Recently widowed Serena MacDonald Stewart focuses on her children to the exclusion of her career, her art, and her sanity. When her brothers ask her to oversee the family guest house on the Isle of Skye, it’s a chance to dust off her long-ignored business skills and make a new start. But her hopes for a smooth transition are dashed when the hotel manager, Malcolm Blake, turns out to be … irritating, condescending . . . and incredibly attractive.Malcolm Blake gave up everything–his home, his girlfriend, and his career–to return to Skye and raise his late sister’s teenage daughter. With few job opportunities available on the island, he signs on as the manager of the MacDonald family hotel, which he’s soon running successfully without interference from the owners. That is, until Serena shows up, challenging his authority and his conviction that there’s nothing missing from his new life on Skye.Before long, Serena and Malcolm have to admit the spark between them is more than mere irritation. But as single parents, there’s more on the line than their own hearts. Will their commitment to family be the thing that draws them together or the only thing that could keep them apart?
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Under Scottish Stars by Carla Laureano is book 3 in the MacDonald series. While it is the conclusion to the series, I read it as a standalone novel and that worked very well. Why didn’t I read the others first? This series is phenomenal. I can’t wait to read the rest and find out more about the other characters. This is Serena’s story. It’s about difficult marriages, loss of a spouse, loss of parents, adjusting to loss. The characters carry deep wounds and this complicates things. It is a fantastic novel and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.
After years of waiting for this third installment of the MacDonald Family Trilogy, it was so fun to read Under Scottish Stars. Serena is a widow with two young children, Em and Max. She is not looking for love when they move to the Isle of Skye for the summer to become more involved in the family hotel. After a rocky start with the manager, Malcolm Blake, she discovers much more to the man than she suspected. Malcom has given up a career in America to be his teenage niece Kylee’s guardian after her parents die in an accident. I’ve read most of Carla Laureano’s books and know they feature some memorable heroes. Malcolm has surpassed James as my favorite. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance.
Very romantic! I wasn’t ready to stop spending time with these characters. Or to leave the Isle of Skye. Recommended! (book 3 in the MacDonald Family trilogy)
This book can be read as a standalone.
I will be going back and reading the 1st and 2nd books in this trilogy.
I like all of the characters, the close-knit family who support each and the setting of this story (Scotland).
Serena and Malcom’s working together connection, which lead them to falling in love and then deciding to whether put their family needs first or their own happily ever after.
Well, since everyone has pretty much read my thoughts on this book and I agree with ya’ll this book was a delight to read! However; I didn’t know that it took four long years to wait for it but, since it did it was well worth the read!
I loved the scenery and the way that Laureano wrote, I felt like I was there with the MacDonald family and I loved every minute of it! I didn’t want to leave Scotland.
Faith is easy to accept and yes it’s very hard to hold on to. Even I have trouble with that. I wonder if God understands that I try so hard sometimes and other times I fail so miserably. I think each of us is that way,
I appreciate that Laureano shows imperfect characters and offers hope in such a way that it’s realistic and believable.
A wonderful story and one I enjoyed very much.
I appreciated the fact that I didn’t have to read the first books in this series to know what was going on.
I highly recommend this book. I love this author’s writing style very much.
My thanks to Netgalley and Tyndale for letting me read and review this beautiful story. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own,
So great to finally get to read Serena’s story! It was worth the 5 year wait!
If you haven’t read the first two books you don’t HAVE to but I highly recommend it. Each book is amazing and this book finishes the series beautifully.
Serena’s return to Skye is her chance for a fresh start but from day one her and Malcom don’t exactly see eye to eye. Normally this “enemies to more” type trope is one of my least favorite but Laureano made both characters so special that I couldn’t help but love them individually before they loved each other.
Malcolm’s innuendo and wit were great and he was incredibly impressive at pretty much everything – and he knew it. Serena has been through a lot and honestly I was impressed with how resilient she was. I enjoyed the character development for both of them throughout the book. I also appreciated Aunt Muriel’s wise words.
One of my favorite parts of this series has been the romance and this book did not disappoint. Sparks flew in this relationship and there were plenty of fantastic kisses.
Another of my favorite things about this series is the setting. I love the international setting of Skye. I love learning about different foods and customs and even words for things. I truly appreciate Laureano’s research to make the books authentic.
This book doesn’t get preachy at all but does have some moments where characters get answers and peace from God in a very realistic way that is incredibly uplifting.
Now that I’ve read this twice I’m actually super sad the series is over. But I will continue to read these books over and over because they are that good.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest review.
I won an advanced copy of this book (and proceeded to buy the rest of the series so I can force other people to enjoy them lol). What a lovely way to finish out a wonderful series! Serena and Malcolm are both single parents back home on the Isle of Skye. Serena’s brothers are both off on other pursuits, so they ask her to move home to Skye to look after their Aunt Muriel and help turn the inn into the profitable venture they know it could be with a little extra marketing. Malcolm, the inn’s manager, is crazy overqualified but he sees Serena as a threat to the job he needs to take care of his orphaned niece until she goes off to college next year. When they realize that they make a pretty good team, the real question is are either of them staying on Skye after the year is up? Or is Malcolm going to follow his niece to whatever college town she chooses and Serena go back to her old life in the city like her late husband demanded? Malcolm could give men everywhere tips on how to pull of adorable and ordinary romance. Happy Reading!
Under Scottish Stars by Carla Laureno is the most charming contemporary Christian novel with family at its centre.
The novel is set on the Isle Of Skye which holds a dear place in my heart as we spent our honeymoon there many years ago (pre the road bridge). The locations were familiar to me enabling me to ‘walk’ through the action.
All the characters were delightfully drawn. Carla Laureano perfectly captured the mannerisms of the young children – I loved their closeness to their mother.
Family is important. Characters lay down their personal dreams for their family. The reader witnesses selfless love in action.
What we teach our children is vital. Children learn by watching us. Sometimes they copy behaviours from us that are not what we want for them. We want our children to live free and not to be shackled by our insecurities. Likewise God wants us to live in freedom and surrender our lives to Him.
When we hurt we may withdraw, even from God, blaming Him for our situations. We think God does not care in His silence. The reality is we are so focused and looking inward that we have forgotten to look out and up to Him. When we do, we will realise God was there all the time, patiently awaiting our return.
God has given each one of us gifts. We need to use these gifts and not hide them away.
There was a wonderful, warm, community atmosphere to the novel as the reader was welcomed to Skye.
Carlo Laureano is a new author to me. I adored Under Scottish Stars. I shall certainly be seeking out more by her.
I will leave you with my favourite quote:
“Some things in life you just have to take on faith.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
No Spoilers!
Och, how I enjoyed my visit to the island of Skye—with its small town ambience, tiny whitewashed, stone croft houses, and the mysterious cover of fog hovering over the slim white lighthouse! And oh, the romance of stargazing in Kinloch Forest with that special someone…thus the title Under Scottish Stars.
If you don’t love kissing scenes then best pass this novel on by, because there’s plenty of passionate sparks between Serena MacDonald Stewart and Malcolm Blake! Malcolm—what a braw, perfect hero—hardworking and devoted to raising his teenage niece. At first I didn’t like him at all and with his flirtatious innuendos, I simply thought of him as a polished player. Talented and lovely Serena Stewart, a widow raising two children, isn’t ready for a relationship and has many trust issues as far as men go.
More than just a tale of burgeoning love, Ms. Laureano tackles the challenges of single parenthood in a story about change & the fear of losing control that comes with it. I could actually hear the characters speaking with a Scottish burr and thoroughly enjoyed how the author interspersed words such as rucksack, bloke, porridge (who ate that besides Goldilocks and the Three Bears?), knackered, brioche, and duvet. I love a book that teaches me something!
“Serena Marie, you need to stop blaming God for all the heartache in your life. Until you do, you will never hear His voice over the sound of your own hurt.” Advice many of us need to heed!
