DARKNESS WITHIN by Isabel Lucero

The moment it happens, everything in me changes.

Imagine somebody was able to fit inside of your body. Their arms are the same length as yours. You’re both the same height. Everything is exactly the same. Now imagine that person not being a person at all. That thing inside of you is a shadow. Darkness. A silhouette of you, only living on the inside of your body. It doesn’t have a conscious. It doesn’t have a heart. Nothing within that darkness is remotely human. Its only goal is to take over your body. It fights against your muscles. It tries breaking through the skin. It wants to replace you. That’s what it feels like when the darkness that lives inside me starts trying to get out.

I feel it happening. The pressure builds. My skin prickles. And the only thing that tames it, getting it back to resting peacefully inside me, is to unleash it. I have to let it wreak havoc, and I quite enjoy the mayhem.

Analeigh Price comes into my life and does the one thing I hate; question me about my past. She can pretend she wants to get to know me all she wants, but she’s not ready for the truth. I won’t become a better person for her, because I am who I am. She can't fix me, because my wounds are unfixable.

You see, I’m not like everybody else. Oh, no. I’m different. My humanity was stripped from me long ago, and those who are responsible are about to be paid a visit. You’ve never heard a story like mine, because I’m unlike anyone you’ve ever met. I’m no hero. I’m the guy you don’t want to piss off, because once the darkness within me is unleashed, it’ll be too late to get away.

What’s my name? It’s Donovan. Donovan James. But the darkness is taking over, and it’s only good at one thing, so I must go.

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Standalone

Release - November 28, 2016

Genre - Thriller

Hero POV - 1st person

Heat - 4 out of 5

Format - ebook provided by the author

Length - 276 pages

Finding comfort in the darkness

★★★★✩

After only reading one book from this author before (War), I wasn't sure what to expect. All I knew was that I enjoyed her writing so much that I had to give her another try. No Regrets! Darkness Within was a twisted story that kept me on edge right to the end. I loved how it was phrased as a romance when it was most definitely NOT romantic. It lulled me into a false sense of security and warmth, rooting for the unlikely couple, surprising me with my gullibility and my assumption that this story would be predictable in any way. It quickly made me learn to expect the unexpected.

The hero, Donovan, who was no hero, was an intriguingly multi-layered character who offered many reasons to go along with his thirst for vengeance. How can you argue with his pain? He gave truth to the argument of Nature vs. Nurture and being a product of your environment. Poor kid. I gloried in his bloodlust and felt satisfaction for every name ticked off of his list. I wanted to fight his enemies for him, beat down anyone who betrayed the little bit of trust he had left, and hug him to give him a glimpse of light. But Donovan wasn't interested in escaping his darkness. He only wanted to learn to better navigate, making his shadows become such a part of him that they would be indistinguishable from the rest of him. No more hiding. No more pretending. It's messed up, but I wanted that for him. A life where he was able to have the freedom to be who he needed to be.

Murder isn't a joke, but the way Donovan tells it, I couldn't help my chuckles. Guy's a riot. Isabel Lucero won me over with this story. With its roundabout turns and spirals leading me into a maze of mayhem, I actually didn't want the book to end. I'm hoping the author has more of this story to tell.

About the Author

Isabel Lucero is a bestselling author, finding joy in giving readers books for every mood.

Born in a small town in New Mexico, Isabel was lucky enough to escape and travel the world thanks to her husband's career in the Air Force. Her and her husband have three kids and two dogs together, and currently reside in Delaware. When Isabel isn't on mommy duty or writing her next book, she can be found reading, or in the nearest Target buying things she doesn't need.

Isabel loves connecting with her readers and fans of books in general. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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