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| Berkely Carr thought she’d escaped the past when she settled down in Cemetery and opened The Love Shack Animal Haven, a pet rescue center, so she was shocked to see a man from her past. Turns out that Lawson Salder left the same town as Berkley for similar reasons to hers: to escape the painful memories. She had hoped he would not recognize her, but he did. To her surprise, Lawson is aware of her scandalous past and sympathetic. While Berkley tries to keep her distance from Lawson, it won’t be easy when she discovers that he lives only a short distance away from her. Berkley and Lawson soon develop a friendship and help each other out. The town of Cemetery has proven to be welcoming to both and they make friends. Oliver, also new to town, is intrigued by Lark, a beauty stylist who hasn’t met anyone she doesn’t like. Berkley’s animal rescue operation brings the four together and a friendship develops. Meanwhile, the town’s namesake, Betty Cemetery is making sure everything is going smoothly as she hangs around. Is she doing a little matchmaking too? But just when Berkley thought she could relax and enjoy herself, the past comes back to haunt her. THE LOVE SHACK is an unusual name for a pet rescue business, but it is all about giving love to abandoned animals and finding them new homes. Cemetery has been ruled with an iron fist for decades by Betty Cemetery, but she recently has opened her heart to the people of the town. Bringing in new businesses is important and that is where Berkley and Lawson come into play. After Berkley’s mother died and people drove her out of town over her affair with a man she didn’t know was married, she was ready for a new start. Lawson had some awful parents and he left town the day he graduated from high school. It’s just a coincidence that both end up in the same town. Lawson turns out to be protective of Berkley, as well as supportive. He loves animals as she does. Right now she owns a dog and a cat, but the various assortment of pets will play into the interactions between characters. The romance between Berkley and Lawson starts out sweet in THE LOVE SHACK, though one can understand why with her backstory. She thought she had found love, but he ended up being a married jerk, and his wife turned her anger on Berkley. Right now her focus is on her animals and getting her business up and running. She doesn’t have time for a romance—but Lawson is making a case for turning a friendship into love. In the end, he is there when she needs him the most. Along with the secondary romance between Oliver and Lark, there is a lot of falling in love in this tale. Add in the small-town atmosphere and the quirkiness of some of the other characters, this means readers are in for a fun read. While part of a series, THE LOVE SHACK is a standalone read. If you love a book where good rules over evil and people unexpectedly fall in love, then you are in for a treat. Add in the cute and lovable pets, then THE LOVE SHACK becomes a book I highly recommend. Patti Fischer |
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THE LOVE SHACK – Lori Foster