I love the Kowalski family. Even though technically this book was about a couple who are not official members of the Clan, close friends count! I would definitely say the Kowalski's feel Ben and now Lannie are members of their family.

First of, Laney has left a long marriage to a man she simply lost herself to. She comes to the Northern Star as a worker and lives in a camper in their new camping grounds. Ben has returned to Maine after being raised there but living in the city as a paramedic for years. They simply were made for one another and fight their instant connection. Laney is fresh out of a marriage and on a soul searching mission to find herself and not get back into a relationship. Ben is nearing 40 and ready to settle down, not so much SETTLE with Laney because she is gorgeous, funny and their sexual attraction is obvious, but he doesn't want to spook her and scare her away from what he feels would be an amazing relationship.

While these two are dancing around one another, we are gifted with the other Kowalski clan in their annual vacation- which this year brings them to the lodge. Catching up with the families, babies and teenagers was great. Still loving he ladies nights and naughty Scrabble.

This series is one I just love as I am so drawn in to this family. Each book gets better and better and the family bonds stronger. While there is a large group, internal family drama is minimal and they deal with their problems and go on, without anger and lingering hard feelings.

Back to Laney and Ben! They navigate the newness of their flirting, crushing, lusting and realize they can't hold back from being together. But with Laney, is this simply a fling or can she get back so quickly into a relationship. Great read! Recommend!

The Kowalski's are definitely Shannon Stacey's sweet spot. She knows and translates them and their extended community so well. You almost feel like you're in the room.

Ben and Laney fit so nicely in the Kowalski world. Ben, a childhood friend of Sean, makes perfect sense at the lodge reuniting with friends who feel like family. Laney is looking to reclaim her independence and find her true self. What better place to do this than steps away from Rosie's kitchen in the bosom of what family feels like. The attraction between Laney and Ben is immediate, yet the romance blossoms overtime. It's a HEA you know will happen, yet is all the more sweet because you have to wait for it. Well done Ms. Stacey!

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGallery, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

what a great addition to the series. I didn't want it to end. It was great to visit with everyone from past stories too.
What a way to spend an enjoyable afternoon

Up front, in the subtitle in fact, we're told that this is a Kowalski Reunion novel and are thus forewarned that there will be a LOT of catch up with the Kowalski family. Normally this really bugs me in a story because that means that the main story will suffer. However, Ms. Stacey manages to make the "main story" about a new Kowalski employee and a local boy-returned-home feel like a fully formed novella in amongst a rather extended epilogue for almost every other of the nine previous Kowalski books. As long as you go in expecting that this will not be a fully developed story, you won't be disappointed.
Laney Caswell just got out of a marriage where she was deeply unhappy because she sublimated her own needs for those of her husband. Now, she's spending the summer at the Kowalski camp trying to figure out who she is without a man. She definitely is not interested in getting involved with anyone. When she sees Ben Rivers and electricity strikes but Laney wants to make sure that she finds herself before she gets involved with anyone else.
Ben Rivers is thirty-eight and ready to settle down. His work as a paramedic has been hard and so he played hard too. Now that he's moved home, he's realizing exactly how much he's missed. He is incredibly attracted to Laney but is willing to step back in order to give her room to make her own decisions.
And that's why this book is so good. Both Ben and Laney have adult conversations about what they want and each respects the other. I wish we had gotten some more background on both and the myriad updates about the Kowalskis and their friends got confusing, even to someone who read all the stories, but it was overall a very nice story for regular Kowalski readers.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out February 28

I wish I was part of the Kowalski family. Coming from a small family, it makes me smile to think of get togethers like they have.
I think that it's pretty much a necessity to read at least the last two books in the series before this one. There is a lot of Josh and Katie, and Sean and Emma throughout this book. While all of the Kowalski clan is part of the book, they are more secondary characters.
Both Ben and Laney are in their late 30's. Ben is so patient with Laney, knowing that she can't rush into another relationship. He knows that he's only looking for a forever relationship. Where Laney is a little more gun shy.