Love Matched

de Laney Hatcher (2023) SmartyPants Romance

Résumé : There are three things you need to know about Lady Cassandra Fields:
1. Despite being beloved, this diamond of the first water has yet to land a husband.
2. Her bold personality and giving heart help fuel her charitable endeavors.
3. She’s looking for adventure--something beyond ballgowns, drawing rooms, and her ladylike skill with needle and thread.

Thus far, Cassandra’s abysmal luck has kept her from reaching her goals. With no husband and no household, she’s beginning to wonder if she has a future at all. A surprising encounter with a cunning thief brings more to light than Cassandra is prepared to handle. But the lady has never backed down from a challenge, and it seems this mystery man might have finally met his match.

When circumstances, once again, threaten Lady Cassandra’s dreams, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her careful plans for the thief who has stolen her heart.

Note : 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

C'est au tour de Love Hacked de Penny Reid, d'avoir sa réécriture façon romance historique. Dans les 2 précédents romans, on a pu avoir un petit aperçu d'un valet qui se permettait des réactions inappropriées à chaque fois qu'il se passait un désastre autour de Cassandra. Tous les jeunes hommes qui s'approchent d'elle subissent des accidents : le dernier en date est un qui a manqué de s'étouffer avec un bout de citron dans sa limonade...

Cassandra l'a remarqué, ce valet est présent à tous les évènements mondains où elle va et en plus il semble toujours être à proximité d'elle et se moquer de l'infortune des pauvres soupirants. Un soir, elle en a assez, elle le repère s'éclipsant d'une soirée et le suit jusque dans le bureau de son père où il tente de voler quelque chose ! Il est de plus en plus intriguant.

Après avoir enfin appris son nom, Alexander, et échanger un langoureux baiser, Cassandra ne peut s'empêcher de chercher le contact avec lui. Pour une fois, un jeune homme n'a pas peur de sa personnalité exubérante et la challenge à chaque discussion. Elle sait qu'elle ne devrait pas se prendre d'affection pour un valet/voleur, mais elle n'en a que faire, avec Alexander les codes sociaux volent en éclats.

Mais s'attacher à Alexander n'est pas sans risque, surtout quand cela attire l'attention du truand pour qui il vole...

Comme les deux premiers tomes, cette réécriture historique s'empare de l'intrigue originale, la réadapte au contexte, propose une nouvelle interprétation, mais tout en restant fidèle à l'esprit et aux personnages de Penny Reid. On retrouve Love Hacked tout au long du roman, on prend plaisir à découvrir comment l'auteur va se sortir du contexte contemporain et faire évoluer l'histoire. Et comme pour les premiers, cela m'a donné envie de relire les Tricoteuses !

It's Love Hacked by Penny Reid's turn to have its historical rewrite. In the two previous novels, we were able to get a little glimpse of a footman who allowed himself inappropriate reactions every time a disaster happened around Cassandra. All the young men who approach her suffer accidents : the latest is one who almost choked on a piece of lemon in his lemonade...

Cassandra has noticed him, this footman is present at all the social events she goes to and what's more, he always seems to be close to her and makes fun of the poor suitors' misfortune. One evening, she has had enough, she spots him slipping away from a party and follows him to her father's study where he tries to steal something ! It's more and more intriguing.

After finally learning his name, Alexander, and exchanging a languid kiss, Cassandra can't help but seek him out. For once, a young man is not afraid of her exuberant personality and challenges her in every discussion. She knows that she shouldn't take a liking to a footman/thief, but she doesn't care, with Alexander the social codes are shattered.

But becoming attached to Alexander is not without risk, especially when it attracts the attention of the ruffian for whom he is stealing...

Like the first two volumes, this historical rewriting takes the original plot, readapts it to the context, offers a new interpretation, but while remaining faithful to the spirit and characters of Penny Reid. We find Love Hacked throughout the novel, we enjoy discovering how the author will get out of the contemporary context and make the story evolve. And like the first ones, it made me want to reread Knitting in the City !

 

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All Mixed Up

de Heidi Hutchinson (2023) SmartyPants Romance

Résumé : Nikki has a lot going on at the moment.

