Absolutely loved!

Truly, no one does families and the complex relationships they contain like [a:Jill Shalvis|22370|Jill Shalvis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1638980833p2/22370.jpg], and the second book in her Sunrise Cove series is further proof.

For her whole life, it's always been Tae Holmes and her mom April. April was pretty much a baby herself when she had Tae, and Tae's spent almost as much of her life protecting her mom as her mom has done for her. When some long-held beliefs through her past into question, Tae isn't sure what to do. Adding to the confusion, her best/worst one night stand is back in town, and boy has he grown up well...

Riggs and Jake Copeland didn't have parents they could count on, they only had each other. Until Jake left for the military. Riggs followed 8 years later, but he still wasn't there for his brother when an IED changed his life forever, and it's made their relationship...complicated. Now out of the Marines for good, Riggs is back in town for the summer to help with Jake's new business. What he didn't expect? To see Tae again. A whole lot of Tae...because guess who his brother has hired to help plan their upcoming events?

I loved watching Tae and Riggs, two people who already have a lot going on in their lives find each other again and fall in love. Of course at the same time they had plenty of family drama to work through, and in true Jill Shalvis fashion we *might* also get a sweet secondary romance thrown in there too.

And a pair of dogs, some adorable at-risk kids, and oh yeah, a unicorn onesie. Not gonna lie, that garment sounds amazing...

Though The Friendship Pact is the second book in the series, it absolutely works as a standalone as well. But do yourself a favor and read the first one ([b:The Family You Make|57789636|The Family You Make (Sunrise Cove, #1)|Jill Shalvis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1626719182l/57789636._SY75_.jpg|88094968]) too--I promise, you won't be sorry!

Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Every character in this book needs to go to therapy. Honestly, that's my main takeaway. This is my least favorite Shalvis book in a while-- a lot of choices just made no sense to me. It's the typical Alpha-no-nonsense-tough-guy, which I'm honestly kind of tired of from her! The fact that Riggs and Jake get in a legitimate physical fight, and not just a joking around one, is not amusing or logical-- it just showed that they have a serious amount of anger issues (therapyyyyy) and no control over their emotions. The whole situation with Tae's father... in what world is that how that would/should play out (please lord, get some therapy)?. It was just overall a big NO from me on this one. Really hoping for more from Shalvis in her next book. I would love some variety!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

We're back in Sunrise Cove with a second chance romance between Tae and Riggs, two characters whose souls are battered and bruised from their pasts. I adored them as individuals and more so as they started to gravitate towards each other romantically. I loved the complexity of their relationship. But the relationship I enjoyed the most was between Tae and her mom, April. Rarely have I read a mother/daughter relationship that had more of a best friends vibe than a parental one. While I have been missing Jill's contemporary romances, I am still enjoying her more women's fictional romances where the focus is more on Tae's growth as a woman than the romance between her and Riggs. Thank you for another beautifully written book.

I received an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Good, quick read, but wasn't one of my faves from Jill Shalvis. A certain kind of ZING that I usually get from her books was missing in this one.

The story is set in Lake Tahoe, California, where we meet Tae Holmes and her mother April. April raised Tae alone and the two are close. In fact, they bought a duplex together and are now neighbors. Tae is an event planner and works from home. She is determined to support both herself and her mother, so money has been tight. When we meet her, she is handling her first event for an adventure company for athletes with disabilities and wounded warriors.

An awkward encounter involving her most recent blind date has Tae leaving the event in search of ice cream when she bumps into former Marine Riggs Copeland. Tae and Riggs were high school friends before having a brief fling. I loved the chemistry between them immediately. Tae is all bristly and Riggs acts all laid-back and assured.

Through Shalvis’s story we get to know Riggs and Tae as she weaves side stories involving Riggs and his brother, Tae’s father and a terrible secret. All set against the backdrop of the adventure company. I loved the events, secondary characters and the slobbering dog. I laughed aloud, groaned, and read into the wee hours. Shalvis delivers characters you want to root for and befriend.

Fans of small-town romances will love this summer read. While this is the second novel in the Sunrise Cove series, it will work as a standalone. Each has its own story and romance to enjoy. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer