Irresistible Challenge ISBN 978-1-59705-990-9
REVIEWS:
"Irresistible Challenge is a delightful read of second chances. Andrew threw it all away when Amy was younger but she was giving him another chance. Andrew made sacrifices of his own to win the woman he loves. Andrew was the challenge and was irresistible to Amy, but will Amy see past the lies of a woman scorned? If you like to read about second chances then you’ll enjoy this story. It was also amusing to see Amy frustrated by Andrew as she had no idea what he was up to."
PAM at A Romance Review 3 and a half roses.
"Irresistible Challenge is a most enjoyable read. With refreshing characters and a well-written storyline the reader is immediately drawn into a family at odds with each other. Amy is a believable character who is often confronted with so many obstacles; she is often faced with much anger. Andrew’s sexy charm transcends through the pages and he is a likeable person. Ms. McGill does a good job in creating a friendship that begins in the early years and lasts into the later years with strong feelings that are sometimes hard to let go as real issues ensue. I liked her comment about the magic ingredient that marriage needs. She creates a hometown, adds some delightful main characters, then blends some secondary ones into a storyline that often rings true to make this one irresistible read with emotions that dance through the pages. This is a story that this reader thoroughly enjoyed and comes highly recommended."
Linda L 5 ANGELS --- RECOMMENDED READ at
"Irresistible Challenge is a seductive read that forces Amy to choose between her head and her heart. I enjoyed watching Andrew court Amy and try to woo her. His feelings are obvious to the reader, but as with any woman in love, Amy only feels confusion and passion when faced with Andrew’s growing ardor. Community is another essential element to this story and Ms. McGill captivated me with her tale of a football club finally gaining the respect they deserve. However, it was the story of Amy and Andrew’s connection that truly capture the sweet spirit of this story. Though Amy can be a bit frustrating because she constantly doubts Andrew, this was a minor squabble in the whole scheme of the story. Overall, Irresistible Challenge proved to be pure reading pleasure. A sweet and touching romance that relied only on strong characters and true love."
"I have to admit once I started to read it was very hard for me to walk away from the story. The need to find out who Amy was going to choose and what was going to happen was truly overpowering. Although not a typical romance reader, more of the suspense/thriller books, Irresistible Challenge did indeed capture my attention.
Tricia McGill showcases her talent as a multi-published author with this novel so much so it prods me to pick up another of her books. A great read. Lea Schizas – Founder and Muse Book Reviewer
"Tricia McGill writes a tender love story that will melt your heart and have you wanting to smack some sense into Amy. Irresistible Challenge is good reading especially when you turn inward to look at yourself and your insecurities."
"Rarely is a reader compelled to finish a book without stopping for some reason, at the end of a chapter, because nature calls or some other outside cause. The sexual tension in IRRESISTIBLE CHALLENGE is drawn as taunt as a bowstring, you cannot stop reading. The heroine, Amy is a strong independent woman who remains in love with her high school crush. The road to happiness is fraught with self doubt, but love will out.
Tricia McGill has crafted a time proven love story in a fashion that leaves you wanting more. Even the author’s notes add to the story. I will look for more of Tricia McGill. On the mascara scale (meaning it will run as the emotion grabs you) IRRESISTIBLE CHALLENGE rates a 5."
A. Dee Carey Wings fantasy novelist THE FOX LADY www.adeecarey.com
"Set against a backdrop of a small town, Tricia McGill has written a wonderful contemporary romance with real characters. With football (soccer) Australian style as the reason for his return Andrew, once the local sports hero, leaves the big city to coach and play for the local team.
Amy, rejected as a teenager by the handsome hero, can’t believe he’s back. After her rejection, Amy turned to Andrew’s younger brother, Tony, a real charmer and also a team player. As the story develops, it become clear that Amy is still in love with Andrew, but she’s a country girl and he’s lived and worked in the big city. Certainly not in her class. Amy has a lot to learn.
This contemporary romance has it all. A classic plot, a collection of interesting characters including a dog and cat who rides in the basket of a bike, and a satisfying resolution. This is a quick and enjoyable read."
Allison Knight, author of Simon's Brides Wings ePress Inc.
"Amy Morgan, a small town girl in Australia, grows up with the Bowen orphans, Tony and Andrew Bowen. Now, at age twenty-two, she has the choice to marry one of the brothers. But, will it be Tony her dependable, steady companion, or Andrew, who inflames her passions? She loves them both. How in the world can she choose without hurting the other one?
Tricia McGill writes a compelling romance with realistic concerns that any young woman might experience when faced with the prospect of marrying one of two friends.
JoEllen Conger. Rating: 4 cups
EXCERPT
There were about twenty men on the oval, and they were kicking a ball back and forth amid shouts of encouragement from the small crowd of onlookers. Amy was acutely conscious of the tall, dark man who came to stand beside her.
“Good evening, Amethyst,” he said quietly, and the sound of that voice sent sparks zinging to her nerve endings. “Bit cool, isn’t it?” He rubbed his palms together.
No one ever called her by her full name now. Well, no one but Andrew and her parents on rare occasions. The last time he’d used it had been one of those treasured moments frozen in time. Just before her fifteenth birthday, on a magnificent day in spring, Amy and the two brothers had been walking in the woods adjacent to the football oval. Even then Andrew had been powerfully built, and she had been mesmerised by his charm. They’d always been active, and this day Tony had disappeared momentarily to retrieve a ball he’d kicked into some bushes. Andrew stopped, and for the first time seemed to notice Amy as something other than a child he’d grown up with. Threading his fingers through her hair, he’d made the breath catch in her throat as he’d said softly, “I wonder if your parents ever realised how apt your name is.”
Amy had been unable to do anything but stare mutely into his brown eyes as she slowly shook her head.
“Amethyst is a kind of quartz, did you know that?”
Still her voice had lodged in her throat because he continued to let her hair drift through his fingers. At that time it had fallen in a straight thick, mass way past her shoulders.
“It sometimes has traces of gold in its crystals. Your hair is pure gold, Amy. Amethyst is purplish or bluish violet--exactly the colour of your eyes.”
Amy licked her lips, which had gone dry as well as her throat. His long lashes brushed his cheeks as he half closed his eyes to watch his fingers moving through her hair.
“Actually my dad named me,” she got out at last, feeling a blush heat her cheeks. “He bought Mum a quartz clock before I was born. They vowed to call each of their daughters after a precious gemstone.” Trying for a laugh she cursed inwardly when it came out as a soft nervous squeak. “Ruby and Pearl were to come next, but fortunately... or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, they were blessed with only me.”
Tony chose that moment to return, and the illusion was shattered. Soon after that Andrew had his awful crash on the football field, then decided to leave town. Before he left to make his fortune in the city, Amy made a disastrous confession of love.
“Don’t be silly, you’re little more than a child,” he’d scornfully told her. “What do you know of love?”
“Enough to know I’ll always love you,” she cried. Even now she cringed at her naiveté. “When I’m twenty you’ll only be twenty-eight. The eight years difference won’t matter then.”
She’d been inconsolable when he’d made the decision to leave town and head for the city.
Well, here she was at twenty-two, and everyone presumed she would marry Tony.
“I see your dress sense hasn’t altered,” Andrew remarked, flicking a finger on the front of her windcheater. She managed to feel like the schoolgirl she’d been then. “It’s still hard to tell if you’re male or female beneath all the layers you wrap yourself up in.”
Amy slapped his hand away. Only Andrew had the power to hurt her with a few playful words. “And I see you’re still as arrogant as ever. Why is it you think your opinion matters to me or anybody?” She was annoyed with herself for rising to the bait. Only Andrew had ever made her feel self-conscious, casting slurs on her dress sense when she had been agonisingly trying to please him in every way. “It’s cold, as you said, and this is the warmest coat I possess.” Why she was wasting time making excuses she didn’t know. But Andrew brought out that side in her.
She ignored him--or tried to. After a few moments she couldn’t resist saying, “Tony tells me you’re considering hanging around these parts for a while.”
“I might be.” It was hard to tell by those few words if he was serious.
“I suppose you know they all think I could have influence on you. Somehow, some bright spark has presumed that I have the power to persuade you to have a go at coaching the team.” Her attempt at sarcasm went awry.
Andrew’s snort told her little. “Perhaps you could try,” he suggested with a soft chuckle. “Now that would be interesting. What exact means of persuasion did you have in mind?” His drawl did strange things to her insides. Amy bent to stroke Jess’s head to hide her confusion.
“I had none in mind.” She straightened and looked directly at him. Then wished she hadn’t. He reached out and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The small action made her tremble. “It wasn’t my idea.”
“I guessed that.” His hand dropped, and she turned away to stare at the footballers.
“I assured Tony I would have no influence on you whatsoever. I have no idea where they got the idea that I could sway the mighty Andrew Bowen to do something he didn’t want to do.”
“It might be interesting to see you try. Go on, talk me around.”
“Don’t be silly.” She was the one being silly. And she knew it.
After a few moments silence he said, “I haven’t the slightest intention of taking up football again.”
“That I guessed.”
He shrugged, pushing his hands into his trouser pockets. “The game owes me nothing. I gave the best years of my youth to this team, and what did I get for my efforts?” He let out a soft grunt. “One injured shoulder, and a reconstructed knee.” He flexed his leg.
Amy agreed with him. He would be a fool to take up the sport again that had almost shattered him. But she said nothing.
“No, thanks,” he said scornfully. “I’ll stick to the sidelines.” Right then the ball landed at his feet. With a careless flick of the wrist Andrew tossed it back onto the oval. With a soft curse he grumbled, “It’s no wonder they’re near the bottom of the league. Bert’s useless.”
“Don’t blame Bert for their performance,” she retorted. “He’s been up against enormous odds lately. His wife has been very sick, yet he’s been trying to hold the team together while caring for her.” She stared at the players.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” He sounded genuinely regretful for his outburst. Which he probably was. For all his faults he’d never been vindictive.
“What they need is a young man with vitality and energy to drive them on,” she said.
“And I take it you think I’m this vital person with unlimited energy and drive?” He sounded amused.
“No way!” Amy tossed her head. “I wouldn’t waste my time trying to persuade you. But Tony thinks the sun shines out of those famous feet.” She gestured at his jogging shoes. “And half--probably three quarters--of Yewbank residents are convinced that inside your cold exterior sits the reincarnation of your great, late father.”
He gave her a thoughtful look but said no more. While his attention was taken up with the activity on the oval she snatched glances at his profile. Suddenly, as if aware she had been studying him surreptitiously, he turned his gaze full on her. Amy jerked her head round in her agitation, just in time to see Goldie leap from the basket.
“Goldie,” she scolded as the cat wandered toward them.
Andrew laughed. “Does that peculiar animal catch many mice?” he asked.
“She’s not peculiar.” She sniffed. “And no, I suspect she wants a playmate when she stalks the mice. They don’t realise this of course and run--and she of course gives chase.”
“She’s unusual all right. Like her owner.” The cat chose that moment to hurl itself at Andrew’s legs. He side-stepped with amazing grace. The practice match had finished by now. Andrew bent to stroke Jess. “Allow me to walk you home,” he said.
“Jess is quite capable of walking by herself, thanks.” Amy picked the cat up and tickled its belly.
Andrew’s chuckle made Amy’s heart miss a beat. “You know what I meant.”
“Thank you, but we’re capable of seeing ourselves home.” He walked to her bicycle with her and watched as she put the cat in the basket. “Tony always walks me home after practice anyway.”
Andrew looked over a shoulder. “Tony appears to be busy,” he said. Tony was surrounded by a group of admiring youngsters. “I’m seeing Amy home,” Andrew called, and Tony waved. He seemed completely unconcerned that his brother had taken on the task usually reserved for him. That was Tony all over--worry-free and nonchalant. It aggravated her, but as Andrew fell into step beside her when she began to push her bike toward the path she always took, she had to admit that she was pleased.
But when he asked casually, “Are you in love with Tony?” all pleasure faded.
“I beg your pardon?” She stopped, but in the darkness beneath the trees she couldn’t see his features.
“You heard. I asked if you’re in love with my brother.”
“That is absolutely none of your business.”
“Oh, but it is,” he argued. “I would hate to think that my baby brother was contemplating marriage with a woman who didn’t love him as deeply as he loves her.”
