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Horsemen Trilogy #3
Irresistible
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh comes the third novel in the Horsemen Trilogy, in which a proper lady discovers just how desirable she really is after one very improper night...
Sophia Armitage was a friend, indeed. She had agreed to help Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne find a husband for his cousin in the glittering city of London—only half hoping that she’d find one for herself. Sophia knew the odds were against her. Men simply did not seem to be attracted to her—not that way. Even her late husband had treated Sophia more as a companion than a lover. But then something shocking happened in London—Sophia found herself in the arms of Nathaniel himself. Not only did this act of indiscretion threaten their lifelong friendship, it revealed a depth of passion that defied everything Sophia believed about herself...
Sophia Armitage was a friend, indeed. She had agreed to help Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne find a husband for his cousin in the glittering city of London—only half hoping that she’d find one for herself. Sophia knew the odds were against her. Men simply did not seem to be attracted to her—not that way. Even her late husband had treated Sophia more as a companion than a lover. But then something shocking happened in London—Sophia found herself in the arms of Nathaniel himself. Not only did this act of indiscretion threaten their lifelong friendship, it revealed a depth of passion that defied everything Sophia believed about herself...
362 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
501 people are currently reading
1413 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
196 books6,380 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 327 reviews
March 8, 2025
2018 review: Another fav Balogh I don't seem to have written a review of. I'll remedy that now.
This is a beautifully paced and developed love story between two very believable and likeable characters. Nathaniel the former soldier, who is looking forward to a peaceful life once his numerous sisters are all married and have homes of their own. Although he enjoys sex, and in fact went a little overboard for a few months in the wake of the horrors of the war, Nathaniel also has a conservative streak that follows the mores of society of his time. But he is an honourable man, a man of deep integrity.
Sophie the young widow, who knows Nathaniel from her years 'following the drum' (and her late husband) during the war. Sophie's husband was a revered war hero, but their marriage seems to have been less than satisfactory. Over the years she has lost faith in her own self-worth and beauty. She now dresses dowdily and lives a simple life. And Sophie has an overwhelming secret fear that is gradually revealed to the reader.
Old friends, Sophie and Nathaniel meet up again by chance, and one night sexual attraction unexpectedly flares between them. This scene is done beautifully. Over a short period of time, they come to see beneath the surface and understand each other better, and they fall deeply in love. Unfortunately as they both come to this realisation, neither of them realises their love is returned by the other. It's just a beautiful affair.
Sophie's secret fear becomes overwhelming, but is eventually resolved quite satisfactorily. But the book doesn't end here. There is quite an ending section that follows on, when Sophie and Nathaniel finally accept their love is mutual, and find their HEA.
The strengths of this beautiful book lie in the beautifully-paced unfolding of the plot, the genuine and powerful love and sexuality between Nathaniel and Sophie, and the excellent writing of the characters. Both H and h are realistic and believable people of their times, and both have real integrity and strength of character. The numerous secondary characters are also well-written and add much to the story. In fact there is an entire secondary romance revolving around Nathaniel's war buddy Eden and Nathaniel's strong-minded and independent cousin Lavinia. And it's lovely to watch these two enemies-to-lovers as they strike sparks off each other, till they finally accept their mutual attraction.
Overall, IMO this is one of Balogh's best and most satisfying books. An old fav I have read and reread and will doubtless read yet again in the future.
Reread March 2025 for HRBC BOTM, 'Overlooked Heroine' trope. Still 5 stars from me :)
This is a beautifully paced and developed love story between two very believable and likeable characters. Nathaniel the former soldier, who is looking forward to a peaceful life once his numerous sisters are all married and have homes of their own. Although he enjoys sex, and in fact went a little overboard for a few months in the wake of the horrors of the war, Nathaniel also has a conservative streak that follows the mores of society of his time. But he is an honourable man, a man of deep integrity.
Sophie the young widow, who knows Nathaniel from her years 'following the drum' (and her late husband) during the war. Sophie's husband was a revered war hero, but their marriage seems to have been less than satisfactory. Over the years she has lost faith in her own self-worth and beauty. She now dresses dowdily and lives a simple life. And Sophie has an overwhelming secret fear that is gradually revealed to the reader.
Old friends, Sophie and Nathaniel meet up again by chance, and one night sexual attraction unexpectedly flares between them. This scene is done beautifully. Over a short period of time, they come to see beneath the surface and understand each other better, and they fall deeply in love. Unfortunately as they both come to this realisation, neither of them realises their love is returned by the other. It's just a beautiful affair.
Sophie's secret fear becomes overwhelming, but is eventually resolved quite satisfactorily. But the book doesn't end here. There is quite an ending section that follows on, when Sophie and Nathaniel finally accept their love is mutual, and find their HEA.
The strengths of this beautiful book lie in the beautifully-paced unfolding of the plot, the genuine and powerful love and sexuality between Nathaniel and Sophie, and the excellent writing of the characters. Both H and h are realistic and believable people of their times, and both have real integrity and strength of character. The numerous secondary characters are also well-written and add much to the story. In fact there is an entire secondary romance revolving around Nathaniel's war buddy Eden and Nathaniel's strong-minded and independent cousin Lavinia. And it's lovely to watch these two enemies-to-lovers as they strike sparks off each other, till they finally accept their mutual attraction.
Overall, IMO this is one of Balogh's best and most satisfying books. An old fav I have read and reread and will doubtless read yet again in the future.
Reread March 2025 for HRBC BOTM, 'Overlooked Heroine' trope. Still 5 stars from me :)
July 30, 2018
This is third in a series and characters from the others are all over the place in this one. I definitely recommend reading these in order.
This story was... well frustrating, mostly. I spent the first half of the novel wishing Sophie wasn't so determined to do everything on her own because she both needed help and she has very capable friends who can do a lot more than she can on her own. I feel like Balogh was trying to depict the "independent woman" and how cool and strong she was, but I experienced it more as stupid and blind. I did enjoy her friendship with Nat's cousin, Lavinia, though she had her own issues with letting "I am independent" equate to "I am an idiot".
Not that it was all pain and dumbness. I liked their relationship and Nat digging into how precious he found her was endearing. As was her discovering her own value and how others really could appreciate her for her stellar qualities.
Anyway, I was in charity with the story once things started coming together shortly after the midpoint. And that lasted a bit. Before it came crashing down in flaming piles of more stupid! Seriously, the last quarter of the book could have been short circuited with a simple "here's how I feel about you". Or even the lamer version of "how do you feel about me?" Seriously, both were in love and knew it. And each pulled the stupid misread thingy where "oh, they're just being friendly. Because we're friends. And we wouldn't want to disrupt that. Because friends."
