In book two in the Darkest London series, Daisy Ellis Craigmore is now a widow, finally free from her abusive, elderly husband. All she wants to do is have fun and experience sexual freedom, but then a werewolf attacks her in a shadowy alley. A handsome man comes to her rescue, and her life will never be the same.
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, lives in exile from his lycan pack, and he’s suffered much loneliness and pain after losing his wife and son. Then he meets Daisy, a damaged woman with her own problems. As the mad werewolf stalks across London and targets Daisy, it’s up to Ian to hunt him down and save the woman he’s falling in love with.
I really enjoyed this book. Unlike Archer and Miranda from book one, Ian and Daisy actually communicated and often shared their feelings with each other. Both of them are damaged characters, each letting the past affect their lives and future. Ian treated Daisy with respect, like a partner, and not a woman meant to be coddled and put on a shelf. That was very refreshing.
In most historical romances, the heroines are virgins before marriage, but not so for Daisy or her younger sister Miranda. I find that wonderful because I like the idea of giving the heroines the right to explore their sexuality just as the heroes do.
There were two big twists at the end, one in regards to the villain and the other in regards to the H/h’s HEA. I love being surprised and didn’t see either of those twists coming.
I found the GIMs (ghosts in the machines) very interesting, but I didn’t really understand exactly what they were and what they did. That, of course, should be explained in future books.
I’m dying to read book three and learn more about Poppy and Winston, Daisy’s elder sister and brother-in-law. Talent and Mary are interesting characters, too, and I’m looking forward to reading their book. Archer and Miranda returned from book one, and it was great seeing Archer act more comfortable in his own skin.
The story is fast paced and kept my attention. It’s well written, without typos. I definitely recommend it.
5 Stars

Disclaimer – I borrowed this book from the library. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
( )

The abused/traumatized heroine piece is pretty understated but still there. I loved this book! Loving the series.

( )

This is the 2nd book of the series Darkest London by Kristen Callahan. The dialect in this book didn’t seem so old fashioned as the language in the 1st book or maybe I am just getting used to it.
Daisy is finally free from her horrible old husband. She just finished her year of mourning for him. Daisy is the sister of Miranda, the heroine of the 1st book. She can’t wait to start living life but on her first night out, her date is killed by a werewolf in front of her. She is saved but the werewolf continues to stalk her.

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup has an animal within himself, a wolf. He isn’t a werewolf but if he lets his animal take over, he could turn into one. He refused the throne to the Ranulf clan of wolves when his father died because he just wants to live a normal life so he was exiled. His younger brother is now the king of the wolves but he rules by using fear and a heavy fist. Ian suspects his brother of hiding the werewolf and letting it terrorize London.

Now, Ian has to protect Daisy from the werewolf and from his cruel wrath but Daisy is hiding a secret. She has the power to command the earth and plants to move. Her older sister just revealed that she has known all along and that all three of the sisters are elementals. Miranda has the power of fire, Daisy the earth and Poppy can turn water into ice.

Poppy’s husband is Winston Lane, a detective. He’s a bit of a genius like Sherlock Holmes. He knows something is amiss with this case and the case before it from book one. Of course, he has no clue it has anything to do with mystical beings until he is attacked by the werewolf and is saved by someone who looks like an angel and who wears a pin that is the same as his wife. He now knows that he has been lied to and is devastated.

There are new characters introduced in this book along with an organization for mystical beings called the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals (SOS) which is led by someone called Mother. The sole purpose of the organization is to keep humans from finding out about supernatural beings. Some of the characters who were introduced were Talent who is Ian’s valet. The author hints that he is some sort of supernatural and we find out but I won’t spoil it. There is also Lucien and Mary Chase who are GIMs or Ghost in the Machines. They are the best spies of the underworld because they can leave their body in spirit form. I didn’t really understand exactly how GIMs worked or what they were but the characters are interesting and I hope to see them in the following books of the series.

This author can definitely write a steamy love scene. It’s hot without being raunchy but I still kept looking over my shoulder to make sure nobody else saw what I was reading.

I am totally enjoying this series. I have already started reading the 3rd book, Winterblaze.

www.paranormalromanceslut.com
( )

I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one I just was not feeling. I was largely indifferent to the characters and their plight, and bored with how things unfolded. I will still try the next in the series in case this was a one off. ( )

I wasn't as keen on this book as I was the first in the series, for a number of reasons including the use of some words that didn't seem like they would be used in Victorian London and the fact that the character development was often sudden and abrupt. Also, one thing bothered me throughout the book: why were two werewolf characters named Lyall and Maccon, just as there are two main werewolf characters with the same names in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series? I don't know if this was an inside joke or not, but it distracted me since I wanted to keep alternating the two series' Maccons and Lyalls in my head. ( )