She’s the best sound engineer and mixer at XY Records, she’s working on a super-secret project with a pop megastar, and holding the busier-than-usual studio together.

The last thing she wants or needs is her ex-fiancé to start working in the studio over the summer. She’s over it—him. Obviously. Being ghosted has that effect. But working near someone she used to love has made her life that much more complicated.

Andre has it all figured out. Two and half years ago he had no idea what he was doing when he walked away from the love of his life. But time has given him perspective, and he’s grown up. Which is why the paleontology professor is working part-time at his ex’s recording studio. Because he wants to make amends. And maybe win her back.

Will Nikki give him the chance he thinks he’s ready for? Or will it be her turn to walk away from him?


Note : 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥


Nikki et André se connaissent depuis plusieurs années, il y a 2 ans ils ont failli se fiancer et puis tout à capoté : André a paniqué et n'a plus donné de nouvelles à Nikki pendant tout ce temps. Aujourd'hui, il est recruté pour faire des rénovations dans le studio où travaille Nikki, ces deux-là vont avoir beaucoup de choses à se dire.

André sait qu'il a merdé il y a 2 ans, il a laissé l'influence toxique de son père réveiller ses anxiétés et a pensé qu'il ne méritait pas d'être avec Nikki, qu'il n'était pas assez bien pour elle. Avec assez de recul sur son comportement, il s'en veut grandement et n'a jamais arrêté de penser à Nikki. Ce coup du destin est pour lui l'occasion de lui montrer qu'il a changé et espère que Nikki l'acceptera à nouveau dans sa vie même juste en tant qu'amis.

Nikki n'a jamais eu le fin mot de l'histoire, pourquoi André s'est évaporé et lui a brisé le coeur, elle voudrait le détester mais en découvrant ce "nouveau" André, ses anciens sentiments refont surface. Il est évident qu'il n'est plus le même et qu'il est même mieux maintenant qu'avant... Et puis il y a ses paires de bretelles qu'elle veut absolument attraper et lui claquer sur le torse xD.

Ce roman est l'histoire d'une seconde chance, d'acceptation des erreurs du passé et de nouveau départ sur une base plus solide. Le couple est choupi-chou, et puis j'ai beaucoup aimé le meilleur ami de Nikki, Asa, j'espère qu'il aura un bouquin lui aussi ♥

Nikki and André have known each other for several years, 2 years ago they almost got engaged and then everything fell apart: André panicked and stopped all communication with Nikki during all this time. Today, he is recruited to renovate the studio where Nikki works, and these two will have a lot to talk about.

André knows he screwed up 2 years ago, he let his father's toxic influence awaken his anxieties and thought he didn't deserve to be with Nikki, that he wasn't good enough for her. With enough perspective on his behavior, he blames himself greatly and has never stopped thinking about Nikki. This new job is his opportunity to show her that he has changed and hopes that Nikki will accept him back into her life even just as friends.

Nikki never got the end of the story, why André vanished and broke her heart, she would like to hate him but meeting this "new" André, her old feelings resurface. It's obvious that he's no longer the same and that he's even better now than before... And then there are his suspenders that she absolutely wants to grab and slap on his chest xD.

This novel is the story of a second chance, of accepting past mistakes and starting afresh on a more solid foundation. The couple is so cute, and I really liked Nikki's best friend, Asa, I hope he has a book too ♥


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Meet Your Matcha

de Nanxi Wen (2023) SmartyPants Romance

Résumé : Pippa Fleming is a woman who always has a plan… until she finally secures a coveted promotion and her dream job suddenly feels worse than getting caught under the sun as a redhead with no sunscreen. Exhausted and confused, Pippa seeks an escape by signing up for a reality dating show. Everyone is allowed one identity crisis, right? And where better to recharge than on a beach sipping cocktails with little umbrellas?

As long as she remembers she’s only here to have fun, not lose her heart…

“She was a walking red flag, so far out of my league that I couldn’t even see what league she was in.”

August Weather is laid back and content with his quiet life. But when his sister nominates him for a reality dating show, he sees it as a chance to experience the world outside of his small town. What he didn’t expect was to fall for someone like Pippa. She’s his complete opposite – prickly, vivacious, full of adventure and big dreams… and despises him on sight.

Except, he can’t stop thinking about her and finding out what lies beneath her guarded surface…

When the whirlwind of the show throws them together, Pippa and August discover how wrong first impressions can be. But, can their newfound connection survive the real world? Or will their differences sweep their love match out to sea?


Note : 3/5 ♥♥♥

Malheureusement je n'ai pas autant accroché à cette romance qu'avec les précédentes, ça arrive parfois que ni les personnages, ni leur histoire, ni le thème nous attire... Et ce fut le cas pour celui-là, j'ai mis plus de 2 semaines à le finir, alors qu'en quelques jours ça peut être plié quand je suis happée par une lecture, si ça c'est pas un signe ?

Première raison évidente du non-intérêt pour moi : les deux héros sont inscrits malgré eux à une télé-réalité pour trouver l'amour sur une île paradisiaque, un pitch super cliché. J'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer dedans, on ne sait pas vraiment ce que font les participants dans cette émission, on est beaucoup dans la tête des héros, leur rencontre et comment ils vont chacun s'intéresser à l'autre alors ça partait un peu mal vue leur vie diamétralement opposée et leurs préjugés. Bon, et au moment où je prend goût à lire leur aventure, le tournage s'arrête et on passe sur la 2e partie du roman, l'après dans la vie réelle.

Ici, 2eme raison : August propose à Pippa de se fréquenter en dehors du contexte de l'émission pour voir si leur attraction mutuelle vaut la peine de s'investir dans une relation. Je vais pas vous mentir, à peine cette partie commencée, j'ai posé le livre pendant 4 jours avant de le reprendre pour lui donner sa chance jusqu'à la fin. Mais bon, je suis pas arrivée à couiner sur ce couple, ils sont mignon, mais ils manquaient tous les deux un petit truc en plus : surtout pour August, trop lisse, Pippa était plus ancré dans un contexte familiale particulier.

Cette romance n'est pas mal écrite, ce n'est pas parce qu'elle n'a pas fonctionné avec moi que ce sera forcément le cas avec d'autres. J'ai quand même aimé certains aspects du livre : la confrontation de Pippa avec ses parents, tout n'est pas parfait mais on comprend son caractère et la fin laisse envisager pour elle une évolution dans le bon sens ; j'ai aimé la soeur d'August et si elle était pas déjà en couple avec enfants, j'aurais aimé avoir un livre avec elle ^^ .

Unfortunately I didn't liked this romance as much as the others, sometimes it happens that neither the characters, nor their story, nor the theme attracts us... And that was the case for this book, I took more than 2 weeks to finish it, whereas I can finish a boook in a few days when I get caught up in it, is that not a sign ?

First obvious reason for my lack of interest : the two heroes are unwillingly enrolled in a reality TV show to find love on a paradise island, a super cliché story. I had a little trouble getting into it, we don't really know what the participants are doing in this show, we just follow the heroes, their meeting and how they will be interested in each other even though they have a bad start considering their diametrically opposed lives and their prejudices. Well, and the moment I enjoyed reading their adventure, the filming stops and we move on to the 2nd part of the novel, the aftermath in real life.

Here, 2nd reason : August suggests that he and Pippa meet outside of the show to see if their mutual attraction is worth investing in a relationship. I'm not going to lie to you, as soon as I started this part, I put the book down for 4 days before picking it up again to give it a chance until the end. But hey, I couldn't swoon for this couple, they're cute, but they were both missing a little something : especially August, who was too bland, Pippa was more anchored in a particular family context.

This romance isn't poorly written, just because it didn't work with me doesn't mean it won't necessarily work with others. I still liked certain aspects of the book : Pippa's confrontation with her parents, everything is not perfect but we understand her character and the ending suggests that her situation is evolving in the right direction; I liked August's sister and if she wasn't already in a relationship with kids, I would have liked to have a book with her ^^.

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