PinkcowlandReads

A Dark and Stormy Night Victorian Rebels, Book 7 by Kerrigan Byrne ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Fate has a way of bringing opposites together… and when the get together, they light up like a match in a gas leak… B-A-M!!! All I can say is that this book started off with a bang (literally  😉 ) and held on for the rest of the story! Sir Carlton Morley, Cutter is a character wrapped in shadows He has risen ups from the streets on lies and secrets, but one night in a shadowy garden cracks his reserve and he now needs to find a way to live and trust in the truth. Prudence Goode doesn’t want a loveless marriage to a man needing her dowery and going after anything in a skirt. She decides to choose herself and visits a hedonistic garden to give the gift of her body to the man of her choice. These memories will keep her warm in her loveless marriage… until her shadowy lover becomes her husband. Morley was a hero that reminds you of Batman and sexy as hell. He could have carried t...

In the Dark with the Duke Lost Lords of London, Book 2 by Christi Caldwell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 There is nothing I love more than a broken hero and Christi Caldwell’s heroes from the Lost Lords series have master being broken down to an art form! These fated mates, Lady Lia and Hugh Savage were destined for each other! I loved how their pasts experiences mirrored, allowing them to finally be the person to make the other person whole again. Brooding hero Hugh has fought for survival, fought for his freedom, fought for king and country and now he fights for his living. He may be unbeatable but he no longer wants to fight.  In steps reclusive Lady Lila who has been hiding from society for years and needs Hugh’s help to learn how to fight back in order to face her fears and go out in society again. The chemistry between these two is electric, especially  juxtaposed with the differing ambitions and social stations of both Lila and Hugh. I could not put this...

Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Families come in all different sizes and forms… this is definitely true in this heart warming tale of three women trying to put a family back together and make it better the second time around. I loved how Sarah Morgan tells this emotionally complicated story through the voices of threes women that are all connected by the loss of a mother/ spouse/ friend. She tells the story of a family coming together to create something new and beautiful almost akin to the Phoenix rising from the ashes.  As always secrets and perceptions and loyalty colour the the women perspectives and until all the truths are uncovered and laid bare neither woman can find peace or their ideal family. The female characters and their feelings drove this story and kept it moving at a steady pace. This was an intriguing and enjoyable read. Family for Beginners by Sarah Morgan was released May 5th, 2020. ____________________________...

The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5  This a slow burn that had me at the edge of my seat, waiting for the explosion for over half the book! Iris has just moved back in with her parents in a small East coast town. She’s failed at adulting and has returned to re-group before heading back to Boston and the big city lifestyle. Jude is living next door to Iris’s parents. She was given the house by her parents. She has also recently returned after suffering a tragedy and is hiding out in her hometown. She doesn’t socialize and work by herself on a lobster boat. Everyday is the same, until Iris’s dog, Dolly bounds over to her one day… This was a slow romances, Jude is wounded and Iris is unsure of herself and her reception from Jude. I loved how these two kept coming together (somewhat unwillingly by Jude), but every time, they made each other or part of their lives better. It was an uphill battle for sparkly positive Iris to pull Jude out of her shell...

Nothing Compares to the Duke The Duke’s Den #3 by Christy Carlyle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Spurned by her childhood crush/ best friend, Arabella was developed a thick skin over the past five years. A know beauty, she’s been propped too many times. But she has frozen her heart and not found the right suitor to crack the ice shield she has constructed to keep her heart safe and mind focused. Now Bella is determined to remain spinster and instead of creating a family, she wants to create puzzles! She has focused her brilliant mind to the task of creating a word puzzle book that she is determined to get published all on her own. Rhys, the Duke of Claremont needs help. Not only must he return to his estate that he has avoided for years since he destroyed his friendship with his neighbour, Bella, he must also solve the mystery of his disappearing funds. Rhys has a learning disability (my guess is dyslexia) and the only one who has ever understood and was able to help him (and make him feel ...

Always a Bridesmaid  Getting Hitched in Dixie book #2 by Cindi Madsen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Violet Abrams could be a professional bridesmaid… After seven times up the aisle and finding her long-time boyfriend in the arms of another at her sisters wedding, she decides to give up men and weddings for good! Now, she is taking a break from her life, staying with her sister in small-town Alabama when weddings and men keep coming back to her… Well, not men, but man, one sexy fireman catches her eye and keeps coming to her rescue! Ford Maguire needs her help, so it’s time to rescue him! Ford has agreed to be the best-dude in his best friends wedding. The tomboy bride and Ford are in over their heads and need Violet’s expertise to pull this off. It doesn’t hurt that it means that they will have to spend a lot of time together planning this wedding!  Ford and Violet bot have issues from their past relationships and families that pulls them apart.Trust issues factor heavily in t...

The Highlander’s English Bride  Clan Kendrick Book #3 by Vanessa Kelly ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Graeme Kendrick has reformed his trouble maker ways as a youth and now is paying it forward as an inquisition officer working for his King and country. He is on the case when a lady gets in the way… forcing him to abandoned his pursuit and jump into the Serpentine to rescue this damsel in distress! Lady Sabrina Bell is no damsel in distress! She has had the run of her fathers’ estate since she was barely out of the schoolroom. She can handle herself in any situation… unless that situation includes grumpy, handsome highlanders!  Now that Lady Sabrina and Graeme’s paths have crossed they have become as drawn to each other as the trouble that follows them!  This was a fun read with both the hero and the heroine presenting independent, strong willed personalities that are better working together than apart. Lady Sabrina was a surprising treat, her character starts off st...

The Uptown Collection by Ruby Lang ⭐⭐⭐⭐  /5 Ruby Lang’s novellas are encompassing and endearing. She writes about relatable characters that are diverse, mature and authentic, yet still struggling as many do in real life. Her backdrop for the series of Harlem is presented beautifully and capture the historic importance of the area and the community. Playing House / Open House / House Rules   Playing House ⭐⭐⭐⭐  /5 A chance encounter brings tow acquaintances much closer! To rescue Fey from a menacing paramour, Oliver dives into the charge she’s created of them as a couple. Both Oliver and Fey are in need of some fun and they continue to see each other and reenact the charge as they tour homes in Manhattan. When Fey finds out that Oliver has been vying for a job at her city planing firm, she questions if not only their playing house was faked, but but his feelings for her as well. Oliver now needs to decide if the job he’s been looking fo...

The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Second chance romances get me every time! This story begins as two young men try to discover who they are one summer in high school. Tack was the popular guy at school, on all the teams and had the cheerleader girlfriend… Vinny was the new kid who did his own thing and didn’t fit in with any of the groups at school. When they meet along the fence that separated their two properties they find a connection. Too bad that Tack isn’t ready to take this bond any further at this time. 15 years later, Vince (Vinny) has returned to the small town of his youth to flip an investment property… he has changed. No longer the scared wierdo, he is uber masculine and a successful businessman. He plans on staying for the summer to make a quick buck on his flip… but when Tuck re-enters his life and has changed too, he finds his heart is the one that flips! This was. Beautiful story of letting the past go, seeing through others eyes...

The Outlaw’s Daughter Haywire Bride Series #3 by Margaret Brownley ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 A year old stage robbery has brought Texas Ranger, Matt Taggert to the small town of Haywire. While investigating his lead he he discovers that his prime suspect died just days after the stage coach robbery and is the tow’s local hero… not only that, he has left behind a beautiful widow and 2 children. Ellie-May is no stranger to public scorn, as the daughter of an outlaw , she knows what the Rangers accusations against her deceased husband will do to her family and children. For the sake of her family, she will do anything to protect them and that includes keeping secrets and resisting the Rangers charms!  This was fun story. I loved how the romance also included the children because as a mother myself (happily married) I could never imagine being able to separate my love life from that of my family life. A new partner would definitely need to win over the kids along with me!  ...

Secrets From a Happy Marriage by Maisey Yates ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Women’s Literature is to my go-to genre, but Maisey Yates may have made a convert of me! This book hit me with all the feels and the roller coaster when full circle to come to an ending that could not have been more perfect. I loved how three generations of women are represented and their life choices are followed and directed to see where it has got them and where they will take them in the future.  Yates depicted a perfect representation of female relationships with her 4 lead characters: grandmother/ matriarch, mother, wife, sister, daughter, grand-daughter, grandmother, aunt, niece and friend. By telling the story through all the characters voices, it was easy and a pleasure to experience their heartaches and joys along with them.  The growth all the characters went through really got to me… I have experienced many of the life events and related to these women. After reading this book I felt ...

When You Wish Upon a Rogue A Debutante Diaries Novel #3 by Anna Bennett ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Sometimes when you step into a series… you can feel a bit lost… I hardly even noticed that this was the third of a series! Wow.  This story started off and quickly through the two leads together in an accidental meet that changes both their lives. Miss Sophie is part of an underground women’s group that she started with her 2 best friends. Her contribution to the group entails leading a ladies meeting where women from all walks of life can come together and openly discuss, love, relationships… and sex! Very forward thinking. Her meetings keep getting bigger, so she decided to check out the abandoned building down the street from their current meeting place… Henry Reese, the new Earl of Warshire hasn’t slept in days. Sadly, this is a regular occurrence. He is haunted by his time in the army and the death if his brother. Not able to sleep he decide to visit one of his properties, ...

Say Yes to the Duke The Wildes of Lindow Castle #5 by Eloisa James ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 For some strange reason every time before I start a new Eloisa James novel I get scared… what if its not as good as the ones before?!?! AND every time I read a new book I am elated that it is!!! 😄 The fifth book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle, Say Yes to the Duke does not disappoint. I loved both the main characters, the not often heard from before, Viola and new to the family, Devin, the Duke of Wynter. They were a delightful sunshine/ grump pairing and I enjoyed very moment of their irregular courtship. These two created sparks✨ from their first interaction where they both loathed each other through to their growing friendship and swift marriage. I loved that this story didn’t end after the marriage like many romances. The focus of the story centred around Viola and Devin’s growing love and learning to trust each other, which continued long after the vows were said. 💜Viola oft...

A Royal Kiss & Tell A Royal Wedding #2 by Julia London ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Lady Caroline Hawke is used to having everyone notice her. She is beautiful and a centrepiece of London’s society… So of course, when it comes time for her to fall in love, the only man she is interested in can’t even remember her name!?!? That and he’s a completely dissolute rake of a prince. Prince Leopold of Alucia has never had much responsibility. He was expected to marry one day for the good of his country, but other than that he was left to his own devises. Then he is brought into an investigation between his country and high ranking British nobles, and he must finally show what he is worth and risk loosing everything in the process.  Too bad the pesky Lady Caroline is following his every unsavoury move and publishing it in her friends gossip paper… can these enemies find a common side and work together? Or will their mutual attraction tear apart both of their futures? Oooooh! So muc...