Amanda’s review ~ The Love Shack by Lori Foster

The Love Shack by Lori Foster
Published by Harlequin on June 11, 2024
Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Small Town & Rural, Fiction / Women
Pages: 384
Format: ARC, eBook, Paperback
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"Lori Foster should be on everyone's auto-buy list."—Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times bestselling author

They’ve been trying to avoid each other.
But this town has other ideas…

When Berkley Carr opened The Love Shack Animal Haven, she thought she’d finally put her past behind her. But sometimes she feels the sting of the scandal from her youth, especially when she keeps crossing paths with her handsome neighbor. So, she keeps her head down and pours all her love into caring for animals.

Lawson Salder moved to Cemetery, Indiana, to escape from the grinding poverty of his childhood. He barely knew Berkley from their old neighborhood, but every time he sees her, the shame and pain come crashing back. He knows she’s got major baggage of her own. They're better off just avoiding each other.

But that’s downright impossible in a town full of matchmaking busybodies. Then there’s the hard-to-ignore attraction they feel every time they see each other. When the universe is conspiring to bring them together, will Berkley and Lawson let past hurts go and embrace the love they deserve?

More charming contemporaries from Lori Foster:

• The Little Flower Shop
• The Honeymoon Cottage
• The Somerset Girls
• The Summer of No Attachments
• Sisters of Summer's End

The author has written with heart and humor and its shows throughout. ~ Amanda – Simply Love Books

 

The Love Shack is a story of moving forward and forgiving your past for a number of new citizens of a small town in Indiana. It feels good to be back in that quirky small town of Cemetery. Berkley Carr is starting over as the director of the Love Shack Animal Haven, and pours her time and energy into caring for the animals. Unexpectedly she runs into someone who knew her in her youth and knows about her scandal as well. Try as she might to avoid him, Lawson Salder ends up being her neighbor. Lawson has moved to Cemetery to open a business and plant roots himself. Seeing Berkley here may be bit of a shock but he knows what she’s been through. He sees a new version of Berkley and feels an attraction and hopes something could happen between them.

Lori Foster has masterfully created a story that intertwines two storylines for two couples, both recovering from their pasts, and want a new start in Cemetery. Her characters suffer deep hurt and family can be both a burden and a blessing. What I love about her writing is that she creates a tight-knit community and her characters interact and become part of it. Plus, the antics of Kathleen, the mannequin is such a hoot that you blend a bit of humor with the seriousness of the story. A story about an animal rescue center wouldn’t be right if the animals didn’t have a role in the story. Cheese the cat, Hero and Gladys the dogs, just are too adorable and definitely brighten up the story. Both romances begin slowly and you see them grow steadily after their pasts are revealed and they find a way to want to be together. The author has written with heart and humor and its shows throughout. The story is lighthearted and a delight.