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Spindle Cove #2
A Week to Be Wicked
Unexpected lovers find themselves together in Spindle Cove with A Week to be Wicked—the second book in Tessa Dare’s utterly delectable historical romance series. This Regency Era delight finds a restless British lord desperate to escape the quaint and too quiet small seaside resort he’s trapped in…and he gets much more than he expected when he eagerly agrees to escort a beautiful, brilliant, socially awkward lady scientist to Scotland. Concerning Tessa Dare and her irresistible romances, bestselling author Julia Quinn is spot on when she says, “Prepare to fall in love!” And anyone who loves the novels of Lisa Kleypas, Christina Dodd, and Liz Carlyle is going to adore having A Week to be Wicked.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2012
About the author
Tessa Dare
47 books14.5k followersSign up for Tessa's newsletter and be the first to hear about new books and hot deals! http://tessadare.com/newsletter-signup/
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,695 reviews
August 13, 2020
this was fun but i really hate the phrase swollen pearl
September 15, 2024
2024
Buddy read with my daughter because it turns out she's a closet historical romance fan.
Yeah, she actually asked me if I had read any that I would recommend.
WHAT?!
Hold my beer, kid. I got this.
So of course, I used this as an excuse to expand our library by buying a few "classic" romance novels. After all, you have to encourage good reading habits in your children.
And I am nothing if not a paragon of good parenting.
I ended up bumping this one up from 4 stars to 5 because my girl loved it so much and because it was really nice not to have to deal with iffy sexual consent scenes while buddy reading with my daughter.
2017
I'm not quite as in love with the Spindle Cove series as everyone else is, but this one was definitely one of my favorites! These two are adorable.
The smart, bookish girl and the rascally ladies' man...what's not to love?
This was one of those books that scratched my need for a fun, humorous, lighthearted romance. I loved Payne's silliness, the way he made up crazy stories, and (of course) seeing him fall for Minerva and the huge fossilized lizard footprint she found.
This may be an important discovery...
So, in order to escape her meddling mamma & get a chance to present her scientific findings, Minerva convinces Payne to 'fake elope' with her Scotland.
Honestly, there's nothing that he gets out of it, but for some reason (mostly a crush he won't admit to) he agrees to go along with it...so he can protect her. Hmmm.
Ok, I realize what I said may not make much sense, but you’ll just have to trust me. If you're looking for a cute, sweet, funny romance? This should fit the bill.
Recommended.
Buddy read with my daughter because it turns out she's a closet historical romance fan.
Yeah, she actually asked me if I had read any that I would recommend.
WHAT?!
Hold my beer, kid. I got this.
So of course, I used this as an excuse to expand our library by buying a few "classic" romance novels. After all, you have to encourage good reading habits in your children.
And I am nothing if not a paragon of good parenting.
I ended up bumping this one up from 4 stars to 5 because my girl loved it so much and because it was really nice not to have to deal with iffy sexual consent scenes while buddy reading with my daughter.
2017
I'm not quite as in love with the Spindle Cove series as everyone else is, but this one was definitely one of my favorites! These two are adorable.
The smart, bookish girl and the rascally ladies' man...what's not to love?
This was one of those books that scratched my need for a fun, humorous, lighthearted romance. I loved Payne's silliness, the way he made up crazy stories, and (of course) seeing him fall for Minerva and the huge fossilized lizard footprint she found.
This may be an important discovery...
So, in order to escape her meddling mamma & get a chance to present her scientific findings, Minerva convinces Payne to 'fake elope' with her Scotland.
Honestly, there's nothing that he gets out of it, but for some reason (mostly a crush he won't admit to) he agrees to go along with it...so he can protect her. Hmmm.
Ok, I realize what I said may not make much sense, but you’ll just have to trust me. If you're looking for a cute, sweet, funny romance? This should fit the bill.
Recommended.
September 10, 2012
*Originally read 3/24/12*
Do you remember Colin from my Tempting Teaser of A Night to Surrender? No? Well, let me refresh your memory. Colin is an unrepentant rake. He enjoys women and they enjoy him. He is arrogant and can come across as quite an ass. But what does he care? The women love him just as he loves them. He might have a tendency to make a mess of things but he always manages to put on a charming smile and turn the situation to his advantage.
That is Colin, the lovable ass.
Minerva is content to fade into the background and concentrate on her study of rocks. She’s attracted to Colin--what female wouldn’t be?--but he flusters her and they don’t really have any common interests, so she doesn’t have to suffer his presence often. We got a hint of a spark on Colin’s end in A Night to Surrender, but nothing really concrete until now. When Minerva hears a rumor about Colin’s intention to end his financial problems by proposing to her sister, she knows she has to do something to prevent it. Her sister means a lot to her and Minerva is adamant that Colin is not for her. So what’s a girl to do but convince the man there’s another way to fix his financial woes?
I completely fell in love with Minerva and Colin together. This is an “on the road” sort of romance, so we were able to pluck the characters from their usual habitat, shake them up a bit, and watch them try to adapt. Their journey was an adventure at its finest, with obstacles and amusing shenanigans cropping up, usually at the behest of Colin. He loves to invent stories and make Minerva go along with them. She is so delightful to tease and he loves nothing more than forcing her to break out of her shell. Their relationship was not without its bumps as Colin stayed true to form and couldn’t help being the ass that he is, especially in the beginning.
Slowly we saw a genuine friendship build between them. It was lovely to see how completely won over Colin was, however unintentionally it was achieved. Colin and Minerva fit together so well. She had her insecurities and hesitations, but Colin could be a force to be reckoned with. He knew, always he knew, that she was something special. He fell like a tree and I absolutely love when romances show the protagonists so slain by love.
This was a fabulous read. I felt like the setup for the next book was a tad heavy handed, but I did enjoy getting a peek at everyone's reactions to Colin and Minerva's disappearance. Everything I saw from them validated Minerva's worries about the believability of a future with Colin and made her insecurities feel more real and sad. But really, the sequel bait was a small complaint in an overwhelmingly wonderful read. I cannot wait for the next book.
Favorite Quote:
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
*For a sneak peek, check out my Tempting Teaser on Fiction Vixen*
Do you remember Colin from my Tempting Teaser of A Night to Surrender? No? Well, let me refresh your memory. Colin is an unrepentant rake. He enjoys women and they enjoy him. He is arrogant and can come across as quite an ass. But what does he care? The women love him just as he loves them. He might have a tendency to make a mess of things but he always manages to put on a charming smile and turn the situation to his advantage.
”You have no compunction ruining your reputation, nor those of your sisters. But have you given a moment’s thought to mine?”
“To your what? Your reputation?” She laughed. “But your reputation is terrible.”
He colored, slightly. “I don’t know that it’s terrible.”
She put her left forefinger to her right thumb. “Point the first. You’re a shameless rake.”
“Yes.” He drew out the word.
She touched her index finger. “Point the second. Your name is synonymous with destruction. Bar fights, scandals…literal explosions. Wherever you go, mayhem follows.”
“I don’t really try at that part. It just…happens.”
That is Colin, the lovable ass.
Minerva is content to fade into the background and concentrate on her study of rocks. She’s attracted to Colin--what female wouldn’t be?--but he flusters her and they don’t really have any common interests, so she doesn’t have to suffer his presence often. We got a hint of a spark on Colin’s end in A Night to Surrender, but nothing really concrete until now. When Minerva hears a rumor about Colin’s intention to end his financial problems by proposing to her sister, she knows she has to do something to prevent it. Her sister means a lot to her and Minerva is adamant that Colin is not for her. So what’s a girl to do but convince the man there’s another way to fix his financial woes?
"That is brave of you, pet. Offering yourself to wed me in your sister's stead. But truly, I--"
"My name is Minerva. I'm not your pet. And you're deranged if you think I'd ever marry you."
"But I though you just said--"
"Run away with you, yes. Marry you?" She made an incredulous noise in her throat. "Please."
I completely fell in love with Minerva and Colin together. This is an “on the road” sort of romance, so we were able to pluck the characters from their usual habitat, shake them up a bit, and watch them try to adapt. Their journey was an adventure at its finest, with obstacles and amusing shenanigans cropping up, usually at the behest of Colin. He loves to invent stories and make Minerva go along with them. She is so delightful to tease and he loves nothing more than forcing her to break out of her shell. Their relationship was not without its bumps as Colin stayed true to form and couldn’t help being the ass that he is, especially in the beginning.
”You’re ruining this journey,” she all but shouted. “You ruin everything.”
“Well, I beg your pardon, but I believe you signed on to be ruined!”
Slowly we saw a genuine friendship build between them. It was lovely to see how completely won over Colin was, however unintentionally it was achieved. Colin and Minerva fit together so well. She had her insecurities and hesitations, but Colin could be a force to be reckoned with. He knew, always he knew, that she was something special. He fell like a tree and I absolutely love when romances show the protagonists so slain by love.
This was a fabulous read. I felt like the setup for the next book was a tad heavy handed, but I did enjoy getting a peek at everyone's reactions to Colin and Minerva's disappearance. Everything I saw from them validated Minerva's worries about the believability of a future with Colin and made her insecurities feel more real and sad. But really, the sequel bait was a small complaint in an overwhelmingly wonderful read. I cannot wait for the next book.
Favorite Quote:
"Don't worry," he said. "This is ideal, you'll see. We do everything backward. It's just how we are. We began with an elopement. After that, we made love. Next, we'll progress to courting. When we're old and silver-haired, perhaps we'll finally get around to flirtation. We'll make fond eyes at each other over our mugs of gruel. We'll be the envy of couples half our age."
*Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen*
*For a sneak peek, check out my Tempting Teaser on Fiction Vixen*
July 25, 2021
Tessa Dare always delivers. Rereading this brought me so much joy!
————————————
I mean, I cannot give this book anything less than 5 stars. It’d be absurd and unfair, because the happiness I felt whilst reading it was unreal. It’s so worthy of 5 stars and more.
————————————
I mean, I cannot give this book anything less than 5 stars. It’d be absurd and unfair, because the happiness I felt whilst reading it was unreal. It’s so worthy of 5 stars and more.
March 15, 2018
She couldn't 'heal' him. No woman could. Events that far in the past just couldn't be undone. But perhaps he didn't need a cure, but... a lens. Someone who accepted him for the imperfect person he was, and then helped him see the world clear. Like spectacles did for her.
It's amazing to me how Tessa Dare can just NAIL some things, and then wildly misstep on others. And the sex, don't get me started on the sex. Let's work on breaking this down.
PREMISE:
Dare creates the best set-ups. She really does. This one is about a bookworm who wears spectacles and loves geology who teams up with a roué with PTSD who can't sleep alone at night, which is the 'tragic' reason he gives for the fact that there's a woman in his bed every single night.
Needless to say this is a goldmine. Scientist female with low self-esteem, an overbearing mother, who has been told she's ugly and unappealing her whole life paired with a life-loving rake who struggles with PTSD and night terrors. Perfect. What could be more perfect?
Unfortunately, Dare's execution is flawed.
THE ON-POINT SHIT:
Sometimes Dare kills it, I'm not gonna lie. Let me give you some examples:
- Well, the opening quote for starters. Here Dare just tackles the 'you can't heal a man with your magical vagina' protestations that often emerge. She just addresses it head-on. No, Minerva can't heal Colin's mental trauma. But she does listen to him talk, comforts him, provides a safe space and a refuge for him. I think that's very important and nicely illustrated by Dare.
- When Dare pours on the pain. She should do this more frequently in the novel, IMO. I know, she is going for sweet, cute, humorous and fluffy, but I like my heart to be bruised while reading a romance novel. She does have some great ideas, my complaint is that she doesn't follow through with them. Here are some great angst examples:
A hot tear spilled down her cheek. She hated that tear. Hated that he'd seen it. A man like this wasn't worth weeping over. It was just... for that moment by the fire, after years of being overlooked, she'd finally felt NOTICED. Appreciated.
WANTED.
And it had all been a lie. A ridiculous, laughable joke.
This part. Where she's crying and he can see her crying and he hates himself and she feels so betrayed and hurt.
- Also, when Dare discusses if their love (or love affair, I guess) is real or just a pretense by Colin who is 'humoring' and 'pitying' a little virginal ugly duckling.
"Just keep your eyes closed and your lips parted. And learn how this should feel."
Learn how this should feel. Shouldn't this feel tender and romantic?
Shouldn't lovemaking feel like love?
But this wasn't love. It was just a diversion, a lesson. Just another elaborate pretense.
- When Dare talks about people and their personalities and how society sees them (vs. how they truly are inside), she really makes some great points.
Perhaps, she thought, people were more like ammonites than one would suppose. Perhaps they too built shells on a consistent, unchanging factor - some quality or circumstance established in youth. Each chamber in the shell just an enlargement of the previous. Growing year after year, until they spiraled around and locked themselves in place.
Colin's shell had been formed by tragedy. His parents' deaths had defined the shape of that first protective chamber. He'd owned it, grown to fill the shape of it, enlarged it with room after mournful room. But what if the person inside those many hollow, echoing chambers wasn't a tragedy at all? Just a man who genuinely enjoyed life and loved people, but happened to have two dead parents and a stubborn case of insomnia?
And who was SHE, beneath all her layers? A bookish, awkward girl who couldn't be bothered to care for anything but fossils and rocks? Or a bold, adventurous woman who'd risked everything - not on the hopes of achieving professional acclaim, but on the slim chance of finding love. Of finding that one person who could understand her, appreciate her, and let her understand and appreciate him.
- "Don't. Don't tease me." I can't bear to be hurt like that again.
"I'm not teasing you. I'm complimenting you."
"That's just it. I don't want compliments. I'm not fanciful that way."
More pain, which I think needs to be explored more by Dare.
- "No matter what occurs, you will never lack for anything. Once I gain control of my accounts, I'll quietly settle some money on you. Enough that you'll be able to live as you desire. Set up house in any place you wish. Devote your life to scholarship. You and your sisters will always have my protection."
"Your PROTECTION? Am I to be your mistress, then?"
"God, no."
"Oh." She swallowed a sob. "Not even that?"
More pain, but unfortunately it gets resolved in about point three seconds. Dare just doesn't understand how to milk things and make her readers suffer.
- "No. Don't speak that way." He propped a finger under her chin. "I hate it when you speak ill of yourself, Min. I'd visit bodily harm on anyone who dared insult you, but I don't know how to guard you from yourself. So kindly do me a favor, and just... don't. All right?"
This is good.
- Minerva frequently tells Colin to STFU in bed. Thank heavens. At last someone has said it. Like... she's trying to concentrate on getting to that orgasm, you know. This isn't the time for long conversations. Really like that Dare addresses this, since it's one of my pet peeves in novels.
Good Lord, did the man never stop talking? Minerva didn't want to converse right now. She just wanted... deeper. Harder. More.
- Charging toward her on horseback, dashing through the early-morning mist. The wind rippling through his wavy hair. The sight was just like something from a fairy tale. Oh, he wasn't riding a white stallion, but rather a serviceable, sturdy bay gelding. And he was dressed not in shining armor or regal attire, but in a simple, well-tailored blue topcoat and buckskin riding breeches.
That was a nice little bit of mental-image porn.
THE BAD AND THE UGLY.
Besides practicing sexual behavior that I find distasteful, Dare also makes Colin an asshole for NO REASON. Seriously, there is enough conflict in here without him being a dick.
"I won't be made to look slatternly."
He held her tight. His breath fell hot and rough on her neck. "You'll be made to look the way I wish you to look. That's the point of a mistress, after all."
What about this scene, where, in a fit of irrational jealousy, he rends Minerva's clothing, tells her to dress and act like a 'mistress' and takes her to a place where the men expect her to be passed around as a party favor?
Now Minerva wanted to sink through the floor and die there. She understood Colin was angry, but how could he do this to her?
UGH. He just acts so horrid in this whole scene, and I know Dare plays it up as an 'adventure' but it was pretty miserable to this reader.
"Believe me, those women would not call themselves debased. And what makes you think they're whores? Perhaps they're ladies, every bit as pedigreed and well-bred as you, who understand what you don't. How to enjoy themselves. How to have a good time."
This pretty much encapsulates the problem I have with Dare. See how she is trying to reach for the feminist idea that slut-shaming is wrong? See it? But see how her asshole hero twists it into 'making Minerva feel like a shit person for being humiliated, ashamed, and afraid after being taken to what is essentially a pleasure-house where she is apt to become public property?' But he's shaming her for feeling this way. And he's doing it with FEMINISM. It's sick. It's so fucking sick. I don't even know how to begin to address this, but I'm severely grossed out. Notice how he also neatly sandwiches in the insult that goes, "Well, you just don't know how to HAVE FUN. Or have a GOOD TIME by allowing your body to be a sex toy for men. You're so stupid and virginal. A REAL woman would enjoy being able to be 'free' and act this way." UGH.
Later in the book, Colin muses
He wondered what it would take to coax THIS Minerva out into the world, permanently. She would need a steady supply of assurance, he supposed. Perhaps her participation in the Royal Geological Society could give her that, to some degree. But the right man could do far more. The right man could plant seeds of confidence...
Is that what YOU think you're doing, you fucker? I mean... no, you're not. Way to fail, asshole. You've been the opposite of nurturing, considerate and kind here. Honestly, Minerva deserves better, but we all know she's not going to get it and you're the best she can hope for. Considering the time period, you are golden, but to a modern reader you are trash. Work it out.
- She points a loaded gun at him.
- She slaps him around a little bit, but I'm willing to shrug this off as play-acting and honestly I'm tired of harping on Dare's physically abusive heroines. At least she doesn't punch him, kick him, or knife him like the previous heroines did to their men.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
*Carmen bashes her head into the table repeatedly* WHY. I don't understand how this perfect setup doesn't yield amazing sex and amazing sex/romance scenes. This is (IMO) where Dare always fucks up.
Take for example the scene where he makes out with Minerva. It's her second kiss (she got her first from him also) and her first makeout session, obviously. I was thrilled. I was delighted. KISSING. And I love makeout sessions that just exhibit the joys of kissing and don't end in sex. More books need makeout scenes.
It had been ages since he'd kissed a girl simply for kissing's sake, and he'd forgotten what a pure, heady pleasure it could be.
Cue excited squeeing from Carmen!
Anyway, in the middle of this Colin tells Minerva, "You can do better." Wow, OKAY. Just killed any happy-feelings I had about this scene, thanks.
He doesn't seem to be able to get it together in bed, either.
First, at around 38% he decides to discuss - well, not really discuss. More like fantasize about and use as personal mind porn - her masturbation habits in a really creepy and gross way.
"I'm not telling you anything." Her breath grew shaky.
"Surely it can't be," he said, his hand stealing over her thigh, "that this intrepid explorer of underwater caverns hasn't explored her own little cove?"... [starts touching her vulva] "Hm. I think you do understand pleasure." His touch moved in a devious circle. "But only the hushed, secret kind. You've always been surrounded, haven't you? By sisters, servants. Did you stroke yourself this way? Clamping that jaw shut, turning your head to the pillow to be very, very quiet?" [he continues to play with her vulva] "No, no. If I'm wrong, don't tell me. I'm enjoying this idea far too much. The little scientist, conducting quiet surveys beneath her night rail. Or in the bath, perhaps. Curious fingers wandering, exploring. Chasing that pleasure 'round and 'round as it builds... and builds." His voice dark, decadent. "Until the crisis shudders through you in perfect, devastating silence."
Some women may find this very exciting - and that's perfectly fine! - but I was turned-off. I found it creepy and gross. Talking about her and her masturbation habits like that, I don't know, it was very skeevy to me. Ugh.
Then he does whatever the unclothed version of dry humping is to her, comes on her, rolls over, and goes to sleep. Like... what the fuck. Are you doing. Dare never goes into details about how Minerva deals with this, but is she sleeping with a puddle of his cum on her belly? Fucker didn't even help her clean up? Does she even really understand about ejaculate, is this inconsiderate jerk just dry humping with her and then leaving her to clean up the mess? Which I'm not even sure she understands needs to be cleaned up? Couldn't he have been a little tender here? Does she sleep in the wet spot or what?
Utter fail. I leave the scene feeling like Colin is trash who is not caring for his woman properly or being kind and respectful with her. :(
And I hate 'This is how you please a man' lessons. Ugh. Please stop that. It's gross.
"I'm not..." She gasped at another greedy kiss. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable being the instrument of your release."
"You make it sound so one-sided. I promise, you'll enjoy it, too." 49%
Wow, she's coming to you with concerns that you are using her body to get off. Instead of reassuring her that you care about her, that she is important to you, that she is not just a masturbation aid for you, your response is to be like, "Well, I'll make sure you get off, too." WOW, how ROMANTIC. Yeah, no. It's gross and not loving or romantic at all. THIS is exactly why I can never get into Dare's sex scenes.
"You have so much fire in you, Min. A natural talent for passion."
I wish Dare would stop having her heroes tell their virginal women that they have 'natural aptitude' for kissing and 'natural talent' for sex and other gross things. It's very demeaning. It makes it sound like they are grooming them for future use or something. I hate it.
THEN, at around 58% he wants this little virgin to give him a blowjob. If this isn't horrifying enough, he initiates it by putting his thumb in her mouth.
"This." He slid his thumb between her startled lips, pressing it deep into her hot, wet mouth. "Yes."
I'm just gobsmacked. Woody Allen much? Aziz Ansari much? Am I just totally missing something in which men stuff their fingers down women's throats as a kind of harsh, unappealing way to get them to give them a blowjob? I'm not talking about porn here. I'm talking about IRL. Do men do this IRL? Because let me tell you, if a man ever tried this shit with me... *Carmen trails off* Well, let's just say it wouldn't end well. First and foremost because I'd immediately vomit all over him. Not on purpose, just what comes naturally when people shove their fingers in my mouth. And after that, I'm sure things would only get worse. >.<
More to the point, is this ROMANTIC or SEXY at all?!?!!??! No, absolutely not. It goes beyond the other shit into a whole new territory of gross that I'm not prepared to deal with, especially not in what I thought was going to be a sweet and cute novel.
Fast forward through an absolutely disgusting blowjob scene that I don't want to hear about. NEXT!
68% Taking her virginity is unpleasant. Moreso because the man doesn't seem to understand the importance of foreplay. WITH A VIRGIN.
"Damn it, I know I should be selfless. I should give you pleasure first. But I want to be in you. I want to be so deep inside you when you come."
Ah, I see. You KNOW you should be kinder, more compassionate, and more orgasm-giving to her before you painfully take her virginity but you JUST CAN'T help yourself. Right. Got it. Very romantic, sexy, and merciful of you. You inconsiderate fucker. I honestly thought a rake who knew women SO WELL would actually be a good partner for her, but you've let me down SO MUCH. In so many ways. :(
- To cap it all off, the fucker goes down on her at 85% but doesn't even finish the job. He decides she wants the D more. I can't tell you how irate this makes me. One, it's her first experience with cunnilingus, fucker. You could have at least put in a little effort. JFC, do I have to walk you through every little thing?! This hero is so fucking selfish. Two, she finished your blowjob! The blowjob I don't even think you should have been asking for, but she finished that! You can't even reciprocate?!!?!? Fuck this shit. FUCK IT.
TL;DR Well. It was better than A Night to Surrender and Once Upon a Winter's Eve, I'll say that much. Dare has an amazing scenario to use for her book. Too bad she ruins it.
I did like some of the philosophical and psychological points she was trying to make here. And it's refreshing to see a heroine that calls the hero on his shit most of the time.
If you like realism in your historicals (I don't give a fig if historicals are accurate, so this is not me) I would advise you to stay away from Tessa Dare. She takes modern ideals, ideas, and viewpoints and just sets them in the past, which is no more than window-dressing. I personally have no beef with this, but I know it bothers some people.
I don't understand why Dare had to make Colin an asshole... or at least an intermittent asshole in this book. There really was NO need for it. There was plenty of conflict, excitement, and issues between the couple and acting on the couple without him being a jerk. It was unnecessary and just made me dislike him a whole lot.
The sex was gross. I mean... opinions may vary, I am grading on my own standards and expectations and of course judging by my own personal tastes. If you love the sex in this book, I am very happy for you. :D However, it wasn't pleasing to me.
I know tons of people love this book, and I can understand the appeal. It has a perfect set-up. But IMO Dare fails to deliver on this promising premise. If you love it, I am so happy for you. :D But for me, personally, it didn't work out. In my personal opinion, this was not enjoyable.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Historical Romance
Regency Romance
STEM Heroine Romance
She's a Geologist, He's a... nothing. Rich man, I guess.
It's amazing to me how Tessa Dare can just NAIL some things, and then wildly misstep on others. And the sex, don't get me started on the sex. Let's work on breaking this down.
PREMISE:
Dare creates the best set-ups. She really does. This one is about a bookworm who wears spectacles and loves geology who teams up with a roué with PTSD who can't sleep alone at night, which is the 'tragic' reason he gives for the fact that there's a woman in his bed every single night.
Needless to say this is a goldmine. Scientist female with low self-esteem, an overbearing mother, who has been told she's ugly and unappealing her whole life paired with a life-loving rake who struggles with PTSD and night terrors. Perfect. What could be more perfect?
Unfortunately, Dare's execution is flawed.
THE ON-POINT SHIT:
Sometimes Dare kills it, I'm not gonna lie. Let me give you some examples:
- Well, the opening quote for starters. Here Dare just tackles the 'you can't heal a man with your magical vagina' protestations that often emerge. She just addresses it head-on. No, Minerva can't heal Colin's mental trauma. But she does listen to him talk, comforts him, provides a safe space and a refuge for him. I think that's very important and nicely illustrated by Dare.
- When Dare pours on the pain. She should do this more frequently in the novel, IMO. I know, she is going for sweet, cute, humorous and fluffy, but I like my heart to be bruised while reading a romance novel. She does have some great ideas, my complaint is that she doesn't follow through with them. Here are some great angst examples:
A hot tear spilled down her cheek. She hated that tear. Hated that he'd seen it. A man like this wasn't worth weeping over. It was just... for that moment by the fire, after years of being overlooked, she'd finally felt NOTICED. Appreciated.
WANTED.
And it had all been a lie. A ridiculous, laughable joke.
This part. Where she's crying and he can see her crying and he hates himself and she feels so betrayed and hurt.
- Also, when Dare discusses if their love (or love affair, I guess) is real or just a pretense by Colin who is 'humoring' and 'pitying' a little virginal ugly duckling.
"Just keep your eyes closed and your lips parted. And learn how this should feel."
Learn how this should feel. Shouldn't this feel tender and romantic?
Shouldn't lovemaking feel like love?
But this wasn't love. It was just a diversion, a lesson. Just another elaborate pretense.
- When Dare talks about people and their personalities and how society sees them (vs. how they truly are inside), she really makes some great points.
Perhaps, she thought, people were more like ammonites than one would suppose. Perhaps they too built shells on a consistent, unchanging factor - some quality or circumstance established in youth. Each chamber in the shell just an enlargement of the previous. Growing year after year, until they spiraled around and locked themselves in place.
Colin's shell had been formed by tragedy. His parents' deaths had defined the shape of that first protective chamber. He'd owned it, grown to fill the shape of it, enlarged it with room after mournful room. But what if the person inside those many hollow, echoing chambers wasn't a tragedy at all? Just a man who genuinely enjoyed life and loved people, but happened to have two dead parents and a stubborn case of insomnia?
And who was SHE, beneath all her layers? A bookish, awkward girl who couldn't be bothered to care for anything but fossils and rocks? Or a bold, adventurous woman who'd risked everything - not on the hopes of achieving professional acclaim, but on the slim chance of finding love. Of finding that one person who could understand her, appreciate her, and let her understand and appreciate him.
- "Don't. Don't tease me." I can't bear to be hurt like that again.
"I'm not teasing you. I'm complimenting you."
"That's just it. I don't want compliments. I'm not fanciful that way."
More pain, which I think needs to be explored more by Dare.
- "No matter what occurs, you will never lack for anything. Once I gain control of my accounts, I'll quietly settle some money on you. Enough that you'll be able to live as you desire. Set up house in any place you wish. Devote your life to scholarship. You and your sisters will always have my protection."
"Your PROTECTION? Am I to be your mistress, then?"
"God, no."
"Oh." She swallowed a sob. "Not even that?"
More pain, but unfortunately it gets resolved in about point three seconds. Dare just doesn't understand how to milk things and make her readers suffer.
- "No. Don't speak that way." He propped a finger under her chin. "I hate it when you speak ill of yourself, Min. I'd visit bodily harm on anyone who dared insult you, but I don't know how to guard you from yourself. So kindly do me a favor, and just... don't. All right?"
This is good.
- Minerva frequently tells Colin to STFU in bed. Thank heavens. At last someone has said it. Like... she's trying to concentrate on getting to that orgasm, you know. This isn't the time for long conversations. Really like that Dare addresses this, since it's one of my pet peeves in novels.
Good Lord, did the man never stop talking? Minerva didn't want to converse right now. She just wanted... deeper. Harder. More.
- Charging toward her on horseback, dashing through the early-morning mist. The wind rippling through his wavy hair. The sight was just like something from a fairy tale. Oh, he wasn't riding a white stallion, but rather a serviceable, sturdy bay gelding. And he was dressed not in shining armor or regal attire, but in a simple, well-tailored blue topcoat and buckskin riding breeches.
That was a nice little bit of mental-image porn.
THE BAD AND THE UGLY.
Besides practicing sexual behavior that I find distasteful, Dare also makes Colin an asshole for NO REASON. Seriously, there is enough conflict in here without him being a dick.
"I won't be made to look slatternly."
He held her tight. His breath fell hot and rough on her neck. "You'll be made to look the way I wish you to look. That's the point of a mistress, after all."
What about this scene, where, in a fit of irrational jealousy, he rends Minerva's clothing, tells her to dress and act like a 'mistress' and takes her to a place where the men expect her to be passed around as a party favor?
Now Minerva wanted to sink through the floor and die there. She understood Colin was angry, but how could he do this to her?
UGH. He just acts so horrid in this whole scene, and I know Dare plays it up as an 'adventure' but it was pretty miserable to this reader.
"Believe me, those women would not call themselves debased. And what makes you think they're whores? Perhaps they're ladies, every bit as pedigreed and well-bred as you, who understand what you don't. How to enjoy themselves. How to have a good time."
This pretty much encapsulates the problem I have with Dare. See how she is trying to reach for the feminist idea that slut-shaming is wrong? See it? But see how her asshole hero twists it into 'making Minerva feel like a shit person for being humiliated, ashamed, and afraid after being taken to what is essentially a pleasure-house where she is apt to become public property?' But he's shaming her for feeling this way. And he's doing it with FEMINISM. It's sick. It's so fucking sick. I don't even know how to begin to address this, but I'm severely grossed out. Notice how he also neatly sandwiches in the insult that goes, "Well, you just don't know how to HAVE FUN. Or have a GOOD TIME by allowing your body to be a sex toy for men. You're so stupid and virginal. A REAL woman would enjoy being able to be 'free' and act this way." UGH.
Later in the book, Colin muses
He wondered what it would take to coax THIS Minerva out into the world, permanently. She would need a steady supply of assurance, he supposed. Perhaps her participation in the Royal Geological Society could give her that, to some degree. But the right man could do far more. The right man could plant seeds of confidence...
Is that what YOU think you're doing, you fucker? I mean... no, you're not. Way to fail, asshole. You've been the opposite of nurturing, considerate and kind here. Honestly, Minerva deserves better, but we all know she's not going to get it and you're the best she can hope for. Considering the time period, you are golden, but to a modern reader you are trash. Work it out.
- She points a loaded gun at him.
- She slaps him around a little bit, but I'm willing to shrug this off as play-acting and honestly I'm tired of harping on Dare's physically abusive heroines. At least she doesn't punch him, kick him, or knife him like the previous heroines did to their men.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
*Carmen bashes her head into the table repeatedly* WHY. I don't understand how this perfect setup doesn't yield amazing sex and amazing sex/romance scenes. This is (IMO) where Dare always fucks up.
Take for example the scene where he makes out with Minerva. It's her second kiss (she got her first from him also) and her first makeout session, obviously. I was thrilled. I was delighted. KISSING. And I love makeout sessions that just exhibit the joys of kissing and don't end in sex. More books need makeout scenes.
It had been ages since he'd kissed a girl simply for kissing's sake, and he'd forgotten what a pure, heady pleasure it could be.
Cue excited squeeing from Carmen!
Anyway, in the middle of this Colin tells Minerva, "You can do better." Wow, OKAY. Just killed any happy-feelings I had about this scene, thanks.
He doesn't seem to be able to get it together in bed, either.
First, at around 38% he decides to discuss - well, not really discuss. More like fantasize about and use as personal mind porn - her masturbation habits in a really creepy and gross way.
"I'm not telling you anything." Her breath grew shaky.
"Surely it can't be," he said, his hand stealing over her thigh, "that this intrepid explorer of underwater caverns hasn't explored her own little cove?"... [starts touching her vulva] "Hm. I think you do understand pleasure." His touch moved in a devious circle. "But only the hushed, secret kind. You've always been surrounded, haven't you? By sisters, servants. Did you stroke yourself this way? Clamping that jaw shut, turning your head to the pillow to be very, very quiet?" [he continues to play with her vulva] "No, no. If I'm wrong, don't tell me. I'm enjoying this idea far too much. The little scientist, conducting quiet surveys beneath her night rail. Or in the bath, perhaps. Curious fingers wandering, exploring. Chasing that pleasure 'round and 'round as it builds... and builds." His voice dark, decadent. "Until the crisis shudders through you in perfect, devastating silence."
Some women may find this very exciting - and that's perfectly fine! - but I was turned-off. I found it creepy and gross. Talking about her and her masturbation habits like that, I don't know, it was very skeevy to me. Ugh.
Then he does whatever the unclothed version of dry humping is to her, comes on her, rolls over, and goes to sleep. Like... what the fuck. Are you doing. Dare never goes into details about how Minerva deals with this, but is she sleeping with a puddle of his cum on her belly? Fucker didn't even help her clean up? Does she even really understand about ejaculate, is this inconsiderate jerk just dry humping with her and then leaving her to clean up the mess? Which I'm not even sure she understands needs to be cleaned up? Couldn't he have been a little tender here? Does she sleep in the wet spot or what?
Utter fail. I leave the scene feeling like Colin is trash who is not caring for his woman properly or being kind and respectful with her. :(
And I hate 'This is how you please a man' lessons. Ugh. Please stop that. It's gross.
"I'm not..." She gasped at another greedy kiss. "I'm not sure I'm comfortable being the instrument of your release."
"You make it sound so one-sided. I promise, you'll enjoy it, too." 49%
Wow, she's coming to you with concerns that you are using her body to get off. Instead of reassuring her that you care about her, that she is important to you, that she is not just a masturbation aid for you, your response is to be like, "Well, I'll make sure you get off, too." WOW, how ROMANTIC. Yeah, no. It's gross and not loving or romantic at all. THIS is exactly why I can never get into Dare's sex scenes.
"You have so much fire in you, Min. A natural talent for passion."
I wish Dare would stop having her heroes tell their virginal women that they have 'natural aptitude' for kissing and 'natural talent' for sex and other gross things. It's very demeaning. It makes it sound like they are grooming them for future use or something. I hate it.
THEN, at around 58% he wants this little virgin to give him a blowjob. If this isn't horrifying enough, he initiates it by putting his thumb in her mouth.
"This." He slid his thumb between her startled lips, pressing it deep into her hot, wet mouth. "Yes."
I'm just gobsmacked. Woody Allen much? Aziz Ansari much? Am I just totally missing something in which men stuff their fingers down women's throats as a kind of harsh, unappealing way to get them to give them a blowjob? I'm not talking about porn here. I'm talking about IRL. Do men do this IRL? Because let me tell you, if a man ever tried this shit with me... *Carmen trails off* Well, let's just say it wouldn't end well. First and foremost because I'd immediately vomit all over him. Not on purpose, just what comes naturally when people shove their fingers in my mouth. And after that, I'm sure things would only get worse. >.<
More to the point, is this ROMANTIC or SEXY at all?!?!!??! No, absolutely not. It goes beyond the other shit into a whole new territory of gross that I'm not prepared to deal with, especially not in what I thought was going to be a sweet and cute novel.
Fast forward through an absolutely disgusting blowjob scene that I don't want to hear about. NEXT!
68% Taking her virginity is unpleasant. Moreso because the man doesn't seem to understand the importance of foreplay. WITH A VIRGIN.
"Damn it, I know I should be selfless. I should give you pleasure first. But I want to be in you. I want to be so deep inside you when you come."
Ah, I see. You KNOW you should be kinder, more compassionate, and more orgasm-giving to her before you painfully take her virginity but you JUST CAN'T help yourself. Right. Got it. Very romantic, sexy, and merciful of you. You inconsiderate fucker. I honestly thought a rake who knew women SO WELL would actually be a good partner for her, but you've let me down SO MUCH. In so many ways. :(
- To cap it all off, the fucker goes down on her at 85% but doesn't even finish the job. He decides she wants the D more. I can't tell you how irate this makes me. One, it's her first experience with cunnilingus, fucker. You could have at least put in a little effort. JFC, do I have to walk you through every little thing?! This hero is so fucking selfish. Two, she finished your blowjob! The blowjob I don't even think you should have been asking for, but she finished that! You can't even reciprocate?!!?!? Fuck this shit. FUCK IT.
TL;DR Well. It was better than A Night to Surrender and Once Upon a Winter's Eve, I'll say that much. Dare has an amazing scenario to use for her book. Too bad she ruins it.
I did like some of the philosophical and psychological points she was trying to make here. And it's refreshing to see a heroine that calls the hero on his shit most of the time.
If you like realism in your historicals (I don't give a fig if historicals are accurate, so this is not me) I would advise you to stay away from Tessa Dare. She takes modern ideals, ideas, and viewpoints and just sets them in the past, which is no more than window-dressing. I personally have no beef with this, but I know it bothers some people.
I don't understand why Dare had to make Colin an asshole... or at least an intermittent asshole in this book. There really was NO need for it. There was plenty of conflict, excitement, and issues between the couple and acting on the couple without him being a jerk. It was unnecessary and just made me dislike him a whole lot.
The sex was gross. I mean... opinions may vary, I am grading on my own standards and expectations and of course judging by my own personal tastes. If you love the sex in this book, I am very happy for you. :D However, it wasn't pleasing to me.
I know tons of people love this book, and I can understand the appeal. It has a perfect set-up. But IMO Dare fails to deliver on this promising premise. If you love it, I am so happy for you. :D But for me, personally, it didn't work out. In my personal opinion, this was not enjoyable.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Historical Romance
Regency Romance
STEM Heroine Romance
She's a Geologist, He's a... nothing. Rich man, I guess.
January 6, 2017
I'm a sucker for a charming rake. Here's what my "coming out" season would have been like:
1st night: "Oh look, there's Jilly in her pretty new dress...
Oh, the most notorious rake in town just made her laugh...
There she goes with him out on the veranda - without a chaperone...
Aaannd.. she's ruined.
I hope she enjoys living with her spinster aunt for the rest of her life."
Not only is Colin gorgeous and funny, but he also has a painful past that plagues him with nightmares. A bad-boy in pain? That's like female kryptonite!
Even our heroine, Minerva, who is super intelligent and cynical isn't immune:
As he's related his story, a veritable fount of emotion has welled in her chest. Sadness, sympathy. Her womb somehow became involved...
He's a broken man..
He needs you...
You can heal him...
Minerva is my favorite heroine too. She is constantly reading, is super smart, and embarks on some sexual exploration with the hottie "in the name of science." I think she would fit in well here on goodreads. ;)
This story is mainly a journey-story where they are trying to get someplace and have every hardship imaginable as they fall in love. It is hilarious, cute, and full of ooey-gooeyness. Plus, sex, and dinosaurs. It has it all.
1st night: "Oh look, there's Jilly in her pretty new dress...
Oh, the most notorious rake in town just made her laugh...
There she goes with him out on the veranda - without a chaperone...
Aaannd.. she's ruined.
I hope she enjoys living with her spinster aunt for the rest of her life."
Not only is Colin gorgeous and funny, but he also has a painful past that plagues him with nightmares. A bad-boy in pain? That's like female kryptonite!
Even our heroine, Minerva, who is super intelligent and cynical isn't immune:
As he's related his story, a veritable fount of emotion has welled in her chest. Sadness, sympathy. Her womb somehow became involved...
He's a broken man..
He needs you...
You can heal him...
Minerva is my favorite heroine too. She is constantly reading, is super smart, and embarks on some sexual exploration with the hottie "in the name of science." I think she would fit in well here on goodreads. ;)
This story is mainly a journey-story where they are trying to get someplace and have every hardship imaginable as they fall in love. It is hilarious, cute, and full of ooey-gooeyness. Plus, sex, and dinosaurs. It has it all.
April 12, 2021
There is no question that Tessa Dare will make me laugh in her books. This one had me literally laughing out loud and I enjoyed it so much more than the first book. This one is a fun "road trip" romance where Minerva and Colin travel to Scotland together. Colin is a damaged hero with a fear of enclosed coaches, so that makes traveling to Scotland quiet difficult. Minerva and Colin get into a lot of shenanigans together and share a lot of moments together along the way. I really enjoyed their romance and how they started falling for each other. Minerva is a scientist and I loved that about her character. The brief check-ins with her family at home were so fun and I just could not put this book down! Even the ending was adorable and I just could not get enough of these characters!
August 20, 2014
5+ stars – Historical/Regency Romance
Wow! What can I possibly say about this one to convey how absolutely wonderful it is? Talk about a charming, wickedly splendid read and a smashing good time! A Week to Be Wicked is one of the most engaging, refreshing, witty, banterific, and all around pleasing historical romances that I’ve read in quite a while and definitely so far this year.
Colin is a handsome, flirtatious, affable, generous, funny, sweet, and utterly lovable scoundrel whose tormented past and insecurity make you want to hold him tight, heal his wounded soul, and never let go. And spunky, awkward, bespectacled, bluestocking, spinster geologist Minerva, who prefers spending her time unearthing rare rocks and minerals and making scientific discoveries to people, might appear his polar opposite, but together they prove that magnets indeed attract.
Colin, with his good-natured, roguish charm, endearing wit, and underlying tortured soul, reminded me of one of my favorite romantic heroes, Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsay from Lisa Kleypas’s masterful Married By Morning, and that’s high praise indeed!
It’s a highly enjoyable, gratifying read for historical romance fans! Big 5 stars!
One of my favorite scenes/passages:
Wow! What can I possibly say about this one to convey how absolutely wonderful it is? Talk about a charming, wickedly splendid read and a smashing good time! A Week to Be Wicked is one of the most engaging, refreshing, witty, banterific, and all around pleasing historical romances that I’ve read in quite a while and definitely so far this year.
Colin is a handsome, flirtatious, affable, generous, funny, sweet, and utterly lovable scoundrel whose tormented past and insecurity make you want to hold him tight, heal his wounded soul, and never let go. And spunky, awkward, bespectacled, bluestocking, spinster geologist Minerva, who prefers spending her time unearthing rare rocks and minerals and making scientific discoveries to people, might appear his polar opposite, but together they prove that magnets indeed attract.
Colin, with his good-natured, roguish charm, endearing wit, and underlying tortured soul, reminded me of one of my favorite romantic heroes, Leo Hathaway, Lord Ramsay from Lisa Kleypas’s masterful Married By Morning, and that’s high praise indeed!
It’s a highly enjoyable, gratifying read for historical romance fans! Big 5 stars!
One of my favorite scenes/passages:
October 13, 2019
“But, my lord, unmarried women cannot attend as guests. It’s not proper.”
“For the love of ammonites, man! That’s just stupid. Why on earth would the Society need to protect unmarried women from bone-dry lectures regarding soil composition? Do your members find themselves whipped into some sort of dusty frenzy, from which no delicate lass would be safe?”
Mr. Barrington tugged on his coat. “Sometimes debate does get heated.”
This dialogue from close to the end of the book just cracked me up, and it’s a good example of the dry and sarcastic humor throughout the book. It was very amusing and funny, I found myself laughing out loud quite often.
I have now read all books in the “Spindle Cove” series, and as much as I like them all, “A Week to be Wicked” is just something else. I love Historical Romance, even the cheesy ones, but sometimes the love just develops too quickly. This book was such a breath of fresh air that it took me completely by surprise. At first, Colin was not at all interested in Minerva, but the events in their journey and her character bind him to her --giving way for true romance, passion and love -- and not just purely based on looks.
The journey becomes a comedy of errors of sorts when Colin's knack for storytelling creates unexpected surprises, and brings Minerva out of her shell in astonishing ways. Meanwhile, Minerva learns about his tragic past and brings Colin out of his shell, as she comes to understand his secrets and what he needs to get beyond them.
Tessa Dare is a very clever writer, and “A Week to be Wicked” has many moments of true brilliance as well as a sexy and touching romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
“For the love of ammonites, man! That’s just stupid. Why on earth would the Society need to protect unmarried women from bone-dry lectures regarding soil composition? Do your members find themselves whipped into some sort of dusty frenzy, from which no delicate lass would be safe?”
Mr. Barrington tugged on his coat. “Sometimes debate does get heated.”
This dialogue from close to the end of the book just cracked me up, and it’s a good example of the dry and sarcastic humor throughout the book. It was very amusing and funny, I found myself laughing out loud quite often.
I have now read all books in the “Spindle Cove” series, and as much as I like them all, “A Week to be Wicked” is just something else. I love Historical Romance, even the cheesy ones, but sometimes the love just develops too quickly. This book was such a breath of fresh air that it took me completely by surprise. At first, Colin was not at all interested in Minerva, but the events in their journey and her character bind him to her --giving way for true romance, passion and love -- and not just purely based on looks.
The journey becomes a comedy of errors of sorts when Colin's knack for storytelling creates unexpected surprises, and brings Minerva out of her shell in astonishing ways. Meanwhile, Minerva learns about his tragic past and brings Colin out of his shell, as she comes to understand his secrets and what he needs to get beyond them.
Tessa Dare is a very clever writer, and “A Week to be Wicked” has many moments of true brilliance as well as a sexy and touching romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
July 11, 2016
5 “FOR-THE-LOVE-OF-TITS” STARS!!!!!!!!
I’m in love with this book!!!
I’m giggling like...a nerd!!!
Nerd Words Are Sexy!!!
And the way you pronounce all those polysyllabic words? Makes me rock hard, every time.
This book was MADE…FOR…ME. I’m a huge nerd, ladies. I’m obsessed with books (duh). I love math. I loved school and still love learning.
This book starts on page 1 and doesn’t stop until the last word. This story is full of adventure and imagination. It’s sexy, hilarious, and fast-paced. There isn’t a dull moment!!!
Colin and Minerva strike a deal. If he helps her journey to her geology symposium, she will marry him (temporarily) so he can receive the money for his birthright. Most of the story is their journey to Edinburgh. They are constantly pretending to be other people, and it is hilarious! Their relationship in the beginning is beyond entertaining. They are constantly bantering back and forth (Colin is always calling her by the wrong name, and I laughed every time!).
I didn’t recognize your face without the book in front of it.
Colin is a “jack of all trades.” He is funny, dry, sexy, witty…perfection. He is a spoiled rich guy on the outside, but very intelligent because he can maneuver through many different adventures.
My Colin:
“You are the most deceitful, horrid, shameless, contemptible man I have ever had the displeasure to know. How do you sleep at night?” His reply came just as she banged the door closed. “I don’t.”
Minerva is a BADASS NERD….and one of my favorite historical heroines!!! She is a female geologist (studies rocks) who is determined to become recognized. She has discovered a rare fossil and because she is passionate about what she does, she wants the world to know about it.
My Minerva:
"I’m a woman who knows a great deal about rocks. I suggest you find the stones to deal with it."
Min and Colin are perfect for each other! There is so much laughing in this book, and yet there is also so much tenderness. When Min and Colin fall in love, it is so beautiful!!!!! I didn’t expect my heart to stutter so much.
Certainty becomes you.
The story doesn’t end with defeat. It ends in triumph.
Thank you, Susanne for recommending this book to me! This is my first Tessa Dare book, and I am sold for life. She does a fabulous teaser for the next book, and I am super excited to read it!
Find me on
I’m in love with this book!!!
I’m giggling like...a nerd!!!
Nerd Words Are Sexy!!!
And the way you pronounce all those polysyllabic words? Makes me rock hard, every time.
This book was MADE…FOR…ME. I’m a huge nerd, ladies. I’m obsessed with books (duh). I love math. I loved school and still love learning.
This book starts on page 1 and doesn’t stop until the last word. This story is full of adventure and imagination. It’s sexy, hilarious, and fast-paced. There isn’t a dull moment!!!
Colin and Minerva strike a deal. If he helps her journey to her geology symposium, she will marry him (temporarily) so he can receive the money for his birthright. Most of the story is their journey to Edinburgh. They are constantly pretending to be other people, and it is hilarious! Their relationship in the beginning is beyond entertaining. They are constantly bantering back and forth (Colin is always calling her by the wrong name, and I laughed every time!).
I didn’t recognize your face without the book in front of it.
Colin is a “jack of all trades.” He is funny, dry, sexy, witty…perfection. He is a spoiled rich guy on the outside, but very intelligent because he can maneuver through many different adventures.
My Colin:
“You are the most deceitful, horrid, shameless, contemptible man I have ever had the displeasure to know. How do you sleep at night?” His reply came just as she banged the door closed. “I don’t.”
Minerva is a BADASS NERD….and one of my favorite historical heroines!!! She is a female geologist (studies rocks) who is determined to become recognized. She has discovered a rare fossil and because she is passionate about what she does, she wants the world to know about it.
My Minerva:
"I’m a woman who knows a great deal about rocks. I suggest you find the stones to deal with it."
Min and Colin are perfect for each other! There is so much laughing in this book, and yet there is also so much tenderness. When Min and Colin fall in love, it is so beautiful!!!!! I didn’t expect my heart to stutter so much.
Certainty becomes you.
The story doesn’t end with defeat. It ends in triumph.
Thank you, Susanne for recommending this book to me! This is my first Tessa Dare book, and I am sold for life. She does a fabulous teaser for the next book, and I am super excited to read it!
Find me on
December 19, 2017
4.25 Stars
Overall Opinion: I really enjoyed this! I think this author is definitely one of my favorites for her characters and witty banter in historical romances! If only she would have more closure and epilogues...🤷🏻♀️ I would still highly recommend her works to anyone trying out the genre. I enjoy throwing in the occasional hr to mix things up with my contemporary romances, as to hopefully help prevent possible book funks. It was a lot of fun 🤗
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Minerva and Colin's story. The story starts with Minerva confronting Colin about the idea of him proposing to her sister. She doesn't want that match to happen, and she comes up with a proposition to fake an elopement with her instead. She needs to get to Scotland for a symposium to present her findings of an ancient footprint, and he needs people to believe he has married to get his inheritance early. They embark on their journey, and it is a wild one. There are crazy stories being told, highway men chasing them, new identities being made, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Minerva and Colin in 3rd person narrative (with some side characters thrown in as well).
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. The ending was a little too abrupt for my tastes tbh.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (though not that long since its only in the course of a week 😉)
H rating: 4.5 stars. Colin. I really liked him. He was damaged from his past, and tried to cope in whatever way he could. I appreciated how he cared for the h and came to love her so much.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Minerva. I really liked her. She was smart and witty, but I would've liked for her to stand up for herself with others a little more at times (she was great with the H).
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Kind of, but mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Mild
Closure: This didn't have enough of a glimpse into their future for me! Why, oh why couldn't we have a jump ahead epilogue?! I would reluctantly call this a HEA, even though I wanted more .
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I really enjoyed this! I think this author is definitely one of my favorites for her characters and witty banter in historical romances! If only she would have more closure and epilogues...🤷🏻♀️ I would still highly recommend her works to anyone trying out the genre. I enjoy throwing in the occasional hr to mix things up with my contemporary romances, as to hopefully help prevent possible book funks. It was a lot of fun 🤗
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Minerva and Colin's story. The story starts with Minerva confronting Colin about the idea of him proposing to her sister. She doesn't want that match to happen, and she comes up with a proposition to fake an elopement with her instead. She needs to get to Scotland for a symposium to present her findings of an ancient footprint, and he needs people to believe he has married to get his inheritance early. They embark on their journey, and it is a wild one. There are crazy stories being told, highway men chasing them, new identities being made, some sexy times, and some sweet moments...and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Minerva and Colin in 3rd person narrative (with some side characters thrown in as well).
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. The ending was a little too abrupt for my tastes tbh.
Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings (though not that long since its only in the course of a week 😉)
H rating: 4.5 stars. Colin. I really liked him. He was damaged from his past, and tried to cope in whatever way he could. I appreciated how he cared for the h and came to love her so much.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Minerva. I really liked her. She was smart and witty, but I would've liked for her to stand up for herself with others a little more at times (she was great with the H).
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Kind of, but mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: No
Possible Triggers: Mild
Closure: This didn't have enough of a glimpse into their future for me! Why, oh why couldn't we have a jump ahead epilogue?! I would reluctantly call this a HEA, even though I wanted more .
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
November 19, 2015
5 Wickedly Feel Good Stars!
A Week to be Wicked is the second book in Tessa Dare’s thoroughly entertaining, completely brilliant Spindle Cove series. It’s funny, romantic, poignant, passionate, sexy, inspiring, clever, delightful… in a word – it’s wonderful!
The Series:
Not all young ladies are looking forward to seasons, balls, comings out, love matches - or any match at all, for that matter! But what’s a lady to do when her whole life will be defined by how well she marries? How do young misses cope when Marriage Minded Mamas won’t pass up any opportunity to introduce their daughters – in some cases, kicking and screaming – into polite society?
Welcome to Spindle Cove! On the surface Spindle Cove seems to be the kind of place Mothers can bring their daughters to prepare for their debuts. It’s a place to relax, recuperate, to gird up their loins and plan their attack. Again, this is on the surface. But what Spindle Cove really is, is a place where these young ladies can be themselves. Where they’re not just accepted for their eccentricities, they’re encouraged to nourish them! But don’t let their mamas find out!
This Story:
Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove's confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland.My Review:
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.
I have to say, I’m absolutely in love with Colin and
Apart they're wonderful, together they're perfect!
The Bottom Line:
I absolutely love the idea behind this series! What a fun, unique place to be, Spindle Cove. It’s the perfect setting for mischief, mayhem – intentional or otherwise – and romance, and I can't wait to move on to the next book, A Lady by Midnight.
This had me giggling:
“Jesus,” he finally managed, pushing water off his face. “Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. For that matter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.” Still not enough. He needed to reach back to the Old Testament for this. “Obadiah. Nebuchadnezzar. Methuselah and Job.”
“Be calm,” she said, taking him by the shoulders. “Be calm. And there are women in the Bible, you know.”
“Yes. As I recall it, they were trouble, every last one..."
Excerpt From: Dare, Tessa. “A Week to Be Wicked.”
February 12, 2017
A Week to Be Wicked is a sweet, humorous, and entertaining historical romance story. I enjoyed reading Colin and Minerva’s journey to Edinburgh for the most part. There were many good and bad things happened along the way. Sometimes they made me laugh, but they got me frustrated the other times. The romance between them made my heart melt though, and seeing them finally could be happy together made me happy, too.
What worked for me :
1. It was an easy read. There was nothing particularly complex about the plot, and it only took little time to finish it.
2. There were plenty of steamy sexy times and they were explosive—incredibly HOT!
3. The ending and the sweet HEA did me right! It was so beautiful that Colin loved Minerva the way she was. I was blown away!
What didn't work for me :
1. Both Colin and Minerva behaved childishly at times. They thought and acted in a very immature way like in the scene where Colin started to lie to the Fontleys family and Minerva reluctantly went along with his story. But later, Mr. and Mrs. Fontley found out the truth, Minerva was angry with Colin and they began to blame each other. No, this wasn’t what I expected. And then to add insult to injury, she hit his sore spot with cruel words that he couldn’t even ride in a coach. Argh! I was as much disappointed as frustrated at both of them! I wish these things never happened in this book.
2. Colin is such a tease and he was incapable of taking certain things seriously, except for IN BED. (Fortunately, he could redeem himself in the end.)
3. There was too much repetition of ‘bookish’ and ‘awkward’. Grrr! I felt so irritated with them!
4. Some parts of the book didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
Despite the fact that the story was quite slow and remotely boring in some parts, it was a pretty light-hearted story overall.
------------------------------------
**BR with my lovely friends, Aileene and Jess.
What worked for me :
1. It was an easy read. There was nothing particularly complex about the plot, and it only took little time to finish it.
2. There were plenty of steamy sexy times and they were explosive—incredibly HOT!
3. The ending and the sweet HEA did me right! It was so beautiful that Colin loved Minerva the way she was. I was blown away!
What didn't work for me :
1. Both Colin and Minerva behaved childishly at times. They thought and acted in a very immature way like in the scene where Colin started to lie to the Fontleys family and Minerva reluctantly went along with his story. But later, Mr. and Mrs. Fontley found out the truth, Minerva was angry with Colin and they began to blame each other. No, this wasn’t what I expected. And then to add insult to injury, she hit his sore spot with cruel words that he couldn’t even ride in a coach. Argh! I was as much disappointed as frustrated at both of them! I wish these things never happened in this book.
2. Colin is such a tease and he was incapable of taking certain things seriously, except for IN BED. (Fortunately, he could redeem himself in the end.)
3. There was too much repetition of ‘bookish’ and ‘awkward’. Grrr! I felt so irritated with them!
4. Some parts of the book didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
Despite the fact that the story was quite slow and remotely boring in some parts, it was a pretty light-hearted story overall.
------------------------------------
**BR with my lovely friends, Aileene and Jess.
February 15, 2021
"When a girl trudged through the rain at midnight to knock at the Devil's door, the Devil should at least have the depravity - if not the decency - to answer."
Guys. Guuuuuys. I think I may be a romantic.
Yes there are parts completely unbelievable and twists rather roll-eyes worthy - of course. But you know what? That's okay, because what Min and Colin are offering us? That's a tale - a show of deception, the triumph of the lies - and that's hilarious.
Yes the plot is predictable and we run into some sentences very cliché sometimes. But you know what? There's also several damn hot scenes and if Colin's personality has been already seen in other novels, well, he's fucking awesome in this role of the sarcastic, infuriating, devilish, and somehow delusional Lord. As for Minerva, well, she's pretty amazing. Moreover, the scientific similes of Minerva and Colin completely cracked me up.
"I've always thought that word sounded splendidly naughty." He let it roll off his tongue with ribald inflection. "Logarithm." He gave an exaggerated shiver. "Ooh. Yes and thank you and may I have some more."
Plus I have a theory about the clichés we find in this story. Yeah, I know, I'm not some investigator. Perhaps I'm delusional. But still. I'm almost sure that Tessa Dare plays consciously with the clichés she includes. Why? Because when a reaction or a sentence seems dripping with cheese, that's always followed by something which makes fool of it.
Colin is being completely overdramatic?
→ Miranda hurries to call him on his shit.
Colin wants to offer Minerva his ring as a sign of love?
→ The ring stays stuck on his finger. A long time.
"You taste of ripe plums."
She couldn't help it. She laughed. "Now that's just absurd."
"Why?"
"Because it's too early in the year for ripe plums."
See? I could add some examples but then, I'd spoilt the story too much. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm just a random reader after all, but it pleases me to think that Tessa Dare is able to do that. I guess you'll have to make your own opinion about it.
"My name is Minerva. I'm not your pet. And you're deranged if you think I'd ever marry you."
"But I thought you just said - "
"Run away with you, yes. Marry you?" She made an incredulous noise in her throat.
"Please" .
Yes it awfully looks like instalove. Yep. Because there's no denying that falling in love in a week is instalove. But then, I strangely didn't care that much, as I saw this book as a fairy tale. A wicked and silly journey into the foolish heart of mine. And you know what? A day after finishing my read I can still feel the butterflies.
"But now that he was seized with lust for her, she ought to at least reciprocate with a grudging-yet-helpless infatuation. So much would only be polite."
Yes the pacing is uneven and the story kind of drag towards the end. But you know what? I must confess that I wanted my HEA. I was shipping Colin and Minerva like crazy and despite the fact that Colin's transformation can lead to awkward moments, well, I was smiling so big it hurts. Right. I think I may be a romantic after all. Don't tell anyone.
In a nutshell : Here's a somehow predictable romance book, where we find characters who fall in love pretty quickly, whose comments are sometimes a bit cheesy, and where some situations will make you roll your eyes something fierce, yet it was a page-turner and I laughed and
As guilty I can feel about that, it was a complete enjoyment. Damn. I'm ruined.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 12, 2022
✨That moment when a calls-her-by-anything-other-than-her-name guy calls her by her name during sex✨
Simply put, I would die for these two googlybears. I really don’t know how else to convey my feelings for both Colin and Minerva. My unproblematic FAVS. They were both incredible and wonderful and light and fluffy and vulnerable and deep and so. full. of. love. These two could each punch me in the face and wish dishonor on my cow and I would thank them for the privilege and bake them a cake for their exertions.
Simply put, I am in love. A disgusting, over the top, smiling at nothing, montage on city sidewalks kind of love. This book has changed me. There’s just something so lovely about finding a book that speaks to you, heart and soul. Colin and Min just really really really loved each other. They loved each other too much to be separated at the end. Colin wanted to be better for Min because he knew she deserved it, but he didn’t leave her so she could be with “someone better.” No! They talked about it! He worked his ass off and tried to be better himself, for her. He knew he was worthy of her and that she wanted him so he needed to stay and not run. They made it work—together. A concept!
Speaking of together, they were with each other the entire book and they really held that shit DOWN. It was a cinematic road-trip adventure and really highlighted all the wonderful ways they fit together. Their woven tales to people they met along the way added such brevity and charm. “She is a first rate sword swallower.” I mean, my GOD. The way I choked (lol)! It was all just so cleverly written and fresh. Simply put, I had so much fun with these honeybuns.
The biggest thing about this book was all of the little things that meant so much to the characters, but also to me as a reader. There was always a surprise or a heartwarming little fact that popped up at just the right time. Minerva wouldn’t leave Colin alone in the cave; he didn’t tell her to take off her glasses, in fact, he put them back on her. I don’t want to spoil the surprise so I’m not even going to put in a spoilers section, but just know that there is a gem of a reveal that happens at 80%. Josh-painting-his-bedroom-walls-in-The-Hating-Game kind of reveal. Breathtaking and adorable and proof of how gone the man was for Min. I do hope someone told her just how much of a lovesick puppy cinnamon roll he was when she got back. He also kissed her nose at one point and I swear I found religion.
You also got a bit of narration from other characters back in Spindle Cove while the cuddle muffins were on their way to Scotland. It added an extra element to the storytelling and it also revealed information in such a fun way!!! I was never ever bored and always only besotted and excited for the next chapter. Like I briefly mentioned, there was no useless separation or fight or replastering torn down walls at the end. It simply would have not made sense for the story or the couple and I was so relieved.
Oh, also this book was HOT. Like holy shit I’m listening to this audiobook during work and am literally getting paid to hear multiple glorious sex scenes kind of HOT. One Paris Hilton ᵀʰᵃᵗ’ˢ ʰᵒᵗ for me please and thank you. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: enemies make the best lovers. There is simply no debate. Nothing can touch the way the sexual tension, pent-up emotions, and forbidden fantasies DO. ME. IN. The cherry on top was the scene where Min had to pretend to be Colin’s mistress. He was in awe and I was in SHAMBLES.
It seems that I have a thing for books with wicked in the title. Overall, I think this book was an excellent example of how to make compelling and interesting characters with interests and passions that bolster the romance, rather than overshadow it. Minerva loved rocks and was proud of her dinosaur discovery, but we weren’t buried by an avalanche of random musings. Her love of it actually made Colin grow and try to be the best version of himself for her. It was interesting and kept pace and purpose really really well. I also loved that Colin was a bit of a math man? A binomial babe? A statistics stud? The boy really did NUMBERS. And lest I forget, the sensual math terms!! Like I’ve said, this book did many things and it did them all so so well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
Simply put, I would die for these two googlybears. I really don’t know how else to convey my feelings for both Colin and Minerva. My unproblematic FAVS. They were both incredible and wonderful and light and fluffy and vulnerable and deep and so. full. of. love. These two could each punch me in the face and wish dishonor on my cow and I would thank them for the privilege and bake them a cake for their exertions.
Simply put, I am in love. A disgusting, over the top, smiling at nothing, montage on city sidewalks kind of love. This book has changed me. There’s just something so lovely about finding a book that speaks to you, heart and soul. Colin and Min just really really really loved each other. They loved each other too much to be separated at the end. Colin wanted to be better for Min because he knew she deserved it, but he didn’t leave her so she could be with “someone better.” No! They talked about it! He worked his ass off and tried to be better himself, for her. He knew he was worthy of her and that she wanted him so he needed to stay and not run. They made it work—together. A concept!
Speaking of together, they were with each other the entire book and they really held that shit DOWN. It was a cinematic road-trip adventure and really highlighted all the wonderful ways they fit together. Their woven tales to people they met along the way added such brevity and charm. “She is a first rate sword swallower.” I mean, my GOD. The way I choked (lol)! It was all just so cleverly written and fresh. Simply put, I had so much fun with these honeybuns.
The biggest thing about this book was all of the little things that meant so much to the characters, but also to me as a reader. There was always a surprise or a heartwarming little fact that popped up at just the right time. Minerva wouldn’t leave Colin alone in the cave; he didn’t tell her to take off her glasses, in fact, he put them back on her. I don’t want to spoil the surprise so I’m not even going to put in a spoilers section, but just know that there is a gem of a reveal that happens at 80%. Josh-painting-his-bedroom-walls-in-The-Hating-Game kind of reveal. Breathtaking and adorable and proof of how gone the man was for Min. I do hope someone told her just how much of a lovesick puppy cinnamon roll he was when she got back. He also kissed her nose at one point and I swear I found religion.
You also got a bit of narration from other characters back in Spindle Cove while the cuddle muffins were on their way to Scotland. It added an extra element to the storytelling and it also revealed information in such a fun way!!! I was never ever bored and always only besotted and excited for the next chapter. Like I briefly mentioned, there was no useless separation or fight or replastering torn down walls at the end. It simply would have not made sense for the story or the couple and I was so relieved.
Oh, also this book was HOT. Like holy shit I’m listening to this audiobook during work and am literally getting paid to hear multiple glorious sex scenes kind of HOT. One Paris Hilton ᵀʰᵃᵗ’ˢ ʰᵒᵗ for me please and thank you. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: enemies make the best lovers. There is simply no debate. Nothing can touch the way the sexual tension, pent-up emotions, and forbidden fantasies DO. ME. IN. The cherry on top was the scene where Min had to pretend to be Colin’s mistress. He was in awe and I was in SHAMBLES.
It seems that I have a thing for books with wicked in the title. Overall, I think this book was an excellent example of how to make compelling and interesting characters with interests and passions that bolster the romance, rather than overshadow it. Minerva loved rocks and was proud of her dinosaur discovery, but we weren’t buried by an avalanche of random musings. Her love of it actually made Colin grow and try to be the best version of himself for her. It was interesting and kept pace and purpose really really well. I also loved that Colin was a bit of a math man? A binomial babe? A statistics stud? The boy really did NUMBERS. And lest I forget, the sensual math terms!! Like I’ve said, this book did many things and it did them all so so well.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5
September 1, 2016
Tessa Dare, I needed this today.
After a string of mediocre/terrible books, this was like a beacon of light in the darkness.
After years of reading romance, this book, and the one before it (A Night to Surrender), might just have converted me to a die-hard historical romance fan. Honestly, this book was pretty much perfection.
I need to stop and give a HUGE shout out to Carolyn Morris, one of the most skilled female narrators around. She was spot on, and I mean FLAWLESS, in her narration of this book. I was riveted, entranced, clinging to her every freakin' word! Some female narrators do a terrible male voice which makes the sex scenes sort of... awkward. But this narrator nailed it, she well and truly nailed it (pun intended!).
What I didn't expect was for this book to be so funny. Even funnier than A Night to Surrender, which was pretty hilarious at times. Just really, really witty stuff. It makes me wish I had someone to yell "tally ho" at me so I could reply, "you're cracked" (<--- inside joke). This book was this perfect mix of funny and emotional.
I loved the bookish Minerva, and I loved damaged, rakish Colin even more. They were smoking hot together and had chemistry that flew off the page. I love a M/F book that can get me all hot and bothered.
Authors, this is how you write complex, well rounded characters. This is how you make a book humorous and passionate and heartfelt. This is how you write a love story.
May 24, 2022
This book deserve more than 5 stars!It deserves 100..1000..MILLIONS of stars...because this book was just so severe,perfect..unique!It`s decided,Tessa Dare are from now on one of my favourite authors in the historical romance genre.That author are the BEST when it comes to the all flavours of making a perfect romance novel."A Week to be Wicked" are the second book in the "Spindle Cove" series,and actually better than the first one i have to admit.As much as i fell in love with "A Night to Surrender","A Week to be Wicked" consumed me literally and psychically,made my heart melt thousands times more,made me laugh more,made me fall and fall...and just made me so surprised.
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I fell in love with Colin Payne in the first book,and i was just so excited to know that he would be the hero in this one.He is a very charming,teasing troublemaker and a ladies man,and he just made me laugh so much.God how i just LOVE HIM!He was just so alive and his scars from the past made me so sorry for him,and i knew that his love for his heroine would be his cure.GOD HOW THAT MAN LOVES HER!He fell deeply and completely and i just LOVE his love-confession at the end!
Minerva Highwood...Minerva Minerva..what a unique heroine.Interested only in rocks and books,and i just admired her passion for experimenting and her determination..and her great heart.She is the perfect heroine for our Colin.Just loved every scene,conversation,banter,arguments,kiss-scenes and the steamy scenes was WOHOOOWWW Colin are one of the sexiest heroes ever!
Their journey to Scotland was full of adventure,danger,madness and laughter.Just love that Colin always said Minervas name wrong just to tease her,Marietta, Miranda..it was so cute.I laughed so much when Kate found the list Colin wrote,where he wrote all names he could think of that started with M.Oh Colin...(Kiss).JUST LOVE AND ADORE THIS WHOLE BOOK.The ending was just so perfect,an perfect end to a perfect love-story.Colin´s and Minerva`s lovestory is one i will never forget.One of my favourites of all time..!I really look forward to Thorne`s and Kates story next now,so so excited!
***
“Colin. Colin!” She shook his arm. “Wake up. Someone’s being murdered.”
“What? Who?” He sat bolt upright in bed, and his head bashed against the sloping rafter. “Besides me, you mean?”
She laid a touch to his arm and gave a meaningful tilt of her head. “Listen.”
He closed his eyes.
The sickening sounds of violence continued. She heard a woman’s shriek.
“Well?” she prodded, growing frantic. “Shouldn’t you dress, and quickly? Ring for the innkeeper, at least? We must do something.”
He sighed and rubbed his face. “That is not murder you’re hearing. No one’s dying. Except in the French way.”
“What? What can you mean, ‘the French way’?”
“Copulation,” he said, flopping back on the bed and flinging his wrist over his eyes. “They’re not fighting, whoever they are. They’re having a grand time indeed.” Under his breath, he added, “Curse them.”
-Colin and Minerva
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I fell in love with Colin Payne in the first book,and i was just so excited to know that he would be the hero in this one.He is a very charming,teasing troublemaker and a ladies man,and he just made me laugh so much.God how i just LOVE HIM!He was just so alive and his scars from the past made me so sorry for him,and i knew that his love for his heroine would be his cure.GOD HOW THAT MAN LOVES HER!He fell deeply and completely and i just LOVE his love-confession at the end!
Minerva Highwood...Minerva Minerva..what a unique heroine.Interested only in rocks and books,and i just admired her passion for experimenting and her determination..and her great heart.She is the perfect heroine for our Colin.Just loved every scene,conversation,banter,arguments,kiss-scenes and the steamy scenes was WOHOOOWWW Colin are one of the sexiest heroes ever!
Their journey to Scotland was full of adventure,danger,madness and laughter.Just love that Colin always said Minervas name wrong just to tease her,Marietta, Miranda..it was so cute.I laughed so much when Kate found the list Colin wrote,where he wrote all names he could think of that started with M.Oh Colin...(Kiss).JUST LOVE AND ADORE THIS WHOLE BOOK.The ending was just so perfect,an perfect end to a perfect love-story.Colin´s and Minerva`s lovestory is one i will never forget.One of my favourites of all time..!I really look forward to Thorne`s and Kates story next now,so so excited!
***
“Colin. Colin!” She shook his arm. “Wake up. Someone’s being murdered.”
“What? Who?” He sat bolt upright in bed, and his head bashed against the sloping rafter. “Besides me, you mean?”
She laid a touch to his arm and gave a meaningful tilt of her head. “Listen.”
He closed his eyes.
The sickening sounds of violence continued. She heard a woman’s shriek.
“Well?” she prodded, growing frantic. “Shouldn’t you dress, and quickly? Ring for the innkeeper, at least? We must do something.”
He sighed and rubbed his face. “That is not murder you’re hearing. No one’s dying. Except in the French way.”
“What? What can you mean, ‘the French way’?”
“Copulation,” he said, flopping back on the bed and flinging his wrist over his eyes. “They’re not fighting, whoever they are. They’re having a grand time indeed.” Under his breath, he added, “Curse them.”
-Colin and Minerva
May 18, 2016
So.
*wipes palms on skirts*
*rubs hands together*
So.
I have been curious about this genre. But I avoided it.
Why?
Well, just take a look at the covers of every historical romance books.
Not. Very. Appealing.
Yes, I'm not afraid to admit, that at times, I can be skin deep in choosing my books. I love a good cover. Esp if it catches my attention at first glance.
I also have this thinking that everything about this (genre) would be outdated. It's something similar to these:
Would you rather play this
when you can have this?
Yes, I'm an R.E. fan - BIG TIME!
Not to mention sexy times. I cringe at the thought of their very outdated, boring and old fashioned coupling. In my head, male just goes on top of the female and does the deed---> probably with half the clothes on.
No copping a feel, no dirty talks, no sweaty bodies and no mention of male's subway size *shudders* UNACCEPTABLE.
This
Versus THIS.
So, you see, I did have reasons. VALID reasons, if I may add.
But being a member of Goodreads comes with the opportunity to meet other readers who are not limited to what you read only. These people are cunning. They influence. They gang up (on you). And THEY ARE AMAZING.
Enter Joanita, my book recommender.
Jess who instigated the "Let's read together "
and of course, not the very least, Alp, the accomplice.
Because of them, I was more excited to get my V HR-card punched.
My Jess and Alp in this adventure.
So, off I go to my first journey with my precioussssss.
On to the review.
*looks at Jo and mouths*
Buckle up, this one is for you.
Warning: I so am going to abuse my new found love word = TRULY
****Really?
Truly!
Not as effective as the word F* (Oh don't you roll your eyes on me. F* does punctuate and send the message across clearly) but nevertheless still fun to use.
The story was pretty SOS (same old story). Ah, ah, ah, not done yet - the author, Ms Dare, branded this story with her unique style. She is bloody brilliant and a mischief maker that after turning few pages in, I was hooked.
*****Truly?
Truly!
I'll be honest here, at first I was truly reluctant to start. I thought this would be my first ever
moment when I said yes to this BR and have put myself into something I can't get out of but HOLY SHIT! as I read along, my journey companions disappeared, forgot 'em and totally got into the story.
*****Pfffft. That can't be real. This is not my genre, right?
Wrong. Coz I did - promise....err truly!
The plot.
I want you to read the blurb to get a good picture what the plot is all about.
I try my hardest not to say anything at the risk of spoiling the story or even say something measly because I want you guys to experience every single bit first hand.
Main characters
Minerva - one of the three Highwood sisters who live in Spindle Cove and the different of 'em all.
Colin - the Romeo who wreaks havoc anywhere he goes.
Together these two have created a very memorable journey where they find the ultimate love whilst facing different challenges the fate decided to throw.
Thoughts.
I fell in love with this couple. They were funny. They were perfect, be together or separated. And they balanced each other out.
Let me just say that I was ensnared. The way they danced around each other. Their snark at each other. Aaaah! It was beautiful to read!
Colin. This cheeky but charming devil had me laughing non stop but squeezed my heart when I got to know him in deeper level.
He was very good in blurring his susceptibility by poking fun at everything.
He made their one week journey adventurous and full of passion.
But deep inside him, a scar that couldn't heal and I truly believe that he's just within a stone's throw of falling apart.
Marissa Madeleine Melinda Matilda
Michaela Morgana Melissande
MINERVA. My type of heroine, who doesn't care what others think. She's got the smarts and every word that comes out of her mouth holds water. I adore her. She was truly incredible.
I loved the plot. I loved the characters. I loved the settings. I loved the secondary characters.
Heck, I even adored Mrs Highwood, the witch.
So, Ms Joanita, I thank you for this adventure. You gave me a beautifulring book that will definitely start my journey to Regency Romance.
Giving it 4 No-cumming-no-clenching-no-winking-no-giggling-nothing-that-made-me-cringe Stars
Shout out to these beautiful women: Jess and Alp. Best buddy readers one could have.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Together, these 3 have joined forces to pop yours truly's cherry on Historical Romance genre.
Would it hurt?
Would it be an enjoyable ride?
Would I stop after this read and never look back or continue on until preventive measure will be placed to keep addiction at arm's length?
Answers will be revealed. Stay tuned.
Will commence on Wednesday 11 May
*wipes palms on skirts*
*rubs hands together*
So.
I have been curious about this genre. But I avoided it.
Why?
Well, just take a look at the covers of every historical romance books.
Not. Very. Appealing.
Yes, I'm not afraid to admit, that at times, I can be skin deep in choosing my books. I love a good cover. Esp if it catches my attention at first glance.
I also have this thinking that everything about this (genre) would be outdated. It's something similar to these:
Would you rather play this
when you can have this?
Yes, I'm an R.E. fan - BIG TIME!
Not to mention sexy times. I cringe at the thought of their very outdated, boring and old fashioned coupling. In my head, male just goes on top of the female and does the deed---> probably with half the clothes on.
No copping a feel, no dirty talks, no sweaty bodies and no mention of male's subway size *shudders* UNACCEPTABLE.
This
Versus THIS.
So, you see, I did have reasons. VALID reasons, if I may add.
But being a member of Goodreads comes with the opportunity to meet other readers who are not limited to what you read only. These people are cunning. They influence. They gang up (on you). And THEY ARE AMAZING.
Enter Joanita, my book recommender.
Jess who instigated the "Let's read together "
and of course, not the very least, Alp, the accomplice.
Because of them, I was more excited to get my V HR-card punched.
My Jess and Alp in this adventure.
So, off I go to my first journey with my precioussssss.
On to the review.
*looks at Jo and mouths*
Buckle up, this one is for you.
Warning: I so am going to abuse my new found love word = TRULY
****Really?
Truly!
Not as effective as the word F* (Oh don't you roll your eyes on me. F* does punctuate and send the message across clearly) but nevertheless still fun to use.
The story was pretty SOS (same old story). Ah, ah, ah, not done yet - the author, Ms Dare, branded this story with her unique style. She is bloody brilliant and a mischief maker that after turning few pages in, I was hooked.
*****Truly?
Truly!
I'll be honest here, at first I was truly reluctant to start. I thought this would be my first ever
moment when I said yes to this BR and have put myself into something I can't get out of but HOLY SHIT! as I read along, my journey companions disappeared, forgot 'em and totally got into the story.
*****Pfffft. That can't be real. This is not my genre, right?
Wrong. Coz I did - promise....err truly!
The plot.
I want you to read the blurb to get a good picture what the plot is all about.
I try my hardest not to say anything at the risk of spoiling the story or even say something measly because I want you guys to experience every single bit first hand.
Main characters
Minerva - one of the three Highwood sisters who live in Spindle Cove and the different of 'em all.
Colin - the Romeo who wreaks havoc anywhere he goes.
Together these two have created a very memorable journey where they find the ultimate love whilst facing different challenges the fate decided to throw.
Thoughts.
I fell in love with this couple. They were funny. They were perfect, be together or separated. And they balanced each other out.
Let me just say that I was ensnared. The way they danced around each other. Their snark at each other. Aaaah! It was beautiful to read!
Colin. This cheeky but charming devil had me laughing non stop but squeezed my heart when I got to know him in deeper level.
He was very good in blurring his susceptibility by poking fun at everything.
He made their one week journey adventurous and full of passion.
But deep inside him, a scar that couldn't heal and I truly believe that he's just within a stone's throw of falling apart.
MINERVA. My type of heroine, who doesn't care what others think. She's got the smarts and every word that comes out of her mouth holds water. I adore her. She was truly incredible.
I loved the plot. I loved the characters. I loved the settings. I loved the secondary characters.
Heck, I even adored Mrs Highwood, the witch.
So, Ms Joanita, I thank you for this adventure. You gave me a beautiful
Giving it 4 No-cumming-no-clenching-no-winking-no-giggling-nothing-that-made-me-cringe Stars
Shout out to these beautiful women: Jess and Alp. Best buddy readers one could have.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Together, these 3 have joined forces to pop yours truly's cherry on Historical Romance genre.
Would it hurt?
Would it be an enjoyable ride?
Would I stop after this read and never look back or continue on until preventive measure will be placed to keep addiction at arm's length?
Answers will be revealed. Stay tuned.
Will commence on Wednesday 11 May
May 8, 2021
Τελικά τα καλύτερα βιβλία είναι αυτά για τα οποία δεν είχες καμία προσδοκία,έρχονται ξαφνικά και σου λένε έκπληξη! Μετά τη χλιαρή αρχή της σειράς ουτοπία δεν περίμενα να ξετρελαθώ με το δεύτερο.
Η Τέσα είναι μια συγγραφέας που μου αρέσει πάρα πολύ και αυτή τη φορά ξεπέρασε τον εαυτό της,μια σελίδα τη φορά με κέρδισε κυριολεκτικά και μου έδωσε το καλύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς μέχρι τώρα.
Σε όλες τις κοπέλες που περπατούν και διαβάζουν ταυτόχρονα,έτσι μας καλωσορίζει στην ιστορία της.
Και μπορεί να μην πήγα βόλτα με το βιβλίο παραμάσχαλα,η Τέσα όμως με πήγε ένα υπέροχο ταξίδι.
Τι γίνεται όταν μια κλασσική έξυπνη και κυνική γεροντοκόρη,συναντά έναν κλασσικό γοητευτικό και λιγάκι κάφρο λόρδο.
Το αποτέλεσμα εκπληκτικό,εκρηκτικό,ξεκαρδιστικό,μοναδικό.Το ταλέντο της Τέσα χτίζει μια επιμελημένη και συναρπαστική, ολοκληρωμένη πλοκή.
Τρέφω μια ιδιαίτερη αδυναμία για ιστορίες αγάπης που αρχίζουν με ένα ταξίδι ή κατά την διάρκεια του ταξιδιού,το δέσιμο που αναπτύσσεται μεταξύ των πρωταγωνιστών,η εγγύτητα που συδαυλίζει τη φωτιά όταν αναγκάζονται να περάσουν χρόνο μαζί σ’ μια άμαξα ή ένα στενό κρεβάτι.
Και τι δεν έχει αυτή η ιστορία,ένα ταξίδι γεμάτο κινδύνους,ληστές,παρεξηγήσεις,έρωτα,πάθος,δράση,περιπέτεια, ,χιούμορ,σεξουαλική ένταση,ματιές γεμάτες νόημα.Οι ερωτικές σκηνές είναι πλούσιες,χορταστικές,πιπεράτες.Σπαρταράνε από ζωντάνια και πάθος,με τολμηρή γλώσσα και γλαφυρές περιγραφές.Κάθε τους επαφή μετατρέπεται σε μια καυτή συνεύρεση με τις σελίδες να παίρνουν φωτιά.
Μόνο θετικά έχω να πω,δεν μπόρεσα να βρω αρνητικά.
+ Στιγμές που μπορούν να σε ρίξουν κάτω από τα γέλια
Αυ��ό που εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα στην συγγραφέα είναι αυτό που την κάνει να ξεχωρίζει σε σχέση με άλλες του είδους και αυτό είναι το χιούμορ της,το οποίο θαύμασα από το πρώτο βιβλίο της που ήρθε στα χέρια μου το από την Σκωτία με αγάπη.
Η χημεία ανάμεσα στο πρωταγωνιστικό δίδυμο είναι το κλειδί της επιτυχίας της ιστορίας.
Το πιο δυνατό σημείο του βιβλίου έκτος από την χημεία των πρωταγωνιστών,είναι οι διάλογοι.Τους οποίους μόνο επικούς μπορώ να τους χαρακτηρίσω.Παράλληλα δεν λείπουν και οι βαθύτερα συγκινητικές και συναισθηματικά φορτισμένες στιγμές.
+ Βάθος στον αντρικό χαρακτήρα
Εγωκεντρικός, αλαζόνας, ολίγον τι ρεμάλι και κόπανος και με τεράστια επιτυχία στο γυναικείο φύλο,έτσι μας τον σύστησε η συγγραφέας ήδη από το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς.Ο Κόλιν δεν είναι απλώς ένας άλλος όμορφος κάτοχος τίτλου που συναντάμε σε ανάλογα βιβλία,δηλαδή είναι όλα αυτά αλλά επίσης είναι γλυκός,αστείος,αυθόρμητος,στοχαστικός,ανοιχτόμυαλος και εκτιμά τη εξυπνάδα της ηρωίδας.Αναγνωρίζει και σέβεται τη Μινέρβα και αισθάνεται άνετα παραδέχεται ότι δεν είναι στο ίδιο πνευματικό ��πίπεδο όσον αφορά τις γνώσεις της σε επιστημονικούς τομείς. Και την αγαπάει όπως είναι.
Παράλληλα γοητευτικός και καταφερτζής που καταφέρνει να ανατρέψει ακόμα και τις μεγαλύτερες καταστροφές με ένα του και μόνο χαμόγελο -και με λίγη μαγευτική πειθώ.
Η ηρωίδα είναι αντισυμβατική εκ φύσεως,απέχοντας από την εικόνα της Αγγλίδας καλοαναθρεμμένης δεσποσύνης.Είναι έξυπνη αλλά στον τομέα έρωτα έχει μαύρα μεσάνυχτα.
Είναι παθιασμένη με τη δουλειά της,την γεωλογία και είναι αποφασισμένη να αφήσει το σημάδι της στον κόσμο,σε μια εποχή όπου το γυναικείο φύλλο αποθαρρύνεται από την αναζήτηση καριέρας.
+ nerdy βιβλίο
Διαφορετικό από ότι έχω διαβάσει.Το πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι περνάει τον χρόνο του απαριθμώντας μαθηματικούς όρους.Πρώτη φορά συναντώ επιστημονικούς διαλόγους να φαίνονται τόσο ερωτικοί,δεν θα πω περισσότερα γιατί πραγματικά είναι από τα χαρακτηριστικότερα σημεία του βιβλίου που ο αναγνώστης καλύτερα να τα ανακαλύψει μόνος του.
+ Πνευματικούς διάλογους
Δεν νομίζω ότι θα καταφέρω να διαλέξω κάποιον συγκεκριμένο,θα ήθελα να βάλω αποσπάσματα αλλά κατά πάσα πιθανότητα μπορεί να καταλήξω να προσθέσω όλο το βιβλίο.
Και αν δεν πειστήκατε ακόμα γιατί το λάτρεψα,μια ανάγνωση θα σας πείσει.
Η Τέσα είναι μια συγγραφέας που μου αρέσει πάρα πολύ και αυτή τη φορά ξεπέρασε τον εαυτό της,μια σελίδα τη φορά με κέρδισε κυριολεκτικά και μου έδωσε το καλύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς μέχρι τώρα.
Σε όλες τις κοπέλες που περπατούν και διαβάζουν ταυτόχρονα,έτσι μας καλωσορίζει στην ιστορία της.
Και μπορεί να μην πήγα βόλτα με το βιβλίο παραμάσχαλα,η Τέσα όμως με πήγε ένα υπέροχο ταξίδι.
Τι γίνεται όταν μια κλασσική έξυπνη και κυνική γεροντοκόρη,συναντά έναν κλασσικό γοητευτικό και λιγάκι κάφρο λόρδο.
Το αποτέλεσμα εκπληκτικό,εκρηκτικό,ξεκαρδιστικό,μοναδικό.Το ταλέντο της Τέσα χτίζει μια επιμελημένη και συναρπαστική, ολοκληρωμένη πλοκή.
Τρέφω μια ιδιαίτερη αδυναμία για ιστορίες αγάπης που αρχίζουν με ένα ταξίδι ή κατά την διάρκεια του ταξιδιού,το δέσιμο που αναπτύσσεται μεταξύ των πρωταγωνιστών,η εγγύτητα που συδαυλίζει τη φωτιά όταν αναγκάζονται να περάσουν χρόνο μαζί σ’ μια άμαξα ή ένα στενό κρεβάτι.
Και τι δεν έχει αυτή η ιστορία,ένα ταξίδι γεμάτο κινδύνους,ληστές,παρεξηγήσεις,έρωτα,πάθος,δράση,περιπέτεια, ,χιούμορ,σεξουαλική ένταση,ματιές γεμάτες νόημα.Οι ερωτικές σκηνές είναι πλούσιες,χορταστικές,πιπεράτες.Σπαρταράνε από ζωντάνια και πάθος,με τολμηρή γλώσσα και γλαφυρές περιγραφές.Κάθε τους επαφή μετατρέπεται σε μια καυτή συνεύρεση με τις σελίδες να παίρνουν φωτιά.
Μόνο θετικά έχω να πω,δεν μπόρεσα να βρω αρνητικά.
+ Στιγμές που μπορούν να σε ρίξουν κάτω από τα γέλια
Αυ��ό που εκτιμώ ιδιαίτερα στην συγγραφέα είναι αυτό που την κάνει να ξεχωρίζει σε σχέση με άλλες του είδους και αυτό είναι το χιούμορ της,το οποίο θαύμασα από το πρώτο βιβλίο της που ήρθε στα χέρια μου το από την Σκωτία με αγάπη.
Η χημεία ανάμεσα στο πρωταγωνιστικό δίδυμο είναι το κλειδί της επιτυχίας της ιστορίας.
Το πιο δυνατό σημείο του βιβλίου έκτος από την χημεία των πρωταγωνιστών,είναι οι διάλογοι.Τους οποίους μόνο επικούς μπορώ να τους χαρακτηρίσω.Παράλληλα δεν λείπουν και οι βαθύτερα συγκινητικές και συναισθηματικά φορτισμένες στιγμές.
+ Βάθος στον αντρικό χαρακτήρα
Εγωκεντρικός, αλαζόνας, ολίγον τι ρεμάλι και κόπανος και με τεράστια επιτυχία στο γυναικείο φύλο,έτσι μας τον σύστησε η συγγραφέας ήδη από το πρώτο βιβλίο της σειράς.Ο Κόλιν δεν είναι απλώς ένας άλλος όμορφος κάτοχος τίτλου που συναντάμε σε ανάλογα βιβλία,δηλαδή είναι όλα αυτά αλλά επίσης είναι γλυκός,αστείος,αυθόρμητος,στοχαστικός,ανοιχτόμυαλος και εκτιμά τη εξυπνάδα της ηρωίδας.Αναγνωρίζει και σέβεται τη Μινέρβα και αισθάνεται άνετα παραδέχεται ότι δεν είναι στο ίδιο πνευματικό ��πίπεδο όσον αφορά τις γνώσεις της σε επιστημονικούς τομείς. Και την αγαπάει όπως είναι.
Παράλληλα γοητευτικός και καταφερτζής που καταφέρνει να ανατρέψει ακόμα και τις μεγαλύτερες καταστροφές με ένα του και μόνο χαμόγελο -και με λίγη μαγευτική πειθώ.
Η ηρωίδα είναι αντισυμβατική εκ φύσεως,απέχοντας από την εικόνα της Αγγλίδας καλοαναθρεμμένης δεσποσύνης.Είναι έξυπνη αλλά στον τομέα έρωτα έχει μαύρα μεσάνυχτα.
Είναι παθιασμένη με τη δουλειά της,την γεωλογία και είναι αποφασισμένη να αφήσει το σημάδι της στον κόσμο,σε μια εποχή όπου το γυναικείο φύλλο αποθαρρύνεται από την αναζήτηση καριέρας.
+ nerdy βιβλίο
Διαφορετικό από ότι έχω διαβάσει.Το πρωταγωνιστικό ζευγάρι περνάει τον χρόνο του απαριθμώντας μαθηματικούς όρους.Πρώτη φορά συναντώ επιστημονικούς διαλόγους να φαίνονται τόσο ερωτικοί,δεν θα πω περισσότερα γιατί πραγματικά είναι από τα χαρακτηριστικότερα σημεία του βιβλίου που ο αναγνώστης καλύτερα να τα ανακαλύψει μόνος του.
+ Πνευματικούς διάλογους
Δεν νομίζω ότι θα καταφέρω να διαλέξω κάποιον συγκεκριμένο,θα ήθελα να βάλω αποσπάσματα αλλά κατά πάσα πιθανότητα μπορεί να καταλήξω να προσθέσω όλο το βιβλίο.
Και αν δεν πειστήκατε ακόμα γιατί το λάτρεψα,μια ανάγνωση θα σας πείσει.
January 3, 2022
Fun, steamy and charming as usual by Tessa Dare!
Although quite silly in parts, I enjoyed this romantic adventure! I can always rely on this author to get me out of a slump, and this one worked for me! 😊
Although quite silly in parts, I enjoyed this romantic adventure! I can always rely on this author to get me out of a slump, and this one worked for me! 😊
February 6, 2018
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Colin, me tenías ganada desde el libro anterior 😍😍😍😍😍😍 #LoveYou
Colin, me tenías ganada desde el libro anterior 😍😍😍😍😍😍 #LoveYou
July 23, 2017
Si ya el primero de esta saga me gustó, este me ha encantado. Su pareja protagonista es maravillosa y sus tiras y aflojas, tanto verbales como físicos, muy divertidos. Colin es un sinvergüenza de esos que nos enamoran y Minerva, una de esas protagonistas con gran personalidad que tanto nos gustan. Y aunque a veces las situaciones sean poco realistas, igual que el crudo lenguaje del protagonista, me da igual: he devorado este libro como si no hubiera un mañana y disfrutado como una enana. Lo recomiendo encarecidamente.
July 18, 2019
Re-read via audio: July 2019
5++ STARS!!!
So of course, the ingredients are simple:
This just couldn't get any better for me...
Except it could, because these characters kept surprising me with their actions and the depths of their emotions, not to mention the sacrifices they made for one another.
"Tally ho!"Still one of my all-time favorite reads EVER!
"You're cracked."
5++ STARS!!!
Minerva considered herself a reasonably intelligent person, but good heavens . . . handsome men made her stupid.I can't possibly begin to express all the ways that I LOVED this book! It was absolute PERFECTION in my eyes; hilarious, sweet, sexy, romantic, and beautiful. Better even than The Duchess Deal, which I adored. Strong words, I know, but ones that I believe most fervently. ;)
So of course, the ingredients are simple:
1 tortured, aristocratic heroIt's an all too common recipe, but there were a few things that set this one apart for me. Colin, Lord Payne, wasn't just great, he was fabulous.
1 quirky, intellectual heroine
1 pinch of animosity
3 pinches of dry British humor
1 pinch of sweet romance
He'd be damned. The awkward bluestocking had an admirer. Perhaps even a sweetheart. How quaint. How precious. How unspeakably irritating.And Miss Minerva Highwood was his perfect match.
As he slid from his horse, he was magnificent. Resplendent. Without a doubt, the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. And then he spoke.They were SO funny together. I swear, almost every page had me laughing out loud. Their conversations were some of the funniest writing I've ever read. And better yet, their teasing never went over the line into cruel or mean - it was just so much fun! And it was all set during a ROAD TRIP!
This just couldn't get any better for me...
Except it could, because these characters kept surprising me with their actions and the depths of their emotions, not to mention the sacrifices they made for one another.
"This is important to you. Which means it's everything to me."This was romance at its best! Tessa Dare now has my undying devotion...I mean, any writer who can come up with this sentence, is more than okay in my books.
"Is it truly so unfathomable, that an imperfect girl might be perfectly loved?"Here's my favorite quote:
"An ammonite? What's an ammonite? Sounds like an Old Testament people overdue for smiting."
April 16, 2022
I won’t remember it tomorrow, but I had a good time. Short and low stakes, likable leads.
October 23, 2012
FIVE stars! Intense, funny, sensual, passionate, and flat out wonderful!! I can't get this book out of my head.
It's taken me a bit to write this review. I just couldn't come up with what I wanted to say. Often, if I hear that a book is funny, that's all it is in my little head. A funny book. This book was funny, but SO MUCH MORE! It's as if the humor just added to the intimacy between Minerva and Lord Payne...they built their relationship on mutual snarkiness and slow growing affection. They actually start out quite disdainful of one another.
Often, romance books rely on passion so heavily to build believability in the relationship. And often it works. As a reader, sometimes I just can't quite put my finger on why I can't connect with the characters, why I don't feel as if I crawled into their minds and messed around until I KNEW them. Tessa Dare writes a completely relatable couple with Minerva and Payne. These two just connect on every level. They started off disdainful of one another. But circumstances force them to see each other's true natures.
Lord Payne is a spoiled aristocrat, biding his time until either his next birthday or until he marries (which is NOT in the cards for him) so that his estate will finally be released to him. Minerva is the bespectacled, dowdy, blue stocking geologist sister with no hopes and no wishes to marry. Her only thoughts are her studies.
You can read the blurb for a great description of what the plot is all about. Let me just say that I was captivated. The way these two dance around each other, the sensuality that just steams the air between them, and the surprising inner turmoil that brings them together...Ah! It was beautiful to read! So different from what I expect from a historical romance. This is just nothing like any other HR that I've read. The tone of this series is upbeat, the characters unique. There are, of course, underlying secrets behind every person. And that's a fact of life even today. Until you delve into someone's innermost thoughts and really understand who they are, you only see what they want you to see. I saw the spoiled boy in Lord Payne and the shrewish spinster in Minerva. There is so much more to both of them!!!
"Most women of his acquaintance relied on physical beauty and charm to mask their less than pleasant traits. This girl did the oposite, hiding everything interesting about herself behind a prim, plain facade."
Lord Payne begins to see Minerva in a different light when they travel together. While Minerva would never be classified as beautiful, he sees a different kind of beauty in her, one built on more than what the world sees. This quote made me tear up and made my heart skip a beat. This is Lord Payne talking to Minerva, trying to explain the way he sees her.
"...what I recall is this: this native people he lived with, deep in the jungle - their language had dozens of words for rain. Because it was so common to them, you see. Where they lived, it rained almost constantly. Several times a day. So they had words for light rain, and heavy rain, and pounding rain. Something like eighteen different terms for storms, and a whole classification system for mist."
"Why are you telling me this?"
His touch skimmed lightly down her arm. "Because I'm standing here, wanting to give you fitting compliment, but my paltry vocabulary fails me. I think what I need is a scientific excursion. I need to venture deep into some jungle where beauty takes the place of rain. Where loveliness itself falls from the sky at regular intervals. Dots every surface, saturates the ground, hangs like vapor in the air. Because the way you look right now..." His gaze cought hers in the reflection. "They'd have a word for it there."
The quote goes on, and so does the beautiful love story. That moment, though, I fell in LOVE with this author. Who thinks like that? Who can write something so magical, so romantic? Tessa Dare can, and she made my heart ache. In a good way. I absolutely adored this book. It's going on my favorites shelf!!
It's taken me a bit to write this review. I just couldn't come up with what I wanted to say. Often, if I hear that a book is funny, that's all it is in my little head. A funny book. This book was funny, but SO MUCH MORE! It's as if the humor just added to the intimacy between Minerva and Lord Payne...they built their relationship on mutual snarkiness and slow growing affection. They actually start out quite disdainful of one another.
Often, romance books rely on passion so heavily to build believability in the relationship. And often it works. As a reader, sometimes I just can't quite put my finger on why I can't connect with the characters, why I don't feel as if I crawled into their minds and messed around until I KNEW them. Tessa Dare writes a completely relatable couple with Minerva and Payne. These two just connect on every level. They started off disdainful of one another. But circumstances force them to see each other's true natures.
Lord Payne is a spoiled aristocrat, biding his time until either his next birthday or until he marries (which is NOT in the cards for him) so that his estate will finally be released to him. Minerva is the bespectacled, dowdy, blue stocking geologist sister with no hopes and no wishes to marry. Her only thoughts are her studies.
You can read the blurb for a great description of what the plot is all about. Let me just say that I was captivated. The way these two dance around each other, the sensuality that just steams the air between them, and the surprising inner turmoil that brings them together...Ah! It was beautiful to read! So different from what I expect from a historical romance. This is just nothing like any other HR that I've read. The tone of this series is upbeat, the characters unique. There are, of course, underlying secrets behind every person. And that's a fact of life even today. Until you delve into someone's innermost thoughts and really understand who they are, you only see what they want you to see. I saw the spoiled boy in Lord Payne and the shrewish spinster in Minerva. There is so much more to both of them!!!
"Most women of his acquaintance relied on physical beauty and charm to mask their less than pleasant traits. This girl did the oposite, hiding everything interesting about herself behind a prim, plain facade."
Lord Payne begins to see Minerva in a different light when they travel together. While Minerva would never be classified as beautiful, he sees a different kind of beauty in her, one built on more than what the world sees. This quote made me tear up and made my heart skip a beat. This is Lord Payne talking to Minerva, trying to explain the way he sees her.
"...what I recall is this: this native people he lived with, deep in the jungle - their language had dozens of words for rain. Because it was so common to them, you see. Where they lived, it rained almost constantly. Several times a day. So they had words for light rain, and heavy rain, and pounding rain. Something like eighteen different terms for storms, and a whole classification system for mist."
"Why are you telling me this?"
His touch skimmed lightly down her arm. "Because I'm standing here, wanting to give you fitting compliment, but my paltry vocabulary fails me. I think what I need is a scientific excursion. I need to venture deep into some jungle where beauty takes the place of rain. Where loveliness itself falls from the sky at regular intervals. Dots every surface, saturates the ground, hangs like vapor in the air. Because the way you look right now..." His gaze cought hers in the reflection. "They'd have a word for it there."
The quote goes on, and so does the beautiful love story. That moment, though, I fell in LOVE with this author. Who thinks like that? Who can write something so magical, so romantic? Tessa Dare can, and she made my heart ache. In a good way. I absolutely adored this book. It's going on my favorites shelf!!
February 2, 2015
I liked this, it was cute it had some really funny moments, some great sexual tension at times and all and all it was fun. It did drag a bit towards the end and that is why I’m only giving it 3.5 stars instead of 4.0 to 4.5 I was really getting a little bored towards the end.
Minerva’s head is always stuck in a book, she practically lives in them. Her mother believes that there is no hope for Minerva. Queue the opening scene to Beauty and the Beast.
Diana and Charlotte will do well for themselves, but Minerva? Plain, bookish, distracted, awkward with gentlemen. In a word, hopeless.
Everyone in the town is convinced that Mr. Collin Payne will soon be asking her beautiful sister Diana to marry him. Minerva wants to save Diana from this torturous future and she also would like to make it to a geological symposium to present her discovery. Two birds, one stone all she has to do is convince the devilish Mr. Payne to accompany her to Scotland and the symposium.
Collin is a rake, but at least he has rules for his rakishness. No virgins and no ruination of society women….how generous. Minerva needs him and for some reason he wants to rise to the challenge for her, even if he pretends that he can’t remember her name.
“This is true valor, I hope you know. Legends have sprung from less. All Lancelot did was paddle about in a balmy lake.” She smiled. “Lancelot was a knight. You’re a viscount. The bar is higher.”
What ensues is a trip across the country where every time they turn around some new disaster strikes out at them. In the days they talk getting to know each other and making up fantastical tales for any traveling companions they may find. At night they begin to discover that their bodies know they should be together even if their minds and hearts aren’t sure yet.
“I'm male. You rubbed your...femaleness all over me. I didn't think. I reacted.”
There are some incredibly funny scenes and banter between the Minerva and Collin. My favorite banter being how to seduce a woman using mathematical terms. Had I not already read One Good Earl Deserves a Lover I might have liked this more. A Week to be Wicked actually made me miss that book and I re-read it in the middle of reading this one. It really had me until the last third of the book when I was really looking for a stronger wrap up of the story and it seemed to wax and wane on.
My only other problem was with Collin, it took me a little time to warm up to him. He was a right rake and due to part of the situation in the opening scene I didn’t grow to really like him until the journey was underway. His transition from rake to helplessly needing Minerva went really quickly.
This is still a great cotton candy Historical Romance when you just want to root for the girl who reads while walking.
Minerva’s head is always stuck in a book, she practically lives in them. Her mother believes that there is no hope for Minerva. Queue the opening scene to Beauty and the Beast.
Diana and Charlotte will do well for themselves, but Minerva? Plain, bookish, distracted, awkward with gentlemen. In a word, hopeless.
Everyone in the town is convinced that Mr. Collin Payne will soon be asking her beautiful sister Diana to marry him. Minerva wants to save Diana from this torturous future and she also would like to make it to a geological symposium to present her discovery. Two birds, one stone all she has to do is convince the devilish Mr. Payne to accompany her to Scotland and the symposium.
Collin is a rake, but at least he has rules for his rakishness. No virgins and no ruination of society women….how generous. Minerva needs him and for some reason he wants to rise to the challenge for her, even if he pretends that he can’t remember her name.
“This is true valor, I hope you know. Legends have sprung from less. All Lancelot did was paddle about in a balmy lake.” She smiled. “Lancelot was a knight. You’re a viscount. The bar is higher.”
What ensues is a trip across the country where every time they turn around some new disaster strikes out at them. In the days they talk getting to know each other and making up fantastical tales for any traveling companions they may find. At night they begin to discover that their bodies know they should be together even if their minds and hearts aren’t sure yet.
“I'm male. You rubbed your...femaleness all over me. I didn't think. I reacted.”
There are some incredibly funny scenes and banter between the Minerva and Collin. My favorite banter being how to seduce a woman using mathematical terms. Had I not already read One Good Earl Deserves a Lover I might have liked this more. A Week to be Wicked actually made me miss that book and I re-read it in the middle of reading this one. It really had me until the last third of the book when I was really looking for a stronger wrap up of the story and it seemed to wax and wane on.
My only other problem was with Collin, it took me a little time to warm up to him. He was a right rake and due to part of the situation in the opening scene I didn’t grow to really like him until the journey was underway. His transition from rake to helplessly needing Minerva went really quickly.
This is still a great cotton candy Historical Romance when you just want to root for the girl who reads while walking.
March 26, 2018
Updated review after reread! Thanks Karen and Jennifer for reading it with me <3 <3
"A geology symposium." He flicked a glance at the journal. "This is the scandalous midnight proposal. The one you trudged through the cold, wet dark to make. You're inviting me to a geology symposium, if I leave your sister alone."
And so it starts, one of the sweetest romance of this year. Colin and Minerva is absolutely banterlicious!
"I think you've more than made up for lost time now. In fact, I'm certain you've exceeded your teasing quota for the day."
"I can't borrow against tomorrow's?"
She is a spinster and a geology nerd and he is a hellish rake - and together they are a match made in heaven.
"I've never understood why girls are always made to stitch insipid flowers and ribbons."
"Well, just to hazard a guess..." Colin straightened his edge. "Perhaps that's because sleeping on a bed of flowers and ribbons sounds delightful and romantic. Whereas haring one's bed with primeval sea snails sounds disgusting."
Her jaw firmed. "You're welcome to sleep on the floor."
"Did I say disgusting? I meant enchanting. I've always wanted to go to bed with a primeval sea snail."
Tallyho! Tessa Dare is the queen of fun and romantic historical romance! She really outdid herself with this one. There are so many wonderful moments in this book! And my own nerdiness cheered when they were talking dirty about mathematical terms. They cracked me up and they charmed my pants off!
Min is the sweetest heroine ever. She has been put down by her mother her whole life. She has spectacles and she loves rock. Her nerdiness is through the roof. She cannot believe that Colin actually cares for her.
Colin is a charming rake. He cannot believe that he is taken with Min. He is awesome! And the list with all the names beginning on M melted my heart.
Truly? That whole determined, dangerous saunter across the room was for me? In that case, would you mind going back and doing it all over again?
If you haven’t read it – do yourself a favor and read it now! It is one of the wittiest, funniest, sweetest, greatest romances out there. If you’ve already read it – do it again!
"A geology symposium." He flicked a glance at the journal. "This is the scandalous midnight proposal. The one you trudged through the cold, wet dark to make. You're inviting me to a geology symposium, if I leave your sister alone."
And so it starts, one of the sweetest romance of this year. Colin and Minerva is absolutely banterlicious!
"I think you've more than made up for lost time now. In fact, I'm certain you've exceeded your teasing quota for the day."
"I can't borrow against tomorrow's?"
She is a spinster and a geology nerd and he is a hellish rake - and together they are a match made in heaven.
"I've never understood why girls are always made to stitch insipid flowers and ribbons."
"Well, just to hazard a guess..." Colin straightened his edge. "Perhaps that's because sleeping on a bed of flowers and ribbons sounds delightful and romantic. Whereas haring one's bed with primeval sea snails sounds disgusting."
Her jaw firmed. "You're welcome to sleep on the floor."
"Did I say disgusting? I meant enchanting. I've always wanted to go to bed with a primeval sea snail."
Tallyho! Tessa Dare is the queen of fun and romantic historical romance! She really outdid herself with this one. There are so many wonderful moments in this book! And my own nerdiness cheered when they were talking dirty about mathematical terms. They cracked me up and they charmed my pants off!
Min is the sweetest heroine ever. She has been put down by her mother her whole life. She has spectacles and she loves rock. Her nerdiness is through the roof. She cannot believe that Colin actually cares for her.
Colin is a charming rake. He cannot believe that he is taken with Min. He is awesome! And the list with all the names beginning on M melted my heart.
Truly? That whole determined, dangerous saunter across the room was for me? In that case, would you mind going back and doing it all over again?
If you haven’t read it – do yourself a favor and read it now! It is one of the wittiest, funniest, sweetest, greatest romances out there. If you’ve already read it – do it again!
December 22, 2017
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I LOVED this book, the characters, the humor and witty dialogues!!! DELIGHTFUL!!!
Of course the romance was perfect, built from antagonism and lack of expectations, it made for an even better HEA.
I loved how escorted by Colin, Minerva's journey became a total contradiction to her practical, sensible and logical manners.
Light, hilarious, smart and sexy as hell, A Week To Be Wicked was a hell of a page turner and reinforced my absolute love for anything Tessa Dare. I'm ruined!
☞I can't stress this enough, if you're new to Historical Romance, if you're afraid it might not be 'your thing', then give this author a try, it reads like a contemporary, heavy on the humor, packed with steam and happy feels.
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
❝For the love of tits!❞
I LOVED this book, the characters, the humor and witty dialogues!!! DELIGHTFUL!!!
Of course the romance was perfect, built from antagonism and lack of expectations, it made for an even better HEA.
A man might engage in flirtation with distinterest, even disdain. But he never teases without affection.
I loved how escorted by Colin, Minerva's journey became a total contradiction to her practical, sensible and logical manners.
Light, hilarious, smart and sexy as hell, A Week To Be Wicked was a hell of a page turner and reinforced my absolute love for anything Tessa Dare. I'm ruined!
He lay on the bed, freshly shaven and washed, legs crossed at the ankles and arms propped behind his head. His posture said, Yes, ladies. I truly am this handsome. And I don't even have to try.
☞I can't stress this enough, if you're new to Historical Romance, if you're afraid it might not be 'your thing', then give this author a try, it reads like a contemporary, heavy on the humor, packed with steam and happy feels.
I'm male. You rubbed your...femaleness all over me. I didn't think. I reacted.
More reviews and book talk at :
You can find me here too ☞
October 6, 2015
Loved this book!! It has everything I adore in a historical romance - witty dialogue, spirited, layered characters, sexy, sweet, meaningful love scenes!! Fabulous from page 1 until the end!!
October 22, 2019
BRB, I ran off with Colin.
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