With Presley, though, something spoke to him. Made him understand all the things she didn’t say with that final syllable.
Love, Naturally is an addictive and gorgeous romance.
Presley Ayers is not the woman you bring on a camping trip. An accomplished concierge at an exclusive hotel in Great Falls, MI, she knows more about the top ten places for champagne and caviar than she does about the best hiking boots to go stomping around near Lake Michigan. But when she surprises her boyfriend of eight months with a vacation to the Get Lost Lodge and he dumps her instead, Presley decides to rough it solo and take the trip herself.
When Beckett Keller helps the gorgeous woman off the rickety boat and onto Lodge territory, it’s clear to him she’s made a mistake. She doesn’t like hiking, fishing, or nature in general, so why did she go on this trip? He’s got other things on his mind though—a crumbling lodge, and his own plans and dreams that are forever deferred—so he doesn’t have time for Ms. Fish-Out-of-Water. Even so, neither Beckett nor Presley can help that inexplicable draw they feel towards each other. He’s all rough stubble and plaid shirts, while she’s all high heels and brand-name athleisurewear.
But you know what they say about opposites.
I cannot believe how much I love this book. It just swept me off my feet and took me on such a heartfelt and wonderful romantic journey. There is so much to love about this book: the fun banter, the family dynamics, the setting, and, of course, the romance. I love a good opposites attract and fish out of water love story and this book took those tropes and made a real masterpiece. This book takes place over ten days and follows Presley, who plans an outdoor vacation for her boyfriend. But when her boyfriend dumps her, she decides not to let the vacation go to waste and goes on her own. She decides that she will spend the vacation trying out new things and leaving all her work pressures and ex-boyfriend drama behind. On her way to the Lodge, she bumps into Beckett, a gorgeous mountain man whose family runs the Lodge. The sparks fly between these two, and their attraction towards one another gets harder and harder to ignore.
There is a softer, slower pace to this story. It’s vacation romance but a slower-paced, more relaxing vacation. There is still plenty going on and lots of fun and lighthearted moments, but if you are looking for something faster-paced, this book might not be for you. I enjoyed the pacing because it fit the story and the setting. Sophie transports her readers to this breathtaking island and to the small town of Smile, where the hustle and bustle of the outside work doesn’t really exist. I adored all the small-town charm and quirks, but I also loved the warmth and sense of community that came from Smile. If you like a family dynamic that is fun and supportive, then you are going to enjoy the Keller siblings. Beckett, Jill, and Gray were amazing. They have that playful sibling banter and this support system they have created. Your heart can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy when you spend time with them. Ollie (Jill’s daughter and Beckett’s niece) stole the spotlight in this book. I know that kids in romance books aren’t everyone’s thing, but Ollie was adorable and brought so much laughter and light to this book that you cannot help but love her. She embodies that saying that kids say the darndest things. The things that came out of that child’s mouth had me laughing out loud.
This story is told from Presley and Beckett’s POV, which I loved. It was great being able to see what each character was thinking and how they were dealing with their strong romantic feelings for one another. Both Presley and Beckett are fabulous characters. They are likeable and real. They also surprised me. I thought Presley was going to be a more rigid and snobbish city girl and Beckett, a grumpy outdoor mountain man. That was not the case for either character. Presley is a city girl who loves to shop, but she is warm and caring, and there is an openness about her that just draws people in. Beckett is a big old cinnamon roll with a heart of gold. He is funny and so sweet. Both of them are facing these big decisions in their lives. Presley hopes to get a promotion at work, but she also realizes that she isn’t happy with her life, especially her work life. Beckett wants to open up his bike rental place but wants to avoid putting more pressure on his siblings, who are struggling to run the Lodge at full capacity. I loved watching these two go on these mini self-discovery journeys. Even though they barely knew each other, they felt that connection and were able to talk about their situations and support one another.
The romance was delicious and surprising. There is a lot of heat and sparks between Presley and Beckett. There are some insta love/lust feelings in the air. There is a lot of smouldering build-up between these two—the heated glances, the sort of there touches, and the kisses that promise so much more. With how intense the build-up was, I was expecting some major spicy moments, but this is actually a closed-door romance. I didn’t mind it, but I love closed-door romance, so it worked for me. I loved, loved, loved these two together. Their opposites attract; insta-love romance just worked for me. And I think it’s because even though their relationship develops over ten days, there is still a lot of depth to it. They spent the time to get to know one another. Their romance just scratched that itch for me. I really couldn’t get enough of these two. I also wanted to say that Beckett’s grand gesture at the end of the book was Chef Kiss Perfection!
Love, Naturally is a lighthearted romantic comedy, and I cannot wait to read more of Sophie’s books.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
