At First Blush

A Well Paired Novel #1

by Marianne Rice

Alexis Le Blanc enjoys her simple life in Crystal Cove, Maine. After taking a chance on romance and getting rejected, she has given up on love. Now she devotes all her time to running her family’s winery, Coastal Vines. She wants to keep it small and traditional, but her parents have other ideas—hence why they hire some big-shot marketing executive from Napa Valley to rev up business.

When Benito Martelli shows up in her family’s tasting room, she’s more than stunned to discover he’s the man who wined and dined her the night before. Alexis is beyond peeved at his deception in trying to get into her good graces for the sake of making money on her winery. At first, she wants nothing to do with him or his big business ideas, but she’s pleasantly surprised when they come to a compromise, and even more surprised when she gives in to the sparks between them.

Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as planned and Alexis is faced with complications she never could have predicted. Promises and secrets unravel, and she must decide if love and wine are as well paired as she hoped.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2018

About the author

Marianne Rice writes small town contemporary romance and women's fiction. Her heroes are big and strong, yet value family and humor, while her heroines are smart, sexy, sometimes a little bit sassy, and are often battling a strong internal conflict. Together, they deal with real life issues and always find everlasting love.

When she’s not writing, Marianne spends her time drooling over shoes, eating chocolate, attending her children's sporting events, and when there’s time, relaxing with fancy drinks and romance books.

To receive news about new releases, sales, freebies and contests, sign up for Marianne's newsletter:http://www.mariannerice.com/connect.html

Reviews

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Red, Red Wine Stars

From the first moment I picked up this book and started Alexis and Benito's story I was hooked. Alexis is one tough cookie and she does not want her family business getting into the wrong hands. She thinks that she knows what's best for her business and she doesn't need some Italian guy walking in and taking over.

In walks Benito with his good looks and his charm and she wants to hate him.

I love the depth that Marianne has put into her characters I love her secondary characters which to me always makes a book brilliant.

I love that she has a Kick-Ass leading lady who knows her mind and is well able to stick up for herself she is strong and independent but yet has a sensitive side as well.

This was such an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend giving it a read. Looking forward to seeing what's next in the series.

http://realtastypages.com

[Diane (Books and Tequila Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

-4 Stars!-
Review to follow

[Christine Szmurlo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant.
I loved this book.
So well written.
The story and characters were really beautifully developed.
I was sad to to finish it.
Looking forward to reading and learning the other characters in the next books.
Thankyou

[Chasing The Words Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just going to sit right here and swoon over Benito. Sigh...the man gave me all the feels. I totally need to find a man just like him in real life.

At First Blush is sweet, endearing and down to earth. From the first page to the last I was drawn into the story. Not only was it “real” but it was sexy and romantic and just gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels.

Alexis is my kind of girl. She is sweet, shy, reserved, old school, a Tom Boy, values family and doesn’t give herself credit where credit is due. She wanted to expand her wings but experiences in her past of being overshadowed stopped or halted her. I was able to relate with her on so many levels which made this book all the better.

Now let’s get to Benito Martelli...

I mean seriously how can you not fall head over heals in love with a man with the name Benito Martelli - holy smokes from the first time we meet him in At First Blush I was hooked and in LOVE. He is down to earth, a family guy, cares about everyone’s feelings (most of the time), sexy, romantic and an all around good guy. Don’t get me wrong he does have one flaw/bad decision and she goes by the name of Felicia (you may or may not want to smack her a few times - just saying). Even with said flaw/bad decision my love for Benito never diminished. Seriously, I gotta find a “real”’Benito.

So...

Benito (a.k.a Ben) goes to Maine to meet the Le Blanc’s and offer some solutions to make Coastal Vines a more profitable winery. He knew going in that he would have some problems convincing the Le Blanc’s daughter Alexis that the changes would only help grow the winery and not devalue it in any way.

When Alexis and Benito meet for the first time full truths might not have been told and when the truth comes out Alexis becomes even more feisty then normal. What ensues thereafter is entertaining and a little heart breaking and lots of romance and trying to “win the girl over”.

The attraction...
The hesitation...
The angst...
The flirting...
The drama...
The adventure of exploring and getting to know each other...

At First Blush had it all. This was my first book by Marianne Rice and definitely will not be my last. I truly loved this book and highly recommend it.

[Natasha Carrere · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m always excited with I fall in love with a book and the author is one I’ve never read before. Now I’m sitting here thinking about how did I not know who she was! This was a beautifully written love story with a happily ever after.

