Book Review – There Is No Light In Darkness (Darkness #1) by Claire Contreras

• Buy THERE IS NO LIGHT IN DARKNESS (Kindle) 

The perfect blend of mystery, angst, romance, and a gripping story! I could not put this book down! 5 stars!

I inhaled this book in one sitting, was completely wrapped up in the story and hopelessly in love with Cole.

Speaking of Cole… NEW BOOK BOYFRIEND ALERT!! He might be one of my favorites EVER!! As in ever ever EVER! Holy butterflies! *faints*

What a prologue!! This book had me hooked from the very first page. I was immediately intrigued and invested in the story and there was just NO way I was stopping.

I’m not going to say too much about what the book is about because it’s hard to explain it without spoilers but here is just the basic set up:

Haunted by the nightmares of her family’s murder, Blake never feels safe. Not even for a moment. And she’s spent her whole life trying to piece together the memories of her past with the small clues she’s found a long the way to try and find out what happened to her family.

“Even though I have the memories from my nightmares, I’m not sure I want to experience them in the light. They’re more real in the light. I should have kept them buried in the darkness, but it’s too late for that.”

The only time she truly feels safe is with Cole. He’s been a constant in her life for so long now and it’s coming to the point where they have to admit their feelings for each other.

I fell in instant love with Cole. I really mean instant here. Five lines into his appearance in the story and I. Was. In. Love. And I didn’t stop loving him for even a moment throughout the whole book. He definitely has made it into my list of favorite Book Boyfriends EVER!! I swear to God everything he said made my heart flutter and everything he did made me swoon!

I’ll admit that the beginning of the story was a wee bit confusing but not at all in a bad way. Almost more in a way that just made me more curious. Some of the things just didn’t make sense to me and I was just desperate to know why and what caused them to happen.

The story is told in alternating past and present timelines. Given all the mystery surrounding Blake’s past, this really helped me piece things together and understand both where she was coming from and what she was trying to still figure out.

But HOLY ANGST people!!! I’m almost talking Thoughtless levels of angst here! My heart was just pounding for most of my read. It was like I was on a constant adrenaline high. I don’t really want to give anything away but basically despite it being without-a-shadow-of-a-doubt clear that Cole and Blake were meant for each other, they weren’t together in the beginning of the book and the whole set up there really just kept my heart in my throat. For those of you who are worried by that though, don’t be. It does all work itself out so just enjoy the angsty ride. It’s well written and I honestly really loved how strongly this book affected my heart.

“I’ve had sex before – yes. Casual, meaningless, stupid sex… This,” he said motioning between us, “is not casual, it’s not stupid, and it sure as fuck is not meaningless…

I’m in love with you, Blake. I’ve been in love with you from the moment I saw you. I’ve been in love with you from the day I was born and possibly even before then. I belong to you. My body belongs to you. My heart belongs to you.”

**SWOOOOOOOOOOOON**

About the mystery part… I had SO many questions!! Endless questions!!! Questions upon questions upon questions!! I’m not usually ever into the mystery side of stories but I think that because of how everything was ‘connected’ and because of how strong the romance was, it kept me just as interested in the mystery as I was in the romance.

Luckily though, despite all the questions, we also get some answers. The book was full of little reveals and twists that pieced the story together. They gave me CHILLS. Shivers. Some I admit that I predicted, both others just took the rug riiiiiiiiight out from under me.

“I wish I didn’t have this strong urge to uncover my past, because with this comes devastation and sorrow that I’m not sure I’m strong enough to relive.”

I will say though that there were a few minor events/time jumps that I felt were glossed over in places. There were just a few and they weren’t serious enough lower my 5 star rating, but I did notice them.

Ok, and I’m going to say this about Cole and I’m not saying this lightly and I don’t mean that they’re like the same guy at all but… Cole kind of reminded me of Kellan in a certain way. They were very different characters but Cole made my heart flutter in a very Kellan-like manner. He gave me a lot of the same feelings and put me through some of similar emotions and I really just LOVED it!

I also loved that Cole and Blake had a history. I felt like it gave their relationship a lot more meaning because it was built on so many years of friendship and emotion. My heart just broke for their past. Absolutely broke!! There is no cheating but there is a period of time where they are both in other relationships – but don’t worry, those don’t last and honestly, weirdly enough, I understood the decisions they made even it made my heart just hurt at times.

I liked Blake as a heroine and I was totally into her story the whole way – no disconnect.

And I honestly just kept falling more and more in love with Cole with every page. He was just so protective and swoony with just a touch of manwhore but in that deliciously angsty way where you know that he’s just waiting the whole time for the love of his life to realize how crazy he is for her. He did make some mistakes but seriously, it was impossible not to fall for him. Hard.

The steam factor was high! It was hot but not overly descriptive. I’d consider it a New Adult level of steam. But it was the kind that you really “felt” because it took the time to establish your bond to the characters first.

“You’re the only one that matters… You’re the only one that fucking matters…. Only you… Always.”

The ending is a cliffhanger. A giant brutal cliffhanger that leaves you utterly DESPERATE for more.. but don’t worry!! This is part of a 2-book series and the second book is already out!!

Seriously, I promise you that if you start reading this, you will not be able to put it down! It had mystery that made my heart pound, romance that made my heart flutter, and angst that made my heart race.

I would HIGHLY recommend this book!! I absolutely loved it!!

5 stars!

hehe… one more time… I LOVE COLE!!!!!!!!!!!

ok. I’m done.

[rating]

My casting:

• Cole
• Blake

READING ORDER

Book #1

Buy THERE IS NO LIGHT IN DARKNESS (Kindle)
Buy THERE IS NO LIGHT IN DARKNESS (Paperback)

Book #2

Buy DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN (Kindle)
Buy DARKNESS BEFORE DARK (Paperback)