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Kiss the Girl
Nixie Leighton-Brace is ready to quit the family business. It's not the work--she loves building hospitals, schools and orphanages for her family's humanitarian organization. But when her movie-star mother steals Nixie's boyfriend to generate publicity for their latest cause, Nixie snaps. She quits her job, walks away from her family, and boards a plane to the one place on earth she's never been. Home.
Dr. Erik Larsen likes to keep his private life private, a word he doubts crazy-famous Nixie Leighton-Brace even knows. Fundraising, though? She's got that one nailed, and Erik's free health clinic is barely keeping the lights on. So when Nixie walks in and asks for a job, he gives her one. But he'll be damned if he hands over his heart along with it.
Loving America's princess is no easy task. Neither is being America's princess, and both Nixie and Erik struggle to balance the scars of the past against the demands of their hearts. But with some courage, a little luck and a lot of love, they might just find their way home. Together.
Dr. Erik Larsen likes to keep his private life private, a word he doubts crazy-famous Nixie Leighton-Brace even knows. Fundraising, though? She's got that one nailed, and Erik's free health clinic is barely keeping the lights on. So when Nixie walks in and asks for a job, he gives her one. But he'll be damned if he hands over his heart along with it.
Loving America's princess is no easy task. Neither is being America's princess, and both Nixie and Erik struggle to balance the scars of the past against the demands of their hearts. But with some courage, a little luck and a lot of love, they might just find their way home. Together.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2012
44 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Susan Sey
13 books117 followersSome years back, Susan Sey gave up the glamorous world of software training to pursue a high powered career in diaper changing. Two children and millions of diapers later, she decided to branch out and started writing novels during nap time. The kids eventually gave up their naps, so now she writes when she's supposed to be doing the laundry. She currently resides in St. Paul, MN, with her wonderful husband, their charming children and a very tall pile of dirty clothes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 25, 2013
The cover of this book really threw me for a loop. It suggests that the story would be one of those cutesy rom coms featuring a strong silent hero, a chattery but adorable heroine, a strict father figure with a heart of gold, a gay best friend and an eternally single and hilariously bitter bff.
And I was wrong because despite what the cutie-patootie cover suggests, this story is the total opposite of that.
Liked:
1) Interesting premise and probably not too far off the mark as far as how the media affects people's private lives.
2) The story wasn't as "soft" as your typical chick-lit novel. There were some rather serious issues being dealt with here - poverty in America, the abominable state of the healthcare system, the responsibility of the rich to lend the poor some of their luck, how the media both manipulates and is manipulated by people in the spotlight - among others.
3) The writing was snappy and many times funny, and the characters were really nicely drawn. They were all complicated and tricky and not at all the regular characters who usually pop up in chick-lit.
What was sort of meh:
1) I thought the hero was an ass. The big stick up his heinie was that his mommy was too busy for him (um hello, she was a senator, his dad could have moved his saggy butt to where his mom worked instead of insisting she leave her job and ambitions to come work on his farm).
As a result of this feeling of abandonment, his whole problem with the heroine is that she's "too famous" to be a suitable wife and partner. Why? As a thinking adult, could he not open his eyes and see that being famous and busy isn't the real issue - the issue is what that person does with their fame and work. And once he gets to know her and realizes that she ISN'T a spoiled brat, then what is his issue with her?
I really just didn't get why he let his dislike for the fact that he felt like his mom didn't bake him cookies when he was little color his whole entire perspective on Every Famous Female in the World.
2) There is a scene where he forces her to eat meat even though she says she's a vegetarian because he doesn't believe she's a vegetarian for "the right reasons". Say what now!!?? Who the heck is HE to tell her what the "right" reasons are.
Her reasons were actually pretty sound - she thinks the meat industry is extremely energy intensive and thought she would do her little part in cutting back on the waste. That isn't the worst reasoning I've ever heard. But he insists that she eat a burger. Turns out she likes it and he feels all vindicated and smug. Well... the fact that burgers are DELICIOUS is not really in dispute here - it's just that even though they are delicious a person has a right to choose not to eat them if they feel like they are doing something to cut back a little on the general excess.
Whatever.
3) He asks his best friend to marry him even though he doesn't really love her that way two SECONDS after he finishes making out with the girl that he does like that way.
Skeptic's last word: Ok - it occurs to me that everything I dislike about this book has to do with the hero. So I guess that's that then. If you don't mind douche-y, bitter, antagonistic heroes then this is the book for you! I do like Ms. Sey as a writer though so I will try something else of hers to get the taste of this silliness out of my mouth.
Full review: http://theromanticalskeptic.blogspot....
And I was wrong because despite what the cutie-patootie cover suggests, this story is the total opposite of that.
Liked:
1) Interesting premise and probably not too far off the mark as far as how the media affects people's private lives.
2) The story wasn't as "soft" as your typical chick-lit novel. There were some rather serious issues being dealt with here - poverty in America, the abominable state of the healthcare system, the responsibility of the rich to lend the poor some of their luck, how the media both manipulates and is manipulated by people in the spotlight - among others.
3) The writing was snappy and many times funny, and the characters were really nicely drawn. They were all complicated and tricky and not at all the regular characters who usually pop up in chick-lit.
What was sort of meh:
1) I thought the hero was an ass. The big stick up his heinie was that his mommy was too busy for him (um hello, she was a senator, his dad could have moved his saggy butt to where his mom worked instead of insisting she leave her job and ambitions to come work on his farm).
As a result of this feeling of abandonment, his whole problem with the heroine is that she's "too famous" to be a suitable wife and partner. Why? As a thinking adult, could he not open his eyes and see that being famous and busy isn't the real issue - the issue is what that person does with their fame and work. And once he gets to know her and realizes that she ISN'T a spoiled brat, then what is his issue with her?
I really just didn't get why he let his dislike for the fact that he felt like his mom didn't bake him cookies when he was little color his whole entire perspective on Every Famous Female in the World.
2) There is a scene where he forces her to eat meat even though she says she's a vegetarian because he doesn't believe she's a vegetarian for "the right reasons". Say what now!!?? Who the heck is HE to tell her what the "right" reasons are.
Her reasons were actually pretty sound - she thinks the meat industry is extremely energy intensive and thought she would do her little part in cutting back on the waste. That isn't the worst reasoning I've ever heard. But he insists that she eat a burger. Turns out she likes it and he feels all vindicated and smug. Well... the fact that burgers are DELICIOUS is not really in dispute here - it's just that even though they are delicious a person has a right to choose not to eat them if they feel like they are doing something to cut back a little on the general excess.
Whatever.
3) He asks his best friend to marry him even though he doesn't really love her that way two SECONDS after he finishes making out with the girl that he does like that way.
Skeptic's last word: Ok - it occurs to me that everything I dislike about this book has to do with the hero. So I guess that's that then. If you don't mind douche-y, bitter, antagonistic heroes then this is the book for you! I do like Ms. Sey as a writer though so I will try something else of hers to get the taste of this silliness out of my mouth.
Full review: http://theromanticalskeptic.blogspot....
October 22, 2012
Susan Sey has once again written a fun-to-read contemporary romance that led to a fun afternoon of reading. Lots of fun characters in this one with a little different storyline that kept my mind in the game and ended with a superb happily-ever-after.
June 29, 2013
It is a good love story.
It's the characters i have a problem with. Too complicated. Too scared. Too do-gooders. And for people who make a living by being charitable and helpful and responsible and humanitarian, they are also annoyingly selfish.
It's really hard to like a story when the characters aren't very likeable. Nixie is a firecracker with a pure soul, and is lost. Erik is a big man with a big heart, and is a coward. And both have mommy issues.
Nixie's mom, Sloan, is a dynamite who loves drama, sacrificing even her relationship with Nixie, for charity. Senator Larsen, Erik's mother on the other hand, is very career-oriented, inadvertently choosing politics over family.
And don't even get me started on Erik's best friend, MaryJane, and the love of her life, Tyrese. Theirs is a complex relationship that rivals Erik and Nixie's.
And then there's Karl, Nixie's father figure who dictates the lives of the Leighton-Braces, disguised as a nudge in the right direction.
The book has 30 chapters. That's just too long for a story that transpired in three weeks, the first twenty, just the first week. And not that too much is happening. It's almost the same thing over and over again - Nixie trying to find herself and being independent and falling in love with Erik, and Erik refusing to follow in his mom's political footsteps and playing it safe with his feelings and resisting Nixie's charms while falling in love with her then rejecting her. Just too much.
Feels like everyone's too damaged to even let love in into their lives, only to what, come together a little to neatly and quickly in the last chapter (just a week after the major blow-up). Somehow, i just don't buy it.
The intent to deliver a good romance novel with not-too-shallow characters in not-too-cutesy situations is there. Kiss the Girl just fell short in its development and execution.
It's the characters i have a problem with. Too complicated. Too scared. Too do-gooders. And for people who make a living by being charitable and helpful and responsible and humanitarian, they are also annoyingly selfish.
It's really hard to like a story when the characters aren't very likeable. Nixie is a firecracker with a pure soul, and is lost. Erik is a big man with a big heart, and is a coward. And both have mommy issues.
Nixie's mom, Sloan, is a dynamite who loves drama, sacrificing even her relationship with Nixie, for charity. Senator Larsen, Erik's mother on the other hand, is very career-oriented, inadvertently choosing politics over family.
And don't even get me started on Erik's best friend, MaryJane, and the love of her life, Tyrese. Theirs is a complex relationship that rivals Erik and Nixie's.
And then there's Karl, Nixie's father figure who dictates the lives of the Leighton-Braces, disguised as a nudge in the right direction.
The book has 30 chapters. That's just too long for a story that transpired in three weeks, the first twenty, just the first week. And not that too much is happening. It's almost the same thing over and over again - Nixie trying to find herself and being independent and falling in love with Erik, and Erik refusing to follow in his mom's political footsteps and playing it safe with his feelings and resisting Nixie's charms while falling in love with her then rejecting her. Just too much.
Feels like everyone's too damaged to even let love in into their lives, only to what, come together a little to neatly and quickly in the last chapter (just a week after the major blow-up). Somehow, i just don't buy it.
The intent to deliver a good romance novel with not-too-shallow characters in not-too-cutesy situations is there. Kiss the Girl just fell short in its development and execution.
August 7, 2012
I really, really liked Susan's latest book. Nixie is just so tormented by her family and she comes out strong! Loved it!
October 5, 2018
I loved everything about this warm and witty book. Nixie and Erik were wonderful and I raced through their story. This was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last.
July 25, 2020
Got my attention
I am more of a Cozy mystery reader. Every now and then I will read a romance. I read this in two days.
I am more of a Cozy mystery reader. Every now and then I will read a romance. I read this in two days.
June 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this story even though Sloan and Karl were just WAY. TOO. MUCH. They were manipulative as hell and I really wanted to choke them! But I loved Nixie and I thought she was fun and just a little bit kooky. The other secondary characters--Wanda, Daryl, Mama Mel--were all fantastically colorful! I loved that this story took place in two different worlds (rich & poor) without overplaying either side.
The situation between Nixie & Erik was a little disheartening. He was rude and totally prejudiced and some of his behavior was totally skeevy. I don't know if I'd be able to forgive his behavior but it was the perfect amount of drama to suck you right in! The side story with Mary Jane was also really good.
Solid story I totally recommend!
The situation between Nixie & Erik was a little disheartening. He was rude and totally prejudiced and some of his behavior was totally skeevy. I don't know if I'd be able to forgive his behavior but it was the perfect amount of drama to suck you right in! The side story with Mary Jane was also really good.
Solid story I totally recommend!
July 8, 2016
This was pure unadulterated Chick Lit. The heroine, the celebrity daughter of a movie star, is a classic do gooder who quits the family charity because she catches her Mother in bed with her boyfriend. She goes to Washington DC where she becomes involved with a Medical Clinic in a gang infested slum. There she meets the hero, a MD who is the son of a Senator, and also one of her friends from back in the day who is also an MD. There is lots of 'action', a decent romance or two, a break-up or two and a finale that fits the story like a glove. It was fun, fast reading and I will read more of Susan Sey's novels.
May 24, 2013
I enjoyed this story, particularly because the various characters got their on pov presented. Nixie, the heroine, was a particular favorite. She lays it all on the line and doesn't do the pitiful me dance, even though she does have plenty of reasons to. Erik, our hero, was a bit more problematic for me, but I got where he was coming from. He didn't do enough groveling at the end for my taste, but hey, everything can't be perfect just for me, right? Overall I really liked this story and look forward to more books by this author.
July 23, 2013
This book was funny, glamorous, street smart and emotional. I loved the hero and heroine and was rooting for them the whole way through, even when their HEA was in doubt. The characters in the secondary romance were also tremendously compelling. I wish she would write their book! I devour everything Susan Sey writes and this book is a great example of why. She writes big characters, big emotions and she takes chances...in the best possible way. Highly recommended!
June 29, 2015
A great read that driveway from the typical romance.
3.5 Stars. Nixie is a world renowned humanitarian, helping underdeveloped countries set up medical clinics for those in need and such. When she finds her boyfriend with another woman, she is at a loss. She no longer wants the attention and drama that she was born into. Searching for home, Nixie finds an irritable oven, a reluctant new Viking friend and an old friend, and a glimpse at the woman she could be.
3.5 Stars. Nixie is a world renowned humanitarian, helping underdeveloped countries set up medical clinics for those in need and such. When she finds her boyfriend with another woman, she is at a loss. She no longer wants the attention and drama that she was born into. Searching for home, Nixie finds an irritable oven, a reluctant new Viking friend and an old friend, and a glimpse at the woman she could be.
July 8, 2015
Susan Sey has a great writing style. There's such an easy flow to her stories and I have enjoyed reading them. Kiss the Girl is about a famous woman named Nixie who appears to have it all but is desperately lonely, especially after numerous betrayals. The man who has her heart is determined to keep his private life private and Nixie hopes he will see her beyond her fame. There are also a few intertwined love stories with other characters.
November 5, 2015
This was a little hard to rate for me. I really liked how Susan Sey writes - her style and language, and I liked the premise of the story. Nixie was charming. I had a problem with her writing some of the inner city characters and how they spoke; it seemed a little caricature-ish. I guess when I was at the halfway point I was really liking it, probably would have been a 4 star but I didn't think it finished strong.
July 6, 2016
DNF at 73%
This book was so good until it wasn't. It gets 3 stars because I really enjoyed it up until 72%. But then I feel like the main characters totally flipped and did some out of character junk. And it wasn't cute or even remotely attractive and I just couldn't keep reading. The main chick sounded freaking desperate and the main guy was being an asshole. Also, they've only known each other 3 weeks so... Dumb. That's basically what I can say without giving anything away.
This book was so good until it wasn't. It gets 3 stars because I really enjoyed it up until 72%. But then I feel like the main characters totally flipped and did some out of character junk. And it wasn't cute or even remotely attractive and I just couldn't keep reading. The main chick sounded freaking desperate and the main guy was being an asshole. Also, they've only known each other 3 weeks so... Dumb. That's basically what I can say without giving anything away.
October 5, 2012
A sweet romance (minus the whole gang element that is), guy that needs to get his head out of his ass, woman who is surprisingly naive for her supposed life experience. Philanthropy and random family drama and adventure insues :)
Love the whole gala scene. Had a hard time with Sloan....horrid woman.
Love the whole gala scene. Had a hard time with Sloan....horrid woman.
October 30, 2015
This book was a struggle for me. It started kind of interesting but then it seemed, more twists and turns were added just because.... And to me it lost all believability and I quickly lost interest. Each twist had to be bigger than the last. I didn't find Nixie, Erik or their Mothers to be believable. Not the book for me.
October 24, 2015
Kiss the Girl 3.5
Enjoyable and smart read. I just wish there had been more of the hero and heroine happily together. All the characters were fully fleshed out, and except for Karl and maybe Sloan (although she did manage to redeem herself, I may have even had a tear in my eye when she did) enjoyable and intelligent. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Enjoyable and smart read. I just wish there had been more of the hero and heroine happily together. All the characters were fully fleshed out, and except for Karl and maybe Sloan (although she did manage to redeem herself, I may have even had a tear in my eye when she did) enjoyable and intelligent. I look forward to reading other books by this author.
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July 18, 2016Enjoyed the book very much. It was nice to read a book by a new author. I had trouble relating to the roles of the Nixie, Sloan and Karl though and really couldn't understand their jobs until half way through the book. I loved Nixie's strong character. I did not know if the characters were white or black until Tyrese did end up saying he was strong and black.
September 9, 2013
After reading all of her books Susan Sey has done a great job of creating unique characters in each of her stories! In this book though I couldn't stand Eric. Thought he was a complete jerk that did not deserve Nixie at all.
June 7, 2015
What do you get with a doctor, senator and a celebrity clash?
A quirky set of characters and a fun read. I enjoyed reading about these wealthy people with problems, the author did a good job of making you feel sorry for them and want to see them get a happily ever after.
A quirky set of characters and a fun read. I enjoyed reading about these wealthy people with problems, the author did a good job of making you feel sorry for them and want to see them get a happily ever after.
July 22, 2015
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, but it just got boring and repetitive. I actually started to think Erik and nixie were never going to get together and I was ok with that - never a good sign in a romance.
November 19, 2015
Happily ever after done right
The characters are out of newspaper headlines. Filled with good and bad emotions and deeds that make them bigger than life. This is a romance worth reading about.
The characters are out of newspaper headlines. Filled with good and bad emotions and deeds that make them bigger than life. This is a romance worth reading about.
June 30, 2012
I really enjoy Susan's voice.
August 24, 2012
Review coming soon
October 24, 2014
I tried. I really did, but half-way in I'd had enough. I couldn't stand any one character in the book, especially the female protagonist. I wish I could get back my time that I spent on this book.
February 21, 2013
Did not care for the characters and the story just felt long winded.
July 24, 2014
Good book
Good book
Good book cute story line. Would love to read a sequel! Author made the characters relatable but still gave them that fairy tale shine.
Good book
Good book cute story line. Would love to read a sequel! Author made the characters relatable but still gave them that fairy tale shine.
August 30, 2014
better than average do-dah.
April 26, 2015
I like the story but I thought that at the beginning it draged on, but when I kept reading it it started to get good. I recommened this book to eveybody.
August 4, 2016
It is a great book to read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews