This was a sweet romance, full of themes of found family and second chances. Just enough drama thrown in - with a cast of fun human and furry characters - to keep it entertaining. Perfect beach read!

A woman with the worst memories of her young life, worried they won’t stay buried...and in walks someone from her past! Well, not exactly walked in but you’ll need to read how it happens for yourself. Berkley Carr is the director of The Love Shack, an animal shelter located in Cemetery. There is no one who would care more, give more, to these animals than Berkley. She has adopted – or they adopted her! – an amazing “rescue” dog named Hero and a thieving cat named Cheese. So adorable! They play a big part in this story.

Lawson Slader, new to town, is the gent who knew Berkley growing up. He has his own troubling past he is trying to forget. And they both have to learn how to deal. And really, like anyone in Cemetery isn’t going to poke at them - in the best way possible!

Berkley and Lawson are a wonderful team and this is their story. Mostly. Characters from previous books show up (we love you, Betty!!!) but it is a standalone. Take it from me, though, they are also great reads. Another couple meets in this story and they, too, are cuties. And a surprise that made me laugh like a loon!

Great characters! Hilarious pets! Especially when Cheese steals Lawson’s laundry right off the clothesline. There’s a Kathleen sighting. To say she has her own drama and trauma is an understatement. For a mannequin, she sure knows how to get into, and cause, trouble. A fun, wonderful read with great characters and small-town shenanigans.

🏡 small town
🐾 animal lovers
💔 past heartbreak
🔢 part of a series

This slow burn romance sees two people who came from rough childhoods in the same town end up starting over in the same new small town. What are the odds? They’ll have to fight past her fear of relationships and a menace from the past to find their happily ever after. With quirky side characters and lovable animal companions to help along the way, you’ll enjoy the journey.

I really enjoyed visiting Cemetery, Indiana again. I also enjoyed the shenanigans of the town with Katherine the mannequin. It was really hilarious how Lawson was so freaked out with her.

Lawson and Berkeley knew each other from their hometown but never had a lot to do with each other, and they are both wanting to start over and forget about their past. It's great to see how they both come together to start their own businesses in this town and be a part of the community. I enjoyed the addition of Lark and Oliver, as well as having Betty back in the mix.

A great read. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC for an honest review.

Berkley Carr has created a life that she is proud of in Cemetery, Indiana and she hopes no one in town ever learns of the place she came from. Her life before Cemetery wasn't always a good one and she has tried her best to distance herself from all of it and keep all reminders of it buried deep. Then he shows up in town and suddenly those reminders threaten to make an appearance, she figures the best course of action is to just avoid Lawson Salder at all costs. Which works until the town's busybodies decide that the two of them should be together...

The pages of The Love Shack will take you on a very enjoyable and captivating journey, one that your heart and attention will be fully invested in from beginning to end. These two come from a town that they'd both like to think never existed, as both experienced things in that town that have left them permanently scarred. Running into one another again was not only shocking but also stirred up feelings from the past that both would rather stay hidden. They try to avoid one another as much as possible, but in a little town like Cemetery that seems almost impossible. Especially when their businesses are close together, homes nearby one another, and of course the town folk always trying to push them together. Before long the avoiding game becomes useless and the matchmaking happening between them starts to make sense. It's a beautiful and hope-filled journey that I enjoyed very much!! Highly recommend you make a visit to Cemetery, the kind-hearted folks there will make you feel welcome the moment you arrive and steal your heart in the process!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

After a difficult childhood and a truly awful, unfortunate relationship in her younger years, Berkley has overcome a lot to get where she is. With her dog Hero by her side, Berkley is settling in to her new life as owner of The Love Shack, Cemetery’s own animal shelter. Dating isn’t on the horizon, so when she runs in to Lawson, someone from their old neighborhood, she’s not super thrilled, but she also finds herself quite curious about where him.

Lawson has been around the world and experienced a lot of good and some bad, but the town of Cemetery suits him just right. Opening his own business, remodeling his home, and simply settling in is what’s on his agenda, besides ignoring town mascot, Katherine the mannequin! (IYKYK, lol). Running in to Berkley brings back memories of a time he’d rather not remember, but he’s…I’ll say he has mostly dealt with his past. Berkley, however, hasn’t and it shows. What’s the harm in helping Berkley see how far she’s come?

Berkley and Lawson were an adorable couple! Their relationship was a slow burn, with a bit of sweetness and some good, down to earth, thought-provoking conversation. With a bit of help from the town in general and comical fur babies galore, I enjoyed how things developed between Lawson and Berkley.

Must mentions were Berkley’s pets—Hero, the overly helpful dog, and Cheese, the klepto-cat! They weren’t just comforting friends; they were total comic relief when moments got too intense for Berkley. Another set of supporting characters to love on, besides Betty, were Lark and Oliver! They were the flashier of the two couples, but just as supportive and friendly as anyone else that’s been introduced. Then, of course, there’s Katherine the town mascot/mannequin…super entertaining…there’s nothing else to say!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story wasn’t too heavy, although it was not super light either. Happy medium for my current mood is the best I can say. I would read this book again.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from the author/Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Berkley Carr is doing the best to leave past in the past.
She grew up under difficult circumstances, and left with a scandal. She is now living in the town of Cemetery, Indiana and is running The Love Shack Animal Haven and would rather that no one know of her life before Cemetery.
Lawson Salder grew up with Berkley and he is now living in Cemetery as well.
Avoiding Lawson will be next to impossible for Berkley, and she cannot help but be drawn to Lawson. in Cemetery everyone knows everyone else's business. Betty Cemetery realizes that Berkley and Lawson would be perfect for one another.
This story is mainly that our pasts don't define us and that we are able to push forward and become different than we once were. Change for the better.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for advance
сору

Lori Foster gives you an entire anthology in this one book. You get not one but many love stories with the public, pets, people, and even plastics! She is a ninja at handling some very ugly and emotional topics with compassion and sensitivity. She never distracts from the main characters but falling for the secondary characters is automatic. Readers can’t help but identify with some topic because she makes you feel a depth of understanding that plops you right in the middle of the story. This book makes me want to be helpful, feel hopeful, and share happy.

Berkley Carr has done her best to put her unfortunate past behind her. She grew up under difficult circumstances, and left with a scandal behind her as well. She is now living in the town of Cemetery, Indiana and is running The Love Shack Animal Haven and would rather that no one ever know of her past. It must really be a small world because Lawson Salder grew up in the same neighborhood as Berkley and he is now living in Cemetery as well. Both Berkley and Lawson have done their best to leave their poverty stricken lives in their rear view.

Berkley in no way wants to be reminded of her past life. However, Cemetery is a small town and not only are their business is close proximity to each other's, but they are rather close neighbors as well. Avoiding Lawson will be next to impossible for Berkley, and she cannot help but to realize how drawn to she is to the handsome man.

With Cemetery being as small as it is, everyone knows everyone else's business. Once the residents, most notably Betty Cemetery, the spry octogenarian, realizes that Berkley and Lawson would be perfect for one another, it seems that a bit of matchmaking will be at play.

Betty is a great character, as are Berkley and Lawson, and as always in this Indiana Summer series, there is also the unique character of Katherine. I love the special role that she plays in these endearing stories. But the hero of this story is Hero, and I simply could not think of any other way to say this. Hero is Berkley's brindle pit-bull boxer and the emotional connection he has to Berkley and then Lawson truly made my heart sing.

The first two books in this series are The Honeymoon Cottage and The Little Flower Shop. Each story is wonderful and this third book is equally so. I really hope that this series continues with new couples finding love, and that we always have Betty and Katherine along for the ride.

Many thanks to HQN Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Love Shack by Lori Foster is a great read and a lovely choice for a quiet afternoon of reading.

When Berkley started the Love Shack Animal Sanctuary, she thought she would be starting over and moving on from her past. Then she ran into Lawson, who also happened to moved to escape the poverty of his childhood.

This story is mainly that our pasts don't define us and that we are able to move on from who we were and that we aren't locked into our childhood versions of ourselves.

Ms. Foster has a way of capturing a characters flaws and making them shine more when they overcome trauma and their pasts and discover who they really are.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, this was such an amazing book! There's no way you can not love Berkley, Lawson, Hero, and Cheese! Oliver and Lark were amazing too and when you add Handsome I swear my heart was just overflowing. I am so glad I was able to read this on my day off so I didn't have to worry about stopping when I had to but just when my body said it was time for sleep. Another great book by the wonderful Lori Foster and I truly can't wait to read what will come next!

e-ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing!

This was a 1.75 stars for me. It has potential to be a solid book but there are many questions that I had as I was reading this.

The story revolves around two main characters, Berkley and Lawson in Cemetery, Indiana. Both characters obviously having been through traumatic experiences bond over their childhood back when they lived in another town. So they move to this small town in Indiana to escape this. I loved how this is set in a small town, where everyone knows each other and their business. There's a town mannequin that is basically their inside joke and it makes for a funny story.

Where I struggled with is how our main characters dealt with their trauma. It's been years of repression and convincing themselves that they are fine but really not and they still haven't spoken to a professional about this? Which is fine, maybe it's inaccessible to them but then Berkley in particular lets this trauma define her whole personality. So is she really 'fine' like she says? Some things are just a little unbelievable that it takes away from the story. Not to mention, there was a lot of filler. it did not add to the story and it dragged on and on for at least a couple of pages. It would have been good to have alternating timelines. This could have helped fill the space and really explain the trauma both characters went through.

This is my first Lori Foster book but I see that she is a best seller. I am still interested in her other works to see what she's all about. I like her writing, it just wasn't utilized the best way in this book, sadly.

It's always good to be back in Cenetary, Indiana! The cast of characters never disappoint from Betty Cemetary, Kathleen the mannequin and everyone involved in both their shenanigans.
This book brought together 2 people who had rough childhoods in Kentucky and both by happenstance land in Cemetary.
It's a story of overcoming obstacles and learning to trust in someone other than yourself to find true happiness

You know how some books just have the vibe? Like you open to the first page and you immediately start nodding your head because you know it’s going to be a good one. That is exactly what The love shack did for me. Vibes all the way, and I knew from the very beginning it was going to be a good one. I absolutely loved reading it.

DNF 30%
im not sure what this book is missing but i cant seem to get myself into this book. It may be right book wrong time. I am not connecting with the characters. Story sometimes seems a bit redundant in places. I absolutely love the small town vibe and the dog, Hero. Those are the two things that i enjoyed. i can see how this story can be heart warming and how others will love it. i think it was clever and creative to have a consistent small town prank. I hope i can come back to this book in the future and enjoy the story. I think this isnt the book for me at the moment.

This was a really good book. I love reading about romances in small towns. I liked how this book had a small town mannequin that people dressed up. i thought it was funny especially when it was used to prank people. I loved the character betty. She was tough on the outside, but she had a nice heart on the inside. This book was heartwarming and romantic. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.