Title: Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis
Wildstone Series Book Four
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction, Romance
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
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:
Almost Just Friends by Jill Shalvis is a tender novel of healing, family and ultimately, love. Although this newest release is the fourth novel in the Wildstone series, it can easily be read as a standalone.
Following the deaths of their parents and grandparents, Piper Manning raised her siblings Gavin and Winnie. Now that twenty-seven year old Gavin is settled into his life in Arizona and twenty year old Winnie is going to college, Piper is ready to begin the next phase of her life. But when both Gavin and Winnie unexpectedly return home, will Piper be able to move forward with her plans to sell the family house and pursue her academic dream?
Piper is a no nonsense, list making woman who is kind and compassionate. She is also emotionally reserved and keeps everyone at arms’ length. Forced to grow up way too fast, Piper did not hesitate to step in and care for her siblings and she remains more of a mother figure than sister. While happy to see Winnie and Gavin, she is worried their choices are going to ruin their futures. And Piper also cannot help but be concerned about how their decision will affect her plans.
Piper unexpectedly finds support with her next door neighbor son’s Camden “Cam” Hayes. Cam is a DEA Agent who is also a member of the Coast Guard Reserves. He is temporarily in town to reconnect with his father following the death of Cam’s younger brother a few months earlier. Cam is surprisingly easy to talk to and he proves to be an insightful sounding board for many of Piper’s frustrations.
Underlying their newfound friendship is a simmering attraction and since a relationship between them has a built-in expiration date, Piper does not hesitate to give in to her desire for Cam. Unbeknownst to Piper, Cam is making plans of his own that will leave her feeling betrayed when she is blindsided by a stunning secret. Will Piper let down her defenses and follow her heart? Can she forgive her loved ones for not trusting her with important information?
With relatable emotional baggage and realistic issues to overcome, Almost Just Friends is a truly captivating romance with a cast of flawed yet endearing characters. Piper is sassy heroine who is the perfect match for emotionally wounded Cam. Cam and Piper might become exasperated with their family members but they are also fiercely loving and deeply devoted to them. Jill Shalvis brings this delightful novel to a heartfelt, uplifting conclusion. Old and new fans of the Wildstone series are sure to love newest addition to this marvelous series.
