Code of Ethics

d'April White - SmartyPants Romance 2021

Résumé : There are three things you need to know about Oliver:
1) He’s a fabulously wealthy playboy who incidentally happens to be a code-writing genius,
2) For maybe the first time in his life, he’s trying to do the right thing, and
3) Someone wants him dead.

Oliver’s life has already been saved once by the gorgeous yet grumpy “close protection specialist” provided by Cipher Security, Dallas. She calls him uncooperative. He’d prefer to think of himself as unpredictable and stimulating.

But when an assassin gets way too close for comfort, the party boy is whisked away from the lively city where he’s the social king, to the desolate Yukon wilderness where Dallas is a master of survival (and grumpiness). Living wild and isolated reveals several illuminating truths, and suddenly they both find themselves in uncharted territory where grumpy can be sexy, sarcasm might be hot, capable is definitely dangerous, and trust is the strongest survival skill of all.


Au premier contact, il est difficile d'imaginer que Dallas et Oliver finiront ensemble, tellement ils sont à l'opposé l'un de l'autre. Même en tant que lecteur, on se demande ce qui pourra bien se passé pour que ces deux-là amorce une manoeuvre de rapprochement... Il faudra des assassins et une fuite dans le Yukon sauvage.

Quelqu'un veut tuer Oliver pour l'empêcher de diffuser un programme informatique très utile, Dallas est chargée de sa protection rapprochée. Mais quand ils manquent de se faire tuer plusieurs fois, la meilleure solution est d'aller se perdre dans la nature. Dallas emmène donc Oliver dans le domaine de sa famille, au fin fond du Yukon, en plein hiver. Fini le confort de son appartement, Oliver est projeté dans un modeste chalet sans eau courante ni électricité, avec Dallas pour lui apprendre les règles de base de la survie en milieu hostile.

Ai-je précisé au début, que Dallas et Oliver n'étaient pas trop fan de l'un de l'autre ? Tous deux vont devoir mettre leurs opinions de côté, travailler ensemble, se soutenir et se protéger. L'isolation et la proximité forcées, vont les faire s'ouvrir à l'autre et partager plus d'eux-mêmes que ce qu'on voit en surface. Il y a plus de profondeur et de blessure derrière l'image d'enfant gâté d'Oliver ; il y a plus de vibrance et d'émotions dans le coeur de Dallas derrière cette attitude distante et glaciale.

La famille de Dallas est issue des Premières Nations du Canada, lorsqu'Oliver se prépare à la rencontrer, il demande à Dallas de lui raconter son histoire : les traditions, le mode de vie, les évènements tragiques... Dès qu'ils arrivent dans le Yukon, on fait connaissance avec le conte du loup et du corbeau, je vous laisserais découvrir le rapprochement avec nos héros ;)

Je dirais que pour ce romantic suspense, c'est pas tant la romance le plus intéressant, mais plus l'histoire de vie des personnages et en particulier celle de Dallas : son rapport à son identité, les liens avec sa famille.

In the beginning, it's hard to imagine that Dallas and Oliver will end up together, as they are so opposed to each other. Even as a reader, one wonders what could possibly happen for these two to initiate a "get closer" maneuver... It will take assassins and an escape into the wild Yukon.

Someone wants to kill Oliver to prevent him from broadcasting a very useful computer program, Dallas is in charge of his close protection. But when they nearly get killed several times, the best solution is to go get lost in nature. Dallas takes Oliver to her family's home ground, deep in the Yukon, in the middle of winter. No more comfy apartment, Oliver is thrown into a modest cabin with no running water or electricity, with Dallas to teach him the basic rules of survival in a hostile environment.

Did I say, that Dallas and Oliver weren't too much of a fan of each other ? Both will have to put their opinions aside, work together, support and protect each other. The forced isolation and proximity will make them open up to each others and share more of themselves than what we see. There is more depth and hurt behind Oliver's spoiled child image ; there is more vibrance and feelings in the heart of Dallas behind this her distant and icy attitude.

