Give in to me by Edith Lalonde

 

Published on November 28^th, 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)

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

4^e 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)

 

La boîte à fantasmes – Milo de Sara Agnès L.

 

Publié chez A Éditeur le 8 avril 2025

352 pages

Lu en format papier

4^e 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)

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)

T’es belle pis j’t’aime de JoÈve Dupuis

 

Publié chez les éditions Pratico le 12 mai 2025

368 pages

Lu en format papier

4^e de couverture

Parce qu’en amour comme dans la vie, tout est une question de perspective…

Lorsqu’une tempête fait rage dans la vie de Lola, tout bascule. « C’est bien LUI. En chair et en os. Mon premier amour réapparaît et ce n’est pas un fantôme, tout compte fait. »

Quand un océan de souvenirs chavire Sébastien, tout s’envole. « On ne sait jamais vraiment tout des gens qu’on connaît. Tu ne savais pas que je n’avais jamais cessé de t’aimer. »

Mon avis

Quand j’ai commencé ce blogue, je me suis promis d’être honnête dans mes avis même si ce n’est pas toujours évident. La première moitié du livre fut difficile pour moi à lire tant au niveau de l’écriture que le fait qu’il manquait des éléments importants à l’évolution de Lola. Je comprends que l’auteure souhaitait surprendre les lecteurs, mais je trouvais que l’événement venait de nulle part et qu’on aurait pu mettre quelques indices pour que cela ait du sens.

Je donne mon étoile du match à Sébastien qui est le premier amour de Lola qui ajoute du sens au livre et qui est le personnage le plus attendrissant. Il vit une épreuve difficile vers la moitié, mais j’ai adoré suivre son périple et c’est la raison pour laquelle j’ai pu parcourir l’œuvre jusqu’à la fin. Je trouve même que l’écriture de l’auteure s’est améliorée pour cette partie, moins d’anglicisme, on ressentait davantage les émotions de l’homme et on pouvait se mettre plus facilement à sa place.

Lola est attachante et je pense que plusieurs jeunes femmes pourront se reconnaître dans ses réactions et sa façon de parler. Elle ajoute de la joie et je crois que plusieurs souhaiteraient l’avoir comme amie.

L’histoire va faire réfléchir les lecteurs sur un sujet qui a un lien avec le titre, mais je ne peux pas vous en dévoiler plus. C’est pour cela que j’aurai aimé que l’auteure laisse des indices avant que l’événement en question arrive.

Extraits

À cette époque, j’y voyais l’apparition du sosie d’Edward, le rôle joué par Robert Pattinson dans la série Twilight. Je vivais littéralement la même scène que dans le premier film de la saga. J’ai réagi comme Bella, l’héroïne. (p.12)

Clair de lune, au piano, était sur la trame sonore originale de la saga Twilight. Comme j’étais obsédée au secondaire par le film et par la comparaison de mon couple avec Sébastien à celui d’Edward et Bella- pour le côté éternel et singulier de leur amour, pas pour la notion de vampire ! (p.18)

Pour une fille qui ne devrait pas, il est trop tard, tu as les deux pieds dedans.

Dans quoi ?

Dans le bonheur ou dans la marde. Il y a juste l’avenir qui peut nous le dire ! (p.40)

Ensemble, on a parcouru des milliers de kilomètres pour voir jouer Live des groupes de musique qui nous électrisaient. (p.71)

Le seul côté délinquant que j’ai, c’est d’être avec une fille qui me sort de ma zone de confort constamment. (p.128)

Sur le trottoir, je mets la chanson Let Somebody Go de Coldplay en duo avec Selena Gomez, pour partir du bon pied. Elle donne un rythme lent et constant. Ce n’est pas peut-être pas la chanson la plus motivante pour jogger, mais Denis me féliciterait d’être sorti, sans juger mon choix musical. (p.242)

 

Song of the Sparrow by Tara MacLean

 

Published by Harper Collins on March 14^th, 2023

352 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

An astonishing memoir about how song saved a life Singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has had an extraordinary musical career. From being discovered singing on a BC ferry to touring with Dido, Tom Cochrane and Lilith Fair, her solo albums and those with the band Shaye have touched legions of fans. But she hasn’t, until now, disclosed the details of how the power of song saved her from a childhood filled with danger. From her earliest days in the backwoods of Prince Edward Island, Tara was surrounded by nature, the songs of her musician father and the love of her actor mother. But love was not enough to feed their growing family, nor were the Wiccan, then evangelical Christian teachings her parents followed.

Poverty and uncertainty were constant companions, as were the dangers that began to enter her world. Predators can come in many forms from even the most trusted circles, and Tara soon learned that a young girl is never safe. It was only through Tara’s inner strength and the sanctuary she found in singing that she created a refuge and a future for herself.  

Song of the Sparrow is a daring, heartbreaking and provocative memoir of a life filled with music, told with the same raw, open and elegant poetry that Tara’s fans have come to expect. From Tara’s childhood in PEI through her teenage years in BC to her meteoric rise in music, Song of the Sparrow reveals her remarkable strength and shows that a song and a wide-open heart are the best weapons for fighting monsters. Don’t miss Tara’s new album, Sparrow, which is being released concurrently with this memoir.

My reviews

It’s not the first time I read a memoir by a singer, but this one hit me harder than some other. I discover this singer after my first breakup when I was fourteen and her song If I fall helped me to get through it. It’s still a song that is important to me now and I listen to it every time I need to remember why I have to keep writing. To be honest, I didn’t follow her career after that, but when I rethink about that period, I checked her social media and I discover that she wrote a book.

 There is a warning at the beginning of the book about child abuse, self-harm, addiction and domestic violence and I am glad they did it, but it’s not the first time I read a story where the person got abuse or had to go to hell before being a happy person. I think they are the most inspiring and make me to want to create a better life. This memoir might not be for everyone, but I learn a lot about the author and the music world. It’s amaze me how harsh and beautiful it can be in the same time.

You have no idea how happy I was when I learned she was a Canadian singer. I thought I didn’t listen much Canadian music, but she mentioned a few singers in the book that I didn’t even know they were from my country.  Same thing about Life is a Highway, which is my road trip song.

Some part of the book made me want to cry, but I am glad I read it and not only because of everything I learned, but I was touched by Tara MacLean words. If you like music as much as I do, I recommend it.

Excerpts

Predators groom their victims to think they are the only ones, that everyone else is safe, that they are "special" to them. (p.39)

In a world where everything is crumbling around you, humour is essential and life-affirming. Her laugh is one of my favourite sounds of all time. No matter what was happening we were able to find joy amid the suffering and comedy in tragedy. (p.44)

A song might be heard by one person or by every person. It’s doesn’t matter, as long as it’s heard. It’s isn’t complete until then. (p.55)

"When you write a song, you always have to write somethin’ true." (p.74)

People came from all over the world to see the world-class theatre and concerts, especially the wholesome and beloved tale Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. (p.88)

I was finally going to me Sarah McLachlan in person. I was invited to sing two songs, and I asked Stephen to accompany me, as well as Sarah’s drummer. (p,179)

"Tara, we know you can sing, but can you tell a story? Take us down into the bare places, and then when it’s time, let it fly." (p.187)

"Have no expectations. If you have no expectations, then you will have no fear, and your song will always come from the source." (p.189)