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The Macleans #3

A Lesson in Love

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Love can make life complicated...

Sports teacher Fraser Maclean has worked with Sarah Browne for eight months at their Edinburgh high school. She's not involved with anyone else, and she seems to enjoy his company, so why won’t the pretty trainee teacher see him outside school? Despite their attraction, he has to take no for an answer. Besides, he wants a simple, uncomplicated life, and he suspects Sarah is far from uncomplicated.

Sarah’s worked hard to control her feelings for Fraser and keep him at arm’s length. He’s kind, athletic, funny, and he appeals to her like no other man, but she can’t trust he’ll love her enough to share her burdens and stick around when things get tough. They’re safer staying friends. That’s enough. It has to be.

When they build a sensory garden at their church together, he discovers the real reason she won’t date. Caring for her ill mother dominates Sarah’s days and nights. Getting involved with her means things will get a whole lot of complicated. No more simple life. And Sarah still won’t trust him with her biggest secret of all.

Can the two teachers learn God’s lessons in love, or will fear and doubt keep them apart?

33,000 words, 144 paperback pages

The Macleans books #1 & 2 show Fraser's older brother Mac and sister Catriona finding the partners God intends for them. But there's no need to read their stories first. Each book is a complete-in-itself romance.

Faith, hope, and heartwarming - inspirational romance to make you smile!

117 pages, ebook

Published January 12, 2016

172 people are currently reading
117 people want to read

About the author

Autumn Macarthur

92 books197 followers
Autumn Macarthur is an Australian writer of inspirational romance living near London with her very English husband and six spoiled cats. She loves reading, cooking, gardening, and writing deeply emotional stories to make you smile and remind you how big and wide and deep God's love and forgiveness can be.

She tends to talk a little too much, laugh a little too loud, and eat a little more than maybe she should. She's thankful to be blessed with some good friends and a very patient husband. Most of all, she's eternally grateful for God's great love and mercy.

When she's not writing or talking to her strawberry plants and cherry blossoms, she can be found blogging at www.faithhopeandheartwarming.com or on Substack.

She'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for the newsletter at her website and access exclusive subscriber only behind-the-book content and giveaways!

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5 stars
160 (59%)
4 stars
74 (27%)
3 stars
29 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,675 reviews1,225 followers
August 17, 2022
Contemporary Christian fiction based in Scotland

Is there a man alive sweet enough, good enough and caring enough to want to marry a woman who is not only taking care of her mother with early onset Alzheimer’s, but it being an inherited illness testing indicated she has it herself??

This man is Fraser Maclean, and the woman who has won his heart is Sarah Brown. What a radical transformation he underwent to get to this place. What an amazing transformation Sarah would have to undergo to trust God enough to believe she can love and be loved.

Lovely, lovely book.
996 reviews10 followers
July 1, 2017
Very tender story. Emotional provoking with a wonderful ending. I loved the characters and will be sad to see them go. I loved the spiritual emphasis and look forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Barbara Campbell.
1,798 reviews44 followers
July 26, 2023
Another wonderful book in Macarthur's Maclean series. I have been greatly surprised by these books. I picked them up expecting a light summer romance to read and found so much more. And I have loved that about them. In book 2, I could relate so well to one of the disabled children as a dear friend had a son who was so like Olivia. Now in this book, I find whispers of a sweet friend who had the same diagnosis dealt with here.

I have to stop and say that I applaud Autumn for handling these tough subjects with such grace and respect and honesty. I think it is good that she has included the part of society that is negative towards those who are often considered "less than" and also the struggles these individuals and their families have. She has not sugar coated anything, nor has she brought everything to a magical happily ever after conclusion. Her storylines have been very realistic and again so well done! And most of all she has brought in faith and how God created each one of us and has a plan and purpose for every soul He created.

I enjoyed Sara and Fraser's story. Loved watching them both work through the emotions and realities of life together.. and apart. I already miss them, as I do the others in the first 2 books, and wish I could watch their story play out on the page.
1,174 reviews6 followers
May 21, 2022
Loved Fraser and Sarah's story!! Sarah's sure that no man would ever want to marry her, not after he finds out about her secrets. Fraser isn't looking for love. He wants life to be simple and uncomplicated. Until he meets Sarah. The more he spends time with her, the more he wants to get to know her. When Fraser finds out Sarah's secret, he doesn't run. He stays to help. Sarah's sure that he'll run the first chance he gets, and decides she'll push him away. It doesn't work. The more she pushes him away, the more he does to get close. When they both realize that God's plans are not always their plans, and that if they trust Him, He'll see them through, the more they see what's been in front of them all along.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
146 reviews2 followers
March 10, 2020
A heartwarming story by an amazing author Autumn Macarthur of faith, hope, accepting help and love. Learning to realize that despite the difficulties life brings to us, we are loved by God, are valued and have a purpose for our lives. We can choose to live our lives or wallow living like we are already dead. Can we learn to accept our weaknesses and trust others by accepting the help they offer? Learn that we are meant to be there for one another not going through life trying to always do things on our own. We are all worthy to be loved. Come along with Sarah as she learns that as she cares for mom with Alzheimers, she does not have to do it alone and can help her mom still enjoy life even with her limitations.
491 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2022
There are only as many rejections
a man can take. But Fraser has the nagging feeling that Sarah is the woman for him, no matter how many times she says no…
Having developed a disease after being married, I still struggle quite often with the feeling I trapped my husband. Had I known I would get sick, I think I would have had the same thoughts as Sarah. It is hard to live with the knowledge to become dependent on one’s spouse. I loved Fraser, he was honest to the point of recognising that there would be days in which he would be overwhelmed and still, he wanted to offer Sarah the best life possible.
Be prepared to be moved by Sarah and Fraser, as they both learn how God intended love to be lived out.
143 reviews3 followers
September 8, 2018
This is a story where the life you think you want can be different to the life that God intended for you as God has big plans for us and he knows what is best for us, this was the case for Sarah and Fraser. Fraser wanted a un complicated life and yet he was falling for Sarah who has so many complications to over come. I love the balance of Christianity and romance in this book and I really enjoyed all the bible verses. A enjoyable read.
1,446 reviews12 followers
May 23, 2022
Sports teacher Fraser Maclean works with Sarah Browne and would like to date her, but she is very private. She has to learn to share her problems, and he has to learn to be more accepting. They work together on a church project and when he learns her secret about her mother’s health things begin to turn around. The plot includes accepting hard life problems and sharing them and living with unpredictable future.
1,070 reviews23 followers
May 24, 2022
Autumn Macarthur writes excellent romances that involve the reader's emotions and mind. Sarah and Fraser are teaching together and have lunch together. Things seem to click, but Fraser is unable to get Sarah to agree to anything else. I won't give away the reason for that, but encourage you to get and read this heartfelt romance. Autumn Macarthur is definitely an author that I recommend highly, and I will be reading more of her work.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,191 reviews15 followers
June 2, 2023
Sweet romance

This is a sweet romance that really hit home with me as I'm a caregiver and some of this was looking in the mirror. I loved the focus on God and putting trust in Him. Fraser was an interesting character. I wasn't sure I'd like him, but he was wonderful. I loved him and Sarah together and how they helped each other. I love the Maclean family. I'm anxious to read Brodie's story.
620 reviews4 followers
October 7, 2023
This is such a wonderful book touching on such important things. Medical issues can bring so many challenges and this book touched on the toll that can take on families and caregivers. This series really helps to see how people can support each other and how there can be hope. Thanks so much for these stories. What a wonderful way to help people understand living with a diagnosis of Alzheimers or Dementia.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,612 reviews22 followers
February 16, 2019
Charming

