Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Under the winter stars, anything is possible…”

This is probably one of the most beautifully written Christmassy books I’ve read! My first Sue Moorcroft book, but certainly not my last. From an idyllic setting in the Isle of Skye to a heartwarming story line at the best time of year, this book simply has everything you need for a cosy, festive and uplifting read. It’s the second book in a series, but I didn’t even realise for most of the book, so it’s an exceptional stand alone. I’m so happy to be sharing my review of A Skye Full of Stars! ✨

About the book

Ezzie Wynter can’t wait for Christmas on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Her island home sparkles at this time of year thanks to the snow-capped mountains and frosty winter walks, topped off with family gatherings with those she loves the most.

But her peaceful Christmas idyll is upended when she hears that the Larsson family – the owners of Rothach Hall – are flying in from Sweden for the festivities. As Manager of their grand Scottish manor house, Ezzie suddenly has decorations to hang, food to source and itineraries to organise.

Life only becomes more difficult when Mats Larsson turns up. The owners’ handsome, self-assured son is used to doing things his own way – and he is only another headache to add to her overflowing list.

Yet when unexpected visitors arrive looking for Ezzie, nothing else matters as she is left questioning everything she ever knew about herself. But amidst the Christmas chaos, she might also discover that, when all is lost, it’s sometimes those we least expect who come to our aid…

The beginning

Oh my word. I just loved this right from the start. Without even getting properly acquainted with the characters in this book, I was instantly transported to the Isle of Skye. I was living there, or so it felt. The beautiful descriptions floored me, not only of Skye, but of Rothach Hall. Ezzie Wynter works as a manager here at this stunning Scottish country house, and I completely fell in love with its charm and history. I really liked Ezzie, she had a warm and welcoming feel about her, the type of person you’d love to be friends with, which of course helped in her role as manager. The house belonged to the Larsson’s, a weathly Swedish family, who only travelled to the house very occasionally. However, when Ezzie gets the call saying the family will begin to arrive in two days and that they’ll be staying for the whole of Christmas, she needs to get a move on with those Christmas preparations. I loved meeting the Larsson’s and understanding their family dynamic, Mats Larsson in particular. There was something about him, and Ezzie couldn’t seem to please him with her decisions. He has his own way of doing things and I was worried they’d clash. I had my eye on him…

“Through the tall, elegant windows of her panelled office, lawns and gardens glittered with November frost. Beyond that lay the parkland, the silvery waters of the Sound of Sleat and then the mainland’s green and purple mountains, already dusted with snow.”

Aside from the Larssons and Rothach Hall, we learn that Ezzie and her two sisters, Thea and Valentina, are adopted. Even though they aren’t related by blood, they are by heart, and their history has made them so close. I loved their relationships, and the author tackles the sensitive subject of adoption so delicately and with such care. The book switches up the perspective every now and then between Ezzie and Mats, and I loved how they saw each other through their own eyes. There was definitely something unspoken, and I was really keen to explore this throughout the book. There was, however, a part of Mats I really disliked. He seemed to think he was above other people, or better than other people at times. He had a cockiness that irked me. I just hoped this was something he could overcome with time. His recent divorce from this high maintenance wife was certainly a first step in the right direction… I did really like Mats’ nanny, Josefin. She felt so friendly and warm, and the complete opposite of Mats. I wondered if she’d be able to teach him a thing or two about kindness!

The middle

When Mats overhears a conversation between Ezzie and Thea, questions began to surface. There was something in their past they were keeping quiet about and I was very curious about what they were hiding from their employer. We eventually discover such a traumatic experience, and Ezzie’s retelling made my heart ache. The author continues to delicately, yet powerfully cover such difficult topics and I was blown away by how everything effortlessly fitted into the plot. There’s a lot which happens in this part of the book, and when some visitors arrive to see Ezzie at Rothach Hall, it seemed a little too coincidental after talking so much about her and her sisters’ birth parents. Even so, it was still a nice addition to the book, even if her reaction to their visit wasn’t the best. I felt embarrassed for the way she reacted, but saying that, I simply can’t comment as I’d not lived her life, not suffered the way she had. There are so many lovely characters in this story and it’s clear character development is one of Sue’s many strong points. This is certainly true about Mats, who I was really beginning to warm to after he makes more of an effort.

“White clouds were smeared with grey, like cotton wool that had been used to clean off last night’s mascara. The rain stung her face and only the occasional stubborn white line of snow still edged a cottage roof.”

I really loved learning about different Swedish Christmas traditions, and I surprisingly enjoyed learning a few Swedish words for different things! Mats’ children, Astrid and Alvin, were so incredibly cute, and these were two of the side characters I could see the most clearly in my head. They absolutely loved Ezzie too, so for her, it was a case of changing her employee hat to friend hat every now and then! Ezzie and Mats also grow closer. She confides in him, even about things she’s never told any else (other than her sisters, of course.) I really liked the pacing of their relationship, how they really get to know each other first before letting each other in. I sometimes find that relationships in these types of books move so fast, but not this one. It was perfectly developed and just felt like the right timing. Relationships between Ezzie and her sisters also seem to strengthen. Thea and Valentina both have important things going on in their lives. Exciting things. So when Ezzie’s life started to get heavy, I knew they’d be right there to support her when she needed it.

The end

Things started to go downhill which of course, we always expect at this point in a book like this, but I was so attached to Ezzie and even her relationship with Mats that I was hoping we might just get away without any further trauma 😆 Mats makes a silly mistake which causes issues between Ezzie and Valentina, and after being so close with her sister for so long, Ezzie isn’t sure how to cope with this unfamiliar anger and disappointment. I really felt the same way Ezzie did, the author really captures thoughts and feelings in such a powerful way. Even when I wasn’t reading, I was worrying about their relationship, hoping it could be fixed. While all this was happening, Ezzie gets a letter from two very unexpected people, and reading this letter made my eyes sting. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry! There was so much occupying Ezzie’s brain at this point that I really wasn’t sure how she was coping with the weight of it all. I’m just glad she had Mats by her side. If all that wasn’t enough, another very unwelcome visitor arrives at Rothach. It was Mats’ turn to deal with things…

“Her mind buzzed as she tried to get to grips with professional boundaries versus personal, but all she concluded was that everything in her life was changing and nothing was certain.”

The book continues to be filled with feelings right until its stunning conclusion; sadness, worry, hope, longing, love… We hear some truths and an apology from Valentina, who is going through her own battles, Ezzie meets some very important people connected to her life, but Mats still has to go back to Sweden – there was no two ways about it. And Ezzie is hurt. How would they ever make their contrasting lives work? But the author perfectly manoeuvres thoughts, decisions and actions from her characters to make the ending chapters the best they can possibly be. It was a beautiful, memorable ending to a book filled with such brilliant characters and a heartwarming story line. As soon as I finished, I immediately looked up the author’s other books and I can’t believe how many there are! Putting them all on my TBR instantly! A perfect read for the festive season, but one you can enjoy all year round. I really recommend this one for those who love a festive romance crossed with a family drama. It will stay in your heart!

Overall thoughts

A Skye Full of Stars is such a cosy, uplifting and moving story set in the stunning location of the Isle of Skye. We follow Ezzie who is the manager of Rothach Hall, a beautiful Scottish country house, and her journey of finding love, discovering lost family and embracing new family will have you hooked and bring a tear to your eye. It’s beautifully written, the sensitive topics surrounding adoption were so expertly tackled. Despite some hardships for Ezzie, it was a very uplifting read set in gorgeous surroundings. The author’s descriptions are so vivid and realistic, her characters wonderfully formed with such full personalities. The perfect read for this time of year! Can’t wait to read more from Sue 🥰

Huge thanks to the author, Sue Moorcroft, and the fabulous team at Avon Books for my gifted copy! You can grab your own copy of A Skye Full of Stars on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following the author on Bluesky, Instagram and X/Twitter for more updates!

Looking for book reviews?

If you’re in need of reviews for your own book, do get in touch to get on my submissions list! All the information you need is on my book reviews page. If you enjoyed this review and would like to support my blog, you can buy me a coffee 😊