Irresistible (Banning Sisters trilogy, #2)

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Irresistible (Banning Sisters #2)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 680 ratings · 53 reviews

With this sensual and entrancing tale, bestselling author Karen Robards continues her wonderful trilogy of three sisters taking their rightful place as the belles of Regency England's ton.

Claire Banning fulfilled every debutante's dream when she married a rich nobleman. Soon, however, the celebrated beauty realizes she wed a dissolute wastrel. Bitterly hurt and desperately...more

Paperback, 402 pages

Published October 15th 2002 by Pocket Star (first published 2002)

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Apr 25, 2011 Shelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook-version, regency-victorian-era, romance-historical, set-in-england

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I didn't think I was going to like this book after reading several reviews, but I hate to leave series undone, and thought I should give it a chance, at the very least. And although I didn't love it, there were several parts I truly enjoyed, and had it not been for the way the adultery was portrayed, I think I could have really loved this book.

Lady Claire Linds, formerly Claire Banning, is on her way home from visiting her sisters' who she loves dearly, to her evil husband David, when she is sna...more I didn't think I was going to like this book after reading several reviews, but I hate to leave series undone, and thought I should give it a chance, at the very least. And although I didn't love it, there were several parts I truly enjoyed, and had it not been for the way the adultery was portrayed, I think I could have really loved this book.

Lady Claire Linds, formerly Claire Banning, is on her way home from visiting her sisters' who she loves dearly, to her evil husband David, when she is snatched from her carriage, and taken captive. Finding out she is to die, Claire manages to escape and runs for her live trying to make it home, which is coincidentally not to far from where she is being held captive, only to be chased and captured again for an altogether different reason. Colonel Hugh Battencourt is a secret government agent and believes she is a traitor to her country and feeding the French valuable information. Kidnapping her to retrieve important letters and stop this French spy, he does not believe Claire at first, when she informs him he has the wrong person. Ultimately, he believes her, but their attraction for each other is so strong, Claire, believing they will never see each other again and marriage be damned, spends a glorious night with Hugh. Three months later, Hugh reveals himself to be the Duke of Richmond, and her husband's cousin. Angry with him, but still in love with him, Claire wars with her feelings for him and decides now, consequences be damned, she will take Hugh anyway she can have him, most likely as his mistress. Meanwhile, Claire's evil husband is plotting to kill her, as he's run out of money and needs a new bride with a new dowry. Hugh and the Bow Street Runners have been investigating and before he is apprehended, David attempts to kill them and make it look like his wife and his cousin were having an illicit affair (which they were) and they accidentally perish in a house fire. They ultimately escape and David, so distraught over the thought of charges being brought against him, commits suicide. Claire and Hugh marry within a month.

First of all, props to Karen Robards for throwing a different sort of, er, relationship? out there, one of married woman and secret lover. Very brave, and I think, it was done okay. The horrible marriage Claire suffers could have been exhibited from the beginning, showing David as a cruel and evil husband in person, instead of in just Claire's mind, I think would have gone a long way to bringing about sympathy for Claire and understanding for the need of love in her life, even if it was just for one night. However, the book did start off with a bang! We hit the ground running and it doesn't stop running for quite some time, and I imagine that was the purpose, grab 'em and go! I loved the excitement and action, and thought it was believable and I was so enthralled and so ready to keep going! But all good things must come to an end, I suppose, and unfortunately, this one came to an end halfway through the book.

Claire is a nice enough character. I really respected and liked her in the first half. She was no simpering miss, struggling to survive no matter what, and fighting, almost to the death for her survival. However, in the second half, she turns into a needy and all of a sudden upright citizen. She wants Hugh, but at the same time, she will not risk scandal, for her family's sake. She seems to have a hard time relaying that message to Hugh, what with holding him, and pushing him away, yes, no, yes, no! She is upset she'll never see him again, to never wanting to see him again, to she loves him and is ready to be his mistress. I understand emotions run high, but it is a little much in just half the book.

Hugh on the other hand, well, not until end does he claim he loves her. She seems as sort of a toy to play with for him, especially when we learn later in the book he knew of his relation to her husband and failed to mention it. He teases her for her anger, and thinks he'll seduce her anyways. It's never mentioned that I can remember, in his thought processes, how much he yearns for Claire, not until it becomes clear her life is in danger. I feel if Claire was a little too much, he was a little to . . . little I guess. I wanted more from his character, and felt he could have been fleshed out just a bit more.

