Book Review: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey

Title: Exclusively Yours
Series: Kowalski Family, #1
Author: Shannon Stacey
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: bought
Published: May 2010 by Carina Press

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.

Why I Read this Book: I have seen this book all over the internets but hadn’t picked it up until recently. I was looking forward to the reuniting of high school sweethearts (sounds sweet, right?). And with a little blackmailing mixed in, I knew things were going to get interesting.

What I Liked: Exclusively Yours started off without a hitch and it was just smooth sailing all the way until the very end. The writing was naturally fluid; it just sucked me right in. It felt like I was there, like a mosquito on the the cabin door, watching everything take place. I got a good feel for all the characters in Joe’s family; I got to know them really well and I connected with them. Joe’s family is lovable and I love the camaraderie.

I liked that Joe was no fool; he knew what Keri was up to before she even contacted him. There was more going on than just the main storyline between Keri and Joe. The secondary story arcs did not distract away from the main storyline. I liked that the overall theme of the book was taking second chances.

If I were to have known beforehand that there were so many kids in this novel, I might have shied away from it. (I don’t like kids in my romance novels.) So it was a good thing that I went in blind in regards to that matter. Exclusively Yours is the first book I’ve been able to read through (and enjoy immensely) that features a lot of kids in the storyline. Let’s see, there was…..5 kids in the picture total. They didn’t overshadow anything that was going on in the storyline. They were in the background, where they needed to be. They weren’t overwhelming and they didn’t distract my reading enjoyment in the slightest. The author did a really good job with that.

Here’s a steamy quote for you to enjoy:

Back when she and Joe were doing everything but it, he’d shown her how he took matters into his own hands, so to speak, and that wasn’t an image a girl forgot.

What I Didn’t Like: Not a damn thing. I’m just kicking myself for not reading this book sooner.

Overall Impression: Exclusively Yours was a contemporary romance novel that was right up my alley. It was full of humorous banter and steamy romance. It featured fun and lovable characters and there were good times to be had. I want to go camping now…

Brianna’s Rating: