Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey Series: Kowalski Family #1
Also in this series: Undeniably Yours, Yours To Keep, Taken With You
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 346
Format: eBook
Source: Freebie
Kindle
Goodreads
When Keri Daniels’ editor finds out she has previous carnal knowledge of reclusive bestselling author Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri a choice: get an interview or get a new job.
Joe’s never forgotten the first girl to break his heart, so he’s intrigued to hear Keri’s back in town–and looking for him. Despite his intense need for privacy, he’ll grant Keri an interview if it means a chance to finish what they started in high school.
He proposes an outrageous plan–for every day she survives with his family on their annual camping and four-wheeling trip, Keri can ask one question. Keri agrees; she’s worked too hard to walk away from her career.
But the chemistry between them is still as potent as the bug spray, Joe’s sister is out to avenge his broken heart and Keri hasn’t ridden an ATV since she was ten. Who knew a little blackmail, a whole lot of family and some sizzling romantic interludes could make Keri reconsider the old dream of Keri & Joe 2gether 4ever.
Fun, sexy romance with likable characters.
Thoughts on Exclusively Yours
I had planned on reading some down and dirty romantic suspense for this review slot. Clearly, that didn’t happen. In a good way, mind you, because I ended up REALLY liking the loud, boisterous Kowalski family. This was without any explosions or bloodshed so… YAY! KOWALSKIS!
I liked the chemistry between Joe and Keri but I LOVED the craziness of Joe’s family. They’re loud. They descend upon unprepared individuals and turn their lives upside down. They fight. They love. They get REALLY dirty riding ATVs. In other words, it’s like a family dinner at my house – minus the ATVs. As much as this is Joe and Keri’s book, it also has a couple of secondary plot lines with Joe’s siblings reconnecting with the loves of their lives.
*gives y’all a watery smile*
(Confession time: I had to sneak off mid-book to read the blurbs for the other books in this series to make sure everything turned out a-okay for Joe’s family. It had to be done. Really.)
But let’s get back to Joe and Keri. There’s something about high school sweethearts reconnecting that makes me smile. They have all this history. (DEAR GAWD! The muscle memory that hit Keri when Joe gave her the locker pose was fantastic.) They have heartache. Both of them have things they regret and yet both of them still have feelings for the other.
It was a slow, sweet romance and it worked. This is coming from someone who usually likes it hard and dirty. Sometimes in the middle of a bloody battle. So, you know, take that into consideration.
For the record, I *might* have to go pick up book 2 now. Because Kevin needs his HEA.
So I got this book as a freebie I don’t even know how long ago, but as is usual with freebies, it got immediately archived even though it did stand out more than others due to the sheer volume of high ratings. After that review . . . I want to read it right now! With other series, I too have sneaked away and read future book blurbs to make sure everyone gets their HEA, but only with the REALLY good series (and this sounds like one). Excellent review, can’t wait to read this for myself :)
Yeah, I had to make sure everybody in his family ended up in their happy place. I was that invested in the secondary characters.
I’m with you. I picked it up as a freebie and put it aside. Needless to say, I’m VERY glad I decided to read it.
This one was a book club read for me and I really enjoyed it. That Kowalski family is great! I loved their whole dynamic. I haven’t read the book blurbs for the following books, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that all goes as I’m hoping!
YES! The family dynamic was fantastic! They’re not all perfect, but they work nicely as a family.
Now I’m worried about the boisterous Kowalski family and want to know more about the whole clan. I’d have to read ahead to see if they came out alright, too.
I laughed at myself, Mary. LAUGHED. Because I’m not a fan of spoilers but I was getting all ANXIOUS that things wouldn’t turn out right and I had to know!
I read one of Stacey’s Kowalski books at the beginning of the year and I really liked it. It wasn’t this one, though. It was Yours to Keep and it was super cute. I definitely recommend that one!!!
Sweet! I’ll have to keep my eye out for it. Thanks!
I love books that involve crazy, fun, sometimes dysfunctional families. I completely understand your need to check up and make sure that the family was okay later in the series. :)
It was a compulsion. I couldn’t NOT do it. LOL!