The One That I Want

de Piper Sheldon (2021) - Smartypants Romance

Résumé : There is no such thing as luck.

Roxy Kincaid isn’t a biker chick anymore. She’s made herself more than Jethro Winston’s castoff, and she’s never going back to her old life with the Iron Wraiths. But one summer night, a charming stranger threatens to sweep Roxy off her feet. Ignoring fate and their instant attraction, she has to get back to her real life in Green Valley. He couldn’t be the one that she wants when he’s exactly the thing that could ruin everything. If only she could stop thinking about him.

Luck is everything.

Sanders Olsson is going to fix his mistakes. He’s determined to show his best friend he’s a reliable business partner not the distracted flake he’s been lately. But he has to listen when the universe brings him a sign in the form of a guarded beauty he can’t keep his eyes off. Their instant connection is almost magical but she leaves without giving him even a last name. When fate gives Sanders a second chance in life and love, he sets out for Green Valley without a backward glance.

Their summer lovin’ happened so fast but what will it take to make it last ?


J'avais beaucoup aimé les deux premiers tomes de cette série, également écrit par Piper Sheldon, et donc celui-là ne déroge pas à la règle... En plus il réinterprète Grease, en changeant les rôles (Sandy=Sanders et Danny=Roxy), il manquerait que des numéros musicaux à ce roman ! Les deux héros sont très attachant, ils sont chacun des choses difficiles à surmonter mais on ne tombe jamais dans le trop plein dramatique.

Tout commence une soirée d'été, après un séminaire professionnel dans une autre ville, Roxy décide de passer sa dernière nuit à se détendre dans un bar. Alors qu'elle danse, son regard accroche celui de Sanders à travers la salle. S'ensuit une danse langoureuse, c'est le feux d'artifice entre eux, échange de baisers torrides. Mais ça ne va pas plus loin, Roxy préfère profiter de la nuit fraîche et de se promener tout en discutant avec Sanders, mais on aborde pas de sujets personnels. C'est la belle rencontre d'un soir entre 2 inconnus.

Un heureux concours de circonstance fait que Sanders apprend qui est Roxy. Leurs entreprises respectives se sont rencontrer à cette convention et souhaitent bosser ensemble. Sanders prend donc la place de son associé pour se rendre à Green Valley pour le business, mais bon c'est aussi pour revoir Roxy... Sauf que sa visite impromptue ne va pas forcément se passer comme il pensait...

Au premier abord, Sanders fait l'effet d'être un chiot golden retriever : tout mignon et adorable, qui court partout en couinant. Mais cet extérieur enthousiaste et extra positif cache évidemment une grande souffrance et, sans vouloir spoiler, sa façon de la gérer est tellement cohérente, c'est quelque chose qui pourrait arriver à n'importe qui, et cela rend son personnage si attachant.

Roxy, elle renvoit une image d'elle hyper sérieuse, j'irais pas jusqu'à dire austère mais dans son attitude elle reste assez dans sa bulle avec quelques exceptions de ses copines de la SWS qui connaissent son histoire. Son passé dans les Wraith la ronge et elle est déterminée à prouver qu'elle mérite son job et même l'amité des autres... Elle s'autorise très peu de lâcher prise, la dernière fois c'était avec le bel inconnu et encore, elle a failli retombée dans ses anciens comportements, intolérable ! Alors quand le bel inconnu débarque chez elle, tout son environnement bien contrôlé s'effondre petit à petit.

La romance entre ces deux là va doucement, même si on sent l'électricité passée entre eux, Piper Sheldon nous écrit deux héros à la vision très différente qui vont chacun se mettre face à leur conflit intérieur, mais surtout ne vont pas se servir de leur histoire d'amour pour se sauver (évidemment l'un va prendre la décision et l'autre va la "subir"), avant d'être heureux ensemble, chacun va apprendre à être heureux avec elle/lui-même.

I really liked the first two books of this series, also written by Piper Sheldon, and this one is no exception to the rule... In addition it's a Grease retell, reversing the roles (Sandy = Sanders and Danny = Roxy), the only thing missing are musical numbers ! The two heroes are very endearing, they have difficult things to overcome but we never fall into too much drama.

It all started one summer night, after a professional seminar in another city, Roxy decides to spend her last night relaxing in a bar. As she dances, her gaze catches Sanders' eyes across the room. A languid dance follows, it's electrifying between them, hot kisses happen. But it goes no further, Roxy prefers to enjoy the cool night and to walk around while chatting with Sanders, but no talk about personal matters. It is the beautiful meeting between 2 strangers.

A happy coincidence makes Sanders learn who Roxy is. Their respective companies met at this convention and wish to work together. Sanders therefore takes the place of his partner to go to Green Valley for business, but hey it's also to see Roxy again ... Except that his impromptu visit will not necessarily go as planned...

At first glance, Sanders looks like a golden retriever puppy : cute and adorable, running around squealing. But that enthusiastic, extra-positive exterior obviously hides a great pain and, without wanting to spoil it, his way of dealing with it is so consistent, it's something that could happen to anyone, and that makes his character so endearing.

Roxy sends back a very serious image of herself, I wouldn't go so far as to say austere, but in her attitude she stays in her bubble with a few exceptions of her friends from the SWS who know her story. Her past in the Wraith is eating her away and she is determined to prove that she deserves her job and even the friendship of others... She allows herself very little let go, the last time was with the handsome stranger and again, she almost fell back into her old habits, intolerable ! So when the handsome stranger arrives in her town, her whole well-controlled environment slowly collapses.

The romance between these two goes slowly, even if we feel the electricity between them, Piper Sheldon writes us two heroes with very different vision who show each other their internal conflict, but will not use their love story to save themselves (obviously one will make the decision and the other will "suffer" it), before being happy together, each will learn to be happy with himself / herself.

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Eye Candy

de Jiffy Kate (2021) - Smartypants Romance

Résumé : Vali Erickson is the classic middle child—misunderstood, underestimated, and overlooked. He’s fine with it. Really. The overlooked part is actually serving him well during this phase of life. He’s in Green Valley in an effort to fly under the radar and regroup after a life-altering blow to his heart and ego. The last thing he’s looking for is a woman to warm his bed until one throws him to the mat and rocks his world.

Margaret O’Neal is an only child who has led a sheltered life. She’s used to being a wallflower. Her ability to blend into the background is what allows her to maintain her anonymity as a gossip columnist for the Green Valley Ledger. Since the Ericksons moved to town, she's never felt more inspired, especially with the newest addition. Vali Erickson is the definition of eye candy—devastatingly handsome with muscles for days—giving her plenty to report about.

The more Maggie observes, the more she finds herself wanting things she’s only read about in romance novels. Admiring Vali from afar is good enough for her until their paths cross and she finds herself trying to stay afloat in uncharted territory—no labels, no promises, and WAY out of her comfort zone. Will this arrangement be what finally breaks her out of her shell, or will her heart be a casualty of the Viking Invasion ?


Malheureusement, même si le héros est un viking, ce roman ne fera pas partie de mes préférés. L'histoire n'est pas mauvaise, mais elle n'est pas exceptionnelle non plus, c'est grosso-modo du déjà-lu. J'ai pas trouvé d'originalité qui donne un petit truc en plus qui nous donne envie de nous attacher à nos héros.

Vali est le 3e frère de la fratrie Erickson que l'on rencontre, le tome 1 sur Cage reste pour moi, le meilleur bouquin pour le moment (il reste encore 2 frères...). Il arrive à Green Valley pour fuir Dallas où sa précédente relation amoureuse a pris fin brusquement quand il a découvert qu'il était l'amant d'une femme mariée. Il est donc là pour soigner con coeur meurtri et son amour-propre qui en a pris un coup... Sauf que dès qu'il aperçoit Maggie, c'est le coup de foudre, il veut absolument faire sa connaissance et en même temps il ne veut pas commencer une nouvelle relation... Bon la logique du personne est un peu paradoxale, ses actions ne sont pas très cohérentes avec son état d'esprit xD

En face on trouve Maggie, jeune fille quelconque dans le sens où elle n'est pas une figure de la vie sociale de Green Valley, elle habite toujours chez parents, travaille dans leur magasin de fourniture pour animaux. Elle ne sort pas, n'a presque pas d'amies... Mais elle a un secret : c'est elle qui écrit la chroniques des potins dans le journal local. Gros clin d'oeil à Lady Wistledown dans les Bridgerton ;) . Maggie a aussi un méga crush sur Vali Erickson, sur lequel elle consacre plusieurs de ses chroniques.

Bon leur histoire à tous les deux est mimi, mais sans suspense et sans difficultés. Autre détail : je crois que j'ai de plus en plus de mal avec des héroïnes qui penche du côté nunuche de la force, ingénue, qui ne connait rien à la vie. Dans la romance historique ça peut encore passer, mais dans le contemporain j'ai du atteindre mon quota, parce qu'elle n'a pas du tout attirer ma sympathie. Elle pas stupide, Maggie, mais c'est un clichée ambulant :( dommage...

Unfortunately, even though the hero is a Viking, this novel will not be one of my favorites. The story isn't bad, but it's not exceptional either, there is a lingering sens of déjà-vu. I havn't found originality that gives a little something else that makes us want to care about our heroes.

Vali is the 3rd brother of the Erickson siblings that we meet, the book 1 about Cage remains for me the best for the moment (there are still 2 brothers left...). He arrives in Green Valley fleeing Dallas where his previous romantic relationship ended abruptly when he found out he was the lover of a married woman. He is here to treat his broken heart and his self-esteem has taken a hit... Except that as soon as he sees Maggie, it's love at first sight, he absolutely wants to get to know her and at the same time he doesn't want to start a new relationship... Well his logic is a bit paradoxical, his actions are not very consistent with his state of mind xD

on the other side we find Maggie, a nondescript young girl in the sense that she is not a figure in the social life of Green Valley, she still lives with her parents, works in their animal supply store. She does not go out, has almost no friends... But she has a secret : she writes the gossip column in the local newspaper. Big wink to Lady Wistledown in the Bridgertons ;). Maggie also has a mega crush on Vali Erickson, about whom she devotes several of her columns.

Well, their story is cute, but without suspense and without difficulties. Another detail : I think I have more and more trouble with heroines who lean towards the ninny side of the Force, ingenuous, who knows nothing about life. In historical romance it can still pass, but in contemporary I had reach my quota, because I didn't care about her at all. She's not stupid, Maggie, but she's a walking cliché :( too bad ...

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Marriage and Murder

de Penny Reid (2021)

Résumé : Cletus Byron Winston wishes to marry Jennifer Anne Donner-Sylvester (aka The Banana Cake Queen) posthaste! He’s spent the last year wanting nothing more than for the celebrations to be brief, libations flowing, and BYOB (bring your own blueberries). His future mother-in-law has other plans, plans his intended has been willing to indulge, much to Cletus’s chagrin. Therefore, so must he. To a point. But truth be told, he wouldn’t mind if the meddlesome matriarch disappeared, at least until the nuptials are over.

On the night of Cletus and Jenn’s long-awaited engagement party, just when the surly schemer is of a mind to take matters into his own hands, a shocking event upends everyone’s best laid plans and sends the small hamlet of Green Valley into complete disarray. The final months leading up to Cletus and Jenn’s matrimonial bliss are plagued with chaos and uncertainty. Will Cletus and Jenn finally make it to the altar? Or will murder and mayhem derail their happily-ever-after ? And most importantly, who done it ?

"Marriage and Murder" est le 2e tome des cosy mystery, avec Cletus et Jenn.

L'histoire se passe presque 1 an après le premier livre (Engagement and Espionnage), le mariage de nos héros arrive à grand pas, mais tout d'abord Cletus doit survivre au dîner de répétition où presque toute la population de Green Valley a été conviée. Tout semble bien se passé jusqu'à l'apparition soudaine du père de Jennifer et de sa copine, alcoolisé. Après une provocation maitrisée, il est escorté dehors, la fête peut reprendre mais coup de théâtre : des coup de feux retentissent dehors, un mort est trouvé dans une voiture, des gens s'enfuient... et Diane Donner, la maman de Jennifer a disparu !

Lorsqu'on apprend qui est mort, Diane est présentée comme suspecte principale : elle est réapparut le lendemain matin, mais son alibi n'est pas terrible. Cependant Cletus et Jenn sont convaincu qu'elle n'est pas la coupable et vont tout faire pour trouver le ou les vrais coupable(s), tout en finalisant les derniers détails du mariage ^^

L'intrigue autour du meurtre est rudement bien menée, Penny nous amène d'un côté plus de l'autre, nous faisant parfois douter sur qui est suspect ou pas. Petit à petit nos futurs mariés apprennent ce qui s'est passé cette nuit, limite minute par minute, le suspense est bien dosé et ne monte pas trop vite en intensité.

Outre le côté cosy mystery, le gros point fort du roman (tout comme le tome 1) sont toutes les scènes qui nous replongent dans les vies de toute la fratrie Winston. On a le droit à de très belles discussions entre Cletus et quelqu'uns des autres ;) (même que ça ma donnez la larmichette parfois xD)

"Marriage and Murder" is the 2nd book of the cozy mystery, with Cletus and Jenn.

The story takes place almost 1 year after the book 1 (Engagement and Espionage), the marriage of our heroes is approaching fast, but first of all Cletus must survive the rehearsal dinner where almost the entire population of Green Valley has been invited. Everything seems to be going well until the sudden appearance of Jennifer's father, drunk and his girlfriend. After an almost successful provocation, he is escorted outside, the party can resume but there's a dramatic turn of event : gunshots sound outside, a dead man is found in a car, people are seen fleeing... and Diane Donner, Jennifer's mother has disappeared !

When we learn who is dead, Diane is presented as the main suspect : she reappeared the next morning, but her alibi is not that great. However Cletus and Jenn are convinced that she isn't the culprit and will do everything to find the real one(s), while finalizing the details of their marriage ^^

The plot around the murder is rudely well written, Penny takes us from one side to the other, sometimes making us doubt who is suspect or not. Little by little, our future bride and groom learn what happened that night, nearly minute by minute, the suspense is well balanced and does not rise too quickly in intensity.

Besides the cozy mystery side of the story, the big highlight of the novel (like volume 1) are all the scenes that take us back to the lives of all the Winston siblings. We have some very nice discussions between Cletus and some of the others ;) (even some that gave me close to tearfulness sometimes xD)

 

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