The Nature of Love

Author: Toni Shiloh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Love in the Spotlight #3
Pages: 368
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Publisher: Bethany House Publisher

A doctor feeling fractured

Dr. Erykah Kennedy, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, finds herself at a crossroads in life. At forty-one, she's achieved remarkable success in her career, yet when it comes to her love life, she feels hopeless. But when she meets Christian Gamble, a passionate wildlife conservationist, an unexpected bond forms between them despite their contrasting worlds.

A wildlife enthusiast ready for more

Chris has yet to find someone to share his adventures with, but as his friendship with Erykah starts to blossom, he begins falling for her in every way. When tragedy strikes and Erykah suddenly becomes guardian to her nieces, Chris helps her pick up the pieces.

Two hearts destined by nature

With their lives turned upside down, finding their way to a lasting love while putting their faith in God may be the biggest challenge they've ever faced.

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Reviewer: Monica Huyser

The Nature of Love by Toni Shiloh is the latest in her Love in the Spotlight series. I really enjoyed this series and was excited to read this one.

Dr. Erykah Kennedy is a renowned orthopedic surgeon who feels like life is missing something since she mostly just goes to work and comes home. She doesn’t really have any friends at work or outside of work. Her closest relative is her sister, who lives several states away with her husband and two daughters. 

Chris is a nature-loving guy who runs a non-profit and has a huge following as he makes online content. He is also alone and feeling like a third wheel after his two best friends recently got engaged. 

Chris and Erykah ran into each other at a local restaurant when they were each getting supper. After they meet again at a local benefit gala, they forge a friendship which quickly blossoms after tragedy strikes Erykah. Erykah and Chris’s lives soon turn upside down in some good ways in spite of the tragedy. 

The Nature of Love may just be my favorite of this series because being in nature is also my happy place, so I relate well to Chris. I like how his character shows that Christians can care about the earth as part of their faith.

Through Erykah, there is also a clear salvation message, and Christian growth is shown. I also like how the romantic relationship between Chris and Erykah develops for the most part. I’ll admit I got a little frustrated in the middle when I wanted things to move faster and they each had some realistic communication issues. Erykah’s nieces are also a fun part of the mix in this book.

In The Nature of Love, it is also great to catch up with the characters from the first two books in the series. I think you could read this book as a stand-alone, but it is better to read after the first two books because we get to see those main characters again. As a bonus, I like the eye-catching cover that Bethany House designed for this one in nature colors.

I received a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Rebecca Maney

“You’d think a world-class doctor would be able to navigate the basics of small talk… “

When Dr. Erykah Kennedy happens upon a handsome “wildlife conservationist” while picking up dinner, her limited skills as a conversationalist completely desert her. Obviously, she needs more people in her life besides the ones who are fully anesthetized during their orthopedic surgeries. Chris Gamble was just a simple anomaly, that’s all. They would probably never even see each other again… except they do.

A puppy. A knock on the door. A tragedy. A trifecta of intersecting circumstances soon proves that Chris is a man to be trusted when Erykah’s life crashes and crumbles before her very eyes. After watching Erykah assume guardianship of her two young nieces, Chris is providentially in the position to be just the kind of friend that she needs, sharing his strong faith, answering question after question when Erykah quizzes him about God. But is that all they share?…. a strong bond in the midst of a traumatic, life altering experience?

Virtually gliding from chapter to chapter with a wonderful word flow amidst authentic scene changes. This romantic story demonstrates that sometimes love takes a direct route, and other times the journey is filled with unexpected interruptions, but such is…. the nature of love.

I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

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