Book Review: Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis

Return to Wildstone as three siblings find that life as they know it is a work in progress and will deliver more than they anticipate if they can just trust themselves to grab it with both hands.

My Rating for Almost Just Friends: 4 Stars and a Series Recommendations

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Piper Manning is ready to move onto her next chapter of her life. Her two younger siblings are grown and on their own. She is as tough as she can be but with freedom looming on the horizon, she is determined to finish fixing up the lake house she inherited from her grandparents and move onto the next chapter of her life. What she didn’t anticipate is both siblings coming back to Wildstone and complications arise when tall, dark and handsome smacks into Piper when a big storm approaches Wildstone. Now Piper must deal with siblings, secrets and more as she tries to deal with emotions, she doesn’t want to feel but can’t help. But as the secrets everyone is keeping from Piper come out, Piper finds herself adrift and angry at the ones she loves as she tries to navigate the way her life has become. Can she find a way to make peace with her siblings, find it in her heart to let herself love Camden Hayes and see her dreams come true?

ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is the next installment in the wonderful heartfelt Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis. The books in the series can be read as a stand alone as each book involves different characters set in Wildstone. I highly enjoyed ALMOST JUST FRIENDS and fell in love with Piper, Winnie and Gavin a lot. Siblings who are fractured and two who have secrets that will rock Piper’s world more than she ever imagined. The characters are what gives the stories in the Wildstone series such depth. They are intriguing, wonderfully well written and totally relatable in all ways. I especially enjoyed Winnie as she insisted, she can be a handywoman at the lake house and watches youtube videos to figure out things. Gavin was fun as well as he learned to make amends for past hurts when he spies a first love that he hurt deeply. All three siblings are as different as pie but together are equally compelling. I loved every one of them immensely. Add in some quirky and wonderful secondary characters and man, you got a wild ride from start to finish.

ALMOST JUST FRIENDS is a fun and enjoyable story set in the Wildstone series, and I love how smoothly this book went as I was reading it. It was full of entertaining characters, relatable items from everyday life such as addiction, pregnancy and more that happen each day to everyone in some shape and form. Ms. Shalvis does a remarkable job in keeping the story flowing smoothly and I couldn’t keep this book down. It’s a perfect winter read that will keep the reader entertained till the very end. I highly recommend this book as well as the series in general if you are looking for a series set in a small town filled with quirky and entertaining people and a setting that will take your breath away. I can’t wait to see where the author goes next for the Wildstone series in general and hope we won’t have to wait long for the next installment.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Book Review: Jill Shalvis' The Lemon Sisters

Welcome back to Wildstone as two sisters find their way back to one another and themselves.

My Rating for The Lemon Sisters: 3.5 Stars

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Brooke Lemon was always been as free spirited as her sister, Mindy, was the responsible and perfect one. But when Mindy knocks on Brooke’s door, what Brooke sees isn’t the perfect and put together sister she has always known but a woman in the throes of a breakdown with three kids in toe. When Brooke agrees to trade places for a few days with Mindy so she can pick up the pieces and figure out how to get back to the person she once was, Brooke finds herself with three kids and on her way to Wildstone, the small town she called home once. But once there, she finds that the man she once loved and if she is honest with herself, still loves, is still there, handsome as ever. But as the Lemon sisters figure out the way back to themselves can they find the peace they are searching for even as the love they long for is right there in front of them?

THE LEMON SISTERS is a great addition to Jill Shalvis’s Wildstone series. I loved Brooke and Mindy Lemon and Mindy’s kids are a hoot. What really intrigued me was both Mindy and Brooke finding out that they need changes int heir lives but had no idea on how to even start the process of looking for those said changes. Brooke is dealing with an on the job accident and Mindy is, so self-contained it’s a wonder she hasn’t combusted before now. I love all the characters in this series and each book is one where you can read as a stand alone and don’t necessarily have to read past books to understand some things. But I highly recommend the first books as well since they are just as fun and compelling as THE LEMON SISTERS.

Meet Brooke and Mindy Lemon. Sisters who are broken even as they pretend nothing is wrong. Mindy can’t take it anymore and shows up on Brooke’s doorstep with her three kids in toe to beg for some relief for a few days. Brooke is trying to deal with her issues but keeps pretending all is well. When she agrees to help Mindy, what Brooke finds is more than the peace she craves but something that will show her the way back to herself again. I love Mindy and Brooke. They are complete opposite. Brooke is the wild child, free spirited one of the sisters and Mindy is very self-contained and controlling to a degree. I loved how the author conveys each sisters’ personalities and within the story and keeps the reader rooting for both sisters to find their own version of peace and love. The characters are well written, wonderfully relatable and the scenery within THE LEMON SISTERS makes me want to visit Wildstone one of these days if its real. Add in some wonderful secondary characters that deliver some fun scenes and three kids that are downright adorable, well you got all the right notes for this reader to fall in love with the book and this series.

THE LEMON SISTERS is more about two sisters finding their way again, as an individual and as sisters but also about second chances, friendship, love, family and more. The author does an amazing job in keeping the reader glued to the pages of the book as you read the twists and turns of Brooke and Mindy’s journey as well as meet some of the residents of Wildstone. The story flows so smoothly, I never looked up to see what time it was nor make dinner till I read that very last page. THE LEMON SISTERS is a sweet and wonderful story that will tug on your heartstrings and keep you glued to the pages of the book till the very end. I can’t wait to see where the author goes next in this little town.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Discover Jill Shalvis' The Good Luck Sister

Welcome back to Wildstone and fall in love all over again with the people who live, work and find love there.

ABOUT THE GOOD LUCK SISTER

After a difficult few years, Tilly Adams is ready for life to start going right. Though she has a case of first-day nerves teaching art at the local community college, she knows it isn’t anything a few snuggles from her rescue puppy won’t cure. Until she sees Dylan Scott again, her one-time BFF and first love sitting in the front row. Dylan knows he should’ve left well enough alone, but when he sees Tilly living her dream, he can’t help but make contact. Ten years ago, he left Wildstone and everything in it behind, including Tilly. He had his reasons, but now he wants her back in his life, anyway he can get her. When Tilly agrees to design the logo for Dylan’s new helicopter touring company, it’s business only . . . until she finds herself falling into his arms once again. Can she possibly open her heart back up to the only man who’s ever broken it? But soon they’re both realizing the truth—love always deserves a second chance.''

BUY LINKS for THE GOOD LUCK SISTER

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2qOBwgM

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/2vCGAdQ

Books-A-Million: https://bit.ly/2Hfc5Qt

iBooks: https://apple.co/2vwQkpN

GooglePlay: https://bit.ly/2kpDG2S

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“I’ve finished my free trial of adulthood and am no longer interested, so please cancel my subscription.” From The Mixed Up Files of Tilly’s journal.

     Tilly Adams sat in the vet’s office staring at the doctor in shock. “Say that again?”

     Dr. Janet Lyons smiled. “I think Leo faked being sick. Probably so you’d stay home from work today.”

     Tilly looked down at Leo. “You do know he’s a dog, right?”

     All six pounds of him smiled up at her. About a month ago, she found him on a street corner hiding beneath a bus bench; wet, dirty, cold, hungry and matted. He’d been Dobby meets Gremlin meets neglected, abused Care Bear. Tilly had looked around for an adult, and then had to remind herself that at twenty-five years old, she was legal herself. So then she’d searched for an adultier adult, but she’d been the only one in sight.

     So she’d scooped the little guy up and had brought him to the SPCA, who’d said he was about five weeks old, a possible Maltipoo, which meant he came by his care bear look naturally. He was malnutritioned and suffering from mange. They’d said they’d do what they could, and Tilly had turned to go. That had been when she’d seen all the eyes on her from an endless row of cages … and she’d realized her care bear would soon be sitting in one too. Then she’d heard herself offer to foster him until they found him a forever home.

     They’d found him one too. Tilly had signed the adoption papers last weekend in spite of the fact that just that morning he’d escaped his crate, eaten her favorite sneakers, destroyed her favorite pillow, and then yakked up the stuffing from the pillow.

     He was a destructo of the highest magnitude, and something else too. He had no idea how small he was. He went after her sister Quinn’s twenty-plus pound cat and her neighbor’s hundred pound black lab with the same fierce, fearless gusto. Turned out, the little guy had a bad case of small-man syndrome, which was how he’d earned his name.

     Leo, short for Napoleon.

     And now on top of Leo’s impressive chewing skills, his escape artist skills, and his ability to get up on her bed and yet still not understand why stepping in his own poop was annoying, he had a new skill.

     He’d faked being sick.

     Proud of himself, Leo smiled up at her. Smiled. An hour ago he’d been coughing and limping and acting all sorts of odd. Now he just kept smiling up at her while sending her meaningful glances at the open dog biscuit bin between her and the doctor.

     Dr. Lyons laughed and gave him one.

     “Dogs can’t fake sick,” Tilly said while Leo inhaled the biscuit whole before licking the floor to make sure he got all the crumbs. “Can they?”

     Dr. Lyons scooped him up and gave him a kiss on his adorable snout. “Yours did.”
     Tilly sighed. It was too early for this. She’d had a crazy late night. Not hanging at Whiskey River, the local bar and grill. Not at a club with friends. Not working on her designs for he upcoming graphic art showing.

     Nope, she’d been on a serious stress bender -- a marathon of Game Of Thrones. She hadn’t fallen asleep until after two and her alarm had interrupted her in the middle of a really great dream starring Jon Snow.

     Dr. Lyons handed Leo over. He immediately snuggled into the crook of Tilly’s neck and dammit, her cold heart melted on the spot and she hugged him close. “You’re sure he’s okay? He was coughing. And then he limped funny. And then he wouldn’t eat.”

     “But he hasn’t coughed once that I’ve seen. And he’s not limping either. And you said all his food vanished while you took a quick shower.”

     “Yes,” Tilly said.

     Dr. Lyons waited for her to catch up.

     Tilly sighed. “He really did fake me out.”

ABOUT JILL SHALVIS

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website, www.jillshalvis.com, for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill

Website: http://jillshalvis.com/

Facebook: @JillShalvis

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22370.Jill_Shalvis?from_search=true