Guest Review: Shut Up and Kiss Me by Jessica Lemmon

Posted December 26, 2016 by Tracy in Reviews | 1 Comment

Guest Review: Shut Up and Kiss Me by Jessica LemmonReviewer: Tracy
Shut Up and Kiss Me by Jessica Lemmon
Series: Lost Boys #2
Also in this series: Waiting for Devlin, Shut Up and Kiss Me
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: December 6th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance
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three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

Cade: I tried. I really tried. I should be out of this small town by now, finishing my law degree and partnering up with my buddies, but I couldn’t resist one last street race. Now I’m sidelined in the hospital, and while my injuries will heal, I’m not so sure my voice will return. What kind of attorney can’t talk? Yeah, exactly. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to come back from this... until Tasha Montgomery reawakens every competitive bone in my body.

Tasha: I nearly watched Cade Wilson die on that lonely stretch of road. He’s damn lucky just to be alive, even if he doesn’t realize it. I know he’s destined for bigger and better things, but I don’t mind helping him get there as he relearns everything he took for granted. Cade’s a good student, a real perfectionist; I can tell how much his stutter bothers him. But when he lets his kisses do the talking, everything else disappears. And one day, maybe he’ll be able to tell me that he wants me—as much as I want him.

Tasha is a physical therapist in training who has volunteered to help Cade with his speech.  After a terrifying illegal street racing accident almost took his life he’s having trouble speaking.  He can sometimes speak with no problem – other times he stutters which drives him nuts.  He’s been resistant to help so far so most of the time Tasha sits in his room and does homework while he does something else.

Cade has liked Tasha for years.  While he was in college he hit on her once and she blew him off.  Yes, he was acting like an ass at the time but he did really like her.  He still likes her and loves surreptitiously watching her while she does her homework. He knows he frustrates her by not cooperating with the speech therapy but the things she wants him to do are just so weird.  When Tasha suggests some kissing therapy that interests him a great deal and lo and behold – it works.

Cade loves the kissing and it works to loosen him up and he seems to talk fine afterward.  On top of the talking he still has some issues, however. He’s depressed because his friends are going ahead with plans they made with him to open their own law firm.  He’s just not included any longer as he’s no longer in school and it eats at him.  He’s also sad about the loss of his smooth-talking ways.  He was always considered a silver-tongued devil and that has him a bit lost as he no longer is.  He also believes that Tasha is too good for him.  He had a girlfriend at one point who dumped him once she realized he wasn’t going to be a rich lawyer any longer.  Tasha grew up with lots of money and he’s not sure he trusts her not to do the same thing as his ex.  Will his decision about his future be good enough for her?

This was a cute book that had a good premise.  I liked both Tasha and Cade and thought they were good together.  Unfortunately, I had a few issues with the book.

Cade and Tasha’s chemistry was nil in my opinion.  I kept waiting for it to spark on the page and it just didn’t.  I think Tasha was holding back so much throughout the book that I never felt she actually gave her all.  Cade certainly did but it wasn’t enough to cover for Tasha’s lack. She was definitely all-in with their friendship but the romance?  I wasn’t feeling it. I’m sure this had to do with trust and her cheating ex-boyfriend but I’ve read that storyline before and had it work so…IDK.

The story was slower than I expected.  It had some more exciting parts to it but overall it was definitely a slower read.  The other issue was that of the relationship to her father and the ramifications it had on her relationship to Cade.  She was at odds with herself and it didn’t make for good reading.  She wanted to be independent but then accepted money for housing and a car.  Granted the car was supposed to be a birthday gift but still – her father had no problem holding it over her head.  IDK, that part of the book was kind of disconnected to me and I didn’t care for it.

Overall the book was a decent read.  I know it doesn’t sound like I enjoyed the book but I did.  I liked Lemmon’s Second Chance series so I know she’s a good author – this one just wasn’t my favorite of her books that I’ve read.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

three-half-stars


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One response to “Guest Review: Shut Up and Kiss Me by Jessica Lemmon

  1. Oh I can see why you had problems with this book. I have the hardest time with slower reads, but it does sound like it had some redeeming qualities and I like the premise.

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