Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.
Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: … Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes–and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.
Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around–or starting something real.
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There is something that I come to expect when I pick up a Lauren Layne novel, and that is a sweet, fun, sexy and enjoyable read, and that is exactly what I got from Irresistibly Yours.
I am huge fan of Lauren’s and I have read almost all of her books. My first book of Lauren’s was her Sex, Love and Stiletto Series, After the Kiss. I fell in love with that series and her writing style. I was so excited when I heard she was writing a spin off series featuring the men of Oxford Magazine.
Irresistibly Yours focuses on Cole Sharpe, a playboy and sports freelancer that Oxford uses from time to time, and Penelope Pope, a tomboy who loves all sports and has left her home in Chicago for a chance to be a Sports Editor at Oxford Magazine. Yep you guessed it, Cole and Penelope are vying for the same job. We met Cole in the Sex, Love and Stiletto Series and he stole the heart of many 🙂 Now even though I say that, it is NOT required to read the other series before starting this book. This is a stand alone and can be read as one. What I loved the most about this book was that it was a sports related story without being a typical sports related love story. We got to see another side of sports, not involving the players this time. What was great about these characters was how real they felt to me. They faced everyday dilemmas just like we all do. Penelope had her own hang ups like most women these days, and Cole was dealing with a personal issue as well. I loved how natural their relationship felt, I think it was great starting these two out as friends, even though there was an obvious attraction.
Another amazing feature of this novel, was the secondary characters. I was so happy we got to see all of the previous couples from the Sex, Love and Stiletto Series. They have such an amazing friendship and it just continued into this book. They were also a great source of comic relief in this story. I also loved Lincoln, he is another guy works for the magazine and he made me crack up so many times. I can’t wait to read his book when it comes out….I think there is going to be a great story there.
So if you are looking for that sports related love story, that will have you laughing, blushing, and even yelling, but overall smiling. Then this is the book for you. I honestly believe everyone should read a Lauren Layne book!!!
4.25 STARS
“Here’s the thing, Tiny. A few months ago, I made you a promise that I wouldn’t fall in love with you.” She nodded slowly. He stepped closer. “I’m going to have to break that promise. (…) I’ve fallen in love with you, Penelope. (…) If you want me. Irresistibly yours.”
Penelope and Cole’s story is literally the best freaking way Lauren Layne could’ve started the Oxford series.
I was very curious about Cole since we got to know him in Love The One You’re With, and I was honestly not surprised, but served, I’d say, for what I saw of him in this book. He’s funny, determined, sex, trustable and loyal. And Penelope, oh girl, from the very first moment I met her, I knew she would be one of my favorite characters from the series. And I was so damn right. She’s one of the most genuine, kind-hearted characters I’ve ever known, and all her ways of thinking and acting are so relatable (what kinda hurts sometimes, not gonna lie lol).
Their relationship started in kinda of a weird (maybe?) way, but the transition of “rivals” to friends to lovers just felt simply great and perfect for them. I swear I’m never getting over their friendship, the trust that exists between them and, mostly, by THE FREAKING NICKNAME. Damn Cole Sharpe. He ruined me.
Plus, I am already in love with Lincoln. I am completely obsessed with him, and I freaking mean it. And love seeing everyone’s friendship (all Stiletto/Oxford crew) in the story.
A great start to the new Oxford series by Lauren Layne. We met Cole in the Stiletto series. He was a freelance sports writer for Oxford magazine. In this first Oxford series, Cole is fighting for a full time position as the sports editor for the newly added sports section of the magazine. His competition is a pint sized tomboy, Penelope. So not his type, so why can’t he stop staring at her or thinking about her.
It was fun to read how Penelope put him straight into the friend zone and he soo didn’t like that. It was fun to see the sparks fly between these 2 sports writers.
It was a fun, cute, quick read. It kept me entertained and wanting to read more about the other characters in the book. I also liked that we heard more about the Stiletto girls. I look forward to reading the future books!
Cole Sharpe has been a freelance writer for Oxford Magazine for years, so when a head sports editor spot is up for grabs, he thinks he has the job in the bag. Not only does he want the position, he needs it, as he alone is supporting his brother. But one day, while working on a baseball piece, a girl catches his eye. She’s not the blonde bombshell he usually goes for, in fact, she’s the exact opposite. Between the hotdog in her hand, her interest in the game, and unveiled interest in who takes the field, Cole thinks he might be in love with the mystery woman in the stands.
Enter Penelope Pope. Penelope leaves her old life behind to start fresh in a new city, and hopefully with a new job. While she’s perfect on paper, she worries that the “good old boys club” might be hard to crack at Oxford Magazine. Cole has an in, is extremely likable, and even she has to admit it’s difficult to find fault in her competition.
