Rainy Day Friends

Wildstone #2

by Jill Shalvis

Following the USA Today bestseller, Lost and Found Sisters, comes Rainy Day Friends, Jill Shalvis’ moving story of heart, loss, betrayal, and friendship.

Six months after Lanie Jacobs’ husband’s 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 Green 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.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2018

About the author

Multiple New York Times and USA Today 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 … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her newest Sunrise Cove novel, THE SWEETHEART LIST, is out now, and THE BRIGHT SPOT comes out in January!

Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning novels wherever books are sold. Visit http://www.jillshalvis.com for a complete book list and fun blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill:
http://instagram.com/jillshalvis
http://facebook.com/JillShalvis
http://twitter.com/jillshalvis

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainy Day Friends is book two in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis. I have often proclaimed my love of all things Jill Shalvis. But just when I think I couldn’t love her any more, she writes a book like this one, and more love spills out. I don’t know how she does it but I love her more with every book!



Lanie Jacobs is broken. She lost her husband of five years, six months ago. But while grieving for the man she thought loved her, she found out that a lot of other women thought the same thing. He had four other wives. Needing a change of scenery, she took a two month contract as a graphic designer for Capriotti Winery which was in Wildstone, an old Wild West California town. The wide open countryside, the clean air and the beautiful beaches are just what she needed. What she hadn’t anticipated is this huge family that had no sense of personal space. They were loud, they were crazy, and they loved with their whole hearts.

“Work and family. Family and work. It was all the same here, and that was just beginning to sink in.”

Mark Capriotti thought that his career was in the Air Force. Until his wife abandoned their twin daughters who were now six. So he left the military and came home to Wildstone. He is now the deputy sheriff of Wildstone and is living on his family’s winery. They help with the kids since his hours are so crazy and his big family is just what the girls needed. One of his girls hasn’t spoken since their mother left them. Mark has promised himself that he will be everything that these two precious girls needs. That he will not let himself love again until they are grown up. Then he met Lanie. The connection was instant. That sizzle of attraction that can’t be denied. She’s only here for two months. She’s a distraction he can’t allow himself. Or can he?

“He’d honestly believed that he could keep his heart safe. But that had been before Lanie slid in beneath his barriers. Now the only thing he was sure of was the one thing he didn’t want to admit to himself. She was going to have him breaking his every rule for her.”



Lanie had walls around her heart three feet thick. It was the two girls that first started breaking down those walls and worming themselves in to her heart. In Mark’s mother, her boss, Cora, she found a connection she never had with her own mother, a closeness she could so get used to. And then there was Mark. He was sexy and she was crazy attracted to him. But the last thing she needs right now is a man. Oddly, it was at the beach, riding the waves on boogie boards, that they finally found the connection they both craved. Where they finally let down their defenses.

“Her life had been a train in a dark tunnel for a very long time. But it was like she’d somehow changed course and now she could see a little bit of light.”



Just when she was starting to think that she had finally found a place where she fit, a new addition arrived. River, twenty one years old and seven months pregnant with obviously no place else to go. Lanie feels an odd connection to this woman and they become friends. Until River admits to her secret. A secret that exposes everything that Lanie had kept hidden from the Capriottis.



This book was amazing. I was drawn in on the very first page. Lanie had been through so much. You couldn’t help but to love her. And Mark…with all those muscles stuffed into his uniform. My heart was working overtime! I will say, though, that it was his girls that stole the show. They were adorable. And Mark was an amazing dad to them. His life was a mess and he was barely hanging on but he was everything those little girls needed. This whole family really stole my heart. Their love and closeness was so heartwarming. And there was an adorable epilogue. I have no idea where Jill Shalvis is going next with this series. If we’ll get more from this family or something else entirely. All I do know is that I will be waiting, maybe not so patiently, to find out.

“Courage doesn’t always roar, you know. Sometimes it’s just a quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, ‘You can try again tomorrow.’”

[KAS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chick-lit Alert!!

Unlucky in love, Lanie is thirty years old and already a widow. Finding out your husband of five years has died is the least of her devastating news. She finds out he has four other wives living up and down the coast of California.

Swearing off all men and trying to put all the anxiety and betrayal behind her, she accepts a job two hours drive south with Capriotti Winery.

Enter ... Mark Capriotti, the disarmingly gorgeous sheriffs deputy, and, most importantly, father to six year old adorable twins who completely stole my heart.

Mark is also not looking for love. Casual, no commitment sex, sure. His now ex-wife and mother of said adorable twins just up and left, leaving him a single dad.

This would make a great beach read. It was fun and fast-paced, albeit a bit dramatic, with completely lovable characters. Did I mention the adorable twins?

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG





I swear, everytime I'm done with a Jill Shalvis book I cry. Not because it's sad. Not even because my emotions are all over the place. No, the fact that I'm done always gets to me. Every single time. If I had my way, I would live in a Jill Shalvis book so that it would never end, that's how beautiful her stories are. Ever since discovering this author I've had a huge fan-girlish crush on her. In Rainy Days Friends we are back in Wildstone.

The Capriottis are a loud bunch of people. A big Italian family who runs a winery, has family lunches with all their employees every day. They collect strays along the way and welcome them to their family without blinking. They are a rambunctious, crazy, lively clan with a disregard of personal space and every member has their nose in everybody's business. Sounds wonderful, right? They totally sound like my kind of people.

When Lanie was offered a temporary job to re-design the Capriotti's brand she accepted to get her life back in order. After finding out that her late husband was a polygamist, married to four other women, she needs space and time to regroup. The winery, away from her home, promises to be a new start. She has every intention to make the best of these two months. A fairly reasonable young woman and sometimes a little stand-offish, she is determined to stay detached but the Capriottis, especially the two twin heathens and their father to Mark Capriotti, charm her. And while she falls for Mark and his girls, she falls in love with the whole family.

Lanie is a complex character who has been deeply hurt by what her husband had done to her. Their relationship was already dying a slow death nevertheless the betrayal of her trust has made her suspicious and closed off. What's more is that her parents never made her feel wanted or loved. I hurt for her because this was a woman trapped in her past, feeling unwanted and so incredibly fragile, despite her immense strength. Her feelings for Mark become obvious very soon and her instinct is to run away from him and run to him at the same time. Lanie's wit and intelligence really spoke to me. As did her hurt - I could really understand why she was so scared of love.

And now he had her in his arms, this amazing, prickly, suspicious, hardheaded woman that he was falling for in spite of himself because she was also sweet and kind and had the biggest heart of anyone he’d ever met. Falling hard. It was going to take a lot to convince her that he was a good idea, although he was pretty sure her body might’ve already made its decision. He had no idea what it would take to persuade the rest of her.

Mark! Oh my. He is a single dad who adores his kids. I loved how he was with them - even when they needed a firm hand he gave it with a kindness that was so natural to him. He is such a charmer, sweet, understanding and so level-headed. Mark and his girls stole my heart from the first moment and didn't let go until the very end. I was so enchanted by this trio. He didn't intend to fall in love after being burned by his ex but he recognized a good thing when he saw it.

