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Kissing Games of the World
Warmhearted, insightful, funny and poignant, bestselling author, Maddie Dawson, takes the unfathomable ways of love and family, and celebrates [the joys of] the ordinary craziness of being human.
Devoted, creative single-mom Jamie McClintock’s world is thrown into chaos by the sudden death of Harris, her vibrant, elderly landlord. Not only does she mourn him terribly, but she has to face the unkind gossip about their unorthodox living arrangement (free board in exchange for watching adorable grandson Christopher, her own son’s best friend) and assume full responsibility for grieving Christopher, who was left in Harris’ care by his estranged, highly successful son, Nate.
Then Nate returns to claim his son… and that’s when life really gets chaotic...
***This title was originally published under the author's pen name, Sandi Kahn Shelton.***
Devoted, creative single-mom Jamie McClintock’s world is thrown into chaos by the sudden death of Harris, her vibrant, elderly landlord. Not only does she mourn him terribly, but she has to face the unkind gossip about their unorthodox living arrangement (free board in exchange for watching adorable grandson Christopher, her own son’s best friend) and assume full responsibility for grieving Christopher, who was left in Harris’ care by his estranged, highly successful son, Nate.
Then Nate returns to claim his son… and that’s when life really gets chaotic...
***This title was originally published under the author's pen name, Sandi Kahn Shelton.***
467 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
964 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
March 1, 2010
This book took me forever to read. Basically, I had trouble getting into it, but kept plodding along, reading a few pages every few days, anyway. I liked it at the start, and found the atypical family of four charming and interesting, but soon realized they were not the characters I'd get to keep for the rest of the novel. In comes Nate, whom I hate instantly. He is such a clueless, self centered, pushy, smarmy salesperson... I just didn't want him to be a main character of the book, or to be the one Jamie was to end up with. The book became more readable for me as Nate began to change, but it still was not a wonderful read I will tell all of my friends about.
I understand the plot device that was used. Nate had to be shown to be one kind of person, so he could grow and change into another kind of person. But, he is still unforgivable in his lack of responsibility for his son. The fact that he abandonned his child for 5 years does not ever go away because he decided to act like a parent later.
I understand the plot device that was used. Nate had to be shown to be one kind of person, so he could grow and change into another kind of person. But, he is still unforgivable in his lack of responsibility for his son. The fact that he abandonned his child for 5 years does not ever go away because he decided to act like a parent later.
December 30, 2018
Another good one by Maddie Dawson! I really enjoyed it.
June 28, 2018
Contrary to Matchmakers for Beginners, I was less taken with Dawson's Kissing Games of the World, which for starters, has a title I couldn't really understand. In this story, single-mom Jamie McClintock and single-dad Nate Goddard, who have nothing in common, find themselves crossing paths and living in the same house, if only for awhile. I will admit there were little nuggets of wisdom here and there, about parenthood and life in general, but I wasn't convinced. I thought the story could have used a bit more background narrative. At some moments, I thought the story skipped some elements that could have given it more gravitas. Nate Goddard was certainly a character that had to grow on me. He was such smooth-talking cynic, a class clown, a phony on the outside. Ultimately, he did grow on me because he learned to be a loving father and got his priorities in order. While Jamie, although a terrific and loving Mom, might have been a bit wishy-washy when it came to her own ambitions in life, but I could understand that motherhood came first. Certainly with a child suffering from asthma.
The one thing I loved most were the two 5-year old boys, Arley and Christopher. Whenever they were on the page, the book sparkled. The boys felt authentic and I liked all the scenes they were in. 2,5 stars.
The one thing I loved most were the two 5-year old boys, Arley and Christopher. Whenever they were on the page, the book sparkled. The boys felt authentic and I liked all the scenes they were in. 2,5 stars.
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January 7, 2022Sandi Kahn Shelton is a pseudonym for Maddie Dawson, but I’m finding that hard to believe. I adore Dawson’s books. They SHINE! This one…not so much. It’s okay, no one’s perfect, especially when they were just starting out.
October 28, 2025
I struggled with the first 1/3 of this book. I really couldn’t get into it and contemplated not finishing it. I’m glad I stuck with it and saw it to the end.
March 16, 2009
I cannot think of a moment in this book that I would change, where I was bored or critical. The characters were just so well drawn. I loved the characters and would love to know what they are doing know. The climatic ending was a bit abrupt, but my that is tied to my desire to not let the characters go.
March 23, 2009
loved loved loved this book. sympathetic with the single parent struggles, liked the storylines. empathetic characters. good good.
March 31, 2019
Book that has you thinking
This isn’t a typical happy ever after story. The depths of the characters and their various struggles were real. Jamie was a woman who may have been a artistic hippie, but deep down she has strong moral codes. She didn’t look for man to take care of her. She had a friendship with an older man who was raising his grandson on his own just like she was raising her son on her own.
Harris’s long time friend Cooksey didn’t like Jamie but I think it was more because the woman tried with an ill child to stand on her own two feet instead of constantly running back to the comfort of her parents arms when things got tough like his own daughters seemed to repeatedly do. Also he looked at the friendship between Harris and Jamie as a health father daughter sharing of responsibilities and maybe Cooksey just didn’t have that with his own daughters.
Nate struggled through life but it was interesting that as an adult every time things got tough Harris was there to lend aid. First by letting Nate and his wife move in when his wife was pregnant with Christopher, and then taking care of Christopher for Nate when Nate’s wife died and life was just too much.
It’s a shame that society can believe rumors some much more quickly then they can the truth when they are told it. Harris’s last act on this world had caused those rumors to just be that much more believable. Who knows what passed through is mind in those final minutes when he stripped his clothes and laid down on Jamie’s bed. A mystery that will forever be lost into the world of the dead.
We are all molded by the way we perceive things from our childhood. Sometimes our minds remember things that only help us perpetuate a specific reality we want to believe instead of looking at the whole. This book definitely played on those ideas.
I highly recommend you read this book.
This isn’t a typical happy ever after story. The depths of the characters and their various struggles were real. Jamie was a woman who may have been a artistic hippie, but deep down she has strong moral codes. She didn’t look for man to take care of her. She had a friendship with an older man who was raising his grandson on his own just like she was raising her son on her own.
Harris’s long time friend Cooksey didn’t like Jamie but I think it was more because the woman tried with an ill child to stand on her own two feet instead of constantly running back to the comfort of her parents arms when things got tough like his own daughters seemed to repeatedly do. Also he looked at the friendship between Harris and Jamie as a health father daughter sharing of responsibilities and maybe Cooksey just didn’t have that with his own daughters.
Nate struggled through life but it was interesting that as an adult every time things got tough Harris was there to lend aid. First by letting Nate and his wife move in when his wife was pregnant with Christopher, and then taking care of Christopher for Nate when Nate’s wife died and life was just too much.
It’s a shame that society can believe rumors some much more quickly then they can the truth when they are told it. Harris’s last act on this world had caused those rumors to just be that much more believable. Who knows what passed through is mind in those final minutes when he stripped his clothes and laid down on Jamie’s bed. A mystery that will forever be lost into the world of the dead.
We are all molded by the way we perceive things from our childhood. Sometimes our minds remember things that only help us perpetuate a specific reality we want to believe instead of looking at the whole. This book definitely played on those ideas.
I highly recommend you read this book.
February 6, 2010
The Kissing Games of the World was an impulse buy at Target earlier this week. One of those, 'hmmmm, this looks decent' kind of days. I get most of my books via www.swaptree.com, which I highly suggest checking it out if you've not heard of it. Anyhow, so the book was very good. A very mild type of drama I was looking for. It was more about Jamie and Nate finding themselves than finding each other. Oh they "collided" a few times, and it was wonderful and beautiful, but what was more important was watching them grow as people. Nate especially, with his coming and learning to love his son, Christopher, and feel his way around parenthood. Sandi Kahn Shelton really hit the nail on the head with the children too, with their strange stories and millions of questions, and unpredictable behavior.
This is the type of book that sort of leaves you wanting more. You find out so much about Jamie, Nate, Christopher and Arley that you hate leaving them just when the getting get's good. You want to watch a real relationship bloom between Jamie and Nate. I hate and love that about books. There is such an open end of story that you want it to be told, but if it kept going the book will just get long and boring - so it just can't be done. I can't say that Kissing Games of the World is going to stand out to me as a favorite, but I can say that I loved Sandi Kahn Shelton's writing. There were lines in the book that really made an impact on me and on the story. This is something to truly admire in a book.
This is the type of book that sort of leaves you wanting more. You find out so much about Jamie, Nate, Christopher and Arley that you hate leaving them just when the getting get's good. You want to watch a real relationship bloom between Jamie and Nate. I hate and love that about books. There is such an open end of story that you want it to be told, but if it kept going the book will just get long and boring - so it just can't be done. I can't say that Kissing Games of the World is going to stand out to me as a favorite, but I can say that I loved Sandi Kahn Shelton's writing. There were lines in the book that really made an impact on me and on the story. This is something to truly admire in a book.
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December 7, 2021I really enjoyed this book, as I've enjoyed all Maddie Dawson novels, but the hero is not necessarily a person I want for the heroine when it comes right down to it. I was rooting for each of them, and I suppose also for both of them together, but I felt like I was being manipulated into that a bit. The angst sure got some major development. If I were the MC's friend in real life, I'd probably say RUN, girl! Still, I didn't want to put it down and read it in two days. Also, please note that the title and the cover (even my library version, which shows a woman from behind, putting on a necklace) seem COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO THE STORY. Like the publisher said yeah that suggests women's fiction, never mind it actually has zero to do with this book, whatever. No wonder the author changed her name and went with a different publisher (though I don't actually know anything about that, so don't think I do).
February 3, 2009
This book would have gotten a solid 4 1/2 stars if not for the language. Upon reading the first few pages, I realized how long it had been since I had read a book by an author who knew how to write. Shelton KNOWS how to write and create a story. She understands characters. Although it was definitely a romance, it was also a study on how our pasts mold our future decisions.
March 10, 2009
I have read all of Sandi's books, and this was my favorite. I didn't want to leave these characters -- I want to know how they make out -- will they be able to make it all work? Very enjoyable read!
March 25, 2009
This is well written and warmly done. Everyone learns something about themselves and their world by the end of this book. Almost everyone has personal growth, even the jerks. It is sweet, sad, funny, and romantic at the same time.
February 1, 2019
Great story line
I really liked the characters of this book. They were complex and had to learn how to be better people . The kids are the best part . It's a book that makes you laugh and cry for the pain the adults are going through.
I really liked the characters of this book. They were complex and had to learn how to be better people . The kids are the best part . It's a book that makes you laugh and cry for the pain the adults are going through.
Want to read
December 1, 2008Can't remember why I wrote this down but it must have sounded intriguing!
December 11, 2008
This was entertaining, but sort of a romance novel with some literary pretensions.
December 15, 2008
A nice read. Nothing heavy here, but a very enjoyable read with well drawn characters.
April 28, 2014
I loved this book. The characters are written with such depth that they felt like real people. The author crafted the personalities so well, I couldn't put the book down.
February 4, 2009
A fun easy read about a single mom living with an older man who dies and the chaos and love that ensues
February 13, 2009
Great romance. Believable characters, very enjoyable.
