There's a bit in the beginning where the lady and dude are being disrespectful of a trans-lady past-friend of theirs (using the wrong pronouns and such) that made me not-happy. Other than that, it's cute but not much better than average. I read the next 2 books in the series and it's more of the same. Not a terrible way to spend an afternoon but there are way better contemporaries around. ( )

Knew this would be a different kind of book, but I was pleasantly surprised how great of a love story it was! Looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Storyline, characters, the romance... everything is well written. But I especially liked this author's voice, her humour. ( )

Exclusively Yours is the first book in the Kowalski Family series by Shannon Stacey.

After hearing so many great things about Shannon Stacey’s books I knew I have to read something by her, soon. Thanks my luck this book was available in NetGalley.

The blurb describes pretty well what this book is about, I don’t think it’s necessary to add more to it. Adding more will be too spoilerish.

I started Exclusively Yours with an open mind and not high expectations, but I can honestly say this book was a great surprise. I really liked everything about it and since page one I was ensnared in the story. The characters felt real and well developed, I’m not just talking about main characters but secondary characters too. They all have different personalities and characteristics. This made them feel more alive and at the same time easier to connect with.

Keri has worked hard to obtain her dreams and to get where she is. But now she is walking the tightrope, she wants to succeed in her career but not at the expense of her principles. She had the material in her hands to write the article of her lifetime but she could never live with herself if she did that; this made me really admired her and liked her even more. I also loved that she had insecurities, she knows she is not the same eighteen year old girl that Joe knew, nor has the same body, time has passed and even though she takes care of herself years and gravity have affected her, or at least that was what she thinks, making her feel more real and easy to relate to.
I have never camped, not once in my life and just thinking about it I get the willies, for that reason more than once I identified myself with Keri. I guess many of her reactions to the different situations could have been my own reactions; this made the book an even funnier read for me.

Joe was a great character, he was sweet, caring, sexy, smart, funny and honest. *swoon* I loved his need to keep his life private and that he hasn’t let himself be blinded by fame and fortune. He’s still the same Joe Keri dated in high school, just with expensive toys.

The chemistry between these two was off the charts, since their first encounter is was pretty obvious things haven’t changed with time and seeing them fight this attraction was not only entertaining but hilarious at a times.

Apart from the main plot there are two small subplots, one involves Joe’s sister and her husband and the other one involves one of Joe’s brothers and his wife. These secondary stories didn’t subtract attention to the main story but complemented the plot as a whole.

As I said before, the secondary characters were all different and entertaining, and as in all stories some easier to like than others. Their interrelationships were honest and true to their characterizations.
Mrs. Stacey’s writing style is fluid and spotless making of Exclusively Yours a-difficult-to-put-down-book.

All in all I liked Exclusively Yours and its characters so much that as soon as I finish reading it I stated the second book in this series, Undeniable Yours.
I can truthfully tell you that all the hype behind Mrs. Stacey books is real. If you are a lover of contemporary romance you should give this book and this author a chance, I can guarantee you you won’t regret it. ( )

Keri Daniels is a career-focused tabloid reporter who is determined to become an editor, but her latest assignment fills her with nothing but dread. She's been commanded to get a hard-hitting (and preferably scandalous) interview with Joseph Kowalski, a reclusive bestselling author who also happens to be Keri's high school sweetheart -- a fact her editor wants her to exploit when she approaches him. To Keri's surprise, Joe agrees to be interviewed, but he has conditions: Keri must accompany him on his family's annual two-week camping trip in rural New Hampshire. For every day Keri can stick it out, Joe will answer one question. With no other choice, Keri agrees to the scheme, but her high-powered life in the city doesn't translate well to living in a cabin, dousing herself with bug repellent, or riding an ATV through the mud. But the more time Keri spends with Joe's big, loud, loving family -- and with Joe himself -- the more she enjoys herself. Can she and Joe rekindle their romance without encountering the same obstacles that originally tore them apart?

I'd heard good things about Shannon Stacey's Kowalski series, so I decided to pick up this first installment. Overall, I liked but didn't love it. My favorite part of the book by far was Joe's rambunctious family, from his mother with her deadly wooden spoon to his noisy, irrepressible nephews. While the Kowalskis certainly have their share of dysfunction, ultimately it's obvious that they love and care about each other. That said, I wasn't particularly invested in the romance between Joe and Keri. I didn't really buy their reasons for breaking up after high school, nor did I understand what was keeping them apart in the present. Keri wanted to focus on her career, but she certainly doesn't seem to have a lot of pride in her current job as a tabloid reporter. And Joe didn't want to follow Keri to the big city because he loved his family, but surely a bestsellng author could afford frequent trips back home to see them. So basically, I thought they were both acting stupidly, and I found myself dismissing their supposed obstacles. All in all, I'm not sold on this series, but I may pick up the next book sometime.