A Lady by Midnight (Spindle Cove, #3)

by Tessa Dare

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.

For the most part I enjoyed it. I liked Kate in the previous books and I've enjoyed the little rivalry her and Thorne have had going on. I liked Thorne's hard shell and how Kate slowly cracks him open to reveal his past and good intentions. But he was stubborn. Too stubborn. So stubborn that it got to be absolutely ridiculous. I mean if he's that adamant he doesn't want to be with you - maybe he doesn't want to be with you. Good intentions are sweet to begin with, putting yourself in gaol and trying to marry you off to another man is just wrong.

But although the plot dragged and got a bit ridiculous towards the end (the duel was fine, deciding after all that he was going to give her up was just insane) the majority of the book was funny and romantic and sexy. I loved the comment on women being prone to dramatics.

Her heart ached. Somewhere nearby, Samuel was in irons, locked up like an animal in a cage. He’d spent the entire night in gaol. She knew how he’d suffered as a youth in prison. He should never have been subjected to confinement again, not even for one night. She was desperate to see him released, and he must have known she’d feel this way. He was holding himself ransom, and the price he demanded was her wedding to another. The stubborn, impossible man. And to believe common wisdom, women were the sex prone to dramatics?

Dare, Tessa. A Lady by Midnight (spindle cove Book 3) (pp. 345-346). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition. I mean, she's not wrong. It was particularly over the top.

I liked the Gramercy family and their commitment to family. I wasn't as fond of Evan, particularly when he was threatening to cut ties with her when he found out her mother was a prostitute. After all their discussion about family and scandal I thought it was a bit much to decide that was the line. But they were outrageous in all the best ways and I loved the banter between them.

Although Spindle Cove's own Mrs Highwood is pretty outrageous when she thinks it may net her daughter's a husband.

“We’ve seen you in the rooming house, but it’s a pleasure to be properly introduced.”
“Yes, of course,” said Mrs. Highwood. “What a boon it is to have a family of your caliber in Spindle Cove. We are quite starved for society this summer.” Once again she turned and made the same swoop of her fan.
“Are you swatting a wasp?” asked Aunt Marmoset.
“Oh, no.” Mrs. Highwood flicked an agitated gaze toward the same corner of the room. “It’s nothing. Will you excuse me for just a moment?”
As Kate—and all the Gramercys—looked on, the matron turned away, walked two steps, and hurled her closed fan with such force that it smacked an unsuspecting man on the back of the head. “Music,” she half growled. “Now.” The man rubbed his head, offended, but he drew out a fiddle and began to saw a few creaky strains of a dance. Around the tavern, guests came to their feet to clear tables and chairs.
“Oh, look,” said Mrs. Highwood, turning back to the Gramercys with an innocent smile. “There’s going to be dancing. What a happy surprise.”

Dare, Tessa. A Lady by Midnight (spindle cove Book 3) (pp. 117-118). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

A bit ridiculous but mainly an entertaining addition to the Spindle Cove series. 3 stars.