Holly’s review of All He Ever Needed (Kowalksi, Book 4) by Shannon Stacey.
Born to Roam
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 running the family lodge, he’s intrigued by the new girl in town and her insistence that she doesn’t need a man—for anything. If there’s one thing Mitch can’t resist, it’s a challenge, especially a beautiful one.
Looking for Home
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.
Mitch won’t stay put for a woman, and Paige won’t chase after a man—they’re the perfect match for a no-strings fling. Until they realize the amazing sex has become anything but casual…
I’ve been curious about this branch of the Kowalski clan since the beginning of the series. I’m glad Stacey is writing them now.
Mitch is the premier demolitions expert in the country. As such, he travels a lot and works extensive hours. This doesn’t leave much time to visit his family or for a long-term relationship. Which is just the way he likes it. Going home makes him claustrophobic – and so do women who want nothing but a ring on their finger. When he’s forced to go home for six weeks to help his brother – who recently broke his leg – run the family inn, he can’t help but count down the days until he can leave again.
One thing that will make his stay a bit more bearable? Getting the new diner owner, Paige, into bed. She’s hot and he wants to show her a good time. The problem? Paige is on a temporary hiatus from men. Especially ones like Mitch Kowalksi.
Paige spent her whole life moving from one place to another as her mom chased one man after another. She doesn’t want to be the same type of woman. As the note on her refrigerator reminds her every day, “Men are a luxury, not a necessity”. That doesn’t mean she’s dead, however, and Mitch is a prime specimen of manhood. But she’s been down that road before and isn’t interested in traveling it again. Except..Mitch is a pretty persuasive guy.
As I’ve said before, I think Stacey does humor and wit very well. I know going into one of her books I’m going to be entertained and immersed in the story. I wasn’t disappointed. The banter between Mitch and Paige was flirty and fun, as was the overall tone of their dealings with each other. There was quite a bit of depth, too, in the way they slowly opened up to each other.
Mitch’s relationship with his family and his feelings about his hometown were understandable and worked well in the context of the story. The contrast between Paige’s love for small-town life and Mitch’s frustration with having his every action from birth through college dissected and discussed every time he came to town was played well and served to add believable tension.
Despite that, I was ..not put off, exactly, but a bit disappointed in Mitch’s overall attitude about their relationship and Paige’s acceptance of his actions. Mitch doesn’t want more than a fling.
“This is all there is. We’ll have a good time and enjoy each other’s company and then, when it’s time for me to go, I’ll just say goodbye and be gone. I won’t call. I won’t text. I won’t write.”
Her response was a good one,
“Just so you know,” she said, “once you’re gone, I won’t mope. I won’t text. I won’t sit around restaurants in twenty years reminiscing about the night we spent together.”
but I think she let him get away with too much. His hot and cold attitude started to grate on my nerves, so it had to be grating on hers as well. Yet instead of calling him on it, she brushed it off.
That aside, I loved that she caught herself acting the fool for him and made a conscious effort to stop. She didn’t pine after him or let herself build castles in the sky. It was refreshing for a woman to realize that’s what she was doing.
While I had a few quibbles, overall I enjoyed the story. Once I started reading I couldn’t stop. Now if she would just write a little faster so I could have the next book….
4.25 out of 5
This book is available from Carina Press. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
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