You are going to fall so much in love with Luke Marshall. Believe me, it’s true. We saw a little bit of Luke in the first amazing book in the Marshall Family Series, More Than I Could. He seemed to be the not-always-serious one, that brother that was a little too fun-loving, not really reliable, a good guy but kind of drifting. When you get the rest of the story in this book, This Much Is True, your heart will hurt for him and you will swoon.

The story opens with a runaway bride. Not quite as funny as it seems in the movies. First Laina’s singing career was managed by her parents, now they are managing her personal life, too, and have arranged the “perfect” wedding for her to a superstar. Except the prospective groom is self-centered, arrogant, demanding, demeaning and often very angry. Laina’s not comfortable around him and maybe she’s a little fearful of that anger. This can’t be love, and how can you agree to spend the rest of your life with someone you don’t love and who obviously doesn’t really care for you. So at the last possible minute Laina runs away. But to where?

Laina and Luke have history. They knew each other when they were young, they were together and thought they had a future until her career took off and the works-with-his-hands-in-the-barn farrier and the internationally famous singer didn’t seem like such a good mix anymore. But as Laina barely makes her escape, she realizes there is only one place she can go, one person she trusts completely; even if he’s mad, even if his memories are bitter, Laina is certain he will keep her safe.

Author Adriana Locke said she wanted to write a hug in book form, and oh my has she succeeded. From the first moment Luke and Laina are in the same room again to the very last scene, you will feel enveloped in warm love. When Laina first shows up and lets herself into his house and he discovers her there, it’s tense and uncertain and a lot of questions hang in the air. But Laina was right, Luke welcomes her into his home and vows to protect her without a moment’s hesitation. It’s right here we see the real Luke, the one we only got a glimpse of before. He hasn’t been drifting; he just hasn’t had anything to anchor to after the love of his life was gone. And Laina? She immediately feels safe and secure and sheltered – home. There is a lot of work out, to talk about. They have other lives now so how could this work? But how can something that feels so good, so right, not work? How could you not be with someone who says to you, “But I know that I will either be alone forever or I will be with you.”

Being back with the Marshall family is as much fun as Luke and Laina’s story. More Than I Could was Chase and Megan’s story and seeing them and everyone else again was coming home and heartwarming for the reader. What a wonderful, close family with the parents we all wish we had. And those Marshall boys have got good genes, because they are all oh-wow handsome!

This Much is True is wonderful: wonderful words, wonderful characters, perfect pace – just perfect. It’s fun watching Laina “hide out” and see again a life she thought she’d lost. It’s fun watching Luke work things over and over and over . . . and over in his mind as he tries to do the right thing. He finally turns to grumpy brother Chase for advice, because he’s the married one with the love of his life. Chase’s advice: “If Megan wanted to go to the moon, I’d buy the three of us tickets, and off we’d go,” he says. “Because there’s nothing more important to me than my wife.” What do you think, is this good advice that Luke should follow?

Thanks so, so much to Adriana Locke for allowing me to be a member of her ARC team and read an advance copy of This Much is True. I was thrilled to get it and absolutely loved it. Sweet, swoony, silly, sexy and 100% satisfying. I recommend it without hesitation and hope there will be another reunion with the Marshall family soon. Grab your tissues – for your eyes for the sweet moments, to pat your face for the steamy ones – and sit back and enjoy. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ( )