE this series. Lemon is back doing her fairy godmother things and Tristan finally breaks through the wall that Mason has built. They have a nice brotherly moment which kind of sets up the next book. We get Tristan and Lemon's and I CANNOT WAIT to read it. There is a great story there and I need to know what it is!

[Eleanore June · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was too easy. This book could have been a 4 star, but it was all just too easy, too fast, the emotions felt...phoney.
I liked Mason, but we only saw the surface of him.
It was a fine story, but it lacked depth and was a little rushed.

[Lady Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Really enjoyed Mason and Skylar's story.
Skylar had incredible patience with Mason while he was trying to deal with being home, being wounded, and suffering from PTST.

Now on to the next book in the series.

[Jen_C · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars.
Good. I was surprised how many little errors there were with punctuation, wrong words etc. There was just something missing from this one for me. Maybe I can come up with a better explanation upon reflection.

What a way to meet!

She began to hum, a song he recognized. The enemy wouldn’t sing to him, would she? “My darling, Clementine,” she sang to him and he closed his eyes, letting her voice comfort him.
“I hate that song,” he finally said when she was done. “The guy in it cheats on Clementine with her sister and forgets all about her. He has no loyalty. None.” Sirens blared in the distance. Reason and clarity fired shots into his brain, making the fog dissipate.
“Tell me one you love,” the woman said. Her speaking voice was almost as lovely as her singing one. He hadn’t heard lovely anything in a very long time.
“Tom Dooley.”
“You want me to sing about a guy who murdered his love?”
“I’m perverse like that.”
“Tell me your second favorite song.”
He stared at her shoulder. “I can’t think of any.”

As long as she lived, she’d never get the sound of him crying for help, for his momma, for his twin brother Tristan, and finally, for God to have mercy on him out of her head. “Please don’t let me take another life,” he had whispered as she held him. “I love my country, but I can’t.” It tore at her heart, ripped it to pieces…so she left it, right there beside him in case he needed the parts to mend his. Not with romantic love—she didn’t know him like that.

Mason let out a huff and settled against her. “If this is stupid, I don’t want to be smart.”
“Is he all right?” Skylar couldn’t help but ask.
Preston smirked. “Gave him something for the pain while he was staring at you.”
She twisted her lips as Mason’s hand crept up the side of her shirt. “Let me guess. Drugs make him a lover and not a fighter.”
His large hand cupped her right breast. “Oorah, boys,” Mason crowed.
Skylar blushed.

Mason is a really cranky patient.

“Hi, I’m Skylar Jernigan.” She extended a hand, and the nurse shook it. “Mr. Lawson and I are neighbors. Is there anything special that needs to be done for him once I get him home?”
Nurse Crabbypants grunted. “Nothing that I could suggest without being fired.” She swung her gaze to him. “But for that one, I’m willing to risk it.”

“Be nice, be nice,” she softly chanted to herself. “He’s been in a war, in the hospital with a wound.”
“Don’t be nice to me just because I’m wounded.”
“Oh, I’m not. I’m being respectful to an elder who just so happens to be a wounded SEAL.”
“Elder? First old man, and now this. I’m twenty-six years old.”
“I’m twenty-five. That makes you my elder.”

Skylar's easy acceptance of Mason really gets to him.

The wood flooring squeaked and his t-shirt pulled tight. He realized that she’d been holding onto him. For support. For safety. She expected him to protect her, wounded leg and all. If that wasn’t the best damn feeling in the world right now, he didn’t know what was.
“I’ll keep you safe, Skylar. I promise.”
“I know you will,” she softly replied, making his chest puff out.

“She’s not scared. She’s dumbstruck at how stupid you are to challenge a SEAL.” He turned to Skylar, searching her face and finding nothing but a bit of uncertainty in her gaze. Not fear.
“I was scared, but not for me. I was scared for Tristan,” she said with a little wink as she patted Mason’s arm. “You’re my protector, and I have your back.” Jerking her head in his brother’s direction, she said, “He didn’t have a chance against a team like us.”
“Gee, thanks,” Tristan mumbled.
Dear God. Someone had to get her out of his house before he did something stupid, like propose marriage.

.....“But I did ask Skylar.”
“Your neighbor.”
“Yes.”
“The one who helped you.”
“Yes.”
“The one whose HVAC you had replaced.”
What the hell? “Get to your point, Doc,” Mason growled.
“Tell me why you invited her and not anyone else?”
“She’s tolerable.” Sexy as hell. Phone voice like a wet dream. He also thought her smile was sweet. “Doesn’t push me to talk.” Plays beautiful music for me at night. He knew she did—her music had changed since they talked, like she was playing pieces that wouldn’t make him anxious.

Skylar is invited to spend time on Mason's boat and they start sharing dinners, growing closer.

“The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday,” she read out loud. “What’s that from?”
He ignored the surge of desire for her as she stood and began to inspect every single tattoo on his body. “SEAL motto.”
“And the anchor?”
“Emblem.” His clenched his jaw as she slid her hand along his shoulder, tracing the twin skulls. “I got another one on my ass. Wanna feel me up there, too?”
Her hand fell away. “No need to be pissy.”
“I’m not pissy. I’m…I’m ready to get in the water.”
“Taking a few minutes to tell me what your tattoos mean is going to prevent you from doing that?” She had a point, but he was this close to stripping off her lifejacket and that tiny green bikini she’d worn.

He eyed her. “Do you even know how to swim?”
“I can float,” she said cheerfully. “Plus, you said this life-jacket will keep me floating.”
“I did?”
“You did.” She got a slightly panicked look on her face. “You said I would be safe. I’m trusting you with my life.”
His protective instincts rose at that admission. She’d jumped right into the water that was at least twenty to forty feet deep without knowing how to swim because she trusted his word. Damn, it was humbling. And powerful. “I know, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

But then comes the conflict - cause you know life is not all smooth sailing.

A heartbeat later, he released her, letting loose a string of curses as he sat up in bed, facing the wall and away from her.
“Mason,” she said, scooting closer to him.
“Don’t.” Her hand hovered over his shoulder for a minute before she let it fall to the bed.
“I’m sorry,” he said and then stood, pulling on his jeans.
In any other circumstances, she would have enjoyed the sight of his bare behind and muscular thighs, but not these. “Where are you going?”
“Back to my own place....”
“I don’t want you to go.”
His jaw flexed. “I don’t want to go either, but it’s for the best.”
“Whose best—yours or mine?”
“Are you effing kidding me? I almost hurt you.” He ran a hand over his face. “I could have broken your neck like it was nothing.”
“But you didn’t, and that says a lot.”
He slashed a hand through the air. “It says I noticed you were a woman and gave you the benefit of the doubt. Stupid, since I could have gotten myself killed for hesitating.”
“It’s stupid to hesitate?”
“In war it is.” Giving her a dark look, he said, “We need to stop seeing each other.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she snapped it shut and marched up to him.
“No. You are not doing this to me. I refuse to let you turn into some kind of love-them-and-leave-them a-hole because it won’t stop with me.”
“Keeping you safe, yeah that makes me a real a-hole.”
“We can work through this,” she insisted. “I bet there’s therapy or techniques we can try.” “What’s this we nonsense?” He tilted his head to one side. “And I already see a therapist, Skylar. I already take enough meds to kill a horse and yet, I can’t enjoy one effing night with you in my arms. I can’t sleep without nightmares. I can’t stop the reflexes that kept my ass alive in places that people around here never dreamed existed.”
“I know,” she said, trying to comfort him.
“You do not know.”
“I know I don’t know.” She winced. “I’m trying to be supportive.”
“I get that, sweetheart, I do, but this isn’t going to work.”
“Why?”
“You were my attempt at living, and I effed up by almost killing you.”
“Your attempt? Like an experiment?” she asked.
He nodded once. She could see the pain on his face, the deep grooves that had been put there by what had just happened and everything he’d been through in the past few years. But his words still cut deep.
So she stepped out of his way and let him go.

Now can Mason fix it? Can Skylar get past her fear of never being good enough & always being left behind and forgive him?

[Laura D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Navy Seal Mason Lawson is home recovering from a bullet wound in his leg. He is fit to be tied and just wants to be left alone by everyone including his family. Skylar lives next door to him. What she call music lessons he considers torture. He just has to go give her a piece of his mind. When he falls and hits his head he comes to in the arms of said sexy neighbor. When Skylar learns what he has been through, from his family, she realizes that he just needs a friendly neighbor. The more she tries to break through is tough exterior the harder she falls. Can she help this broken man realize that he is so much more than just a Navy Seal? Great read.

[BookLover23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book for the most part, I enjoyed Skylar’s personality and the side characters. I gave it 3 stars because Mason was way too much of a jerk for majority of the book (no he doesn’t get a pass because of what he went through) and Skylar was very accepting of his bad behaviour until the very end. Their relationship was a bit one-sided with Skylar going out of her way to help him for most of the book while he only went out of his way for her at the end because he thought he’d lost her. There was also no conversation of how they planned to deal with his PTSD and destructive behaviour after they reconciled.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

So Mason has a service dog, which is completely valid and appropriate. However!!!! This author seems to have not done any research on trained service dogs. They do not bark or growl; trained service dogs go through rigorous and long trainings to ensure that they do not respond to distractions. Any service dog that barks or growls was not trained, and the owner of said service dog probably just paid the state $200 to register it as one.

This one thing has distracted me from the actual storyline so… yeah. Nothing else to say.

[Penny Leidecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed Lucas and Bailey’s book, but I was proven wrong. Mason is a former Navy SEAL and he returns home broken. He’s anti everything right now, but what happens when his new neighbor, Skylar, doesn’t take his crap? I won’t leave any spoilers, but I will say this book will keep you flipping the pages to see what will happen. Now, I have to get ready to read Tristan and Lemon’s story.

[Gabriela Rovi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, it is a re-read for me. I can't remember how many times I've read this series. I love Mason's bullheadedness and Skylar's sunny disposition. They make a very convincing couple and their personalities work so well. I also love to see a gritty representation of PTSD and it gives it a more realistic view of this gripping disease. I do think that implying that you need to be in a relationship to get over PTSD is dangerous but it is handled very well. But that's a personal qualm. It still one of my favorite Adult Romance series.

[Gretchen Fatouros · Rating 3 out of 5]

You think I’d learn my lesson after the first two books. Book 2 had the worse grammar issues. This one wasn’t great, but much less. Lots of positives, but definitely not a huge fan of how the guy always has to leave the girl near the end. This time at least made more sense than the 1st two books.

Guess part of me wanted this to be Lemon & Triston, but I was curious about Mason. He isn’t really much more than a shadow in book 2.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel had a lot of good moments, a lot of sweet moments; BUT it also had lot of just okay moments that really didn't bring the same warm smile to my face as the other moments had. However, even though there were times when it would lull and I would begin to ponder about choosing another novel,  something would grab my attention again- just enough to reel me back in to stick by the side of this author. In the end, though, I'm glad I finished reading this novel.

[Paige Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the 3 book set I read. Mason and Skylar had every bit of what I find perfect in a romance story. Tension, passion, laughter, resistance, relationship issues, and resolution. Mason is kind of a jerk, but there's a really soft side to him that just made everything fall together. Standalone and HEA.

[ME · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overcoming Inner Struggles

Enjoyed this story of a veteran dealing with the struggles from war, namely, PTSD and the woman who didn't give up on him. The characters were likeable and the story hit close to home.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mason is a bit of an ass these days, PTSD and left over injury from the war will do that to a man. He family and even his twin can’t get through to him, it take his new neighbor and her stubbornness to get through.

[Jane Drager · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice story about a Navy seal on medical leave and the feisty music teacher who forces love back into his life.Definitely a book to add to your reading list. Sexual situations and mild foul language but easy read with happily ever after ending.

[Shock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a cliffhanger

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Mason and Skylar. Mason had to learn to live with what the world had handed him and Skylar was looking to eat down roots. Could these two make it work. Let’s hope so.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. The storyline is not great and the editing is worse.

[Trena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love these books sweet and fun

[Mary M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it