Tom boy Penelope and cocky Cole have their work cut out for them as they find they have more in common than just a talent for sports writing. But as things heat up on the field for baseball season, things get even hotter between the two writers as they try to fight their growing feelings without fighting each other in the process.
Ugh, this book was adorable. Penelope was sweet and Cole was likable, but both were human. Their budding “relationship” seemed real enough to be believable and it was easy to commiserate with both Cole’s difficult family life and Penelope’s weakness for a certain ex-fling. I was rooting for them the whole way though, even when I thought Cole was being too harsh or Penelope too dramatic.
I highly recommend Irresistibly Yours to all lovers of real romance.
When I started this book I didn’t know that the ‘Oxford’ series was a spin-off of the ‘Sex, Love & Stiletto’ series. A series that I haven’t read yet but it was no problem for reading this book.
I think that you can perfectly read the ‘Oxford’ series without reading the ‘Sex, Love & Stiletto’ series first.
After reading an intense and emotional romance story I was really in the mood for something light and fun to read. And after reading the blurb of ‘Irresistibly yours’ I thought that this book would be all that and I was right. This story put a smile on my face and was just what I needed to relax.
The story is told in both POV’s. I really liked both characters Cole and Penelope very much. They may have been competing for the same job, they still were kind and respectful to each other. I was totally prepared for some enemy battle between them but that wasn’t really the case. And I liked that, it was refreshing to read. I really liked the build-up between them, going from strangers, to friends, to lovers. And the second characters (the couples of the ‘Sex, Love & Stiletto’s series and the other people working for the Oxford magazine) were a fun and great group. You really felt the friendship and the care between them.
Lauren Layne may be a relative new writer to me but after enjoying ‘Irresistible yours’ I will certainly try more books of her.
I really enjoyed this story and how it was somewhat of a continuation from the other series. Looking forward to the next book in this series. I definitely recommend this book and this series.
Not being much into sports world, reading this one based in sports world was a pleasant surprise. An unlikely sweet but steamy romance between two interesting characters will keep you reading until the end. Nothing super complicated but very enjoyable.
I loved these two characters. She was so sassy and cute and he was sexy. Such a fun read
Pen and Cole warm my heart.
4 Tiny Stars…This is the first installment of the Oxford series, a spinoff from LL’s Sex, Love, & Stiletto series. It flips the emphasis to the Oxford side of the equation, as you would expect. Irresistibly Yours’ main alpha male is none other than Cole Sharpe. You met him in the very first book of the SL&S series. While he’s technically not part of the Oxford team yet, he’s trying his darnedest to officially become part of the team. You see, he’s a contract worker for them at the start of this book. He’s vying for the newly opened position of sports editor and he’s just found out he has some stiff competition. Competition in the form of one tiny brunette……
This is pure rom-com. It’s pure Lauren Layne and everything you’d expect it to be. This is a hilariously entertaining installment of the Oxford series. It’s the beginning (or continuation) of a whole new series, but one that you’ll be very familiar with if you’ve read SL&S. You don’t have to read SL&S first, though. Each of these books is technically stand-alone, but they are more enjoyable if you read them in order.
Favorite Quotes:
“For all she knew, maybe Lincoln’s kisses were as good as it got. It had certainly been more skilled than most of the groping kisses she’d endured in college. And better than Erik’s, a guy whom she’d dated for a few months and who had borderline halitosis.”
“The touch merely was. It said, I’m here, but only if you want me to be. And, oddly enough, he did want her to be. There was something calming about Penelope Pope.”
“For Cole Sharpe, Penelope would have been one out of a million other women in his life. For Penelope, Cole might have been one in a million. The only one. It’s how she rolled, throwing herself all the way over the ledge without looking.”
“Her dad was an avid sportsman, and rather than bemoan his lack of a son, had dragged both Janie and Penelope into the world of athletics. He’d had only partial success with Janie. He’d had to spray-paint her bat hot pink in order to get her to play softball on long summer evenings,”
“Her mother wasn’t superficial – not quite. But Lydia Pope was definitely of the mind-set that a nice fuchsia lipstick could solve most of the world’s problems.”
My Review:
Being raised a tom-boy and slender of build with no boobage, Penelope Pope had resigned herself to being the girl-next-door type, who is typically stuck in the friend zone and treated like one of the guys. Her romantic track record was beyond disappointing, it was non-existent and embarrassing. I adored her. I also cherished her sweet co-worker and friends with benefits partner Cole Sharpe. I enjoyed the easy to follow, refreshing, and sweet story-line, and fell in love with the characters upon meeting them. I was relaxed and entertained all the way through. What a delightful change from all the angst and drama and decided I want much more of this! Irresistibly Yours is my first time reading Ms. Layne’s work but I quickly added her entire listing to my TBR soon after started this amusing book, as I was charmed by her breezy, realistic, and humorous writing style, and her steamy love scenes were just the icing on the cake.