A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove, #2)

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.

I really liked Minerva and Colin in the first book of the series. Every time they got near one another they were throwing off sparks and the banter was hilarious, the insults cutting and the rocks hard. And their book didn't disappoint. But I did feel like it was a rollercoaster of a ride. Colin could send you high but man could he take you low. My emotions were all over the shop - fluttery happiness, overwhelming disappointment and it was just this endless cycle til I didn't know what was going on. Colin was such an ass at times. But he didn't mean to be and that made it all the worse. Honestly that scene where Minerva is dumbfounded with the way she's believing he needs healing - I had no trouble believing any of it. That said, the roller coaster ride got a bit ridiculous towards the end. They seriously didn't get married on the steps of the Royal Geological Society - are you freaking kidding me? After everything she failed to make her presentation. I get it was supposed to be some affirmation of her commitment to their love or whatever but she already proved that by shooting Francine (Francine is the plaster mould of the footprint). I would've liked to see her get married, go present and wow them with Colin cheering on the side.

I loved how Minerva comes out of her shell over the course of the novel. She starts as this awkward lanky colt and blossoms into this confident, fiery woman who knows what she wants and feels confident enough to take it. I did think her naivety was a bit much with all her talk of science and that. I liked her intelligence and her interest in geology. The point of view changes to show what was happening back in Spindle Cove worked really well too and had me chuckling.

The chemistry between them was off the charts and the plot was a lot more action packed than I was expecting. There's a lot happening but it made for a very entertaining read. 4 stars.