Redonk Nutshell: Lingering attraction pulls together a couple for a second chance
Ah, The Kowalski’s. All He Ever Desired brings us Ryan Kowalski’s story. Ryan owns and operates a successful construction company, and he returns to his roots in Maine in order to put his skills to use in restoring the family’s lodge. He’s hesitant to come back, mostly because he still has a knee-jerk reaction to seeing the woman he once loved, Lauren. Lauren is divorced and has an angsty teenage son, and she’s having her own unwelcome reactions to Ryan’s return. After her son is caught vandalizing the lodge, Ryan puts him to work to make up for the damage he’s done, bringing Lauren into his path more often than not.
These two revolve around each other like reluctant planets to a sun. Ryan is sweet and very much the gentleman, and Lauren is a normal, easy to relate to woman struggling to keep her head above water dealing with the men in her life. There’s quite a bit of “I really want to but I shouldn’t” for the better half of this book, and when things finally, FINALLY get crackin’ there’s some serious sizzle. I was honestly kind of surprised by how hot the sex scenes were. Nothing kinky, mind you, but Ryan, my dear readers, has a mouth on him that had me cracking up and cocking an eyebrow:
“If I’d known you were this hot from thinking about me fucking you,” he said in a low, hoarse voice that was barely more than a whisper, “I’d have skipped the damn cake cutting and taken you in the barn.”
“A woman should never have to choose between sex and cake.”
He drew back his head so he could see her eyes as he slipped on finger inside her.
“Which would you choose?”
She hesitated, savoring the friction while he waited for her answer. “It was pretty good cake.”
“Really?” The hand holding her wrists tightened and he worked another finger inside her. She sucked in a breath, grinding against his hand. “Did it make you this wet? Did that cake taste so good it made you come, Lauren, because I’m going to.”
This was a sweet, romantic, and surprisingly steamy read. Yet another Kowalski bites the bachelor dust.
All He Ever Desired by Shannon Stacey
Rating: B
Romance: 3/5 Â Â Â Â Â Â Raunch: 3/5