Dallas' family is from the First Nations of Canada, when Oliver is about to meet them, he asks Dallas to tell him her story: the traditions, the way of life, the tragic events... As soon as they arrive in the Yukon, we learn the tale of the wolf and the raven, I'll let you discover the connection with our heroes ;)

I would say that for this romantic suspense, the romance isn't the most interesting bit, but the life story of the characters and in particular Dallas' stoty : her connection to her identity, the links with her family.

 

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Totally Folked

de Penny Reid (2021).

Résumé : Jackson James follows the rules. He has to. He’s a sheriff’s deputy in a super small town with a super big personality. However, strict adherence to the law during the day has been enjoyably balanced by rakish rules at night. Jackson, typically happy to protect and serve (and serve, and serve), starts questioning the value of wayward evenings when getting laid starts to feel more like being waylaid. Could it be that Green Valley’s most eligible—and notorious—bachelor longs for something (and someone) real?

Mega movie star Raquel Ezra follows only one rule: always leave them wanting more. Studio execs, reporters, audiences, fans, lovers—no one can get enough of the smart, savvy, and sexy bombshell. But when “generous offers” begin to feel more like excessive demands, years of always leaving has the elusive starlet longing for something (and perhaps someone) lasting.

When Raquel abruptly returns to the quirky Tennessee hamlet, her path crosses with the delectable deputy with whom she spent one unforgettable night. Unfortunately, scandal and intrigue soon follow. Raquel and Jackson must decide which is more important: following their rules? Or, at long last, finding something real.

Vous pensiez connaître Jackson James ? Le shérif adjoint de Green Valley, éternel célibataire, a bien changé depuis ses premières apparitions dans les livres sur les Winston Brothers, où son personnage était hyper agréable. Quelques année après sa rencontre sexy avec Raquel Ezra au mariage de Jethro et Sienna (novella Just Folking Around), Jackson a envie d'une vie paisible avec une relation stable, un "pour toujours" qu'il voit se produire tout autour de lui...

Jackson en a fait du chemin pour devenir un héros super couinant. Déjà dans Been There Done That on a commencé à le voir sous une autre facette, assez intéressante d'ailleurs ^^. Jackson s'est métamorphosé en un mec bien, sexy, en qui on peut avoir confiance, qui est prêt à faire ce qu'il faut... C'est simple, après ce livre, on veut toutes avoir un Jackson à la maison ♥ . Tout a changé pour Jackson le jour où il a rencontré Raquel/Rae, il ne l'a jamais oublié et quand il la revoit des années plus tard, c'est toujours mega super hot entre eux.

Rae est devenu très rapidement une méga star à Hollywood, tout le système commence à lui monter à la tête : son assistance est insupportable, sa maison est devenue une forteresse imprenable, et en prime on lui demande de faire un scandale pour se venger de la tromperie de son faux-fiancé/co-star... Que des bonnes raisons pour venir sa cacher chez Sienna à Green Valley, oh et puis peut-être que le sexy deputy sherif est toujours là ?

Grâce à cette pause, Rae prend conscience des choses négatives dans sa vie qu'elle laissait faire et de celles qu'elles faisaient parce qu'on le lui disait. Aux côtés de Jackson et d'autres habitants de Green Valley, elle recentre ses priorités et ses envies à elle. En haut de sa liste, il y a un certain blondinet barbu qui porte trop bien l'uniforme...

Tout n'est pas forcément gagné d'avance pour Rae et Jackson, leur vision de la vie qu'ils aimeraient avoir n'est pas toujours interprétée de la même façon par l'autre, parfois il faut un petit coup de pousse de certains Winston et du gâteau au chocolat pour se remettre sur la même longueur d'onde.

Un livre que je recommande vivement pour les habitué.es de Penny Reid et qui peut aussi être lu en premier pour celles et ceux qui veulent découvrir l'auteur.

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You think you know Jackson James ? The eternal bachelor of Green Valley's and deputy sheriff has changed a lot since his first appearances in the Winston Brothers books, where his character wasn't super nice. A few years after his sexy meeting with Raquel Ezra at Jethro and Sienna's wedding (novella Just Folking Around ), Jackson longs for a peaceful life with a stable relationship, a "forever" that he sees happening all around him...

Jackson has come a long way to be a swooning super hero. Already in Been There Done That we began to see another facetof his character, and one quite interesting indeed ^^. Jackson has morphed into a good, sexy guy who can be trusted, who is ready to do the right thing... It's simple, after this book, we will all want to have a Jackson at home ♥. Everything changed for him the day he met Raquel/Rae, he never forgot her and when he sees her again years later it's still mega super hot between them.

Rae became a mega star in Hollywood very quickly, the whole system begins to go to wear her down : her assistant is unbearable, her house has become an impregnable fortress, and as a bonus she is asked to make a scandal in revenge for her cheating fake-fiancé/co-star... All good reasons to come and hide at Sienna's house in Green Valley, oh and then maybe the sexy deputy sherif is still there ?

Through this break, Rae becomes aware of the negative things in her life that she let happen and the things she did because she was told to. Alongside Jackson and other residents of Green Valley, she refocuses her priorities and desires. At the top of hier list, there is a certain bearded blond wearing the uniform...

Everything is not easily won for Rae and Jackson, their vision of the life they would like to have is not always interpreted in the same way by the other, sometimes it takes a little push from some Winston and chocolate cake to get back on the same page.

A book that I highly recommend for Penny Reid regulars and which can also be read as a first for those who want to discover the author.

Just Folking Around

de Penny Reid (2021)

Résumé : Raquel Ezra loves to fish. With so many fish in the sea, she’s never had a problem baiting the hook or reeling them in. Raquel is a good actress, she can be anyone’s fantasy for a single night as long as they agree to be hers. Which is why she doesn’t think twice about spending an evening in nowhere Tennessee with a smokin’ hot, well-mannered, and intriguing sheriff’s deputy by the name of Jackson James.

Except, when the time comes, Raquel discovers that reality might just be better than any fantasy, and maybe she’s not ready to release this catch.


Cette novella surprise est le préquel du prochain livre de Penny Reid "Totally Folked" qui aura pour héros : Jackson James ! Personnage que l'on découvre dès Beauty and the Mustache et qui nous poursuis dans les Winston Brothers, il a enfin son histoire à lui :)

Ce préquel commence pendant le mariage de Sienna et Jethro, Raquel est une amie de Sienna, elle aussi actrice. Habituée aux grandes villes, Green Valley et son ambiance communautaire où tout le monde se connait ne lui plait pas trop. Cependant, elle est là pour faire la fête, et si en bonus elle peut passer du bon temps avec l'un des barbus qui pullulent de partout, ce serait parfait.

Cletus met alors Jackson sur le chemin de Raquel et l'attirance mutuelle est là, ils s'entendent bien, ce serait dommage de ne pas passer la soirée ensemble. Raquel est directe : elle ne veut rien de sérieux... Pour Jackson ce sera peut-être un peu plus difficile d'oublier sa rencontre avec elle...

This surprise novella is the prequel to Penny Reid's next book "Totally Folked" which will have Jackson James as its hero ! A character that we discovered in Beauty and the Mustache and who is present in the Winston Brothers books, he finally has his own story :)

This prequel begins during Sienna and Jethro's wedding, Raquel is a friend of Sienna, and also an actress. Used to big cities, Green Valley and its community atmosphere where everyone knows each other doesn't please her too much. However, she's here to party, and if she can have a good time with one of the bearded guys that swarm everywhere as an added bonus, that would be perfect.

Cletus then puts Jackson in Raquel's path and the mutual attraction is there, they get along well, it would be a shame not to spend the evening together. Raquel is clear : she doesn't want anything serious... For Jackson it might be a little more difficult to forget meeting her...