The Tourist Attraction by Sarah Morgenthaler

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 downA rogue moose who threatens to steal every sceneA vacation you'll never forget And a sweet romance that doesn't need to scald the pages to burn its way into your heartHe 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.

Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on

5 of 5 stars

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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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 14 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 14 March, 2020: Reviewed