Kylie Scott nous reviens avec une nouvelle romance friend-to-lover. Avec une telle couverture et cet intrigant résumé, je n'ai pas résister bien longtemps. Et même si c'est quelque peu différent de ce à quoi je m'étais attendue, cela reste une très belle surprise...
" Pause " suit l'histoire d' Anna & Leif. Un duo que tout oppose qui va vous surprendre à bien des égards et qui vont vous prouver de la meilleure façon qui soit que malgré les différences, les doutes ou encore les plaies encore à vif, ils se complètent en tout point.
Elle est une femme admirable qui a vu sa vie changer radicalement suite à un grave accident. Ayant été trahie par la pire des manières et ayant tout perdu, elle va devoir faire une pause, réévaluer sa vie passée et décider de ce qui la rendra vraiment heureuse. Et la première chose qu'elle veut absolument garder dans sa vie est son nouvel ami, Leif.
Et parlons-en justement de cet épatant ami. Il a tout du bad boy avec tous ses tatouages. Mais vous allez vite vous rendre compte que sous cette apparence il y a un homme bienveillant au charisme unique qui fera tout son possible pour venir en aide à cette femme désarmée et perdue.
Une relation qui va commencer sur une merveilleuse amitié bien avant le réveil d'Anna et qui va renforcer au fil du temps pour se transformer en quelque chose de beaucoup plus profond et intense. Leurs interactions pleines d'esprit et d'humour sarcastique sont un pur délice.
Passons maintenant aux autres personnages. Tous sans exception ont leur importance. Si certains vont agréablement vous surprendre pour leur soutien envers nos héros et piquer à vif votre curiosité. D'autres par contre vont vous faire sortir de vos gonds pour comportement déplorable.
En bref... Il est vrai que j'aurai voulu quelques pages supplémentaires ainsi qu'un peu plus de suspens. Cependant il m'est impossible de dire que je ressors de ma lecture déçue. Une fois plongée dans cette belle histoire, plus je tournais les pages plus j'en voulais en savoir plus ! Il est vrai également que le sujet sensible abordé aurait pu être traité plus en profondeur. Mais Kylie Scott a décidé de faire autrement en se concentrant sur un tout autre aspect celui d'" aller de l'avant ". Et j'ai trouvé cela nullement dérangeant bien au contraire. Entre des personnages attachants et parfaitement imparfaits, une intrigue finement menée, de l'humour, des sentiments vifs bien présents et de la sensualité, je me suis littéralement régalée ! " Pause " est un émouvant récit qui vous fera passer par une myriade d'émotions vives, qui vous laisse un très beau message et qui est bien évidemment à découvrir...
Leif Larsen lives in a big old brown brick building with a sprawling dogwood out front in a cool urban neighborhood. No one answers when I press the buzzer. But according to the details on the scrap of paper the nurse gave me, I've got the right place.
What to do?
The rational response would be to give up and go home. Because hiding out in my childhood bedroom has worked out great so far (and this would be sarcasm). It's been months since I left the house for anything other than a medical appointment. Weeks since I've heard from any friends. Right on cue, my cell buzzes inside my tan Coach purse. I don't bother to look. Mom requests proof of life every hour on the hour. Not even dinner at the country club can distract her, apparently. Her parental concern for me is well past claustrophobic.
My hand clenches the iron railing against a gust of unseasonably warm evening wind. It's been a while since I stopped using a mobility aid, but things can still feel tricky. The whole damn world does, if I'm being honest. So many things I took for granted have now been turned upside down.
This is the problem with living the supposed dream. With having an airtight plan for your life. Meet Prince Charming and marry him. Find the perfect job. Only problem is, if something goes wrong, when reality smacks you upside the head and sends you reeling, then there's no system for putting the pieces back together. There's no Plan B because it never occurred to you that you'd need one. A lack of imagination on my part, perhaps.
A motorcycle pulls up to the curb and it's like everything happens in slow motion. Something about this long, lean man just makes time want to stand still. A denim-clad leg is swung over the back of the iron beast. A helmet is removed and shoulder-length hair tumbles free. High cheekbones and perfect lips are framed by stubble and all I can do is stare.
I don't know if I'm intimidated or turned on or what.
"Can I help y . . ." he begins. There's the faintest spark of recognition in his eyes.
I continue to stand there frozen.
"Fuck me," he mutters, stalking closer. His gaze slides over me from top to toe, lingering on the small scars on my left cheek from the glass. There's no attempt made to hide his curiosity. "It's really you."
Nichelle the nurse described him as being a nice young man. Nothing more. Certainly nothing that would prepare me for this. And I dispute "nice." Ripped denim, battered leather, and a Harley-Davidson motorbike are not nice.
"Never seen you conscious before," he says, getting even closer.
I just blink.
From beneath the collar and cuffs of his leather jacket emerge colorful tattoos. Lots of them. Blue waves and black letters. Red flames and white flowers. The man is a walking, talking piece of art. My parents would be horrified. Ryan too, for that matter. Not that any of their opinions matter. I need to forge my own path. Go my own way.
"How did you find me?" he asks with a faint frown.
"Oh. Ah." I smooth down the front of my pale blue midi-length linen summer dress. My dark hair is slicked back in a low ponytail and my makeup is simple but perfect. It's nice having some things I can control. "One of the nurses from the ICU told me about you and I wanted to come say thank you. But maybe an apology would be more in order?"
For a moment he pauses, then he asks, "Do you want to come in?"
Good question. The fact is, I don't know. Nor do I know how to do this. Something made obvious when my mouth opens, but nothing comes out. So much nothing for such a length of time that it's beyond embarrassing. Dammit. Whatever it is I came here looking for, it wasn't this. Him. Whatever.
"We've never properly met, have we?" He holds out his big hand. "Hi, I'm Leif."
"Anna."
While I'm tentative, he shows no such reserve. Strong, warm fingers enfold my own stiff and cold ones. There's no attempt at a dominating handshake or groping. He gives my hand a squeeze, just the one gentle squeeze, before setting me free.
"I'd say it's nice to meet you, but that would be weird." He grins conspiratorially and oh my God. Everything low in my stomach wakes up and takes notice. Shame on my lady parts, but the chemical pull of the man is ridiculous. It takes me a minute to remember that I'm a married woman. Mostly. Well, somewhat anyway. I certainly have no business smiling at him like I am. My life is messed up enough without adding a crush. Perhaps it's in reaction to me, I don't know, but the mirth disappears and his gaze becomes serious. A little bleak even. "I still have nightmares about that day, you know?"
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"I shouldn't have come."
"Don't, Anna. Don't look like that. I didn't tell you to hurt you or make you uncomfortable. I was just . . . sharing." His expression changes again, a more subdued smile taking the place of the brief hint of trauma. Then he suddenly winks at me all flirty like. I don't know how to react. I can barely keep up. The man is a whirlwind. "Want to come in and have a beer with me?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I just . . . I don't want to remind you of things you'd rather-"
"I want you to come inside. I wouldn't have asked otherwise."
A drink with a pretty wild man that I have a strange sort of history with or a swift return to safety and boredom? I don't overthink it. I don't even hesitate. "Then yes, Leif. I'd love to."
About Kylie Scott
Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013, 2014 & 2018, by the Australian Romance Writer's Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.