The Tourist Attraction (Moose Springs, Alaska, #1)

by Sarah Morgenthaler

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.

This story of Alaska marries together all the things you didn't realize you needed: a whirlwind vacation, a friendly moose, a grumpy diner owner, a quirky tourist, plenty of restaurant humor, and a happy ending that'll take you away from it all.

• ISBN10: 1728210488
• ISBN13: 9781728210483
• Publish Date: 5 May 2020
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Sourcebooks Casablanca
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 416
• Language: English

Reviews

[Ashley]

I liked the premise, but the execution completely failed.

This was insta-love – definitely no slow burn. The main characters never even had a real conversation until after they were semi-dating, which was also well after Graham was calling Zoey his dream girl. Graham had no idea why Zoey came to Alaska, what she did for a living, or what her hobbies were. They literally just never spoke about anything other than what was immediately happening in that moment.

From Graham's perspective, Zoey was definitely cast as some kind of special snowflake straight away. However, the only thing “different” about Zoey was that she wasn't rich, and yet for some reason Graham immediately decided she was “special” and “not like the others”. He kept going on about how she was completely perfect for him, but I had no idea why?? Because as previously mentioned, he knew nothing about her!!

I also came to hate Graham. He was just immature and annoying, and said things like this:

"if I'd meet you in college, we'd have fifteen babies by now."

He said that on like, official date #1 or #2. Gross!

Also, I know this will vary from person to person, but I hate it when a man calls a woman “gorgeous” (as in: “hello, gorgeous!”). Graham started calling Zoey that straight away. If a man I just met used that as my pet name, I would definitely be a bit grossed out and want to keep my distance. It feels too “I'm coming on to you”, and from a stranger would just make me uncomfortable.

I think I expected to get more details about Alaska itself and why it was so special. All we really got was Zoey looking around, seeing mountains, and going “OMG this is my dream!” And okay, fair, I'm sure they're beautiful… but I thought we'd get more from Graham about what it's like to live there, the people, etc. 

Ultimately though, it was the complete lack of depth in the characters that made the book flop for me. Graham's dog was the one really bright spot.

[mrs_mander_reads]

So cute! I loved all of it - the setting is very vivid, and the characters (especially Ulysses) are so loveable. I'll definitely finish this series.
Good recommendation for folx who like rom-com, but prefer them clean.

[reveriesociety_]

The story opens with Graham, the owner of The Tourist Trap, a diner that everyone wonders how against all odds remains in business, given that its owner makes people wait outside, randomly decides when to open and close, and other things. Everybody seems to love it and the harder Graham tries to drive the unruly tourists away, the more quaint they think it is.

I loved it.

In the first scene, Graham begins talking to a freaking moose. And it’s adorable.


I repeat: It’s adorable
It’s uncomplicated, but not superficial. We’ll get into that in a bit. Let’s focus on the cutenes for now. I really hope I can convince you of reading this book.

Our characters meet very early on, and it’s not love at first sight, but maybe… crush at first sight? Whatever, we know those two weirdos are made for each other. The characters don’t really have any sordid pasts, but normal problems any of us could face. So, instead of the plot trying to solve things that have already happened, it focuses on the actual relationship developing, the funny moments, and the uncertainty too.

I can’t with how often Graham becomes such a dork when it comes to Zoey. It’s not over the top, or alpha-male intense, it’s just… I can believe it, ok? Here’s a hero that I can believe exists out there.

He serves her hot dogs with paper antler decorations -he usually does this for the kids-, just to be cute.


Ok, but what about the plot, the depth?
First, we do have the glaring issue of Zoey being a tourist, so her days in Alaska are limited. That alone provides a lot of drama, but I love that the book doesn’t really touch on that for even the first half, or even 75% of the book. I can’t recall exactly. You know it will be discussed later, but it’s not the plot.

Instead, the book focuses on giving us a situation where progress and nature come into conflict. The rich and spoiled tourists, the nature, the townspeople and their businesses that depend on tourism… These are the main driving forces of this story, and I liked every point it made with its elements.


Did I dislike anything?
If I did, I can’t remember. There was absolutely nothing that bothered me enough to even remember. I have nothing but fond memories of reading this story, and writing about it makes me want to reread it!

[EBookObsessed]

The Tourist Attraction is delightfully charming and witty. I would definitely recommend a trip to Moose Springs, Alaska.

Moose Springs, Alaska, just outside of Anchorage, is a place of majestic scenery and a variety of wildlife.   If you are one of the rich and bored, you can stay at the lovely Moose Springs Resort and visit the quaint village of Moose Springs filled with citizens who absolutely hate all the tourist who descend down the mountain to bother them.

The biggest tourist hater is Graham Barnett, the owner of The Tourist Trap, who probably never would have opened the place if he knew the hated tourists would always be banging down his door.  It seems that the line grows longer the ruder Graham is to them. Apparently, nothing makes these privileged idiots happier than when the curmudgeon owner stops serving food and throws cleaning rags at the patrons until they clean up their messes, and who the hell keeps bringing in a karaoke machine? 

Everyone in town knows that Graham is the most disgruntled local of all.  So it is no surprise that everyone is slack jawed when one tourist seems to have snagged his gimlet eye and he keeps bringing her around to the secret spots that the locals try to keep to themselves.

Actually no one is more surprised than Graham that he can't keep away from Zoey Caldwell, but one moment with her and he knew she was nothing like the rest of the usual mob that attacks his town. Even knowing that she was just here on vacation and even knowing that it isn't a good idea to get too attached, Graham can't help his growing need to see her and spend time with her and watch her face light up as she sees all the beauty that his beloved Alaska has to offer.  Seeing a tourist pack their bags is usually the highlight of Graham's day.   Now that Zoey has stumbled into his life, can Graham convince her that Moose Springs is the only place to live?

I loved the quirky sense of humor that was the part of Graham that only the locals knew.  The only way I could explain it would be to point out actor Ryan Reynolds, whether it is a character or just about anything he posts on the internet, where he says the oddest things with a straight face and it works and its funny.  He's adorable and you laugh even if you don't want to.   With Graham's grumpiness juxtapositioning his smart-ass personality, I found myself smirking a lot.  Zoey is  a sweetheart and you can understand Graham's interest in her but it is really Graham's humor that grabs the spotlight.

We are also treated to many great secondary characters who will be the focus of future novels.  I have already marked them off on my Goodreads list so I can keep reading up on life in Moose Springs.

Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See more at EBookObsessed.com

[Sam@WLABB]

Rating: 4.5 stars

When I saw the description for this book, I knew it would be a hit for me. A rom-com set in Alaska with a grumpy hero. Yes, please! And, I am happy to say, Morganthaler combined these elements in a most wonderful and satisfying way.

Who?

Graham - A reluctant diner owner, who detested tourists.
Zoey - A waitress, who saved every penny for over two years, and was finally on her dream vacation.

What?

Though Graham was not fond of tourists, he found himself fighting an attraction to Zoey. However, he had to stick to his no tourists rule, since he was looking for something more permanent. But, he just couldn't see his future without her.

Why?

What a wonderful debut! I had such a fantastic time getting to know the fine people of Moose Springs, and also, watching Graham and Zoey fall in love.

I have a good feeling about this entire series, because the first book was packed with characters I want to know better. Lana, the twins, and the various other business owners all caught my attention, but I will use this time to focus on the stars of this story - Zoey and Graham.

Graham was an interesting fellow. He seemed like a real grumpy Gus, but under his tourist repellant armor was a kind and affable guy with a heart of gold. Watching him interact with his fur-baby, his godsons, and Ulysses, the resident moose, showed what a softie he was. But, he was a complicated guy, with complicated feelings about his diner and its success. I didn't quite get it for most of the story, but he had this breakthrough towards the end, and I was happier for it.

Then, there was Zoey. There was nothing not to love about her. She was geeky, loyal, sweet, feisty, and adorable. Her wide-eyed enthusiasm for seeing everything Alaska had to offer was quite contagious. It was via Zoey, that we got to "see" so much of the beauty this state had to offer, and Morganthaler did a fantastic job painting the scenery for us.

I loved watching these getting to know each other. They broke down walls, and peeled away layers, finding someone, who were perfect for them. The way their romance unfolded and ramped up was believable, and I could feel the attraction between them. Sweet comments and snappy banter filled in the space between, and left me rather pleased with their courtship.

Obviously, I really enjoyed this book, but let's check those boxes!

✓ Grumpy hero
✓ Lovable heroine
✓ Fantastic fur-baby
✓ Beautiful scenery
✓ Undeniable chemistry
✓ Wacky townspeople
✓ Interesting local cuisine
✓ A randy moose
✓ Quaint town
✓ Chainsaw art
✓ Hijinks galore

I had an outstanding time reading The Tourist Attraction! Not only did I fall in love with Graham and Zoey, I fell in love with Moose Springs, and am very much looking forward to spending more time there.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS

[Leigha]

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Zoey plans on having the time of her life during her vacation trip to Alaska, but meeting local Graham turns her trip into an unexpected romance in this quirky cute adult contemporary romance.

Romances happening quickly over a short period of time rarely work for me, but this story manages to make it believable. Zoey and Graham work well together as friends and lovers despite only knowing each other for two weeks. Graham, in particular, shines as he struggles with his growing feelings for Zoe and his decision to not date vacationers. His turmoil toward the end of the story is heartfelt and genuine. Zoey is less interesting to me as she seems to have very little to lose by staying in Alaska.

If I had one quibble, it’s all the mishaps that occur to Zoey during her vacation. Every time she attempts to do something – go sightseeing, ziplining, drinking, etc. – she ends up in some Bridget Jones-esque quirky situation. The comedy began to erode as Zoey encountered every problematic trial and tribulation of her excursions. I would have liked one to have worked out for her, if only for the other zany moments to have impact.

tl;dr Despite knowing each other a grand total of two weeks, Zoey and Graham’s romance charmed me from beginning to the end.