Book Review: Once Upon a Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare

Author: Tessa Dare

Title: Once Upon a Winter's Eve

Series: Spindle Cove #1.5

Genre: Historical Romance, Novella

Format: ebook

Published:  November 15, 2011

Where I got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

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.

Review:

This was free on Amazon so I grabbed it! Last time I read this was last year and I had borrowed it from the library. I enjoyed this one so much last time and I'm a book goblin so I wanted it for my shelf. 

Violet had a terrible heartbreak and she is licking her wounds at the Spindle Cove. She is enjoying her quiet life until a mysterious stranger crashes into the ballroom and collapses at her feet. She is the only who speaks his language so she is recruited to get info out of him. He isn't what he seems and she will get the answers out of him one way or another. 

Weeeee love Dare! And I really have been enjoying this series. I think I only have a book or two left and I'm sad to say goodbye to the Spindle Cove!

Love Violet. She deserves all the happiness in the world. She is too sweet for her own good. 

I hope to see more of this couple, but I doubt it. I would love to see more of their love flourish. 

All-in-all, I still adored this little short. I'll keep my original rating of 5 stars. 

- Favorite Character(s): Violet

- Least Favorite Character(s): no one

 

Audiobook Review: Mistborn The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson

Author: Brandon Sanderson
Narrator: Michael Kramer

Title: Mistborn The Final Empire

Series: The Mistborn Saga #1

Genre: Fantasy, SciFi
Pages: Audiobook
Published: July 17, 2006
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

What if the whole world were a dead, blasted wasteland?

Mistborn

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark.

Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot.

But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

Review: 

A member of my Twitch community redeemed "Pick What Carole Reads Next" and this was his choice for me. I was excited to check it out. I had heard good things about this series...so this was the push I needed. 

For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived their lives in fear. The Lord Ruler has reigned over all with absolute power and terror. There is no hope until Kelsier and his gang. Kelsier and his underworld's elite will attempt to pull the greatest heist in history. His plan looks like a long shot until luck brings him a girl named Vin. Like him she is a half-Skaa orphan with great powers. She doesn't trust easy, but Kelsier will help her grow her powers and bring his plan into fruition.

This was intense and just plain good. It was slow to get kicked off, but that is to be expected with a book 1 fantasy. Introducing the world, rules, characters, and history. 

This was a big book. Lots to cover. The author did a lovely job with blending in everything. Some slow spots in the beginning but it was important for the reader to read it. 

Loved our crew. Vin....is a little harder to warm up to, but she has had a sad past and doesn't trust people (with reason). However, you start to warm up to her near the end. 

I had zero idea how this was all going to end. What a mountain to climb for this little gang. I had hope, but I didn't know what was going to happen. Lots of twists for sure!

Now....I will say that I'm mad at the ending. I'm mad at what happened to a certain character. I won't say who or what, but I'm MAD. LIVID. Ugh. I will read book 2, but I'm very upset. 

Oh! The narrator was pretty good. His female voices....eh. But overall I enjoyed his performance. 

In the end, I really enjoyed this. Some slow spots while we are being introduced to this world, but it's not a deal-breaker....it was to be expected with a fantasy world. Great characters. Scary world. Hope. Fear. And an ending that ticked me off. Gah! I shall stamp this with 4 stars. 

- Favorite Character(s): Kel, Ham, & Breeze

- Least Favorite Character(s): Lord Ruler (duh) and Elend (I feel like I'll end up liking him, but for now...he annoyed me)

Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #4

- Library Love #2

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

Series: Book 3, The Others (Bishop)

Narrated by: Alexandra Harris

Release date: 03-03-15

Length: 16 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Categories: Literature & Fiction

Own

This is my third time listening. My 4th time all in all. My detailed review is far back in years.

This series is amazing. The danger is so close now. The Others are starting to think that maybe they should just wipe out the human race. And hey, they have a point. Wipe them all out! Humans are the worst.

And as always, this is a series you have to do in audio! The narrator is fantastic and it is so much better.

The Others freed the  cassandra sangue  to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Best of January

Here are our bests from January!!!! That first month flew by!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd - A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

"Very fairytale like."

Carole - The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

"So many goodies this month BUT the narrator really pushed this to the top. Great and tragic and a voice that will bring this story to life."

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Nadda. No movies...just TV and books. 

Blodeuedd - Back in Action (2025)

"I watched Back In Action. Pretty funny and action-filled."

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Maxima

"I watched the tv series Maxima. A lot of drama!"

Carole - Downton Abbey (S 1-5)

"One season left to finish. I'm addicted!!! Why did I ever wait so long to watch this?"

Best Cover of the Month:

Carole's pick.

Blodeuedd's Pick.

Honorable Mention:

Blodeuedd - Written in Red by Anne Bishop

"I re-read Written in Red and A murder of Crows. They were obvi the best books this month, but it is too cruel to other books to choose them every time!"

Carole - Othello by William Shakespeare

"Re-read this gem. It has been yeaaaarrrrs! Still holds up and is my favorites of William Shakespeare!"