Alexis is strong willed and hard headed. She is also no match against Benito Martello when he comes to her winery to help her family with ideas on how to better the business. Plus it didn’t hurt that he is swoon worthy!

I absolutely loved the dynamic between these to. It wasn’t straight falling in love for them because of things that happened to them previously meeting. But you knew what they had together was strong and would work it’s self out in the end. Marianne Rice definitely found herself a new fan!

[Yeri (wildflowerreader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are no words to convey how much I loved this story, the authors keen eye for details and how incredible her descriptions of everything was.

Her characters held so much depth. They were so easy to relate to. They were perfectly imperfect and I couldn't have loved them more.

I loved both the simplicity in the story and the bits of complications. Loved how easy it was to connect with both of the main characters.

Alexis was my favorite. She was both strong and sensitive. She made it easy to love her.
Ben with all his faults he was just amazing.

I cannot wait to see what comes next in the Well Paired series.

[Rebecca Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

What goes together better than a glass of cold ice wine and a steaming hot romance?

Absolutely nothing!

And Marianne Rice delivers again giving you the perfect combination!

This book has everything, a sassy, stubborn heroine who's determined not to let the bad guy win... only problem is, that said bad guy is sweeping her off her feet and delivering knee quaking kisses!

There were some poignant funny moment (the dogs name is brilliant!), some moments when you wished we all had a man like that in our lives - one who steps up and owns up when he needs to, and some sizzling moments that give us more!

Can't wait to see what's next!

[Liberty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every aspect of this book! In addition to a beautiful love story that seemed to advance at a realistic pace, there was great information on wine and grapes too. Alexis LeBlanc's family winery is struggling and her parents call in a handsome Italian to update it. Will Benito Martelli be able to help save her family winery and/or win her heart? This beautiful story of two realistic people with real life problems is sweet, frustrating, emotional and funny at times but is ultimately satisfying in the end. In addition to Al and Ben, we meet many of the other business owners in Crystal Cove and I can't wait for this series to continue so I can, hopefully, learn more about them as well!
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[LaGina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to listen to this on audibles and I was so happy to get the feels for this couple. It was such a sweet down to earth read that it gave off the feeling that there might have been some real life going on with it. The couple just seemed to mesh so well with the story that it made me want to jump into the book and just be friends with them. This was such a wonderful book to listen to and I wouldnt be surprised to see this on the big screen. I think it would make for a really nice date night movie.

[Amazeballs Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars

At First Blush is a good read. It's a sweet read. I loved Alexis. She's a strong character. She's running the family’s winery with her parents. She wants to keep the winery small but her parents want to expand. Her parents have a family friend Benito come to help them. Benito is sexy and a lady's man. He and Alexis have chemistry. Where Alexis was easy to like, Benito was a little harder for me to like at first. Benito doesn't fully tell Alexis who he is when they first meant. Alexis reacts perfectly in a real way when she finds out. Benito has secrets and I was waiting to see how both would handle everything once everything comes out.

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
Hero holds back a secret, his ex sort of girlfriend is pregnant with his baby.
No real ex drama, the girlfriend isn't interested in the child.
HEA.
Breadcrumbs dropped for future books in series.

[Jessica Hall]

A romance novel where all the sex scenes are fade to black? No. That is not what I signed up for.

[Brenda M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marianne Rice brings forth her ability to draw you into the lives of her characters and will have you immersed in a story that keeps you enthralled.

Alexis made a promise to her Grandpa to maintain the integrity of the family vinyard. Despite efforts on her parents part to upgrade and change some of the aspects, Alexis will drag her feet, kicking and screaming if she has to, to keep that promise.
Benito needs a break from the chaos going on in his life, and on the suggestion of his parents, flies across the country to look over and potentially advise a fledgling winery.
Thrust into small town living and inadvertently meeting the most intriguing woman of his life, he soon realizes how challenging his current project is going to be.
And just like the fine wine that Benito has been surrounded by his whole life, Alexis is just like a bottle waiting to be savored. Now, if he could just get past the taste of her on his tongue.

[Cerinawithasea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexis Le Blanc enjoys her simple life in Crystal Cove, Maine. After taking a chance on romance and getting rejected, she has given up on love. Now she devotes all her time to running her family’s winery, Coastal Vines. She wants to keep it small and traditional, but her parents have other ideas—hence why they hire some big-shot marketing executive from Napa Valley to rev up business.

