Is A Week to Be Wicked Spicy? An Honest Heat Rating
Short answer: yes — Tessa Dare's beloved road-trip romp is warm, funny, and genuinely steamy, a three-and-a-half built on forced proximity. Here is what to expect from Minerva and Colin.
First, the scale. Romance readers rate heat with chilli peppers: one is closed-door, three is on-page but woven into the love story, and five is frequent and very explicit. On that ruler, A Week to Be Wicked sits between a three and a four.
How spicy is A Week to Be Wicked?
Tessa Dare's fan-favourite pairs Minerva, a serious young geologist, with Colin, a charming rake, on a chaotic dash to Scotland — a forced-proximity setup that throws them into carriages, inns, and one memorable disaster after another. The rising chemistry pays off in on-page love scenes that are warm, playful, and satisfying, all wrapped in Dare's signature laugh-out-loud humour. It runs a bit hotter than Bridgerton without ever losing its lightness, and the opposites-attract dynamic gives the heat real charm.
How does it compare to Bridgerton?
A step warmer, same feel-good spirit. Bridgerton's books sit around a three; A Week to Be Wicked nudges to three-and-a-half, keeping the wit while adding a bit more heat and a lot of adventure. If you loved Bridgerton's banter and want forced proximity with a warmer thermostat, Tessa Dare is one of the most reliable picks going.
If you want more or less spice, read these
The Duchess Deal — Tessa Dare
Same wit, same warm heat, grumpy-duke edition. If Dare's voice worked for you, this is essential.
Devil in Winter — Lisa Kleypas
Want a steamier four with a darker hero? Kleypas's classic turns the heat up.
The Viscount Who Loved Me — Julia Quinn
Prefer to dial it back? Bridgerton book two keeps the banter at a cooler temperature.
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The verdict
A Week to Be Wicked is a warm three-and-a-half that shows off everything readers love about Tessa Dare: forced proximity, opposites-attract chemistry, real heat, and a lot of laughs. If you want a Regency romance hotter than Bridgerton but just as fun, it is a joy. For more spice, the picks above deliver.
Frequently asked questions
Is A Week to Be Wicked spicy?
Yes, warmly — around a three-and-a-half to four. The on-page love scenes are warm and playful, built on a forced-proximity road trip.
Is it hotter than Bridgerton?
A little, yes — slightly hotter and more frequent, with Tessa Dare's trademark humour.
Can I start here in the series?
Yes. It is the second Spindle Cove book but reads well on its own and is a popular starting point.