The Kiss

by G.A. Hauser

Twenty-five year old actor Scott Epstein is no stranger to the modeling industry. He's done it himself between acting jobs. So when his sister, Claire, casts him in a chewing-gum commercial with the famous British model, Ian Sullivan, he doesn't ask any questions. He's a professional. He'll show up, hit his mark, say his lines, and collect his paycheck. Right? Ian Sullivan is used to making heads turn. Stunningly handsome, he's accustomed to provocative photo shoots where sex sells everything from perfume to laundry soap. Ian was thrilled when Claire Epstein cast him in the new Minty gum commercial. He has to kiss his co-star on screen? No problem. Until he finds out Scott is the one he has to kiss! Never before has a commercial featured two men, kissing on screen. Claire knows that the advertisement will be ground-breaking, and Scott knows that his sister needs his performance to be perfect. As the filming progresses and the media circus begins around the controversial advertisement, the chemistry between Ian and Scott heats up and the two men quite simply burn up the screen. Is it all an act? Or, have Ian and Scott entered into a clandestine affair that will lead them to love?

Genres: M M Romance, Gay For You, Romance, Contemporary, Gay, Erotica, M M Contemporary

246 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

About the Author Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over eighty novels, including several best-sellers of gay fiction. GA is also the Executive Producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website. www.authorgahauser.com G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2010, 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.

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Reviews

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea how this book got on a "Best of" list. It was mediocre at best. The main point of view is from the sister of one of the guys...ewwww. Both leading men have serious issues. Scott is so angry all the time I'd suggest therapy and Ian is so wishy washy I'd...well I'd suggest therapy. They both get very angry when anyone even suggests they are gay, all the while greasing each other up with Vaseline. Ugh...I feel like I need an after a bad book mint.

[Francesca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was tempted to put aside this book several times, but usually if I want to vote for a story I try to finish it. Especially if the vote is negative, maybe the story needs time or a chapter will surprise me more than others.
It did not happen with this story.
First of all I really hated the protagonist's sister, Claire.
A part of the story, unfortunately, is told from her point of view.
Her character is shallow, childish and annoying: at the beginning she wants to play matchmaker for her brother and another model Ian, then she fantasizes about them having sex, then she hits on Ian several times, then she is jealous of their relationship. Really really annoying.
The "love" story between Scott and Ian it's strange: they are totally straight, they kiss and bang! they are totally in love with each other. From cover to cover it's repeated that they aren't gay but on the last page they came out in front of a paparazzi.
At some point Scott decide to start a serious relationship with Ian for this reason:
"All he wanted was to keep this lovely man with him forever. In his heart he knew he'd be shattered if something came between them. Thinking this kind of wild sexual contact which turned them both into beasts must surely be one of the keys to keeping Ian his, Scott knew it was part of the reason why he had made the decision to commit to him. Complete sexual gratification constantly. No arguments, no headaches, no menstrual periods, no pregnancies, no games, no excuses. Just sex, when he wanted it, and how he wanted it. It was a euphoric sense of freedom he'd never dreamed of. And he wanted it forever."
I think it's the stupidest thing I've ever read, this is why he loves him? Because he doesn't have periods?!?

[Daisiemae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really 3.5 stars, but I bumped it up to 4 stars.
Claire is an agent that has helped her clients achieve success in the entertainment industry. At 32, she has taken her much younger brother (21) under her wing she is on a mission to help him achieve success as an actor or model. With Scott's All American good looks, he works but she hasn't been able to find that one job that will make him recognizable or a household name.
Scott and Claire have a deep bond. He helps her with her work, often giving her suggestions with lining up head shots of models with work that is best for them.
When Scott is immediately smitten with a photo of one of her newest clients Ian's head shot. Not only is Claire shocked by his attraction to Ian's picture so is Scott...he hasn't ever been attracted to men before.
When a corporate gum company decides to run a sexy advertisement with two men kissing...Claire immediately decides that Scott and Ian would be perfect for the job.
Ian is a great character. He is humorous, sexy and has an English accent that would make any man or woman melt. I loved him. I even really enjoyed Scott, although I have to admit that I found him very immature and childish at times. (reason for the 3.5- 4 stars) But, I still enjoyed the sizzling chemistry between Ian and Scott and enjoyed watching them come to terms with their attraction to one another and the consequences that it will bring.
If you are offended by hot M/M explict sexual encounters this book is not for you.

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story itself wasn't badly written and I can see how it would appeal to some but, for me, there were just too many instances that I disagreed with to truly enjoy the story.

One of my biggest issues was Claire, the sister, who was supposed to be the loving, maternal influence for both the guys, but especially her brother, and yet she would do some mean things knowing how her brother felt. Then there was the focus made about how Scott had emotional issues that was never addressed or had any impact on the flow of events. There were more issues I had with the characters as well so it's not a story that I can say I like or would recommend.

[J'aime · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise for this romance was very fresh and contemporary - two young male models appear in the first ever television commercial to show men kissing. Since they're models, both characters are absolutely gorgeous, and absolutely in the closet. It was a wonderful set-up. What I didn't like, and which nearly ruined the book, was the narrator.

Scott Epstein is signed with his sister Claire's very successful modeling agency. Scott is living with Claire while he tries to make it in acting. Ian Sullivan just came over from England to sign with her company as well. When she brings home his photo, Scott becomes infatuated with Ian. Claire is the one telling the story, though it is not in first person. I had no problem with a woman telling the story. She even sets in motion the events that bring them together. However, Claire is an annoying b!tch. She suspects her brother is gay and spends a lot of time in the book teasing him about it. Even though it's obvious the teasing really hurts him. She even admonishes herself to lay off, but she continues. Hauser makes sure readers know the siblings care about each other. Claire wants Scott to be happy, but her own selfish urges keep ruining it. No one can hurt you the way family can! Claire decides to cast Ian and Scott together in the commercial, hoping it will get her brother to admit his feelings (and boost their careers). She doesn't consider that Ian may not be gay (though this is romance, so of course he is). The two men start a secret relationship after that first passionate kiss. Claire becomes jealous of the attention Ian is giving Scott. So, despite her rules about not sleeping with clients, and her suspicion that they are a couple, she tries to seduce Ian. When that fails, she begins teasing both men. Claire often came across as cruel, and it made it difficult for me to enjoy the romance because there was so much of her in the role of narrator.

Yet, Ian and Scott are a great couple! They are struggling with their first-time attraction to another man, as well as surviving in a cutthroat industry. The commercial naturally attracts a storm of controversy, and the men find themselves in the media spotlight just when they need privacy to work their feelings out. Their secret affair is very tender as they explore a new love. This is the first gay romances I have read where both men are inexperienced. It added some light humor as they tried to decide who was going to do what to whom! The love scenes are steamy, but not as explicit as in some romance. It was deeply satisfying to see them overcome obstacles and choose to be together. They made the book worth reading.

Overall, I loved Ian and Scott, but the book had way too much of Claire's inner turmoil, and selfish behavior. Instead of guiding readers through the story, she intruded. I found myself skimming a lot of her parts to get back to the men. Hauser is an excellent author, so I will definitely try another of her books (I am currently enjoying "Naked Dragon" very much). I even hope she does a sequel to "The Kiss" so I can see how Ian and Scott have fared over time. Hopefully, Claire will take a backseat for the ride.

[Elisa Rolle]

This is the second book I read by G.A. Hauser and it's a confirmation of her ability to enthral me. I really try to finish it in one night but it's impossible, fortunately you have a lot to read and I have to put down the book at 2.00 a.m. but as soon as I can I finish it.

This is the story of Scott, 25 years old unsuccessful model and actor: it's the typical american male, muscalar and tanned, with a boy next door face. He is an average guy in a world where you have plenty of average guys who try to find their way to the stardom. But Scott have something more: he has an old sister, who happens to be the owner of one of the most important agency model of New York. And so Scott, one time or two, gets a job and meanwhile he lives behind his sister's shoulders. The next job will be an ad commercial for a gum: he has to kiss a male. No problem, he is an actor... but it's not so simple cause Ian, the other model, is a beautiful androginous guy who draws Scott like a magnet. And the interest seems mutual.

But when Scott and Ian finally let the passion drive them, they discover that none of the two has never neither kiss a man. They wrongly believe the other gay, and now they have this passion between them and... they want to share it. And so begins a clandestine relationship but nor Scott or Ian are the usual perfect characters of novels. Scott is insecure and has a deeply feeling of failure; and he is also jelously of the instant success of Ian, the new guy in the city. Ian, 21 years old, is for the first time far away from home and from his parents. He is like a child who suffers the lontanance from his mother. He is a simple guy and he is open with his feeling, but he is like a teenager with his first crush: everyone around him can demolish his certainty.

And then there is Claire, Scott's sister. She has a main role in the novel, she is the instigator of all what happen to Scott and Ian, but she is not like a fairy godmother... She is a bitchy woman who amuses herself playing the role of God in the other life, and like the Greek Gods, when humans don't play according to her rules, she became a fiery beast.

And so here again the magic of Hauser, who manages to write a perfect story with imperfect characters. Some of the novelty from the first novel (For Love and Money) is again played in this second book, the English young guy who has to live among the stranger american people, and the fascination of this people for the naiveté of him, but all right, if a trick works a time, can works also a second, doesn't it? So all right, Hauser has hit a certain button, who can blame her? Not certain me, that after reading this story have spent 25 dollars ship costs to buy the prequel of For Love and Money, only available as print book!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1602020566/?...

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scott Epstein is a 25 year old actor/model representing by his sister's agency. He also lives with his sister, Claire. Claire is pushy, annoying, mean and weird. She also represents Ian Sullivan a 21 year old model from London who is also attending Juilliard.

This story is told primarily through Claire's POV, and it is set up as someone interviewing her sometime after the main story in the book. I can see where this might be a fresh take on the subject, except as a narrator she had major issues. As did the two men, but I have to wonder if I the story had been told from their POV if I may have felt differently. Claire as a character does not add to this story at all, if anything she really hinders the flow.

Basically, Claire decides her brother is gay but closeted and she teases him about it, a lot. Then one day she notices that while helping her sort through pictures, he takes a particular interest in this one particular man. She then proceeds to manipulate them into hanging out, followed by convincing her business partner to cast them in the new Minty gum commercial. This commercial is going to be controversial, featuring the firt m/m kiss in a commercial and it is going to air during the Superbowl.

Once cast they immediately start spending time together and Ian moves from his hotel in to the spare bedroom in the apartment that Scott & Claire share. Even as sparks start to fly between the two men, the keep it a secret from Claire (not that I blame them.) She continues to tease them and can't seem to decide if she actually wants her brother to be gay or if she wants to have sex with Ian herself. It's actually repulsive.

Add to that the fact that the two guys themselves hook up, decide they are in love, but not gay, even though there is a confusing scene about 5 or 10 pages earlier where Ian is actually hitting on Claire.

This book is all over the place. I have no idea how or why the two men got together. I have no idea what changed or why the sister was such a mean-spirited psychopath. Plus there were these weird undertones with other characters that I thought were going to be something.

I would definitely NOT recommend this book, but of course that's just me. It seems people either love or hate it.

[Beacullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I expected to. Its mainly about two guys that meet while mutually trying to start a career in modeling. Ian has come from Britain to give it a good try, while Scott's sister is part owner in the agency they work for. Ian is one of those characters you cant help but like, hes very open, very sweet, just a great guy. Scott is so frustrated by how long its taking to get his career going he comes off as bitter at times. Claire, Scott's sister gets them a job on a commercial. It will be the first gay kiss ever aired in a tv commercial. She is convinced they are gay and in a way it seems like she uses the commercial to find out for sure. I didn't care for her character at all. She was very sarcastic, but to the point where it was just rude and at times cruel. She turns down Ian's attempts at seducing her, but then when she suspects he has feelings for her brother she crawls in bed with him. I didn't like reading about her at all, she was just too abrasive for me. I also would have liked to have had more detail after they guys do an interview on a television show that goes wrong. I wanted to know what happened, not that they were just trying to move on. The ending was great, I was glad they finally realized it was all ok. With no help from Claire at all. Read it, its good.

[Rhianon · Rating 4 out of 5]

[4.5 stars, I think.:]

The only aspect of this story I didn't much care for was the POV being largely that of the sister. Then again, even seeing the story through her perspective, I didn't much like her -- so I'm willing to admit that if I hadn't seen things from that angle, I likely would've thoroughly loathed her character.

When one disregards the sister's bouts of unprofessional behavior, jealousy, and excessive nosiness, this gay-for-you romance between an amateur American actor and a British model is a very enjoyable read. Granted, she serves as a catalyst for all the other obstacles and tension in the story, so her character serves its purpose well. But I still have a general dislike for the portrayal.

[Alyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Between the dysfunctional 'romance' between Scott and Ian and how the story was told through Scott's older sister Claire's perspective, I was amazed I even bothered finishing this one.

Claire is someone I'd avoid like the plague in real life so choosing to have her narrate things cheapens the romance the writer is trying to sell and makes for a pretty jarring and awful read.

This story wasn't worth the money I spent on it OR the space it would have take up on my computer/e-reader.

Steer clear peeps, this book sucked.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Incredibly disappointing as I have picked it up due to a 4 star rating. It was written mainly from the sisters point of view, not 1st person as such, but it made for very odd and kinda squick reading. The editing was terrible due to repeated word use and actual grammatical errors. The plot did not flow and it was stilted and difficult to read. Not an enjoyable read.

[Kavisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

25 pages in and loving it!!!! OMG! Does this book have potential OR what?!!!! I am actually giddy over Ian and Scott's first meeting. Also, love that its from Clair's perspective so far. What an intriguing idea!
I really liked this book. I think it deserves 4.5 stars. It dragged a bit in the middle but other than that it was pretty great!!! One of G A Hauser's better books.

[Da'ad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw! Barely any sex in this (none, actually. M rated at most) but I loved it. The romance is surprisingly sweet and satisfying. The heroes are equally moronic about their gayness for each other and equally in denial, which means you can't get annoyed at either. The gay problem quickly (anticlimactically) gets solved. Pfft. Still, a very entertaining, amusing, and satisfying story. Loved it!

[Eyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the potential to be a sweet, gay-for-you story. Unfortunately, both Ian and Scott were so adamant that they weren't gay that they couldn't even force themselves to buy lube. Plus, I'm sure that the author was trying to add in some realistic vernacular, but phrases like "glitter-shitter" and "arse bandits" really turn me off.

[ElaineY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of the heroes' employer, Claire.
Both Scott and Ian are sweet guys so this is a feel-good gay romance. Enough character development to enable me to like both men and root for their HEA.

[Christine (AR) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nice set-up, but whip-saw characterization shifts, a skeevy incestuous overtone and one character's utterly imcomprehensible and ludicrous 'British' dialogue ruined it for me. Bleh.

[Erotic Horizon]

The Kiss by G. A. Hauser (2007)

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, Love, Love, Love this book I read it so many times that I can say the words with out reading it.

[Z. Allora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to see the commercial that is in this book badly!!!! Fabulous! Very sweet story!

[Kellyg · Rating 3 out of 5]

My only complaints are that I did not like the sister or the story being told from her POV. The story could have worked better minus her large part in it.

[Lou~❧Powerless Over 1-Click❧ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was almost a DNF.
Question: When is a free book not a gift?
Answer: When the reader should be compensated for finishing it.