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A Vow to Set the Virgin Free
Out of the frying pan…and into his Scottish castle! Millie Adams enchants with this convenient marriage romance!
Beauty and the reclusive billionaire
Wed for the world to see!
Since the car accident that stole his looks and playboy lifestyle, Cameron McKenzie never leaves his Highland home—and he never receives visitors. Yet when a beautiful woman arrives on his doorstep, he sees an opportunity to relaunch himself into society…
Adopted to replace a lost daughter, innocent Athena has escaped years of imprisonment…only to find herself captive in Cameron’s billion-dollar castle! His marriage demand is unexpected…but also tempting. Because being bound to this scarred and shielded man could give her more freedom than she believed possible…
Beauty and the reclusive billionaire
Wed for the world to see!
Since the car accident that stole his looks and playboy lifestyle, Cameron McKenzie never leaves his Highland home—and he never receives visitors. Yet when a beautiful woman arrives on his doorstep, he sees an opportunity to relaunch himself into society…
Adopted to replace a lost daughter, innocent Athena has escaped years of imprisonment…only to find herself captive in Cameron’s billion-dollar castle! His marriage demand is unexpected…but also tempting. Because being bound to this scarred and shielded man could give her more freedom than she believed possible…
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 24, 2023
20 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 7, 2023
Rating 3.5
Really short review.
~I liked the heroine. She was sweet and had a good heart. Also strong character.
~Hero was okay. Found his view on his past to be a little too cavalier and cynical (male prostitute). But towards the end he softened.
~Storyline Beauty and the Beast theme.
~Hero badly scarred.
~Appreciated the communication between the two MC.
~Loved the epilogue.
~Waiting for Apollo's story next.
Really short review.
~I liked the heroine. She was sweet and had a good heart. Also strong character.
~Hero was okay. Found his view on his past to be a little too cavalier and cynical (male prostitute). But towards the end he softened.
~Storyline Beauty and the Beast theme.
~Hero badly scarred.
~Appreciated the communication between the two MC.
~Loved the epilogue.
~Waiting for Apollo's story next.
January 11, 2023
Nice retelling of the fairy tale and love the consummation at the end!
April 5, 2023
Since moving onto these grounds he’d started a collection of beautiful things. What came to him here, remained. She had come to him, and she was beautiful, so he had taken her.
This is a Harley, but it’s also a true B&tB retelling, as opposed to HQN’s usual air-quote “retellings” (i.e. “D’aww, my hero has a cheek scar & is grumpy—he’s such a beast, lol”). Clearly Ms Adams is a fan of vintage Disney, as we see modernized nods to iconic imagery—the dark & isolated forest, the opulent but echoing castle, the magic mirror, the endless yummy food, Beauty’s flight leading the Beast’s wolf battle, his callow previous life & learning to appreciate small things, their dance in the ballroom with her yellow dress, Athena wearing a cloak while she wanders the estate. The entirety results in a cute-tinged-with-dark, romantic-tinged-with-sexy remodel of the cartoon, & I appreciated that the author was unashamedly dropping Easter eggs throughout.
He drew her toward him, and she was frozen completely in shock. The first thing was the scent of him. Sandalwood. His skin. Then his strength. His heat. It stole her breath, made her feel bound up in him. In his intensity. He was more than a man, he was something altogether much more dangerous. Much more compelling.
Contrary to the cover, Cameron has long brown hair & a close-cut beard. He’s also Scottish, 6’5”, & built like a tank with a scarred face & body—not superficial, as some areas have irreparable nerve damage. He’s brusque, pragmatic, & rude with a dark sense of humor & difficulty admitting that he cares; he’s also spent the last decade living as a true hermit in an isolated estate. 😗 I pictured a younger Sandor Clegane, not that generic Zoolander on the cover, which is delightful. Y’all familiar with my taste know that I’ve got a weakness for Sandor heroes in romance, so of course I was hoping Athena would be worthy of him, & she was. I liked Athena a lot, actually (not surprising, as I usually like Ms Adams’ heroines); she’s sweet & inexperienced, but not naïve, & she’s determined to win Cameron over & prove how sexy she finds him despite his flaws, both inside & out. They were good together & felt like a natural OTP. 💛
She smiled at him. And had the feeling that in his world that smile was waging a war. But that was just fine by her. She was the goddess of it, after all. And he insisted upon calling her a little goddess. So she would not let it go. She would not release hold. She would instead be the conqueror that he had named her.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this—def one of my fave neo-HPs. There’s a strong sense of redemption & purpose to the story, which has become something of a lost art in HQN’s overall catalogue, & I really like how this author isn’t afraid to weave darkness into her HEA fodder. 🥀 Five shiny stars for daring to be different—& also for bringing back memories of the zillion-and-one times my childhood self was glued to Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She could curve herself around him, just maybe, if she could get herself to bend that way. There would be no way to miss all the thorns.
NB: Despite the dark backstories for both MCs (particularly Cameron), this isn’t a hardcore story. It’s not an overdone erotica with copious bodily fluids & creepy sex; rather, it’s a romance novel version of B&tB from a modern fairy tale perspective. But I admire that Millie Adams & Jackie Ashenden aren’t backing down from the trafficking theme in their interwoven miniseries(es)—as much as we readers romanticize power & billionaires (men in particular), it’s good to remember that not all of them have altruistic motives. The HEAs for Athena, Rose, & Cameron make for fun angsty romances, but they’re not the reality for too many victims.
This is a Harley, but it’s also a true B&tB retelling, as opposed to HQN’s usual air-quote “retellings” (i.e. “D’aww, my hero has a cheek scar & is grumpy—he’s such a beast, lol”). Clearly Ms Adams is a fan of vintage Disney, as we see modernized nods to iconic imagery—the dark & isolated forest, the opulent but echoing castle, the magic mirror, the endless yummy food, Beauty’s flight leading the Beast’s wolf battle, his callow previous life & learning to appreciate small things, their dance in the ballroom with her yellow dress, Athena wearing a cloak while she wanders the estate. The entirety results in a cute-tinged-with-dark, romantic-tinged-with-sexy remodel of the cartoon, & I appreciated that the author was unashamedly dropping Easter eggs throughout.
He drew her toward him, and she was frozen completely in shock. The first thing was the scent of him. Sandalwood. His skin. Then his strength. His heat. It stole her breath, made her feel bound up in him. In his intensity. He was more than a man, he was something altogether much more dangerous. Much more compelling.
Contrary to the cover, Cameron has long brown hair & a close-cut beard. He’s also Scottish, 6’5”, & built like a tank with a scarred face & body—not superficial, as some areas have irreparable nerve damage. He’s brusque, pragmatic, & rude with a dark sense of humor & difficulty admitting that he cares; he’s also spent the last decade living as a true hermit in an isolated estate. 😗 I pictured a younger Sandor Clegane, not that generic Zoolander on the cover, which is delightful. Y’all familiar with my taste know that I’ve got a weakness for Sandor heroes in romance, so of course I was hoping Athena would be worthy of him, & she was. I liked Athena a lot, actually (not surprising, as I usually like Ms Adams’ heroines); she’s sweet & inexperienced, but not naïve, & she’s determined to win Cameron over & prove how sexy she finds him despite his flaws, both inside & out. They were good together & felt like a natural OTP. 💛
She smiled at him. And had the feeling that in his world that smile was waging a war. But that was just fine by her. She was the goddess of it, after all. And he insisted upon calling her a little goddess. So she would not let it go. She would not release hold. She would instead be the conqueror that he had named her.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this—def one of my fave neo-HPs. There’s a strong sense of redemption & purpose to the story, which has become something of a lost art in HQN’s overall catalogue, & I really like how this author isn’t afraid to weave darkness into her HEA fodder. 🥀 Five shiny stars for daring to be different—& also for bringing back memories of the zillion-and-one times my childhood self was glued to Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She could curve herself around him, just maybe, if she could get herself to bend that way. There would be no way to miss all the thorns.
NB: Despite the dark backstories for both MCs (particularly Cameron), this isn’t a hardcore story. It’s not an overdone erotica with copious bodily fluids & creepy sex; rather, it’s a romance novel version of B&tB from a modern fairy tale perspective. But I admire that Millie Adams & Jackie Ashenden aren’t backing down from the trafficking theme in their interwoven miniseries(es)—as much as we readers romanticize power & billionaires (men in particular), it’s good to remember that not all of them have altruistic motives. The HEAs for Athena, Rose, & Cameron make for fun angsty romances, but they’re not the reality for too many victims.
April 23, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 / 5
Cute beauty and the beast retelling with a HEA!
Cute beauty and the beast retelling with a HEA!
January 2, 2023
First book of 2023 and it was a disappointment. The plot is very similar to beauty and the beast. This book was a slow burn. Hero and heroine kiss and make love in the final chapter of the book and I was frustrated that nothing was happening. Hero was a prostitute when he was young and heroine on the contrary was a very sheltered woman. Their banter was cute but the romance was not developed. I found the book boring, it needed more action and less psychoanalysis.
March 20, 2023
It was ok. I wanted to like it, hero and heroine being isolated and alone for so long then finding each other sounds great, however there were several things in the story I hated and would never want to re-read it.
- I liked that the hero was celibate for 10 years before book started, but I did not like that hero was a prostitute as a teenager at all (for men and women). I was not a fan of it and then of it constantly being brought up in conversations and in his thoughts.
- I didn't like the flowery language throughout the whole story.
- It was such a slow burn they didn't even kiss til 80% into the book. P.
- I liked that the hero was celibate for 10 years before book started, but I did not like that hero was a prostitute as a teenager at all (for men and women). I was not a fan of it and then of it constantly being brought up in conversations and in his thoughts.
- I didn't like the flowery language throughout the whole story.
- It was such a slow burn they didn't even kiss til 80% into the book. P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2023
This was a very emotional story, but a very good one. I loved the way this tied into Jackie Ashenden story The maid the Greek married. I loved how Millie picked up the story and continued it. Would love to read Apollo’s story.
June 16, 2025
Na s. 41 může mít cokoliv chce.
Nepotřebuje nic.
To je zvláštní, protože má jenom to, v čem utekla. A ještě v tom zmokla.
Hodina pravdy na konci byla otravná.
[Millie Adams: Kráska a osamělý miliardář, české vydání]
Nepotřebuje nic.
To je zvláštní, protože má jenom to, v čem utekla. A ještě v tom zmokla.
Hodina pravdy na konci byla otravná.
[Millie Adams: Kráska a osamělý miliardář, české vydání]
January 31, 2023
This book was very good!
March 19, 2025
Lovely Fairy Tale
Just loved the story of Athena and Cameron. Nice take on 'Beauty and the Beast'.
Only complaint is lousy editing. Way to many grammatical errors.
Just loved the story of Athena and Cameron. Nice take on 'Beauty and the Beast'.
Only complaint is lousy editing. Way to many grammatical errors.
November 11, 2024
This is a bit interesting, the heroine has excaped imprisonment by a couple who had bought her from a kidnapper, and she ends up at Cameron's state of the art estate in Scotland. He is a tech genius who has a castle with all sorts of automated wizardry so he can control her whereabouts and speak with her without being seen.
Yes, it's Beauty and the Beast. Cameron has terrible scars from a fire, and has locked himself away for a decade. Athena has been locked away too, not through choice, and she is determined to live life and find her family again.
In order to protect her from the powerful gangs who are pursuing her, Cameron marries her (he is too rich and connected to be threatened) and then it's about how these two overcome their pasts, admit they love and deserve to be loved, and move forward together.
Yes, it's Beauty and the Beast. Cameron has terrible scars from a fire, and has locked himself away for a decade. Athena has been locked away too, not through choice, and she is determined to live life and find her family again.
In order to protect her from the powerful gangs who are pursuing her, Cameron marries her (he is too rich and connected to be threatened) and then it's about how these two overcome their pasts, admit they love and deserve to be loved, and move forward together.
June 23, 2025
Beauty and the Beast
Awesome plot. I loved the heroine- strong, level-headed and mature thinking. Warmed up to the Hero too. Could not put it down till the very end.
Awesome plot. I loved the heroine- strong, level-headed and mature thinking. Warmed up to the Hero too. Could not put it down till the very end.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews