Taken with You

( 30 )

Overview

Hailey Genest has seen most of her friends marry and have babies, and she's happy for them, but it was a lot easier before she hit forty. She's spent her entire life in Whitford, Maine, and if she hasn't found her Prince Charming by now, she has to accept she's probably not going to. When a new friend suggests they go on an adventure and embrace being single, Hailey agrees.

Surviving in the woods is game warden Matt Barnett's idea of a relaxing vacation. But when he meets two ...

See more details below
Paperback (Mass Market Paperback)
$7.99
BN.com price

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (55) from $1.99   
  • New (10) from $1.99   
  • Used (45) from $1.99   
Taken with You: Book Eight of The Kowalskis

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • NOOK Devices
  • Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 NOOK
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook - Original)
$3.99
BN.com price
(Save 20%)$4.99 List Price

Overview

Hailey Genest has seen most of her friends marry and have babies, and she's happy for them, but it was a lot easier before she hit forty. She's spent her entire life in Whitford, Maine, and if she hasn't found her Prince Charming by now, she has to accept she's probably not going to. When a new friend suggests they go on an adventure and embrace being single, Hailey agrees.

Surviving in the woods is game warden Matt Barnett's idea of a relaxing vacation. But when he meets two women in need of help, he leads them back to safety—a task that proves more fun than expected, thanks to a certain hot blonde. He can't resist pushing her buttons, even though she's made it clear that the rugged, outdoorsy type just isn't for her.

Hailey is glad to see the back of her tempting-tour-guide-slash-pain-in-the-ass. When he shows up in her life again, she's determined to avoid him, no matter how good he looks in his uniform. But that's easier said than done in Whitford, especially when he's renting the house right next door….

Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780373002283
  • Publisher: Carina Press
  • Publication date: 3/25/2014
  • Format: Mass Market Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 143981
  • Product dimensions: 4.10 (w) x 6.50 (h) x 1.00 (d)

Meet the Author

New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and riding her four-wheeler. The Stacey family spends many weekends on their ATVs, making loads of muddy laundry to keep Shannon busy when she’s not at her computer. However, she prefers writing to laundry and considers herself lucky she got to be an author when she grew up. Visit her at www.ShannonStacey.com.

Read More Show Less

Read an Excerpt

The snarling, possibly rabid, five hundred pound grizzly bear lurking in the trees was the final straw.

Hailey Genest stopped in her tracks, staring at the area of the forest where she'd heard the rustling. Okay, so maybe it wasn't a grizzly bear. She didn't think Maine had grizzlies, even deep in the woods. It was probably only a black bear, but it was a really big one.

"I think it was a chipmunk," her buddy system partner said.

Hailey turned her stare on Tori Burns, who'd talked her into this stupid wilderness adventure. "I hate you so much right now."

Tori grinned. "Your mascara's smudging."

"Why are we friends again?"

"Because you came into the diner during my shift and whined about being the last single woman on the entire planet because all of your friends have found their soul mates. When I pointed out I'm single, you decided we should be friends."

She hadn't been whining. She'd just had a rough day and hadn't felt like she could call her friends to vent because they were all probably greeting their menfolk at the door. And, yes, she had imagined them in aprons and pearls just because she could.

"First Paige married Mitch, then Lauren ran off to Massachusetts and married Ryan, and Katie's living with Josh." Hailey snorted and crossed her arms. "Those damn Kowalski men stole all my women."

Tori sighed. "And now I'm friends with a woman who wears makeup and new hiking boots on a wilderness adventure."

"The better I look, the better I feel and I thought I'd need the boost." She looked down at her feet, trying not to wince. "Pretty sure my blisters are reaching horror movie proportions, though."

"I told you it would be better to wear sneakers than brand-new hiking boots."

"I wanted to be fashionable."

"Yes, because limping is totally the new black."

Hailey took a few steps, trying to ignore how much her feet, calves and every other part of her body hurt, but then she stopped. "Listen."

After several seconds, Tori frowned. "I can't hear the others anymore."

"Not even the woman who sounds like she has a built-in megaphone and sucked helium for breakfast. They left us behind." Even as she said the words, which should have been cause for concern, Hailey felt a pang of relief.

If the group had left them behind, there was no pressure to keep up, which was something she'd been failing at miserably for at least a mile. She considered herself to be in good shape, but hiking for miles over uneven ground in the woods was kicking her butt. And they still had paddling canoes to look forward to, just to make sure her arms and back ached as much as her legs tomorrow.

Since her usual daily workout was pushing a cart of books from the night drop box back into the library, she could only wonder what she'd been thinking. Or drinking.

"If we hurry, we can catch them." Tori cast a doubtful glance at Hailey's feet. "If it helps, we get to sit in the canoes."

The thought of being off her feet did help a little, so Hailey did her best to keep up with her new friend. Tori wasn't very tall, but she walked with a long, confident stride that was hard to match. Trying to ignore how her impending blisters and the muscles in the backs of her calves were having a contest to see which could burn the worst, Hailey put one foot in front of the other and tried not to stumble over roots.

After what felt like miles, Tori stopped in a clearing and shook her head. There were several paths in front of them and they all looked the same degree of disturbed. No matter how hard she looked, Hailey couldn't tell which one their group had taken.

"Aren't they supposed to break off tree branches or something to point the way?" she asked.

"We weren't kidnapped by Magua. We just didn't keep up. I think if the tour guides noticed they'd lost us, they would have waited rather than leave signs for us to interpret."

Hailey slapped herself in the face, then grimaced. "I'm going to need a blood transfusion before we get out of these woods."

"I have some Deep Woods Off in my pack. You want it?"

"No. I already have bug repellent on." She waved at a particularly persistent blackfly. "It's all natural and it nourishes my skin. It smells good, too."

"Too bad it doesn't keep the bugs away."

"The comments on Pinterest said it wasn't quite as effective as the chemical versions, but did I mention it's nourishing?"

Tori snorted. "And now you're nourishing the blackflies."

"I suck at being outside."

"You are surprisingly bad at it for somebody born and raised in rural Maine."

"Whitford's rural, but it's not this rural." Hailey wanted to point out her parents had chosen Whit-ford, not her, but a bug almost flew into her mouth, so she closed it.

"Well." Tori put her hands on her hips. "We're lost."

Matt Barnett leaned against a tree trunk and imagined himself at a crossroads. To the left was the low road. He could continue his walk in peace, making his way back to camp. Crack a beer with his old man. Drop a line in the river.

To the right was the high road, which meant approaching the two women whose voices carried through the trees like sirens. The fire truck kind, not the beautiful women luring sailors onto the rocks. They were lost, and rescuing damsels in distress wasn't on his vacation agenda.

Then again, vacations weren't supposed to have agendas. And as much as he wanted to kick back in his favorite fishing chair with a beer, it wasn't in his nature to leave two women alone in the woods. Unless, of course, they'd done it on purpose and it didn't sound like that was the case here.

With a weary sigh, he pushed off the tree and made his way to the women. He stepped out onto the path in front of them and had to give them credit for not screaming. They both yelped a little and the brunette dug her fingernails into the blonde's arm, but no full-blown hysterics.

He couldn't really blame them for being startled. Being on the downside of a two week vacation, Matt was looking more than a little rough. The jeans and flannel shirt were common enough, but his lucky fishing hat was nothing short of disgusting after years of wear. His hair had been overdue for a cut before the vacation even started, and he hadn't shaved since the last day he worked. If he'd been holding an axe, the women probably would have fainted.

"You ladies lost?"

"Nope." It was the brunette who spoke. She looked him straight in the eye while she lied. "We're all set, but thanks."

"Where you heading?"

This time it was the blonde who spoke, and she pointed at a spot over his shoulder. "Since we're facing that way, probably that way. Now if you'll excuse us, we-"

"Sound carries in the woods, so I know you're lost." He had a cabin and a dwindling vacation to get back to. "I'm Matt Barnett. I have a cabin a couple miles from here. I've been coming here my whole life and I haven't buried a single body in the woods yet."

"We totally believe you," the brunette said. "Because serial killers always start the conversation with how many bodies they've disposed of."

Even though there was a touch of humor in her voice, he noticed neither of them relaxed, which was good. Women shouldn't trust strange men who popped out of the tree line. But he also wanted to get this show on the road. If he had to tell them he was a game warden, he would, but he'd try to avoid it if he could. That, more often than not, led to questions and complaints and friends of friends who'd been cited and could he just look into that? He didn't want to go there, if possible.

"Let's go with the theory I'm not a serial killer for a few minutes," he said. "I'm not leaving you stranded in the woods, so the way I see it you ladies have two options. You can let me lead, which means I'll be in front of you and you can keep an eye on me, or I can shadow you, which means you won't be able to see me, but I'll be able to see you. That would be creepy."

"Or we could run," the blonde said.

He'd always been partial to brunettes in the past, and this one should have caught his eye. She was cute and had the potential to be a real firecracker, but for some reason it was the blonde who kept snagging his attention. Nothing about her-from the makeup she'd put on her face for a trek through the woods to the brand-new boots on her feet-was his type.

And she was looking at him like he'd just crawled out from behind a Dumpster. He'd seen that look before and he tended to not like women who aimed it his way.

She could probably run. The jeans and the form-fitting fleece zip-up she was wearing accented the fact she was in nice shape. But those boots had to be hurting her and the way her makeup was smearing around her pretty brown eyes told him she'd been sweating. If walking through the woods was an effort for her, running would be a joke.

"Pretty sure I could catch you."

The brunette snickered. "Of course you'd catch her. I'm faster than her, plus everybody knows the blondes always die first."

"You guys are hilarious," her friend muttered.

"I'm Tori," the brunette said. "And this is Hailey. We've gotten separated from our group and, at the rate we're going, I'm not sure we'll ever catch up."

Progress, finally. "Which outfit are you with?"

"Dagneau Adventure Tours."

Keeping a straight face was one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Those boys had moments of competence, but they'd inherited the business from their father and were in it solely to thumb their noses at nine-to-five jobs. He thought they were idiots, personally. "Did you research Dagneau Adventure Tours before you signed up?"

"They had a great website," Hailey said.

Tori nodded. "And they offered the specific package we were looking for."

"What package was that?"

He watched Hailey try to jam her friend's ribs with her elbow, but Tori easily evaded it. "We wanted an adventure geared toward celebrating being single. Like, no couples stuff."

So the pretty blonde was single. Not that it mattered, but it was a tidbit of information his brain seemed to want to file away, just in case.

"In the future, you should get referrals and ask for references," he said. "You shouldn't take the company's word for it when it comes to your safety. Especially when it comes to the outdoors. Nature's pretty, but can be a real bitch at times."

"Thank you, Jeremiah Johnson," Hailey muttered, and when she blushed under his hard look, he assumed she hadn't meant for him to hear it.

"Tell me what the itinerary was, starting with where you parked," he said to Tori, choosing to ignore the implication he was some kind of hermit backwoodsman.

Once she'd laid out the plan for the day, Matt was faced with another decision. It was really six of one, half dozen of another as to whether it made more sense to help them find their group or take them out of the woods. But Hailey looked as if she'd had enough adventure for the day and, even though she didn't seem to like him very much, it went against his nature to see a woman miserable and not try to make it better.

"I think it's closer to head back to your car than to try to meet up with your group. Especially since your car won't be moving away from us while we're trying to catch it."

Tori waved her hand. "Lead on, then."

Hailey hesitated. "It seems wrong to just leave. What if they come back to look for us?"

"They deserve it," Tori said. "For leaving us."

"Maybe the idiots in charge do, but not the rest of the women."

Matt sighed. Leave it to the Dagneau boys to come up with a way to get a bunch of single women into the woods. He made a mental note to have a closer look at their business and maybe rustle through their paperwork as he pulled his satellite phone out of the holster on his hip.

