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

The Love Shack was an absolutely beautiful book. From the beginning Lori Foster pulled me in to the adorable small town of Cemetery, Indian. I love how both Berkley and Lawson grew up in the same town and could bond over some of the things that happened, but also didn't let those things define them. They made such a cute couple and I really appreciate that Lawson knew and understood the importance ofBerkley's animal shelter and prioritized that (and her) rather than just stepping in to things.

The secondary romance was also wonderful, I could have read a whole book about Lark and Oliver, but was also satisfied with their romance in The Love Shack.

The Love Shack is a story of small-town friendship and finding love even when it seems like it's out of reach. Berkeley and Lawson are reunited unexpectedly 10 years after the scandal that turned their hometown against her, but Berkeley soon finds that Lawson will always have her back. Fans of Lori Foster don't be disappointed.

I was very thankful to have the opportunity to read this book on NetGalley! I love summery books, and so of course I enjoyed this. It was fun following along with Berkley and Lawson and their relationship!

Special thanks to NetGalley for advanced access to The Love Shack. When I requested The Love Shack, I didn't realize it was the last book in a 3 book series. The series is called Indiana Summers. I read the series in order, but I don't think its necessary.
I really enjoyed the series. It takes place in a small town called Cemetery, Indiana. The Love Shack is feel good and fun.
Lori Foster is a new to me author. I'm interested in reading other books she's written.
Publication date was June 25, 2024, so it's out now!

I love the way that Foster writes about more than just the hero and heroine. In this whole series it’s always been about the entire town and this book was no different.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my review. While I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series, or this author before I found it unnecessary to enjoy the story from start to finish. There were simple elements that made it enjoyable, small town, animals, likeable characters and an easy storyline. While this one wasn’t an all consuming page-turner for me, it was a nice change of pace and an easy light weekend beach read to waste a few hours with..

This may be my favorite yet of the series! Hero being a hero, Kathleen's shananigans, and a love story to boot. Had me turning pages, wanting more. Swept me and made me laugh and cry with all the wonderful characters on the story.

The Love Shack returns us to the town of Cemetery with four brand new main characters.
Berkeley and Lawson come from the same small town and unexpectedly find each other here. Due to the baggage of where they grew up, they aren’t sure this is a good thing. Lark and Oliver have come to town trying to heal from family related issues and connect.

All four characters are lovely people and I enjoyed meeting them. I appreciated the way in which they supported each other and helped make sure that they could all bloom where they are planted. The town of Cemetery itself continues to be a secondary character unto itself and there are lots of pop ins from previous main characters in the Cemetery series.

While this book is well written, it had a blandness that I found hard to connect with. Whenever the characters would experience something that most would consider a “big” emotion, it was presented such that it seemed like we were seeing through a foggy window. This may be a personal preference thing, but I found it a little too easy to put the book down and go do other things.

I haven't read the previous books in the series. I definitely think I need to read them.
I enjoyed the small town vibes.
I really enjoyed the characters.
I loved the animal shelter aspect.
The humorous moments were great.
And, you get romance and spice too!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.