In December of 1813, the officers’ ball had a profound effect on Spindle Cove’s economy. Seeing as how the village was mostly women, certain commodities ran scarce. Hairpins, for one. Ribbons, for another. Curling papers came at a premium. And corners. Corners were the scarcest thing of all. Because there were only four in any given ballroom, and here in Spindle Cove, so many ladies were drawn to them. As an experienced wallflower, Violet Winterbottom knew to stake her ground and guard it. His mouth twisted in an expression of regret. He pushed a hand through his hair. “I’m so very—” “Twenty-six words!” she shot back, in the loudest whisper she could manage. “I gave you my virginity, and you left me twenty-six scribbled words.” “I thought it would be easier for you that way. So you could hate me and forget.” “I did hate you. I hated you for making me feel cheap and foolish. I hated you for making me feel so ashamed, and distanced from my own family. And I hated myself for allowing it all to happen. But forget? How could I ever forget?” She blinked back tears. “You broke my heart into twenty-six pieces that day. But do you know something, Christian? Over the past several months here in Spindle Cove, I’ve stitched those pieces back together.” As she spoke the words, Violet realized how true they were. She couldn’t name the day she’d set aside The Disappointment and begun to live again. The healing had been slow, gradual. Sometimes painful. But somehow, while she’d been distracted with sea-bathing and country walks and shooting lessons—and absolutely no embroidery—the impossible had occurred. Her heart had mended. “I’m a different girl now,” she told him, sitting tall. “A stronger girl. Blast it, I’m not a girl at all—I’m a woman.”....She stared at him, trying to make him out. He’d spun a pretty tale for her in this ballroom. A tale that made him out to be quite a hero—serving the Crown to avenge his fallen brother, secretly loving her all the while. She wanted to trust him so badly. And it was precisely that desperate wish to believe that made her doubt her own judgment. He’d done this all before—made her feel cherished and adored one night, then left with barely a word the following day. It had taken her almost a year to recover. Perhaps she wasn’t the real reason he’d come here. Perhaps he was just using her again, feeding her the words she wanted to hear, giving her the sensations she wanted to feel…all so he could get what he wanted and be off. With her own perception so clouded by years of infatuation, how could she be sure?Violet tried the door latch. Locked, of course. Wordlessly, she pulled a hairpin from her wind-mussed chignon and handed it to him. He stared at it. “What makes you think I know how to pick locks?” he whispered. “Just because I’m a spy?” “No. Because you were forever stealing pocket money from your father’s top desk drawer.” Bloody hell. She truly had been paying attention. Violet carried on with her life. On Twelfth Night, they dined with the Pierce family next door. She inquired politely after Christian’s health and listened to the duke describe his youngest son’s adventures in the West Indies. She spent much of February shopping with Christian’s sister for a whole new wardrobe, patiently listening to all her advice on attracting eligible beaux. Just as she’d vowed, Violet never spoke of that night to anyone in her family, or his. She kept all her promises. Save one. Try as she might, Violet could not behave as if the night had never occurred. The effects of it shivered through her life in a dozen small, barely perceptible ways. She spoke her mind a bit more often. Her tastes ran to daring styles and colors when she visited the modiste. She was bolder, more confident. How could she not be? Others looked at her and saw Miss Violet Winterbottom, late-blooming wallflower. But beneath the disguise, she knew herself to be Lady Christian Pierce, seductress and secret agent. Violet Winterbottom has spent a year in Spindle Cove to recover from “The Disappointment”. On the eve of returning home to London, a mysterious stranger crashes into the Christmas dance. The man is half frozen, muttering in a language no one recognizes…except Violet. When Violet tries to communicate with him, she realizes he looks just like Christian, the man who left her after a night of passion. Now she must figure out if the beautiful stranger is really the man who broke her heart.This is a novella in the Spindle Cove series. I wasn’t impressed with this story. It did not have the humor and emotion that was in the previous book in the series. I thought the plot was lacking and was just happy to get through the story. My rating: 2 Stars.
What do You think about Once Upon A Winter's Eve (2011)?
This was fantastic. Loved the premise of the story and how strong the heroine showed herself to be.
—Alec
I've read this one two times since I've first picked it up. Its short and sweet.
—Amanda
This was an entertaining novella, and I really enjoy the Spindle Cove series.
—EMY
Quick, fun, dramatic novella. Recommended for Spindle Cove fans.
—casias18
