Ruined by a rake - Erin KNIGHTLEY

Pourquoi je le lis :

Une courte romance historique en V.O. pour travailler un peu mon anglais...

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En résumé (quatrième de couverture) :

It started with a kiss.

When nine-year-old Eleanor Abbington first met her uncle’s new stepson, Nicolas Norton, the boy rudely stole a kiss from her that set the tone for their contentious and competitive relationship. It wasn’t until years later when Nick introduced her to fencing that they finally had a proper outlet for their frequent arguments.

Having just emerged from mourning following her mother’s death, Eleanor is exactly where she wishes to be at the age of four-and-twenty : an on-the-shelf spinster and unofficial companion to her aunt. Unfortunately, her ambitious uncle has other plans for her future. On the eve of his house party, he lays down his ultimatum : either Eleanor marries the man of his choosing, or he'll force her seventeen-year-old sister to do so instead.

When Nick unexpectedly arrives on their doorstep after a two year absence, Eleanor is in no mood for their normal banter. Seeming to know exactly what she needs, Nick challenges her to pick up the foil once more. During their pre-dawn matches, he shows her just how strong she can be... and exactly how much he’s changed since leaving. But when her old adversary becomes her only ally, she may very well find herself... Ruined by a Rake.

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Mon avis :

J'ai beaucoup aimé Ruined by a rake. L'intrigue sort des sentiers battus (un peu), tout comme le caractère des personnages, sans pour autant basculer dans la pure fantaisie, ce qui aurait fait perdre de sa crédibilité à l'histoire.

Les deux héros, Eleanore et Nicolas, sont sympathiques, et même attachants, et j'ai bien aimé la façon dont leur histoire évolue sans rebondissements excessifs, mais sans être trop prévisible non plus (même s'il s'agit d'une romance et qu'on sait bien que le happy-end est de rigueur).

J'ai donc passé un agréable moment avec cette romance à laquelle je ne pourrais reprocher que sa brièveté (environ 120 pages)...

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