The book commences with Nikki embarking on a new case together with her best friend, Jake. They are assigned the task of trailing a teenage boy whose mother fears he might run away.

As they are following the kid, they unexpectedly come across a group of vampires who seize the boy and seriously wound Jake. Now, Nikki is in a race against time to locate both the vampires and the boy before it's too late.

Michael, who left Nikki without a farewell, has been given a task by Selina to team up with Nikki and track the same vampires. He has maintained his distance for six months, believing that despite his love for her, his life and past are too perilous for her.

The story truly takes off when they join forces. Michael attempts to keep Nikki at a distance, but she refuses to accept that. She is well aware that they are in love and is resolute in making their relationship work. In this book, we finally witness them having some steamy moments. I adore how with each successive book, their relationship grows stronger, they both continue to evolve, and we gain deeper insights into their pasts and all the darkness it encompasses.

Filled to the brim with non-stop action, mystery, and romantic tension, the story captivates you and holds you firmly in its grip.

Arc from Netgallery for honest review

Hearts in Darkness is the second installment in the series. Nikki and Michael find themselves on the trail of disappearing teens. Michael, a vampire who doubles as a hunter when supernaturals turn bad or go rogue, must team up with Nikki. They pose as a married couple at a posh resort. Nikki's abilities are undergoing changes, and her feelings for Michael are steadily growing. One of the highlights of the story is the Fire Imps, which are truly captivating. The plot is fast-paced and a real page-turner. I have always been a fan of Keri Arthur's work, and this book is no exception. Nikki and Michael make a great duo, and their chemistry is palpable. I truly hope that there will be a third book in the series to continue their adventures and see where their relationship takes them.

The first book had several flaws.

For instance, it was rather puzzling why the main character wasn't upset about the fact that numerous people died because of her initial inaction.

The second book had similar issues.

Take Example 1: This person was basically brain dead, so the decision was made to just kill them off.

And in Example 2, even though the bad people knew their location, they still chose to stay in the same place.

I can suspend my disbelief to a certain extent, but there is a limit.

Moreover, I didn't observe any significant growth in the overall series plot. It seemed that each book was more focused on being a mystery private eye story, which isn't my personal favorite.

I require a bit more variety to be able to binge-read an entire series. However, if this particular style is to your liking, you might want to give this book a try.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hearts in Darkness to a much greater extent than Dancing with the Devil.

I adored the fact that Nikki was resolute in doing whatever it took to make Michael view things from her perspective.

What's more, I loved that Keri Arthur not only had them collaborating on a case but also delved into the reason Michael initially decided to become a vampire.

She presented numerous challenges to this not-yet-couple, yet Nikki remained unwavering in her determination that they should be together, regardless of the presence of bloodlust.

When I first read this series, my affinity for the romance genre wasn't as strong as it is now.

Consequently, I wasn't as enthusiastic about the prominent focus on romance. However, I still found myself cheering for the relationship to develop, perhaps even more so than hoping for them to solve the case.

During my re-reading of the book, I became frustrated when things didn't unfold as I desired and when Michael was being whiny and attempting to push Nikki away.

Nonetheless, I truly believe Nikki grew stronger in this book, which made me like her even more.

Arc provided via Netgalley for an honest review.

Michael left in an attempt to control his intense blood lust for Nikki. However, now he's back to solve this particular case. His initial plan was to leave Nikki once the case is done. But Nikki, being the determined person she is, has other ideas.

She begins to show Michael that he belongs to her and she will stop at nothing to keep him. Nikki is an incredibly strong individual. She is not afraid to fight for what she believes in, even if it means putting herself in danger or changing who she is.

Her unwavering determination is both admirable and a bit scary. Michael is starting to realize that he may not be able to simply walk away from Nikki as easily as he thought. The situation between them is becoming more complicated with each passing day, and it remains to be seen how things will ultimately play out.

An early series by Arthur, and it is most definitely not her strongest.

It also fails to be indicative of her true talent. The Riley Jenson Guardian books, such as Full Moon Rising, are much better.

This is the second installment in the Nikki and Michael series. It still has a problem with a heroine who dilly dallies and acts like an awkward character in a black and white silent movie.

Throughout the book, there appears to be a cycle of events. Nikki goes in search of the villain, then she suffers from a fainting spell due to some energy-sucking weakness. Michael arrives, sweeps in, and then storms off. Nikki disappears and suddenly reappears from wherever she went. This cycle repeats. Add in the odd dialogue about why they should be together but aren't, and then wait for the next cycle.

It is amateurish, vague, lacking in character depth, and has a subpar plot. However, all of this can be forgiven considering that Arthur is actually capable of writing really good paranormal stories. So, I just attribute this to the fact that it is her early work.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.

4.5 stars! I really liked this book.

It wasn't as intense as Keri's usual style, but it is some of her earlier writing.

I liked the way Nikki and Michael's relationship developed in this book. Although it sometimes progressed slowly, it was still very engaging.

I truly enjoyed seeing Nikki grow as a person. She became more independent and discovered more of what she could do with her abilities.

Fans of Keri Arthur will definitely enjoy this book and will be eager to read the next in the series.

The story had its own charm and kept me hooked from start to finish.

The characters were well-developed and the plot was interesting.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys paranormal romance or urban fantasy.

It's a great addition to Keri Arthur's body of work and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

This is the second book in the Nikki & Michael series by Keri Arthur. It picks up the story approximately 6 months after the conclusion of Dancing with the Devil. I won't disclose any spoilers for this book. However, I highly recommend reading the series in order. If you're new to the series, it's best not to continue reading this review.

The previous book ended with Michael leaving Nikki to protect her, both from himself and the perils of his life. Despite his love for her, he has managed to maintain his distance and avoid all contact. Nikki is heartbroken that he has left and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he didn't even say goodbye. She is still working as a Private Investigator. When Nikki and her partner Jake are attacked while following a local teenager, Jake is injured and is now critically ill in the hospital. The teenager has vanished, and it's up to Nikki to find him. Michael is asked to look into the disappearance of several wealthy men and discovers that he needs Nikki's help, as their cases seem to be intertwined.

Michael is still resolved to keep Nikki at a distance, but now that Nikki has confessed her love for him, she is equally determined to be a part of his life. Nevertheless, they will have to work together if they are going to solve the mystery and survive this latest threat.

I truly enjoyed the first book in this series and was not disappointed with this second installment. Once again, the action is non-stop, and I couldn't put the book down. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists. I'm enjoying seeing the relationship between Nikki and Michael develop, and it's a nice change that they can both openly admit their love for each other. It's also interesting to observe how Nikki's psychic abilities are evolving now that she is linked to Michael. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

Ahh love, love, love.

Love is such a powerful and beautiful thing. In this story, I was truly impressed by how much Nikki had grown within the span of just one book. She had become so much more confident in herself and knew exactly what she wanted. It was wonderful to see her abilities getting stronger, and the way she wholeheartedly embraced them was truly great.

The introduction of Michael's maker added an interesting new element to the story. I liked that he didn't give in to his old feelings for her. It showed a certain level of maturity and growth on his part. I also felt that his and Nikki's relationship was handled a little better this time around compared to the first book. Their connection seemed more genuine and I can't wait to see how it develops further in the future.

I'm really intrigued to see how Arthur will handle their relationship while still keeping their careers separate. It's going to be a delicate balance. And I have to admit, I will be extremely angry if she breaks them up again because of it. I'm really rooting for Nikki and Michael to have a happy ending.

I decided to re-read this series after many years, and I was thoroughly delighted by it.

The stories still held the same charm and excitement that they did when I first read them. The characters were well-developed and engaging, and the plotlines were full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

It was interesting to see how my perspective had changed over the years, and how I was able to pick up on different details and themes that I had missed before.

Overall, it was a wonderful experience to re-immerse myself in this great series, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great read.

I had a really hard time getting into this book.

In fact, I mostly just skimmed through the first 56 pages.

I didn't like the fact that the story took place six months after the first one.

However, that's just my personal issue and not really anything terribly bad with the story itself.

There were some editing mistakes that confused me, although normally that doesn't bother me too much.

There was also some content that was out of sync with the first book.

For example, Michael and Nikki's bond or link (His life force she shared) was explained much differently in this book than in the first one.

The characters and their relationships just didn't really click with me.

I tend to grow bored with stories that have the "I don't deserve love" character mindset.

To be honest, I skimmed through most of this book.

I just couldn't seem to get fully engaged with it.

Maybe if the story had been more consistent with the first book and the characters had been more developed, I would have had a better experience.

But as it is, I found myself just going through the motions and not really caring about what was happening.

Hopefully, the next book in the series will be more to my liking.

Another missing teenager has emerged, presenting yet another perilous case for Nikki and Michael. As their cases become intertwined, Nikki is compelled to team up with Michael in the battle against evil.

The relationship dynamic between them truly drove me crazy. Nikki and Michael's lives are inextricably linked, and there is palpable chemistry and emotion. However, Michael's constant refrain of "we can never be" grew extremely tiresome and irritating.

Instant love and fast-forward relationships simply don't appeal to me. But seriously, these two need to step off the angst train and take the time to truly get to know each other.

On the positive side, Hearts in Darkness is another action-packed installment. The new entities introduced, especially the fire imps, are excellent. Moreover, I'm extremely curious about Nikki's morphing abilities.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the third book will have less angst and more of everything else, offering a more well-rounded and engaging reading experience.