"Your phone works out here?"

"It's a satellite phone." It was a personal phone, in addition to the work cell phone he'd been issued. "My family spends a lot of time up here and I don't like being cut off from the world."

He started walking as he called into dispatch and asked them to relay to the Dagneau brothers that two of their guests had been lost and found. When he was done, he put the phone away and then looked over his shoulder to see how the women were faring.

They were still where he'd left them, and he was already too far away to make out their expressions. He held up his hands in a what are you waiting for motion and then had to wait while they caught up.

"We weren't sure if you wanted privacy for your phone call," Hailey explained. "Sorry."

He hadn't missed her wincing as she approached, but there wasn't much he could do about it. He certainly wasn't carrying her back to her car and he couldn't get his truck close enough to where they were to make a difference. By ATV he could, but it would take longer to go get it, get back and make individual trips with the women than it was worth. She'd have to suck it up.

"Let's go, ladies." He set off down the path, keeping a slightly slower than moderate pace and pointing out rocks and roots in the path.

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 30 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(13)

4 Star

(14)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(1)

1 Star

(1)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 30 Customer Reviews
  • Posted Tue Mar 25 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    4.25 stars I've been reading this series since it started and a

    4.25 stars

    I've been reading this series since it started and although I fell behind in my reading, I still enjoy the hell out of them.

    Shannon Stacey has the ability to create characters that I can relate to and whose story I get invested in. She brings forth a wonderful story every single time where the humor is abound and the emotions felt by the characters jump off the page. Mostly I enjoy the fact that each couple share an undeniable connection that withstands their doubts and hesitations.

    This was also the case with Taken with You.

    I was drawn to the story immediately. Right from the first few moments, I liked Hailey. She was so real and I understood easily where she was coming from, especially since my idea of doing something outdoorsy is reading a book while sitting in my porch. ;-)

    I enjoyed Matt and Hailey's banter--it had me cracking up. They were so set in their ways and so very determined to stick to their guns that it made for some great reading watching them go at each other while denying themselves the chance to explore the attraction that ran between them.

    But just as I enjoyed the funny moments, I also enjoyed the tender and emotional ones too. There was a scene that was so well written that I found myself crying just imagining how Hailey was feeling at the moment. And that right there is why I love Shannon Stacey's writing. She can go from the playful banter and the sarcasm right to the jugular within a couple of paragraphs. I loved it!

    Of course there was chemistry between these two--that first kiss alone was awesome. The sexual tension between them was palpable, especially when they went toe to toe trying to one-up one another.

    As a follower of the series, I enjoyed visiting with some of the other couples and catching up with how their lives were moving along. I enjoyed their interactions with the main characters especially the warm welcome they gave Matt and the support they provided Hailey along the way.

    Keep in mind that although this is the eighth book in the Kowalski Family series it can be read as a stand alone.

    All in all, a wonderful addition to a great series and a heartwarming story of two completely different people coming together by learning to compromise for the sake of the connection that has developed between them.

    *I received an ARC copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Slow Start but....

    it picked up really well! I laughed a lot with this book and eventually felt I couldn't put it down. The ups and downs were good. They both struggled with what the believed they wanted without seeing the "big" picture. Very happy with the outcome and look forward to the next book.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Loved it

    I loved this book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Wed Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Dreamy sigh. That was my reaction after I finished reading Taken

    Dreamy sigh. That was my reaction after I finished reading Taken With You by Shannon Stacey. Taken With You is a page-turner full of romance, humor, a little sass, passion and a swoon-worthy happy ever after. Even though I am on book 8 of the Kowalski Series and they are set in the same town, I don't feel as though I am reading the same story with different characters, as some series can end up.

    In Taken With You, Matt moves to Whitford, Maine as the new game warden. He first meets Hailey, the town librarian when she and her friend Tori get lost in the woods. From the beginning there was no way Matt and Hailey were meant for each other. Hailey's idea of Mr. Right is a suit-wearing, museum-going, wine-drinking, 8:00 -5:00 type ofguy. Matt's idea of the perfect woman is a girl who isn't afraid of dirt and sweat, likes to fish and hike and doesn't mind that he gets called at all hours of the day. So, from the beginning you can see these two are headed in different directions. How can they possibly work?

    Shannon does a fantastic job of building up the romance between Matt and Hailey. She stays true to each of their personalities and slowly introduces each of them to the other one's world. I enjoyed the back and forth banter between these Matt and Hailey, as it was an easy relationship yet it also had adult arguments. It just felt so real. The intimacy in Taken With You was at the right times and with just the right amount of description for the story and the characters. It was very hot and passionate, so make no mistake about that. One thing that always amazes me about Shannon's books is how simple the plot can be yet they are so engaging and I totally get lost in them.

    I enjoyed that Matt and Hailey were both established in their jobs and their lives so they were able to just enjoy getting to know one another as next door neighbors. The addition of Matt's dog, Bear was a highlight of the story. Of course it was great to see some of the characters from previous stories such as Josh, Katie and Paige, among others. Rose was not as involved in the matchmaking this time around, but we still got to witness her attempt at meddling.

    I feel as though my review doesn't give Taken With You justice. Simply put, I loved this book. The ending was absolutely perfect, too. Don't tell Joe and Keri (Exclusively Yours), but I think Matt and Hailey might be my favorite characters of Shannon's at this moment. Taken With You is an enjoyable, sweet, sexy romance story that you don't want to miss!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Wed Jul 09 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    I LOVE Shannon Stacey's Kowalski books--you know when you pick o

    I LOVE Shannon Stacey's Kowalski books--you know when you pick one up that fun and quirky characters and a very happy HEA are in your future...and that someone is going to be going ATVing. Her latest, Taken With You, is no exception.




    To say Hailey Genest is not a nature girl would be an understatement. Her idea of a fun outdoor activity is taking her book into the backyard to read. She's only out in the Maine wilderness on a singles adventure tour because her friend Tori--her last single friend, thanks to the recent rash of Kowalski pairings-up, darn them all--thought it sounded like fun. When her brand new hiking boots give her blisters blisters, her homemade mosquito repellent turns her into an insect buffet, and they're separated from the rest of their group by goodness knows how many miles and a grizzly bear black bear really tough chipmunk, she is not at all attracted to the rough-around-the-edges, just-stepped-out-of-a-serial-killer-documentary guy who leads them back to safety again.




    Honest.




    Imagine her surprise when that same guy--nicely cleaned up and in a game warden uniform--shows up in her library to give an all-day ATV safety course...and her further surprise when he moves into the vacant house next door. But she's still not at all interested.




    Really.




    And Hailey, of course, is not at all Matt's type. He's dated women like her before, and it never turns out well. He's finally learned his lesson, and he can absolutely resist the charms of the sexy librarian next door.




    Even if his traitorous dog is totally enamored of her.




    You know where this is going, right? Of course you do. But the journey there? It's soooooo much fun in a Shannon Stacey book! After I called Mini Moe #2 over for the first time because she "just had to hear this part" she laughed so much that every other time didn't even earn a preliminary eye roll. She just came, already smiling. If you spend much time around fourteen-year-olds, you know that's high praise indeed!




    Here's just one such scene, as Matt tries to introduce Hailey to the wonderful world of four-wheeling:




    Matt leaned against the Kowalski's barn, arms folded across his chest, and watched Hailey put her helmet on for what had to be the seventh or eighth time. At the rate they were going, he'd be too old to drive a quad by the time she was ready to hit the trail.




    "You know what the worst part is?" Andy Miller asked. He was also holding up the barn wall, watching the show. "About the time she gets that helmet just right, she's going to have to pee again."




    Matt sighed. "I wouldn't bet against it."




    Apparently, her hair was the problem. She started with it in a high ponytail, but that made a lump that was uncomfortable under her helmet. She tried a lower ponytail, but that had the same problem. She took the elastic out, but her hair plastered around her face when she put the helmet on and she didn't like that. Then came gathering her hair at the base of her neck with the elastic, but when she pulled on the helmet, it pulled her hair at the crown.




    Finally, Rose had come outside, sat her down on the porch and done some kind of fancy braid that held all of her hair while remaining flat. Now it seemed like they might be on the right track. When she had it settled on her head and gave him a thumbs up, he walked over and did the buckle under her chin.




    "You finally ready?"




    She nodded, then held up a finger. "I'm going to go pee one more time."




    "Do not take that helmet off," he called after her.




    Andy was shaking his head. "What do you think the chances are that girl knows how to pee over a log?"




    "My plan is to give her enough water to keep her hydrated, but not enough to make her have to go." He was mostly kidding.








    Hailey really is a heroine after my own heart. I'm not nearly as bad as she is--I did voluntarily (actually, it was even my idea, believe it or not) go tent camping on my honeymoon in Maine's Acadia National Park--but I am totally with her "I'd rather read a book than bait a hook" mentality (Because, honestly. Ewwww), and reading outside is one of my favorite outdoor activities. It's like she's my long-lost literary twin, or something.




    Though I know better than to trust a homemade bug repellent, thank you. Give me Deep Woods Off any day. Especially if there's a hot game warden available to help me with the application...




    But I digress.




    Taken With You was a start it on Saturday morning, I'm good for nothing until I'm done with it Saturday afternoon kind of book. (I know better than to pick up a Shannon Stacey book on a weekday. I've learned that lesson.) If you've already read the rest of the series, this one is an excellent addition. If not, it can absolutely stand alone--the Kowalskis, though they wander in and out through the narration, are secondary characters here. A warning, though--you're going to want to go back and read the others once you've finished.




    They're kind of like Lay's potato chips that way. Only they're not deep fried, which makes them much more healthy. Win-win!




    Rating: 4 1/2 stars / A rating




    I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Mon Jun 16 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I ended up really enjoying this book after a bit of a rough star

    I ended up really enjoying this book after a bit of a rough start. I didn't care for the hero nor the heroine in the first few pages. I thought they were both judgmental. The conflict in the book comes from assumption about the kind of partner you think you need/want on the part of the heroine and  old hurts from a past relationship on the part of the hero. As the book moved forward, I really liked both characters and the conflict felt much more natural than it did in the first pages of the book. She is a librarian and he is a game warden. Awesome! The dog  and the town is great as is the love story. Enjoy!




    I was given this book for my honest review. So, there you have it!  

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    203pgs

    Liked the story.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Thu May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    This is one of the best series out there. I have loved everyone

    This is one of the best series out there. I have loved everyone of these books and I highly recommend you give them a try. I recommend you read them in order to enjoy it to the fullest. 
    Matt Barnett comes to the rescue of Hailey Genest and her friend Tori when they are lost in the woods. Matt sees Hailey as a very pretty city girl totally not his type. Who has done everything wrong for an out doors adventure and Hailey sees Matt as a "Jeremiah Johnson" wannabe dressed in flannel and the ugliest hat she's ever seen and way to much facial hair. When they met again at the library and Matt's clean cut and dressed in his Game Wardens uniform the real adventure starts. They find out that they maybe everything they didn't know they were looking for.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu May 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Fun

    Love this series. Enjoy the stories, love the characters.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Fri Apr 25 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Good

    I've noticed a trend with her books they are all the same basic story with minor changes. But I still come back to read them because I like the way she writes and I can't get enough of the Kowalskis.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Tue Apr 22 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Gotta Love the Kowalskis

    Funny read, love this series!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Fri Apr 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    This is the second Kowalski Family Series book I've read, but it

    This is the second Kowalski Family Series book I've read, but it won't be my last. I read the first one, and now I've read the eighth. Fortunately, these are written very well, and can easily be read as standalones. I could tell there were a few characters from previous books involved in this story, but I didn't feel like it hurt my enjoyment of this novel having not read these characters' stories before. If anything, it just makes me look forward to reading their books when I get to them. And I do plan on reading them, because I really enjoy the way Shannon Stacey tells a story.

    As for Taken With You, we get the sweet story of the local librarian and the new game warden. Hailey is 40, has watched her friends fall in love, has considered moving to a bigger town to meet more single people, but loves her town and her job. Matt, the game warden, begins the story as Hailey's seeming opposite. Outdoorsy and rugged, he is not what she imagined for her future, or even her present. But circumstances have thrown them together, more than once, and despite some glaring differences, they are more compatible than they thought.

    Watching their friendship/relationship develop was well thought out and well written. Hailey and Matt had great chemistry, terrific banter, humorous situations, and the honesty to tackle the real questions. The situations they were put in tested many levels of themselves individually, as well as together. Neither of them are perfect, and they had a bit of baggage and preconceived notions that needed to be torn down. They also needed some assistance from others when they were too stubborn or oblivious to see with clarity. Fortunately, they are surrounded by a great community of characters who add just the right amount of sweetness and seriousness.

    Overall, Taken With You is a sweet, romantic story, full of just the right amount of humor, sass, chemistry, and reality. It's not too heavy, not too light, and with characters in their late 30s to 40s who are really wonderful getting to know and watching fall in love, it's just the right escape for the adult romantic reader.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Fri Apr 11 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    more from this reviewer

    Although part of a series, Taken With You can easily be read as

    Although part of a series, Taken With You can easily be read as a standalone. Good thing, too, as I've only read the first book in the Kowalski series, and now I've jumped right into number 8!


    Shannon Stacey has created a fun, charming small-town, and I can assure you I will be back to explore it, as well as the family in general.


    I did love Matt and Hailey working through their relationship. They do not have a ton of things in common, but they try their best to work that out and compromise. It felt real.


    This may sound odd, but I liked Matt's dog, Bear, too, and I was happy that Stacey made him a part of this story. Matt cared for him dearly, and Bear fit in to the book. He wasn't simply a dog that popped up when it was convenient; Matt takes care of him, as does Hailey when she sees that Matt isn't home. I've read many romances were the dog is used as a prop or for "aw, cute!" moments. Not so with this one!

    I smiled at more than a few quotes in this book. Light and fun, Taken with You was just what I needed to relax and forget some of the stress in my life.


    Matt and Hailey have great chemistry, and when they do finally hit the bedroom, it's very sexy and satisfying! Stace also adds enough sweet to the story to make this a very enjoyable read, and one I will be recommending to many. When opposites attract in a small-town, it's always a blast watching the story unfold!



    4 STARS!



    ~ * ~ * ~

    For my full review, including favorite book quotes, please visit my blog, TBQ's Book Palace.

    TheBookQueen

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Don't miss this one! It is a very good romance story with laugh

    Don't miss this one! It is a very good romance story with laugh out loud moments. This is one to be read again.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Apr 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great story!

    Highly recommend great love story!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    .

    .

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Posted Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    'Taken With You' is book 8 in The Kowalski series by Shannon Sta

    'Taken With You' is book 8 in The Kowalski series by Shannon Stacey. In this book we get to know Kowalski family friend, librarian Hailey Genest and the new game warden Matt Barnett. This book needs to come with a warning 'caution you will crack up laughing several times while reading this story'. I loved Hailey and Matt's story. The characters in this series, the town, the stories are all wonderful. You can't help falling in love with it all. I highly recommend the entire Kowalski series as well all of Shannon Stacey's other work. She never disappoints! I can't wait to see what happens next in the Kowalski series with Max's story 'Falling For Max' due out summer of 2014!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Loved Hailey and Matt's story, another great book from the Kowal

    Loved Hailey and Matt's story, another great book from the Kowalski series. There were some very funny one-liners in the book, I laughed really hard.  Shannon Stacey is a really great writer.  You won't be disappointed with any of her books.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Enjoyable

    I enjoyed there story

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  No   Report this review
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 30 Customer Reviews

If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)