The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

 

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Description:
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases–a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.

It doesn’t help that Stella has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice–with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can’t afford to turn down Stella’s offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan–from foreplay to more-than-missionary position…

Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he’s making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic…

 

 

Review:

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang is the 1^st book in her new Kiss Quotient series.   I did not know what to expect when I decided to read this debut novel by Hoang, as sex was a major background of this story.  I was totally surprised when I found myself unable to put the book and down enjoying it very much.

The whole concept of The Kiss Quotient is based on a girl who has Asperger’s  (autism spectrum).  Stella Lane is close to 30, smart, very successful in her job as an econometrics, and she loves her job, being a workaholic, working 7 days a week.  Stella is also wealthy, both from her job and her family.  Stella does not deal with socializing, and especially dating; which her parents pressure her to find a man, get married, and have kids. But Stella does not enjoy dating, and hates kissing or sex.  She decides that since she has no social skills, she needs someone to train her how to act on dates, and to practice sex.  Stella feels this will help her find someone to be in a relationship with. 

Enter Michael Phan, who is an escort who reserves only Fridays to offer his services.  Michael needs money to help his family (mother has cancer and big bills), and the escorting pays well.  He also helps his mother, as a tailor in their store, and on the side, Michael is a designer, which he has not had much time to concentrate on developing more.  When he meets Stella, she gives him a list that she wants to learn, which at first he finds amusing.  But he senses her fears, tension and awkwardness, and decides to take it slow; just getting her used to being kissed and stopping there.  Michael never escorts the same woman again, but he decides to give her three more lessons, which will include going out on date, attending a club, and slowly having her get used to taking her clothes off.   Michael was a great hero, as he was so sweet, patient and understanding of Stella’s issues.  In a short time, their chemistry together was sizzling, especially as Stella began to learn to enjoy her training, as she began to feel things she never knew existed.  When Michael learns later about her autism, and he work towards helping her overcome her fears. He was the perfect man for Stella, though they both felt nothing would come from their “training”.  Michael had his father issues (he left them years ago), his mother’s illness, as well as his siblings to help take care of.  Even as he was falling hard for the sweet Stella, Michael felt she deserved more.

The Kiss Quotient was a sensual, emotional, heartwarming and sexy story.  It was amazing to see Michael help Stella through her social anxiety, and the loud noises that made her tense and awkward.  I loved Stella and Michael together. This was so well written by Hoang, as she manages to keep us glued to our seats with this wonderful story, with a fantastic couple.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

Her mouth thinned into a stubborn line. “This is too important for me not to think. I’d rather not kiss anymore if you don’t mind.”
Michael’s irritation redoubled, and he forced his hands to relax before he popped all his blood vessels. How the hell had he gotten himself into this? Ah yes, he’d been worried about his escort colleagues taking advantage of her. Stupid of him. His life was complicated enough without worrying about his clients. This was exactly why he had the one-session policy.
He would have backed out—it was tempting—but he’d promised. He always carried through on his promises. It was his way of balancing out the universe. His dad had broken enough promises for the both of them.
“All right,” he made himself say. “No kissing.”
“Do the other plans look okay?” she asked.
He forced himself to read them and found them pretty similar, only she’d moved from hand jobs to blowjobs and changed the sexual positions.
Amused despite himself, he said, “I’m surprised you used the terms ‘doggy style’ and ‘cow girl.’”
Her cheeks went bright red, and she adjusted her glasses. “I’m inexperienced, not clueless.”
“Your plans are missing something important.” He held his hand out, and she placed the pen in his palm with wary motions.
She tilted her head to the side as she watched him write FOREPLAY at the top of all the plans in capital letters. As an afterthought, he drew a box in front of each iteration with hard stabs of the pen.
“But why? I was under the impression men don’t need it.”
“You do,” he said flatly.
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “You don’t have to bother with me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “It’s not a bother. Most men like foreplay. I do. Getting a woman hot is satisfying as hell.” Besides, he was not having sex with her if she wasn’t ready. No fucking way.
Swallowing, she stared down at the menu. “So you’re saying I don’t have a chance to improve.”
“What? No.” His mind scrambled to figure out why she might say that and came up with nothing.
“You saw how I reacted. It was one button.”
“And then you slept with me all night. You were basically naked, and you cling.”
“Are you two ready to order?” the waitress interjected. Judging by the amused glimmer in her eyes, she’d caught the last part of their conversation.
Stella perused the dinner options, her nails picking at the fabric edging of the menu.
“We’ll have the special,” Michael said.
“Wise choice. I’ll leave you to it.” The waitress winked, gathered the menus, and disappeared.
“What’s the special?” Stella asked.
“I have no idea. Let’s hope it’s not woolly.”
A troubled frown bracketed her mouth, and she leaned forward hesitantly, meeting his eyes for the briefest second. “What exactly do you mean by ‘cling?’”
Michael grinned. “It means you like to cuddle when you’re asleep.”

“Oh.”
She looked so horrified Michael couldn’t help laughing. “I confess to liking it.” Which was the truth, and unlike him. Cuddling was an obligatory thing he did for his clients because he understood they needed it. He usually spent the time counting the seconds until he could leave and go home to shower. Holding Stella had been nothing like that. They hadn’t had sex, so there’d been nothing to wash away, and the trusting way she’d curled into him had made him feel things he didn’t want to think about.

 

Helen Hoang is that shy person who never talks. Until she does. And the worst things fly out of her mouth. She read her first romance novel in eighth grade and has been addicted ever since.

In 2016, she was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in line with what was previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome. Her journey inspired THE KISS QUOTIENT, which comes out in June 2018 with Berkley.

She currently lives in San Diego, California with her husband, two kids, and pet fish.

Helen Hoang’s publisher is graciously offering a paper copy of THE KISS QUOTIENT to ONE lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

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