So I was at a low two to start that edged near four stars in the middle. For it to settle back into a three star rating by the end. Barely. Actually, I liked the handling of the background plot well-enough that it wasn't likely to duck beneath three stars. But still...
A note about period detail: Balogh's tendency to go off-period was particularly strong in this one—especially in regards to attitudes towards gay men. Every character we're supposed to be in charity with not only had no problem with gay folks in general but most eventually said something along the lines of "they're born that way and how can you fault them for how they're made?" Which, uh, yeah, so very not something someone would say at that time. Even if they thought it.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes and they're marvelous and enlightening and glorious for all. It's the low end of my steam tolerance, though edging higher. I did like how they were presented and the role the sex played in the relationship, though I kind of hated Nat's beginning position with regards to sex in general. It made him feel shallower than I think he was meant to.
This story was... well frustrating, mostly. I spent the first half of the novel wishing Sophie wasn't so determined to do everything on her own because she both needed help and she has very capable friends who can do a lot more than she can on her own. I feel like Balogh was trying to depict the "independent woman" and how cool and strong she was, but I experienced it more as stupid and blind. I did enjoy her friendship with Nat's cousin, Lavinia, though she had her own issues with letting "I am independent" equate to "I am an idiot".
Not that it was all pain and dumbness. I liked their relationship and Nat digging into how precious he found her was endearing. As was her discovering her own value and how others really could appreciate her for her stellar qualities.
Anyway, I was in charity with the story once things started coming together shortly after the midpoint. And that lasted a bit. Before it came crashing down in flaming piles of more stupid! Seriously, the last quarter of the book could have been short circuited with a simple "here's how I feel about you". Or even the lamer version of "how do you feel about me?" Seriously, both were in love and knew it. And each pulled the stupid misread thingy where "oh, they're just being friendly. Because we're friends. And we wouldn't want to disrupt that. Because friends."
So I was at a low two to start that edged near four stars in the middle. For it to settle back into a three star rating by the end. Barely. Actually, I liked the handling of the background plot well-enough that it wasn't likely to duck beneath three stars. But still...
A note about period detail: Balogh's tendency to go off-period was particularly strong in this one—especially in regards to attitudes towards gay men. Every character we're supposed to be in charity with not only had no problem with gay folks in general but most eventually said something along the lines of "they're born that way and how can you fault them for how they're made?" Which, uh, yeah, so very not something someone would say at that time. Even if they thought it.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes and they're marvelous and enlightening and glorious for all. It's the low end of my steam tolerance, though edging higher. I did like how they were presented and the role the sex played in the relationship, though I kind of hated Nat's beginning position with regards to sex in general. It made him feel shallower than I think he was meant to.
January 20, 2023
Nathaniel and Sophie 4 Ever: Best friends to lovers I've ever read, hands down. A lovely book about the enduring nature of true friendship. I haven't seen an HR that explored this between a woman and a group of men who'd shared the same experiences, except for in her Survivor's Club series. There is always so such depth to Balogh's characters and story. This one's a keeper.
March 24, 2021
This is a reissue of book that was published in 1998. It has a few sexy scenes. What I truly enjoyed was the development of the characters. The friendships and some of the awkwardness of intimacies. The joy of friends and knowing they have your back.
February 26, 2013
I'm a Mary Balogh fangirl, so am gradually working my way through her backlist. This one is from 1998, and it bears all of the Balogh signature features: a dauntless heroine (who's terribly insecure underneath), a swoonworthy hero, and LOTS of secondary characters. So many secondary characters that I couldn't keep them straight, but that didn't matter.
The romance between two old friends was sweet, especially because neither of them ever expected it. The widowed heroine had not had an especially happy marriage, and the hero was actively trying to marry off the last of his dependents so he could live in a house free of bothersome females. There's a very cute, and different, secondary romance as well.
All in all, an enjoyable read.
The romance between two old friends was sweet, especially because neither of them ever expected it. The widowed heroine had not had an especially happy marriage, and the hero was actively trying to marry off the last of his dependents so he could live in a house free of bothersome females. There's a very cute, and different, secondary romance as well.
All in all, an enjoyable read.
March 29, 2016
I have a new favorite historical romance. Holy Moses! I didn't want this book to end. Each page closer to finishing hurt my heart just a little more.
Basic plot - widow Sophie runs into four old friends. She has a crush on one - Nathaniel. Sophie has some other life issues, and Nathaniel is adorably obtuse. Let the relationship hijinks commence.
I very quickly fell a little in love with Sophie. MB is known for her imperfect characters. Never has a historical romance heroine felt so near and dear to my heart - clever, strong, giving, independent, a pistol, and with some serious emotional baggage that never weighed down the book. And Nathaniel was a bit clueless - but that was part of his charm. He was, overall, an incredibly nice guy. And those are my favorite kind.
If you've avoided historical romance bc you of the "bodice-ripper" reputation this is the book for you. A smart, sweet, lovely story that avoids all of those tacky cliches.
I don't think this book was perfect. I read where 2 other reviewers commented that even while seeing the flaws they couldn't put it down. But I enjoyed the heroine and the storyline and the additional characters so much that I'm declaring this book "perfect for me."
Basic plot - widow Sophie runs into four old friends. She has a crush on one - Nathaniel. Sophie has some other life issues, and Nathaniel is adorably obtuse. Let the relationship hijinks commence.
I very quickly fell a little in love with Sophie. MB is known for her imperfect characters. Never has a historical romance heroine felt so near and dear to my heart - clever, strong, giving, independent, a pistol, and with some serious emotional baggage that never weighed down the book. And Nathaniel was a bit clueless - but that was part of his charm. He was, overall, an incredibly nice guy. And those are my favorite kind.
If you've avoided historical romance bc you of the "bodice-ripper" reputation this is the book for you. A smart, sweet, lovely story that avoids all of those tacky cliches.
I don't think this book was perfect. I read where 2 other reviewers commented that even while seeing the flaws they couldn't put it down. But I enjoyed the heroine and the storyline and the additional characters so much that I'm declaring this book "perfect for me."
January 30, 2021
Finished a while ago and don't remember too much beyond feeling frustration with the heroine and glad for the evil-doers comeuppance.
Pretty sure it's a case of "it's me not you".
Pretty sure it's a case of "it's me not you".
February 8, 2020
2.75/5. It has taken me many years to finally get hold of this book, the last in the Horsemen Trilogy and unfortunately the weakest. I do have a thing against listening to HRs generally, but Rosalyn Landor's narration is very solid and I don't think it contributed in any way to my less favourable impression of this book. The blame lies solely on the heroine, Sophie or Mrs Sophia Armitage, the widow of an acknowledged English war hero. She had been living a comfortable, independent life in London as afforded by her war widow's stipend, well-respected and her company keenly sought out by high society. Except her smiles are forced, her cheerfulness masking a lonely existence, her financial independence hanging by a very fragile thread. Her precarious balance between her outward carefree existence and her private calamity is threatened further when she comes across her husband's old army friends, the famous Four Horsemen and especially Nathaniel Gascoigne, the one who always had a special place in her heart. They embrace Sophie again warmly and though she cherishes their company, her secrets and stress grow ever heavier upon their reentry into her life. But it's hard to turn away Nathaniel's attention when she has craved it for so long and especially since his attention are decidedly no longer just platonic.
The problem is that she does - turn Nathaniel away time and time again. Turn them all away, his affection, the other men's warm regards and concerns. There were moments in my car when I just wanted to scream my frustration at her stubborn adherence to her misplaced pride, her lack of faith in Nathaniel and the other Horsemen's sense of decency and gallantry and their sincere feelings for her. She believed him when he told her she was beautiful. She knew and appreciated the honourable and good natures of these men, and especially Nathaniel, so why doubt that they would be able to assist her and not be repelled by the secret that she was so eager to protect, which wasn't even her secret to begin with. Why doubt Nathaniel when he declared his feelings for her? He had done nothing throughout their old and recent acquaintance to make her doubt his sincerity and his heart.
I don't normally enjoy secondary romance side-plots, but the interactions between Lavinia (Nathaniel's cousin) and Eden (one of the Four Horsemen) were highly amusing and they had far more chemistry than Nathaniel and Sophie. The latter's relationship was spoiled by Sophie's colossal self-doubt and her many secrets which prevented her from truly opening up herself to him until the very end.
The problem is that she does - turn Nathaniel away time and time again. Turn them all away, his affection, the other men's warm regards and concerns. There were moments in my car when I just wanted to scream my frustration at her stubborn adherence to her misplaced pride, her lack of faith in Nathaniel and the other Horsemen's sense of decency and gallantry and their sincere feelings for her. She believed him when he told her she was beautiful. She knew and appreciated the honourable and good natures of these men, and especially Nathaniel, so why doubt that they would be able to assist her and not be repelled by the secret that she was so eager to protect, which wasn't even her secret to begin with. Why doubt Nathaniel when he declared his feelings for her? He had done nothing throughout their old and recent acquaintance to make her doubt his sincerity and his heart.
I don't normally enjoy secondary romance side-plots, but the interactions between Lavinia (Nathaniel's cousin) and Eden (one of the Four Horsemen) were highly amusing and they had far more chemistry than Nathaniel and Sophie. The latter's relationship was spoiled by Sophie's colossal self-doubt and her many secrets which prevented her from truly opening up herself to him until the very end.
August 19, 2017
I read this book years ago, but for some reason never connected it to the two other books in the series. I took it out on loan from the library with the intention of finishing the series. As I started to read it, I realized that I had read it before.
A tear jerker for sure, and (IMHO) one of MB's better stories.
A tear jerker for sure, and (IMHO) one of MB's better stories.
October 16, 2011
Quite possibly one of the best "friends to lovers" stories I've ever read. I was moved to tears, which is not easy to do for me. All of the characters were colorful, especially Lavinia and Ede, but Nathanial really stole the show for me. A wonderful read.
5 stars / A++
5 stars / A++
April 11, 2024
I've given this an A for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals.
First published in 1998, but newly available in audio, Irresistible is the final book in Mary Balogh’s Horsemen Trilogy , which features a group of friends who served together in the Peninsular War, and whose fearless feats of derring-do earned them the nickname the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It’s a gently moving and compelling friends-to-lovers story that has a few flaws (mostly relating to some of the heroine’s actions) but which I enjoyed very much in spite of them.
Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne has spent the last couple of years rusticating on his Yorkshire estate drowning (as he sees it) in female relatives – five sisters and one cousin. With four of his sisters now settled, he’s looking forward to having the place to himself once he has found suitable husbands for his youngest sister and cousin, and is heading to London for the Season for the first time in two years with exactly this intention. He also plans a reunion with his fellow Horsemen (two of whom are now happily married) and to have a bit of *ahem* fun whilst he’s in town and break his two-year dry spell ;). One morning shortly after his arrival in town, he and his friends are riding in the park when they are delighted to meet an old friend, Mrs. Sophia Armitage.
Sophia – known as Sophie – is a widow who followed the drum for a number of years and was well-liked by all, becoming good friends with the Horsemen. Her late husband’s heroic deeds have garnered her a house, a small pension and a degree of celebrity that has given her entrée to the best society, and she was content with her independent, comfortable life – until the first of the letters arrived. She tries to maintain a degree of composure by telling herself they are bills, debts… but it’s clear that she’s being blackmailed, although for what and by whom isn’t revealed until later.
She and the Horsemen – Rex (Indiscreet), Kenneth ( Unforgiven ), Eden and Nathaniel – fall easily back into the ways of their established friendship even though they haven’t seen each other for three years. She’s “good old Sophie” to them, someone so familiar that she’s like one of the lads – yet it’s quickly clear that while she faces the world – and her old friends – with a warm smile and the no-nonsense, down-to-earth manner that earned their friendship and respect in the first place, Sophie isn’t happy, and that her cheerfulness is a carefully constructed and maintained façade.
Things change drastically for Sophie a few days later when Nathaniel sees her safely home after a society gathering, and they end up sharing a passionate and completely unexpected kiss. Sophie has always known, deep down, that she was more than half in love with Nathaniel, but put it down to the same sort of dazzled infatuation felt by all the other women in the encampment for all four Horsemen. She had never thought to have anything more from him than friendship, but now, seeing the opportunity to have something she’s longed for, to be able to experience real passion of the sort she never experienced in all her years of marriage, she decides to grab it with both hands, and invites Nathaniel to her bed.
Nathaniel is just as surprised by the intensity of his attraction to Sophie, whom he’s never really thought of ‘in that way’ before, but her passionate, uninhibited response to him is a revelation, as is the lithe, shapely body she’s hidden for so long beneath dark-coloured, shapeless clothes. Their night together was full of discoveries for Sophie, too; for the first time in her life she felt wanted and desirable, and something of the youthful confidence she lost following her marriage returned to her. She proposes a discreet affair during the remainder of the season – a suggestion Nathaniel is only too pleased to accept.
Their next encounter is somewhat awkward, given neither of them knows quite how to conduct such a liaison, but the sex is fabulous and they’re looking forward to more of the same over the coming months – until Nathaniel begins to suspect that Sophie is in some sort of trouble and unable or unwilling to ask for help. He’s not wrong – but Sophie can’t bear the thought of the information she’s being blackmailed over coming to light; not only would the ensuing scandal ruin her, it would extend to her family and likely affect her brother’s business and scotch her niece’s marriage prospects. Plus she can’t bear the thought of having Nathaniel and the other Horsemen pity her should they discover the truth.
Here’s where we get to those flaws I mentioned earlier. In some ways, I could completely sympathise with Sophie’s desire to stand on her own two feet, make her own decisions and choose her own friends, and I could easily understand her anger at having her wishes ignored when Nathaniel and the others decide to act to protect her when she’s specifically told them not to. On the other, however, her behaviour was nonsensical; she’s a woman alone being blackmailed to the point of penury; she’s already sold her jewellery in order to pay the most recent demands and it was clear there would be more. Her rejection of not just Nathaniel’s help, but Nathaniel himself, felt like stubbornness for the sake of it; she knows Nathaniel and his friends to be decent, honourable men and values their friendship, yet fails to understand the true nature of friendship or to realise they will not be repelled by the secret she was so desperate to protect… which wasn’t even her secret in the first place.
That was my biggest issue with the storyline. Otherwise, Sophie and Nathaniel’s romance is well-developed and the love scenes are sensual – and I also enjoyed the secondary romance between the one remaining bachelor Horseman and Nathaniel’s very independent, sharp-tongued cousin.
I went to check my review of the previous books in this series, and was surprised to find out that Unforgiven came out in 2016 – so there’s been quite a gap! Fortunately however, Rosalyn Landor is on hand to grace the narrator’s chair and provide continuity, and it will come as no surprise when I say that she delivers a wonderfully expressive and engaging performance to round out the series. Her smooth, contralto voice enables her to voice male characters without sounding as though she has to strain to maintain a lower pitch, and she voices all four Horsemen and other male characters distinctly, so that in group scenes it’s easy to tell there are a number of different speakers. But it’s her interpretation of Sophie that is the real stand-out here. Ms. Landor is as adept at voicing grand-dames as she is ingénues and every shade of female character in between; she gives Sophie a mellow tone, and delivers most of her dialogue in a measured, equanimous way that aptly reflects the no-nonsense side of her character. But she does a terrific job when it comes to conveying her more emotional side, too, Sophie’s heartbreak at having to push away her friends and the man she loves, her loathing of the blackmailer (who sounds like a totally smarmy bastard!)… it’s all there in her voice, and she brings Sophie to life in such a sympathetic way, it made me want to keep rooting for her even when she was at her most irritatingly self-sacrificing.
Irresistible is classic Mary Balogh; gently moving and deeply emotional, with well-rounded, complex characters, a sensual romance, and well written familial relationships and friendships. Rosalyn Landor’s expert narration brings the whole thing to vivid, vibrant life, making this an audiobook I’d recommend in spite of its flaws.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
First published in 1998, but newly available in audio, Irresistible is the final book in Mary Balogh’s Horsemen Trilogy , which features a group of friends who served together in the Peninsular War, and whose fearless feats of derring-do earned them the nickname the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It’s a gently moving and compelling friends-to-lovers story that has a few flaws (mostly relating to some of the heroine’s actions) but which I enjoyed very much in spite of them.
Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne has spent the last couple of years rusticating on his Yorkshire estate drowning (as he sees it) in female relatives – five sisters and one cousin. With four of his sisters now settled, he’s looking forward to having the place to himself once he has found suitable husbands for his youngest sister and cousin, and is heading to London for the Season for the first time in two years with exactly this intention. He also plans a reunion with his fellow Horsemen (two of whom are now happily married) and to have a bit of *ahem* fun whilst he’s in town and break his two-year dry spell ;). One morning shortly after his arrival in town, he and his friends are riding in the park when they are delighted to meet an old friend, Mrs. Sophia Armitage.
Sophia – known as Sophie – is a widow who followed the drum for a number of years and was well-liked by all, becoming good friends with the Horsemen. Her late husband’s heroic deeds have garnered her a house, a small pension and a degree of celebrity that has given her entrée to the best society, and she was content with her independent, comfortable life – until the first of the letters arrived. She tries to maintain a degree of composure by telling herself they are bills, debts… but it’s clear that she’s being blackmailed, although for what and by whom isn’t revealed until later.
She and the Horsemen – Rex (Indiscreet), Kenneth ( Unforgiven ), Eden and Nathaniel – fall easily back into the ways of their established friendship even though they haven’t seen each other for three years. She’s “good old Sophie” to them, someone so familiar that she’s like one of the lads – yet it’s quickly clear that while she faces the world – and her old friends – with a warm smile and the no-nonsense, down-to-earth manner that earned their friendship and respect in the first place, Sophie isn’t happy, and that her cheerfulness is a carefully constructed and maintained façade.
Things change drastically for Sophie a few days later when Nathaniel sees her safely home after a society gathering, and they end up sharing a passionate and completely unexpected kiss. Sophie has always known, deep down, that she was more than half in love with Nathaniel, but put it down to the same sort of dazzled infatuation felt by all the other women in the encampment for all four Horsemen. She had never thought to have anything more from him than friendship, but now, seeing the opportunity to have something she’s longed for, to be able to experience real passion of the sort she never experienced in all her years of marriage, she decides to grab it with both hands, and invites Nathaniel to her bed.
Nathaniel is just as surprised by the intensity of his attraction to Sophie, whom he’s never really thought of ‘in that way’ before, but her passionate, uninhibited response to him is a revelation, as is the lithe, shapely body she’s hidden for so long beneath dark-coloured, shapeless clothes. Their night together was full of discoveries for Sophie, too; for the first time in her life she felt wanted and desirable, and something of the youthful confidence she lost following her marriage returned to her. She proposes a discreet affair during the remainder of the season – a suggestion Nathaniel is only too pleased to accept.
Their next encounter is somewhat awkward, given neither of them knows quite how to conduct such a liaison, but the sex is fabulous and they’re looking forward to more of the same over the coming months – until Nathaniel begins to suspect that Sophie is in some sort of trouble and unable or unwilling to ask for help. He’s not wrong – but Sophie can’t bear the thought of the information she’s being blackmailed over coming to light; not only would the ensuing scandal ruin her, it would extend to her family and likely affect her brother’s business and scotch her niece’s marriage prospects. Plus she can’t bear the thought of having Nathaniel and the other Horsemen pity her should they discover the truth.
