The Nature of Love is the third book in Toni Shiloh's "love in the spotlight" series. It follows a hard working orthopedic surgeon named Erykah, who has a difficult time communicating with others and who's best friend/sister lives across the country. When she meets a wildlife conservatist Chris, a friendship (and more) starts to blossom. When tragedy strikes, Chris supports Erykah and helps her navigate her new reality.

This was the first book I'd read by Toni Shiloh and I found it to be heavy and emotional. Themes of grief, family, and social anxiety are quite pronounced and it was not the light escape I was looking for in a contemporary romance novel.

The romance is definitely my favourite part of the book; I loved Chris and Erykah and his steadfast support for all that Erykah was going through. They were so cute together and the ending fit them so well.

I appreciated that the characters were very vocal about their faith, but it felt unnatural and forced at times (especially in the group texts). I love the inclusion of faith, but the dialogue felt awkward to me.

Overall, this book was just not what I was looking for, but I would definitely read more by Toni Shiloh. She writes with incredible depth, faith, and emotion, so while this particular book was not for me, I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

[I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

4.5 stars.

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is an absolutely heartwarming Christian romance.

Forty-one-year-old Dr. Erykah Kenney is an orthopedic surgeon who is laser focused on her career. She had to take on responsibility at a young age and she remains devoted to her married sister and two nieces. Erykah is a brilliant doctor but finds small talk very difficult. So, she is surprised when her chance encounters with Christian “Chris” Gamble go so well she yearns to spend more time with him.

Chris is a wildlife conservationist who loves his career taking care of injured wildlife. He is also an avid outdoorsman who is always in motion. Chris is the only single person in his group of friends. He is happy for his friends’ upcoming nuptials but he is beginning to feel lonely. He is absolutely charmed by Erykah but will he ever be anything other than a friend to her?

Chris and his friends share a strong faith whereas Erykah is not at all spiritual. She is amazed with how at ease Chris is praying for people he does not know. As her life takes an unanticipated turn, Erykah feels stirrings of faith. With assistance from Chris and his circle of friends, Erykah begins to discover God’s presence and love in her life.

The Nature of Love is a beautiful novel of resilience, friendship, and love. The various characters are well-drawn with relatable foibles and issues to overcome. The storyline is incredibly engaging and full of deep emotion. Erykah and Chris are a charming couple whose relationship gradually turns from friendship to love. Both of them grow and evolve throughout the story. Erykah’s faith journey is organic and naturally evolves. With a sweet epilogue, Toni Shiloh brings her wonderful Love in the Spotlight series to a heartfelt conclusion.

Author Toni Shiloh brings us the last of her Love in the Spotlight series with The Nature of Love.
Dr. Erykah Kennedy lives a fairly solitary existence despite being an attending orthopedic surgeon. Her only true is her states-away sister.
Christian Gamble is a wildlife conservationist, a truly great guy who has a “once bitten, twice shy” attitude towards dating. But when a meet-cute with Dr. Kennedy happens - twice - could he rethink his outlook?
He’s there when she learns of a tragedy, and will do anything to help her navigate it. Could the current chaos of their lives lead to faith in the Lord and a lifetime together?
I was engrossed from start to finish! The author is so adept at portraying navigating through grief and trials in a real and thoughtful manner, but also how the Lord can make beauty from ashes. Plus, it has my favorite, an epilogue, and this one is extra-fantastic!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but my opinion is entirely my own.

I love Chris's treatment of Erykah as their friendship blossomed. He was her rock and comforter, supporting her when tragedy struck. The way he loved her as a friend revealed his true character and made her contemplate a relationship with him.

The Nature of Love wasn't a light read, but it was a good one. I especially enjoyed Erykah's faith journey and how she blossomed as she fell in love with Chris.

It was fun catching up with Tuck and Piper and Lamont and Neveah from the earlier books.

The Nature Of Love is the third book in the Love in the Spotlight Series featuring Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon and Christian Gamble, a wildlife conservationist. In this beautifully written novel, we follow Erykah who seems to have the picture perfect life until tragedy strikes leaving her the sole guardian of her two nieces. Christian Gamble, wants to help her in her time of need and becomes her main support system as she grieves the loss of her family. However, Christian isn't sure how to navigate his growing feeling for her during this time of trial and tribulation. Is tragedy and grief going to ruin their relationship or is love going to overpower in the end?

