Upsy Daisy

de Chelsie Edwards (2020) - Smartypants Romance

Résumé : College, cookies, capers, Oh my! Daisy Payton has everything. Exceptional grades. Impeccable clothes. Model family.

But perfection comes at a high cost, and Daisy is wilting. Determined to use college as her chance to bloom anew, she’s focused on only one thing, leaving the Payton name behind and forging her own path—even if she has to tell the teeniest of fibs to do it.

Trevor Boone has nothing. Abandoned as a child. Raised by distant relatives. Constantly reminded he’s a burden.

Trevor’s lived at the edges of opulence for years, having all he’s ever desired dangled just out of reach. But his ambition is finally about to pay off and nothing will distract him from his goal—finishing college top of his class and starting life, on his own terms.

When Daisy and Trevor meet it’s clear from the start that they’ll tempt each other to distraction, can they learn to put their ambitions aside and fall or will they lose it al l?


J'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer dans l'histoire, j'ai eu l'impression que ça traînait un peu en longueur sur les introductions de chacun des héros et le début de leurs interactions. A un moment donné l'intrigue est lancée et la lecture avance plus vite. Petit point d'adaptation aussi sur le contexte historique que je ne connaissais pas du tout : le Tennessee, en 1975, l'université Fisk qui a joué un rôle dans l'éducation afro-américaine aux USA (enfin c'est ce qui est écrit sur leur site, j'ai aucune idée du degré d'implication historique...).

Ca va paraître bizarre, mais Daisy et Trevor c'est pas the couple qui fait couiner et qui envoie des arc-en-ciel et des coeurs dans tous les sens. Ils passent quand même la plupart du temps séparés, et leur scènes ensemble sont pas hyper nombreuses, ensuite on un énorme quiproquo qui auraient pu être résolu si les deux savaient se parler... Cette histoire est sauvée grâce aux personnages secondaires qui prennent une place très importante, c'est plus pour eux que j'ai aimé ce roman que pour le couple principal !

Il y a Dolly, la soeur ainée de Daisy qui est absolument magnifique. Les deux soeurs n'ont pas beaucoup de moments entre elles, mais il y a une scène dramatique très forte et Dolly est juste wouahou... James et Odie les deux amies de Daisy ont besoin d'avoir leur roman à elles, on ne peut pas introduire deux nanas comme ça et les laissez dans la nature sans leur happy ends xD. Julian et Elodie, les deux meilleurs amis de Trevor, méritent aussi qu'on s'intéresse à eux ;)

Daisy et Trevor sont tellement rongés par leur secret respectif, qu'ils ne se donnent même pas une chance, et forcément chacune de leur charade va exploser à leur tête et c'est le drame : chacun accuse l'autre de ne pas lui avoir fait confiance, et têtus comme ils sont, ils vont perdre du temps à se faire la tête... Ils ont chacun des histoires de vies compliquées, ils viennent de milieux différents mais ils ont eu des blessures qu'ils vont devoir dépasser.

Ce roman est intéressant sur la vie estudiantine afro-américaine des années 70 (même si le fonctionnement des universités américaines m'a toujours échappée xD) : la rentrée, les soirées, les dortoirs, le prix des livres O_o, le tutorat, le réfectoire, les commissions disciplinaires... Même si Chelsie Edwards dit (en note) qu'elle a prix des libertés pour simplifier les choses, son roman est très bien documenté et elle est arrivée à créé une vie quotidienne sur les campus très palpable.

I had a little trouble getting into the story, I had the impression that it dragged on a bit for between the introductions of each main characters and the start of their interactions. At some point the intrigue is launched and the reading goes faster. Small adaptation also on the historical context that I didn't know at all : Tennessee, 1975, Fisk University which played a role in African-American education in the USA (well that's what is written on their website, I have no idea of ​​the degree of historical involvement...).

It might sound weird, but Daisy and Trevor are not the couple that makes you swoon and throws rainbows and hearts in every directions. They spend most of the time separated from one another, and their scenes together are not very few, then there is a huge misunderstanding that could have been resolved if the two knew how to communicate... This story is saved thanks to the secondary characters who take a very important place, it's for them that I liked this novel more than for the main couple !

There is Dolly, Daisy's older sister who is absolutely outstanding. The two sisters do not have a lot of moments together, but there is a very strong dramatic scene and Dolly is just WOW... James and Odie, the two girlfriends of Daisy need to have their own novel, we can't introduce two girls like that and leave them in the wild without their happy endings xD. Julian and Elodie, Trevor's two best friends, also deserve to be developped in a book ;)

Daisy and Trevor are so consumed by their respective secrets, that they do not even give themselves a chance, and inevitably each of their charade will explode in their face and it is the end of their world : each accuses the other of not trusting, and as stubborn as they are, they will waste time being in a mood with each other... They each have complicated life stories, they come from different backgrounds but they have had trauma that they will have to overcome.

This novel is interesting on the African-American student life of the 70s (even if the functioning of American universities has always eluded me xD) : back to school, evenings parties, dormitories, the price of books O_o, tutoring, the refectory, disciplinary commissions... Even if Chelsie Edwards says (in a note) that she has taken liberties to simplify things, her novel is very well documented and she has managed to create a very tangible campus life.


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Carpentry and Cocktails

de Nora Everly (2020) - Smartypants Romance

Résumé : Everett Monroe can’t keep his eyes off his gorgeous tenant.

He’d like to put his hands on her too, but she’s prickly, closed-off, and gives new meaning to the word disgruntled. In other words, she’s his perfect match and he’ll do anything to make her see it too.

Willa Hill has finally left her teen runaway past behind and wants a fresh start—alone. Men are nothing but trouble and she’s had enough man-trouble to last a lifetime. Too bad her irresistibly sexy, nerdy-hot landlord doesn’t agree.

When their mutual yearning becomes a white-hot fling and passion crosses carefully drawn, albeit one-sided boundaries, Everett finds himself in love and Willa finds herself in a pickle.

Because, unfortunately, when she returned to Green Valley, her problems came too. When the past she escaped crashes into the future she finds herself wanting more than anything, will Willa stay in Green Valley?

Or will she run away again?


Dans la série des Green Valley Library, un de mes tomes préférés était celui de Nora Everly (Crime and Periodicals avec Wyatt et Sabrina), dans celui-ci nous avons le frère de Wyatt, Everett, et l'héroïne est Willa, la meilleure ami de Sabrina.

Willa et Everett sont mignons, ils se zieutent l'un l'autre de loin, sans vraiment trop se cacher, ils flirtent gentiment, mais Willa ne s'autorise pas à aller plus loin. Elle sort d'une relation toxique avec un mec violent à tendance psychopathe, elle en garde des blessures qui sont difficiles à surmonter. A cela s'ajoute des conflits familiaux qui ne l'aide pas du tout à reprendre confiance en elle... Mais Everett, le geek sexy qui coupe des bûches à la hache, est irrésistible (non vraiment c'est la choupitude incarnée) et il va arriver à gagner le coeur de sa belle. Willa et Everett ont vraiment une belle relation, ils évoluent ensemble, essaient d'être à l'écoute l'un de l'autre.

Un des point fort est aussi les personnages secondaires : j'adore la petite soeur de Willa et les frères d'Everett, plus Sabrina et Wyatt, tout ce petit monde ship nos héros et vont tout faire pour les aider xD

In the Green Valley Library series, one of my favorite books was Nora Everly's ( Crime and Periodicals with Wyatt and Sabrina), in this one we have Wyatt's brother, Everett, and the heroine is Willa, Sabrina's best friend.

Willa and Everett are cute, they ogle each other from afar, without really hiding themsleves, they flirt nicely, but Willa does not allow herself to go further. She comes out of a toxic relationship with a violent guy with a psychopathic tendency, she keeps wounds that are difficult to overcome. Added to this, her family problems don't help her regain self-confidence at all... But Everett, the sexy geek who chops logs with an ax, is irresistible (yes really it's sexyness incarnate) and he will manage to win the heart of his belle. Willa and Everett have a really good relationship, they grow together and try to listen to each other.

One of the strong points is also the secondary characters : I adore Willa's little sister and Everett's brothers, plus Sabrina and Wyatt, all these people ships our heroes and will do everything to help them xD

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Batter of Wits

De Karla Sorensen (2020) - Smartypants Romance

Résumé : Hate at first sight couldn’t possibly exist, right?

That’s what Grace Buchanan thought, before her useless car stranded her on the side of a deserted road just inside the Green Valley city limits.

When Tucker Haywood—tall and handsome and full of southern charm— shows up to help, her reaction to him is the strongest thing she’s ever felt in her life, and it makes no freaking sense.

It doesn’t make much sense to Tucker either. Not why she hates him, or why he finds her so intriguing. He knows well enough that Grace is moving to Green Valley for a fresh start, not to distract him when he’s got no room for something like her in his life.

The complications between them are endless, but that doesn’t stop her definitely not love-at-first-sight feelings from changing into something else entirely.

Grace and Tucker are about to learn the hard way that in Green Valley, hating someone has never tasted so sweet.


On ne pourra pas dire que Grace et Tucker vont commencer sur un bon pied : alors qu'elle est en panne sur la route vers Green Valley, Tucker s'arrête pour l'aider et la conduit même chez sa tante, cependant le charme du sud ne prend pas du tout avec elle, au contraire, Grace espère ne plus jamais le voir !

Cela va même au delà : Grace est une Buchanan, la cousine de Levi (le héros de Baking Me Crazy), les Buchanan mâles sont tous touchés par la malédiction du coup de foudre au premier regard, et les filles ? C'est la répulsion au premier regard. Mais Green Valley ne va pas les laisser s'en sortir comme ça ! Grace et Tucker vont être tous les deux enrôlés par le comités des fêtes pour mettre en place un stand à bisous... et le travail forcé ensemble ça rapproche ^^

Outre l'atmosphère légèrement déjantée du roman, Grace et Tucker vont passer du statut d'entende cordiale à amis/confident, parce que parfois on parle plus facilement de ses soucis à quelqu'un qu'on connaît pas. Grace a compris les doutes qui rongent Tucker, alors que sa famille ne l'a pas remarqué...

J'ai bien aimé ce roman, déjà car Grace est une photographe ^^ que les challenges entre les deux héros ne tombent pas dans le cliché et qu'ils sont tout mignons en fait xD

We can't say that Grace and Tucker are starting off on the right foot : while her car has broken down on the road to Green Valley, Tucker stops to help Grace and even drives her to her aunt's house, however the southern charm get her at all, on the contrary, Grace hopes never to see him again after this !

It goes even further : Grace is a Buchanan, Levi's cousin (Baking Me Crazy), the male Buchanans are all affected by the curse of love at first sight, and girls ? It is hate at first sight. But Green Valley is not going to let them get away with it so easily ! Grace and Tucker will both be enlisted by the festival committee to set up a kisses booth... and forced labor brings them together ^^

Besides the slightly crazy atmosphere of the novel, Grace and Tucker will go from being cordial to to being friends and even confidants, because sometimes we talk more easily about their worries to someone we don't know. Grace has understood the doubts that gnaw Tucker, while his family has not noticed...

I really liked this novel, because Grace is a photographer ^^ , the challenges between the two heroes don't fall into the cliché and that they are very cute xD


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