Here’s where we get to those flaws I mentioned earlier. In some ways, I could completely sympathise with Sophie’s desire to stand on her own two feet, make her own decisions and choose her own friends, and I could easily understand her anger at having her wishes ignored when Nathaniel and the others decide to act to protect her when she’s specifically told them not to. On the other, however, her behaviour was nonsensical; she’s a woman alone being blackmailed to the point of penury; she’s already sold her jewellery in order to pay the most recent demands and it was clear there would be more. Her rejection of not just Nathaniel’s help, but Nathaniel himself, felt like stubbornness for the sake of it; she knows Nathaniel and his friends to be decent, honourable men and values their friendship, yet fails to understand the true nature of friendship or to realise they will not be repelled by the secret she was so desperate to protect… which wasn’t even her secret in the first place.
That was my biggest issue with the storyline. Otherwise, Sophie and Nathaniel’s romance is well-developed and the love scenes are sensual – and I also enjoyed the secondary romance between the one remaining bachelor Horseman and Nathaniel’s very independent, sharp-tongued cousin.
I went to check my review of the previous books in this series, and was surprised to find out that Unforgiven came out in 2016 – so there’s been quite a gap! Fortunately however, Rosalyn Landor is on hand to grace the narrator’s chair and provide continuity, and it will come as no surprise when I say that she delivers a wonderfully expressive and engaging performance to round out the series. Her smooth, contralto voice enables her to voice male characters without sounding as though she has to strain to maintain a lower pitch, and she voices all four Horsemen and other male characters distinctly, so that in group scenes it’s easy to tell there are a number of different speakers. But it’s her interpretation of Sophie that is the real stand-out here. Ms. Landor is as adept at voicing grand-dames as she is ingénues and every shade of female character in between; she gives Sophie a mellow tone, and delivers most of her dialogue in a measured, equanimous way that aptly reflects the no-nonsense side of her character. But she does a terrific job when it comes to conveying her more emotional side, too, Sophie’s heartbreak at having to push away her friends and the man she loves, her loathing of the blackmailer (who sounds like a totally smarmy bastard!)… it’s all there in her voice, and she brings Sophie to life in such a sympathetic way, it made me want to keep rooting for her even when she was at her most irritatingly self-sacrificing.
Irresistible is classic Mary Balogh; gently moving and deeply emotional, with well-rounded, complex characters, a sensual romance, and well written familial relationships and friendships. Rosalyn Landor’s expert narration brings the whole thing to vivid, vibrant life, making this an audiobook I’d recommend in spite of its flaws.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals .
May 15, 2016
Book 3 in the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse trilogy by Mary Balogh. All I can say is WOW! I loved it. It can be read as a stand-alone book. I don't think I've ever read a Balogh book I didn't like and this is certainly no exception to that. ***** Also -- this is a re-release of a book from about 1996, so check -- you might have already read it.
There are characters all over the place in this book and more HEA's than you know what to do with, but the main plot is around Sir Nathaniel Glascoigne and Sophia Armitage.
Sophia followed the drum with her husband who was killed at Waterloo. The suspense in the book focuses on something he did and she's now paying for. She was good friends with four soldiers who served with her husband. She always hid who she truly was on the inside because she always felt inadequate, unattractive and unlovable, so all they saw of her was 'good ole Sophie'.
Sir Nathaniel has sown his wild oats and is now rusticating on his country estate. However -- he's had to live in a family of females (5 sisters and 1 female cousin) and he is looking forward to taking the last sister and the cousin to London to get them married off. Then -- he can finally, finally, finally have his home to himself and live in peace.
Nat and Sophia end up with many intertwined marriages between the two families -- and fall in love themselves. It is a long, hard road to get there - lots of twists, turns and disappointments, but seeing them finally get their HEA is worth the wait and suspense.
There are characters all over the place in this book and more HEA's than you know what to do with, but the main plot is around Sir Nathaniel Glascoigne and Sophia Armitage.
Sophia followed the drum with her husband who was killed at Waterloo. The suspense in the book focuses on something he did and she's now paying for. She was good friends with four soldiers who served with her husband. She always hid who she truly was on the inside because she always felt inadequate, unattractive and unlovable, so all they saw of her was 'good ole Sophie'.
Sir Nathaniel has sown his wild oats and is now rusticating on his country estate. However -- he's had to live in a family of females (5 sisters and 1 female cousin) and he is looking forward to taking the last sister and the cousin to London to get them married off. Then -- he can finally, finally, finally have his home to himself and live in peace.
Nat and Sophia end up with many intertwined marriages between the two families -- and fall in love themselves. It is a long, hard road to get there - lots of twists, turns and disappointments, but seeing them finally get their HEA is worth the wait and suspense.
October 8, 2022
«Irresistible» es, en realidad, la sonrisa de sir Nathaniel Gascoigne (31), con el que enamora a todas las damas. Entre ellas, a Sophia Armitage (28), viuda de un camarada de armas. Son amigos que reconectan fácilmente después de un par de años sin verse. Una inesperada atracción sexual sorprende a ambos. El problema surge por cierto chantaje del que Sophie es víctima, y que no quiere que afecte a sus amigos
Ambientada en tu prototípica Regencia, Balogh sabe crear personajes de carne y hueso, con sus dudas y problemas, entre pequeños momentos de felicidad cotidiana. Tanto Nathaniel como Sophie son primero amigos y luego amantes, y todo entre ellos suena muy humano, muy auténtico.
Añádele una deliciosa historia de amor secundaria, «de enemigos a amantes», entre Lavinia y Eden, el cuarto jinete, que se quedó sin novela propia.
Crítica más amplia, en mi blog.
Ambientada en tu prototípica Regencia, Balogh sabe crear personajes de carne y hueso, con sus dudas y problemas, entre pequeños momentos de felicidad cotidiana. Tanto Nathaniel como Sophie son primero amigos y luego amantes, y todo entre ellos suena muy humano, muy auténtico.
Añádele una deliciosa historia de amor secundaria, «de enemigos a amantes», entre Lavinia y Eden, el cuarto jinete, que se quedó sin novela propia.
Crítica más amplia, en mi blog.
January 6, 2018
Saved the best for last. The first two in this series were a little too angsty and dramatic for me. This book struck a good balance between emotional turmoil and real life drama.
Sophie is living under years of caked-on insecurities (not to mention blackmail) and has a lot to overcome. She's a strong character. Nat is nice, and observant, but kinda flat. He's a bit of an ass to his cousin (one of the better characters), but overall there's not a lot of room for character development.
