Formerly titled Brooke: Wagers Gone Awry (Conundrums of the Misses Culpepper, Book 1)An angry earl. A desperate spinster. A reckless wager.For five years, Brooke Culpepper has focused her energy on two things: keeping the struggling dairy farm that’s her home operating and preventing her younger sister and cousins from starving. Then one day, a stern-faced stranger arrives at their doorstep and … stranger arrives at their doorstep and announces he’s the dairy’s new owner and plans on selling the farm. Though she’s outraged, Brooke can’t deny the Earl of Ravensdale makes her pulse race in the most disturbing way.
Heath is incensed to discover five women call the land he won at the gaming tables their home. Their guardian made no mention of his beautiful, impoverished wards, nor did he reveal that he forced Brooke to send him the dairy’s proceeds or he’d evict them. Heath detests everything about the country and has no desire to own a smelly farm, even if one of the occupants is the most intelligent, entrancing woman he’s ever met.
Desperate, pauper poor, and with nowhere to take her family, Brooke rashly proposes a wager. Heath’s stakes? The farm. Hers? Her virtue. The land holds no interest for Heath, but he finds Brooke irresistible and ignoring prudence as well as his sense of honor, he just as recklessly accepts her challenge.
In a winner takes all bet, will they both come to regret their impulsiveness, especially when love is at stake?
Buy the first book of The Blue Rose Regency Romances: The Culpepper Misses historical series for a romping, emotional, and romantic adventure you won’t want to put down.
Though this book is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.
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This was one of those books that don’t come alone very often. Everything about it was just right. Scarily perfect even! Brooke and her sister and three cousins are amazing women, each unique in her ways despite their similar appearance (two of the cousins are even twins!). They live in reduced circumstances and make the best of a difficult situation. Strong. Determined. Clever. Simply inspiring!
Heath, on the other hand, was a bit of an “arse” in the beginning. He thinks only of himself and seeks the easiest and fastest way to rid himself of the girls’ dairy farm he happened to win in a wager…at least until he meets Brooke. Sparks fly immediately, and over the course of a week (a very intensive week!), they slowly get to know one another and start to care for the other (for both, this is most inconvenient!). The way their relationship grows is incredibly sweet…and oh so hilarious! Loved the scene when old Freddy (what kind of a dog was he again?) tried to herd the cattle back into the barn! A wonderful start to a strong series! Can’t wait to start on the next one!
I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it for an entertaining read.
A most entertaining book! Would make a great beach read–laugh out loud funny and poignant. You really feel for Brooke and her sisters predicament. Then along comes a dashing hero who somewhat reluctantly and hilariously must come to their rescue. Loved it!
Delightful, Entertaining & Romantic
An Absolutely Wonderful & Delightful Story.
This Story had me angry, laughing & happy.
5 ladies who were sisters & cousins trying with some servants & help to run a dairy farm. Lord Ravensdale who won the farm in a card game was dead set on evicting the tenants & selling the land. Until he meets the 5 beautiful ladies.
Brooke Culpepper has been on the brink for the last five years. Trying to raise her sister and cousins and keep her dairy farm afloat. When a letter arrives telling her that her cousin has sold the farm. Trying to come up with a plan when the new owner shows up in her doorstep.
Heath the Earl of Ravensdale hates the country and now he is the new owner of a dairy farm. Planning on meeting with the tenants and informing them he is selling the property is his plan until he meets Brooke Culpepper. Taking in his surroundings he realizes the Culpepper women are barely surviving on what they make and now he is the one who will sell their home and take their livelihood from them.
This was such a fun story to read! I loved how Brooke handles the Earl and underneath that arrogance is a man with feelings! Just a well written story with characters that you can love!
I thought this was a wonderful story – all about love in all its aspects. Brooke, is the guardian of her sister and 3 cousins. They barely survive after the death of her father 5 years ago, but they are all together. Brooke is trying to run a dairy farm while the rest of the girls (and some loyal servants) take on whatever they can – sewing, music lessons, laundry – to survive. But then their guardian who they never met loses the farm in a card game. Heath, the Earl of Ravensdale, rides to his new farm with the thought of selling it quick. He is struck dumb by the beauty of all 5 young women, especially Brooke. What follows is a funny and sad adventure which teaches both Heath (who has never known love in his life, in spite of his material wealth) and Brooke (who has known love and loyalty from the cradle, but never financial security) that their attraction goes far beyond superficial beauty and wealth! Wonderfully romantic and happy-ever-after!
