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Sycamore Springs #1
The Trouble with Friends
What do you do when the love of your life hasn’t got a clue?
Gillian Shaw
Nearly thirty, over-endowed with curves, and under-endowed with boyfriends, you could say that my life is not going to plan. Still hopelessly in love with my childhood friend and neighbor who only sees me as his best pal, it’s finally sinking in that if I want a happily ever after I’m going to have to look further afield. Which means putting my feelings for Jack behind me, no matter how much it hurts.
Jack Larson
I love Gill. Who wouldn’t? Cute, kind, funny and my side-kick since school, Gill’s suffered with me through a failed marriage and become a second mom to my six-year-old daughter. I like to make sure she’s okay but life’s just started to get crazy, changing way too fast and Gill won’t listen.
I’m worried I’ll lose her friendship if I tell her what I know about the guy she’s dating, and worried she’ll get hurt if I don’t. Then there’s this other thing—what if I’m simply jealous?
5* "Couldn't put the book down." by Amazon Customer
Sycamore Springs Series
Book 1 - The Trouble With Friends
Book 2 - The Trouble With Exes
Book 3 - The Trouble With Love
Gillian Shaw
Nearly thirty, over-endowed with curves, and under-endowed with boyfriends, you could say that my life is not going to plan. Still hopelessly in love with my childhood friend and neighbor who only sees me as his best pal, it’s finally sinking in that if I want a happily ever after I’m going to have to look further afield. Which means putting my feelings for Jack behind me, no matter how much it hurts.
Jack Larson
I love Gill. Who wouldn’t? Cute, kind, funny and my side-kick since school, Gill’s suffered with me through a failed marriage and become a second mom to my six-year-old daughter. I like to make sure she’s okay but life’s just started to get crazy, changing way too fast and Gill won’t listen.
I’m worried I’ll lose her friendship if I tell her what I know about the guy she’s dating, and worried she’ll get hurt if I don’t. Then there’s this other thing—what if I’m simply jealous?
5* "Couldn't put the book down." by Amazon Customer
Sycamore Springs Series
Book 1 - The Trouble With Friends
Book 2 - The Trouble With Exes
Book 3 - The Trouble With Love
214 pages, ebook
187 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Phipps
45 books238 followersAuthor Bio:
USA Today Best selling author, Cheryl Phipps is a New Zealand author of contemporary romance and women's fiction.
Married for forty plus years (a teenage bride, no less) to her own 'the one', with 3 married children and a handful (or two) of grandchildren, Cheryl loves weaving sensual stories that celebrate love, family and resilience. You’ll discover good friends, a sprinkle of humor, and a heart-racing, happy ending in each book.
The Billionaire Knights, Family Ties, Dreamers Bay, High Seas Weddings and Sycamore Springs series can be found at www.cherylphipps.com.
Subscribe to her newsletter to keep updated with new releases and great deals -
https://www.subscribepage.com/k4w8p1.
Cheryl also writes Cozy Mystery as C. A. Phipps.
www.caphipps.com.
USA Today Best selling author, Cheryl Phipps is a New Zealand author of contemporary romance and women's fiction.
Married for forty plus years (a teenage bride, no less) to her own 'the one', with 3 married children and a handful (or two) of grandchildren, Cheryl loves weaving sensual stories that celebrate love, family and resilience. You’ll discover good friends, a sprinkle of humor, and a heart-racing, happy ending in each book.
The Billionaire Knights, Family Ties, Dreamers Bay, High Seas Weddings and Sycamore Springs series can be found at www.cherylphipps.com.
Subscribe to her newsletter to keep updated with new releases and great deals -
https://www.subscribepage.com/k4w8p1.
Cheryl also writes Cozy Mystery as C. A. Phipps.
www.caphipps.com.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 13, 2017
Jack and Gill live side by side at the bottom of the hill. Best friends forever, but one has always wanted more. A contemporary story that is well written in the first person with alternating points of view between Jack and Gill. Ms. Phipps gives a you a fun, fast and easy to read HEA.
Gill has always lived in her parent’s home next door to Jack. They went to school together, although Jack was a grade ahead and since the first grade Gill has secretly loved Jack. She is a successful business owner of her own landscaping firm now, but during high school and college she never felt she fit in. At 28, she doesn’t see Jack ever loving her as more than a friend, so she starts seriously dating Adam.
Jack looks out for Gill, like a little sister. Life and relationships are easy for him as the star high school quarterback and later a career as a successful developer in Sycamore Springs. He moved back home after a short, bad marriage and now lives for his little girl, Katie. Together Jack and Gill provide Katie with a loving home environment and Jack doesn’t want that to change, but Gill has announced her engagement to Adam and Jack needs to decide what he really feels about his best friend.
I finished this story in one sitting. I felt Gill’s frustration and pain at hiding her feelings for so long. There were times I wanted to slap Jack upside his clueless head. The characters felt very real to me and the story flowed from their points of view. Just one warning, if you are a traditional romance reader and don’t want your H/h having sex with someone else in the story, this is not the book for you.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.
Gill has always lived in her parent’s home next door to Jack. They went to school together, although Jack was a grade ahead and since the first grade Gill has secretly loved Jack. She is a successful business owner of her own landscaping firm now, but during high school and college she never felt she fit in. At 28, she doesn’t see Jack ever loving her as more than a friend, so she starts seriously dating Adam.
Jack looks out for Gill, like a little sister. Life and relationships are easy for him as the star high school quarterback and later a career as a successful developer in Sycamore Springs. He moved back home after a short, bad marriage and now lives for his little girl, Katie. Together Jack and Gill provide Katie with a loving home environment and Jack doesn’t want that to change, but Gill has announced her engagement to Adam and Jack needs to decide what he really feels about his best friend.
I finished this story in one sitting. I felt Gill’s frustration and pain at hiding her feelings for so long. There were times I wanted to slap Jack upside his clueless head. The characters felt very real to me and the story flowed from their points of view. Just one warning, if you are a traditional romance reader and don’t want your H/h having sex with someone else in the story, this is not the book for you.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.
May 3, 2016
Jack and Gill live side by side at the bottom of the hill. Best friends forever, but one has always wanted more. A contemporary story that is well written in the first person with alternating points of view between Jack and Gill. Ms. Phipps gives a you a fun, fast and easy to read HEA.
Gill has always lived in her parent’s home next door to Jack. They went to school together, although Jack was a grade ahead and since the first grade Gill has secretly loved Jack. She is a successful business owner of her own landscaping firm now, but during high school and college she never felt she fit in. At 28, she doesn’t see Jack ever loving her as more than a friend, so she starts seriously dating Adam.
Jack looks out for Gill, like a little sister. Life and relationships are easy for him as the star high school quarterback and later a career as a successful developer in Sycamore Springs. He moved back home after a short, bad marriage and now lives for his little girl, Katie. Together Jack and Gill provide Katie with a loving home environment and Jack doesn’t want that to change, but Gill has announced her engagement to Adam and Jack needs to decide what he really feels about his best friend.
I finished this story in one sitting. I felt Gill’s frustration and pain at hiding her feelings for so long. There were times I wanted to slap Jack upside his clueless head. The characters felt very real to me and the story flowed from their points of view. Just one warning, if you are a traditional romance reader and don’t want your H/h having sex with someone else in the story, this is not the book for you.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.
Gill has always lived in her parent’s home next door to Jack. They went to school together, although Jack was a grade ahead and since the first grade Gill has secretly loved Jack. She is a successful business owner of her own landscaping firm now, but during high school and college she never felt she fit in. At 28, she doesn’t see Jack ever loving her as more than a friend, so she starts seriously dating Adam.
Jack looks out for Gill, like a little sister. Life and relationships are easy for him as the star high school quarterback and later a career as a successful developer in Sycamore Springs. He moved back home after a short, bad marriage and now lives for his little girl, Katie. Together Jack and Gill provide Katie with a loving home environment and Jack doesn’t want that to change, but Gill has announced her engagement to Adam and Jack needs to decide what he really feels about his best friend.
I finished this story in one sitting. I felt Gill’s frustration and pain at hiding her feelings for so long. There were times I wanted to slap Jack upside his clueless head. The characters felt very real to me and the story flowed from their points of view. Just one warning, if you are a traditional romance reader and don’t want your H/h having sex with someone else in the story, this is not the book for you.
Written for and posted first on The Romance Reviews.com.
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April 23, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/23/2020)! 🎁
January 22, 2023
I can’t sleep so I decided to finish this book….wow.
December 4, 2016
I'm not sure what to think about this book. It was tagged as romantic comedy, but I just didn't see the humor. I didn't like the Gill's relationship with Adam. I felt the author took their relationship too far, Gill just sat back and let him make all the decisions in the relationship, whether she liked/agreed with them or not. Adam did not know Gill well at all, he was clueless what she liked or wanted for her wedding, she just sat back & let him plan it the way he thought she should want it.
I did like Jack and Gill's relationship as friends. I would have liked to seen more romance between Jack & Gill. I felt the ending was rushed and unrealistic.
For those of you that like a best friend romance with a HEA, it is that. If I wasn't reading this for a review for receiving an ARC, I would never have finished it.
I was given an ARC for honest review.
I did like Jack and Gill's relationship as friends. I would have liked to seen more romance between Jack & Gill. I felt the ending was rushed and unrealistic.
For those of you that like a best friend romance with a HEA, it is that. If I wasn't reading this for a review for receiving an ARC, I would never have finished it.
I was given an ARC for honest review.
May 3, 2020
Jack and Gill have been best friends for years and live next door to each other (in the homes they grew up in). Gill loves Jack as more than a brother but the question is, does he love her that way too? And ... if they cross the line and become romantically involved, will their friendship last? There were a few twists along the way, some fun ... some not. While I didn't agree with some of the choices the author made, I would be willing to read more of her books.
January 3, 2021
Quick well paced read. I really like the characters of Gillian and Katie. Jack is okay, but seems to switch his views pretty quickly. And Adam just had a hero complex and makes himself out to being a jerk. Though I can see some wisdom in his actions. I didn’t like that the wedding still happened on the same day. Not sure anyone would really do that. I will look into other books in this series and by Cheryl though.
July 24, 2021
A really easy read which I enjoyed until about halfway through. Then the plots just got too far-fetched and the ending was just beyond anything I, as a reader, could even vaguely swallow. A book some people will love, but not for me.
December 12, 2016
Gill is a Woman who has been in love with her best guy friend Jack forever, they have grown up together and done so much together. Gill hopes that one day Jack will see her as more than the girl he grew up with but with comments made from him about being friends and always will be just that, she decides to date a former guy from High School thinking it will get Jack off her mind once and for all. Jack loves his best friend but only in a friendship way, yet when she starts to date Adam things start to change within him about his feelings for her.
What I enjoyed most about Jack and Gill is watching a woman that would literally do anything for the man she loves and she does pretty often, how strong she is to hold back her feelings from him for so many years but figuring it is about time that she does something in her life for her and not be so available to him. Jack seeing that he doesnt like her spending all this time with Adam and finally realizing some deep hidden secrets for Gill that he never knew were there.
This book was great, some laugh out loud moments were def really good ones. This book has Gill a single woman that really hasnt had any boyfriends but has been in love with Jack forever, Jack a man with a daughter and an Ex-Wife that is a royal pain and he wonders why he ever went for a woman like her when he should have went for someone like Gill sweet, loving, caring, Adam a guy who has been in love with Gill for years and finally going after his chance at his one true love, a love story. If you like stories like this, then Jack and Gill is a must!!
What I enjoyed most about Jack and Gill is watching a woman that would literally do anything for the man she loves and she does pretty often, how strong she is to hold back her feelings from him for so many years but figuring it is about time that she does something in her life for her and not be so available to him. Jack seeing that he doesnt like her spending all this time with Adam and finally realizing some deep hidden secrets for Gill that he never knew were there.
This book was great, some laugh out loud moments were def really good ones. This book has Gill a single woman that really hasnt had any boyfriends but has been in love with Jack forever, Jack a man with a daughter and an Ex-Wife that is a royal pain and he wonders why he ever went for a woman like her when he should have went for someone like Gill sweet, loving, caring, Adam a guy who has been in love with Gill for years and finally going after his chance at his one true love, a love story. If you like stories like this, then Jack and Gill is a must!!
May 5, 2020
Time I won't get back
Stupid book. Stupid plot, moronic cow of a heroine. Not her fault, I reckon. Clearly this is another of 'those' writers who think it's cute or funny to disrespect her gender by humiliating her heroine - in front of the hero! - and making her come off as a doormat with the intelligence of a potato most of the time.
It's not funny or endearing. It's certainly not romantic.
And hire a g*ddamned editor for f*ck's sake! The amount mistakes was atrocious.
Skimmed thru the last 40% or so. The story just gets stupider. Won't waste my time on this writer again.
Stupid book. Stupid plot, moronic cow of a heroine. Not her fault, I reckon. Clearly this is another of 'those' writers who think it's cute or funny to disrespect her gender by humiliating her heroine - in front of the hero! - and making her come off as a doormat with the intelligence of a potato most of the time.
It's not funny or endearing. It's certainly not romantic.
And hire a g*ddamned editor for f*ck's sake! The amount mistakes was atrocious.
Skimmed thru the last 40% or so. The story just gets stupider. Won't waste my time on this writer again.
January 4, 2021
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the novel The Trouble With Friends: Sycamore Springs book 1: Gillian and Jack by Cheryl Phipps and this review was given freely.
An easy flowing love finally realized romance with a few twists and turns, realistic characters and both work place and family drama. Thirty year old landscaper Gillian resigns herself to a friends only relationship with her childhood best friend, next door neighbor, land developer and single dad Jack only to have things change when high school rivals get involved.
I purchased a copy of the novel The Trouble With Friends: Sycamore Springs book 1: Gillian and Jack by Cheryl Phipps and this review was given freely.
An easy flowing love finally realized romance with a few twists and turns, realistic characters and both work place and family drama. Thirty year old landscaper Gillian resigns herself to a friends only relationship with her childhood best friend, next door neighbor, land developer and single dad Jack only to have things change when high school rivals get involved.
January 11, 2021
2 stars because I finished it.
This story was very off putting. First, the language and euphemisms. The story takes place in California, the main characters grew up in California, and yet they use words and phrases completely outside of normal America’s speech. Very off putting. Now to the story. This was less a romance, more a train wreck. In love with your best friend, so date and get engaged to a guy you don’t love. Most of the story is around the 2 people who are most definitely not in love. I will not be reading more by this author.
This story was very off putting. First, the language and euphemisms. The story takes place in California, the main characters grew up in California, and yet they use words and phrases completely outside of normal America’s speech. Very off putting. Now to the story. This was less a romance, more a train wreck. In love with your best friend, so date and get engaged to a guy you don’t love. Most of the story is around the 2 people who are most definitely not in love. I will not be reading more by this author.
August 17, 2022
Gillian Shaw is a 28-yr old successful business owner of her own landscaping firm. Jack Larson is a successful developer in Sycamore Springs who has a little girl Katie who he lovingly adores. Gil and Jack went to high school and Jack was the star quarterback who saw Gil as his little sister. Gil has always had feelings for Jack since high school. But now that Gil is engaged to Adam and Jack finally realizes he has strong feelings for Gil. I really enjoyed reading this friends to lovers romance novel.
November 27, 2020
It was great to catch up with Jack and Gill and Adam and Eve again and to meet some new Sycamore friends Sam and Lila. There are some really gritty moments with the hair salon and Sonya and some really sad moments with Lila’s Mom. I didn’t want to put this book down I just needed to know what was going to happen next. The real life happenings make this story enjoyable to read and easy to relate to.
April 28, 2022
Mixed feelings
If this wasn't so much like my friend and her husbands story, I would have thought it was silly. I liked Gill, I liked Adam even, I didn't feel anything for Jack. Jack seemed to be a little selfish when it came to Gill. It was like what was good for Jack wasn't good for Gill. I hope poor Adam has a better story in the next book. He seemed like a really nice guy.
If this wasn't so much like my friend and her husbands story, I would have thought it was silly. I liked Gill, I liked Adam even, I didn't feel anything for Jack. Jack seemed to be a little selfish when it came to Gill. It was like what was good for Jack wasn't good for Gill. I hope poor Adam has a better story in the next book. He seemed like a really nice guy.
April 29, 2020
Sad in places but al great read
This book was a fabulous read as the storyline is great & well written. Jack & Jill pulls you into the story as they are such good friends & struggle with their relationship. It's very true life as you could see this happening to you. It shows something is in front of you & it is so easy to miss.
This book was a fabulous read as the storyline is great & well written. Jack & Jill pulls you into the story as they are such good friends & struggle with their relationship. It's very true life as you could see this happening to you. It shows something is in front of you & it is so easy to miss.
June 12, 2023
DNF at 50%.
My first problem with this book, when you are doing chapters from two persons point of view it’s good to alternate back at forth atleast every two chapters if not every chapter. In this book 26 chapters are from the point of view of Gill and 7 from Jack.
Overall felt the book was just boring.
My first problem with this book, when you are doing chapters from two persons point of view it’s good to alternate back at forth atleast every two chapters if not every chapter. In this book 26 chapters are from the point of view of Gill and 7 from Jack.
Overall felt the book was just boring.
December 12, 2016
Loved Jack and Gill's chemistry, and couldn't wait until they realized what they should be doing! I didn't want to see Gill with anyone else. I wanted Jack to wise up! A fun and fairly quick read that will keep you interested throughout.
December 19, 2016
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book...
This was a sweet and funny read. Fairly fast paced and easy to read. The characters were easily relatable and developed. I loved the plot of the story.
This was a sweet and funny read. Fairly fast paced and easy to read. The characters were easily relatable and developed. I loved the plot of the story.
June 3, 2020
Jack & gill
A good read for people who are in to the series recommend highly can't wait for the next one of the series a really enjoyable read but quick shaping up to be a enjoyable series must read the next one of the series
A good read for people who are in to the series recommend highly can't wait for the next one of the series a really enjoyable read but quick shaping up to be a enjoyable series must read the next one of the series
April 19, 2021
Yeah friends
I'm not sure how I feel about this story, I've never had a childhood friend stick around after high school. But it was very well written and drew me in, I love how they took care of each other through thick and thin.
I'm not sure how I feel about this story, I've never had a childhood friend stick around after high school. But it was very well written and drew me in, I love how they took care of each other through thick and thin.
July 27, 2021
Sweet And Spicy
Not only did I love that the characters were naked Jack and Gill (and both had great senses of humor to match) but I’m a sucker for sweet romances, and this one had a lot of heart (and sass!).
Not only did I love that the characters were naked Jack and Gill (and both had great senses of humor to match) but I’m a sucker for sweet romances, and this one had a lot of heart (and sass!).
November 14, 2021
This was a no for me. I didn’t like that the hero and heroine didn’t get together until the end of the book. I was forced to watch the heroine date another guy and get engaged to him. I won’t spoil the ending, but it was anticlimactic.
October 21, 2018
A cute story about best friends who have hidden their feelings for each other and the events that force them to admit their true feelings.
April 25, 2020
No morality
Explicit scenes and no real morality with several needy and unlikable characters with awkward plotting and story line. Glad it was free
Explicit scenes and no real morality with several needy and unlikable characters with awkward plotting and story line. Glad it was free
April 29, 2020
Nice romance with a hot ending. Story of two long-time friends and a daughter who tends to bring them together. Interesting examination of how you break out of friendship to love. Good read.
September 1, 2020
Decent story, but the play on "Jack and Jill" just...didn't work for me.
February 19, 2021
Adult themes
April 23, 2021
I will not say bad things.
I will not say bad things.
I will not say bad things.
...
I will not say bad things.
I will not say bad things.
...
May 14, 2021
A good read
I liked he characters and the story. But, I kept waiting and waiting for Jack to realize that he didn’t just love his BFF but that he was actually IN LOVE w her too.
I liked he characters and the story. But, I kept waiting and waiting for Jack to realize that he didn’t just love his BFF but that he was actually IN LOVE w her too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews