When love becomes the light that chases the darkness away…

Synopsis

“This man was shadow and night. He was Darkness.”

Homeless Aliette is saved from punishment for stealing by a mysterious knight. To stay alive, she’s informed by this stranger that she must claim his child as her own. She should fear the dark knight’s power, yet it’s clear there’s more good to this man than he’s prepared to show. Can she break down the barriers of the tortured knight she calls Darkness?

My review

Aliette is a homeless young woman, living in the streets of Paris. When she takes the blame for a theft, in order to protect someone she is in charge of taking care, she finds herself suddenly kidnapped.
The stranger demands to take care of a child, claiming it’s not his child, and that Aliette will become her mother.

The stranger, Reynold, is a very suspicious man with many secrets and as a lot of secrets to hide, while Aliette will not get herself bullied and fights for her freedom and for the truth.
How will these 2 persons, each other’s opposite manage to survive?

I am not unfamiliar with Nicole’s writing. So I knew it wouldn’t be an easy story where man meets woman, claims her, falls in love and they both live happily ever after.

Both characters in this story are having issues. Aliette is obvious struggling as being homeless at first, and then suddenly finds herself captive and taking care of a baby. She’s also having a fear of abandonment, as her parents just left her behind without any explanation.
Reynold has a lot of wealth, but has trust issues and is always looking his back. He also grew up in a violent family, making himself believe incapable of having some kind of loving feelings.

But Aliette is also a strong woman… she does not give up without a fight, and even if she thinks Reynold is Darkness, she sees there is more to him than initially thought.
She also manages by just being herself, to soften the mercenaries hired by Reynold. Initially nobody talks to her, but slowly, one by one they are opening up to her. And also Reynold isn’t able to stay immune to Aliette.

I liked this story as it shows you that no matter how dark you think you are, the love of a woman, or even a baby in this case, can change your whole view of the world. And even a violent man can change his ways.

It is also about learning to trust, share your deepest secrets with those you care about. And that actions speak louder than words. No matter how many harsh words Reynold uses, Aliette sees what he truly means.

As usual Nicole did not disappoint me!