It's strange to me that there are 4 Horsemen, but only 3 books. Why did Eden get shortchanged? Especially since he's the one who had the most room for emotional growth. Oh well.
Sophie is living under years of caked-on insecurities (not to mention blackmail) and has a lot to overcome. She's a strong character. Nat is nice, and observant, but kinda flat. He's a bit of an ass to his cousin (one of the better characters), but overall there's not a lot of room for character development.
It's strange to me that there are 4 Horsemen, but only 3 books. Why did Eden get shortchanged? Especially since he's the one who had the most room for emotional growth. Oh well.
January 4, 2022
Another sweet and simple Mary Balogh classic.
I will say, nothing too exciting happens in this book. It's a book you would read when you need a filler option. There's really nothing much to it...but it was good. I read a book where friends became lovers, who then fell in love. I had never read a book like that. Now that I have read it, I am really into it. This book follows that trope 100%...friends to lovers to in love. Really sweet.
I will say, nothing too exciting happens in this book. It's a book you would read when you need a filler option. There's really nothing much to it...but it was good. I read a book where friends became lovers, who then fell in love. I had never read a book like that. Now that I have read it, I am really into it. This book follows that trope 100%...friends to lovers to in love. Really sweet.
November 30, 2019
3 and half stars - rounding it up.
This is a melodramatic story of Nathaniel and Sophie and their up and down romance. It’s sweet in this grown up adult kind of way. There is pain and there is healing. There is jealousy and total devotion.
I have appreciated a heroine who has to heal from her previous relationship from the ground up. That was beautiful subject. And Nathaniel was the perfect hero for that.
Yes the villain part of the story was a little exaggerated and Sophie was too stubborn but I did understand why.
What was a lovely surprise, was the secondary love story. Yay! That was really cute.
This is a melodramatic story of Nathaniel and Sophie and their up and down romance. It’s sweet in this grown up adult kind of way. There is pain and there is healing. There is jealousy and total devotion.
I have appreciated a heroine who has to heal from her previous relationship from the ground up. That was beautiful subject. And Nathaniel was the perfect hero for that.
Yes the villain part of the story was a little exaggerated and Sophie was too stubborn but I did understand why.
What was a lovely surprise, was the secondary love story. Yay! That was really cute.
December 26, 2008
I liked the way Balogh, who is one of my favorite Regency romance authors, twists the lives of the characters in this book. Nathaniel is perfect as the "hero," and Sophia is so kind one cannot help but feel sympathy for her. In this one, the reader cheers for the couple to finally get together and stay together. I also wanted to cheer when Nathaniel, Kenneth, Rex, and Eden showed at Pinter's apartment. I wanted someone to beat the "crap" out of the man, and Nathaniel was the perfect person to do that. The side story of Eden's and Lavania's romance top off this book.
January 5, 2019
Nathaniel is such a perfect hero! Sophie is strong and a little stubborn, but lovely
Another great book by Mrs. Balogh. Sophie knows Nathaniel from the time she followed the drum with her husband. After the war, her then deceased husband was highly praised for saving Wellington and dying saving an officer of a lower rank. There are some secrets involving this events and Sophie is being blackmailed by a lieutenant who disliked her husband. The couple ends up having an affair, but things get complicated and Sophie is afraid of involving her family and friends in what could be a dreadful scandal.
She is a little too stubborn to my taste, but it was a lovely read.
Another great book by Mrs. Balogh. Sophie knows Nathaniel from the time she followed the drum with her husband. After the war, her then deceased husband was highly praised for saving Wellington and dying saving an officer of a lower rank. There are some secrets involving this events and Sophie is being blackmailed by a lieutenant who disliked her husband. The couple ends up having an affair, but things get complicated and Sophie is afraid of involving her family and friends in what could be a dreadful scandal.
She is a little too stubborn to my taste, but it was a lovely read.
April 3, 2019
3’5 en realidad. Es una buena serie que no está de más leerla.
September 16, 2020
Que buena serie
December 19, 2017
Nathaniel may be among one of my top 5 heroes in HR. When Sophia told him and his friends to back off of her personal life, he listened. He didn't argue nor tell her that he knows what's best for her. He understood that she was an independent woman. However, I was irritated with Sophia's stubbornness/pride. Obviously, she needed help paying her blackmailer to back off, but she was too proud, too independent, to ask her friends for help.
I remember thinking that the scene where Nathaniel and Sophia were enjoying a nightcap on her couch was similar to a scene from romance movie. (I don't read very many HR with widow heroines.) I don't think the synopsis is very accurate, or at least the order of the events mentioned in the synopsis isn't accurate. Sophia finds herself in the arms of Nathaniel first before she agrees to help his cousin Lavinia find a husband. Even then, she doesn't really help, because she sees and understands that Lavinia wants to be independent woman and not marry, and tells Nathaniel to appreciate his cousin for who she is.
I remember thinking that the scene where Nathaniel and Sophia were enjoying a nightcap on her couch was similar to a scene from romance movie. (I don't read very many HR with widow heroines.) I don't think the synopsis is very accurate, or at least the order of the events mentioned in the synopsis isn't accurate. Sophia finds herself in the arms of Nathaniel first before she agrees to help his cousin Lavinia find a husband. Even then, she doesn't really help, because she sees and understands that Lavinia wants to be independent woman and not marry, and tells Nathaniel to appreciate his cousin for who she is.
February 14, 2011
Irrestistible is probably my second favourite book of Mary Balogh's. I just adored the story of Sophie and Nathaniel. It just makes me feel warm all over revisiting these two. I'm not normally in love with a widow storyline, but this talented writer can probably make me love anything as long as she's written it.
This book is part of three books, and four heros. This, in my opinion, is the best of the lot ... or maybe I just loved the story so much the others just couldn't compare. Sohpie is a lovely heroine, you just have to adore her, and Nathaniel, well, isn't he just the sort of man you'd love to meet in real life!
A book that I cherish and will reread in time and love just as much the second time, I'm sure.
This book is part of three books, and four heros. This, in my opinion, is the best of the lot ... or maybe I just loved the story so much the others just couldn't compare. Sohpie is a lovely heroine, you just have to adore her, and Nathaniel, well, isn't he just the sort of man you'd love to meet in real life!
A book that I cherish and will reread in time and love just as much the second time, I'm sure.
October 4, 2024
Widowed h is ashamed about being blackmailed - regarding her deceased husband's evil actions. She had followed the drum, surviving soldiers admire her. While they say 'she's one of them', they actually treat her with disrespect. The H beds her, even while he admits to looking for a wife. He was cruel to her, until he realises how awfully they have treated her. Lots of delicious angst.
