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Dark Arts for Bright Hearts
All Jet wants is a fun night out at the club he’s finally old enough to get into. Okay, not all -- he also wants mystery, adventure, love, college tuition, and a new best friend who isn’t too busy to spend time with him. But he wasn’t expecting any of those to find him at Club Nox. And he definitely wasn’t expecting a gorgeous stranger to offer him his heart’s desire in exchange for ... his actual heart? What kind of crazy deal is this? And what does the alluring Darken mean when he says it’s too late for Jet to change his mind? Why can’t Jet take off the heart-shaped pendant?
Darken feels a little guilty about tricking the cute goth boy at the club into taking on his curse. But what choice did he have? Any one person can only wear the heart pendant for so long before it drains them, and he’s served his three years. As curses go, this one honestly isn’t so bad. And maybe Jet will let Darken sweeten the deal with a few kisses. He isn’t sticking around now that he’s free, though. And he definitely isn’t falling in love again. That’s what got him into this mess in the first place.
Soon Jet realizes Darken told him the truth: Jet has made a bargain he can’t escape. Does he even want to, if Darken is part of the package? If only human hearts were as easy to win as magical ones...
Darken feels a little guilty about tricking the cute goth boy at the club into taking on his curse. But what choice did he have? Any one person can only wear the heart pendant for so long before it drains them, and he’s served his three years. As curses go, this one honestly isn’t so bad. And maybe Jet will let Darken sweeten the deal with a few kisses. He isn’t sticking around now that he’s free, though. And he definitely isn’t falling in love again. That’s what got him into this mess in the first place.
Soon Jet realizes Darken told him the truth: Jet has made a bargain he can’t escape. Does he even want to, if Darken is part of the package? If only human hearts were as easy to win as magical ones...
87 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2022
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
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December 28, 2023Listen to lgbt romance-sff author Angel Martinez read from my newest book
Also, this as well as Tonight and Every Night and Whiskey & Salt are 50% off at Smashwords thru Jan 12st. And many other ebooks as well!
Also, this as well as Tonight and Every Night and Whiskey & Salt are 50% off at Smashwords thru Jan 12st. And many other ebooks as well!
April 27, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.75 stars
This is a short and sweet forced-proximity paranormal romance, with two characters that have little in common except the magic that connects them. Darken could run off to enjoy his own life, now that he’s not tied to the Club Nox building any longer, but he lingers. He likes living and working at the club, as it was his own inspiration to turn the failing theatre into an alt-goth hangout. And, Jet’s so young and sexy. It’s no hardship to teach him all the finer points of physical relations. From his own experience, Darken knows that the heart only keeps a host for two or three years, and he believes that he could help shepherd Jet through it. If Jet wants the help, that is.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
3.75 stars
This is a short and sweet forced-proximity paranormal romance, with two characters that have little in common except the magic that connects them. Darken could run off to enjoy his own life, now that he’s not tied to the Club Nox building any longer, but he lingers. He likes living and working at the club, as it was his own inspiration to turn the failing theatre into an alt-goth hangout. And, Jet’s so young and sexy. It’s no hardship to teach him all the finer points of physical relations. From his own experience, Darken knows that the heart only keeps a host for two or three years, and he believes that he could help shepherd Jet through it. If Jet wants the help, that is.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
March 16, 2022
***I'm giving this three stars because it's a short story but well written.***
“Dark Nights for Bright Hearts” is a little dark, creepy, comfort/hurt and entertaining story by Mere Rain.
Trevor aka Jet, feels very much like a loner. He has respect for those that he knows by using their pronouns and name changes. He just feels awkward and invisible to those he knows. His family doesn’t support him and constantly tease him. He loves to read and worked at the library but now he will have to find another job with turning eighteen.
Jet is hoping for a fun night out at Club Nox, but those he thought of as friends really aren’t. The only bright spot in the night was meeting a stranger by the name of Darken.
Darken identifies himself as a “damned soul”, and offers his heart to Jet. They both like the idea of having magic. But when the heart starts to frighten Jet, he goes back to Club Nox to find Darken.
With Darken, Jet’s life starts to change and there’s choices to be made. Jet doesn’t know if he can survive this new and frightening life, especially if Darken leaves.
“Dark Nights for Bright Hearts” is one of those stories that you don’t want to give too much away. I will say, it was well written and Jet and Darken’s characters were very in-depth. There’s a variety of emotions, family drama, loneliness, warmth, love and just the right amount of creepy. I really felt bad for Jet, he was a very sweet and conscientious but no-one really saw that. Darken, had me on edge. I was very suspicious of him. But I did wind up liking him.
Creepy secondary character is Mr. Older, never know what to expect from him. Mr. Innes is sort of weird too.
I have to say, this is my second short story I read by Mere Rain and her storytelling is outstanding!
“Dark Nights for Bright Hearts” is a little dark, creepy, comfort/hurt and entertaining story by Mere Rain.
Trevor aka Jet, feels very much like a loner. He has respect for those that he knows by using their pronouns and name changes. He just feels awkward and invisible to those he knows. His family doesn’t support him and constantly tease him. He loves to read and worked at the library but now he will have to find another job with turning eighteen.
Jet is hoping for a fun night out at Club Nox, but those he thought of as friends really aren’t. The only bright spot in the night was meeting a stranger by the name of Darken.
Darken identifies himself as a “damned soul”, and offers his heart to Jet. They both like the idea of having magic. But when the heart starts to frighten Jet, he goes back to Club Nox to find Darken.
With Darken, Jet’s life starts to change and there’s choices to be made. Jet doesn’t know if he can survive this new and frightening life, especially if Darken leaves.
“Dark Nights for Bright Hearts” is one of those stories that you don’t want to give too much away. I will say, it was well written and Jet and Darken’s characters were very in-depth. There’s a variety of emotions, family drama, loneliness, warmth, love and just the right amount of creepy. I really felt bad for Jet, he was a very sweet and conscientious but no-one really saw that. Darken, had me on edge. I was very suspicious of him. But I did wind up liking him.
Creepy secondary character is Mr. Older, never know what to expect from him. Mr. Innes is sort of weird too.
I have to say, this is my second short story I read by Mere Rain and her storytelling is outstanding!
December 18, 2023
I was gripped by this gorgeous coming-of-age story with a difference from Mere Rain.
Jet has just graduated from high school and doesn't really fit in with his peer group or his family. So on his 18th birthday, he goes to the local Goth club and obtains more than he realises after an encounter with the handsome and mysterious Darken.
I really enjoyed the combination of small-town frustration and eerie paranormal exemplified by the goth club and its terrifying owner. Also, the way Jet and Darken's relationship blossomed, despite everything, was beautifully sweet against a forbidding backdrop.
This story might be relatively short, but has so many layers in terms of plot, character development and emotional intensity. I also really enjoyed the balance of light and shade, the sinister atmosphere Upstairs compared with humorous observations of Jet's self-styled goth angst.
I really hope there's more to come in this world, as I would love to read a sequel to this story. A wonderfully imaginative and involving read.
Jet has just graduated from high school and doesn't really fit in with his peer group or his family. So on his 18th birthday, he goes to the local Goth club and obtains more than he realises after an encounter with the handsome and mysterious Darken.
I really enjoyed the combination of small-town frustration and eerie paranormal exemplified by the goth club and its terrifying owner. Also, the way Jet and Darken's relationship blossomed, despite everything, was beautifully sweet against a forbidding backdrop.
This story might be relatively short, but has so many layers in terms of plot, character development and emotional intensity. I also really enjoyed the balance of light and shade, the sinister atmosphere Upstairs compared with humorous observations of Jet's self-styled goth angst.
I really hope there's more to come in this world, as I would love to read a sequel to this story. A wonderfully imaginative and involving read.
May 9, 2025
This sounded creepy, I don't like creepy. But there was something about it that pulled me in, a mysterious stranger, a mysterious heart, OK, I'm in! It's a little bit spooky, a little bit touching, and a little bit sad at times, but what it isn't is creepy (well, not much) or boring, it's a nice short mystical tale that gives a depressed young man a reason to enjoy life more.
January 9, 2024
A little dark and a lot sweet, this paranormal romance was a pleasure to read. I just wish it tied up the (non-romance) conflict a little more neatly by the end. The romance angle, at least, had a fully satisfying arc, and I'm all on board!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews