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Brightest Kind of Darkness (Brightest Kind of Darkness #1)

by P.T. Michelle (Goodreads Author), Patrice Michelle (Goodreads Author)

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 2,283 ratings · 391 reviews

Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate- until she dreams a future she can't ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are sudde...more

ebook, 248 pages

Published June 28th 2011 by Patrice Michelle (first published June 27th 2011)

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Nov 15, 2011 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, favorites, arc, paranormal, mystery-thriller

Nara has a very unusual life. In fact, she lives every day twice. Once in her dreams, and again for real. Sounds awesome right? Wrong! It's boring in the purest sense of the word! Nara is completely over living her life in déja-vu. She only wants to be surprised for once. However, things change drastically when one day she interferes and stops a bomb from going off at school. Her dreams stop, then people start having strange injuries. What is the price of her meddling with Fate?

If there was any...more Nara has a very unusual life. In fact, she lives every day twice. Once in her dreams, and again for real. Sounds awesome right? Wrong! It's boring in the purest sense of the word! Nara is completely over living her life in déja-vu. She only wants to be surprised for once. However, things change drastically when one day she interferes and stops a bomb from going off at school. Her dreams stop, then people start having strange injuries. What is the price of her meddling with Fate?

If there was any reason to use the word "fantabulous", defining Brightest Kind of Darkness would be it! It's rare that I get really hooked in a story until at least one quarter through, but this one had me hooked by page 10! It was Nara that did it. I immediately fell in love with Nara's character. Above being incredibly likeable, Her voice is so realistic that I found myself entranced by her story. I was so captivated by it that I was contemplating how awful it will be for her to now have to live without seeing her day beforehand… How will she possibly live like that!? Yes, I felt stupid for asking myself that, but it shows how it felt like I had been living her whole life in the hour it took to read to that point.

Nara's wonderful character is not the only reason I was so captivated by this novel. Patrice's writing flows so smoothly through the pages that you don't realize you've already read half of the book. It's the type of simple writing that you can read effortlessly but without any repercussions in the depth of the story. The story is quite elaborate with a lot of twists that I never saw coming and had me riveted. What I thought were a few plot holes at first were ultimately clarified and the reveal of the book's villain was completely original as well as terrifying; his powers are unstoppable! I'm vastly curious to learn more about him and how Nara is going to deal with him in the second book.

Patrice's Brightest Kind of Darkness also holds a wonderful and enchanting romance. Ethan is adorable, down to earth and charming. I loved him from the start. The romance builds up gradually making it feel genuine and sent my heart aflutter. Him and Nara have fantastic chemistry.

This novel is a must read to any Young Adult readers who like books with a darker paranormal storyline, a sweet romance and a lot of suspense. It is definitely nothing short of ingenuity.(less)

20 likes · like · see review

Nov 06, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

FREE! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
11/6/12

When Nara goes to sleep at night she dreams her entire next day. What an awesome way to be prepared! I would honestly love to have that ability. But Nara sometimes hates it because she is bored. She lives the same day twice. Nothing is new to her. Until one day she stops dreaming her next day and she realizes how difficult it is to live through the day without being prepared. She has to study, she has to practice soccer because she has no clue...more FREE! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005...
11/6/12

When Nara goes to sleep at night she dreams her entire next day. What an awesome way to be prepared! I would honestly love to have that ability. But Nara sometimes hates it because she is bored. She lives the same day twice. Nothing is new to her. Until one day she stops dreaming her next day and she realizes how difficult it is to live through the day without being prepared. She has to study, she has to practice soccer because she has no clue where the ball will go, and she doesn't see the betrayal from a friend coming.

Then she meets Ethan, the new guy in school. He is shy and doesn't talk much but has a bad reputation from his past school. I really enjoyed the slow build of their friendship to eventually more. It felt real and natural. No insta~love and no love triangles. Ethan still has a mystery surrounding him but he is very supportive of Nara and eventually very honest as well. He didn't drag everything out for a long length of time. They had some great butterfly worthy scenes. I'm very picky in my romances so I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed their relationship.

