Finding Love At Happiness Cottage: The Colwood Series Book 1

by Anne Stormont

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2026

About the author

Anne writes contemporary fiction where her all-too-human characters face up to challenges that involve love, loss and some of life's biggest questions. Her novels are available in bookshops and online.
She blogs at http://putitinwriting.me and her website is at http:// www.annestormont.co.uk .
She describes herself as a subversive old bat, but she does try to maintain a kind heart.
When not writing, she enjoys gardening, hiking and riding pillion on her husband's motor-bike. She enjoys travelling and has visited every continent except Antarctica.
She believes – indeed she knows from personal experience – that there is life after fifty and she writes thoughtful, grown-up novels where the main characters are sometimes older but definitely no wiser.
Anne also writes children's fiction under her other name Anne McAlpine.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that Lori Maxwell has had a difficult year is putting it mildly. Given a sabbatical from her career as a rural land management consultant in Australia, she decides to spend some time in Scotland where she was born, to try to find out more about her Scottish family. She rents a cottage on the very farm where her grandfather had worked as a shepherd and where her mother had lived. Her first meeting with Aidan Thomson, whose family now own the farm, wasn’t exactly a success as her car is blocking the road when he is trying to get to an appointment. Ah, grumpy-sunshine – one of my favourite kinds of romance!

After that rocky start, Aidan and Lori get to know each other better, particularly when she begins to do some voluntary work on the farm. They are drawn to each other but try to resist and just be friends, especially given Lori is only going to be there for a short while. They were both so wary of committing to a relationship, having had experiences in the past that make them hesitant to let a relationship grow deeper. At times it was quite frustrating that they wouldn’t just talk to each other and admit what they were feeling! I could understand though that they didn’t want to jeopardise their friendly, working relationship.

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot but will say it’s not just romantic love which blossoms at Happiness Cottage, which is well named. There’s another very touching strand of the story which was rather emotional to read about and so sensitively written.

I feel I’ve got to know Colwood and its residents quite well. I’m glad this is the start of a series as there are other characters whose stories I’d like to see explored. Finding Love at Happiness Cottage is another lovely, uplifting romance from Anne Stormont and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Anne Stormont has written another heartwarming, tender and emotional story. I loved it and all the delightful characters. Lori and Aiden are such a lovely couple and deserved their happy ever after, though at times I wanted to knock their heads together. And young Ava was a delight. I could imagine myself sitting at the kitchen table in the warm kitchen at Lealside Farm enjoying Marion’s cooking and listening to the conversations. It’s a book I highly recommend and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Margaret Amatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. There was so much to enjoy about it - the community, the fun, and of course the characters!

There were some really cool characters in the story. Lori was my favourite - she was sparky, a little bit alternative, and she had a whole lot of issues to overcome.

I'm looking forward to more books in the series - and dare I ask, will Lucas have a story? He was an intriguing side character.

A great story for anyone who enjoys cosy romances!