The faith element in this novel was so beautifully done. I loved seeing Erykah find her way to the Lord in her time of darkness. The way Chris was being the spiritual leader even before they were together was just a perfect foreshadow of the type of man he was going to be for Erykah and the kids. God was so intwined in this love story and it just gave me so much hope that first age is nothing but a number to the Lord. But also that when God is in the midst he makes all things possible. This is a perfect read for new believers because there are so many amazing bible references and even explanations of some of the scripture.

I haven't read the other two books in the Love in the Spotlight series so maybe thats why I just didn't connect with the characters. However, this book felt very juvenile for the characters to be in their forties. I was hoping for a mature adult christian romance and the characters were very immature for their age. The communication between the characters was nonexistent for more than half of the book. They would make these assumptions about what was best for the other person when literally this book probably could have been cut in half if they communicated like forty year old adults. In addition, the book was just mundane. It was mostly about the characters going to work, coming home & changing diapers with a few climax moments. Unfortunately, this book was not my cup of tea but I will be checking out more from Toni since I really enjoyed the faith content.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is a Christian Romance that dives into the lives of Dr. Erykah Kennedy and Christian Gamble and how a run in at a restaurant for a burger can change both of their lives in ways that they can’t fathom.
I was really excited to know that Chris was getting his own book we get glimpses of him through his friends stories through the text messages and joking banter back and forth throughout Tuck’s and Lamont’s books.
With Dr. Kennedy being an orthopedic surgeon and Chris being a wildlife conversationalist I was curious how well these two would mesh but Toni did a beautiful job bringing these two together despite all the differences that they shared. I can always appreciate how the story ultimately comes together for both characters.
I wasn’t prepared for the trauma and the grief that ensued but it was done so tastefully and this was what would ultimately bring Erykah and Chris closer together. While I loved Chris because of his loving and supportive nature the character who stole the book for me was 5 year old Cheyenne. Cheyenne was the cutest little person with such a sassy attitude and inquisitive nature and I loved her.
The story was medium pace even though you don’t get a glimpse of the true nature of the romantic relationship until the end. I would rather it have happened in the middle and for their relationship to evolve from there.
The best part of the story for me was Erykah’s faith transition it was beautiful and it was everything.
Overall I enjoyed this read and I enjoyed the series as a whole and I can’t wait for what’s next.
4 star rating and I do recommend! Thank You to Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is Chris’s story, and it’s about time he got one!
If you've read any of the past stories about the two friends, Tuck and Lamont, then you know they are Chris' friends, and they have fun together.
I loved this story because it showed Chris’s tender-hearted tendencies. He was an amazing new friend to Erykah, who never really had any friends. A few times, I teared up because I felt all the emotions these characters felt. I also enjoyed reading about some of the other friends connected to Chris. They all have such a wonderful friendship with lots of fun banter.
Toni Shiloh has written a beautifully touching story with rich word pictures. She has a magnificent way of conveying the feelings of each of the characters in this book. She took the time to weave into her story how grief can impact lives. Yet, she wrote that even though there is pain and hurt out there, God desires to heal those hurts and give hope for the future!
I want to thank the author for writing such an incredible story.
I laughed, cried, and truly loved every moment I read this book. I hope you will, too. I highly recommend you pick it up and read it.
The publisher gave me this book, but this did not influence my review in any way; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars
I am so sad to see this series come to an end but I loved reading about Chris finally getting his happy ending. The Nature of Love is the third book in Toni Shiloh’s Love in the Spotlight. This was such a cute read!
Chris and Erykah were so much fun together, they had an easy connection. I liked how they helped make each other better. They were able to be themselves without fear. Their relationship was sweet because they started out as friends. They had to get to know each other and then they slowly fell in love.
The faith aspects that Shiloh wove into the story was perfect. Erykah had to learn to trust God and believe in Him. Her struggles about God and faith felt real. I love Chris’ patience and love for her as he tried to show her Christ.
Erykah’s nieces were so sweet and I felt for them as Erykah navigated how to raise them. Chris really stepped up to help Erykah and it was sweet to read about the relationship between the characters. The romance was definitely a slow burn but it fit the characters and the story.
I really enjoyed this book and I would totally recommend it! I love the characters and the story was so engaging. It was also fun to see some old characters. The Nature of Love is a clean Christian contemporary romance.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.

The Nature of Love is a cute story filled with animals and engaging characters. I loved the setting, the dialpgue, the character occupational, and the story. This Love series by Toni Shiloh has been my favorite of hers.

The Nature of Love is another fun story from Toni Shiloh. This one is the final installment in her Love in the Spotlight Series - and I couldn’t think of a better way to end this series.

We meet Chris and Erykah in previous books, but I am so glad we got the chance to read their story. I loved both of the previous books, and up until now, Tuck and Piper had been favorites. Toni Shiloh knocked it out of the park - this story gave me ALL THE FEELS!

I will not give any spoilers away. There were so many good moments. I really liked seeing characters who are a little older than what we normally find in contemporary romance. I also really appreciated the pacing of the story as Chris and Erykah start out as friends. Both of them have avoided finding love due to past hurts. But when Erykah faces an unexpected loss, I love how Chris steps in to provide the friendship and support she needs to rebuild. In typical Shiloh fashion, there is a beautiful faith thread. We witness Erykah as she discovers her need for God and how her friends help lead her in her faith journey. While there are a few hard moments, we are rewarded with plenty of comic relief from Cheyenne.

Definitely recommend this book - and suggest reading the first 2 in the series for better context. I received an early copy for review and the opinions expressed are my own.

The Nature of Love is the third in the series, and might be my favorite. The story is weightier than the first two, with possible triggers, but it made Chris and Erykah's love story that much sweeter. I loved the addition of Erykah's nieces. They added some needed levity to the story, and gave opportunities to glimpse both Chris' and Erykah's softer, nurturing sides. Chris is probably my favorite of the guys after reading this book. Swoony and willing to step up and help with kids that aren't his? Yes, please.

I'd intended to read the first two several months ago, but got busy. I ended up reading all three in a row, and I'm so glad I did. It added an extra layer of satisfaction to watch the friendship between the three guys from the start, and how it grew, adding the ladies in as their stories unfolded. Their relationships added so much to the overall picture of the stories, and I adored the epilogue, giving us a glimpse of all our friends several years after the end of the last story. This whole series was fantastic.

Toni Shiloh makes the cutest couples in her books. Erykah and Chris were definitely on par with such. Erykah and Chris both had their reservations on dating and being used to a solitary lifestyle, but what they both come to realize is, life is meant to be lived with others in it.
CW: The Car accident that took Erykahs only family...Shiloh wrote this so well I felt sick for 2 days after reading, I felt I had somehow received the news also and seriously couldn't read the book for a few days to finish the story that's how much it upset me. But the redemption it brings in the end when everything falls into place and Erykah trusts Christ is awesome.
Thank you to the author, Bethany House and Netgalley for my arc, this is my honest review.

Toni does it again!

This is the third book in the Love and Spotlight series, I highly recommend reading the first two books to put everything into perspective.

Chris finally finds his one true love! We follow Chris and Erykah as they find love in the mist of so many obstacles.

One of the things I loved in this book was that both of the characters were in their forties. It’s never too late for the love that God has for anyone.

I will not do spoilers.

Both Chris and Erykah experienced traumatic experiences and had to navigate feelings that they didn’t know they had. This wasn’t instant love, but instant attraction. During these trials they somehow fell in love as they navigated a new normal.

This was a story of slow passion, trust in Christ and learning to find beauty in any situation.

While I’m sad to see this series end, it was finished beautifully and didn’t leave any questions.

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House for the opportunity to read this great book.

This is an excellent story about grief and love.

I am a huge fan of Toni Shiloh’s books and this one did not disappoint. What seemed like it would be a regular man meets woman love story turned into so much more. Watching the love of God unfold through the actions of the characters while watching them deal with grief in a real way was astounding.

