LOVE ME IN THE DARK by MIA ASHER

Standalone – emotional second chance at love

Reviewed by Gitte & Jenny

4 Stars

“Maybe in another life we’ll meet again and get it right. But whatever happens, you will always remain my one perfect memory, my one perfect dream. I love you, my beautiful man.”

Well didn’t Mia Asher just wow us with her words, so flawless, enticing, fluid and vivid. We were swept away in this heart-breaking yet hope filled love story. It was compulsive reading. Whilst for us, Mia Asher is known for her high angst and kindle throwing; this was neither. The balance was perfect and the mood went from highly emotional, to swoony to frustratingly heart-breaking to…..well let’s just say it was a highly passionate and exciting ride.

‘My arms outstretched, I’d danced to the vibrant music of life. I prayed for romance, adventure, the unknown. I wanted to fall in love and love to the point of no return. I wanted the turmoil, the stress, the upheaval, and chaos…’

Valentina is a wild fire, loving life and everything it has to offer- a girl with a grandiose life perspective.  Life is an adventure and she’s wanting to grab it by the scruff of the neck, wringing every drop of enjoyment out of it. Then she meets William and is swept away by this enigmatic man’s attention and love. Where Valentina’s joy was life, it’s a far cry from where she finds herself 12 years later, suddenly alone in an apartment in Paris, married and lonely, questioning every aspect of her life and marriage to William.

‘If Valentina were mine, I would have moved heaven and earth to get to her. Because when you finally find something worth living for, you fight until there isn’t one more drop of blood left in you.’

When Valentina finds herself at a crossroad the unexpected presence of the mysterious Sebastian throws a naked spotlight on her deepest fears and where her place is in life. A man who throws everything up in the air and awakens her to who she really is, who she was and who she lost.

‘She reminds me of the sea; untamed, unpredictable, but beautiful, so damn beautiful.’

Sebastian was divine and his story heart-breaking. Two lost souls meeting when the timing is everything but right. Or is it? Is it the much needed catalyst for healing and reawakening? Is this accidental meeting what sparks the ultimate unveiling of lies, deceptions and tragedy?

‘He kisses me like he’s dying and my lips are kiss last breath. It’s a kiss that rearranges the stars in my own little galaxy, setting my life in a new course, changing my destiny. And if I crash and burn like a falling star, what does it matter when for this brief instant I’m in his arms? For the first time in a very long time, there isn’t ice inside of me. Instead, there’s a bright, hot, blazing fire.’

We have to say the first half of this book had us enthralled and we were feeling every moment- every word. Whilst we absolutely loved it, there came a point where it went in a direction that felt like an abrupt story change that ended up feeling quite rushed belying the beauty and romance of what came before. It almost felt like the addition derailed it somewhat which is such a shame as we were absolutely loving this story. That being said, Mia Asher is an incredible story-teller and there’s a real accomplished beauty and flawless control to her writing.

‘This. This is life. This is love. Feel it all. Feel him and believe. Believe. Believe.’

✲✲✲