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 about 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 on. 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 some fabulous friends. Annie Rains gives her characters amazing personalities 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.  

Book Summary