A Candle in the Dark

I bought this book on a whim, having no idea what to expect, but boy, am I glad I did! I couldn't put it down, and it's been awhile since I've read a romance THAT good. “A Candle in the Dark” is, hands down, one of the best romances I've ever read.

First of all, the setting. This is NOT another boring romance set in Regency England, which, quite frankly, I've grown rather tired of. “A Candle in the Dark” takes you from New York to the lush, exotic jungle of Panama, and I enjoyed every single minute of it!

Your heart breaks for both the hero and heroine, as you quickly discover that they are both broken individuals in desperate need of someone to love. Both have given up on such a frivolous notion. Ana, the heroine, is a prostitute who goes by The Duchess...the ice princess who never melts for anyone, and hides her heart behind a protective wall. After killing the man who is abusing her, she desperately needs to disappear, and she hires Cain D'Alessandro to help her. Cain is a doctor, but is haunted by his past failures and the complete lack of faith his parents had in him. He's turned to alcohol to drown out the memories and dark voices in his head. He is a SERIOUS alcoholic...the kind that gets physically ill if he doesn't get his next drink.

Together this couple learn to trust and love, and it is SO sweet when they do.

The steam level on this book is much lower than what I usually prefer, but the story was SO good I didn't care one whit. There is only one love scene, but it has an agonizingly sweet buildup, and the scene definitely delivers. It's erotic and sensual, while still being incredibly tender.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for something different than the norm, and who enjoys books with tortured heroes (and tortured heroines as well!) who find healing in each other. There is plenty of emotional angst, but the ending is definitely sweet and satisfying.

An awesome read, and as I said, probably one of the best romances I have ever read. Seriously, it's THAT good!