Nathan Darke, charming, good looking, British. I can’t resist a guy with an accent. *SIGHS* My initial impression of him is a certain well known Dom minus all the angry emotional baggage and phobias. However, let’s be honest, the real star of this story is Eva. She’s intelligent, talented violinist, frumpy and socially clumsy. I adore the fact that she’s not perfect. With her frizzy red hair and smallish breast, frankly, I find her a breath of fresh air in her less than perfect state. In addition, even though she seems social inept, she does not come out all mousy meek. Oh no…she’s got a saucy back-bone that does rear her head. It is when that backbone pops up and she starts sparring with Nathan that I love her best. Yes, their sexual attraction between them is hot, and the sex SIZZLES, but really it is when they are interacting on a vocal and emotional level that really draws me in.
OK…here’s the part where I warn about the sex content. There is both vanilla sex as well toys and BDSM action. While the BDSM will automatically rate a book at 4-Flames it’s the author’s attention to detail (See above) that really does it for me. Hot, yummy and anytime Eva wants to tag out I’m sure that will be many a reader happy to take her place.
When author Ashe Barker say in the blurb that the story “ends on a cliffhanger that some readers might find upsetting” she is not kidding. I have yet to read a cliffhanger that had me screaming at my Kindle NOOO! Seriously, that is a cliffhanger guaranteed to have you panting for the next title. I personally cannot wait for the next book. Is Darkening a book worth reading? Oh yes! This is a series definitely worth my recommendation.
An added note – an over done cover can make or break a book. I like a cover that simple and this one rocked it for me. Its clean lines and elegance is what initially drew me to wanting to read Darkening in the first place. Shadows and a violin…simple perfection.
