THE FAMILY YOU MAKE

A real treat with this book. Two interwoven stories complimenting each other. On one hand we have Jane and Levi. They bonded over a near death experience. When Levi phoned home to say goodbye he couldn’t deliver the bad news so blurted out Jane was his girlfriend instead. Now his family want to meet her. How do you solve this next dilemma? Convince her to be his pretend girlfriend. Jane has never put down roots, her upbringing makes it difficult to trust and let anyone in her inner circle. There’s something about Levi that makes her feel safe and gives her the courage to face up to life. Having always been a loner, Jane finally begins to accept she has people in her life. The more time she spends with Levi the more the lines between pretend and real become blurred. Is it enough to convince her that its time to stop running? The other story is Charlotte and Mateo. Whilst her past has defined her, she has bonded with Jane and has come to regard her as family. Although Mateo and Charlotte both have a crazy attraction for each other, it will take a great deal of courage for her to open up to Mateo and trust him with her heart. What’s not to love about this story. Right from the start it was dramatic and heart stopping. It’s also heart warming, at times funny, and I get two sensitive, caring, patient, understanding loyal guys to fall in love with. Not only is this a story of relationships, belonging and trust it is a perfect example that blood does not make a family, it’s all about who you pick.

Liked meeting Levi and Jane they met at a scary time in a gondola in the middle of a storm Levi rung his Mum wanting to hear her he lied and told her he was happy and with a girlfriend named Jane who he'd just met. After getting knocked out while saving Jane who looked after him the family want to meet her. Jane agrees though worried to have one meal but his family not being put off met Jane at different times not saying who they were in the end a happy ending came for Jane and Levi and this book brings a smile and is an easy read will reread it again

This was a really good emotional read with a nail biting start and a lovely warm ending. A love story for not just the main characters but their friends and family. What did shine through was Jill's love of Lake Tahoe. If you haven't read her books before you won't be disappointed, she's a great storyteller.

This book started off well but I'm half way through and it's really starting to drag. Whole lot of angst from Jane and Charlotte, who's behaviour is often quite juvenile. They're medical professionals - haven't they ever considered having a chat with a psychologist? This story is more about the emotional connection between them than with Levi and Mateo.Hope it improves but will give up on it soon. Waste of $13.

This may be the best book by Jill Shalvis I have read and I have read most of them, just not the very first ones.The story is well written with so much detail and humor, that you'd want to be there and be part of the family yourself.Because of the details, it's easy to understand the difficulties people go through. It builds understanding and empathy for the ones that have problems to commit to a relationship. And there are more and more of those these days.