"I’ve learned that life is a crapshoot, and at any moment someone can walk into it and change it forever.” - Mark

Mark was just wonderful with Lanie but it was the joint effort of the whole family that actually helped bring down her walls. Learning acceptance from a family who didn't have a reason to welcome her into their fold other than liking her and feeling her need for love made her feel her mother's distance even more. Cora, the matriarch, united smartness and kindness, her wisdom and a keen understanding of people.

Courage doesn’t always roar, you know. Sometimes it’s just a quiet voice at the end of the day, saying, “You can try again tomorrow.”

And don't get me started on the two heathens - they were just adorable with their antics. So, so sweet. The family's witty banter had me in stitches. I also loved River, who totally upsets Lanie's life again, and Holden. Their love story was woven into the story so effortlessly - I wish we'd have had more of them.

Jill Shalvis writes toe-curling romance and although it's not as explicit as I'm used to it still packs a lot of sexy chemistry and steam. I love her stories, from the small-town setting to the good people with the huge hearts, to the humor, to the romance that grabs your heart and squeezes tightly. Although this is labeled as women's fiction I'd actually call it contemporary romance. Now I'll start waiting for the next Jill Shalvis book. They are like a breeze of fresh air and I just can't get enough.

“Started to go to the gym,” she said. “You know, to work off some of the baby fat. Only I couldn’t find my membership card and a new one was ten bucks. And since a doughnut and coffee was only three bucks, guess who saved seven bucks this morning?” - Alyssa

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection. Jill Shalvis has taken every element I could possibly wish for and created the most perfect of romantic reads. Without question Rainy Day Friends has become my favourite I’ve read from her to date.

It’s like you’re Batman, Superman, and Prince Charming all wrapped up in one.”

Lanie Jacobs hasn’t had an easy time of things and her two-month contract at the Capriotti winery sees her beginning to piece her life back together following the death of her husband and the revelations that came with it. To say she has her guard up is a bit of an underestimation, and understandably so but if anyone can work their way through her defences it’s the Capriotti’s, particularly two insightful, sweet little girls who take an instant shine to her. And it doesn’t take long for their Dad and Wildstone’s deputy sheriff, Mark to follow suit.

Was no female on earth immune to the Capriotti charm?”

This is definitely a story which focussed on Lanie and her own personal journey, although Mark does play a huge part in this as they get to know one another. And I adored them together—neither are looking for commitment, but the chemistry between them lights up the pages and by the sheer number of appreciative sighs I emitted, once again Shalvis worked her magic in creating a man I would leave my husband for.

Sometimes the best thing in life is finding that one person who knows all your mistakes and weaknesses and still thinks you’re completely amazing.”

The Capriotti’s were the most wonderful crazy family bringing hilarity and heart, and there wasn’t a single character who I didn’t love. And with the introduction of River and the angle she created in the story, I really do hope we get to see how things play out for her and Holden.

It’s not blood that connects us.”

I can’t recommend this one highly enough—I’m fairly new to discovering Jill Shalvis’ books but there’s a reason why this year alone I’ve read 16. And it’s worth mentioning that although part of the Wildstone series, Rainy Day Friends can be read without having read the previous books: even more of a reason to grab this.

Copy received courtesy of William Morrow/HarperCollins via Edelweiss for an honest and unbiased opinion.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 - "...Still wow!" Stars!

We return to Wildstone for the second book in Jill Shalvis’ series of the same name. And I can hands-down say that Rainy Day Friends is one of the best books I have read by this author.



From the introduction to the whole of the Capriotti family and their winery business in general, to Lanie Jacobs and Mark Capriotti, and their relationship specifically. There aren’t many authors that can tell a story with such heavy themes with so lightness of hand.

She was away from the city and she was in a gorgeous place with a fun job, and she was going to take her first deep breath in months and find herself again…

Lanie arrives in Wildstone to take up a short-term marketing position at the winery, cutting a solitary figure, and holding onto more secrets than she is looking to or even willing share, it comes as quite a shock at how quickly she finds herself immersed in all things Capriotti, from family Matriarch Cora all the way down to Mark’s twin daughters Sam and Sierra, they all manage to gradually worm their way into her heart as the story progresses.

"It’s not blood that connects us… "

Told from several points of view, although mainly from Lanie, you are given the full HD Shalvis writing experience in this one. Both Mark and Lanie are not looking for commitment, but as I have come to expect with a hero written by this author, I still fell in love with him from his first introduction. Full on Alpha, and a bit grouchy to begin with, I don’t know how she does it, but just his mere presence on the page gives-good-tingle to the reader, and this single daddy had all my important lady parts standing to attention and swooning with lust/love and all the in-between as he worked through the fact that not all women, and Lanie in particular are like his ex-wife. I think seeing his daughters fall in love with her gave him the push he needed, but working through everything as he does while Lanie’s story plays out as well, just kept me hooked.

"We share orgasms when it suits us, but we’re not sharing emotions, remember…? You decreed that."

You cannot help but like each and every character, and although the issues from Lanie’s past, ones that she’s spent six months unsuccessfully trying to run from are pretty much the main theme of the book this is a story that encompasses a lot of people. But with lines blurring between Lanie and Mark relationship wise, as well as Lanie’s inclusion (albeit with reluctance initially) into the family in general it covers a lot of characters in its telling.

"There’s more for you here if you want it and you know that."

Heavily pregnant and somewhat elusive River Green is a young woman whose story as it is revealed just pulls at your heart strings, and I hope that Jill sees fit to give her and Holden a novella at some point in the future.

"You’re a part of us now."

If you have read a book by this author before, you are not going to be disappointed this is some of her best writing to date, if you haven’t then I think this would be the perfect introduction to her awesome story-telling skills. There is nothing, and I mean nothing I did not love about this book. The drama was relevant, the characters in all their individuality were likeable, relatable and people you wanted to get to know. The banter entertaining, and the locale somewhere I wish I could move to myself. It was perfect, I cannot wait for more.

ARC generously provided, and it was my pleasure to provide the above honest review in exchange.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

So first the good news: this was a very fast, moderately engaging read. And, like almost every Shalvis book, it had some lines funny and/or insightful enough to earn the attention of my Kinde's highlighter :) (Although some of the characters' nuggets of wisdom were definitely quotes I've seen elsewhere and not original writing by Shalvis. For example, at one point Cora, the rather improbably wise matriarch of the Capriotti clan, informs our heroine that "courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." Sounds familiar, right?! That quote has been all over the place for years. Cora definitely did not come up with that on her own, and the book presents it as if she did. This isn't a big deal, but it irked me a bit and even made me wonder whether other little gems that I've been thinking are from Shalvis are actually borrowed from various quotes floating around the internet.)

