Better Date Than Never

de Piper Sheldon (2023)

Résumé : One moment of weakness and now I’m stuck fake dating the man I never thought I’d talk to again.
If it was up to me, I wouldn’t even look at Wesley Cole, let alone pretend to kiss him.

I’m smart enough to know the man in front of me now isn’t the boy from childhood who stole my heart. Too bad my body and brain can’t get on the same page. A few more months of playing nice and then he can go back to his family dynasty, and I’ll once again be the golden girl the media expects me to be.

If this is all for show, why is he so convincing when he looks at me like a man in love ?


Après le tome 1 Stranger than Fiction, voici le tome 2 de la série Unlucky In Love, nous suivons ici Emma, 2e membre de l'Intrepid Trio, et Wesley qui est son crush d'adolescente. Alors qu'ils fêtent les 20 ans de leur série TV, Emma et Wesley sont pris en photo par des paparazzi, or contexte et vue de loin, celle-ci enflamme les fans.

Afin de tourner ce remue-ménage à leur avantage, le père manipulateur/dictateur de Wesley, leur impose de simuler une romance le temps que Wesley obtienne un oscar pour son dernier film. Emma n'a pas trop le choix, son travail auprès d'œuvres de charité en est menacé.

Néanmoins, Emma et Wesley sont tous les deux secrètement amoureux l'un de l'autre et même s'ils ont un peu réticent au début, ils se laissent vite aller dans la mascarade, jusqu'au moment où il devient évidemment qu'ils ne peuvent pas se séparer l'un de l'autre. Mais Papa Cole en a décidé autrement... il va être temps pour Wesley d'affronter ses démons.

Emma et Wesley ont grandit ensemble, tous les deux stars d'une série TV quand ils étaient enfant, et tous les deux ont du se faire une carapace en béton pour se protéger. Emma doit faire face à une image de jeune femme parfait et sans défaut, elle prête son image pour des causes qui lui tiennent à coeur, mais elle s'oubli dernière cette version d'elle-même. Wesley est né dans une famille à grosse réputation dans le show-business, il a grandit en faisant ce qu'on lui disait de faire et n'a même pas son mot à dire dans le choix de ces films. Mais peu peu il aspire à sortir de l'emprise de son père et vivre une vie dans l'anonymat.

Wesley ne souhaite pas que ses problèmes et insécurités ternissent leur relation et est prêt à des choses extrêmes pour épargner Emma. Mais c'est sans compter sur Emma, qui elle va enfiler l'armure et voler au secours de son prince charmant. Ici c'est l'héroïne qui va puiser dans ses propres ressources et être forte pour deux afin d'aider Wesley a évacuer des décennies de maltraitance.

Piper Sheldon nous offre une romance avec des personnages tout en profondeur malgré qu'ils évoluent dans un monde de paillettes et de faux-semblant. Une belle réussite !

After book 1 Stranger than Fiction, here is book 2 of the Unlucky In Love series, we follow Emma, ​​2nd member of the Intrepid Trio, and Wesley who is her teenage crush. As they celebrate the 20th anniversary of their TV series, Emma and Wesley are caught on camera by paparazzi, but out of context and from afar, this photo ignites fans.

In order to turn this fuss to their advantage, Wesley's manipulative/dictator father forces them to fake a romance while Wesley gets an Oscar for his latest film. Emma doesn't have much choice, her work with charities is threatened.

Nevertheless, Emma and Wesley are both secretly in love with each other and although they are a little reluctant at first, they soon indulge in the charade, until it becomes obvious that they cannot be separated from each other. But Papa Cole has decided otherwise... it's going to be time for Wesley to face his demons.

Emma and Wesley grew up together, both stars of a TV series when they were children, and both had to make a hard shell to protect themselves. Emma is viewed as the image of a perfect and flawless young woman, she lends her face for causes that are close to her heart, but she forgets herself behind this version of her. Wesley was born into a family with a big reputation in show business, he grew up doing what he was told to do and didn't even have a say in the choice of his films. But little by little he aspires to get out of his father's control and live a life of anonymity.

Wesley doesn't want his problems and insecurities to tarnish their relationship and is willing to go to extremes to spare Emma. But it is without considering Emma, ​​who will put on the armor and leap to the recuse of her prince charming. Here it's the heroine who will draw on her own resources and be strong for two in order to help Wesley evacuate decades of abuse.

Piper Sheldon offers us a romance with characters in depth despite evolving in a world of glitter and pretense. A great success !


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Folk Around And Find Out

de Penny Reid (2022)

Résumé : He needs to get her out of his system. Just once...

Hank Weller doesn’t help people. He leaves that do-gooder nonsense to his best friend, Beau Winston. Hank does what he wants, when he wants, with whomever he wants—and Hank does not want to hire Charlotte Mitchell to be an exotic dancer at his club, The Pink Pony. Sure, he can’t help noticing the dips and curves of her, how shrewd, smart, and funny she is, the fire in her hazel eyes. He's always noticed. She’d probably draw a crowd and entice the regulars. But after Charlotte's messy, public divorce made Hank’s club out to be the culprit—and made her the single mother of four kids—he doesn’t need or want any additional bad press courtesy of Charlotte Mitchell. Or the distraction. Unfortunately for him, the town’s prettiest charity case doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words nope, no, and never.

Charlotte Mitchell doesn’t much like Hank Weller. Once upon a time, she used to. Years ago, she liked him a whole heckofalot despite other folks in town labeling him as “eccentric” and “nonconformist,” which were polite southern alternatives to "filthy rich" and "self-centered douchebag." Her opinion of him changed dramatically after he volunteered to be her date to junior prom and then promptly stood her up. They haven't so much as acknowledged each other in over a decade. But a sudden family emergency means Charlotte needs access to Hank’s club ASAP. Unfortunately for her, the narcissistic fancy-pants doesn’t seem to understand the meaning of the words help, generosity, and compassion.

But he’s about to find himself schooled. Charlotte is going to teach Hank a lesson once and for all about basic human decency, whether he likes it or not.

Spoiler alert. . . he likes it. ;-)


Après avoir croisé Hank dans ses livres précédents, Penny Reid nous offre enfin son histoire, et quelle joie de voir enfin ce personnage à coeur ouvert. Hank et Charlotte ne peuvent pas être plus différent l'un de l'autre, et pourtant lorsqu'ils se trouvent c'est une évidence, mais tout n'est pas gagné d'avance.

C'est une urgence familiale qui pousse Charlotte à essayer de se faire embaucher au Pink Pony, sa cousine a disparu et elle aurait été danseuse là-bas. Ne voulant pas ébruité cette histoire, Charlotte ment donc Hank sur les vraies raisons pour lesquelles elle veut travailler chez lui. De son côté, Hank ne veut rien à voir avec Charlotte, toute la ville lui en veut comme s'il était personnellement responsable du divorce de Charlotte, de la fuite du mari et du fait qu'elle élève seule ses 4 enfants.

Malgrè qu'il soit un grognon, Hank ne peut pas la laisser sur le carreau et l'embauche comme comptable au Pink Pony (au grand soulagement de Charlotte qui ne voyait pas danser ^^) et c'est le début de de la fin, Hank essaie de résister à Charlotte, mais ça ne marche pas vraiment, ni pour Charlotte non plus.

Ensuite Hank rencontre les enfants de Charlotte et là il est complétement fichu. Lui qui préfère que son cercle social se limite à Beau (et quelques autres Winston de temps en temps), va se lier très fort avec 2 des enfants. Les discussions qu'il a avec eux et la façon dont il va tout de suite les accepter comme ils sont est vraiment choupi *_*

Enfin, je crois que ce qui m'a aussi pas mal touchée, c'est le lien d'amitié entre Beau et Hank, ils ont aussi tous les deux des scènes fortes en émotions ♥

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

After meeting Hank in her previous books, Penny Reid finally offers us his story, and what a joy to finally see this character and his open heart. Hank and Charlotte couldn't be more different from each other, and yet when they find each other it's obvious, but their story isn't a done deal.

It is a family emergency that pushes Charlotte to try to get hired at the Pink Pony, her cousin has disappeared and she might have been a dancer there. Not wanting to spread words about this story, Charlotte lies to Hank about the real reasons why she wants to work for him. For his part, Hank wants nothing to do with Charlotte, the whole town is angry with him as if he were personally responsible for Charlotte's divorce, the escape of the husband and the fact that she raises her 4 children alone.

Despite being grumpy, Hank can't leave her stranded and hires her as an accountant for the Pink Pony (to the great relief of Charlotte who couldn't see dancing ^^) and it's the beginning of the end, Hank tries to resist Charlotte, but it doesn't really work, nor for Charlotte either.

Then Hank meets Charlotte's chilren and he is completely ruined. He who prefers his social circle to be limited to Beau (and a few other Winstons from time to time), will bond very strongly with 2 of the children. The discussions he has with them and the way he will immediately accept them as they are is really cool *_*

Finally, I think what also touched me a lot was the bond of friendship between Beau and Hank, they also both have strong emotional scenes ♥


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Well Acquainted

de Laney Hatcher - Smartypants Romance (2022)

Résumé : There are three things you need to know about Lady Eliza Morgan:
1. In addition to being a busy physician, she’s an accomplished seamstress.
2. She’s the victim of a broken heart.
3. The man who shattered it is the one man she can never have.

Some things are better left in the past, but Eliza has spent years running from hers. When the man who upended her life re-enters it in the most unexpected way, Eliza must decide if reacquainting herself with Nicolas is worth the heartache. He’s charming and irritating and makes her realize there is so much more than the life she’s been living. But first she must confront her painful past if she and Nicolas have any hope for a future.

Après Neanderthal Seeks Duchess, c'est au tour du tome 2 de Penny Reid, Friends Without Benefits d'avoir sa réécriture en historique.

Dans le tome précédent, Lady Eliza découvrait avec surprise le visage de Nicolas dans les journaux, dans un article sur une pièce de théâtre dont il a le premier rôle. Savoir qu'il est à Londres, si près, sans nouvelles depuis des années, fait ressortir tout un passé douloureux chez Eliza. D'autant que peu de temps après, Nico frappe à la porte de son cabinet médical avec un enfant malade. Malgré son trouble, Eliza reprend sa tâche et va tour faire pour aider la fillette.

Eliza et Nico se connaissent depuis leur enfance, ils auraient pu grandir et ne plus être que des amis, mais la vie en a décidé autrement. Un drame, de mauvaises décisions et des années de silence ont eu raison du coeur d'Eliza. Elle se sent coupable de ce qui s'est passé et se refuse à imaginer qu'un coeur brisé peut se réparer. Heureusement, Nico est bien déterminé à lui prouver le contraire.

Tout comme le premier tome, j'ai beaucoup apprécié celui-ci, la façon dont Laney Hatcher s'empare de l'histoire et la réarrange à sa sauce pour en faire quelque chose de différent, mais sans trop s'éloigner de l'âme du livre originel.

Et donc évidemment, ce tome 2, nous offre un teaser du 3, et évidement, je l'attendrais avec impatience !

After Neanderthal Seeks Duchess, it's the turn of Penny Reid's book #2, Friends Without Benefits to have its rewrite in history romance.

In the previous volume, Lady Eliza was surprised to discover Nicolas' face in the newspapers, in an article about a play in which he had the leading role. Knowing that he is in London, so close, without news for years, brings out a whole painful past in Eliza. Especially since shortly after, Nico knocks on her medical office's door with a sick child. Despite her confusion, Eliza resumes her task and goes out of her way to help the little girl.

Eliza and Nico have known each other since they were kids, they could have grown up and been more than friends, but life decided otherwise. Tragedy, bad decisions and years of silence have taken a toll on Eliza's heart. She feels guilty for what happened and refuses to imagine that a broken heart can be repaired. Fortunately, Nico is determined to prove her wrong.

Like the first book, I enjoyed this one a lot, the way Laney Hatcher takes the story and rearranges it in her own way to make it something different, but without straying too far from the soul of the original book.

And so obviously, this book offers us a teaser of the 3, and obviously, I would be waiting for it impatiently !


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