Now onto the exciting drama. Nara never really tried to change her days unless something really bad happened to someone. When Nara tries to change things Fate comes in to correct them. Fate doesn't want Nara messing with his plans. The book then takes on kind of a Final Destination feel where Fate tries to inflict the damage on people that Nara stopped. But Nara wants to use her dreams for good. Why does she have this power if she can't use it? Ethan worries for Nara's safety if she continues to mess with Fate but maybe she can figure out a way to change it. Really looking forward to the sequel.

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"Imagine knowing you're going to have a bad hair day, or that you'll burn the toast for the eighty-zillionth time, or that Mount Everest will appear on the tip of your nose a half hour after lunch. That's when a ponytail, cereal and Benzoyl Peroxide come in handy."

"But not touching you would be the hardest thing I've ever had to do."(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Mar 09, 2012 Midu Hadi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: YA/fantasy fans

Shelves: 212books, fantasy, really-ya, romance, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 04, 2011 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One thing that I enjoy about books is the way the plot flows. This plot not only flowed nicely, but grabbed the reader at every turn of the page. I have never been so bombarded by literary goodness that all I could do is eat popcorn, snuggle deeply with the book and hold on for the ride!

First off, the characters from the start are so great flawed in every good way that you can;'t help but be in there shoes. The characters are interesting, fresh, uniquely sculpted that the author makes you want t...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Marni rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 stars!

A big THANK YOU to the author for providing me a copy for review. I couldn't put this book down. I was more tired than my kids their first day of school because I knew if I stopped reading I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway because I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

To know what was going to happen to you the day before, how cool would that be? To actually dream the next day, even cooler. Knowing if the boy you were checking out was going to talk to you, to know if your te...more

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Dec 05, 2011 ♥ Sarah ♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ebooks, urban-fantasy, ya, fav-males, psychics, cover-is-awesome

I'll be honest. Sometimes I'm a bit leery when heading into a self-published novel. In my defense though, they can be a mixed bag. Some might not be a great story or they might not have very good (or any) editing. But this one was fantastic. I'm so happy that Patrice provided me with a review copy for this because I enjoyed it a lot!

I'm going to try to not give too much away in this review because part of what I enjoyed the most about reading this was the mystery and the discovery of pieces of t...more

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

Shelves: favorites

Brightest Kind of Darkness is the story of Nara, a girl who dreams her next days events before they happen, and a mysterious loner named Ethan. The events of the story lead Nara and Ethan to begin a budding friendship and eventually a romantic relationship. As their relationship grows and Nara's gift begins to fade, strange things begin to happen. The question is what will Ethan and Nara have left when this is all over.

My opinion: this book is a must read for anyone who likes a good paranormal...more Brightest Kind of Darkness is the story of Nara, a girl who dreams her next days events before they happen, and a mysterious loner named Ethan. The events of the story lead Nara and Ethan to begin a budding friendship and eventually a romantic relationship. As their relationship grows and Nara's gift begins to fade, strange things begin to happen. The question is what will Ethan and Nara have left when this is all over.

My opinion: this book is a must read for anyone who likes a good paranormal romance. This book delivers on so many levels. I am not a fan of purely romantic books. Plot must be present between the love scenes or what's the point? P.T. Michelle does a masterful job creating characters that compel you to keep reading. Her use of sensory imagery is absolutely beautiful. Nara and Ethan's budding relationship is also incredibly beautiful. Begin rant. I cannot stand it when two characters "fall in love" the second they meet and are ready to die for one another in the next scene. What's that all about? Instalove is not love it's instalust. Rant over. Ethan and Nara's relationship begins as a friendship based on common interests and an uncanny understanding of each other. As they share more and more of their lives and secrets, we see a very balanced and loving relationship develop. They have their little blips, as any relationship does, and they also have some serious obstacles to overcome but there is a serious commitment to each other's needs and well being...especially from Ethan. Enter my absolute adoration for our male lead. Ethan is fantastic. When did he win my heart? The second he calls Nara "Sunshine." Call me cheesy, but that's my husband's nickname for me and I literally had an "AWWWWW!!!" moment as I read the book. Ethan is charming and lovable and also very funny, however there is a depth to him that you would not see in typical teenage boys. The reasons for this are explain in text, so I won't spoil that for you. Suffice it to say he has a hard-won maturity. I really love how Nara's affection for him is something that blossoms like real life love does. He becomes the most beautiful person in the world to her...he doesn't start out that way. Not that she thinks him unattractive at the beginning but familiarity makes her see his beauty more deeply. Ethan is also an extremely protective, sacrificial leading man, who will do anything to keep Nara safe. But the most incredibly refreshing thing about this entire romance is their mutual need for each other and the pure vulnerability of their love. Most YA books have a heroine who is utterly infatuated with their male lead and if something happens to separate them, live is over. Let's just kill ourselves or become useless lumps of crap because Mr. Wonderful is acting like an idiot. I mean really, girls? Or we've got Mr. Wonderful over here who says all these perfectly beautiful things that were obviously written by a woman. I don't need a soap opera, I want a real romance here. Something that could ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE. Ok so people dreaming their next day doesn't happen in real life but the romance feels genuine unlike many books I've read. I'm very much looking forward to Lucid. =)(less)

