Loved it

This is such a good read. These two meet under strange circumstances being trapped in an old elevator with no lights. So this leads them to talking and realizing they have a connection and chemistry just built on words but when they do see each other they know they are meant for each other. It may have been quick but that does no take away from the attraction, steam, and love you feel between these two. ( )

Short and hot. ( )

Makenna James has had a very tough day and is looking forward to getting home, relaxing on her couch, and opening a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, as she stumbles into the elevator in her office building, she drops everything, including her phone, and loses her battery just as the elevator jerks to a stop and the lights go out. Caden Grayson captured a glimpse of Makenna as she fell into the elevator just before the lights went out and admired her beauty. Now he's just hoping he can keep it together and not give in to his claustrophobia long enough to help himself and Makenna get out of this strange situation.

Hearts in Darkness is a short novella that really just has time to barely introduce the characters and begin a relationship. There is definitely an instant connection between the two that can be felt by the reader, however, as with all novellas, there really isn't time for anything more. Even though it is short, this book manages to establish chemistry and a physical relationship between the two main characters as well as a brief backstory. Overall, Hearts in Darkness does just about as much as can be expected from a story that is under 100 pages in length. ( )

2.5: There's nothing wrong with this novella, it's just not for me. IT's pretty clear why-I like more push and pull at the beginning of a relationship. I like one of the characters (at least) guarded or on edge. I like the slow burn. 20 questions in an elevator in romance is just as boring as small talk is to me. The other thing I thought was weird is w/in the switching of 3rd person POV, there was review in events... in a novella seems like a rip-off.

The moment the lights came on, I enjoyed the book more. I don't know why. Maybe because there was more tension and uncertainty between the characters. Unfortunately, that lasted about 10 minutes of reading.

I didn't dislike the author, it was just the format that dampened my enjoyment.

___Earlier Update___
Oh here, I'll have more space.
Uh-oh. I'm annoyed. I'm not a Shakespearean scholar or anything (and even if I were)...and even still: art and interpretation and all that.
But Midsummer is one of my favorite, so to me the author starting with

love looks not with the eyes,
but with the mind
and therefore is winged cupid
painted blind
for a likely they-fall-in-love having never seen one another irks...

Using this in this scenario is wildly out of context, which is fine, we do that all the time, right? But I think if you set the stage your novella with it maybe I get a little snotty and say that quite doesn't mean what you think it means. It doesn't equate to "love is blind" it equates to love makes no sense and "cupid" is a dipshit(yeah, I said it) and therefore who we chose ends up to largely irrational.
Not to mention, kiddos, the hero's seen the heroine. So, ya know does this really fit regardless. But maybe this is me leaping to conclusions. ( )

Very, very sweet story. ( )