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Her Brooding Scottish Heir
A kiss under the Northern Lights… Running from her broken engagement artist Milla O’Brien retreats to the Scottish Highlands. Only to arrive during a lavish wedding on the estate! She finds the bride’s brother and brooding heir, Cormac Buchanan. Could they heal each other’s hearts?
- GenresRomance
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 27, 2018
About the author
Ella Hayes
57 books23 followersElla Hayes won the Prima Magazine/Mills & Boon Love to Write competition in 2017 and published her Mills & Boon debut, Her Brooding Scottish Heir in December 2018.
She holds a Master of Letters degree in Writing Practice & Study from Dundee University where she also won the Gavin Wallace Memorial Prize.
She lives in Scotland where she has worked as a professional photographer for many years. Before that she was a television camerawoman.
She is married and has two sons.
Ella Hayes is a pen name.
She holds a Master of Letters degree in Writing Practice & Study from Dundee University where she also won the Gavin Wallace Memorial Prize.
She lives in Scotland where she has worked as a professional photographer for many years. Before that she was a television camerawoman.
She is married and has two sons.
Ella Hayes is a pen name.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 21, 2018
I can see why Ella Hayes is the winner of the Prima Love To Write Competition. I loved this story, it has a true life fact that makes you adapt to the story. Just like most of us at some point in our lives we have all been there when a boyfriend that has dumped us. so you would be like me hoping that Milla O'Brien who's boyfriend Dan had broken up with her, wants her to meet another man. Artists Milla leaves London for Scotland, for a break with her sketchbook as she needs scenery and grand views. But after she has had her heart broken, Milla has no interest in falling in love with anyone else ever again, however she does meet Cormac Buchanan, but will anything happen for them? Or will Dan enter Milla's life again?
December 17, 2018
An amusing, poignant, romantic tale of Milla and Cormac, who meet in the Scottish Highlands.
Milla still grieving for the loss of her mother when she was younger, has her world decimated when her fiance betrays her. Cormac, a soldier and heir to a Scottish estate, is grieving and guilt-ridden about the death of his boyhood friend in war-torn Afghanistan.
Milla's escape to the Highlands turns out to be complicated when she finds herself in the middle of a society wedding, her worst nightmare. Home for Cormac is no longer a place of sanctuary the memories are too painful, but it's his sister's big day and he has to be there.
The attraction between the artist and the soldier is sizzling, although it takes a while for them to acknowledge it, given their fragile emotional states. There is conflict from their first meeting but somewhere deep inside they want to be happy again but do they deserve it and are they brave enough to trust again?
The subsidiary characters are charming and add to the story. without detracting from the main characters' storyline. Written in a contemporary style, it is a quick read and the characters easy to empathise. Romantic but realistic and true to the genre.
Apart from the title, I enjoyed everything about this romantic novel. Given the contemporary storyline and writing style, the title seems outdated and not representative of the content.
An exciting new voice in Mills and Boon's 'True Love' category romance.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review,
Milla still grieving for the loss of her mother when she was younger, has her world decimated when her fiance betrays her. Cormac, a soldier and heir to a Scottish estate, is grieving and guilt-ridden about the death of his boyhood friend in war-torn Afghanistan.
Milla's escape to the Highlands turns out to be complicated when she finds herself in the middle of a society wedding, her worst nightmare. Home for Cormac is no longer a place of sanctuary the memories are too painful, but it's his sister's big day and he has to be there.
The attraction between the artist and the soldier is sizzling, although it takes a while for them to acknowledge it, given their fragile emotional states. There is conflict from their first meeting but somewhere deep inside they want to be happy again but do they deserve it and are they brave enough to trust again?
The subsidiary characters are charming and add to the story. without detracting from the main characters' storyline. Written in a contemporary style, it is a quick read and the characters easy to empathise. Romantic but realistic and true to the genre.
Apart from the title, I enjoyed everything about this romantic novel. Given the contemporary storyline and writing style, the title seems outdated and not representative of the content.
An exciting new voice in Mills and Boon's 'True Love' category romance.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review,
December 26, 2018
Her brooding Scottish heir was a fun, light read and I did enjoy reading it, although I did have some issues with it, mainly stemming from the plot, lack of character development and pacing issues.
At the heart of a romance novel, for me, it's the two main characters so it's very important for me to get to know them, love them and understand their motivations, goals and background story. In this novel, I felt that I did not get to know the main characters as much as I would've wanted to, we get to know why they are the way they are, but everything seems to be linked only in terms of the romance, rather than them as a person on their own right. The main female character was slightly annoying on a lot of occasions when she was offered help, but for the sake of the plot, she was being more difficult than it was called for. I do not like it when I can see the plot creeping into what the characters say or do as it has to serve a purpose - hate that.
The plot was convenient and simplistic, "forcing" the romance the romance between the two main characters most of the time. There were also some pacing issues in there as well; for example, the "dark moment" when all is lost and no turning back was resolved in 2 pages and rushed to a happy ending that felt so unrealistic I wanted to scream. I could forgive a lot more, but I was very disappointed with the climax and resolution of this story.
I gave it 2.5 stars
At the heart of a romance novel, for me, it's the two main characters so it's very important for me to get to know them, love them and understand their motivations, goals and background story. In this novel, I felt that I did not get to know the main characters as much as I would've wanted to, we get to know why they are the way they are, but everything seems to be linked only in terms of the romance, rather than them as a person on their own right. The main female character was slightly annoying on a lot of occasions when she was offered help, but for the sake of the plot, she was being more difficult than it was called for. I do not like it when I can see the plot creeping into what the characters say or do as it has to serve a purpose - hate that.
The plot was convenient and simplistic, "forcing" the romance the romance between the two main characters most of the time. There were also some pacing issues in there as well; for example, the "dark moment" when all is lost and no turning back was resolved in 2 pages and rushed to a happy ending that felt so unrealistic I wanted to scream. I could forgive a lot more, but I was very disappointed with the climax and resolution of this story.
I gave it 2.5 stars
December 25, 2018
Camilla O’ Brien is an artist from Ireland who is struggling to complete her final degree portfolio after her fiancé broke off their engagement. One of her tutors suggested she travelled to stay in an isolated artist’s retreat in the grounds of Calcarron House. En route she has a puncture and a brooding man comes to her aid. That man is Cormac Bucchanan, the heir to the estate where she’s staying. He’s so sad and seemingly distant from everyone around him but the attraction between the two is still strong. Can she risk being hurt again by this withdrawn soldier? Can he learn to live and love again without feeling guilty for doing so?
This is an emotive story of two people scarred by their own experiences reluctant to expose themselves to the danger of being hurt again. It is a moving story and a delightful contemporary romance that I enjoyed escaping into and have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this review is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
This is an emotive story of two people scarred by their own experiences reluctant to expose themselves to the danger of being hurt again. It is a moving story and a delightful contemporary romance that I enjoyed escaping into and have no hesitation in highly recommending to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this review is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.
December 27, 2018
Loved Milla and Cormac's story. Both our heroine and hero are emotionally scarred. Milla was engaged to be married, until her left her for another woman. Cormac watched his best friend die. Can these two open up to each other?
Milla has come to Scotland, in desperate need of a place to lick her wounds and work on her art , in time for a planned exhibition. The last thing she needs is a wedding in her face. Cormac has come home for his sisters wedding. He is a shell of the man he once was, blaming himself for his best friends death. The chemistry between them is sizzling, even though they fight it, letting ghosts from their past get in the way. A very enjoyable contemporary romance.
ARC received from net galley, in exchange for a honest review.
Milla has come to Scotland, in desperate need of a place to lick her wounds and work on her art , in time for a planned exhibition. The last thing she needs is a wedding in her face. Cormac has come home for his sisters wedding. He is a shell of the man he once was, blaming himself for his best friends death. The chemistry between them is sizzling, even though they fight it, letting ghosts from their past get in the way. A very enjoyable contemporary romance.
ARC received from net galley, in exchange for a honest review.
January 5, 2019
I can see why Ella Hayes is the winner of the Prima To Write Competition. I loved this story, it has a true life fact that makes you adapt to the story. Just like most of us at some point in our lives we have all been there when a boyfriend that has dumped us. so you would be like me hoping that Milla O'Brien who's boyfriend Dan had broken up with her, wants her to meet another man. Artists Milla leaves London for Scotland, for a break with her sketchbook as she needs scenery and grand views. But after she has had her heart broken, Milla has no interest in falling in love with anyone else ever again, however she does meet Cormac Buchanan, but will anything happen for them? Or will Dan enter Milla's life again?
November 10, 2019
A beautifully-written romance. I loved Milla and Cormac's journey, as well as the setting. Ella Hayes displays a photographer's eye for detail and you can tell how familiar she is with, and how much she loves, the Scottish landscape.
Milla is an artist and Cormac is a soldier, and heir to the Highland estate where Milla has rented a remote studio. When they meet they are both experiencing real pain, and Cormac's grief in particular is handled with compassion. They go from immediately clashing to starting to figure each other out... to things getting as bumpy as the surrounding terrain. I was rooting for them throughout!
Note: The author kindly provided me with a copy of this book to help me prepare for a Twitter Q&A with her.
Milla is an artist and Cormac is a soldier, and heir to the Highland estate where Milla has rented a remote studio. When they meet they are both experiencing real pain, and Cormac's grief in particular is handled with compassion. They go from immediately clashing to starting to figure each other out... to things getting as bumpy as the surrounding terrain. I was rooting for them throughout!
Note: The author kindly provided me with a copy of this book to help me prepare for a Twitter Q&A with her.
October 27, 2020
A wonderful tale of love and loss, friendship and family, and the vows that keep us bound together even beyond death.
I loved the arty heroine, the way Ella Hayes encapsulated the traits of an artist, how they see the world in what they create, how their emotions leak into their work, it was just beautiful.
To have a military hero at the opposite end of the scale, one who sees danger in the landscape and appreciates it for very different reasons was so very clever. I loved how she brought them together, how they helped each other heal and the beauty of their relationship from the off. The way Milla teased out the smiles in Cor, made him laugh and forget himself, pure magic.
It was a joy to read from start to finish and I'm looking forward to my next Ella Hayes treat!
I loved the arty heroine, the way Ella Hayes encapsulated the traits of an artist, how they see the world in what they create, how their emotions leak into their work, it was just beautiful.
To have a military hero at the opposite end of the scale, one who sees danger in the landscape and appreciates it for very different reasons was so very clever. I loved how she brought them together, how they helped each other heal and the beauty of their relationship from the off. The way Milla teased out the smiles in Cor, made him laugh and forget himself, pure magic.
It was a joy to read from start to finish and I'm looking forward to my next Ella Hayes treat!
July 31, 2019
I have a good reason not to like this book as Ella beat me in the Prima/Mills & Boon competition! However, I thoroughly enjoyed this read and can see why she won. I hope her subsequent books are as good - I will be looking out for them.
It is one of the M&B sweet romances with the bedroom door staying firmly shut. This did not affect readability at all and I was impressed with the way Ella gradually softened things between them while keeping the plot going. Yes in places it was a bit contrived, but then I haven't read a Mills & Boon yet that wasn't: It's incredibly difficult to write 50K on just two characters.
It is one of the M&B sweet romances with the bedroom door staying firmly shut. This did not affect readability at all and I was impressed with the way Ella gradually softened things between them while keeping the plot going. Yes in places it was a bit contrived, but then I haven't read a Mills & Boon yet that wasn't: It's incredibly difficult to write 50K on just two characters.
November 11, 2021
This book is well worth the read. Ella Hayes really brings her characters alive. You will really enjoy this story of dealing with what life throws at you and falling in love against a beautiful backdrop.
September 16, 2019
Wonderful sceneries, great characters. Made me fall in love with Scotland (and the hero, of course)
January 13, 2019
“It would be so easy to fall in love with Milla, but he couldn’t let it happen. She deserved a hero, and he was a mess.”
Reeling from the abrupt end of her engagement, artist Milla O’Brien escapes London for some alone time at the Artists Bothy on the Calcarron Estate in Scotland. Emotionally troubled heir to the estate, Cormac Buchanan comes to Milla’s assistance when a flat tyre interrupts her journey, and this chance meeting at the roadside is about to change both their lives in this excellent debut book from Ella Hayes.
I am full of praise for this story, from it’s vividly described Scottish backdrop, the romantic story, the excellent characters, and the emotion projected into the relationship between the two. Indeed, you can see how Ella Hayes appealed to the judges of Prima Magazine’s ‘Love to Write’ competition, and the resulting story here proves her talent as a storyteller.
In Cormac and Milla, the author has created two excellent characters who are both troubled and feel that being alone is what they need. The characters are well created and developed, and even from their early meetings, the reader begins to feel invested in Cormac and Milla’s relationship to such an extent that you really do care what happens to them as the story progresses.
Cormac has an air of mystery from the start, but we soon learn why he is withdrawn and feels unable to allow himself to be happy, and I must enthuse about the style of writing of the scenes where Cormac slowly begins to explain why he is unable to let go of the past. His grief is sympathetically written, and gives the reader even more reason to root for his happiness, whilst being necessary to the story and the character development. Similarly, Milla’s willingness to simply listen and comfort him shows the depth of the character as she too begins to realise that hiding away is not necessarily the right thing to do.
Furthermore, there is a lot of emotion in the story, and you may need a tissue throughout, but especially towards the end. It would spoil the story to say more, but there is a wonderfully written speech which Cormac makes to Milla at the end of the penultimate chapter which merely makes you love Cormac even more than you already do.
The descriptions of the locations are fantastic, and give a vivid picture of the Calcarron Estate and the surrounding countryside, and this very much adds to the richness of the story. If, like me, you are an outdoor person who loves walking in the hills and looking out at a view, you will definitely enjoy these scenes.
I could go on about how much I enjoyed this book, but would end up spoiling the story for future readers, so I will sum up by saying that this is an excellent debut for Ella Hayes, and Milla and Cormac’s story is wonderfully told to the point that it will stick in the memory after the last page has been turned. Oh, and you may be inclined to google bothies if only to see some wonderful pictures of their locations!
Congratulations to Ella Hayes on such an excellent debut, and I look forward to your next book.
Reeling from the abrupt end of her engagement, artist Milla O’Brien escapes London for some alone time at the Artists Bothy on the Calcarron Estate in Scotland. Emotionally troubled heir to the estate, Cormac Buchanan comes to Milla’s assistance when a flat tyre interrupts her journey, and this chance meeting at the roadside is about to change both their lives in this excellent debut book from Ella Hayes.
I am full of praise for this story, from it’s vividly described Scottish backdrop, the romantic story, the excellent characters, and the emotion projected into the relationship between the two. Indeed, you can see how Ella Hayes appealed to the judges of Prima Magazine’s ‘Love to Write’ competition, and the resulting story here proves her talent as a storyteller.
In Cormac and Milla, the author has created two excellent characters who are both troubled and feel that being alone is what they need. The characters are well created and developed, and even from their early meetings, the reader begins to feel invested in Cormac and Milla’s relationship to such an extent that you really do care what happens to them as the story progresses.
Cormac has an air of mystery from the start, but we soon learn why he is withdrawn and feels unable to allow himself to be happy, and I must enthuse about the style of writing of the scenes where Cormac slowly begins to explain why he is unable to let go of the past. His grief is sympathetically written, and gives the reader even more reason to root for his happiness, whilst being necessary to the story and the character development. Similarly, Milla’s willingness to simply listen and comfort him shows the depth of the character as she too begins to realise that hiding away is not necessarily the right thing to do.
Furthermore, there is a lot of emotion in the story, and you may need a tissue throughout, but especially towards the end. It would spoil the story to say more, but there is a wonderfully written speech which Cormac makes to Milla at the end of the penultimate chapter which merely makes you love Cormac even more than you already do.
The descriptions of the locations are fantastic, and give a vivid picture of the Calcarron Estate and the surrounding countryside, and this very much adds to the richness of the story. If, like me, you are an outdoor person who loves walking in the hills and looking out at a view, you will definitely enjoy these scenes.
I could go on about how much I enjoyed this book, but would end up spoiling the story for future readers, so I will sum up by saying that this is an excellent debut for Ella Hayes, and Milla and Cormac’s story is wonderfully told to the point that it will stick in the memory after the last page has been turned. Oh, and you may be inclined to google bothies if only to see some wonderful pictures of their locations!
Congratulations to Ella Hayes on such an excellent debut, and I look forward to your next book.
December 30, 2018
Ella Hayes won the 2017 Prima Loves to Write Competition run in conjunction with Mills and Boon. The book, Her Brooding Scottish Heir, is published today, 27 December 2018. The novel is published as part of the True Love series.
Her Brooding Scottish Heir is set in the Scottish Highlands in the grounds of Calcarron House. Camilla O’Brian is a struggling student artist who has just split with Dan, her fiancé. She needs to finish her final degree portfolio and her tutor suggests an isolated artists retreat in the grounds of Calcarron House. Unfortunately for her as she makes her way there her car gets a puncture and she encounters the grumpy, brooding Cormac Buchanan. He has just left the military and is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his childhood friend as he couldn’t save him when they were out in Afghanistan.
Neither of them find Calcarron House to be the peaceful sanctuary that they need. Cormac’s sister, Rosie, is holding her high society wedding there and left face it if you have just broken up with your fiancé you don’t want to be in the midst of someone else’s wedding whilst Cirmac cannot find the peace and quiet that he needs to come to terms with his friend’s death. Despite the conflict that arose during their original meeting, there is chemistry and attraction between the pair that develops into a relationship. Will they be able to overcome there pasts and have there HEA?
I can see why she won the competition: she is a wedding photographer with an eye and understanding of romance and how to translates it into a a photograph or in this case a novel. Ella lives in Scotland and you can tell from reading the detailed describe scenes that she knows and loves the Scottish countryside, they aren’t merely cut and paste that descriptive scenes generic descriptions. It is a lighthearted, enjoyable read. It isn’t as polished as some f the more established M&B authors but that comes with Rome and practice. The plot could have been paced more evenly: the end appeared rushed and resolved within a few pages and character development was lacking. The author linked them through romance but didn’t build upon hopes, aspirations and their respective back stories. The style of writing was contemporary and enjoyable to read. Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how this author develops her writing style etc.
I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley.
Her Brooding Scottish Heir is set in the Scottish Highlands in the grounds of Calcarron House. Camilla O’Brian is a struggling student artist who has just split with Dan, her fiancé. She needs to finish her final degree portfolio and her tutor suggests an isolated artists retreat in the grounds of Calcarron House. Unfortunately for her as she makes her way there her car gets a puncture and she encounters the grumpy, brooding Cormac Buchanan. He has just left the military and is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his childhood friend as he couldn’t save him when they were out in Afghanistan.
Neither of them find Calcarron House to be the peaceful sanctuary that they need. Cormac’s sister, Rosie, is holding her high society wedding there and left face it if you have just broken up with your fiancé you don’t want to be in the midst of someone else’s wedding whilst Cirmac cannot find the peace and quiet that he needs to come to terms with his friend’s death. Despite the conflict that arose during their original meeting, there is chemistry and attraction between the pair that develops into a relationship. Will they be able to overcome there pasts and have there HEA?
I can see why she won the competition: she is a wedding photographer with an eye and understanding of romance and how to translates it into a a photograph or in this case a novel. Ella lives in Scotland and you can tell from reading the detailed describe scenes that she knows and loves the Scottish countryside, they aren’t merely cut and paste that descriptive scenes generic descriptions. It is a lighthearted, enjoyable read. It isn’t as polished as some f the more established M&B authors but that comes with Rome and practice. The plot could have been paced more evenly: the end appeared rushed and resolved within a few pages and character development was lacking. The author linked them through romance but didn’t build upon hopes, aspirations and their respective back stories. The style of writing was contemporary and enjoyable to read. Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing how this author develops her writing style etc.
I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley.
December 12, 2018
Milla O'Brien is traveling from London to Strathburn Brothy (cottage) on the Calcarron estate in Scotland. She needs a quiet place to find herself again after her fiance broke off their engagement. Milla is an artist who has lost her focus due to her sadness over the broken engagement. She believes two weeks at the brothy in Scotland with lots of beauty in the scenery, peace and quiet will reawaken her muse in time to get some artwork done for her postgraduate art exhibition in six weeks. As she approaches her destination one of her car's tires has a blowout and she finds the lugnuts are fastened too tightly for her to undo them to change the tire. Along comes Cormac Buchanan,heir to the Calcarron Estate to the rescue. Cormac, a commander in the Royal Engineers, is a troubled man. He blames himself for the death of his best friend with whom he was serving in Afghanistan. He has withdrawn into himself and is wallowing in self-blame so much his family is worried about him. When Milla and Cormac meet they find themselves attracted to each other. Both have baggage with which to deal. Can they help each other to overcome their unhappy pasts and find happiness together?
Her Brooding Scottish Heir by Ella Hayes is a sweet romance. While there are lighthearted moments in the story there is also much angst. Milla and Cormac fight their feelings throughout most of the book. I was glad to finally get to their HEA. This book is well-written but a little slow at times. Sometimes the main characters' angst was a bit overwhelming. Their newfound happiness towards the end of the book was a plus for this story.
Her Brooding Scottish Heir by Ella Hayes is a sweet romance. While there are lighthearted moments in the story there is also much angst. Milla and Cormac fight their feelings throughout most of the book. I was glad to finally get to their HEA. This book is well-written but a little slow at times. Sometimes the main characters' angst was a bit overwhelming. Their newfound happiness towards the end of the book was a plus for this story.
January 3, 2019
Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for sending this to me for review.
This is my first ever Mill& Boon but won't be my last!
This story focused around Milia an artiest who has lost her way after a breakup from her fiance, in order to recuperate she heads to a quiet village in Scotland for some tranquilly & to work on an art project, however things don't go as planned, on the way she gets a flat tire and a handsome brooding man stops to give her a hand, they have a weird exchange and then off he goes, unbeknown to Milia this handsome man is the soon to be Laird at the place where she is going to stay.
Comarc is a solider who watched his best friend get murdered at the hands of the enemy, he blames himself and is struggling to cope, he arrives home for his sisters wedding where he meets the guest staying in the Bothy.....Mila.
Soon both their lives will become intertwined.
I thought this was a very sweet romance, I really enjoyed how the author took on the subject of PTSD, grief and guilt with sensitivity, I really liked both the characters and were really rooting for them. My main issues with this book was
Overall though a sweet, enjoyable, quick read and a must for romance lovers.
This is my first ever Mill& Boon but won't be my last!
This story focused around Milia an artiest who has lost her way after a breakup from her fiance, in order to recuperate she heads to a quiet village in Scotland for some tranquilly & to work on an art project, however things don't go as planned, on the way she gets a flat tire and a handsome brooding man stops to give her a hand, they have a weird exchange and then off he goes, unbeknown to Milia this handsome man is the soon to be Laird at the place where she is going to stay.
Comarc is a solider who watched his best friend get murdered at the hands of the enemy, he blames himself and is struggling to cope, he arrives home for his sisters wedding where he meets the guest staying in the Bothy.....Mila.
Soon both their lives will become intertwined.
I thought this was a very sweet romance, I really enjoyed how the author took on the subject of PTSD, grief and guilt with sensitivity, I really liked both the characters and were really rooting for them. My main issues with this book was
Overall though a sweet, enjoyable, quick read and a must for romance lovers.
December 17, 2018
I received an ARC for this book in return for a review.
This was my first ever Mills & Boon book and it was a life changing experience as I not only fell in love with this story but also the M&B romance style and brand. I can’t believe I have not read M&B before.
Wow - this story of Milia, the artist still struggling to overcome her failed engagement and Cormac, struggling to deal with his PTSD / death of best friend whilst out in Afghanistan finding each other blew me away. I was so drawn into this story.
The romance was cleverly crafted and I could feel the chemistry between the two characters building. By half way I could not put the book down.
Cormac was so well written I could have climbed into the book and kissed him myself.
I loved how these two emotionally damaged souls found each other and helped stitch the other’s heart back together.
Fav quote:
She pulled away and touched his mouth. ‘This is new.’
He laughed. ‘What?’
She traced the outline of his lips with her finger. ‘This smile.’ She eyed him mischievously. ‘You should wear it more often.
Fans of Cormac will know he spends a lot of the book not smiling and burying his feelings.
Loved this book!
This was my first ever Mills & Boon book and it was a life changing experience as I not only fell in love with this story but also the M&B romance style and brand. I can’t believe I have not read M&B before.
Wow - this story of Milia, the artist still struggling to overcome her failed engagement and Cormac, struggling to deal with his PTSD / death of best friend whilst out in Afghanistan finding each other blew me away. I was so drawn into this story.
The romance was cleverly crafted and I could feel the chemistry between the two characters building. By half way I could not put the book down.
Cormac was so well written I could have climbed into the book and kissed him myself.
I loved how these two emotionally damaged souls found each other and helped stitch the other’s heart back together.
Fav quote:
She pulled away and touched his mouth. ‘This is new.’
He laughed. ‘What?’
She traced the outline of his lips with her finger. ‘This smile.’ She eyed him mischievously. ‘You should wear it more often.
Fans of Cormac will know he spends a lot of the book not smiling and burying his feelings.
Loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2018
I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review via Netgalley.
I liked the premise of this book, an artist visiting Scotland in order to complete their work and to recover after a breakup. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t take to the heroine.
The heroine, Milla’s breakup just didn’t compare to the military trauma that it appeared rather superfluous . Also, the Scottish location was so over romanticised it seemed aimed at an overseas rather than British market. See also, americanisms in the characters speech.
Referring to the hero Cormac as Cor also made me giggle, as I expected everyone to sudden become cockney! The wedding scenes were fine, and the Scottish family home and the Buchanan’s had warmth so the conclusion was good. I rather felt that it may have been better set over Christmas to counterbalance the fairytale qualities.
This is the author's debut book.
I liked the premise of this book, an artist visiting Scotland in order to complete their work and to recover after a breakup. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t take to the heroine.
The heroine, Milla’s breakup just didn’t compare to the military trauma that it appeared rather superfluous . Also, the Scottish location was so over romanticised it seemed aimed at an overseas rather than British market. See also, americanisms in the characters speech.
Referring to the hero Cormac as Cor also made me giggle, as I expected everyone to sudden become cockney! The wedding scenes were fine, and the Scottish family home and the Buchanan’s had warmth so the conclusion was good. I rather felt that it may have been better set over Christmas to counterbalance the fairytale qualities.
This is the author's debut book.
December 13, 2018
I was lucky enough to obtain a preview copy of this debut novel from Ella Hayes. I was immediately engaged with the principal characters, art student, Milla O'Brien and Laird's son, Cormac Buchanan. Still smarting from a broken engagement, Milla has escaped to an isolated artist's bothy in Scotland to lick her wounds and concentrate on her work. She does not expect to encounter anyone, let along the enigmatic and aloof Cormac Buchanan. Cormac has returned to the family estate for his sister's wedding but has neither the heart nor the time for unwanted diversions. The fates have other plans. There is great chemistry between the feisty Milla and the taciturn Cormac. Ella Hayes gives her characters a rocky ride, but is well written with a light touch, pacey and entertaining. I look forward to more from this author.
February 17, 2019
A lovely and gentle debut romance which masterfully evokes the Scottish highlands as the background to the burgeoning romance between disappointed in love artist Milla and Army officer suffering from guilt Cor. This debut novel showcases why the Harlequin Romance/True Love series is such an ever green classic series which resonates with readers through out the years. Hayes has penned a tale of two damaged souls who meet and fall in love and in doing so manage to heal or at least start to heal their wounds. Hayes expertly evokes the Scottish landscape and brings an artist's eye to the landscape. It was a fantastic debut which brought to mind one of my favourite all-time authors Rosemunde Pilcherd who also has this talent for evoking landscapes. I look forward to reading more of Hayes's books and seeing how she grows as an author.
January 30, 2019
This is the debut book from Ella Hayes. Milla & Cormack have both been through events that have left them emotionally scarred. Milla has a broken engagement and Cormack has been through Afghanistan and is struggling to gpdeal with his loss.
The characters were OK as the was setting but I found it a little to slow for me and I struggled to finish it in the one sitting I normally would. It didn't capture my attention enough.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
The characters were OK as the was setting but I found it a little to slow for me and I struggled to finish it in the one sitting I normally would. It didn't capture my attention enough.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review
December 28, 2018
My first foray back into Mills and Boon since I used to steal them from my mum’s beside table. This is an excellent read. Well paced, with beautiful prose, especially the descriptions and to evoke the depths of the character journeys. The author captures the voices of the two protagonists in a way that drew me in immediately. Truth, heart, and a lovely love story. Highly recommended.
March 16, 2019
I loved this debut book from the winner of a Prima magazine / Mills and Boon competition. The scene was so well set from the start when the characters met, that I am sure I have driven on that road. A warm romantic story with a touch of humour. I would like to find that bothy and read it all over agin. Looking forward to book number 2. Well done Ella Hayes.
December 29, 2018
For a first book a well done to Ella. Xx
Really good book, even though fictional, the way Calcarron House is described you could really picture it, and want to visit. It was a really great read. Well recommend it. Xx
Really good book, even though fictional, the way Calcarron House is described you could really picture it, and want to visit. It was a really great read. Well recommend it. Xx
January 4, 2019
Gorgeous--warm and romantic and all good things.
June 5, 2019
This has to be one of my favourite M&B books. Both characters are realistically flawed and the slow unfolding of the romance between them was a real pleasure to read.
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