Down for the Word Count

de Piper Sheldon (2023)

Résumé : With a single phone call, I swapped my life of movie scripts and paparazzi for bedtime stories and skinned knees.

I always dreamed of having a family. As my two childhood friends settled down with partners of their own, I worried it was too late for me.
Until her. The beautiful woman who chased me down and stole my heart.
And to think she accused me of stealing.

After that awkward encounter, I thought I'd lost her for good. Then months later, I showed up at the only home I'd ever known to find the mystery woman, a precocious child in tow, and my aging father figure in desperate need of supervision. This incredible stranger took on more than she ever bargained for and needed help.

There was only one thing to be done.

Now I'm a single-sort-of-dad to a child who isn't my own and she's a kind-of-sort-of mom to her niece in need, as we work together to care for the man who helped raise me. I want nothing more than to take this role of a lifetime and make it last.

But this isn’t Hollywood and I’m just an actor.
I’m doing my best to support them all, but can my help ever be enough?


Note : 5/5 ♥♥♥♥♥

Down for the Word Count est le 3e et dernier tome de la série Unlucky in Love de Piper Sheldon, après Charlie et Kate, puis Emma et Wesley, c'est au tour d'Harrison de trouver son grand amour auprès de Frankie.

Harrison est le golden boy de l'Intrepid Trio, le seul continuant à jouer dans des films. Il n'a pas une mauvaise réputation, mais disons qu'il est plus celui qu'on appelle pour faire la fête que lorsqu'on a un soucis, seuls Charlie et Emma le connaissent très bien, pour le reste du monde, il est juste un acteur, presque cliché de lui-même. Cependant, depuis que ses deux meilleurs amis ont trouvé leur moitié, il commence à se lasser de son mode de vie et aspire à plus de tranquillité et d'avoir lui aussi quelqu'un à aimer.

Lorsqu'il apprend que Georges, l'auteur des livres dont a été adapté sa série TV, ne donne pas de nouvelles à son éditeur, il décide de lui rendre visiter pour vérifier que tout va bien, et en même temps faire un break auprès de celui qui a été comme un père pour lui.

La vie de Frankie a été chamboulée depuis quelques mois : sa soeur lui a laissé dans les bras sa fille de 6 ans, Colette, pour partir tenter sa chance et devenir actrice. Ne pouvant pas s'occuper de Colette tout seule, Frankie est venue vivre chez la seule personne qui lui a apporté de la stabilité : Georges. Il a été sa famille d'accueil quand elle était ado, et aujourd'hui il les accueille toutes les deux dans sa grande maison. Georges l'a embauché pour faire le tri dans toute son oeuvre : ses livres, ses notes, les interviews, les memorabilia etc...

Frankie n'a pas besoin de plus de complications, mais les complications arrivent quand même : d'abord avec Harrison, il souhaite l'aider à s'occuper de Georges et Colette, Frankie a du mal à lui faire confiance, d'autant qu'il réveille en elle toute sorte de sentiments qu'elle pensait ne plus éprouver.
Ensuite c'est la mère de Colette qui débarque en laissant de faux espoirs à sa fille, Frankie va devoir mettre les choses au clair avec sa soeur car Colette a besoin de stabilité.

Frankie et Harrison sont tous les deux toute suite attirés l'un par l'autre mais ils vont devoir dépasser leur a priori et découvrir qu'ils sont beaucoup plus que ce qu'ils laissent voir en surface. Ils ont chacun leur raison pour ne pas se livrer d'emblée. Leur romance était inévitable, ils sont faits l'un pour l'autre.

Dans mes reviews des tomes précédents, la série TV fictive et la fanbase faisaint beaucoup penser à Firefly, ici Geogres m'a fait aussi penser à Terry Pratchett. Ce tome clôture très bien la trilogie. Je vous le recommande !

**************

Down for the Word Count is the 3rd and final volume of the Unlucky in Love series by Piper Sheldon, after Charlie and Kate, then Emma and Wesley, it's the turn of Harrison to find his true love in Frankie.

Harrison is the golden boy of the Intrepid Trio, the only one continuing to act in films. He doesn't have a bad reputation, but let's say he's more the one you call to party than when you have a problem, only Charlie and Emma know him very well, for the rest of the world, he's just an actor, almost a cliché of himself. However, since his two best friends found their other half, he begins to tire of his lifestyle and longs for more tranquility and to also have someone to love.

When he learns that Georges, the author of the books from which his TV series was adapted, does not give any news to his publisher, he decides to visit him to check that everything is okay, and at the same time take a break from his life with the one person who was like a father to him.

Frankie's life has been turned upside down in recent months : her sister left her 6-year-old daughter, Colette, in her arms to go try her luck and become an actress. Unable to take care of Colette on her own, Frankie came to live with the only person who gave her stability : Georges. He was her foster family when she was a teenager, and today he welcomes them both into his big house. Georges hired her to sort through all his work : his books, his notes, interviews, memorabilia etc...

Frankie doesn't need more complications, but the complications arrive all the same : first with Harrison, he wants to help her take care of Georges and Colette, Frankie has difficulty trusting him, especially that he awakens in her all kinds of feelings that she thought she no longer felt.
Then it's Colette's mother who arrives leaving false hopes for her daughter, Frankie will have to clear things up with her sister because Colette needs stability.

Frankie and Harrison are both immediately attracted to each other, but they will have to overcome their preconceptions and discover that they are much more than what they let on on the surface. They each have their own reason for not giving in straight away. Their romance was inevitable, they were made for each other.

In my reviews of the previous volumes, the fictional TV series and the fanbase reminded me a lot of Firefly, here Geogres also reminded me of Terry Pratchett. This volume closes the trilogy very well. I recommend it !

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 !

 

Find Laney online
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3HkhbFE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laney.hatcher/
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3CwREcY
Website: https://laneyhatcher.com/
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3EHkQeN
Pinterest: https://bit.ly/32G5BG8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/laneyhatcher

Connect with Smartypants Romance
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK
Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/
Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/

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 ♥


Find Heidi online
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidirhutchinson
Website: https://www.heidih.net/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidi_hutchinson/

Connect with Smartypants Romance
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2kvDnb4
Twitter: http://bit.ly/2lzyduO
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2lGdIMQ
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2kwKsYK
Website: https://smartypantsromance.com/
Newsletter: https://smartypantsromance.com/newsletter/