Review: Do You Want to Start a Scandal? By Tessa Dare

 

Series: Spindle Cove Book #5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 376
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Borrowed from the library
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library. Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan? Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall? Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit . . . and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?

Review

This was a super adorable story and might be my favorite Spindle Cove book now. Who would've known the youngest Highwood would be the best?

It's a cute story with a spunky heroine. It actually reminds me of an older Julia Quinn book. Charlotte is a fantastic heroine. I love her. I root for her. I want her to be my friend. There's something about a well written optimistic character I particularly enjoy.

Piers is an awesome hero. He has some darkness that makes him intriguing, but he's a good guy. He's smart and caring even if he tries to hide that part of himself. And it's pretty funny to see them all spun up by Charlotte's high jinx. They complement each other as a couple very well.

I'm already a fan of Tessa Dare, but if she keeps writing like this she's going to be a favorite/must-buy author.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: A Lady to by Midnight by Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove Book #3
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 374
Rating: 4  Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Historical Romance, Small-Town,
Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove—but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiancé. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate's happiness. He wants what's best for her, and he knows it's not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It's the toughest battle of this hardened warrior's life . . . and the first he seems destined to lose.

Review

In some ways, this book has my catnip all over it. But for some reason I can't put by finger on I'm not really into it.

Thorne was great. He's got a well-developed and I get him. Plus, it's always nice to see a story explore the impact of war on people. And I've always liked Kate, but she became a little immature. Not necessarily in the way you might think. It's like someone attractive shows her attention and she turns into a lost little girl. I do think they love each other, but it could've been done a little better.

There is less of the awesomeness that is Spindle Cove in this one, but I still love Spindle Cove. And naturally, I will keep reading. This was still a good book and Tessa Dare is a great writer.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove Book #2
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 356
Rating: 4.5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Historical Romance, Small-town
Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove's confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland.

Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be... anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week to

• fake an elopement
• convince family and friends they're in "love"
• outrun armed robbers
• survive their worst nightmares
• travel four hundred miles without killing each other

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.

What they don't have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.

Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe... just maybe... love.

Review

I remember really liking this the first time I read it. But I didn't remember much else. This made this re-read exciting, but a little scary. What if I was disappointed?

It's easy to see from my star-rating I wasn't. This book has so much of my catnip-the bickering couple, emotional trauma, marriage of convenience. It also has some of that small town vibes and no ballroom which is a nice break.

Minerva and Colin are both great characters. And they have fantastic banter. Minerva is very strong and intelligent. And she never loses that which is nice to see. She evolves, but not in a negative way. Then there's Colin. Oh, Colin. He is such a kind person, but no one seems to see that. Ms. Dare really shows how people's expectations can impact you.

I'm not always a fan of stories with forced confinement for the hero and heroine. But this one works. It probably helps that it isn't one location and they put themselves in this situation.

Oh, and there was some sequel bait which the world knows I love. I'm really glad I started to re-read this series, because it's beautiful.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove Book 1.5
Format: Ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

Warning: The heroine packs a pistol, the hero curses in multiple languages, and together they steam up a cold winter s night. "

 
Review

Oh my god, that's probably the best novella I've read. Definitely romance novella. And it was very fast paced-mainly takes place in one night-which is normally a turn-off for me.

I don't want to spoil things, but the characters and their story is beautiful. Ms. Dare took one of my least favorite tropes and made it compelling. Violet definitely stole the show. She has so much sass and strength under her wallflower shell.

And the pacing. This is how you do a well-written romance. The time is so compressed, but the characters face conflicts (internal and external) in a natural way. The romance truly had a beginning, middle, and end (Happily Ever After).

I've said before that writing a novella is a particular skill set and not everyone can do it. But Tessa Dare sure can. I want more of these characters in the best possible way.

Probably, the best compliment I can give this is that I wanted to immediately read it again when I finished it. That doesn't happen very often.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove Book #1
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 372
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Purchased
Genre: Historical Romance, Small Town
Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Welcome to Spindle Cove, where the ladies with delicate constitutions come for the sea air, and men in their prime are... nowhere to be found. Or are they?

Spindle Cove is the destination of choice for certain types of well-bred young ladies: the painfully shy, young wives disenchanted with matrimony, and young girls too enchanted with the wrong men; it is a haven for those who live there.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn't belong here. So far as he can tell, there's nothing in this place but spinsters... and sheep. But he has no choice, he has orders to gather a militia. It's a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna Finch—a woman who is determined to save her personal utopia from the invasion of Bram's makeshift army.

Susanna has no use for aggravating men; Bram has sworn off interfering women. The scene is set for an epic battle... but who can be named the winner when both have so much to lose?

 
Review

I've read this series before, but I didn't read all of the novellas and it's been a long time. So, I didn't remember much of what happened.

Spindle Cove is amazing. It's like a small-town romance, but historical, which I feel like you don't see that often. There's tons of quirky characters and sequel bait. Oh, there's so much sequel bait.

Honestly, now that I'm writing this I realize I don't have much to say. I find some of Rhys' decision or words problematic. But generally, they are good characters. I cared about them. And it isn't everyday you read a romance between two alpha characters.

My plan is to go through this complete series in order including the novellas. Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading!
Holly