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Kowalski Family #2
Undeniably Yours
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, she's 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...
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, she's 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...
381 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2010
About the author
Shannon Stacey
120 books2,640 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing romance and really random tweets when she’s not riding her ATV. She loves mud, books, football & watching way too much TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 768 reviews
March 15, 2015
2.5 stars.
I wanted to bash Beth over the head with the boulder that is her pride. She spends the entire book whining about how everyone wants to help her and be there for her but she is too independent and afraid of smothering to allow it.
I have no idea what Kevin sees in her. Why does he try so hard when he is getting nothing in return? He puts up with her crap for ten months. Being supportive, trying to show her affection. I wanted to shake some self-respect into him. Women are always giving him their number with suggestive remarks but he doesn’t even look at them. He is wrapped up in Beth who ignores him and makes him feel overbearing. Six months into the story, Beth whines to her mom that Kevin collects these napkins with phone numbers from bar bunnies so how could she trust that he wants a real relationship with her. Despite evidence that he doesn’t take these women up on their offer. Despite the fact that Kevin spends all his time with her being a nice guy.
I knew going in this was a pregnancy book but every now and then my eyes would glaze over at all the babyness.
I vastly preferred the secondary romance and wish it had been given more screen time. It was a bit too rushed to make way for repetitious narrative on how letting the father of your baby assist you and want to be in a relationship with you was horrible.
The author’s voice was enjoyable and there were several humorous bits of dialogue.
I wanted to bash Beth over the head with the boulder that is her pride. She spends the entire book whining about how everyone wants to help her and be there for her but she is too independent and afraid of smothering to allow it.
I have no idea what Kevin sees in her. Why does he try so hard when he is getting nothing in return? He puts up with her crap for ten months. Being supportive, trying to show her affection. I wanted to shake some self-respect into him. Women are always giving him their number with suggestive remarks but he doesn’t even look at them. He is wrapped up in Beth who ignores him and makes him feel overbearing. Six months into the story, Beth whines to her mom that Kevin collects these napkins with phone numbers from bar bunnies so how could she trust that he wants a real relationship with her. Despite evidence that he doesn’t take these women up on their offer. Despite the fact that Kevin spends all his time with her being a nice guy.
I knew going in this was a pregnancy book but every now and then my eyes would glaze over at all the babyness.
I vastly preferred the secondary romance and wish it had been given more screen time. It was a bit too rushed to make way for repetitious narrative on how letting the father of your baby assist you and want to be in a relationship with you was horrible.
The author’s voice was enjoyable and there were several humorous bits of dialogue.
February 26, 2016
Kevin was ruined. No way in hell was he going to have a normal relationship with a woman’s vagina ever again.I LOVE these books... every single one of them!! Absolutely favorites and keepers, each and every one! Undeniably Yours is book two of the Kowalski family series and it’s funny, heartwarming, sexy… and in case I didn’t make it clear enough, I LOVED IT!
Shit. He was even using the word 'vagina'. He was totally, irretrievably ruined as a man.
This is Kevin and Beth’s story who, after a one-night-stand, end up pregnant. Yeah, they’d used a condom, but sometimes Fate has other ideas, and I’m so, so glad for it! Just like the other books in the series, while there are definitely some very emotional moments, this is not an angst ridden story. I’ve ended each book with a smile on my face and a deep sigh of contentment!
I’m going to share a couple of my very favorite scenes and then call it done, because no amount of my raving can do this story justice -
This scene takes place when Beth meets the whole Kowalski clan for the first time. The entire event was funny as all get out, but this bit had me smiling so hard my cheeks hurt--
It was a little overwhelming, even though they were a very likable bunch of people. Like agreeing to learn the doggy paddle and being shoved off the high-dive board. And to keep things interesting, somebody told Bobby, Kevin’s youngest nephew, the baby could hear stuff and he was determined to make his new cousin his BFF in utero. It was a bit disconcerting having a kid randomly tell bad jokes to her stomach. Like now.And Bobby strikes again -
“Why did the weasel cross the road?” he yelled at her belly button. “To prove it wasn’t a chicken!”
Then he laughed so hard he almost fell over. He was a cute kid, she thought, and then it hit her—a little over seven years from now, she might have one just like him. Some faceless, nameless boy with too much energy and the knees almost worn out of his jeans, telling jokes to crack himself up. Maybe, if they were lucky, he’d look like his daddy, dimples and all.
Beth was laughing at his story when Bobby ran up to her. She lifted her plate out of harm’s way and smiled at Kevin over his nephew’s head as the boy put a hand on either side of her waist.And for some reason, this one really got to me. One of the simplest, sweetest ways to hear that a man had fallen hard for his woman -
“Hey, cuz!” Bobby yelled at her stomach. “What does a snowman eat for breakfast? Snowflakes!”
Then he laughed like a loon and ran off in another direction.
Countless women had walked through his bar. Walked. Sashayed. Danced. Staggered. He’d even had a few try to climb up onto the bar and strip. Who knew he’d be turned on by the one who waddled?So yeah, do I love these books? Absolutely!! They are fun, feel good, sweet, romantic, and very sexy stories guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face and have you wishing that you were part of this family - or better yet - one of the lucky ladies who has stolen the heart of a Kowalski.
This ebook was provided free of charge by netgalley.com in behalf of Carina Press. This had no influence on my rating or my review.
December 29, 2017
This book frustrated me.
And the heroine
Beth: Kevin is hot. I want him.
Kevin: Let’s sleep together
Beth: Okay.
A week later
Beth: I’m pregnant
Kevin: Cool. Let’s get married.
Beth: I don’t need you to get married. I can marry myself
Kevin: Well let me help you with the pregnancy
Beth: No. I’m so independent. I impregnated myself.
Kevin: but I love you
Beth: no you don’t. I love myself.
Exasperating and infuriating woman! I was so ready for this book to end. The redeeming quality was the Kowalski family. I enjoy the connection they have with each other. They are a real fun loving bunch.
And the heroine
Beth: Kevin is hot. I want him.
Kevin: Let’s sleep together
Beth: Okay.
A week later
Beth: I’m pregnant
Kevin: Cool. Let’s get married.
Beth: I don’t need you to get married. I can marry myself
Kevin: Well let me help you with the pregnancy
Beth: No. I’m so independent. I impregnated myself.
Kevin: but I love you
Beth: no you don’t. I love myself.
Exasperating and infuriating woman! I was so ready for this book to end. The redeeming quality was the Kowalski family. I enjoy the connection they have with each other. They are a real fun loving bunch.
November 18, 2010
This book was frustrating. It never got any deeper than the surface. Beth was a stupid idiot and I have no idea why Kevin even liked her. I totally didn't buy their HEA. Very disappointed because the first book in this series was so good! It felt like the author took 2 steps back in the writing department.
November 18, 2010
I really liked Kevin in the first book, so I was excited to learn that he was going to get his own book. However, after meeting his lucky lady my happy feelings died. Beth was a miserable female the whole book. They have a one night stand that leads to them having a baby. Instead of Beth accepting Kevin's help, she pushes him away repeatedly. The whole book goes on with this cycle. I really wanted more of a connection between them. I thought the pregnancy would have brought them together and their friendship would have turned to love. Instead, Kevin falls in love and Beth is just being pregnant! Not a great addition to the series.
April 9, 2020
DNF @ 35%
Someone needs to tell me if the rest of this series is any good or which book in the series is your favorite?!
This book is not bad I like plot line, hero and side characters but yes BUT heroine is getting on my last nerve I just can't continue this.