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Oct 07, 2011 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sometimes, I get in book ruts. I feel like I've read the same thing time and again. So when I read the synopsis for Brightest Kind of Darkness, I was thrilled to have something new and intriguing to dig into.

This book has a few valuable assets in it's favor. Starting with the main characters, Nara and Ethan. Separately, they are solid characters. Nara is amiable, resilient and athletic (definitely something I don't see in a lot of YA female characters). The story is told entirely through her po...more Sometimes, I get in book ruts. I feel like I've read the same thing time and again. So when I read the synopsis for Brightest Kind of Darkness, I was thrilled to have something new and intriguing to dig into.

This book has a few valuable assets in it's favor. Starting with the main characters, Nara and Ethan. Separately, they are solid characters. Nara is amiable, resilient and athletic (definitely something I don't see in a lot of YA female characters). The story is told entirely through her point-of-view, so there is instant affinity towards her.

Nara's new friend/classmate/potential boyfriend, Ethan, is an asset to the book as well. He's steadfast, reliable and had the prerequisite handsome and mysterious characteristics. From the start, it is clear Ethan has a troubled past, and a shaky, at best, present. To be with Nara as she peels the layers from his exterior was alternately cool and sad.

The story becomes much more intriguing when Ethan and Nara begin to work together to uncover the truths behind their strange abilities, and how they tie together. I loved their partnership. The lead role alternated consistently between the two, lending a feeling of trust and mutual admiration. Nara never became domineering or unreasonable. Ethan never forced Nara to sit back and let him handle or control the situation.

My one glitch in the story would be the slow revelations. I sort of felt like I was out of the loop in regards to what the big secret was for too long. A lot of the answers to the questions I was asking myself did come. But I found myself growing impatient in the meantime.

All in all, I found Brightest Kind of Darkness to be a genuinely appealing book. Once again, I have to say that I loved the premise. Loved the fact that the story was different from a lot of the books out there. I found reading this book to be time well spent.

Favorite Quote:

"Ethan had this knack for leaving me breathless and teetering. Like a chair tilted on two legs, I
was never sure if I was going to topple over or land on solid ground."

* I received a copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. * (less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2013 Tamis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

OMG! Suelto suspiros de amor por este libro ♥

Puedo decir que me encanto, desde el inicio al fin, la trama me parecio realmenete genial, y creo en el destino realmente y que no se debe intervenir.

Ethan Woau! estoy profundamente enamorada de el :P fue un personaje realmente bueno de leer.

Nara por primera vez no odie a la protagonista realmente me gusto.

En fin el Libro essuper duper genial. Fue una lectura ligera, divertida, con misterio, romance etc...

100% recomendable.

2 likes · like · see review

May 03, 2012 Katherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-paranormal, favorites

I have often lamented that finding a quality book among the drifts of self-published e-books is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. I am happy to report that I have found one of those elusive needles—and it is crafted of solid gold (which is very impractical for a needle, but explains why it blended in with the hay so well.). I was turned onto this book by an interview and contest on Ilona Andrews blog, and as it was $.99 for the e-book I decided to take a flyer on it. I am SO glad that I di...more I have often lamented that finding a quality book among the drifts of self-published e-books is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. I am happy to report that I have found one of those elusive needles—and it is crafted of solid gold (which is very impractical for a needle, but explains why it blended in with the hay so well.). I was turned onto this book by an interview and contest on Ilona Andrews blog, and as it was $.99 for the e-book I decided to take a flyer on it. I am SO glad that I did. It is books like this that give me hope that the end-product of and independently published work CAN be just as good as one that went through the publish-house procedure. And while it may be rarer, such gems are worth searching for.

I inhaled Brightest Kind of Darkness in a single day because I simply could not put it down. Deceivingly simple in its underpinnings of a high school setting, this book weaves both light and shadows into a twisting plot that far from feeling contrived remains organic in its creation, and yet still leaves ample room for surprise twists and turns that left me guessing. Exploring a completely new take on paranormal fiction Ms. Michelle creates a truly layered story that, while firmly anchored in the young adult realm and time-scope, reaches beyond age and setting borders to be an exciting a touching tale for all ages. It is a superb example of originality in a genre that I feel is sometimes too bogged-down in recycled ideas and well-trod tropes. Many entries that have come out of the exploding young adult genre today are either trite in trying to capture the audience of a well-received book (Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, etc.) or so juvenile as to only really apply to their click market. Brightest Kind of Darkness is a bird of a very different feather.

I loved getting to know the characters in this book. Full of both strength and vulnerability, I felt Ms. Michelle struck a good balance, making the characters feel real. The main protagonists in this book truly breathed for me. If I could give any criticism, it would be that the secondary characters in this story felt a bit flat. Very few of them do I feel scratched the surface of who they could be; however the story and main characters more than made up the slack. I hope that in further volumes I will get to see a bit more deeply into additional characters and see how they affect and interact with the intricate world that was created.

This book had me on the edge of my seat with anticipation and enjoying every second of it. From the starting gate to the ending I can truly say I did not see coming…I wouldn’t change a thing. This series is going on my must-buy list, and I am eagerly anticipating the release of the next volume. I want to know what happens in this story and to be able to spend more time with the characters I have gotten to know and love.

This is a five star book and a new author to keep an eye on in order to see a rising star in action.

http://masquerader.harshmage.com/cate...
(less)

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Sep 22, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, review-on-blog, favorites

Brightest Kind of Darkness is soo good! Seriously, I loved this book. The premise is fresh and such a cool idea! Plus it is more complex than it initially seemed. I still have no idea what is going on with Ethan. You get answers in layers, and I want more, more, more. All I know is that I LOVED him. I just started reading book 2, Lucid because I need to know what is going to happen next.

Nara dreams her whole next day. How different and awesome/scary is that? I can't decide for the life of me if...more

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May 03, 2012 Scimone Jackson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brightest Kind of Darkness....
I was actually very intrigued with this book. It was a great read. I am extremely pissed at the fact that i now have to wait for another book...this author was extremely selfish and was clearly only thinking about herself when she made such a great book and forced us to fall in love with each page....and now I'm forced to wait...another what? 5 months...5 days...? Or worse....five seconds?! Cruel. I can see me reenacting the 1980's Misery and kidnapping the author f...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Ashley Byland rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had originally bought this book because of the book’s synopsis on the back, and it intrigued me enough to buy it. The cover didn’t hurt either, very intriguing book. I have to say, my decision to buy this book was one of the best decisions of my life! Oh My Goodness! This book is my absolute favorite book I have ever read!!!

The synopsis of this book is different from any other book that I have read, and it was right up my alley! “Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception:...more I had originally bought this book because of the book’s synopsis on the back, and it intrigued me enough to buy it. The cover didn’t hurt either, very intriguing book. I have to say, my decision to buy this book was one of the best decisions of my life! Oh My Goodness! This book is my absolute favorite book I have ever read!!!

The synopsis of this book is different from any other book that I have read, and it was right up my alley! “Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.” Awesome concept for a book right? They way that this book starts out is very cool, it sucks you in right away and you can’t stop reading because you are always waiting to find out what happens. It sucks you in. I do love that we meet Ethan really early in this book, so you aren’t waiting for Nara to meet the mysterious boy for too long.

I like how the author developed the relationship between Nara and Ethan. It wasn’t your typical sappy teenage love story, it had a lot of feeling and a lot of depth to it, and it made it seem more real life then other stories and also with Nara’s dreams that seem to be fading away, it really adds a lot of cool elements to the characters and their relationship. You keep guessing at what Ethan’s past really holds and what dark secrets he may have, I’m still curious about his older brother and him but I am sure that will come up in the next few books. You weren’t left with a feeling of, um hello, whats going on? at all, the story flows very well and your unanswered questions make you excited for the next book, and everything else is just so damn good, you are ok that somethings are left unresolved for the moment.

