First off, Malin gave me this book as part of the 2014 CBR book exchange. This is the first of the multiple books I received in that book exchange, and the one the year before, that I’ve actually gotten to (although, I have at least three more planned to read for later this year–thanks, Malin!). For the past couple of years, my romance reading has pretty much been “Courtney Milan,” also thanks to Malin (and Mrs. Julien), but after reading A Week to be Wicked, I think I might have to add Tessa Dare on to that pretty exclusive list. This book was freaking delightful.
A caveat, though. Courtney Milan’s books probably appeal to non-romance readers as much as they do regular romance readers, but Tessa Dare might be on the cusp. This book was smart and well-written, but it also leans into a lot of romance cliches simply because that’s what will give the reader the most pleasure. This is something Courtney Milan doesn’t do. This book was also pretty silly. I’d heard sometimes you have to suspend disbelief when reading TD’s books, and now I see what they mean. This isn’t true historical fiction, people. It’s the fantasyland version.
Anyway, to the book. Which remains delightful.
Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, has two months to go until he comes of age and inherits possession of his estate and funds. Until then he’s stuck in Spindle Cove living off the allowance his trustee gives him. He’s also a first class rake (of course, with attending tragic backstory). Minerva Highwood is a ‘spinster’ who has a twofold mission: keep Lord Payne from marrying her sister, and get to Scotland to present her findings to the Royal Geological Society of Scotland. She comes up with a plan. If Lord Payne will leave her sister alone and run away with her to Scotland, she will give him the five hundred pounds she’s sure to win as a prize for presenting her findings. (She has discovered a cave with a fossilized footprint of “a large lizard”.) She knows this will ruin her, but as she hadn’t planned on marrying to begin with, instead wanting to devote her life to science, this seems an acceptable trade. In return, Colin will have five hundred pounds to work with so he can move back to London early and live the life he’s accustomed to living.
Some caveats, though: Colin tells her up front he will not seduce her, but he will need her in his bed every night because he can’t sleep alone because tragic backstory reasons. You can see where this is going . . .
And it’s super fun watching it get there. This is a story that could have collapsed under its own expectations, but instead it comes to life in the characters. Minerva and Colin are great alone and even better together. I spent a very, very pleasant morning on my couch with them, ignoring my need to shower and eat in the process. If you like romance novels and somehow haven’t tried this one yet, please do. If you aren’t a romance reader and are curious about what a good, typical book in the genre looks like, you could definitely do worse than this one. (For great books in the genre that buck conventions, see the aforementioned Courtney Milan.)
I have already informed Malin I blame her for ruining my TBR because as soon as I finished this I went to my library and ordered all the Tessa Dare books they have. Hopefully this won’t ruin my reading schedule too much. They are fast reads, after all.
I read this one for the first time in January, and had to re-read it again last week when I had a bad day at work. It’s just such a lovely story!
Yeah, I’m definitely glad I own it so I can re-read when I feel like it.
[kermit-flail.gif] This was my first Tessa Dare and led me down the TD rabbit hole too. Can’t wait to read your upcoming reviews!
I honestly forget if this was my first or second Tessa Dare, but it certainly made me decide on her being auto-buy very quickly. I adore Miranda and Colin. They may be my all-time favourite Tessa Dare couple.
Stupid book rabbit holes. I fall into them all the time!
I’m doing a happy dance on my sofa right now because I have introduced you to the extremely enjoyable romance world of Tessa Dare and you liked the book. I have no guilt for messing up your TBR list because most of Tessa Dare’s romances should be on there anyway. Besides, as I said on Goodreads, it’s only fair that I mess up your TBR a bit, considering how many books I’ve added to my list thanks to your reviews over the years. Plus, this book was already on your TBR list. I picked every single book I gave you in the CBR book exchange from your Goodreads TBR list, so if you didn’t want to read it eventually, you should have left it off there. ;)
I’m pretty sure I only put this on my TBR list because of your review, so . . . still your fault. :)
Turnabout is fair play, I say. I’m not going to apologise for introducing people to awesome books and authors that will make their lives better. :D
:P
TBR lists are both a boon and a nightmare. I made an effort in this cannonball fairly early on to try to actually knock off books from the beginning of the list rather than the end (that is, books I added THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST JOINED GOODREADS and not only all of the ones you ladies have been reading recently and getting me all excited about!)
I always get too distracted by new and shiny books (largely thanks to y’all here at CBR) so I promised myself the majority of the books I read this year would all be from my existing TBR (1500+ books!!!), and especially my bookshelves at home. I’m only allowing myself 25 freebies. I’ve used 10 so far. I am weak.
Also, wait. Are we friends on Goodreads? We should be friends on Goodreads!
I agree with Ashley/Narfna. Are we friends on Goodreads? It’s very confusing when people use one name on Goodreads, one nickname here and a third name on Facebook. I get very muddled as to whom I’m actually connecting with in different places online.
I only do it because I don’t want all the people I know IRL to find me online. I’m very territorial and weird about it.
Wah I think wordpress ate my comment! Yes, we NEED to be GR friends. I have the same name on FB and GR — I’ll try to look for all of you, but if not find me!
I just tried looking for you and couldn’t find you!
Narfna are you ashley on Goodreads? I’m not super active alwaysanswerb but my username is Dubief.
Yes, I’m Ashley over there, although technically I’m also narfna, I just show up as Ashley. And we are already friends!
Perhaps a sublisting indicating people’s goodreads account names? I’m sistercoyote there as pretty much everywhere but I know there are a couple of people I’d like to stalk follow.
Too many great people saying great things about this one for me to ignore it another second. Download happening now.
Woooo.
Agreed: this was a fun book, and it does lead to a Tessa Dare rabbit hole – enjoy the fall!