March 20, 2021
This was a really busy book, all things considered. There was too much going on and too many loose ends shoved into one novel, and the story suffered for it.
The main couple, Nat and Sophie, were pretty enjoyable overall. I could easily root for them, even if I was frustrated by just how much of their story was consumed by the blackmail plot that Sophie kept to herself for far too much of the book.
But I was frustrated by the fact that Eden and Lavinia's romance was also sort of smushed into this book and not even given much page space. It felt like there should have been so much more to Lavinia's refusal to think about marriage and to her backstory, and we just didn't get any of it because Eden and Lavinia's story was part of this book but it wasn't actually their story at all. We also really don't get to learn much about Eden. Just very frustrating.
However, weirdly more frustrating for me were the two tertiary romances between Sophie's niece/Catherine's brother and Sophie's nephew/Nat's sister. Sophie's nephew Lewis is barely on the page, and while Sophie's niece Sarah was on the page a little more (maybe five pages' worth instead of one), we don't get any idea of her actual character. She just comes off as a very young girl. There's nothing bad about either of them, exactly, but I was given absolutely zero reason to care about them. Because I do know a little bit more about Harry and Georgina, I much would have preferred that the latter two end up together and Sophie's niece and nephew be cut out entirely. After setting up Georgina as a woman who'd been disappointed before, I just wanted more for her than a husband we know nothing about when an actual decent other character had been introduced. No amount of her repeatedly telling Nat she was ~so happy~ could replace the actual showing of that happiness in even the most minor of ways. Perhaps, you know, by actually showing us who this husband was outside of his connection to this family that we have nothing really invested in, who was only related to Sophie by marriage.
I have now written more about my frustrations with the two tertiary romances in this book than the actual main romances themselves. That's not the best sign!! What a weird series this turned out to be.
The main couple, Nat and Sophie, were pretty enjoyable overall. I could easily root for them, even if I was frustrated by just how much of their story was consumed by the blackmail plot that Sophie kept to herself for far too much of the book.
But I was frustrated by the fact that Eden and Lavinia's romance was also sort of smushed into this book and not even given much page space. It felt like there should have been so much more to Lavinia's refusal to think about marriage and to her backstory, and we just didn't get any of it because Eden and Lavinia's story was part of this book but it wasn't actually their story at all. We also really don't get to learn much about Eden. Just very frustrating.
However, weirdly more frustrating for me were the two tertiary romances between Sophie's niece/Catherine's brother and Sophie's nephew/Nat's sister. Sophie's nephew Lewis is barely on the page, and while Sophie's niece Sarah was on the page a little more (maybe five pages' worth instead of one), we don't get any idea of her actual character. She just comes off as a very young girl. There's nothing bad about either of them, exactly, but I was given absolutely zero reason to care about them. Because I do know a little bit more about Harry and Georgina, I much would have preferred that the latter two end up together and Sophie's niece and nephew be cut out entirely. After setting up Georgina as a woman who'd been disappointed before, I just wanted more for her than a husband we know nothing about when an actual decent other character had been introduced. No amount of her repeatedly telling Nat she was ~so happy~ could replace the actual showing of that happiness in even the most minor of ways. Perhaps, you know, by actually showing us who this husband was outside of his connection to this family that we have nothing really invested in, who was only related to Sophie by marriage.
I have now written more about my frustrations with the two tertiary romances in this book than the actual main romances themselves. That's not the best sign!! What a weird series this turned out to be.
July 6, 2023
Opsjednuta!!!!! Samo mi je zao sto nisam procitala druge dijelove Konjanika 🏇💂♂️
U ovom dijelu Neodoljivo, radi se o mladoj udovici Sofi, koja je ucijenivana. Muž je skrivao svoju seksualnu orijentaciju, pokusao je u bitci sacuvati zivot svojeg ljubavnika i preminuo je braneci ga. Sve bi ostalo tajna, da ljubavnik nije pisao pisma 💌 njenom muzu, koja su zavrsila u pogresnim rukama. Nju se sad ucijenjuje. Ako ne da novac, pisma izlaze u javnost, a onda ni ona, ni njihove obitelji nece biti spaseni od skandala.
Naravno, Sofi je bila mlada kad se udala, te je kao i ostale zene imala snove o idilicnom braku 💍, djeci itd. No, sve sto joj se dogodilo ucinilo je povucenom, razdorenom i svjesnom realnosti. To se ocituje i na njenom izgledu.
Dok je pratila muza u boju, druzila se sa cetiri jahaca Apokalipse. Cetiri prijatelja Ken, Id, Rasel i Net. Od trena kad je upoznala Neta, zaljubila se u njegov osmijeh, premda su svi bili na glasu zavodnika. ❤ Ipak, oduvijek su je smatrali dobrom prijateljicom Sofi. Nikad zenom. Nikad lijepom ili privlacnom.
To se mijenja tri godine nakon sto postane udovicom. Jedne veceri, vidjevsi se u setnji, Net poslije plesa, otprati je doma te ostane s njom. Zatim dogovore da postanu ljubavnici. 😱😍
Naravno, jasno vam je gdje ovo ide. Prvo, nastaju problemi sa ucjenom. Drugo, zele biti zajedno, no ne vjeruju da druga strana to zeli. I tako ukrug. Logicno, hepi end. 🕺
Veceras sam je zavrsila. I toliko me opustila i obradovala. Meri Balog volim koliko i Noru Roberts. Jednostavno me privlace ovakve knjige.
Plus, ovdje imamo par: Laviniju, feministicu u nastajanju i Idena, okorjelog zenskarosa. Njihova prepucavanja su me toliko nasmijavala. 😂
Razumijem da mnogima ovakve knjige nisu zanimljive, jer je radnja toliko poznata i klisejska. Sve znam.
Ipak, ja obozavam.🤷♀️✌
U ovom dijelu Neodoljivo, radi se o mladoj udovici Sofi, koja je ucijenivana. Muž je skrivao svoju seksualnu orijentaciju, pokusao je u bitci sacuvati zivot svojeg ljubavnika i preminuo je braneci ga. Sve bi ostalo tajna, da ljubavnik nije pisao pisma 💌 njenom muzu, koja su zavrsila u pogresnim rukama. Nju se sad ucijenjuje. Ako ne da novac, pisma izlaze u javnost, a onda ni ona, ni njihove obitelji nece biti spaseni od skandala.
Naravno, Sofi je bila mlada kad se udala, te je kao i ostale zene imala snove o idilicnom braku 💍, djeci itd. No, sve sto joj se dogodilo ucinilo je povucenom, razdorenom i svjesnom realnosti. To se ocituje i na njenom izgledu.
