I love Toni Shiloh books! She writes clean books! This is my second book reading by her. It is the third book in the series. But it is a great testimony! I love the faith. I love the uniqueness of each character!

The Nature of Love was written by Toni Shiloh. It is the third book in the Love in the Spotlight series. This can be read as a standalone book, but I highly recommend reading the other books as they are wonderful.

Summary: Dr. Erykah Kennedy has a very successful career as an orthopedic surgeon, but her personal life in non-existent. Opening up to others is not something she enjoys, but she has to admit she’s lonely.

When she meets wildlife conservationist Christian Gamble, she’s immediately attracted to him, but a devasting family tragedy throws all thoughts of a possible romance out the window.

Erykah’s life is thrown into instant turmoil as she becomes guardian to her two precious nieces.

How can she survive the demands of her job, grief, and take care of her family all at once?

Amidst all the tragedy, can she learn to open her heart and rely on others?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written, has a unique storyline, and I love how Erykah changes and develops throughout this story.

This is a great book, and I highly recommend it!

I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Nature of love is the third book in the Love in the Spotlight Series and it follows the story of Chris and Erykah , singles both in their forties who experienced the love God ordained for them.
Their love story was that of instant attraction, but slow-burn love that navigated through obstacles, thus bringing them close to each other.

I liked the themes Toni Shiloh explored in this book and the fact that both MCs are not one of the regulars experienced in romance fiction.
And one thing synonymous with Toni's books is that she uses her writing to weave in the gospel of Christ in the most practical ways wether through character experiences or the story which Nature of Love was no exception.
I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the story.
Thank you Toni and Bethany house for my complimentary copy.

oni Shiloh’s The Nature of Love is a heartfelt conclusion to her Love in the Spotlight series, blending mature romance, faith, and healing. The story follows Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a successful orthopedic surgeon, and Christian Gamble, a dedicated wildlife conservationist, as they navigate grief and newfound guardianship. Their journey from friendship to love is portrayed with authenticity and emotional depth, highlighting themes of resilience and trust. Shiloh’s writing offers a tender exploration of second chances and the transformative power of love. This novel stands out as a poignant and uplifting read for fans of contemporary romance.

📝Holiday’s Note: Cue the waterworks! Such a fantastic ending to the series!📝 (I’m Holiday lol)

✨Tropes✨
💚Christian romance
🧡Friends to More
💚Mid-Life Romance
🧡Surprise Guardian

Wow! This book was like a breath of fresh air that I didn’t even know I needed!👏👏

The faith journey Erykah goes on, from the very beginning of the book, was so encouraging to read! It reminded me of how was in the beginning stages of following Jesus and how interesting it was learning about His everlasting love for you no matter your sin! That was my favorite part of it all!

Now for the romance part of the book! One word…AMAZING!! The moments Erykah and Chris shared was captivating! I loved how respectful Chris was about his feelings for Erykah while she was grieving!

Not to mention Erykah’s nieces, Cheyenne and Ash, was an added bonus to the story! Providing both adorable and hilarious moments! and that ending how me swooning! Also, the epilogue was an heart-warming ending to this series!

If you couldn’t tell, I thoroughly enjoyed both this book and this whole series! 👏👏 You guys have to give this book and series a read!🥰🫶

What a sweet story! I really loved the representation in this book and i loved that it wasn’t a regular romance but showed both characters having unique careers and encountering unique situations. I especially loved how the author wove the scriptures in and throughout the story, i thought it was so nicely done especially considering how tough the situations were for the characters 😩 but they came through by faith and i really enjoyed it!

Such a Wonderful and Inspiring Love Story!
I like how the blurb introduces Surgeon Erykah as a doctor feeling fractured and Chris Gamble as a wildlife enthusiast ready for more. This is not the typical romance, and I loved how a mature couple -entering their forties-, who are opposites -grumpy/sunshine-, and who have experienced heartbreak, complement themselves so perfectly and fall in love during trying circumstances, which solidifies their friendship growing into much more.
Also, this is the perfect story to read on Valentine’s month! I found this book endearing, heart-tugging, deeply emotional, and it gave me all the feels. I don’t know how she does it, but she can blend a story that has drama, loss, grief, uncertainty, but also light humor, witty banter, and even make you laugh at times. And it all feels natural. I felt so involved in the characters struggles, that I experienced all these emotions with them. The part of a sibling loss is not easy to describe, I thank God that I haven’t experienced it, but the pain felt real and acute. I love the way two opposites start a friendship, obviously Chris was interested from the start, but the way he conquers Erykah’s heart by being a true unwavering loyal friend touched my heart deeply. I loved these two quotes:
Erykah: “I was in awe of this man. I had never met someone who would put their life on hold to help another. Surely, that wasn’t normal, no matter how many times he professed otherwise”.
Chris: “I’ve been alone, and I’ve also grieved. I believe no matter what a person is facing, they should never face it alone.”
Erykah had struggled all her life to work hard and raise her sister by herself. Each simple act of kindness Chris has, turns around the world for her. It was inspiring to see how Erykah discovers that God hears her and answers her prayers in unexpected ways. The way she learns to pray is humbling and natural. Chris’s faith was another inspiring part of the book. He trusted God completely, and the way he prayed for Erykah was so moving. Along with Erykah, I fell in love with this man: his kindness, his patience and gentleness, the way he treated Erykah’s nieces, his cheerful and optimistic self, and yes, his love for animals and nature, and the way he fought to help preserve God’s creation. Erykah’s growth during the story was relatable and touching. I was impacted and reminded of the way an act of love and kindness can change other lives. The romance was very sweet, the way I like them. I love how they respect each other and put boundaries when needed.
Erykah’s nieces were super cute and realistic. The way a child can deal with grief can be so different, and I liked the way Chris and Erykah dealt with this issue, and always put the girls first. In short, this is a love story that depicts the “nature” of true love pretty well.
I also enjoyed immensely to revisit the characters from the two previous books. Their friendship is so solid, the way they support each other, especially through prayer, and their funny banter and jokes. Love the part of the text group threads.
All in all, a highly recommended contemporary romance that will touch your heartstrings and inspire you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

What a great ending to the third book in the Love in the Spotlight series! This story was honestly more emotional than any other Toni Shiloh book I have read. It broke my heart but I was also cheering on the characters as they faced their trials. Knowing that God was helping them along the way.

I really loved that this story also had a salvation story as well, I would love to see more of that in stories when characters find their faith. And loved the older protagonist love storyline.

I loved the characters and the story. Also that the love interests were an older generation as well.

*Thank you to Bethany House and #NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

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.***