Genre: Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
All Jet wants is a fun night out at the club he’s finally old enough to get into. Okay, not all — he also wants mystery, adventure, love, college tuition, and a new best friend who isn’t too busy to spend time with him. But he wasn’t expecting any of those to find him at Club Nox. And he definitely wasn’t expecting a gorgeous stranger to offer him his heart’s desire in exchange for … his actual heart? What kind of crazy deal is this? And what does the alluring Darken mean when he says it’s too late for Jet to change his mind? Why can’t Jet take off the heart-shaped pendant?
Darken feels a little guilty about tricking the cute goth boy at the club into taking on his curse. But what choice did he have? Any one person can only wear the heart pendant for so long before it drains them, and he’s served his three years. As curses go, this one honestly isn’t so bad. And maybe Jet will let Darken sweeten the deal with a few kisses. He isn’t sticking around now that he’s free, though. And he definitely isn’t falling in love again. That’s what got him into this mess in the first place.
Soon Jet realizes Darken told him the truth: Jet has made a bargain he can’t escape. Does he even want to, if Darken is part of the package? If only human hearts were as easy to win as magical ones …
The Review
Dark Nights for Bright Hearts is an entertaining, dark, creepy, little hurt-comfort story by Mere Rain.
Trevor aka Jet, feels very much like a loner. He is respectful to those that he knows, using their correct pronouns and name changes. But he feels awkward and invisible to everyone around him. His family doesn’t support him and they constantly tease him. He loves to read and used to work at the library, but now he will have to find another job after turning eighteen.
Jet’s hoping for a fun night out at Club Nox, but those he thought of as friends really aren’t. The only bright spot in the night is meeting a stranger named Darken.
Darken identifies himself as a “damned soul” and offers his heart to Jet. But when the heart starts to frighten Jet, he goes back to Club Nox to find Darken.
As he spends time with Darken, Jet’s life starts to change, and there are choices to be made. Jet doesn’t know if he can survive this new and frightening life, especially if Darken leaves.
I dont want to give too much away. The story is well written, and Jet and Darken’s characters had a lot of depth to them. The book has family drama, loneliness, warmth, love and just the right amount of creepiness.
I really felt bad for Jet – he’s very sweet and conscientious – but no-one sees that. Darken had me on edge – I was very suspicious of him initially. But by the end he won me over.
There’s an especially creepy secondary character in Mr. Older. You never know what to expect from him. Mr. Innes is strange too.
This is my second short story by Mere Rain, and I really enjoyed it – her storytelling is outstanding!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
