I loved reading this story set in Skye as it reminded me of my visit there and the descriptions of the environment were great. Romance lovers will really enjoy this as the development of the relationship between the two main characters is spicy and well done. The story around the romance lingered but I would have liked a bit more of that. Still, well worth reading. ( )

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I have a new favorite author and a new favorite book! I practically swallowed this book whole; it was that excellent. Carla Laureano’s writing voice lilts warmly and engagingly and immerses you in the story until you become part of the scene rather than just reading words on the page. The characters reached out and introduced themselves to me … and then quickly became old friends I was joining on their journey. I hadn’t read more than 2 or 3 pages before the brewing romance had me solidly in its cheering section, and the tenderness wielded as different characters wrestled with God was the perfect blend of the reality of faith without being too preachy.

Romance is certainly a key (and delicious) element in this story, but even more important is the theme of restoration. Both James and Andrea are struggling to find their place with God – James in the public eye and Andrea after she felt God abandoned her. James himself expressed Andrea’s struggle with God as not one who had given up but one who was seeking and “waiting for something to prove her [doubts] wrong. Something to make her believe again.” I think many of us can relate to that idea – either because we ourselves have personally felt that way or we know/love someone who has. It’s not that we quit believing, but instead we are desperate for someone to show us why we shouldn’t quit. As Ms. Laureano so eloquently put it, “We’re all broken. We’re only human. Some wounds only God can mend.” So thankful that He is in the business of doing just that…

I’m very glad I had the opportunity to review Five Days in Skye. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and a rare spot on my favorites shelf! (I already had a copy but was given an ARC of the re-issue by Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.) Read more of my review here: https://readingismysuperpower.wordpress.com/2015/04/21/review-five-days-in-skye/ ( )

Contemporary Romance

This is a romance set in beautiful Scotland. Andrea Sullivan is a professional hospitality consultant; she is good at her job but on her last consultation she rebuffed a clients advances. Andrea feels she is being punished when her boss sends her to Scotland and international acclaimed Chef James MacDonald on a consulting job. Andrea is obsessed with her job and redeeming herself after the last fiasco. Both characters are strong independent career minded people. Andrea keeps seeing James as a man with ulterior motives. All James wants is to open a hotel in Scotland that he did not get to open with his father before he passed and to become close to Andrea. The book begins with a funny meeting between Andrea and James, that just made me howl. What follows is a ramp thru beautiful Scotland. The authors descriptions of Scotland were so vivid I could see each scene she described. Scotland would be the one place in the world I would love to visit and her descriptions just fueled that desire even more. Ms. Laureano created two main characters that have to learn to trust, forgive old hurts, heal old wounds, and love again not only within themselves and each other, but in their relationship with God. Faith is an interwoven theme in the book. Ms. Laureano did a great job pacing the book, backgrounds, and faith thru the story and the book does not feel preachy or stiff. Follow James and Andrea as they fall in love; Andrea falls for Scotland and James, and finds her love of God. Andrea reckoning with God was heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. A truly good love story between Andrea, James and God.

I would recommend highly recommend this book.

I received this book from the publishers and Netgalley for an honest review. ( )

Will Andrea open her heart to God and love on the beautiful Isle of Skye? Or will she let her ambitions of a successful career interfere with a life full of love and happiness?

Andrea Sullivan is a hospitality consultant with one last chance to save her job and land the promotion that she has worked so had to achieve. She is not affected by her new client, James MacDonald, a Scottish celebrity chef, until his true character begins to show. Andrea just wants to get her job done and close the deal, while keeping her heart walled off from any damage. Both Andrea and James have experienced heartbreak and disappointment in the past. As they spend more time together they begin to wonder if God brought them together for a reason. After spending five days on the Isle of Skye, will Andrea open her heart and let James in?

Five Days in Skye is the first book that I have read by Carla Laureano and I was a captive audience from the first chapter! The vocabulary and descriptions she used brought me straight into the middle of the Scottish Highlands, and I didn't want to leave. I burned through this book so quickly, and had the worst case of P.B.D. (Post Book Depression) at the end, because I wanted it to keep going. The romance side of things were very tasteful and respectful. This book was very inspiring for me and I think that many people would be able relate to the characters. I think it is safe to say that everyone has experienced hurt and disappointment of one kind or another in our lives. Will we let that hurt hinder our happiness in the present and future? Or will we let God in and completely heal and restore our heart so that we can live a full and happy life the way He intended us to? I know that five days was not nearly enough time for me to be content with dwelling between the pages of this book. Which is why I have already started London Tides, the second book in The MacDonald Family Trilogy.

I received a free copy of Five Days in Skye from David C Cook through Radiant Lit in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Title: Five Days in Skye (The MacDonald Family Trilogy #1)
Author: Carla Laureano
Pages: 330
Year: 2013
Publisher: David C. Cook
My rating is 3 stars.

James MacDonald is a successful chef, TV show star and author of cook books. He has a different woman on his arm every time he socializes. He appears to be a love ‘em and leave ‘em type of guy and not to be interested in any kind of serious relationship. However, what the majority of people don’t see is his foundation set up to help at risk young men learn a way to make an honest living, his love of his family and he doesn’t take any of the young women he dates to his home at the end of the night. He has a zest for life, but when he meets Andrea he realizes his life has been missing something.
Andrea Sullivan is a hospitality consultant and the top money earner for her company. She handles all the tough deals, so why is she brought in to seal the deal with a British celebrity chef on a sub-par deal? She knows she is being punished for her actions during the last deal. She has been promised the position of vice-president if she can bring this deal to a close. She has been promised this before, but what is she supposed to do? She can’t let eight years of working seven days a week go down the drain, so off to Scotland she goes. Once there, her host persuades her to stay a few extra days to enjoy Skye and take a time off from work. She soon falls in love with Skye and her host. Is she ready to make a commitment to a celebrity when she shuns the spotlight? As she lives in New York and James mostly lives in London and they both travel a lot is a relationship even possible?

I really liked the descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the delicious food the characters experienced. I liked the faith element in the story and would have liked to see that sooner in the story and more often. I just didn’t find the story between the two characters all that interesting. The tale moved slowly and was predictable. I thought the conflict between James and his brother Ian could have been explained better.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.” ( )