Dark Kiss (Nightwatchers #1)

First of all, I just want to congratulate myself on actually finishing this book. I haven’t read many Angel books but I still found myself rolling my eyes, slamming the book shut, and repeating,“You’re the biggest idiot I have ever met. Why are you so stupid?”At least ten times each chapter

Bottom line

Even Kraven and all his smart ass remarks were not enough to keep me from throwing down the white flag and metaphorically shutting this e-ARC. What’s worse, I had such high hopes, such is the way with all brand new paranormal romance releases.

I wasn't impressed, wasn’t moved or stimulated. It’s not as if Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen is a bad book, completely poorly-written. Because that isn’t true. It’s just so been there, done that that I couldn’t bear to keep wading through the predictability.

Originally posted at Paranormal Indulgence, 6/7/12

Dark Kiss was a disappointment. This is the kind of book that turns people away from all the angel/demon books out there. Scratch that, this is the kind of book that turns people away from the whole paranormal romance genre. This is the kind of book, though, that, while some people dislike it, others will love it and gush about it. Which is why this was one of those books that I kept reading, despite disliking it a few chapters in, due to all the gushing and the recommendations I was getting from friends and fellow bloggers. This is also the kind of book that earns a facepalm, a wince, and a new home.

We have Samantha, a girl portrayed as a perfect goody-two-shoes – no one special, but after some hot guy she’s been drooling over for years Kisses her, all the guys start panting after her. Soon after that, – who would’ve guessed? – she meets this other hot bad boy who she feels this undeniable, dangerous attraction to, and he appears to return her feelings. And then she finds out that she’s special. One-of-a-kind. Fight-worthy not only because of how beautiful she appears to have become after being Kissed and turning into a soul-less Gray. Best of all, Bishop needs her to complete his mission. When she touches him, the whole world becomes crystal freaking clear and okay again. Her touch is magical. Bishop needs her touch. And thus begins the fading of what seemed to be a promising – though albeit unoriginal – plot, and the beginning of another insta-love, star-crossed lovers story.

Frankly, it’s impossible to fall in love with someone at first sight. You can fall in lust. You can be attracted to them. But loving someone means you like them, their personality, the way they are, and accept all their little flaws. Unfortunately, you can’t figure one’s personality or flaws out upon first glance. Not even after the first conversation. I’m a firm believer in the fact that love – no matter how sigh-worthy or glorious – takes time. But it was instant for Bishop and Samantha. They didn’t even really carry on a proper conversation. Everything they talked about was either an argument, about the angel/demon mission, or about the Source. Samantha knows Bishop’s an angel, dangerously sexy, dangerously dangerous… and that’s about it, though her hand has gotten quite acquainted with his.

Hun, that’s pitiful.

Kraven. I liked Kraven, and the way he lightened up the feigned intense, somewhat ridiculous ‘steamy’ stare-downs that’ll go between Samantha and Bishop every time their gazes met. He seemed genuine, had depth, and was realistic enough. I get that his sarcasm and cheerfulness hides a bad past, and his character makes sense. He does stuff that makes sense. Kraven makes sense. And that’s more than I can say for Samantha and Bishop.

The plot was lacking. The romance over-done. There was so much that we could’ve seen more about – Heaven and Hell, the other angels and demons in the group, Samantha’s family (everyone), the Source, and the man outside the store, just to name a few. But we didn’t. We saw too much of Bishop and Samantha making eyes at each other. We saw too much of Bishop not telling certain things to Samantha, and then Samantha would flip out and run away, only to return a few hours later. We saw too much of Bishop and Samantha in love; fighting; holding hands, and not nearly enough about the other stuff. There was too much romance, and not nearly enough action.

The beginning was pretty good – a great introduction, and what seemed like a promising start to a great paranormal romance. The middle dragged. Occasionally, the author would throw in a witty remark from Kraven, or the characters would find another angel/demon, just to keep people reading. Other than that, most of the book was Samantha and Bishop lovey-dovey-ness. The ending came on too quickly, then ended just as quickly and abruptly. Slap a different cover, change up the characters’ names, give it a new title, and voila! You’ve got yourself another angel/demon story. Congratulations.

Dark Kiss gets it’s own little place in my heart along with books like Fallen, Hush, Hush, Ascend, and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.