A Winter Haven

Scottish Island Escapes #1

by Margaret Amatt

She was the one that got away… Now she’s back.Career-driven Robyn Sherratt returns to her childhood home on the Scottish Isle of Mull, hoping to build bridges with her estranged family. She discovers her mother struggling to run the family hotel. When an old flame turns up, memories come back to bite, nibbling into Robyn’s fragile heart.

Carl Hansen, known as The Fixer, abandoned city life for peace and tranquillity. Swapping his office for a log cabin, he mends people’s broken treasures. He can fix anything, except himself. When forced to work on hotel renovations with Robyn, the girl he lost twelve years ago, his quiet life is sent spinning.

Carl would like nothing more than to piece together the shattered shards of Robyn’s heart. But can she trust him? What can a broken man like him offer a successful woman like her?

♥ A Winter Haven is the first book in the Scottish Island Escapes series, but can be read on its own.♥ It isn't a Christmas story! It's set in a cold, blustery January and February ❄♥ Set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull, A Winter Haven is a second chance romance with drama, a guaranteed happy ending, a wee bit of steam and lots of heart.♥ A beautiful romance story, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Emma Jackson and Heidi Swain.

Praise for A Winter Haven

★★★★★ 'WOW just beautiful! I absolutely loved this story, it is one you don’t want to put down until you have got to the end. My only disappointment..............I have to wait until March for the next story.' Amazon reviewer.

★★★★★ 'I loved reading this and Margaret is a fantastic writer, able to make characters and settings leap off the page. She's so good that I got highly anxious reading it due to the way the heroine's family treat her. It's testament to Margaret's writing that i couldn't put it down until I knew the happy ending was in sight! I eagerly await reading more books in the series!' Amazon reviewer.

★★★★★ 'I'm so glad this is a series as I didn't want to say goodbye to these lovely characters or their setting. I'm ready for the next exciting installment...' Amazon reviewer.

Genres: Romance

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2021

About the author

Margaret Amatt is the author of heartwarming contemporary romance novels set in Scotland, filled with close-knit communities, unforgettable characters and uplifting happily-ever-afters.

Her stories are filled with friendship, family, humour, emotional journeys and a sprinkle of spice. Whether they're set beside a sparkling loch, on a windswept Hebridean island or in a bustling Highland town, every book celebrates the people and places that make Scotland so special.
Margaret is the author of four romance series:

The Glenbriar Series – an interconnected collection of cosy small-town romances set in the fictional Highland town of Glenbriar, where each novel follows a different couple while familiar faces return throughout the series.

The Glenbriar Castle Series – continuing the story of Glenbriar with a fresh focus on Dairvin Castle and the Bruce family, while keeping all the warmth, community spirit and romance readers have come to love.

Scottish Island Escapes – an interconnected collection of standalone, feel-good contemporary romances set on the beautiful Isle of Mull, featuring stunning scenery, fresh starts and an unforgettable island community.

Love on the Edge – Barra – an interconnected collection of standalone contemporary romances set on the spectacular Hebridean island of Barra, where family, friendship and second chances are never far away.

Although the books are interconnected, every novel can be enjoyed as a standalone. Readers who start from the beginning will enjoy spotting returning characters, revisiting favourite places and watching the communities grow with each new story.

Margaret has been making up stories since she was five years old, when her primary school teacher wrote, "Margaret has a flair for creative writing." Thankfully, she never stopped writing. These days she's a full-time professional daydreamer, lifelong book lover and unapologetic chocolate enthusiast who still believes there's nothing better than getting completely lost in a good romance.
If you're looking for somewhere romantic, you've found the right place.

Margaret Amatt's website

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Reviews

[Evie Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Winter Haven is the first book in the Scottish Island Escapes series by Scottish romance author Margaret Amatt. The series is set on the isle of Mull, and the writing is so evocative that after reading one of Margaret’s books you’ll feel you’ve been there too. One of the things I love about this book is that it doesn’t sugarcoat island life, especially what a Scottish winter is like. We may have visited Scotland during the summer, but these books allow us to experience it in winter from the warmth of our homes.

The story is a second chance romance, following Robyn, as she returns home to the family hotel to find a business struggling and her mother bitter and angry. Robyn’s got enough on her plate, but she feels she has to help, even though her presence, and her help, aren’t welcomed. On top of everything, she has to see Carl, her first love. They broke up after a tragedy, many years ago, and things are still not right between them. Can she mend bridges with her family and find her way back to Carl, or should she cut her losses and leave before things get any worse?

It’s testament to the power of Margaret’s writing and storytelling that I became really anxious reading A Winter Haven. I so desperately wanted to go into the book, shout at Robyn’ mum, kick her brother in the nuts, and give her a big hug. Luckily (no spoiler alert), it all ends happily, and not only that, we get to catch up with Robyn and Carl in the rest of the series.

So, if you love Scottish island life, beautifully drawn characters, love and romance, then I heartily recommend reading Margaret Amatt’s Scottish Island Escapes series, starting with A Winter Haven.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming second chance romance that takes place on a remote Scottish island. Robyn is a young women who returns home after the death of her father and tries to mend bridges with her mother and brother. Carl is a young man haunted by the mistakes of his past and trying to find his way. It's a very charming story and the characters are relatable and intriguing. I happened to run across this book and thought I'd give it a shot. I ended up reading it in one day and bought the rest of the series. Absolutely worth it!

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was set on the beautiful Isle of Mull and in the 1st chapter we hear of Robyn’s dads death. Robyn left home 12 years ago and hasn’t returned since, her brother Liam had an accident which Robyn and her then boyfriend Carl got the blame for. Robyn has done well for herself and decides to return home to heal the rift between her family and Carl. A lovely romantic will they won’t they get together read.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book

[Suzy Ostapower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful story!

This book hit so many levels with me. I experienced a lot of the things Robyn did in her early life. It’s a very well written and poignant novel. I thoroughly recommend it.

[Liz Berry]

Fab tale

I finished this today and was pleased to find there are several more books in the series. I do hope some of the characters crop up again.

Robyn makes it home to the Isle of Mull just in time for her father's funeral, but why doesn't her mum seem pleased to see her? Or her brother for that matter? One person who is (kind of) pleased to see her is Carl, but she would rather steer clear of him after what happened 12 years ago.

This story tells the tale of a woman who is strong despite her past, her battles to save the family hotel, and the complexities of family relationships. It paints a lovely picture of Mull and definitely makes me want to visit!

[Lyndsey Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely gorgeous romance novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Robyn was a completely relatable and deserving protagonist and I loved the fact that she was the one of the two of them with the high powered job and security- it was so refreshing! The descriptions were beautiful, making me want to revisit Scotland as soon as we are allowed! I’d highly recommend this book to anyone that’s in need of the warm fuzzy feels.

[Abigail Yardimci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fab love story, atmospheric, wistful and cosy - the perfect read on a cold, winter’s day. If you like relatable characters, romantic settings and guaranteed happy endings then you’ll love this book, the first in the Scottish Island Escape series. I’ll definitely be reading more!

[Geoff Le Prevost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love in a cold climate…

If you are a fan of good old-fashioned Mills & Boon - before they got too raunchy - then this book is for you. Lovely setting and a nice twist on business tycoon meets pauper.

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

I really enjoyed reading this book. Robyn and Carl had history that no matter how they tried to forget it they couldn't as their love for each other was strong. I am looking forward to reading the next in the series.

[Mrs Elizabeth A Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous Book.

A Winter Haven was a very enjoyable read. Make sure you have a box of tissues at hand. It was such a good book.

[K.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about second chances that will warm your heart. Very sweet with beautiful scenery. This is the first book in the series and will leave you wanting to read the rest.

[Margaret Amatt]

As the author of "A Winter Haven", I am beyond thrilled to have my debut novel finally out in the world. This book marks the start of my Scottish Island Escapes series, and it was an absolute pleasure to write.
💖
The story follows Robyn Sherratt, a career-driven woman who returns to her childhood home on the Scottish Isle of Mull. The novel deals with themes of family, love, and forgiveness, and I enjoyed exploring the different emotions and relationships. I chose the setting of the Isle of Mull as it's one of my favourite holiday destinations and I love visiting it so much. I couldn't wait to write a story set on the island.
💖
The characters of Robyn and Carl are both relatable and lovable, and I loved exploring their personal journeys and how they met again after having been childhood sweethearts. I also enjoyed writing about the close-knit community on the island.
💖
"A Winter Haven" is not a Christmas story, it is set in a cold and blustery January and February. It's a heartwarming and romantic story that will make you laugh and cry, and I am hopeful readers will fall in love with the characters and the setting as much as I did.
💖
Overall, I am incredibly proud of "A Winter Haven" and I believe it is a perfect start to the Scottish Island Escapes series. I can't wait for you to dive into this book and discover the gorgeous Isle of Mull and meet the residents!
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You can get it here
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If you’re here for:
🦄 A gorgeous Scottish Island
🌞 A second chance at love
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Tricky family dynamics
🐕 Loveable dogs
💫 A happy ending
Then you need A Winter Haven in your life!

[greenapplemojito · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming second chance romance - more than the romance I think the book focused highly on how a tragedy has affected the MCs and the suffering that they are going through and it was difficult to see how they are suffering and not being appreciated but at the same time I love how they are strong and still keep going. I really found Maureen and the others of the FMC family to be annoying and toxic, and Maureen was just too frustrating (so was Liam but thank god we barely saw him).

I must say that it felt like the whole Liam finally understanding was rushed and we could have spent a bit more time and how he learnt his faults and mistakes (and I wish his wife did something about him). And I also wish that the whole Julie thing was properly wrapped up later - I was finding it weird that the MMC's brother was dating her and given the kind of person she was and was doing, it just felt like the book should have ended with them breaking up or at least her realizing the kind of person she is or something around those lines at least. I also wish we could have seen more of the MMC trying to find his calling towards the end after the whole IT and fixer stint.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robyn and Carl ❤️

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿When entrepreneur Robyn comes home to Mull for her father’s funeral, it’s the first time she’s been back in years. After a difficult family situation in her childhood, she’s prepares to help her mother with the desperately needed renovation to the family-owned hotel.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Her teenage love Carl is staying in a cabin on the property. After losing his job and his livelihood, he’s been helping out around the property.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿The feelings between Robyn and Carl seem to linger, but they need to get past some serious pre-conceived ideas to move forward.

✏️This is the first story of Margaret Amatt’s that I have read, and I adored the Scottish coastal island setting. The relationships between the characters are challenging and there’s a lot of circling around thoughts that could be cleared up with some honest conversation. Robyn’s a tough cookie, and it’s sad to see how her former classmates and own family treated her both in the past and when she returns home.

Read on Kindle
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Connect with me: http://www.instagram.com/read.athon2021

[Lizzy Appleby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

Read this book in one day, it really pulled me in from the beginning. A very different type of story line and I don’t mind admitting that it brought along a sniffle or two. I love Mull very much and loved the descriptive writing ….. I even liked the no Christmas theme - made a lovely change and was very realistic. I won’t spoil the game by telling you what happened but please do take my 5 stars at face value and give this book a read. Wonderful characters and very well written.

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I bought this book during my honeymoon in Scotland, when we were staying in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, and what an immense joy it was to be able to relive bits of this trip through this book!

The characters felt well developed and engaging, and the story really resonated. I can't wait to see what else these books have in store for me!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn’t for me, or perhaps it wasn’t the right time for me to read this. It felt at times that the romance took a back seat to the cast of miserable side characters in the story. Maureen was especially horrid and it seemed at times that the book was more about her than Robyn and Carl.

[Monica Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Robyn! The wonderful and amazing woman that she is, inspired me. Nice quick read and a great start to the series, I'm going straight to the next book

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. So many unpleasant characters. I wanted more of the romance not the horrid people.