Nobody writes like Toni! What a wonderful wrap-up to this series. I think this might be my favorite of the bunch—not just for the animals and the epic song references, but for the faith woven throughout the story that had me crying the whole way through. We all know Toni is the Queen of Faith, but this one? It was just so good.

It took me a while to get to it and get through it (because life has been life-ing), but once I picked it up, I was completely immersed. I didn’t want to put it down! The story pulled me in and made me feel everything.

Erykah was such an inspirational character, and I wish I could know her in real life. She was beautifully written, and her journey to Jesus was one of the highlights of the book. I also loved seeing familiar faces from the previous books and getting to witness their happily-ever-afters—it was the perfect send-off for this beloved group of friends.

I’m truly going to miss this series, but what a satisfying way to end it. If you haven’t read this yet, don’t wait!

Thank you so much Toni and Bethany House for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book! 🫶🏼

This story hits all the feels with love showcased through romance, grief, and family relationships with a solid base of found family echoing throughout the book. The characters are easy to root for and readers will resonate with them from the very beginning of their meet cute. This story starts off as a formula romance but quickly delves into deeper themes. Shiloh doesn't shy away from tough topics and the way main characters engage, wrestle, and explore their faith came across as authentic. Highly recommend this book!

The Nature of Love is the story fans of the Love in the Spotlight series have been waiting for. Cleverly, all three couples live in different places, and as such, each story, while related, works as a standalone.

If you’ve read the other stories in this series, you may recall Tuck getting hurt and needing surgery? He benefitted from seeing surgeon Erykah Kennedy. This third book opens with her going into surgery and later running into wildlife conservationist and blogger, Chris Gamble. The two strike up an unusual friendship and are together when Erykah gets devastating news about two deaths in her family.

Chris then leaps into action and offers to help Erykah deal with the fallout, including a five year old and an infant. Initially, I struggled with the speed of this coming together, but then the pace after the tragedy was extremely good and I ended up thoroughly enjoying this clever and well considered story. The romance was deftly handled and the faith element, handled beautifully. Toni Shiloh remains a go to contemporary romance author for me and I’m excited to see what she writes next.

I received a copy of The Nature of Love from the publisher via NetGalley. The views are my own.

Erykah Kennedy is a successful surgeon in her 40's. She's fixed people from movie starts to the governor's kid, and after, raising her baby sister, she's achieved everything she's set out to in life. Everything...except find love. When she runs into handsome Chris Gamble, wildlife YouTuber, she wonders if love might be in the cards for her. Until tragedy strikes, leaving her guardian of her two young nieces and forcing her to once again put her personal life on hold.

Chris Gamble is the oldest in his friend group and is starting to feel like the third wheel. But he's still not over the heartbreak 12 years ago when his ex left him at the altar. So when Erykah needs a friend in the wake of tragedy, he's careful to not to step over the line into romance territory, no matter how much he wants to.

I confess I somehow skipped over the part about tragedy in the description, so I was a bit taken aback when it struck! There is a lot of feels going on here as the story slowly (slowly) unfolds. (The other books I read by this author were more like novellas, which might have colored my pacing expectations).

My other issue was sometimes the scene transitions were rather sudden. At one point, a character gets hurt. The accident happens so suddenly at the start of a chapter I was sure it was a nightmare and I kept waiting for the character to wake up in a cold sweat. (Spoiler: it wasn't).

Overall, though, I found this book a sweet, faith focused, slow (very slow) burn romance. This is the first time I can recall encountering a romance where the characters are over 40, which was refreshing. I also liked that Chris had friends around him who also became friends to Erykah. This is the third in a series but it can also stand alone; I did not read the previous books and had no issues following anything.

Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.

Well, did I ever get fooled or what?!! A couple of chapters in I thought this was just a love story happening too soon—a lighthearted chick flick filled with flirty banter and mushy romance with very little substance. And THAT, my reader friend, is why you shouldn't give up on a book too soon!

Our heroine, Erykah Kennedy, has devoted her life to her career as a brilliant orthopedic surgeon and doesn't even know how to flirt and Christian Gamble, a wildlife conservationist, isn't interested in being burned by love again. When a terrible tragedy occurs that threatens to squeeze my heart in a million pieces, I realized I indeed had been fooled by the first few chapters . . . definitely not a fluffy, light romance here!

There are so many rich layers and complex issues to be dealt with in this novel—intense grief, feelings of isolation, sexual purity, and single parenthood. Many kudos to author Toni Shiloh for not shying away from the tough stuff! Highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.*

I enjoyed this story. I liked that Chris finally found his person. I loved how Chris was there for Erykah as she dealt with her family tragedy. I also liked that he helped her to find the Lord and that she was able to be strengthened by Him. I also liked that they were an older couple so they knew what the wanted out of life. I liked seeing their romance bloom and seeing them become a family. I also liked how they were different from each other on how they saw the world but how they were both willing to adapt to the other person and try new things. I also liked Erykah’s nieces and how the author showed how children handle grief. I thought the author did a good job of showing us how different people handle grief and how we can be there for each other. I thought this was a good series and would recommend.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

"Standing out in nature, Chris always felt like creation pointed to the Lord. He wanted the peace that came with that knowledge to fill Erykah and comfort the girls. Except Ashlynn apparently hated riding in the stroller and Cheyenne thought the rocks were boring."
When Chris offered to help his new friend, Erykah, handle a crisis, he had no idea what all it would entail. Soon he can't imagine life with her and her nieces. But this isn't how he thought his life would go.
Erykah lives a structured life. But when she faces upheaval, she falls apart. Asking for help is hard, but it just might change her life.
A doctor and a nature expert seem like an unlikely pair. The emphasis on green living is interesting and not intrusive. Anyone who enjoys animals will love this book.
This is a twist on the marriage of convenience trope. And I really, really liked that component. Unselfish and unconditional love plays out beautifully on the pages.
This is book 3 in the "Love in the Spotlight" series. The characters definitely overlap, so I do recommend reading the other books first. I loved this book. Really, the whole series has been wonderful. But so many aspects put this book on a whole new level. I highly recommend it.
I did read a copy of this book through NetGalley. I wanted to read and review it. I am a big fan of Toni Shiloh's books! All opinions are my own.

Dr. Erykah Kennedy is all about her work. But that also serves to covers up the discomfort she feels relating to people. It seems like the only people that truly get her are her sister and brother-in-law.

That is, until she meets wildlife conservationist Chris Gamble.

It’s hard for her to deny the attraction, but she’s determined to keep him in the friend zone. However, when tragedy strikes and she find herself drowning from all the change that’s hit her life, Chris has her rethinking whether he should be more than a friend.

This book was such a cute end to Toni Shiloh’s Love in the Spotlight series! I really enjoyed this over 40 love story—and all the references to pop culture from my youth. It’s always refreshing seeing slightly older MCs in romance books.

As with every Toni Shiloh book I’ve read, faith played an integral role and was done well. I loved seeing Erykah’s faith journey grow. This one was a bit insta-lovey which isn’t my favorite trope, but it wasn’t cringey. I think with the older characters, it felt more believable.

If you haven’t read the Love in the Spotlight series, I’d recommend you check it out—it’s truly Christian romance at its finest! So grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the eARC. All opinions are my own!

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is a delightful romance that will be a favorite for me in 2025. It is the conclusion to the Love in Spotlight series. Dr. Erykah Kennedy is an orthopedic surgeon who has built a successful career and a very orderly life at age 41. Chris Gamble has a career as a wildlife conservationist when he meets Erykah and they both experience connection. But, Erykah life turns upside down when she becomes guardian to her nieces. Can they become more than friends?

I thoroughly enjoyed this friend to lovers beautifully written romance. Erykah and Chris were two very engaging characters who were so easy to love and I wanted the best for them. The faith piece of the book was so well written, authentic, and not preachy. My heart broke for all both characters went through in their lives, but the author handled their issues with grace and it was a pleasure to see them both grow and heal. The themes of redemption, love, and found family were woven so well throughout the story.

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh was a great finale to the Love in the Spotlight series. I enjoyed connecting with the characters from the first two books and seeing everyone’s happily ever after. The story had sweet romance, heartfelt redemptive themes, and a faith piece that resonated with me. I highly recommend.

I was given a copy by the publisher and not required to write a positive review.

Although I've been reading Christian Fiction for years, it's not often that an author does something in a story that will make me want to give them the side eye (Yes, Pat Simmons, I'm referring to you). Well, this authors has been added to that list. This book had me going through all types of emotions, laughter, sadness, tears, keeping the faith and Love. I absolutely enjoyed and devoured this book in one sitting and I was emotionally invested from beginning to end. This was absolutely one of the most enjoyable reads for this month and this author continually shows why she has been added to my authobuy list.

I received a copy of the book via the publisher through Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review of my own thoughts and opinions.

This is a sweet book. Erykah is in her 40's and has never dated. She's been taking care of her sister and then taking care of her patients for years. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself way in over her head and is forced to rely on a new friend for help. Chris was jilted at the altar and isn't interested in dating either but the situation Erykah finds herself in stirs his protective nature. He doesn't ever want anyone to feel alone like he did most of his life. I liked seeing them figure things out together. It was special.

I especially liked Erykah's realization of God and how He was with her when she wasn't aware of it. When she needed confirmation of a direction, He gave it to her in spades. It's a great reminder to look for Him in our days and situations.

I'm sorry to see this series end. It had a great group of characters who really supported each other. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is the third book in Love in the Spotlight series that follows Chrisitan Gamble (a friend of the other characters in the first two books) and Dr. Erykah Kennedy’s friendship that eventually turns into a romance.

A strength of this story (apart from the natural humor that was also incorporated in the other two books), was the authenticity of how the two main characters’ relationship evolved. Tragedy brought them closer together and though that was sudden, it was something I could believe and accept. Being a faith-based story, I liked how Chris and Erykah navigated their unique situation with God in mind, from making sense of what kind of relationship they had and want to have, to Erykah, who was not a believer in the beginning, learning how to understand God and the role He played in her life.

There were no true weaknesses in the story for me. While some may believe how things played out in the end were too convenient, it is not out of the realm of possibility, so I was okay with that. But I would have liked to know if Erykah ever intended to connect with her estranged parents, a personal preference, because I understand that was not a major piece to the story and sometimes not everything in a story can and should be addressed.

All in all, I enjoy the book, and while I believe this is the end of this series, I look forward to reading the next series from Toni Shiloh.

***This book was given to me by Bethany House and NetGalley for an honest review.***

This book was surprising but also delightful. The book explores Dr Erykah Kennedy and Chris Gamble’s friends to lovers relationship. The author does close proximity while keeping faith as the focal point really well. This is probably one of the authors heavier themed books, exploring death and grieving which surprised me. It was an enjoyable conclusion to the Love in the Spotlight series and I loved seeing all the characters come together at different points. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own!

Every time I pick up a book by Toni Shiloh I know I'm in for a treat. I have simply adored the Love in the Spotlight series. Some of my favorite parts are the text threads between our three male buddies. A mix of comedy and spiritual hard truths that just really had this reader smiling. And I have been waiting for "gramps" story - aka Christ, the elder friend. Not only was it nice to see a romance between people around my own age, it was nice to see the camaraderie between him and his buddies, despite the age difference.

Now let's talk romance. Shiloh Is. A. Master. Not only does she have all the swoony moments you want in her romances, she's got sizzling chemistry, realistic life issues and how they can interfere with romance, conflict, and such beautiful faith themes. Erykah had something MAJOR happen to her, and man it had be crying. But after that, as she's trying to pick up the pieces with the ruggedly handsome Chris beside her, Shiloh shows real emotion and internal struggle. Even in the midst of heartache we have emotions and natural attractions that can't be helped. And how Shiloh shows that between Erykah and Chris is simply magic.

The Nature of Love is a beautiful addition to an already amazing series. In fact, I think it's my favorite. Shiloh reminds readers that even in darkness there is a light - a light that will lead, guide, and help. There's a reason Shiloh's one of my favorites. And all the pages of this book prove why. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Toni Shiloh’s final novel in the Love in the Spotlight series might just be my favorite. The Nature of Love tells the story of Chris Gamble and Dr. Erykah Kennedy, two characters introduced in the preceding two novels.

I loved this story and loved the characters in this story. Shiloh has written a story of two individuals who had decided that love was out of the picture for them. How they navigate hardships together and fall in love in the process kept me invested in their story. This book is a beautiful story of friendship, love, and faith in the One Who is Love. I always enjoy Shiloh seamless inclusion of prayer in her novels.

Toni Shiloh’s novels just get better and better the more she writes. I highly recommend this book to readers of contemporary Christian romance. Shiloh includes enough of a backstory that this book could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone. However, you will definitely want to read the first two novels and enjoy them as well.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

What a fabulous conclusion to the Love in the Spotlight series! I’ve loved the way Toni Shiloh has featured each of these famous friends finding love. In The Nature of Love, we finally get Chris’ story! He’s the “old man” of the group at just 42. But, when he meets the talented, beautiful orthopedic surgeon Erykah, he may have finally found his match.

Dr. Erykah Kennedy’s achieved quite a lot in her life but the one thing that’s eluded her is love. When she meets Christian Gamble, a wildlife conservationist, while bonding over their same taste in burgers, she’s immediately intrigued. When they meet again, it seems like fate, but when tragedy strikes & Erykah finds herself the guardian of two young nieces, will it put a damper on their budding friendship or bring them closer together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this reverse grumpy/sunshine, friends to more, slow burn, instant attraction romance! Erykah’s always wanted to be a mom, but thrust into instant motherhood is a huge challenge, especially when the children are grieving. Chris is the knight in shining armor who offers his home & his heart as they work through the complications of a new life.

I loved how these mature characters handled this difficult situation. Chris knows this isn’t the right time for romance & tries to maintain a friendship, but the tug for more is there & I loved the way he was so respectful of Erykah & the girls.

Erykah & Chris both have complicated pasts which make them both cautious of a relationship. I loved how real these characters felt & watching them turn past pain into healing & forgiveness. Erykah has a profound faith journey & Chris is right there to help as she works through loss & learning about God.

The two adorable kids in this book definitely grew on me. It’s definitely a challenge being thrust into a completely new environment. I loved the way animals & nature helped in the healing process.

Chris & Erykah aren’t alone in this, & I enjoyed how they relied on both old & new friends to help navigate this new situation. There’s plenty of delightful humor & swoon worthy romance to beautifully balance the grief.

Highly recommend! Thought part of a series, it’s easily read as a standalone, but you’ll definitely want to pick up the other books in the series. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

I was so excited that Chris was getting his story, and author Toni Shiloh didn’t disappoint me. This is my favorite book in her Love in the Spotlight series. While you could read The Nature of Love as a stand alone, it will make more sense if you read book 1, A Run at Love, and Book 2, Love Script, because we see the same characters throughout. Each book has a different focus.

Wonderful, well developed characters bring this story to life. Chris is a wildlife conservationist, Erykah is an orthopedic surgeon. Neither are looking for a relationship and are in fact running the other way. Until God causes their paths to cross Yes, God is in this story as well. Shiloh doesn’t shy away from her faith and writes it into her stories in a way that doesn’t feel pushed but natural.

This book has it all. Grief, love, joy, sorrow, friendship, and faith. I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

One of my favorite things about the Love in the Spotlight series has been the friendship between Lamont, Tuck, and Chris – from their hilarious banter (and usually-debatable romance advice) to the authenticity with which these perhaps-unlikely friends hold each other accountable in their walks with God. Most often this shows up in the form of their ongoing text conversations which make me smile on the regular… but every once in a while we get to see them all together in one place. And The Nature of Love delivers those ‘in person’ moments in spades, only one of the many reasons that it’s probably my favorite book of the series. (I say ‘probably’ only because I LOVE ALL THREE BOOKS so much, for different reasons, and being forced to officially choose between them would send me into a mental tizzy.)

But, for the sake of this review, let’s examine the other reasons I would give for why it IS my fave of the series, just in case I am forced to decide. (If your first reaction to the previous sentence is ‘that’s a cop-out, Carrie’, you’re totally right. I’m a big chicken who can’t bring myself to tell Lamont or Tuck that ‘poor old’ Chris’s book beats theirs in a vote. LOL)

1. THE FEELS. Oh my heart, y’all. I read an early version of this book last year and I’ve still not recovered from all the emotions it took me through. I laughed. I swooned. I grinned big. But I cried, too, and there were a couple of scenes where I thought my heart would break right in two. Because The Nature of Love is lots of fun, and it’s witty and it’s swoony… and it also explores life-altering news and ongoing grief, the kind that could undo even the strongest among us. And Shiloh does each of these aspects – and the combination of all of them together – so beautifully. The humor is perfectly timed, even in the grieving, and she achieves the perfect balance of making us chuckle without making light of the characters’ loss. Which brings me to…

2. Erykah‘s faith journey. Watching her come to a relationship with Jesus is just exquisite. I always love the way Shiloh incorporates faith into her stories, in such natural and engaging ways, and this is one of her best faith journeys yet. The questions Erykah asks as she tries to understand what she’s reading in her Bible, what she’s experiencing in her pain, what she sees in Chris’s life, they are spot on and made me love Erykah’s character even more than I already did. Which brings me to…

3. Chris. (He’s actually worth about 10 reasons all on his own.) He is a hero of heroes in his own quiet, steady way in this story, and the way he jumps into the middle of Erykah’s crisis and acts as the tangible hands and feet of Jesus for her is so touching. Plus, he’s pretty hot for a guy in his forties (#understatement), and I adored watching him help Erykah with her nieces and her dog Charlie. Which brings me to…

4. The secondary characters. Especially Charlie the cutie-cute dog who stole my heart and Cheyenne the sassy five-year-old who stole the show. So fun!!

Bottom Line: The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is every bit as delightful a romance as its marvelous cover would suggest, but it’s also so much more! Chris and Erykah won my affection from their meet-cute to their meet-twice and on through their growing friendship, forced proximity, and eventual romance. I loved their honesty with each other and the ways they mutually supported and respected each other, too. Grief and loss share the page with wit and flirting and a little bit of sass (for good measure), all of it skillfully balanced and threaded with meaningful faith themes through layered characters. I’m so sad to say goodbye to this series, but Shiloh gifts us with the perfect epilogue to make the parting sweeter. Do yourself a favor and carve out some uninterrupted time to read this gem of a story – your uplifted heart will thank you for it!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is a beautifully crafted story that touched my heart. Shiloh weaves a gentle, faith-filled romance that feels authentic and deeply emotional. The characters are relatable, each facing their own struggles and doubts, yet finding love and grace along the way. I was especially moved by the way Shiloh integrates faith into the characters’ journeys without it ever feeling forced—it’s organic and inspiring, making their growth feel real and heartfelt— which is what I truly appreciate about her writing.

The chemistry between the two MCs i found was sweet and tender, and while the romance blooms a bit slower than I expected, the depth of their connection more than makes up for it.

The warmth, authenticity, and faith in this book make it a truly touching and memorable read. THE NATURE OF LOVE is a beautiful conclusion to the Love in the Spotlight series. I’ll miss these characters and this now perfect friend group. Thank you Toni for blessing your readers with these feel good and faith-filled stories.

I found this story absolutely captivating. Erykah was very relatable in her insecurities, and her focus on what needed to be done, pushing aside any emotion or curiosity as they had become liabilities to her.

Watching her come alive through her relationship with Chris and the girls was so cool. It was painful, but beautiful.

And Chris, stretching himself and his solo world to include 3 people who truly needed him, and then freaking out because there came a time when he needed their help instead of him being the one who could help? Lamont called him on that but good! :)

I couldn't put it down, and I doubt you can either.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author/netgalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.