The Darkest Morning could not have been more perfectly titled. Once you dive in, the meaning behind it really hits. I loved catching up with Summer and Lloyd from Silent Night (Book 7). Watching them grow from dating to marriage was such a treat, and they still balance each other beautifully. What struck me most was Lloyd. On the outside, he’s confident, clear on his goals, his marriage, and his future. Yet deep down, he’s still chasing his father’s approval. His father was proud of his sons but could never say it out loud, and that silence weighed on Lloyd. The Nigerian father-son dynamic felt real and heartbreaking at the same time.
I appreciated the mother’s wisdom in explaining his father’s withdrawal, but I still found myself frustrated. There are so many ways to build a man up without tearing him down. And while the father helped shape his sons, his weakness as a serial cheater made me question why she stayed with him. The story showed how family and marriage can be both messy and meaningful, and it left me satisfied and eager for more in this series.
SIDENOTE (aka “Don’t come for my stars!”):
Just a quick heads-up my ratings are based on whether I’d reread the book or add it to my personal collection, not the quality of the story itself. So here’s how I roll:
5 🤩 = I’m obsessed with everything the storyline, the author, and the narrators! I read it yearly and own ALL the copies: physical, digital, and Audible. I can basically recite this book. It lives in my private library.
4 🌟 = Loved the story, the author, and the narrator (if it’s audio). I’d happily reread it when I need a solid comfort read.
3 ✨ = Enjoyed the story, the author, and definitely the narrators. A great addition to my yearly reading challenge likely to revisit if it’s part of a series I need to refresh.