Review: Once Upon a Winter's Eve: A Spindle Cove Novella by Tessa Dare

Once Upon a Winter's Eve: 
A Spindle Cove Novella

Author: Tessa Dare

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Spindle Cove, #1.5
Publisher: Samhain
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Rating: 3/5 

~*~Book Blurb~*~

Some wallflowers bloom at night...

A Spindle Cove Novella

Violet Winterbottom is a quiet girl. She speaks six languages, but seldom raises her voice. She endured bitter heartbreak in perfect silence. The gentlemen aren't beating down her door.

Until the night of the Spindle Cove Christmas ball, when a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at Violet's feet. His coarse attire and near-criminal good looks would put any sensible young lady on her guard. He's wet, chilled, bleeding, and speaking in an unfamiliar tongue.

Only Violet understands him. And she knows he's not what he seems.

She has one night to draw forth the secrets of this dangerously handsome rogue. Is he a smuggler? A fugitive? An enemy spy? She needs answers by sunrise, but her captive would rather seduce than confess. To learn his secrets, Violet must reveal hers—and open herself to adventure, passion, and the unthinkable... Love.

Warning: The heroine packs a pistol, the hero curses in multiple languages, and together they steam up a cold winter’s night.

Another fabulous edition to the Spindle Cove series!! Have no fear if you haven't read the first one yet; but, beware, you'll want to after reading this novella! The short Christmas theme story is a fabulous addition to this series! 

Once Upon a Winter's Eve is a great introduction for those who have not yet read, A Night to Surrender (book #1), but want to get a taste for Tessa Dare's fantastic writing style, setting, and character dynamics. This novella can be read as a stand alone, although readers who have read the first book will be left with a deeper appreciation and enjoyment of the series after reading OUaWE.

Spindle Cove -- aka. Spinsters Cove -- is the perfect place for young woman to either escape to, or be tucked discretely away from the prying eyes of the ton. Located not far from London, but far enough away from society, woman find a safe haven in this peculiar, small town, with the majority of the men belonging to a makeshift militia during the time that England is at war with France. Here woman can be themselves and find comfort and peace when the ton would only pass judgement and rumors. 

In Once Upon a Winter's Eve, the novella length story is centered around Violet Winterbottom, the ideal woman who would find sanctuary at Spindle Cove. While I would love to talk about the great plot line, I simply can't because it would completely spoil the "Ah-Hah" effect! :)

What I *can* tell you is that reading OUaWE cemented my love for this series. Tessa's writing style is not only easy to follow and get swept away in, but she creates characters that truly seem three-dimensional. I was able to get a real sense of each character, how they worked through their emotions, and the way they grew and developed during the course of the plot. I have to also point out that Tessa throws in a great sense of humor, which obviously adds to the reader either laughing out loud with the characters -- or at them -- or even left feeling embarrassed by their actions.

Speaking of action, the plot moves effortlessly with and with continuous action. While reading this novella, I completely lost track of time and didn't put it down until the very last page.


And the passion. Oh, yes, the passion. Sexual tension -- check! Hot, romantic lovin' -- check! The hero is the sexy, dark, vulnerable, alpha, romantic type; you know, the one we all want for ourselves. And the heroin is a vulnerable, yet strong woman who had grown (from the telling of her back story) from a naive, in love girl, to a woman with strength and a strong sense of self. 

It was just so easy to be transported to a small cove along the sea, enjoy these likeable characters, get swept up in the Christmas time romance, laugh at a few quirky moments, and rejoice -- and swoon -- in a great HEA for the couple. I would definitely recommend this Christmas time read for both beginners of the series and those of you who enjoyed book one!