One thing I like about certain books, including this one, is you can tell when the ending is coming, so when the book is over, you are not disappointed. The ending to this book leaves you with so much power and strength that these characters can handle everything, it is just a satisfying end to an amazing chapter in their lives.

This book in one of my absolute favorite books that I have ever read. I am so excited for Brightest Kind of Darkness – Lucid to come out, I will be anxiously awaiting to see what happens!!(less)

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Mar 09, 2012 Nathiel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Nara Collins is you typical sixteen year old, or not. She sees her future before it happens, normally she wouldn't try and change it, as last time it went wrong, but this time she can't not do anything, she sees her school exploding by a bomb. And things start going downhill as Nara starts loosing her abilities. And at the same time she meets Ethan Harris loner, strange but really a good guy, not matter the rumours that are spreading around the school.
Are these two things related? Read to find o...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 24, 2011 Kara-karina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5/5
I think any fan of Final Destination will love this book. It's a refreshing find among numerous YA paranormals, and I was surprised just how much I enjoyed this book.

Inara has been dreaming the events of her next day every night since she was a little girl. Most of the time she acts on those things that concern only her, - exams, tests, goals she catches for her football team or avoidance of potential problems with school bullies, but everything changes when she dreams about a bomb in her s...more

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Jan 19, 2012 Shraddha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book was amazing. Totally five star worthy. It was such a different read for me. The characters had a unique touch to themselves. Of course, I totally fell in love with the darkly handsome and mysterious Ethan. Not the type of "same-old-same-old" that I'm starting to get tired of. Thoroughly enjoyable and heart warming!!!!!! Can't wait for the second book!

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 25, 2011 Faith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

My issue with this book.....I want more...more Nara, more Ethan, and more answers to the hundreds of questions that I had when I turned the last page and screamed.....nooooooooo!!!

This book was good on so many levels, Nara and Ethan and the simple, natural purity of there love made my heart hurt. If only that kind of love was real, sigh!

When "Fate" made its first appearance I thought this is where the book jumps the shark, but to my suprise it didn't take the turns I thought it would, which I wa...more

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May 08, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

TLDR Recap:

Sixteen year old Nara Collins has the unique ability to dream the events of the following day every night when she goes to bed. For the most part, she tries not to change the future in any drastic ways, but when she has a vision about a bombing at her school, she can’t ignore it. After preventing the tragedy from occurring, Nara’s visions start to fade, and she finds herself falling for the mysterious Ethan Harris, a loner with his own dark secrets. Nara has a feeling the bombing was...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 01, 2011 Dani rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: clairvoyance, book-lover-s-giveaway, favorites

If you had the opportunity to change fate would you? Would you change the future, knowing that you’d be saving someone from heartache, pain, even death? Would you do it even if your well-intentioned actions had repercussions you couldn’t have foreseen? These are the questions Inara must ask herself every day – that she’s asked herself every day for the last nine years. When she was seven, Nara began having the dreams, realizing she was gifted, or cursed, with the ability to see her entire day be...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don’t even know where to begin with this review. It was hard to write mostly because I wanted to spill every detail! Brightest Kind of Darkness is just an amazing story from page one. You are hooked by the tension of the opening scene and intrigued by the secret that lies behind that first phone call. The characters are relatable and not cliché. Even with the paranormal occurrences going on in the lives of Inara and Ethan you can’t help but think that their reactions to situations are genuine....more

3 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2011 Ron rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do have one roaring complaint about Brightest Kind of Darkness: I want more of it!

There are so many things I thoroughly enjoyed from this book. For starters, the action was non-stop. From the opening scene, which put me on edge and shot up my adrenaline even when I wasn’t yet invested in the characters, all the way through to the very end, I was glued to the pages and unable to turn away! Every spare moment I had, I invested into reading more, into trying to figure out the mystery of the dream...more I do have one roaring complaint about Brightest Kind of Darkness: I want more of it!

There are so many things I thoroughly enjoyed from this book. For starters, the action was non-stop. From the opening scene, which put me on edge and shot up my adrenaline even when I wasn’t yet invested in the characters, all the way through to the very end, I was glued to the pages and unable to turn away! Every spare moment I had, I invested into reading more, into trying to figure out the mystery of the dreams and the visions and the crows and...

