Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy

Sometimes dying with the truth is better than living with a lie.

After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion. Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged.

Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it. In this blind game of cat and mouse that stares even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

If you would like to read the first chapter of KISS, go here.

If you would like to buy a copy, go here.

My Review:
At the beginning, the book confused me with its disjointed storyline, but I persevered and discovered that after a car accident, the protagonist is having a paranormal experience whereby she goes into a trance-like state and steals memories from others with a kiss. Science fiction is not my favorite genre, but I suspended my disbelief so that I could enjoy this tale. However, it never rings true.

Imagine: A daughter estranged from her father to the point that throughout her life, he barely speaks to her and on many occasions physically turns his back on her. She refers to him by his first name, yet she calls him "Daddy" at the book's conclusion with very little provocation. That is a hard one for me to swallow.

However, the book is not without redemption. There is a good question that develops. Pain or perspective--which one would you choose? Would you choose to have your memory wiped out, thereby removing all painful memories, as well as any foundations for decision-making? Or are all memories worth keeping?

The human trafficking issue is hinted at in several places, but is never developed; perhaps a sequel is in the works. The ending is rushed in the final chapter, reading like an epilogue. There were a few surprises; it's hard to figure out who's the good guy. I guess this is one for Dekker fans but it wasn't one for me.