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Darkness & Light (Holloway Pack #1)

by J.A. Belfield (Goodreads Author)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 148 ratings · 51 reviews

Jem Stonehouse, a housewife with a neurotic husband bent on keeping her in line, dreams about werewolves in, what she believes, is a bid to escape boredom.

Sean Holloway is a werewolf, living a charade within the human race, whose mind drifts to a bond he shares with a woman he hasn't met--at least, not in this lifetime.

Apart, the two are safe but live unfulfilled lives.

Tog...more

Paperback, 412 pages

Published July 1st 2011 by J. Taylor Publishing (first published June 6th 2011)

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Oct 16, 2012 Terri Rochenski rated it 5 of 5 stars

Good Lord have mercy. What a rush.

Not a huge paranormal romance reader, but Mrs. B grabbed my attention with the first line & swept me through to a satisfying ending like few can do.

If you thought Jacob's pack from the Twilight series was hot, well. *clears throat* The Halloway boys will ignite an unquenchable fire for more muscles, more wolves, more gnashing of teeth, more, more, more!

***** 2nd time read through review *****

This was my second time reading D&L and let me tell you - I th...more Good Lord have mercy. What a rush.

Not a huge paranormal romance reader, but Mrs. B grabbed my attention with the first line & swept me through to a satisfying ending like few can do.

If you thought Jacob's pack from the Twilight series was hot, well. *clears throat* The Halloway boys will ignite an unquenchable fire for more muscles, more wolves, more gnashing of teeth, more, more, more!

***** 2nd time read through review *****

This was my second time reading D&L and let me tell you - I thought the first time through deserved 5 stars. Much better this time. I knew to expect (which bothered me last time) the British English, so it flowed with a nice, fresh flavor in wording. The language is distinctive & different since most authors I’ve found anyway, tend toward American English regardless of where they live.
But I digress. Onto the goodies.

Yummies: Everything. Seriously. Characters, plot, tension, climactic ending - love, hot men, the steamy … oh yeah. Ms. Belfield knows how to put a story together. There was nothing for me to nitpick.
Believability? No issues. Imagine that! ON the believability factor though - the character of Jem’s husband, Peter, hit a little close to home for me. Won’t say much more than that, but from someone who knows, Jem’s responses, thoughts, & emotions toward that arsehole are spot on. Completely believable.
To see Jem’s transformation, to see her come to life is very refreshing. I could have been reading about myself. Without the werewolf part, of course. ;)

Yuckies: Um … none? Some might find scenes a little violent, but let’s face it folks - animals are animals. They protect their own. Other’s might cringe, but I have to admit I was like ‘Hell yeah!’ as blood splattered. Yup. I’m a farm girl who grew up with three brothers & guns. Bring it on.

Recommend: Absolutely. Even if you’re not a PNR fan the beautiful transformation of a wounded, hindered life is perfectly portrayed. Perfectly. Trust me - I would know.
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7 likes · like · see review

Dec 04, 2012 S. Winters rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: keeper-shelf

Amazing read, from page 1 to the last page! Those Hollopack boys, start drooling NOW!!! Between Sean's charisma and devotion to Jem and her ability to arise from the worst of what life brings her, you'll be glued to the pages. I know, because I was!

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 03, 2012 Mara added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: Jamie

Shelves: pnr

Here comes a book with no rating. But a review.

I have a real problem in giving a number of star to this novel. I did not like it, but at the same time I realize it had some real good parts. So I was torn between the 1 o 2 star that my experience rated or consider it the better book it surely is. At the end I decided to go Pilate. And in this instance I think it's fairer.

Pro

*A story that read fresh
*A good plot
*Above all, a writing style that in same pages was really lyric

Cons
--Absolutely no wor...more

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 24, 2011 Danielle Smiley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-e-books, pnr-urban-fantasy

I loved this story.

Honestly, I was a bit leary when I realized Jem was already married when she meets her soul mate. Being a happily married girl, I would have a hard time accepting the idea of her leaving her husband for another man, but Belfield does a great job of making Peter, the husband in question, horrible enough that merits Jem leaving him with or without Sean in her life.