Well written, great story.
If you like recency romances, this is a charming example of the genre. I got teary during the consummation scene.
I love romantic novels and I definitely enjoyed this one.
Enjoyed this book very much, loveable characters
Really enjoyed this book!!!
Good story and great charactors!!!!
Despite the bet trope used many times, I found this book funny and refreshing. There were moments when I could feel Brooke’s despair at the situation she and her family were as well as the moments when Heath behaved like an arrogant boor but at the same time this book showed familial bonds and how they can soothe and comfort in times of trouble.
Heath having grown up in a cold household with distant parents has no desire for comfort nor belief in love and devotion. He is sarcastic and egotistical in the beginning. He like all the characters in the book at times is hilarious. The subsequent events that span barely 8 days change him profoundly when he sees what a caring family looks like and sees what he has become. He lets Brooke into his heart.
Brooke is the head of the Culpepper family. Everybody depends on her. She is strong, smart and is not afraid of hardships. But when their family home is lost in a game of cards, and the new owner shows up on their doorstep – the gloves are off. She will do anything to keep her family safe. And thus starts the unwitting and at times unpolished ‘courtship’ masquerading as a bet to win Brooke and deal with the parcel of unexpected relations.
Even though the mutual feelings developed quickly, I liked that both MCs questioned their own feelings and that of each other. They talked to their friends, sought advice. It was still relationship in progress but with the understanding that feelings ran deep between Heath and Brooke.
And the book was so funny. The Culpepper family is full of stubbornness, sass and sharp wit. Those girls are cheeky, brave and full of surprises. This was low heat romance but so well-written, I couldn’t stop reading till I finished. This book was a very good find today! I recommend it!
What an absolutely wonderful beginning for a series. This story is about Brooke Culpepper and Heath, Earl of Ravensdale. Brooke, the oldest Culpepper, has run herself ragged (really) handling the family farm and dairy business. Heath has won the farm acreage from the Culpepper’s sleazy cousin and has come to collect (and then sell) his winnings. He is not greeted with joy. In fact, five beautiful Misses Culpepper and their retainers do not make him feel welcome at all. There is a spark between Heath and Brooke that might develop into something good. It doesn’t look good, especially when his solution to their situations is to make Brooke his mistress. He doesn’t score points with anyone, including his own friends, for that one. Brooke is devastated; everyone else is furious with him.
The main characters in this story couldn’t be less alike. Heath is a devil-may-care confirmed bachelor. He just wants to take advantage of a business opportunity. Brooke, the whole Culpepper household, is strong, kindhearted, caring, and determined, in fact desperate, to do what is best for those she cares for. These opposites don’t attract; they collide. The four Culpepper girls stick together and support each other and Brooke. The little peaks at their personalities whet the appetite for each of their stories. Leventhorpe and Hawksworth add some humor and provide advice and support for Heath (and Brooke). The mumbling protective retainers, Mabry and Duffen, and Freddy, the ancient Corgi, round out a fantastic group of characters. The story is interesting and entertaining. It doesn’t feel like a love story at first, but it gets there. I enjoyed and recommend this one and look forward to the other stories in this series.
Stevie Zimmerman turns in her usual talented performance. She does such a good job with different voices. She makes the gentlemen sound haughty and arrogant, the girls sweet and sassy. She also has a pretty good mumble.
It was absolutely charming. Brooke and the Earl were great together. After the awkward first meeting and the nature of the call. The book built until the two worked themselves into a wager. It’s outcome is most refreshing. Do read the book. It’s worth your time and very good.
Worthy of 4 1/2 Stars. This is a great start to what I hope will continue to be an enjoyable series to read. Great characters, dialogue, romance, humor. Look forward to reading next in series.
Loved this book and series
Sweet story line with a great deal of humor and charm. Easy and quick read if you are looking for a stand-alone story this is a good book. However, the characters not engaging enough to make me want to read more books of the same series.
Good story line. Too repetitive detailing what everone was thinking.
The Dirty Parts of the Bible was a joy to read. The title is deceiving because the book has little to do with the Bible. I laughed myself silly. Almost every sentence was a hoot. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a fun book to get away from the problems and worries of the day, just escape from reality for a little while.
I really enjoyed this book, the charectors were interesting and entertaining. It was a little different from other romance stories. I enjoyed it so much I read the next one in the series and am getting ready to start the third. I especially loved the dog, good writing.