Member Reviews
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I got this book, it was a great love story! Presley is a concierge at a fancy hotel in Michigan. After she breaks up with her boyfriend she takes the trip she had planned for him, only to find Beckett Keller and his family at the Get Lost Lodge. Not only does she help them with her hotel/marketing knowledge she falls in love with Beckett. She's only there for a week though, is it possible to make it work? I'm not telling, you'll have to read it for yourself!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.
Love Naturally by Sophie Sullivan, is an enjoyable, emotional, small town, insta-love story. When Presley plans a vacation surprise for her boyfriend everything goes as wrong as possible; so she ends up at a fishing resort alone. She fully expects to feel sorry for herself, watching rom-coms and eating lots of chocolate, but finds that the family and guests at the resort are a true gift. Presley meets Beckett who is helping his brother and sister with this lodge. The connection between Presley and Beckett is sweet, electric, and develops quickly. Presley takes on things she has never done before and challenges herself, as she learns so much about herself along the way.
The supporting characters are perfection, the town is a lot fun, and the setting provides the perfect balance to the story. I loved Beckett’s brother Greyson, sister Jill, and want to see them find love too. Then there’s Ollie his niece who is old beyond her years and adds depth, humor, so much more to the story. I recommend Love Naturally to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
A sweet romance with well developed characters. Really enjoyed the pace and attention to detail of this sweet closed door romance.
Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.
I had initially tagged Love, Naturally “fish out of water” and I suppose the tag fits to a degree but really, Presley fits in so well at the lodge and in Smile and her own desires are are about belonging and family than bright lights and the big city so I didn’t really ever feel Presley didn’t belong or would be unhappy staying.
Perhaps because of a preconception about what the book might be like (and possibly wishful thinking, who can say) I was also expecting more steam. Love, Naturally is not steamy. There are some hot kisses but what happens after that stays off the page and is protected by a moat and portcullis. I read plenty and across the spectrum of steam levels. One of my favourite books from last year was Hello Stranger by Katherine Center. Center writes a similar steam level and I barely noticed. I’ve been trying to put my finger on why I felt the lack of steam in this book but not others. I’m not sure I can articulate it but it just seemed to me like a book which should have had more heat and didn’t. I’m not sure if that makes sense.
Apart from Emmett, just about everybody in Love, Naturally is lovely – friendly, kind, generous and talented in one way or another. There is little by way of conflict. Presley fits in with the Kellers so well it’s not a surprise where things end up. Perhaps because of that and maybe that lack of heat, I found the book to be somewhat lacking in tension. I liked it but I didn’t find it compelling.
For readers looking for a low-conflict, fairly gentle story though it’s an enjoyably safe bet.
Wow! I’m mad that I had this on my shelf for so long before reading. I was not expecting to love this book so much. This book is a five star read for me! I loved Beckett and Presleys relationship from the beginning till the end. Beckett was so caring and sweet and Presley was so supportive and understanding. I also really loved the found family with Beckett’s family and lodge guests. The small town vibes in the book made this book such a cozy ready. The author created such a cozy atmosphere with the lodge and small town. I ate it all up. This is closed door but that hot tub scene got me feeling hot. Also, loved the card game scene such a cute way for the characters to learn more about each other. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for those looking for a sweet and cozy romance.
🏕️ Love, Naturally 🏕️
Sophie Sullivan
Opposites definitely attract in this strangers to lovers romance set at a family run lodge near the small town of Smile. If you like found family, sweet closed door/fade to black romance with some self discovery mixed in, this book is for you!
Presley Ayers, who usually knows more about fancy hotels than camping, plans a surprise camping trip for her boyfriend. When he breaks up with her instead, Presley decides to go on the camping adventure by herself to the Get Lost Lodge. At the lodge, she meets Beckett Keller, a guy helping his family to get the lodge back to its original beauty, even if it means putting his own dreams on hold. Despite their different lifestyles, there's a mysterious connection between them. It's like opposites attract—Presley with her luxury tastes and Beckett with his rugged lodge life. The camping trip turns into a surprising journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance.
