Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare Series: Spindle Cove #1.5
on November 15, 2011
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 96
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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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.
For several years, I’ve seen fellow historical romance fans adoring Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove series and I finally took the chance to sample the goods. After this encounter, I foresee a continuation to polish off the full series.
Once Upon a Winter’s Eve is a novella that falls between the first and second full-length books of the Spindle Cove series.
Because this was a quick read, I got only a brief glimpse of the Spindle Cove world. Spindle Cove appears to be a small village on the sea where ladies who had their struggles in society and their affluent family situations can come and find shelter, understanding, and maybe a renewed chance at life.
Violet is one of those ladies. She had a disappointment with a gentleman who crushed her hopes for love and marriage when he seemed to reciprocate and even spent an evening with her, but then a brief letter was all she got when he left. Violet has spent three years recovering from ‘The Disappointment’ and remains wary of men so she’s made herself into a Wallflower. She has friends and allowed them to learn her intellectual talent with languages. This talent serves her well when a mysterious man washes up in the cove speaking only Breton, a French language.
I enjoyed the way the story was introduced so newcomers like myself could see this was part of a series, but still get a grasp of what was going on and who people are. Violet may be getting a restart, but she’s older and wiser and I drew great amusement watching her show the mysterious rogue who begged her help that she’s capable of handling a ticklish and dangerous situation and can take care of herself now.
The romance was swift, but I bought into it because there was a history showing this is more the middle of the romance rather than the beginning. Things get hot and sexy, but also some moments of action and suspense to keep things lively.
A fast and engaging between story with a writing style that drew me in and left me ready for more. If you, like me, haven’t tried Tessa Dare’s historical romance yet, I urge you to make some time for it.
Kindle freebie on November 15, 2011 (currently $2.99 at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as of writing this post)
Overall rating 3.58 with 13,019 ratings and 1,309 reviews
About Tessa Dare
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice!) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a trio of cosmic kitties.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I read this series so long ago now, but I remember loving it at the time. Hope you enjoy them all.
Yeah, glad to know you were another who enjoyed them. Thanks, Role’!
I LOVE Tessa Dare! I started with her Castles Ever After series and then went back and read most, if not all of the Spindle Cove series. I’ve read her Girl Meets Duke series as well. So thrilled that you’ve given her a shot!
Look at all that. You really are a great fan, Rachel. I look forward to diving into her series books and starting with Spindle Cove. They’re smart and funny.
Love this author! I do not think I read this one yet D:
Fun! Maybe it will pop up as a freebie again and you can snag it, Carole.
I haven’t read Tessa Dare in forever! I used to really love her books but got out of the habit of reading them. I need to get back to them. This sounds good.
I can see why now you feel such love for her stuff. Glad to nudge them back into your notice, Katherine. 🙂
I do love a good wallflower story! I need to read this author at some point too.
Yeah, I definitely need to hit the library and get busy on this series. I think I’ll love the full-length stories even better.