Lord Dashwood Missed Out: A Spindle Cove Novella

I cannot provide spoilers on this one as it is sooo short I would practically ruin the whole thing for anyone else to read , so I will just say ,
I liked ,
that for the most part it had the old sexy sensual Spindle Covish manner,
H/h were likable characters !
Plot moved fast and not boring!Finished it in an hour!
I HATED
The unrealistic, unbelievable ,ridiculous secret he told her after the had a go at each other , for a 25 year old stunningly handsome lord and in that era was a mood killer for me and laughable! Cost this short read a star! Also too expensive for such a short read!
The fact that she touched the tip of his P?(;: immediately no shyness no reserve almost like a modern practiced female , that immediately kills a HISTORICAL romance. I mean I love wicked as much as the next girl but I hate modern New Yorker chick in my HR!
"Lets call ourselves our gang a name"??????? Why oh why is Ms Dare doing this in most of her books lately ? Four grown Alpha men three of which are peers , why would they act so childish ? No it is not rake -ish nor are they 21 year old dudes out in vegas, it again ruins her HR writing!
Final peeve editing errors abundant for such a short read ,many obstructing clever writing of the authors dialogue!

This was...silly. Which is fine, because sometimes you want a silly book. For me, though, the characters strained credulity even by silly book standards, and made contrived decisions that weren't believable, in order to arrive and love and happiness within the page length confines of a novella. Obstacles are set up and then very easily overcome, usually by having characters react calmly and agreeably to events that are set up to be shocking or dangerous. While bodice ripping doesn't need to be THAT grounded in reality (bodices are awfully hard to rip, for a start) this one verged into goofy AND had the heroine experience endangerment and lies from an old lover in order to "prove himself" and win her back. The trope of "he's only doing this because he REALLY loves me" isn't one that's palatable to me, personally, so this wasn't enjoyable.

I am very fond of the novella format and of Dare's talent for romances, so mix the two and you can understand how eagerly I was expecting the release of this new addition to the Spindle Cove series. The writing is witty and some dialogues and scenes made for some embarassing laughs out loud that hopefully did not wake my children, so in that respect this novel did not disappoint my expectations.

However, I must also say that this is not one of Dare's best achievements in this format. The story is very short, barely 100 pages, about a quarter are dedicated to some very funny scenes with characters from the previous Spindle Cove books that are nonetheless hardly relevant to the main romance plot. The main story of the H/h couple therefore finds itself squeezed in a very short space resulting in an odd rush switch from bickering to a passionate love scene, something that I personally found lacked enough build up. I must furthermore agree with other reviewers that lengthwise this book, at least in digital edition, seems somewhat overpriced.

This novel will make for a pleasant evening fun, but is not the same quality as Dare's novella "The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright" which I wholeheartedly recommend.

What a lovely read it was, perfect for a late afternoon.
I devoured it in few minutes.
It was so nice to see again the protagonists of all the previous books, it was a novella full of funny winks.
The main characters are two new persons, Nora is now a renowned writer thanks to a pamphlet she wrote out of despair. Three years later, she faces her nemesis or the man she always loved and left her without looking back.
Lord Dashwood/Dash is back in London and learned about this pamphlet. With Nora in close space, he can confront her.’but all was not what It seamed.
Appearances can be deceptive.
A cute story of two people who needed to growing up before being able to get together, without their time appart, they would have lacked, they would not have known their own success.

“And every brave, brilliant accomplishment in your life began as something you did to spite me.”

“In every instance, she’d wanted to get the better of Dash. And she’d ended up making something better of herself.”

I loved their unconditional love, nothing can extinguish it nor time nor distance nor errors.

“Luckily, the world is a sphere. I was always traveling toward you. I just took the long way around.” “For a map-maker, you’re shockingly bad with directions.”

I’m a verified customer on the store.fr

This novella comes between books four and five in Spindle Cove series and if you haven’t read the stories in the previous books, you just might be a bit lost, so I do recommend you read them first before getting to this one.

The series is set in Spindle Cove which is home to many women who’ve made this place their refuge from society. They made it their home and are trying to discover ways and means of getting on and accepting themselves for who they are and each one will learn to stand for what she believes in. They are a ‘motley crue’ of women, with one thing in common: freedom from men.

This is Nora's story and out of all the books in this series, this one is my least favorite. I just had a hard time with the plot as well as with the characters. They just didn't click in my mind and when that happens, I just can't enjoy the road to happily ever after.

However, I had a lot of fun reading and catching up with the characters from the previous books, so in the end I do recommend this story to all of you that have invested in this series.

Melanie for b2b

Gift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review

Maybe it’s because it’s such a short read, but this story managed to stay light and fluffy and fun without being prone to the dragging and boredom that plagued so many of the longer books in this series. I liked Dash and Elinora, but I have to agree with some of the other reviewers who said that their motivations aren’t very clear. I think I’m able to successfully infer what drove Elinora to write her pamphlet, but I’m at a complete loss as to why Dash left in the first place. I’m not even entirely sure why he’s come back this time. It’s possible that those details are in the story, but there’s so little made of them that I missed them. I did enjoy getting the chance to watch the previous heroes and heroines in action again.

I'm such a tremendous fan of Tessa Dare's work and of her Spindle Cove series. Spinster novels are some of my favorite historical romances to read so you better believe I'm into a series about a seaside town full of bad-ass ladies doin' it for themselves (and finding love). When the novella begins, Elinora Browning, spinster authoress, is on her way to Spindle Cove to read her best-selling pamphlet when a snowstorm leads her off course and into the arms of the one who got away. When George Travers, Lord Dashwood, returns from travelling the world as a cartographer hoping to finally settle down and choose a wife, he finds that his reputation precedes him thanks to Ms. Browning's pamphlet, 'Lord Ashwood Missed Out'.

Looking to find out just what he's been missing, Dash arranges to be stranded with Elinora in a cozy little hut where things really heat up. I love how much these two open up with each other about their past and how much they've grown. You really get the sense that these two were a crucial part of each other's lives growing up and that that piece has been missing since they parted (although they've both gone on to find success for themselves). The sharing of emotions really made a great foundation for the more sensual scenes. You get the feeling that just as there has always been lust and passion between them, the love and friendship have always been there as well.

I love a romance where there's playful teasing and a combative push-and-pull between the lovers. Elinora isn't your typical wallflower and she didn't waste her time pining for her beloved to return. She turned her feelings of hurt and frustration (and some sherry) into a career. Her pamphlet wasn't written to bash someone's reputation but as a way to reclaim her happiness and inspire other women to recognize their own worth. She's a brilliant feminist heroine!

I also really enjoyed the moments where we jump to Spindle Cove and see the couples we already love from earlier books in the series prepare for Miss Browning's arrival. I thought these scenes were hilarious, sweet and such a great addition to the novella. It really made the story feel like a part of the series even though the majority of it took place outside Spindle Cove.

All in all, this was a fantastic read! It was well-paced, witty and incredibly indearing. I love friends-to-lovers romances and really adored the added feminist flare and empowering message. If you've ever had a crush on a guy who didn't recognize how amazing you are, LORD DASHWOOD MISSED OUT is not to be missed!

Disclosure: I received this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.

This! This right here is why I read historical romance when I’m looking to escape. Lord Dashwood Missed Out is laugh out loud funny, steamy and - at moments - tender. And even better still? This novella doesn’t read or feel like a novella which makes it escapism reading at its best because it can be read anytime, even when you don't have much time!

Spindle Cove is a great series and Tessa Dare is one of my favorite historical romance authors because she tells the stories I want to read; stories of amazing characters written with humor, passion, and poignancy! Whatever you do, don’t you miss out!

This little story is hilarious, romantic and dashing with a dollop of conspiracy. It’s basically the madcap story of two people who had feelings for each other in their youth but through choices and life circumstance went their separate ways. Life has molded them, taught them and matured them enough so it was time for fate, and Ms. Dare, to stir the plot and see what would happen when they got back together again. The result is nothing short of pure entertainment.

A word to the wise; this book does have characters from the series popping in and playing roles so it might be confusing for a new reader. My advice is to let it roll and not think too hard about figuring it out. Lord Dashwood Missed Out is truly about George a/k/a Dash, and Nora coming together and watching the sparks fly and the battle of words commence. It’s about meeting two people who fall in love again as only adults can do. It’s messy, cold, silly, sensual and totally romantic. If in doubt, just wait until the very unique and unusual declaration of love and adoration from Dash. I’ve never read the like and it’s actually quite sweet. Ms. Dare has created magic with that scene.

Even though a new reader will not know who is who, it’s not necessary when reading about the Lords of Perdition. That little scene with the four men inspired a giggle fest just from the description and dialogue alone. What comes later inspired more giggles. It was a great addition and I enjoyed how the author interwove their presence with Nora’s predicament. It’s all good.

Nora and Dash may love each other but it’s not enough. There has to be proof that is irrefutable for each other and I’m happy to say that it does come to pass. The whole story is character driven and focused on the main characters with the secondary characters providing the necessary motivation and plot movement to bring it all together. It all works.

I found Lord Dashwood Missed Out to be charming, endearing, light hearted and fun. It’s a wonderful choice to read for an uplifting experience especially when you want something cheery and short. It’s just the right size, like a small bite-sized candy bar – sweet, satisfying and a little nutty. This is an easy recommended read.

originally posted at long and short reviews

It's two weeks before Christmas, and Nora Browning, famous author, is on her way to a speaking engagement in Spindle Cove, the eccentric little seaside town that has earned the nickname of "Spinster Cove" for its reputation of welcoming unmarried ladies. But halfway there, she misses her coach transfer and is forced to share a ride in another coach, where the only other passenger just happens to be George Travers, Lord Dashwood, the very subject of the pamphlet that made Nora famous. Talk about an awkward situation! They haven't seen each other in five years, not since Dash broke her heart and her hopes of an engagement by embarrassing her in public and walking off to travel the world without a backward glance. But now he's back, and he's heard all about Nora's success and the infamous "Lord Ashwood" who inspired her pamphlet. And he wants answers. Specifically, he wants to know what exactly Nora thinks he missed out on. But before he can find out, the coach breaks down, stranding them on the road with only an abandoned shack for protection from the storm. And I'll bet you can guess what happens in that shack ;)

Meanwhile, Griff, Duke of Halford (from book four, Any Duchess Will Do), is on a mission to score a bottle of sherry for his wife, Pauline, who is hosting the event for Miss Browning at her bookshop. He's in the doghouse after returning from a trip to London without the specially requested sherry and for not telling his wife who he was visiting. On top of that, Miss Browning was due to arrive hours ago, but a snowstorm has moved in, causing his wife to worry that the author is stuck somewhere on the road. Anxious to make amends with his wife, Griff vows to find Miss Browning and a bottle of sherry, and his three friends, Victor, Thorne, and Colin (also heroes from previous books), decide they could do with a little adventure, so off they all go into the snow.

I'll read anything Tessa Dare, but her Spindle Cove series is especially near and dear to my heart, so I would have read this novella no matter what it was about. I was initially drawn to the idea of a scorned woman penning a public letter to the man who broke her heart, but I ended up loving this book not so much for the romance between these two new characters of Nora and Dash, but for the reunion of all my favorite characters from previous books. All of the ladies together in the bookshop and four of my favorite historical romance heroes together and on a rescue mission, filled with Tessa Dare's signature wit--such fun! And since Griff and Pauline are my favorite of all the couples, his Christmas surprise for her was a perfect, heartwarming cap on this tale.

Novellas don't allow for much by way of story and character development, and that means that a few things in this story were not all they could be. For example, I would have loved to hear about some of Dash's adventures as a cartographer to help me get a feel for why he so strongly felt the urge to embark on that career. What was the draw for him? What does he love about it? And I did not feel a satisfactory explanation was ever given for why Dash left Nora in such an awful fashion all those years ago. But he certainly does make some wonderfully romantic declarations to her at the end, and in front of all of Spindle Cove, which at least gives the reader a sense that he has matured and come to realize how important Nora is to him. And what's not to admire about a heartbroken heroine who gets drunk and pens a scathing bestseller? And who, when put to the test, proceeds to show Lord Dashwood exactly what he missed out on!

Each of the Spindle Cove novels and novellas (and there are seven in all with one more on the way) can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading them in order since so many characters make appearances in subsequent books, and it's so much fun to catch up with them during their happily ever afters. Lord Dashwood Missed Out is another winner in an excellent series!

Having written a scandalous pamphlet regarding her scorn for the man who left her without a backwards glance, Miss Nora Browning has become renowned throughout England as a champion for young ladies overlooked by gentlemen, and an inspiration to make do without men. When she ventures out to visit Spindle Cove, at the invitation of the Two Sisters Subscription Library run by the delightful, Daniela and Her Grace, Pauline, the last thing she expects is to have the coach leave without her. So when she accepts alternative passage in a coach with only one passenger, she is somewhat horrified to discover her traveling companion is the real man behind Lord Ashwood Missed Out: A Gentleman’s Rejection, Rejected by Miss Elinora Browning. The man who broke her heart and shattered her dreams of being his wife someday.

George Travers, Lord Dashwood, aka Lord Ashwood in literary circles, is very interested in learning exactly what it was that he missed out on and is determined to get his old friend, Nora to reveal the truth behind her otherwise, libelous pamphlet. It soon becomes apparent to him that he most certainly missed out but now only hoped it wasn’t too late to remedy the situation. With a snowstorm as an accomplice, Dash makes sure Nora cannot escape to Spindle Cove and must answer his inquiries or face the prospect of a potential lawsuit. But in reality, what he’d really prefer to do is make her his own.

And so a plan is set in motion.

I enjoyed every moment of this novella, from the moment Nora encounters Dash in the dimly lit interior of the empty coach to the moment she discovers the lies having been perpetrated against her over twenty-four hours. The delightful antics of the men of Spindle Cove whom we’ve come to adore throughout the series, the way they adore and annoy their wives, and then there’s Mrs. Highwood’s determination to find a good man for her daughter, Charlotte, even if he is only a baron and a cast off from another woman. Life in Spindle Cove as always continues to be filled with smiles and romantic adventure.

I don’t want to say too much because there is a lot of stimulating banter, male antics, tense dangerous moments, and steamy romance packed into this novella, and must be experienced singularly by the reader. So without a doubt, I highly recommend reading LORD DASHWOOD MISSED OUT by Tessa Dare because to not is to most certainly MISS OUT!

***eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

Spindle Cove is one of my favorite places! Miss Elinora Browning had written Lord Dashwood Missed Out when she didn’t get the guy she wanted. Her childhood friend. After his dismissal, she penned the somewhat bitter love letter and it was published and empowered young ladies all over. She is now on the way to Spindle Cove for a signing and reading from the pamphlet when she has no other resource for getting there than sharing a coach in the middle of the night with a stranger.

Except he’s not a stranger at all. He’s the very Lord Ashwood she wrote that pamphlet about. And he might be just a little upset about having his name dragged through the mud with the success of her pamphlet and wants to know what exactly he missed out on.

Nora now has a backbone and maybe a confidence she didn’t have those years ago. George is a bit of a jerk but with a purpose. He tests Nora’s resolve and when you see the ending you won’t be able to hold back the swoons.

This is a short story so I don’t want to give anything away. I’m always a fan of this series and Ms. Dare’s writing is as always flawless. With all the backstory there is between these two it was easy to see their story develop without requiring as many pages. The winter setting around the Christmas holiday is a beautiful backdrop to their encounter and one of my favorite scenes in the whole story takes place out in the snow. :)

Incredibly romantic and enticingly sweet! I loved George and Nora in this short story and after the bit we get to see of Charlotte in this story, I’m now even more anxious to read DO YOU WANT TO START A SCANDAL.

Despite the fact that there are many books in the author's Spindle Cove series this novella was my first introduction to the collection as a whole and I have to say that it was a fabulous intro. It is certainly safe to admit that I think I have missed out quite a bit on this series and I plan to read the fellow novels within the collection.

With that being stated in this review I do want to point that there were particular sections of the book that were slightly maddening to myself as the reader such as all the bickering being exchanged between Lord Dashwood and Nora. The squabble I think was meant for humor but the author tended to overdo it a little too much for me. Plus I didn't think that Dashwood needed to be as cruel as he was with Nora in the beginning even if he was trying to hide his true feelings for her.

Nora on the other hand was a delightful character. I enjoyed how independent that she was. She was a heroine that was able to stand on her own two feet and was successful within her own rights without a man needing to be at her side. Although I think it was quite laughable the way that she was able to handle Dashwood both in person and on paper.

As for the romance in this book it was very likable and somewhat charming. I wanted to literally scream at both Dashwood and Nora to declare their true feelings for one another since they were both very stubborn characters. The romance worked really well in this book and the plot did as well.

-Copyrights of this review belong to Night Owl Reviews. To read this review in its entirely please click on the link that has been provided:
https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/Lwynters-reviews-Lord-Dashwood-Missed-Out-by-Tessa-Dare

The Spindle Cove series has been one of my all-time favorite series, and I was absolutely thrilled over this novella. There are cameo appearances by some of our beloved characters from the earlier books, Susanna, Bram, Minerva, Colin, Kate, Thorn, Pauline and Griff, which makes the story so delightful. And once again, Colin is such a gallant character, he had me laughing out loud.

Elinora Browning, as a young girl, had set her young heart for her older brother’s friend, George Travers, the young Lord Dashwood. And as all young women were expected to marry, young Nora was swept away with her plans for a wonderful life with children, and happily ever after with the man she loved. Except, things didn’t work out as planned. Lord Dashwood leaves England to travel the world as a cartographer. She writes her heartbreak on paper and it becomes an instant bestseller.

When Lord Dashwood comes back to England he only has one thing on his mind. And it’s to have Nora show him all the things he’s missed out being without her. My heart ached for Nora in the face of disappointment, but she becomes a stronger, independent woman for it. Nora and Dashwood are endearing characters, and it’s lovely how everything falls into place in such a romantic ending. Ms. Dare writes happily ever after endings like nobody’s business. Very nicely done.

Lord Dashwood Misses Out by Tessa Dare is a 2015 Avon publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed most everything I’ve read by this author, but I haven’t been able to read as many of her books as I would like, but when I saw this was a novella length story, I was sure I could squeeze it into my review schedule. I’m so glad I did!

Years ago, Elinora Browning was humiliated by Lord Dashwood, leaving her frustrated, angry and heartbroken. She never recovered, unfortunately, and began to write about her feelings. She never dreamed her essay, entitled “Lord Ashwood Misses Out”, would actually be published and become wildly popular among other women, so much so, she is invited to speaking engagements.

On her way to one of these gatherings, she finds herself stuck on a coach ride with none other than Lord Dashwood himself!! Has he read her pamphlet by chance?

This story has a huge heart and lots of charm, a few laugh out loud moments, and is very romantic. I loved how Dash helps Elinora realize she can be a strong, independent woman, and still have a marriage and children, and continue setting a positive example for her readers.

Naturally, once I started reading this story, I wished it could have been longer and fleshed out more, because it was so much fun! 4 stars

Well I got as far as chapter 6 and I just don't know if I can finish it. I like Tessa Dare's writing. This is not a series I have read yet however. Maybe that makes a difference. I just detest the H. He's an ass. He is deplorable to the h. I want to like the h. In fact I do like her but I don't really see this relationship as at all plausible. She deserves more. I'm going to try to power through but I really just want to punch the guy out so that does not bode well.

I'll start by saying that Tessa Dare is a very talented writer. I've loved most of the Spindle Cove series, but I had to give up on this novella b/c it really wasn't working for me. Although bringing back characters from other books can be fun, here I found it very disruptive to the main storyline. And of all the characters, ugh Griff and Pauline were the H&h from the only Spindle Cove book I did NOT like (in fact, HATED their book and could go on for hours about how cringe-worthy I found it. But I won't! lol). Seeing them reappear prominently here was very disappointing.

As for the main storyline... as always Tessa Dare writes terrific dialogue full of quick wit, so Nora and Dash had plenty of that going for them. But their whole backstory had way too much of a "he's just not that into you" vibe, so I wasn't able to buy into it. Here Dash openly acknowledges that yes, he *always knew* how Nora felt about him -- that she was crazy for him, wanted desperately to marry him -- and yet he still blew her off, wasn't interested, frankly hadn't given her much romantic encouragement to start with, and then didn't bother saying goodbye to her before he left England to travel the world (for years!). Um, okay, so he grew up with her, knew her for years and saw that she loved him, and yet he never fell for her in return. And looks weren't the problem. According to Dash, he found Nora to be an attractive girl back then -- and yet, even still, Never Fell For Her! So now years later, after running into each other, he suddenly is bowled over??? Just not believable. To me, it feels simply convenient. Not the powerful, burning kind of love I look for in a romance novel...

That said, I will be on the lookout for the next Tessa Dare novel. Though she can be hit-or-miss for me, her hits are AMAZING.

SPOILERS
SWEET
Not my favourite Spindle Cove title, but rather sweet - well, it is sweet only if one can forget the idiocy of the H in fabricating an accident in weather conditions that could have killed the h. (Forgets, because such idiocy is in no way forgivable.)
SAD
It is soon clear that the h is capable of forgiving quite a lot. Why?
Partly because she and the H shared and comforted one another after great sadness when young.
Partly because she survived his desertion of her and turned the experience into one that delivered her respect and success as a writer and speaker.
Partly because H convinces her that he has never forgotten her. Yes, he ignored her. Publicly repudiated her. Left her without glancing back. But then missed her and remembered her in a way that he can demonstrate with a World Atlas.
And, of course, because she never stopped loving him.
FUNNY
As usual with Dare the humour in Lord Dashwood Missed Out is not subtle. It owes more to slapstick than subtlety (although there are the odd, clever witticisms). Luckily, I'm drawn to slapstick.
FAMILIAR
I'm not sure how Dare manages it, but I don't find her inclusions of characters from previous books at all tedious. I enjoyed the sherry/rescue expedition by the four previous heroes and laughed at their bragging and name inventions etc. And Colin, Pauline, the Duke and Miranda's mother, in particular, all provide familiar and welcome additions to this novella.
ROMANTIC
Once again, Dare hits it on the head with the romance. Within minutes, it is soon heartily earthy (but not seedy, because the h and the H love one another to bits). And, hurrah, he isn't a tormented rake. He has stayed a "virgin" - well he's only engaged in some interesting pre-intercourse "escapades" (clever Dare makes sure that the reader will be tantalised by that internalisation, which the H decides not to share with the h when he is telegraphing his faithful virginity).
And, while the h has remained "pure" she hasn't shrunk into timid virginity, which is soon made evident.
I'd have preferred a different finale, rather than the Hollywood "in front of strangers public disclosures, assertions of 'lurve' cut to applause scene" but, as I mentioned, this novella is light on subtlety.
I bought this in Kindle format from the store.

the last chapter. It started off great. It was fun, I liked the heroine, came to like the hero, the dialog was witty and I enjoy it when the characters can surprise me. The side story of the 4 rescuers was entertaining. Then came the embarrassing, unrealistic, unromantic ending.

Well, I definitely want to go back and read the rest of the Spindle Cove novels and novellas all over again now! Great, short read. Only complaint I might have is that I would've liked to spend more time with Dash and Nora. It was great seeing all the characters from previous books (especially Colin).

This book was short but cute. I personal like when the characters are to the point with their feelings. I also like when authors include previous characters from other books to get a glimpse of the happily ever after.