What do you think?
Rate this book
Darkest #1
Darkest Hours
When small town librarian Ebony learns of her illness, she is devastated to think of the many things she has missed out on in life . . . especially true love.
Ashe, however, has experienced nearly everything during his considerable years as a vampire and thinks only one thing about love . . . never again.
When fate throws the two together on a journey laced with deceit and lies, Ebony and Ashe discover the one thing neither thought to ever find . . . love.
Can Ebony convince Ashe that true love lasts forever? Can Ashe overcome the betrayal of his past in time to save Ebony?
Ashe, however, has experienced nearly everything during his considerable years as a vampire and thinks only one thing about love . . . never again.
When fate throws the two together on a journey laced with deceit and lies, Ebony and Ashe discover the one thing neither thought to ever find . . . love.
Can Ebony convince Ashe that true love lasts forever? Can Ashe overcome the betrayal of his past in time to save Ebony?
165 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 12, 2009
156 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 22, 2010
I loved reading about the Aleksandrow’s whole family of course, they are a little different, then most families. For one they have to drink small amounts of blood to live. There are 3 brothers Ashe, Aldin and Aiston. One sister Estirl and of course, they live in a mansion with an west wing. This was a fun exciting read that has a good mystery, danger, nasty villains, humor and a few surprises. I really like how S.K. brings you into their vampire world. I found it easily explained, so I didn’t get confused with vampire terms or wording (whichever you call it).
Avril learns she is dying. On her way home she runs into a tall dark stranger named Ashe. When she gets home she is attacked by something or someone. Her tall dark stranger comes in and saves her. From there Ashe has to bring her back to his house so he can find her attacker and kill whoever it is.
Ashe is the oldest brother’s. He has had a mate in the past that is now dead. So it was a giant surprise to find Avirl could see him while he was hunting and had himself shielded against people. Only a mate would be able to do that. Now that his mates life hangs on the line even more than he knows he as to pull out all the stops to save her.
I enjoyed both Avirl and Ashe. It takes a little for both of them to learn to trust. This is what I would call a mush story, but I found it really worked for these two. I found the sex between these two to be hot and in the right amount.
This story is long enough that you can sink your teeth into and really enjoy it. You also get to read enough about the rest of the family and Avirl’s best friend, this way you already know some about them before the next books.
Avril learns she is dying. On her way home she runs into a tall dark stranger named Ashe. When she gets home she is attacked by something or someone. Her tall dark stranger comes in and saves her. From there Ashe has to bring her back to his house so he can find her attacker and kill whoever it is.
Ashe is the oldest brother’s. He has had a mate in the past that is now dead. So it was a giant surprise to find Avirl could see him while he was hunting and had himself shielded against people. Only a mate would be able to do that. Now that his mates life hangs on the line even more than he knows he as to pull out all the stops to save her.
I enjoyed both Avirl and Ashe. It takes a little for both of them to learn to trust. This is what I would call a mush story, but I found it really worked for these two. I found the sex between these two to be hot and in the right amount.
This story is long enough that you can sink your teeth into and really enjoy it. You also get to read enough about the rest of the family and Avirl’s best friend, this way you already know some about them before the next books.
January 30, 2011
Okay...first things first. I am the queen of typos, but even I have to mention that this ebook was HORRIBLY formatted. The author used italics to show when the vamps were chatting with each other with their minds. However, italics were popping up random places and it became really confusing. Also, quotes were all over the dang place. By the end I just stared ignoring the quotation marks, because every 100 locations or so they were in the wrong spot.
Now....the good....this was an interesting world, an interesting story line, and the characters had the potential to be great.
Our heroine just finds out she's dying. She runs into a hulking vampire dude while trying to avoid telling her best friend about her horrible news. She gets attacked by the bad/evil vampires and is whisked away to hunky dude's mansion for protection. Sexual tension, confined space, and the likelyhood that they are fated to be together by way of vampire magic/voodoo/whatever.
Honestly, if I tell the story to myself, I love the book. BUT...I could not get into the story under the author's voice. I felt like new vampire mythology was introduced when it was needed to work out of a plot issue. The dialogue seemed to start and stop at odd places. And by this I mean that a conversation would start out in a dialogue session and then the author would tell us what they said without actually showing us the conversation.
There were also multiple POVs in here. It was difficult for me to connect with any characters because just when I was about to get inside their head, I switched views.
I am so bummed. The world created has some unique ideas about vampires, and the characters have an interesting past, and interesting personality traits. However, I could not find myself enjoying any of it, due to the style of writing. I felt rushed through some scenes and then felt like I was being drug along others kicking and screaming.
For me the book could have ended a few chapters earlier and made more sence. The end drug on for me. Our conflict was resolved long before the end. I felt the epilogue started another story rather than completing the one we are hearing.
I don't think I'll be continuing this series. I'm giving this one 2 stars. It ranks okay for me. There were just too many things that pulled me out of what could have been a great story.
Now....the good....this was an interesting world, an interesting story line, and the characters had the potential to be great.
Our heroine just finds out she's dying. She runs into a hulking vampire dude while trying to avoid telling her best friend about her horrible news. She gets attacked by the bad/evil vampires and is whisked away to hunky dude's mansion for protection. Sexual tension, confined space, and the likelyhood that they are fated to be together by way of vampire magic/voodoo/whatever.