Someone needs to tell me if the rest of this series is any good or which book in the series is your favorite?!
This book is not bad I like plot line, hero and side characters but yes BUT heroine is getting on my last nerve I just can't continue this.
February 11, 2011
If it wasn't for the hero of this book ... I'd have rated it a 2*! The heroine, Beth, spent the entire book spinning out the same extremely annoying "I need my space" type of independence theme, and rejecting the very sweet and protective hero, Kevin. I pretty much could not figure out why the heck such a "good guy" hero fell in love with her. Talk about "phoning it in" on Beth's character - she needed a personality transfusion!. She was very one-dimensional to an extreme, while the rest of the book was actually filled with quite a number of richly devleoped side characters. I found it strikingly odd that one of the main protagonists was so neglected in development. To be honest, I found the secondary romance of Polly and Sam much more interesting, and they definitely had more depth and were more believeable.
I haven't been able to score a good "accidental pregnancy" romance, one of my favorite themes, for some time now. I guess the hunt goes on! :(
K.
I haven't been able to score a good "accidental pregnancy" romance, one of my favorite themes, for some time now. I guess the hunt goes on! :(
K.
July 27, 2011
The only reason this book gets even three stars is because of the hero, his dialogue, and the B-plot. The heroine was a very frustrating protagonist to read about and was the reason I originally contemplated giving the book 2-stars.
Kevin Kowalski is a bar owner from a huge and loving family. He is immediately attracted to Beth and the two have a memorable night together. Very memorable as it turns out because he condom failed and beth is pregnant.
Before I get to my problems with Beth, I'll say what I liked about the book.
Kevin, the scenes in the bar he owns, Paulie, and the Kowalski family are great. I loved Kevin's character. He is a stand up guy who LOVES his Boston teams with an almost comic fervor. The big family interaction is well depicted without being overly cloying or precious. I enjoyed how all the brothers snark on each other and get along. Yup, Kevin is a fantastic character.
And then there's Paulie. She is Kevin's right hand at his sports bar and has a whopper of a secret that comes out in the course of the book. Her romance has a better hook and was much more involving than the one between Kevin and Beth. Paulie and Sam should have been the main story. I was so invested in them and wanted to follow the course of their relationship much more!
But Beth annoyed the bejeesus out of me. There is being independent and proud and then there is being just plain stupid. She was just such a frustrating character because I could find no reason for some the of decisions she made or why she continued to treat people so stand-offishly when they only wanted to help her. Why is it considered a bad thing to accept help? Especially when the help is coming from the father of your baby? And this continues up to the bitter end of the book. I couldn't for the life of me see why Kevin would continue to put up with her.
The other big weakness of the book outside of Beth is I simply didn't buy why Kevin was so into her so quickly. Yes you can be attracted to someone, but he was into her from the start and never looked back. They hadn't really even shared a meaningful conversation before they were between the sheets and he was contemplating changing his long established dating pattern behavior just for her. And...I dunno....I just felt he was into her waaaay more that she was into him. That may not have been the intent of the author. But that is in the end how I felt about the characters.
Read it for the hero and the B-romance plot. Try not to want to slap the heroine too much.
Kevin Kowalski is a bar owner from a huge and loving family. He is immediately attracted to Beth and the two have a memorable night together. Very memorable as it turns out because he condom failed and beth is pregnant.
Before I get to my problems with Beth, I'll say what I liked about the book.
Kevin, the scenes in the bar he owns, Paulie, and the Kowalski family are great. I loved Kevin's character. He is a stand up guy who LOVES his Boston teams with an almost comic fervor. The big family interaction is well depicted without being overly cloying or precious. I enjoyed how all the brothers snark on each other and get along. Yup, Kevin is a fantastic character.
And then there's Paulie. She is Kevin's right hand at his sports bar and has a whopper of a secret that comes out in the course of the book. Her romance has a better hook and was much more involving than the one between Kevin and Beth. Paulie and Sam should have been the main story. I was so invested in them and wanted to follow the course of their relationship much more!
But Beth annoyed the bejeesus out of me. There is being independent and proud and then there is being just plain stupid. She was just such a frustrating character because I could find no reason for some the of decisions she made or why she continued to treat people so stand-offishly when they only wanted to help her. Why is it considered a bad thing to accept help? Especially when the help is coming from the father of your baby? And this continues up to the bitter end of the book. I couldn't for the life of me see why Kevin would continue to put up with her.
The other big weakness of the book outside of Beth is I simply didn't buy why Kevin was so into her so quickly. Yes you can be attracted to someone, but he was into her from the start and never looked back. They hadn't really even shared a meaningful conversation before they were between the sheets and he was contemplating changing his long established dating pattern behavior just for her. And...I dunno....I just felt he was into her waaaay more that she was into him. That may not have been the intent of the author. But that is in the end how I felt about the characters.
Read it for the hero and the B-romance plot. Try not to want to slap the heroine too much.
May 27, 2020
Puanların hepsi Kevin için elbette 😆
May 19, 2012
MENTAL CASTING NEWS
(I put the mental in mental casting!)
(Also, I've had a litttttle bit to drink.)
I read three romance authors: Victoria Dahl, Julie James, and Shannon Stacey. Dahl I read for the sex, James I read for the dialogue, and Stacey I read for the men. The Kowalski men. Hot damn. Of the 3 Kowalskis, Kevin Kowalski of Undeniably Yours is my favorite. He's just a good guy. He owns a bar, he loves the Celtics (forgivable), and he loves his family. He was married once before to a woman who took advantage of him, so now he's single again. After his divorce, he had his share of one night stands, but he's always been about family and relationships. Enter Beth Hansen.
Beth is independent and determined to stay that way. Even after she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a certain bar owner, she's determined to take care of herself. She's not looking for handouts and fights Kevin's overtures at every turn. Even when his offers are reasonable, she fights him because she doesn't want to become dependent on him. Beth eventually caves and moves into the apartment across from Kevin. Despite her resistance, Kevin slowly wins her over with his sincerity.
I was somewhat skeptical about this book because babies and pregnancy, ew. I want SMUT in my romance! There are some smutty scenes, but I was surprised by how sweet this book was. I liked how Beth and Kevin's relationship developed from strangers to lovers to unexpected partners to friends and then eventually, after much hemming and hawing, back to lovers. When I first read the book, I gave the story 3.5 stars and Kevin Kowalski 10 stars.
(I wrote the above ages ago and left it in my drafts.)
So who is Kevin Kowalski?
Howdy, neighbor.
Hellooooo, Chris Evans. I cast him after reading this article in Details. He's such a Kowalski! And after a Tumblr search, I found the rest of my Kowalskis.
RDJ is Joe (Exclusively Yours)
Chris Hemsworth is Sean (Yours to Keep)
Mark Ruffalo TBD when the rest of the books come out later this year.
But back to Chris Evans/Kevin Kowalski:
(I put the mental in mental casting!)
(Also, I've had a litttttle bit to drink.)
I read three romance authors: Victoria Dahl, Julie James, and Shannon Stacey. Dahl I read for the sex, James I read for the dialogue, and Stacey I read for the men. The Kowalski men. Hot damn. Of the 3 Kowalskis, Kevin Kowalski of Undeniably Yours is my favorite. He's just a good guy. He owns a bar, he loves the Celtics (forgivable), and he loves his family. He was married once before to a woman who took advantage of him, so now he's single again. After his divorce, he had his share of one night stands, but he's always been about family and relationships. Enter Beth Hansen.
Beth is independent and determined to stay that way. Even after she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand with a certain bar owner, she's determined to take care of herself. She's not looking for handouts and fights Kevin's overtures at every turn. Even when his offers are reasonable, she fights him because she doesn't want to become dependent on him. Beth eventually caves and moves into the apartment across from Kevin. Despite her resistance, Kevin slowly wins her over with his sincerity.
I was somewhat skeptical about this book because babies and pregnancy, ew. I want SMUT in my romance! There are some smutty scenes, but I was surprised by how sweet this book was. I liked how Beth and Kevin's relationship developed from strangers to lovers to unexpected partners to friends and then eventually, after much hemming and hawing, back to lovers. When I first read the book, I gave the story 3.5 stars and Kevin Kowalski 10 stars.
(I wrote the above ages ago and left it in my drafts.)
So who is Kevin Kowalski?
Howdy, neighbor.
Hellooooo, Chris Evans. I cast him after reading this article in Details. He's such a Kowalski! And after a Tumblr search, I found the rest of my Kowalskis.
RDJ is Joe (Exclusively Yours)
Chris Hemsworth is Sean (Yours to Keep)
Mark Ruffalo TBD when the rest of the books come out later this year.
But back to Chris Evans/Kevin Kowalski:
July 27, 2020
I picked up Undeniably Yours because it was the next in a series, so...I didn’t realize it was an “oops, I’m pregnant after a one-night stand” type of book. To be honest, that’s not my favorite plot-line. I just don’t like babies, okay—all the “awwwww, so cute” moments for me are more “gack, disgusting” moments. So, you know. If this had been a standalone I most likely wouldn’t have been in a hurry to get to this.
But I’d already made the effort of checking this out from the library and I do like to finish a series whenever I can (sense of accomplishment and all that). So, onward I rode, into the wilds of pregnancy hormones!
I guess what I do think works, and what stands out most, about Undeniably Yours is that the male lead, Kevin, is on board from day one. He was interested in Beth the first time he saw her, and so an accidental pregnancy is more exciting for him than anything else. Throughout the story, he remained supportive and sweet, and was mostly not an asshole, except for a few eyeroll-inducing moments where Shannon Stacey had to assert her character’s “manliness” (i.e. riding snowmobiles, being grossed out by birthing classes, and needing the baby to have his last name and not any of that girly hyphenated shit thankyouverymuch).
Beth, for her part, was okay, too. Her “issue” is that she wants to be independent and she’ll do anything to not feel crowded or that people are hovering. So she lives a vagrant lifestyle and refuses to be tied down. Except her pregnancy test comes up positive and now she’s tied forever to Kevin and New Hampshire. And, because of course she does, she fights it tooth and nail. It gets to the point where she’s really happy with her life and loves Kevin, but her stubborn-ass pride won’t let her accept it.
Girl, I totally understand where you’re coming from, but when you’ve got a newborn baby and haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in two months, and your baby daddy is practically begging to help you...jump on that shit. Sleeping is important, okay?
I mean, no, I didn’t love this. But that’s honestly pretty par for the course, considering that contemporary romance is a genre that I want to love but never seems to love me back. Shannon Stacey’s characters are mostly likeable—though I do think the series’ main selling point, the entire Kowalski family, wasn’t as in-focus as it could have been. The story’s concept wasn’t my favorite, sure, but I was still entertained.
I dunno. Overall, I’d say Undeniably Yours was light, easy reading. It wasn’t anything truly remarkable or unusual, but it was fun while it lasted. I’ll probably forget all about this book shortly, but that’s okay.
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But I’d already made the effort of checking this out from the library and I do like to finish a series whenever I can (sense of accomplishment and all that). So, onward I rode, into the wilds of pregnancy hormones!
I guess what I do think works, and what stands out most, about Undeniably Yours is that the male lead, Kevin, is on board from day one. He was interested in Beth the first time he saw her, and so an accidental pregnancy is more exciting for him than anything else. Throughout the story, he remained supportive and sweet, and was mostly not an asshole, except for a few eyeroll-inducing moments where Shannon Stacey had to assert her character’s “manliness” (i.e. riding snowmobiles, being grossed out by birthing classes, and needing the baby to have his last name and not any of that girly hyphenated shit thankyouverymuch).
Beth, for her part, was okay, too. Her “issue” is that she wants to be independent and she’ll do anything to not feel crowded or that people are hovering. So she lives a vagrant lifestyle and refuses to be tied down. Except her pregnancy test comes up positive and now she’s tied forever to Kevin and New Hampshire. And, because of course she does, she fights it tooth and nail. It gets to the point where she’s really happy with her life and loves Kevin, but her stubborn-ass pride won’t let her accept it.
Girl, I totally understand where you’re coming from, but when you’ve got a newborn baby and haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in two months, and your baby daddy is practically begging to help you...jump on that shit. Sleeping is important, okay?
I mean, no, I didn’t love this. But that’s honestly pretty par for the course, considering that contemporary romance is a genre that I want to love but never seems to love me back. Shannon Stacey’s characters are mostly likeable—though I do think the series’ main selling point, the entire Kowalski family, wasn’t as in-focus as it could have been. The story’s concept wasn’t my favorite, sure, but I was still entertained.
I dunno. Overall, I’d say Undeniably Yours was light, easy reading. It wasn’t anything truly remarkable or unusual, but it was fun while it lasted. I’ll probably forget all about this book shortly, but that’s okay.
📌 . Blog | Review Database | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
December 21, 2014
★★★½
Undeniably Yours is the third installment in Shannon Stacey's contemporary romance series titled: Kowalski Family. I am a fan of Ms. Stacey and her writing, and I love this series! It has wit, humor, a primary and secondary romance, and a down-to-earth storyline. However, I didn't enjoy Undeniably Yours as much as the other two I have read thus far (Exclusively Yours and Yours to Keep). The female lead is stubbornly independent by nature and it gets annoying after a while. That is my only complaint and what ultimately affected my enjoyment. The male lead: Kevin is an original member of the Kowalski "clan" and the characters in this family are consistently great and part of what I love about this series. They take family (and love) seriously. I am looking forward to happily working my way through this series. The third installment: Yours to Keep was the first book I read in this series and it remains my favorite to date. Each book can be read as a standalone with lead characters from past/future installments making appearances here and there. If you're a fan of this genre, show Shannon Stacey some love and check out this great series!
My favorite quote:
“When the reception was over I went for a walk and…she’s pregnant.” They were both quiet a moment, exchanging one of those old-married-people looks he still couldn’t decipher, but which made him squirm. He and Beth were both adults, but that didn’t make telling his parents he’d accidentally gotten a woman pregnant any easier. “Lot easier to walk with your fly zipped,” Leo grumbled.”
The Kowalski Family Series includes the following installments: (as of December 2014)
#1-Exclusively Yours
#2-Undeniably Yours
#3-Yours to Keep
#4-All He Ever Needed
#5-All He Ever Desired
#6-All He Ever Dreamed
#6.5-Alone with You
#7-Love a Little Sideways
#8-Taken with You
#9-Falling for Max
Undeniably Yours is the third installment in Shannon Stacey's contemporary romance series titled: Kowalski Family. I am a fan of Ms. Stacey and her writing, and I love this series! It has wit, humor, a primary and secondary romance, and a down-to-earth storyline. However, I didn't enjoy Undeniably Yours as much as the other two I have read thus far (Exclusively Yours and Yours to Keep). The female lead is stubbornly independent by nature and it gets annoying after a while. That is my only complaint and what ultimately affected my enjoyment. The male lead: Kevin is an original member of the Kowalski "clan" and the characters in this family are consistently great and part of what I love about this series. They take family (and love) seriously. I am looking forward to happily working my way through this series. The third installment: Yours to Keep was the first book I read in this series and it remains my favorite to date. Each book can be read as a standalone with lead characters from past/future installments making appearances here and there. If you're a fan of this genre, show Shannon Stacey some love and check out this great series!
My favorite quote:
“When the reception was over I went for a walk and…she’s pregnant.” They were both quiet a moment, exchanging one of those old-married-people looks he still couldn’t decipher, but which made him squirm. He and Beth were both adults, but that didn’t make telling his parents he’d accidentally gotten a woman pregnant any easier. “Lot easier to walk with your fly zipped,” Leo grumbled.”
The Kowalski Family Series includes the following installments: (as of December 2014)
#1-Exclusively Yours
#2-Undeniably Yours
#3-Yours to Keep
#4-All He Ever Needed
#5-All He Ever Desired
#6-All He Ever Dreamed
#6.5-Alone with You
#7-Love a Little Sideways
#8-Taken with You
#9-Falling for Max
November 1, 2010
I remember really liking Kevin in the previous story, and really wanting him to get his own, but I can't exactly recall why I liked him. So I kind of went into this book blind.
I really liked a lot of it. Kevin and the whole Kowalski clan were wonderful. I loved the sense of camaraderie and friendship between them, and the other secondary characters.
Kevin was a solid character, who really wanted to do the right thing by Beth. He also wanted to settle down with a family, so the timing was right for him. Beth didn't want to settle down, which meant he wasn't able to just bulldoze his way into her life. It was good that she didn't just fall for him hook, line and sinker, though I do wish she would have given just a little bit.
As for Beth herself, while I understood her need for independence, I don't understand why she was so fierce about it. I think Paulie, Kevin's bar manager, had a better reason to push people away than Beth herself did. Her reason for being so closed off was that her parents had smothered her as a child. We never saw evidence of it, though. They sounded like concerned parents, but they weren't overbearing or smothering. For her to scoff at every offer of help - whether emotional, mental or financial - and push everyone away because she was an only child and her parents cared about her...well, it was too much.
Despite my issues with Beth and her need for independence, I really liked this story. I think it would have been better if Beth had given in sooner, but overall it had a sweet quality. It helped that Paulie and an old flame, Sam, had a secondary romance running in the background. That kept the frustration from Kevin and Beth's lack of relationship at bay for the most part.
I really liked a lot of it. Kevin and the whole Kowalski clan were wonderful. I loved the sense of camaraderie and friendship between them, and the other secondary characters.
Kevin was a solid character, who really wanted to do the right thing by Beth. He also wanted to settle down with a family, so the timing was right for him. Beth didn't want to settle down, which meant he wasn't able to just bulldoze his way into her life. It was good that she didn't just fall for him hook, line and sinker, though I do wish she would have given just a little bit.
As for Beth herself, while I understood her need for independence, I don't understand why she was so fierce about it. I think Paulie, Kevin's bar manager, had a better reason to push people away than Beth herself did. Her reason for being so closed off was that her parents had smothered her as a child. We never saw evidence of it, though. They sounded like concerned parents, but they weren't overbearing or smothering. For her to scoff at every offer of help - whether emotional, mental or financial - and push everyone away because she was an only child and her parents cared about her...well, it was too much.
Despite my issues with Beth and her need for independence, I really liked this story. I think it would have been better if Beth had given in sooner, but overall it had a sweet quality. It helped that Paulie and an old flame, Sam, had a secondary romance running in the background. That kept the frustration from Kevin and Beth's lack of relationship at bay for the most part.
May 25, 2017
Dün akşam kitabı bitirir bitirmez aklıma bir replik geldi.
Cem Yılmaz'ın filmine ait olabilir ama emin değilim açıkçası.
Kitap için bas bas bağırıp o repliği söylemek istiyorum defalarda..
"Doktor bu neee??!??!"
Kitabı neresinden tutsam elimde patlayacakmış gibi hissediyorum.
Karakterler özellikle de Beth... Okurken ölüp ölüp dirildim resmen. -_-
Cem Yılmaz'ın filmine ait olabilir ama emin değilim açıkçası.
Kitap için bas bas bağırıp o repliği söylemek istiyorum defalarda..
"Doktor bu neee??!??!"
Kitabı neresinden tutsam elimde patlayacakmış gibi hissediyorum.
Karakterler özellikle de Beth... Okurken ölüp ölüp dirildim resmen. -_-
December 9, 2011
I'm so glad that this book was about Kevin Kowalski since he seemed like the only sibling who got a bum deal in the last book and I wanted a happily ever after for him. I didn't exactly expect this kind of happily ever after mind you, but I'm not one to complain. Even though it's not something new, I really enjoyed the way the story-lined moved and I never lost interest.
I simply adore Kevin. I love how much he genuinely cares. He's not your average player even though he could easily live like one. You can tell family is really important to him, he could have taken the news like most men would have, but he's a Kowalski so I shouldn't have expected anything less. Kevin is a solid guy through and through.
But sadly I wish I could say the same thing about Beth. She's a nice enough character but she's got some issues. I mean there's stubborn and then there's stubborn. The reasons not to be with Kevin and her denial of what she was really feeling was getting pretty old and while I understand the why's it didn't stop me from being frustrated and impatient as Kevin.
What I really loved about this book was that it seems to include the whole package. If you get one Kowalski, you get them all and that's always a good thing. I loved those moments between the brothers and those times when it's just the girls and then when it's the entire family. There is just something incredibly infectious about this family and it makes me wish I was apart of it.
All in all, I still really enjoyed myself with Undeniably Yours. I loved that I could just sink right into this and lose myself and how much I cared about these characters or the fact that I want more the minute I'm done reading, but one this is clear, Shannon Stacey has got herself a new fan!
Sexy, Smart and Irresistible!
(Copy provided by Netgalley and Harlequin)
I simply adore Kevin. I love how much he genuinely cares. He's not your average player even though he could easily live like one. You can tell family is really important to him, he could have taken the news like most men would have, but he's a Kowalski so I shouldn't have expected anything less. Kevin is a solid guy through and through.
But sadly I wish I could say the same thing about Beth. She's a nice enough character but she's got some issues. I mean there's stubborn and then there's stubborn. The reasons not to be with Kevin and her denial of what she was really feeling was getting pretty old and while I understand the why's it didn't stop me from being frustrated and impatient as Kevin.
What I really loved about this book was that it seems to include the whole package. If you get one Kowalski, you get them all and that's always a good thing. I loved those moments between the brothers and those times when it's just the girls and then when it's the entire family. There is just something incredibly infectious about this family and it makes me wish I was apart of it.
All in all, I still really enjoyed myself with Undeniably Yours. I loved that I could just sink right into this and lose myself and how much I cared about these characters or the fact that I want more the minute I'm done reading, but one this is clear, Shannon Stacey has got herself a new fan!
Sexy, Smart and Irresistible!
(Copy provided by Netgalley and Harlequin)
October 22, 2010
I loved this book. I thought Shannon's first book, Exclusively Yours, was wonderful, but I loved this one even more. She writes real characters with real flaws. I loved Beth and Kevin was perfect. This book made me tear up and smile and laugh and run the gamut of emotions. An excellent read!
April 24, 2015
3-3.5 stars
This was a good story. I've read book #1 of the series and liked the series and family from that book so I decided to try the next book in the series. I really liked Kevin in this book. He turned out to be a really good hero. Beth was a good heroine at times but she was so set against a relationship that sometimes it made her a less than lovable character.
