{"id":4935,"date":"2013-08-24T19:43:33","date_gmt":"2013-08-25T02:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=4935"},"modified":"2017-03-08T14:02:49","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T19:02:49","slug":"review-price-of-a-kiss-forbidden-men-1-by-linda-kage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=4935","title":{"rendered":"Review: Price of a Kiss (Forbidden Men, #1) by Linda Kage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/b><\/h4>\n
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\r\n <\/div><\/div><\/b><\/p>\n
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Review<\/b><\/h4>\n

4.5 stars<\/b><\/p>\n

I love this book! It\u2019s fun, it\u2019s flirty, it\u2019s full of sensational banter, but also has just enough of a serious undertone to it to bring the emotion when needed.<\/p>\n

Our heroine is Reese. Hiding from an violent, stalker ex-boyfriend, she has changed her name and travelled across the country to stay with family and attend College. On her first day, she spies a hottie across campus, and she is instantly smitten – not insta-love, there\u2019s none of that here, it\u2019s all insta-attraction, and lots of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was hotness exemplified. That was my new name for him, actually: Hotness.
\n\u2026
\nHis dark, wavy hair called to me – <\/i>Reese, Reese! Run your fingers through my wild, gorgeous, untamed mane. It did. For real.
\n\u2026
\nAnd that face. I swear, angels sprouted up around him and began to sing in harmonious worship of that glorious face.
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\nEvery female instinct in me wanted to reach out and trace the wrinkles in his brow he was making as he frowned.
\nMust. Soothe. The hottie.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then she learns that the object of her ogling is Mason Lowe, gigolo (yeah, it rhymes, lol). She immediately writes him off as somebody she doesn\u2019t want to get involved with (as you would), but it doesn\u2019t stop the insane chemistry between them. And it ramps even further when Reese gets a babysitting job, only to discover that her charge is Mason\u2019s 12 year old disabled sister.<\/p>\n

So, being forced somewhat into each other\u2019s lives, a friendship develops, and it is absolutely sensational! Mason is used to being pretty much shunned at school on account of his profession, but Reese is completely accepting of him, and so open, asking him questions about him and his lifestyle, and he answers her honestly.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, that explanation makes you sound kind of noble, you know, with you falling on the sword of absolute depravity to save your family. You\u2019d probably make a good Saturday afternoon movie.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you don\u2019t give out freebies? Like ever?\u201d That just sounded so bizarre to me. I would\u2019ve thought a gigolo would be a complete man-whore, even off the clock.<\/em>
\n But when his jaw went dead still as he stopped chewing and he said, \u201cAre you…asking for one?\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

They are both so matter of fact about it, that it hardly seems like a big deal at all – except that it\u2019s the one thing that\u2019s keeping them apart when they so clearly want each other. And the banter and flirting reaches epic heights as they joke about their feelings and the futility of it all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI still want to be your friend, Reese. I will<\/i> be your friend. I just\u2026I need some time and space to control my\u2026my horny guy urges.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And the text flirting is gold! \u201cThanks for staying my friend even though I want to jump your bones.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

I absolutely adore both Reese and Mason, and the relationship between them is gorgeous. It really is a best friends \/ soul mate sort of thing, and I loved every moment of them together. And even though they aren\u2019t actually<\/i> together, what they have between them is very special. It\u2019s natural, it moves at a great pace, and the UST is phenomenal.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery woman treats me that way, Reese. I\u2019m not a person to them. I\u2019m just\u2026a good time or something vile to be avoided at all costs. And then you came along and you\u2026you <\/i>hugged me. You are the first person who sees me, Mason, not <\/i>sex for sale.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mason has a beautiful vulnerability about him, feeling tainted and not worthy of Reese, while she has the obvious issues that anybody in her position would have, but they communicate well, and are absolutely functional together, so by the time the romance finally comes, it\u2019s sensational.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re the warm sun that shines when everything else is dark,\u201d he went on, lifting his hands to rest them on the wall on either side of my face. \u201cA smile and a hug in a roomful of disapproval. You\u2019re\u2026\u201d Wincing, he pressed his forehead against mine. \u201cYou\u2019re everything.\u201d <\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So beautifully swoony!!!<\/p>\n

The focus is very much the relationship between Reese and Mason, with other characters playing a minor part \u2013 Mason\u2019s sister, Sarah is gorgeous, Mrs Garrison is evil and disgusting, and the jury is still out on Reese\u2019s cousin, Eva. She is Reese\u2019s best friend, but I actually didn\u2019t like her very much. But her digs provided some great opportunity for Reese to defend her man.<\/p>\n

Even with all of the joking around, there are some dramatic moments, and some beautifully tender scenes. And yes, there is sexy time.<\/p>\n

The story is paced really well and comes to the inevitably exciting finish which was expected, but also had a bit of a twist. And there\u2019s even an epilogue.<\/p>\n

I absolutely loved this one. A great, fun read. I highly recommend it.<\/p>\n

4.5 stars.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Forbidden Men series:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"Price<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"To<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"Be<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"With<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Worth<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"The\u00a0\u00a0\"Priceless\"\u00a0\u00a0\"consolation-prize\"\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Price of a Kiss (#1)<\/strong>\u00a0(Mason & Reese)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

To Professor, With Love (#2)<\/strong>\u00a0(Noel & Aspen)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

Be My Hero (#3)<\/strong>\u00a0(Pick & Eva)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

With Every Heartbeat (#4)<\/strong>\u00a0(Quinn & Zoey)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

A Perfect Ten (#5)<\/strong>\u00a0(Ten & Caroline)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

Worth It (#6)<\/strong>\u00a0(Knox & Felicity)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

The Girl’s Got Secrets (#7)<\/strong>\u00a0(Asher & Remy)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

Priceless (#8)<\/strong>\u00a0(Sarah & Brandt)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

Consolation Prize (#9)<\/strong>\u00a0(Colton & Julianna)
\nReview<\/a>
\nBuy:\u00a0\u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n

The Price of Mason (#10)<\/strong>\u00a0(Mason POV)
\nBuy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buy:\u00a0 Kindle Ebook\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Paperback Review 4.5 stars I love this book! It\u2019s fun, it\u2019s flirty, it\u2019s full of sensational banter, but also has just enough of a serious undertone to it to bring the emotion […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4904,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":4.5,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"Product","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,25,65,13,9,29],"tags":[269,268,48],"class_list":["post-4935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feeeeeeels","category-friends-to-lovers","category-lol-funny","category-new-adult","category-romance","category-steamy","tag-forbidden-men","tag-linda-kage","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Price-of-a-Kiss.jpg?fit=150%2C224&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-1hB","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}