Before and After You

de Hope Ellis (2021) SmartyPants Romance

Résumé : Leigh D'Alessandro is a fighter. She fought to escape her dysfunctional family, to end a soul-killing marriage, and to build a new life in a small Tennessee town. When the fate of the community hospital she works for is threatened, she's primed and ready for battle. What she can't fight any longer is her unshakable attraction to her best friend's brother, who has a notorious reputation and triggers all her worst fears about trust and betrayal.

Walker Leffersbee is a lover. At least that's the reputation he's built in his hometown. Scion of a prosperous Tennessee banking family, he's a known ladies' man and a confirmed bachelor. His hands are full as he juggles competing demands from his family's bank and his growing property renovation business. The last thing he needs is to give in to his long-standing craving for his sister's headstrong and hot-tempered best friend. Especially because she's the only one who knows the secret that threatens to upend his life.

When a home renovation project brings them too close for comfort, they both struggle to withstand the growing heat. As they grow closer helping each other navigate family minefields, Walker learns that love is not a four-letter word, and Leigh realizes that some battles are meant to be lost.

But Walker's secret is the one thing that could keep them apart, unless they both decide to fight for the love they never looked for but now can't live without.


Leigh et Walker se connaissent depuis longtemps, lui est le grand frère de Zora, la meilleure amie de Leigh. Ils sont aussi tous les deux à un moment charnière de leur vie personnelle et professionnelle, entre conflit familial et remise en questions de leurs valeurs vis-à-vis de leur boulot... Ils ne sont pas près à s'engager dans une relation romantique.

Evidemment, comme ils se plaisent tous les deux, ils vont quand même succomber aux charmes de l'autre ^^ . Leigh et Walker sont vraiment fait l'un pour l'autre, mais leurs obstacles respectifs vont les ralentir dans leur réalisation de leurs sentiments.

Cette romance fait partie de mes préférées des sorties Smartypants de cette année, on a affaire à deux personnages qui n'ont pas peur d'aller au bout de leur convictions (au niveau professionnel), et même si c'est difficile et que leurs proches ne comprennent pas toujours, ils n'abandonnent pas car ils savent qu'ils sont sur la bonne voie pour leur bien-être à eux.

Alors certes, ils vont commettre des petites erreurs ça et là, mais on peut difficilement leur en vouloir, ils ne sont pas nécessairement dans leur tort. C'est grâce à ces erreurs qu'ils grandissent et vont être là l'un pour l'autre, faire des compromis pour leur bien commun, ne veut pas dire qu'ils effacent qui ils sont.

Je sais que ça fait très cryptique comme review, mais je ne voulais pas tout spoiler ^^

Leigh and Walker have known each other for a long time, he is Zora's big brother, Leigh's best friend. They are also both at a pivotal moment in their personal and professional life, between family conflict and re-evaluate their values ​​at work... They are not ready to engage in a romantic relationship.

Obviously, as they both attracted to each other, they will still succumb to the other'as appeal ^^. Leigh and Walker are really meant for each other, but their respective obstacles will slow them down in realizing their feelings.

This romance is one of my favorite Smartypants releases this year, we are dealing with two characters who are not afraid to follow their convictions (on the professional level), and even if it's difficult and that their loved ones don't always understand, they don't give up because they know they are on the right track for their own well-being.

So of course, they will make small mistakes here and there, but we can hardly blame them, they are not necessarily in the wrong. It is thanks to these mistakes that they grow up and will be there for each other, making compromises for their common good does not mean that they fade away who they are.

I know it's very cryptic as a review, but I don't want to spoil it all ^^


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