Beth is the only daughter of parents that suffered 5 miscarriages. She grew up feeling smothered by her parents protectiveness and once she got out on her own she started traveling from place to place. She moved to a place of interest and before she got in too deep with anyone relationship-wise (friendship or lover) she'd move on. She's made it her goal in life not to depend on anyone, not even allowing others close enough that they might affect her happiness.
Kevin is a member of a big family that he loves a lot. He had been married and a cop in Boston but a cheating wife ruined his career and his marriage and he moved back to his home town to start over. Kevin now owns a sports bar and is single. He gets a lot of numbers from bar bunnies but he's not interested in them. He does find Beth quite interesting from the moment she walks in to his bar.
The first time Beth and Kevin encounter each other, her and her boss are in Kevin's bar and Beth is having trouble with a drunken boss-man. Her boss decides to assault Kevin and once the whole issue is over, Beth has lost her job and although she knows it's not really Kevin's fault she can't help but blame him. Kevin wants to ask her out but she shuts him down and leaves. She sees him again when she's working the bar for his brother's wedding. She tries to blow him off again but they encounter each other again after the reception and end up spending a night together. Unfortunately, Beth wakes up before Kevin and he says something in his sleep that leads her to believe he's a jerk so she leaves and he doesn't know where to find her. Kevin is sad about this too because he really liked Beth and keeps thinking about her in the coming weeks. Beth finds out she's pregnant and realizes her roaming days are over and she has to tell Kevin about the baby. Kevin is happy to see her but is surprised about the reason. Regardless of his surprise, Kevin is very supportive and willing to do whatever is needed to help Beth and the baby. The problem then becomes that Beth is so independent and headstrong she throws a fit when Kevin starts trying to help her out insisting he's going to try to take over her life. Kevin backs off but does manage to get her to live in one of the empty apartments above the bar because the place she's in is horrible. She only let him convince her of that because there was lead paint in the apartment which was bad for the baby.
Beth and Kevin start settling in to being "neighbors that are having a baby together" (Beth's term for them). Kevin is interested in continuing to date Beth but she's convinced that he only wants that because of the baby and she wont even consider it until after the baby is born. Kevin (and his family) have to do a fine shuffle around Beth to try to do anything for her because pretty much as soon as they do she blows up (at Kevin). Time passes and the baby grows. Beth keeps Kevin at arms length as much as she can but they do become friends. Kevin just keeps falling deeper for Beth and she's still using every excuse to hold him away. To be honest, after a while I got tired of Beth behaving that way and felt bad for Kevin but hoped that after the baby was born things would improve. The baby is born but things don't improve and Beth is even more determined that Kevin doesn't mean it when he tries to tell her he loves her. She comes up with any reason she can to push him away and acts badly towards Kevin many times but he still hangs in there. Beth was a good character in the beginning but after she kept this all going for the whole story I had trouble giving her the leeway for her actions I'd been willing to give her in the beginning. When she starts getting in to the thoughts of "I don't want him but I couldn't stand for him to be with anyone else" while still pushing him away...well I was happy when Kevin finally put his foot down. He tells Beth that he can't keep hanging on like he has been through the whole pregnancy and for months afterwards. With the very real possibility of losing Kevin (except seeing him in passing as they share custody of the baby) Beth comes to her senses and returns Kevin's feelings, finally allowing him to get close. They quickly get married and start their HEA.
Overall this was a good story and I loved Kevin, he was just an awesome hero. Beth was alright but her actions towards Kevin made her very annoying at times and I had trouble liking her towards the end. Glad Kevin got his happy ending though..he deserved to be happy. I may try more of the series in the future. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator did a good job.
This was a good story. I've read book #1 of the series and liked the series and family from that book so I decided to try the next book in the series. I really liked Kevin in this book. He turned out to be a really good hero. Beth was a good heroine at times but she was so set against a relationship that sometimes it made her a less than lovable character.
Beth is the only daughter of parents that suffered 5 miscarriages. She grew up feeling smothered by her parents protectiveness and once she got out on her own she started traveling from place to place. She moved to a place of interest and before she got in too deep with anyone relationship-wise (friendship or lover) she'd move on. She's made it her goal in life not to depend on anyone, not even allowing others close enough that they might affect her happiness.
Kevin is a member of a big family that he loves a lot. He had been married and a cop in Boston but a cheating wife ruined his career and his marriage and he moved back to his home town to start over. Kevin now owns a sports bar and is single. He gets a lot of numbers from bar bunnies but he's not interested in them. He does find Beth quite interesting from the moment she walks in to his bar.
The first time Beth and Kevin encounter each other, her and her boss are in Kevin's bar and Beth is having trouble with a drunken boss-man. Her boss decides to assault Kevin and once the whole issue is over, Beth has lost her job and although she knows it's not really Kevin's fault she can't help but blame him. Kevin wants to ask her out but she shuts him down and leaves. She sees him again when she's working the bar for his brother's wedding. She tries to blow him off again but they encounter each other again after the reception and end up spending a night together. Unfortunately, Beth wakes up before Kevin and he says something in his sleep that leads her to believe he's a jerk so she leaves and he doesn't know where to find her. Kevin is sad about this too because he really liked Beth and keeps thinking about her in the coming weeks. Beth finds out she's pregnant and realizes her roaming days are over and she has to tell Kevin about the baby. Kevin is happy to see her but is surprised about the reason. Regardless of his surprise, Kevin is very supportive and willing to do whatever is needed to help Beth and the baby. The problem then becomes that Beth is so independent and headstrong she throws a fit when Kevin starts trying to help her out insisting he's going to try to take over her life. Kevin backs off but does manage to get her to live in one of the empty apartments above the bar because the place she's in is horrible. She only let him convince her of that because there was lead paint in the apartment which was bad for the baby.
Beth and Kevin start settling in to being "neighbors that are having a baby together" (Beth's term for them). Kevin is interested in continuing to date Beth but she's convinced that he only wants that because of the baby and she wont even consider it until after the baby is born. Kevin (and his family) have to do a fine shuffle around Beth to try to do anything for her because pretty much as soon as they do she blows up (at Kevin). Time passes and the baby grows. Beth keeps Kevin at arms length as much as she can but they do become friends. Kevin just keeps falling deeper for Beth and she's still using every excuse to hold him away. To be honest, after a while I got tired of Beth behaving that way and felt bad for Kevin but hoped that after the baby was born things would improve. The baby is born but things don't improve and Beth is even more determined that Kevin doesn't mean it when he tries to tell her he loves her. She comes up with any reason she can to push him away and acts badly towards Kevin many times but he still hangs in there. Beth was a good character in the beginning but after she kept this all going for the whole story I had trouble giving her the leeway for her actions I'd been willing to give her in the beginning. When she starts getting in to the thoughts of "I don't want him but I couldn't stand for him to be with anyone else" while still pushing him away...well I was happy when Kevin finally put his foot down. He tells Beth that he can't keep hanging on like he has been through the whole pregnancy and for months afterwards. With the very real possibility of losing Kevin (except seeing him in passing as they share custody of the baby) Beth comes to her senses and returns Kevin's feelings, finally allowing him to get close. They quickly get married and start their HEA.
Overall this was a good story and I loved Kevin, he was just an awesome hero. Beth was alright but her actions towards Kevin made her very annoying at times and I had trouble liking her towards the end. Glad Kevin got his happy ending though..he deserved to be happy. I may try more of the series in the future. :)
* note - I listened to the audio version of the book and the narrator did a good job.
February 4, 2012
Unfortunately, I did not like this book anywhere near as well as I liked the first book. I spent almost the whole read clenching my teeth and wishing I could reach through the book and strangle the heroine. I honestly have no clue why Kevin had the slightest interest in her.
Beth completely closed herself off and came off like a jerk--for ten months. She argued about every single thing the hero wanted to help her with, even though he was just trying to do his best by his baby and a woman that he liked (her). Her pride was completely ridiculous. I am all for pride, but it has to make sense. And nothing about this girl did. She felt claustrophobic and blamed the hero for trying to welcome her into his family. That kind of intimacy is just not okay for Beth. Sleeping together is one thing, but expecting her to eat Thanksgiving dinner with his family is quite another. Right...that makes perfect sense.
Beth's mom had quite a few miscarriages before having her, so she was coddled and smothered with love quite a bit when she was a child. Apparently her answer to this issue was to leave and bounce from town to town, never having an actual career or home. She'd rather live in shanty style apartments and get a job where she just barely makes enough to move to the next town. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Because being poor and living in crappy apartments is always preferable to acting like an actual adult and taking control of your life and setting boundaries.
Beth's fear of forming ties with anyone and setting down roots makes her come off like a complete hag the whole book. Every single time Kevin tries to help her or buy something for the baby, she blast him about trying to smother her. She argues about everything and is prideful to the point of stupidity. She closes the relationship door in his face again and again and the poor guy just takes it. Because he thinks she's worth it. I have no clue why, but he was stuck on her. I actually pitied him by the end of the book. He was such a nice guy and he deserved so much better than her.
The secondary romance was my favorite part of the book. I wouldn't have minded if Sam and Paulie would have become the main relationship focus. ;)
Beth completely closed herself off and came off like a jerk--for ten months. She argued about every single thing the hero wanted to help her with, even though he was just trying to do his best by his baby and a woman that he liked (her). Her pride was completely ridiculous. I am all for pride, but it has to make sense. And nothing about this girl did. She felt claustrophobic and blamed the hero for trying to welcome her into his family. That kind of intimacy is just not okay for Beth. Sleeping together is one thing, but expecting her to eat Thanksgiving dinner with his family is quite another. Right...that makes perfect sense.
Beth's mom had quite a few miscarriages before having her, so she was coddled and smothered with love quite a bit when she was a child. Apparently her answer to this issue was to leave and bounce from town to town, never having an actual career or home. She'd rather live in shanty style apartments and get a job where she just barely makes enough to move to the next town. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Because being poor and living in crappy apartments is always preferable to acting like an actual adult and taking control of your life and setting boundaries.
Beth's fear of forming ties with anyone and setting down roots makes her come off like a complete hag the whole book. Every single time Kevin tries to help her or buy something for the baby, she blast him about trying to smother her. She argues about everything and is prideful to the point of stupidity. She closes the relationship door in his face again and again and the poor guy just takes it. Because he thinks she's worth it. I have no clue why, but he was stuck on her. I actually pitied him by the end of the book. He was such a nice guy and he deserved so much better than her.
The secondary romance was my favorite part of the book. I wouldn't have minded if Sam and Paulie would have become the main relationship focus. ;)
November 14, 2015
The author had no good reason to keep the couple apart. I was annoyed.
I really enjoyed “Exclusively Yours” the 1st book in the series. The author is a good writer and really keeps my interest. This is book 2. The beginning was good but it soon turned into a disappointment. Here’s what happens. Guy and girl meet, are drawn to each other, have sex, condom breaks, she’s pregnant. She informs him of the pregnancy but does not want a relationship. He does everything right. He helps her financially and in every other way. He likes her, desires her, wants to spend time with her, and wants sex. He’s smart, kind, gorgeous, sexy, makes a good living - things most women like. She likes him and desires sex but she says NO. She refuses to have a romantic relationship with him because she is afraid she might be hurt in the future if he leaves her. I hate that reason. So for the whole book she keeps them apart - even though they want each other. And he is faithful to her. He does not have sex with anyone else. Finally for a happy ending she changes her mind. That is not a story for me. (This is a romance story so I don’t think this is a spoiler.)
An example of uninteresting conflict: After the baby is born the grandmother wants to take a picture of Beth (mom), Kevin (dad), and the baby. But Beth doesn’t want to and starts to argue “What if someday...”
I enjoyed several scenes about the Kowalski family. This book might appeal to readers who want to read about being pregnant and life with a baby during the first several months.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day New Hampshire. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary romance, baby.
I really enjoyed “Exclusively Yours” the 1st book in the series. The author is a good writer and really keeps my interest. This is book 2. The beginning was good but it soon turned into a disappointment. Here’s what happens. Guy and girl meet, are drawn to each other, have sex, condom breaks, she’s pregnant. She informs him of the pregnancy but does not want a relationship. He does everything right. He helps her financially and in every other way. He likes her, desires her, wants to spend time with her, and wants sex. He’s smart, kind, gorgeous, sexy, makes a good living - things most women like. She likes him and desires sex but she says NO. She refuses to have a romantic relationship with him because she is afraid she might be hurt in the future if he leaves her. I hate that reason. So for the whole book she keeps them apart - even though they want each other. And he is faithful to her. He does not have sex with anyone else. Finally for a happy ending she changes her mind. That is not a story for me. (This is a romance story so I don’t think this is a spoiler.)
An example of uninteresting conflict: After the baby is born the grandmother wants to take a picture of Beth (mom), Kevin (dad), and the baby. But Beth doesn’t want to and starts to argue “What if someday...”
I enjoyed several scenes about the Kowalski family. This book might appeal to readers who want to read about being pregnant and life with a baby during the first several months.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 370 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day New Hampshire. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary romance, baby.
August 30, 2017
I was pretty excited to pick this book up after reading Exclusively Yours but felt slightly let down. Don't get me wrong I actually liked this book for the most part, but it was too slow for me, and was pretty repetitive-making me want to bang my head against the door with Beth's stubbornness.
What saved this book for me was Kevin and his family-for me they completely saved the story; their close relationship and interaction with one another is amazing, and I love it/them.
I'm still interested in this series, and have plans to continue on with Yours to Keep and am excited to see where this series goes, and meet all the knew characters along the way.
What saved this book for me was Kevin and his family-for me they completely saved the story; their close relationship and interaction with one another is amazing, and I love it/them.
I'm still interested in this series, and have plans to continue on with Yours to Keep and am excited to see where this series goes, and meet all the knew characters along the way.
March 8, 2020
Kitaplarda hep kız karakterlerimiz gururlu olsun diye yakınırdım.Ama bu seferki gururundan ölecekti.Bir orta yolu bulamadık.
December 19, 2010
This is the second book in the Kowalski Family series written by Shannon Stacey. The first book, Exclusively Yours, is Joe & Keri's story...and where we meet Joe's brother, Kevin. The book was so enjoyable and Kevin was such a fun character I had no doubt that Undeniably Yours, Kevin's own story, would be even better. *sigh* Think it's time I strike the haughty, over-confident phrase from my vocabulary and simply look upon it as the name of a good band.
Kevin Kowalski, youngest of the 3 K. brothers, is handsome, smart, funny, charming, gracious and just about every other complimentary adjective you can tag a person with. He's the standard by which your mother compares all of your boyfriends...and finds them woefully lacking. Kevin's appeal, however, doesn't stop at the senior level. Working at the sports bar he owns, Kevin's hard body and chiseled features, made perfect when he smiles and reveals his dimples, have women propositioning him on a daily basis. At the end of each night, Kevin can be certain of one thing - a nice-sized pile of lipstick-kissed napkins bearing phone numbers of beautiful women - all ready, willing and more than able to satisfy his every sexual desire. The "no strings" relationship was exactly what Kevin wanted after a short but disastrous marriage to a woman he caught cheating made him rethink the whole concept of "love". But lately, seeing how happy Joe was with Keri, as well as his parents, his other brother Mike, sister Teri, and their spouses, had him feeling pangs of longing and lonliness . It was time to starting thinking about a serious relationship.
For all intents and purposes, Beth Hansen should have been just another one-night-stand for Kevin. Having first met under less-than-ideal circumstances (he had tossed her drunken boss out of the bar and Beth was fired as a result), when they meet again at Joe & Keri's wedding reception, not 10 words are exchanged between the two before they are banging away in Kevin's hotel room. Morning comes and Beth's plan is to sneak downstairs & grab 2 coffees & a few pastries from the continental breakfast cart in the hotel lobby and then sneak back in before Kevin wakes up. But as she opens the door, she hears Kevin say "lock the door on your way out". She doesn't return.
One month later, the stick turns blue and Beth is at Kevin's bar informing him he is going to be a father. That's it. She wants no financial help, no quick marriage, nothing...not even a chance to get to know Kevin better. In keeping with character, Kevin totally embraces the idea of becoming a father and spends the majority of the book trying to warm Beth up to the idea of a permanent relationship. But she plays the "I am woman..hear me roar" card at every opportunity, claiming she needs nothing at all from Kevin - no money, not a better place to live than the cramped, unheated apartment located in a crime-infested neighborhood that is her current residence, no friendship from and certainly no romance with the father of her baby. WTF is her problem, you ask? What else? Her feelings were hurt because he had not tried to contact her after their one night together, and she would be damned before she would be another faceless telephone number on a drink napkin!
Kevin's total devotion to Beth and then to the baby was sweet and sigh-worthy. However, Beth's continued resistance to Kevin - maintaining they were nothing more than "friends who had a baby together" - her insistent yapping that she needs no help from him and that they maintain separate apartments - finally took its toll on both Kevin and me. While Kevin issued an ultimatum that resulted in a HEA for him, Beth's admission of love and her subsequent redemption didn't sway my belief that she was acquiescing simply because she was afraid of losing her free babysitter and cushy meal ticket.
Beth = 2 stars, Kevin & the Kowalski family = 5 stars, Undeniably Yours = 3.5 stars
Kevin Kowalski, youngest of the 3 K. brothers, is handsome, smart, funny, charming, gracious and just about every other complimentary adjective you can tag a person with. He's the standard by which your mother compares all of your boyfriends...and finds them woefully lacking. Kevin's appeal, however, doesn't stop at the senior level. Working at the sports bar he owns, Kevin's hard body and chiseled features, made perfect when he smiles and reveals his dimples, have women propositioning him on a daily basis. At the end of each night, Kevin can be certain of one thing - a nice-sized pile of lipstick-kissed napkins bearing phone numbers of beautiful women - all ready, willing and more than able to satisfy his every sexual desire. The "no strings" relationship was exactly what Kevin wanted after a short but disastrous marriage to a woman he caught cheating made him rethink the whole concept of "love". But lately, seeing how happy Joe was with Keri, as well as his parents, his other brother Mike, sister Teri, and their spouses, had him feeling pangs of longing and lonliness . It was time to starting thinking about a serious relationship.
For all intents and purposes, Beth Hansen should have been just another one-night-stand for Kevin. Having first met under less-than-ideal circumstances (he had tossed her drunken boss out of the bar and Beth was fired as a result), when they meet again at Joe & Keri's wedding reception, not 10 words are exchanged between the two before they are banging away in Kevin's hotel room. Morning comes and Beth's plan is to sneak downstairs & grab 2 coffees & a few pastries from the continental breakfast cart in the hotel lobby and then sneak back in before Kevin wakes up. But as she opens the door, she hears Kevin say "lock the door on your way out". She doesn't return.
One month later, the stick turns blue and Beth is at Kevin's bar informing him he is going to be a father. That's it. She wants no financial help, no quick marriage, nothing...not even a chance to get to know Kevin better. In keeping with character, Kevin totally embraces the idea of becoming a father and spends the majority of the book trying to warm Beth up to the idea of a permanent relationship. But she plays the "I am woman..hear me roar" card at every opportunity, claiming she needs nothing at all from Kevin - no money, not a better place to live than the cramped, unheated apartment located in a crime-infested neighborhood that is her current residence, no friendship from and certainly no romance with the father of her baby. WTF is her problem, you ask? What else? Her feelings were hurt because he had not tried to contact her after their one night together, and she would be damned before she would be another faceless telephone number on a drink napkin!
Kevin's total devotion to Beth and then to the baby was sweet and sigh-worthy. However, Beth's continued resistance to Kevin - maintaining they were nothing more than "friends who had a baby together" - her insistent yapping that she needs no help from him and that they maintain separate apartments - finally took its toll on both Kevin and me. While Kevin issued an ultimatum that resulted in a HEA for him, Beth's admission of love and her subsequent redemption didn't sway my belief that she was acquiescing simply because she was afraid of losing her free babysitter and cushy meal ticket.
Beth = 2 stars, Kevin & the Kowalski family = 5 stars, Undeniably Yours = 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2011
This is a great series. The writing reminds me of a PG version of Lauren Dane's Chase Brother series. The tight knit family, small town, funny dialogue, dreamy heroes...
However, in this one, I didn't really 'get' Beth. The whole 'nomadic' lifestyle didn't make sense to me. Ok, so her mother had some miscarriages, and she is the only child they had and they are smothering. So she takes off and moves around the country living like a fugitive on the run, living in shithole apartments? Fighting off the nicest guy in the world? It just seemed stupid to me.
I am still looking forward to book three.
However, in this one, I didn't really 'get' Beth. The whole 'nomadic' lifestyle didn't make sense to me. Ok, so her mother had some miscarriages, and she is the only child they had and they are smothering. So she takes off and moves around the country living like a fugitive on the run, living in shithole apartments? Fighting off the nicest guy in the world? It just seemed stupid to me.
I am still looking forward to book three.
October 2, 2012
This is the second book in the Kowalski Family series by Shannon Stacy. Beth and Kevin have a one night stand and Beth leaves, thinking she'll never see Kevin again. At least, that's her intention. She has plans to move on to another town but finds herself pregnant instead.
It was good but not great. I didn't care for the heroine, Beth, at all. I guess I should give her points for at least telling Kevin he was going to be a father but she just made me so mad with her stubborn behavior. I prefer the secondary romance between Paulie and Sam much more. I did like Kevin a lot. But I was rooting for him to find someone who would appreciate him.
It was good but not great. I didn't care for the heroine, Beth, at all. I guess I should give her points for at least telling Kevin he was going to be a father but she just made me so mad with her stubborn behavior. I prefer the secondary romance between Paulie and Sam much more. I did like Kevin a lot. But I was rooting for him to find someone who would appreciate him.
March 29, 2016
Ich liiiiebe die verrückte und wilde Familie Kowalski sehr.
Im zweiten Teil geht es natürlich auch wieder darum, wie sich ein zuckersüßes Pärchen findet. Einfach wird es dem Paar natürlich nicht gemacht und so verschlingt man eifrig eine Seite nach der anderen, bis es endlich zu dem (wenig überraschendem) Ende kommt.
Im zweiten Teil geht es natürlich auch wieder darum, wie sich ein zuckersüßes Pärchen findet. Einfach wird es dem Paar natürlich nicht gemacht und so verschlingt man eifrig eine Seite nach der anderen, bis es endlich zu dem (wenig überraschendem) Ende kommt.
February 26, 2011
Really liked this one too. This is one of those great big families you wish you knew in real life. Although Beth was almost a little too stubborn for me, the ending was great. I'm off to find out if she'll be writing another one for this family.
April 23, 2012
Cute, but I got bored with this series and lost focus. It had well developed characters, but too slow to develop or get to the meat of the relationship. I think if I wouldn't have read the last 2 right in a row I could have been more into it. I gave it a 3 because it was a sweet story.
February 26, 2016
3 1/2 stars
October 13, 2019
This was a very sweet love story between two people who were tied together in a non traditional way. Beth and Kevin met at his bar when he thought a man was making unwanted advances towards her. Well lets just say that was her boss and caused her to lose her job. When fate steps in we follow these two on a long hard journey.
I love how caring and family oriented Kevin is. His entire family seems to be sweet and loving. His mom is actually one of my favorite characters and I could actually hear and picture her saying some of the lines lol Kevin puts his heart out there and knows what he wants. Beth, although not opposed to family, just has a different type of relationship...a distant one. She is harder to break down the walls to her heart and just let people help her or care for her.
I did like how there was also Paulie's story going simultaneously, however at times it almost was as if she needed her own book to read her story.
I love how caring and family oriented Kevin is. His entire family seems to be sweet and loving. His mom is actually one of my favorite characters and I could actually hear and picture her saying some of the lines lol Kevin puts his heart out there and knows what he wants. Beth, although not opposed to family, just has a different type of relationship...a distant one. She is harder to break down the walls to her heart and just let people help her or care for her.
I did like how there was also Paulie's story going simultaneously, however at times it almost was as if she needed her own book to read her story.
November 18, 2010
Kevin Kowalski and the entire fun-loving Kowalski clan are back in Undeniably Yours, the follow up to Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey.
For anyone who doesn’t already know it, Shannon Stacey is a big fan and supporter of all things Boston sports related and she makes no bones about where her allegiance lies when cheering for her teams. So it‘s no surprise that her characters are huge fans of all things Boston/New England. The many sports references in Undeniably Yours were often a source of comedic relief like when considering names for a new born baby (hello Carl Yastrzemski?? - I think not).
So I wasn’t on the second flip of the finger on my Itouch into this E-book and I already had a big grin on my face…Ms Stacey does have a way with words… you could go all the way. I love a feel good, make me smile like a Cheshire cat book ( I do wonder what people are thinking when they see grinning like a fool while I’m working out - probably that I’m a loon!).
Kevin Kowalski, former cop and current owner of sports bar Jasper’s Bar and Grill has been known to occasionally hit it out of the park with the ladies, but he didn’t expect to hit a customer coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress sitting at his bar. And Beth Hanson can’t believe it when the hot bartender decks her boss and in the process costs her her job as her jerk wad boss yells at her before stumbling out of the bar a la Donald Trump “Your Fired”!
Little did these two realize that the knockout punch delivered that night at the bar would start the ball rolling down a path that would change their lives forever.
What are the odds? A 2 lousy percent! Those are pretty good odds, except if you’re Kevin and Beth. Next up for this unlikely duo: Baby on Board.
I loved that Kevin was so supportive and over the moon excited about the impending birth of the baby. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning. Beth was a little harder for me to warm up to (she reminded me of the Grinch). Maybe that was because I didn’t feel she was giving Kevin a chance and her “neighbours only who are having a baby” rule once she was knocked up? Beth, Beth, Beth…that’s like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped. I felt as frustrated as poor Kevin (and his blue balls and I’m not talking about Patriots Blue footballs) with the cold shoulder treatment she was giving him. At that point - what was the point of denying him? I would have been all over him like white on rice…or like chocolate fudge icing slathered on a big, ole slice of sinfully delicious chocolate cake *wink wink*. I could have used a couple of extra slices of cake in Undeniably Yours.
As was the case in Exclusively Yours, the charm and appeal of Undeniably Yours is more about the sum of the parts rather than just the main focus on the H/h. There is something very heart-warming about the Kowalski family. As I was writing this review it came to me that this family reminded me a family drama on TV - ABC’s Brothers and Sisters. Also the secondary story featuring Paulie and Sam was just as engaging and I looked forward to their time in the spotlight when Kevin and Beth were taking a breather (and that doesn’t always happen where the secondary storyline enhances rather than detracts from the main couple).
You wanna laugh? You wanna feel good? Then pony up to the bar at Jasper’s and enjoy the E-Book.
Ohh and one last think - don’t leave your calling card on one of the napkins at the bar. Kevin Kowalski is no longer accepting resumes to fill a vacancy. That position has been filled by the one woman with all the right qualifications.
For anyone who doesn’t already know it, Shannon Stacey is a big fan and supporter of all things Boston sports related and she makes no bones about where her allegiance lies when cheering for her teams. So it‘s no surprise that her characters are huge fans of all things Boston/New England. The many sports references in Undeniably Yours were often a source of comedic relief like when considering names for a new born baby (hello Carl Yastrzemski?? - I think not).
So I wasn’t on the second flip of the finger on my Itouch into this E-book and I already had a big grin on my face…Ms Stacey does have a way with words… you could go all the way. I love a feel good, make me smile like a Cheshire cat book ( I do wonder what people are thinking when they see grinning like a fool while I’m working out - probably that I’m a loon!).
Kevin Kowalski, former cop and current owner of sports bar Jasper’s Bar and Grill has been known to occasionally hit it out of the park with the ladies, but he didn’t expect to hit a customer coming to the rescue of a damsel in distress sitting at his bar. And Beth Hanson can’t believe it when the hot bartender decks her boss and in the process costs her her job as her jerk wad boss yells at her before stumbling out of the bar a la Donald Trump “Your Fired”!
Little did these two realize that the knockout punch delivered that night at the bar would start the ball rolling down a path that would change their lives forever.
What are the odds? A 2 lousy percent! Those are pretty good odds, except if you’re Kevin and Beth. Next up for this unlikely duo: Baby on Board.
I loved that Kevin was so supportive and over the moon excited about the impending birth of the baby. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning. Beth was a little harder for me to warm up to (she reminded me of the Grinch). Maybe that was because I didn’t feel she was giving Kevin a chance and her “neighbours only who are having a baby” rule once she was knocked up? Beth, Beth, Beth…that’s like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped. I felt as frustrated as poor Kevin (and his blue balls and I’m not talking about Patriots Blue footballs) with the cold shoulder treatment she was giving him. At that point - what was the point of denying him? I would have been all over him like white on rice…or like chocolate fudge icing slathered on a big, ole slice of sinfully delicious chocolate cake *wink wink*. I could have used a couple of extra slices of cake in Undeniably Yours.
As was the case in Exclusively Yours, the charm and appeal of Undeniably Yours is more about the sum of the parts rather than just the main focus on the H/h. There is something very heart-warming about the Kowalski family. As I was writing this review it came to me that this family reminded me a family drama on TV - ABC’s Brothers and Sisters. Also the secondary story featuring Paulie and Sam was just as engaging and I looked forward to their time in the spotlight when Kevin and Beth were taking a breather (and that doesn’t always happen where the secondary storyline enhances rather than detracts from the main couple).
You wanna laugh? You wanna feel good? Then pony up to the bar at Jasper’s and enjoy the E-Book.
Ohh and one last think - don’t leave your calling card on one of the napkins at the bar. Kevin Kowalski is no longer accepting resumes to fill a vacancy. That position has been filled by the one woman with all the right qualifications.
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