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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I've read the excerpt for this book several times and thought, "I might like this." And I was right.
Keri Daniels had a forever-kind-of-love with her high school boyfriend Joe Kowalski. These days, she's a Hollywood gossip reporter and he's a famously reclusive horror/mystery writer. When her boss finds out that Keri knows Joe, like KNOWS Joe, she's given an ultimatum, get a story on Joe or else.
Joe pretty much figures out that Keri is doing this story under duress but he decides to screw with her anyway. Loved that there was no deception. He's just up front about the fact that he wants to mess with her and that's why she'll be spending two weeks with his family on their "Kowalski Vacation of Doom" (or something close to that) without electronics of any kind and, in return, she'll get one question a day which he will answer.
There are several subplots, most prominent is with Joe's twin sister, Terry, who is having some serious issues with her husband and taking them out on her former BFF, Keri.
Keri Daniels had a forever-kind-of-love with her high school boyfriend Joe Kowalski. These days, she's a Hollywood gossip reporter and he's a famously reclusive horror/mystery writer. When her boss finds out that Keri knows Joe, like KNOWS Joe, she's given an ultimatum, get a story on Joe or else.
Joe pretty much figures out that Keri is doing this story under duress but he decides to screw with her anyway. Loved that there was no deception. He's just up front about the fact that he wants to mess with her and that's why she'll be spending two weeks with his family on their "Kowalski Vacation of Doom" (or something close to that) without electronics of any kind and, in return, she'll get one question a day which he will answer.
There are several subplots, most prominent is with Joe's twin sister, Terry, who is having some serious issues with her husband and taking them out on her former BFF, Keri.
Spoiler
Why no five stars? I didn't love that Keri's life-long goals were just supplanted by falling in love. It wasn't Joe's super-wang but it still sort of rubbed me the wrong way.
“People sometimes hurt the ones they love trying to protect themselves from being hurt. Love means second chances sometimes.”
I cannot believe how lucky I am to have this story from Amazon for free. As a sucker for high school sweethearts, I am really rooting for this second chance for Keri and Joe. I expected tension and some bittersweet trip down the memory lane but Stacey just gave a whole lot more.
If Blair Waldorf were to describe Keri and Joe’s feelings towards each other, it would be, without a doubt, “one great love.” Of course, there were years apart since they last seen each other but I didn’t expect it to be 20 years. What’s amazing was their feelings didn’t change a bit after all those years.
At the beginning, I had a trouble adjusting with too many characters engaged in the story and not just merely mentioned, not to mention the shifting 3rd person POV. But after a while, putting the Kowalski’s family into the mix just set the story’s mood into something more heart-warming and homey. The slight shift into Terry and Mike’s family issues, as well as Kevin’s. I think it’s a pretty smart move to get acquainted to these characters before starting to delve deeper into their lives (through their own book, in Kevin’s case). All the good stuff didn’t come from Keri and Joe either. Terry and Mike’s personal family lives also contributed a lot to that.
There were only two things that sort of raised my brow: her interview and the overuse of ‘babe’. As a journalist, I was wondering, since she didn’t brought a tape recorder, how she memorizes Joe’s answer without jotting them down. The first one was even asked after she closed her notebook and decided to focus on asking him the question. Will her article be full of indirect quotes? Isn’t she afraid of misquoting him and cause others to misinterpret it? What if the statement came out on a different angle because of the words she used? Just wondering…
I find it sweet when Joe called her ‘babe’ even in front of his family but it feels like he would call her that endearment in every freakin sentence if possible. Come on, babe. Don’t drown us with ‘babe’.
The relationship they had as a family was something big and really nice to see in books. From the rambunctious set of boys plus a teenage girl to the really amazing and supportive folks they had, I believe Kowalski is a family worth envying.
This is the sappiest, cheeseball story that made me re-assess my thoughts about having a family and kids in the future. I’m not big on sharing my personal thoughts about personal matters, so this is something big and it’s saying that much about this story. I’m looking forward to read more about them, especially the happy-go-lucky Kevin.