When Benito Martelli shows up in her family’s tasting room, she’s more than stunned to discover he’s the man who wined and dined her the night before. Alexis is beyond peeved at his deception in trying to get into her good graces for the sake of making money on her winery. At first, she wants nothing to do with him or his big business ideas, but she’s pleasantly surprised when they come to a compromise, and even more surprised when she gives in to the sparks between them.

Unfortunately, things don’t go quite as planned and Alexis is faced with complications she never could have predicted. Promises and secrets unravel, and she must decide if love and wine are as well paired as she hoped.

**

### Review

"At First Blush is sweet, endearing, and down to earth. From the first page to the last I was drawn into the story. Not only was it "real" but it was sexy and romantic and just gave me all the warm and fuzzy feels." --**Chasing the Words Book Blog**

* * *

"There are no words to convey how much I loved this story, the author's keen eye for detail, and how incredible her descriptions of everything was." --**One-Click Romance**

* * *

"Fans of the Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis and the Eternity Springs series by Emily March might especially love the sense of family and familiarity in the Rocky Harbor series, and discover a new go-to author in Marianne Rice." -**-Passionate Reads**

### About the Author

Marianne Rice writes contemporary romantic fiction set in small New England towns. She loves high heels, reading romance, scarfing down dark chocolate, gulping wine, and Chris Hemsworth. Oh, and her husband and three children. You can follow her all over social media, and keep up to tabs with her latest releases on her website: www.mariannerice.com

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

AT FIRST BLUSH begins Marianne Rice’s Well Paired series with a poignant story of a woman who is as stubborn as she is mistrustful of any male and one man who has had life challenges thrown at him recently and isn’t entirely sure where he’s going to land. Their common ground is Alexis’ family winery where she’d love for everything surrounding her to stand still, but the rest of her family and Ben want to see it become the best possible winery which may mean changes. Alexis is not onboard with that. And that is actually an understatement.

I was easily caught up in Alexis’ and Ben’s story. Two equally stubborn people for far different reasons – now that’s a match made in heaven. (grin) I understood Alexis and her fears, yes they are fears of not being “enough” either for Ben or for keeping the winery as her grandfather had wanted. The sparks between them soon turn into sizzles that complicate everything, and yet, in some ways make falling for each other even easier. Ben has… complications in his life that he has to sort out before committing to Alexis. And she’s not going to make that easy with her mistrust sprouting up at any given moment. Their relationship is complex, down to earth, and hard to resist.

There were moments when I understood Alexis, others where I just wanted to sit her down for a stern talking to, and even more, where her pain and fears were so real they seeped through the pages. She’s complicated but she’s worth it. Ben is close to that ideal man but he has his flaws as well which only make him human. Together they worked, together they could accomplish anything – even falling and staying in love.

There is some world building for the small town of Crystal Cove and its residents, there has to be, yet it all flowed naturally as part of the story and never overwhelmed. I enjoyed being in this world, Marianne Rice has captured the small-town feel and the constant internal battles that we all face. I would not hesitate to recommend AT FIRST BLUSH, and I’m definitely heading to download the next story in this series. Yep, I’m hooked and not a bit surprised.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

[N.W. Moors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexis Le Blanc helps run her family's vineyard in Crystal Cove, Maine. She likes the traditions her grandfather implemented and isn't happy to learn her parents are bringing in a marketing expert to make suggestions for changing the brand.
Benito Martelli comes from a family that runs its own large and successful vineyard in the Napa Valley. While there's chemistry between Alexis and Ben almost immediately, the two are very different people. Alexis is an ex-tomboy, too comfortable for the guys to date and not girly enough (at least in her mind) to have female friends. She's devoted to the vineyard and that's pretty much it. Ben is handsome, a bit of a player, with his own successful business and life in San Francisco. He also has some personal problems he's running away from.
I had some trouble liking either of the two protagonists in the beginning of the book. Alexis is prickly and rude while Ben can be too slick and deceptive. I had trouble seeing the two of them together. But Ms. Rice is masterful in gradually building up the relationships, not only between Alexis and Ben, but also Ben and Crystal Cove.
As Alexis slowly comes out of her shell, her vulnerability shows as well as the reasons for her feelings. Ben also becomes more understandable in his behavior. The turning point for me was when Alexis accuses Ben of speaking Italian to her during sex. He refutes it at first, then realizes she's the only woman he's done that with. It's a charming moment that shows just how much he's fallen for her.
I really did love this romance. I loved the slow burn and how much Alexis and Ben both matured and resolved their differences. This book is such a wonderful start to this new series, and I can't wait for the next book.

[SOS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The pairing of Alexis and Ben works so very well, and both the author and the narrator did a wonderful job of conveying the personalities of the two of them. This was an easy book to listen to, and I can honestly say that it drew me in from the beginning, from the first words. This book would make a perfect Hallmark movie. It’s filled with romance, humor, and a behind-the-scenes looks into the wine industry, and into living in a small New England town.

I happened to listen to this book around the winter holidays, and it fit perfectly with its feel-good vibes. It would work equally as well for Valentine’s Day, Sweetest Day, or pretty much any other day of the year. It left me glowing with happiness. It’s a very sweet and well-designed story of two people with much in common, who don’t fit in with others around them. They do fit well together, once they get over a bunch of misunderstandings. I especially liked how family was worked into the story to help illustrate the main characters’ backgrounds. The parents, on both sides, added so much to this story, and while they didn’t scheme to bring Alexis and Ben together, they set a good example of marital happiness and the ability to work together.

There wasn’t a character in this book that I didn’t like. Each one brought something different and necessary to the story. Each one also offered different viewpoints to help you understand the main characters.

If you enjoy light romance, I highly recommend this book.

I received a free copy of the audio book from the author. I thank her for her generosity, but it had no effect on my review of this book. All opinions in this review express my true and honest reactions to listening to this audio book.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lover of wine this type of read is near and dear to my heart by association. Add to that a hunk who is warm and generous and the perfect book boyfriend, yeah with faults. His secrets and lies by omission are a definite Debbi-downer which doesn't bode well with a woman who on the outsides exudes confidence and strength but on the inside is dealing with issues which include not being good enough. It's gonna be tough to break through all of the walls she has built up especially since the first thing he does is do something to reinforce the need for them. It was painful watching both of them work through their issues but it does happen. This author does it tastefully and with a style she does well. There's a lot more to this read but of course "spoilers" will not happen here. Suffice it to say it's wonderful seeing a side to the wine industry I have not had the pleasure of seeing for myself and that's east coast vineyards. This author has found a way to make you feel like you were there with her descriptions. It's a great read and I can't wait to indulge in more.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience reading this author and I absolutely love her work. This is a story of two people who meet (Alexis and Benito) and have immediate chemistry but when Alexis realize Benito is the person her parents brought here to revamp their winery and he had not told her she is very upset as she wants to honor her grandfather's tradition of how the winery is run. Will they be able to compromise and overcome the complications in Ben's life to be together. The characters are so well written as are the sub-characters. I love Maine so the location was endearing and so beautifully described. The author spent a great deal of time researching winery's and it really shows in the story and gives us a great understanding of what is involved. It is a beautifully written story with drama, heartbreak, and romance. I am looking really looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Marianne Rice. At First Blush is a stand alone novel, but additional characters are introduced for later books. I'm planning to read more of the series because I think I would identify more with some of the other characters. I had a really tough time identifying with Alexis, and actually didn't like her much. She jumped to a lot of conclusions and didn't seem to learn from her experiences. Benito was more likable, but still very flawed. He sent a lot of mixed signals which confused even me at times. I would recommend this book to readers who like imperfect characters, especially those who can identify with someone who is self-conscious and quick to anger.

I listened to the Audible version. This was the first book I've listened to narrated by Stephanie Montalvo. She did a good job, though it was more reading out loud as opposed to a performance.

#AudiobookObsession

[Krisz · Rating 4 out of 5]

At First Blush was an entertaining, lovely story about two quite headstrong main characters, Alexis and Benito. It took me a while to warm up to Alexis but she grew on me by the time I finished the book. Benito was an equally flawed but wholehearted guy. They both had to and did evolve a lot. I loved how loyal they both were to the family business and the way they put family and tradition first. This book was my first experience with Marianne Rice's storytelling and I liked it. Well crafted characters and storyline. Just the right amount of drama, nothing was overdone here.

Stephanie Montalvo's narration was superb. I liked her clear speach, the well distinguished voices she used for the different characters. I loved the flawless easy switch between English and Italian. Unfortunately the editing was imperfect, there were a few short paragraphs doubled.