Honestly, if I tell the story to myself, I love the book. BUT...I could not get into the story under the author's voice. I felt like new vampire mythology was introduced when it was needed to work out of a plot issue. The dialogue seemed to start and stop at odd places. And by this I mean that a conversation would start out in a dialogue session and then the author would tell us what they said without actually showing us the conversation.
There were also multiple POVs in here. It was difficult for me to connect with any characters because just when I was about to get inside their head, I switched views.
I am so bummed. The world created has some unique ideas about vampires, and the characters have an interesting past, and interesting personality traits. However, I could not find myself enjoying any of it, due to the style of writing. I felt rushed through some scenes and then felt like I was being drug along others kicking and screaming.
For me the book could have ended a few chapters earlier and made more sence. The end drug on for me. Our conflict was resolved long before the end. I felt the epilogue started another story rather than completing the one we are hearing.
I don't think I'll be continuing this series. I'm giving this one 2 stars. It ranks okay for me. There were just too many things that pulled me out of what could have been a great story.
April 5, 2010
Ebony has just found out that she is terminally ill. She is walking home contemplating life and what she feels she has missed out on. She walks through an alley and bumps right in to Ashe. He is typically "shielded" during the day as he hunts. The only people who can see him are other vampires and his "one true mate". She sees him and, of course does not understand the magnitude of this. He is stubbornly ignoring the facts because he has sworn off find love again. He has to step in and help her though, when she is attacked by an enemy. After that he has to take her to his home and protect her until he can figure out whats going on. During that time they have to figure out their feelings for each other, explain to her what he really is, and protect her from an old enemy as well...
This book had it all. It had that delicious "mate" thing that we all love so much. The sexy alpha male who would die for his woman, the fun loving siblings and friends that more stories can be written about, the intrigue, suspense, and romance as well. It was very well rounded. Neither the hero or heroine were overly annoying or too stubborn for the other one. They were genuine and sincere with each other. The love scenes were hot. Ashe was so loving and careful with Ebony. I loved his consideration and how he cared for her every need. And I also love how this author didn't need to create an entire book of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Anytime there was any kind of issue, it was immediately dealt with and explained. Now how hard is that to do!?... It wasn't so gut wrenching and frustrating. It was refreshing and a total delight to read.
Loved it!!!
This book had it all. It had that delicious "mate" thing that we all love so much. The sexy alpha male who would die for his woman, the fun loving siblings and friends that more stories can be written about, the intrigue, suspense, and romance as well. It was very well rounded. Neither the hero or heroine were overly annoying or too stubborn for the other one. They were genuine and sincere with each other. The love scenes were hot. Ashe was so loving and careful with Ebony. I loved his consideration and how he cared for her every need. And I also love how this author didn't need to create an entire book of misunderstandings and miscommunications. Anytime there was any kind of issue, it was immediately dealt with and explained. Now how hard is that to do!?... It wasn't so gut wrenching and frustrating. It was refreshing and a total delight to read.
Loved it!!!
May 30, 2012
3.5 Stars
Ebony White has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, at the young age of 27. Her biggest regret is not having lived life to the fullest. Shy and introverted, she had planned to save herself for marriage and that all-consuming love. Now it seems that dream will never come true, as time is running out quickly.
Ashe Aleksandrov is a 700 year old vampire. He's seen and done just about everything, and he's tired of it all. The woman he thought was his "life love" had betrayed him and nearly led him to his death. Since then he's vowed never to trust another woman ever again.
When Ebony bumps into Ashe, literally, he's shocked. Only other vampires or immortals should be able to see him in his shielded state. The only human that can see a shielded vampire is his or her life love. He refuses to believe that she could be his mate and follows her home. He arrives just in time to save her from being attacked by a drudge (vampire servant). He's up front with her and tells her what he is, and what had tried to attack her. He insists she'll be safer at his estate until he can find out why she was targeted and by whom. It doesn't take long for their instant attraction to lead to more, even though he fights his feelings for her every step of the way. When she's kidnapped from right under his nose, he has no idea that his future as well as his past are about to collide.
Overall I liked the story. The plot was nothing new. It was cliche and predictable for the most part, but I just enjoy a big, bad, tortured hero being brought to his knees by a gentle human heroine. I don't have anything positive or negative to say about the H/H. They were good together, but I didn't feel a connection to them. I also enjoyed The Master's (the villain) POV because it never gave enough away to guess who the bad guy was. My biggest disappointment with this story was the climax, or rather the revelation of The Master. I was expecting a really devious plot with a lot of suspense building up to it. Instead I felt deflated when I discovered that the bad guys were
I would still consider reading the rest of the series though.
October 19, 2012
3.75 Ebony just found out she has terminal cancer. On her way home she runs into Ashe while he's hunting. Ashe is a vampire and is shielded from human eyes while hunting. Legend says if a human can see you while shielded then they are your soul mate. After running into Ashe she is attacked by a another vampires minion. Ashe takes her to his house in order to protect her. Being under the same roof makes it almost impossible to ignore their attraction. Ashe has no desire for a mate he's been burned before and Ebony is scared to commit because she's dying. This was a little predictable but then most PNR is if you're going to get your HEA. I will read more of this authors work in the future.
June 3, 2013
I Loved it! It's definately one of my favourite vampire stories & I'm really looking forward to reading book 2!!!
February 20, 2012
3.5/5
Nice read. Kept me interested throughout. Goung on to read book 2.
Nice read. Kept me interested throughout. Goung on to read book 2.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews