In Darkness: The Shark

by L. Diane Wolfe

Souls shrouded in darkness…

Focused on her studies and duties at the aquarium, Jewels prefers her solitary life. Burned many times and short on trust, she has more in common with her aquatic friends than the people around her. But she never imagined coming face to face with a shark named Clarence…a shark who talks!

As their friendship grows, Jewels must overcome her deep set mistrust. There are dangers, both in the Australian ocean and on dry land. Can Jewels depend on the great white or will his animal nature betray her?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Novella

86 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

L. Diane Wolfe
Professional Speaker & Author
www.spunkonastick.net
www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. She conducts seminars on book publishing, promoting, leadership, and goal-setting, and she offers book formatting and author consultation. Wolfe is the senior editor at Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. and the author of numerous books. She travels for media interviews and speaking engagements and maintains numerous websites & blogs, including the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.

Reviews

[Beth Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!


Jewels trusts no one, she's been hurt too many times by people that should be protecting her. So when she saves a great white from a tidal pool and he speaks to her, can she put her trust in him and where will it get her?


This is a lovely written story. It's the second novella in the Darkness series but can be read as a stand-alone. There is adventure, the growth of the characters, and a little bit of heartbreak. It's an easy read and can be quite quickly read but the story is enjoyable.


A recommendation by me.


** same worded review will appear elsewhere **



* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

[lacy white · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: In Darkness: The Shark
Author: L. Diane Wolfe
Genre: Contemporary
Format: eARC from author
Series: NA
Star Rating: 4 stars

A special thank you goes to Dancing Lemur Press LLC for giving me a copy of this book. Please know that this does not influence my rating or thoughts on the book itself.

tw: mentions of physical abuse, parental abandonment, infidelity, animal captivity

I am so shocked because I loved this book so much and it was a book that was so unlike anything I have ever read. I had no idea what to think of this book when I agreed to read it. I basically agreed because it was unlike anything I’ve ever read and I have been trying to broaden my horizons when it comes to new books. But I decided why not to give it a shot.

And I am so glad I did. I absolutely loved this book! It was so cheesy but it was just so cute! I loved every moment of it. It was a lovely break from all the other books I’ve been reading lately. I needed a nice, fun cute little book especially since I have been in retail hell. It has been so insanely busy for me this time of year. It was busier this year than last year so needless to say, my mind has been mush. This was just the book I needed after a long day of working and taking care of the baby. It was an incredibly easy read and I breezed right through it.

The relationship between Jewels and Clarence (by the way, who names a shark, especially a great white shark Clarence?). I think they had a beautiful friendship. Clarence was so respectful about Jewels and her fears when it came to trusting people since she had been hurt in the past. He always made sure that she was safe and that he would never do anything to hurt her. I loved that the trust they had in each other built up naturally. It wasn’t forced or anything.

The ending was slightly unrealistic, even for what the whole entire book was about. But I can forgive that. I got the ending I wanted and that’s all that matters, in my world anyway. I kind am hoping for a sequel if I am being honest. I would love to see how their relationship progresses.

Overall, this was a perfect little book. It was super cute and cheesy. I also think it’ll help people to realize that sharks, especially great whites, aren’t the absolute monsters people think they are. They are seriously misunderstood animals and I hope that by people reading this review (and hopefully the book), they will realize that they aren’t monsters. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.

[Sandra Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read and a different twist on an old tale.
Jewels is a loner, her only interest, the ocean and marine biology. It’s not that she doesn’t like people, but she’s been hurt and doesn’t want to be again. Then her life turns upside down and she cautiously learns to trust again when a shark becomes her new best friend.
Recommended for those who love sea life, fantasy and a heartwarming ending.

[Nat Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect, but it wasn't a warm, sweet story of trust and friendship. I greatly enjoyed this short work and fell in love with Clarence. The plot was fairly predictable, but it was a great feel good story, one I needed and enjoyed.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that each story is standalone with interconnected themes rather than characters.

Jewels are fascinated with the ocean and the animals but are well aware of the dangers. This book starts rather intriguing. I'm a little baffled by the first chapter. Honestly, I am still determining where this story is going. Still, its originality is sucking me in, and I am waiting to see what happens. The basis of the storyline is out there, even for a paranormal shifter book. But this has originality.

Jewel's relationship with a great white shark is impressive. The interactions become so much more than enemies; their time together establishes a bond built with trust and experience. Clarence unexpectedly becomes more than she ever realized he could.

This is a short paranormal story, but what it lacks in length, it makes up for in originality. The story has a unique concept in it for a shifter. I wished it was longer as I enjoyed the premise. I love that this took place on the beach and had many memorable moments.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novella in a paranormal and fantasy romance series that can be enjoyed as a standalone. The story is about Jewels, a woman who works at an aquarium and befriends a talking great white shark named Clarence. I really loved how the author developed their friendship, as Jewels have trust issues due to being deceived by her father. Even though the story lacked additional subplots and excitement, it was still a quick and easy read with a unique concept. I was just left wanting more. The characters were different, and I enjoyed the memorable moments that took place on the beach. Overall, it was an entertaining read. I recommend giving it a shot if you're into paranormal and fantasy romances.

[Toi Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5

The only reason this delightful short isn't a 5-star read is simply because I felt the climax and turning point happened too close together at the end of the story. The ending seemed to come too soon. It's a pacing issue. I wish I knew more about the why of the climax but that isn't a big enough problem to change the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I look forward to others in this series.

Highly recommended.

[Cat Strawberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a brilliant story with such a heart-warming ending! Jewels decides to visit the sea during low tide at dawn to try and spot an octopus she’s been keen to see. But while searching the tidepools she comes face to face with a shark, a shark that seems to be able to talk. At first Jewels thinks it’s a joke someone is playing on her, but as she begins to speak more and more with the shark, she begins to form a special bond with it. But when the great white, named Clarence, gets himself stuck in a rogue fishing net, Jewels has to rescue him, even if it means showing other people that she is able to communicate with the deadly predator.

This is such a fun story and so easy to get into from the start. Jewels loves working at the aquarium in Australia, and before dawn one morning decides to head to a cove at low tide to try and spot some marine life, but she doesn’t expect a great white shark to be stuck in a tide pool, especially one that asks for her help. I love what happens with this story as Jewels slowly forms a friendship with the shark who seems to be able to communicate with her, and her alone, through speech. At first Jewels finds it a struggle to trust Clarence, it’s a great white shark after all, but as the story progresses we find out more about Jewels’s past, why she struggles to trust anyone, including Clarence, and how the two become closer and develop a lovely friendship.

The idea of a talking shark is one that is so different, it made this book so interesting to me. I love what happens as the two get closer and how Clarence the shark seems to care about Jewels and is different from other great white sharks out there. This is a novella of less than a hundred pages, and I couldn’t stop reading this once I had started and finished it in less than a couple of hours! What happens after Clarence gets stuck in a fishing net is interesting and I love how their close friendship and bond continues despite what is happening in the story, and the build up to the ending is dramatic and exciting, and also pulls at your heart strings too.

The story has a good and satisfying ending, I won’t reveal what happens but as it’s approaching the last chapter there is a heart-breaking moment and you wonder what will happen, but then the last chapter finishes in such a perfect way and made me smile so much. It’s just the perfect ending to this story and such a beautiful one too! There is only one use of the s swear word and nothing really upsetting in the book, apart from what happens near the ending although the last chapter makes you feel so good after what you read.

Overall I would recommend this short novella to anyone who loves a good fantasy story, set in the modern day, and a bit of a romance too, and it will appeal especially to anyone who loves the idea of a talking animal, especially a shark. It’s such a unique story but so perfect and I can’t wait to read In Darkness: The Werewolf which will be published later this year too!
-Thanks to Dancing Lemur Press for a free copy.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising read. I didn’t know what to expect but having a shark for a friend certainly got my attention. The length might be a novella, but it packs a powerful punch when it comes to the storytelling.

I’ll be truthful, there was a moment during the net scene where I thought all my worst tropes and cliches were about to come true and I was stressed and sad. The story was so different and interesting, cute and fun and I really didn’t want it to go in that direction. Well, it sort of did yet didn’t. It followed the science to some degree, and yes, human nature did get in the way as I knew it would. However, compassionate minds prevailed, and the sought-for solution was achieved, yet the consequences couldn’t be prevented. All that to say, my emotions were engaged, I cared and totally was into the groove of the whole story in all its ups and downs.

Now, here is the weird part. It really is a romance story but it’s highly unconventional. It’s sweet and endearing and, I realized when I was almost done with the book, that love really was growing between Clarence and Jewels. It happened through trust and communication. When those two things are all you have, it builds a foundation not distracted by physical attraction, social conventions and shallow presentation. It’s pure and honest. And that’s what the crux of the plot conflict was. Jewels has been hurt so much in her young life that she doesn’t trust anyone – anyone human that is. Clarence has to earn her trust. I mean, he IS a great white shark, and we all know about the movie JAWS and how that story affected people across the world – fear and terror. Now do you see why I found the premise of this book so incredibly fascinating? Add in that it’s a romance and my curiosity got the better of me. I had to find out how this would work. Enter the paranormal aspect. It arrives in a gentle manner. There’s no explanation of how things came to be, they just are. It’s up to a reader to decide what power might have been responsible for it but the end result is just beautiful. It’s happy and it made me happy.

The Shark is unusual fun, a unique adventure of friendship, and proof that love can grow when you have the basics – trust, communication, the ability to learn and have fun, and the willingness to go out on a limb for the one you love. I definitely recommend this story.

[Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Darkness series by L. Diane Wolfe are novellas with paranormal and fantasy romances at their core. Each of them is good to be read as a standalone. The 1st book in the series had vampires in focus while this one focuses on a shapeshifter theme.

Jewels is comfortable around sea animals after having been cheated and lied to by her father and is wary of trusting people. While exploring the tidepools for aquatic life, she comes face to face with a shark who can talk. Naming the great white shark Clarence, getting to know him, and being comfortable in his presence becomes the highlight of her days. The friendship has been developed wonderfully by the author as Jewels struggle to let go of her mistrust and feel safe in the presence of a predator. Honestly, the ball throw game made me think of a dolphin rather than a shark.

After reading The Vampire, In Darkness-The Shark was a little disappointing. I wasn’t able to connect to Jewels’ as a character. The first book was more cohesive as a whole, maybe with the search for an elusive treasure providing the impetus, but here, there is no additional subplots and except for the minor tension of using the shark as a display showpiece in the aquarium, the story does not provide much stimulation. In all, an easy and quick entertaining read. I do believe though that the story deserves a better cover image.

Many thanks to Dancing Lemur Press, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

This review is published in my blog Rain'n'Books, ##Goodreads, ##Amazon India, ##Book Bub, ##Medium.com, ##Facebook, ##Twitter.

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Grand Read.

L. Diane Wolfe writes a paranormal tale with In Darkness: The Shark. This book is part of the In Darkness series, and this is volume two. The reader is introduced to Jewels, an introvert who works at an aquarium, and her only friends are pretty much the aquatics she takes care of. Then, she meets Clarence... a talking shark. Something about this shark, she can't get over, but they become friends, real friends, and she learns about trust, something that is hard for her to do. Taking place in Australia, there are great dangers that she doesn't quite understand. Clarence is a great white shark, and has abilities that she doesn't understand, but seems to take in stride. The characters are so real, it's like being with them within the story. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. It is always an honor to read L. Diane Wolfe's books. The reader just embarks on an interesting journey. There is definite character growth in Jewels, and it makes the story seem almost real. In Darkness: The Shark is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.

[Sherry Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jewels, a young marine biologist, meets a great white shark stuck in a tidal pool. Fearing the creature, she tries to walk away but stops when she hears a voice calling. So begins an unlikely friendship between Jewels and a talking shark.

In Darkness: The Shark, is about friendship and learning to trust. It's a unique story with a special twist. Recommended for those who enjoy paranormal fantasy and romance.

[Victoria Liiv · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading The Vampire, this one left me highly disappointed. Firstly, being also an In Darkness book it had no connection whatsoever to The Vampire. It isn't in taking place in the same world, not even in the same decade.
The Shark reads like a children's book. The plot is boring to me, there's a lot of repetition. It honestly didn't pull me in and I really wanted to like it!

[Carmen]

Review coming soon! : )

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

I'm going to struggle with this review, and I apologise for that. The reviews for books that do not garner much of any feelings from me (either positive or negative) I find the hardest to write.

I liked the tale, I did, it just came across a bit sappy for me. I liked the twist as to who/what Clarence really is, although I kinda saw something along those lines coming at me.

It is clean, there is no violence, save for the shark getting caught in the fishing net. I've tagged it Young Adult, because I think this is probably more suited to an upper teen (14-18) than for me.

First I've read of this author. Will I read more? Not of this series, no. Possibly something else, though.

I DID finish it, so that's why I gave it. . .

3 stars

*same worded review will appear elsewhere