My primary issue with this book is that I just didn't connect with the characters, and I didn't really buy into their connections with each other. Lanie is very jaded, as anyone whose former husband was a serial adulterer would be, but she and Shalvis's Latest Interchangeable Generic Alpha Hero---I mean, Mark---just had such a poorly paced romance in my opinion, going from strangers with a vague attraction to acquaintances who act on that physical attraction to "love" in a short period of time and without even seeming getting to know each other all that well. It's that leap to 'happily every after' love that felt really inorganic to me. So many of these characters' epiphanies and realizations about their feelings for each other come during long inner monologues or conversations with other characters rather than through actual quality interactions with EACH OTHER. The secondary romance between River and Holden felt similarly rushed and underdeveloped.

But it's not just the romantic relationships that failed to connect with me as well as I'd hoped. The relationship between Lanie and River goes from complete strangers to mistrustful rivals who don't treat each other well for various reasons both understandable and not quite as understandable (I apologize for being vague, but I don't want to risk spoiling people!) to "I love you and you're like a sister to me", which...what?!?! When the heck did THAT happen? I love the idea of these two women coming together and the general theme of forgiveness, but the actual execution felt so forced to me.

And then we have Lanie's relationships with the loud but loving Capriottis. They inform Lanie within hours of meeting her that they "really like her" despite the fact that Lanie has been neither remotely interesting nor even especially nice and is mostly just guarded and detached. Don't get me wrong: I understand most of the reasons for Lanie's prickly detachment and lord knows I relate to her struggles with anxiety. But even I, a reader privy to her background, experiences and inner thoughts and feelings, had a lot of trouble liking and connecting with Lanie, so what did these people with whom she'd exchanged nothing but a few terse pleasantries see in her?! Again, it felt forced rather than earned. The Capriottis in general felt like a stereotypical Italian family rather than real, multi-dimensional characters to me: they love wine and lots and lots of pasta. They're boisterous and zany and nosy but, of course, we're supposed to admire their passion and zest for life. Cora, as alluded to above, feels too good to be true, a woman so wise and insightful that she's practically omniscient and spouts off an endless supply of sage platitudes every time she speaks.

Mark is like so very, very many other heroes by this author: continually described as "badass" and "alpha" by other characters, kind of cocky and emotionally detached with everyone except his family, supposedly super brave and kickass and yet so sadly lacking in any distinctive personality.

And here's where you all hate me...*deep breath*...I know everyone loved Mark's adorable twin daughters, but I found them so overly cutesy and precocious. Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of kids in romance novels in general. (Please don't think I'm a monster! For what it's worth, I love my godsons more than life itself :)) And nor am I a fan of using overly adorable kids to reveal what a secretly soft heart a supposedly big and 'bad' hero has while pushing the H and h together (because of course the kids ADORE Lanie instantly for some totally inexplicable reason). It's just not a trope that I tend to enjoy, but I totally get why others do!

Honestly, maybe I've just been overdosing on Shalvis novels lately---reading them in succession tends to emphasize how similar (as in, pretty much identical!) so many of her characters, descriptors and dialogue tend to be. I'm particularly a bit weary of her heroes, who nearly all have extremely similar professions, extremely similar personalities (or lack of personalities) and inspire pretty much the exact same descriptors from other characters.

I think my expectations for this book were unrealistically high. I'd heard so much fan and critical acclaim that I expected to declare it one of my favorite books ever, so I was probably setting myself up for inevitable disappointment :) And the fact that this one is more women's fiction than pure romance may have led me to expect more multi-dimensional characters than we actually got and drama that felt a little more organic and nuanced than soapy.

Just because this didn't work for me doesn't mean you won't love it, though! I recall not liking the first Wildstone book nearly as much as most did either. (Though I did love the novella...go figure!) I think maybe I love Jill Shalvis's work most when it's presented as (mostly) fluffy romantic comedy and doesn't strive to be more.

Thanks for reading!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

***IT'S ALIVE!!!***

Finding a new path…

I felt guilty for my thoughts while reading Rainy Day Friends. I wanted to hate a pregnant woman. I wanted to hate a man in the army who dedicated his life to his career instead of his family. I wanted to hate a mother for blaming her child for her mistakes. But, in true Jill Shalvis fashion, I learned to love them more for their life blunders.

The choices we make in our lives lead us down a path. Sometimes the path we choose is bumpy and can even take us to a dead end. There are even paths we take because of someone else’s directions. Our faith and trust in that person make us follow the path without question, almost like we have blinkers on. We don’t see the warning signs or the risks up ahead. Then, we're surprised when we find ourselves on a dangerous path and confounded that we threw caution to the wind and trusted blindly. Rainy Day Friends brings together people who have had their path hit a roadblock that left them a little bit battered and bruised. Somehow they manage to back up a bit, take a look around, and find a new path.

Lanie’s had a pretty tough life. From the outside, it probably didn’t look that bad but once I got her full story, seeing her vulnerability made me want to protect her. I hated when her secret was exposed. Now, this was quite surprising, to be honest. I’m one of those people who thinks a secret shared is a burden shared. In her case, Lanie’s secret wasn’t just a burden, it was an anchor that seemed to pull her further and further down. Her secret was a constant reminder that she shouldn’t get close to people. Taking a risk on friendship or love will just get you hurt. Then…she met the Capriotti's.

Now, Mark, well he was a little harder for me to warm up to. A single father of twin girls, he’s working long hours as a deputy sheriff to buy a house to live in. He’s currently moved back to his childhood home because he needs his family to help look after his daughters. His ex-wife did a runner and broke all of their hearts with her abandonment. There is no way he’s willing to risk his heart again. Famous last words...

Rainy Day Friends made me feel. I was frustrated when the main characters were being stubborn and denying their feelings. I was devastated when Lanie’s secrets were exposed and blubbered like a baby. I smiled like a loon when Samantha (one of Mark’s 6-year-old daughters) bestows her words of wisdom or shares about Daddy’s night time walks to Lanie’s cottage. Mia was a crack up, Cora was a gem, Alyssa was a hormonal nutcase (proof that there is such a thing as baby-brain), Uncle Jack was a shocker and Holden was a sweetheart. There were just so many characters to love.

One of my favourite parts though was seeing River grow, mature and strengthen over time. A 21-year-old pregnant woman who practically falls through the front doors into the motherly, loving arms of Cora. From a homeless woman without a job to practically a Capriotti by the end.

These characters came alive for me. I knew the Capriotti's and loved them for their busybody ways. The vulnerability of the characters when their paths took a bad turn made me feel closer to them. I think we all go through stages of vulnerability but if you’re lucky, you’ll have someone to hold the map and help you find a better way.

Seriously, Jill Shalvis has MAD skills and I think this is by far one of her best books ever. She manages to capture the highs and lows of finding love after a broken heart. She gets the dynamics of having a crazy family and living with well-meaning busybodies. Jill Shalvis also understands that sometimes you just have to ignore your brain and let lust override common sense. All of these things together is exactly why Jill Shalvis is one of my very favourite authors. She writes, I read it, it’s just that simple.

Stacey is Sassy, received a complimentary copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

I had a fantastic time reading this book! I just didn't want to put it down once I started reading. I fell in love with this wonderful group of characters and couldn't wait to see how things would work out for them. This is the second full length book in the Wildstone series but it really reads as a stand alone with little connection to the previous installments beyond being set in the same town. I expected great things when I picked up this book and I am happy to report that it lived up to all of them.

Lanie hasn't had an easy time of things lately. Her husband died only six months ago. That is bad enough but after her husband's passing, she discovered that she wasn't the only wife. She takes a temporary position at the winery in Wildstone as a way to get away and regroup for a bit. She does not expect to be surrounded by a family like the Capriotti clan.

I loved the characters in this book. The Capriotti family were all wonderful. They were all genuinely caring people that never hesitated to take those in need under their wing. They were all just a lot of fun. I thought that the banter between the family members added a level of authenticity to their characters. Usually when there is a large cast of characters, I have a bit of difficulty keeping everyone straight but these characters were all so unique and had very distinct personalities from the start of the story. I think that Shalvis did a fantastic job with the character development in this book.

I loved Mark and Lanie together. They were just perfect together and complimented each other wonderfully. I like that they were both coming from a place where they didn't want a relationship but couldn't resist the draw towards each other. They had so much chemistry but the parts of the book that really made their relationship feel real were the more touching ones, such as Mark being there for Lanie when she needed him, or Lanie's interactions with Mark's girls.

This book had no shortage of excitement. I liked River's character but I had a feeling that she would make things interesting as soon as she entered the story. River and Lanie have so much in common and I loved how all kinds of relationships were explored in this story. I felt like we really had the chance to see these characters grow and learn how to deal with some of the hardships that have been a part of their lives.

I would highly recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a wonderfully written story filled with swoony and heartwarming moments. I can't wait to read more from Shalvis and I hope that we get to see some of these characters again in future installments in the series.

I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss.

Initial Thoughts
This was great! I may bump my rating up after I give myself just a bit more time to think about the book. I loved Mark and Lanie together and Mark's family was wonderful. River's situation really added to the story. And those twin girls :)

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Overall Opinion: This blurb and the reviews from my trusted GR friends sold me to this instantly! I thought I'd give this author antoher shot since I've always seen her books around but none had really grabbed me before like this one had, and the one book I did read from her I didn't write a review for and frankly don't remember it. I'm glad I did! This was an enjoyable read that has the community/family aspect that I really enjoy! I especially like these type of books to jump into after reading books that are dark, I struggle with the depth of characters, or are overly angsty. I really liked the H and especially his relationship with his daughters! Gotta love the single dad Hs!! This is what I would classify as "low heat", and I really would have like a little more steam tbh. I also felt like there was too much focus on the side character, River. I didn't necessarily like River, so that could've been my issue with so much time being spent on her. The ending is also a big reason for not being rating this higher (see closure section below). BUT -- all in all a good read that I enjoyed.

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Lanie and Mark's story. Lanie had lost her husband and her world has been turned upside down for the past six months. She takes a job at a vineyard to revamp all of their graphics while living on site for two months to try to escape it all. Mark's family, who owns the vineyard, quickly takes Lanie into their fold even though she is reluctant to form any attachments. Mark is trying to navigate his new reality of being a single dad to six year old twin daughters after his ex abandoned them. Mark and Lanie are instantly attracted to one another, but neither of them is interested in the mess they consider love to be because of their past experiences. They eventually give in to their connection, become friends with benefits, and also eventually fall in love. There are some funny and cute scenes with Mark's daughters, a twist that forces Lanie to confront her past, and some self discovery for both of them...and they get a HEA ending.

POV: This alternated between focusing on Lanie (mainly), Mark, and River (a side character) in 3rd person narrative.

Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section below). I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.

Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 4.5 stars. Mark. I really liked him. He was such a good dad! I think that says enough -- but he was also sweet, hot, and the right amount of alpha too!

h rating: 4 stars. Lanie. I liked her. She was pretty strong considering all that she went through. I did want to shake her towards the end though.

Sadness level: Low/moderate. I cried a few times, but I never needed any tissues.

Push/Pull: Yes They both push away at times, and I would say the H is the main pursuer of the relationship.

Heat level: Low. They have some tension and chemistry. There aren't that many scenes and it is what I would call low heat -- and not so many scenes that it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Kind of. Not quite fade-to-black, but close.

OW/OM drama: Not in the typical sense and not between the h and H The h has to deal with an OW that had "married" her dead husband

Sex scene with OW or OM: No

Cheating: Not with the mcs The h found out that her husband that died had been cheating on her and actually married 4 other women.

Separation: Not really. Once they are together they stay together.

Possible Triggers: Yes Loss of a spouse (off page), the h found out that her dead husband was married to 4 other women (off page, but still dealing with it on page), and the H is divorced and has twin daughters that were abandoned by their mother (on page)

Closure: This ending was a lackluster for me. While I enjoyed the cute epilogue, I wanted more. It felt like I barely got the h confessing her love and making things right and then bam! a HEA in the epilogue! I think it would've been nicer to have them figure out their feelings and experience them as an official couple (and not just secret friends with benefits) before jumping into their HEA. I also was left with some rather big questions unanswered Does the H's ex come around or sign off rights? Does the h adopt the H's daughters? Does the h fix the relationships with her parents? What happens with the life insurance money and the other wives? etc..

Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does Not have cheating by mcs
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have both the h and H pushing away
- Does Not have a separation between the h and H
- Does Not have abuse
- Does have a HEA ending

[Geri Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jill Shalvis new Wildstone series have been all winners for me starting with Lost and Found Sisters, followed by Good Luck Sister and now Rainy Day Friends.

“I’ve learned that life is a crapshoot, and at any moment someone can walk into it and change it forever.”

I loved this book. I loved it more than I expected I would. That sounds like a backhanded compliment but let me explain. This book was marketed as Women's Fiction, a genre that I read but not exactly my go-to genre. There's always a risk of WF to fall short on the romance aspect. Not so with this book. Yes, this book is definitely about Lanie dealing about the death of her husband and the fallout of his infidelities. But what really gave this book its emotional weight was the romance between Lanie and Mark Capriotti.

Their romance made me swoon! It was definitely a huge part of the book, and I'm so happy for that. I need a healthy dose of romance in my WF and Rainy Day Friends delivered. The romance between Lanie and Mark is mature, passionate and emotional. In other words, it has ALL THE FEELS! And you guys know I'm all about the FEELS!

“And now he had her in his arms, this amazing, prickly, suspicious, hardheaded woman that he was falling for in spite of himself because she was also sweet and kind and had the biggest heart of anyone he’d ever met.”

Lanie is prickly and suspicious. She's not there to become part of the Capriotti clan no matter how friendly and inclusive they are. She's there to do her job and escape dealing with the mess her husband left her with. I love LOVE prickly heroines and Lanie is fits the description to a tee. She's also hiding a very soft center underneath prickly exterior. I've always enjoyed Jill's uber competent and complex heroines, but Lanie just might be my favorite Shalvis heroine yet. I LOVE HER! I related to her so much. I understood her motivations and her reaction to her husband's betrayal and other things made sense to me.

“She needed to learn to keep her distance better around them. Especially Mark, because the man was one of those quiet troublemakers, she could tell- the kind that sneaked in under a woman’s guard and made himself at home.”

Not only did Jill hit it out of the park with her heroine, she also hit a homerun with the hero, Mark. If you love single parent heroes, then you will love Mark! He's a devoted family man who loves his twin daughters. And while he did the whole, "I'm not looking for love and can't offer you anything," shtick for a while, he changed his tune very quickly when he realized his feelings for Lanie might be deeper than he originally thought. His interactions with his twin daughters are some of the highlights in the book for me. So pure and so heart-wrenching, I shed a tear or two.

“He hadn’t seen it coming, he hadn’t seen her coming, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t recognize a good thing when he saw it.”

The chemistry between these two are off the charts. I realize I sound like a broken record but I love how their romance developed. Theirs enhanced Lanie's journey and the conflict she's facing, and honestly, it's the perfect balance between family drama and romance.

There's also a secondary romance here, which I really liked but won't get into. It's there and it has its own charm but it didn't overpower the main romance between Lanie and Mark.

One aspect that I loved about this book was the Capriotti family. I fell in love with the whole lot of them! They love as passionately as they fight. They're not perfect which made them all the more interesting to read. I really hope Jill Shalvis will continue to write about their family in future books because they got me like they did Lanie. They were that irresistible.

“He hadn’t seen it coming, he hadn’t seen her coming, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t recognize a good thing when he saw it.”

This book also has one of the most emotionally intense confrontation I've read in a Jill Shalvis book. I cried for Lanie. My heart broke for her. And what I really liked about it is that it didn't feel like I was manipulated. The conflict and the road to that confrontation was so well written that it really hits you when it happened. And it's not just that one moment in particular, it's the way Lanie processed her emotions when confronted with that something that got to me. That, in my opinion, is great writing.

“Sometimes the best thing in life is finding that one person who knows all your mistakes and weaknesses and still thinks you’re completely amazing.”

This is one of the best I've read this year so far. Rainy Day Friends delivered on the romance and I'm so happy it did. I highly recommend this book. If you loved Jill Shalvis, then this is a must read. If you're just starting out reading her books, this is a great book to start. And even though this is technically the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

I’m giving up on getting a bikini body, so pass the butter, please. Grandma says the good Lord put alcohol and carbs on this planet for a reason and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Him down.

But after Kyle had passed away, some things had come to light. Such as the fact that he’d hidden an addiction from her. A wife addiction. It’d gone a long way toward getting her over the hump of the grieving process.

Most of my wrinkles are from laughter, except for these right between my eyebrows… These are my ‘WTF’ lines and those suckers are deep, all given to me by our family dinners.

I’ve moved on to pizza delivery guys because at least I know they have a job, a car, and pizza… Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. One hundred percent of pizza deliveries end in happiness.

But the important thing here is to remember to practice self-care in times of stress. Take a walk, paint a picture, murder someone, burn the body, and clean up the crime scene.

Despised is a little strong. It implies that I’d unplug your life support to charge my iPhone, so I save that word for things like chia seeds, infomercials, and slow walkers in the aisles of the grocery store.

My Review:

I giggle-snorted my way through this delightful and crisply written tale. The writing was top-notch and the storylines were well-crafted, cleverly amusing, and totally engaging. I adored every single quirky character who were each provided with unique issues and peculiar traits. Ms. Shalvis’s keen wit and sharply honed levity were smoothly woven into the narrative with a stunning level of skill and agility. I have come to cherish Jill Shalvis and her adorable characters.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I feel like I’ve been through an emotional mangle, this book had me laughing and crying at the same time!!

Lanie’s husband has died so she moves to Wildstone to work as a graphic artist at a Vinery for 2 months, to escape the lies and deceit her late husband left her with.

The Capriotti’s welcome her into the bosom of their family, you can’t help but love this family. They may be nosy and have their faults but they stick together and the twins Samantha and Sierra are adorable.

What wasn’t there to love about Mark, good looking and his gentle way he is around his twin girls would melt anybody’s heart. But Lanie has been hurt before and is reluctant to make that mistake again!!

River turns up at the Vinery heavily pregnant and alone, she is also taken in by the Capriotti family, but she is hiding a secret which may be why she is there in the first place!!

This is a feel good book, I sank into this family drama like sliding into a hot bath, warm and comforting. I wanted to find out how it all ends but at the same time I didn’t want to leave this great family. Adopt me please!!

Love to find out what happens with River and Holden. Definitely won’t be my first and last Jill Shalvis book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always felt like I should have been born into a large Italian family and after reading Jill Shalvis’ Rainy Day Friends; I know I was meant to be part of the Capriotti family. I’ve read this author for many years and I’ve always enjoyed her work, but this book seems to be to be on a different level. It showed the goodness in people and had me wishing there were more people like this in our world today. This was absolutely a slow burn romance between two people who had been hurt in different ways and were trying to move on the best way they knew how; they just didn’t expect the feeling of completeness they found in one another. Heartwarming, emotional, and impossible to put down I loved Rainy Day Friends.

Laine Jacobs’ live was turned upside down when her husband of 5 years passed away, but in more ways than one. Six months after she’s accepted a temporary job offer at a winery in an effort to get back her life and move forward, but nothing prepared her for the Capriotti family especially single father Mark and his precious and precocious twin daughters.

One of my criteria for a perfect book is one I want to drop into and be a part of and that absolutely describes Rainy Day Friends. While Laine was a bit prickly and tried to maintain distance with everyone she came into contact with at her new job, she soon found it was impossible to do so. I loved how each and every one of the Capriotti family got under her skin and somehow made it impossible for her to retreat into herself. Neither Laine or Mark was looking for a relationship yet there was a pull between them they found impossible to ignore, oh they tried and even when they moved to a physical relationship they both did so knowing there was an expiration date but the more they tried to deny their growing feelings the deeper they both fell.

While the relationship between Laine and Mark was a big part of this story there was so much more to Rainy Day Friends; family, friendship, betrayal, forgiveness, hope and most of all love. This complex story contained characters with depth, witty dialog, and intricate plot, an innate sense of goodness, and it is absolutely one of my favorite books by this author.

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy that's what I feel when I finish a Jill Shalvis book. I love this family and want to have them adopt me. Imagine a big loving Italian family who own a very successful winery. They love to help up the underdogs in the world. This story is about underdogs drifting till they land on this family's doorstep. If you love a good heart warming story about love, family, success, happiness, and trust, this is the author for you.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rainy Day Friends
Series: Wildstone #2
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release date: June 19, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEAYes

It was as if her life had been a fresh painting and then it'd rained, smearing that old life away to nothing but a soggy canvas.

Jill Shalvis is one of those authors that you can depend on to deliver a story with laugh out loud, witty humor from characters who effortlessly steal your heart. The friends and family that she creates feel like coming home even when you've never met them before. And that's the magic that she gives us in Rainy Day Friends. Within the first few pages, I knew immediately that the Capriotti family was special. Not just for their sarcastic and hilarious sense of humor, but most of all the strength of their love and unconditional acceptance. These are people that love so fiercely that you can't be too bothered by their nosiness and meddling.

In essence, Capriotti Winery was a small town all on its own where there were no secrets and the gossip mill was alive and well.

They're large, loud, and never give you a minute's privacy. Unfortunately that's one thing that Lanie is desperate to have, especially at this juncture in her life. Her two month job there gives her an opportunity to get away and lick her wounds in the aftermath of losing her husband and discovering his shocking betrayal. I really empathized with her as I grew to understand the cause of her anxiety and sadness. She's the kind of person who internalizes everything, so it helped to be able to get inside her head, because she's as stubborn as a mule about letting people in and allowing herself to be vulnerable. Externally she's friendly but distant, not that Cora or the rest of the family are deterred. If they have anything to say about it, she's going to have a permanent place in their business and their lives.

Cora's son Mark is a single father of two adorable twin girls who's nursing some heavy heartache himself. After his wife decided she wasn't cut out to be a mother, she split town and never looked back. He's been picking up the pieces ever since. He works endless hours trying to make a better life for his girls, and his utter devotion for them was apparent in every word and action. He puts them first in his priorities, in fact, not wanting to even consider a serious relationship again until they're all grown.

Lainey starts to grow attached little by little. Mark's girls have burrowed into her heart when she wasn't looking, Cora has watched over her with an eagle eye, even Uncle Jack's bad jokes have her cracking a reluctant smile. Mark...he's a whole other story. Each of them dance around their attraction for a bit. This felt like a nice slow burn between them, because they weren't even sure that exploring their chemistry was worth the risk. Her time there had an expiration date, and neither was even remotely looking for love.

In the beginning stages of their relationship, I wasn't loving their casual arrangement. It messed with her mind badly, making her wonder once again if she was not enough. First by her parents, and then her cheating husband. But I could see that Mark was scared too, and things changed quickly once he understood her better. He just didn't know how to get through to her and help her see that it was okay for her to put her trust in him.

She'd really thought she'd known everything about him and their relationship, and yet he'd betrayed her. So she no longer believed in her own judgement and other people.

My one frustration ended up being in Lainey. While I sympathized and even empathized with everything she had gone through, she was continuously and stubbornly pushing everyone away. Even after Mark changed and made his feelings clear, and tried to be patient with her while she decided if she was going to stay, it was like she never gave the man an inch. She was the same way with River, even after their road trip where I thought she had resolved a lot of her animosity between them, but then afterwards, she completely shut down again. I wish I could have seen her let go of her fears a little earlier, and trust in the people who were showing her that they genuinely cared.

The family was absolutely endearing and it made me a little envious of Lainey as she was welcomed into their fold. River's appearance, and her own path to healing was an interesting addition to the story as it eventually intersected with Lainey's. They both needed to completely let go of the past, because it was holding them back from seeing the promise in their future. Overall, I really enjoyed my time at the winery. You can't go wrong with Jill Shalvis, and this one was no exception. I'd really like to read Holden and River's story as well, they were the absolute sweetest together!

If you're thinking of reading this, jump right in! It's not necessary to read the other full length or novella first.

FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

[Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional Bookviews
*I received a free copy of [title] from [publisher] via Edelweiss. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *Rainy Day Friends was a very emotional read. I cried so hard! But I also laughed and swooned very hard!


Story:
Lanie had really been through hell and back before Rainy Day Friends even started. She felt like nothing in her life was right anymore, which is one of the reasons why she took a temporary job at a winery away from her LA home. As soon as she arrives, she's taken in by a huge, noisy family who run the winery together. And she feels utterly out of place. Even if everyone there tries to help her feel welcome.

Lanie doesn't want her employers to know just what it is she's running away from, and Rainy Day Friends definitely deals with acceptance a lot. Mostly, Lanie needs to accept her life for what it is, and know that the way her late husband acted had nothing to do with her. She still feels like she should have known something was wrong, though, and that is a hard cross to bear.

Then one day, River arrives, pregnant, alone, and broke. Rainy Day Friends is also a story about friendship. And Lanie was really good at those - even when she tried not to put down any roots, she did. And River got under her skin in more than one way. They were both alone in the world. Both had to fight to move forward - and they became rainy day friends in more than one way.

When River's secrets surface, Lanie's only wish is to flee. To get as far away from her new job, her new friends, and her new family as possible. And there is also the simmering chemistry and attraction between Lanie and Mark.
Characters:
Lanie has been broken by life, her late husband, and has no more love or trust to give - or so she thinks.

Mark is a single father to two adorable girls, and he's a rock when it comes to his family - but not so much when it comes to love.

River has been through so much, alone and pregnant, she wants to figure out where everything went wrong.

The rest of the Capriotti family is delightful! I loved them all, and felt like I was with them at the winery.
Writing style :
Rainy Day Friends is very well written. Shalvis managed to convey the characters feelings through the third person point of view, past tense, and the numerous dialogues between them all.
Feels :
Oh my feels! I just felt both sad and hopeful for Lanie. And the simmering romance between her and Mark was well done, because it was slow, and very reluctant. The friendships and strong family ties made everything even better.



She let out a laugh, though it was rusty as hell. It'd been a while since she'd found something funny. Not that this changed her idea of him. He was still too sure of himself, too cocky, and she'd had enough of that to last a lifetime. But she also was good at multitasking and could both not like him and appreciate his sense of humor at the same time. 

She crawled back into her bed and this time fell right asleep, although she maybe had a few crazy dreams involving a tall, dark stranger with a bad 'tude and a really great laugh and incredible hands. She had no idea if the incredible hands part was true, but in her dream it definitely was.

[Lisa B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coffee Dates with Rainy Day Friends

First Date: The story begins with Lanie Jacobs arriving at the family-run Capriotti Winery as she talks herself down from an anxiety attack. Six months ago her husband died and sent her world off kilter when she learned she wasn't the only one mourning him. Apparently, he had several wives. Since she was the first, the life insurance policy allowed her to escape town and the questions by accepting a three-month contract with the winery. It includes boarding and hopefully room for her to breathe again. Right away I liked Lanie and felt for her, first for the asshat of a husband she had, and second, the Capriotti's are loud and peaceful and quiet aren't their strong point. Each chapter is prefaced with a saying or meme about anxiety, and I looked forward to them.
Second Date: The story has several threads, but the primary focus is Lanie and very sexy, Mark Capriotti, an Air Force veteran turned deputy sheriff. He too has been betrayed in a relationship, but while he is protecting his heart, it gifted him the two greatest joys in his life. We also get a low-key secondary romance with another new arrival whose carrying big secrets.  And of course, we get plenty of time to enjoy the Capriotti family shenanigans. All the characters in this series are wonderful from Mark's loud sisters to their Uncle Jack. I loved being a part of it all.
Third Date: Two little girls stole my heart in this story and made me burst out laughing until I had tears rolling down my cheeks. This story tugged at my heartstrings. Both hero and heroine have been hurt and betrayed by a loved one, so the romance is a slow-build with lots of sizzling chemistry and negotiations before they become intimately involved. Attraction gives way to more allowing for character growth, a little drama and plenty of heartwarming moments. Shalvis knocked this one out of the park, allowing me to become entangled in their story from beginning to the end. I ended my final date hugging myself and wishing another book in this series was ready for download.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second book in the Wildstone series, this time we have a heroine who suffers from panic and anxiety. As a person who suffers from the same, I found this incredibly fun to read about. I thought that Jill Shalvis did a really good job of exploring the issue and making light of it in some instances. Overall, I thought she did a good job with it. My only complaint about this is that the anxiety only really occurs when Lanie is alone. When she is with her friends or Mark, we don’t really see it manifest as much. So that was the only big inconsistency that I found in this book.

While marketed as a Women’s Fiction novel, I really do think that this book holds a lot of Romance elements as well. For example, the main hero, Mark, has all the characteristics of a Romantic hero. He even has two adorable daughters that help in making him more desirable. So really, I think if you’re a fan of Romance and Jill Shalvis in general, you definitely won’t have any issue falling in love with this book.

My favorite part of this book has to be the humor and banter. I really felt like Shalvis hit all the right notes. The book was fun and energetic while still having those emotional parts as well. So I’m glad to have picked this book up and I look forward to reading the next one.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

I needed this book. I needed the sweet building of love, intimacy, and friendship. I needed to know that compassion and humanity still existed, even if it's just on paper.

Rainy Day Friends was a heartwarming and affecting book about betrayal of the ultimate trust and learning to not just forgive others but yourself, as well. It is a story about finding companionship, faith, and loyalty when you least expect it. It is a story that focuses on family not always being blood; instead most often times, it is about those who are willing to hold your hand when you most need it.

With each page I turned, I yearned to be a part of the all-encompassing Capriotti's. There was just so much to appreciate about this immense family who collected lost and damaged souls. Who were the epitome of family and what family stood for. Each and every one of endearing, especially the twins and Uncle Jack.

I often felt as though I was sitting at their lunch table, right along with them. I wanted more time with them and was sad when I couldn't click to go further. So much so I immediately went to look and see if they were in the other books of the series. Alas, they are not. I feel like the nosy neighbor who had the curtains drawn on them. LOL

To me, all of this shouts GREAT READ!!!

If you're looking for that light and fluffy feel good read, look no further. Rainy Day Friends will deliver that and much more.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed for Wit and Sin

Rainy Day Friends is one of those books that makes me indescribably happy. It’s romantic, funny, and heartwarming all at once and the characters are sure to capture your heart from the start.

Lanie Jacobs lost her husband…and in losing him found that she was only the first of a number of wives. Anxious and off-kilter, Lanie takes a temporary job at the Capriotti Winery and is immediately embraced by the lively Capriotti family. The Capriottis don’t let Lanie hold herself apart or retreat from the world and their love, acceptance, and pure zaniness help Lanie come out of her shell and find herself again. I absolutely adored Lanie. She’s got a bigger heart than even she knows, and though she’s not perfect she’s a perfectly endearing heroine. She’s also readers’ entry into the wonderful world of the Capriottis, a family unlike any other. The Capriottis are bold and boisterous and oh-so-wonderful. They made the pages of Rainy Day Friends fly by. I loved how they tend to adopt people, welcoming them in from the start and seeing the best in them even when they make mistakes. My favorite Capriotti is, of course, Mark. The handsome single father of utterly adorable twins is a hero who will make you sigh. Mark is sexy and strong, to be sure, but it’s his love for his daughters, the way he puts them first, and the love he has for his crazy family that just pushed him over the edge and into book boyfriend material. Mark has also been burned by love and he doesn’t want to even think about getting seriously involved with someone until his girls are grown. Fate, however, has other plans and it’s easy to see that the attraction between Lanie and Mark is more than mere lust. Their romance is both sweet and sensual and I was rooting for both of them to overcome their fears and risk their hearts on a chance at happily ever after with one another.

Lanie’s life at the Capriotti Winery isn’t all smooth sailing. The arrival of the mysterious River Green leads to complications and the secrets she carries have the power to hurt Lanie. I won’t say more because that would spoil the story, but River was as intriguing to me as Lanie and Mark were. She’s also lost in many ways when she arrives at the Capriottis’ home and her journey was just as engaging as Lanie’s was. River and Lanie’s relationship was every bit as important to the story as the Lanie/Mark romance and I loved that.

Jill Shalvis is a master at mixing humor and heart and Rainy Day Friends showcases her talents perfectly. If you take just the romance or just the friendships in this book, the story is a cut above. But the Capriottis take the book to the next level, making it a vibrant, memorable tale that will warm your heart and leave you smiling.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Amber Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Fellow Readers, have you had the pleasure of reading Jill Shalvis’ books? If you haven’t, I highly recommend you put her on your list! Specially to read Rainy Day Friends. This book had me feeling so many emotions. And yes, there were some tears shed too.

Lanie Jacobs is a newly widowed woman who discovered shocking things about her husband after his death. She’s taken a 2-month job as a graphic designer for the Capriotti Winery in Wildstone, CA. She’s hoping the time away from Santa Barbara will help get her life back in order. She’s got walls up and doesn’t want to allow herself to get too close to the Capriotti family. Not after her trust was broken so deeply by the man she loved. But this family isn’t going to make that easy for her.

Especially Mark Capriotti. The town’s deputy sheriff and formerly in the Air Force. He’s come back to Wildstone to take care of his twin 6-year daughters after his wife left them behind. These twins got to me so much in this story. I adored them. Mark isn’t looking to start any kind of relationship, not after what his ex-wife put him and their girls through. When he meets Lanie, he’s all for a good time but nothing more. Except life has a funny way of changing someone’s best laid plans.

The more time these two spend together, the harder it is to keep real feelings out of it. Lanie’s still trying to keep those walls up and her time at the winery isn’t indefinite. They will have to work through some hard times if they want a lasting future.

But someone comes into their lives at the winery that shakes up things for Lanie in a big way and it could cost her that happiness she has found with Mark and the Capriotti family. Can the love and support of Mark and his family keep her at the winery or will she run back to Santa Barbara?

The Capriotti family stole my heart. Even with the meddling into each other’s lives, you could tell it all came from a place of love. The support they gave each other and to people who came into their lives who weren’t related by blood was so endearing.

This story had it all for me. I laughed, I cried, and I couldn’t get enough of this family. It was a wonderful story that stole my heart. Rainy Day Friends releases June 19, 2018 and I hope you pick this one up! You don’t want to miss it! This is the second book in the Wildstone Series, but is a complete stand-alone.

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review**

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

What a wonderful, entertaining and heartwarming read Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis turned out to be.
From the first few pages I was hooked, the storyline was beautifully written, it was well paced and all the characters added to my overall enjoyment.

