Ella

South Landers #2

by Virginia Taylor

Ella Beaufort knew better than to rely on a sexy stranger. But with two sisters to support on the modest earnings of the family sheep station, she accepts shearer Cal Lynton’s help—along with his intoxicating kiss. The most Ella can hope for is an affair. Something a woman in her situation wouldn’t dare—or would she?
 
Heir to his family fortune, Charlton Alfred Landon Lynton abandoned his privileged life to prove his independence. He doesn’t have time for a woman, but once he woos the lovely Ella into his bed, he is ready to make her his wife…until she shocks him with her refusal, claiming she can only marry a rich man! Angry and brokenhearted, the heir in disguise leaves the beautiful golddigger behind…
 
But amid the breathtaking landscape of South Australian, Ella and Cal are destined to meet again. Will their heated reunion lead to cruel confrontation—or the kind of passion that lasts a lifetime?

Genres: Historical, Romance, Historical Romance, Australia

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2015

About the author

Virginia is a full time writer who used to be a nurse/midwife, a scenic painter and designer, a renovator of heritage houses, and still is an avid gardener. She is also a bad driver, an unenthusiastic cook and a reader of all things bookish.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ella, Dorella, Cinderalla…Cal is her Prince Charming whatever name she uses.

I’m a huge historical romance fan and for some strange reason I have never read an Australian historical romance, which is pretty slack considering I’m an Aussie. Reading Ella, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. The author has an ability to make you feel like you’re seeing the scenes. I could picture the landscapes, animals and characters clearly. I know the heat that makes a person perspire and clothes stick to your skin. I’ve seen the cockatoos having a laugh. I’ve met the men and women who face the battles of drought. Australia is a beautiful country that I’m proud of and seeing the struggles our ancestors went through made it even more amazing to me.

Ella and her sisters are struggling to keep their sheep station afloat. Their father died leaving them in debt. If they can survive the shearing season, they hope to make enough money from the sale of the wool, orchard pickings and the property itself, to set them up in the city. Rose, the eldest sister, is to find an eligible husband. Ella’s task is to take on the responsibility of looking after their younger sister Vianna. The task of surviving is a little bumpy and treacherous for these inexperienced young women but luckily with Ella’s hard work and Cal coming to work for them they just might make it.

Cal was the heir to a fortune…or so he thought until his Grandad, Charles and he get into a Barney. Charles has never handed thing to Cal on a platter and expects him to work hard for his place at the top. Cal doesn’t mind the hard work, as long as he gets treated with respect. When he realises that his Grandfather doesn’t respect him, he decides to leave and make his own way.

Cal’s journey to make his fortune takes him to the Beaufort Station where Ella and her sisters are in the middle of shearing season. Cal can see the struggles that Ella faces trying to manage the property. He is a very fast and accomplished shearer and knowledgeable of property management and maintenance. This knowledge he shares with Ella and a mutual attraction develops as they get to know each other. Both Cal and Ella are smitten, but feel like they can’t take their relationship further as Ella needs to be able to support her family and Cal thinks that he can’t do that until his business is set up.

Ella is a wonderful story showing us the struggles faced by women who are meant to play a certain role, but unfortunately have to fill many more to survive. Ella is a strong woman determined to care for her family and see them find their happiness, even to her own detriment. Cal doesn’t want Ella to struggle alone and is determined to be there for her. I loved seeing this couple work, talk, play and fight together. The intimate scenes were sweet with a little heat to show they are perfect for each other. I was convinced from the start they were meant for each other, but happy to see it all play out. I enjoyed this story and will definitely be reading more from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5★s

Ella Beaufort and her two sisters Rose and Vianna had had to return to the family sheep station in South Australia after their father’s death to keep it going until they could sell. But none of them had any idea on the running of a sheep station. Ella was hard working and determined to make money with the sale of the wool so the sisters could purchase a house in Adelaide. They were city girls at heart, though Ella loved the station which they had all grown up on. When the usual team of shearers arrived, she also took on another man by the name of Cal Lynton. Cal was to prove to be an integral part in keeping the station going…and Ella’s heart.

Charlton Landon had left his grandfather’s station, determined to make his own way and prove his independence. His grandfather continually poured cold water on his ideas for improvement; he was no support to his grandson, lumping him in the same category as his long-dead son. But Charlton disappeared – his grandfather finally realized the error of his ways but was it too late for him?

What would happen with the sheep station? Would they eventually be able to sell for good money, or would the drought prevent them finding a way to reduce their debts? And what would happen to Ella and her deep wish to marry a rich man, whether it be for love or only for money?

Ella by Aussie author Virginia Taylor is a historical romance set in 1866 Australia - it was the life of the author’s grandmother which prompted the telling, and (amongst other things) it details how hard women worked during the settlement of the Australian colony. A comment from me regarding the cover – if I had not been told, I wouldn’t have realized this novel was historical fiction. The cover doesn’t depict the story inside and to my mind, poorly represents it. Recommended to lovers of historical romance.

With thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy to read and review.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

ELLA: Australia, sheep, misunderstanding and love ! A good back story....

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent, stubborn and determined, Ella was going to make her family sheep station work. Too bad she had no idea of how to go about it. When the quiet sheep shearer, Cal Lynton has intelligent answers to her questions, his lessons will teach her what she needed to know, but can a woman alone gain the respect needed to make a go of it? Her sisters are depending on her and she finds she is depending on Cal, for more than his guidance. Cal has a secret, he is not who he appears to be, but he needs Ella to love him for himself, unlike the shallow debutantes his family parades before him. Can he convince this headstrong woman of his love? Will she deny her feelings to care for her family or will she lose both the station and her heart?

Ella by Virginia Taylor takes us to the South Lands of Australia where life is difficult and making a living almost impossible, especially if you are a young woman. Meet Ella, fall in love with her spirit and her strength and watch as she gives up her own live for the sake of her sisters. If that isn’t a strong heroine, nothing is! Cal has quiet strength, his own determination to prove a point to his wealthy family. As a rock for Ella to lean on, he is perfect, minus that little secret he holds.

Virginia Taylor has created a love story entwined with a story of survival, with scenes that come to life with her descriptions. A touch of romance with wonderful dialogue , witty banter and brilliant characters, hop aboard for a trip down under without leaving your favorite reading chair!

I received an ARC edition from Lyrical Press in exchange for my honest review.

Series: South Landers - Book 2
Publication Date: October 13, 2015
Publisher: Lyrical Press
ISBN 9781616509255
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 222 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "South Landers" series. I have not read the first book yet so for me it was a stand alone book. Although after having this book, I must get the first one! Our heroine is Ella Beaufort who work on a family sheep farm in Australia. The hero is Cal Lynton who is not what he seems. Cal is trying to prove himself and goes about as a common person other than the rich aristocrat. Ella with sisters to supports doesn't know of Cal true self and thinks that they can only have a brief time together as she has to find a rich man to marry to help support them. Cal is quickly taken in by Ella but when she tells him that she can only settle for someone with money, Cal is shocked. This starts the story of how they had a lot of hard feelings and dis-trust to overcome to get to the end of their love story.

[Francene Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. From the start, this intriguing story paints a wonderful picture of an untamed land, which suits Ella's strong, stubborn nature to perfection. How else would a young woman, left to care for a spoiled older and a willful younger sister, survive every test and challenge along the way? Sensual in parts, the plot reveals an overwhelming attraction between two people who seem wrong for each other, and are determined to remain apart. Excellent writing and clever distractions keep the reader wondering if they'll ever get together.

[Sally Hannoush · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters really had my attention- so much that I read the book until it was finished. It was a love story filled with determination and stubbornness. I liked how several of the characters found what they were looking for and in the end everything worked out. Ella is a Historical Romance that works in any setting in the country. It takes place in Australia but would do just as well if you enjoy Regency England.

[annapi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ella Beaufort and her two sisters are struggling to keep their station solvent in order to sell it to make enough money to live on. Cal is the sheep shearer who admires her determination and teaches her the little things that she needs to know to run the place. Fireworks between the two, etc. etc.

This could have been so much better than it was. Loved the historical South Australia setting, enjoyed the premise, and I absolutely loved the dog - but filled with way too many eye-rolling tropes, the worst being those to keep the sexual tension high - and then the corny cliched "Cinderella" references at the very end. I'm tempted to give it two stars, but I like the gutsy heroine even though the author makes her do idiotic things just for the sake of pandering to readers who expect bosom-heaving in their romances. So 2.5 stars, and I will generously round up to 3.

[WyoGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow first half but better second half

I almost quit reading this story as it is rather slow and featured more details about raising sheep in Australia than I cared to know; I wanted more compelling stakes and a sense that things needed to happen to prevent calamity. There is a timeline, but it lacks urgency for most of the first half.

The second half picks up the pace, and there’s a bit (a bit) more drama. What makes the story worth finishing is that the main characters are a good match.

There are numerous comma errors, but otherwise the writing is easy to follow. There are somewhat detailed sex scenes, references to the working men drinking and smoking, but there’s no profanity. The antagonists are not much of a problem, so the climax is rather subdued.

This is a good story for readers who enjoy learning about life in earlier times.

[susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bad hatlewuin romancr

[Giulia Vasquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

interesting

on my second read this didnt feel as amazing
quite the opposite, the lack of disposition from the author to deal with the elements she introduces was grating on my nerves - specially when it comes to the relationsip between sisters

also annoying was how she wrote the heroine to be quite stupid and dense

just as another book of hers, starling,
there is zero groveling and everything is dandy in a matter of two pages

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed book