Blush by Cherry Adair…ARC Review

 Blush releases tomorrow, 4/7 

“She was the witch with the pretty, shiny red apple. Delilah with the scissors hidden innocently behind her back. The beautiful vampire sleeping at night, mouth closed, fangs covered. It was damn impossible not to want to touch her.”

 

Synopsis:

In the same pulse-pounding style as Maya Banks and Kresley Cole, New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair delivers a sizzling erotic romance about a sexy billionaire who’s on the run—and the hit-man-turned-handyman who’s supposed to kill her.

Sex with a stranger. Learn to drive. Learn to cook. Learn to pole dance. Sex under the stars. Buy a truck. These are just a few of the things on Amelia Wentworth’s bucket list, but as the CEO and face of a multi-billion-dollar cosmetic empire, she’s never quite found the time to do them.

Until, after a series of accidents, Amelia discovers that someone wants her dead. But who? And why? She has no time for questions as she changes her name to Mia, buys a secluded fixer-upper near the Louisiana bayou where no one will recognize her, and starts checking things off her bucket list like there’s no tomorrow—which there might not be.

Meanwhile, Cruz Barcelona is a hit man who’s promised himself this will be his last job. Then he’ll take the money and move to a warm, sunny place where he doesn’t have to hide anymore. But when Cruz goes undercover to Mia’s ramshackle house, he starts to realize there’s far more to this poor-little-rich-girl than he thought—and he starts to fall for her. Which is going to make his job a whole lot harder…

My Review:

Blush is the newest work from author Cherry Adair, and admittedly the first of her work I have read. I clearly have been missing out because this book was fantastic. Filled with a scorching amount of heat and thrilling suspense, I was glued to every page.

CEO Amelia Wentworth was in a huge amount of danger, and now, in hiding. It became clear to her that someone wanted her dead. But being the head of one of the biggest, if not the biggest, cosmetic empires has taught her more than a few things about resolve and strength. All of those lessons were being put to good use now, while trying to stay out of the public eye. While trying to stay alive. But being in hiding didn’t mean life had to stop being lived and truly, this was the perfect opportunity to live out her bucket list. Of course it would have to be done in the backwoods of Louisiana, but she was ok with that. And the man standing at her door getting ready to help her cross of one of those list items? Yeah, she was ok with him too…more than ok. He was sexy as hell and she had no idea who he was. Sex with a stranger was ready to get a check mark. Too bad Amelia had no idea this stranger was sent here to end her life…

Hitman Cruz Barcelona had made death his life’s work. All of that work and the payouts, had led him to this very moment. His last mission. This was the hit that would put him into retirement. He excelled at this. Keep emotions out of it, know your mark, do the job, and get out. Too bad this one last job will turn his life completely upside-down…

Two people thrown together in the most dire of situations. Two people who met by some twist of fate. Two people who couldn’t be more wrong for one another. Two people who realize soon enough that fate has a plan for them…

Wow. From almost the very first page, I was treated to a delicious amount of heat and suspense. And what better way to start off a book, right?

Cruz finds himself in a bit of an awkward situation when he opens the door (to kill Amelia) and is treated to a half-naked woman ready to get busy. She had wanted sex with a stranger, and she got it alright…and it was that moment that sealed Amelia’s fate. Only not for what Cruz had been sent for. He can’t stay away from her and she doesn’t want him to. It doesn’t hurt that she needs work done around her fixer upper and he has the skills to do it. This, of course leads to a bit of a conundrum for Cruz. There was no way, even after a few days together, that he could kill her. But just because he didn’t want to do the deed didn’t mean there wasn’t someone else hired to get it done. Soon enough Cruz finds himself in a completely different role. The role of protector.

I was so nervous for both Cruz and Amelia. Of course, for her safety, but I was more worried for their relationship. How could Cruz go from seducing her to telling her she was a hit man? Nothing good was going to come of that conversation and yet, against all odds, I was pulling for them to somehow find a way. Cruz, despite being a killer, has a good heart. A murderer with a conscience, if you will. He only killed the immoral and the perverse. Neither of which Amelia was. Again, I have to say how worried I was! Now, I can’t ruin anything for you, but after a huge “whoa moment” when we find out who is responsible for the hit, I was beyond happy with how Ms. Adair ended this story.

I once again have an author I will be looking forward to reading more from! Thank you, Ms. Adair, for a smoldering, sexy, suspenseful read.

Four-And-A-Half Loves

 

Book Links:

Amazon  |  B&N 

About the author:

Always an adventurer in life as well as writing, New York Times best-selling author Cherry Adair moved halfway across the globe from Cape Town, South Africa to the United States in her early years to become a interior designer. Now a resident of the Pacific Northwest she shares the award- winning adventures of her fictional T-FLAC counter terrorism operatives with her readers.

Cherry settled in beautiful San Francisco, where she started what eventually became a thriving interior design business. “I loved being a designer because it was varied and creative, and I enjoyed working with the public.” A voracious reader when she was able to carve out the time, Cherry found her brain crowded with characters and stories of her own. “Eventually,” she says, “the stories demanded to be told.”

When asked why she chooses to write romantic action adventure, she says, “Who says you can’t have adventure and a great love life? Of course if you’re talking about an adventurous love life, that’s another thing altogether. I write romantic suspense coupled heart-pounding adventure because I like to entertain, and nothing keeps readers happier than a rollercoaster read, followed by a happy ending.”

Popular on the workshop circuit, Cherry gives lively classes on writing and the writing life. Pulling no punches when asked how to become a published writer, Cherry insists, “Sit your butt in the chair and write. There’s no magic to it. Writing is hard work. It isn’t for sissies or whiners.”

Cherry loves to spend time at home. A corner desk keeps her focused on writing, but the windows behind her, with a panoramic view of the front gardens, are always calling her to come outside and play. Her office has nine-foot ceilings, a fireplace, a television and built-in bookcases that will house approximately 3,500 paperback books.

“What can I say? My keeper shelf has been breeding in the middle of the night, rather like drycleaners’ wire clothes hangers.”

 

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