The other issue I had with this book, is the rule breaking, or rather, the amount of rule breaking in this series so far. Now, I enjoy a bit of rule breaking here and there, it's what makes a regency exciting. How can they get away with it?? Ooh, the scandal! However, I feel the first two books in the series have done so much rule breaking, and the third is said to be as bad, I can't overlook it. Granted, risk taking is appreciated, but the adultery was enough to push the scene. Specific things that bothered me: Gabby, the older sister is married to the man who just last year pretended to be their long lost brother, and he and Gabby are married, respectfully so. How is this possible? Does he not go out in public? Everyone saw him 'get shot' last year and die, and no one outside the family is to know he was on a mission, so how are they not the height of gossip for that alone? It's never adequately explained, conveiently Gabby is confined to her bed with a difficult pregnancy during the season, but guests at a ball ask after her and the baby's health. Also, divorce was a big no-no in these days, and anyone seeking a divorce would be shunned by proper society, and black marked for life. Yet Hugh offers to 'buy' Claire's freedom from her husband so David will grant her a divorce, and she will be free to marry him. Claire who at one point had decided to leave Hugh alone to prevent scandal, decides this is a great idea, if David will agree. If not, they'll just run off together, scandal be damned. Never mind her youngest sister is yet to marry or that Hugh is a Duke who must stand in society. And finally, after David commits suicide, Claire is suppose to observe proper mourning, which is a year. No one is told of his treachery, to save face for his mother, so no one knows how evil he was, (which I also disagree with hiding) and Claire is now a widow. Instead of observing her year of mourning, she agrees to marry Hugh in a month. A month! This would surely be a scandal, even if he is a Duke, but nothing is said of it, and they act like it's not really too big of a deal.

I think this could have been a great novel, if just a few things could have been tweaked, but as it stands, I enjoyed several parts of it, and was annoyed at just as many parts. I know Karen Robards writes contemporary romantic suspense as well, I would bet those are significantly better, and will probably give them a try in the future.
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May 11, 2010 Nisha rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those who still read spy romances but would appreciate a twist

Shelves: historicalromance, dangerous-or-bad-boys, men-in-uniform, stranded, super-large-family-series

Honestly, I usually don't like books like these. I mean, the hero is a spy set to capture some female spy and stumbles upon the heroine, but does not believe her story about not being a spy. Oh yea, the heroine is also unhappily married - that's a twist. With all the factors going against it, I began thinking, 'I don't want to study cell biology and starting a PNR is too much commitment.' I'm kinda glad I walked in with low expectations.

Claire runs for her life after escaping a kidnapping, but u...more Honestly, I usually don't like books like these. I mean, the hero is a spy set to capture some female spy and stumbles upon the heroine, but does not believe her story about not being a spy. Oh yea, the heroine is also unhappily married - that's a twist. With all the factors going against it, I began thinking, 'I don't want to study cell biology and starting a PNR is too much commitment.' I'm kinda glad I walked in with low expectations.

Claire runs for her life after escaping a kidnapping, but unfortunately stumbles upon Hugh, a British spy, looking to pick up and kill a French female spy. After being immediately attracted to her, he repeatedly does not believe her story about being a married woman, kidnapped on her way home, and a lady to boot, EVEN after seeing all the signs. They finally sleep with each other (Adultery on Claire's part - but somehow acceptable, in this case), before parting - Claire back to her cold marriage and Hugh back to being a spy.

3 months later, Claire's life is nearly normal, as she plays chaperon to her sister. The missing Duke (to whom her husband is heir for) returns during a ball and, surprise, surprise, it's Hugh. He tries to initiate an arrangement, since he cannot marry her. She refuses and life goes on. Until, Hugh discovers a nefarious plot by her husband against her life.

Ok, I did not want to spoil everything, but I'm sure its clear where this is heading. I would like to pick at the married woman becomes mistress deal first. This was a surprising part in any HR I have read in recent history. HR heroines are generally not married, and they surely do not initiate affair with their husband's cousin. But I really liked this aspect of the plot. It's a nice break from the virginal heroines (spy or otherwise) that we have previously read about.

Next, Claire's husband. He's a real piece of work, I tell ya. He's a pretty boy, with a small package and no skill(very unlike the hero), and a cruel personality. Oh, did I mention that he doesn't even like women. Yep, implications of homosexuality. Seriously? Why can't he be a heterosexual abusive husband? No, he has to not like woman, that's why he married the creme of the ton and lives an unsatisfactory married life.

Anyway, there were a lot going against this book, but it was entertaining and somehow, i just wanted to know how scandalous the circumstances are when Claire and Hugh tie the knot. I liked it and I recommend this to anyone who wants mindless pleasure and don't mind dumb-as-a-doornail heroes (he also has a lot of hair, everywhere - I imagined him waxed and Hugh Jackman).
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May 18, 2011 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

After reading one other historical romance by this author, I was less than thrilled to find that I had another one in my hands. This time, however, it was a completely different thing. Ms. Robards captures the edge-of-the-seat spirit of her romantic suspense novels and puts it in this book right from the very beginning. In fact, this book is almost written backwards. With most books, you gently and smoothly build the action to a climax which occurs somewhere near the end. This book has the suspe...more

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Jun 12, 2010 willaful rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bye

An okay read, but a bit adventurous for my tastes. As the heroine thinks to herself, "It had been just a little more than twenty-four hours since she had been kidnapped from her carriage--in a crime that had seen her coachman, and possibly her other servants, murdered--had overheard plans for her own murder, hit a vicious brute over the head with a chamber pot, crept out a window, ran across a boggy moor for her life, climbed down a cliff so slippery and treacherous that she had feared falling t...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Ratih rated it 4 of 5 stars

Untuk yg gak suka cerita di mana heroinnya gak setia sebaiknya jangan baca buku ini. Ini cerita ttg Claire. Anak kedua Banning sisters yg cantik jelita. Sayangnya nasib Claire nggak seindah wajahnya. Dia menikah dgn bangsawan kaya dan tampan tapi ternyata nggak mencintai dia. Nah waktu pulang dari rumah kakaknya, Gabby, si Claire diculik, lalu disangka mata-mata. Mula2 Claire ketakutan setengah mati sama penculiknya, tapi lama2 setelah diliat2 lagi ternyata penculiknya itu cukup ganteng dan sela...more

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Jun 14, 2009 Hanah Tahir rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed it, but it was long-winded, and the story is just really short.. But I guess that's how the author made it seem so interesting. Because I really couldn't put it down! I was becoming agitated and excited about Claire and Hugh's meetings. Everytime they meet, sparks seriously fly around my imaginations! and Robards made it seem like I was there witnessing them :P

The thing about villainy sounds too cliche for the historical romance genre, and the book is very predictable. What made me buy...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Melissa Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I stumbled across this book and was intrigued by the title. Amazing how one word sold the book to me, huh? I quite enjoyed it. It's an English romance novel. Lady Claire is kidnapped, from her carriage as she travels along the countryside towards her home. And, as she escapes, she is kidnapped again. She is taken on board a ship destined for France as her identity is mistaken for someone else. On board she must try to convince her captors of who she truly is. There are great description of the b...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Fanny Roswita Ria rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: gramedia, historical, romance, 2013

Jadi, cerita ini berisi soal kesalahpahaman dalam menangkap orang serta perselingkuhan antara yang diculik dengan penculik. untuk awal2nya gw pribadi menikmati interaksi antara Hero dan heroine, secara sama-sama keras kepala dan ngotot2an dalam mempertahankan pendapat yang endingnya buat gw ngakak. Tapi sampai bab 12 itu masih menceritakan soal mereka berdebat mulai dari awal masuk kapal sampai si Heroine mual karena mabuk laut. Setelah itu, ketika Heroine di kembalikan ke keluarganya eh alur ce...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Lisa Jo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-collection

Robards has another winner with Irresistible! This novel was not as enjoyable as book one, Scandalous (which I loved!), but it was still a fantastic read. Robards did get carried away with the description at certain points, but that was only a minor distraction. Hugh was an amazing, wonderful hero and easily lovable! I was sighing in delight quiet a few times while reading this novel! There are plenty of twists and turns in Irresistible to keep you turning page after page after page. I put this...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Tasha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: he-loves-me, because-someone-said-i-should, historical-romance, romance, romantic-suspense, once-upon-a-time

I struggled w/giving this a three. I considered a two. Normally I give a solid read a three. While this is a solid story w/all your components I can't belive Robards had the h have an affair. O.K. so maybe everyone does now a days and maybe 50% of people get divorced but this is suppose to take place forever ago and it's really hard to admire the h when she sleeps w/someone even if her husband is a jerk... To me it could have been done differently. Just my two cents which I wasn't really asked t...more

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Jan 25, 2013 Mahareni Maldini rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-from-read-me, historical-romance

3,95-an lah, tetep aja dibulatkan jadi 4.

Awal-awalnya emank lumayan lambat alurnya, and narasinya detil banget. Tapi tetep gak sampe bikin bosen. Toh mendekati akhir buku, ceritanya jadi makin menarik.

Si Claire jelas-jelas wanita menikah yg selingkuh, tapi anehnya gak bikin benci ya. Mungkin karena suaminya tipe-tipe jahat, jadi dimaklumin-lah, by me...wkwkwk.

Btw, begitu disebut kalo Duke Richmond itu udah lama di luar negeri, langsung curiga kalo itu adalah 'dia'.

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Mar 18, 2012 Vex rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, unfinished

Bleurgh. The author could have spent at least some effort trying to make characters believable. As it is, they're just puppets on a string, doing what the author wants them to do, without any heed for their personalities, motives, circumstances or just common sense. Not to mention the writing was boooooring. I read a couple of chapters by skipping everything but the dialogue, because I couldn't take any more of the author's overwrought and tiring descriptions.

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Feb 19, 2012 Celina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, part-of-series, remarry, used-copy, karen-robards, p-q-r-authors, perfect-beauty-heroine

This is the second book in the Banning sisters trilogy. It was the last book I read since I had a hard time getting the book. I think this is the best book of the trilogy.

Hugh and Claire's love story had a theme of being star-crossed lovers, having found each other too late and in the most precarious situation. Nevertheless, they pulled through. From the Shameless, I already loved Hugh and Claire. I think Claire is very beautiful, bold and courageous. I was really waiting for how they would end...more

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Aug 09, 2011 Mariah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Irresistable was an amazing story. A whirlwind of scandal, romance, danger, hatered, charm, and true love. Clair and Hugh's story within the famous Banning trilogy is a great second book to the series and I say it's a must read. See how Hugh and Clair came together, fought off the dangers they faced, in the mean time falling in love. The only part I didn't like about this book is that she cheated on her husband, but read the book and find out all about it.

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Apr 14, 2012 penelopewanders rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, stored-in-mallorca

Interesting plotline rife with marital infidelity... Another smart heroine, to my relief. Why authors think women might enjoy reading about stupid women (or men, for that matter) is beyond me. Good entertaining read.
Now I need to try to find the third, although having read the first in the series a while ago I couldn't remember anything specific from it and didn't feel I was missing out anything plot-wise.

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Apr 28, 2010 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: april-2010, historical, read-in-2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 12, 2012 Mariah rated it 3 of 5 stars

So much drama filled this book. I did not like her husband at all and her lover! Oh, what a wonderful man. She, herself, was filled with self reliance, I did feel really bad for her that she believed that life in the bedroom was not meant to be enjoyed. I'm glad it all ended well - better than even I expected.

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Jul 08, 2011 jackie frye rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book grabs your attention on the first page and keeps it until the last page. A case of mistaken identity, an English intelligence agent, a lady in an unhappy marriage, a love that has little chance of ending in marriage these are a few elements in the fast paced novel. I enjoyed every page.

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Mar 29, 2012 Mandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really like Robards writing style, but I find I’m not a fan of her books. Robards didn’t stay true to Claire’s character from one book to the next. She also just summed up all the loose ends from Scandalous in one quick paragraph.

A few years have passed in the storyline since the last book ended. The story begins with Claire isolated in an unsatisfying marriage. In escaping her kidnappers, Claire is mistaken for a French spy and captured for questioning and execution. Claire then has to convi...more

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May 09, 2010 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Excellent historical romantic thriller, well-written and exciting. I really enjoyed this one. The plot sounded a bit far-fetched, but the suspense kept on going right from the first page. It made a great sequel to Scandalous, without really requiring any knowledge of it.

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Sep 06, 2010 Stacey (Sassy Book Lovers) rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone that love Historical romances.

I loved how there was always something happening. And the end result was a shocker, i couldn't believe who was trying to kill Claire. Can't wait to read the next installment about Beth Banning. :) I gave this book 5 stars cause it had me hooked from the very first page. :)

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Feb 04, 2011 Jolan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As is usual I read the second in a series first! Always out of order. This book was good and although I didn't read the first yet, it was a story of its own, very good. I can't wait until I read the first and second.

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Aug 09, 2011 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Apr 25, 2011 Me Lin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-british-historical, z-robards-karen, 3-stars

One of the things I enjoyed most about the Banning Sisters trilogy is that compared to other romance novels that feature this time period, they married unique men: spies. I think I enjoyed this book most of the three because Hugh and Claire had the most to overcome.

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Sep 12, 2012 Tanya rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, romance, favorites, keepers

Wow. I really enjoyed this book. It's exactly what I like in a book. It had the perfect amount of adventure for my taste, and I loved the romance part as well!
Can't wait to read the next book of this trilogy

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Sep 30, 2010 Tressa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

This was a good sequel to Scandalous. Once again, the characters were intriguing. I also found the moral decisions made by the characters fascinating.

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Sep 23, 2012 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

2nd in a trilogy - tells the story of the middle sister in early 1800 England society. Don't know that I will become a Karen Robard fan, but I will read #3 to finish and find out which husband sister Beth chooses.

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Jun 09, 2010 Lacey Weatherford rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had a hard time finding anything Irrestistable about this book. There were of course elements through out that I liked but overall I had a really hard time getting into it for some reason.

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May 17, 2012 Leiah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good plot and characters, but the narration was painfully verbose. 400 pages could have easily been 300 with some editing.

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About Karen Robards

Karen was born on 24 August 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. She has been writing since she was a teenager. She sold her first short story, when was very young, and was published in the December 1973 Reader's Digest, but she cannot sold her first romance novel until 1981, when she was 24. After it, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career. Today, a regular on the New York Times...more

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Irresistible (Banning Sisters #2)

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