Hearts in Darkness (Hearts in Darkness, #1) by Laura Kaye Series: Hearts in Darkness #1
Published by Laura Kaye on May 19th 2013
Pages: 112
Amazon
Makenna James thinks her day can’t get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.
Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he’s terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he’s trapped in his own worst nightmare.
To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?
The truth is I tend to be more lenient in my reviews of novellas. There’s just no way you can pack enough character development and storyline complexity into a book that is under 150 pages. I dive in knowing that it won’t measure up to a full-length novel, so it’s unfair of me to judge it by the same standards. That said, Hearts in Darkness is a well-done, sexy little story.
The set-up is intriguing. Two strangers are trapped in an elevator, and before either gets a good look at the other, they are plunged into complete darkness. Professional and polished Makenna would probably never give Caden a chance if she saw him. Even though his heart is soft, his tattoos and piercings make him look intimidating. Their predicament provides an opportunity for them to get to know each other’s fears, favorites and past without any preconceptions. I loved how they come to fall for each other as people before they can be influenced by looks.
I realize their relationship is accelerated due to the unusual circumstances (and the book’s length), but I always find it disingenuous when couples fall in love and want to spend their entire lives together after knowing each other less than 24 hours. However, I can’t deny that Caden and Makenna are delightful characters with wonderful chemistry, and the story isn’t quite as predictable as I’d anticipated.
All in all, this was an enjoyable, quick read. I’m looking forward to reading more about Makenna and Caden in Love in the Light.
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