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Hiraeth
Ellis Clarke has never felt at home anywhere, always feeling a sense of nostalgia for somewhere that she doesn’t know. When she goes to Beddgelert on vacation, she is overwhelmed by the feeling of belonging. Of course, the handsome Luke may have something to do with that.
Luke Maddox is a Guardian of Wales, a red Dragon who patrols the skies with the rest of his Weyr. When he meets Ellis and she is welcomed home by Merlin, he knows he has found the other half of him... but only if Ellis acknowledges him.
How will she claim him when she has no knowledge of being either a Guardian or a Dragon? Will Ellis find and accept her lost responsibility or will Luke fade away before she figures it out?
Luke Maddox is a Guardian of Wales, a red Dragon who patrols the skies with the rest of his Weyr. When he meets Ellis and she is welcomed home by Merlin, he knows he has found the other half of him... but only if Ellis acknowledges him.
How will she claim him when she has no knowledge of being either a Guardian or a Dragon? Will Ellis find and accept her lost responsibility or will Luke fade away before she figures it out?
'Hiraeth is a Welsh word for homesickness or nostalgia, an earnest longing or desire, or a sense of regret.'
- GenresRomanceParanormal
316 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2021
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Sheppard
17 books88 followersOriginally from the United Kingdom, Morgan Sheppard now resides in Germany, although she freely admits to having left part of her heart in Wales. Whilst a writer mainly in the fantasy genre, Morgan is more than happy to share her love of reading amongst the many different genres out there, and can always be found with a book close by.
As well as reading and writing, Morgan spends her time looking after her family and trying to learn German. Unfortunately, a natural aptitude for languages doesn’t appear to be one of her strong points. However, stubbornness is, so she continues to persevere. So far, Morgan is confident enough to order a beer and a pretzel.
You can also email her at MorganSheppard@gmail.com to receive a #FREE copy of Disjointed Lives, a short story about friendships and a toxic relationship.
As well as reading and writing, Morgan spends her time looking after her family and trying to learn German. Unfortunately, a natural aptitude for languages doesn’t appear to be one of her strong points. However, stubbornness is, so she continues to persevere. So far, Morgan is confident enough to order a beer and a pretzel.
You can also email her at MorganSheppard@gmail.com to receive a #FREE copy of Disjointed Lives, a short story about friendships and a toxic relationship.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 5, 2022
Morgan Sheppard’s Hiraeth is a charming story through and through. This book is about love, adventure, self-discovery, and finding where you truly belong. Even if I didn’t get around to reading it as often as I had intended, I took this book with me on all my vacations and overnight stays this year. It was comforting knowing it would be there to cheer me should anything not go quite as planned in my own life. I could escape into the unfolding story of Ellis Clarke and Luke Maddox. Ellis is a fantastic character. Strong, yet occasionally vulnerable. Fun-loving, yet contemplative. Luke is equally as wonderful. Sheppard has done a beautiful job in making her main and supporting cast of characters believable. It’s the sort of story you wish was true—that kind and spirited dragons lived among us as guardians, having their own place in our world.
Often, I caught myself smiling while reading this book. It took a few chapters to settle in. Then I was fully invested in the story. By the halfway point, I didn’t want it to be over. I knew it would be getting a 5 out of 5 star rating from me, so long as the ending hit all the right notes. When reading a good book, I used to think ‘just one more page.’ Now it’s ‘just one more day.’ I wanted one more day with this book, over and over again. I worried for the ending. How was such a happy yet heart-breaking and thought-provoking story to end? I’m elated to say it ended perfectly to satisfaction. So long as you are ready for a story of quiet self-discovery, Morgan Sheppard will sweep you away to the welcoming town of Beddgelert. Prepare to laugh at the antics and teasing the characters engage in; to tear up during those times of unsurety; and to celebrate in the beautiful moments when Ellis and Luke find the path meant for them. The sprinkling of myths and legends throughout the story is an added treat too!
Often, I caught myself smiling while reading this book. It took a few chapters to settle in. Then I was fully invested in the story. By the halfway point, I didn’t want it to be over. I knew it would be getting a 5 out of 5 star rating from me, so long as the ending hit all the right notes. When reading a good book, I used to think ‘just one more page.’ Now it’s ‘just one more day.’ I wanted one more day with this book, over and over again. I worried for the ending. How was such a happy yet heart-breaking and thought-provoking story to end? I’m elated to say it ended perfectly to satisfaction. So long as you are ready for a story of quiet self-discovery, Morgan Sheppard will sweep you away to the welcoming town of Beddgelert. Prepare to laugh at the antics and teasing the characters engage in; to tear up during those times of unsurety; and to celebrate in the beautiful moments when Ellis and Luke find the path meant for them. The sprinkling of myths and legends throughout the story is an added treat too!
March 3, 2021
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Ellis takes a vacation in North Wales, and finds herself feeling so much at home. Meeting Luke helped, but she had to return to Cardiff. Following dreams of dragons and Merlin, Ellis needs to go back to the vacation spot, and then things really get odd.
I liked this, I liked this a lot!
It's a wonderful tale of finding yourself, your past, your future and falling in love!
Of course, tales of dragons and Merlin help, but the level of research is exceptionally clear here, with lots and LOTS of Welsh tales, myths and legends told.
The feelings Ellis has for Luke grow and develop over time, and it's really only they are apart that things start to get serious for both Ellis and Luke. The call of Beddgelert, and indeed, of each other on their souls and hearts is too powerful to ignore. Ellis gets back, but it takes a bit longer for Luke to finally admit that he needs to go home.
It's told from Ellis and Luke's point of view, along with a couple of others that need a say. Each voice is clear and different, most pointedly when Luke talks about his past, his knowledge of what he is and what Ellis is to him. Ellis doesn't have that, and she needs to learn it.
There's no drama or danger, aside from discovering that dragons still exist! It's not totally clean, there is love and passion here, but nothing explicit. It's well written and extremely well delivered.
Lots of Welsh names here, and I had no idea how to pronounce them! But it didn't spoil my enjoyment, just made me chuckle trying to read them out loud :-)
A wonderful, delightful, beautifully written love story, set in Wales, with all its myths and legends about dragons. And now I wanna visit Beddgelert, cos it's a real place, and see all the wonderful places that Ellis visits!
4 fabulous stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
Ellis takes a vacation in North Wales, and finds herself feeling so much at home. Meeting Luke helped, but she had to return to Cardiff. Following dreams of dragons and Merlin, Ellis needs to go back to the vacation spot, and then things really get odd.
I liked this, I liked this a lot!
It's a wonderful tale of finding yourself, your past, your future and falling in love!
Of course, tales of dragons and Merlin help, but the level of research is exceptionally clear here, with lots and LOTS of Welsh tales, myths and legends told.
The feelings Ellis has for Luke grow and develop over time, and it's really only they are apart that things start to get serious for both Ellis and Luke. The call of Beddgelert, and indeed, of each other on their souls and hearts is too powerful to ignore. Ellis gets back, but it takes a bit longer for Luke to finally admit that he needs to go home.
It's told from Ellis and Luke's point of view, along with a couple of others that need a say. Each voice is clear and different, most pointedly when Luke talks about his past, his knowledge of what he is and what Ellis is to him. Ellis doesn't have that, and she needs to learn it.
There's no drama or danger, aside from discovering that dragons still exist! It's not totally clean, there is love and passion here, but nothing explicit. It's well written and extremely well delivered.
Lots of Welsh names here, and I had no idea how to pronounce them! But it didn't spoil my enjoyment, just made me chuckle trying to read them out loud :-)
A wonderful, delightful, beautifully written love story, set in Wales, with all its myths and legends about dragons. And now I wanna visit Beddgelert, cos it's a real place, and see all the wonderful places that Ellis visits!
4 fabulous stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
May 7, 2021
Morgan Sheppard has once again created a place in which I'd love to exist.
I love that this is a 'clean' read, no uncomfortable descriptions of sex or violence. Well written as always, with history and legends woven all the way through......the kind that inspires your imagination.
For the second time I've been left wanting to work in or own my own book shop.....maybe one day.
The description of Wales, its beauty, traditions and lovely people really makes me want to go there and experience the country for myself.
Character wise, there's just the right amount of character depth, not so much that you drown in it but not so little that you can't imagine their personalities.
Hiraeth is for anyone who has a love of dragons, the outdoors and a belief in finding a place to belong. I would highly recommend for an afternoon read with a picnic and cheeky tipple 😉.
I love that this is a 'clean' read, no uncomfortable descriptions of sex or violence. Well written as always, with history and legends woven all the way through......the kind that inspires your imagination.
For the second time I've been left wanting to work in or own my own book shop.....maybe one day.
The description of Wales, its beauty, traditions and lovely people really makes me want to go there and experience the country for myself.
Character wise, there's just the right amount of character depth, not so much that you drown in it but not so little that you can't imagine their personalities.
Hiraeth is for anyone who has a love of dragons, the outdoors and a belief in finding a place to belong. I would highly recommend for an afternoon read with a picnic and cheeky tipple 😉.
March 11, 2021
I was gifted this as a Beta reader.
Same word review will appear elsewhere.
Imagine going away to escape it all and it changing your life forever.
Imagine learning everything you thought you knew about yourself was wrong.
But what you did find out makes so much more sense to you.
This is a loving sweet story of just that.
Ellis goes away to a quiet little place in Wales, she instantly falls in love with the place and people and feels right at home.
This is Luke's home. He has always been happy there, but only when Ellis arrives for her holiday does he realise he has been missing something.
That something is Ellis.
Will Ellis accept what she knows in her heart and dreams to be true before it is too late for Luke.
Read this wonderful magical tale and fine out.
Same word review will appear elsewhere.
Imagine going away to escape it all and it changing your life forever.
Imagine learning everything you thought you knew about yourself was wrong.
But what you did find out makes so much more sense to you.
This is a loving sweet story of just that.
Ellis goes away to a quiet little place in Wales, she instantly falls in love with the place and people and feels right at home.
This is Luke's home. He has always been happy there, but only when Ellis arrives for her holiday does he realise he has been missing something.
That something is Ellis.
Will Ellis accept what she knows in her heart and dreams to be true before it is too late for Luke.
Read this wonderful magical tale and fine out.
March 10, 2022
A great book, especially as it's based in my home land and around mythology I grew up with. I thought it was going to be a straight forward holiday romance book to begin with but I was so wrong. I won't spoil it but the book certainly got a lot more interesting as it went on. Romance, yes, but certainly not the simple kind!
October 17, 2022
First book for me by this author and it won't be the last! I loved the relationship between Ellis and Luke. The dialogue was crisp (I particularly enjoyed the passage about the different names vampire call their mates :) and the action built over time. There's also some wonderful mythology that will excite fantasy romance readers and history buffs alike! A very enjoyable read.
March 25, 2021
A beautiful romance based around Welsh myth and legend.
Ellis is yearning for something, somewhere and finds herself in Beddgelert, Wales on holiday. She falls in love with the place and finds herself in a very unexpected way.
Another beautifully written book by Morgan Sheppard.
Ellis is yearning for something, somewhere and finds herself in Beddgelert, Wales on holiday. She falls in love with the place and finds herself in a very unexpected way.
Another beautifully written book by Morgan Sheppard.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews