She’s done it again! This story is very well written and it makes me want to visit the Isle of Skye. Main characters Serena and Malcolm, both successful and smart, team up to run Serena’s family guest house. Of course sparks fly, both good and bad, and they have to decide whether or not they want to make a relationship work. You’ll have to read it for yourself to see how it turns out. A very enjoyable and engaging read.

I'm a fan of this author's work but this book fell short. For me, this story lacked insight into the characters especially their past. I wondered throughout the book why they made certain decisions. I for one would have liked more details into what made these characters who they are. In my opinion, this book catered to a more secular audience, with too many suggestive and sexual references. It was a disappointing conclusion for this series.

If you follow my blog you’ll know that this book is outside of my preferred genres. I rarely read books set in modern day and I almost never read a book with a story line that is almost entirely focused on a romance. Under Scottish Stars made it onto my radar because I read and enjoyed Five Days in Skye (the first book in the series). While I was a bit put off by the tension in London Tides (the second book in the series), I have a weakness for any story set in Scotland, so I decided to give book three a chance.

Under Scottish Stars was light and easy reading. A Scottish island, family commitments and a serious attraction set the stage for two people, who have both seen a number of challenges in life, having to decide whether they can love each other or if life has thrown too much at them for them to be able to follow their dreams.

As I love Skye and could really picture the locations in my mind, I found this novel a pleasant companion on a rainy afternoon. It won’t make it onto my top ten list, but I enjoyed reading it all the same.

NOTE: All three books in the series can stand alone. Characters from the first two novels show up in this book, but not in a way that you need to know their back story.

I received a free digital galley of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Under Scottish Stars is the third book of the MacDonald Family Trilogy by Carla Laureano. The setting of the story holds the largest appeal. Who can resist a story located on the beautiful Isle of Skye? The cover photography is attractive as well.

The basic writing of the story is okay. The characters are fine, too. There is really nothing about the story that stood out as much more than that, except perhaps the scenery. Readers will not need to read the previous two installments to follow along just fine. The author does an excellent job of briefly mentioning the backstories of other characters without wasting time focusing on them and their stories are not really important to this book.

Many will not care or feel differently, but this is what made the book less than desirable for this reviewer. Starting with the first time Malcolm and Serena meet and continuing with nearly every subsequent encounter, they are either thinking or saying something with some type of sexual innuendo. The end result is the impression that the protagonists were more interested in pushing the edge of their physical relationship rather than developing a true and lasting relationship. Don't misunderstand, the author put in some other aspects of a relationship based on more than lustful desires, but somehow it felt outshined by all of the innuendo. The most frustrating part is that as a reader, I really want to like Malcolm. In fact, I really like him, but the aforementioned hyper-focus on the physical relationship soured it a bit for me.

This is the third novel in the MacDonald Family series. This is the first book I’ve read in this trilogy I enjoyed this heart-warming romance between two unlikely people. Both agreed they had feelings towards each other, but it would not be wise to act on them since Serena was Malcom’s boss. It turns out there was more to Malcom and Serena then the reader first perceives.

The Scotland setting was unique, charming, and fun to be at with this unique cast of characters who face some hard choices. I appreciated that the main characters did not just let their feelings run their lives, but on the other hand they both were about to over think everything. They both needed balance.

I liked that the author wove a natural spiritual thread through the story as they prayed, searched their hearts, and sought council for their predicament. I enjoyed the story, but I know I would have gotten more out of this if I had read the other two books in the series. I really enjoyed the series by this author titled The Saturday Night Supper Club. Every book in that series is a home run. I look forward to reading the other two books in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!

The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

So worth the wait! Malcolm is my kind of hero, and Serena is the perfect heroine. But the kids made the story heart-warming and enjoyable. I’m sorry to have to say goodbye to this cast of characters. I could definitely go for another book!

(4.5 stars) - A worthy conclusion to a wonderful series!

[The eagerly awaited 3rd installment of the MacDonald Family trilogy is a book that can technically stand alone, but will be a richer, fuller story if you read them all]

I discovered this series last year, so I haven't had to wait as long as some, but I was no less excited for its release. And what a romantic & satisfying story it is!

Serena & Malcolm are the focus of this story. Serena has been given the job of overseeing the family's guest house at which Malcolm is the manager. Oil and vinegar at least can reside side by side in peace, but these two are more like gasoline and sparks, lol. But the passionate sparks aren't just from conflict ;-)

Enemies-to-lovers tropes are always so much fun & the author does a great job keeping the conflict believable while still keeping the two main characters sympathetic. I loved this one nearly as much as the first!

