dimanche 20 juillet 2025

Ringing in the New Year by Clover Callahan and Kaitlin Collins

 

Published on January 31st, 2025

61 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

The countdown to midnight is on in this New Years Eve road trip novella.

Gavin Glengarry has a plan for this Scottish vacation, one that doesn’t include falling off castle ruins, knocking over ritual standing stones or getting locked in a giant metal horse’s head. But best laid plans go awry when Sabrina enlists her internet bestie (read: potential catfisher) and her Scottish boyfriend to be their tour guides for Hogmanay.

The itinerary is set for their friends’ visit, but for everything else in Lydia’s life, it’s more chaos than clarity. With time ticking away on her work visa, both Lydia and Alec are concerned not just about her job, but also the future of their relationship. She hopes a tarot reading from Sabrina will provide guidance, but what if it suggests a solution that she never allowed herself to consider?

Will they make it to Edinburgh Castle for the fireworks? Or will the Glengarry curse get the best of them once again? Find out what happens as the clock strikes midnight in what promises to be an unforgettable New Year’s Eve for all.

Ringing in the New Year: A Hogmanay Holiday Novella is a collaborative epilogue combining the characters from The Fate Date and Falling for Scotland. It can be read as a standalone, but the jokes hit better if you’ve had the chance to read one or both of the novels.

My review

You probably know by now that I am not a huge fan of holidays stuff, but I like road trip even though most of my trip are by train, I still can get an idea. If you ever watched the movie New Year or Valentine Day, you will notice some point in common with this novella. Each character is living a story and they are all inked in some ways.

I liked the fact that they are all happening in Scotland, since it’s a country I want to visit since I watched the first season of Outlander. You will find a few Scottish words in the book, but the authors put a glossary at the beginning, so you can go back if you have question while you are reading.

My favorite part of the novella it’s when the character did a tarot reading and talk about a family curse. It’s a contemporary story, but the authors added a few spiritual things in it to make it different. It worked for me, not only because I am interested to these things, but it changed for everything I read before and it’s not even a horror story or a thriller.

If like me, you have sometime trouble to follow who is doing what when there are too many characters, each chapter is named with the protagonist, so it’s help to solve that problem.

Excerpts

"I’ve had plenty of whisky in my life, but never Canadian. Ye’ve got me curious. Come into the kitchen and I’ll pour you folks a dram before we head out." (p.5)

"I don’t know how familiar you are with Scottish cuisine, if you will. My best advice is to go for stovies or cock-a-leekie soup and to stay away from anything form of black pudding." Lydia counselled. (p.15)

Alec couldn’t help but be exited despite the unnerving tale. How many families could claim having a poem written about a supposed generational curse placed on them? It was something straight out of a novel. (p.29)

 


Luna Alpha – La lune Hurlante de Rachel Lucy


 

Publié chez Luzerne Rousse le 1er avril 2025

300 pages

Lu en format papier

4e de couverture

Megan, une jeune femme métamorphe, échappe à un mari violent et se réfugie dans sa meute de naissance. Elle y retrouve ses proches et fait la connaissance d’un Alpha ténébreux et intrigant, bien qu’une nouvelle relation soit la dernière chose qu’elle recherche.. Naviguant entre un mari prêt à tout pour la récupérer et l’enquête qu’elle mène afin de découvrir ce qui se passe derrière un sordide trafic de métamorphes, Megan tente de se reconstruire après des années d’abus.

Mais surtout, elle souhaite retrouver sa confiance et ses convictions d’avant.. Des conflits entre meutes parsemés d’amitiés indestructibles, un slowburn excitant, des meutes de loups qu’on apprend à connaître intimement dans toute leur humanité : Luna Alpha est le début d’une trilogie de romantasy captivante que vous ne pourrez lâcher..

Mon avis

Dans la romance, la romantasy est probablement le genre qui m’intéresse le moins, mais j’ai bien aimé ce livre. Cela me changeait les idées des romances contemporaines que j’ai l’habitude de lire. J’apprécie le fait que l’auteure utilise cet angle pour parler de la violence conjugale, tout en démontrant que l’on peut possiblement s’en sortir.

Je donne mon étoile du match à Megan qui est beaucoup plus forte que l’on pourrait l’imaginer au commencement. Je crois que plusieurs femmes n’auraient pas eu le courage de passer à travers toutes les épreuves qu’elle a traversées et comme c'est une trilogie, je crains que cela ne soit que le début.

Si je devais choisir un personnage qui mérite le prix citron, c’est Drew, son ancien mari. Son seul avantage est que j’ai aimé le détester et qu’il ajoute du piment à l’histoire. Sans lui, le premier tome n’aurait pas eu de sens. Je trouve que l’auteure s’est bien débrouillée pour créer cet antagoniste. Reste à voir, s’il va être encore l’ennemi #1 dans les deux prochains tomes. Je me suis toujours dit que dans la fantasy, tout peut arriver.  

Je croise les doigts pour que dans la suite Bryan soit mis davantage de l’avant. Il a quand même une place importante dans ce premier tome, mais je crois qu’il mérite plus de visibilité. C’est le personnage auquel je me suis le plus attaché et je sens qu’il nous réserve plusieurs surprises.

J’ai noté quelques longueurs, mais si vous aimez la romantasy, vous savez à quoi vous attendre. J’avoue que c’était beaucoup moins pénible que Fourth Wings. J’ai bien apprécié que cela soit des loups-garous qui sont mis de l’avant et non des vampires.

Extraits

Je été horrible, je t’ai abandonnée. Je ne te demande pas de me pardonner, mais j’espère qu’un jour, on pourra se parler et je t’expliquerai tout ce qui s’est passé, pourquoi j’ai agi ainsi. (p.68)

Megan devait aussi confirmer la liste des chansons interprétées par l’orchestre, et sa première conversation avec le responsable du groupe l’avait laissée avec un début d’impatience. Elle allait devoir user de beaucoup de diplomatie pour réussir à leur faire jouer des chansons populaires, en plus des classiques. (p.96)

Tu es lumineuse, Megan. Tu brilles tellement que tu pourrais rivaliser avec la Déesse de la Lune. Tu me tortures, ajouta-t-il après une pause. (p.129)

mercredi 16 juillet 2025

Give in to me by Edith Lalonde


 

Published on November 28th, 2023

394 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

After discovering he’s incapable of having children of his own, Dean Morgan is convinced he’s not meant to have the family of his dreams. But when fate intervenes, and he’s run over by an F-bomb-dropping heartbreaker, he’s in for the surprise of his life. His stubborn Canadian girl may be the only person capable of catching more than his attention, but the secret she’s hiding has the potential to tear him apart.

Embroiled in a nasty custody battle, Cailey Heffner has been fighting long and hard to keep her son. On the brink of financial ruin, she has no choice but to take her sick twin’s place to save the family business and keep her home. But when one night with a sexy American tractor builder turns into more, she finds herself staying on his family’s Arizona ranch, lying to everyone about her identity, and falling head over boots for a man she has no chance of having a future with.

Ten days. To protect her son, Cailey has to make it ten days without her secret coming out. Then she can hightail it back across the border, broken heart in tow. Unfortunately, there’s one little problem with her diabolical plan. Well, okay, fine. Dean Morgan’s not a small problem. He’s also not the kind of man who gives up on what he wants—and he wants her—bad.

My review

Since I am in the same situation that Dean, I was curious to discover the male point of view of not being able to have a biological child. I will let you know if he finds a way, but I was glad that for once it wasn’t a woman who was in that situation. I think it’s an important subject to talk about, but it was more special that it was Dean who express himself about it.

Honestly, I didn’t get why Cailey was lying about her identity except that she shouldn’t be in the States for work without a visa, but it added action in the story. The whole time I was wondering when she will tell the truth that she wasn’t her twin. In general, I liked her personality, I just wish she was sincere from the beginning, but the whole story wouldn’t happen like this. I think she is just needed a break from the custody battle and hopefully finds happiness.

It's the first book I read from this author and this series and I recommend it if you like contemporary romance. The tension between the protagonist is great, the dialogues are interesting, I didn’t find any dull moment. I like the fact that the story is happening between Canada and United States, especially at this moment. It made the reader think about the situation differently.

Excerpts

A defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, Seb had been pm the ice. His puck bunny girlfriend of the month had lost Caleb. Had paid so little attention to the small child she had in her care and custody, she hadn’t seen him leave the wives’ suite. (p.2)

Thanks to the excellent medical care he’d received from the doctors and nurses at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern of Ontario, Caleb was fine. (p.24)

"Dean, I know you’re hurting." Paige said. "I see it every time I look at you. You’re grieving for the children you never had, and that’s okay. There’s no right or wrong way to work through your feelings about infertility. There’s only the way to works for you, but burying your emotions isn’t the answer. Neither is isolating yourself in your office." (p.47)

Dean pulled his head back to look into Hailey’s eyes. It was dark on the covered porch. No sun to add shine. No moon to add sparkle. Not lights to add warmth. Still, he saw the depth of her feelings. She cared about him. (p.210)

"Thanks to social media, large-scale multi-day festivals like Red Rock are ingrained in our culture. EDC, Sasquatch, Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, Coachella. They are more than music festivals. They’re a break from life. People come to these events to escape reality and experience something new through music or location." (p.263)

samedi 12 juillet 2025

Interview with Emily Murray

 


Biography

She is from a small town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. At age 10, she declared that she wanted to be a writer when she grew up. It may have taken her thirty more years, but she finally did it.

With an educational background in psychology, sociology and criminology, her favourite characters are people you could bump into on the street, sit next to on the bus or smile at in passing: people who deal with the realities of life, with a little bit of sweetness mixed in. 

Link : Author Emily Murray

Questions

1.      Why did you decided to write romance?

I didn’t mean to but I had this plot bunny…an idea that had nothing to do with what I was writing at the time, that just wouldn’t go away. I told my friend about the meet cute idea and she asked me a few more questions and before I knew it a vague plot began to form. Soon afterwards the characters took over and not only was the story born…so was the series Alixandria Fire. I love small towns, and everyone needs more love these days, I feel. I decided to run with it! Now I can’t imagine my life without this world and these characters.

 

2.      Which advices will you give to a new author?

As cheese as it sounds, the hardest part is starting. Start scared. Start even if you don’t think you know what you are doing. Find your community of other authors, I found mine largely on Instagram. Writing can be lonely but once you’ve found like minded people, even if they aren’t in your genre, everything is way more fun.

3.      What do you like the most about writing?

I love meeting new characters and learning all about them. I also love holding my new book in my hands, it’s a wild feeling. Meeting potential and existing readers is amazing. Also my community of authors is second to none, they are so supportive. Really, I love it all!

4.      What struggles did you meet when you wrote your first book?

I really did’t know what I was doing. I’m self published and so I wore a lot of hats, some of which I wore quite well and others….not very well. I did rush to publish and I should have taken a little bit more time. I didn’t have much of a marketing plan in place BUT that ended up working my favour because I said yes to a lot of opportunities that popped up that I may have been to scared to organize myself. With each launch of a book I learn something new and employ something I learned from the last. I wouldn’t call myself an expert by any means but with more information I will get better and better each time.

5.      Do you write with music? If yes, do you have a special song?

I do not, nor do I write with TV. I need as much quiet as my family (husband and two young kids) can allow lol. I do tend to write at night when the house is quiet or in a coffee shop where nobody can ask me for snacks or what’s for dinner. However, you will notice that my books do come with music sprinkled in and the playlists for each book is available on Spotify.

6.      What will you say to a reader who is not a fan of Christmas, but is interested to read your story?

It is a story that takes place over the winter months November to end of December. Christmas happens but it’s not the focus of the story. The characters, plot and growth of the story would still happen if Christmas wasn’t in the book at all. Think of Christmas as the seasoning, not the meal.

7.      What are your other projects?

The Alixandria Fire series is a group of 4 main books. However there will be some offshoots, with origin stories (stories about characters you know are together but how did they get there?) and novellas (smaller companion stories to the main 4 that continue the story just a little more). I plan to release the companion novella for Alixandria Fire Dani and Danny, called The Wedding, in the October timeframe.


Ma vie au micro-ondes de Simon Boulerice

 


Publié chez les éditons Cardinal le 31 mars 2025

200 pages

Lu en format papier

4e de couverture

Si tout semble lui réussir, Simon Boulerice avoue cependant être complètement inadéquat dans une cuisine. C'est à partir de ce constat qu'il tisse ce récit intime aussi tendre que ludique, un hommage improbable au célèbre ouvrage La cuisine microondes de Jehane Benoît. À travers des confidences touchantes, des fragments poétiques, des photos délicieusement décalées et des dialogues fictifs avec la grande dame de la cuisine, l'auteur explore son rapport à la vie domestique. Est-ce que Jehane parviendra à réveiller le cuisinier qui sommeille à poings fermés en lui ?

Mon avis

Comme je partage les talents culinaires de l’auteur, j’étais curieuse de découvrir ses anecdotes. Je vous rassure, j’utilise un peu moins le micro-ondes que vous pourriez l’imaginer même si je dois m'améliorer à ce sujet. J’ai ajouté que je souhaitais apprendre à cuisiner dans ma liste d'objectifs, même si je sais que ça risque d’être complexe pour moi.

J’ai adoré les dialogues fictifs avec Jehane qui m’ont bien fait rire et j’ai apprécié le sens de l’humour de l’auteur. C’est le deuxième ouvrage que je lis de lui, mais j’ai bien aimé sa plume et j’ai pu me reconnaître dans quelques-unes de ces histoires.

Même si vous adorez cuisiner, je crois que vous risquez d’apprécier le livre seulement pour pouvoir rire un bon coup ou le partager avec une personne qui comme moi est une véritable tornade dans la cuisine.

Extraits

À une certaine époque, j’étais fan des livres l’œil magique, ces ouvrages où, à chaque page, on voyait d’abord des images décoratives et psychédéliques. Puis, en ce rapprochant, en fixant un point précis, c’est comme si on parvenait à regarder au-delà de la page. On s’éloignait lentement et l’image 3D apparaissait. (p.30)

J’ai néanmoins conservé un long couteau dentelé issu de la coutellerie maternelle. Jamais mon amoureux n’y touche. C’est mon ustensile à moi. Son manche en bois semble avoir été taillé que pour ma main droite- je comprends peut-être mieux que je le pense Britney Spears qui danse avec des couteaux; s’ils ont une valeur sentimentale. (p.48)

 


dimanche 6 juillet 2025

La boîte à fantasmes – Milo de Sara Agnès L.

 

Publié chez A Éditeur le 8 avril 2025

352 pages

Lu en format papier

4e de couverture

Depuis la pandémie, Milo a une vie simple : il programme des jeux vidéo de chez lui, commande son épicerie via son téléphone et, lorsqu’il a envie de sexe, il appelle son plan cul qu’il a trouvé sur une app en ligne. Quand Maria lui suggère de faire appel à La Boîte à fantasmes pour faire un trip à trois avec une autre fille, il n’a aucune idée de ce que cela aura comme conséquence dans sa vie. Voilà que ses fantasmes évoluent…

Au club associé à l’agence, il fait la rencontre d’Athéna, une femme bisexuelle libre et assumée. Non seulement elle le guide dans des fantasmes qu’il ignorait avoir, mais il tombe rapidement sous son charme.

Mon avis

C'est un livre pour un public averti puisqu’il contient plusieurs scènes intimes, plus que je l’imaginais au commencement. Dès les premiers chapitres, on assiste à un trip à trois qui donne la note pour le reste du bouquin.

J’ai déjà lu plusieurs romans érotiques incluant ceux de cette auteure, mais j'ai éprouvé des difficultés pour me rendre jusqu’à la fin avec lui-ci. Même quand c’est surtout à propos de sexe, j’aime voir une connexion sentimentale entre les protagonistes et je pense que c’est ce qui manquait le plus. J’avais beau vouloir assister à l’évolution de la relation entre Milo et Athéna, je n’arrive à m’attacher aux personnages.  Pourtant, j’ai tout essayé pour bien profiter de l’histoire. Ça n’a juste pas fonctionné.

Les scènes d’amour sont bien écrites, mais j’avoue que je les ai trouvées un peu redondantes. La bonne nouvelle est qu’on découvre parfois des scènes à deux ou à trois, cela change selon les circonstances. J’aime bien l’idée du club bien qu’elle a été utilisée plusieurs reprises dans les romans du même genre, je crois que l’auteure l’a utilisée à sa façon.

Extrait

Je me sens encore troublé par cette façon d’être en couple, même si j’admire cette liberté qui est la leur. Sans entrave. Sans regret. Il y a quelque chose de beau dans cette confiance qu’ils ont l’un envers l’autre. Il faut être sûr de soi pour ne pas craindre qu’on nous pique notre partenaire, il me semble. (p.164)


jeudi 3 juillet 2025

Alixandria Fire – Dani & Danny by Emily Murray

 

Published on December 22, 2022

429 pages

Back Cover

Christmas season in Alixandria is magical, the snowy air is festive with twinkling lights, holiday parties and mistletoe.

Kindergarten teacher Dani Campbell is still settling into her new town. She just needs a break from the chaos of her old life. Finally she can breath, focus on herself and spend quality time with her dog, Sage.

One morning she accidentally picks up a café mocha meant for Danny.

Born and raised in Alixandria, fire fighter Danny Stewart is tired of being the hot topic of small town gossip. Focused on fixing up his grandparents' home, he’s taking a long pause from dating.

One morning he receives a plain black coffee meant for Dani.

Will sparks fly between Dani and Danny or will they go up in flames?

My review

This is the first book I read from this author and I recommend it if you like romance. The story is a little bit predictable, but the author turned it in to keep the reader hooked until the last line. I admit that you need to be motivate to read 429 pages, but it worth every second.

I am not a huge fan when the two protagonists share the same name, but since they act different, I didn’t have any trouble to find who was who. I like them both. I have to admit that I have a preference for the firefighter. I had doubts about Danny at the beginning, he seemed a little cold, but I don’t regret giving him a chance. He cares about Dani and you can see it thought the story.

Dani is great too; she just got on my never because I felt she had a lack of confidence in herself. I totally understand that, I am like her on that point. I just wished she was more honest with Danny instead of waiting too long.

Music is part of this story and I enjoyed every line. I am not a country girl, but it was fun to discover a few new songs and reconnect with some 90’s song that I liked back then.

Excerpts

It’s seemed that Christmas decorations hung earlier and earlier each year, and she didn’t mind as long as it didn’t overshadow Remembrance Day. That was a line for her : let the day honoured those that fell and those that remain, be sacred. But the day after? Game on. She loved Christmas. (p.6)

Besides, he would take pride in being able to say that he’d done it himself. It might take him all day, but his grandfather had instilled in him the need to be self-sufficient. Rely on no one but yourself. (p.23)

"Forgive yourself. Be grateful for the lessons, but don’t wallow in the puddle for long. There’s something better for you waiting just around the corner." (p.69)

Sure, Don had been old and ill, and Dot had died several months prior, so maybe he died of a broken heart. But Danny knew that wasn’t true He knew that Don had died from a heart attack caused by a stroke. Nothing romantic about that. (p.189)

Arnaud fired up the music when the rig came to a stop. He began with Spice Up Your Life by the Spice Girls. Dani saw Taylor throw back his head in laughter then all of them began to shimmy in time to the beat as they walked towards the snow-covered beach area. (p.340)


Ringing in the New Year by Clover Callahan and Kaitlin Collins

  Published on January 31 st , 2025 61 pages I read the paperback version Back Cover The countdown to midnight is on in this New Yea...