Laura Kaye

Hearts in Darkness

Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out. Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare. To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

Hearts in darkness

Jaclyn

*4.5*
This was incredibly sweet!!!! It was steamy, fun and super easy to read. It’s basically about two strangers who get stuck in an elevator and start to get to know eachother, and it’s so cute and so steamy! I really loved the development and I loved how much depth Caden had to his character! My heart felt for him and that’s amazing considering this is just about 100 pages! 
Highly recommend this if you want a sweet and steamy novella!!! Really loved this!

Belle Waters

Kath Lau

Being stuck in an elevator is definitely one of the scariest thing that can happen to someone especially if you're claustrophobic like Caden. He's terrified but thankfully he is not alone. Makenna enters the elevator before it stops and everything turns pitch-black.

Caden and Makenna have totally different outward appearance. Caden is scarred, tattooed, and pierced while Makenna is stylish and conservative. But these differences didn't matter in the their current situation. I liked that they get to know each other without seeing or having a clear vision of what they both look like. It made their conversation real and deep especially when they started opening up to each other about their past. It was my favorite part. I enjoyed their banters and their chemistry. I also liked that they are both determined on what they really want and their little misunderstanding was quickly resolved. This was definitely a fast-paced and a very quick read. I thought it was hot and not too steamy. I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the next book after reading this novella but I gave in because I wanted to know how their story continues.

Sarah Hayes

It was so easy to read! I loved it so much, i do want more though. That would be lovely.

Lynn Braden

Makenna James has had a very tough day and is looking forward to getting home, relaxing on her couch, and opening a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, as she stumbles into the elevator in her office building, she drops everything, including her phone, and loses her battery just as the elevator jerks to a stop and the lights go out. Caden Grayson captured a glimpse of Makenna as she fell into the elevator just before the lights went out and admired her beauty. Now he's just hoping he can keep it together and not give in to his claustrophobia long enough to help himself and Makenna get out of this strange situation.

Hearts in Darkness is a short novella that really just has time to barely introduce the characters and begin a relationship. There is definitely an instant connection between the two that can be felt by the reader, however, as with all novellas, there really isn't time for anything more. Even though it is short, this book manages to establish chemistry and a physical relationship between the two main characters as well as a brief backstory. Overall, Hearts in Darkness does just about as much as can be expected from a story that is under 100 pages in length.

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Novellas are tricky to pull off well, especially when it's a standalone story and not part of a series. You wouldn't know that while reading Hearts in Darkness. It's definitely one of the best standalone novellas I've ever read. I would LOVE more of this story and, rumor has it, that's coming later this year. I can't wait. 

Character development is so difficult in such a short story – and so important to my enjoyment of a story. Laura did an amazing job of highlighting the depth and complexity of her characters in just a little over 100 pages. I felt like I knew and understood them better after half the book than I do some characters in full-length novels. Makenna and Caden were both wonderful characters. 

I'm not sure exactly how to identify the trope, but I'm a big fan of books that put two characters together for a limited time in a place they can't escape. Trapped in an elevator, locked in a room or even on a road trip. I love watching how relationships develop in such a short period of time under such circumstances. Hearts in Darkness does this brilliantly.

I loved the dynamic between Makenna and Caden. They might have only gotten a mere glimpse of each other before the elevator stopped and the lights went out, but they flourished in the dark. It was like they'd been put in that place at the same time because they each needed someone. They talked about their lives and spilled truths and I was completely enraptured the entire time. I'm pretty sure if you looked up "unputdownable books" in the dictionary, you'd see a picture of this book. Because, seriously, it's one of the most addicting stories I've read in a long time. 

Hearts in Darkness was the best of the best when it comes to novellas. I was tripping over my feels while reading it. I loved how well these characters got to know each other in just a short period of time. Hell, I loved how well *I* got to know these characters in a such a short period of time. It had swoony moments and smoking hot sexy time. Love in an elevator, indeed! But, more than that, it had two characters I know I won't be forgetting about any time soon. I can't wait for the continuation of their story. Hearts in Darkness can totally stand on its own, but that doesn't mean I'm any less excited at the prospect of a companion novel.

Markie Gohman

Madison Burke

Prerana agrawal

Matilda

Morgan Thomas

Raya

Lover of Romance 

"Laura Kaye has a gift for writing beautifully damaged men and Caden Grayson leads the pack with enough vulnerability to twist your heart in knots." ~ NYT Bestseller Tessa Bailey Two strangers... When accountant Makenna James finds herself stranded in a pitch-black elevator, she can’t help but wonder about the stranger stuck with her. All she noticed about him before the lights went out was a dragon tattoo; all she knows now is his sexy, gruff voice in the darkness. Four hours... Caden Grayson is inked, pierced, scarred on the inside and out—and terrified of the dark for reasons he’d rather not remember. Trapped in his worst nightmare, only the sweet voice of the red-headed beauty distracts him from his fear. And, oh, man, as the hours pass and the darkness heats up, that’s nothing compared to her touch. One pitch-black elevator... He’s all rough edges and she’s pin-striped skirts, but in the darkness they open up and reach out without any preconceptions to hold them back. But as attraction grows and sparks fly, will they feel the same when the lights come back on "A beautiful read with Kaye's trademark sexiness and smart storytelling! Makenna and Caden are magic together--I loved this book!" ~ NYT Bestseller Jennifer Probst

Hearts in Darkness

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