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zaza_bdp's review
3.0
* 3.5/5 *
Une nouvelle toute mimi, que j'avais lu dans le recueil 'Heart 2 heart'. ^^
** Relecture en octobre 2021 - version "longue", toujours 3.5 ⭐ **
Il faut savoir qu'à l'origine, cette nouvelle de May Archer a été écrite dans le cadre d'une opération de charité, et publiée dans un recueil intitulé "Heart 2 heart". J'avais lu la nouvelle dans ce recueil lors de sa sortie, et j'avais trouvé cette petite romance toute mignonne, bien que très courte. Depuis May Archer a republié cette nouvelle en "solo", en la retravaillant, puisqu'elle a ajouté 2 chapitres (les 5 et 6) à la version initiale.
Du coup, j'ai profité de la sortie imminente de cette nouvelle en VF pour la relire, et je dois dire que j'ai apprécié cette nouvelle version. On est ici dans l'instalove le plus total, ce qui donne un petit côté magique et très fort à la première soirée passée par nos deux amoureux, Cal & Ash. Je dois dire que c'est un trope dont je ne suis pas fan du tout, mais là, même si c'est au moins aussi sucré que les cupcakes de Cal, je trouve que ça fonctionne bien et que le (futur) couple est adorable comme tout.
On retrouve l'ambiance pittoresque des petites villes américaines dignes d'un téléfilm Hallmark (oui mais du Hallmark avec des gays !), et l'ajout des chapitres 5 et 6 permettent à May Archer d'introduire les héros des tomes qui suivront dans cette série consacrée à la petite ville de O'Leary (ce qui m'a forcément donné envie de m'y remettre ^^').
Une histoire toute mignonne donc, qui se lit très rapidement et fait passer un moment sucré plutôt agréable (mais attention, ça a beau être sucré, les épices caliente sont tout aussi présentes ...)
Une nouvelle toute mimi, que j'avais lu dans le recueil 'Heart 2 heart'. ^^
** Relecture en octobre 2021 - version "longue", toujours 3.5 ⭐ **
Il faut savoir qu'à l'origine, cette nouvelle de May Archer a été écrite dans le cadre d'une opération de charité, et publiée dans un recueil intitulé "Heart 2 heart". J'avais lu la nouvelle dans ce recueil lors de sa sortie, et j'avais trouvé cette petite romance toute mignonne, bien que très courte. Depuis May Archer a republié cette nouvelle en "solo", en la retravaillant, puisqu'elle a ajouté 2 chapitres (les 5 et 6) à la version initiale.
Du coup, j'ai profité de la sortie imminente de cette nouvelle en VF pour la relire, et je dois dire que j'ai apprécié cette nouvelle version. On est ici dans l'instalove le plus total, ce qui donne un petit côté magique et très fort à la première soirée passée par nos deux amoureux, Cal & Ash. Je dois dire que c'est un trope dont je ne suis pas fan du tout, mais là, même si c'est au moins aussi sucré que les cupcakes de Cal, je trouve que ça fonctionne bien et que le (futur) couple est adorable comme tout.
On retrouve l'ambiance pittoresque des petites villes américaines dignes d'un téléfilm Hallmark (oui mais du Hallmark avec des gays !), et l'ajout des chapitres 5 et 6 permettent à May Archer d'introduire les héros des tomes qui suivront dans cette série consacrée à la petite ville de O'Leary (ce qui m'a forcément donné envie de m'y remettre ^^').
Une histoire toute mignonne donc, qui se lit très rapidement et fait passer un moment sucré plutôt agréable (mais attention, ça a beau être sucré, les épices caliente sont tout aussi présentes ...)
theoguinto's review against another edition
4.0
Really cute and light story of O'Leary's sappiest baker couple.
Was really interested in seeing how they'd met since they were always in the other books.
Wish it was longer and not insta-love but still an enjoyable read anyways.
Was really interested in seeing how they'd met since they were always in the other books.
Wish it was longer and not insta-love but still an enjoyable read anyways.
ankysbookbubble's review against another edition
5.0
I'd been wanting to know Cal and Ash's story since I read the other two books and it was sweeter than I expected it to be. It was heartwarming and absolutely adorable.
pewterwolf's review against another edition
4.0
Rounding up to four stars as 3.5/3.75.
Well, this was fun and (should have been, but am a slow reader) quick read. A nice little introduction into the LOVE IN O'LEARY series (the first full-length story being [b:The Fall|42069408|The Fall (Love in O'Leary #1)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537908177l/42069408._SY75_.jpg|65384147] but this series has several short stories/novellas in it). Might continue with The Fall or one of the later books in this series (either [b:The Gift|43416210|The Gift (Love in O'Leary, #2)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546247213l/43416210._SY75_.jpg|67460847] or [b:The Fire|51786793|The Fire (Love in O'Leary #4)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563315216l/51786793._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72144205], or maybe try out the first in its spin-off series, [b:Off Plan|53238525|Off Plan (Whispering Key, #1)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587480701l/53238525._SY75_.jpg|80626907]).
Caelan is bakery in the small town of O'Leary, New York, and his friends have forced him to go on a blind date on Valentine's Day. Ash, the ex-navy SEAL, is in town for family wedding. When Ash walks into Caelan's bakery, there is an immediate connection (and, of course, a misunderstanding). So, when they find out they are each other's date... well, it's a romance short story/novella, you can see where it's going to go...
While the first few main chapters take place over 24 hours (they met, they go on date, realise confusion, have sex, etc), we then have two chapters taking place six months later than an epilogue that's a year later. But the majority of this takes place over a 24 hour period so we have instalove/lust and while we don't see much of a kink (though we do see a dom/sub between Caelan and Ash when they have sex the first time), we are told lately (in one of the six month later) that they do try sex with scarves, toys, gentle BDSM, role play and others. So, while the sex in story can be read as vanilla, we are told that they aren't (take from that what you will.)
I do have an issue. If you are going to have two POVs taking turns with chapters, please say who is talking (ie. Chapter One: Caelan. Chapter Two: Ash, etc). In a short story/novella, I am more forgiving. but this is a basic thing. And some people might not like the "Six months later" as quite a few characters from upcoming O'Leary novels/short stories pop up and can be quite overwhelming.
But I found this sweet and I am intrigued to try this author again.
Well, this was fun and (should have been, but am a slow reader) quick read. A nice little introduction into the LOVE IN O'LEARY series (the first full-length story being [b:The Fall|42069408|The Fall (Love in O'Leary #1)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537908177l/42069408._SY75_.jpg|65384147] but this series has several short stories/novellas in it). Might continue with The Fall or one of the later books in this series (either [b:The Gift|43416210|The Gift (Love in O'Leary, #2)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546247213l/43416210._SY75_.jpg|67460847] or [b:The Fire|51786793|The Fire (Love in O'Leary #4)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563315216l/51786793._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72144205], or maybe try out the first in its spin-off series, [b:Off Plan|53238525|Off Plan (Whispering Key, #1)|May Archer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587480701l/53238525._SY75_.jpg|80626907]).
Caelan is bakery in the small town of O'Leary, New York, and his friends have forced him to go on a blind date on Valentine's Day. Ash, the ex-navy SEAL, is in town for family wedding. When Ash walks into Caelan's bakery, there is an immediate connection (and, of course, a misunderstanding). So, when they find out they are each other's date... well, it's a romance short story/novella, you can see where it's going to go...
While the first few main chapters take place over 24 hours (they met, they go on date, realise confusion, have sex, etc), we then have two chapters taking place six months later than an epilogue that's a year later. But the majority of this takes place over a 24 hour period so we have instalove/lust and while we don't see much of a kink (though we do see a dom/sub between Caelan and Ash when they have sex the first time), we are told lately (in one of the six month later) that they do try sex with scarves, toys, gentle BDSM, role play and others. So, while the sex in story can be read as vanilla, we are told that they aren't (take from that what you will.)
I do have an issue. If you are going to have two POVs taking turns with chapters, please say who is talking (ie. Chapter One: Caelan. Chapter Two: Ash, etc). In a short story/novella, I am more forgiving. but this is a basic thing. And some people might not like the "Six months later" as quite a few characters from upcoming O'Leary novels/short stories pop up and can be quite overwhelming.
But I found this sweet and I am intrigued to try this author again.
kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this short as part of the Heart2Heart Anthology and re-read it for funsies and because I decided to re-read the whole O'Leary Series :)
wildfaeriecaps's review against another edition
5.0
Glad I caved and finally bought this one. Cal and Ash are such a staple of O'Leary and it was fun to see how they met.
marlobo's review against another edition
3.0
The original shorter story from [b:Heart2Heart: A Charity Anthology|38395210|Heart2Heart A Charity Anthology|May Archer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1517953192s/38395210.jpg|60051675] let me way more satisfied, which is a bit sad, being that it was my favorite story from that anthology (I gave it 4.5 stars!).
I expected more from the expanded version, mainly a focus on the romance progression between that first Valentine's date and the epilogue.
I certainly didn't expect nor liked at all that overdose of characters from future stories in the Series. A coarse move IMHO. I would ask kindly to the author that —in next stories— to ration the featuring of new characters.
I expected more from the expanded version, mainly a focus on the romance progression between that first Valentine's date and the epilogue.
I certainly didn't expect nor liked at all that overdose of characters from future stories in the Series. A coarse move IMHO. I would ask kindly to the author that —in next stories— to ration the featuring of new characters.