February 28, 2009
I picked this up based on the cover and the title. The characters and story drew me in from the very beginning. I'll definitely look for more by this author
March 10, 2009
Title and cover are a little misleading - this is another wonderful human story from Sandi Kahn Shelton
October 31, 2019
Dragged on
The premise sounded interesting. The title was interesting and implied a lot of travels. But this book was SO boring and so long. Every character was so awful. Jamie was literally a pain in the ass. WHO DRESSES THEIR CHILD IN CROCHET VESTS? Who goes around living in the world WITH A CHILD without a real job or any real income? How does she truly just expect her sister to pay her way through life for both her and her child? Nate was a psycho with no emotional capability. Tina was just an awful awful person. The Police Chief whatever his name was, was truly despicable. Even Lucy who was actually the most redeemable and most honorable character for constantly picking up the pieces of her sister’s pathetic existence, had to be written as this deeply flawed individual that the reader should hate since she was sleeping with a married man that she allowed to come into the house and smoke cigarettes. Sorry, but Lucy was the best character at least she was always there and didn’t hide in her own shadows. I literally hated both Nate and Jamie. I simply got through the book to find out if Jamie was in fact sinister and did something to the old man like most everyone else assumed. Also Jamie being so self righteous about how much Harris had changed pissed me off. The beginning of the book we were introduced to Harris who only had dirty thoughts about Jamie and wanting to sleep with her. Sure he was trying to make amends by taking Christopher in, but he wasn’t all that reformed for Nate to truly be able to 100% forgive his father. Nate had every right to be angry and upset. He should have been more grateful that he took his son in, but he didn’t need to completely forget that Harris had totally screwed up his own childhood and turned him into the bitter psychopath that he was today.
The dialogue was so bizarre. The characters were all negative horrible people. This was SUCH a drag to read. Don’t bother wasting your time.
The premise sounded interesting. The title was interesting and implied a lot of travels. But this book was SO boring and so long. Every character was so awful. Jamie was literally a pain in the ass. WHO DRESSES THEIR CHILD IN CROCHET VESTS? Who goes around living in the world WITH A CHILD without a real job or any real income? How does she truly just expect her sister to pay her way through life for both her and her child? Nate was a psycho with no emotional capability. Tina was just an awful awful person. The Police Chief whatever his name was, was truly despicable. Even Lucy who was actually the most redeemable and most honorable character for constantly picking up the pieces of her sister’s pathetic existence, had to be written as this deeply flawed individual that the reader should hate since she was sleeping with a married man that she allowed to come into the house and smoke cigarettes. Sorry, but Lucy was the best character at least she was always there and didn’t hide in her own shadows. I literally hated both Nate and Jamie. I simply got through the book to find out if Jamie was in fact sinister and did something to the old man like most everyone else assumed. Also Jamie being so self righteous about how much Harris had changed pissed me off. The beginning of the book we were introduced to Harris who only had dirty thoughts about Jamie and wanting to sleep with her. Sure he was trying to make amends by taking Christopher in, but he wasn’t all that reformed for Nate to truly be able to 100% forgive his father. Nate had every right to be angry and upset. He should have been more grateful that he took his son in, but he didn’t need to completely forget that Harris had totally screwed up his own childhood and turned him into the bitter psychopath that he was today.
The dialogue was so bizarre. The characters were all negative horrible people. This was SUCH a drag to read. Don’t bother wasting your time.
June 17, 2018
I'll Explain The Math
For the longest time while trudging through Dawson's disappointingly predictable tale, my rating was a 2. I mean, once Harris died and Nate showed up, this book's ending was clear as day, and Dawson chose to let us intuit this only a few pages into her relatively long novel.
That came too soon, in my opinion. She hadn't made me care enough yet about these people for enthusiasm to propel my long and winding walk towards an unsurprising destination. I really only kept reading because that's what I always do unless the writing is bad, and Dawson's isn't.
I could feel Dawson's high affection for her characters Jamie, Arley, Christopher and Nate, yet mine remained tepid until the last ten pages of the book when Dawson seemed to suddenly remember how to help a READER care about them. And then she was on fire! Wow! I zoomed from indifference to head-nodding, tears-in-eyes empathy for Nate. I was rooting now for him and Jamie to shed their respective neuroses and embrace their scripted future as Made For Each Other. I gave those last pages 5 stars plus 2 bonus stars for Dawson's skill in saving her book from mediocrity at the very last minute and decided on an overall rating of 3 stars.
It's not her best book, but worthwhile if you aren't impatient for rapid emotional attachment. Part of my disappointment resulted from having just finished another of her novels that hooked me on page one and never let me go until its last word. That's a hard act to follow!
For the longest time while trudging through Dawson's disappointingly predictable tale, my rating was a 2. I mean, once Harris died and Nate showed up, this book's ending was clear as day, and Dawson chose to let us intuit this only a few pages into her relatively long novel.
That came too soon, in my opinion. She hadn't made me care enough yet about these people for enthusiasm to propel my long and winding walk towards an unsurprising destination. I really only kept reading because that's what I always do unless the writing is bad, and Dawson's isn't.
I could feel Dawson's high affection for her characters Jamie, Arley, Christopher and Nate, yet mine remained tepid until the last ten pages of the book when Dawson seemed to suddenly remember how to help a READER care about them. And then she was on fire! Wow! I zoomed from indifference to head-nodding, tears-in-eyes empathy for Nate. I was rooting now for him and Jamie to shed their respective neuroses and embrace their scripted future as Made For Each Other. I gave those last pages 5 stars plus 2 bonus stars for Dawson's skill in saving her book from mediocrity at the very last minute and decided on an overall rating of 3 stars.
It's not her best book, but worthwhile if you aren't impatient for rapid emotional attachment. Part of my disappointment resulted from having just finished another of her novels that hooked me on page one and never let me go until its last word. That's a hard act to follow!
January 12, 2021
I began reading Maddie's books a couple of years ago. My first book took me through the thoughts of someone who was a little lost and they were eventually found. At that moment I was hooked. The characters in her books aren't perfect. Most have something they're working through. And that's exactly what I loved about this book.
Nate isn't perfect. He wasn't taught how to process his feelings and when shit hit the fan in his life he chose to dive into something else in order to forget. Adulting is hard, but made even harder when life throws some curve balls Nate hadn't trained to handle.
When his father, Harris, dies he forced to come to terms with a lot. Resentment and frustration at the forefront, he's hurled into a whirlwind of pent up emotions he wasn't quite ready to handle.
Then there's Jaime an artist, single-mom, and roommate to Nate's now deceased father. Her life is thrown for a loop as well when Harris dies as she's not many choices on where to go now.
The story follows Nate and Jaime as they navigate the loss and the small town craziness along with it. I really enjoyed how the characters felt real and how the story felt as though I was listening to a friend tell me about what's been happening "back home" with the Goddard family.
To me it felt close to home as I've known people similar to the characters. My only wish is that it hadn't ended so abruptly. Just felt as though the story ended sort of short, as if there wasn't anything more to say... even though I felt there could have been so much more.
Nate isn't perfect. He wasn't taught how to process his feelings and when shit hit the fan in his life he chose to dive into something else in order to forget. Adulting is hard, but made even harder when life throws some curve balls Nate hadn't trained to handle.
When his father, Harris, dies he forced to come to terms with a lot. Resentment and frustration at the forefront, he's hurled into a whirlwind of pent up emotions he wasn't quite ready to handle.
Then there's Jaime an artist, single-mom, and roommate to Nate's now deceased father. Her life is thrown for a loop as well when Harris dies as she's not many choices on where to go now.
The story follows Nate and Jaime as they navigate the loss and the small town craziness along with it. I really enjoyed how the characters felt real and how the story felt as though I was listening to a friend tell me about what's been happening "back home" with the Goddard family.
To me it felt close to home as I've known people similar to the characters. My only wish is that it hadn't ended so abruptly. Just felt as though the story ended sort of short, as if there wasn't anything more to say... even though I felt there could have been so much more.
August 20, 2018
Quite a character arc!
Harris screwed up his family, walking out on his wife and son, Nate. A known womanizer about town, he ruined his son’s life. And yet when that same son becomes a widower when Harris’s grandson, Christopher, is only 5 days old, it’s Harris who raises the boy, making up with Christopher for his sins with Nate.
Now, 5 years later, a young mom, Jamie, is boarding in Harris’s house. She doesn’t have the context that a Nate does, and loves Harris as a good friend and father-figure to her son, Arley.
But Harris’s sudden death brings Nate back to town to take custody of the son he hasn’t seen in years, sending Jamie’s life into disarray — and sending sparks into the air!
It seems impossible that Nate will ever become the man we would want for Jamie. This arrogant, self-centered prick? The fun is watching the transformation unfold.
The author does a beautiful job of getting into characters’ heads, showing the complexity of emotions going on, and how people can change over time.
Harris screwed up his family, walking out on his wife and son, Nate. A known womanizer about town, he ruined his son’s life. And yet when that same son becomes a widower when Harris’s grandson, Christopher, is only 5 days old, it’s Harris who raises the boy, making up with Christopher for his sins with Nate.
Now, 5 years later, a young mom, Jamie, is boarding in Harris’s house. She doesn’t have the context that a Nate does, and loves Harris as a good friend and father-figure to her son, Arley.
But Harris’s sudden death brings Nate back to town to take custody of the son he hasn’t seen in years, sending Jamie’s life into disarray — and sending sparks into the air!
It seems impossible that Nate will ever become the man we would want for Jamie. This arrogant, self-centered prick? The fun is watching the transformation unfold.
The author does a beautiful job of getting into characters’ heads, showing the complexity of emotions going on, and how people can change over time.
September 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, the story line started off right away. I hate when books start off super slow and take forever to get to the point, but this one, everything just took off. At times, I did not like Nate's character, and Jaime was too indecisive to me, but she was overall a really great mom. I didn't realize how much i was enjoying this book until I was about halfway through and I didn't want to put it down at 3am! The only reason I took off a star was because Jaime's sister kind of annoyed me (don't want to add any spoilers) but I thought she was too old to be acting as irresponsibly as she was. AND the ending was just abrupt. I was hoping for a big resolution, or some sort of grand gesture, but it just never came. It just ended. and I was NOT happy because the best part of a love story is the grand ending!!! Aside from the ending it was a cute story, a little different than usual and I enjoyed it. Give it a shot if you need a nice entertaining book.
February 20, 2025
I loved loved loved this story. It was well written. Nate is a jerk at times and his dialogue was a bit elementary in the beginning but I think that was meant to show his growth by the end of it. The storyline is pretty easy to follow. I loved the kids, Christopher and Arley. I am assuming this takes places in the early 2000s so vocab and Nate’s profession makes sense. Jaime was grounded but also a free spirit? Like how do you not have a job girl and live with a random old dude you met at kids camp? Like what? She sells art and finally gets a decent job so I guess that’s cool. Overall tho the best part for me was the story. I loved it. I also liked how it was split in two parts. I hate how some books shift gears and then at the end you feel like you read 4 different books. This did not feel like that a lot. Ultimately it’s a story of grief, loss, forgiveness and love. And I enjoyed it very much.
July 28, 2019
LOVE Maddie Dawson! This was her first book and i read her most recent book "Match Making for Beginners" first. I think maybe this one started a bit slow, but maybe that's only by comparison.
Maddie, I call her Maddie, really knows how to develop her characters and make you feel like you know them. Only Steven (King) and now Maddie seem to know how to do this to the max. She really knows how to build empathy between the reader and the characters. Even the ones who aren't so hot or nice or lovely. Still, you seem to know and understand them.
The other wonderful thing my Maddie does is play with language - phrases and words that are unexpected and delightful. Enjoy, and BTW if you know of similar authors that I maybe haven't had the joy of yet discovering, please let me know!
Pam
Maddie, I call her Maddie, really knows how to develop her characters and make you feel like you know them. Only Steven (King) and now Maddie seem to know how to do this to the max. She really knows how to build empathy between the reader and the characters. Even the ones who aren't so hot or nice or lovely. Still, you seem to know and understand them.
The other wonderful thing my Maddie does is play with language - phrases and words that are unexpected and delightful. Enjoy, and BTW if you know of similar authors that I maybe haven't had the joy of yet discovering, please let me know!
Pam
June 23, 2018
So nice to read something uplifting. I've been a" mystery" reader since 7th grade and was given my first Nancy Drew but I have become so tired and so sickened that every thriller out there is about a women teen or child chained to the floor bed or wall. Where is your imagination writers. A true mystery who done it ? And until that starts to change, and stay up all night trying to solve the mystery books are being written again , I will continue to read books by the Maddie Dawson's of the literary world .Books the make the reader like and care about the characters and have some investment in the out come of their lives because they have become our friends. I enjoyed'" Kissing"...kiss me again .
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