Member Reviews
Love, love, love this book! I am such a big fan of Lori Foster's other books in the Indiana Summers Series and I knew I would be a huge fan of this one as well!
I love Foster’s books. This one had multiple storylines and an intense amount of detail. I really like the town and animal aspects but there was so much information.
This is a good book. The two main characters are Berkley and Lawson. They have known each other for all their lives. When Lawson was twenty he left home and traveled. Berkley has recently got a new job running an animal shelter. One day in town she comes across Lawson, who runs a print shop. They start dating. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.
Great book! I enjoyed the storyline so much! I couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed the characters and the emotions I felt while reading this book.
Loved Berkley and Lawson's story.
Two kids from same town, growing up in rough family dynamics. Berkley helped care for sickly mother and Lawson escaping the hard life of his families poor decisions.
When Berkely moves to Cemetary, she is looking for a new start.
The town matriarch Betty has taken Berkley under her wings.
Berkley runs The Love Shack per shelter. Berkley has a kind heart and a love for all those rescues that need a forever home.
Lawson has been in Cemetary and runs a tshirt shop and has found this place is just the home he has always wanted. When he reconnects with Berkley, all the memories of how much she meant to him.
Berkley and Lawson share the past stories and find what they have in common, and find the attraction.
Cemetary is a place where we all want to escape to, a place where all are accepted, a place to find love and family.
Although this one lacked a little substance for me, I really enjoyed the setting and the rescue animal aspects. It was a sweet romance, with some fun characters helping our couple along the way.
I think this book was such a cute read, but it just wasn’t for me. I loved getting to know more about each character and the back stories that they had to get to Cemetery, Indiana. However, it was a bit too slow pacing wise for my taste. there was about 20 to 30% of the book that I was a little bit too much for fluff and I was finding myself setting the book down more often than not.
I would definitely still recommend this book to others if they’re looking for a lighthearted romance read.
Set in the quaint town of Cemetery, Indiana, the story follows the intertwined lives of Berkley Carr and Lawson Salder.
Berkley, the owner of The Love Shack Animal Haven, is determined to move past a scandal from her youth, while Lawson, her neighbor, seeks solace from a troubled childhood.
Despite their efforts to avoid each other, their paths keep crossing, thanks to the meddling yet well-meaning townsfolk. As they navigate their emotional baggage and past hurts, the power of community and support becomes evident.
Foster’s engaging and heartfelt writing brings depth to the characters and their journey of healing, love, and forgiveness. This charming and heartwarming read is perfect for fans of romance and small-town charm.
I found this story to be very fun. The main character runs an animal shelter, so there are so many cute situations with animals going on. She also lost her mom at a young age & one of the older ladies in the town becomes a mother figure to her and their relationship was beautiful.
I loved that part of this town’s traditions is that they have a mannequin that they move all over town into random positions, clothing, etc. That plays an interesting and funny role in the story.
I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. A very lighthearted read. Would be a great beach book or one to read on a flight.
THE LOVE SHACK is another winner for author Lori Foster. Her characters are always fun, interesting and just so normal you could know someone that just might fit in this book.
Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction
Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=87078
The Love Shack is the third standalone small-town romance in the Indiana Summers series by Lori Foster. It takes place in the town of Cemetery, a quirky resort town with a mannequin the folks dress up. Berkley Carr opened The Love Shack Animal Haven there and is escaping from her scandalous past. Will she find a haven and a place to belong? You’ll want to find out in this sweet summer romance.
I loved returning to Cemetery, Indiana and seeing familiar characters and meeting new ones. Each of the books in the Indiana Summers series work as standalone, but you’ll want to go back and read them all!
Berkley Carr made some mistakes and lost her mother. The one thing that saved her was taking care of her mom’s dog and from there she found her mission. With a little help, she opened the Love Shack Animal Haven on the outskirts of Cemetery, Indiana. Here she has a home and shelter for animals in need. She’s not keen on meeting folks, but her pesky cat won’t stop stealing from her neighbor. I felt for Berkley and the events that occurred in her past. You can’t help but admire her passion and fierce need to protect the animals she aids.
Lawson Salder’s knew Berkley way back then and carries guilt that he didn’t do more to help her. Maybe it’s best if he keeps his distance. However, townsfolk and a cat have other ideas. I liked Lawson and his need to protect Berkley.
The story that unfolds had all the elements I love in small-town romances. Busybodies, matchmakers, social events, community and all the little things that make Cemetery unique. We meet some new characters and get hints at the next romance as well as check-ins on previous couples. It was bliss. The story has a suspenseful element that forced the couple to interact and kept me flipping the pages.
The Love Shack was the perfect beach read and one I recommend for fans of romance, small-towns, animals and shenanigans.
I truly enjoyed the different POV. This was so cute, small town, shameful pasts, and how four people truly found their ways. I love the addition of animals, humor, and love. This is the first book I read by this author, and I can’t wait to check out more.
This is a fun book to read especially if you read the other two in the series. I love series where you are a reconnected with previous characters.
This was so good! I absolutely loved it. The story was cute but also had moments where Berkeley and Lawson are troubled by their pasts. But that doesn't stop a whole town of matchmakers from trying to get these two together and it's so cute and funny. I absolutely loved it and I I just ate it up. Great read!
The Love Shack is a wonderful book. It is a wonderful book that lets us see the evolution of Berkley and Lawson's love as well as the love of others new to the town of Cemetery. I loved seeing how the animal shelter played a big role in the story. This is a wonderful book.
3rd in the series of Indiana Summers. I love the setting of Cemetary, Indiana. Love the characters from the previous 2 books making appearances and the new main characters, Berkley and Lawson. Add in rescuing animals and how could you miss!
The Love Shack is the third book in Lori Foster's "Indiana Summers" series.
Cemetery, Indiana it's the place you want to be!
It's so much fun to re-visit characters from the previous two books and to meet new characters who have come to this wonderful town.
Berkley moves to town to start a new life and run the "Love Shack Animal Shelter" when she bumps into Lawson (it's the cat's fault) who is trying to forget his past and start anew. They are part of each other's past so escaping it just isn't going to happen. What remains is a wonderful, heart-warming story!
The animals are a hoot and if you haven't met Kathleen she makes a few exciting appearances too.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
The Love Shack is a fun, light-hearted read. The story follows Berkley Carr, who moved to the town of Cemetery, Indiana to get a fresh start in life. She is running the local animal shelter - The Love Shack. Shortly after getting established in town, she crosses paths with Lawson Salder- someone from her past..... a past she doesn't want to revisit. However, there is no denying their chemistry... and living in a small town, it is nearly impossible to avoid one another.
I love the connection Berkley and Lawson share about their pasts and the challenges they overcame. They were a fun couple with charming chemistry. They both made me laugh throughout the book.
The animals stole the show for me in this one. I'm in love with them! First, there is Hero- sweet, lovable boy. I love how overly helpful he was. His attunement to the humans and animals he is around is precious!! Such a perfect boy🐾
Then there is Cheese- the thieving cat. I love the background story to the name. I also love the klepto tendency and how that helped connect the two main characters.
The side characters are likable. I really enjoyed Betty and Lark. I enjoyed the different sides of Betty we saw and her special connection with Berkley. I loved the added side romance story of Lark and Oliver. Katherine- the town mascot (and mannequin) is an odd but fun element to the story. She definitely added some random humor to the story.
The reason for my rating is (no spoilers)...there was a character from the past that returns and plays a big role in the final chapters. Their behavior during those chapters seemed somewhat out of character. It didn't seem like the trait was present in the past, and I found it unbelievable that the trait surfaces years later.
Other than that, it was a fun read. Quick and enjoyable. Perfect for a summer TBR.
Reading Lori never gets old. Every book she takes me on a journey. Her books are for me like strolling through your favorite town with all your favorite people! Another fab read!
The Love Shack by Lori Foster
Indiana Summers #3
Splendid summer story perfect for reading on a beach, while flying, or just about anywhere ~ Great addition to the series
What I liked:
* Returning to Cemetery, Indiana – small town with big heart
* That there were two romances brewing at the same time
* Berkley: loving, kind, a bit reserved, had a difficult time in the past, runs the animal shelter, begins to open up as she makes friends, drawn to Lawson
* Lawson: skilled carpenter, business owner, community minded, is drawn to Berkley, protective, caring, the whole deal
* Lark: hair stylist, outgoing, knows everyone, starting over after a difficult time, drawn to Oliver
* Oliver: owns the new fitness center in town, physical therapist, strong, caring, protective, drawn to Lark
* Betty: town matriarch, cares about her community, opening up more during the series
* The animals: Hero – canine who rescues, Cheese – thieving feline, Gladys – elderly canine that gets adopted, Handsome – abused canine that finds his forever home
* Kathleen: spotted frequently throughout Cemetery and the surprise partner she ends up with
* The feel-good vibes, chuckles, and contentment I felt while reading and the smile on my face as I write this review
* Wondering who will star in the next book in the series
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about what some of the characters experienced in their backstories
* Having to wait for the next book in the series
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars