Thursday, March 26, 2020

Isn't It Romantic?

The Tourist Attraction
Sarah Morganhaler
Series: Moose Springs, Alaska, #1
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he's stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless string of resort visitors who couldn't interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way…

Two weeks in Alaska isn't just the top item on Zoey Caldwell's bucket list. It's the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she's smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham's world, she may just find there's more to the man than meets the eye…and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.
When I saw the description for this book, I knew it would be a hit for me. A rom-com set in Alaska with a grumpy hero. Yes, please! And, I am happy to say, Morganthaler combined these elements in a most wonderful and satisfying way.

Who?
  • Graham - A reluctant diner owner, who detested tourists. 
  • Zoey - A waitress, who saved every penny for over two years, and was finally on her dream vacation. 
What?

Though Graham was not fond of tourists, he found himself fighting an attraction to Zoey. However, he had to stick to his no tourists rule, since he was looking for something more permanent. But, he just couldn't see his future without her. 

Why?

What a wonderful debut! I had such a fantastic time getting to know the fine people of Moose Springs, and also, watching Graham and Zoey fall in love.

I have a good feeling about this entire series, because the first book was packed with characters I want to know better. Lana, the twins, and the various other business owners all caught my attention, but I will use this time to focus on the stars of this story - Zoey and Graham.

Graham was an interesting fellow. He seemed like a real grumpy Gus, but under his tourist repellant armor was a kind and affable guy with a heart of gold. Watching him interact with his fur-baby, his godsons, and Ulysses, the resident moose, showed what a softie he was. But, he was a complicated guy, with complicated feelings about his diner and its success. I didn't quite get it for most of the story, but he had this breakthrough towards the end, and I was happier for it.

Then, there was Zoey. There was nothing not to love about her. She was geeky, loyal, sweet, feisty, and adorable. Her wide-eyed enthusiasm for seeing everything Alaska had to offer was quite contagious. It was via Zoey, that we got to "see" so much of the beauty this state had to offer, and Morganthaler did a fantastic job painting the scenery for us.

I loved watching these getting to know each other. They broke down walls, and peeled away layers, finding someone, who were perfect for them. The way their romance unfolded and ramped up was believable, and I could feel the attraction between them. Sweet comments and snappy banter filled in the space between, and left me rather pleased with their courtship.

Obviously, I really enjoyed this book, but let's check those boxes!

✓ Grumpy hero
✓ Lovable heroine
✓ Fantastic fur-baby
✓ Beautiful scenery
✓ Undeniable chemistry
✓ Wacky townspeople
✓ Interesting local cuisine
✓ A randy moose
✓ Quaint town
✓ Chainsaw art
✓ Hijinks galore

I had an outstanding time reading The Tourist Attraction! Not only did I fall in love with Graham and Zoey, I fell in love with Moose Springs, and am very much looking forward to spending more time there.

Kiersten and I went on an Alaskan cruise a few years back, and I am telling you, Alaska is breathtaking. Kiersten had shared Sloth's Alaskan adventure, but here a few more pictures to enjoy.


Girl Gone Viral
Alisha Rai
Series: Modern Love, #2
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Avon
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
In Alisha Rai’s second novel in her Modern Love series, a live-tweet event goes viral for a camera-shy ex-model, shoving her into the spotlight—and into the arms of the bodyguard she’d been pining for.

OMG! Wouldn’t it be adorable if he’s her soulmate???

I don’t see any wedding rings [eyes emoji]

Breaking: #CafeBae and #CuteCafeGirl went to the bathroom AT THE SAME TIME!!!

One minute, Katrina King’s enjoying an innocent conversation with a hot guy at a coffee shop; the next, a stranger has live-tweeted the entire episode with a romantic meet-cute spin and #CafeBae is the new hashtag-du-jour. The problem? Katrina craves a low-profile life, and going viral threatens the peaceful world she’s painstakingly built. Besides, #CafeBae isn’t the man she’s hungry for...

He’s got a [peach emoji] to die for.

With the internet on the hunt for the identity of #CuteCafeGirl, Jas Singh, bodyguard, friend, and possessor of the most beautiful eyebrows Katrina’s ever seen, comes to the rescue and whisks her away to his family’s home. Alone in a remote setting with the object of her affections? It’s a recipe for romance. But after a long dating dry spell, Katrina isn’t sure she can trust her instincts when it comes to love—even if Jas’ every look says he wants to be more than just her bodyguard…
Katrina had once lived her life in front of the camera, but became rather reclusive following a traumatic event. For the past few years, she had slowly been working through her severe anxiety via exposure therapy. During one such outing, a patron at a neighboring table live tweets the encounter between Katrina and "CafeBae", and of course it goes viral. In an effort to protect Katrina's privacy and make her feel safe again, her bodyguard, Jas, whisks her away to his family home. She was looking to feel safe and secure again, but now she must deal with her attraction to Jas, while they are stuck waiting for things to settle down.

I had previously read, and really enjoyed, the first book in this series, The Right Swipe. I adored the hero and heroine, and liked that Rai incorporated some real issues into the story. The streak continues, because once again, Rai has gifted me with a hero and heroine I couldn't help but love, while also incorporating timely topics in this wonderful slow burn romance.

Katrina was a sweet, wonderful, and caring person. She had to overcome so many terrible things from her past, and was sort of in hiding from some of those things. The possibility of being outed on social media due to her viral cafe encounter was terrifying, and I thought this was an interesting way to challenge those nosey tweeters. In this day and age of social media, I think we forget, that the people in those tweets are actually real humans. They are entitled to their privacy, and it's a story like this, which I hope will make some reflect on such trespasses, which are becoming more and more common.

Then, there was Jas. His affection and adoration for Katrina was so sweet, but this man was battling his past as well. He was a war veteran suffering from PTSD, and keeping it from his loved ones. However, he couldn't hide it from Katrina as they shared the small house on his family's property.

These two were phenomenal together. They had a decade of mutual longing, and I so wanted to see this "thing" happen. The way they understood and supported one another was a beautiful thing. I found it quite touching, when Jas talked Katrina though a panic attack, or when Katrina soothed Jas after a nightmare. I knew they would be ok, because they had each other.

It was great seeing these two grow from the viral experience as well. Their hands may have been forced, but both faced some of their biggest demons. They had to confront things from their past, and it was fantastic to see them come out on top.

Overall: A brilliant addition to the Modern Love series, which examined some serious issues with great sensitivity, while delivering a great and sexy slow burn romance.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite vacation spot?
Let us know in the comments!

40 comments:

  1. I didn't know Alisha Rai was doing a series! And how utterly lovely is this instalment!! I love that she's incorporating twitter like this -- stories like this can genuinely be so much fun.

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    1. The series is really fun, but has a lot of substance. The handling of the mental health issues was done well, and challenging the live tweeting phenomenon is timely

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  2. I saw someone mention The Tourist Attraction weeks and weeks ago (maybe in a CWW post?) and thought it sounded so cute. But then I saw no more mentions of it, no review, nothing. So I'm excited to see your review! It sounds so right up my alley. I've been craving lighter/happier lately (gee, I wonder why?) and this one checks all the boxes. Goodness knows I love a good grumpy hero. :) And I love the photos you shared from your cruise. Breathtaking!

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    1. I loved this book so much. I am pretty sure Janna (That Artsy Girl) wrote a rave review for it as well. We can credit Kiersten with the photos. I have no skills, but it amazes me what she can do with her cell phone.

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  3. Oh gosh, The Tourist Attraction sounds perfect! Adding it to my TBR right now. :)

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    1. I am glad you added it to your TBR, because it was so good. I really had a fantastic time reading that book.

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  4. The Tourist Attraction sounds so fun! I have to go check it out.

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    1. It was capital F fun. I hope you get the chance to read it

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  5. Fur-babies and grumpy heroes?! Sign me up for The Tourist Attraction! :)

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    1. It was so delightful seeing Graham interact with his dog. You would never imagine this grouch would have such a soft spot for his almost blind dog.

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  6. Both of these sound fun and I love the cover of the first (the dog really lol).

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. The dog is older and blind, but the sweetest thing ever. Graham's love for that dog was precious, and he was so sweet to him

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  7. The Tourist Attraction sounds amazing! The Alaskan setting alone draws me in, plus a cute romance.. love it!

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    1. So fun. I laughed and smiled and laughed some more. I really enjoyed it tremendously, and the author's affection for Alaska was obvious, and made this a great "trip"

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  8. I have seen your pics about Alaska on IG today Sam! I want to go there too!!!

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    1. It's the same collage, just missing the right side. It's a beautiful state. I am happy I had the opportunity to see it

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    1. They were! And, so necessary for these trying times

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  10. The Tourist Attraction sounds fantastic! I love that it is set in Alaska and I have a very hard time resisting a grumpy hero. I am so glad you enjoyed both of these.

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    1. The book really was a delight, and I loved how the grumpy hero had this tenderness to him.

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  11. Hurray for some good reads! The Tourist Attraction sounds especially cute! I adore books set in Alaska!

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    1. I never realized how many books are set in Alaska, but I have been seeing more and more lately. Hey, supposedly it's a great place for women to meet men, since men out number women there.

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  12. Oh wow beautifu pictures! What a lovely cruise. I need to get up there one of these years. And I absolutely love the cover of The Tourist Attraction.

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    1. One of my favorite vacations! The state is breathtaking.

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  13. For all the reasons you mentioned, Tourist Attraction speaks to me. I haven't been able to focus much on reading lately. Perhaps if I picked up a fluffy romcom things would be easier?

    Is Love Gone Viral just set in the same universe as Right Swipe? It sounds like there isn't any overlap...

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    1. I feel like fluffy is a required panacea right now. Viral is in the same universe as Right Swipe, and the characters pop up over the course of the story, but timeline wise, this happens after Right Swipe

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    2. It sounds like these books should be read in order, then. Good to know!

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    3. I like to read companions in order, and I think part of the storyline really calls for one to read these in order, though, I have a feeling they could stand on their own as well.

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  14. The Tourist Attraction-- I need this book NOW! :) Thanks for sharing!

    Christine @ Captivated Reading

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    1. It was so good. I hope you get the chance to read it.

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    1. I hope to visit more of the US, because there are some pockets of beauty out there. Alaska was breathtaking.

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  16. Great reviews. The Tourist Attraction sounds so incredibly good! I just added it to my TBR!

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    1. *clapping* Glad it caught your attention. It was a great addition to a growing list of fabulous rom-coms I have been lucky enough to read.

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  17. I hadn't realised Girl Gone Viral was part of the Right Swipe series, I bought a copy not too long ago, feeling the desperate need for something like and feelgood. Oh wow! Alaska is absolutely breathtaking! It puts life into perspective doesn't it. So glad you loved these ones Sam, adding them to my wishlist!

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    1. The heroine in Girl Gone Viral was the housemate of the heroine from Right Swipe. Both Rhi and Samson make appearances in the book, which is something I love seeing in companions. Those pictures only capture a touch of the majestic beauty of that state. It's gorgeous!

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  18. I scrolled down first before reading your review and those pictures are so beautiful that I'm convinced to read The Tourist Attraction despite not having read what you thought of it yet. NOW that I've read it, "grumpy hero" and "lovable heroine"? My cup of tea. I'm also curious about the chainsaw art so adding that to "Reasons Why I Should Read This Book".

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    1. Alaska is absolutely gorgeous! So, so happy I made that trip a reality. The hero was an aspiring artist, and his medium was logs. It was a cool little extra part of him, that I enjoyed learning a bit about

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  19. I kind of love that there is a moose called Ulysseus in The Tourist Attraction and every now and again we have to fall for a grumpy main character who truly has a heart of gold underneath that they like to disguse with a grumpy demeanour :P And I am glad you could like the sequel to The Right Swipe and enjoy Girl Gone Viral so much. It sounds like it had lovely characters who were perfect for each other!

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    1. Ulysseus won my heart! And, yes, it's a literary reference. I am enjoying Rai's books. I have to hit up her backlist, because I am curious about her other books.

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