*I received a complimentary copy of this novel through Tyndale House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are entirely my own.*
Sweet romance, great setting, very family oriented
4-4.5stars
I was drawn to the story by the title and beautiful cover illustration; Scotland is one of my favorite settings. I had not focused on the indications that it was “Christian” romance but I enjoyed its sweetness, with lovely, close family relationships and clean romance. The religious faith of the characters is obvious and surfaces at critical moments but it’s not in your face so IMO the story works for a wider readership. With a widowed mother of young children and an uncle who’s taken on guardianship of his teenage niece due to his sister and brother-in-law’s sudden death as the main protagonists, parental responsibilities and the sacrifices made for a child’s welfare are key to the issues Serena and Malcolm confront. I found their story realistic, well-written and enriched by the descriptions of Skye’s natural beauty and island lifestyle.
I understand that this is the third novel in a series about the MacDonald siblings. Serena’s brothers and their stories are touched upon and brought up-to-date but I did not need to read the earlier novels in the series to thoroughly enjoy Under Scottish Stars.
Skye is a place that I have had the pleasure to briefly visit in early summer and fall but this story, and especially the winter stargazing, convinced me that I need to return!
Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This long awaited finale to the MacDonald Family Trilogy doesn’t disappoint. Under Scottish Stars is Serena MacDonald Stewart’s story and it’s a good one. Sparks fly the moment she meets the family’s hotel manager, Malcolm Blake. Malcolm comes across as a bit crass, but underneath he’s a teddy bear. A lovable teddy bear, actually, especially when he’s with Serena’s children and his niece. Serena and Malcolm both are dealing with loss and heartache, which makes their relationship all the more tender. There are a few scenes where the entire family is together, which gives us the chance to get caught up on what’s been happening with James and Ian, and also one particularly humorous scene when the brothers make it clear Malcolm better not hurt their sister. It’s a good, solid conclusion, albeit sad because we must say goodbye to Skye and the MacDonald’s.
This is the last book in the MacDonald Family Trilogy, and it was just as sweet as the other ones.
Carla Laureano has done it again and written an endearing story of two people struggling to find purpose, acceptance, and love.
The characters in this book are so relatable and captivating. They have hurts and losses that we all can identify with, as well as having strong feelings and emotions deep down inside. There were also moments of sweet romance and swoon-worthy kisses.
One thing this author does is take you to a place of beauty in the setting, “under the Scottish stars!” I loved all the pictures of stargazing and rolling hills that she choices to paint. This author has a real grasp of the culture and feel of all things Scottish. It swept me away to a part of the world I’ve always wanted to visit. I enjoyed envisioning myself walking around.
In this book, there isn’t a deep emphasis on all things spiritual, but the author does bring in tender moments with the two main characters where they struggle through their beliefs and their personal relationship with God. That made this book more real to me because we all struggle at times.
I loved the ending and how it all tied beautifully together. I truly enjoyed reading this book and being taken away for a few days.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
‘Faith was an easy thing to talk about but hard to hold on to. And even harder to regain once you let it slip through your fingers.’
I have been waiting for this book for FOUR long years! When I read the first book in Laureano’s ‘MacDonald Family Trilogy’, James’s story, I knew in my heart that Serena had a story to tell. Her character just pulled at my heart. Then I read ‘London Tides’, second in the series, and discovered that the author had changed publishers and the third book would be delayed. So I read the first book again and then the second again. I was so ready for this book and I was not disappointed.
Serena comes back to the island of Skye in Scotland to help out at her family’s hotel and pretty soon clashes with the manager, Malcolm. He is not exactly on Skye by choice, but is doing a wonderful job running the hotel. He doesn’t need Serena butting in telling him what to do. And she certainly doesn’t need him.
It felt so very good to just read the first sentence of this book, then settle down deep into it. Waiting so long for this book to be published just made me long for it more and the pleasure of it that more intense. Laureano is a wonderful writer, able to dig deep into her characters’ emotions and pull together a totally satisfying read that sticks with the reader long after the last word is read. I highly recommend this novel.
*My thanks to Tyndale House Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion expressed here is entirely my own.
The final installment to this series was so worth the wait! Carla Laureano has a way of writing sweet, heartwarming stories, and this one was no exception. Her beautiful description of Scotland made me feel like I was there. I loved the banter between Serena and Malcolm in the begining and then watching how their feelings for each other grew as they overcame past heartaches. The secondary characters were enjoyable, especially Aunt Muriel, and it was good to see other family members from the first two books. The storyline kept me engaged throughout the book. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.**
This book made me want to hop on a plane and visit Skye. Serena is a feisty heroine that definitely deserved someone who loves her and encourages her dreams. I love that she was not easily swooned by Malcolm’s seduction. Malcolm proved to be a great compliment to Serena. His pursue of Serena was great to see. They have both dealt with tragedies and are finding their way out. The slow build of their relationship felt real. Malcolm’s interaction with Serena’s children and his niece will touch your heart. I will be reading the other books in the series to catch up.
I would recommend this book to my friends, family and Book Club readers. I received this book from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This is part of a book series but can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read the other books and fully enjoyed this story. I’d like to go back and read the others now. I thought the book had good dialogue & nice flow to the story. The h is in a period of growth and change. I thought the author wrote it in a believable & relatable way. The dynamic and romance between the h & H was sweet and encouraging. I thought how will their struggles be resolved it’s getting close to the end. The conclusion wasn’t rushed and put a smile to my face. I really would love to visit Scotland now. I felt I did get to just a little throught this book. Content was clean & I very much appreciate that. There were a few mild mentions of the type: I should go home before things get to heated. Or a couple of cheeky tongue in cheek innuendos.
The first book I ever picked up written by Carla Laureano was Five Days in Skye. I immediately followed with London Tides. Finally, a few years after those books released, readers get Serena’s story, and it is worth the wait.
Under Scottish Stars returns readers to the Isle of Sky in Scotland. From the sights to the community to the food, Laureano has done her research and included it in this book, making you feel like you are right there with Serena and Malcolm.
The banter between these two is so much fun from the get-go. Even though they don’t see eye to eye on, well, pretty much anything, time spent in proximity with each other opens their eyes to characteristics they appreciate in the other.
Laureano’s character development is wonderful with both Malcolm and Serena growing and changing throughout the story. The addition of each of their families only deepens that strength.
In a nutshell, even though we had to wait for this one, it was worth it.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read the previous 2 books in this series and enjoyed revisiting the characters.
Carla Laureano is an excellent author.
I’ve never read Carla Laureano but have heard good things. Turns out, those things were right. This is a gentle story of finding love after loss, and the things that can get in the way. This is a heartwarming story and I’ll be reading more of this author.
There’s no doubt that Carla Laureano can write! Her descriptions of food can cause your mouth to water, her main and supporting characters are multi-faceted, and there’s always a sense of “realness” to her stories, no matter what is happening. In the past, I’ve enjoyed reading several of her novels for the reasons I’ve just mentioned. The one area that has sometimes felt lacking to me is the romance aspect—it’s always there, but I often haven’t connected with it. So I’m very happy to say that the romance in Under Scottish Stars is wonderful!
I. Loved. Serena. And. Malcolm. Together.
First of all, she’s older than he is by a handful of years, which is something I enjoy but don’t see very often. Their banter in the beginning is so fun, and the way he purposefully pursues her is totally swoonworthy! I also loved the way he connected with her children, especially Em. And the chemistry between them crackles.
There’s so much more to this novel than romance, of course: Serena restarting her life on Skye while dealing with her daughter’s grief and her own lost dreams; Malcolm trying to keep his promise to his late sister as he helps prepare his niece for college; the glimpses into the lives of the other MacDonald family members (who were featured in previous novels in this trilogy).
This is a book that will delight fans of the MacDonald Family books, but it will also win over new Laureano readers. It’s simply wonderful.
Disclosure of material connection: I received this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.