The ending was beautiful. I highly recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC..

This was another fun story by Toni Shiloh! Third book in the series, so my favorite characters from the two previous books show up, and I loved it!
Erykah was a unique heroine, and I didn't completely feel like I understood her, but I did like reading about her.
This story deals with grief, loss of family members, so it is definitely not an easy read!
It is well written and thought provoking, as well as being funny and entertaining.
I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is the last book in the Love In The Spotlight series - a Christian romance series. Also, a clean, African-American contemporary romance. I like how the book titles in this series reveal the major focus of each book. The male lead in The Nature of Love is an animal and nature lover - a lover generally. Love was the major theme of this book - the love of God, love through grief, love in pain, etc. This book is quite the emotional read, with both heartbreaking and sweet moments. I especially love the ending and the demonstration of how God works out things for our good.
I received the ARC from Netgalley and Bethany House | Bethany House Publishers. All opinions expressed are mine.

Third in a series. I haven’t read the first two, and while there were a few spoilers, nothing that wouldn’t be too obvious since these stories are supposed to have happily-ever-after’s. This specific book was heavy though. A lot of loss and a lot of emotions and it was just. . . well, a lot. If you are looking for happy and upbeat this book is not it. It’s like one of those Hallmark drama movies. Yes, there’s the romantic storyline, but it’s more about the emotional upheaval of their lives and how they come through it. And in that regard, this was a wonderful story. It just wasn’t what I expected, and therefore not something I particularly enjoyed--I did get teary eyed quite a few times, so clearly Toni did a great job writing an emotional story.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Nature of Love is the third book in the Love in the Spotlight series. I recommend reading the first two books in this series as the characters and plots are woven together. This story focuses on Chris and Erykah who are in their 40's. While this story has its funny moments, it also has heartbreaking moments and characters dealing with grief. I appreciated Chris's faith and was happy to watch Erykah make a decision to turn her life over to Christ. Shiloh captured Cheyenne's sassy 5 year old personality effortlessly along with weaving spiritual truths into The Nature of Love.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I LOVED this book! It's equal parts happy and sad. There are funny scenarios that had me laughing out loud. There are also some heartbreaking times that made me reach for the kleenex box.

Toni Shiloh always writes fantastic characters that are easy to like! There are many familiar characters from previous books, and they tied right in. It's great that the characters are in their 40's. I especially related to aching body parts 😆. Erykah amazes me! She's brilliant, a wonderful older sister/mother, and she's lonely. Chris has a great community surrounding him. He's compassionate, caring, and a true friend. Cheyenne stole the show! Her sassy attitude had me chuckling. Toni captured the 5 year old attitude perfectly!

I really admire Chris's faith. He truly lived it out. Yes, sometimes he struggled, but he never wavered. Watching Erykah decide to turn her life over to God made my heart leap with joy!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the final book in the three-book series Love in the Spotlight. Chris Gamble is the last of his friends to find a partner. He works at a nature preserve and sometimes takes in wounded animals to rehab and then either release or rehome. Erykah Kennedy has found a wounded dog and brought it to Chris to check over. The puppy only needed to be cleaned up and fed. Erykah took the dog home, but she needed to have a place for the puppy to go during the day while she was at work. Chris offered to keep the puppy at work with him and allow him to have the activity he needs instead of being cooped up in a condo all day. Chris and Erykah became friends through the days of handing the puppy back and forth. They were about to go to dinner when the local police come to the door to tell Erykah that her sister and husband had been killed in a car crash. She was named the guardian for her two nieces.
Chris helps Erykah bring the girls from Kentucky to Colorado. In the process Erykah meets Chris's friends, Tuck and Piper. Back in Colorado, Chris allows Erykah to move into his basement and helps her with her nieces. Throughout the whole process they become closer and closer.

Toni Shiloh has taken a tough life situation and handled it with care and aplomb. She openly discusses the grief in losing close family members and the grief that children experience. It's a beautiful novel that takes on difficult life situations and opens the readers' minds to be not so judgmental.

Strong Four Star Book

Bethany House Publishers provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely.