It has always been Tae and her mom, April, against the world. Tae has started her own event planning company and is staying busy. She is doing events for Adrenaline HQ for Jake, who has asked his brother, Riggs, to come back to town to help out. Tae was hurt by Riggs when they were teenagers and has no intention of getting close to him again. However, an event the night they first see each other again something happens that draws them closer together.

Riggs is out of the military and is in town to help is brother and then move back to DC for a job. What he never expected was to see Tae again, or he was going to try to avoid her. Ever since they were seventeen, it has always been her, and they can read each other and see the person they really are even when they're trying to hide. When Tae starts looking for her father, she has questions and Riggs tries to protect her even when he should be staying out of it. Tae is of course hurt when she finds out the truth, but will she be able to forgive Riggs and allow them to have their happily ever after.

Jill Shalvis has the ability to take your emotions, put them in a box shake them up and then tie everything up in a bow with a tissue box and a happy grin at the end. I keep thinking that I can not find another book I love more by this author but every time she releases a new book I swear it just gets better than the last one. I think the best part of the book, besides watching Riggs and Tae fall in love, was Adrenaline HQ and the organizing helping Military Vets, at risk kids, and kids with disabilities. You really get to see all the characters at their best when they are doing an event with AHQ.

My main complaint about this book, yet I understand it at the same time with what happened, is April taking so long to tell her daughter the truth about her father. I know bad things happen and parents don't always think their kids need to know the truth but kids always need to know the truth about their parents. Kids just want to know where they came from, even as an adult. I loved at everything turned out in the end.

Received ARC in exchange for voluntary honest review

Take Holmes and her mother April have been alone since she was born. According to April her Dad was killed in combat. Her mother hasn’t given her any details about him. Take has struggled financially but finally lands a job as an event planner. Her first event is a flop but Tae comes face to face with her high school fling Riggs. The attraction is still there for both of them but they agree at a friendship pact only! After someone tells her that her father is alive, she decides to find out if it is true. As Tae and Riggs give in to their attraction and she tracks her father, her happiness is on the line.



Thanks to Jill Shalvis and William Morrow!

Jill Shalvis is my #1 favorite author! I loved The Friendship Pact so much!!! Tae is tough and hard on the outside but she just needs the right guy like Riggs to bring out her soft side. This book was very well written with great conflict. It struck me with so many emotions throughout the book. Tae has had a harder life but it wasn’t because her mom, April, didn’t care. April was 15 and on her own with a baby. She did the best she could. Riggs is just a soldier who is wounded on the inside and needs Tae and his family to heal him. I loved everything about this book. The story. The characters. The emotions it brought on. If you are looking for a fantastic read, look no further. Huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!!

Riggs and Tae are the best kind of couple for tis reader, they have a hard earned relationship. Both have issues, big ones that they struggle with, this is not an easy intsa love story. Tae raised by a single teen mother, who handed down some of her own issues. Riggs who come from an abusive background of a different nature is alway on the run. They are very likable, very layered characters as are the rest of the cast.
I really enjoyed this book. I connected with the characters. We had some similar past experiences which made it even more relatable. It's all about acceptance, forgiveness, and love.

Jill Shalvis brings us back to Sunrise Cove in The Friendship Pact. The characters are charming, fun, and lovable even when they are arguing with each other. There are some secrets from the past that add to the family drama. Add in some romance and you have another enjoyable read by Ms. Shalvis.

Tae and her mother April have been a team since Tae was born when April was just a teenager and Tae raised April just as much as April raised Tae. April had always told Tae that her father had died overseas while serving in the military. The story opens on an event that Tae is running for her company and a gentleman attending the event tells Tae that he ran into her father a few years ago and Tae is sure this just can't be. Riggs is back in town after serving in the military and before taking a position in DC. Riggs and Tae have a history from high school and the run into each other on Riggs first night back in Tahoe. This is their story. You can always count on a good read from this author! 4 1/2 stars.

Fantastic Shalvis read, with all the expected adventure, unbalanced family dynamics, and alpha males. I always feel good after getting my outdoor fix with a happily ever after. This book had a touch of a Nora Roberts feel, imo, and I loved Shalvis’ tiny shift to include a bit of serious drama.. Don’t worry though, the wit and banter is still all there!

Friendship comes in many forms. Whether it's platonic or a romantic relationship, those ties weave us together strengthening our commitments. Tae and April's relationship is a best friendship besides being mother-daughter.

Growing up, Tae had a loving but difficult childhood. April tried her best but she was a child raising a child and therefore they bounced from to homes and jobs. Due to her rocky upbringing, Tae has trouble risking her heart and trusting people. Making a pact to keep her heart safe, Riggs challenges that commitment. Will Tae be able to trust Riggs that he won't hurt her and that he has her best interests at heart?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheFriendshipPact in exchange for an honest review. I'm a Jill Shalvis fan and enjoyed her depiction of what constitutes as relationships.

Jill Shalvis is a powerhouse author and this book is utterly fantastic! Such a wonderful romance and I can't wait for more!

A sense of calmness settled over me the moment I finished the book. Jill Shalvis is nothing short of spectacular as she continues to transcribe realistic magic on the page. The best surprise of this book is Jake. It brought me pure joy to see his happily ever after. While Tae’s relationship with her mom, April, provides much frustration, Shalvis exposes the reality of a 15 year old raising a child on her own. It is a story about coming to terms with the past to understand their present. With his own demons, Riggs also had to find his way to family as he rebuilt his relationship with his brother. Riggs is one of my favorite heroes, especially his steadfast presence as he stands beside Tae and wholeheartedly supports her.
The Friendship Pact is the embodiment of a warm hug from a breathtaking sunrise over the water. I hope there is more to come in this series!

THE FRIENDSHIP PACT is not the kind of romance story the reader is used to from Jill Shalvis. The author has moved on to full on family drama/chic lit. In the Friendship Pact, we get a glimpse of different types of love and dedication and just how those things can influence our lives - both in positive ways and negative when they might be absent.

As always, Ms Shalvis treats returning/wounded warriors with a great deal of respect and I appreciate how she has woven these heros into her story. Good read, if a different style for the author.

Jill Shalvis books are enjoyable, quick reads and this one was no exception. I did read book one in this series just in case there was some crossover characters/events, but they were completely separate stories other than taking place in the same town.

For the most part I liked this - a nice family drama for both Tae and her mom, and Riggs and his brother, Jake. I did have some issues early on, particularly with the incident at the convenience store, which was completely unbelievable. And the part about Tae and her mom both having a date with the same guy they met on a dating site. I did not care for April at the beginning, she came off weird and needy to me. Thankfully this did change as the story went on, and her character did evolve a bit.

As the story went on we got to see Tae and Riggs reuniting since first meeting in high school and got some insight into their lives. They both had their own baggage and were closed off, and did not trust much of anything. Eventually they grow past this as they fall for each other. Family secrets are exposed, causing issues for Tae and everyone in her life. I'm glad this didn't last too long and get drawn out. The ending was pretty emotional, and I felt bad for Andy. Other than that, not much happened in this book.

This was an entertaining family drama with an HEA. It just didn't wow me (I actually liked book one, The Family You Make much more). I'm sure others will enjoy this story, and I do plan on reading the next one in this series.

Tae Holmes is the daughter of a teenage mother. She owns and operates a small yet successful event-planning company. Tae organizes a fundraiser for her first big client. After the event, she mistakenly gets into the wrong car and comes face-to-face with a person from her angsty teenage past. Tae knows that Riggs Copeland cannot give her the stability she needs. She just wants to find out the truth about her birthfather. However, the truth could destroy not only Tae’s relationship with her mother but with Riggs too. Can Tae withstand the truth’s repercussions? Will she find her father?
Riggs Copeland is an equal partner in an adventure company that caters to people with disabilities, troubled teens, and wounded warriors. He is freshly out of the military. At his brother’s insistence, Riggs reluctantly returns home only for the summer. He runs into a girl from his troubled high school days. Riggs has no intentions of staying, but he cannot ignore the chemistry he shares with Tae. He even offers to help track down her father; however, his good intentions do not go as planned. Can Tae give Riggs a reason to stay? Or will he let his irrational fear destroy a good thing?
There were moments in the story where Tae got on my nerves. I understand her reasons for being standoffish, closed off, and distrustful. Her teenage years have not been kind nor easy thanks to bullying and financial insecurity. I like the bond Tae shares with her mother. She could have resented her mother. Instead, Tae tried to look out for her and protected her from unsavory men. What I admire the most about Tae is how she knew exactly what she needed in a relationship. She refused to settle with just any many who showed interest. Tae did not want to follow in her mother’s footsteps and repeat her mistakes.
I could never resist the tortured hero types. They have always been my weakness. So, it is no surprise that Riggs won my heart. He is a man of few words with both abandonment and trust issues. I like how Riggs recognized a fellow kindred spirit in Tae. Their circumstances may have been different, but he knew how to hide his homelife from public notice. What I admire the most about Riggs is his need to protect Tae. He tried to maintain an emotional distance, so he could spare her from heartache when he left.
THE FRIENDSHIP PACT is the second book in Jill Shalvis’ contemporary romance/women’s fiction series, SUNRISE COVE. This story can easily standalone. There is no on-going plot or reoccurring characters. The only similarity is the setting: Sunrise Cove in Tahoe, California. This book does touch on quite a range of touchy subjects, such as teenage motherhood, abusive parents, disabilities, and bullying. However, the author writes it in such a thought-provoking way intwined with her trademark humorous wit.
THE FRIENDSHIP PACT is an inspiring tale of two troubled souls reconnecting and overcoming their deep-seated emotional issues to be together. The author proves she can write more than just light-hearted, sweet stories, but ones with an emotional punch as well. I cannot wait to see what’s next in this series.

What a beautiful story right here! I fell in love with the characters! Definitely a snuggle up and read all day story! 5 stars for this one!
We follow Tae and her mom Abby, who are only 15 years apart. Tae has always looked out for her mom since her dad isn't around. Her mom is always trying to fix her up on dates, and Tae just wants to focus on her career as a party planner. When she see's Riggs again, she hadn't seen him since high school, all the memories come back to her. He left her just like everyone else in her life, except her mom.
Follow their story as Tae tries to come to grips with things she didn't know, and how to navigate her new life. I loved this story, and if you love Jill's books this story will not disappoint! Grab it asap!

So, this is the second book in the Sunset Cove series although each is a stand alone and does not need to be read in order. If you are in the mood for a romance so sweet it will make your teeth hurt, then this is the one. I also loved the first book in this series and can't wait to get to the other book of hers I have on my shelf. This is definitely a case of friends to lovers and i could feel the bond between Tae and her mom as I was also raised by a single mother. My mom also lives in the apartment above mine and we are constantly walking in and out of each others houses. Lol. It was a really cute book, definitely a sucker for a happy ending!

It was wonderful to be back in Sunrise Cove. Love the brothers' company. Heart-warming venture. The family relationships are varied. Challenging love versus friend versus family issues. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed Jill Shalvis' writing. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

This is the second book in this series, I didn't read the first one and I wonder if i should have? For the most part I like books by Jill Shalvis and I was very pleased to get the chance to read this one early. until I started reading it. Tae and her mom April are close, mainly because April had her at 15, ok I get that. But I was lost for the rest. Why she lied about her dad? What happened to Jake? how did he meet Carolyn? They are featured quite a bit in the book, but I get not a lot of background. I didn't feel a connection between Tae and Riggs except sex. This was not my favorite and I barely finished it.

I love Jill Shalvis books, and really enjoyed this story, I liked the characters and the setting, would be a good beach read

Brief Synopsis:
April and Tae, mother and daughter, are so close. April had Tae as a teenager and she struggled and fought throughout Tae’s childhood to provide food, shelter and safety but with that April chose to keep a secret from Tae that could devastate her.
Riggs comes back to his home town from the military to help his brother with their business for the summer. Tae and Riggs had a high school fling and they find the attraction is still there. To save feelings they decide to make a friendship pact.

My thoughts:
-I am very close to my mom and love a good close mother daughter relationship
-Friends to lovers troupe which I always love but I just didn’t connect with Tae and Riggs relationship
-Overall I enjoyed the family dynamics and drama of the book but felt it was boring at times and I just didn’t enjoy the romance

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this eArc in exchange for an honest review

I love Jill Shalvis books because they are always so fun to read, but yet also complex - if that makes any sense. The characters are real people, with real flaws, and real relationships to manage. Riggs and Tae are adorable together, despite their history and issues. And Tae and her mom.... Wow. I really enjoyed this one!