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Dark Side of the Sun
Arabella, the Baroness of Iliffe, knows her life is nearing its end. For years the young widow has been hunted across England, running from her past, thrust onward into desolate wastes until there is nowhere else to hide. With the little time she has left, her desperation has driven her into the arms of an extremely sinister man who desires more than just her company.
Gregory Harrow, bastard born gentleman, takes what he wants, and is willing to use anyone and anything to achieve his aims. Greedy, cunning, cruel, he claims to love her, offers to kill for her, but lies come easily to his tongue.
She knows she cannot trust him, but making a deal with the devil might just be her only chance for survival.
DARK SIDE OF THE SUN is a full-length regency era dark romance from internationally bestselling author Addison Cain about depravity, desire, and acute retribution.
Gregory Harrow, bastard born gentleman, takes what he wants, and is willing to use anyone and anything to achieve his aims. Greedy, cunning, cruel, he claims to love her, offers to kill for her, but lies come easily to his tongue.
She knows she cannot trust him, but making a deal with the devil might just be her only chance for survival.
DARK SIDE OF THE SUN is a full-length regency era dark romance from internationally bestselling author Addison Cain about depravity, desire, and acute retribution.
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2017
785 people are currently reading
1952 people want to read
About the author
Addison Cain
53 books4,539 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author and Amazon Top 25 bestselling author, Addison Cain is best known for her dark romances, smoldering paranormal suspense, and twisted alien worlds. Her antiheroes are not always redeemable, her lead females stand fierce, and nothing is ever as it seems.
Deep and sometimes heart wrenching, her books are not for the faint of heart. But they are just right for those who enjoy unapologetic bad boys, aggressive alphas, and a hint of violence in a kiss.
Visit her website: addisoncain.com
Sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/AddisonCainNewsletter
Amazon: amzn.to/2ryj4LH
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/AddisonCain
Bookbub Deals: www.bookbub.com/authors/addison-cain
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/AddisonlCain/
Addison Cain’s Dark Longings Lounge Fan Group: www.facebook.com/groups/DarkLongingsL...
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Addison Cain!
The Golden Line
The Alpha’s Claim Series:
Born to be Bound
Born To Be Broken
Reborn
Stolen
Corrupted (coming soon)
Wren’s Song Series:
Branded
Silenced
The Irdesi Empire Series:
Sigil
Sovereign
Que (coming soon)
Cradle of Darkness
Catacombs
Cathedral
The Relic
A Trick of the Light Duet:
A Taste of Shine
A Shot in the Dark
Historical Romance:
Dark Side of the Sun
Horror:
The White Queen
Immaculate
Deep and sometimes heart wrenching, her books are not for the faint of heart. But they are just right for those who enjoy unapologetic bad boys, aggressive alphas, and a hint of violence in a kiss.
Visit her website: addisoncain.com
Sign up for her newsletter: http://bit.ly/AddisonCainNewsletter
Amazon: amzn.to/2ryj4LH
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/AddisonCain
Bookbub Deals: www.bookbub.com/authors/addison-cain
Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/AddisonlCain/
Addison Cain’s Dark Longings Lounge Fan Group: www.facebook.com/groups/DarkLongingsL...
Don’t miss these exciting titles by Addison Cain!
The Golden Line
The Alpha’s Claim Series:
Born to be Bound
Born To Be Broken
Reborn
Stolen
Corrupted (coming soon)
Wren’s Song Series:
Branded
Silenced
The Irdesi Empire Series:
Sigil
Sovereign
Que (coming soon)
Cradle of Darkness
Catacombs
Cathedral
The Relic
A Trick of the Light Duet:
A Taste of Shine
A Shot in the Dark
Historical Romance:
Dark Side of the Sun
Horror:
The White Queen
Immaculate
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 312 reviews
May 9, 2017
3.75 Stars
Review later...maybe.
Review later...maybe.
December 19, 2017
Loved this book filled with a wonderful and likeable female and a dark hero who truly loves his woman.
May 13, 2018
I loved it. It takes a few chapters to get into the story, but once hooked, it is nearly unputdownable.
March 27, 2024
I loved this book so much that I bought it. I enjoyed how bad Gregory is. Some books described a bad boy, and you think oh isn't he cute...he is not all that bad. This book had the main character help a farmer lose his living to a dice cheat (really, he just didn't stop the man from being a fool). BUT he is wickedly kind to Arabella who had had every mistreatment known to mankind used against her (trigger warnings of every type here), Again, did I tell you I loved this book and had such fun with 2 strong characters. A gypsy girl and a bastard. The side characters add to the story also and play a part in the plot. I rate it 4.5* as some of the writing was a bit odd but enjoyable. At times it had a bodice rippery feel (but that maybe just me). I think this is the authors only foray into historical romance. I wish she would write more!
June 16, 2018
Atmospheric and moody, Addison Cain has put her own dark gothic spin on historical romance, and it’s riveting.
Arabella, the Baroness of Iliffe, longs for solitude, privacy, and anonymity when she rents the long-vacant and neglected Crescent Barrows estate. On the run from a devastating and dangerous past which seeks to claim her once again, her solicitor, Mr. Griggs, rents the property in his name to ensure her and her loyal servants’ safety and anonymity. When the landlord, Gregory Harrow, thinks himself duped by a member of the aristocracy, he’s infuriated. And Gregory Harrow is not a man to cross.
A standalone story told in the third person, dual POV, the author delivers a character-driven story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Gregory Harrow’s character is diabolical, Machiavellian, and dangerously sexy. As you read, you find yourself wavering between love and hate, trust and distrust. Arabella is his perfect counterpoint; caring and charitable with a past that makes you immediately sympathetic to her character, you want to see her prevail against the odds. Wrapping it all together is a plot that has you on tenterhooks in the end because you really have no idea which way it's going to go.
If you like a book that will keep you guessing, this is definitely a book you need to read.
*A copy provided to CGSR Book Blog in exchange for an honest review*
Arabella, the Baroness of Iliffe, longs for solitude, privacy, and anonymity when she rents the long-vacant and neglected Crescent Barrows estate. On the run from a devastating and dangerous past which seeks to claim her once again, her solicitor, Mr. Griggs, rents the property in his name to ensure her and her loyal servants’ safety and anonymity. When the landlord, Gregory Harrow, thinks himself duped by a member of the aristocracy, he’s infuriated. And Gregory Harrow is not a man to cross.
A standalone story told in the third person, dual POV, the author delivers a character-driven story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Gregory Harrow’s character is diabolical, Machiavellian, and dangerously sexy. As you read, you find yourself wavering between love and hate, trust and distrust. Arabella is his perfect counterpoint; caring and charitable with a past that makes you immediately sympathetic to her character, you want to see her prevail against the odds. Wrapping it all together is a plot that has you on tenterhooks in the end because you really have no idea which way it's going to go.
If you like a book that will keep you guessing, this is definitely a book you need to read.
*A copy provided to CGSR Book Blog in exchange for an honest review*
June 1, 2017
I was reluctant and nervous about this book and yet every time I turned around, someone was posting how much they enjoyed it. I didn’t know what to expect in a “dark” historical romance. A lot of historical romances are naturally “dark” due to how the world was during the time of the story. Medieval times, right? How dark does an author have to go to deliberately make the story “dark”? I had also heard this hero was an anti-hero and an alpha-hole. Sometimes that works for me, and sometimes it doesn’t. So, there I was debating it. Should I or shouldn’t I? And then…I just did it. I one clicked it, downloaded and started reading.
While Arabella’s traumatic and horrifying history is revealed to the reader, we are not permitted into the complete thought processes of the hero, Gregory Harrow. It is this lack of complete knowing that helps to shroud his intentions. Each time he smiled that sarcastic smile or used his acerbic wit, I found myself reading into it. I realized about three-fourths in that so much of what he had said and done could be twisted to fit any belief of him you have. But the fact of the matter is that you still don’t know his intentions! This story was like: what the heck is going on, why would he do that, he’s not acting like any alpha hero I know, just tell me what’s going on!
Fortunately for my sanity, Ms. Cain does allow us to know what was going on, why he did some of the things he did and that Mr. Harrow is a truly amazing new kind of alpha. Other than that, I’m not going to summarize the story because you’ve got the blurb and…
To steal the main message of author Sarah Curtis’ review, it was “unputdownable”. ‘Nuff said.
Mainly h POV some of H
Safe from cheating
Possible Triggers -
While Arabella’s traumatic and horrifying history is revealed to the reader, we are not permitted into the complete thought processes of the hero, Gregory Harrow. It is this lack of complete knowing that helps to shroud his intentions. Each time he smiled that sarcastic smile or used his acerbic wit, I found myself reading into it. I realized about three-fourths in that so much of what he had said and done could be twisted to fit any belief of him you have. But the fact of the matter is that you still don’t know his intentions! This story was like: what the heck is going on, why would he do that, he’s not acting like any alpha hero I know, just tell me what’s going on!
Fortunately for my sanity, Ms. Cain does allow us to know what was going on, why he did some of the things he did and that Mr. Harrow is a truly amazing new kind of alpha. Other than that, I’m not going to summarize the story because you’ve got the blurb and…
To steal the main message of author Sarah Curtis’ review, it was “unputdownable”. ‘Nuff said.
Mainly h POV some of H
Safe from cheating
Possible Triggers -
January 24, 2026
5 Dark and murderous ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A love story that grows out of brutality instead of purity.
My heart is floored and my brain is scattered, I cannot write a succinct review that will do justice to the plot.
This was dark without blood, sexy without a lot spice, scary without shocks, all in all, an absolutely fantastic and very well written romance? There was so much subtext and my brain went rampant!
You could not have pried this book out of my hands, if you had tried.
Arabella, a widowed Baroness is fleeing an enemy, who wants her dead.
Mentally she suffers trauma and the aftermath of years of violent sexual abuse and torture by her now dead husband, who had her in a dungeon for the last 7 months.
His slave nursed her back to life in secret, fed her, so she wouldn’t starve to death out of his own small rations. He then helped unalive her husband.🗡️🖤
His cruel brother is now the Baron and he seeks to kill Arabella in order to avoid paying her Dowager.
Arabella was sold by her Romaine father to the Baron at 15, and her heritage, was a large part of the cruelty she endured by her husband and of the ton.
Check your trigger warnings. It’s not graphic and yet it’s told in such a tense way that graphic would have been easier.
I was so tense whole time for so many reasons! When you read you will understand.
With some help Arabella rents a destitute ruin of a manor, with her merry band of servants, who she pretty much has adopted and vice versa.
She hopes to outrun the Baron for a little while and get some respite. She is still a very young woman, she has long red hair and has a tendency to run a little wild.
This is where she meets Gregory a very wealthy businessman and a bastard son of an Earl.
He is conniving and cunning and honestly not completely healthy. I guess a more correct word is complete psychopath. He takes an immediate interest in Arabella, and is curious about how unusual she is and he suspects she has secrets. He is also very protective of her, and I know how ya’ll feel about that, but he isn’t very open or vulnerable with her, and this is where it gets dicey.
Before she knows it, she is woven into a world of deceit, lust, love and manipulation and we as a reader do not know who to trust!
It’s single POV, and it kept the tension so tight I was actually concerned for a while. For me that is quite the statement.
❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 Emotionally devastating
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very high tension between the MMC’s. Not necessarily the way you are used to.
🍆🍆 Not a lot of steam but it was perfect.
Should you read it? ABSOLUTELY!
No ifs ands or buts.
It’s a different read than I am used to, and it’s dark and you have to be able to sit with angst and tension.
If you need high safety, it’s not for you😳
I never finished Haunting Adeline because I found it boring 😁 ( Sorry), but the mmc has the same absolute crazy, stalker vibe. But unlike the more YA type dark romances, you don’t really trust Gregory. And it’s hard to read, he is not a golden retriever in disguise. Which is a problem I have with a lot a “dark” romance, the mmc usually shows up as little cutie pie disguised as a villain, and with dual POV, I already know he is a good boy. Gregory is not that.
A love story that grows out of brutality instead of purity.
My heart is floored and my brain is scattered, I cannot write a succinct review that will do justice to the plot.
This was dark without blood, sexy without a lot spice, scary without shocks, all in all, an absolutely fantastic and very well written romance? There was so much subtext and my brain went rampant!
You could not have pried this book out of my hands, if you had tried.
Arabella, a widowed Baroness is fleeing an enemy, who wants her dead.
Mentally she suffers trauma and the aftermath of years of violent sexual abuse and torture by her now dead husband, who had her in a dungeon for the last 7 months.
His slave nursed her back to life in secret, fed her, so she wouldn’t starve to death out of his own small rations. He then helped unalive her husband.🗡️🖤
His cruel brother is now the Baron and he seeks to kill Arabella in order to avoid paying her Dowager.
Arabella was sold by her Romaine father to the Baron at 15, and her heritage, was a large part of the cruelty she endured by her husband and of the ton.
Check your trigger warnings. It’s not graphic and yet it’s told in such a tense way that graphic would have been easier.
I was so tense whole time for so many reasons! When you read you will understand.
With some help Arabella rents a destitute ruin of a manor, with her merry band of servants, who she pretty much has adopted and vice versa.
She hopes to outrun the Baron for a little while and get some respite. She is still a very young woman, she has long red hair and has a tendency to run a little wild.
This is where she meets Gregory a very wealthy businessman and a bastard son of an Earl.
He is conniving and cunning and honestly not completely healthy. I guess a more correct word is complete psychopath. He takes an immediate interest in Arabella, and is curious about how unusual she is and he suspects she has secrets. He is also very protective of her, and I know how ya’ll feel about that, but he isn’t very open or vulnerable with her, and this is where it gets dicey.
Before she knows it, she is woven into a world of deceit, lust, love and manipulation and we as a reader do not know who to trust!
It’s single POV, and it kept the tension so tight I was actually concerned for a while. For me that is quite the statement.
❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹 Emotionally devastating
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Very high tension between the MMC’s. Not necessarily the way you are used to.
🍆🍆 Not a lot of steam but it was perfect.
Should you read it? ABSOLUTELY!
No ifs ands or buts.
It’s a different read than I am used to, and it’s dark and you have to be able to sit with angst and tension.
If you need high safety, it’s not for you😳
I never finished Haunting Adeline because I found it boring 😁 ( Sorry), but the mmc has the same absolute crazy, stalker vibe. But unlike the more YA type dark romances, you don’t really trust Gregory. And it’s hard to read, he is not a golden retriever in disguise. Which is a problem I have with a lot a “dark” romance, the mmc usually shows up as little cutie pie disguised as a villain, and with dual POV, I already know he is a good boy. Gregory is not that.
June 12, 2017
On my reader the cover was not displayed and I started this book thinking that it would be some kind of SF romp. Instead I stumbled on a very unusual HR!!!
Here the most interesting character is the hero, Gregory! He's a real bastard (even literally!)! He's unscrupulous, he's caustic, he's forceful, he takes whatever he wants without asking! And he's fabulous!!!
I so wanted to hate him, but it was just impossible! LOL
The heroine is less interesting, but still very good.
A very unusual romance that could have some triggers for some of my friends; not the OW ones, but ! If that's your, be aware!
Apart from the hero, what I loved most was a very unusual writing style! Moody and somewhat abrupt, but it was just perfect for this kind of story!
Here the most interesting character is the hero, Gregory! He's a real bastard (even literally!)! He's unscrupulous, he's caustic, he's forceful, he takes whatever he wants without asking! And he's fabulous!!!
I so wanted to hate him, but it was just impossible! LOL
The heroine is less interesting, but still very good.
A very unusual romance that could have some triggers for some of my friends; not the OW ones, but ! If that's your, be aware!
Apart from the hero, what I loved most was a very unusual writing style! Moody and somewhat abrupt, but it was just perfect for this kind of story!
August 7, 2019
Okay, as per popular perception, this is the only book by the author that comes under the conventional romance category when compared to her other dystopian books that are full of erotic brutalities - way beyond most people's comfort zone.
And it deserves more than my 5-minute review but here goes.
*Some Spoilers* Boy, this is quite dark and gothic-y itself. Dark in tone and atmospherics rather than anything actually happening in the present. Yes, the h has lived through unimaginable barbarity. Now, she's hiding from her enemies in a corner of the country, and expresses her unshackled soul by running wild on the moors, on her devil of a horse - Mamioro (a killer himself!).
The H is her landlord and they clash right from their first meet. While the h is strongly independent and refuses to cower before anyone (after living a live of submission and degradation under a vile husband), she finds the H alternately threatening and irresistible. Even though she knows she can trust this diabolical man only at her peril, she feels a strong pull. The attraction, the sex is hot and earthy but the first sex-scene has a dub-con feel to it.
The H is incredibly self-serving and completely unconscionable. A first 'hero' who is knowingly unkind to children and people beneath him. But then he lives by a philosophy of 'himself first'. He doesn't blink at ruining (or killing) people especially those who cross him. So he's an uncommon H but by a weird sense, the only kind who can understand and protect, even love this h.
And I love the way he loves her and avenges her. I dislike half-measures vengeance when dealing with evil. And the H's own evil-ness helps him understand that and then unblinkingly serve the just desserts. Nothing PC here.
To add more: the writing and language is somewhat flaky and needs some getting used to but is also
unique enough to stand out. Like unlike other Hs, this one simpers, chortles, coos, snickers. Absurd? Think the Joker.
Apart from the mcs, we have the neighboring family, the Jenkins who kindly provide with an om, an ow and a bff and much of the fillers; the h's people, the gypsies, and her strays - a mute maid and an orphan boy to lavish her love on, a cosseting housekeeper, and an African retainer/friend/raison d'être. And Mamioro.
And the villains.
And it deserves more than my 5-minute review but here goes.
*Some Spoilers* Boy, this is quite dark and gothic-y itself. Dark in tone and atmospherics rather than anything actually happening in the present. Yes, the h has lived through unimaginable barbarity. Now, she's hiding from her enemies in a corner of the country, and expresses her unshackled soul by running wild on the moors, on her devil of a horse - Mamioro (a killer himself!).
The H is her landlord and they clash right from their first meet. While the h is strongly independent and refuses to cower before anyone (after living a live of submission and degradation under a vile husband), she finds the H alternately threatening and irresistible. Even though she knows she can trust this diabolical man only at her peril, she feels a strong pull. The attraction, the sex is hot and earthy but the first sex-scene has a dub-con feel to it.
The H is incredibly self-serving and completely unconscionable. A first 'hero' who is knowingly unkind to children and people beneath him. But then he lives by a philosophy of 'himself first'. He doesn't blink at ruining (or killing) people especially those who cross him. So he's an uncommon H but by a weird sense, the only kind who can understand and protect, even love this h.
And I love the way he loves her and avenges her. I dislike half-measures vengeance when dealing with evil. And the H's own evil-ness helps him understand that and then unblinkingly serve the just desserts. Nothing PC here.
To add more: the writing and language is somewhat flaky and needs some getting used to but is also
unique enough to stand out. Like unlike other Hs, this one simpers, chortles, coos, snickers. Absurd? Think the Joker.
Apart from the mcs, we have the neighboring family, the Jenkins who kindly provide with an om, an ow and a bff and much of the fillers; the h's people, the gypsies, and her strays - a mute maid and an orphan boy to lavish her love on, a cosseting housekeeper, and an African retainer/friend/raison d'être. And Mamioro.
And the villains.
June 12, 2018
4.5 STARS!
This book was full of mind-fuckery, a twisted alpha, and a strong heroine. Plus it's an HR, which made it all the more delightful. :-)
I have to round down though because, while the twist at the end was fabulous and had my heart racing, it really needed to be more fleshed out. And in the aftermath, I felt Gregory and Arabella's relationship needed a few scenes to repair some of the inadvertent damage.
But if you love a well-written dark romance, I definitely recommend!
This book was full of mind-fuckery, a twisted alpha, and a strong heroine. Plus it's an HR, which made it all the more delightful. :-)
I have to round down though because, while the twist at the end was fabulous and had my heart racing, it really needed to be more fleshed out. And in the aftermath, I felt Gregory and Arabella's relationship needed a few scenes to repair some of the inadvertent damage.
But if you love a well-written dark romance, I definitely recommend!
October 21, 2019
Audio...3 Stars. The narrator's performance was good, but the audio quality wasn't.
Story...2.5 Stars
Too much couple separation. It was frustrating.
Story...2.5 Stars
Too much couple separation. It was frustrating.
October 11, 2023
Read: 10/2/23
An excellent, unique story!
Conveying the complexities of the plot and characters won't be easy, but here goes:
The story starts off with Arabella moving into an isolated estate on the Moors. She's hiding from her late husband's heir and his evil friends. He wants her share of her dowry and is willing to kill if need be to get it. Arabella's shady background offers little protection from the London Ton even though she's a baroness. Warning: What her husband and his friends did to her is horrific!
She's renting a house from Gregory, a bastard born gentleman, with a dark history of his own. Gregory is a true cynically antihero (bording on villian), who enjoys making his enemies suffer before spilling their blood. He is instantly drawn to the wild, red-haired baroness who rides a beast of a horse with wild abandonment.
The author does an excellent job of developing their relationship while still keeping Gregory mysterious. There is no undying declaration of love between them, but you feel their bond. She feels safe for the first time in years, even though she doesn't trust him.
The secondary characters are very well developed. From Arbella's loyal servents to her neighbors. I especially loved her relationship with her husband's former slave. He's the only one who knows her horrible history and encourages her to come out in society again instead of hiding.
This book had all you want in a sensational, gothic hr! The twists and turns of the plot were refreshing, especially compared to the predictability of most hr nowadays.
I'm a little disappointed that this seems to be the author's only hr. The rest of her books seem to be supernatural or erotica. That said, I should add that this book has very steamy sex scenes 😉
An excellent, unique story!
Conveying the complexities of the plot and characters won't be easy, but here goes:
The story starts off with Arabella moving into an isolated estate on the Moors. She's hiding from her late husband's heir and his evil friends. He wants her share of her dowry and is willing to kill if need be to get it. Arabella's shady background offers little protection from the London Ton even though she's a baroness. Warning: What her husband and his friends did to her is horrific!
She's renting a house from Gregory, a bastard born gentleman, with a dark history of his own. Gregory is a true cynically antihero (bording on villian), who enjoys making his enemies suffer before spilling their blood. He is instantly drawn to the wild, red-haired baroness who rides a beast of a horse with wild abandonment.
The author does an excellent job of developing their relationship while still keeping Gregory mysterious. There is no undying declaration of love between them, but you feel their bond. She feels safe for the first time in years, even though she doesn't trust him.
The secondary characters are very well developed. From Arbella's loyal servents to her neighbors. I especially loved her relationship with her husband's former slave. He's the only one who knows her horrible history and encourages her to come out in society again instead of hiding.
This book had all you want in a sensational, gothic hr! The twists and turns of the plot were refreshing, especially compared to the predictability of most hr nowadays.
I'm a little disappointed that this seems to be the author's only hr. The rest of her books seem to be supernatural or erotica. That said, I should add that this book has very steamy sex scenes 😉
June 16, 2018
I liked this novel well enough at first—I was intrigued as to how it would all play out. Gregory couldn't be as awful as he seemed. How would he and Arabella fall in love? How would they overcome her past together?
I noticed odd things about the writing here and there, which was okay, since this is self-published. The sentence structure was odd, with the author's tendency to omit the word "and:" Acrimonious, pitch eyes glowed, the man countered. She would also refer to eyes as their color only, and not to whom those eyes belonged: "Emerald eyes darted toward the youngest sister." Sometimes "black eyes met green."
But then the first sex scene happened, and the writing became completely, horrifyingly purple.
Phantom arms pop up out of nowhere.
I don't even know what that means.
How, exactly, does a nipple fondle? *ponders*
O_o
Again, WHAT? Also, that sounds painful, and like something out of a horror movie.
The sex scenes were just so bad in this. I think they were the worst sex scenes I have ever read. I feel bad saying that, because I think the author tried really hard to make them flowery and darkly sexy. But nothing about Gregory was sexy or appealing to me in any way, and so I just cringed every time he and Arabella had sex. He also had a habit of randomly pulling pins out of her hair for no reason, which is a pet peeve of mine in romance novels.
I do like dark heroes, but I need them to have something in addition to their darkness. They need to have something that makes me understand, if not like, them. But Gregory had nothing. He was just nasty through and through, and the best reason I could come up with for his behavior was that he'd been called a bastard one too many times. Boo hoo. He wasn't even good in bed, based on the strangely worded acrobatics he pulled.
I think this could have been a better book if Gregory had been better characterized, and had the writing been toned way down.
Thanks for the buddy read, Nenia and Brandy!
I noticed odd things about the writing here and there, which was okay, since this is self-published. The sentence structure was odd, with the author's tendency to omit the word "and:" Acrimonious, pitch eyes glowed, the man countered. She would also refer to eyes as their color only, and not to whom those eyes belonged: "Emerald eyes darted toward the youngest sister." Sometimes "black eyes met green."
But then the first sex scene happened, and the writing became completely, horrifyingly purple.
Stretching her, filling her, arms slipped around her middle and he bore her down, Gregory taking on an expression of impassioned pain at her internal clench.
Phantom arms pop up out of nowhere.
Lost green eyes, shined perfectly confused and aroused when Gregory rolled his hips and offered a pleased groan.
I don't even know what that means.
When warm heat slipped behind the lace and enveloped her breast, when full flesh was squeezed, her aching nipple fondled, that was all it took for her knees to buckle and the resistance to end.
How, exactly, does a nipple fondle? *ponders*
[...] each pulse of his liquid release felt splashing against her womb.
O_o
He could be rough, she knew he wanted to be, but Gregory tempered his ferocity to roll his hips with an almost calculating sensuality that peeled her flesh from her bones.
Again, WHAT? Also, that sounds painful, and like something out of a horror movie.
The sex scenes were just so bad in this. I think they were the worst sex scenes I have ever read. I feel bad saying that, because I think the author tried really hard to make them flowery and darkly sexy. But nothing about Gregory was sexy or appealing to me in any way, and so I just cringed every time he and Arabella had sex. He also had a habit of randomly pulling pins out of her hair for no reason, which is a pet peeve of mine in romance novels.
I do like dark heroes, but I need them to have something in addition to their darkness. They need to have something that makes me understand, if not like, them. But Gregory had nothing. He was just nasty through and through, and the best reason I could come up with for his behavior was that he'd been called a bastard one too many times. Boo hoo. He wasn't even good in bed, based on the strangely worded acrobatics he pulled.
I think this could have been a better book if Gregory had been better characterized, and had the writing been toned way down.
Thanks for the buddy read, Nenia and Brandy!
September 8, 2022
9-2002- Reread via audiobook, I still enjoyed it... but the audiobook wasn't the best quality. Parts sounded like he recorded it on speakerphone. I really liked both mc's... I LOVE an anti-H/strong h combo, and there's plenty of steam... even some comeuppance for the wannabe OW.
****Original Review****
“I would fight my way past the gates of hell to find you in heaven and be at your side."
I was really interested when I realized that Addison Cain wrote a historical novel. It’s such a stretch from her sci-fi stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised. 👏👏 Dark Side of the Sun is a dark historical romance following Gregory Harrow, a bastard born gentlemen, and Baroness widow Arabella Iliffe. It’s clear very early that they both have pasts, and not all is what it appears to be.
I’m a sucker for a dark anti-H, and Gregory didn’t disappoint. He’s absolutely wicked in all the right ways. Arabella was a nice mix of bravery and vulnerability. Although the two clashed and bickered; they didn’t spend the entire book at each other’s throats.
“With all you do to those around you, how could you ever imagine I might trust you?” “It is unfortunate, I will admit.” Higher her gown went, until the red curls above her sex were exposed, until Arabella's soft belly was available to a warm mouth already peppering it with ardent kisses. “But you will learn.”
Bottom Line- I inhaled this one. There’s danger, steam, wannabe OW/OM, and a couple twisty turns. The ending is quite satisfying with the villain getting a fitting punishment; there’s even a bit of comeuppance for the snarky wannabe OW. And, an epilogue several years in the future.
“One more thing, Arabella. There will be no more talk of suicide... for if you kill yourself, my love, I will bring down the worst sort of hell on your collection of derelicts. They will suffer all their years in toil and pain. I will not live without you.”
****Original Review****
“I would fight my way past the gates of hell to find you in heaven and be at your side."
I was really interested when I realized that Addison Cain wrote a historical novel. It’s such a stretch from her sci-fi stuff, but I was pleasantly surprised. 👏👏 Dark Side of the Sun is a dark historical romance following Gregory Harrow, a bastard born gentlemen, and Baroness widow Arabella Iliffe. It’s clear very early that they both have pasts, and not all is what it appears to be.
I’m a sucker for a dark anti-H, and Gregory didn’t disappoint. He’s absolutely wicked in all the right ways. Arabella was a nice mix of bravery and vulnerability. Although the two clashed and bickered; they didn’t spend the entire book at each other’s throats.
“With all you do to those around you, how could you ever imagine I might trust you?” “It is unfortunate, I will admit.” Higher her gown went, until the red curls above her sex were exposed, until Arabella's soft belly was available to a warm mouth already peppering it with ardent kisses. “But you will learn.”
Bottom Line- I inhaled this one. There’s danger, steam, wannabe OW/OM, and a couple twisty turns. The ending is quite satisfying with the villain getting a fitting punishment; there’s even a bit of comeuppance for the snarky wannabe OW. And, an epilogue several years in the future.
“One more thing, Arabella. There will be no more talk of suicide... for if you kill yourself, my love, I will bring down the worst sort of hell on your collection of derelicts. They will suffer all their years in toil and pain. I will not live without you.”
May 7, 2022
Title: Dark Side of the Sun
Author: Addison Cain
Category: Historical Romance, Dark
Series or Standalone: Standalone
POV: Third person, Dual
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Scorching Level: 5
HEA: Not telling
I am very picky when it comes to historical romance and I can safely say that this is the best one I have read in a long time. Compelling storyline, realistic represantation of the Regency Era and multidimensional characters that will stay with you forever.
Arabella, the Barones of Illefe has been running for her life for quite a while now. When she settles into a residence in Harding, she never expects her landlord to be a cruel, evil rake.
Gregory Harrow is no gentleman, but he owns most of Harding. Wealthy and dark, he finds it amusing to play with women and other villagers.
He never expected a redheaded *Imp* to affect him so much.
Arabella has no desire to involve herself with another cruel man. Abused and treated like an animal from her dead husband, she craves to be free but her past is still haunting her.
When her life is in danger, who is going to save her?
I am so in love with Addison Cain 's writing. I felt like I had been transpoted back in the 1800s. The push and pull dynamic of Arabella and Gregory was magnificent and their chemistry off the charts. I loved how grey their romance was. For me it wasn't dark, but their relationship danced near the limits of darkness.
I loved how witty and kind Arabella was.
I loved how Mr. Harrow could be so cruel but at the same time so dotting when he wanted to be.
A book I will surely re-read and add to my paperback collection.
Do not miss it.
Author: Addison Cain
Category: Historical Romance, Dark
Series or Standalone: Standalone
POV: Third person, Dual
Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Scorching Level: 5
HEA: Not telling
I am very picky when it comes to historical romance and I can safely say that this is the best one I have read in a long time. Compelling storyline, realistic represantation of the Regency Era and multidimensional characters that will stay with you forever.
Arabella, the Barones of Illefe has been running for her life for quite a while now. When she settles into a residence in Harding, she never expects her landlord to be a cruel, evil rake.
Gregory Harrow is no gentleman, but he owns most of Harding. Wealthy and dark, he finds it amusing to play with women and other villagers.
He never expected a redheaded *Imp* to affect him so much.
Arabella has no desire to involve herself with another cruel man. Abused and treated like an animal from her dead husband, she craves to be free but her past is still haunting her.
When her life is in danger, who is going to save her?
I am so in love with Addison Cain 's writing. I felt like I had been transpoted back in the 1800s. The push and pull dynamic of Arabella and Gregory was magnificent and their chemistry off the charts. I loved how grey their romance was. For me it wasn't dark, but their relationship danced near the limits of darkness.
I loved how witty and kind Arabella was.
I loved how Mr. Harrow could be so cruel but at the same time so dotting when he wanted to be.
A book I will surely re-read and add to my paperback collection.
Do not miss it.
April 23, 2017
I had sworn off Addison Cain after reading Reborn (Alpha's Claim Book 3) but after reading reviews that stated this was a stand alone book with a HEA, I decided to give her another try. I'm glad I did. It was a good book.
I was actually surprised that Addison Cain wrote this. It felt very different from her Alpha's Claim series. The writing was reminiscent of old school historical romances with almost a gothic (Victoria Holt) vibe. Is the H a good guy who really loves the h? Or is he a bad guy lying to her? At times it created a disconnect for me and other times was a major driving force in the story. As an example, the first sex scene (at about 29%) was weird. It was poetically written, stayed true to the voice of the story but was so vague at certain points that I was confused as to what they were even doing. It didn't work for me. I was praying that the next sex scene would be written in a more traditional fashion so I could enjoy it. Thankfully, it was and the H even said, "Fuck" at a good moment. It added an intensity which I liked.
The H is an anti-hero and a major ass to other people but not to the h. He treats her well and there's no abuse. There's bantering between the two and he does say mean things one time but it's very brief. His intent is to get her to stand up for herself against those who have grievously wronged her. He is possessive of her. At times when they are intimate, he asks her who she belongs to. Other times he calls her lady bits mine while inside her. He's protective of her, wants to marry her and doesn't care about her past. He seeks to avenge her of the horrific wrongs done to her. He doesn't cheat on her though he "appears" to be courting the neighbor's daughter. The reason for this is revealed at the end.
The h was likeable. She is a not a sarcastic, winey bitch. She's a survivor who was abused by her first husband. The abuse she suffered was horrific. We are given the facts that this abuse happened but thankfully we don't experience it first hand. For those that need warnings -
This book easily could've been 5 stars but the ending was too rushed and the 3 paragraph epilogue not enough to satisfy me. It ended at 93%. Though it did have a HEA, I wanted more and was disappointed. I also didn't believe in the "love" between the H and h. He wanted her, yes but there was an emotional distance between the two. Also, there wasn't a lot of descriptive sex. The descriptive scenes were here a few times but many times, the couple was intimate and we, the reader are merely told that it occurred. I found myself wanting more between the H and h. More interaction, more sex, more love. A longer ending and epilogue would have helped immensely.
Overall, I liked the story, liked the H and h and will reread again.
I was actually surprised that Addison Cain wrote this. It felt very different from her Alpha's Claim series. The writing was reminiscent of old school historical romances with almost a gothic (Victoria Holt) vibe. Is the H a good guy who really loves the h? Or is he a bad guy lying to her? At times it created a disconnect for me and other times was a major driving force in the story. As an example, the first sex scene (at about 29%) was weird. It was poetically written, stayed true to the voice of the story but was so vague at certain points that I was confused as to what they were even doing. It didn't work for me. I was praying that the next sex scene would be written in a more traditional fashion so I could enjoy it. Thankfully, it was and the H even said, "Fuck" at a good moment. It added an intensity which I liked.
The H is an anti-hero and a major ass to other people but not to the h. He treats her well and there's no abuse. There's bantering between the two and he does say mean things one time but it's very brief. His intent is to get her to stand up for herself against those who have grievously wronged her. He is possessive of her. At times when they are intimate, he asks her who she belongs to. Other times he calls her lady bits mine while inside her. He's protective of her, wants to marry her and doesn't care about her past. He seeks to avenge her of the horrific wrongs done to her. He doesn't cheat on her though he "appears" to be courting the neighbor's daughter. The reason for this is revealed at the end.
The h was likeable. She is a not a sarcastic, winey bitch. She's a survivor who was abused by her first husband. The abuse she suffered was horrific. We are given the facts that this abuse happened but thankfully we don't experience it first hand. For those that need warnings -
This book easily could've been 5 stars but the ending was too rushed and the 3 paragraph epilogue not enough to satisfy me. It ended at 93%. Though it did have a HEA, I wanted more and was disappointed. I also didn't believe in the "love" between the H and h. He wanted her, yes but there was an emotional distance between the two. Also, there wasn't a lot of descriptive sex. The descriptive scenes were here a few times but many times, the couple was intimate and we, the reader are merely told that it occurred. I found myself wanting more between the H and h. More interaction, more sex, more love. A longer ending and epilogue would have helped immensely.
Overall, I liked the story, liked the H and h and will reread again.
April 12, 2024
Like all fools who bounded through unknown lands, the woman with her dirty feet would find soon enough the savagery of the landscape would not tolerate her games. He need not even bother. The bogs would claim her... or she would lose the road and wander without food or water. Either way, she would learn. And if she didn't, if he found her again, she would learn another way.
Loved the gothic setting; fog-shrouded moors, a crumbling stone manor, a beast of a black stallion and an MMC who was so absolutely villainous he was delicious. That intriguing man on the cover? Aaah, what an antihero 😍😈
Be still my heart!
And Arabella, the FMC? Magnificent.
Here’s to hoping the author writes more historical fiction just like this.
He coaxed from her all the gentle words he wanted, relished her hands dancing over his body, Arabella caressing the muscles corded in their work to please her. When she was just at the cusp of perfection, he demanded words, his voice breathy as he thrust. “Tell me you are mine.” Not even aware she was speaking, Arabella admitted her ruin, sliding her arms tighter around the source of her encroaching oblivion. “Yours.”
…
The solitude and dark were immensely comforting, as was the vast view of dark moors and endless nothingness once they passed from the township. Out there was freedom. Out there Arabella could fade away—just like the white woman Lizzy had described. It was not even difficult to imagine such a figure wandering, ghostly, pale fabric of a gown floating on the wind behind her. How beautiful such autonomy would be.
Loved the gothic setting; fog-shrouded moors, a crumbling stone manor, a beast of a black stallion and an MMC who was so absolutely villainous he was delicious. That intriguing man on the cover? Aaah, what an antihero 😍😈
Be still my heart!
And Arabella, the FMC? Magnificent.
Here’s to hoping the author writes more historical fiction just like this.
He coaxed from her all the gentle words he wanted, relished her hands dancing over his body, Arabella caressing the muscles corded in their work to please her. When she was just at the cusp of perfection, he demanded words, his voice breathy as he thrust. “Tell me you are mine.” Not even aware she was speaking, Arabella admitted her ruin, sliding her arms tighter around the source of her encroaching oblivion. “Yours.”
…
The solitude and dark were immensely comforting, as was the vast view of dark moors and endless nothingness once they passed from the township. Out there was freedom. Out there Arabella could fade away—just like the white woman Lizzy had described. It was not even difficult to imagine such a figure wandering, ghostly, pale fabric of a gown floating on the wind behind her. How beautiful such autonomy would be.
November 4, 2022
I enjoyed the plot, the heroine ( she had me in tears), and even the assshole anti H ( whom I ended up loving at the end), but the writing style was confusing.🤷🏻♀️
The first chapters were a struggle to get through, honestly, it’s a hard book to read.
You might find yourself rereading sentences, and if purple prose isn’t your jam, you might want to skip this. With that said, you do end up getting used to the odd writing style after a few chapters, if that helps.🤷🏻♀️ Around 40% mark is when the book starts flowing better.
Safety
No cheating here.
I refuse to read this authors other books, because she uses cheating H. But if this is an example of her writing style, I don’t think I’m missing much.
The first chapters were a struggle to get through, honestly, it’s a hard book to read.
You might find yourself rereading sentences, and if purple prose isn’t your jam, you might want to skip this. With that said, you do end up getting used to the odd writing style after a few chapters, if that helps.🤷🏻♀️ Around 40% mark is when the book starts flowing better.
Safety
No cheating here.
I refuse to read this authors other books, because she uses cheating H. But if this is an example of her writing style, I don’t think I’m missing much.
November 3, 2020
4.5 stars for this dark little tale of payback and revenge.
So, Addison Cain is going to send me broke this month but it will have been worth it.
This story starts off quite slowly and appears on the surface to be a slightly melancholy HR with a devious, cruel but incredibly sexy H. Around the mid way point though things start to change and I couldn't put my Kindle down so I could know how it would end and my oh my was it a satisfying and delicious ending.
I wish it had been a bit longer which is my only gripe.
So, Addison Cain is going to send me broke this month but it will have been worth it.
This story starts off quite slowly and appears on the surface to be a slightly melancholy HR with a devious, cruel but incredibly sexy H. Around the mid way point though things start to change and I couldn't put my Kindle down so I could know how it would end and my oh my was it a satisfying and delicious ending.
I wish it had been a bit longer which is my only gripe.
April 30, 2017
Was this supposed to be dark...?
July 6, 2019
Even better the second time reading it!
December 22, 2018
"Arabella lay upon the heather, caught in the arms of the devil, and smiled."
I seriously need to read more "historical romance". This one is a passable example of the unique art that is the sweeping romance set in a bygone era.
The hero of our saga is an astute and wiley operator who takes his revenge on those who had demeaned him as a [bashard] before he became a wealthy man. Of course, he is appropriately dashingly handsome.
The object of his interest/desire is a red-haired "imp" who has him beguiled with her wild ways and at times, her broken spirit. Her past is not a happy one. She is a widowed Baroness hunted for money by her brother-in-law and his despicable crew of nobility.
There is a rather good plot line and the story is indeed entertaining. Where the book falls short for me is in the character development. Most especially, Gregory Harrow the hero. I so wanted to swoon over him. I wasn't given enough to swoon about. Yes, I get he was "pretty"...and clever....and strong...even sexy sometimes but he was just a "meh" for me.
The key to an outstanding "bodice-ripper" 😁 is connecting with the hero and the heroine for that matter. I just did not connect with Mr. Harrow. "Le Swoon" was missing.
“Unless you have ridden a dangerous beast with nothing but your hands tangled in his hair, you could never feel the glorious triumph of the moment. The act ties the brute to you to a point that you would never be thrown... to the point you are one—unrestrained and beautiful.”
In the quote above Arabella, our heroine, speaks passionately about her horse. This is the type of writing needed in the mouths of our main characters about each other and their love. Too little passion-talk, sex-talk, pillow-talk and too little love-talk.
As far as being dark...oblique references are made to the abysmal abuse Arabella suffered at the hands of her deceased husband and his depraved friends. The storyline involves mainly learning to thrive after surviving such harrowing hell.
Reassuringly enough, the "Dark Side of the Sun" does not leave one completely in the dark. There is still light from the sun.
I seriously need to read more "historical romance". This one is a passable example of the unique art that is the sweeping romance set in a bygone era.
The hero of our saga is an astute and wiley operator who takes his revenge on those who had demeaned him as a [bashard] before he became a wealthy man. Of course, he is appropriately dashingly handsome.
The object of his interest/desire is a red-haired "imp" who has him beguiled with her wild ways and at times, her broken spirit. Her past is not a happy one. She is a widowed Baroness hunted for money by her brother-in-law and his despicable crew of nobility.
There is a rather good plot line and the story is indeed entertaining. Where the book falls short for me is in the character development. Most especially, Gregory Harrow the hero. I so wanted to swoon over him. I wasn't given enough to swoon about. Yes, I get he was "pretty"...and clever....and strong...even sexy sometimes but he was just a "meh" for me.
The key to an outstanding "bodice-ripper" 😁 is connecting with the hero and the heroine for that matter. I just did not connect with Mr. Harrow. "Le Swoon" was missing.
“Unless you have ridden a dangerous beast with nothing but your hands tangled in his hair, you could never feel the glorious triumph of the moment. The act ties the brute to you to a point that you would never be thrown... to the point you are one—unrestrained and beautiful.”
In the quote above Arabella, our heroine, speaks passionately about her horse. This is the type of writing needed in the mouths of our main characters about each other and their love. Too little passion-talk, sex-talk, pillow-talk and too little love-talk.
As far as being dark...oblique references are made to the abysmal abuse Arabella suffered at the hands of her deceased husband and his depraved friends. The storyline involves mainly learning to thrive after surviving such harrowing hell.
Reassuringly enough, the "Dark Side of the Sun" does not leave one completely in the dark. There is still light from the sun.
September 2, 2019
Dark Side of the Sun is on iTunes!!! I am só happy finding more and more of Addison’s beauties there,it feels like Christmas has come early this year!
Arabella has come to her final hidingplace with her small family of servants. After being on the run from her late husband’s family and friends for so long,she’s become tired of running. All she wanted was a secluded place to find a little peace,but renting Crescent Barrows from the cruel and cunning Gregory Harrow might turn out to be a mistake.....From the moment he sees her,Gregory finds her a very intrigueing woman. One he wants to see more of....and the more he sees,the more he wants her. Arabella has reason not to trust a man like him,but he is so very persistent....Can she trust him to have her best interest at heart,or will he be the one to break her indefinitely?
Keep bring your beauties to iTunes,Addison! I love it!!!
Arabella has come to her final hidingplace with her small family of servants. After being on the run from her late husband’s family and friends for so long,she’s become tired of running. All she wanted was a secluded place to find a little peace,but renting Crescent Barrows from the cruel and cunning Gregory Harrow might turn out to be a mistake.....From the moment he sees her,Gregory finds her a very intrigueing woman. One he wants to see more of....and the more he sees,the more he wants her. Arabella has reason not to trust a man like him,but he is so very persistent....Can she trust him to have her best interest at heart,or will he be the one to break her indefinitely?
Keep bring your beauties to iTunes,Addison! I love it!!!
June 20, 2024
This is one of the best historical romances I have EVER read. Addison Cain is a master storyteller and her writing style is beautiful. There are so many memorable lines. The main characters are so well-developed that it is easy to fall in love with them. The heroine is so pragmatic, strong, and good. The hero is so deliciously bad. There is delicious tension throughout the book. Gregory is my book husband. I have read this book multiple times. I love it!
Reread 6/20/24
Still love it!
Reread 6/20/24
Still love it!
January 23, 2021
3.4 stars.
Let's make one thing clear, this is not a dark romance!
It's just an average Historical Romance story with darker storyline than usual, but if you are the usual dark romance readers, this will be in the fluffy section in dark romance department.
I LOVE the hero, he is a bad guy and doing lots of bad things for his advantage but he never denied and cover up what he had done and didn't care with what others thing about him and others are afraid of him.
But for whatever bad things he has done, he never cruel or mean toward the heroine.
Now the heroine?
I’m not a fan of hers.
I should feel sorry for her. She has been abused almost all her life, first by her father then the husband, all horrendous things had been done to her and the poor thing had no spirit left, and sometimes she even suicidal!
However I don’t like her, why? Because for the little spirit she have in her, she use it to connect with her horse, okay, I don't mind with this one. But then she spent too much time with her bloody neighbours too, which one of them kind of in love with her.
She also very rude and always suspicious towards the hero while she was fine sleeping with him!
Silly Cow!! 🙄
Oh well, this book is shorter than the usual HR, so there's not much depth within the story.
But still an entertaining read, and the hero is a perfect antihero! Lol.
Oh, this book is available on KU.
Let's make one thing clear, this is not a dark romance!
It's just an average Historical Romance story with darker storyline than usual, but if you are the usual dark romance readers, this will be in the fluffy section in dark romance department.
I LOVE the hero, he is a bad guy and doing lots of bad things for his advantage but he never denied and cover up what he had done and didn't care with what others thing about him and others are afraid of him.
But for whatever bad things he has done, he never cruel or mean toward the heroine.
Now the heroine?
I’m not a fan of hers.
I should feel sorry for her. She has been abused almost all her life, first by her father then the husband, all horrendous things had been done to her and the poor thing had no spirit left, and sometimes she even suicidal!
However I don’t like her, why? Because for the little spirit she have in her, she use it to connect with her horse, okay, I don't mind with this one. But then she spent too much time with her bloody neighbours too, which one of them kind of in love with her.
She also very rude and always suspicious towards the hero while she was fine sleeping with him!
Silly Cow!! 🙄
Oh well, this book is shorter than the usual HR, so there's not much depth within the story.
But still an entertaining read, and the hero is a perfect antihero! Lol.
Oh, this book is available on KU.
February 2, 2019
4 'pleasently surprised' stars
I completely forgot to write a review for this one. I don't quite remember what I wanted to say about this book, so I will be quick.
It took me some time to get invested in the story. I found it a little boring at the beginning and I couldn't connect with characters at first. But after a few chapters, things got interesting. Arabella really grew on me. Her story was very sad. I liked how strong she was, how determined that she would put her life together again. And I most liked the relationship between her and her servants/ more friends than servants. Around the half of the book, I even warmed up to Gregory. He was more of a grumpy jerk than a true anti-hero. And he actually became rather sweet to Arabella at the end.
I expected a much darker story. I think that Addison Cain is more known for her darker books, so with 'dark' in the title, I thought this one would be too. However, it is more a darkish historical romance than some kind of dark erotica. Now, I need to go searching if there are more books like that. I like my historical romances with a little dark and brutal flavor. Hope Cain will write more historicals like Dark Side of the Sun.
I completely forgot to write a review for this one. I don't quite remember what I wanted to say about this book, so I will be quick.
It took me some time to get invested in the story. I found it a little boring at the beginning and I couldn't connect with characters at first. But after a few chapters, things got interesting. Arabella really grew on me. Her story was very sad. I liked how strong she was, how determined that she would put her life together again. And I most liked the relationship between her and her servants/ more friends than servants. Around the half of the book, I even warmed up to Gregory. He was more of a grumpy jerk than a true anti-hero. And he actually became rather sweet to Arabella at the end.
Staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling, laying on a rich bed in a strange room, she tangled her hands in the dark waves of the man who spoke of love and murder in the same breath.
I expected a much darker story. I think that Addison Cain is more known for her darker books, so with 'dark' in the title, I thought this one would be too. However, it is more a darkish historical romance than some kind of dark erotica. Now, I need to go searching if there are more books like that. I like my historical romances with a little dark and brutal flavor. Hope Cain will write more historicals like Dark Side of the Sun.
April 17, 2024
This was an interesting mess.
The author’s prose style is murky. First, it was hard to discern whether some of the choppy, fragmented, poorly punctuated writing was lack of proofreading or the author’s intention. Either way, it was hard to plow through at times. Wrong words were occasionally used. Was it ignorance or autocorrect? I don’t know. But my biggest complaint was the unsubtle overuse of the same words: everyone was either leering or sneering, scowling, taunting, snarling, spiteful, scornful, mocking, or snide. In.Every.Scene. Yeah, yeah, I get it. This is “dark.” It can be dark with a bigger vocabulary.
But the characters were extremely interesting. The basic story was a cliche—young bride is abused by noble husband who dies and she’s determined to avoid marriage in the future—but that basic premise is magnified and embellished in fascinating/repulsive ways until it reaches the threshold of gothic. The heroine, Arabella, is sympathetic but frustrating. The “hero” does most of the sneering and scowling although it is unclear exactly why, except allusions to an unhappy childhood are made, and he doesn’t hesitate to ruin, bankrupt, or kill whoever displeases him.
Harrow’s feelings for Arabella are believable. Arabella’s feelings for Harrow are believable. Everything else is up for interpretation.
The author’s prose style is murky. First, it was hard to discern whether some of the choppy, fragmented, poorly punctuated writing was lack of proofreading or the author’s intention. Either way, it was hard to plow through at times. Wrong words were occasionally used. Was it ignorance or autocorrect? I don’t know. But my biggest complaint was the unsubtle overuse of the same words: everyone was either leering or sneering, scowling, taunting, snarling, spiteful, scornful, mocking, or snide. In.Every.Scene. Yeah, yeah, I get it. This is “dark.” It can be dark with a bigger vocabulary.
But the characters were extremely interesting. The basic story was a cliche—young bride is abused by noble husband who dies and she’s determined to avoid marriage in the future—but that basic premise is magnified and embellished in fascinating/repulsive ways until it reaches the threshold of gothic. The heroine, Arabella, is sympathetic but frustrating. The “hero” does most of the sneering and scowling although it is unclear exactly why, except allusions to an unhappy childhood are made, and he doesn’t hesitate to ruin, bankrupt, or kill whoever displeases him.
Harrow’s feelings for Arabella are believable. Arabella’s feelings for Harrow are believable. Everything else is up for interpretation.
May 8, 2017
Loved it! Rates right up there with my favorite historical novel
Redeeming Love!!!
Gregory won my heart immediately!
This was Def not your Momma's typical Bodice Ripper, it was simply Historical completely at its best.
Redeeming Love!!!
Gregory won my heart immediately!
This was Def not your Momma's typical Bodice Ripper, it was simply Historical completely at its best.
January 9, 2019
DNF 35%. Awkward phrasings at time. Incongruent behaviours.
April 5, 2025
It feelt very intense to read the book and I enjoyed it. But I didn't quite like the ending, or rather what happened to someone. But it was a good book.
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