*This and other reviews can also be found on my blog*
I have fallen in love with the Kowalski family reading the third book about them first, Yours to Keep but Shannon Staceys writing and story telling made me want to explore their past so I was determined to read the first two installments of the series.
In Exclusively Yours Keri Daniels, a hotshot celebrity journalist from LA gets an ultimatum from her boss: get an interview with the elusive writer, Joe Kowalski or go get a new job. Why the chief editor thinks she has a shot at it is because Keri used to be the high school sweetheart of Joe. Keri goes home to New Hampshire and is surprised when Joe agrees on meeting her and granting an interview. But there is a catch: she has to come to camping for two weeks with him and his family to their annual ATV fullfilled vacation and every day she survives in the wilderness she can get to ask a question. So this starts the mayhem or as otherwise known the Kowalski Family Vacation of Doom with s`mores ATVs and a lot of sexual tension.
I really liked the story settings the basic plot of reuniting old lovers.But most of all I loved the Kowalskis. They so loved each other and gave support, especially to Joe who was really broken when Keri left her at 18 so everyone is wary of her and look out for him without loosing their humor and warmth. There were good secondary story-lines with Joe’s siblings martial problems and they were so well written that without taking away the spotlight from the main protagonists these episodes felt complete and gave depth to the novel. I was glad that I get to know the whole Kowalski family a bit better and the children became individuals for me not just a bunch of loud kids. What I couldn't really understand is the reasons behind Keri’s leaving Joe in the first place and see how her life became so much more with living and working in LA.
But other than this I had great fun reading the novel in one sitting and laugh out loud at some of the antics of the Kowalksi’s. I do believe now that Shannon Stacey is a name to look for in the contemporary romance genre.
3.5 stars
In Exclusively Yours Keri Daniels, a hotshot celebrity journalist from LA gets an ultimatum from her boss: get an interview with the elusive writer, Joe Kowalski or go get a new job. Why the chief editor thinks she has a shot at it is because Keri used to be the high school sweetheart of Joe. Keri goes home to New Hampshire and is surprised when Joe agrees on meeting her and granting an interview. But there is a catch: she has to come to camping for two weeks with him and his family to their annual ATV fullfilled vacation and every day she survives in the wilderness she can get to ask a question. So this starts the mayhem or as otherwise known the Kowalski Family Vacation of Doom with s`mores ATVs and a lot of sexual tension.
I really liked the story settings the basic plot of reuniting old lovers.But most of all I loved the Kowalskis. They so loved each other and gave support, especially to Joe who was really broken when Keri left her at 18 so everyone is wary of her and look out for him without loosing their humor and warmth. There were good secondary story-lines with Joe’s siblings martial problems and they were so well written that without taking away the spotlight from the main protagonists these episodes felt complete and gave depth to the novel. I was glad that I get to know the whole Kowalski family a bit better and the children became individuals for me not just a bunch of loud kids. What I couldn't really understand is the reasons behind Keri’s leaving Joe in the first place and see how her life became so much more with living and working in LA.
But other than this I had great fun reading the novel in one sitting and laugh out loud at some of the antics of the Kowalksi’s. I do believe now that Shannon Stacey is a name to look for in the contemporary romance genre.
3.5 stars
Exclusively Yours is the first book in the Kowalski Family series and it’s the first book written by Shannon Stacey that I read. What can I say? It was awesome!
The plot is funny, sexy and romantic without be too predictable. Joe and Keri are high-school sweethearts who, after 18 years, meet again. Joe is a famous horror novelist and Keri is a gossip reporter whose boss wants an exclusive interview with Joe. Joe agrees to do the interview on one condition: Keri has to come to the annual camping trip with all his family and for every day she spent with them, she got to ask him one question. What a girl has to do to save her job? Keri accepts and what ensues is this hilarious and wonderful story.
Joe and Keri are two amazing main characters. Joe is charming, funny and sexy. Keri is much more difficult. She left everything she had behind trying to pursue her dream of being a famous journalist. Now she’s starting to realize that something is missing in her life… something named Joe, perhaps.
