Review - - Enjoy the View

Enjoy the View

by Sarah Morgenthaler

Moose Springs, Alaska - Book 3

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: January 19, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet
And miles of untamed wilderness...
What could possibly go wrong?

Former Hollywood darling River Lane's acting career is tanking fast. Determined to start fresh behind the camera, she agrees to film a documentary about the picturesque small town of Moose Springs, Alaska. The assignment should have been easy, but the quirky locals want nothing to do with River. Well, too bad: River's going to make this film and prove herself, no matter what it takes.

Or what (literal) mountain she has to climb.

Easton Lockett may be a gentle giant, but he knows a thing or two about survival. If he can keep everyone in line, he should be able to get River and her crew up and down Mount Veil in one piece. Turns out that's a big if. The wildlife's wilder than usual, the camera crew's determined to wander off a cliff, and the gorgeous actress is fearless. Falling for River only makes Easton's job tougher, but there's only so long he can hold out against her brilliant smile. When bad weather strikes, putting everyone at risk, it'll take all of Easton's skill to get them back home safely...and convince River she should stay in his arms for good.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs, Alaska has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary romance/romantic comedy series. Filled with quirky characters, impeccable comedic timing, and a satisfying depth of emotion, these stories are delightful page-turners I can't get enough of.

In Enjoy the View, Morgenthaler gives readers the comedy and quirkiness we've come to expect but adds another layer with the danger and intensity that come with climbing the daunting Mount Veil. It's clear this author has more than a passing acquaintance with mountain climbing. Her descriptions create a feeling of authenticity as they carry the reader into the middle of the danger, and exhilaration, of the life-threatening elements of a 14,000 ft. climb. It's easy to believe the characters' driving need to master the geological beast. But the author also understands the sheer genius of comedic relief in the midst of intensity. The scene-stealing, love-sick marmot darn near steals the whole book and had me laughing so hard I was sure my condo neighbors would start banging on walls any second. In fact, the entire book is filled with passages that tickled my funny bone. 

*Note: I recently learned that the author is not a mountain climber and that her knowledge was gained through research which makes her ability to immerse me in the climbing experience all the more impressive.

In addition to the adventure and comedy, Enjoy the View also brings a sweet and satisfying romance for Easton and River. I loved the banter between these two as well as the gradually developed friendship and mutual respect that deepened into more. I admired River's determination to take control of her future, even if I didn't agree with her every action. Easton has unexpected layers and I loved all of them. He's fascinated me from the beginning of the series and it was so much fun to finally see him step into the spotlight and find his partner in love. 

You can absolutely begin this series with Enjoy the View and thoroughly enjoy River and Easton's journey. The author has written these books so that each can stand on it's own but I do believe you'll enjoy them even more, especially the scenes with earlier couples and other secondary characters, if you read them in order. Three times the laughter. Three times the fun. 

Have you read a book recently that made you laugh out loud? 

 

Review - - Mistletoe & Mr. Right

 

Mistletoe & Mr. Right

by Sarah Morgenthaler

Moose Springs, Alaska - Book 2

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

 

How the moose (almost) stole Christmas.

Lana Montgomery is everything the quirky small town of Moose Springs, Alaska can't stand: a rich socialite with dreams of changing things for the better. But Lana's determined to prove that she belongs...even if it means trading her stilettos for snow boots and tracking one of the town's hairiest Christmas mysteries: the Santa Moose, an antlered Grinch hell-bent on destroying every bit of holiday cheer (and tinsel) it can sink its teeth into.

And really...how hard could it be?

The last few years have been tough on Rick Harding, and it's not getting any easier now that his dream girl's back in town. When Lana accidentally tranquilizes him instead of the Santa Moose, it's clear she needs help, fast...and this could be his chance to finally catch her eye. It's an all-out Christmas war, but if they can nab that darn moose before it destroys the town, Rick and Lana might finally find a place where they both belong...together.

PJ's Thoughts:

Rick and Lana are one of those couples that, on paper, should never work. He's small-town Alaska, kind of shy, owns a pool hall, is struggling financially, and was burned badly by his ex. She's uber-rich, a corporate executive, oozes confidence, wants to open his little town to the jetsetters of the world, and, oh yeah, is his landlord. But when you start to peel away the layers, and Rick and Lana begin to reveal to one another who they really are at their core...well, it's Christmas, and anything is possible.

I am having so much fun reading Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs, Alaska series. I adore her quirky characters, the townies vs outsiders push and pull, the town itself (if you ever watched Northern Exposure on television in the 90's, Moose Springs has the same vibe), and, of course, who doesn't love an eccentric moose. Or two. Or more. 

Lana and Rick both ended up being more complex than I expected. Also, more fun...and funny (Fair warning: don't eat or drink anything while reading Chapters 7 and 8. One of the most hilarious dinner date scenes I've ever read). I really enjoyed them together - their sweetness, their humor, their kindness, the endearing awkwardness, and their shared love for Moose Springs. Yes, there were times when I got tired of hearing Lana call everyone "dearest" but by the end of the book, after I felt like I had really come to know her, it had become more an intrinsic part of her and less nails on a chalkboard. 

I loved catching up with characters from book one, The Tourist Attraction, and watching them and their relationships evolve. I'm excited to see where their adventures take them in future books. I have no idea how many books Morgenthaler has planned for the residents of Moose Springs but there are still several characters begging for stories and if she writes them, I'll be buying them. Who knows how many more eccentric moose are in the wings, waiting for their chance in the spotlight? 😉

Review - - The Tourist Attraction

The Tourist Attraction

by Sarah Morgenthaler

Moose Springs, Alaska - Book 1

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Release Date: May 5, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

  

Curl up with a quirky small-town Alaskan rom-com that'll leave you laughing over:

• A grumpy local and the sunny tourist who turns his world upside down
• A rogue moose who threatens to steal every scene
• A vacation you'll never forget
• And a sweet romance that doesn't need to scald the pages to burn its way into your heart

He had a strict "no tourists" policy...until she broke all of his rules.
When Graham Barnett named his diner The Tourist Trap, he meant it as a joke. Now he's stuck slinging reindeer dogs to an endless parade of resort visitors who couldn't interest him less. Not even the sweet, enthusiastic tourist in the corner who blushes every time he looks her way...

Two weeks in Alaska isn't just the top item on Zoey Caldwell's bucket list. It's the whole bucket. One look at the mountain town of Moose Springs and she's smitten. But when an act of kindness brings Zoey into Graham's world, she may just find there's more to the grumpy local than meets the eye...and more to love in Moose Springs than just the Alaskan wilderness.

PJ's Thoughts:

I loved this book so much! It's fresh, original, charming, heart-felt, and an utter delight from beginning to end. I adored grumpy local, Graham and endearing outsider, Zoey, cheering them on to an inevitable, but seemingly impossible, happy ending. They're fully developed characters I couldn't get enough of. Here's hoping we'll see a lot more of them in the next two books. The author surrounds them with an interesting cast of secondary characters, both human and animal (the lovesick moose steals every single scene he's in), amidst a changing landscape not eagerly embraced by locals. It sets up great conflict that makes the unexpected relationships forming that much more interesting. And I am here for all of them.

There are two more books to come and I can't wait to once again visit Sarah Morgenthaler's Moose Springs, hang out with the quirky locals, explore all the natural beauty Alaska offers, and lose myself in another laugh-inducing, heart-tugging romance. Watch for book two: Mistletoe and Mr. Right (10/6/2020) and book three: Enjoy the View (1/19/2021).