DARK SECRETS
Dark Secrets Series #1
by A.M. Hudson
Publisher: Self-Published (May 2013)
Genre: Paranormal, Young Adult
Format: eBook (402 pages)
Source: Free book from author for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Free on Amazon
Rating: ★½☆☆☆
How can you be attracted to a guy who just said he wants to kill you?
Ara-Rose asks herself the same question. She’s been torn away from her old life, thrown into a new one in a new country, and in the midst of death, heartache and depression, she finds herself in love with a vampire—one who kills people with his teeth!
But the vampire is forbidden to fall for this human, and at the point Ara-Rose decides she can’t live without him, he pulls away and leaves her falling back to the darkness he woke her from. She will be caught up in a century-old feud among brothers, and the fight for love becomes a fight for her life.
The only question now is whether her beloved vampire will find her in time, or leave her to face a destiny he triggered with their first kiss.
At A Glance
WTH? Such an interesting beginning, but nothing happened the rest of the book, literally. There is no plot. Just a confused, moody girl battling her emotions between two boys and her past tragedy.
The Good
So, I was involved in the blog tour for Dark Secrets awhile back. I did an author interview, but I also got the book for free during the tour. So I finally took a gander at it recently. I always wanted to read this book because it sounded so intriguing. And I will admit, the beginning had me turning the pages. The story was so sad and tragic, it really drew me in. I have been into dark, sad stories lately. Then the ending was so freaking scary and it turned my stomach. It was almost hard to read, but I loved that it made me feel so many emotions. But the middle of the book…
The Bad
…The majority of this book, especially in the middle, fell completely flat for me. I didn’t connect with the characters. I actually found Ara-Rose to be rude, erratic, and selfish. I get that Ara went through a horrible event, but none of her family or friends help her by treating her like she is breakable and letting her get away with everything. They let her wallow in her depression and misery and treat her with kid gloves, no wonder she acts like a spoiled brat.
There was no world building when it came to the vampire aspect. This really isn’t a vampire book. It’s an effed up “love” story that gets dragged out so long you want to hit your head against a wall over and over. And the book was so long for not much happening. Only the beginning and ending had a little excitement, then the story fades out into nothingness. Just the day in the life of an annoying, selfish girl who needs professional help. There is no plot. Just a lather, rinse, repeat of the same events and conversations.
I think I deserve an award for even finishing this book. To tell you the truth, I only finished it because I got it mixed up with another book that starts with the word Dark and I thought it was a review request.
And yes, Dark Secrets is Twilight-esk, but compared to this book, Twilight was the Great American Novel.
The Snuggly
The love triangle was dragged for way too long. Ara is obsessed with David for the longest time then out of nowhere we have Mike and then it just gets so complicated. Ara’s indecision between the two guys was too much for me. I liked Mike and think he would make any girl happy, but Ara had to make it difficult for herself by pining for David for the WHOLE BOOK.
Final Thoughts
Really, I could go on and on about what I didn’t like about this book but no point in beating a dead horse. It’s dead, the tongue is hanging out, the body is already cold. I’m sad that such a promising beginning could turn into such a mess. Not recommended.
“Well, you’re a good catch. Er. I mean catcher.”
“Ara, stop that,” he whispered gruffly.
“Stop what?”
“You…you know that look you get when you’re thinking…things.”
“My nose, whenever I cried, turned bright pink–forming a giant rouge smudge across my face. “I look like a clown,” my voice quivered.
“You look–” David turned my face with his fingertips, “–adorable.”
Stacey Brutger
Bummer about the book. I liked the cover, especially the mask and how blue her eyes appear.
Jennifer Bielman
This cover drew me to this book. Too bad it doesn’t match the inside.
Brandi Kosiner
Ah no, sorry to hear that the middle fell flat esp with such an emotional beginning
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I really expected more.
Trakena Prevost
Whoa…I’ll definitely keep my distance from this one. Beautiful cover though!
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, good. Such a great cover though.
Braine TS
Cue the applause… your award is in the mail.
Your two liner At A Glance had me chuckling. Girl, you should’ve just DNFd this.
Jennifer Bielman
hahaha, awesome. Then it was all worth it.
Giselle
Bleh. I cringed at the no world building but sometimes that happens in book 2 a lot in series nowadays, but a big pet peeve of mine is when the romance takes over everything ESPECIALLY when there is no plot to try to get things balanced at the very least. Lolz @ the award! Well thanks for making sure I don’t have such a terrible experience with this book too I’M sure I,d feel the same. And that cover really would have sold itself >.< So pretteh – such a waster.
Jennifer Bielman
Yeah, but this was book #1, so it was even worse. I still can’t believe the “romance” demolished this book. Just ruined it.
Berls
How sad. I was really looking forward to this one, but I guess not. The cover especially drew me in, too. 🙁 Good review, though.
Jennifer Bielman
The cover made me want to read this so bad. Looks can be deceiving.
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
Sorry to hear it fell flat for you. 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
me too. 🙁
kimbacaffeinate
Oh no….another lovely cover with an empty shell. While I can deal with limited world-building especially if it is a series and I know we will get more, but no world building, no ebb and flow…eep. Sorry this didn’t work for you.
Jennifer Bielman
Perfect description of great cover over an empty shell.
Jaclyn Canada
Yep, sorry to say that I wouldn’t even like what you put in the ‘good’ section so I’ll be steering clear of this one. Dark, sad, and scary? Not really my cuppa tea so if that’s what it’s got going for it then I’ll leave this dead horse where I see it. Thanks so much for a great review! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, yeah, if even the good was a turn off then never pick this one up.
Lark @ The Bookwyrm's Hoard
I’m definitely going to pass on this one. I’m not big on love triangles, overly-angsty teens, or vampires, so this is really not for me.
Jennifer Bielman
Good call.
Chene Sterckx
Oh No, Sorry this one fell flat like it did. It’s sad as it has such a beautiful cover!
Jennifer Bielman
I know, I hate that the cover didn’t match the inside.
Elisa
Oh dear. I couldn’t get past the blurb, how she fell in love with a vampire, one who kills people with his teeth! Makes me giggle. It’s like saying you are thinking thoughts in your brain.
Bummer that it was able to draw you in and not deliver!
Jennifer Bielman
hahaha, I never thought of it that way. You are so right,.