Cold-hearted rake? This man was literally a giant teddy bear, puh-lease. Honestly I don’t know if it’s my PMS talking or just the book itself, but this book made me violently sob the ugliest happy, fluff tears.

Cold-Hearted Rake is a very lighthearted historical romance, primarily following our heroine Kathleen who’s Earl husband Theo, of 3 days has just died. Following his death, his cousin, Devon, inherits Theo’s rundown estate, and all the issues, debt, and unexpected new family members that come with it. Theo not only left behind his wife, Kathleen, but also his 3 younger sisters, Helen, Cassandra, and Pandora. Devon and his brother West, wants to sell the estate, and forget about the Earldom completely, but Kathleen has other ideas. With more pushing from Kathleen, Devon decides to fix up the estate, and help his acquired family find suitable matches. Both Kathleen and Wes are determined not to fall in love with each other, but obviously that doesn’t work out.

This is my second Kleypas novel (my first being Someone to Watch Over Me, a bow street runner amnesia historical romance), and it will certainly not be my last Kleypas. Devon as a hero was so fucking sweet, both to his cousins, and Kathleen. I was literally melting for him the entire time. His nicknames for Kathleen, oh my god. Love, sweetheart, Angel. Why can’t this man be real???

And both the primary and secondary romances were absolute top notch. Devon and Kathleen had the best chemistry and their banter was so fun. Kathleen was set on the family being properly in mourning for Theo, and in comes in Theo’s rake cousin Devon who shakes the whole house awake. Their back in forth was so delightful, and I just adored them together. The secondary romance was so fucking sweet as well. Helen and Devon’s friend, Rhys Winterbourne, have a small romance in here and they were absolutely beautiful to read about. Helen is a very shy and sweet MC, and Winterbourne is a (historical) billionaire with an alphahole personality. But the way he treated her. I’m literally swooning thinking about it, they were so so cute.

I loved this book so much, I can’t even believe it. This might be my favorite historical I’ve ever read. The relationships, the family dynamics, the humor, and Kleypas’s prose. It might have just all been fluff, but I don’t care. I’m so excited to read Marrying Winterbourne, I can’t wait for Helen and Rhys to get their HEA. Ok, going to go fangirl some more <33

Cold Hearted Rake: ★★★★★