This was a nice relaxing read. However, there were too many storylines for my liking. It seemed like the author had a ton of ideas and put them all into one book, which made it a bit longwinded. I also found Tess to be both likeable and super annoying. Same with River.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advance copy.

Tess Lane is a widow and runs the local books store. He husband died in an accident while out of town 3 years ago. The is a book club that meets at the bookstore on Thursday nights and the guys meet at the local bar. River Harrison was her husband's best friend at one time.
River now works as a PI; he's a former marine and served with Tess's husband. Something happened between River and Jared just as Tess was marrying Jared.
River comes into Tess's store and asks to use the restroom but ends up on her floor. Even though she hates River she does have her assistant call 911 for help. River asked her to take care of his dog for him. River's dad is his only living relative and is in a nursing home right now. When Tess goes to River's home to get dog supplies, she finds a picture of River and Jared along with another woman.
River and Tess reluctantly team up to find out why Jared was 2 hours away when his accident happened.
I'm from NC and love reading books set in my home state and Annie's books never fail to hold my attention.

The third book in this series could be a standalone. Having not read the first two, this was still a very enjoyable story. Readers will feel Tess' heart break as details come to light about her deceased husband. Forgiveness is an important theme throughout the book. Loved River, his honesty and character. Recommended.

I love the Somerset Lake Series! If you love small town romances then I highly suggest you give this series a try. Somerset Lake seems like the ideal small town where I would want to live and join the book club at Lakeside Books. I really enjoyed this enemies to lovers story of Tess and River. Although, I didn't find the plot twist that surprising I still enjoyed the story line. I also enjoyed that characters from the first and second books were included throughout this book. I can't wait for Annie Rains to come out with another book in the series.

I adored this book. Not only does the main character run a bookshop, and is a romance novel lover, and also has her fave self-help book to help her through her grief as a widow and runs a book club with her friends, and she’s a black woman, and there was one part of the book where she had to wear a silk scarf to protect her CURLS! This is the biggest run on I have ever typed up, haha, this book was just everything. Add the romance, because I loved River, and some of the mystery, especially the secrets that Tess discovered about her late husband ad yet again I was sold. I felt so bad for Tess but I love a strong character and Tess is that for me, she is forgiving and humble, she puts people in their place and she even sets her own self straight at times in this book. There were so many likes, but I wish we got a little more of River and Tess, I know I might read about them in the next book though so I am looking forward to that.

THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP is my first foray into books by Annie Rains. Somehow, I missed her impressive booklist. After reading THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP, Annie Rains has a new fan.
THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP centers around Tess and the bookshop her mother hands over when she retires. Tess has made many changes to the store. Her inventor is now more extensive including her favorite – romance novels, self-help books, journals, and books by people of color. Tess has won an award for minority shop ownership. She is strong, caring, loyal and truly lovely. But Tess is still in mourning over the death of her husband Jared in an automobile accident, three years ago. She can’t seem to move forward and once could argue she isn’t really interested in trying.
Then there is River, Jared’s best friend – both ex-military. Both really fond of Tess. But that is not how Tess sees it. After all it was River that tried to put a kibosh – stop to her wedding – saying she and Jared weren’t right for each other. To Tess it hurt thinking she fell short in River’s eyes for his best buddy. But that wasn’t really the case.
So in THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP you find Tess and River trying to find some middle ground where perhaps they can forge a friendship. Tess is still confused and concerned why River placed a grey cloud over her wedding day. There are obviously some things she didn’t know about her husband and his friends might be able to shed some light. Something River is very reluctant to do.
River is an investigator of sorts. He investigates adoption records, he himself was adopted. Some folks want or need to know more about their birth parents. He also investigates suspicions that a spouse is cheating. He likes doing the former, not so much the latter.
So Tess wants River to do her a favor and clear up some murky moments leading up to her husband’s car accident. Not everything he uncovers, in his line of work, makes people happy and River is determined to avoid anything that would bring more sadness into Tess’s life.
THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP is an adventure story of adults learning how to adjust to some rather eye-opening facts about their lives. When someone lies the result is of course pain and disappointment. Learning how the life you had thought was just about perfect is anything but would just about bring you to your knees. What matters in the end is how you bounce back. Annie Rains uses a self-help book as the map that Tess leans on to keep her sane. Her emotional support group along with same fabulous friends. Annie Rains gives her characters amazing personality illustrated by sassy and touching dialog. THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP is destined to become one of your favorite summer books. Annie Rains created a wondrous story of hope, love, trust, and friendship. From cover to cover THE TRUE LOVE BOOKSHOP is truly a delight to read.

This is a really an enjoyable read. It's a heartwarming & moving story. I truly loved it from the first page to the last. Wonderful characters, great storyline,
& small town charm.
A book filled with hope, patience
understanding, secrets, love
& forgiveness.
It's the perfect second chance
at love romance!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the arc.
This was just ok for me. Was it awful? No. But would I recommend it? Probably not. It was mostly boring, with non-memorable side characters. Not a lot of action to move the story along. I hadn't read the previous books in the series but you really don't need to (unless you love this one and want to go back). Not bad writing, just wasn't my cup of tea.

I am so glad that River stumbled into the bookshop that day so that Tess would get the opportunity to forgive him! Learning about the past wasn't easy for her, but it was the best thing for her, her in-laws and for River. I love her friend group. They are so supportive! Their book club gathering is so fun! Life isn't always easy, but friends make it easier.

What a great story. It’s sad that this really happens in real life. It was good that Tess was strong enough to handle what was thrown at her. I really love her and her strength and her ability to roll with the punches. Everyone should have a friend like River. He definitely believes in loyalty, which to me is a very strong trait. What a great book club that Tess is involved in. We should all be so lucky. I loved the story and the characters. I can’t wait to see what “Sherlock” and “Watson” are up to next. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A sweet, touching, lovely story.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All opinions are my own.

I swear, everytime I finish Annie Rains newest book I think to myself. I am so completely charmed that I can not stop smiling. The True Love Bookshop continues the streak. I absolutely adored this title.

Maybe it is the bookshop background.
Maybe it is Tess and River's story.
Maybe it is early Summer in Somerset Lake.
Maybe it is that Annie reaches inside my soul in every story and forces (lol) me to fall in love with them all. (okay, okay. Yes, I am a willing victim)

Let's be honest. It is all of these things. I wholeheartedly fell in love with River and Tess. I mean. Fell. In. Love. This story. I think it is my favorite. It was so raw and real....but yet, we of course get the Happy Ever After we need from Annie's Somerset Lake series.

I can not recommend this title enough. If you love HEA. Sweet romance. Small town romance. Bookshops. Pick this one up. You don't have to read the prior two books in the series. Although, you know what I'm going to say. You should. Sincerely.

This was a sweet story about love, loss, lies, and forgiveness.
Tess is still trying to adjust to life as a widow three years after the sudden death of her husband. There are many unanswered questions surrounding his death, but Tess has never been able to find any answers. Until an encounter with her husband's former best friend, River. The two had a falling out over their wedding and never spoke again. But River has answers and Tess wants them. Can Tess and River find out about the past and still be able to act on the sparks that fly whenever they are near each other?
I loved that this was not your typical romance story. There is some sorry and heart break, and lots of soul searching for forgiveness . Real characters with real life issues. Great story!

I received an ARC of, The True Love Bookshop, by Anne Rains. I could not get into this book at all. I found Tess and River to be boring and uninteresting. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but I did not.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fairly quick read. Throughout the book, you understand the main character, Tess Lane. While the storyline is a little on the depressing side (she investigates her dead husband), the overall outcome is still HEA.

Reading the book, I would have liked to get to know some of the other characters as well and the main two (Tess and River Harrison). The scenery was painted well and the gathering of people was nice, but I would have liked more interaction with others.

The twist of the book was well written. While you could figure out where the author was leading you, I still felt a little hope for Tess that it wasn’t true.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author (Annie Rains) and the publisher for an advanced eCopy of this book.

I'm a big fan of Annie Rains, so I was excited to see a new addition to the Somerset Lake series. While this wasn't my favorite book in the series, it was still enjoyable and would make a great summer read.

