From the Shelf: All He Ever Needed (Kowalski Family #4)

Title: All He Ever Needed (Kowalski Family #4)
Author: Shannon Stacey
Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance
Date read: February 24, 2014
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

He won’t stay put for a woman, and she won’t chase after any man…

Mitch Kowalski lives out of a suitcase—and he likes it that way. Traveling for work has the added bonus of scaring off women who would otherwise try to tie him down. But when he’s called home to help with the family lodge, he’s intrigued by the new girl in town and her insistence that she doesn’t need a man. If there’s one thing Mitch can’t resist, it’s a challenge.

After a nomadic childhood, Paige Sullivan is finally putting down roots. Determined to stand on her own two feet, she lives by the motto “Men are a luxury, not a necessity.” But when Mr. Tall, Dark and Hot pulls up a stool in her diner and offers her six weeks of naughty fun with a built-in expiration date, she’s tempted to indulge.

They’re the perfect match for a no-strings fling. Until they realize their sexy affair has become anything but casual…

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Exclusively Yours, Undeniably Yours, Yours To Keep

Okay I admit this was one of those typical stories where the male protagonist doesn't want to be tied down by any commitment and the female protagonist is enjoying her independence. I know that this is some cliche plot but it still got my attention. This still involves the beloved Kowalski family but the other side of the Kowalski clan. It started off with Sean and Emma's story but this time situated at the Northern Star Lodge, a family business. Mitch Kowalski was introduced in Sean's story and now its his time to shine. Admittedly, all women want someone they can tame, someone that they could change, the dreaded smitten to a bad boy syndrome and this is one of those stories to blame for.

Till the next read...

From the Shelf: Yours to Keep (Kowalski Family #3)

Title: Yours to Keep (Kowalski Family #3)
Author: Shannon Stacey
Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance
Date read: February 21-24, 2014
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Sean Kowalski no sooner leaves the Army than he's recruited by Emma Shaw to be her fake fiance. Emma needs to produce a husband-to-be for her grandmother's upcoming visit, and, though Sean doesn't like the deception, he could use the landscaping job Emma's offering while he decides what to do with his civilian life. And, despite his attraction to Emma, there's no chance he'll fall for a woman with deep roots in a town he's not planning to call home.

Emma's not interested in a real relationship either; not with a man whose idea of home is wherever he drops his duffel bag. No matter how amazing his "pretend" kisses are...

My Review: (also in goodreads)


Lookback: Exclusively Yours, Undeniably Yours

Sean is fresh out of the army and trying to figure out what he wants in life when Emma appeared in his doorstep with a crazy proposition: be her fiancee while her grandma is visiting. Of course one's normal reaction is to not accept it but he does and that's where all things complicated start. What amuses me the most is the fact that the one they are fooling are onto their fallacy. And thus, matchmaking season has begun.

Till the next read...

From the Shelf: Unbelievably Yours (Kowalski Family #2)

Title: Unbelievably Yours (Kowalski Family #2)
Author: Shannon Stacey
Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance
Date read: February 21, 2014
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

One-night stand + two percent condom failure rate = happily ever after?
Bar owner Kevin Kowalski is used to women throwing their phone numbers at him, but lately he’s more interested in finding a woman to settle down with. A woman like Beth Hansen. If only their first meeting hadn’t gone so badly...

Beth’s tending bar at a wedding when she comes face-to-face with a tuxedo-clad man she never thought she’d see again. She tries to keep her distance from Kevin but, by last call, she can’t say no to his too-blue eyes or the invitation back to his room. Then she slips out before breakfast without leaving a note and, despite their precautions, pregnant.

Kevin quickly warms to the idea of being a dad and to seeing where things go with Beth. After all, he’s not the player she thinks he is. But she’s not ready for a relationship and, given his reputation, it’s going to take a lot to convince her to go on a second date with the father of her child...

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: Exclusively Yours

It started with Kevin being interested with a person that was having trouble in his bar and once again meeting her at his brother's wedding reception serving drinks. Beth is a person who is fully enjoying her independence from the life that was planned out for her. But she is also attracted to Kevin and as a life-changing moment entwines the both of them, she should be the one drawing the boundaries. I like the witty banter and the character's chemistry. What I also love in series like this is that there are cameos from the characters in other books and they are involved in the story. I love that sense of familiarity.

Till the next read...

From the Shelf: Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family #1)

Title: Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family #1)
Author: Shannon Stacey
Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance
Date read: February 20-21, 2014
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

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.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

This is another family romance series that I got interested to. Even the plot wherein they were childhood sweethearts got me intrigued. Their paths once again cross not in a few years time but in decades, which makes it realistic. Those unanswered questions and that undying chemistry would be their problem when Joe allows her to be close to him once again. Add in a family camping tradition and that they share one cabin, would be such a confusing moment for them. I loved the young ones having sarcastic comments during their camping trip. As for how they handled their issues together, I could say they did fairly well.

 Till the next read...

From the Shelf: The Marriage Merger (Marriage to a Billionare #4)

Title: The Marriage Merger (Marriage to a Billionare #4)

Author: Jennifer Probst
Genre: Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance
Date read: February 16-17, 2014
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Her sisters have found wedded bliss with their wealthy,wonderful dream men, but not Julietta Conte. She’s stayed on terra firma as top executive of the family’s corporation, La Dolce Famiglia bakery. Work is her passion, and her trendy Milan apartment her sanctuary . . . until Sawyer Wells, a masculine masterpiece in a suit, lures her out of hiding with an irresistible offer: an exclusive partnership with his international chain of boutique hotels.

Julietta’s been burned before—and trusting her brother-in-law’s friend, whose powerful gaze alone has her rethinking the best use of a conference room, is the riskiest proposition. But with a once-in-a-career chance to take the bakery global, will she mix stone-cold business with red-hot seduction?

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Lookback: The Marriage Bargain, The Marriage Trap, The Marriage Mistake

Just like what's in family romance series, there is that one story that would close off everything and it would finally come full circle. Julietta Conte was the only single person after 4 books that obviously she would be the protagonist of this book. Sawyer Wells, another character introduced in the series gets intrigued by Julietta's iron clad leadership of La Dolce Famiglia. For me this last book (?) of the series was more deep and sensual. They had to face their commitment issues and their obsession as a leader. What amused me the most is that spell book. It seems that all stories revolve around which partner they would like in life as they cast a spell. Even the Conte matriarch seemed to involved in everyone's lives (maybe except the first book). I even had this absurd thought that maybe the book of spells came from her.

Till the next read...