Wednesday, June 10, 2015

review || MEET ME IN THE DARK













Meet Me In The Dark (A Dark Suspense) by JA Huss

Publisher: Science Future Press (4/15/2015)
Genres:Contemporary Romantic Suspense
Source: Purchased
Purchase links || amazon | bn | kobo || add to goodreads

Rating: ★★★1/2






He’s empty, inhuman, dishonest, and cruel.
She’s never wanted anyone more.

Sydney has lived in fear for eight years after freelance assassin, Merc, failed to rescue her from a cult-like militia group. Left in the hands of a sadistic man, she did whatever it took to survive. But Merc’s last words gave her hope. Hope he’d be back to finish the job.

After Merc is betrayed by her father, Sydney becomes his target. He wields sex, drugs, lies, and love like weapons. Merc knows just what to do with a fearful girl like Sydney. He’s in control. He’s always in control.

But Sydney Channing is not what she appears. And Merc’s only redeeming act—the very one that made Sydney’s life a living hell—might just be his worst mistake yet.

WARNING: Meet Me In The Dark is a STANDALONE, non-traditional, DARK ,CAPTIVE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. It is not intended for sensitive readers.

MEET ME IN THE DARK IS A STANDALONE, romantic suspense novel ON SALE NOW.





about JA Huss || JA Huss is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than twenty romances. She likes stories about family, loyalty, and extraordinary characters who struggle with basic human emotions while dealing with bigger than life problems. JA loves writing heroes who make you swoon, heroines who makes you jealous, and the perfect Happily Ever After ending.

You can chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AuthorJAHuss), Twitter (@jahuss), and her kick-ass romance blog, New Adult Addiction (www.newadultaddiction.com).

If you're interested in getting your hands on an advanced release copy of her upcoming books, sneak peek teasers, or information on her upcoming personal appearances, you can join her newsletter list (http://eepurl.com/JVhAr) and get those details delivered right to your inbox.




{ review } .

I debated about which point I should stop my thoughts from coming across in this review, but in the end I decided, "You know what? I review romances so therefore it is ok for me to touch on the romance of this dark disturbing novel."

But please make no mistake -- this story certainly isn't rainbows and butterflies.

Even with the warning that this was a dark romance, my goodness gracious it was almost disturbingly dark. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into, and I couldn't fathom how it was going to turn around to become romantic in any shape or form.

The beginning has Sydney scrambling to get away from a terrible life, and who she thinks is her savior ends up growling at her and leaving her to fend for herself because he was there for the other girl, Sasha, but he leaves her with the promise he'd be back for her...

...not said in a loving way, of course, but a "you best watch your back" kind of way. Sydney has held on to this comment for years, hoping and praying that he'd be the one to save her.

For as much darkness as Sydney had seen in her life, she was awfully optimistic and naive when it came to Merc (or is it Case -- a distinction he hates her using?). Even when he was stripping her and dousing her with cold, hard-streamed water, part of her held out for the good. Eventually, though, she begins to break down and realize that he's exactly what he says he is...

The problem is, when she starts to realize this, he starts to realize the way her life has been broken and re-formed, and it, quite frankly, pisses him off. But while it angers him, he tries to use these new realizations to his advantage -- he is, after all, certain that she holds the answer to his biggest question.

"..that's all life is. Just one moment after another. Stacked on top of each other...Stackable moments lead to things. Sometimes things you planned. But sometimes they lead to new things. Things you didn't plan."
The moments that formed the lives of Sydney and Case were dark and hard. When Case started being (consistently) kind to Sydney, I was a bit baffled. There was some sort of disconnect to me but I did enjoy the change. Thankfully, though, Sydney had lost her naivety by this point and it took Case some work to get her to trust him. 

I originally read this book when it released -- it was my midnight one click purchase (dangerous button...). After a few failed starts, I read it from front to back in four hours, completely attuned to their deep, twisted story. However, it then took two months to figure out how to write the review. I would open this draft up, look at the paragraph I had, and close it again. I would do the same a week later, and the week after that, and the week after that. I don't think I hit on everything that dragged me in to the rabbit hole (ooh, see what I did that? No? You should read the book) that was MEET ME IN THE DARK, but it is definitely a book I'll revisit. The next post on this blog will belong to the next book in this 321 series, and it's Sasha's book. These books are complete standalones, but I'm curious if we'll get any more Case/Sydney insight... Because like I said, I was disturbingly drawn to them.

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