I think the thing I missed the most was the romance. It felt as though River was 100% all-in to their relationship, which is not the norm in a romance book for the male lead. Of course, he had been in love with her since they first met many years before. Tess already had a foot out of the relationship from the beginning and it wasn't until the end of the book that she finally has a change of heart. Because of that, this book read more like chick lit than a romance. I just needed more and for their relationship to feel like they had a fighting chance. Tess changes her mind about pursuing something serious with River pretty abruptly and that 180 didn't feel believable at the moment it happened.

I loved River. He was adorable, loyal and honest. I think he was a unicorn. And his relationship with his 'best friend' (Buddy) was just too cute for words.

I didn't dislike Tess. I completely understood her hesitancy to start a relationship with River after discovering the info about her husband. She went through so much and it's human to have those emotions and self-doubt. I only wish she had given River a fair shot at love or at least put a pause on things before they professed their love.

I must admit that I admired Tess and how she embraced Ashley/Mia (hopefully I recalled the names correctly). It takes a strong person to put aside the hurt and embrace the situation like Tess did. I can't say that I'd have done the same thing in her position.

Being from NC, I liked that the author included Morrisville as a town part of the book takes place in (it's like 10 mins from me), instead of some fictional town. But she made it the exact opposite of the true Morrisville. It's far from a small town; it's full of chain restaurants and stores now with bad traffic lol.

While I've enjoyed this series, I still think Rains' Sweetwater Springs series is superior. But I look forward to more of this crowd's Thursday night book clubs

Tess Lane, owns Lakeside Books and has a book club on Thursday nights. She is a widow and this helps her get through the pain. River used to be her husband's best friend, but they had a falling out. River is back in town and had been out camping and injured himself. He only made it back to the bookstore and Tess told him to leave. He stumbled and Tess accused him of being drunk. She soon discovered he was bleeding and ended up calling 911. She wanted nothing to do with River, but life has its own way of doing things, and she finds she is taking care of his dog while River is in the hospital.
River told her she would have to go to his house and get the dog's chew toys and his blanket. While she was there, she saw a picture of her late husband with River and a woman. Her husband had his arm around her, looking at her. River was now a PI and Tess wanted to hire him to find out why her husband died in a car crash in a town, 2 hours away, she had never heard of. River had started to investigate him for his own questions and didn't really want to do it for Tess. He finally agreed, and he kept asking her if she really wanted to know because once she did, there was no undoing what she found out.
It is life and once you start something you have to ride it out to see what happens and that is what she had to do. Her little bookstore was so welcoming, and she decided to take a chance and invite her favorite author who wrote a book about grief to do a book signing at her store. I won't tell you what happened, but it was nice seeing her find the courage to ask.
Anne Rains writes with her heart and her soul, she makes me feel like I am right there with them in the story, and it has everything that would happen in life. That makes a wonderful read for me.
I received an ARC from Forever through NetGalley.

A small town bookstore owner finds her second chance at romance with the man least likely?
Yes, please.

Annie Rains writes such sweet stories and regarding my feelings for this one - I enjoyed Tess and River’s story.

While this could be read as a stand-alone, I really wouldn’t suggest doing so. I read a previous book in the series but not the other and I still felt a little lost regarding secondary (in this story) characters.

What a cute title for an enjoyable story. I was drawn into the story quickly. I felt Tess' anguish when she discovered the truth. I was there at one time many years ago. My husband didn't die but we were going through a divorce. I questioned everything. What was true? What was a lie?

Unfortunately, I had no River to stand by my side as the truth was being revealed. Truth can sometimes hurt but it can also heal.

This is classic Annie Rains! Two individuals who have dealt with difficult things in their pasts, who don't necessarily feel like they fit in with everyone around them, and who still want to be their best selves find each other and have to overcome so many obstacles, including their own doubts and insecurities to finally get their happily ever after.

This book was a unique spin with the former bff of the dead husband and the mystery around said death. Annie did a great job of making a compelling and interesting mystery while still setting up a traditional romance amongst such an interesting backdrop.