Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

*new adult romance*

**explicit scenes and language**

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.

3.5-3.75 Stars

“Every woman treats me that way, Reese. 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 came along and you…you hugged me. You are the first person who sees me, Mason, not sex for sale." 

I can never turn down gigolo stories. Hence why I wanted to read this as soon as possible. The synopsis immediately grabbed my attention. I knew going in that this was not going to be a typical, straight forward romance. Oh no. There were a whole lot of other things in the mix. This was definitely interesting read. 

“Sometimes it’s more about the quality than the quantity that counts.” 

Reese has the worst track record when it comes to men. I mean her last boyfriend did try to kill her. Now she’s in hiding waiting for his trial to begin. He’s one very determined stalker. Now she’s miles away from her home, attending a new school. Luckily she is staying with her cousin so at least she has some support. On her very first day, she immediately notices Mason. How could you not? He’s very attractive, very sexy and apparently very unattainable. Why? Because rumor has it that he’s a gigolo. Ah, her luck just continues. 

“I could never deserve you. You’re too good for me. You’re out of my reach.” 

Mason did not want this life, but circumstances in his life lead him to this path. We find out how he got involved in the very beginning of the book. And for the record, that prologue was hard for me to read. It was downright cringe-worthy. Poor Mason. He was stuck between a rock and hard place when he fell down that path. What else could he do? He needed to take care of his mother and his little sister Sarah, who in addition has Cerebral Palsy. Responsibilities just keep piling up. And things just get even more complicated when Reese enters his life. He wants her, but knows he can’t have her, not while he’s still doingthat. Ugh. This is such a cluster fuck. 

“You’re the warm sun that shines when everything else is dark,” he went on, lifting his hands to rest them against the wall on either side of face. “A smile and a hug in a roomful of disapproval. You’re…” Wincing, he pressed his forehead against mine. “You’re everything.”

A single tear trickled down my cheek. My smile trembled with effort. “I love you too.” 

Eventually Reese and Mason become friends - close, flirty friends, mind you. Lines get blurred, but both remain adamant to not cross it. I really liked seeing their friendship blossom, and it kept the story interesting. I admired Mason’s control and would even go as far as calling him admirable. As for Reese…well, it took me a long time to get use to her. She was incredibly superficial in the beginning and it took a while for her character to develop. I did love their flirty moments, but as the story went on, I felt myself getting antsy. I wanted something to happen. I mean COME ON! Ugh. Anyway, the first 70% was me waiting for them to finally get it and when they finally did, BOOM! Something happens and I was left shocked. I understood where Mason came from and the reasoning behind his actions, but that does not mean I liked it…at all! It completely rubbed me the wrong way, offended the hell out of me and left a horrible taste in my mouth. I just couldn’t get over it….hence, the less than four-star rating. Anyway, I did like the majority of this book, and it was a good story, but that thing was just...wrong. Grr!