Laura C’s review of Undeniably Yours (Kowalski Family, Book 2) by Shannon Stacey
Contemporary Romance published by HQN Books 24 Jan 12

I am not sure how I missed this book when Carina first released it in 2010, since I love the Kowalski family books.  But there it is, the book passed me by until Harlequin decided to release it as a paperback. Figuring some of you might have had the same experience (and missed Sandy’s review of it as well), I figured I’d add my own impressions.

Kevin Kowalski basically meets Beth Hansen when she bartends at his brother Joe’s wedding (yeah, there’s a tiny bit of backstory before that, but not really). He’s an ex-cop-turned-bar-owner and comes off as a player, though he isn’t really. In fact, he’s at a point in his life when he’s ready to try settling down again–his first attempt having failed when he found his captain in bed with his wife, resulting in both a divorce and a job change–when he meets Beth. They spend a night together, but she gives up on him when, half-asleep, he tells her to lock the hotel door after her on her way out. Fate isn’t done with them, however, and although they were careful, three weeks later she realizes she’s pregnant.

I love the Kowalski clan, from little Bobby, who tells jokes to pregnant Beth’s stomach so that his new cousin will be his friend when he comes out of the womb, all the way up to Leo and Mary, who welcome Beth into their family even though she and Kevin aren’t married. Beth, on the other hand, drives me up a wall. She has two main issues: first, she’s avoided responsibility all her life by moving around every four to six months (a phobia never clearly explained); and, second, she doesn’t trust that Kevin really loves her.

“Tell me you won’t just disappear,” he finally said. “If you decide to take off, at least call me first. I don’t want to wake up someday and find you gone.”

“I wouldn’t do that to you, Kevin.” Tears made her eyes sparkle for a moment, but she blinked them back. “Just staying here is a big adjustment for me, and being pregnant, I think a serious relationship might be too much on top of it, and I’m afraid if we hook up and it goes wrong, it’ll be ugly, and that’s not  what I want for our child.”

Kevin is super patient with her. Far more patient than I was, in fact. She keeps them apart with one excuse after another for almost a year. He just wears away at her, constantly taking everything she gives out and being nothing but nice. I wouldn’t say it’s dull because Ms. Stacey’s writing is fun, upbeat, and always has a quirky fun to it that keeps it from ever being mundane, but it is annoying.

I’m actually more invested in the secondary romance between Paulie, Kevin’s bartender, and her former fiance, Sam. They both come from society backgrounds, but Paulie–Paulette–left hers behind when she left Sam at the altar because she realized she couldn’t be his wife. She changed her name and moved away, and he only finds her by chance. But he doesn’t know why she ran and he’s both furious and hurt. She explains it to Beth:

“He has to attend hundreds of fancy functions every year–the kind of functions you bring your wife to, all dolled up. And his wife would be expected to serve on charitable foundations and play tennis at the country club. That’s just not my thing.”

Of course, it’s not so easy to explain that to Sam. Nor is it so easy to mesh the lives of a tycoon and a bartender, and Paulie loves her job and her life.

I wish I could have liked Beth a bit better because this is one of those stories where I absolutely adore the hero, but I’d still recommend the book if for no other reason than the secondary characters sparkle and Stacey’s writing is superb.

Grade: B

Summary:

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…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: