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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Keri Daniels and Joe Kowalski were high school sweethearts who missed out on their chance to be together because they both wanted different things when they graduated. She wanted to make a name for herself so that people knew her as Keri rather than "the Daniels girl" or "Joe's girl". She just wanted to be Keri.
Joe on the other hand, was a family man through and through. He wanted to make a name for himself too, but he wasn't willing to leave his family to do it.
When they are thrust back into each other's lives so that Keri can keep her job, Joe makes her take the long way around, making her go on a camping trip with the whole Kowalski clan - something that she is not looking forward to. And his sister is looking forward to it even less.
I liked reading about Keri being out of her element, but the dynamic between Keri and Terry was even better to read about than Keri and Joe. Overall the book was cute, but it wasn't something I would think about rereading.
Joe on the other hand, was a family man through and through. He wanted to make a name for himself too, but he wasn't willing to leave his family to do it.
When they are thrust back into each other's lives so that Keri can keep her job, Joe makes her take the long way around, making her go on a camping trip with the whole Kowalski clan - something that she is not looking forward to. And his sister is looking forward to it even less.
I liked reading about Keri being out of her element, but the dynamic between Keri and Terry was even better to read about than Keri and Joe. Overall the book was cute, but it wasn't something I would think about rereading.
This was a fun enjoyable book, that made me escape from the real world for a few days, which is always good! I loved the whole camping part of the book, it was funny and well written.
This was my first book by Shannon Stacey & I love her writing!! I had 17 pages to finish last night once I read numerous pages before that. I thought I have to finish this now. So, I stayed up to 3a to finish it. I love how Keri was brought back into Joe's life years later by her boss wanting an exclusive interview just because she was his high school sweetheart.
If you are looking a book that keeps you reading & not to stop, then this is your book! I am now reading book #2!
If you are looking a book that keeps you reading & not to stop, then this is your book! I am now reading book #2!
Nothing groundbreaking in the story, but super cute, super funny, and super lovely story. I laughed aloud a lot reading this one.
This book spoke to the 40-year-old me. It takes real people dealing with real life. You meet them hanging out on their family camping trip and it isn’t hard to love them. Each couple is struggling with issues, some that I’ve fallen victim to.
Terry, Joe’s twin sister, works so hard to be the perfect parent that her parenting has overflowed onto her husband, Evan. He just can’t take it any more. Lisa worries about life after the kids. Mike, Joe’s brother, married her because she was pregnant. What will happen when they are grown and gone? Will he be too? Kevin, Joe’s brother, is wading through one-night stands trying to blur the image of walking in on his wife cheating on him. Then there is Joe and Keri. Keri was so worried about losing her identity that she had to get as far away from Joe and her hometown as possible. And Joe just never got over the one that got away.
Now, that all sounds so serious. It is. It isn’t. When you get this loving family together, they laugh with and at each other. They poke and joke. This family is so awesome. I may put in an application to be adopted. They are so close and a tune to each other that they see the hurt or pick up on the worry. They push when needed or lend their shoulder to cry on. I love the Kowalskis.
I love camping trips and these guys know how to have fun. Smores. Cannonballs. Mud Throwing. Sitting around the fire. Dirty Scrabble. Checking for ticks. This trip was the perfect place for Stacey to build the tension, bring the steam and try to thaw the 18 years since Keri left. I was completely swept away with Joe and Keri. Joe may be worth sacrificing bug spray for, but is he worth veering off the path altogether?
I am all in. I’m a total fan girl for this series and Shannon Stacey. I can’t wait till I hang out with the Kowalskis again.
In life, can you ask for a do-over? Maybe not, but sometimes you get second chances.
Terry, Joe’s twin sister, works so hard to be the perfect parent that her parenting has overflowed onto her husband, Evan. He just can’t take it any more. Lisa worries about life after the kids. Mike, Joe’s brother, married her because she was pregnant. What will happen when they are grown and gone? Will he be too? Kevin, Joe’s brother, is wading through one-night stands trying to blur the image of walking in on his wife cheating on him. Then there is Joe and Keri. Keri was so worried about losing her identity that she had to get as far away from Joe and her hometown as possible. And Joe just never got over the one that got away.
Now, that all sounds so serious. It is. It isn’t. When you get this loving family together, they laugh with and at each other. They poke and joke. This family is so awesome. I may put in an application to be adopted. They are so close and a tune to each other that they see the hurt or pick up on the worry. They push when needed or lend their shoulder to cry on. I love the Kowalskis.
I love camping trips and these guys know how to have fun. Smores. Cannonballs. Mud Throwing. Sitting around the fire. Dirty Scrabble. Checking for ticks. This trip was the perfect place for Stacey to build the tension, bring the steam and try to thaw the 18 years since Keri left. I was completely swept away with Joe and Keri. Joe may be worth sacrificing bug spray for, but is he worth veering off the path altogether?
I am all in. I’m a total fan girl for this series and Shannon Stacey. I can’t wait till I hang out with the Kowalskis again.
In life, can you ask for a do-over? Maybe not, but sometimes you get second chances.
It was a cute reunion with a dash of revenge story. Not sure it fully lived up to the hype though. I might try the next in the series and see.
I listened to this book in the car on a trip. The characters made me so angry I was yelling at the iPod adapter! Thank goodness I was alone. ;-) In short, except for Joe, I thought most of the characters were shallow, immature, vindictive, pushy, and stuck in middle school. Keri sort of redeemed herself in the end, but then again, the fact that she was so adamant about not being "somebody's" girl/wife/mother that her turn around didn't ring true to me. I just wanted to know why Joe fell for her, not once but twice. And I couldn't stop thinking that if she'd been less shallow and insecure, they wouldn't have missed 20 years.
Terri was awful, and I had trouble believing her turnaround, too. In short, this novel had more negatives than positives for me. The only things saving it were the author writes well and has a knack for good dialog. So, given that, and the fact that she did make me laugh a few times, I'll give it 3*, but it's just squeaking by for me. More like 2,5* Don't know if I'll try this author again.
Edited to add:
Overall I felt like I was listening to someone narrate a romantic comedy movie. All the elements were there: an overbearing boss, a heroine who is shallow at first, a city girl stuck in the woods dealing with bugs and no hair dryer, vindictive person out to make life miserable for said city girl (parent trap, anyone?), big sometimes dysfunctional family, unruly children, lack of honest communication, a few slap-stick humor moments, and the HEA. It was about that predictable and about that deep emotionally.
Terri was awful, and I had trouble believing her turnaround, too. In short, this novel had more negatives than positives for me. The only things saving it were the author writes well and has a knack for good dialog. So, given that, and the fact that she did make me laugh a few times, I'll give it 3*, but it's just squeaking by for me. More like 2,5* Don't know if I'll try this author again.
Edited to add:
Overall I felt like I was listening to someone narrate a romantic comedy movie. All the elements were there: an overbearing boss, a heroine who is shallow at first, a city girl stuck in the woods dealing with bugs and no hair dryer, vindictive person out to make life miserable for said city girl (parent trap, anyone?), big sometimes dysfunctional family, unruly children, lack of honest communication, a few slap-stick humor moments, and the HEA. It was about that predictable and about that deep emotionally.
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
The only thing that bothered me is I got confused at times with what was going on. Sometimes it was too fast-paced, and other times it dragged. I did get frustrated with Keri and Joe.
I wish Keri, would've realized that Joe was in love with her and he would do anything to make her happy.
I give this book 3.5 moons, but I wish I could give it 3.75 moons.
I will be reading the next book in the series soon. =)
I recommend this book to contemporary romance lovers, readers who love drama, and a little humor.
The only thing that bothered me is I got confused at times with what was going on. Sometimes it was too fast-paced, and other times it dragged. I did get frustrated with Keri and Joe.
I wish Keri, would've realized that Joe was in love with her and he would do anything to make her happy.
I give this book 3.5 moons, but I wish I could give it 3.75 moons.
I will be reading the next book in the series soon. =)
I recommend this book to contemporary romance lovers, readers who love drama, and a little humor.
Okay, I gave this author a few tries, because people seem to love her, but she's not for me. I just don't love her characters, and there are too many tiny things that annoy me. For instance, in this book two high school sweethearts broke up because she needed to leave in order to be an individual, instead of always being Bill's daughter, Joe's girl, babe, sweetheart. So they get back together later, and he constantly calls her 'babe' even before they're together again, and she never explains to him why she doesn't like that - or even why she left, as far as I could tell. Frustrating.