PinkcowlandReads

Someone Perfect A Westcott Novel, Book #9 by Mary Balogh ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Perfection is all in the eye of the beholder! Lady Estelle Lamarr and her twin brother Bertrand are rusticating in their former childhood home when a neighbour and friends Maria’s estranged half brother arrives to bring her back to the family estate. Estelle gets off on the wrong foot with Maria’s brother, the Earl of Brandon, but eventually gives in, and travels to his estate along with her brother to help Maria settle into her new home. Estelle bad opinion soon turns as Justin, the Earl of Brandon’s good deeds and intentions start to come to light during her stay at his estate… He may not be perfect but she eventually realizes that her ideal man may not need to be so perfect after all. This book was excellent! Old-school fan of Mary Balogh will be so pleased with this gorgeous Pride and Prejudice retelling! This story had so many things that spoke to me. I really appreciated the contrast made about the dif...

Mr. Dale and the Divorcée  The Brazen Beauties, Book 1 by Sophie Barnes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 Wilhelmina Hewitt was just publicly divorced her husband and Mr. Dale is a very proper barrister… they make a very unlikely pairing as they race across the countryside for Mr. Dale to stop their children from marrying. This was a delicious tale with absolutely endearing characters. I adored how these characters had so much more to offer than meets the eye. Both the hero and heroine had such courage and strength to do what they felt right for their loved ones and would move heaven and earth for them. The debate over right/ wrong and what constituted goodness warred throughout this book as many heartfelt actions resulted in dire consequences and vice versa. Sophie Barnes is a gem at creating HR characters on the fringes of high society and delivering unique stories that result from it. Divorce before the 20th century was not an easy prospect. I really appreciated how she tackled this in a cr...

Best Kept Secret The Rochester Trilogy, Book #3 by Skye Warren ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Skye Warrens’s dark romance retelling of the classic Jane Eyre concluded and all the best kept secrets are finally revealed! We pick up with Jane Mendoza back home in Huston and already regretting her decision to follow Beau’s command to leave. She knows where she needs to be and it’s with Beau Rochester and his niece. Luckily she finds herself back with them and she becomes the one to finally unravel all the family secrets and move them toward the future. But after so many secrets and so much turmoil, can Jane also find the future that she wants for herself as well? This final instalment of the Rochester Trilogy was filled with angst as Jane and Beau team up again to fight for the future. I was on the edge of my seat reading this instalment and was pleased with the resolutions that were met in the end.  This was an excellent modern retelling of Jane Eyre and definitely worth that read!  Be...

Rake I’d Like to F*** by Sierra Simone, Joanna Shupe, Eva Leigh, Nicola Davidson, Adriana Herrera ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 This book delivered explicit passion in abundance and in many forms! I was addicted from the first story. This is a great selection of hot reads showcasing a variety of relationships. And be aware… the steam is real!!! The Last Crimes of Peregrine Hind Sierra Simone MM A highwayman wanting revenge against the Duke who destroyed his family kidnaps the  Duke’s rakish brother and heir and his plan fro revenge soon turns into passion! Two Rakes for Mrs. Sparkwell Eva Leigh MFM A widow seeks out a famous rake to ruin her in order to avoid an unwanted second marriage… and ends up falling in love with both the rake and his best friend. A Rake, His Patron, & His Muse Nicola Davidson MMF A playwright and his patron go on holiday and find their muse and the missing person to complete their threesome. Each love, care and support the others needs, dreams and desires! ...

Mistletoe Christmas by Eloisa James; Christi Caldwell ; Janna MacGregor; Erica Ridley ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐/5 This is my third HR holiday anthology for the season, Mistletoe Christmas from Avon Books! Like most of my favourite anthologies, the stories are all interconnected and take place during the same timeframe! I’m a sucker for this style and absolutely loved seeing the characters cross over to the different stories! 🌟A MISTLETOE KISS by Eloisa James The revelry has made the Duke of Greystoke a tastemaker within society, but he is not the real sorcerer behind the magic! His youngest daughter has given up her own ambitions to be the architect of her father’s grand party… until her cousin’s friend finally sees her true self that has been hidden behind all her hard work! 🌟 WISHING UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Christi Caldwell  A take on the famous Christmas Carol, these two former betrothed find a second chance 10 years later when paired up at the revelry. 🌟COMPROMISE UNDER THE MIST...

A Winter’s Earl  A Regency Christmas Romance by Annabelle Greene ⭐⭐⭐ /5 A mysterious letter claiming a “life and death” scenario brings Richard Ashbrook back to English soil after being exiled for for the past 10 years. This letter also happens to be written by the architect of his exile, the infamous poet and his former lover, Sherborne Clarke. Upon arrival at Sherborne’s estate, he finds that the life in question is not his, but a newborn babe that had been left at his doorstep. Ashbrook is now tasked though the help of his cousin who facilitates a foundling home, to bring the babe to London. This task is easier said than done the everything from the weather, to unexpected guests and misbehaving servants all get in the way of Ashbrook leaving the estate with the baby and his heart in tact! This story was an extreme slow burn that had the chemistry between Ashbrook and Sherborne sizzling throughout. These two two had an obvious pull between them, but equal push as well ...

Once a Laird Rogues Redeemed, Book 6 by Mary Jo Putney ⭐⭐⭐/5 The final rogue is redeemed in the last book of the Rogues Redeemed series, Once a Laird by Mary Jo Putney. I have been reading this series for what seems like a long time, since this was a follow up series to the Lost Lords … The Lost Lords ran for 7 books and Rogues Redeemed has finished on a 6th book. That’s a lot! This last story tells tells Ramsey’s redemption as he finally returns to his Scottish home to take up the mantle of Laird… he has been away for many years traveling the world since his fiancée passed… now he is home making amends and finding himself very attracted to the woman his deceased fiancée’s sister has grown into. Together they take on tackle the former Lairds debts and see if there is a way for them to find happiness together. This book felt slow going to me as the main characters explored the archeological sites… their slow burn romance and the re-familiarizing of the Laird with his people...

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower The Wild Wynchesters, Book 2 by Erica Ridley ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 The Wynchester are back and they are again teaching us what it means to be a family and what is love! Thomasina Wynchester or Tommy to her friends, story and love interest was hinted at in the first book and seamlessly continued into this story. Tommy is a person who is comfortable in all kinds of disguises, but the hardest one to be comfortable and accepted in is as herself, plain Tommy Winchester, former orphan who likes to wear breeches and loose shirts over dresses. Miss Philippa York is a bluestocking heiress of polite society. She uses her position to preform good works through charities, but she knows her true purpose is to increase her family standing by marrying a peer. A friendship and alliance soon blossoms into a romance as Tommy and Philippa learn what it means to be a family and find love and acceptance for their true selves. This story just melted my heart! I loved that t...

Never Fall for Your Fiancée  The Merriwell Sister, Book 1 by Virginia Heath ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 I can’t think of that many historical romances that are true romanic comedies, but this book definitely lived up to its billing! Hugh Standish, Earl of Fareham has creatively avoiding his mothers matchmaking from across the pond by writing her detailed letters about his fake finances for the past 2 years. This plan is going swimmingly until his mother decides to depart America and return to England to get her son and his fiancee finally married! Thank heavens for fate that delivers a woman into his hands by the same name as his imaginary fiancee, Minerva!  Minerva Merriwell is trying to support her sisters after being abandoned by their father. Lucky for her her philandering father taught her the trade of engraving before he left.. unlucky for her that commissions are few and far between. So when a handsome Earl steps into help her get a payment for an engraving and then offers to p...