Afterglow

I think this was the wildest paranormal romantic suspense I’d ever read. The opening scene was shockingly funny and titilating, and it set the tone for the rest of the story. The plot itself was quite bizarre and implausible. However, I did enjoy the chemistry between the hero and heroine, as well as the adrenaline fueled craziness spanning across several European countries. Dakota and Rand had sizzling chemistry, but the relationship was strained for the majority of this book due to omissions, lies and deep hurt. Dakota seemed like a nicely balanced character. She was smart, witty, tough, but also vulnerable. Rand, on the other hand, was pretty much a jerk throughout. But I did like him when he was in full on business mode. The fact that they’d once been in love and engaged to be married seemed to be easily forgotten in the wake of his mother’s death, the incarceration of his father, and the implication that Dakota had had something to do with it. Instead of hearing her side of the story, he broke up with her and love had turned to bitterness and hatred. When Dakota became his only hope of tracking down the person or persons responsible for unleashing a devastating drug that could be used as a weapon of mass destruction, hatred and lust began to blur the lines. Although Rand was stubborn, rude, and believed the worst about her, I liked the tension that created between them. Dakota didn’t take everything he dished out, but she was just as lost in their pasts as he was, and she didn’t throw the truth in his face at the earliest convenience. When they kept their focus on their mission, they worked well together. She wasn’t a trained agent by any means, but she held her own. The sex was steamy, even if they got it on at some pretty inopportune times. The twisted plot really was bizarre, and the gloating from the villain at the end really didn’t make it seem sane at all. I didn’t see the revelation coming, so that surprise was nice. I did enjoy all the different European countries and the details. It was suspenseful, but be warned, you’re in for a lot of cray cray, including a smidgen of paranormal with her special ability. This was my first book by Cherry Adair, and I have two others on my shelf, so I will give this author another go. FTC: Print purchased at a local store.