Hot Ice: A Novel [Hardcover]

Cherry Adair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2005

Award-winning author Cherry Adair broke thrilling new ground with On Thin Ice–her stunning romantic suspense hardcover debut. Now Cherry’s turning up the temperature, amping up the action, and raising the degree of danger and desire to irresistibly hot new heights.

Diamonds–jewels of every kind, in fact–are Taylor Kincaid’s best friends. The only thing she enjoys more is the challenge of stealing them, at which she excels like few others in the world. And specializing in plundering precious stones from wealthy international criminals just makes it all the more satisfying . . . and dangerously exciting. So for Taylor, there’s no resisting the double allure of snatching the elusive Blue Star diamonds–a prize she has pursued across three continents–from the South American stronghold of the murderous Morales terrorist organization.

The heist goes down without a hitch. Until Taylor discovers she has made off with more than she bargained for, namely the secret security-system codes that provide access to a South African diamond mine–packed with enough gems to sink a battleship. Suddenly, Taylor’s no longer just an ultrachic freelance jewel thief, but a reluctant player in a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game against elite global trouble-shooters and bloodthirsty terrorists.

There’s nothing reluctant, however, about Huntington St. John, the top T-FLAC operative who’s hot on Taylor’s trail. And in Taylor’s opinion, just plain hot. The feeling, emotional and otherwise, is very mutual. Though they’re on opposite sides of the law, Hunt and Taylor swiftly come to appreciate each other’s well-honed skills. But since ecstasy is fleeting, and diamonds are forever, Taylor soon slips from the sheets and hits the streets . . . to reclaim the jewels she stashed overseas. And true to his name, Hunt is close behind–but this time, he’s after more than the codes. With the clock ticking, and two groups of terrorists closing fast, they’ll have to mix pleasure with some very risky business. If they can survive danger at every turn, outwit the ultimate high-tech security system, and somehow conquer each other . . . they just might get everything they desire.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Huntington "Hunt" St. John needs a thief. Preferably a resourceful, cunning, totally unscrupulous thief capable of breaking into religious-zealot and terrorist Jose Morales' San Cristobel home and stealing a set of computer disks. Hunt, an operative with the privately funded, freelance antiterrorist organization T-FLAC, quickly discovers that jewel-thief Taylor Kincaid is the woman he wants, but before he can secure her services, Taylor does the job on her own. But after she is arrested mere hours later by the San Cristobel police, Hunt sees an opportunity for a deal. Taylor pretends she has no idea what Hunt is talking about until an encounter with a group of lethal terrorists out for the same disks convinces her that she'd be better off trusting the enigmatic and sexy Hunt. Adair continues her wonderfully addictive series featuring the sexy men of T-FLAC with this fast-paced and intricately plotted tale of danger, deception, and desire that is perfect for readers who like their romantic suspense adrenaline-rich and sizzlingly sexy. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

PRAISE FOR CHERRY ADAIR

“A breathtaking ride . . . I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough! No one does hot romance, ice-cold villains and nonstop adventure better.”
–Mariah Stewart, author of Dead Even, on On Thin Ice

“Sexy, funny, and wild! Hang on and enjoy the ride!”
–Andrea Kane, author of Scent of Danger, on In Too Deep

“A thrilling, mysterious, sexy read.”
–Stella Cameron, author of Kiss Them Goodbye, on Hide and Seek

“A sexy, snappy roller-coaster ride!”
–Susan Andersen, author of Shadow Dance, on Kiss and Tell

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345476425
• ISBN-13: 978-0345476425
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,617,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair's innovative action-adventure novels have appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, won dozens of awards and garnered praise from reviewers and fans alike. With the creation of her kick butt counterterrorist group, T-FLAC, years before action adventure romances were popular, Cherry has carved a niche for herself with her sexy, sassy, fast-paced, action adventure novels. She is hard at work on two new series - CUTTER CAY and LODESTONE, and loves to hear from readers. Cherry loves to interact with readers, and she's easy to find on Facebook http://tiny.cc/l1iva or Twitter http://twitter.com/CherryAdair.

To see scenes from Cherry's books, find a printable book list, read excerpts, watch videos, learn more about characters, or receive her newsletter, visit www.cherryadair.com

For a free bookmark send a SASE to Cherry Bookmarks, P. O. Box 8591, Covington, WA. 98042

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars!, July 19, 2005

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Ice: A Novel (Hardcover)

Taylor Kincaid is a jewel thief, the best in the business. She has been after the famous Blue Star diamonds for a short while now. The man who "acquired" them for his wife is supposed to currently have them at his terrorist compound in South Africa, within a special safe that could not be cracked. Taylor does not find the diamonds. By the time she is in the "uncrackable" safe they are gone. However, she takes everything else. She has no clue that she inadvertently pockets valuable disks filled with security codes.

Huntington "Hunt" St. John is a top T-FLAC operative. He and his team specialize in counter terrorism. They desperately need the disks Taylor stole from José Morales's safe. They also need her expertise. Morales is the head of "Mano del Dios". For many years he has prepared for a special event. One he believes God has chosen him for. Friday, October thirteenth, is D-day unless Hunt and his team can stop him. First they must capture Taylor, then "convince" her to help. Morales has a nuclear missile ready. In order for the team to reach it and deactivate it, they must live through seven levels of deadly traps. Without Taylor's cooperation, it is impossible. With it, the chances of success are still slim, but it is better than nothing. If they fail, millions will die.

***** There is not really much romance at all in this Romantic Suspense. The two main characters are attracted to each other, but by the end of the story I, as the reader, did not feel that they could possibly be in true love. Most of the novel is dedicated to capturing Taylor and convincing her to help. The author did an excellent job on that, as well as, on the seven levels. Fans of the games or movies in the "Tomb Raider" series will be enthralled! Highly recommended. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars HOT Book By A Hot Author, August 5, 2005

By 

Sharon Katz (Brooklyn,, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hot Ice: A Novel (Hardcover)

José Morales is a madman. The head of the terrorist organization "Mano del Dios" he is filled with religious fervor and thinks God has called upon him, in person, to save the world by destroying all who disagree with his ideas. He has been illegally amassing a fortune in jewels and artwork, keeping it safe in a super secret underground mine, a place where he has also stashed the means to achieve world domination.

Huntington St. John is an agent in a secret anti-terrorist organization called T-FLAC. He is intent upon finding out Morales's method for his intended day of wrath. To do that he needs the set of computer disks with the answers to the hidden cave of destruction that is locked in Morales's impossible to open, super secure safe in his home. He and his colleagues find out that there is one person in the world with the expertise they need to break into the safe. A woman named Taylor Kincaid

Taylor Kincaid is a highly talented jewel thief and safecracker of many years. Since she was a teen, she had been teaching herself the art of stealing from internationally know miscreants, people who have made their fortunes making off with other people's riches. She had already made her way into Morales's safe looking to steal the spectacular Blue Star diamonds, but they weren't there, so she cleaned everything out of the safe and mailed them to herself. She had no idea that there was a set of important computer disks there too.

Huntington St. John manages to find Taylor, but she had already been arrested and beaten into blindness. Their introduction wasn't a civil one, but along with the dawn Taylor's sight returns, and both their eyes were opened to the magnetic feelings of attraction that sizzles between them. Taylor escapes before Huntington can explain why the free world needs her help along with the computer disks. A worldwide chase ensues and the hunt between the two begins!

HOT ICE is mainly a scorching romance in a setting of international intrigue, terrorism and high class heists. Chapter upon chapter is dedicated to the amorous feelings between Hunt and Taylor, all while these two people are trying to disavow any of it. But the strength of their passion overpowers them each and every time they are together and it always ends in regrets.

Fans of adventures will also be interested in HOT ICE. It manages to outdo Indiana Jones in a few categories, as the underground mine had been fashioned by Morales to reenact Dante's rings of Hell with the use of special dangerous effects along with masterly created robotics. Here male and female members of the leading couple are extraordinarily gifted in their chosen fields. They both manage to think faster than all the others around to solve problems.

You can tell that Cherry Adair did her homework. Seven of Dante's rings of hell are described along with Morales's recitation of pertinent psalms and proverbs. Also she goes to great pains to explain how super safes work, along with a detailed history and how they can, only with extraordinary skill and luck, be opened.

If you're in the mood for passion, sex and romance blended with phenomenally perilous adventures, where the survival of the world is at stake, read HOT ICE.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Engaging but flawed romantic suspense, September 7, 2005

By 

booksforabuck "BooksForABuck" (Long Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hot Ice: A Novel (Hardcover)

When it comes to jewel theft, Taylor Kincaid is the best--and Huntington (Hunt) St. John needs the best. The private anti-terrorist organization he works for has learned that super-Christian terrorist Jose Morales has hidden the codes for his secret base in a safe so secure that it's supposed to be unbreakable. Hunt needs someone to get him those disks so badly, he's willing to break a known criminal out of prison to help.

Taylor responds to Hunt physically, but that doesn't mean she trusts him. She needs the diamonds she stole from Morales--and isn't convinced by Hunt's story that he works for the good-guys. Isn't that what everyone says?

When Taylor escapes him, Hunt is desperate. Time is running out, and Morales plans a strike far bigger than 9/11, wiping out the entire city of Las Vegas in his efforts to eliminate sin and bring about the kingdom of god. It doesn't help that he gets excited every time he gets close to Taylor--everyone in the T-FLAC private anti-terrorist organization knows that women are the curse. Still, the two need to work together, which isn't a problem when they learn that they really are on the same side.

Heading off the threat sends them into a reconstructed mine in South Africa--a mine that has been transformed into the seven circles of Dante's Hell. If they'd still had the codes, it would have been merely difficult--but with only two of the five disks, they rely on Taylor's safecracking and Hunt's macho dere-doing to survive.

Author Cherry Adair's fast-paced style and steamy sensuality propell the reader through the story. I found myself, however, distracted from the story by the improbability of Adair's scenario and by the drawn-out misunderstandings between Hunt and Taylor--especially that at the end of the story. Morales's scheme for 'world domination' is hard to understand, but not nearly as hard as was a second terrorist group (the Black Rose)'s plan. The multibillion dollar transformation of a mine into the seven circles of Hell is interesting and consistent with the crazy but Christian Morales, but the whole disk and code thing didn't seem to work. If Morales needed the codes and didn't have them all, how was he supposed to get his army of thugs into the pit to face Hunt and his T-FLAC buddies? And how did the Black Rose terrorists get down?

HOT ICE had a lot of potential and it's definitely worth the read--but Adair missed too many chances to make the adventure and the romance more compelling and give the reader a bigger payoff for an oversized suspension of disbelief.