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    Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella
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    Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella
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    Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella
    Ebook231 pages3 hours

    Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella

    By Tessa Dare

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Take a trip to Spindle Cove in New York Times bestselling author Tessa Dare's gorgeous and sexy Regency romance.

    Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least that's what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.

    But Diana's not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn't be more wrong for each other . . . but during stolen, steamy moments in the smithy, his strong hands feel so right.

    Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 30, 2013
    ISBN9780062238849
    Author

    Tessa Dare

    Tessa Dare is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of more than a dozen historical romances. A librarian by training and a book-lover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she shares a cozy, cluttered bungalow with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kittens.

    Read more from Tessa Dare

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    Reviews for Beauty and the Blacksmith

    4/5

    177 ratings14 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This is a novella that comes after the third book and I thought it was fun but totally unbelievable.

      Characters were fun and the pace fast and that's why I liked it. However, there were some things that were just not believable, but they didn't bother me much and they didn't ruin my enjoyment of the story.

      If you're in a mood for a short, fun and quirky story, this will satisfy.

      Melanie for b2b
    • 5/5
      really romantic and sexy.exciting,enthralling,exhilarating,seductive. Grabbed me from the beginnings to the end
    • 4/5
      An enjoyable mini instalment from Spindle Cove. If you’ve enjoyed the previous books, you’ll love this.
    • 3/5
      Beauty & The Blacksmith
      3 Stars

      Despite her mother's claims that she is destined to marry a wealthy and titled lord, Diana Highwood has never had such aspirations herself. Instead she is attracted to the most unsuitable of men, Aaron Dawes, Spindle Cove's strong, silent and sexy blacksmith. Gathering the courage to act on their desires against all social propriety, Aaron and Diana cherish the stolen moments they share in his forge until scandal threatens to destroy their new found love. Will they be able to put aside society's dictates and find happiness together?

      Unfortunately, this short epitomizes all that is problematic with novellas. While the story has its charming moments and Aaron and Diana certainly steam up the pages, the lack of character depth and development makes it difficult to become immersed in the romance. Diana and Aaron come across as stereotypical representations of their respective social classes ,and the conflict between them feels clichéd and predictable.

      Moreover, Diana's behavior is exceedingly far removed from the accepted social norms of the time, which makes suspension of disbelief virtually impossible.

      Finally, the confrontation and revelation at the end may be sweet and emphasize Aaron's swoonworthy qualities, but it is also borderline absurd and ridiculous.

      In sum, although the full length novels in this series are lovely and well-worth the read, this novella is definitely skippable.
    • 2/5
      This series is entertaining even with all the unbelievable things that happen. Beauty and the Blacksmith is the least believable so far. They breezed through pretty much everything.
      I think this one would have been better with less sweetness and more pages. Oh, and without that ridiculous resolution of the missing items problem.
      Too sweet.
      Minerva's story is still the best.
    • 3/5
      Oh man, this was 4 stars all the way to the ending when it 'jumped the shark'. Still a decent read despite the ludicrous ending, but it could have been much better.
    • 5/5
      Spindle Cove is a haven for women. A haven which is led by Susanna Finch with the goal of providing a safe place for those with delicate constitutions, overbearing family members, scandalous secrets or outlandish hobbies. There are few year round residents and even fewer male ones. Until Bram and his men turn up and are tasked with starting a militia. Although these books could be read by themselves, the plot makes much more sense having read the preceding books. I adored this. It's the best book so far. I loved Diana. I loved Aaron. And together they were adorable. I was swooning the whole way through. And when I wasn't swooning - I was laughing. It was hilarious. Diana was so stubborn but such a total disaster and it was perfect. After hanging the kettle on a hook and swiveling it over the fire to boil, she could no longer postpone the inevitable. Time to gut the fish. She went to the table and lifted the cover from the basin. “Ah!” With a muted shriek, she dropped the cover. It felt back with a bang. Oh Lord, oh Lord. Several moments passed before she could bear to lift the cover again and peer inside. She hoped to see something different this time. But no. There it was. It wasn’t a fish. It was an eel. And it was still alive. Just angrily alive and now agitated, weaving slick, dark-green figure eights in its basin of murky water. With a shudder, Diana covered it again. Then she drew out a chair and decided to sit and think for a while, about just how much she truly wanted this. She closed her eyes and thought of Aaron’s kiss. The strength of his arms around her. The heat of his body, and the tender mastery of his tongue coaxing hers. She remembered their driving lesson. The joy of racing down a country lane, as fast as the spring mud would allow, with the top of the curricle down. Then she pictured that eel, filling the basin with its writhing, slippery will to live. She just couldn’t. Could she? Diana opened her eyes and steeled her resolve. Some days, she decided, freedom meant the wind in your hair and the sun on your face and lips swollen with forbidden kisses. And other days, freedom meant killing an eel.Dare, Tessa. Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella (p. 37). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. I do wish Charlotte had a larger role but I did enjoy her sense of adventure and her wit. “If you do mean to propose, you will have to confront my mother.” “I . . .” Aaron didn’t know how to refute the idea. So he didn’t. “I know I will.” “Do you have a plan of attack?” “Attack?” Charlotte’s bow-shaped mouth quirked. “This is my mother you’re dealing with. She’s a dragon. Arm yourself. Gird your loins. Gather your courage and your best steel. And yes, formulate a plan of attack.”Dare, Tessa. Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella (p. 67). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. There were so many parts I liked. Mrs Highwood being her usual dramatic and ridiculous self (even if she does really love her children and only wants the best for them), Diana finding her voice and firing up and of course Aaron who was so thoughtful and appreciative and absolutely perfect. “How can you expect me to allow this?” Mama glared at him. “How dare you impugn my Diana’s honor in this fashion! Grasping, awful man. Of course you’d leap at the opportunity to rescue her from these silly thieving suspicions, hoping she’ll marry you in gratitude. It’s not as though a man like you would have a chance at her otherwise. But I tell you, your scheme won’t work.” “It’s not a scheme,” Diana said. “And he has more than ‘a chance’ with me, Mama. I love Aaron. And I am going to marry him.” Diana reached for the ring he’d laid on the table. Her mother smacked her hand away. Smacked it, as though Diana were a three-year-old child. Diana simmered with anger. She was not a child. She was all grown up, and her mother was about to learn the truth of it. “Mama,” she said coolly, “listen to me closely. I am in love with Mr. Dawes. I have been for some time. I collected his pieces from the All Things shop because I admired him. We shared our first kiss in the vicar’s curricle. He introduced me to his sister on our excursion to Hastings. I tried to kill an eel for him. I shot at a robber who threatened him. And last night . . . ?” She lifted her voice. “We. Were. Making. Love. In a bed. All night long. It was hot and sweaty and glorious. I left scratches on his back. He has a freckle just to the right of his navel. And if you don’t believe all that . . .” She ripped her cloak open and threw it aside, exposing Aaron’s black, sooty handprint on her breast. “Here. See for yourself.” Several moments passed, during which the only sound was the mad thump of her heartbeat in her ears.Dare, Tessa. Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella (p. 98). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.And when he kissed her, the world went away. “Wh- . . . Oh, where am I? Oh, my nerves.” Diana winced, suddenly conscious of their surroundings. Her mother had revived just in time to see them embracing atop the bar counter, coated in flour and mud and soot, and locked in a deep, passionate kiss. “Wonderful news, Mama.” Diana held up her left hand and waggled her ring finger. “I’m finally engaged.” Her mother blinked at the ring. Blinked at Aaron. And promptly fainted once again.Dare, Tessa. Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella (p. 100). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.“You are radiant,” he murmured. “And you look like a woman with a secret.” “Just a little wedding present for you,” she whispered. “You’ll find out later.” “Good. Because I have a present for us both.” “Oh?” He leaned and spoke in her ear. “I hired a cook.” She had to clap her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing aloud. Oh, she loved him so.Dare, Tessa. Beauty and the Blacksmith: A Spindle Cove Novella (pp. 101-102). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. This has definitely made my favourites shelf. Diana and Aaron are perfection apart and perfection together. Total #relationshipgoals. 5 stars.
    • 3/5
      really 2 1/2 stars. some annoying male chauvinist and stupid girl moments.
    • 4/5
      Love this series but wish it was longer
    • 2/5
      It was fine. It was a short story about two sweet and beautiful people and their sweet and beautiful love for each other.
      The end.
    • 5/5
      Another tasty morsel from Tessa Dare, another unusual pairing. I love how unconventional almost all the characters in this series are. So much fun!
    • 3/5
      Book 3.5 in the Spindle Cove series. Diana Highwood is the beauty in a family of three daughters. Her mother's ambition is for her to marry titled nobility, but after living in Spindle Cove for two years to restore her health, she has eyes for no-one but Aaron Dawes. He is the village blacksmith and an important and valued part of the community, but not the type of person her mother would approve of. This novella was okay, but not nearly as good as Dare's full length books, feeling a bit rushed in places.
    • 4/5
      "Goodness. Just look at it. Thick as my ankle."

      Those are Diana's thoughts when she looks at Aaron's wrists while he is doing his work as a blacksmith. Good, right? Lovely and sexy novella.
    • 4/5
      I was given this copy of Beauty and the Blacksmith through Edelweiss and Avon books in return for a honest review. I have to say that I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Tessa Dare!!! Her books always strike to the heart of any reader. She has such a special talent in creating beautiful stories that are filled with romance, witty humor and fun scenes that almost make it seem vivid and real. Let me tell you a bit about the story and the characters. Diana and Aaron have secretly liked each other for two years but have never revealed their interest at all. Aaron hasn't because he believes him to be beneath Diana. Diana has been coddled all of her life, because she struggles with Asthma, but would love to have Aaron as her own. She then decides she isn't going to hide her feelings any more, and boldly goes after him. This story was absolutely a delight to read...better than a box of choclates or a mocha latte....there were quite a few scenes that just had me giggling and bursting out in laughter uncontrollably. I don't want to reveal anything but there is a certain scene involving Diana cooks for Aaron (and she has no clue on how to cook) lets just say it was totally amusing and it just turns out to be my favorite scene so far!!:) A Wonderful read that is going to be put at the top of my list of ultimate favorites. A TRUE TREASURE!!!! You don't want to miss out on this one!!!Favorite QuoteHis lips touched hers, imparting that unique blend of strength and tenderness she was coming to treasure. To crave.