Jem really grows and develops as the novel progresses. The Holloway pack loves and nurtures Jem, allowing her to di...more

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Sep 08, 2012 Anna Simpson rated it 4 of 5 stars

'Darkness & Light' is the first of the Holloway Pack series.

Jem is a typical housewife and not living up to her potential. Sean is in love with someone he had been dreaming about for over eight years. When they come together the fur flies, and soul mates meet again.

What made this story standout was the major transformation of Jem. She was so ordinary in the beginning that I almost put the book down. Then she started to grow, making so many changes in her life that she was completely remade....more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 05, 2011 Charity rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebooks-i-own, paranormal-n-romance, shifters

At the risk of sounding completely cliché…OMG! If you love Paranormal Romance and specifically Werewolves then you have got to read this book. If you love the transformation of a weak submissive woman into a strong willed woman then you have got to read this book.

I first read Fated Encounter, which takes a scene from this book and switches the point of view to Sean, and was intrigued to delve right into Darkness & Light, and I am SO glad I did! Being introduced to Sean and his point of view...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Webbweaver Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jem is married to Peter; in a relationship that he is very satisfied with, but she is not. She has a good life, but must bow to his wishes and wants and does not always feel as if she is in control of anything in her life. Then the dreams start… Dreams that are strange, but at times wonderful, and full of Sean. But who is Sean and what does he want from Jem? She is not sure but when the dreams become overwhelming, she must find out why. Jem is thrown into a relationship and situations that she i...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW

Oh Wow! I never thought I would say I had found another series of books as good as the Rachel Vincent Shifter Series, or Dee Tenorio's Resurrection Series or Kelley Armstrong's Women Of The Otherworld Series but The Holloway Pack Series well and truly lives up to their standard and at time surpasses them!
I loved the historical element in the book. It's difficult to say more without giving spoliers which I refuse to do! The same historical element is dealt with in Instinct, so if you hav...more
MY REVIEW

Oh Wow! I never thought I would say I had found another series of books as good as the Rachel Vincent Shifter Series, or Dee Tenorio's Resurrection Series or Kelley Armstrong's Women Of The Otherworld Series but The Holloway Pack Series well and truly lives up to their standard and at time surpasses them!
I loved the historical element in the book. It's difficult to say more without giving spoliers which I refuse to do! The same historical element is dealt with in Instinct, so if you have read that you will totally know what I mean!
I thought the relationship between Jem and Peter was very realistic and portrayed really well. The domestic violence was depicted well without being over the top. As someone who has both seen and also experienced domestic violence I can vouch for Jem's behaviour and her feelings being so realistic. I loved the way her friend, Poppy and then of course Sean rescued her. (Where was my "Sean" when I needed one?! )
The relationship between Sean and Jem is *sigh* beautifully written, you feel that they are besotted with each other , that they are soul mates and meant to be together.
The wording in the book and how it is written draws you in, you feel like you are in the midst of the action rather than being a watcher from the sidelines. You really become involved with the book. You certainly don't want to put it down! Twice I found myself reading J. A. Belfield books at 1am in the morning!
I would say *warning* this book is for adults or very mature teens that is down to the domestic violence and the er....bit of bedroom action between Sean and Jem. having said that it really is no more than the teens are watching on tv these days and I do believe teens need to be more educated about such subjects as domestic violence anyway.
One section of the book stands out to me as being true in real life too, I hope J. A. Belfield doesn't mind me sharing it with you all in my review.
"Fate and destiny go hand in hand. It is impossible to change our destiny. Only the path upon which we walk to reach our destination alters. If we should stray from that path, fate will take control and guide us in the right direction."
The above quote fits in with what happens in the book with Jem and Sean but I think it's relevant to the reader in real life also. What a beautiful quote.
I like the cover as it represents the dark and light in Jem's life, as well as her dark night dreaming and her daylight hours.
So did I enjoy the book? A definite Yes! Would I recommend? To the correct age group or maturer teen then yes. Would I read more by J. A. Belfield? Yes there will be more reviews of her books to come for sure!

Available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk £11.49 paperback or £3.08 on kindle(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2012 Alyssa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance

I really liked this story up until about 80% through. Nothing drastic happened then, really, but it just began to drag and I couldn't help but think, over and over again, that Jem was really stubborn and annoying and just downright naive and stupid. I couldn't help it. Some of the things she did... it was so inconsiderate of those who cared for her and she explictly would turn around and do exactly what they asked her not to do. It was just annoying.

The other thing I didn't really like about thi...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Amy Keeley rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of powerful werewolves

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is one of the better romance novels I've read. Overall, it's a great read for those who enjoy a good plot and sex scenes that aren't so graphic you feel like you've accidentally stumbled into an erotic romance by mistake. The hero, a werewolf named Sean, is well-developed. He's got a good heart and a couple of weaknesses to keep him from being absolutely perfect and unbelievable.

In fact, all the guys in this are a joy to read, from Sean's dad Nathan, the Alpha of the pack, to the young Jos...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 31, 2013 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, read-in-2013, authors-j-a-belfield, werewolf-books, fiction

I loved this book in the bgeinning. I really was drawn to the idea of a paranormal story featuring a 30-something housewife rather than a young, hot 20-something. It made it more realistic to me, that a seemingly normal, boring woman could have this fascinating, secret history to her. And the writing was sharp and smart and drew me in. I also liked how drawn Jem was to Sean and how conflicted and confused she was with everything happening to her. My problems arose after she and Sean get together...more I loved this book in the bgeinning. I really was drawn to the idea of a paranormal story featuring a 30-something housewife rather than a young, hot 20-something. It made it more realistic to me, that a seemingly normal, boring woman could have this fascinating, secret history to her. And the writing was sharp and smart and drew me in. I also liked how drawn Jem was to Sean and how conflicted and confused she was with everything happening to her. My problems arose after she and Sean get together. It seemed she went from one controlling and subserviant position with Petter to another with Sean. Yes, Sean truely loves her and would never hurt her, but the controlling way he and his family make Jem sit and stay so to speak is not unlike what Peter does to her when he fears she is havign an affair. Yes, I know it is for her own safety, etc, but itstill rang wrong to me.

Alos, the writing seemed a bit off at times in later parts of the book, almost like some of the details didn't match up. I kept having to go back and reread parts to make sure I was understanding what was happening at times. In fact, reading Sean's point of view at the end of the book with some of the scenes helped me grasp those details a bit more. Almost as if Jem wasn't totally with it all the time and her confusion was confusing me. It was just distracting.

Finally I had a huge problem with Jem agreeing to do what Sean or Nathan asked and then blatently going against that several times. I know it was a way to push the story along but it seemed forced and stupid for the main charcater to keep doing that and quite frankly got really annoying. I started to dislike Jem a lot for always putting hersel finto these stupid situations on purpose just because she was acting like a child. I wish there was some other way to have advnaced the story.

The end part of this book were really great though and action packed and I enjoyed it, but I do have a lot more questions now. Like what happened with Peter and why hasn't Jem called Poppy or Jess in forever? And exactly who is Jess? Things i would like to find out about.

Despite all this, and the fact that this book just seemed to end quite abrutptly, I will read the nest book, just because I am curious to see where things go and if I will encounter that magic I loved in the first third of this book.(less)

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Jan 31, 2012 ⚝ Ŧáẅņá ⚝ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: is-there-a-sequel

Okay I couldn't decide between five stars or four...then realized the only reason I was going to put four stars down was because I had stopped reading the book for about four days and wasn't as emotionally involved for the last 30 pages as I had been through out the rest of the book (getting so sick that you can't even read is no fun!) in the end it would technically be 4.75 stars

So anywho, here's my review:

things I liked
The way the author pulls you into Jem's head and gets you emotionally attac...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 01, 2011 Aimee Laine rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was privileged to read Darkness & Light as a 'beta reader' almost a year ago. Then, in the process of J.A. Belfield's road to publication, I got the opportunity to read it again... after editing. I loved it even more. The funny thing is ... I RARELY read a book twice. So for me to read it once and **want** to read it again ... and read **every word** (I didn't skim -- EVER) ... is a testament to her ability to keep me engaged.

I am a tremendously picky reader, but I fell in love with Sean (...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Kala rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have mixed feelings about this book. I read it because it was a BOTM in one of my Goodreads book clubs. I generally prefer YA Paranormal Romance to Adult, but I occasionally read and enjoy Adult series. I don't know that I will continue reading this series though. I read the first half extremely fast and enjoyed it - then I hit the halfway point and struggled to finish it.

The main character, Jem, starts off as a timid housewife with a controlling husband, Peter. I originally liked the dynamic...more I have mixed feelings about this book. I read it because it was a BOTM in one of my Goodreads book clubs. I generally prefer YA Paranormal Romance to Adult, but I occasionally read and enjoy Adult series. I don't know that I will continue reading this series though. I read the first half extremely fast and enjoyed it - then I hit the halfway point and struggled to finish it.

The main character, Jem, starts off as a timid housewife with a controlling husband, Peter. I originally liked the dynamic there a lot. Peter was portrayed as someone who loves and cares about Jem a lot, but at times was overly controlling. I liked that, at first, he wasn't the stereotypical evil abusive controlling husband... unfortunately that changed. Over time during the book he transforms into the generic Lifetime movie abusive husband who tries to rape his wife, beats her, locks her in the house, and I think he even tries to kill her.

Jem dreams of werewolves, specifically one named Sean. Then she meets him and it's instant love (view spoiler). She and Sean go live with his family, where she is again locked in a house or office, though this time she is treated more like a child than an abused wife. Sean and his family all have such similar and bland personalities that now, just a few days after finishing the book, I can't remember a single one of their names.

Poppy and Jess, Jem's best friend and sister (respectively), were two of the more interesting personalities in the book, but unfortunately they both got ignored at around the halfway point. I wish the author had continued to feature them more prominently throughout the book. Poppy was another character that was better in the beginning, but I started to dislike her a bit towards the ending - she pushed Jem very quickly into another relationship that was not much healthier than the one she was in.

I had trouble connecting with Jem, which is another big problem. I liked her for the first 30-40% of the book because she was a heroine who had faults. She was in this messed up relationship, but she did love her husband and was loyal (at first). Her husband was kinda bad, but had some redeeming qualities so I could semi understand why she felt the way she did. Once things started heating up with Sean, she just became a different person. She definitely needed to become more independent and strong, but she didn't really. Instead of being subservient to Peter, she became subservient to Sean. She also had a sudden personality shift regarding anyone else and became very aggressive to everyone (except her love interest).

Towards the end a random pack of werewolves shows up - another family like Sean's. An alpha male with a bunch of grown sons who all have similar personalities and I can't remember any of their names either. They decide they want Jem for themselves and the two werewolf families fight over her.

This whole werewolf fighting plotline was the weakest part of the story and to be completely honest, I wish it didn't exist at all. I would have preferred other parts to be more fleshed out. I feel like more time spent developing Sean's personality and more time developing the relationship between Sean and Jem to show how it was so magical and right, instead of just telling, would have been so much better. More background on the whole Holloway family would have been nice too - instead it just feels like the entire family revolves around trying to get Jem and Sean together every time they (view spoiler).

I think this author has a lot of potential. I don't know if she has other books published, or if this is a debut. I really enjoyed parts of it and feel like she has the ability to be really good. I would probably check out other books from her, but I don't really have enough interest in the Holloway family to continue this series.(less)

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Feb 26, 2013 Angarad rated it 5 of 5 stars

AWESOME!!! I loved this book.
I was feeling a bit down the past few days since I couldn´t find a REALLY interesting and orignial story to read and Darkness & Light just came by. So happy I took the chance to read it.

Jem and Sean´s story is so sweet, passioante, out of time... you can do nothing but fell for them. The pack is a great part too, the live together and the way they interact.

I really enjoyed the installement and development of the story line. Not too fast, not too slow, with enoug...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Tiffani rated it 1 of 5 stars

What the hell.
I fucking loathe weak, pathetic, nonsensical females.

When your husband is semi-abusive and then attempts to rape you, you do not stay with him and you do not decline the offer of a gorgeous, nice man to ditch said husband with your only excuse being that you're "married".

And a woman who just found her best friend's been beaten up and locked in by her husband won't react to that by telling said best friend 'I told you so'.

Really, how fucked up and lame can you get?

And really? She ca...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Originally posted on Lovey Dovey Books

J.A. Belfield has successfully made werewolves my favorite paranormal creatures of the night. Darkness & Light depicts werewolves as fierce and romantic, what could be better? This story of soulmates once again reuniting is unique and engaging. Jem and Sean have a love that inevitably repeats itself. Their history isn't revealed in one sitting, but spread throughout the novel. There's no chance of getting confused when learning what it means for Jem and...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jamie by: Mara

I did enjoy the part of this book that involved Jem and Sean and their re-discovery of each other. I thought the writing was good, different, new. The romance was well written, as well as the action scenes, and it all held my interest. Yet the part of the book that was Jem and Peter's story was awful. It just didn't seem to fit and fell away from the story anyway. Once I got through a certain point in the book, it seemed as though all of Jem's relationships ceased to exist (with Peter/Poppy/Jess...more

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Sep 14, 2011 D.J. Weaver rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Nov 18, 2011 Keri Lake rated it 5 of 5 stars

Darkness & Light is a paranormal romance written from the perspective of Jem Stonehouse, a seemingly content housewife, married to a despicable excuse for a man, Peter. Life for Jem is predictable. Routine. That is, until sexy Sean Holloway steps into her world. What was once a mundane existence soon becomes shaken and stirred by a rambunctious group of mouthwatering, hot-bodied werewolves. Jem is forced to choose between her morals and her heart.
This book is fast-paced and engaging from th...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Cassandra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, werewolf, 5-stars, blog-widget

When I started this book, I was really confused because of reading Instinct first. After I caught on to what was happening, which I didn't really understand completely until the cellar. I will not give it away, so you have to read it to find out. I loved feeling like I was with Jem as she struggled trying to understand what was going on. I loved when she became a strong heroine overcoming her fear and finding her freedom to be happy. I recommend this book and series to all and can't wait to star...more

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May 22, 2013 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book and feel it is a great beginning of an intriguing series. Jem is a likable character who grabs your interest from the very beginning. She lives with a husband who is a self-absorbed abuser. It is all very subtle with isolating her from others to telling her what she should wear. She has dreams about werewolves that feed her imagination and help her escape the sameness of her structured life. She never expects her dreams to have an element of truth that will affect her...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Maghon Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult

OK, so I had heard some great things about this book as well, so I decided to buy it and jump on this band wagon as well. Boy this is a good one. Jem is in a TERRIBLE marriage, and Lord forgive me, but I would have killed him in his sleep! But, she's always had these dreams of wolves, and this one in particular, Sean, and then things get really real when she actually meets him!! This one has werewolves, witches, prophecies, awesome good guys, scary bad guys, and a seriously nutty husband, with f...more

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Jan 09, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: supernatural, shapeshifters

Darkness & Light was a very absorbing read, perfect for my travel day. I lost track of the plane and was focused entirely on the story. It's just one of those books that you can't put down, and I'm very glad I read it.

However, whenever I did have to put the book down, I had a few issues with it. Jem and Sean's relationship didn't seem all that much healthier than Jem and Peter's, although it was definitely warmer and safer. For a lot of the book, I had the feeling Jem became the pack's house...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Lolita rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-released, books-that-i-own

I was really looking forward to reading this book, it did capture my interest but in the end it just was an oké book for me. I always like a good werewolf story and that's the main reason I picked this book up. I also love the cover, it's simple but beautiful.

The story is about Jem, she is a housewife who cleans the house for her husband. The story starts pretty slow, with Jem just living her life and being bothered by some strange dreams. Later on the story does get more interesting, but someho...more I was really looking forward to reading this book, it did capture my interest but in the end it just was an oké book for me. I always like a good werewolf story and that's the main reason I picked this book up. I also love the cover, it's simple but beautiful.

The story is about Jem, she is a housewife who cleans the house for her husband. The story starts pretty slow, with Jem just living her life and being bothered by some strange dreams. Later on the story does get more interesting, but somehow I just couldn't really get into the story. I loved the idea behind this book, the idea of jem and Sean being reincarnated every time again. This also was what kept me reading, but I still struggled trhough some parts. I also think the book lacked some action and explanation at some points.

The romance is a huge part of this book, but it just wasn't that interesting. The author has a great idea here, but I just didn't really think it was worked out that well. I didn't really understand why Jem loved her husband and later on Sean. There is not really much to like them. As the book continued I did begin to like the characters more. They are nice characters and I liked the way they behaved with each other. Although I still didn't really felt like I knew them, luckily the author has written lots of short stories and I am determined to read those and get to know the characters better.

Another point that just keeps bugging me is the lack of pack world building. In a werewolf book you just have to have something about the pack, who is alpha and wolf traits that enter the human part of their life. I really felt those parts lacked in this book. The werewolf part only starts playing a role pretty late in the story and then I still felt like it was too less. I liked the werewolf parts of the tory and wanted to read more about them.

To conclude: an oké book, but not great. It did capture my attention and the idea behind the story was interesting. The story was a bit slow and I struggled through some parts. I also felt like I didn't really knew the characters. (less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Dale Ibitz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jem is a housewife, married to a control-freak, Peter. She's expected to provide dinners, a clean house, and sex, with little thought to what she needs or desires. She has a BFF, Poppy, and a sister who provide little distraction to the dreariness of her life. And then then dreams start; dreams of a stranger named Sean. Virile, good-looking, sexy...he provides a whole new distraction when this dream-stranger proves he's no dream.

The beginning of this book shows a weak main character. Jem is a sl...more Jem is a housewife, married to a control-freak, Peter. She's expected to provide dinners, a clean house, and sex, with little thought to what she needs or desires. She has a BFF, Poppy, and a sister who provide little distraction to the dreariness of her life. And then then dreams start; dreams of a stranger named Sean. Virile, good-looking, sexy...he provides a whole new distraction when this dream-stranger proves he's no dream.

The beginning of this book shows a weak main character. Jem is a slave to not only her man, but her life as well. It's not clear what her motivation is to stay with her man (in the beginning...a little later things change up a bit and her motivation--fear--is quite evident). As Jem escapes one life to start anew, she becomes aware of herself. She begins to embrace her true nature, growing strong and, yes, a little stubborn, as she shakes the shackles of an over-bearing marriage.

You gotta love Poppy. She is so easy to picture; a vibrant, loyal friend who loves Jem and embraces Jem's weirdness without question. She is by far the most well-drawn character in this story...next to Peter, who is scary in his possessive, narrow-minded nature.

Plot-wise, I was left to question a few things. Without giving anything away, there's a break in Peter's routine in the beginning that seems out of character. He keeps a rigid, unfaltering routine, yet there's an event early on where he not only breaks from this pattern, but breaks from it in a drastic way. It shows a mean character beneath the controlling man we all know and despice. With no explanation for this break in character, we're left feeling that the break is contrived to force the coming events, e.g., the beginning of the break-down of his marraige to Jem.

The 2nd thing that left me scratching my head a bit was how Sean's family is aware of the paranormal connection between Sean and Jem. How they came by this knowledge is never quite explained, or, if it was, it was totally lost on me.

The writing, especially the dialogue, could be a little tighter and focused. The dialogue in particular sometimes seemed to go in circles, taking a little long to get to the point. However, J.A. really nails some of the action scenes: tight, suspenseful, on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of writing that I wish carried over to the whole story over-all. The writing is good...just needs a little fat-trimming.

I didn't come away from the story feeling emotionally attached to the characters. Except for the father, who we come to know pretty well, I would have liked to have gotten to know the Holloway Pack a little better. It's a very tricky feat to accomplish that emotional investment. I think more visceral emotions injected into the writing would help that.

Overall, I liked the story,and if you are into shifter stories, you'll think this one is pretty sweet.(less)

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Aug 04, 2011 Ambur rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To say that I'm a fan of paranormal stories would be a major understatement. I absolutely love them, and when you look at my bookshelf, that love is incredibly obvious as most of my books are of that genre. I'm not picky when it comes to paranormal creatures. I like faeries/fairies/fey (or however else you want to spell it :P), vampires, witches/wizards/sorcerers, and of course, werewolves. The series that really cemented my love for werewolves was Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld seri...more To say that I'm a fan of paranormal stories would be a major understatement. I absolutely love them, and when you look at my bookshelf, that love is incredibly obvious as most of my books are of that genre. I'm not picky when it comes to paranormal creatures. I like faeries/fairies/fey (or however else you want to spell it :P), vampires, witches/wizards/sorcerers, and of course, werewolves. The series that really cemented my love for werewolves was Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, although her YA Series also played a huge role. I loved the personality behind her werewolves, and their relationships amongst their pack. The fact that Elena was the only female, and also her feisty relationship with Clay. I love Clay. :) Now...you're probably wondering why I'm just rambling on and on about one series while reviewing another, well there is a reason. After reading Kelley's series, I haven't really looked for another couple that compares to Clay and Elena for me, but in Darkness and Light, I found one. :)

Jem and Sean aren't really like Clay and Elena when apart, but put them together and like Clay and Elena, they make for one super feisty duo. However, their story is completely different. Jem and Sean have an amazing backstory, seriously amazing! I don't want to give too much away, but I will tell a little bit. Jem and Sean have had lifetimes together. When they finally meet in this one, Jem's already married to a "gem" of a husband. Yes, that was a terrible pun, and it was also filled with sarcasm. Her husband, Peter, seems like a great guy right when you start reading, but as the book goes on, little pieces of their life are revealed. He tells Jem what to wear, doesn't let her work, and doesn't seem to like her having friends. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what eventually happens, since most emotional abuse eventually evolves, and you all probably know that it doesn't end well.

Amidst all the darkness that has developed in Jem's life, comes Sean. She'd already been dreaming about him, and then there he is. I absolutely loved everything about Jem and Sean's meeting, and their developing relationship. I especially loved how it changed Jem. With Peter, she was meek and didn't stand up for herself at all, but with Sean, her true self comes out, and she starts to actually liven up. I loved her transformation, absolutely loved it! By the end of the story, Jem was a strong, and amazing character that I loved reading about, and even when she wasn't strong, I was always eager to know what she was thinking.

Just like in Kelley's series, J.A. Belfield has created a pack with an amazing bond. I thought they were all amazing, even though some remained rather mysterious throughout the book. ;) Sean's brother, Ethan, was the pack muscle...and I'm sure I don't have to tell anyone how sexy he was. :P Their father, Nathan, was the pack Alpha, and I loved his relationship with Jem. He was so welcoming to her, and practically treated her like a daughter right from the start. Then there was Connor, and his sons, Kyle and Josh. We didn't learn too much about them, other than the fact that Josh has a bit of a crush on Jem, and that he's the young one in the group. :) I loved their dynamics together, and I never get tired of hearing about how much werewolves eat. haha

My favourite part of Darkness and Light was definitely Jem and Sean's relationship. I loved it! I loved seeing it develop, and seeing them discover and deal with the fact that this isn't their first lifetime together and that fate has entwined them forever. I loved their training, and their recreational activities...which can both mean very different things, and in the case of this story, they do. ;) haha I'm trying not to give anything away, but I must give a warning that there are sex scenes in this book. They aren't incredibly graphic, so I don't think they will bother anyone, unless you really don't like reading any kind of sex scene at all. I, personally, thought they were fantastic. ;) haha

Darkness and Light is an amazing story, and I loved reading it! It has an amazing main character, some fantastic secondary characters, and one remarkable storyline. I think that fans of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series (mostly of Clay and Elena) will really enjoy this story, and I know I will anxiously be awaiting more stories from J.A. Belfield! :D(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 Sue Tint rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-read-not-yet-released

Ahhh... Jem and Sean! I have to say, I really loved this book! I am so impressed that this is J.A.'s first novel,,, it was so beautifully written. Jem is a boring housewife in a marriage without sparks. Jem is dreaming of werewolves,, one particular werewolf that she finally gets to see in her dreams, and then in reality. She finds that she and this mystery dream man, Sean, have a history.

Although the relationship between Jem and Sean was awkwardly written at first - feeling almost forced and u...more

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Sep 22, 2011 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Darkness and Light is a paranormal romance about Jem and Sean, who have a relationship that spans the ages. The only problem is, Jem doesn't exactly remember Sean being the love of her life! Oh no! Instead, she's plagued by dreams that leave her on the edge awareness. And in her waking hours, she's saddled by the fact that she's married to one (despicably obsessive / compulsive) man, Peter, yet, finds herself yearning for another who turns out to be the (wolf) man of her dreams, Sean!

J.A.Belfiel...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Denna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-series

Rarely do I read a romance novel, or any novel for that matter, and find myself with a big smile on my face the entire time I’m reading it. What can I say? I have a soft spot in my heart for hunky guys who adore everything about their better half, even when she does silly things, gets herself into trouble, and irritates the hell out of him.

Jem and Sean have lived their lives together before, and are destined to do so again and again and again. Only this time around Jem finds herself already mar...more Rarely do I read a romance novel, or any novel for that matter, and find myself with a big smile on my face the entire time I’m reading it. What can I say? I have a soft spot in my heart for hunky guys who adore everything about their better half, even when she does silly things, gets herself into trouble, and irritates the hell out of him.

Jem and Sean have lived their lives together before, and are destined to do so again and again and again. Only this time around Jem finds herself already married to another man when Sean steps back into her life. Not only married, but tied down to an abusive controlling monster who is willing to beat her, or worse, to keep Jem under his thumb. Visions about werewolves and running free as a wolf invade her dreams at night, a prequel to the real thing about to crash down upon her and turn everything she has ever known (in this life) upside down.

I’ll not give much away about the story except to say I enjoyed my time reading about Jem and the journey she took, not only to learn about her past lives, but to learn about who she really was inside, the strength she had been forced to lock away because of her present living conditions with an abusive husband. Without great courage some women can never escape it. A few times I found myself getting irritated with her apparent willingness to let men control her every move. In fact, several times I found myself actually talking to the book, telling her to take charge and do what she wanted. No one reacts like that unless you’re caught up in the story, and I was definitely caught up. :) But I’m happy to say by the end she became the person I wanted her to be right from the start. She took a bad situation and turned it around, growing from the experience instead of allowing herself to be destroyed by it.

The only down side I found is probably only one of my own pet peeves when it comes to writing and not an issue that will bother anyone else. I found the over use of names in dialogue slightly irritating. I felt it made the text read repetitious and probably wasn’t necessary in a good many places. But if this is the worst I could come up with, then I think it has to say a lot for both the writer J.A. Belfield, and her story. Well worth the price I paid for my Kindle copy. It’s a story I’ll likely read again several years down the road and enjoy it as much, or more, than I did the first time around.
(less)

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About J.A. Belfield

One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination, as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conve...more

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“My name's Sean, Jem. I'm Sean.” — 9 people liked it

“Welcome back, Jem.” — 5 people liked it

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