Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Romps & Rakehells #1

Capturing Cora

Rate this book
Branwell “Tinker” Locke believes in grand gestures . However, when his marriage proposal to Miss Cora Reeve is dismissed as a jape, Bran has to find another way to persuade Cora of his utmost sincerity, even if it means using his tongue for something other than pretty words.

Cora believes Bran is simply set upon helping her win a wager , even though she longs for his love. In order to convince him that she really does want him, Cora will have to bare not just her heart and emotions, but all she has. Including things a lady should never give without a promise of forever…

Kindle Edition

First published April 27, 2012

18 people are currently reading
269 people want to read

About the author

Madelynne Ellis

79 books403 followers
Madelynne Ellis is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of over 50 erotic romance novels.

Madelynne lives in the UK, not far from the Welsh border with her partner, family, & assorted pets. She is currently sipping rapidly cooling decaf coffee, listening to loud music, & indulging her obsession for tattooed bad boys.

Amazon
Facebook
Readers Group

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
36 (20%)
4 stars
45 (26%)
3 stars
57 (32%)
2 stars
24 (13%)
1 star
11 (6%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
Profile Image for Monica Cullip.
314 reviews9 followers
September 10, 2014
Capturing Cora

Madelynne Ellis

This story was gifted to me in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the cover, I liked the story concept and I love a good historical romance so I was hooked at reading the blurb. I knew it was going to be a quick read as it only has seventy pages. I am happy to say that is packs a punch in those pages and does not disappoint.

Miss Cora Reeve is talking with five other young ladies as they all search for husbands and they wager a little bet to see who can become betrothed the quickest. Cora has always had her eye on her best friend Branwell Locke but she knows that he only sees her as a childhood friend so she feels that she is in no danger of winning the wager.

When Branwell proposes to her in a room full of people she assumes that he is fooling around and runs out of the room thoroughly embarrassed. The only problem is that Bran has suddenly seen Cora in a new light and he is serious. So much so that he chases after her to try to convince her.

What follows is a lighthearted love story as Bran tries to convince Cora of his love. She is a tough one to crack though. I loved reading about how innocent she is and her introduction into kissing and what comes next. It was a delight to read. I would rate this story a 4/5.
Profile Image for Farrah.
1,248 reviews210 followers
August 9, 2014
A quick, little, delight of a read, Capturing Cora was a lovely historical romance novella. It was a sweet, light read that I liked-a great way to pass the time.

Cora and Bran were both great. Cora had a mind of her own and, though she loved Bran, she only wanted him if she knew for sure that he loved her, too. Bran was adorable. He was determined to prove to Cora that he had meant his marriage proposal and he was wonderfully charming. I really liked them both.

The romance was sweet. Cora and Bran were already in love with each other. It was only a matter of making their feelings know. And the definitely had some chemistry and were unabashed about exploring it. I thought they were wonderful together.

The plot was quick and I was fully engaged the entire way through. I really liked the story and the ending was lovely.

Capturing Cora was a lovely little novella. I really liked this quick read. Romance lovers, if you want a light book to pass the time, then you'll definitely want to check this one out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Jessica Alcazar.
4,390 reviews620 followers
October 30, 2014
Let me tell you how much FUN I had reading this story, in a nutshell of course because I never give away plots in my reviews....
Ok, so we have Cora and Bran as childhood friends who develop feelings. We hace Cora making a bet with her girlfriends on who can get engaged first. Bran proposes to to Cora and she says no cuz she thinks he's only doing it cuz of the wager .... cue LMAO @ both of them! So kudos to Madelynne Ellis for coming up with a plot that was going to humor me into NOT putting the book down and just keep reading till the weeeeee hours of the night!!!!!
This story has just about everything you could ask for. It's got humor and fun, great characters that you can relate to and have a good laugh at and yet feel bad for. HOT, and I mean steamy HOT persuasion from our hero that he really DOES care ..... you get the picture.
This is a really quick fun steamy read. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

COPY provided by Netgally & CrushStar Multimedia LLC in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Simply Love Book Reviews.
7,046 reviews869 followers
July 18, 2012
Shadow's review posted on Guilty Pleasures

Capturing Cora is a short story-in fact more of a vignette set in Regency England, where proper young ladies are always chaperoned. However, love will find a way.

Cora has discovered she loves her childhood friend, Bran, but thinks he feels toward her like a little sister. When he discovers she has wagered among her friends as to who would be the first to become engaged, he loudly asks her to marry him. Thinking he is joking, she turns him down.

His efforts to convince her he is serious and her efforts to learn more about male anatomy make up the rest of the book.

Although I generally love Regency romances, this one fell short of satisfaction. It felt more like the bare bones of a longer novel rather than a short story and the characters were not as compelling as I would have liked. I just wanted more of the story than was here.
Profile Image for Amanda Richardson.
991 reviews10 followers
August 7, 2014
I liked this story, it is a short novella, but I enjoyed reading about Cora and Bran. Cora wants to wager among her friends about who will be engaged first. She is in love with Bran, but she doesn't think Bran sees her the same way. When Bran learns about the wager, he proposes. Cora declines, loudly, because she thinks he is only being silly and doesn't really want to marry her.

Bran really does want to marry her, and decides he has to find a way to show her that he loves her. Romance and love scenes in this are pretty steamy. Good, fun reading!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Blondie.
267 reviews30 followers
June 7, 2022
Capturing Cora is a fun historical romance. The characters are easy to like in this short story. Cora is a mischievous young woman who has fallen in love with her best friend of coarse Bran loves her back. Bran is the funny guy that brought Cora along on his childhood romps he has fallen in love but is waiting for the right time to tell her.

Capturing Cora is a great short romance for those who like their historical romances a bit spicy :) Great for a quick afternoon read.

The audible is done by google and it is not at all mechanical and has a very pleasant sound, however it does not do well between male and female voices. so it can be a bit confusing until you get used to it.
Profile Image for Sharon Moritz-rosenthal.
2,269 reviews29 followers
August 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book, however I wish it was longer. I do look forward to more books in the series.
Cora and Bran have loved each other a long time and Cora sets a wager up and Bran proposes. They don't know they are in love with each other and so this story is about them figuring that out.

It was a good story, just too short and I would have liked maybe a little more storyline to the story.
Profile Image for Tammy.
9,118 reviews51 followers
August 21, 2014
This was a quick read that was sexy and a lot of fun. Two friends are in love with each other but neither has a clue how the other feels about them. Cora makes a bet with her friends about who will marry first and her friend Bran is more than willing to assist her in winning the bet. This story is funny, and very sexy. Bran and Cora have a wonderful chemistry together and the story was entertaining. My only issue is I wanted more, however I did enjoy it regardless. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Kristi Simonsen.
123 reviews
May 2, 2015
Definitely enjoyed this historical romance and can't wait to read more in this series. This was my first read from Madelynne and I will definitely be reading more. A great story, wonderful characters and steamy encounters - you can't go wrong!
Profile Image for Julie.
138 reviews14 followers
August 25, 2015
Couldn't put it down, had to read it in one session, just not long enough.
Profile Image for Jessica.
21 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2014
Rating: 3.5/5

Branwell “Tinker” Locke believes in grand gestures. However, when his marriage proposal to Miss Cora Reeve is dismissed as a jape, Bran has to find another way to persuade Cora of his utmost sincerity, even if it means using his tongue for something other than pretty words.

Cora believes Bran is simply set upon helping her win a wager, even though she longs for his love. In order to convince him that she really does want him, Cora will have to bare not just her heart and emotions, but all she has. Including things a lady should never give without a promise of forever…


Bran and Cora have been friends since childhood, and each secretly pines for the other. When Cora and her friends wager on who can secure a proposal first, Bran overhears and thinks it will be a good opportunity to help Cora win, especially since he actually wants to marry her anyways. Cora is upset by Bran’s first attempt at a marriage proposal because she does not think it sincere.

“She longed for the summer days they’d spent scrambling over hills and wading through brooks, and how they might live those days over as lovers if only he felt the same way.”

Soon after, Bran corners Cora privately and convinces her to hear him out. From then on all bets are off as the couple takes their friendship to a whole new level.

”’I want you, Cora Reeve. I want to do wicked things to you that will make more than this faint heat colour your cheeks…and maybe once I’ve made you sob with bliss you’ll finally take me seriously.’”

This is a short story that was quite entertaining and centers on the friends-to-lovers theme. With the story being so short, there's not much time to delve into the characters' personal histories, but I feel that more detail about Cora and Bran’s past relationship would have made me feel more connected. This story is a historical, and I believe the author made a great attempt to make the setting and dialogue true to the time. With that being said, the dialogue was almost too well thought out - to the point that it seemed more humorous than appropriate at times. Nonetheless, this story was a quick, fun, sexy read, and I don't think that these minor shortcomings should be taken too seriously. I would be interested in following up with other books in this series.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Book Gremlin Reads .
577 reviews45 followers
May 18, 2012
May have slight spoilers.

In author Madelynne Ellis’s first Romps & Rakehells novella we meet quite a few characters namely our two main characters, Branwell “Tinker” Locke and Miss Cora Reeve.

They have been friends since childhood but now their feelings for each other are a little bit different. Cora longs for Bran to like her as more than just a friend but after a wager with her friends and Bran proposing marriage to her in a very flamboyant fashion she is hurt, thinking he was just kidding around.

Bran was not kidding around; he has long since realized he loved Cora and just did not admit it, but he knows she is the only woman for him. But after the first attempt and her refusal he knows he will have to think of something to let her know he was being serious about his proposal.

For a short novella you really get a feel of both characters past together and not to mention there was a good portion of erotic scenes. ;)

I really liked this it was short, sexy, fun read and I look forward to the next novella in the series.

I would recommend this novella to anyone who likes a good and quick erotic historical read.

*I received a hardcover/paperback/eBook copy/ARC of this book for free to review from the author/publisher; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.
Profile Image for MissyGirl.
215 reviews55 followers
September 9, 2012
Cora makes a bet with her friends to see which one of them will get engaged first. She tells Bran, her friend who she has always had a crush on, about the bet, and he then proposes to her. So, of course, she believes he is joking. Now Bran has to find a way to prove that he really does love Cora, and the proposal was real.

Unfortunately, I didn't connect with the characters in this book. Capturing Cora was my least favorite in the series. The (historical) language was a bit over the top, and the sex scenes didn't really have their intended effect, as they were more funny to me than erotic. I would suggest reading the other two books in this series, and skipping this one.


Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Rhiannon Overby.
747 reviews21 followers
August 23, 2014
Capturing Cora is a short historical fiction novella. This book can easily be read in one sitting and was quite enjoyable.

Cora and Bran are childhood friends who have fallen in love with each other. When Bran makes a grand marriage proposal after a bet in mentioned, Cora believes that he is only making a joke of the situation. Bran much now convince Cora that he meant every word of his proposal and get her to accept.

This novella is based in a period of time when chaperones were a must for young ladies. Therefore Cora has little knowledge of sex so the erotic scenes in this novella are representative of a woman who is exploring not only an mans body but her own, for the first time.

* I received a copy if this book in exchange for my honest opinions*
Profile Image for Maria .
2,481 reviews23 followers
August 8, 2014
This was really too short for me to enjoy.

In this short novella Cora Reeve is in love with her childhood friend Branwell. She has a bet with her friends as to who willbe engaged first. He hears this and proposes to her. Cora thinks Bran is joking, therefore she turns him down in front of everyone. Bran just knows he has to convince her that he i truly sincere in his proposal. He wants her for his wife.

An opportune game of hide and seek presents itself. Bran turns up the heat in order to demonstrate to Cora what she makes him feel. Cora is momentarily stunned with Bran's demonstration of his true affections. Will he be able to convince her of his sincerity?

If really short novellas are what you prefer then this might be for you. Unfortunately, it is not for me.
Profile Image for Sylvia.
323 reviews42 followers
August 25, 2014
Miss Cora Reeve suggested a friendly wager to see who will get the first marriage offer among the six friends. This the perfect setup for the Romps & Rakehells series. This short novella focusing on Branwell Locke and Cora Reeve. Cora grew up with her best friend, Harriet and her brother, Bran. Bran is a constant in Cora’s life. He is her ideal for a perfect husband. He does not know how she feels about him. When he proposes in a dramatic way, she does not take him seriously. It is very interesting how he does convince her of his affections. I can’t wait for their story to continue and see who will win the wager. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley for an honest review. Book One of the Romps & Rakehells series.
Profile Image for Esther .
955 reviews197 followers
August 10, 2014
It was an okay read.

Cora and Bran childhood friends . But Cora has been feeling more for Bran lately and she is very much more aware of him physically. Cora has has improper thoughts about Bran and things they can do together.

Well a group of her friends and her make a wager on who will become married first. Bran is made aware of the wager and also is in Love with Cora. So he offers marriage she thinks he's teasing. Bran than goes about convincing her he's serious and proceeds by showing her. Physical pleasure.

This book was too short and did not do justice to making the characters like able . Also everything seemed mechanical and routine in the pleasure department. Very bland.

Netgalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tamra LeValley.
945 reviews23 followers
August 28, 2014
GoodReads Free Book

Historical Romance.

A wager has been made and the winner gets a gifts. The popular gifts of the ton have decided that the girl to get a proposal wins the prize. Now the heat is on. Cora is in love with and has always been in love with her childhood friend Bran. When he does propose she thinks he is teasing her because of the bet and becomes too hurt to be with him again. She just wants to escape but Bran has to find her and make her understand the he truly loves her.

This was just too short to get the full effect of what the plot was trying to do. I was dissapointed in how stunted each scene was due to this. I could not really see what each character looked like or understand their personalities.

Profile Image for Daisy Sloan.
776 reviews115 followers
September 19, 2012
This was an enjoyable Georgian era short story. It was lots of fun to read, friends falling in love and having wild sex!

Cora and Bran grew up together. Cora fell in love with Bran not realizing he had fallen in love with her as well. When he did finally propose, she didn't think he was serious and turned him down. Now he has to prove he was serious. I REALLY liked how he proved he was serious.

I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series. I like quick reads that have an HEA!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jennifer Tabler.
66 reviews19 followers
August 9, 2014
I received this on Net gallery in exchange for an honest review! Cora and Bran have known each other forever and Cora has loved Bran about that long. Bran is finding out that he to is in love with Cora and is going to make her his. Cora is somewhat of a tomboy and is very innocent. Cora knows nothing about sex but Bran is more than happy to teach her all she needs to know. I really enjoyed this book but I wish it was longer. Hopefully in the books to come we will hear more about these two lives together.
Profile Image for Cindy.
1,159 reviews19 followers
September 9, 2012
Fun and flirty quick read for a historical romance. I always enjoy outspoken, independent thinking heroines in historical fiction and Cora certainly is that. Who else would suggest a wager to be the first to snare a husband so that they don’t have to endure the cattle call of a Season – that would be Cora. And Cora is lucky enough that the man she’s set her sights on – childhood friend Bran – is also looking to take Cora for his wife. A steamy encounter in a cupboard seals the deal.
180 reviews2 followers
August 8, 2014
If the idea of leaving the reader wanting more was the goal here, mission accomplished. This is less a short story, than a snippet from an important day in the featured couple’s life together. Interesting, engaging, sweet, and sexy, I would absolutely love to see this turned into an actual novel.

For the sake of full disclosure it must be stated that I received this book, free of charge, from Netgalley.
Profile Image for Brittany.
3,502 reviews27 followers
August 9, 2014
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. First thing I did not like in the first paragraph we get over six characters no plot, no nothing. We are literally thrown into a party with no clues as to what is going on. Other than a few good romps it just was not a full story that I needed.
Profile Image for Linda.
2,042 reviews64 followers
August 15, 2014
While on a weekend getaway in the country with friends and family, Bran finally finds the courage to tell Cora what he wants.
Cora´s been wanting Bran since forever and can´t believe it when it finally happens. Will Bran make her see the truth in his words?
Quick read, regency romance and smutty fluff in a sweet read.
3,5 Stars
ARC is provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Profile Image for Corie .
336 reviews10 followers
August 18, 2014
I have such a soft spot for Historical and this cover is gorgeous. I really liked how even though this is short ( a little to short for me even for a novella) I really felt the history and connections with the characters. I love how well phrased the characters were, and also the authenticated way they spoke. Very solid read.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,227 reviews12 followers
August 19, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't usually read historic books, however I a m so glad I read this one. The characters were great and the historical aspect added to the fun. Only complaint is I wish it were longer, I want more of Cora and Bran. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Arshia.
370 reviews23 followers
August 7, 2014
It's a novella, short and sweet, however nothing erotic about it. I think it's supposed to give a taste of the author's writing style and story telling. But the taste isn't so great that I'll look forward to the rest of the stories.
Profile Image for Sally Hannoush.
1,882 reviews27 followers
August 18, 2014
I like the side romance in the middle of the house party. I think it would be fun to see the other characters in their own little house party stories and if/how they meet their match. It took a bet for childhood friends to confront marriage. Cute story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.