Story: 4 stars
Narration: 4 stars

🎧AudiobookObsessionReviewer

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read Marianne Rice before and I was blown away. I loved the strong characters and the small town setting. Alexis is a tom boy who grew up having all the guys being her pal. She is strong, stubborn and shy. Not much experience dating, she feels that no one wants her. She help runs her parents winery in small town Maine. Her parents want to leave her with a winery that isn’t in the red so they enlist the help of Benito, marketing pro from California. Ben’s family has a winery in Napa. They meet by accident at the local diner and Ben doesn’t tell Alexis who he actually is. There is instant attraction. Ben has issues he needs to deal with and a massive dose of insecurity. I love how it all works out in the end. I can’t wait to see more in this series and I am most definitely going to read more from Marianne.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"At First Blush (A Well Paired Novel, #1)" by Marianne Rice is the first book in this series and well worth the read. Alexis Le Blanc is a down to earth young woman who grew up in Crystal Cove, Maine and is the type of girl that boys thought of as one of the guys. Her past experience with men has her questioning herself in keeping a guy as they were the love em and leave em types. She wants nothing to do with the 'Italian' man who says he can revamp her families winery. Benito (Ben) Martelli has a few secrets of his own. He comes to town and runs into Alexis. Ben doesn't tell her who he is and the chemistry between these two is undeniable. When she finds out who he is she tries to railroad his ideas and the beating of her heart. They both need to trust each other in order and their love in order to look toward the future.

[Trisha c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexis parents want her to take over their small vineyard in Maine. Her parents called in a favor from a friend to have their son, Ben, a corporate consultant, help with ideas to increase revenue. He spent several weeks there, enjoying, the slow pace, embracing the people of this quaint small towN. Alexis doesn't like his ideas at first. The longer they are together, the attraction increases . Alexis takes a chance to open her heart to him. Ben is hiding a major secret from her. She decides to surprise him at his winery in California. She immediately leaves when she finds out his secret.
Stephanie Montalvo narration is very good. I enjoyed listening to this story.🎧audiobookobsessionreviewer🎧

[Anrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled to get through this book. Alexis' insecurities are told over and over... and over again.
Ben is a good character, but I don't know why he stuck around for so long while Alexis worked through her issues, was incredibly rude to him and threw wild accusations his way constantly.
The author also describes everything in too much detail for my taste... someone drinking sweet nectar from someone's mouth when they kiss them, while simultaneously tasting a range of notes you get in wine is just not for me. I do realise some people might enjoy this style, so this is just a personal issue for me.
I'm going to pass on the rest of the series, but I see there are people who love it ,so if the premise sounds like your thing go for it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my most favorite things about Marianne Rice is that she does her settings justice. Maine is one gorgeous location and she nails it every.single.time. This time she brings us to this gorgeous costal town and drops us in the middle of a lush vineyard. I think I have location envy.

Both Alexis and Ben are beautifully written. Their story is filled with bumps and pot holes, but you can't help but love them both. Nothing about their story is predictable and it's really just a beautiful ride. This is one of those books that is best going in blind. Fall in love with them step by step, moment by moment just as they did.

I am REALLY looking forward to the rest of this series.

[Cali Gal’s · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Ben and Alexis. Love the backdrop for this book but really who wouldn’t... yup a beautiful winery (wink). It took me a little bit to get into this book but once I did (yikes) it had some surprises. I love Ben the first part of the story and Alexis broke my heart a little with her lack of trust. Ummm then ALL is revealed. Nope not telling but OMG. Both characters and the story kept me engaged and reeling with a variety of emotions. I can’t wait for the rest in this series. Happy Reading!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, what a great start to a new series. The tough yet tender hearted Alexis was a perfect heroine because she felt real. Ben is a great match for her as he really sees the front that Alexis puts up to cover her hurt and insecurities. Of course the background of the winery really makes my inner wino happy (lol), the descriptions of the scenery and wines themselves was very well written. I cannot wait to see what the next book brings.

[Dina Maio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a huge fan of wine, I love books that take place in wineries. This book was a great diversion from my crazy life the past week. Ben and Alexis are two of my favorite fictional characters. They are so well developed, I felt like I could have been friends with them. Actually every character in the book was great. I could definitely see myself taking a trip up to Crystal Cove, Maine and hanging out with the "Book Club"

If you are looking for a fun read, this is it!!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Marianne Rice has an amazing ability to pull you into the story and pull at your heartstrings.
In this book both Alexis and Ben have troubling things from their past holding them back. With some hardworking, vulnerability and wine they are able to breakthrough each others barriers to find what they have always been looking for.