4.5/5 stars

Loved this 2-book series. ( )

I enjoyed this book more than the first, but I think it's because the mystery finally was solved.... eventually... and I was trying to piece it all together as I read, and it was just a LOT to take in! I'm so glad that was fiction... what a nightmare for anyone to have to live through! I've come away with a huge crush on Cole, but would like one more book (novella, maybe?) to wrap everything up. Maybe one several years down the road, just to see how the crazy family mess worked out... or at least to see if Dean ends up happy. I wanted to have a little crush on him too, even though he did what he did and is who he is, which then made me question what kind of person I am for having fake crushes on fictional criminals... but whatever. Don't judge me! ( )

This review is for the Darkness Series, because you can’t read one book without the other. It’s just not possible. Book One has a MAJOR cliffhanger, so have Book Two ready to go!

The series is:

There is No Light in Darkness (Darkness #1)
Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness #2)

First of all, well done Claire Contreras! This is an amazing debut! I expect great, great things from you in the future based on the talent you showed in these books!

On to the books.

This series focuses on Blake and her life. Her life has been crazy, to put it mildly. She has been through hell and pulled through. She has seen things no person should ever see. There are so many lies, half-truths and secrets surrounding her past, wading through it all is exhausting for the reader…but it’s also intriguing. Just when you think you have it figured out, BAM! Another twist. The guessing game goes on and on and on in this series. One thing I can say is don’t think you have it all figured out, because you don’t.



Despite all the crazy in Blake’s life, she is strong in many ways. Yes, she has her issues…anyone that had been through what she went through would, for sure! However, she is dealing with it all in a way that most people wouldn’t be able to. She is smart, strong and genuinely loves her people.

Now, let’s discuss Cole, shall we? *swoon* Cole has known Blake since she came to live with his foster mother when she was 13. Cole is amazing. Just amazing. He fell in love with Blake when he met her and has spent his entire life loving her. Sometimes from afar. She is his person and he knows it. He will never love anyone else the way he loves her, and wow, the way he loves her. It’s so damn sweet! Blake and Cole are that couple that is just meant to be. Everyone knows it. They are perfect for each other.

“Some of my friends that haven’t been around us have given me shit… because they don’t understand our relationship. They say it’s not normal, not healthy, and I get that, but we can’t change our past. We’re just two broken people in love trying to heal each other and despite everything, we don’t want to be with anybody else… When it comes to Blake, nobody else matters.” -Cole

Cole has a lot of things to deal with as well. He was abandoned as a child and there are all kinds of mysteries surrounding his past. Again, just when you think you have it figured out, I guarantee you don’t! Despite that, Cole never stops loving Blake. Not for one minute. He is lost when he is without her, and whole when they are together. He will do anything for her and loves her to the moon and back.

‘I have you now and neither one of us is going anywhere. I loved you then, I love you now, and I’ll love you always. You’ve always been it for me, Blake.’ – Cole

Bottom line, theirs is an amazing love story that makes any romantic swoon.

There are some amazing side players in the story as well. Aubry takes the cake as the best friend everyone wants. He is there for Cole and Blake, forever and ever, amen. He is supportive, caring, loving and funny. Everyone should have an Aubry in their lives! I loved that his character was so full of life and love.

One complaint I had when reading these books was the sheer number of characters and trying to figure out who they were, how they were related and what their story was. Holy overwhelming!!

“Can someone get a pen and paper and start drawing out the family tree’s and everyone’s connection to everyone else?” – Cole

My thoughts exactly!! There should have been a diagram outlining everyone and how they played into the story. It was SO much to keep track of! Especially since people’s names changed and there were nicknames…holy cow. Overwhelming.

I don’t want to go too much more into the books…you really just need to read them. Trust me.

And when you finish them, head over to Claire Contreras’ blog to read the amazing epilogue she wrote. It’s an awesome wrap-up to the series! ( )

Just when you thought their story couldn't get any better, it does. I fell in love with these characters from the first page of the first book. I was instantly hooked! Because it is such a well written story, you will always want more, but everything is answered in this book. I will warn you though, keep pen and paper handy. You will be introduced to so many new side players and they all weave together so beautifully it is hard to keep up :-) In fact, on of the characters in the book said exactly that. I laughed because I was JUST thinking it!

I cannot wait to see what CC comes out with next! I'll be first in line :-) ( )

REVIEW to come ,.... ( )