REVIEW: Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare

Tessa Dare is a master at writing scenes that would cause you to have a permanent grin, leave you breathless with excitement, make your heart melt, and definitely leave you craving for more. Beauty and The Blacksmith is no exception, as it is chock-full of moments that left me sighing, chortling, fanning myself (oh, so hot!) and clutching my heart, all at once.

We first met Diana and Aaron in the first book of the Spindle Cove series, A Night To Surrender, and it’s such a treat to finally get to know these two amazing individuals on a much deeper level. Aaron is an exceptional man; it’s difficult not to fall for this loyal, hardworking, kindhearted and passionate person. Diana is equally outstanding; a woman, who has so much to give, firmly resolved to live her life and be happy. These two complement each other, and every so often, I hear myself sighing because of how perfectly they fit. They don’t always have perfect moments, goodness knows how many times I died laughing because of one mishap or another, but in each moment, even the ones that left a twinge in my heart, it was very clear how much love these two have for each other. 

It was such a joy to see more of the crazy cast of characters in Spindle Cove (reading this seriously felt like coming home). Loved reading more of Charlotte, that very spirited and unrestrained youngest Miss Highwood. She is such a force to reckon with. Love, love, love her. Very touching, that moment with Aaron.

Watch out for the revelations, pay attention to the powerful words and savor the expressiveness in each statement. So beautiful. Beauty and the Blacksmith is such a decidedly sweet and deliciously sizzling story. Definitely a must read!

REVIEW: A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

goodreads

Series: Spindle Cove (#3)

Genre: historical romance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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.

Please note: I was fortunate to have been granted access to an e-arc of ALBM in Edelweiss by HarperCollins. The book's expected publication: August 28th 2012.


Absolutely LOVED A Lady by Midnight!

Since this book is not officially out yet, I'm going to try my best to keep this review spoiler free.

REVIEW: A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

Genre: historical romance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary can be found in Diana's review here.

Be still, my fluttering heart. My feelings are having feelings right now. Thank you Colin and Minerva for sharing your story. Or rather, thank you Tessa for writing their story!

As this epic love story just needed telling.

REVIEW: The Runaway Countess by Leigh LaValle

Genre: historical romance
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary can be found in Diana's review here.

Review:
Sizzling hot from start to finish!

I can hardly think after all the emotions. The feelings. Oh, how these feelings and thoughts are still resonating within me even after hours I had put my tablet down. And it was a struggle to put it down. I kept going back, wanting to re-read my favorite parts and just soak in these moments LaValle created.

LaValle's voice is very distinct and I'm kind of in love with the way she can string words together and create these profound sentences that unravel in such a moving way. Her voice. Her characters. Her characters' voices.

Both Lord Radford and Mazie are incredibly well developed. The way they speak, their personalities, so defined and complex. Love how they are so very telling in how they express themselves by their actions and words and words they choose not to say.

The chemistry between Lord Radford and Mazie is undeniable and present and so very real, it hurts in the most delicious way.

One thing that I absolutely loved about Radford and Mazie is that neither lost themselves, they stayed true to their character from start to finish! None of the OOC business to suit the plot. Mazie and Radford were all about learning who they were and learning to trust in that, whatever they were to be and become.

[SPOILERS under the cut!]

REVIEW: A Week To Be Wicked by Tessa Dare

A Week to Be Wicked by Tessa Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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

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
- to convince family and friends they’re in “love”
- to outrun armed robbers
- to survive their worst nightmares
- to 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.





If I only had one word to use for this awesomely delicious adventure, it would be 'revelatory'. I've caught myself surprised numerous times in my reading, which, needless to say, is thoroughly wonderful and satisfying. I was already more than halfway in lustlove with Colin and I already held Minerva dear, dear to my heart in ANTS, but AWTBW elevated that love for them to new heights.

REVIEW: A Night To Surrender by Tessa Dare

A Night to Surrender by Tessa Dare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


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?






(Just moving the review I posted on Goodreads to this blog ..)



How is it there's only five stars available? I'd pluck some more from the night skies if I could because this is just made of so much win. The kind that really awesome romances are made of. The kind that would engage your mind and not just yor heart. You know the one. Yup, that's the kind that would make you laugh out loud, swoon and sigh and grin goofily because your heart is just so, so full of love. I still have so much to say but I'm feeling indescribably happy and I'm just bursting with joy that review will just have to wait. Hehehe.



ETA - actual review

MIXing it up.

Music plays a huge part in my life, as I would imagine it would for many people as well. Music naturally enhances everything it touches ... it lifts us up, inspires us, stirs emotions that we may or may not even want to surface. It goes straight for the heart.

Most of the time when reading my romance novels, a song or two would pop up and I'd connect it to a moment, a character, or the couple. I don't think I've ever felt as driven to create a soundtrack than for Pippin and Dash, Elizabeth Boyle's star-crossed lovers in Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress. Ah, Pippin and Dash. Oh, my heart.

Lady Philippa Knowles and Captain Thomas Dashwell's love story spans years, decades even. They first meet in  This Rake of Mine, the second book in the Bachelor Chronicles, when Pippin was merely a schoolgirl. We only get fragments of their story in each installment, and it's not till we get to the fifth book, their book, that we see how their romance truly developed and how their love for each other has evolved. Kudos to Ms. Boyle's storytelling magic that while reading the other books (which I love very much too!) I very much was anticipating Pippin and Dash's story and was really eager for the next installment. By the time I got to the end of the fourth book, their narrative had left me euphoric and miserable and curious and hopeful and worried and enchanted .... I really, really just wanted to get my hands on the book so I can find out what choices they made and where those life-altering decisions had led them to. ;)


Happy Ending by Mika. That is the one song that kept replaying in my head, from the moment I picked up their book. Don't be fooled by the title and the music. The lyrics. Oh, gosh. My heart is breaking again. I really liked how Pippin and Dash's story is not your typical formulaic romance. I don't want to give too much away and mention specifics, but when you do decide to read this book, I would really recommend that you start from the beginning (read There's Something About Emmaline too! Because it's so much fun!) to get the full effect. It's part of the genius of their plight as a couple. But anyway, Happy Ending is just one of the many songs that came to mind, and certainly, this is not where I would end my mix. I think you'll know what I mean when you read it.

I wonder though, how many readers automatically attach a song(s) to a character they love, a memorable moment, an unforgettable story? Does it easily come to you? Do you like creating fanmixes? :D


(Look, an aside! Hehe. I found out about this series via twitter (ab contest - srsly.). I saw the cover for Lord Langley Is Back In Town and my interest was piqued by this gorgeous cover. Heh. Found out it's the latest (last?) in the series and I only had a few days till the book would come out, so I took it upon myself to start from Book One and finish by the time Lord Langley comes back (and hey, mission accomplished!:D) I'm so glad I did. I got to read about this wonderful group of family and friends, all delightful, smart, and very endearing mischief-makers. Heee.) You guys, go and buy the books and start reading now!

"Pippin?" 

"Yes, Dash?" 

"How did we get here?" 

"Aboard this ship?" she teased. "Nate ordered the sails raised and then --" 

"Very funny," he said, cutting her off. "You know what I mean. Here. To this place." 

"Oh, this place," she said, her face growing solemn. "I've wondered that as well, and all I can think of is that we are like our stars." 

"How so?" 

"You and I are the two outer stars, and the one between us is everything that keeps us apart." 

He set his lips together and gazed out at the waves. "Like this ocean," he offered." 

REVIEW: Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake by Sarah MacLean

Here we go. Posting my first review. I wanted to put this review here as well, even though I've posted it already on my Goodreads account. I even managed to get up the courage to send it to SBTB for their RITA Reader Challenge Review, and fortunately, my review got posted! (I'm still gushing over the fact that Ms. MacLean herself commented on the review, hee!!) :D



Up until a few days ago, I was twenty six years old. Every time I were to answer the age question though, twenty eight would come out. I couldn't figure out why. I didn't want to be older than I really am but maybe it was just the age I felt I was at the moment? Callie though, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell, well, she's twenty eight years old -- a spinster, what else? I guess you could place me in that category as well. I think it's me being able to identify with the heroine of this book, it's me being able to empathize with her situation that made this book most especially dear to me. I was there with her all the way, and I'm so glad she got her Happily Ever After with Gabriel. :)

Goodreads

A LADY DOES NOT SMOKE CHEROOT. SHE DOES NOT RIDE ASTRIDE. SHE DOES NOT FENCE OR ATTEND DUELS. SHE DOES NOT FIRE A PISTOL, AND SHE NEVER GAMBLES AT A GENTLEMEN'S CLUB. 


Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried --- and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.


But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss --- to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston --- charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.


If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all --- the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love ...


Onto the review.