ARC Review: IRRESISTIBLY YOURS (Oxford, #1) by Lauren Layne

Summary:

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: 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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Review:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars, meaning it's right between liking it and really liking it. :)


Irresistibly Yours is the first book in a new series by Lauren Layne. Oxford is a spin-off of Sex, Love & Stiletto series, so if, unlike me, you've read about the Stiletto group, you've already met the hero of this book Cole Sharpe, and you've probably been wishing for him to get his own story. Judging from what I see on the cover and what I've read, I can see why. What can I say, I kind of liked him from page one when he was staring at a woman focused on a game, instead of focusing on that game himself. The woman -- she was Penelope Pope, the heroine of this book, and the woman Cole was worried would steal his job, when he should've been worried about her stealing his heart.

 
Nothing like a bit of rivalry to spice up the beginning of a romance. Both Cole and Penelope had good reasons for wanting that sports editor position as much as they did, so I never really picked a side. That's why I was pleased with the outcome, more so because it meant more bickering. Pen and Cole were so cute when they argued. But that friends/co-workers (who liked to give each other a hard time) relationship proved insufficient for both of them. Penelope wanted Cole, because apparently he was a hard man not to want, and Cole came to a realization that a short (tiny even), skinny, sassy woman who knows about sports maybe more than he, and who's genuine through and through, was really his type. And Penelope, used to always being in the friend zone, and being only disappointed in love, didn't consider herself in Cole's league, but she would take what she could get.

 
And, so, Pen & Cole started seeing each other not only during office hours, but out of the office too for sexy times. Yes, there were sexy times in the book, which is something I usually look forward to, but as I said these two were so cute when they argued, I was sad when they didn't. I may have once or twice wanted to stop them getting all smoochy and say: Noooo! Fight, fight, fight! But that's just me...

 
It's clear I liked the main characters arguing about the magazine cover and whatnot, but I also found them likable as individuals. Penelope was so sweet and great it broke my heart to see over and over again just how low her self-esteem is. But after everything she's been through, I couldn't find it in me to judge her, only to be happy for her whenever she would overcome some of her insecurities.

 
Cole was one of those heroes with enough charm to spare, and a part of his life he prefers to keep private, which makes you like him more. He was also one of those heroes who just before the ending, have a freak-out, so they break up, then break down when they realize what they've done. It's inevitable. Of course, they always come around, but when you have meddling friends as supporting characters, all that goes much faster, thankfully.

 
As I've mentioned at the beginning Oxford is a spin-off series of Sex, Love & Stiletto. I have not read that series, so I can safely say this book works perfectly fine as a standalone. But it also works as an incentive to read that series that started it all. Those meddling supporting characters were the stars of Sex, Love & Stiletto and I am curious about how their stories went.

 
As for the stories to come, I must be one of many who wished Lincoln's book would be next. Funny, charming, a bit secretive man who's in good terms with all the women he's been with -- how could I not. Alas, his is the third book. Book two, I Wish You Were Mine is actually about a player, who will be familiar to anyone who reads the epilogue of Irresistibly Yours.


In the end, all I can say is that this book was a light, sweet romance which made it easy and fun to read. It's perfect for when you need that type of quick, headache-free read.

 

***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO,