There Is No Light In Darkness by Claire Contreras
New Adult
January 10, 2013
Self Published
Reviewed by Tori
Blake Brannon’s life became a cruel mixture of lies and half truths when her parents were murdered and she was kidnapped as a young child. Now in college, she seeks to discover what really happened that fateful night. Who took her and why? Her friends and lover try to help her in her search, though she seeks to push them away in fear that they will suffer for her asking questions. Discoveries are made that place them in the crosshairs of a dangerous conspiracy that could destroy them all. Can Blake find the courage to confront her past head on or will she once again run from everything and everyone who loves her?
There Is No Light In Darkness is the first installment of a dark emotional New Adult serial series that takes us on a journey down the rabbit hole. Murder, deception, betrayal, and romance all circle to form a dramatic emotional story not unlike a soap opera. Told in alternating timelines of the past and present, we learn what happened to Blake Brannon as a child up to the present day. Her parents were murdered in front of her at the age of four and she was spirited away to a stranger’s house to live. Now, 21 years later, she is beginning to seek answers to what happened. Following clues that are little more than ambiguous puzzle pieces that she will have to place together in order to see the big picture.
This book is a case of enjoying the story while not enjoying the main characters. Ms. Contreras sets up the storyline and slowly reveals clues to the heroine’s past while simultaneously keeping us abreast of her present situation. We learn bits and pieces about what happened and how her friends are involved. Nothing and no one can be taken for granted in here.
The problems I had concerned Blake and Clay. As I stated earlier, the dynamics of this book are structured like a soap opera. Lots of angst, emotional scenes, crazy bad decisions, and questionable behavior. With a mystery thrown in for good measure. It’s all very overblown in detail and reveal. Blake and Clay were raised by the same woman. He too was brought to live there under mysterious circumstances and as the story progresses, we learn of Blake and Clay’s connection. Blake and Clay are attracted to one another from day one but Clay is older and Blake has issues with relationships. She is wary of them because she feels everyone she loves will be killed. So, we along with Blake, watch as Clay continuously throws girls in her face, all the while declaring his everlasting love for her. Clay is a horn dog. Yet, Blake is a crazy Mary Sue. There, I said it. She wants to be with Clay but she feels her past prevents it. She breaks up with him yet goes insane when she sees him with other women. It’s an ugly situation that yo-yos throughout the book.
I also was confused about some of the decisions Blake made in the book. She comes on very strong in certain situations but fails in the follow up. She is so accepting of lame explanations and I couldn’t understand why. She should have been screaming, pounding her fists, and dragging people across all available surfaces, demanding answers. I heard her reasons but frankly, they didn’t jive. She pushes and pushes but stops just short of the pivotal point. Very frustrating.
For me, the romance features too heavily in this book and it overshadows the plot. I would have enjoyed less romance and more explanations into Blake’s past. By the end, which falls off a HUGE cliff and leaves you wanting to smash your e reader repeatedly into a wall, we really haven’t learned ANYTHING about why Blake’s parents were killed, why she was kidnapped, and why Clay features so heavily into it. 195 pages of nothing but drama between Blake and Clay.
There are some secondary characters who keep the story moving along at a steady clip and give reprieve from all the drama. Though, once again, some decisions made just don’t make sense. I can’t help but wonder at times just how old these characters are. Physically, we are told they are in their 20’s but emotionally…fifteen, maybe sixteen tops.
I’m really not sure I’ll continue this serial. I may wait until they are all published so I can read them all at once without the cliffhangers because I see that will be a recurring theme in each future installment.
Overall Rating: D
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