PinkcowlandReads

One Last Stop  Audiobook by Casey McQuiston Narrated by Natalie Naudus ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 This book was not what I was expecting… Since I had read Red, White and Royally Blue last year, I was expecting a linear romance for this second release from Casey McQuiston, and what I got was a time shifted mystery romance… First of all my over all feelings on this book made me give it a 4 star rating. I loved the characters, August and Jane were well developed and once the time sift was revealed, I started to really like them. Even better was the cast of side characters. This award of genders, identities and personalities really carried the book. They brought a fun and lightheartedness to an otherwise intense story. Secondly, if I was rating this book on the romance alone, I would give it a 3 star rating because, while Jane and Autumn and their care for each other and their love is a continuing theme, to me this book didn’t read as a romance. The mystery of August’s missing uncle, to the t...

The Scot Who Loved Me A Scottish Treasures Novel, Book #1 by Gina Conkle ⭐⭐⭐/5 This second chance romance reunites two lovers that were torn appart on the cusp of the Jacobite revolution. Coincidentally the same cause, the return of Jacobite gold to the Highlands promos their reunion. Anne Fletcher’s heart was broken when her love never waited for her to reach their meeting point before they were to run away together, instead he choose the fight with the Jacobites. Now, she has put all of herself into the same fight as she does everything in her power to restore Scotland to its former glory… and right now that’s stealing back Jacobite gold with the help of her former lover! Will MacDonald was also heartbroken when Anne wasn’t there to meet him years ago, so he hurried his feelings in the war effort… now she has come for him and needs his help. He still loves her and will do what she asks, even if its treason! This story has high on details, but not ones I flet necessary to...

Improper The Pheonix Club, Book 1 by Darcy Burke ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Darcy Burke’s brand new book, Improper is not only the first book in a new series, but my first Darcy Burke read! Miss Fiona is excited to escape her small village life and have a London season granted to her by a mysterious benefactor... upon arriving in London, Fiona is more interested in adventures than finding a husband. The new Earl of Overton will see to his father’s promise and provide a season and a match for his ward, Miss Fiona. He needs to get this done and out of the way so he can focus on his own marriage to ensure he meets his fathers demands to ensure his inheritance! He only has a few weeks and his spunky ward is more distracting than he thought she would be! I loved Fiona’s determination to do what is right for herself, even while being in a beholden position. As for the new Earl of Overton, he will do the title proud! His struggle with his growing attachment really sparks a a war with his conscience ...

Undercover Duke Duke Dynasty, Book 4 by Sabrina Jeffries ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 In the last book of the Duke Dynasty series, we start to heavily get into the mystery of the deceased husbands of the family matriarch, the Dowager Duchess. In Undercover Duke we are in full blown mystery mode! Sheridan has been heavily affected by the strange deaths within his family and he is taking the lead to get to the bottom if it… too bad that his investigation is going to make his get pretty cozy with the frivolous Vanessa, his brother’s cousin, in order to find out what her mother can tell them about some key events in the mystery timeframe. Vanessa Pryde doesn’t know why Sheridan is finally paying attention to her, but she will do anything to keep it up! She has loved him since they met, but the feelings has seemed completely one sided until now. Using the idea that she is trying to get another suiters up to scruff, she and Sheridan hatch a deal to start a fake courtship… Soon the lines between fake ...

In the Key of Family Home to Oak Hollow, Book 2 by Mackenzie Lee ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 This heartwarming tale of finding family in many different ways gave me all the feels! Alexandra Roth has traveled to the small town of Oak Hollow, Texas to learn about the father and family she never knew. Growing up in New Your with her mom, she didn’t;t lack love, but she was always curious of her deceased father’s side of the family… Officer Luke Walker has a lot on his plate. An instant father figure to his nephew with autism has really mede him rethink his priorities and he has put his new family as his top priority. No more ladies for this former player… Too bad for Luke that he forgot that he agreed to rent the spare room in his house to Alex… now he needs to help her find another place and he can’t help getting involved with the woman who has come into his home and completely charmed his nephew and himself! But she’s only here for a month and he needs something more permanent for his nephews s...

How To Survive a Scandal Rebels with a Cause, Book 1 by Samara Parish ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 An exceptional historical romance debut! A winter storm rescue of a half frozen Lady Amelia results in the loss of her betrothal to a duke and her marriage of necessity to Mr Benedict Asterly, her erstwhile hero. These two are from completely different sides of the social sphere. Lady Amelia has been raised to be a duchess and is the epitome of an aristocratic lady, where Ben has grown up to despise the aristocracy and their privilege. He has made his own fortune and works hard for the rights of the everyday man. Together Ben and Amelia are like oil and vinegar until they start letting the sparks of their chemistry to ignite! They become lovers at night, but during the day Lady Amelia and Ben are both playing a dangerous game of tug of war to see whose world they will exist in: Amelia’s glittering society or Ben’s small village and ironworks… I absolutely was in love with this book from the star...

The Summer Cottage Somerset Lake, Book 1 by Annie Rains ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 New small town- who dis??? Author Annie Rains teased us with hints of Somerset lakes beauty in her last book (Reunited on Dragonfly Lane), but the reality of this new fictional small town is even better! Recently single mom, Trisha has moved to the idyllic lakeside town of Somerset Lake for her son and her to get a fresh start without her ex husbands crimes tainting them by association. All is going well until her boss’s grandson, Jake comes to the the cottage complex to talk her into selling the place and Strats snooping into Trisha’s past… Jake soon finds that he doesn’t want his grandmother to sell off the family property and he doesn’t want to run Trisha off either! Jake turned into such a sweetheart once he decides that Trisha has his grandmother’s interest at heart. I loved how he steps in to be the honest hero that Trisha needs to heal her heart after her experience with her ex. Another huge plus for J...

Her Scottish Scoundrel Diamonds In The Rough, Book 7 by Sophie Barnes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 The seventh book in the Diamonds in the Rough series finds us back at the Black Swan, now run by Carlton Guthrie’s partner, the rough and tumble Scot, Blayne MacNeil. Who, coincidentally is whom our heroine, Miss Charlotte Russell talks into begging her personal bodyguard. Who doesn’t love a good bodyguard trope?!?! Well, if that wasn’t good enough, this story quickly adds on a fake engagement for good measure! I loved both Charlotte and Blayne and their development of their relationship. These two are perfect for each other. My heart squeezed when Blayne needs to up the anti to rescue Charlotte from an unwanted marriage arranged by er father, and then again when Charlotte rescues Blayne from trouble from his past! They literally saved each other! This book had good pacing and kept me reading late into the night! Readers of this series will be very happy with the character cameos from past books, ...

Once Upon a Puppy Pine Hollow, Book 2 by Lizzie Shane ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Deenie has been fighting against her conformist family since she was a kid. As the family black sheep she has been able to find herself on her world travels inspired by her eccentric aunt who always supported her… Now it’s her time to support her, since her dementia is worsening, Deenie is in Pine Hollow visiting her aunt every chance she gets, in hopes of helping her keep her memories. But Deenie is itching to hit the roan again, so while she is here caring for her aunt, she is also working to refill her travel fund… so when Connor, the epitome of what her family would want her to be asks for help training his unruly dog she hesitantly takes the high paying gig. Soon Connor is taking part in the lessons along with his pup and as he and Deenie get to know each other it becomes obvious, that they could expand on this working relationship to mutually benefit both of them by fake dating each other for their work and ...

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 This book captured all the thill and excitement of the big tv bake off competition along with that of new love! Rosaline has been chosen to be one of the 10 finalist in the British tv sensation, Bake Expectations. The winnings and subsequent opportunities that would result would be her ticket to turn her and her daughters life around. On the way up to the first weekend of filming Rosalines unexpectedly adventurous travels creates a fun meet cute with one of the other contestants, Aiain. He is exactly the type of successful man her parents would want her to be with, and after she has disappointed them in so many other life choices, like dropping out of med school and keeping her baby at the age of 19, this is somewhere she can make them proud… Then another contestant, the shy and handsome electrician Harry starts catching her attention. He doesn’t have the same background as her, but she starts to change her opinion of him...

Brat: An 80’s Story by Andrew McCarthy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Andrew McCarthy’s memoir about his rise to fame in the 80’s along side the Bat Pack that ended up enveloping him was a fascinating tale of the life of an actor in that time. Andrew starts his story in his youth and describes how he finds his passion for the craft of acting in school and follows as he attends college in NYC to continue to his big stage break and then on to his break onto the silver screen in Class and then onto the height of his acting career in the 80’s. I easily fell into the story that Andrew weaved through his easy writing style that felt like he was retelling his story to a friend. The behind the scenes snapshots and tidbits were a lot of fun. I really enjoyed reading about this timeframe from Andrew’s perspective as he tried to maneuver himself while dealing with his alcoholism and his mental health issues. This was a great memoir about a slice of history that is dear to me. I grew up in the early 90’s watching the Br...

Tempting Fate The Goode Girls, Book 4 by Kerrigan Byrne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 After reading the previous book, Dancing with Danger, this book was just what I was looking for! There is nothing I love more than the redemption of a brutal hero by the love and care from a sweet and innocent heroine. Gabriel Sauvageau, former braun of the Fauves has started a new life thanks the magic of plastic surgery. His face has been brutally disfigured since the age of 16, now he is able to go out in public and not be recognized as the monster he was. Gabriel plans to leave England, but before he does, he must check on the lady he has loved from afar, his brothers wife sister, Felicity Goode. This excursion sets into motion the events that end in Gabriel being hired as Felicity’s personal body guard since she has had multiple suspicious attacks lately. Oh- how I love a good forced proximity romance! This romance between Felicity and Gabriel was so sweet as they both fight with their feelings for each ...

Must Love Cowboys Once Upon a Time in Texas #3 by Carly Bloom ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐ ⭐ /5 This book was the perfect mix of cute first times and steamy interludes! Cowboy Beau has had a crush on his old babysitter, Alice forever and she’s never seen him as anything other than the troublesome half of the Montgomery twins. Now with his brother taking a new job, Beau has to face his crush, admit his biggest shame and ask for help. Town librarian, Alice has been self-partnered for a long time, and she is fine being a party of one. But when Beau asks for help tackling his dyslexia, she decides to make a deal with him to turn her party of one to a party of two for an upcoming wedding. Soon tutoring session end up including lessons on fun, ticking off bucket list items together  and lessons in partnered sensuality! I adored this pairing and really liked how Alice taught Beau that his dyslexia just made him learn differently and that he has always been intelligent. They both boosted up each oth...