I really loved the characters in this one! Ollie is the niece of Beckett, and she is like a little adult and the things she says are so funny! The family dynamic between Beckett, Gray and Jilly is heartwarming and the way they make Presley feel like she belongs, along with the rest of the guests make them family goals for sure.
This was a cute romance. I loved the location. It was a great reminder that relationships are work but it should not be one person always conforming to the others wants. There needs to be balance and compromise. The bike scene and this quote are my favorite. "It took Presley less than a half hour to realize riding a bike in her thirties did not produce the whimsy and freedom she’d felt as a child. It did not feel the same either. Why do people do this? Hard seat that had no business being called a cushion, hunched over to reach the bars . . . this couldn’t be good for a person." LOL. So true.
It is easy to “Get Lost” is this sweet romance from Sophie Sullivan. In this opposites attract novel, Presley books a stay at “Get Lost”, a Lodge that has seen better days and is currently be renovated with her commitment boyfriend. When he suggests he take one of his buddies, she kicks him to the curb and embarks on an adventure in the great outdoors. Presley finds Beckett, the Lodge owner’s brother, and a lot more in this fun and enjoyable story feature many lovable characters in this gorgeous outdoor and small town setting. I hope this is just the first in a series and we find ourselves back with Beckett’s family at “Get Lost”. Thank you to #Netgalley and #stmartinspress for this heartwarming ARC.
I cannot believe how much I love this book. It's 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.
This is a fun, entertaining, uplifting, good read. Beckett and Presley are interesting, entertaining, intriguing, captivating, relatable, fun characters. I fell in love with these characters from the minute they stepped on-page. Their interactions are fun to read. I also loved the family aspect of the story and small town community. All of these parts make the whole better. The various secondary characters are quirky in different ways and added to the fabric of the story. The book is easy to read and get into.
Presley ends up leaving her boyfriend after surprising him with a week away as a gift that he doesn’t want to go on with her. She decides to go on this trip by herself instead, even if the outdoors isn’t her cup of tea. She falls in line with the owners, a group of siblings trying to make the lodge work and up and running together.
The story line is slow and very drawn out, the story could have been shorter and still had the same effect in my opinion. It’s much more than just a love story, it’s a friendship, family, relationship of all kind story. It’s very cute and sweet and about finding yourself and doing what makes you happy, not what should make you happy.
LOVE, NATURALLY – Sophie Sullivan
St. Martin’s Griffin
ISBN: 978-1250875839
January 16, 2024
Romantic Comedy
Get Lost Lodge, Michigan – Present Day
Presley Ayers thought she had the perfect boyfriend even though their interests didn’t always align. She decides to show him that she is willing to traipse to a remote lodge to do fishing and hiking by presenting him with a birthday present of a week for the two of them at Get Lost Lodge. But when she presents them to him, her boyfriend becomes her ex when he rejects the vacation and her. So, Presley decides to go on the trip by herself. She isn’t into fishing and for her, walking the downtown streets is a hike. Let’s just say when she arrives, she is wondering if she’s made a mistake. On the boat ride over, however, one of the lodge’s hosts catches her eye.
Beckett Keller is helping his family with the rundown lodge to get it in shape. While he enjoys spending time with his brother, sister, and niece, he wants to be more than the lodge handyman and boat jockey. When he spots Presley, he immediately recognizes that she is not someone who would normally be going out on fishing trips or doing hikes. But she seems determined to prove everyone wrong. The first night there, the air conditioning thermostat in her room goes bonkers. With the lodge full, there is no place to put her, except in a cabin. Presley soon learns that the cabin is occupied by Beckett and he’s willing to temporarily vacate it for her. But Presley insists that he sleep on the sofa for one night. The next morning, she wakes up early and makes breakfast for them. She is a small-time social media influencer and while taking a picture of her breakfast to post to Instagram, she accidentally captures Beckett in the background just as he is getting off the sofa. This is how “Hot Mountain Man” suddenly became famous on social media after a top influencer picked up on the photo.
Presley thought she was going to be staying at a spa resort when she chose Get Lost Lodge in the cute and funny LOVE, NATURALLY. Instead, it caters to the fishing and hiking crowd. She attempts to show the others there, including Beckett, that she is capable of taking a long hike or baiting a fishhook. Let’s just say that her stiff upper lip is soon trembling. Oh, she is not fooling Beckett. When her feet become blistered, it is he who tends to her feet. He is a nice guy even if he is burly—and handsome. Yes, the Hot Mountain Man label fits him perfectly. Because they are around each other so much, they are soon attracted to each other. Presley just broke off one relationship and she isn’t ready for another, but a fling sounds good. It isn’t as though they would be promising a future together. Once her eight days are up, she can return to her old life as a concierge at a boutique hotel. In the meantime, she is offering advice to the Keller family on how to improve Get Lost Lodge. Will readers sense there might be a future for Presley there?
While the main focus of LOVE, NATURALLY is about the budding romance between Presley and Beckett, there are other characters who help provide a colorful flavor to this tale. Beckett’s brother Grayson is the head honcho of the lodge, and he is struggling to get everything under control. Their sister, Jill, is a single mother to Ollie and runs the front office. Grayson, Jill, and Ollie enjoy the effect Presley is having on Beckett, including teasing him about the Hot Mountain Man moniker. As they say, any publicity is good publicity. There are plenty of moments that will have readers chuckling, mostly about what happens between Presley and Beckett. They seem so different but when it comes to sparks flying, things are hot between them.
Once I started reading LOVE, NATURALLY, I could hardly wait to see what happened with Presley and Beckett. A fun couple who are perfect together. If you love romance mixed with comedy, then don’t miss this tale.
Patti Fischer
I love Sophie Sullivan and this was a great addition to all her books. Opposites attract is perfect for these two characters and I loved how the story unfolded.
Love, Naturally is a cute read, great for small town, romcom lovers!
The quirky cast of vacationers was a perfect pairing with the lodge/B&B setting. I loved the relationship between Beckett and his niece Ollie. Sometimes precocious children in romances can be too much, but I think it worked in this one.
There was a heavy focus on plot and world building that overshadowed some of the relationship building. I felt like something was missing from the relationship between Beckett and Presley. For the insta-love premise, the burn was slow. I liked them separately and could feel the initial attraction each MC had to the other, but found that when the burn finally hit with that first kiss I couldn't picture it. But then, just when I started believing them as a couple that third act conflict hit (why didn't he just show up?!).
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Sophie Sullivan for an advance copy. These are my honest thoughts.
This was a cute read but for me it was really slow to get through. It took soooo long for them to get together, so the first half drug on.
"Love, Naturally" is a heart-warming romance that will make you fall in love not only with the protagonists but also the supporting cast and the fictional place the book takes place in.
I loved Beckett and Presley's story together and the journeys they went through separately over the course of the book. Their personal growth really complemented each other as they helped each other along. Additionally, the supporting cast of characters in "Love, Naturally" was fantastic and I adored each visitor at "Get Lost" (a place that I'm sad doesn't exist in real life).
I picked up this book primarily because it takes place in Michigan. However, it was clear that the author is not from Michigan and no one from Michigan read this book in the editing process. All of the inaccuracies (ex. the use of "ocean" instead of "lake" and someone seeing mountains in the distance) were not that big of deal, but I wish a little more research had been done. Additionally, while I loved the growth journeys Beckett and Presley went through outside of their relationship, I wished they talked about those things with each other a little more. I think this book is a rare example where more page time was given to exploring the MMC's life in depth than the FMC's, which isn't a criticism.
This book takes place over the course of a week, and may have instalove vibes for some readers. However, since emotional feelings developed after initial attraction, I didn't mind it.
3.5 stars.
Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This is exactly what you would expect from this type of novel. The small town vibes were unmatched and the romance was sweet and fluffy. It won’t knock your socks off, but it was a nice palette cleanser that served its purpose at the end of the day.
As this book opens, Presley is having a discussion with her boss, Ms. Twain. She totally forgot Presley is starting her vacation and is grumbling about juggling shift changes. Not Presley's problem. Presley has planned the perfect vacation for her and her boyfriend Emmett, a fishing trip to Get Lost, a place he once was trying to get as a client and said he'd like to go to sometime. She hopes this will show him she supports his hobbies and maybe move their relationship forward. She arranged with his boss for the time off and packed his bag for him, all without him knowing.
When they meet at the Slices Pie Shop near the airport, she's excited to give him his gift. However, he's not so excited at all, in fact he wants to go out with the guys. When he opens the gift, he's less than enthused. He considers ten days with her to be too much, even goes so far to say he'd go with a friend, not her. Not having any of that Presley breaks it off with him, takes the tickets and leaves. Sticking him with the bill in the process.
She travels mostly in a daze, and on the last leg on the boat was fighting motion sickness. Another occupant of the boat, a tall, dark-haired man with mirrored sunglasses, gives her a paper bag in case she loses her battle with the nausea. She tries to listen to the captain, Grayson, as he describes the lodge and the available activities as well as some history about the town of Smile and the area in general.
Presley is impressed with her initial view of the Lodge, it looked as if it had been carved out of the mountain behind it. No picture could possibly do it justice. She almost falls as she looked up at the way the clouds played with the top of the mountains as the sun begins to set. She's saved by warm hands grabbing her hips to steady her.
They are greeted in the lobby by Jillian 'Jilly' and her daughter Olivia 'Ollie'. When Presley gets to her room it's freezing inside. The thermostat said 44 degrees, and hitting the up button to raise the temp only for it to got back to 44 and off didn't work either. She bundled up in a sweatshirt with the blanket and comforter she tried to rest.
We learn the relationship between these characters, Jilly, Grayson and Beckett are siblings and always have each other's backs. Beckett's going to help with the renovations and other chores here on the island while contemplating what he wants to do with his own future.
He's been offered a partnership in the sporting goods store if he opens the new store a couple hours away, or he could finally start his own business, a bike rental shop in the town of Smile. It would be an additional way for tourists to get around.
When he can't fix the A/C in Presley's room the alternative is his cabin. He didn't let Jilly say it was his though. Presley does figure it out once they're there. Even with his assurances she was feeling vulnerable and when he was going to leave her, she asks him to stay for a bit. He pulls out steaks and Ollie comes down and helps Presley with the salad in one of the cutest scenes. However, what happens after is so much better.
In the morning Presley makes breakfast for Beckett. She even takes a selfie with to post to her Instagram. She would document this vacation with all the new things she was going to do. The picture has an unintended outcome. It seems Beckett was in the background stretching as he woke up.
There's so much in this book, the guests rally together on a rainy day, the siblings working together and Presley giving hints and ideas for marketing and saving money. Presley and Beckett's relationship, one that shouldn't start becomes so much more within a very short time.
I absolutely love the growth of these characters and I really want books for the other siblings. They should get their happy ever after too.
The premise of the story was promising but ultimately this one fell a little flat for me. If you love stories with a charming cast of side characters, opposites-attract dynamics, and minimal spice, this should be a fun read for you!
I thought this was such a cute book! I am a big fan of Sophie Sullivan, and I always get so excited when I see she has a new book out. I felt like this was such an easy going and simple romance book. I didn’t feel like anything crazy really happened in this book, but I enjoyed it regardless.
I loved the premise and the setting in this book. It took place in what sounded like the cutest little on the beach. It involved hiking, fishing, and all things outdoors. It sounded like the perfect place to go for a summer vacation. The third person POV did throw me off a few times during the book, but overall, it was still enjoyable. If you’re a fan of closed door romance and an outdoor setting, I recommend checking this book out!
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.