Amy faltered at this. Of course he was simply worried about Tony’s feelings. “I’m marrying him, aren’t I?” She heard the uncertainty in her voice and walked ahead.
He easily caught up with her. “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Perhaps not. I’ll ask you a question you once asked of a naïve fifteen-year- old. What do you know of love?”
“Enough.”
“Oh, of course.” They had emerged from the trees, and she could see him clearly now in the light of the pale moon. “Silly me--of course the man about town who has the pick of all those career women with all the answers knows all there is to know about everything, including affairs of the heart.”
“Why are you so dead set on branding me a city slicker, Amy? Just because I went away to earn a living, doesn’t mean that I’m any different to what I was when I lived here.”
That’s what you think, she wanted to yell.
“We’re not all made the same. Not everyone stays in their home town all their life--in fact more people leave small towns to head for the city. Like me, they work hard and like me get where they are by sheer hard work and honest slog, I can assure you.”
“I’m not disputing that you’re a hard worker.” That was a lame remark.
“Well, thanks. Rest assured that no one helped me gain my wealth and position. And it’s ridiculous of you to suggest that I’ve changed. I’ve simply matured, and gained a sizable bank account along the way.”
They had reached the gate to Amy’s home. Goldie hopped from the basket and bounded into the garden. Jess stood there, wagging her tail, as if waiting to see where this line of conversation went.
“You neatly side-stepped my original question,” Andrew said, staring at her. She could see him clearly now in the moonlight--but still could not read his expression.
“I did? What question was that?”
Her flippant response seemed to anger him. “Do you know,” he said, “I don’t believe you know any more about love than you did as a starry-eyed teenager.”
“That’s something you’ll never know, isn’t it?” When he caught her by the upper arms, Amy swallowed. “Let me go,” she said through trembling lips.
He seemed surprised that he held her, and dropped his hands sharply.
“I suppose you’re an expert on the subject of love--living in the city and all.”
He shook his head. “There you go again. You have a strange idea of the behaviour of city-dwellers. But to answer your claim, I wouldn’t put myself up as any sort of expert on human behaviour. But I can define the difference between real love and infatuation.”
“Clever you.” That sarcastic remark annoyed him. “Look, I care for Tony a great deal. And I will never do anything to hurt him. I don’t really give a fig what you think of me.” Liar! He reached for her again, and this time his hands landed on her waist. “I told you to let go of me,” she said huskily.
“Once you cared a great deal what I thought.” He ignored her order this time and moved closer. Amy felt as if she was secured in a tender trap. “Has the barrier between us built up so high that you can’t even consider my opinion?”
“The barrier is one of your own making.” Her mouth quivered. The space between them was so slight that had she moved a hair’s breadth she would be pressed against the solid length of him. “I have no desire to break down that barrier.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You’d better believe it, Andrew. I may have been just a starry-eyed kid to you, but you made me feel emotions I was far too young to understand. You should have been mature enough to deal with it with more sensitivity. You betrayed my young trust, and believe it or not, you deprived me of something that should have been glorious.”
“I did?” Her statement had shocked him. He’d gone very still.
“Yes, you did. You deprived me of the glorious awakening of my sensuality--my...” Amy broke off. That was a very dangerous path to veer down. She’d said too much. Shrugging, she made an effort to break free of him.
But he pulled her closer, and now she was pressed against every hard inch of him. “I’m sorry for that,” he whispered, his lips almost touching hers.
“It’s too late for apologies.” Ashamed at the response of her body, she strained away from him. But before she could escape, his mouth descended the last inch and claimed hers.
The kiss was far too short. Before she’d had time to savour the moment he let her go, stepped back, and said gruffly, “It’s never too late.”
Amy was still trembling hard in the aftershocks of the short but sweet kiss when he strode off. She touched her lips as she took a few deep breaths. No, she was not going to let him get away with one apology and a kiss. And what that kiss meant she had no idea. He was right in one respect--she was still as green as she’d been at fifteen. In all honesty how could she admit to having grown up? All she’d known was the all-enveloping infatuation she’d held for Andrew and since then the comfortable, companionable relationship with his young brother.