Dok je pratila muza u boju, druzila se sa cetiri jahaca Apokalipse. Cetiri prijatelja Ken, Id, Rasel i Net. Od trena kad je upoznala Neta, zaljubila se u njegov osmijeh, premda su svi bili na glasu zavodnika. ❤ Ipak, oduvijek su je smatrali dobrom prijateljicom Sofi. Nikad zenom. Nikad lijepom ili privlacnom.
To se mijenja tri godine nakon sto postane udovicom. Jedne veceri, vidjevsi se u setnji, Net poslije plesa, otprati je doma te ostane s njom. Zatim dogovore da postanu ljubavnici. 😱😍
Naravno, jasno vam je gdje ovo ide. Prvo, nastaju problemi sa ucjenom. Drugo, zele biti zajedno, no ne vjeruju da druga strana to zeli. I tako ukrug. Logicno, hepi end. 🕺
Veceras sam je zavrsila. I toliko me opustila i obradovala. Meri Balog volim koliko i Noru Roberts. Jednostavno me privlace ovakve knjige.
Plus, ovdje imamo par: Laviniju, feministicu u nastajanju i Idena, okorjelog zenskarosa. Njihova prepucavanja su me toliko nasmijavala. 😂
Razumijem da mnogima ovakve knjige nisu zanimljive, jer je radnja toliko poznata i klisejska. Sve znam.
Ipak, ja obozavam.🤷♀️✌
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
Irresistible (1998) was wonderfully irresistible with one of the finest friends to lovers stories I’ve read in ages.
Sophia Armitage has been widowed for 5 years … her husband was a calvary officer who was killed at Waterloo, and subsequently highly honored for his act of extraordinary bravery. They both knew the officers known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse… the heroes of this series. Two were married in previous books. She runs into them, and reconnects with their friendship .. especially with Nathaniel Gascoigne who’s come to London for the Season to assist his younger sister and niece find husbands.
Sophia carries the burden of a devastating secret about her husband and she’s being blackmailed. Nat slowly discovers that she’s under unbearable stress.., as their friendship blossoms into much more.
The writing is exquisite with sharp dialogue and searingly deep emotions and passion. Thru out Sophia suffers emotional pain.. u ache for her, and are counting on Nat to help her! There’s also a secondary love story for the other unmarried friend, Eden, Baron Pelham that offers an interesting contrast as his is more an enemies to lovers.
The pages fly by as the love story is a cliffhanger right until the very end. Wow.., an amazing finish! Overall, this is also a book about enduring friendships.. those of the four heroes of this series, and also between Sophia and Nat, and her the other men who all stand together to help her. Another perfect Balogh HR! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sophia Armitage has been widowed for 5 years … her husband was a calvary officer who was killed at Waterloo, and subsequently highly honored for his act of extraordinary bravery. They both knew the officers known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse… the heroes of this series. Two were married in previous books. She runs into them, and reconnects with their friendship .. especially with Nathaniel Gascoigne who’s come to London for the Season to assist his younger sister and niece find husbands.
Sophia carries the burden of a devastating secret about her husband and she’s being blackmailed. Nat slowly discovers that she’s under unbearable stress.., as their friendship blossoms into much more.
The writing is exquisite with sharp dialogue and searingly deep emotions and passion. Thru out Sophia suffers emotional pain.. u ache for her, and are counting on Nat to help her! There’s also a secondary love story for the other unmarried friend, Eden, Baron Pelham that offers an interesting contrast as his is more an enemies to lovers.
The pages fly by as the love story is a cliffhanger right until the very end. Wow.., an amazing finish! Overall, this is also a book about enduring friendships.. those of the four heroes of this series, and also between Sophia and Nat, and her the other men who all stand together to help her. Another perfect Balogh HR! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 8, 2018
2.5 starts
So, I'm definitely not having much luck with this series.
But at least it's better than the previous book in the series (I know, damning it with faint praise).
I did like the beginning, the backstory, Sophie's friendship with all the Horsemen.
And then her behavior did a 180 and she started to annoy me to no end. She was just acting stupid and trying for martyrdom. I know she wanted to be independent, but was it really necessary to go to that lengths and nearly ruin your life than ask for help?
To be fair, the Horsemen could have told her about their plans to protect her, instead of going behind her back.
The positives in the book are the hero, and the Horsemen's friendship. Also, I liked the hero's cousin and the last Horseman's romance (maybe even more than the main romance tbh).
One other thing. It's about the clash of modern sensibilities and probably more realistic historical details, but I do have to mention because it did bother me.
All in all, a book with a lot of promise, unfortunately ruined (at least for me) by the heroine and the spoiler from the paragraph above.
So, I'm definitely not having much luck with this series.
But at least it's better than the previous book in the series (I know, damning it with faint praise).
I did like the beginning, the backstory, Sophie's friendship with all the Horsemen.
And then her behavior did a 180 and she started to annoy me to no end. She was just acting stupid and trying for martyrdom. I know she wanted to be independent, but was it really necessary to go to that lengths and nearly ruin your life than ask for help?
To be fair, the Horsemen could have told her about their plans to protect her, instead of going behind her back.
The positives in the book are the hero, and the Horsemen's friendship. Also, I liked the hero's cousin and the last Horseman's romance (maybe even more than the main romance tbh).
One other thing. It's about the clash of modern sensibilities and probably more realistic historical details, but I do have to mention because it did bother me.
All in all, a book with a lot of promise, unfortunately ruined (at least for me) by the heroine and the spoiler from the paragraph above.
June 8, 2022
I wasn't a fan of this one.
June 18, 2025
girl blackmail or insecurity! pick a struggle
(Mary ballgh’s writing is great but the romance was lacking I fear)
(Mary ballgh’s writing is great but the romance was lacking I fear)
October 16, 2023
This would have been 5 stars if the book hadn’t started going in circles about the 60% mark. Sophie’s strength and independence were also her greatest weaknesses as she tried to solve a problem she didn’t have the resources to solve alone. I liked Nathaniel’s progression from a guy just looking for a sexual liaison for a season into a guy reluctantly in over his head. What I didn’t understand was why Sophie, finally realizing that her blackmailer was going to ruin her and her family no matter how much money she paid, started burning friendships, love, and the life she had built to the ground. What was that supposed to accomplish, besides adding false drama to the narrative? And then, once the blackmailer was dealt with, the plot driver became assumptions and lack of communication, which I hate. So the resolution between Sophie and Nat lost steam and stumbled to a close. The resolution to the side romance between Lavinia and Ede, though, was brisk, amusing, and delightful.
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