Book Review: A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove #2) by Tessa Dare

Title: A Week to be Wicked

Series: Spindle Cove #2

Author: Tessa Dare

Release Date: March 27th 2012

Publisher: Avon

Age: Adult

When a devilish lord and a bluestocking set off on the road to ruin…Time is not on their side.

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.

The first book of this series, A Night to Surrender, is one of my favorites, but I think A Week to be Wicked is even better!

Minerva Highwood is a geologist and her biggest dream is to be recognized for her work. Even if she has to fake an elopement with Lord Payne, the worst rake. So when he refuses to help her, she doesn't let her dreams end, but she decides to go to Scotland by herself.

Minerva is one of my favorites female characters. She isn't the most beautiful lady (as her sister), but she's actually very smart. I was impressed by her discoveries and her decision to be heard, even as a woman. Lord Payne, or Colin, started as a rake, but of course, he has a good heart. He just couldn't let Minerva go alone, but he isn't going to make this trip easy. He's very funny and was enchanted by Minerva's 'transformation', but he had his own transformation too.

I wasn't sure they were compatible at first, but they not only were attracted but respected each other and found reasons to laugh at the most rare moments. It's important to laugh when you're getting robbed, or have to act like a mistress...

Overall, I really enjoyed A Week to be Wicked. It had everything without becoming overly dramatic or extremely sweet, it never bored me, and I easily I fell in love with the characters. Historical romance readers, this one is a must read!

More about this book at tessadare.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.

Waiting on Wednesday # 95 - A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick: A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove #3) by Tessa Dare

A temporary engagement, a lifetime in the making...

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 fiance. 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.

August 28th 2012 by Avon Books

I really like this series! Recently, I finished book two, so I can't wait for this one! :P

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

Title: Once Upon a Winter's Eve

Author: Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove #1.5

Release Date: November 15th 2011

Publisher: Samhain Publishing

Age: Adult

A Spindle Cove Novella

Some wallflowers bloom at night...

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.

I loved A Night to Surrender, so when I discovered there was a Christmas novella from the Spindle Cove series, I couldn't wait to read it.

It doesn't matter if you haven't read the first book, but of course you will enjoy it better if you do. This time it's the story of Violet Winterbottom. She's very quiet and reserved, and prefer to suffer her heartbreak alone...until the day a stranger comes looking for her at the  Christmas ball.

He's hurt, weak and chilled, and apparently doesn't speak English. Only Violet can understand him but he also looks familiar.

In only one night, she must discover if he's only a stranger fugitive or the same man who broke her heart a year ago. And if it's him, will she forgive him?

Once Upon a Winter's Eve it's a very sweet short and romantic story about heartbreak and forgiveness. Violet is very in love but doesn't want to be irresponsible again, but her heart can't let him go.

Of course, Tessa Dare's writing is still captivating. She creates realistic and funny characters, easy to like.

Overall, I really enjoyed Once Upon a Winter's Eve. It's the perfect novella to read for Christmas, it has sweet romance and a perfect HEA. I only wish it would have been longer, hehe.

More about this series at tessadare.com, Goodreads, Amazon.

Book Review: A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare

Title: A Night to Surrender

Author: Tessa Dare

Series: Spindle Cove #1

Release Date: August 30th 2011

Author: Harper Collins, Inc.

Age: Adult

A peaceful resort by the sea, Spindle Cove is a retreat for Regency ladies—offering intelligent, often unconventional women a temporary escape from men and their madness. Unfortunately for Miss Susanna Finch, the seaside safe haven she has so painstakingly nurtured is no longer quite so safe. The Cove’s been invaded—not by Napoleon’s forces, but by battle-weary, barely civilized, dangerously handsome men.

Victor Bramwell, the new Earl of Rycliff, knows he doesn’t belong in Spindle Cove. So far as he can tell, there’s nothing in this godforsaken place but spinsters… and sheep. But he’s stuck here—with orders to gather a local militia. It’s a simple mission, made complicated by the spirited, exquisite Susanna. Not only has she driven all red-blooded men from the place with her "modern" notions, but her lively wit and tempting beauty are distractions Bram doesn’t need.

Bram fears he may have met his match, for Susanna won’t easily surrender.

The scene is set for an epic battle ... but who can be named the winner, when both have so much to lose?

Susanna Finch is living at Spindle Cove, a retreat for ladies escaping from men. Susanna is strong, full of energy and loves her friends at Spindle Cove, a place where the population are mostly women.

But when Victor Bramwell is named as the new Earl of Rycliff, Susanna's peace is disturbed. He's sexy, stubborn, and impressed by Susanna and her friends.

I really liked Bram and Susanna's romance. They move very quickly and their love scenes are very steamy! But still their relationship seemed realistic and very romantic.

But I mostly loved Susanna. She's one of my favorite heroines. Very strong and intelligent, I felt like I could relate with her because she was very ladylike but liked to do men's stuff, as firing guns!

I also liked the secondary characters. They are so fun! Everyone has it's own personality, and I want to know each of their stories.

A Night to Surrender was the first book I read from Tessa Dare, but I immediately loved her writing. Her story is original and funny, it starts with sheep bombing! Who else can write a romance book that starts with sheep bombing and you still want to continue reading it?

Overall, I loved A Night to Surrender and I can't wait to read Colin's and Minerva's story at A Week to be Wicked.

More about this book at tessadare.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.