Book Review — Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

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“He could be my soul mate…except for one teeny tiny glitch. He’s a gigolo. Boy, do I know how to pick them.”

Price of a Kiss was a cute, swoony, heartwarming standalone New Adult romance. It was lighthearted and romantic but still had emotional depth. The banter was awesome, the writing was great and the story was sweet. I really enjoyed it!

The prologue instantly hooked me. It it we see the hero, Mason, at eighteen years old, put in an impossible situation by his mother’s landlady. With his sister sick and their single mother struggling to make ends meet, the rent was months overdue. Threatening them all with eviction, the landlady backs Mason into a corner and propositions him. If he agrees to sleep with her, the balance would be voided. So, despite her being over twice his age, the fact that this might be the only way to save his family from immediate eviction had Mason going along with her wishes.

Two years later, Reece is starting her life over in a new college after her last relationship ended in a horrible mess when her ex-boyfriend crossed the obsessed stalker line and tried to kill her. She changed her name, changed towns and started over. A new relationship was the last thing she was looking for but the minute she locked eyes on Mason, she fell head over heels in swoon with him.

From fifty yards, he’d taken my breath away. From ten feet, I’d been ready too have his babies.

Of course there was the one teensy tiny glitch… he was a gigolo. Totally and completely off-limits. But that did not stop her from swooning hard or wanting a friendship with him. She wasn’t looking for anything more at that point and honestly, he couldn’t give her any more even if she’d wanted it so between them they struck up an unlikely friendship brimming with fun, flirty sexual tension.

Every female instinct in me wanted to reach out and trace the wrinkles in his brow he was making as he frowned.
Must. Soothe. The hottie.

Oh and…

Brace yourself for this one, ladies: He had a tattoo. I know. I almost spontaneously combusted right then and there.

Teehee!

Ok honestly, this book just made me happy. Flat-out happy. So much of my book is highlighted. I laughed and snorted my way though a good chunk of the book in a way that made me glad I wasn’t sitting in public at the time I was reading 😉

But I felt so bad for Mason! The poor guy was literally sacrificing everything for his family. He couldn’t have real relationships, everyone either wanted to take something from him or shunned him, and you could just see the pain it was causing him. He gave it all up – friends, relationships, a social life, everything – just to keep a roof over his family’s head.

But that was what made their friendship mean so much more. She was literally the first person to see him as HIM. Just Mason Lowe. She fell hard for him but knew and understood where he was coming from. She didn’t ever judge him and I have to say, I loved her as a heroine for that.

“Every woman treats me that way, Reece. I’m not a person to them. I’m just… a good time or something vile to be avoided at all costs. And then you can along and you… you hugged me. You are the first person who sees me, Mason, not sex for sale.”

In a certain way, they were kind of perfect for each other because she wasn’t looking for a new relationship and he quite literally could not commit so their mutual understanding led them into a really wonderful friendship. But their attraction was palatable, their chemistry was combustible and their flirty banter was just pure gold.

I loved Reece. She was a strong heroine and totally in control of her life. Yes, she’s been through a huge trauma but she was not about to let it dictate her life. It was really refreshing to just never be annoyed with the heroine.

And Mason… ohhhh Mason. Seriously, just the sweetest guy! With a hilariously insatiable appetite (and I’m talking real food here, get your mind out of the gutter!) and a gorgeously protective nature, he was easy to love.

The more time they spent together, the more apparent it was that their feelings for each other ran deeper than they each expected but it was heartbreaking to see how tainted Mason felt. They were crazy for each other but he just couldn’t bring himself to be with her. Not while… well, you know.

I’m going to try and anticipate some questions you might have about this book given the hero’s um… *cough* profession.

First, they do not sleep together while he’s “taking clients”. Second, they don’t become a couple immediately but their friendship did begin to build early on and got developed quite a bit so that by the time they actually were ready to make it official, they fell into it very easily into their relationship given their already established connection.

This book had a little bit of everything – laughs, heart break, and a really sweet, impossible romance that I rooted for from the first few pages. It was my first book from this author and it certainly will not be my last. The writing was funny, witty and easy to read. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from Linda Kage.

At 370 pages, it’s definitely a full-length novel but it flew by fast. I read it in a couple hours and was left with a warm, fuzzy, happy feeling. It’s a standalone with a HEA and epilogue so you really get a complete story here.

If you’re looking for something fun and swoony or something to read after a heavily emotional book, this would be a great choice!

4 – 4.5 stars.

• Buy PRICE OF A KISS (Kindle)
• Buy PRICE OF A KISS (Paperback)

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Series of standalones. Click covers to purchase.