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The Darkness #1
Ahead of the Darkness
For six years, a letter has dictated Amelia's future. She's running from a past that refuses to let her go, always trying to keep one step ahead.
Don't stand out. Dont get to close. Lie, lie, lie.
She's clever and resilient, and refuses to slip up. Relying only on herself, she'll be anything and anyone she needs to hide.
Becoming Mia Green, and moving to her newest destination was simple, effortless. Like slipping into a uniform. Meeting Drew was anything but.
Don't stay in one place too long. Never be yourself, and do not, I repeat, do not fall in love.
But when the Scotsman with his own secrets pushes all her buttons, making cracks in her defences, slipping up seems inevitable. And staying ahead of the dark could become impossible.
Out of the Dark, the final conclusion out now.
Don't stand out. Dont get to close. Lie, lie, lie.
She's clever and resilient, and refuses to slip up. Relying only on herself, she'll be anything and anyone she needs to hide.
Becoming Mia Green, and moving to her newest destination was simple, effortless. Like slipping into a uniform. Meeting Drew was anything but.
Don't stay in one place too long. Never be yourself, and do not, I repeat, do not fall in love.
But when the Scotsman with his own secrets pushes all her buttons, making cracks in her defences, slipping up seems inevitable. And staying ahead of the dark could become impossible.
Out of the Dark, the final conclusion out now.
234 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2025
32 people are currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Simone Nicole
4 books76 followersSelf-confessed chocoholic and undiagnosed crazy person, Simone can be found climbing Himalayan mountaintops like a ninja, sky diving backwards and rubbing shoulders with billionaires. She is also full of crap, but can read backwards and upside down, the one plus of being dyslexic.
Simone loves all things Disney and alcoholic, and is rarely seen not reading, writing or wearing lipstick, usually of the red variety.
Simone loves all things Disney and alcoholic, and is rarely seen not reading, writing or wearing lipstick, usually of the red variety.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 31, 2016
Wow. Just wow! I'm so happy that I decided to give this book a chance!! From the blurb I was sure it's gonna be a heavy suspense story filled with drama and heartache .. BUT I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this book was anything but ..
The book start with Mia running from someone .. We don't know who it is for most of the book .. We only get little flashbacks here and there about what happened to her. Most of the book Focused on the love story between Mia & Drew .. *Sigh* the chemistry between them was explosive !!! No insta-love here people .. Yes. There was undying attraction from the start (and what a start it was lol .. BEST first meeting ever!! I laughed my ass off .. God!! Poor girl .. That was definitely embarrassing lol) .. They were just soo good together!
Drew is Scotty lol .. He has accent so sometimes I didn't understand what he was saying lol .. I was sure it's gonna bother me while reading, but I was so immersed in the story I really didn't pay too much attention to it lol .. Also, he's the owner of a bar .. I love books with this set up! The fact that Mia was AWSOME bartender really added to the story ..
He also has this rule of not dating the stuff so it has this forbbide allure and both of them 'trying' to fight their attraction was fun to watch ..
I really loved Mia !! She was so strong (ok, I must say that at the last 5% of the book I wanted to smack her on the head) but overall she was fun and strong and gave Drew a run for he's money lol ..
What I loved the most was Drew jealousy and possessiveness .. He was going crazy when someone was even talking to her!!! (Don't worry .. It's In a funny way, no creepy or too much .. Sometimes in books it's exaggerated and can put me off) .. But not Drew .. Every time he got jealous i couldn't stop smiling :D
Overall I really loved the book ! I really liked their banter and playfulness .. It's been a while since I had this butterflies while reading .. I was swooning constantly over Drew !! The secondary characters were fun and added a lot to the story .. The book end with a BANG! I have some unanswered questions and gosh!! This Damn cliffhanger !! I need the next book ASAP !!
READ THE BOOK PEOPLE ! You won't regret it ;)
The book start with Mia running from someone .. We don't know who it is for most of the book .. We only get little flashbacks here and there about what happened to her. Most of the book Focused on the love story between Mia & Drew .. *Sigh* the chemistry between them was explosive !!! No insta-love here people .. Yes. There was undying attraction from the start (and what a start it was lol .. BEST first meeting ever!! I laughed my ass off .. God!! Poor girl .. That was definitely embarrassing lol) .. They were just soo good together!
Drew is Scotty lol .. He has accent so sometimes I didn't understand what he was saying lol .. I was sure it's gonna bother me while reading, but I was so immersed in the story I really didn't pay too much attention to it lol .. Also, he's the owner of a bar .. I love books with this set up! The fact that Mia was AWSOME bartender really added to the story ..
He also has this rule of not dating the stuff so it has this forbbide allure and both of them 'trying' to fight their attraction was fun to watch ..
I really loved Mia !! She was so strong (ok, I must say that at the last 5% of the book I wanted to smack her on the head) but overall she was fun and strong and gave Drew a run for he's money lol ..
What I loved the most was Drew jealousy and possessiveness .. He was going crazy when someone was even talking to her!!! (Don't worry .. It's In a funny way, no creepy or too much .. Sometimes in books it's exaggerated and can put me off) .. But not Drew .. Every time he got jealous i couldn't stop smiling :D
Overall I really loved the book ! I really liked their banter and playfulness .. It's been a while since I had this butterflies while reading .. I was swooning constantly over Drew !! The secondary characters were fun and added a lot to the story .. The book end with a BANG! I have some unanswered questions and gosh!! This Damn cliffhanger !! I need the next book ASAP !!
READ THE BOOK PEOPLE ! You won't regret it ;)
December 13, 2015
Sorry I can't read this. The first sentence doesn't make any sense and that is rapidly followed by two additional problematic sentences in about four pages.
I’m sure hindsight is a wonderful thing, but no one seems to possess it.
That's the first line. What does that mean? Everyone has hindsight. That's sort of the whole point.
I read somewhere that in times of great pain one reverts inwardly to block out reality,
Again, what does that mean? That's some bad English right there. What is the author trying to say by sticking the words reverts and inwardly together? Maybe "one turns inward"? But you can't just stick two fancy words together and cross your fingers that they make sense.
It was your average shipping port town, of no great importance. That was the main reason I picked it; well that, and it was big enough for me to blend in but small enough not to stand out. He’d never find me here.
Again, huh? What do you mean small enough not to stand out? If it is small you are going to stand out more, just saying.
I am tired of forcing myself to read poorly written self published books.
I’m sure hindsight is a wonderful thing, but no one seems to possess it.
That's the first line. What does that mean? Everyone has hindsight. That's sort of the whole point.
I read somewhere that in times of great pain one reverts inwardly to block out reality,
Again, what does that mean? That's some bad English right there. What is the author trying to say by sticking the words reverts and inwardly together? Maybe "one turns inward"? But you can't just stick two fancy words together and cross your fingers that they make sense.
It was your average shipping port town, of no great importance. That was the main reason I picked it; well that, and it was big enough for me to blend in but small enough not to stand out. He’d never find me here.
Again, huh? What do you mean small enough not to stand out? If it is small you are going to stand out more, just saying.
I am tired of forcing myself to read poorly written self published books.
April 5, 2014
Drew is Scottish and says things like
“Ye said I cannae kiss ye. Ye dinnae say anything about pawing ye.”
and wore a Kilt in one scene. Means he is amazing.
The End.
Ok Ok
honestly besides the amazingness that is Drew this has a great storyline.
I'm not going to far into it as I don't want to spoil it!
When I read the synopsis, I was thinking that this was going to be a dark dark story.
While it was dark in places, it also made me swoon and giggle.
Neither character is perfect. They are both flawed and we get hints of Drew's demons but they remain unknown to us.
The same with Mia, we know she has the flight or fight instinct. In fact the reason she came to the town is she is running. from what? we don't know until later, but we see in small flashbacks.
This is not boy and girl fall in love, things get fixed, they get married have 7 billion kids and live HEA.
Yes their is a connection from the start, but the love story happens over time. They have a friendship first. Well a sexually charged friendship.
Mia starts to settle for the first time in her life, making friends, enjoying Drew and not pushing him away, (well basically cos he won't go!)
everything is going great. Drew is slowly breaking down her walls, and she is breaking down Drew's. That is until the Darkness of the past catches up with her.
You should be made aware that this is BOOK 1. so there is no HEA at the moment.
Good secondary characters, not that many that you are confused as who's who. and there is also the good bad 2nd characters. The ones we are supposed to hate.
Oh and did I mention hot HOT steamy sex scenes? Well I don't think I did. but I just did then. Drew is one Scot!
I for one will definitely be waiting impatiently for book 2! It has the damn words "summer 2014" so NO IDEA when that is!
The End.
Ok Ok
honestly besides the amazingness that is Drew this has a great storyline.
I'm not going to far into it as I don't want to spoil it!
When I read the synopsis, I was thinking that this was going to be a dark dark story.
While it was dark in places, it also made me swoon and giggle.
Neither character is perfect. They are both flawed and we get hints of Drew's demons but they remain unknown to us.
The same with Mia, we know she has the flight or fight instinct. In fact the reason she came to the town is she is running. from what? we don't know until later, but we see in small flashbacks.
This is not boy and girl fall in love, things get fixed, they get married have 7 billion kids and live HEA.
Yes their is a connection from the start, but the love story happens over time. They have a friendship first. Well a sexually charged friendship.
Mia starts to settle for the first time in her life, making friends, enjoying Drew and not pushing him away, (well basically cos he won't go!)
everything is going great. Drew is slowly breaking down her walls, and she is breaking down Drew's. That is until the Darkness of the past catches up with her.
You should be made aware that this is BOOK 1. so there is no HEA at the moment.
Good secondary characters, not that many that you are confused as who's who. and there is also the good bad 2nd characters. The ones we are supposed to hate.
Oh and did I mention hot HOT steamy sex scenes? Well I don't think I did. but I just did then. Drew is one Scot!
I for one will definitely be waiting impatiently for book 2! It has the damn words "summer 2014" so NO IDEA when that is!
April 6, 2014
Review to come.
February 15, 2015
I'm in love with a Scotsman! Drew is so sexy, sweet, charming, determined, understanding and that accent?? Woah! I need more of this man - NOW! Seriously, like.
This story sucked me in, there is a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding Mia and I found the suspense of the story was well played. By the end of the book I felt we'd only just scratched the surface of the torment she had endured over the years and it truly was heartbreaking - Devastatingly sad and brutal.
There was such a slow burn to the relationship between Mia and Drew (who I'm sure is hiding some secrets of his own) that you cannae help but fall in love with them both. Their awkwardness was adorable. There was a lot of sweetness and funny moments, as well as super hot sexy ones. And how can I not fall in love with a man that speaks like this?
"Aye, real cute, like. Dinnae mock me, woman. I'll go all Scot on yer arse and then ye'll be buggered, like."
This was a beautiful love story that was wonderfully told. There were many editorial errors (in particular, the comma placement drove me nuts!) but they weren't too major, no plot holes or anything like that. When the story-telling is THIS good it's easy enough to enjoy the book regardless. 4.5 stars.
This story sucked me in, there is a lot of mystery and intrigue surrounding Mia and I found the suspense of the story was well played. By the end of the book I felt we'd only just scratched the surface of the torment she had endured over the years and it truly was heartbreaking - Devastatingly sad and brutal.
There was such a slow burn to the relationship between Mia and Drew (who I'm sure is hiding some secrets of his own) that you cannae help but fall in love with them both. Their awkwardness was adorable. There was a lot of sweetness and funny moments, as well as super hot sexy ones. And how can I not fall in love with a man that speaks like this?
"Aye, real cute, like. Dinnae mock me, woman. I'll go all Scot on yer arse and then ye'll be buggered, like."
This was a beautiful love story that was wonderfully told. There were many editorial errors (in particular, the comma placement drove me nuts!) but they weren't too major, no plot holes or anything like that. When the story-telling is THIS good it's easy enough to enjoy the book regardless. 4.5 stars.
March 18, 2014
A sexy Scotsman, and a girl, Mia, running from her past. *Possible spoilers*
This was one I could not put down. The accent of Drew, said Scotsman, was so true to life, that I could hear his thick brogue accent in my head. But it isn't just his sense of humour, or his accent that has me ready to stalk the next man I find in a kilt (swoon), it was the way he accepted that Mia wasn't able to be forthcoming about her past, but he helped her overcome her fears.
Theres a lot of character growth throughout the book, and twists, I had a feeling were coming, but I wasn't quite ready for. It was very emotional at times (yes, tears), and I think Simone Nicole did a beautiful job in telling this story. Now I'm dying for the next instalment, because I cannae get enough of these two.
FAve line: "I've got ye." And he did.
This was one I could not put down. The accent of Drew, said Scotsman, was so true to life, that I could hear his thick brogue accent in my head. But it isn't just his sense of humour, or his accent that has me ready to stalk the next man I find in a kilt (swoon), it was the way he accepted that Mia wasn't able to be forthcoming about her past, but he helped her overcome her fears.
Theres a lot of character growth throughout the book, and twists, I had a feeling were coming, but I wasn't quite ready for. It was very emotional at times (yes, tears), and I think Simone Nicole did a beautiful job in telling this story. Now I'm dying for the next instalment, because I cannae get enough of these two.
FAve line: "I've got ye." And he did.
January 27, 2025
5⭐️
THIS BOOK! MY GOD, THIS BOOK.
Nicole absolutely nailed it with this one. From start to finish, I was hooked, and I’m being completely honest when I say this is an amazing read.
The writing is clean and flows beautifully, even though the written Scottish accent tripped me up at times. The main characters are incredibly well-developed and characterized, making them feel real and relatable. The pacing is perfect, balancing the details and keeping the story engaging throughout.
I was completely captivated by the mystery surrounding Mia. The way the author keeps you guessing until the very end is brilliant—it kept my mind occupied and invested.
Now, let’s talk about the best part: DREW.
What can I say about this man? He’s everything. One of the best MMCs I’ve ever come across. Whatever quality you’d want in a man, Drew has it and more.
Sweet? Check.
Sexy accent? Check.
Jealous? Oh yes.
Caring? Absolutely.
This book has it all. Highly recommend!
THIS BOOK! MY GOD, THIS BOOK.
Nicole absolutely nailed it with this one. From start to finish, I was hooked, and I’m being completely honest when I say this is an amazing read.
The writing is clean and flows beautifully, even though the written Scottish accent tripped me up at times. The main characters are incredibly well-developed and characterized, making them feel real and relatable. The pacing is perfect, balancing the details and keeping the story engaging throughout.
I was completely captivated by the mystery surrounding Mia. The way the author keeps you guessing until the very end is brilliant—it kept my mind occupied and invested.
Now, let’s talk about the best part: DREW.
What can I say about this man? He’s everything. One of the best MMCs I’ve ever come across. Whatever quality you’d want in a man, Drew has it and more.
Sweet? Check.
Sexy accent? Check.
Jealous? Oh yes.
Caring? Absolutely.
This book has it all. Highly recommend!
April 5, 2014
Where do I even start with Ahead of the Darkness, I 1clicked it the day it was released and I've had it sitting on my kindle since. I recently went to my first ever book signing where I met the author Simone Nicole and speaking to her, hearing how other readers and friends gushed about the story and the super sexy Scot Drew I finally picked it up on the plane home and started it.
I've got to be honest here, I'd been flat out with arc reviews for my page so hadn't had a chance before that, but that's only part of the reason, I read the blurb and it seemed dark, really dark, and I didn't feel like I was in the right mind frame to pick it up, but I can't tell you how happy I am that I did.
So what's it about? Amelia is on the run, from what or who we're not entirely sure, what we do know is that her past has crippled her, emotionally, mentally, it continues to cripple her, it stops her from living her life to the fullest. Enter the sexy Scot Drew, all alpha male, he gives her a sense of security Mia has never had before, he offers her friendship and support and see's past the darkness in her soul and helps her find the light.
Simone Nicole creates a band of misfits that help draw Amelia out of herself and into the land of the living. The tension between the two you can cut with a knife, but what I liked, no what I loved was this was no insta-love, the relationship between Drew and Amelia had time to build, it was seductive as all get out but it came about organically.
Ahead of the Darkness touched on some heavy subject matter, but what surprised me was how uplifting the story is. It gave me hope that with support you can overcome anything, that even in darkness there is light, a light that shines so brightly that if you let it, can turn your world technicolour.
Congratulations Simone Nicole on a stunning debut, if this is your starting point I can't wait to see what you do next.
Favorite Quote:
"I've got ye" and he did.
Drew & Mia's theme song:
Burning Bridges - One Republic
I've got to be honest here, I'd been flat out with arc reviews for my page so hadn't had a chance before that, but that's only part of the reason, I read the blurb and it seemed dark, really dark, and I didn't feel like I was in the right mind frame to pick it up, but I can't tell you how happy I am that I did.
So what's it about? Amelia is on the run, from what or who we're not entirely sure, what we do know is that her past has crippled her, emotionally, mentally, it continues to cripple her, it stops her from living her life to the fullest. Enter the sexy Scot Drew, all alpha male, he gives her a sense of security Mia has never had before, he offers her friendship and support and see's past the darkness in her soul and helps her find the light.
Simone Nicole creates a band of misfits that help draw Amelia out of herself and into the land of the living. The tension between the two you can cut with a knife, but what I liked, no what I loved was this was no insta-love, the relationship between Drew and Amelia had time to build, it was seductive as all get out but it came about organically.
Ahead of the Darkness touched on some heavy subject matter, but what surprised me was how uplifting the story is. It gave me hope that with support you can overcome anything, that even in darkness there is light, a light that shines so brightly that if you let it, can turn your world technicolour.
Congratulations Simone Nicole on a stunning debut, if this is your starting point I can't wait to see what you do next.
Favorite Quote:
"I've got ye" and he did.
Drew & Mia's theme song:
Burning Bridges - One Republic
March 17, 2014
Mia is running from someone. At the beginning of Ahead of the Darkness she's settling in to a new life in a small town in England. She's closed up tight about revealing anything about herself. She suffers flashbacks and she's afraid of so many things. She finds the local gym and falls flat on her face while on the treadmill when she meets Drew, a tall, good looking Scotsman. Hello! I love these awkward, clumsy kind of meetings. But Mia doesn't stick around long since she's thoroughly embarrassed.
Not to worry. She runs into Drew again when she goes out to a nightclub and he's tending bar. After a much longer and even more embarrassing night with Drew she finds herself with a job. Drew is a bartender short and Mia wows him with her skills.
The sexual attraction is strong between these two but Drew has a hands off policy concerning the employees. The more Mia gets to know Drew, and she runs into him often, the more she realizes he has his own secrets. And he runs so hot and cold he leaves her confused. He's possessive of her, he likes to spend time with her, and he's helping her overcome her fears. But he's yet to make a move.
I liked the characters. There were a few moments that made me laugh out loud. The Star Wars references were cute and Drew singing karaoke was priceless. Nicole did a great job creating and prolonging the sexual tension that when it finally happened I had to fan myself. It was hawt! She did a great job inserting the flashbacks at the right times to keep me guessing as to what/who Mia was running from.
But, I thought around the halfway point it started to get a bit monotonous. Nothing was really happening and the story wasn't really progressing. Then there was a lot going on in the final scene and it left me slightly confused. A few questions were left unanswered and the book left off on a cliffhanger.
Overall I thought Nicole's debut book was pretty solid. I will be reading more from her.
Not to worry. She runs into Drew again when she goes out to a nightclub and he's tending bar. After a much longer and even more embarrassing night with Drew she finds herself with a job. Drew is a bartender short and Mia wows him with her skills.
The sexual attraction is strong between these two but Drew has a hands off policy concerning the employees. The more Mia gets to know Drew, and she runs into him often, the more she realizes he has his own secrets. And he runs so hot and cold he leaves her confused. He's possessive of her, he likes to spend time with her, and he's helping her overcome her fears. But he's yet to make a move.