This is the first story I’ve read by this author and it won’t be the last. Full of hope, inspiration, romance, and a few lessons we can all learn from. A clean, charming story about believing in yourself and opening your heart to accepting help from others, even when it’s hard. I hate to admit that I’m guilty of that myself. Choose the blessing of life.
Profile Image for Susan Bates.
26 reviews9 followers
February 26, 2019
Sarah pushes everyone out of her personal life as she attempts to live with the trying circumstances she has found herself in. Fraser is about to change all that, giving her the inspiration to re-evaluate her future. This book does a great job of inspiring us to reach outside of our own comfort zone when things around us look bleak.
Profile Image for Michelle Ferrari-Johnson.
1,559 reviews39 followers
July 22, 2019
Give It To God

This story is bound to pull at your heartstrings. Not being able to pursue your dreams due to an inherited illness can send people into seclusion. Love how God works his miracles with both Sarah and Fraser. Definitely a feel good story as the characters learn to trust God~
1,464 reviews
April 9, 2021
God's Plan coming together

The story of two people too stubborn to realise that they needed to change to be together. Fraser had to learn that all people are equal in the eyes of God, and Sarah had to learn to graciously accept help with her mother. Once Fraser and Sarah were able to realise that God had a plan for them they were able to start living each other.
110 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2021
Learning To Love

When I read a story I can't seem t o put down, that's a great story and deserves five stars. And I have read a lot of these here! I loved everything about this story, it was a really sweet, clean story that I think anyone who likes a nice clean love story should read!
31 reviews
March 24, 2022
Trust

When a difficult answer comes her way she stopped living she hid and didn’t Trust God. But when she meet’s someone who would rebel and so anger with his Special Needs brother. He also needs to believe in God and trust so he can show the Love of Christ and believe they both are worthy.
Profile Image for Wanda.
48 reviews
March 25, 2018
Very sweet story with a lovely HEA :)

Very sweet story with likeable characters. The subject hits close to home, since my father died of Alzheimer's and it is always in the back of my mind whenever I have trouble remembering anything. You can't let that stop you from living :)
Profile Image for Paula F Newman.
15 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2019
Review

I have read 3 books and I enjoyed the stories and messages,, all them have us thinking about life. I would tell anyone just read them and see what message you get from each story
Profile Image for Mandy Boerma.
Author 9 books56 followers
June 26, 2019
Another winner

Another sweet story about the blossoming of love. It’s not the complete story, more like a glimpse at that sweet window between ‘should we and shouldn’t we.’ Amazing characters, plot and setting.
8 reviews
September 18, 2019
A Lesson in Love. By Autumn Macmurray

I enjoyed this book as I do - Autumns books.. I experience God speaking to me in many places as I read. Slowly this gals heart is touched .. so she can live a full joyful life, not a miserable one.
Good lessons here !!
Butterfly n
Profile Image for MaryEllen.
2,932 reviews30 followers
February 11, 2022
Great story!
Sarah's got trust issues, for a reason. Plus she thinks she's being selfless by keeping others from the life that had been thrust on her.
Her big reveal has Fraser walking away... not from her as she's feared, but for back-up. :)
I'm sure it's no spoiler to say that love wins!
125 reviews2 followers
May 9, 2022
This book is the deepest inspirational read I've read from Autumn. I loved it. It is full of important lessons, with the main one being not giving up in life no matter the circumstance. I highly recommend this book.
408 reviews
August 13, 2024
This is my favorite thus far. Though all of the subjects are thought-provoking, this one hits close to home. I have an 86yo mom. She had a sister with dementia. It was very hard to watch for all of us.
15 reviews1 follower
July 15, 2018
Excellent

A story of love, patience & underling how life problems are best shared by trusting others who believe in us and love us.
Profile Image for AJ.
278 reviews
February 1, 2019
There was no substance to this book! Same as in the previous book in this series! I won’t even waste my time or money on the next book!
84 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2021
Love this author and the London and Scotland series. Looking forward to seeing how Brodie handles love.
387 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2023
This is the first time reading something from this author and I a glad that I did. I also learned a few things about myself.
Profile Image for Deb Shank.
493 reviews2 followers
December 16, 2023
Good read

Good read. As caregivers,no one understands the pressure that we face. Or the guilt we feel as failures when things are rocky. Trust in God always gets you through.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews

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