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A review by rjordan19
Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Of course, this is Dare!
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Immediate
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
It would be delightful if you did so – there’s character and event mentions and overlap – but it’s been years since I’ve read the earlier ones from this series and I found it easy to pick up without a refresher.
Basic plot:
Diana has loved the village blacksmith from afar and wants to bring it to the next level
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency romance
- country village setting (Spindle Cove)
- blacksmith hero
- class difference – working class hero and gentlewoman heroine
- asthma rep (heroine)
- unrequited love (a bit from both!)
- novella length
- mid to higher steam – 3 steam within a novella
Ages:
- Heroine is 23/24, hero is 27
My thoughts:
Oh, I just adored this one! I haven’t read Tessa Dare in awhile and I certainly need to fix that because I find her books the perfect mix of humor, steam, and angst.
I loved the bits of longing from both characters in this one. This novella felt perfectly balanced – to me it didn’t feel rushed. Aaron and Diana are super adorable together – both a bit nervous and vulnerable with each other and when they start opening to their feelings it was so sweet.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
“I’m not perfect,” she said. “Not inside, not out.”
“You’re a terrible cook. That I’ll grant you. You can’t hold your liquor either. And you have questionable taste in men. So, no. You’re not perfect.”
His voice sank to a husky whisper and his gaze dropped to her mouth.
“But you’re close. Close enough to restore a man’s faith in miracles.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of parent death by heart attack
- a scene of attempting to kill an eel to eat
- threats of robbery, gun shots/wounds, knife attack with some minor injuries
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex: No
28% - kiss
43% - kiss
58% - kisses
69% - 🔥kisses, breast touches, fingering for her
75% - 🔥missionary
80% - 🔥kisses without touching because his hands are sooty – oral for her, her on the anvil sex during a rainy day when anyone can walk in (spoiler – she ends up getting sooty)
Readability: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Of course, this is Dare!
Perspective: Third person from both the hero and heroine
When mains are first on page together: Immediate
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: audiobook checked out on Hoopla
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
It would be delightful if you did so – there’s character and event mentions and overlap – but it’s been years since I’ve read the earlier ones from this series and I found it easy to pick up without a refresher.
Basic plot:
Diana has loved the village blacksmith from afar and wants to bring it to the next level
Give this a try if you want:
- Regency romance
- country village setting (Spindle Cove)
- blacksmith hero
- class difference – working class hero and gentlewoman heroine
- asthma rep (heroine)
- unrequited love (a bit from both!)
- novella length
- mid to higher steam – 3 steam within a novella
Ages:
- Heroine is 23/24, hero is 27
My thoughts:
Oh, I just adored this one! I haven’t read Tessa Dare in awhile and I certainly need to fix that because I find her books the perfect mix of humor, steam, and angst.
I loved the bits of longing from both characters in this one. This novella felt perfectly balanced – to me it didn’t feel rushed. Aaron and Diana are super adorable together – both a bit nervous and vulnerable with each other and when they start opening to their feelings it was so sweet.
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:Any mistakes/typos are my own
“I’m not perfect,” she said. “Not inside, not out.”
“You’re a terrible cook. That I’ll grant you. You can’t hold your liquor either. And you have questionable taste in men. So, no. You’re not perfect.”
His voice sank to a husky whisper and his gaze dropped to her mouth.
“But you’re close. Close enough to restore a man’s faith in miracles.”
Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.
- mention of parent death by heart attack
- a scene of attempting to kill an eel to eat
- threats of robbery, gun shots/wounds, knife attack with some minor injuries
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Safe sex:
28% - kiss
43% - kiss
58% - kisses
69% - 🔥kisses, breast touches, fingering for her
75% - 🔥missionary
80% - 🔥kisses without touching because his hands are sooty – oral for her, her on the anvil sex during a rainy day when anyone can walk in (spoiler – she ends up getting sooty)