I liked the characters. There were a few moments that made me laugh out loud. The Star Wars references were cute and Drew singing karaoke was priceless. Nicole did a great job creating and prolonging the sexual tension that when it finally happened I had to fan myself. It was hawt! She did a great job inserting the flashbacks at the right times to keep me guessing as to what/who Mia was running from.
But, I thought around the halfway point it started to get a bit monotonous. Nothing was really happening and the story wasn't really progressing. Then there was a lot going on in the final scene and it left me slightly confused. A few questions were left unanswered and the book left off on a cliffhanger.
Overall I thought Nicole's debut book was pretty solid. I will be reading more from her.
March 31, 2014
3.5 Stars!
I'm sorta torn whether or not to rate it a 3 or 4 since goodreads still doesn't have a .5 rating system (GET ON IT!), but for now I'll put a 3.
I enjoyed this story. It wasn't the most fascinating story ever, but it's certainly better than a lot of the books I've been picking up and not bothering to finish. You have your two main characters Drew and Lia who I'd say are pretty likable. Lia can be frustratingly closed off at times, but it's understandable due to her background. Other than that, She's just your average girl that wants to pass through life rather than live it, but come on. We all know that never works out for protagonists in books. As for Drew, he is likable because he's hilarious, caring, and that person who pushes you to your limits for the better. OH YEAH, and sexy. Can't forget that.
The romance and erotica was nice. The romance was very sweet and the erotica was steamy, my only minor complaint is that I felt that there was a tiny tiny bit more lust in this relationship than romance. Like 48% romance and 52% lust. AGAIN, extremely minor and definitely not enough for this to be your "romance" novel that's more sex than love. You definitely get enough scenes between two where the romantic chemistry is evident.
I think my only biggest complaint is the questions that are still unanswered and where the story ended. I know that there will be a second book so these two problems will be resolved, but it still bothers me just a bit. For the unanswered questions, I know novels in a series never give all their secrets away, but I feel that Lia's family history is an essential need-to-know-in-the-first-book deal. While we get bits and pieces that are enough to come up with our own conclusion, getting it out in the open would be nice in case anyone had other interpretations. As for where the story it ended, it was good in that it forces you to want to read the net story, but it also felt abrupt (at least to me). I'm not saying an entire chapter needs to be added, just add onto the scene so it feels less like we were cut off from the beginning of the scene.
Overall, this story was enjoyable. If you want a story that you're not expecting to blow your mind but also not suck eggs, this novel is ideal. A nice believable romance, hot steamy sex scenes here and there, and a sexy Scottish man make this romance novel a worthy read. That being said, I'm curious to see what happens next in the story.
I'm sorta torn whether or not to rate it a 3 or 4 since goodreads still doesn't have a .5 rating system (GET ON IT!), but for now I'll put a 3.
I enjoyed this story. It wasn't the most fascinating story ever, but it's certainly better than a lot of the books I've been picking up and not bothering to finish. You have your two main characters Drew and Lia who I'd say are pretty likable. Lia can be frustratingly closed off at times, but it's understandable due to her background. Other than that, She's just your average girl that wants to pass through life rather than live it, but come on. We all know that never works out for protagonists in books. As for Drew, he is likable because he's hilarious, caring, and that person who pushes you to your limits for the better. OH YEAH, and sexy. Can't forget that.
The romance and erotica was nice. The romance was very sweet and the erotica was steamy, my only minor complaint is that I felt that there was a tiny tiny bit more lust in this relationship than romance. Like 48% romance and 52% lust. AGAIN, extremely minor and definitely not enough for this to be your "romance" novel that's more sex than love. You definitely get enough scenes between two where the romantic chemistry is evident.
I think my only biggest complaint is the questions that are still unanswered and where the story ended. I know that there will be a second book so these two problems will be resolved, but it still bothers me just a bit. For the unanswered questions, I know novels in a series never give all their secrets away, but I feel that Lia's family history is an essential need-to-know-in-the-first-book deal. While we get bits and pieces that are enough to come up with our own conclusion, getting it out in the open would be nice in case anyone had other interpretations. As for where the story it ended, it was good in that it forces you to want to read the net story, but it also felt abrupt (at least to me). I'm not saying an entire chapter needs to be added, just add onto the scene so it feels less like we were cut off from the beginning of the scene.
Overall, this story was enjoyable. If you want a story that you're not expecting to blow your mind but also not suck eggs, this novel is ideal. A nice believable romance, hot steamy sex scenes here and there, and a sexy Scottish man make this romance novel a worthy read. That being said, I'm curious to see what happens next in the story.
April 11, 2014
Mia is on the run from her past. Hunted for the past six years, she doesn’t stay in one place very long, and changes her identity with each new location. She works jobs that pay cash to get by, until the next place she hides out in the open. Mia refuses to let anyone know the truth or form any real relationships. The result is a very lonely existence. And that loneliness is not just about companionship– Mia is alone with her fear, her sorrow and her secrets.
I really liked the way Simone Nicole handled this part of the storyline. I’ve read way too many books where the main character holds onto secrets of their past, and *YAWN* runs before anyone can figure it out. Usually something lame like– I’m poor. Or I’m unlovable. Or ______ <– insert zero self-esteem reason here.
Not so in this book. For Mia, keeping secrets is not just about protecting herself while on the run… every single person she’s loved has been killed by the very person who is after her.
Drew has a past of his own and recognizes almost immediately that Mia is hiding something, but he doesn’t push her. Their relationship slowly builds, and for the first time in so many years, Mia follows her heart. She lets herself wonder and feel and oh God, does this woman deserve some happiness.
The chemistry between Drew and Mia is crazy good! I also loved the pace, realistic dialogue and I LOVE ME SOME JULES!!! Jules works at the same bar as Mia. He’s hot, funny as hell and is the cause of Possessive Drew. Yeah, I wrote that as a proper noun.
At one point while reading Ahead of the Darkness I realized that every single thing Drew said had me swooning. I can honestly say that’s never happened before. Drew is hilarious, has a killer accent and isn’t afraid to call Mia out on her crap. He’s also quiet. Reserved. And he watches. Again, I loved the way Simone built his character. It allows the reader to wonder– what’s he thinking? What will he do about this? And before long, we know…
There’s nothing or no one who will hurt his girl.
I really liked the way Simone Nicole handled this part of the storyline. I’ve read way too many books where the main character holds onto secrets of their past, and *YAWN* runs before anyone can figure it out. Usually something lame like– I’m poor. Or I’m unlovable. Or ______ <– insert zero self-esteem reason here.
Not so in this book. For Mia, keeping secrets is not just about protecting herself while on the run… every single person she’s loved has been killed by the very person who is after her.
Drew has a past of his own and recognizes almost immediately that Mia is hiding something, but he doesn’t push her. Their relationship slowly builds, and for the first time in so many years, Mia follows her heart. She lets herself wonder and feel and oh God, does this woman deserve some happiness.
The chemistry between Drew and Mia is crazy good! I also loved the pace, realistic dialogue and I LOVE ME SOME JULES!!! Jules works at the same bar as Mia. He’s hot, funny as hell and is the cause of Possessive Drew. Yeah, I wrote that as a proper noun.
At one point while reading Ahead of the Darkness I realized that every single thing Drew said had me swooning. I can honestly say that’s never happened before. Drew is hilarious, has a killer accent and isn’t afraid to call Mia out on her crap. He’s also quiet. Reserved. And he watches. Again, I loved the way Simone built his character. It allows the reader to wonder– what’s he thinking? What will he do about this? And before long, we know…
There’s nothing or no one who will hurt his girl.
August 19, 2015
I've had this book for ages, since the day it was released actually, and JUST now got to it. I'm so glad I finally read this!
I'm not going to go through telling another summary of the book. That's what the synopsis is for, not reviews. This book has a little of everything. It's got humor, sad moments, dramatic flair ... Just a good mixture of emotional nuances to make you feel it all. Drew is sexy, sweet and funny. Mia is a bit frustrating but it's pretty understandable why she is so closed off and fights any kind of real connection to people. There were some times where it seemed a bit repetitive but nothing to make me like it less or skip over any parts. The sexual tension between Drew and Mia is nearly tangible and smoking hot.
****WARNING: This does end in a cliffy BUT the conclusion has been released so you don't have to wait to finish the story.****
All in all, it was a a great debut novel and something for Simone to be proud of. I was engaged the entire time and I never wanted to put it down.
I'm not going to go through telling another summary of the book. That's what the synopsis is for, not reviews. This book has a little of everything. It's got humor, sad moments, dramatic flair ... Just a good mixture of emotional nuances to make you feel it all. Drew is sexy, sweet and funny. Mia is a bit frustrating but it's pretty understandable why she is so closed off and fights any kind of real connection to people. There were some times where it seemed a bit repetitive but nothing to make me like it less or skip over any parts. The sexual tension between Drew and Mia is nearly tangible and smoking hot.
****WARNING: This does end in a cliffy BUT the conclusion has been released so you don't have to wait to finish the story.****
All in all, it was a a great debut novel and something for Simone to be proud of. I was engaged the entire time and I never wanted to put it down.
September 9, 2016
A girl on the run, Amelia, or Mia as she prefers to be called, has been on the run for most of her life. She recently moved to a town in England. She shows up as a transfer student and is just settling in when she has a run in with a sexy Scottish man.
This is a dark story with many twists and turns, and it works. I love the way there is mystery in who is chasing Mia until just the right moment. The heat between Mia and Drew is tangible. She didn't have them give in at the first moment possible, but drew it out until it was the right time, making the moment perfect. Their relationship was believable. They developed trust and a friendship first, before they became more. I really liked both Mia and Drew. Though his accent was difficult to read at times and sometimes kept me from really getting into the scene at hand, but the more I read the book the easier it was.
This is a story about a girl overcoming all odds to be free of her past. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat!
This is a dark story with many twists and turns, and it works. I love the way there is mystery in who is chasing Mia until just the right moment. The heat between Mia and Drew is tangible. She didn't have them give in at the first moment possible, but drew it out until it was the right time, making the moment perfect. Their relationship was believable. They developed trust and a friendship first, before they became more. I really liked both Mia and Drew. Though his accent was difficult to read at times and sometimes kept me from really getting into the scene at hand, but the more I read the book the easier it was.
This is a story about a girl overcoming all odds to be free of her past. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat!
March 29, 2014
I love this book, and yes I can admit that it is mainly because of Drew. I mean, come on! WHO doesn't want to"fall" for a sexy Scot that can make you sizzle and burn with that accent? I like Mia, too, and her story is intriguing. She wants to be tough, believes that she has the strengthen to keep him at a distance, but truly that man is her kryptonite.... or maybe it's his voice... nah, it's his body....wait maybe it's his dominating attitude, which seems to weaken where Mia is concerned. For real, it's everything about him. More than my lust for the Scot-god, I need to know what the hell Mia's father's effn problem is, like now! Great debut novel, Simone! I loved it and I'm ready for more.
April 23, 2014
This is the story of Amelia, a young woman running away from her past. She has been very clever to stay just that one step ahead, Changing her name & appearance. She only relied on herself.
Until she met Drew, a very gorgeous Scotsman. There is an instant attraction, but She knows that nothing can happen. Drew recognizes her as a kindred spirit. He wants to get to know the real her and protect her from the nightmare of her past.
The story that unfolds is tense & exciting & extremely HOT.
I liked Amelia & felt so sorry for the way she has had to live her life.
Drew is absolutely gorgeous. I could hear his Scottish accent.
I thought this was a great read & I am so looking forward to #2
Until she met Drew, a very gorgeous Scotsman. There is an instant attraction, but She knows that nothing can happen. Drew recognizes her as a kindred spirit. He wants to get to know the real her and protect her from the nightmare of her past.
The story that unfolds is tense & exciting & extremely HOT.
I liked Amelia & felt so sorry for the way she has had to live her life.
Drew is absolutely gorgeous. I could hear his Scottish accent.
I thought this was a great read & I am so looking forward to #2
September 16, 2014
I enjoyed the story of Mia and Drew. Drew's brogue threw me for a while until I became accustomed to it. Drew is definitely swoonworthy and is trying his hardest to be there for Mia, even though she's resistant to letting someone in.
There were a few typographical errors and occasionally felt like a word or two was dropped in a sentence. It is a solid first book and I will pick up the second when it's released.
There were a few typographical errors and occasionally felt like a word or two was dropped in a sentence. It is a solid first book and I will pick up the second when it's released.
Want to read
December 1, 2013I can NOT wait to read this one!!!!!!
A book that instantly gives me goosebumps reading the Synopsis! I need it now!
A book that instantly gives me goosebumps reading the Synopsis! I need it now!
April 5, 2014
I'm trying to gather my thoughts and figure out how to begin this review. Ahead of the Darkness was very different from what I expected and well, just different all around. BUT, different in a good way. A very good way. I found myself immersed in the story quickly and thoroughly enjoyed Simone Nicole's writing style. I've been finding myself bored as of late. I blame my choices in books or maybe genre or maybe it's just me. I don't know what's caused this I only know that Simone Nicole lifted my spirits and engaged my brain. I feel rejuvenated and enlightened. There are good stories out there being told and we just need to give these new authors a chance.
This particular story is about a young woman on the run. From what we can tell Amelia has been running for a very long time. It does take quite a while to get the bits and pieces of her story out, however I appreciated that. It definitely leads to the suspense. Why is she running? From whom? What's going to happen if she's caught? As it turns out Amelia or Mia as she now goes by, ends up in a small town called Seaford. Mia has spent many years trying to blend in. She doesn't do exciting. She doesn't really live at all. She's too busy hiding and trying not to make attachments.
Still, I always wish I'd make a different choice, take a different path, be stronger somehow. Now I just keep praying that it's all a bad dream and any second now I'll wake up, for real this time. Please, wake up.
Drew is a Scotsman. He owns a bar. He works out. In fact he meets Mia at the gym. I was immediately taken with Drew. I loved how the author wrote his dialogue. I could hear him in my head and it was delicious. It didn't even matter that sometimes I had no clue what he was saying. I understood enough. Mia helped with her description of him oh wait that was the author too. I was so enthralled with this man that I almost forgot Mia was on the run. The sexual tension between the two of them was hot. I had butterflies!! Been a long time since a book gave me butterflies. And when they finally do get together, I don't know how it's possible but I was even more in LUST with Drew.
"Ye left me sleeping, and I woke late." Oh, oops. "I cannae work smelling like ye, now can I? Ye were all over me when I woke. I could smell ye on my skin, my hair." He breathed me in. His nose grazed my neck as he pulled back. My eyes fluttered closed, and then burst open.
Sigh......
*ahem* oh yea um where was I? Oh right the review! This book was so much more though than sexual tension and a sexy Scot! Although....no seriously, for whatever reason the connections Mia makes in this small town are more meaningful than ever before. She finds herself opening up more and more and it scares her. Some of my favorite parts of the story were when she interacted with Jules. I loved his character, he was flirty and fun and added some "light" to this otherwise heavy story. Jules and Drew together were downright hilarious at times.
"Ye dirty bastard. Ye best not smell of sex, ye wee prick, or I'll have to hose ye down."
Despite the reason Mia is running, this story is a story about family. We don't always get to choose who we're related to but we do get to choose who we surround our self with. Mia despite her best efforts, has surrounded herself with people who care about her and they care about each other. These interactions are crucial and the catalyst for the decisions she makes throughout the story.
One of my favorite parts of the book, and there are many, is when it occurs to Mia that Drew is Scottish and so that could mean he may own a kilt.
"You have a kilt?"
"Aye..."
"Upstairs?" Please say yes, please say yes!
"Nope, I'm nae putting it on. So ye can stop looking at me like I'm hiding ye Christmas presents."
He totally had a kilt and let me just say, the following scene was HOT! If only I had pictures!
This story is not all smiles and laughter. Not at all, it's an emotional, dark story about a girl on the run. The humor just adds some levity. There were some confusing sentences and timeline issues that I had but the story itself is so good that I couldn't even bring myself to take anything away from the rating. I hope that everyone reads this book. Oh and the end!!! Hmmm....I was yelling at my kindle. My husband was alarmed, he thought I got bad news. Well I did!! And that my friends means it does end in a cliffhanger. Do not let this deter you! Read it, it's an amazing debut!
*A copy of this book was kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
September 6, 2024
I need to add a proper review once I get caught up on sleep. For now I can say - read it. You won't regret it. And I NEED to read the 2nd ASAP.
August 15, 2014
*****5- That. Was. WICKED! -Stars*****
~this review may contain minor spoilers~
Home. I knew the word, could spell the word, possibly define it, but have never known it.
Where has this author been all my life?!
That was friggin awesome, amazing, wicked, Gah- I could go on and on. Fair warning, this is gonna be one of my gushy reviews, I just can't help it- I loved this book that much and there was sooo much to love about it.
~the story which keeps you enraptured and guessing right from the beginning.
~the characters, all of them, were AhFrigginMazing- both the good and the bad, they held your attention in a vice grip keeping you from putting this book down even for a minute.
~the chemistry between Drew & Mia was Off. The. Charts! And can I get a Hell Yeah for the hott ass, kilt owning, funny as shit Scotsman?!
Just pure brilliance with a dark undertone. Now, on to my review which admittedly will be pretty short in comparison to my previous raving. This is one of those books that you just have to take as it comes in order to truly appreciate the story. Sooo, I'm just gonna lay out the basics.
I'd lost all sense of time. Trapped in hell, my own personal nightmare, the very one that's been haunting me for at least six years now, has become my reality. The dreams only got worse the longer I stayed in one place, varying slightly, but always ended with me waking up, heart bursting out of my chest, in a sickly, cold sweat, constantly needing to move and restart the cycle. That was my life, on a deadline.
Amelia (Mia) has been on the run for the last six years, from a past that won't let go, a past that will destroy her should it ever catch up to her. Moving around, changing her name and appearance, never getting too comfortable or letting her guard down, this is all she knows and the latest town she has landed in will be no different- just a pit stop til she's forced to move on yet again. This is why she doesn't allow herself to get too close to anyone, it's easier to leave everything behind when the time comes if she doesn't feel anything for anyone. And this plan has worked just fine for the last six years, til Tall-Dark-and Scottish strolls into her life and knocks her on her ass... literally.
I couldn't think clearly when I was around him if our limited past experience was anything to go by. On minute I would be more turned on than I had ever been, the next, frustrated beyond comprehension. The smart thing would have been to walk away, leave it alone, but no, I had to start working for the hot Scotsman.
Drew McKinley gets under Mia's skin like no other- annoying the hell outta her one minute,, turning her on beyond control the next. He's forcing her to feel things she hasn't felt in years and she doesn't know what to do about it. The smart thing would be to avoid him at all costs, but she works for the guy and he keeps popping up everywhere she turns. Even with his rule of 'No relationships at work' these two find the pull to one another hard to resist. But can Mia let her guard down and allow Drew to get close to her when doing so puts him in danger? Besides, whats the point when she'll be forced to leave again? She can't stay forever, she has no choice in the matter, she has to stay one step ahead of her very dark past... but everyone slips up eventually.
“Ye rather jumpy, did ye know that?” No shit Sherlock.
“No more than any other normal person. You just have an uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere and often seem to get your jollies scaring the bejesus out of me.”
“I cannae lie, it's a wee bit funny.” I wondered if he knew the reason I was so on edge all the time how funny he'd find it then. It was almost worth telling him; I bet he'd feel like a real asre.
Signing up for the blog tour turned out to be a damn luck day for me-I am over the moon happy that this book and this author were brought into my life. Now comes the hard part- the agonizing wait for the next book! I will be stalking Ms. Simone Nicole's FB page on a regular basis until the next book comes out, I'm climbing the walls already and it's only been a few days since I finished this one. I cannot say this enough, Read. This. Book. Now, I am going to leave you with a little bit of Drew & Mia just cause these two were awesome together in sooo many ways.
“Aye, real cute, like. Dinnae mock me, woman. I'll go all Scot on yer arse, and then ye'll be buggered, like.” I laughed at how wrong that sentence was, and shook my head at him.
Check out my FULL Blog Post @ Bookworm Betties
Happy Reading xo Jenn
August 15, 2014
*****5- That. Was. WICKED! -Stars*****
~this review may contain minor spoilers~
Home. I knew the word, could spell the word, possibly define it, but have never known it.
Where has this author been all my life?!
That was friggin awesome, amazing, wicked, Gah- I could go on and on. Fair warning, this is gonna be one of my gushy reviews, I just can't help it- I loved this book that much and there was sooo much to love about it.
~the story which keeps you enraptured and guessing right from the beginning.
~the characters, all of them, were AhFrigginMazing- both the good and the bad, they held your attention in a vice grip keeping you from putting this book down even for a minute.
~the chemistry between Drew & Mia was Off. The. Charts! And can I get a Hell Yeah for the hott ass, kilt owning, funny as shit Scotsman?!
Just pure brilliance with a dark undertone. Now, on to my review which admittedly will be pretty short in comparison to my previous raving. This is one of those books that you just have to take as it comes in order to truly appreciate the story. Sooo, I'm just gonna lay out the basics.
I'd lost all sense of time. Trapped in hell, my own personal nightmare, the very one that's been haunting me for at least six years now, has become my reality. The dreams only got worse the longer I stayed in one place, varying slightly, but always ended with me waking up, heart bursting out of my chest, in a sickly, cold sweat, constantly needing to move and restart the cycle. That was my life, on a deadline.
Amelia (Mia) has been on the run for the last six years, from a past that won't let go, a past that will destroy her should it ever catch up to her. Moving around, changing her name and appearance, never getting too comfortable or letting her guard down, this is all she knows and the latest town she has landed in will be no different- just a pit stop til she's forced to move on yet again. This is why she doesn't allow herself to get too close to anyone, it's easier to leave everything behind when the time comes if she doesn't feel anything for anyone. And this plan has worked just fine for the last six years, til Tall-Dark-and Scottish strolls into her life and knocks her on her ass... literally.
I couldn't think clearly when I was around him if our limited past experience was anything to go by. On minute I would be more turned on than I had ever been, the next, frustrated beyond comprehension. The smart thing would have been to walk away, leave it alone, but no, I had to start working for the hot Scotsman.
Drew McKinley gets under Mia's skin like no other- annoying the hell outta her one minute,, turning her on beyond control the next. He's forcing her to feel things she hasn't felt in years and she doesn't know what to do about it. The smart thing would be to avoid him at all costs, but she works for the guy and he keeps popping up everywhere she turns. Even with his rule of 'No relationships at work' these two find the pull to one another hard to resist. But can Mia let her guard down and allow Drew to get close to her when doing so puts him in danger? Besides, whats the point when she'll be forced to leave again? She can't stay forever, she has no choice in the matter, she has to stay one step ahead of her very dark past... but everyone slips up eventually.
“Ye rather jumpy, did ye know that?” No shit Sherlock.
“No more than any other normal person. You just have an uncanny ability to appear out of nowhere and often seem to get your jollies scaring the bejesus out of me.”
“I cannae lie, it's a wee bit funny.” I wondered if he knew the reason I was so on edge all the time how funny he'd find it then. It was almost worth telling him; I bet he'd feel like a real asre.
Signing up for the blog tour turned out to be a damn luck day for me-I am over the moon happy that this book and this author were brought into my life. Now comes the hard part- the agonizing wait for the next book! I will be stalking Ms. Simone Nicole's FB page on a regular basis until the next book comes out, I'm climbing the walls already and it's only been a few days since I finished this one. I cannot say this enough, Read. This. Book. Now, I am going to leave you with a little bit of Drew & Mia just cause these two were awesome together in sooo many ways.
“Aye, real cute, like. Dinnae mock me, woman. I'll go all Scot on yer arse, and then ye'll be buggered, like.” I laughed at how wrong that sentence was, and shook my head at him.
Check out my FULL Blog Post @ Bookworm Betties
Happy Reading xo Jenn
April 18, 2014
Complimentary copy given by the author in exchange for an honest review
I have to say that this book really took my breath away on more than one occasion. There is a lot of mystery, drama, laugh-out-loud moments and, of course, a wonderful romance. But before I really start my review, I have to warn the "cliffhanger haters": yes, there is one...I must have said this a hundred times: I do not mind cliffhangers! But I know that many readers do, though, so I thought it best to tell you.
Right, now that that is settled: here is my review. The story is told solely from Amelia's (MIA) point of view. You know from the beginning that she has plenty of secrets and that she is doing her best to not show her true self to anyone. She never stays in one place for long, and she constantly changes her appearance. Sounds intriguing, eh?
This time, Mia finds herself in a small, English town and renting a room at an older woman, Anne's place. She sets out to get acquainted with the town gym where she meets this VERY gorgeous, yet incredibly annoying Scotsman - and oh, how I laughed! You know how I hate giving you any spoilers, but let me just say that this particular first meeting? It must be one of best I have ever read!
Now, later that evening, Mia wants to have a bit of fun and she finds the town's best club called "Cascade". And who do you think she meets? Right, the very same Scot who she had the (mis)fortune to meet earlier. Drew is his name and he happens to be the owner of the club.
The synopsis of the book makes you think that it is a romantic suspense, and I would agree with that sentiment to a certain extent. However, I am more of the opinion that the main story centres on how Mia and Drew slowly get to know each other, letting you really get to experience their budding romance from first row. I love the fact that Miss Nicole does not make these character fall head-first in love with each other - I am not a fan of "insta-love" in the books I read because it does not feel realistic to me - and seeing how Mia slowly lets down her walls was a real joy to me.
I had absolutely no issues with Mia: I think that she is a very likeable character. She is strong, feisty, and clever. She has had to overcome a great deal in her young life, and I certainly do not begrudge her for choosing to run whenever she is threatened.
As for Drew...well, who can resist a hot, successful, funny Scotsman? I, for one, have never been able to, and I feel the same way about this one. Drew has many traits that I admire: cheeky - in a loveable way, of course - caring, and confident. I enjoyed how well he handled Mia in many situations, and his non-judgmental observations about her sometimes rather peculiar behaviour makes him a perfect book boyfriend. (Though I admit that his patience is very remarkable!)
I cannot write this review without mentioning the absolutely delightful banter Mia and Drew share. Honestly, it is amazing! They just...well, click. They fit together like pieces to a puzzle. There is no other way I can describe it without spoiling the book for you, and you already know that I hate doing that. Just read it and find out for yourself...
The only reason I am not giving the book a higher rating is, strangely enough, because of Drew: although he IS a wonderful character, I just feel that we do not get that much information about his past - apart from two very important facts - and that makes him just a bit too mysterious to me. I am not saying that I want his entire life story in the first installment of the series, not at all! But a bit more would have been more satisfactory, at least to me, and I hope we get to know him better in the future.
The way Miss Nicole writes truly grabbed me right from the beginning. I love her descriptions of what she wants her readers to see in certain scenes - too many authors no longer do this, to my everlasting regret - and her characters, including the secondary ones, are believable: they are all flawed, but that is what makes them seem so real! And you know how highly I value this in my books. I would also like to add that the pacing of the story is perfect: not too slow, not too fast. Just: perfect.
There you have it: my honest review of a wonderful romance with a touch of mystery to go along with it. The epilogue has left me with quite a book hangover, and I am anxiously - and impatiently, I might add - awaiting the next book in the series.
I have to say that this book really took my breath away on more than one occasion. There is a lot of mystery, drama, laugh-out-loud moments and, of course, a wonderful romance. But before I really start my review, I have to warn the "cliffhanger haters": yes, there is one...I must have said this a hundred times: I do not mind cliffhangers! But I know that many readers do, though, so I thought it best to tell you.
Right, now that that is settled: here is my review. The story is told solely from Amelia's (MIA) point of view. You know from the beginning that she has plenty of secrets and that she is doing her best to not show her true self to anyone. She never stays in one place for long, and she constantly changes her appearance. Sounds intriguing, eh?
This time, Mia finds herself in a small, English town and renting a room at an older woman, Anne's place. She sets out to get acquainted with the town gym where she meets this VERY gorgeous, yet incredibly annoying Scotsman - and oh, how I laughed! You know how I hate giving you any spoilers, but let me just say that this particular first meeting? It must be one of best I have ever read!
Now, later that evening, Mia wants to have a bit of fun and she finds the town's best club called "Cascade". And who do you think she meets? Right, the very same Scot who she had the (mis)fortune to meet earlier. Drew is his name and he happens to be the owner of the club.
The synopsis of the book makes you think that it is a romantic suspense, and I would agree with that sentiment to a certain extent. However, I am more of the opinion that the main story centres on how Mia and Drew slowly get to know each other, letting you really get to experience their budding romance from first row. I love the fact that Miss Nicole does not make these character fall head-first in love with each other - I am not a fan of "insta-love" in the books I read because it does not feel realistic to me - and seeing how Mia slowly lets down her walls was a real joy to me.
I had absolutely no issues with Mia: I think that she is a very likeable character. She is strong, feisty, and clever. She has had to overcome a great deal in her young life, and I certainly do not begrudge her for choosing to run whenever she is threatened.
As for Drew...well, who can resist a hot, successful, funny Scotsman? I, for one, have never been able to, and I feel the same way about this one. Drew has many traits that I admire: cheeky - in a loveable way, of course - caring, and confident. I enjoyed how well he handled Mia in many situations, and his non-judgmental observations about her sometimes rather peculiar behaviour makes him a perfect book boyfriend. (Though I admit that his patience is very remarkable!)
I cannot write this review without mentioning the absolutely delightful banter Mia and Drew share. Honestly, it is amazing! They just...well, click. They fit together like pieces to a puzzle. There is no other way I can describe it without spoiling the book for you, and you already know that I hate doing that. Just read it and find out for yourself...
The only reason I am not giving the book a higher rating is, strangely enough, because of Drew: although he IS a wonderful character, I just feel that we do not get that much information about his past - apart from two very important facts - and that makes him just a bit too mysterious to me. I am not saying that I want his entire life story in the first installment of the series, not at all! But a bit more would have been more satisfactory, at least to me, and I hope we get to know him better in the future.
The way Miss Nicole writes truly grabbed me right from the beginning. I love her descriptions of what she wants her readers to see in certain scenes - too many authors no longer do this, to my everlasting regret - and her characters, including the secondary ones, are believable: they are all flawed, but that is what makes them seem so real! And you know how highly I value this in my books. I would also like to add that the pacing of the story is perfect: not too slow, not too fast. Just: perfect.
There you have it: my honest review of a wonderful romance with a touch of mystery to go along with it. The epilogue has left me with quite a book hangover, and I am anxiously - and impatiently, I might add - awaiting the next book in the series.
August 8, 2014
Ok, so the author of Ahead of the Darkness, Simone Nicole, is someone I actually met via my author fanpage on Facebook. She’s a big fan of my Demon Legacy series, and over time, we have connected online and become e-buddies (that sounds so cheesy lol). Well, we were talking about my upcoming release when somewhere in conversation, I found out that she had actually published a book of her own a few months back. She gifted me a copy, not for review, just to read, and I started reading it right away. Unfortunately, life got in the way and I had to put it down.
Well, yesterday morning, I picked it back up and started reading……and kept reading……and kept reading. I didn’t stop until I was finished and when I finished, I was left with the worst book hangover in the history of the written word! I promptly decided to post a review, Facebook messaged the author freaking out about the book, and started writing this review. :)
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS:
Oh crapsicles, I dont even know where to start! It was sooooo frikkin good!!!
The story line itself is a little hard to explain without spewing spoilers all over the place, so I am not even going to try. I so badly want to tell everyone in the world about it, but I honestly dont think I can without blowing it to smithereens. Since we dont do that here on PT, my lips are zipped.
What I will tell you is it’s a very well written mystery with some squirrelly turns you wont see coming. I had several theories as to what was going to happen as I was reading and not a single one of them was correct. The author successfully kept me guessing the whole way through, and not to sound like a stuck up book snob here, but that doesn’t happen often. For the most part, I can see what’s coming a mile away. When I can make it through a book thoroughly surprised, it impresses me……a lot.
The romantic story line in the book is not the normal unrealistic drivel you see in the publishing market these days. The characters do not meet and start picking out China patterns together three days later. There is a whole lot of build up that happens and they do not wrap up the story skipping off into the sunset, a couple of unicorns shitting rainbows.
Although it doesn’t bother me (obvi), I want to give the precaution that Ahead of the Darkness is an ADULT book. There is sex in it here and there and it is graphic…..and hot. *wink wink* Just be prepared. This book is not PG-13.
The characters in the book are solid. There’s only one of the regular cast members I am not a huge fan of, but, honestly, I dont think the reader is meant to be. The character is kind of a bitch from day one of meeting our main girl Mia. So eff her. lol Mia does just fine without them being besties.
So, lately (this is a total side note that has nothing to do with the book) I have had the WORST obsession with Scottish men. Particularly James McAvoy. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to James McAvoy speak in an interview, that fucking accent is to DIE FOR. Well, the male lead in Ahead of the Darkness, Drew, is a Scot. As I was reading the book, ALL OF HIS LINES WERE IN JAMES MCAVOY’S VOICE IN MY HEAD! It was rather pleasant. lol
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS:
I can honestly say nothing. The book was solid all the way through. I have absolutely no complaints. Well, no complaints except that I am now DYING for the second book to find out what happens and it’s NOT OUT YET!!! Book hangovers blow….
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS TO:
That’s a tough question! I would say fans of romantic suspense would be best suited for this one. Just know, it’s not your typical romance. The characters do not have a smooth take off. They do not bone the crap out of each other on the first day screaming “SOUL MATES” at the top of their lungs. The author made them work their asses off for it. For that, I applaud her, but, fans of bodice ripper romances might not like the wait, so be warned. As someone who does not normally read a ton of straight romance (I’m a paranormal girl), this book was a page burner. I just couldn’t stop once I got going. THAT’S saying something.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS TODAY! <– ONLY $0.99 ON KINDLE!!!
Well, yesterday morning, I picked it back up and started reading……and kept reading……and kept reading. I didn’t stop until I was finished and when I finished, I was left with the worst book hangover in the history of the written word! I promptly decided to post a review, Facebook messaged the author freaking out about the book, and started writing this review. :)
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS:
Oh crapsicles, I dont even know where to start! It was sooooo frikkin good!!!
The story line itself is a little hard to explain without spewing spoilers all over the place, so I am not even going to try. I so badly want to tell everyone in the world about it, but I honestly dont think I can without blowing it to smithereens. Since we dont do that here on PT, my lips are zipped.
What I will tell you is it’s a very well written mystery with some squirrelly turns you wont see coming. I had several theories as to what was going to happen as I was reading and not a single one of them was correct. The author successfully kept me guessing the whole way through, and not to sound like a stuck up book snob here, but that doesn’t happen often. For the most part, I can see what’s coming a mile away. When I can make it through a book thoroughly surprised, it impresses me……a lot.
The romantic story line in the book is not the normal unrealistic drivel you see in the publishing market these days. The characters do not meet and start picking out China patterns together three days later. There is a whole lot of build up that happens and they do not wrap up the story skipping off into the sunset, a couple of unicorns shitting rainbows.
Although it doesn’t bother me (obvi), I want to give the precaution that Ahead of the Darkness is an ADULT book. There is sex in it here and there and it is graphic…..and hot. *wink wink* Just be prepared. This book is not PG-13.
The characters in the book are solid. There’s only one of the regular cast members I am not a huge fan of, but, honestly, I dont think the reader is meant to be. The character is kind of a bitch from day one of meeting our main girl Mia. So eff her. lol Mia does just fine without them being besties.
So, lately (this is a total side note that has nothing to do with the book) I have had the WORST obsession with Scottish men. Particularly James McAvoy. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to James McAvoy speak in an interview, that fucking accent is to DIE FOR. Well, the male lead in Ahead of the Darkness, Drew, is a Scot. As I was reading the book, ALL OF HIS LINES WERE IN JAMES MCAVOY’S VOICE IN MY HEAD! It was rather pleasant. lol
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE ABOUT AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS:
I can honestly say nothing. The book was solid all the way through. I have absolutely no complaints. Well, no complaints except that I am now DYING for the second book to find out what happens and it’s NOT OUT YET!!! Book hangovers blow….
WHO I WOULD RECOMMEND AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS TO:
That’s a tough question! I would say fans of romantic suspense would be best suited for this one. Just know, it’s not your typical romance. The characters do not have a smooth take off. They do not bone the crap out of each other on the first day screaming “SOUL MATES” at the top of their lungs. The author made them work their asses off for it. For that, I applaud her, but, fans of bodice ripper romances might not like the wait, so be warned. As someone who does not normally read a ton of straight romance (I’m a paranormal girl), this book was a page burner. I just couldn’t stop once I got going. THAT’S saying something.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR COPY OF AHEAD OF THE DARKNESS TODAY! <– ONLY $0.99 ON KINDLE!!!
September 11, 2016
***I was given a copy of this awesome book in exchange of an honest review***
“It wasn’t an option for me, to stay in one place, make friends, and live. I had to keep moving.”
First, I want to say that I was lucky enough to witness the growth of this story into what it now is. I read bits and pieces given to me by one of my fave Aussie ladies and author and I fell for Drew and I fell HARD! I also fell for this story because it’s not your usual girl-meets-boy story and they fall in love, break up, get back together and the end!
It’s so much more than that. It’s a story about finally finding something you were positively sure you never wanted nor needed. Love. It’s about accepting that being all alone is not what a human being needs and admitting it’s okay to rely and lean on others.
So, the book starts with Amelia/Mia, who is a chameleon character. She changes her identity and physical features very often, in order to hide, to blend in and stay incognito. She’s been on the run for the past six years and it has always worked just fine. She’d just up and leave wherever it was she was living. No friends, no relationships because it was easier to run that way.
See, one would think Mia is weak for doing that but she’s not. It’s in our genes, the fight-or-flight instinct. It’s always been. She’s afraid and she’s been through so many horrible things and she thinks she’s guilty of all that happening.
“I stopped living in the past a long time ago. What if is just that, I guess: living in the past, because you wished your future could have been different.”
But her entire world is turned upside-down when she falls into Drew’s arms in the small town she had recently settled in. From that moment on, she’s slowly but surely falling for the sexy Scotsman.
“Ye really need to stop makin’ a habit of falling for me. Ye’ll give me a big head like, and I might get the wrong impression.”
*sound the bagpipes*
Drew McKinley is the sexiest, sweetest and funniest Scot I have ever read about. He’s perfect, simply put. No, he’s not prim or proper. He owns a bar and he has a little bit of OCD and wow, he’s certainly possessive and doesn’t give up when he wants something. And he has demons of his own we only get glimpses of. But all those things? They make him perfect. He’s the kind of character that is realistic and believable.
“Ye said I cannae kiss ye. Ye dinnae say anything about pawing ye.” --- Paw away, Drew. Paw away.
Ahem. Sorry. Got distracted by that sexy brogue.
All in all, I give this book four and a half “strapping” stars! The story is not rushed, it slowly builds up and it isn’t insta-love. The characters simply click. You pretty much have everything in it. Funny scenes, HOT ones – there’s this scene with Drew and no clothes AND another one where he’s showing off his roots *waggling brows* - and towards the end, it will blow your mind. I haven’t seen that one coming but thank God, it was just a false alarm!
The only thing I can add to this is: there will be MORE Drew! Can’t wait to find out more about him!
Favorite quotes:
“Ye think I’m purdy?” He bats his eyelashes at me, and I burst out laughing.
“I’ll go all Scot on yer arse.” --- YES, please!
“I’ve got ye, love… I’ll pull ye out of the darkness.” --- *swoon*
“It wasn’t an option for me, to stay in one place, make friends, and live. I had to keep moving.”
First, I want to say that I was lucky enough to witness the growth of this story into what it now is. I read bits and pieces given to me by one of my fave Aussie ladies and author and I fell for Drew and I fell HARD! I also fell for this story because it’s not your usual girl-meets-boy story and they fall in love, break up, get back together and the end!
It’s so much more than that. It’s a story about finally finding something you were positively sure you never wanted nor needed. Love. It’s about accepting that being all alone is not what a human being needs and admitting it’s okay to rely and lean on others.
So, the book starts with Amelia/Mia, who is a chameleon character. She changes her identity and physical features very often, in order to hide, to blend in and stay incognito. She’s been on the run for the past six years and it has always worked just fine. She’d just up and leave wherever it was she was living. No friends, no relationships because it was easier to run that way.
See, one would think Mia is weak for doing that but she’s not. It’s in our genes, the fight-or-flight instinct. It’s always been. She’s afraid and she’s been through so many horrible things and she thinks she’s guilty of all that happening.
“I stopped living in the past a long time ago. What if is just that, I guess: living in the past, because you wished your future could have been different.”
But her entire world is turned upside-down when she falls into Drew’s arms in the small town she had recently settled in. From that moment on, she’s slowly but surely falling for the sexy Scotsman.
“Ye really need to stop makin’ a habit of falling for me. Ye’ll give me a big head like, and I might get the wrong impression.”
*sound the bagpipes*
Drew McKinley is the sexiest, sweetest and funniest Scot I have ever read about. He’s perfect, simply put. No, he’s not prim or proper. He owns a bar and he has a little bit of OCD and wow, he’s certainly possessive and doesn’t give up when he wants something. And he has demons of his own we only get glimpses of. But all those things? They make him perfect. He’s the kind of character that is realistic and believable.
“Ye said I cannae kiss ye. Ye dinnae say anything about pawing ye.” --- Paw away, Drew. Paw away.
Ahem. Sorry. Got distracted by that sexy brogue.
All in all, I give this book four and a half “strapping” stars! The story is not rushed, it slowly builds up and it isn’t insta-love. The characters simply click. You pretty much have everything in it. Funny scenes, HOT ones – there’s this scene with Drew and no clothes AND another one where he’s showing off his roots *waggling brows* - and towards the end, it will blow your mind. I haven’t seen that one coming but thank God, it was just a false alarm!
The only thing I can add to this is: there will be MORE Drew! Can’t wait to find out more about him!
Favorite quotes:
“Ye think I’m purdy?” He bats his eyelashes at me, and I burst out laughing.
“I’ll go all Scot on yer arse.” --- YES, please!
“I’ve got ye, love… I’ll pull ye out of the darkness.” --- *swoon*
April 4, 2014
This is a pretty solid debut novel, I couldn’t give it 5 stars as I had some minor issues with some of the plot but I will go into that a bit later.
In Ahead of Darkness we first meet Mia (Amelia) on her way to a new life, one of many that she has had to create over the years. Right away we aware that she is running from someone, that someone being her Papa.
Mia creates a new life for herself and does the best she can to avoid any lasting connections or relationships with people until that is she meets Drew. The sexy, well-to-do Scotsman who owns the club Cascades. Soon Mia finds herself captivated by Drew and spending all of her time with him. Their relationship begins to develop into something more and we see Mia begin to struggle with allowing herself to feel what she wants for Drew and protecting herself from losing someone she cares deeply for.
Throughout the story we get snippets of Mia’s past and boy are they frightening, her memories were both terrifying and disturbing, stuff that nightmares are totally made of. Drew becomes her ever steady rock as she comes to reveal some of her past to him and you can’t help but fall head over heels, tumbling down a cliff, into a pool of love and lust for him. He is the complete package, caring, vigilant, protective and bloody hell he is sexy with his Scottish brogue and all. There are some steamy scenes between him and Mia but they are balanced with some truly tender and vulnerable moments and I loved that. There is also a lot of comedic banter between Drew and Mia that will have you literally laughing out loud. Both characters play on each other so well. The story was definitely suspenseful and kept me entertained but….
Now here is where I complain and again some of these are minor and could possibly be something that is planned for the second book so here goes. Questions, questions, questions, I have so many questions about both Mia’s past and Drew’s. They are a lot of holes that were left unfilled in this first book. Granted again maybe the plan is to reveal more in the second book but I think it would have been better to approach the first book with intent to build a strong back story for both Mia and Drew. There were inklings I got suggesting there was a lot more to Drew then was revealed and it kept bugging me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Next I wasn’t so happy with how (and I will avoid spoilers) the events unfolded at the end, it felt too rushed everything happened like a whirlwind and then we were left with this cliffhanger that almost made me scream. Considering this is a series I didn’t understand why more time wasn’t spent on this particular aspect of the story, why the rush?
Overall I enjoyed Ahead of Darkness and I feel the series is off to a good start, I am hoping a lot of the questions I have will be answered in the second book and I definitely intend to read it.
In Ahead of Darkness we first meet Mia (Amelia) on her way to a new life, one of many that she has had to create over the years. Right away we aware that she is running from someone, that someone being her Papa.
Mia creates a new life for herself and does the best she can to avoid any lasting connections or relationships with people until that is she meets Drew. The sexy, well-to-do Scotsman who owns the club Cascades. Soon Mia finds herself captivated by Drew and spending all of her time with him. Their relationship begins to develop into something more and we see Mia begin to struggle with allowing herself to feel what she wants for Drew and protecting herself from losing someone she cares deeply for.
Throughout the story we get snippets of Mia’s past and boy are they frightening, her memories were both terrifying and disturbing, stuff that nightmares are totally made of. Drew becomes her ever steady rock as she comes to reveal some of her past to him and you can’t help but fall head over heels, tumbling down a cliff, into a pool of love and lust for him. He is the complete package, caring, vigilant, protective and bloody hell he is sexy with his Scottish brogue and all. There are some steamy scenes between him and Mia but they are balanced with some truly tender and vulnerable moments and I loved that. There is also a lot of comedic banter between Drew and Mia that will have you literally laughing out loud. Both characters play on each other so well. The story was definitely suspenseful and kept me entertained but….
Now here is where I complain and again some of these are minor and could possibly be something that is planned for the second book so here goes. Questions, questions, questions, I have so many questions about both Mia’s past and Drew’s. They are a lot of holes that were left unfilled in this first book. Granted again maybe the plan is to reveal more in the second book but I think it would have been better to approach the first book with intent to build a strong back story for both Mia and Drew. There were inklings I got suggesting there was a lot more to Drew then was revealed and it kept bugging me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Next I wasn’t so happy with how (and I will avoid spoilers) the events unfolded at the end, it felt too rushed everything happened like a whirlwind and then we were left with this cliffhanger that almost made me scream. Considering this is a series I didn’t understand why more time wasn’t spent on this particular aspect of the story, why the rush?
Overall I enjoyed Ahead of Darkness and I feel the series is off to a good start, I am hoping a lot of the questions I have will be answered in the second book and I definitely intend to read it.
October 18, 2014
*** I Love Story Time was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
4 Stars!!
" I'll be seeing you soon, mon Cherie. I'll always find you"
Major goose bumps after I read that. The minute I read the blurb, I knew I had to read this book!! I don't know what it is about reading a story that has to do with someone running from their past but I'm just drawn to them. I was looking forward to reading this and Simone Nicole did not disappoint.
In the beginning, I will admit it was a little hard for me to get into the story because of the different dialect. But once I got used to the Ye, aye, wee, couldnae, or dinnae's I was able to get into the story.
Six years ago Amelia's life changed, and she has been running from her past since. New hair color , new name and not telling anyone too much about herself has kept her out of harms way. Mia starts getting comfortable in her new surroundings and starts to let her walls fall. She meets Drew, and everything starts changing. She normally doesn't have feelings towards anything, but Drew brings out the emotions that she has always kept hidden inside. Drew is also Mia's boss. Mia and Drew click right from the start. Together they build a great friendship that I loved!! They hang out all the time and make fun of each other while doing a little flirting, it's perfect. Mia has secrets and you can tell Drew does too. I also like Jules!! He had some funny liners. The one that made me laugh out loud, was when he first met Mia and asked her about herself....
"So, Mia. Tell me all about yourself; favourite colour, cup size, sexual position, phone number,ya know, the usual."
He definitely is a jokester, he is always messing around and teasing Mia. Jules is a great guy with a loving heart and I am hoping I will get to read more about him in the future.
Not going to give too much away about this story, but what I will say is it did give me a little of everything. I felt sad at times, I laughed, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. The parts of Mia remembering gave me chills. This was not only a friendly love story but it also had great suspense! Ahead of the Darkness does leave you with a little cliffhanger so be aware! I am looking forward to reading Out of the Darkness to see how everything comes together.
~Juls
I Love Story Time Ratings:
5+ = ILST FAVORITE!
5 = LOVED, HIGHLY recommend.
4 = REALLY liked, recommend.
3 = GOOD, but needed more.
2 = It was OKAY.
1 = NOT for me.
October 18, 2014
*** I Love Story Time was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
4 Stars!!
" I'll be seeing you soon, mon Cherie. I'll always find you"
Major goose bumps after I read that. The minute I read the blurb, I knew I had to read this book!! I don't know what it is about reading a story that has to do with someone running from their past but I'm just drawn to them. I was looking forward to reading this and Simone Nicole did not disappoint.
In the beginning, I will admit it was a little hard for me to get into the story because of the different dialect. But once I got used to the Ye, aye, wee, couldnae, or dinnae's I was able to get into the story.
Six years ago Amelia's life changed, and she has been running from her past since. New hair color , new name and not telling anyone too much about herself has kept her out of harms way. Mia starts getting comfortable in her new surroundings and starts to let her walls fall. She meets Drew, and everything starts changing. She normally doesn't have feelings towards anything, but Drew brings out the emotions that she has always kept hidden inside. Drew is also Mia's boss. Mia and Drew click right from the start. Together they build a great friendship that I loved!! They hang out all the time and make fun of each other while doing a little flirting, it's perfect. Mia has secrets and you can tell Drew does too. I also like Jules!! He had some funny liners. The one that made me laugh out loud, was when he first met Mia and asked her about herself....
"So, Mia. Tell me all about yourself; favourite colour, cup size, sexual position, phone number,ya know, the usual."
He definitely is a jokester, he is always messing around and teasing Mia. Jules is a great guy with a loving heart and I am hoping I will get to read more about him in the future.
Not going to give too much away about this story, but what I will say is it did give me a little of everything. I felt sad at times, I laughed, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. The parts of Mia remembering gave me chills. This was not only a friendly love story but it also had great suspense! Ahead of the Darkness does leave you with a little cliffhanger so be aware! I am looking forward to reading Out of the Darkness to see how everything comes together.
~Juls
I Love Story Time Ratings:
5+ = ILST FAVORITE!
5 = LOVED, HIGHLY recommend.
4 = REALLY liked, recommend.
3 = GOOD, but needed more.
2 = It was OKAY.
1 = NOT for me.
September 11, 2016
We begin the story knowing that Mia is on the run from something. Slowly, from her thoughts and actions and through flashbacks, we find out most of her history. She's been on the run for a very long time, never making true connections or settling anywhere.
We don't know much about Drew except that he has a Scottish background.
He is the owner of a local bar, and has many friends in the community.
Also he's a great lover.
There is something in Drew which finally opens up a part of Mia that has always been closed.
Even though we mostly tend to focus on figuring out her situation in this book, I feel there is a lot to Drew that we don't know. He always gives "knowing" looks. Sometimes his accent is different. I don't believe that he is bad or that he doesn't have genuine feelings for her. I just think there is something "more" to him than being just a bar owner (and sexy love god). I do think he is going to save her no matter what.
***ARC was given by author for an honest review***
toni
full review can be found at http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
We don't know much about Drew except that he has a Scottish background.
"Have ye ever wondered what a true Scotsman wears under his kilt?"—best line ever and key to one of my fantasies
He is the owner of a local bar, and has many friends in the community.
Also he's a great lover.
"I own ye," he whispered in my ear and I shivered.
There is something in Drew which finally opens up a part of Mia that has always been closed.
I threw myself at Drew as soon as he was in reach. He absorbed the impact, gingerly putting his arms around me as I threw mine around his neck, and wrapped my legs around his middle. I held on like my life depended on it, and for the first time ever, I was home.
Even though we mostly tend to focus on figuring out her situation in this book, I feel there is a lot to Drew that we don't know. He always gives "knowing" looks. Sometimes his accent is different. I don't believe that he is bad or that he doesn't have genuine feelings for her. I just think there is something "more" to him than being just a bar owner (and sexy love god). I do think he is going to save her no matter what.
"I've got ye, love...I'll pull ye out of the darkness."
***ARC was given by author for an honest review***
toni
full review can be found at http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
October 19, 2014
Check out more of my reviews on my blog http://gemmareadstoomuchforittomenorm...
Ahead of the Darkness is book #1 in The Darkness Series and the first book I have read by this author. I was lucky enough to be given this book in exchange for an honest review so here goes.....
Ok so first reaction is just WOW!!!!!
This is an intense book, at first glance it appears light hearted and easygoing, but it’s not!!!
There is a darker underbelly to this story and I loved it!!!
Mia aka Amelia is so closed off and frightened it’s really hard to get a read on whom she really is. That being said I liked her; I empathised with her and wanted her to be ok and happy.
We know that there is some serious darkness in her past but the flashbacks were chilling and I literally got goosebumps.
And then there’s Drew.... swoon!!! He’s Scottish (with a seriously dodgy book accent!!) buff,
sexy and a seriously cheeky chappy. I literally LOVE him he’s so sweet and absolutely perfect for Mia.
There is an obvious connection between Mia and Drew it’s a cross between flirty banter and rip each other’s clothes off.
The sex scenes are HOT but also incredibly intimate and sweet, I felt that they really opened up to each other and made an emotional connection.
I liked the other characters in the book Jules was funny and added a bit of comic relief and Anne was the perfect mother figure that Mia desperately needed.
But to be brutally honest all of the other characters paled into insignificance in comparison with Mia and Drew.
I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was about this book that I liked so much; perhaps it was just that it was different from anything else I’ve read lately. Whatever it was I just LOVED this story.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’m going to say that when it all kicked off at the end I was gobsmacked! I expected something but not really that!!!
This book ends on a massive cliff-hanger, I’m incredibly lucky that I’m getting a copy of book #2 Out of The Darkness to review too so watch this space!!!!
I loved this book, after the last page I turned to my husband and just said “God that was Intense” something about it really reaching into me and connected on a deeper level.
Whatever it was it was brill and I am on the edge of my seat to see what happens next 5 stars from me.
Ahead of the Darkness is book #1 in The Darkness Series and the first book I have read by this author. I was lucky enough to be given this book in exchange for an honest review so here goes.....
Ok so first reaction is just WOW!!!!!
This is an intense book, at first glance it appears light hearted and easygoing, but it’s not!!!
There is a darker underbelly to this story and I loved it!!!
Mia aka Amelia is so closed off and frightened it’s really hard to get a read on whom she really is. That being said I liked her; I empathised with her and wanted her to be ok and happy.
We know that there is some serious darkness in her past but the flashbacks were chilling and I literally got goosebumps.
And then there’s Drew.... swoon!!! He’s Scottish (with a seriously dodgy book accent!!) buff,
sexy and a seriously cheeky chappy. I literally LOVE him he’s so sweet and absolutely perfect for Mia.
There is an obvious connection between Mia and Drew it’s a cross between flirty banter and rip each other’s clothes off.
The sex scenes are HOT but also incredibly intimate and sweet, I felt that they really opened up to each other and made an emotional connection.
I liked the other characters in the book Jules was funny and added a bit of comic relief and Anne was the perfect mother figure that Mia desperately needed.
But to be brutally honest all of the other characters paled into insignificance in comparison with Mia and Drew.
I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was about this book that I liked so much; perhaps it was just that it was different from anything else I’ve read lately. Whatever it was I just LOVED this story.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’m going to say that when it all kicked off at the end I was gobsmacked! I expected something but not really that!!!
This book ends on a massive cliff-hanger, I’m incredibly lucky that I’m getting a copy of book #2 Out of The Darkness to review too so watch this space!!!!
I loved this book, after the last page I turned to my husband and just said “God that was Intense” something about it really reaching into me and connected on a deeper level.
Whatever it was it was brill and I am on the edge of my seat to see what happens next 5 stars from me.
April 23, 2014
Reviewer : Cheryl - Magic Within The Pages
Rating : 4.5 Stars
**Copy received from author in exchange for an honest review**
In all honesty when I read the blurb I was scared to read this book because it sounded so haunting and gave me goosebumps and a foreboding feeling of ugly crying. I know its a lot, but it was my true feelings before I read the book. I admit now after absorbing the book that it was good. So good that I am happy to report there were tears, but no ugly crying.
The story is about Mia who is a runaway. She grew up with tragic circumstances. She lost her mother when she was only 5 years old and the man she knew as her father was the cause. Mia is a strong, guarded, and independent young woman. Until a few months before she had a normal life because her father was in prison, but when he was released he started searching for her and she started running. She runs away to a quaint town with a population that is small enough to not be overwhelmed and big enough to not stand out so she can blend in. She meets the small town Scottish, sexy bar owner Andrew/Drew and immediately she becomes a blubbering mess around him and because of him.
Mia has been living a lie and has relied on pretenses with people and wears emotional masks to get through living in different cities. All of that went to hell when she meets Drew. He is sexy and has an accent that flusters her. Their chemistry is there, but both are afraid to approach the other. When Mia finally comes up with a plan to get Drew to admit to his feelings things start to go down hill. She is bombarded yet again about past experiences with being hunted by her father and starts to turn away from Drew. Her father makes an appearance and everything changes. Will she be able to handle it? You have to read it because I can guarantee that it is a fun read that will keep you smiling and then gets you frustrated.
Rating : 4.5 Stars
**Copy received from author in exchange for an honest review**
In all honesty when I read the blurb I was scared to read this book because it sounded so haunting and gave me goosebumps and a foreboding feeling of ugly crying. I know its a lot, but it was my true feelings before I read the book. I admit now after absorbing the book that it was good. So good that I am happy to report there were tears, but no ugly crying.
The story is about Mia who is a runaway. She grew up with tragic circumstances. She lost her mother when she was only 5 years old and the man she knew as her father was the cause. Mia is a strong, guarded, and independent young woman. Until a few months before she had a normal life because her father was in prison, but when he was released he started searching for her and she started running. She runs away to a quaint town with a population that is small enough to not be overwhelmed and big enough to not stand out so she can blend in. She meets the small town Scottish, sexy bar owner Andrew/Drew and immediately she becomes a blubbering mess around him and because of him.
Mia has been living a lie and has relied on pretenses with people and wears emotional masks to get through living in different cities. All of that went to hell when she meets Drew. He is sexy and has an accent that flusters her. Their chemistry is there, but both are afraid to approach the other. When Mia finally comes up with a plan to get Drew to admit to his feelings things start to go down hill. She is bombarded yet again about past experiences with being hunted by her father and starts to turn away from Drew. Her father makes an appearance and everything changes. Will she be able to handle it? You have to read it because I can guarantee that it is a fun read that will keep you smiling and then gets you frustrated.
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