The truth is that this book isn’t only about Joe and Keri’s love story, but it’s about three love stories! Beyond Joe and Keri, we find out that the rest of the Kowalski family isn’t very lucky with love at the moment.
In the end I recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet, sexy, funny contemporary romance.
Full review @ http://confessionsof-a-boredmind.blogspot.com/
The plot is funny, sexy and romantic without be too predictable. Joe and Keri are high-school sweethearts who, after 18 years, meet again. Joe is a famous horror novelist and Keri is a gossip reporter whose boss wants an exclusive interview with Joe. Joe agrees to do the interview on one condition: Keri has to come to the annual camping trip with all his family and for every day she spent with them, she got to ask him one question. What a girl has to do to save her job? Keri accepts and what ensues is this hilarious and wonderful story.
Joe and Keri are two amazing main characters. Joe is charming, funny and sexy. Keri is much more difficult. She left everything she had behind trying to pursue her dream of being a famous journalist. Now she’s starting to realize that something is missing in her life… something named Joe, perhaps.
The truth is that this book isn’t only about Joe and Keri’s love story, but it’s about three love stories! Beyond Joe and Keri, we find out that the rest of the Kowalski family isn’t very lucky with love at the moment.
In the end I recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet, sexy, funny contemporary romance.
Full review @ http://confessionsof-a-boredmind.blogspot.com/
This was a great introduction to the legendary Kowalski men, written in a light and readable voice that makes the pages fly by. I don't normally like romances with a third character's POV, but Shannon Stacey's Terry Kowalski is sympathetic and compelling enough to hold her own apart from the hero/heroine plotline. I've also never had any interest in ATVs, but now wouldn't mind giving one a try, especially after reading about Joe and Keri's hot interlude on one! All in all this was a fun, quick read, and I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the Kowalski clan's stories.
This was a cute, well-written, predictable, bubble gum romance. Definitely worth the sale price but not sure if I'm invested enough to read more of the series.
4.5 stars. Something that really bugs me is going in thinking that one couple is going to be the focus of the story, but a second or even third couple ends up taking a lot of the spotlight. However, I felt like the fact that that happened in this book was actually welcome; made it less cheesy and rather awesome. I really loved this book in the end, though I'm sad that there wasn't more of the end! Still, I have a feeling Joe and Keri will reappear in the following books... So I'm happy with how things progressed. Nothing like a good, long romance that keeps the tension flowing.
Keri Daniels and Joe Kowalski were high school sweethearts and everyone expected them to get married and live happily ever after, including Joe. Keri had other plans, though, determined to make something of herself that didn't lead to her being defined by her role in relation to other people, and so she left both the town she grew up in and a heartbroken Joe.
Years later, her editor discovers her connection to now bestselling author Joe Kowalski, and threatens Keri with dismissal if she does not get an exclusive interview with the reclusive author. Keri has no choice but to try, but Joe is not willing to make it easy on her.
He proposes a deal - she will join his family in their annual camping trip and for each day she makes it, she'll get to ask one question of him. Completely out of her element, surrounded by people who hold varying degrees of a grudge towards her for what she put Joe through, and an attraction that hasn't abated one bit over the many years they've been apart, Keri has her work cut out for herself.
An enjoyable story that introduces the Kowalski family and gives Joe his happily ever after. Next comes Kevin's story in [b:Undeniably Yours|9528765|Undeniably Yours (Kowalski Family, #2)|Shannon Stacey|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1287437802s/9528765.jpg|14414840].
Years later, her editor discovers her connection to now bestselling author Joe Kowalski, and threatens Keri with dismissal if she does not get an exclusive interview with the reclusive author. Keri has no choice but to try, but Joe is not willing to make it easy on her.
He proposes a deal - she will join his family in their annual camping trip and for each day she makes it, she'll get to ask one question of him. Completely out of her element, surrounded by people who hold varying degrees of a grudge towards her for what she put Joe through, and an attraction that hasn't abated one bit over the many years they've been apart, Keri has her work cut out for herself.
An enjoyable story that introduces the Kowalski family and gives Joe
Spoiler
and his sister
Second chances aren't my favorite trope, but I'd seen pretty good reviews so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I could see me liking other books from this author but this one just didn't do it for me for a variety of reasons:
1. I can usually suspend a lot of disbelief, but even I find it highly improbably that two people can just pick up where they left off 18 years ago. At this point they've been apart way longer than they've been together but after like a month everything is wonderful and perfect.
2. Y'all are 36. Stop saying you're middle-aged.
3. There are side plots involving two of Joe's siblings and the problems they're having in their marriages. One apparently can be fixed with a present and the other is on it's way to being fixed because both spouses really love each other. That's all well and good, but the problem with both marriages was a breakdown in communication. Not once does a single person suggest marriage counseling. Nope, all you need is a cruise or some table sex and your marriage is fixed.
4. I would have liked some acknowledgement from Joe that the choice Keri made to leave was a valid one. They were only 18 and while it seems like Keri's decision to leave was a last minute one (there aren't really any flashbacks so we really don't know how the breakup went down), it is perfectly logical that a young person would want to leave their small town, explore more of the world, and become their own person. Joe's plan was for the two of them to go to college together, get married, and have kids while he wrote and she....???? Yes, his plan may have worked out or she could have become really resentful towards him and unhappy with her life.
5. I feel like the author purposely put Keri into a very low position, career-wise and kept her ambitions pretty vague. At this point she's been a journalist for about 15 years and she works as a writer for a gossip magazine (she's trying to get promoted to an editor position). Does she love her job? Does she want to become an editor because it's a promotion or because that's what she really wants to do? Who knows? It seems like she makes good money but it sounds like her job is more in line with someone 10 years younger than her.
6. Joe's alcoholism was a weird thing to throw in there and seemed like it was there to do nothing but to try to make us feel bad that Keri left.
7. I literally rolled my eyes when I read why Joe paid off his ex-fiance.
Overall, I liked the book, but I wish there was more of an even distribution as far as the sacrifices each of them ultimately make to be with each other.
1. I can usually suspend a lot of disbelief, but even I find it highly improbably that two people can just pick up where they left off 18 years ago. At this point they've been apart way longer than they've been together but after like a month everything is wonderful and perfect.
2. Y'all are 36. Stop saying you're middle-aged.
3. There are side plots involving two of Joe's siblings and the problems they're having in their marriages. One apparently can be fixed with a present and the other is on it's way to being fixed because both spouses really love each other. That's all well and good, but the problem with both marriages was a breakdown in communication. Not once does a single person suggest marriage counseling. Nope, all you need is a cruise or some table sex and your marriage is fixed.
4. I would have liked some acknowledgement from Joe that the choice Keri made to leave was a valid one. They were only 18 and while it seems like Keri's decision to leave was a last minute one (there aren't really any flashbacks so we really don't know how the breakup went down), it is perfectly logical that a young person would want to leave their small town, explore more of the world, and become their own person. Joe's plan was for the two of them to go to college together, get married, and have kids while he wrote and she....???? Yes, his plan may have worked out or she could have become really resentful towards him and unhappy with her life.
5. I feel like the author purposely put Keri into a very low position, career-wise and kept her ambitions pretty vague. At this point she's been a journalist for about 15 years and she works as a writer for a gossip magazine (she's trying to get promoted to an editor position). Does she love her job? Does she want to become an editor because it's a promotion or because that's what she really wants to do? Who knows? It seems like she makes good money but it sounds like her job is more in line with someone 10 years younger than her.
Spoiler
I really think the reason why the author did this was to make it easier for Keri to be able to leave her job and move back to NH. So Joe gets everything he wants, all the while downplaying the sacrifices Keri makes, and Keri gets an editing job that's she's less than enthused about.6. Joe's alcoholism was a weird thing to throw in there and seemed like it was there to do nothing but to try to make us feel bad that Keri left.
7. I literally rolled my eyes when I read why Joe paid off his ex-fiance.
Overall, I liked the book, but I wish there was more of an even distribution as far as the sacrifices each of them ultimately make to be with each other.
Another 'girl realizes that her career isn't nearly as important as love' kind of books.