Synopsis:
A second shot at first love?
After
college, Ryan Kowalski decided to leave Whitford, Maine, rather than
watch Lauren Carpenter marry another man. Now his siblings need his help
to refurbish the family-owned Northern Star Lodge and he’s forced to
face the past sooner rather than later when he collars a vandal—and
learns the boy is Lauren’s son….
The
last person Lauren needs back in her life is Ryan Kowalski. With a
bitter ex-husband and a moody teenage son, she has enough man trouble
already. But her son needs to learn a few lessons about right and wrong,
even if Lauren has to escort him to Ryan’s door every day to work off
his crime.
With
all this close contact, Ryan and Lauren can’t deny the chemistry
between them is as powerful as ever. But can a few searing kisses erase
their past and pave the way for a second chance at true love?
All
He Ever Desired is the fifth book in Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Brothers
series. Usually around this time in a series, especially if I’m reading
them one after another, I might find myself getting bored or that the
stories are becoming less interesting or too similar. Not so with this
series. Each brother and their story is unique, and I really love that
about this series. Oh, all the Kowalski’s are good men but each faces
different challenges when it comes to life and love.
Ryan
Kowalski hasn’t returned to Whitford since asking his best friend’s
wife to run away with him. I don’t blame him. That’s a tough offer to
make and an even tougher rejection to face. But when the Northern Star
Lodge needs repairs that his business experience and crew can deliver,
he does the right thing and comes home to lend a hand. The last person
he needs to run into is Lauren Carpenter, but he knows that it’s going
to be hard to avoid her or her family.
When
Ryan becomes the designated driver at a family wedding and has to take
Lauren and her friends home, he can’t deny his feelings any longer, and
things heat up very nicely. But this happily-ever-after is complicated
by a teenage son, and an ex-husband, and Lauren, who may not want the
same things Ryan has been craving in his life. It’s a right sticky
situation.
I
liked the storylines in this book. Dealing with an ex, a teenage son
who is acting out some of his problems in not so healthy ways, partners
wanting different things out of life, compromising on living
arrangements to be with the one you love. I wasn’t sure until the very
end how it was going to end up, and I especially liked the unexpected
drama at the end with the ex-husband, and I loved how it became very
clear that the ex-husband was interested in not only his son’s
happiness, but also Lauren’s happiness. He could have been a real jerk
about that, and he wasn’t.
I
loved seeing both the New Hampshire and Maine branches of the
Kowalski’s together in this book, and could have used more them. It’s
always a treat when characters from previous books in the series return.
The
ladies in town are also a nice treat. Their support of each other is
really an awesome aspect of this series, even if that support comes with
all the women in each others business. Rose even offers a bit of drama
with an old situation that comes to light.
Shannon
Stacey nails what it’s like living in a small town, especially how
everyone knows everyone elses business (I speak from experience.) I
also find her “coming home” subplots to be very realistic as well. This
is a wonderful series if you are looking for something light, fun, with
just the right touch of angst.
Another solid offering in this series. 4 out of 5 flames.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGallery for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
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