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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A little different from the stereotypical romance—in a good way. Enjoyable story.
I enjoyed this book!
I love this series & love Collette Cameron’s style of writing! The book is so full of humor & love that you feel as though you are part of the family! I highly recommned this historical romance novel!
Nice reading.
Wasn’t the same story you read over and over. I enjoyed the characters and storyline immensely. I actually read the whole series in one weekend! Loved it!! Will look for this author’s work again.
Brooke is the first book in a series. The story was interesting and moved along, but it really was. Formula romance book. Stil, light fun reading!
I enjoyed reading this book. The main character was strong, quick witted and funny. I like a book that will make me laugh out loud. It was also a quick read.
Can’t wait to read the stories of the other four sisters and cousins.
It was a great story with wonderful characters filled with strong backbones, love, and enduring friendships. Please do not miss this delightful read.
Was a great book. Enjoyed the characters.
I loved the characters. I am reading my way through all the sister and cousins. Thoroughly enjoying the books I have read.
This is my first book from this author. I really like the story and characters. I only gave a three star rating as I wanted so much more. The plot was perfect and made the story unique and exciting. My disappointment is lack of story in areas of the romance, details about the other girls… More interaction amongst the characters and lastly… So much time was written about the poverty state of the property and the malnutrition of the family… It would have been exciting to read about the transformation of the house and all of the girls. Just as much as it would have been great to read about the reaction of many seeing them for the first time as proper ladies.
They is so much opportunities with these gems. I will buy the series and I truly hope the author gives the other girls more in their stories. I would also like to hear how this couple Marie’s as heads of households….
So it’s a three star with encouragement…
Excellent! Ready for the next Culpepper Miss( adventure!)
4 stars
I purchased copy of The Culpepper Misses Series books 1-5: book 1 The Earl and the Spinster: Brooke and by Collette Cameron and this review was given freely.
A thoroughly enjoyable story of hardship and instant attraction reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice mixed with Cinderella but with a few twists and turns combined with some unforeseen events leading to heartache, injury and finally love. Brooke Culpepper struggles to provide for her sister, three cousins and staff at the failing Esherton Green dairy farm while sending half the profits to the estates legal heir her second cousin Sheridan Gainsborough. When Heath the Earl of Ravensdale wins the farm from Sheridan in a game of cards, he seeks to evict the girls but an instant attraction, a strong mined Brooke, a protective employee, and a bet change his mind.
It was a little predictable, but otherwise an entertaining light read. I skipped over some of the character’s internal dialog as it became a bit much at times. A tad bit more rounding out the characters (and eliminating the appearance of cousin Sheridan towards the end….he was completely unnecessary) would have been nice, along with a bit better editing. I will consider the next in the series if I can find it on sale
Very good story & characters. Great romance with the HEA. Fairly clean story with just 1 bedroom scene after they marry. I enjoyed this book.
I think this is a book to like, not love. It’s interesting, but it’s not a great love story. It’s okay.
Slow and predictable. Sweet story but it’s been done before.
Just awful!! Where was the dialogue? Everyone has a thought, but this was ridiculous I just flipped through page after page still no dialogue. All the women are gloriously beautiful (the 5 B’s) I called them. Meanwhile the servants are old. The young servant woman has mental issues with a deformity. I would not recommend this book, but some readers might enjoy this writing style.
Happy ever after. Like many romances the premise stretches the imagination but still a fun read.