Rainy Day Friends: A Novel

Whenever I read a story by Ms Shalvis , I know that I am going to be treated to a wonderful story. This one proves the point. The story centers around Lanie Jacobs and Mark Capriotti. Lanie’s husband passed away six months ago and that was when she found out about his secret life. A life filled with deceit and other wives. To escape her past, she take a temporary job at the Capriotti winery. Mark is a cop, who left the Air Force, a job he loved, to take care of his twin daughters. Daughters his wife abandoned. But more than the plot, it’s a story about how our childhood affects our adulthood. About how hurts and lies can destroy a person’s confidence and make them believe they are not worthy of love. But most importantly, how opening our hearts can transform not only our future, but ourselves. How life is messy and at times heartbreaking but also that opening our hearts to others can bring happiness and self- worth. That families are not only created by blood relatives. And above all that even though life can at times be difficult, finding the right person that “gets you” and still loves you, is the biggest treasure of all. This talented author gives us an engaging plot with complex characters you will come to love, no matter their age or how imperfect they are . Another winner by Ms Shalvis. I voluntarily read this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Looking for a family to take you in? May I suggest the Capriottis? What a loving, accepting, wonderful, warm-hearted group of people spanning four generations live and work together at their vineyard and winery! And, how marvelous it was for Lainie, River and Holden to have met them when they did! Lainie has taken a job as a graphic artist and will live and work on the vineyard for two months. She has recently been widowed and found out that her husband was not the man she thought he was. If he weren’t dead she might have been tempted to kill him herself after learning all that she did about him. She is talented, a bit snarky, definitely guarded and uninterested in forever with a man when she arrives at the winery. That begins to change as one by one the Capriotti family begins to worm their way into her life and into her heart. Mark Capriotti left the family business for the Air Force only to return home to raise his twin six year old daughters with the help of his family when his wife scarpered off to Australia. He is a wonderful father and relative and oh so alpha male hot BUT he is not on the market for a woman to be part of his future. He works long hours on the local police force and has dreams of building a home for his family one day. When Lainie and Mark meet on her first day at work I felt like a fly on the wall…or picnic table…and enjoyed their interaction and the sizzle between them. That sizzle sputters for a bit but then the embers spark to life again…eventually. I enjoyed the way they became closer and also how they worked through their issues eventually ending up thoroughly happy together. Mark’s daughters are a delight and add so much to the lives of the characters in the book. I found them precocious and precious and wanted to scoop them up and play with them. River’s arrival and secrets that are eventually exposed rock Lainie’s world making her question more than she has before. There is so MUCH in this book that made me feel and care and wish I could be there. I wanted to give hugs as well as shake sense into some of the characters but in the end I didn’t want the story to end because it was just that good! Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

Take note – you must read this book – you’ll thank me later. But, be warned: if you start it late –your next day plans will be suffering because you won’t want, nor be able, to put this book down. The Capriottis – loud, boisterous, welcoming and utterly unable to contain themselves from helping when someone is in need of their particular brand of interference, support, advice and inclusion. Lanie SO needed to meet this family after discovering after her husband’s death that he was a bigamist as wives came out of the woodwork to ‘blame and claim’, left her self-worth at an all-time new low, when it was never solid in the first place. A short-term temporary freelance assignment as a graphic designer to revamp the Capriotti Winery brands, labels, packaging and website was just what she needed to get away from everyone who knew of Kevin, and her humiliation. Inside Lanie’s head is a series of never-ending denegrations, a touch of anger, and far too much second-guessing and overthinking of everything, from the smallest offering of a smile to the devastation wrought, and her ignorance of, her husband’s behavior and other lives. But, the Capriottis, led by Carla, are not willing to let anyone slide in quietly and stay uninvolved. Their lives are all about joining in, supporting, pushing and pulling people into their circle and making them family. And, lucky for Lanie, she’s the newest member, despite her remaining close-mouthed about her past, her life and her deep-rooted self-doubts. With few to no places to hide, even the small cottage provided with the job isn’t safe from intrusion: from homemade cookies to a hideout for the twin girls, aged 6, who are curious about the newcomer and her sparkle purple nails, lip gloss and roll-on scent. Oh, and you can’t forget Marcus: a Capriotti, now a deputy sheriff,: former military man, now single father to the twins Samantha and Sierra. His former wife and the girls’ mother left them without looking back two years ago, and Mark’s life changed forever. Dedicated to the girls and determined to never let them feel abandoned again, he’s sworn off women and relationships, working all hours possible, but always having time for his girls. Shalvis doesn’t stop with just Lanie and Marcus though, as everyone in this story has moments that push or pull at your heart as the rollercoaster of emotions hurtles forward. When you add in the unveiling of Lanie’s secrets in the most painful way possible in the form of River, a twenty year old pregnant, homeless girl who is thriving in this boisterous and welcoming family, a quiet yet always there, now on leave, handyman Holden, former homeless teen with his own Pullman carload of issues not yet shared (hopefully in the next book), Lanie’s aside conversations with her anxiety that start every chapter, and a family that, like all the best ones is frustrating, loud, intrusive and most of all inclusive, the story has so many different places and scenes to be your favorite moment…until the next. From Sam being the ‘spokes-twin’ , to the daily mandatory lunches made by the family to be shared by family, you want to pack up and move to Wildstone – to be a part of this family and place that is so alive with love and acceptance. A favorite read in what is fast becoming a favorite (and sure to be read often) series. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.