Lanie and Mark are likable, endearing characters that touched my heart with their story and I truly fell in love with them.
Watching them come together had me smiling, laughing, swooning and even made me shed a tear or two. These two had been through so much hurt and pain that finding love, comfort and understanding in each others arms was something that takes them by surprise, but how can you turn your back when you find that special person who just gets you and accepts all your baggage?
They were perfect together.



Rainy Day Friends is such a wonderful read, I loved every word and I couldn't get enough of this crazy, meddling, lovable Capriotti family.

Jill Shalvis has once again given her readers a well written, entertaining and romantic read that I highly recommend.

*Buy Links*
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2BovOZU
BN: http://bit.ly/2BZL1hH
iBooks: https://apple.co/2AsDNpk
Other: http://jillshalvis.com/books/rainy-da...
Paperback: http://jillshalvis.com/books/rainy-da...
Series Buy Link: http://jillshalvis.com/series/wildsto...

*An advance copy was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts.*

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm almost certain that I've dnf'd this one before. I got to the point where River shows up and the author goes into her viewpoint (which I kind of hate because we don't even get Mark's PoV so far) and she's playing silly-buggers with her internal thoughts so that they don't reveal the obvious—that River is an entitled jerk and another who thought she was married to Lanie's womanizing ex. Only she's pregnant, so the narrative is all compassionate and understanding (in the form of the matriarch of the clan who gives her a job and welcomes her in). Ugh. The author obviously has a soft spot for this hard-luck story but I was barely there for Lanie. Adding this entitled, whiny girl was the final break I needed to close this one. Again. Past me is a jerk for not reviewing this the first time so I wouldn't be in the position of wasting more time on it, now...

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Wildstone series by Jill Shalvis. Lanie Jacobs' husband dies and she discovers she is not his only wife. But she was his first. She takes a job as a graphic designer at Capriotti Winery. There she meets Mark Capriotti, deputy sheriff and a single dad and son to Cora, her temporary boss. Lanie is gun shy. After she learns her husband was an adulterer she feels she can't trust her instincts. Then young River Brown shows up, pregnant and alone, and with a secret. Lanie and River bond but the truth could destroy it.

I don't think Ms. Shalvis can write a bad book in my opinion. She always gives us great heroes and sometimes there is baggage but they manage to overcome.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously Rainy Day Friends was like book crack to me. Once I started reading this story, I didn't want to put the book down. This book made me laugh out loud in public while reading, gave me happy signs and even a few tears.

Lanie Jacobs needs a break from her life in after discovering her husband not only married her, but several other women. I loved how Lanie was a bit of a fish out of water around the Capriotti clan in the beginning. As she never had a close knit family, suddenly being drawn into a boisterous and all up in your business family really was a shock to her. I loved the Capriottis accepted Lanie into their family pretty much from the moment she walked on their property. I honestly think if this had just been a story about Lanie finding a family with the Capriottis, it would have been great. However Ms. Shalvis took it so much further.

I loved seeing Lanie and Mark both find their way back to love. As they both had been burned pretty badly in the love department in the past, I loved watching them navigate their way through their relationship. I have to say I also adored Mark’s twin girls. I really think it can sometimes be a distraction to have kids in a romance, but felt the balance and humor with the girls was absolutely perfect in Rainy Day Friends. I think I fell in love with those two precocious little girls every bit as much as I fell in love with Lanie and Mark as a couple.

I figured out immediately that River has something to do with Lanie’s husband. Her story along with everything Lanie had discovered pretty much broke my heart for them both in the very beginning. However as the story progressed and Lanie and River spent more time together, I started to feel like they had become sisters of the heart. While I hated what they each had to go through to get to this point in their lives, I loved seeing them make such a strong and lasting connection to each other, as neither had a family like the Capriottis. I felt like they each finally had found a home among the Capriottis and finally had a sister in each other.

I’ve always adored books from Jill Shalvis, but have to say there is something about Rainy Day Friends that makes it one of my favorite books ever from Ms. Shalvis. It gave me all the emotional feels and I honestly didn’t want to put it down. I loved the story so much, I’ve already listened to the audiobook just so I could read it again, and it was like having the story brought to life all over again. I highly recommend Rainy Day Friends to everyone who loves and emotion filled romance with lots of humor. I really hope we get to spend more time with all these characters on our next visit to Wildstone.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)
Review copy provided by publisher

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2yVDZNx

Rainy Day Friends was a good read. Great family, awesome characters, a tug at your heart storyline. A good time, indeed.

The Gist: Lanie's a new widow and just found out that her dear husband...had been collecting other wives the whole time they were married. Yeah. Her method of dealing? Running away and accepting a graphic design job at a winery while she sorts shit out. The huge nosy meddling family and the hunky cop with two little girls...she was not expecting them. Nope.

The Good:

Lanie and Mark were great.

Lanie pulled at my heart. She's prickly and stubborn. Struggling with not feeling good enough or loveable enough. So dang sweet and generous and sacrifices so much of herself for others.
And Mark. A single daddy trying to do his best for his twin daughters after their mom abandoned them. He's a solid man with a good heart, patience of a saint and the spirit of a protector.
His girls were something! Full of wild energy, shyness, heart. I loved seeing both Lanie and Mark with the girls and them healing from their mom's abandonment. They totally grabbed a girl's heart.

The Romance was slow and rocky since both were rather anti-relationships because seriously their first go 'rounds were...unfortunate. I loved seeing them soften a little and slowly letting each other in even if reluctantly. Some nice heat, chemistry and sweetness added to the mix.

And, yall. Mark's family (they own the winery). They are something special. They'd drive you insane but you'd love them for it. They're loud, rowdy, in your face and completely loving and generous. It was a nice backdrop as Lanie and Mark both confronted their hangups and Lanie's cheating husband's adventures came back to haunt her.

The Eh:

All the memes. There was so much meme-ing it bordered on ridiculous. I would have liked to see some more originality instead of meme-dropping to bring in humor. Sometimes 2-3 used on a single page. Way too much reliance on them.

I've enjoyed the series so far but there's just something not quite hitting the spot for me with them. I'm not totally sure what it is either just something a tiny bit off.

All in all, Rainy Day Friends was a lovely family adventure. Loud, vibrant, heartwarming. Time was well spent with Lanie and Mark as they fought for a happily ever after they never saw coming.

[Chris Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are such real people. Folks I want to know and spend time with.

[MountainKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! The setting was amazing, the characters were awesome and the story was touching! Talk about two MCs with lots of baggage - Mark and Lanie both had solid reasons not to get involved. But they did and it was wonderful. I loved that the story was so much more than a romance, though that part was great, there were other relationships. Lanie and River were brought together in an unusual way, but I was touched by how their relationship developed. And I was thrilled to hear that River and Holden get their story told in the future!

I listened to the audio and Karen White made the experience a delight.

[Ana Vizentim · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Capriotti's Stars

Another beautiful story about love, hope and forgiveness....
I loved it!!!!