Rainy Day Friends by Jill Shalvis is book 2 in the Wildstone series. This installment features a completely new set of Characters. The only thing this book has in common with the previous books are the town in which the stories are set.
Can you imagine discovering you were not the only woman married to the man you considered your husband? Well, this happened to Lanie Jacobs. Six months after his death she discovered there were several other women who believed they were his legal wife. Poor Lanie, no wonder she left Santa Barbara to take up a temporary position with Capriotti Winery. This helped to make her question her ability to trust again.
What Lanie did not know was that her decision to go to Wild stone would set her on a path that led to healing and finding love.
Rainy Day Friends is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. Its features a rich and strong cast of characters. The main characters were relatable and easy to like. They each had their demons dealing with and it took a toll on their emotional wellbeing. They had a lot in common especially River and Lanie. I loved the chemistry between Lanie and Mark. It’s difficult to find anything I did not like about these two. I especially loved how Lanie bonded with Mark’s twin daughters.
The Capriotti family were a riot. They were a caring group, and I admired how they quickly embraced River and Lanie in their fold. Their banter and the way they treated each other was a true reflection of what a family ought to be.
The story had the perfect blend of humor and emotions. The romance developing between Mark and Lanie was not the type that occurred in the blinking of an eye. Instead, it was the type, which experienced obstacles in the form of fear and mistrust. I loved how it developed slowly from a single flame to a blazing inferno.
Aside from the main romance, there was a secondary subtle one, which I found sweet and endearing. This too had its own share of issues.
My heart bled for Lanie. Her pain, shame and insecurities were real and I could not help but to emphatize with her. My happiness increased when Lanie realised her worth and that the actions of her ex was not a mark against her. In doing so, she ably let go of the hurt and resentment giving her the chance to embrace the love and friendship bestowed on her.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Fans of Jill Shalvis will enjoy this heartwarming story of love, friendship, family and healing.
About Jill Shalvis
- Phantasma by Kaylie Smith - April 14, 2025
- Her Last Cry: Pamela Fagan Hutchins - April 7, 2025
- Hitting It: Kathy Lyons - April 4, 2025
I have this one! And I haven’t had a chance to read one of her books in too long.
Great review!
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
I can’t wait for my turn to read this one. I won a copy and hope to read it and the first book when I get back from my trip. Loved what you had to say about Lanie and Mark and his family.
I loved this crazy family and setting. So glad you enjoyed it. I couldn’t imagine discovering my husband had two lives.
It is not something I could imagine either, if I were married.
I am so glad that you liked this one, Nadene. I thought that Lanie and Mark were great together and Mark’s family were so much fun to read about.
I am not big on women’s fiction, but I do like Jill Shalvis, and I love the way she writes friendships. Glad you enjoyed this one here.
I like her books and it’s a series I want to try
I haven’t tried her books yet but this one is in my wish list.
I hope you get the chance to read it.
This sounds like a good read (relief as I got a signed copy of this in my book crate) your review and a few others that I have seen all enjoyed this. Great review.
Thanks. I hope you will have a good time with it.
You can always count on this author for a feel good story that will leave you with a smile on your face when you are done.