Review and giveaway: Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

Synopsis

I don’t care what my cousin says; I am not the queen of impossible relationships. I mean, just because my last boyfriend tried to kill me and left a bit of a scar on my neck, then forced me to move across the country and legally change my name to Reese Randall to escape him, does not mean—

Oh, who am I kidding? For a freshman in college, I have to have the worst dating track record ever.

It’s no wonder love is the last thing on my mind when Mason Lowe enters my life. But the chemistry between us is like bam! Our connection defies logic. And he’s just so freaking hot. Being around him makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I even like bickering with him. He could be my soul mate...except for one teeny tiny glitch.

He's a gigolo.

Boy, do I know how to pick them.


4.5 star review by Jen Skewes

Mason Lowe is a gigolo.  At to be honest when we first met him I thought he was a bit of a jerk and wasn't sure if I could get past the gigolo part.  But that changed very quickly.  At the age of eighteen Mason's landlady was going to evict him, his mother and his sister if he didn't accept her offer.  And as much as Mason did not want to go along with it, he felt he had no choice.  He needed to do whatever he has to , in order to save his family, even if it meant getting paid for sex.  It's a few years later and Mason is now a high priced gigolo, doing what he needs to do to keep a roof over his family.  He doesn't do it because he wants to, he does it because he has to.  He has given up everything for his family, a social life, friends, relationships, and even a chance at love.  He doesn't know what it's like to have a normal relationship with a girl, or what it feels like to actually make love to someone.  And he doesn't think he will ever get the chance to find out.  He feels like he is stuck and there is no way out.  Most people either want him for something or look at him strangely and stay away.  Until now, until Reese enters his life...

Reese has moved across the counrty to live with her aunt and uncle to escape from her stalker ex-boyfriend.  While at school one day with her cousing and best friend, Eva, she sees him.  Mason Lowe, the hottest guy that she has ever laid eyes one.  And despite her cousin's warnings to stay away from him because of his "gigolo" status, she can't help that thoughts that go through her head when she thinks of him. But she knows if the rumors are true, that he really is a gigolo that she should stay away.  But as fate will have it, staying away is not the plan.  Reese gets a job babysitting for a teenage girl, who she later finds out is Mason's sister, Sarah.  It is though her connection with Sarah that mason and Reese start to form a friendship.  Reese finds out the truth and why he does what he does and she never judges him for it.  Instead she is there to be his friend.  Someone that he can actually talk to, eat lunch with and be normal with. But both Mason and Reese find themselves falling for each other and both know that anything beyond a friendship is impossible.  So how do you control your feelings that you have for someone that you know is off limits?  Can they really put their feelings aside and be just friends?  Or will Mason be willing to give it up for love?

As I mentioned earlier I wasn't sure if I could get past the gigolo part, but that changed very early on.  Once I was able to see the real Mason, and see the real reasons why he became a gigolo in the first place I quickly fell in love with him and he completely captured my heart.  I felt bad for him for so many reasons.  For the past few years he has been doing what he feels is the right thing to protect his family, and to see how much it pains him to do it, how much he has given up and how damaged he has become because of it will break your heart.  He carries the burden of his family's financial problems on his shoulders.  The only person who has ever seen the real Mason is Reese.  She is the one person who was willing to give him a chance.  She never judged him and understood him in so many ways.  And that is one of the many reasons why I loved her.  She was such an amazing heroine.  She was strong and confident and I loved her for the way she was with Mason.  She was in love with him but knew not to push.  She was there for him when he needed her and she backed off when he asked her to.  Together they were so perfect.

There are so many things that I loved about this story.  One being Mason and Reese of course.  I love that things between them were never rushed.  They started as friends and slowly eased into more.  I loved the relationship that Reese built with Mason's sister.  I think that had a lot to do with their connection and how their friendship started.   The way Mason loved and took care of his sister will melt your heart.  

On the outside Mason was hot and sexy but on the inside he had an amazing heart, was sweet, caring and a protector.  There was one moment towards the end Mason had a tough decision to face and while I hated that it happened it may me love Mason even more because of his reasons behind his decision.   I won't go into detail but it was one of those moments that caused me to tear up, and get that knot in my stomach.  I wanted to reach out and give them both a hug and tell them it would be ok.

Ms. Kage did such a wonderful job with this story and the character development.   While it is about two people who start out as friends and eventually become lovers, it had it's own uniqueness to it.  Mason and Reese definitely had that sexual chemistry between them.  I loved the back and forth flirting and banter between them.  This story will make you laugh, cry, and even frustrated at times, but in the end leave you smiling.  I fell in love with Mason and Reese and wanted to see them get their happily ever after.  They had some rocky moments, even as just friends, but they both loved each other and needed each other.  Amazing job by Linda Kage.  A sweet, fun and wonderful read! 

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