*Clean romance level: passionate kisses, nothing graphic

I binge-read the first two books in this series earlier in 2020 (and loved them)--so you can imagine I was dying to find out how it would conclude. Waiting for 'Under Scottish Stars' to release was such a hard wait -- and then it appeared on NetGalley! Yussss!!

Honestly, starting 'Under Scottish Stars' felt like coming home. Familiar characters from the first two books (so yes, totes read them in order), paired with a beautiful Scottish setting, absolutely made for a delightful read. It was well worth the anticipation, and indeed may even be my favorite book of the series.

Main character Serena noted that while her brother James got the cooking genes, she got the baking ones. Every dish mentioned sounded delicious (I'm ready for a mini cookbook to come out with referenced dishes! MacDonald Family Cookbook, anyone?!); surely they. need a taste tester, right? In person and on site?

While I've been to Scotland several times, reading this series -- and 'Under Scottish Stars' in particular -- thoroughly makes me want to not only visit Skye, but also move it up my ever-growing list of places to go.

A definite winner of a book.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions 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.*

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in the MacDonald Family trilogy by Carla Laureano and waited several years for “Under Scottish Stars” to be published. I’ll admit, I was put off by the back cover copy, a widow and an orphan don’t make for easy reading usually. Whilst Carla doesn’t avoid the pain of loss and it’s ramifications, don’t be concerned, this book has plenty of light-hearted moments and sufficient time has passed for the characters that the grief is no longer where they are dwelling.

Serena is intelligent and sassy, I took to her from the outset. A caring mom and niece, she is welcomed back into her home community on Skye. Malcolm is the manager of the hotel owned by Serene and her family. The two go toe to toe as they find their new roles as she becomes more active in the business.

Malcolm is a little rough around the edges but all heart and the two have great fun getting to know each other better whilst juggling three kids and a growing business. I particularly enjoyed the fabulous dialogue in this one, not just of the lead characters but everyone! The interactions are heartfelt and often humourous. When dealing with tough topics, Carla does a beautiful job of capturing the emotions. The plot may not be surprising but I found the journey refreshing and hope-filled!

If you enjoy a good romance, this is one for you but don’t miss out on the first two – equally good! It’s a five out of five on the enJOYment scale and highly recommended!

Ok well, just a warning, this book will take over your day, your night, your weekend! I started this book and proceeded to read it every chance I got til I finished it. Love this story and the entire series for that matter. The setting is so intriguing. The characters are ones I would like to know in life. I loved the build up and romantic tension leading up to the first kiss. It was well written. Tugged at my heartstrings! I would have loved some more internal context though. I felt like the characters could have been more complex and even more life like. I wanted to know more about both of the main characters past. It would have taken the story to the next level. I also felt like there were a few scenes that were maybe unnecessary filler. But I still loved the story and would love to read more about these characters and Scotland.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

<i>Under Scottish Stars</i> is the third and final book in Carla Laureano's Macdonald Family Trilogy. This was the first in the series that I had read myself, and I found that it read quite well as a standalone as well. Like most series, you'll have more background of all the characters by reading in order, however, enough is given so that I didn't feel the least bit lost.

In this book we meet (or reunite with) Serena as she returns to her family's hotel to help out. Upon her return she meets Malcom, manager of that hotel. While their initial meeting doesn't go so well, it's not long before sparks fly. And boy do they fly! This book might be a little bit steamier than what one might come to expect from a Christian publisher... but not too steamy! This is still very much a clean romance... but there is a lot of heavy kissing. While I personally don't mind this in a love story at all, some more conservative readers may not appreciate it as much!

The story was good--- a great romance, a decent amount of drama to keep it entertaining, and great family dynamics... but it's perhaps the setting of the story that really set it apart. It'll whisk you off to the Scottish island of Skye with it's beautiful storytelling... and you just might find yourself dreaming of a trip to Scotland for real.

Overall, this was a good read and one that fans of romance are sure to enjoy!

<i>**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own. </i>

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,

💞Sweet romance, great setting, very family oriented😊

4-4.5🌟stars🌌
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.

I am not normally a contemporary enthusiast. However, I greatly enjoyed reading the latest and last installment to the MacDonald Family Trilogy. For one, you can’t go wrong when the story takes place on a breathtaking Scottish island. I could feel my ancestral Scottish brogue coming through my inner reading voice, and it simply heightened my enjoyment.

Recently widowed Serena MacDonald Stewart focuses solely on her children—to the exclusion of career, artistic pursuits, and her sanity. When her brothers ask her to use her long-ignored business skills to oversee the family guest house on the Isle of Skye, she thinks it might be a chance for a new start. But her hopes for a smooth transition are dashed when the current hotel manager, Malcolm Blake, turns out to be irritating, condescending ... and incredibly attractive.

I personally do not share many, if any, interests (except for our shared sweet tooth) with Serena, but her character was so rich and full of depth that I found myself relating and empathizing with her. I felt her insecurity, her pain, her guilt, her fear, her loneliness... but I also felt her love, her passion, her courage, and inevitably, her healing. I also loved how loving, caring, but imperfect Serena was towards her children. She is a wonderful mother but I appreciated how flawed she was as well. It shows the true pain but also the beauty of motherhood. Sometimes books/movies make it out to be easy or the complete opposite, terrible, but from what I have seen in real life, it’s messy and often full of sleep-deprivation... it’s also full of joy and ultimately the greatest blessing.

Malcolm Blake was a wonderful counterpart. From the first of many heated arguments to the quiet, tender moments, their relationship was beautiful and inspiring. I always find relationships that begin with great dislike and then transition to deep love quite humorous, and the 180 in this book does not disappoint. A great modern romance for the modern-day.

Now beyond the great characters, the storyline was intriguing and kept me engaged all the way through. I honestly never felt a dull moment and I often found myself sneaking away for a few minutes to read during the day, which again, is rare for me when involving contemporary novels.

My New Dream: Picnic under the blanket of stars on a cool April night on the Isle of Skye 🧺 💫 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

References are made to the first two books as they are written about Serena’s two older brothers, but Under the Scottish Stars can be read as a stand-alone.

Under Scottish Stars will be released July 7, 2020.

The Red Review: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
***5 Hearts: Compelling Characters, Well-Written, Interesting Storyline, Unable to Stop, Desire to Re-read

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.

After adoring book one of this series and not being a fan of book two I went into this one with a little trepidation not knowing which side it would land on. In the end it kinda fell somewhere between the two but I did enjoy it overall!
Serena took me a little bit to warm up to. I had liked her in the previous books but she was a little harsh and judgmental with Malcom and that rubbed me wrong. She came to her senses though and got more likable as the book went on.
Malcom was great and I really admired the way he stepped up to the plate with his niece, never once complaining about how it had interrupted his life. I liked the ways he flirted with Serena getting her a little off balance (though there were a couple comments he made that gave me a little pause they didn’t go to far).
The two of them made a cute couple and I enjoyed watching them fall in love.
I also appreciated the way all the kids were written, especially Kylee, Malcom’s teenage niece. Given her circumstances it would have been easy for her to be the sullen moody type but instead she had a good head on her shoulders and was kind, respectful, and helpful.
It was fun to see how the other MacDonald siblings’ lives were progressing and catch up with them a bit. And of course being back on Skye was a treat!
If you were a fan of the first two books the wait is finally over and I think you’ll enjoy this one!

This is not exactly my type of book. I was not expecting so much romance... So, for all you lovers of lots of kissy kissy stuff, this may be what you are looking for!
There was a good bit of the same old thing going on--girl can't stand guy, and he can't stand her; next thing you know, they're in love... The thing that wasn't the same old stuff was the location, and I did enjoy that part of it!! I also enjoyed the stargazing/constellations part of the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book, even though it wasn't my favorite.

4.5
What a wonderful story and a perfect wrap up to the series. I got lost in Scotland and the lives of this family and enjoyed every minute of it. Scotland is on my bucket list because of the MacDonald Family Trilogy! I was finishing the last part of the story, trying to hide my tears from my college-age son. Dear author Carla Laureano I hope you will consider a Christmas novella, I just don't want to be done with this family! Thank you for penning such great stories!

What a thrill to finally get to read the conclusion of The Macdonald Family trilogy! It's been a long time coming, and was definitely worth the wait. "Under Scottish Stars" has all the romantic sizzle and heat readers have come to expect from Laureano, plus it offers a wonderful family reunion of characters that fans of the previous two books will enjoy. The conflict keeping Serena and Malcolm apart did feel a little forced at times, but overall this was a delightful read and one for the keeper shelf. Recommended!