Piper Manning has put her life on hold to raise her brother and sister after the loss of their parents. She has one last thing to do until she can reclaim her life and realise her dreams. She needs to renovate the Lake House she inherited from her grandparents, and then sell it... after that she can study for her college degree to qualify as a physician's assistant. At her birthday party, Piper meets the charismatic and brooding Camden Reid. As they bond, a huge storm hits the town of Wildstone, and the pair are forced to spend time together. But then Piper’s siblings, Winnie and Gavin, come scuttling home with problems of their own...

Almost Just Friends was a delightful tale that not only focuses on romance but encompasses the families surrounding the main characters and all of their particular dilemmas and cans of worms. Piper and her siblings only had each other in life and while their lives weren’t picture-book perfect, they showed that with their family unity and strength, they could overcome any obstacles. The intimacy and affection between Piper and Cam took a while to develop but it was definitely worth waiting for. A great, very highly recommended story, overall.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Headline Eternal via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

Another great addition to this series by Jill Shalvis. I enjoyed the characters and storyline and would recommend this book. Can’t wait for the next one.

Got this as an ARC from netgalley, realised this was wild stone 3 and I hadn’t read wild stone 2 - so read that first. But then found that it was about a completely different set of people and that order doesn’t matter. Enjoyed everything about the mixed up families in the story and how they sort things and and have their happy endings. Another lovely book by Jill Shalvis.

I received an ARC through NetGalley, provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Wildstone with the touching story of finding your place in the world—and the people who make it home.

Piper Manning’s about as tough as they come, she’s had to be. She raised her siblings and they’ve thankfully flown the coop. All she has to do is finish fixing up the lake house her grandparents left her, sell it, and then she’s free.

When a massive storm hits, she runs into a tall, dark and brooding stranger, Camden Reid. There’s a spark there, one that shocks her. Surprising her further, her sister and brother return, each of them holding their own secrets. The smart move would be for Piper to ignore them all but Cam unleashes emotions deep inside of her that she can’t deny, making her yearn for something she doesn’t understand. And her siblings…well, they need each other.

Only when the secrets come out, it changes everything Piper thinks she knows about her family, herself…and Cam. Can she find a way to outrun the demons? The answer is closer than she thinks—just as the new life she craves may have already begun.

Review:
Jill Salvis is an expert in her genre. She knows how to write the absolute best stories that make you want to curl up in your favorite nook and just read for hours. This book has raw emotion and contemporary love and life. I loved everything about this one. I read it in a single night and didn't regret a second of being completely tired the next morning. The characters are just like everyone else and the story could have been a retelling of an actual couple by a best friend. Very heartwarming and sweet read.

Another enjoyable read from one of my favourite authors.

Piper is the oldest of three and turns 30 at the very beginning of the book, with Grant three years younger, and Winnie the youngest. Their parents died in the Congo when they were young (the children had just been sent home) and they went to live with their grandparents, who died when Piper was 18, so she became the sort of parent for both her younger siblings. Because of this she's always had a different relationship than just siblings do as she was the one trying to keep everyone on the right track, and the journal she constantly writes in is like her right arm, she never goes anywhere without it, so she's fairly buttoned up.

But then along comes Cam, son of her next door neighbour, and things start to change - along with the fact that both her brother and sister decide to come back home, just as Piper thought they'd moved on and she could finally sell the house and move on with her life plans. But of course that is all thrown into disarray as both Grant and Winnie have secrets to share - eventually!

I just love the way Jill Shalvis writes, her characters are always so fabulous and funny, and of course snarky which I love! There's a fair bit of emotion in this book, and I did feel really sorry for Piper quite a bit, her siblings really haven't treated her as well as they could have, not trusting her with certain information, and I did find it really annoying in parts because of this, but they do start to try and make up for it, finally trying to become equals instead of treating Piper as the mother figure.

I am a big Jill Shalvis fan and love all her books, most are 5-star reads for me, but for some reason this just didn't quite hit that mark for me, but still a 4-star read and really enjoyable. I can't wait for her next one now due for release in June.

4 - "We're family..." Stars!

Almost Just Friends takes up back to Wildstonefor another story set around a dysfunctional family, trying to make the best of everything. Well it’s actually two families; the Mannings and the Hayes. But as the book progresses you come to see that they may not be blood related but through all of the secrets and omissions of the truth they are tied together in more ways than each individual initially thinks. Each character is part of a sum, that adds up to the whole.

She wanted to be wanted… She wanted to feel something. She wanted passion and hunger and desire, but more that any of that, she wanted someone to feel those things for her…

The story mainly plays out through three POV’s, Piper, Cam and Gavin. Piper and Gavin are siblings, Piper being the eldest and primary care giver as they were growing up, with younget sister Winne completing the trio. Cam and his father live next door to the family, and as I said he and his father as well as the Manning siblings are connected in more ways than one as the story progresses, although the bulk of the book focusses on Piper and Cam’s blossoming relationship, something that has more than a few hurdles to overcome and not just from their own hangups but of those around them as well.

"You’ve got so much love to give… It’s hard to see you closed off."

Gavin brings up the rear with his POV, returning home has it’s own sets of challenges for the middle sibling, mainly owning up to his own mistakes, and trying to rebuild bridges between him and the one man he has ever truly felt anything for.

"You’re quite the distraction…"

Despite the heavier tropes in play, this book wasn’t a struggle to read, although I will say that lack of communication between the adults and the omission of truth in relation to certain subject are things that generally start to get on my nerves normally. However, the author interjected a lot of her usual humour and banter in the story that held back the usual frustration I start to feel.

You also get two for the price of one in regards to romantic entanglements as well, although I have to ask the question that if you are going to start giving same sex relationships in your books more focus, should you also give the bedroom side of things as much page time as you do with your heterosexual couples? Because that was not the case in this one, and the closed-door aspect for one, and the full disclosure for the other stuck out like a sore thumb for me. Not in a bad way, but it was still something that made me pause for a minute or two, because if you are giving it all the bells and whistles for one couple, shouldn’t the other be afforded the same courtesy?

"Anywhere. Anytime. For the rest of my life. I’m all yours."

I look forward to reading more from the author in 2020!

A day off work... with miserable weather... why yes thank you I will enjoy the new Jill Shalvis book!

This was the story of three siblings (but mostly older sis) and their relationships with each other... of course there is a handsome, love interest for older sis but that doesn't run smoothly or you know distract her from the disaster that is her family when he is so intertwined with their stories (not that she knows that of course!)

Piper is a somewhat flaky but totally likeable thirty year old woman. She is totally responsible when it comes to helping take care of other people but her own life? She is the Lists Queen. Lists that she never seems to get around to very much. And of course like any red blooded woman she has her secret, secret naughty list too. All listed in her carry everywhere Journal. Because of all the early responsibility placed on her shoulders she's used to having to be in charge all the time. Her siblings call her The Fixer. But she's had to be and isn't sure how to be anything else or even have time for herself and what she wants. When is her life ever really going to start? Her dreams, her hopes, her plans have been on hold for so long. But like Cam observes she loves fiercely.
It's funny in the beginning how Cam was only referred to as "Hot Guy" for quite a while. That made me smile. And it wasn't the only times that this story did that..made me smile.
Piper finally lets Cam in as her temporary fling, she "thinks" that just might be safe. Even though it take her a while to even let him in that far.
Both of the main characters were written with really good depth. And not just them but also the supporting people as well. That would be Winnie, Gavin, (Piper's sister and brother) and Emmett (Cam's dad).
This story is definitely filled with emotions, loyalty, love, romances and surprises that pop up at unexpected times. One of the romances I wasn't as comfortable with. But it was written with solid emotions and it was done tastefully.
There was also the unexpected short Reading Group Guide questions at the end of the book.
Overall a well written book with a good Epilogue too. Which means I remain a fan of the books by Jill Shalvis.

"I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

The story of Piper. She thinks she is finally free to live her own life, after bringing up her brother and sister. Little does she know that they will soon both be back living at home.
New next door neighbour Camden is a distraction, but he is keeping secrets from her, so will he end up breaking her heart?

A great read.

Love the authors style of writing. This was a lovely book to read. It was well written and flowed well. Nice characters and a lovely feel good story. Thoroughly enjoyable

I have enjoyed a number of other books by Jill Shalvis, so I thought I’d give this one a whirl.

It is more emotional than the other Jill Shalvis books I’ve read, and hence is slightly less my cup of tea. There’s still all my favourite things, the romance, the beautiful places, people taking care of each other and so on, but all the characters have been through such a lot that I found it a bit too heavy going, emotionally. However, I did love the way they all came together to make a family, and worked through the issues that they’d been left with. And there are two romances, a bonus. If you don’t mind a few tears, then this is an excellent book.

I was given a free copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.