Review: The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis

Title: The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis
The Sunrise Cove Series Book One
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 383 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Beloved New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis begins a new series—Sunrise Cove—set near beautiful Lake Tahoe, with a heartwarming story of found family and love.

During the snowstorm of the century Levi Cutler is stranded on a ski lift with a beautiful stranger named Jane. After strong winds hurl the gondola in front of them into the ground, Levi calls his parents to prepare them for the worst…but can’t bring himself to say goodbye. Instead, wanting to fulfill his mother’s lifelong wish, he impulsively tells her he’s happily settled and Jane is his girlfriend—right before his phone dies.

But Levi and Jane do not.

Now Levi’s family is desperate to meet “The One.” Though Jane agrees to be his pretend girlfriend for just one dinner, she’s nervous. After a traumatic childhood, Jane isn’t sure she knows how to be around a tight-knit family that cherishes one another. She’s terrified, and a little jealous. But an unexpected series of events and a host of new friends soon show Jane that perhaps this is the life she was always meant to have.

As Jane and Levi spend more time together, pretend feelings quickly turn into real ones. Now all Jane has to do is admit to herself she can’t live without the man she’s fallen in love with and the family she has always dreamed of.

Review:

The Family You Make by Jill Shalvis is a cute fake relationship romance.

Levi Cutler loves his quirky family but he does not fit in with them.  They run a sporting goods store near Lake Tahoe and he prefers to work with data and computers. Levi lives in San Francisco but he is currently  in Sunrise Cove on a rare visit back home when he finds himself in a freak snowstorm on top of a ski slope. He shares a gondola with traveling nurse Jane Parks and he tries his best to reassure her when their situation becomes dangerous. Afterward, Levi talks Jane into being his pretend girlfriend for an upcoming family event. As they spend time together, he realizes his feelings for her are deepening into love. But will Levi convince Jane to put down roots with him?

Jane is content to never settle in one place for very long. The only town she has any ties to is Sunrise Cove and she returns every winter. She rents a room from her best friend, Dr. Charlotte Dixon, who understands what motivates Jane’s continually roaming. Jane’s tumultuous childhood left an indelible mark and she closely guards her heart. Despite her reservations about her unexpected time with Levi, she enjoys his company. As their relationship takes a serious turn, will Jane give love a chance?

The Family You Make is a heartfelt romance with a wonderful small-town atmosphere. Levi and Jane are well-rounded appealing characters who are absolutely perfect for each other. The storyline is engaging but the pacing is slow to gain momentum. A lovely secondary story arc with Charlotte and Levi’s best friend Dr. Mateo Moreno adds dimension to the plot. The Sunrise Cove series is off to an entertaining beginning that old and new fans of Jill Shalvis are sure to enjoy.