Spindle Cove
Brace yourselves: this is a rave review for the Spindle Cove series by Tessa Dare. I actually read them out of order because I got A Week to Be Wicked when it was on sale. And from there, I knew I'd have to read all the rest. It's not that they don't stand alone, but there are enough hints at the other stories, that I was dying to know what happened.
One of my favorite things was that I felt like the characters were fresh and interesting. There weren't any stereotypical characters - each had a little something to make them unique. Minerva, from A Week... is a paleontologist. While her gender definitely plays a role in the conflict, her occupation is not her defining trait. She's also a sister and a daughter, and she's protective and sometimes insecure. And her hero is Colin, a rake that has been almost written off as a lost cause. He's come to Spindle Cove because he's out of money and has to wait until his birthday to inherit. He's totally fine with society's perception of him - he even believes it too. But he's just so charming and likable. And Minerva sees there's more to him, and in the end, it's all about how they manage to bring out the best in each other.
I also loved Kate and Thorne from A Lady by Midnight. Their romance was just hinted at in book 3, but I took the bait. I had to read this one the very next day! And it was just as delightful. I've since read the first book A Night to Surrender and both the novellas. Now with the novellas, there was one that I did not find quite as satisfying because of a minor plot point. But the writing and romance were just as good, so I did enjoy it. This series has romance that is both sweet and hot. The love scenes were "modern" in their tone, but not in a way that seemed unrealistic. I still have one book left in this series, and I know I'll enjoy it!