Wait. I’m not making much sense, am I? I always try not to spoil reads, though, so I can’t really explain what the above referred to, but I can promise that you’ll be hooked from one issue to the next. Let’s just say, if you think that dreaming about the future is the weirdest thing Nara will have to confront, you’re in for a surprise. Ethan’s past is dark and unknown as well, as are is own abilities, but what truly kept me wondering all the time is his future: not so much who he was, because he was so lovable that I could accept him as readily as Nara did (his good looks might make me bypass her misgivings, even!), but who he’ll be. Or who he has been.

This is what I meant about wanting more, needing more of Nara and Ethan: the end will leave you reeling! On the one hand, there’s a sweet, much needed closure, but on the other... Oh, the questions! So many questions raised, so much foreboding, that I can hardly wait for the next book.

Another detail that captivated me here is the level of “normal” P.T. Michelle has woven through the paranormal. Nara has a difficult relationship with her mother, but their love, crooked and complicated, shines through in a thousand gestures. Same goes for Nara’s aunt and Granny, they are both support –one more important than the other, perhaps, but still!- and yet they have a collection of quirks, anecdotes, and a solid relationship with the main character that other novels could only dream to sketch.

In the same manner, Ethan’s troubled past is, hopefully, not what your average troubled guy might be hiding but the way she deals with him, his family, his attitude, his reluctance to get involved with others, his fear and fierce protectiveness when he does... All of that paints a very accurate picture. When she put him together with Nara, it didn’t feel like fate’s going (pardon the pun, to those who have indeed read the book) but like two complex people getting to know each other, and slowly loving what they find.

Furthermore, there’s life beyond their romance and their troubles. For example, both of them volunteer at an animal center – a detail I loved so, so much! I’ve been involved with abandoned dogs before and the scenes about forgotten puppies needing some love and care just felt too sweet, and too real.

I think that’s the key point, as usual with all great reads: even when we’re dealing with strange dreams and stranger events, it still feels rea. Why, even the disputes between friends and the not-quite-so-friendly backstabbing so classical of teenagers are well portrayed, and even those characters whose job is only to be a bother (yes, I’m looking at you, Sophia) get motivations and personalities clearly defined.

In a nutshell, if you enjoy the genre even remotely, you should read Brightest Kind of Darkness. It’ll grip you. It’ll surprise you at ever turn – specially when you think you know what’s coming. It’ll stay with you long after you’re done reading, and it’ll make you wait impatiently for book two.

So, what are you waiting for? Go, read and enjoy! (less)

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Oct 17, 2011 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, from-author, my-books, ebook

I absolutely love the whole idea behind ‘Brightest Kind of Darkness’, which is that Inara (or Nara as she’s known to most people) dreams about her day before it happens. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have this happen, but for Nara it’s been going on for years. Then when Nara prevents a bombing at her school things start going very wrong: her dreams go missing and something strange starts happening at school.

P.T. Michelle has written an extremely fascinating book that will keep you rea...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 16, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

I will admit it, a big part of the reason I accepted this book for review was the cover. It is pretty fabulous right?

Brightest Kind of Darkness is about a girl named Nara who dreams every night about her next day. I think this is a great idea! Who wouldn't want to dream the questions to a test before you have to take it? Nara learned early on though that she should not try to change the events because it can have negative consequences when she does. When she dreams about a bombing at her school...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, read-in-2011, kindle

Wow this book is so good! I don't read a lot of ebooks but this one really blew me away! It was a nice mix of paranormal with a Final Destination vibe. It really made me feel like if I was ever saved from a disaster, fate would find me *shiver*.

I gotta say, P.T. Michelle is a phenomenal writer. She clearly knows how to successfully weave a story in a way that grabs the reader. Nara is a pretty typical teenager in a lot of ways. She plays soccer, she's not really popular but she has a good best...more Wow this book is so good! I don't read a lot of ebooks but this one really blew me away! It was a nice mix of paranormal with a Final Destination vibe. It really made me feel like if I was ever saved from a disaster, fate would find me *shiver*.

I gotta say, P.T. Michelle is a phenomenal writer. She clearly knows how to successfully weave a story in a way that grabs the reader. Nara is a pretty typical teenager in a lot of ways. She plays soccer, she's not really popular but she has a good best friend, and she's an overall nice person. But there is something very different about Nara, she dreams about her future--or more specifically, her next day. For this reason, Nara does great with soccer, tests, and any obstacles that may get in her way. She has rarely found the need to change an event but then she dreams about a bomb going off in school and she is forced to act. She knows she can't sit back and let students die.

After Nara stops the bombing her dreams stop. This turns her life upside down because she never realized how much she relied on that knowledge. Then she gets to know the dark, mysterious Ethan. He's a newer student and rumors have been flying about him already. People think he is dangerous and he does nothing to stop the talk. But Nara can't help but reach out to him.

Ethan is the one there for her even after her best friend stops talking to her and the "mean girls" make her life miserable. He's the calm, silent presence at her side. And, of course, there connection is more than lust. They seem to be connected in a strange way. This is where the drama really kicked in and I got spooked! So many aspects of this story really surprised me.

The chemistry between Nara and Ethan could have set my Kindle on fire! With very few words or actions they were able to speak volumes. They had that type of connection where each little touch gives you goose bumps. Sometimes Ethan would just speak a few words and I would blush like mad.

Brightest Kind of Darkness brings up an interesting idea--can you run from fate? This book is full of twists and turns and it is impossible to not care about these characters. If you want a spooky paranormal tale with a sizzling romance inside, grab this book!

I am already stalking P.T. to see when the next book in this series is coming out! (less)

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Oct 21, 2011 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 100-books-in-2011, 2011-debut-authors, received-from-authors

Nara can see her days before they actually happen. She dreams them. It's not necessarily a bad thing since she never really has to study or knows in advance when someone is going to do something embarrassing. Of course, there are bad sides to it as well. She also knows when something bad is going to happen. When this occurs, she almost always ignores it. She's learned her lesson....right?

Well, when someone calls in a bomb threat to her school, she knows she has to do something about it. She can...more Nara can see her days before they actually happen. She dreams them. It's not necessarily a bad thing since she never really has to study or knows in advance when someone is going to do something embarrassing. Of course, there are bad sides to it as well. She also knows when something bad is going to happen. When this occurs, she almost always ignores it. She's learned her lesson....right?

Well, when someone calls in a bomb threat to her school, she knows she has to do something about it. She can't just sit back and allow all those classmates to be injured. So she stops it from happening, but she has little time to enjoy the feeling of saving her friends, because she soon realizes that those near where the blast would have happened are suffering mysterious injuries. It's almost as if she didn't save them at all.

Nara is even more confused when her dreams stop and she can no longer see her upcoming days. She has no idea what to expect anymore and finds herself struggling to make it through her days unknowing. Things are changing around her. Her best friend isn't being her usual, kind self and the strange loner guy at school, Ethan, is suddenly around much more often than Nara has noticed before.

She shouldn't trust Ethan. Everyone at school talks about why he was kicked out of his last school. If the rumors are true, Ethan is a very dangerous person to be around. Yet, Nara is drawn to him, and doesn't want to fight it. There's something about him that pulls her in and once she gets to know him, she realizes he knows more about her than anyone--maybe even herself.

Brightest Kind of Darkness has a cool new twist on something you may have seen before. I enjoyed Nara and Ethan's characters as well as the secondary characters, such as Nara's mom and aunt, and Ethan's brother. Overall, the cast was very likeable and well written. There were a few things that had me scratching my head when it came to Nara, but they all were explained in time. I found the writing to be near flawless and loved the imagery this author was able to use. This is a unique story and I am definitely interested in keeping up with what happens in book two of this series. (less)

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Sep 24, 2012 Giselle at Book Nerd Canada rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour, own, favourites, e-pub

Ishnara has a gift of seeing the future in her dreams. When she stops a bomb that was about to detonate in her own Hugh school, her world is turned upside down. Her powers stop, she meets the new student Ethan who is seems like a bad boy but underneath that exterior, is a good person. Their relationship starts to gradually increase in

Nara is one character that I actually liked. She's not the type to whine or complain about how she thinks she's ugly. Her relationship with her mom isn't perfect,...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Beth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! Beautifully written, captivating, and intriguing. Definitely a must read!!!

First of all, I have to say, isn't that cover absolutely incredible!?!?! I want that dress so bad, I can hardly see straight. I just can't get over how beautiful of a picture it is!

Speaking of beauty, Ms. Michelle's writing is artistic. She is able to articulate so many emotions and details with her words that at times I was left breathless. So, needless to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

First,...more I absolutely LOVED this book!!!! Beautifully written, captivating, and intriguing. Definitely a must read!!!

First of all, I have to say, isn't that cover absolutely incredible!?!?! I want that dress so bad, I can hardly see straight. I just can't get over how beautiful of a picture it is!

Speaking of beauty, Ms. Michelle's writing is artistic. She is able to articulate so many emotions and details with her words that at times I was left breathless. So, needless to say, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!

First, Nara....what a wonderful character! She goes through life knowing what the day holds in store. When I first read the summary, I thought how great it would be in high school to know what was going to happen, but Nara quickly shows the reader the burden of knowing. She is a complex character with deep layers that slowly come unraveled during the book. Nara is a girl that I would like to be: loving, tender, strong, determined, and does not care what people think. She stands up for her beliefs...what a heroine!!!!

Then there is Ethan.....let me pause a moment and say, WOW!!!! Talk about about a dark, mysterious hottie!!! He purposefully keeps people at arms length, but just can't get enough of Nara. I would love to discuss more about him, but if I do, I would give away too many spoilers, and believe me, you will want to uncover them for yourself. Plus, there is still so much left to discover in the next book. I feel like we just scratched the surface of his character. Ethan and Nara's connection is electric; as I read, I could literally feel the electricity between them. He is a knight-in-shining armor masked as a dark, tortured bad boy with tattoos. (huge sigh)

Ms. Michelle interweaves many secondary characters into Nara's life which continued to add to the depth of the book and Nara. She was able to come up with an original story in YA paranormal romance that left me wanting to read more. Nara is dealing a non-existent mom and a father who disappeared, so when the one consistent thing in her life (her dreams) inexplicably evaporates she on a mission to get it back. The more she digs, more and more weird things start happening. The twists that come are so unexpected and beautiful, it is literally impossible not to read this in one sitting.

Brightest Kind of Darkness has made it to my top five books that I have read this year. I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series and strongly encourage everyone to put it on your TBR list!(less)

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Mar 13, 2012 Novels On The Run rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

RATING :4.5 EAGERLY AWAITING BOOK # 2 STARS!!

You know that feeling of déjà vu people talk about?

I live it. Every. Single. Day.

This book starts off with a bang...well a potential bang, quite literally. Immediately we are drawn into this story.

There is a dream. A girl named Inara aka Nara Collins. A 911 call that stops students from being killed or badly injured at Blue Ridge High School and a vintage black ‘Rush’ T-shirt , blue eyed, longish black hair, deep voiced hottie with a...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Petra (Safari Poet) added it

Nothing surprises Nara. She's seen it all before – in her dreams, which makes her live in a constant state of déjà vu. Every night she has a dreams about her entire day before it happens. Because of the consequences of something that happen years ago, Nara chooses not to intervene and lets fate take it's course. But that isn't an option after her recent dream. She has to prevent an attack at her high school with fatal results and hope that she can live with the consequences.

I really enjoyed this...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Annie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Nara has a relatively simple and quaint life in a small Virginian mountain city. That is, except for the dreams outlining the next days events pertaining to her in great detail. Nara considers this a great benefit to her life, never having to study for tests and always knowing where the soccer ball will be kicked while she plays goalie. After she interferes in real life by changing the outcome of that day, her existence will never be the same. Her dreams are gone.

That same day, Ethan walked into...more

1 like · like · see review

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About P.T. Michelle

Author of the BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS series

P.T. Michelle is the young adult pseudonym of Patrice Michelle, author of fifteen romance novels and novellas. When PT isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading or taking pictures of landscapes, sunsets and anything beautiful or odd in nature.

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Books by P.T. Michelle

Ethan (Brightest Kind of Darkness, #0.5)

A BRIGHTEST KIND OF DARKNESS "EXTRA": Ethan's POV, Chapter 22

Destiny (Brightest Kind of Darkness, #3)

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“Nothing makes you appreciate life more then when you wake up from a nightmare and realize it was just that. It's a good reality check.” — 27 people liked it

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