Review: Beauty and the Blacksmith

Reviewed by Jen
 

Oh Tessa Dare, you had me at "blacksmith." My only complaint about this fantastic little Spindle Cove novella is that is wasn't a full length book.  I really enjoyed it.  And for the record, it works easily as a standalone, even if you've never read from the series before.

Our heroine, Diana, is a gentlewoman, but she only has eyes for Aaron, the town smithy.  For years, she has held a torch for him in silence, finding reasons to visit the forge --even if she has to break her own jewelry.  Aaron is just as smitten as she is, but never dreamed there could be a chance for him with their difference in social station.  But he's starting to realize there may be a reason for all of her visits.  So he decides to take a chance and call her on it.

Diana doesn't admit her feelings immediately, but it doesn't take long.  The story follows the two of them as they begin to spend more time together, to see if something more than a friendship can ever bloom between them.

I love the lady and the lower-class man trope. Especially when the heroine sees the value of her hero and never considers herself better than him.  I loved how Aaron worried that he wasn't good enough, yet he did everything right.  The romance was sweet, but it had solid sexual tension and a very satisfying payoff.

It was very good and I would definitely recommend.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided Avon

Click to purchase: Amazon

Beauty and the Blacksmith

by Tessa Dare

Release Date: April 30, 2013

Publisher: Avon