Isn't It Romantic?

Enjoy the View
Sarah Morgenthaler
Series: Moose Springs, Alaska, #3
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet
And miles of untamed wilderness...
What could possibly go wrong?

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.

Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.

Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

One of the things I love most about this series is spending time in Moose Springs. Therefore, I was worried when I realized a big chunk of the story would take place outside of town. However, I worried for no reason as I had an incredible time scaling Mt. Veil with Easton, River, and her crew. 

It actually surprised me how much I enjoyed the climb. I am NOT an outdoorsy person, but I found the mountaineering portion of the story exciting and interesting. I shared their joy, when they finished a difficult climb, and bit my nails, when they got into some precarious positions. There were even some life or death situations that had my heart pumping like crazy. 

But it wasn't just a rush of adrenaline I experienced on the mountain, I also loved seeing River and Easton grow closer. The isolation of the setting allowed them to really peel back their layers and reveal a lot about themselves. I learned so much about both of them and enjoyed watching them slowly fall for each other. 

Enough about that, let's focus on the romance! Once again, Morgenthaler presented me with a fantastic couple. They had great banter and chemistry galore, but what I really loved, was the way they seemed to get each other. It was so lovely, when they started to see a future, where they were not alone, and it was imperative for me that their visions become realities. 

And, can we talk about Easton. I was always interested in learning more about tall, dark, and quiet Easton. He had been a bit of a mystery up to this point, but behind the curtain was a gentle and sweet man with a heart of gold. He didn't let many people into his life, but when he did, it was forever. And for a guy who wasn't so keen on romantic relationships, he sure let loose a lot of swoon. I knew he had River's heart, but he sure won mine too. 

As always, it was amazing being back in Moose Springs. I absolutely adored catching up with old friends, while welcoming some new ones to the fold. Morgenthaler delivered a romance that both made my heart race and melt, while taking me to new heights. 

Shipped
Angie Hockman
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Between taking night classes for her MBA and her demanding day job at a cruise line, marketing manager Henley Evans barely has time for herself, let alone family, friends, or dating. But when she’s shortlisted for the promotion of her dreams, all her sacrifices finally seem worth it.

The only problem? Graeme Crawford-Collins, the remote social media manager and the bane of her existence, is also up for the position. Although they’ve never met in person, their epic email battles are the stuff of office legend.

Their boss tasks each of them with drafting a proposal on how to boost bookings in the Galápagos—best proposal wins the promotion. There’s just one catch: they have to go on a company cruise to the Galápagos Islands...together. But when the two meet on the ship, Henley is shocked to discover that the real Graeme is nothing like she imagined. As they explore the Islands together, she soon finds the line between loathing and liking thinner than a postcard.

With her career dreams in her sights and a growing attraction to the competition, Henley begins questioning her life choices. Because what’s the point of working all the time if you never actually live?

Workaholic Henley had put in the effort, and now it was time for her to reap her reward - the director position. Unfortunately, she was shortlisted along with her work nemesis, Graeme. In order to win the position, they had to develop a marketing campaign for the Galápagos trip while on the cruise. Henley's time at sea gave her a new perspective and may have had her rethinking a lot of things...especially when it came to Graeme. 

I don't even know where to start with my praise for this book. It was laugh-out-loud funny, thoughtful, and sweet. One way this book stood out was its setting. Hockman took me on quite an adventure! She brilliantly helped me tour the Galápagos Islands from the comfort of my reading chair. Not only was I pulled into the physical surrounding, I enjoyed interacting with the flora and fauna of the islands as well. Hockman's love and passion for ecology really shined here, and I delighted in all the details and information she included. 

I also really liked her approach to the enemies-to-lovers trope too. This trope doesn't always work for me. Sometimes the hate part goes on a bit too long or I get uncomfortable with the confrontations, but not this time. Henley felt justified in her ire for Graeme, but she reflected quite a bit on her interactions with him in person versus her previous electronic experiences. I appreciated that this started fairly early in the cruise and really enjoyed seeing her opinion of Graeme slowly evolve. 

When Graeme and Henley had their first in-person meeting, I knew they would make a great pair. I was instantly taken with Graeme, and I really hoped Henley would see what I saw in him. As I waited, I was treated to lots of tension, "almost" moments, and fantastic banter. I found Graeme to be a positive force in Henley's life. He was soft, sweet, and supportive, and he had a hand in getting her to re-evaluate some aspects of her life. I felt they were lucky to have found each other, and I simply adored them together. 

I had such a wonderful time exploring the Galápagos Islands with Graeme and Henley! This one checked all the boxes for me. Fabulous heroine who cared deeply, lovable hero with a heart of gold, fantastic supporting characters who had their chance to shine, and a romance I was 100% behind.  

Overall: An absolutely fun and feel-good story!

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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