Book Review: Hearts in Darkness by Laura Kaye

Title: Hearts in Darkness (Novella)
Series: Standalone
Author: Laura Kaye
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: 04/21/2011
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Republished: 05/19/2013
Publisher: Laura Kaye
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance

DESCRIPTION

Two strangers...

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stranded in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call, the pin-striped accountant catches only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights go out.

Four hours...

Caden Grayson is amused when a harried redhead dashes into his elevator fumbling her bags and cell phone. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.

One pitch-black elevator...

To fight fear, they must reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

MY THOUGHTS The opening quote by William Shakespeare is most appropriate: "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." Most short stories and novellas are difficult for me to appreciate completely, but I fully appreciated all one hundred and twelve pages of Hearts in Darkness. What an intriguing idea it was to have the characters meet in that manner. The delightful ways they passed the time in the elevator...ALL the ways! *fans herself* After the elevator was wonderful too—after the feelings of awkwardness and doubt were pushed aside. It's said that you can't judge a book by its cover, but it was the evocative cover that first got my attention. The story that followed more than held it! And the ending? It wasn't what I feel is fairly typical of short stories, it was propitiously perfect!

HIGHLIGHTS

"When I finally got over the worst of the claustrophobia, I got the dragon. I wanted to be strong for Sean. And I wanted him to know I wasn't going to live my life in fear, when he couldn't live his at all." ~ Caden

~*~

"Make you a deal: I'll help you through your claustrophobia, and you can help me with spiders."

~ Makenna

~*~

“I love...that elevator,” she said.

With a sleepy smile and a full heart, he turned his head and kissed into her soft hair. “Aw, Red. I love that elevator, too.”

~ Makenna and Caden