Beauty And The Blacksmith

Beauty And The Blacksmith
by Tessa Dare
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

My Review:
I just read this one for the second time and realized that I didn't post a review. This book is just awesome, covered with more awesome. It's super short, maybe two hours worth of reading, max. But so worth it. This book is part of a series and with it being so short, I wouldn't recommend it for a first time Tessa Dare reader. Read some of the other Spindle Cove novels first. But if you know something about Spindle Cove already, this is a perfect book to spend a couple hours with.

Diana has been a part of many of the Spindle Cove novels already. Her mom wants her to have an advantageous marriage but she's been able to put off any proposals with her ill health. She's had asthma all her life so has always been very controlled and calm. A nice china doll to look at, but she doesn't make much noise or express herself. This is the book where she breaks free of all of that. It takes some effort and some time, but she finds what she wants, goes after it, and finds herself to be capable of living life to the fullest.

Aaron is the town blacksmith. He's big and brawny and very hot. He's always been a good “big brother” to all the ladies in Spindle Cove and he can pretty much do anything he sets his mind to. He seems totally confident, except when it comes to Diana. He loves freely, cares about pretty much everyone, and puts other's needs above his own. But when it comes to Diana, he doesn't feel refined enough. He doesn't want to sully a person so pure and precious. But Diana is finally ready to shed the pure image and it's simply magic to see.

The language in this book is wonderful – enough historical that you feel like you're living there, but also enough contemporary phrasing that you're not trying to figure out what they mean. The writing is expressed so beautifully; every emotion is a part of you too whenever it's laid out in the book. It's a great escape book, especially when you've only got a little bit of time to read. It's got some dynamite love and sexual tension, some adventure and some character growth that combines to leave you very fulfilled but still wanting more.