Review: Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey.

Posted December 1, 2010 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Rowena’s review of Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey.

Hero: Keri Daniels
Heroine: Joe Kowalsky

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.

I picked up this book because I thought it was cute and because it’s been getting really good buzz around the romance blogosphere. I trust my blogging sisters and since I saw picky Holly gave this book a good grade, I thought…why not?

I’m really glad that I picked this one up because I almost breezed over it when I was browsing through titles over at NetGalley. I haven’t read anything by Shannon Stacey nor have I read anything from Carina Press but after reading this gem of a book, I’m going to make a point to try some more stuff from both the author and the pub.

This book is about Keri and Joe. They’re high school sweethearts and their relationship ended when Keri up and left to California leaving behind a broken hearted Joe. Years later, Keri has become a writer for a magazine and her editor finds out about her past relationship with Joe Kowalski- big time author and tells her that if she wants to keep her job, she’s going to have to get an interview with Joe so whats a girl to do when faced with possible termination?

She goes back home to get that interview of course.

It was a real treat getting to see Keri and Joe fall in love all over again. I thought that they were fantastic characters and Stacey did a great job of keeping me invested in their story. It took me a little to warm up to Keri but in the end, I thought she was a stand up heroine who I came to like very much.

Joe and his family were probably my favorite part of this book. They reminded me of my own family and the chaotic perfection that comes with it all. They kept me reading and wanting to know what came next and I adored that.

My only gripe is probably the same as Holly’s from her review…I didn’t understand why Joe just HAD to have Keri move back home. He could have written his book and turned it in from anywhere so why the heck did he just have to have Keri back home? That didn’t make sense to me but I got over it because I’m easy like that.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Grade: 4.5 out of 5

The series:

This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here in e-format.