Reviews for Kiss and Makeup

The average rating for Kiss and Makeup based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-06-18 00:00:00 Audrey Harrison Shandi Fossey works as a bartender at Hush in the evenings, but is a student at the Fashion Institute with the goal of being a makeup artist during the day. She overcame difficult odds and an unsupportive family to come to the city and live her dream, so she has something to prove. She meets famous record producer Quentin Marks, someone who also overcame those odds and still managed to be a success. They have some serious attraction and flirtation going on. Quentin is intrigued by her optimism and her drive and wants more than just sex...but he isn't quite sure of what exactly. Shandi knows this can only be a fling, since Quentin has plans to open a studio in Austin, TX and her life is in New York. As the fling continues, it becomes more, but the future potential hasn't changed - now they're just setting themselves up for heartbreak unless they can find a compromise that allows them to be together. This is overall a pretty fun and sexy story. I loved the chemistry and the emotional buildup between Quentin and Shandi. Despite only knowing each other a short time, their chemistry and interactions were such that I had no trouble believing their fall into love...it felt quite natural and well done. And their repartee was very sexy. I also liked that these people felt real, not like charicatures or anything. Quentin found success only to become a "cynical bastard" while Shandi has a family waiting for her to fail which spurs her to work even harder and prove she can accomplish her dreams on her own. Nothing in this felt contrived, apart maybe from their epic struggle to be together in the face of their separate dreams. And in regards to these separate dreams, all I can say is "Compromise, shmompromise." That was my struggle with this story...well, that and the completely pointless Evan and April secondary plotline, but I could get over that. Except how do two friends agree on a decision for their own life that effectively screws over the third without at least discussing it with the third friend and still call themselves friends? I digress. Back to the compromise, or lack thereof. It seemed an impossible situation - Shandi's life and future involves a degree from a New York Fashion Institute and making her way as a makeup artist, while Quentin's sanity depends on his moving back to his hometown of Austin and being a low-key record producer there. So how can they be together? Something has to give. And in this case, it's entirely Shandi's goals. It bugged me to no end that Quentin kept holding Shandi's willingness to set aside her goals as some sort of proof of her love for him. But what did he sacrifice? Absolutely nothing. So what was his proof? I mean, couldn't Quentin be willing to put his plans on hold and relocate to New York for the year it would take Shandi to finish her schooling and then they could move to Austin together? Why should Shandi have to quit school (with the possibility of going back in the vague future), leave her friends and move to Austin to adjust her values in using Quentin's connections to take the shortcut he offers (and she's uncomfortable using)? I hated that he gave up nothing to be with her, though I did honestly believe in his feelings for her. So it was the ending that messed this story up for me, the rest of it was really good.

Review # 2 was written on 2014-12-28 00:00:00 Justin Henderson It was a quick fun read, the hotel was a bit gimicky but not too much. Definitely erotica rather than romance, exactly what you'd expect. I don't particularly think the april/evan thing added much- I could definitely have lost that subplot.