Hearts of Darkness is the second installment in the captivating Nikki and Michael series.

I'm truly elated that the publisher chose to rerelease this series as it's truly remarkable. As an ardent fan of Arthur's other works, this presented me with a wonderful opportunity to explore her older titles.

The story picks up right where the previous book left off. Nikki now has an unbreakable bond with Michael after allowing him to feed from her. Their connection is truly one-of-a-kind. However, this also means that if Michael were to perish, Nikki would meet the same fate.

This puts a significant strain on Nikki, given that she's aware of the perilous life Michael leads, despite his vast experience and resourcefulness. She despises the idea of being reliant on him, especially considering his power to cause her great harm.

I find myself completely enthralled by their dynamics. Every time Michael makes an appearance, my excitement level soars as their chemistry is palpable and utterly captivating. Yet, it never overshadows the main plot of the series.

Arthur crafts a tightly-knit mystery subplot that seamlessly weaves in action and suspense, propelling the story forward. If you relished the first book, you're bound to love the second. In fact, this installment seems even more outstanding than the first.

Fans of Nalini Singh's writing style will undoubtedly enjoy this series. I noticed a similar quality in the writing, with an old-ancient feel that adds a touch of grandeur. Consequently, you're treated to a story that is rich in description, vivid in emotion, and strong in character building and plot development.

I've thoroughly savored this series thus far and am eagerly anticipating more of Nikki and Michael's thrilling adventures!

*ARC provided by author.

  

Nikki James has endured the past six months in the wake of the events surrounding "Dancing With the Devil," constantly wondering about the whereabouts of Michael Kelly.

Michael, on the other hand, has been engaged in a fierce struggle to gain mastery over his insatiable hunger.

However, fate has a strange way of bringing people together. When a mysterious case of missing millionaires surfaces, it leads to Michael once again collaborating with Nikki.

The question now looms large: Can they successfully solve the mystery and locate the missing millionaires?

Moreover, will this unexpected reunion give them the opportunity to finally settle their long-standing differences?

Discover the answers to these burning questions and more in the thrilling pages of "Hearts in Darkness."

Get ready to be captivated by a story filled with mystery, romance, and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Just as I had hoped, Michael caved.

Nikki is truly one smart cookie. Her cleverness and charm have managed to win over Michael, and I am absolutely thrilled about it.

I am so looking forward to the next book in this series, knowing that they are now together. The anticipation is killing me!

This series has everything I love - intrigue, mystery, and another kick ass female protagonist. Nikki is a force to be reckoned with, and I can't get enough of her.

I am currently on a binge of paranormal romance novels, and this one by Keri Arthur definitely doesn't disappoint. Her writing is engaging, the story is full of twists and turns, and the characters are well-developed.

I can't wait to see what happens next in Nikki and Michael's story.

Meh...

This simple expression seems to convey a sense of indifference or mild dissatisfaction. It's a word that can be used in various situations, perhaps when someone is not overly impressed by something or when they are feeling a bit lackluster.

For example, if you ask someone how their day was and they respond with "Meh...", it might mean that their day was just average, nothing特别exciting or remarkable happened.

It can also be used to express a lukewarm opinion about a movie, a book, or a meal. Instead of giving a full and detailed review, a person might simply say "Meh..." to indicate that they didn't have a strong positive or negative reaction.

Overall, "Meh..." is a concise and somewhat casual way to communicate a sense of mediocrity or unenthusiasm. It's a word that has become quite popular in modern language, especially in informal conversations and online interactions.

Sigh. I'm truly disappointed in this series up to now.

This book is indeed better than the last one.

Hopefully, by the time the last book comes out, it will be truly great.

I'm such a big fan of Arthur's other series.

However, this one doesn't seem to be as well developed.

The relationship between Nikki and Michael appears to be rather fake or forced.

Nevertheless, I still have hope.

Fingers crossed for the next book.

I'm looking forward to seeing if the author can improve and make this series as outstanding as the others.

Maybe the next installment will bring more depth and authenticity to the story and the characters.

Only time will tell, but for now, I'll keep my hopes high and wait patiently for the next book to arrive.

Another great story penned by Kerri Arthur.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, almost to the same extent as I relished the Riley Jensen series.

Nikki James has endured six long months without seeing or hearing from Michael Kelly. She has truly missed him, yet he is resolute that they will not be reunited until his boss, Seline, dispatches him on a mission that involves Nikki.

Nikki and her boss, Jake, were on the lookout for a potentially runaway Matthew. Nikki discovers that he is meeting with a vampire who lured him via the internet. As she pursues him, both she and Jake are attacked, with Jake ending up near death in the hospital. Nikki then finds out that Matthew has been taken to a ski resort, the very same resort that Michael is being sent to, as wealthy men have been vanishing from that area. Thus, they are thrown together once again.

I am really fond of the chemistry that exists between Nikki and Michael. It makes for a great read.

Overall, this story has all the elements to keep the readers engaged and entertained.

This book is much better than the first one.

It starts with the same premises as the first book, which brings back memories for Nikki.

It has been six months since the previous events took place.

After following the teen, a turn of events occurs and Michael comes back into the picture.

Overall, this book is a bit stronger.

The story seems to have more depth and the characters are more developed.

The plot is engaging and keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

There are also some unexpected twists and turns that add to the excitement.

It's a great read for anyone who enjoyed the first book or who is a fan of the genre.

I would highly recommend it.

I understand that this series is one of the author's older works. In the first book, there were enough elements to pique my interest in the story, despite a few moments that made me roll my eyes. I really like many of her story ideas, which is why I was willing to try other, more recent series she has written.

However, I had a difficult time getting fully immersed in the second book of this series. The eye-roll moments, such as the incredibly repetitive inner thoughts of the characters like "I love her but I must stay away/I love him and need to convince him to never leave me but I'm so angry with him for thinking he has to stay away," overshadowed the actual story for me. It seemed excessive for both Nikki and Michael.

But by far, the worst aspect for me was the poor editing and lack of continuity. For instance, upon first meeting Ginger, on page 85, it is described that with him was another couple - a man in his mid-sixties and his much younger, very busty, red-haired wife. But on page 86, as consciousness slipped, she stared into the blonde's eyes and knew two things. Ginger Rodeman wasn't human, but she wasn't a vampire either. Ginger's hair color changed from red to blonde in less than one page, which completely threw me off and made me think I had missed some other character. I had to go back and reread to make sure it wasn't my error.

Also, in the first book, Michael told Nikki that if he died, nothing much would happen to her and she'd just return to living a normal life. But in this book, Nikki kept obsessing about the idea that she could drop dead at any moment because if Michael died, so would she. This kind of inconsistency really ruins the immersion.

Basically, I had to put in a lot of effort to not get distracted by the characters' silly moments and the editing mistakes in order to actually enjoy the story. I think I'll skip the rest of this series and give the author's other books a try instead.

They got pretty mopey, but I'm still enjoying the ride.

Their mopeyness seems to have no end, as if they are constantly trapped in a web of sadness. However, for me, this doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for the series.

The suspense that unfolds with each passing episode is what truly keeps me hooked. It's like a never-ending mystery that I'm eager to solve.

Despite their downcast state, I find myself looking forward to each new installment, eager to see what will happen next.

The series has this unique charm that manages to hold my attention, even when the characters themselves seem to be lost in their own melancholy.

Maybe it's the contrast between their mopey nature and the exciting plot that makes it all the more captivating.

Whatever the reason, I'm still very much enjoying the ride and can't wait to see where this story takes me.

Hearts in Darkness is the second book in the Nikki & Michael series.

Keri Arthur is an author who has an undeniable allure. No matter how many times you've delved into her works or how many of her books you've devoured, you always find yourself craving more.

In Hearts in Darkness, Nikki and Michael continue their story, this time posing as newlyweds as they take on the task of investigating a recent kidnapping. Right from the start, the chemistry between them is palpable. Nikki realizes that she doesn't want to be apart from Michael, and he feels the same way. However, as the saying goes, life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it. A surprise appearance from Michael's past introduces some competition for Nikki, adding an extra layer of drama to their relationship.

The scenes between Michael and Nikki are filled with feistiness and are truly a delight to read. Their combined personalities make for highly entertaining moments.

I would highly recommend reading the first book in the series as it provides essential background details that are crucial for understanding each subsequent installment. This series builds upon itself, and reading them in order will enhance your overall experience.

I'm truly overjoyed that the author made the decision to reissue these books.

Although they were on my To Be Read (TBR) pile, they were way down at the bottom. When I noticed them available on Netgalley, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to read them, and I'm extremely satisfied with that choice.

Nikki and Michael make a wonderful couple, and their relationship is filled with that delightful tension that irresistibly compels you to want to read more and hope that they end up together. The secondary characters are well-developed and are actually believable as real people, especially Jake.

I'm eagerly anticipating reading the next book and sincerely hope there will be more in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).

The second book in this reprinted series truly exudes more of the "I love you but I must keep my distance" vibe throughout the entire book.

As we delve deeper into the story, we uncover some aspects of Michael's past. Interestingly, his and Nikki's cases once again intersect, and they are compelled to work together in order for the case to be successful and to abide by a prophecy.

This book offers a light and entertaining read. However, if you have perused Keri Arthur's other books, you are well aware that this is the established pattern of relationships in her works.

Nonetheless, if you are content with this pattern, you are bound to have an enjoyable few hours of light reading.

Digital copy provided by Edelweiss.