Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness 2) by Claire Contreras

Reviewed by Donna and Willow.

What Donna says: 4.5 Stars

This is the sequel to There is No Light In Darkness so you must have read that book first!! Once you have read that you will know that it ended on a MASSIVE cliffhanger and I was ready to do some serious damage to Claire Contreras for leaving it like that…but I recovered….just!!!! and soaked it all up until I got my grubby mitts on Darkness Before Dawn and I was not disappointed. My only reason for dropping that half a star was during this book I was confused, very confused…I needed a family tree or something as everyone just seemed to know or be related to everyone and my poor brain just couldn’t compute.

I cannot really say too much about the story or plot as it would just give too much away, but it does pick up where TINLID finished. I loved that we got Cole’s point of view in this book, this book is told in alternating POV’s with Blake. I didn’t think it was possible but I fell in love with the characters even more in this book. Blake is as ballsy as they come and even though she was going through something so bad she never lost her mojo..she is so strong and feisty and she really needed it in this book. There are a LOT of things revealed in this book that would send most to an early grave but with the love and support from all her friends and especially Cole she got through it.

Cole Cole Cole, he was just totally adorable, he was perfect, romantic, protective, devoted, passionate….I could go on and on…but there was no doubt that he was head over heads totally in too deep in love with Blake and it just oozed off the page and the feeling was totally mutual. Their relationship was beautiful, just beautiful.

There were a lot of new characters in this book and I had a real soft spot for Dean, I knew there was more to him than met the eye and when the time came he was there for Blake. He was very misunderstood but his heart is definitely in the right place.

A few of my favourite quotes:-

“My soul belongs to you, Blake. I go where you go. I can’t live without you. – I don’t want to live without you. If you die tomorrow, I die with you. I don’t know how many times or how many ways I’m going to have to say that to you for it to stick, but if I have to say it every single day for the rest of my life, I will.”

“You can’t be serious” he mutters, shaking his head “Blake, your past is my past, your present is my present and your future is my future. I bear the weight of everything that happens in your life. How can you not see that?”

And one for a laugh “No way! You’re interviewing Jack Carter?” I squeal, fully turning in my seat to face him . “Like THE Jack Carter? Like Jack Effin Carter?”

A lot of the loose ends were tied up from the first book in this installment and there were a few curve balls thrown in there just to spice it up…there were a lot of O M Geeeeees and really???? and I can’t believe that…there were a few, I need to take a breath and digest…there was lots of sappy lovey dovey face pulling, laughter, tears all the perfect ingredients for a fab read which this totally was.

I loved it, really loved it…just wish I had that family tree as I am sure I missed some deets!!

Brilliant!!

What Willow says: 4.5 Stars

I loved There is No Light in Darkness (you can see my 5 star review here) and I still believe that it had THE worst cliffhanger I've ever read so I was desperate to get my hands on and read Darkness before Dawn. Sometimes when you are so desperate to read a book you build up this expectation, this hype in your head and occasionally you're disappointed because you've built it up so much - let me just say, this totally not one of those books!

 It was absolutely brilliant! I didn't want to put it down. Sometimes I am so excited about a book that I read it quickly, but with this one I found myself actually taking it slow, taking it all in, savoring EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. Claire's writing is so effortless to read and she writes some beautiful romantic things but what I love is the whole mystery/suspense side in this book.

For me this one was more about the mystery and finding answers than Cole and Blake's relationship story. I know some people have said that everyone's connections to each other got a bit confusing at times, but whilst I agree there were a lot of connections, I felt confident that I knew who was who, so I don't think everyone will feel that way. 

I love love love books told from alternative POV and it was great have Cole's POV. I didn't think it was possible to love him more, but apparently it is! I could totally understand where he was coming from how he felt about Blake being friends with a certain person. Blake, as before, is a very likable character, although in this book I didn't agree with some of the things she did.

There were definitely moments where I was shouting hell no at my kindle and there is some heartbreak in this story, just the right amount to keep it interesting. I want to have a rant about a certain character, but I don't want to give any of the story away, so you'll just have to read it!

I really don't want to do it but I'm taking half a star off because if I'm being honest with myself there were some scenes or situations that I would have liked fleshed out more. Sometimes the wrap up didn't quite seem enough, but that's only a minor point because I did totally LOVE this book!

If you haven't read There is No Light in Darkness or Darkness Before Dawn, you really should they are fantastic books!

Dawn's review to come.      

We have an interview with author Claire Contreras coming up on the blog today and a giveaway! so stay tuned!