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Nov 19, 2011

“It’s customary to offer a squeeze to determine if breasts are real or not, you know. Don’t you watch TV?”

She laughed and shoved the retrieved ballcap back on her head. “Nice try, Kowalski. You’ll have to take my word for it.”
Exclusively Yours is the first book in the Kowalski Family series, and wow! Just… WOW! It’s one of my absolute favorite Contemporary Romances that I’ve read, and I loved every single word, every heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, sexy minute of it! I laughed, More...

62 comments like (21 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

♡KarLynP♡ rated it:

4.5 stars. In short, it’s a fun laugh-out-loud steamy contemporary romance set in the backwoods of New Hampshire (complete with mosquitoes, ATVs, bath houses, and marshmallow roasts.) This is an author to watch as her humor is sharp, the sexual tension tight, the romance believable, and the characters all well developed.

The premise: High school sweethearts Joe and Keri went separate ways when Keri chose to move out west to attend Berkeley and make a name for herself. It was the More...

9 comments like (15 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Ridley rated it:

One of the debut releases from the brand new epublisher Carina Press, Exclusively Yours is a contemporary romance set in the exotic, mosquito-infested wilds of New Hampshire, where the ATVs roam free and the riders all work at giving love a second chance.

Keri Daniels ends up in this mess when her boss, the editor-in-chief of an LA-based celebrity magazine, gets a hold of a compromising photo from Keri’s past. In the photo, she’s cuddling with her high school sweetheart, Joe. Of cours More...

3 comments like (13 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

BarkLessWagMore rated it:

Joseph Kowalski and Keri Daniels were high school sweethearts but Keri left Joe broken hearted in order to chase her dreams. Now 18 years later, he’s a reclusive best-selling author and she’s a reporter for an entertainment magazine whose editor has just discovered her past relationship with Joe and demands she get the scoop on the guy. If she refuses she’ll risk losing her job and any chance of moving up a rung or two on the ladder. Keri’s worked hard to get to where she is and leaves behind More...

4 comments like (12 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Melissa rated it:

I really enjoyed this story! It's been a long while since a book has grabbed my attention and I didn't want to put it down.

Keri and Joe were high-school sweethearts. Keri needing something bigger in life left her home town and Joe for California to become a writer for a magazine.

Fast forward 18 years, Keri's boss demand she gets the inside scoop on Joe or lose her job.

I really fell for Joe, he was sweet and lovable.

The secondary characters wer More...

5 comments like (9 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Shawna rated it:

4 stars – Contemporary Romance

The Kowalski family is a kooky, fun bunch who take camping and ATVing to the extreme while also dealing with realistic marital struggles, kid stress, and a blast from the past. This is a fun, light contemporary romance that had me seriously cracking up at times. I just wish there had been a bit more romance between Joe and Keri and that the heat level had been turned up a few degrees.

25 comments like (12 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Anzu rated it:

I started reading this as an accident of fate. Yes you read it well! Me and my friend Aly decided we should do a “group” (or whatever you wanna call it) read. We picked a couple of books, numbered ‘em and then used an online random number chooser thing to pick what to read. This was the result. It was actually a nice experiment. Worked for my friend, didn’t work for me.

This review will be a bad one. I hated the book; I won’t be nice so in case you’re into this type of books you shoul More...

3 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Jodie rated it:

Exclusively Yours is a masterpiece of contemporary perfection.

Yep, I’m still giddy with excitement over reading my first Shannon Stacey book and I literally have heart palpitations thinking about reading the second book in the series – Yes, it was that good.

Was there suspense? No. Was the story action packed? No. Was there paranormal shifters or sexy vampires?? Well, its contemporary – so obviously not. But what it did have was witty dialogue, a HUGE dose of sweetly simmerin More...

14 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Ruth rated it:

This one was OK, but, for me, it wasn't up to the same standard as the other books by this author. I guess most of my reasons for not liking it much are down to me really, but I had a number of issues with it.

- The hero and heroine dated in high school (OK, they spent most of their time in each others' pants). It was the best sex of the heroine's life. So far, so good. Then we're told she's always carried a torch for him, and he's the same about her. Hmm. Why? I ask. Why woul More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Samantha rated it:

More like a 3.5 stars. Exclusively Yours is a funny, light and contemporary read that will leave readers wanting a little bit more.

Lately I’ve been reading new books by new authors (or at least they are new to me) and while I’m always a bit reluctant and leery, I have to say that I’ve been finding some really good books. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey was another good read. High School sweethearts Joe Kowalski and Keri Daniels were wildly in teenage love, planning a future until More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Jaci rated it:

With full disclosure, Shannon is a good friend of mine. That being said, this book was wonderfully written. A great contemporary romance that held me spellbound. I couldn't put it down. It was fun, with tons of humor, incredible secondary characters I grew to love, and a fantastic romance between the hero and heroine. Shannon writes characters you root for, characters who aren't perfect, a compelling story, and her voice simply captures you. It wouldn't matter if we were friends or not, I'd stil More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Lisa Kay rated it:

★★★★½ Short, sweet, with a touch of spice, and just the right fit for my brooding-moody self after another disappointing read. I'm not a big fan of "second chance at love" - with the same person. I figure, when it is over, it's over. In fact, I chose this one to fullfill a "National Pet Peeve Week" requirement in an October Challenge. But, this was well done and the Kowlaski family is down-to-earth fun.

8 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Miss Kim rated it:

The Kowalski family is so lovable! I can't wait to read more of them in the series. Keri was a tad on the annoying side, but I did love joe. The camping and the four wheelers, and the authors humor were a great read! Recommend to anyone looking for a light contemporary.

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Erika rated it:

I'm waffling on a rating for Keri and Joe. On the one hand, I liked the premise of Exclusively Yours, on the other hand, I thought that Keri was a superficial flake.

I was entertained enough by the antics of all the characters to read this entire book fairly quickly. I giggled a few times. I teared up a bit with some of the marital woes going on in the other Siblings lives, but Joe and Keri's relationship felt one sided.

It's been 18 years since Keri broke Joe's heart and More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Penny rated it:

I am fervently attempting to avoid all contemporary romance novels. Even ones that come highly recommended are pissing me off no end. However, one has been nagging at me for a while, and for one simple reason.

Kowalski.

As soon as I saw that Shannon Stacey's series had a family with the last name Kowalski, I knew I was going to read it. That is ballsy, funny, and so uncool it's totally cool.

Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey (Kowalski Family series #1) is just More...

3 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Dee rated it:

I had seen more than a few raving reviews from friends on GR about this story and had high hopes and was really looking forward to reading it. Although I enjoyed the story I can't quite see what all the fuss was about!

Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the story but I just didn't feel the connection between Joe & Keri. I don't believe they actually loved each other - ok maybe I believed Joe a bit more than Keri. I am always saying that I like quite a bit of steam with my romances and I cer More...

0 comments like (5 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Damaris (GoodChoiceReading) rated it:

I really, really, really enjoyed reading this book. I loved everything about it.

This book in some sort of way reminded me a little of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. Joe and Keri were high school sweathearts and loved each other very dearly, until one day Keri decides that she wants to move to California to pursue a career in Journalism. Keri leaves Joe back in New Hampshire heart broken and confused.

Joe is so hurt by Keri leaving him that he turns to alcohol and slowl More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Jae rated it:

I so cannot dig this story.

I didn't like Keri for being a career-orientated woman through and through, first when she was 18 and even now 18 years later.
And I didn't like Joe any better either for not learning any lesson at all regarding Keri. You'd have thought he'd be a bit guarded this time around too.

I had a very hard time finishing this off.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Kris (KindleRomance) rated it:

Enjoyable story - very light steam - but very romantic. I loved Joe and thought he was such a sweetheart, but for some reason I wasn't a huge fan of Keri. It wasn't the constant whining about the outdoors (which I could relate to), but I didn't really understand why she left and never kept in touch.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Jan 24, 2012

Brenda rated it:

I liked the premise (Keri's need for identity) but in the end I didn't feel the book delivered on it. The sub-plots involving Joe's siblings' marital troubles were much more emotionally compelling than the main couple's. I never got an idea of who Keri was beyond her high-living LA lifestyle, so the conflict that'd been set up almost twenty years prior between her love for Joe and her need for identity felt painted on, especially since it's not even mentioned until at least halfway into the book More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Ana rated it:

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 da

More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Carrie rated it:

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 fel More...

7 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Emmanuelle rated it:

Just an okey read for me and a story that definitely had some potential. I was a bit disappointed though. A few things didn't work for me :
- the sexy banter between two people who haven't seen eachother in 18 years and parted with a TERRIBLE heartbreak... I'd have imagined more uneasiness, even a little, and couldn't see any.
- it took 166 pages (out of 208) to the heroine to start thinking that, MAYBE, she made a mistake in harshly dumping her BF.
- I would have prefered a more More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Julie rated it:

This was one of those contemporary romance books I started one evening and finished in the wee hours of the morning. The writing is smooth, the characters are well developed, the plot is sweet, and lots of redemption for thirty somethings. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and it was just what I needed when picking up a romance without sex on every page. There are steamy scenes mind you, but the world in which the Kowalski's live could have been anyone's family that likes camping, close knit, and h More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Petya rated it:

I like it - nice and sweet. I didn't understand the second chance idea. Also if Joe was so in love with her in high school how could he let her go without even looking for her for so many years ... Not very belivable for me but ... but even so I like the story just fine. So yes .. if you haven't read it yet - give it a try.

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Tori rated it:

What a great book! It has all of my favorite book requirements. Second chance romance? Check! Witty Banter? Check! Awesome supporting cast? Check! The great guy who is head over heels for the girl. Check, check, CHECK! Loved it!

3 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Robin *loves sexy books* rated it:

I loved it. The kids were funny, all the couples were sweet and Joe kowalski was super sexy. I didn't like Keri much in the beginning but she redeemed herself!

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Eleonora rated it:

*3.5 stars*

Exclusively Yours is the first book in the Kowalski Family series, and it was a really pleasant surprise.
Kari is a journalist that in order to save her job, is forced to return to her hometown and get an exclusive interview with the reclusive, mysterious best-selling author, Joe Kowalski. Too bad that Joe is her first love, the one she has never been able to forget, even after 18 years.
Joe agrees to do the interview on one condition: that Kari comes with him and h More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Christa rated it:

This was a cute, light-hearted contemporary romance. I enjoyed the characters, both the main ones and the many secondary ones, and the storyline was fun. I am glad that this is the first book of a series. I am looking forward to seeing these characters again.

When Keri Daniel's boss finds out she once had an intimate relationship with reclusive bestselling author, Joe Kowalski, she gives Keri the choice of coming back with an exclusive interview or saying goodbye to her job. Keri has More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 19, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

I love Joe Kowalski! There, I said it. If you are looking for a hero with problems and issues, this is not the book for you. If you are looking for mystery and suspense, this is not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a well written contemporary romance. Or, a romance tale about reuniting with your first love. Or, a romance liberally sprinkled with a tight knit, loving family. Or, a couple who just plain belong together. This is a book for you!

Shannon Stacey wro More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)