Rainy Day Friends. Jill Shalvis

Published:    HarperCollins
Date: June 19th 2018
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss/TLC Book Tours
Rating:

Purchase Links
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband death, it’s hard to imagine anything could deepen her sense of pain and loss. But then Lanie discovers she isn’t the only one grieving his sudden passing. A serial adulterer, he left behind several other women who, like Lanie, each believe she was his legally wedded wife. Rocked by the infidelity, Lanie is left to grapple with searing questions. How could she be so wrong about a man she thought she knew better than anyone? Will she ever be able to trust another person? Can she even trust herself?

Desperate to make a fresh start, Lanie impulsively takes a job at the family-run Capriotti Winery. At first, she feels like an outsider among the boisterous Capriottis. With no real family of her own, she’s bewildered by how quickly they all take her under their wing and make her feel like she belongs. Especially Mark Capriotti, a gruffly handsome Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff who manages to wind his way into Lanie’s cold, broken heart—along with the rest of the clan.

Everything is finally going well for her, but the arrival of River Brown changes all that. The fresh-faced twenty-one-year old seems as sweet as they come…until her dark secrets come to light—secrets that could destroy the new life Lanie’s only just begun to build.

Rainy Day Friends is #2 in Jill Shalvis' Wildstone series.  It is a moving, fun, light read that still explores how those who have had some very bad experiences in their lives can heal and find life after heartbreak.

Lanie is a graphic designer who has come to work at the Capriotti winery. And oh my, when you walk into that family life is never the same afterwards. From the warm welcoming Cora, the boss lady, to Gracie the dog, they are such a fun, nosey, outspoken lot. I loved them. And would love to see Cora explored a little more in a book of her own. I know she seems very together, but ...  Anyway Lanie's dead husband was a ratfink.  He married four or five others as well unbeknown to Lanie - so trust issues now in capitals.

Mark the dad of twins Sierra and Samantha is pretty hot, plus he is the best most loving Dad out and those twin girls adore him. They have been through the mill as his wife and their mother walked out on them and now Sierra does not talk.  However Mark is not going to open his heart easily to anyone and put the girls at risk.

Add in River who arrives one day at the winery, on her last legs, and heavily pregnant. Immediately Cora takes her under her wing as she is apt to do. River seems to have some ulterior motive - easily guessed - and all that plays out. Lanie and herself develop a friendship that is beautiful but it could be fated to end badly.

There is plenty of warm family love, lots of laughter and some heart ache and poignant moments as this story reveals itself. I really enjoyed it and read it rapidly. It is sort of a cross between romance and women's fiction, which suited me fine.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis is the award winning author of over three dozen romance novels. Visit www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and a daily blog chronicling her I-Love-Lucy attempts at having it all; the writing, the kids, a life …

Find out more about Jill at her website, and connect with heron Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tour schedule:

Thursday, June 28th: Staircase Wit

Monday, July 2nd: The Book Date

Tuesday, July 3rd: bookchickdi

Wednesday, July 4th: Broken Teepee

Friday, July 6th: A Soccer Mom's Book Blog

Monday, July 9th: Stranded in Chaos

Tuesday, July 10th: Jathan & Heather

Thursday, July 12th: Time 2 Read

Friday, July 13th: Girl Who Reads

Monday, July 16th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, July 17th: Instagram: @Novelmombooks

Friday, July 20th: Not in Jersey

All I Want. Jill Shalvis

All I Want
Jill Shalvis
Published: Berkley
Date: 6th October 2015
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Pilot-for-hire Zoe Stone is happy to call Sunshine, Idaho, her home base. But her quiet life is thrown for a loop when her brother’s friend Parker comes to stay with her for a week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife special agent is a handsome flirt with a gift for getting under her skin. And the situation only escalates when Parker hires her to fly him around the area while he collects evidence on a suspected smuggler.

Now she has to live and work with the guy. But when they’re in the air, she sees another side of him. He’s driven, focused, and sharp. And while he enjoys giving commentary on her blind dates, she quickly realizes with a shock that it’s Parker who gets her engines going…

The latest book in the Animal Magnetism series #7 delivers everything that makes these books such a relaxing, laugh out loud read.

What is it about this contemporary romance series that brings me back for more?

Firstly - adorable animals.
Peanut the parrot may have just spoken my favorite line so far out of all the stories. Oreo who belongs to Zoe is a huge loveable dog that is nervous around cats and men. But that's about to change when Palmer takes up tenancy at Zoe's house. And his life is about to be turned topsy turvy with a couple of cute felines.

Secondly - characters that are a little flawed but very appealing.
Zoe is the eldest one and only one left at home. She has been like a parent to her brother and sisert because her parents have been conspicuous by their absence. She likes to give orders and to be in control. She is a successful and competent pilot, however not so handy at fixing those little things around the house.

Parker is just passing through, he's meant to be on a break from his job - seeking out big time animal poachers. But Parker isn't one to obey rules and he has noticed something shady going on not far from Sunshine.  Also he is very handy at fixing things around the house and he has an eye for Zoe. In fact they sizzle whenever the two meet up - which is often! You can tell though he is a softie - not only for little girls that cry but also for his sister Amory, an eighteen year old with Down syndrome.

Thirdly - just a little mystery and danger thrown in.
Who has made a deal with who? Is Parker going to let that be as it may, or is he going to get involved even thought his boss has told him to keep out of it. Could Zoe be put in danger?

Another touching, sexy read from Jill Shalvis.

Then Came You. Jill Shalvis

Then Came You
Jill Shalvis
Publisher:Berkley
Date: July 2014
Format: Paperback
Pages: 294
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source:Own book

Veterinary intern Emily can’t believe she wound up in the small town of Sunshine, Idaho, instead of the Los Angeles clinic she had always imagined. Now she has to put her plans to move to L.A. on hold for a whole year while she fulfills the obligation of her vet school scholarship.

Then Wyatt, her gorgeous one-night stand from a Reno vet conference, introduces himself as her new boss. And Emily is just as drawn to his seductive looks and quiet strength as she was on that very steamy night. She soon learns that Wyatt isn’t just a laid-back doctor, but a delicious alpha male tempting her away from her carefully laid-out plans...

Then Came You is #5 in Jill Shalvis' Animal Magnetism series.  I do believe it is my favourite series of hers.  While I have been tempted to let go reading some series, not this one.  It has everything that makes for a good read.

I think one of the factors that draws me to this series is the animals in the book.  They are all adorable and often add to the humour in the book.  Peanuts - the parrot was there providing those little bits of fun.  I had my first surprised laugh out loud moment on Page 4.  I don't remember now what tickled my funny bone, but something did.

The characters are very likeable and it is always good to catch up with ones met in previous books.  I really liked Emily and her kindness and care for animals. I liked that tension she felt about being in a practice out in the country when she would have preferred one in L.A.  She finds herself in danger when she comes across an illegal practice - that is very cruel to animals.  The added danger gave the plot a little extra zing.

Wyatt fits right into the male pattern in the clinic.  Warm hearted, caring, sexy, a perfect hero. One very worthy of heaps of casseroles from the local female population.   I can see that its highly possible that his two sisters could be the heroines of future books.  

A thoroughly good read - my only niggle is that I have to wait till 2015 for another one - the good news of course is that there is another one.

Rumor Has It. Jill Shalvis

Rumor Has It
Jill Shalvis
Published: Berkley 2013
Format: Paperback
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pages:281
Source: Own book

Special Ops soldier Griffin Reid doesn’t exactly have happy memories of growing up in Sunshine, Idaho. He’s only come back to recover from a war injury, and while he refuses to admit he’s in a weakened state, he finds comfort in the last person he’d expect.

Kate Evans teaches fourth grade science in Sunshine, the place she’s always called home. Dreaming of graduate school and a happily-ever-after, she’s desperate to break out of the monotony of Sunshine. Luckily, a certain sexy man has just come back into her life.To Griffin, Kate as always been his little sister’s friend, but now he’s finding her to be so much more. As both attempt to forge their paths, they must decide if their passionate connection can turn into something lasting…

My thoughts
This book is part of the Animal Attraction series, and I think it is my very favourite series by Jill Shalvis.  Rumor Has It is another excellent book in the series and I enjoyed it.  I liked Kate very much, and her being a teacher added that little piece of interest to it for me.  Griffin was a rather intense character with a back story of his own that added interest to the book.

Kate is the family mainstay.  Her mother has died and she keeps an eye out for her Dad who has not coped all that well, her sister Ashley - a teen, and her young brother Tommy who always insists on being either one hero or another.  She has the opportunity of a year's study in Science away from the area, but believes her family won't cope without her.  We all believe to some extent that we are our own versions of the Greek god, Atlas.  Part of this story is the tussle Kate has with letting go and choosing something more.

As I began this book the first thing I noticed were the sentences.  They were so nicely varied and fluent.  Normally I take this for granted in a published book, however I had just come from reading a book where the sentences just did not have that fluency.  I had spent time rearranging sentences, thinking - they could have been made more interesting this way. With Rumor Has It, after appreciating the first page and the fluency of the sentences, I sunk gratefully into the book and enjoyed the story and the characters!

It Had To Be You

Title: It Had To Be You   (Lucky Harbor Novel #7)
Author:  Jill Shalvis
Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing
Date Published: May 2013
Pages: 327
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Summary from Book Cover
Ali Winters is not having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern.... 

After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?

My thoughts.
A very entertaining story!  I stopped counting the times I chuckled out loud.  The time Ali and Luke were on the dock with a bottle of scotch.  The time Jack (firefighter) eyeballs Luke and says a guy who is making out with Leah has a record. He's searched his background - the guy has a library fine, for goodness sake.  Hmm can see where Jack is heading!  Then there is the time Luke and Sawyer stake out a house and get more than an eyeful in a TMI kind of way.

Luke and Ali are very likeable characters and sizzle when together.  Luke is a tough cop with a heart of gold who has trouble allowing people into his life and letting them love him.  Ali's values are stability, security and safety.  She works hard at being strong, independent and  positive.  She is well loved by many of the old folk in town.  She is used to men letting her down, will Luke do the same and break her heart as well?

The story is well paced, with endearing characters and well... it was plain fun to read.  Glimpses of a few Lucky Harbor locals happen - Lucille is still on Facebook.  In one of the previous books this Facebook page seemed so real I was tempted to see if it was actually there!  Did I look? Sh! Not owning up to anything.  The next book is set up for the story of Jack and Leah, looking forward to it already.

Forever and a Day.

Title: Forever and a Day
Author: Jill Shalvis
Lucky Harbor Series #6
Narrated by: Erin Bennett
Length:
Published by: Hachette Audio 2012

Goodreads Summary
Grace never thought she’d be starting her life over from scratch. Losing everything has landed her in Lucky Harbor, working as a dog walker for overwhelmed ER doctor Josh Scott. But the day his nanny fails to show up, Grace goes from caring for Josh’s loveable mutt to caring for his rambunctious kids. Soon Grace is playing house with the sexy single dad…

With so many people depending on him, Josh has no time for anything outside of his clinic and family–until Grace arrives in town. Now this brainy blonde is turning his life inside out and giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “good bedside manner.” Josh and Grace don’t know if what they have can last. But in a town like Lucky Harbor, a lifetime of love starts with just one day

I loved this story.  It is my favourite in the series.  The mix was just right for my taste.  And that is how  I rate a book, if it held my interest and I enjoyed it, then its a high rater.  It may not be any better or worse than the other books in the series to other readers, this one caught my attention.

It had in it a scallywag of a dog - Tank, who gave me some laugh out loud moments.  It had Toby an adorable 5 year old and Jedi warrior.  I read on some blog post one reader rating a book low because it had  children in it, and she had enough of them in her daily life, she didn't want to read about them.  I have no such aversion and I loved  Toby and he played an important role in the book.

Anna, Josh's younger sister, is in a wheelchair and her side story is also engaging and what happens to her is woven into the story well.  I particularly enjoyed the final scene when Grace and Toby and Tank rescue Anna.

Josh is a likeable character, who is forever putting others first, he is  a person who cares about others at his own expense. He is thrust into the role of head of his household by the early death of his parents and the fact the mother of Toby walked out of his life.

I was more used to the narrator by this book, and while I still would not rate her highly, she doesn't detract from the book which is to her credit.  

Favourite quote from this book was " Beware of chocolate squares, they make you round."

Audio Challenge 2013.

Animal Attraction

Title: Animal Attraction
Author: Jill Shalvis
Animal Magnetism Series #2
Published: Berkley 2011
Pages: 293

Goodreads Summary.
Jade Bennett couldn't be happier to escape her past for the quiet ranching town of Sunshine, Idaho. Plus, there's nothing like working for veterinarian Dell Connelly. And though Dell has no intention of settling down, Jade's strength and sass are enticements no red-blooded male can resist.

I loved this one, full of fun, warmth and.... the cutest animals.  As well as loving the caring veterinarian - Dell, and his office manager - Jade, those animals were just so cared for, and did I say cute.  Peanuts the parrot was loads of fun and Beans the kitten was an added bunch of warm fuzz.

Dell and Jade are both attracted to each other, however their past holds them back.  Dell helps Jade overcome her previous bad experience and well.... Jade does her own healing of Dell too.  All in all, a very satisfying, light read.

I am looking forward to reading the next one in this series.

At Last

At Last
Jill Shalvis
Lucky Harbor series: #5
Hachette Audio 2012
Narrated by: Erin Bennett.
Time: 9hours 21minutes.

Goodreads summary:
Amy Michaels moves to the small town of Lucky Harbor, where her grandma hiked the Pacific Northwest rain forest for one glorious summer some decades prior, hoping for the same life-changing experience. She gets life-changing alright, in the form of a sexy forest ranger Matt Bowers. She also gets something she never knew she wanted much less needed - love.

I enjoyed this easy listen, and while I preferred the narrator of the #4 book, Suehyla El Attar, Erin Bennett is a pleasant reader, and while I thought she didn't boost the story up to 5 stars, she did not detract from the story either.

I enjoyed the story of Matt and Amy and what I especially liked about this book was Amy stepping up to help out Riley, a teen in trouble.  Because of her own background experience of a difficult growing up time, Amy is able to reach out to Riley successfully.  

As well, I liked the way Amy began to re-establish connection with her mother, gradually and meaningfully. Part of the story is walking in the footsteps of her grandmother who also spent some significant time years ago in Lucky Harbor.  As Amy finds out more about her grandmother she also discovers herself.

With all that, it is the next story I am really looking forward to, that of Josh.

Audio Challenge 2013  No. 2 book.

Lucky in Love

Audiobook: unabridged
Hachette. 2012

Author:  Jill Shalvis
Narrator:  Suehyla El Attar
Lucky Harbor #4 

 Goodreads summary:
Mallory Quinn has had enough of playing it safe. As a nurse and devoted daughter, she takes care of everyone but herself. And as the local good girl, she's expected to date Mr. Right. But for once, she'd like to take a risk on Mr. Wrong. And who could be more wrong than Ty Garrison? The mysterious new guy in town has made it clear that he's only passing through, which suits Mallory just fine...

I really enjoyed this listen.  Suehyla el Attar read the book well. It was the first one I had listened to her reading. I would certainly listen to another one that she read. I am sorry to see she isn't reading #5 of the series.

Jill Shalvis writes an enjoyable contemporary and I think so far, this would be my favourite one of the series. Mallory and Ty were great characters, and as well I have to say I developed a soft spot for Mrs Burland the town 'difficult old lady!' 

 I liked how Mallory developed from the 'good girl' who always smoothes things over for every one, and can be relied on to do all the extra bits called upon to do; into a tougher version of herself. 

The chocolate quotes beginning each chapter were fun.