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House of Crimson and Clover #1

The Storm and the Darkness

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Librarian's Note: this is an alternate cover edition for ISBN 13: 9781490589480

Ana Deschanel has made a terrible mistake. The only chance of protecting the other people involved is to flee New Orleans, the only home she has ever known, for the quiet solitude of Summer Island.

Summer Island, Maine (population 202) is not the tranquil escape Ana imagined. The locals are distant and cold, especially her neighbor, the reclusive veterinarian Jonathan St. Andrews. Her only lifeline is the kind but odd caretaker Alex Whitman. Showing up at all the right moments, he warns her she is completely unprepared for a Maine winter. As the first winter storm approaches to whispers of an island shutdown- Ana realizes that she may soon be cut off from the rest of the world.

After a surprising encounter with Jonathan’s brother, Finn, Ana finds herself braving the storm to return something to him. Unprepared for the Maine storm, she slips and falls onto the jagged rocks along the shore. The St. Andrews brothers find her in the nick of time, but she remains unconscious. As the storm worsens, the St. Andrews brothers learn there are other, more sinister forces at work closer than they ever imagined.

With no help from the outside world, they must find a way to protect themselves from both the storm, and the growing darkness that looms across the island.

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

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About the author

Sarah M. Cradit

87 books821 followers
Sarah is the USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over forty contemporary and epic fantasy stories, and the creator of the Kingdom of the White Sea and Saga of Crimson & Clover universes.

Born a geek, Sarah spends her time crafting rich and multilayered worlds, obsessing over history, playing her retribution paladin (and sometimes destruction warlock), and settling provocative Tolkien debates, such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, she's been to over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration, and is always planning her next adventure.

Sarah and her husband live in a beautiful corner of SE Pennsylvania with their three tiny benevolent pug dictators.


Connect with Sarah:

sarahmcradit.com
Instagram: @sarahmcradit
Facebook: @sarahmcradit

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
Profile Image for Ionia.
1,456 reviews66 followers
July 9, 2013
I expected great things from this author. I read her blog often and I know how intelligent she is, but this truly astounded me. I don't think I was prepared for how well this book flowed from her pen, nor how easy it was to lose yourself in it.

I love the way the chapters in this novel are arranged. You get the opportunity to learn about the characters individually and build a relationship with them before moving on to the main portion of the story. I enjoyed the gentle introduction to the characters and appreciated that Sarah Cradit did not do a huge information dump right at the beginning of the novel. Instead, the book progresses naturally and allows you to explore the characters, the setting and come to know the plot without feeling rushed or overburdened.

Sarah Cradit's writing is tight and masterful. There were no points during the journey through reading this novel where I thought anything could have been removed or expanded upon. Her keen sense of how to pace a book and her ability to use just the right language to express the desires, fears and hopes of her characters is flawless.

This story will make you fall in love, shock you, keep you in suspense and make you stay up all night (warning) just so you can find out what happens next.

If you have ever read a book that you never want to stop reading, or if you have ever thought about a novel long hours after finishing it, then you know how I feel about The Storm and the Darkness. This is a beautifully crafted book and I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was provided and my opinions are my own.

Profile Image for Julie.
4,133 reviews38.2k followers
July 18, 2013
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.

This novel is part of series but can certainly be read as a stand alone.

Ana has fled her beloved New Orleans for Maine. The circumstances are vague in the beginning as why Ana needs to have this time to herself, but we know it was something huge.
There is a home on Summer Island that has been in Deschanel family and she decided this was good place to go to put some distance between herself and what happened back home.
Ana has always felt a little apart from other people and has a gift of healing that she keeps close to the vest. She has a really hard time connecting emotionally with other people and rather likes her own company most of the time. Other than a really close relationship with her cousin, Nicolas, and her father, Ana isn't close to anyone.
She prepares for the winter in Maine, an experience she has never had, with the help of a friendly gentleman named Alex.
The other folks on Summer Island are gossipy and stand offish at first, but the vet on the island is particularly rude.
When circumstance arise that force Jon, the vet and his brother Finn, to take Ana into their home, things get really strange.
When Ana doesn't contact her family for a few days, then weeks, Nicolas and his best friend, Oz try to get to island despite overwhelming odds. Nicholas just can't shake the feeling that something terrible has happened to Ana.
The suspense builds and builds toward a shattering climax. In the aftermath, will Ana be able to come to terms with all these cataclysmic events and move forward from shocking revelations and build a life with another person for the first time in her life?

The author does a wonderful job of slowly revealing information at a pace that builds suspense. The atmosphere of winter in Maine gives the suspense another hard edge. Winters in Maine are infamous. Even those born and raised on Summer Island can be taken by surprise in dire situations.
There was one point where the suspense became very taut. I was on the edge of my seat.
As the author states, this novel has elements of paranormal, suspense, mystery and a bit of an unusual romance.
In the end I felt like Ana will finally find some peace and will break a dangerous cycle in her life.
This was very unique story. A great imagination and a peek into the darker side of human nature.
This book would appeal to fans of many genres. Overall an A
Profile Image for Joselyn.
375 reviews8 followers
May 10, 2016
I realize I'm in the vast minority here, but I can't give this book unfair love because that is not who I am. Perhaps it's because I didn't read the first book like many others have, however, I was told this could be read as a standalone. Considering my rating and feelings seem to be nothing like everyone else's, I feel like that's not an entirely true statement.

To start off with, I think there were a lot of words, and yet I didn't feel like I was progressing with a story. I just heard the same things being told to me again and again. At first when the changing pov's happened I was somewhat okay with it because I imagined that those two characters must play the larger role and seeing things through their eyes was vital to the story; then more and more people's pov's started to come in and I felt like most of those were unnecessary. Especially when they came in at the worst time. For example, I thought the story was slow to start off, and then when it finally seemed to go somewhere we had a shift in pov and that excitement quickly changed to annoyance. Then boredom because it took quite some time to get back to the interesting part. I didn't start to get interested in the book again until the end, but by then it was too late. I already disliked too much for it to change my mind.
Lastly, one of the main reasons that intrigued me into reading this book was Ana and her family's powers. So much was said about it, bringing me to believe it would be an awesome focal point within the book. Sadly, it was not. Sure we witnessed it, but it was sort of looked over. Meaning it was mentioned and was done quickly. That was it. Which was a complete bummer.

I know it's quite obvious that I didn't enjoy this book. I dislike having to put down a book that so many others have found remarkable. With that being said, perhaps this book should not be read as a standalone. I'm not certain as to which characters from this book may be in the first one, but perhaps to better comprehend and enjoy this one it would be in your best interest to read the first and continue on from there treating this as a continuous series and not a series of standalones.
16 reviews7 followers
July 6, 2013
This book is about a woman who has never made an emotional connection with anyone.

Ana Deschanel comes from a wealthy family, she also has a special talent for healing although she considers it more of a curse than a talent.
This is a story of a woman struggling to find out who she is.
After leaving her home in New Orleans she goes to stay at her home in Maine. The home is located on Summer Island, a home that faced Casco Bay, an inlet in the Atlantic Ocean. She inheritated the home from her mother, a mother she never got the chance to know. Ana’s mother died shortly after giving birth to her.

Ana is a quiet and introvert person never really knowing how to relate to other indivuals. The people in the town refuse to acknowledge her. Her saving grace seems to be Alex; he is the middle aged caretaker of the home. He seems to enjoy showing her things she will need to know about the home, because this island has brutual weather at times they can not even get off the island for an emergency.
Again she doesn’t notice anything remarkable about him, just another man who would not stand out in a crowd.

The first storm hits and it truly hits hard. Ana is forced to go out in the storm and is gravely injured really lucky to be alive, she is found and taken in by the neighbors who care for her, the same neighbor she has come to think of him as a very rude and unfriendly person. When her family can’t reach her and start to get suspicious her cousin makes his way to the island and bribes a boat man to take him to the island to find Ana.

But not everyone is as they seem and we all hide our secrets. I enjoyed the story being told in so many POV it really lent a special relationship with all characters. This book has a little romance, suspense and deceit. This book kept my attention from the first page to the last.
I definitely would recommend this book. It’s the 2nd book of the series The House of Crimson and Clover. It can be read as a stand alone novel or with the first book St Charles at Dusk.
Book was received from author for an honest review.
Profile Image for Christopher Rice.
Author 35 books2,480 followers
May 27, 2015
*REVIEW REPUBLISHED FROM 'CHRISTOPHER & ERIC'S FAVORITES' AT THE DINNER PARTY SHOW. http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/2015/03...

I loved this book. I repeat. I loved this book! Yes, it’s part of a larger series about two sprawling, intertwined families. But don’t let that deter you. It works as a riveting standalone. I downloaded it during my book tour last year and immediately found myself devouring it in airport waiting areas or on bumpy commuter flights or pretty much anyplace I was standing still for a longer than a few minutes at a time. Too often authors force a trade off between edgy, complex characterizations and strong plotting, but in THE STORM AND THE DARKNESS, Sarah Cradit gives us both in equal measure. Ana Deschanel has fled New Orleans, the only home she’s ever known, claiming a rugged, isolated island off the coast of Maine as an uneasy place of refuge. The men she’s left her in wake are baffled as to her sudden departure and desperate for her to return. The men she’s just met on Summer Island are either suspiciously cold or obtrusively warm in ways suggesting they might already know more about her haunted past than she’d like to share. With impeccable pacing, Cradit shifts effortlessly between these various points of view, demonstrating superb psychological insight and a compassion for even her most damaged (and frightening) characters. Her talent for creating atmosphere rivals Daphne du Maurier. This is modern Gothic with fierce smarts. Can’t say it enough. I loved this book. I’m taking my sweet time reading the rest of the series because I know I won’t want it to end.
Profile Image for Teri.
Author 6 books149 followers
July 12, 2013
First, I have to comment on the cover of this book - it's gorgeous and the imagery is an excellent portrayal of the story. I was initially drawn in by the premise of this book - haven't we all, at one point or another, imagined living on a quiet island, away from the stress of everyday life? Second, although I haven't read the first book in this series, St. Charles at Dusk, I had no problem diving into this book and understanding what was going on.

The author does such an amazing job of letting the reader get to know the characters, they seemed almost real to me. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between the brothers, Jon and Finn, and how they were so understanding and protective of each other despite their polar opposite personalities. Nicolas was another favorite - everyone should have a friend who is supportive, yet will call you on your bullshit when needed.

The pacing was perfect and kept me in suspense and I thought the revolving points of view between chapters gave a broader perspective of the events in the story. Most of the characters had secrets that were gradually revealed over the course of the book and that also kept me turning the pages.

The writing was tight and descriptive and I didn't feel like anything could have been cut. I enjoyed the suspense, hint of supernatural, and yes, even the romance (who wouldn't enjoy all the good-looking guys described in this book?). I'm anxious to see where the story goes from here.

I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Les pages caféinées .
208 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2021
Hooked

Well a friend of mine chose this for our group read in our book club and I’m just amazed how much I didn’t expect to love it that much.. so many emotions right now.
Profile Image for Katherine.
173 reviews6 followers
August 13, 2013
~~~REVIEW~~~
The Storm and The Darkness by Sarah M. Cradit

The Storm and The Darkness by Sarah M. Cradit is a contemporary romantic thriller with a paranormal twist. The story follows Ana Deschanel as she runs away from a terrible mistake in New Orleans and goes to her family home on Summer Island. On Summer Island she is an outsider and she has trouble making friends with the cold and distant locals. Alex Whitman, the house's caretaker, is her only friend there. Until she meets Finn St. Andrews. The attraction between Finn and Ana is immediate, and their friendship develops through waves and glances and sharing stories over dinner. When a storm shuts down the island and Ana is injured, Finn and his brother Jonathan save her. They saved her from the storm but can they save each other from the dark evil that is threatening them?
I really enjoyed this book. It had a few surprising twists and turns and a lot of intrigue. The plot flowed smoothly and the story was well written. The story was a little long because of all the details that the author included.
The characters were well-developed and easy to like. Ana was a broken character but strong in her own way. Finn was sexy and charming and caring. Jonathan was aloof and distant but he opened up to Ana as he got to know her. Alex was a strange fellow, I could easily picture him as the quirky town know-it-all.
The story is a paranormal romance - but the paranormal aspect isn't very strong. Ana has the gift of being a healer, but her powers don't work for anyone except herself.
Profile Image for Amanda.
163 reviews5 followers
September 27, 2013
I wanted to love this book; romance, Maine, a storm, sinister forces, but after trying and trying I could not get into the story line. I found myself confused and begging for something more (dialogue maybe?) as I switched perspectives for the first several chapters. Eventually I just accepted that this book and I didn't have chemistry and I stopped trying so hard to understand it and simply read because I want to know what was happening here. Ms. Cradit provides enough motion and mystery that this story isn't a complete loss.

As I moved forward and better understood what this book was about and where it was going I became more intrigued. Still, I had to look beyond some, "What the heck is going on" moments and get over the annoying POV switches to just bask in Ms. Cradit's great writing. Something that is somewhat lost in the twists of this book.

In the end, I didn't enjoy her characters that much -reading Alex in the beginning bored me and the story left me with a few questions at the end. For any one thing I liked there was something I didn't like, which is why it settles nicely into it's three star review from me.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Brandy Rivers.
Author 58 books662 followers
August 4, 2013
This story was just as good, even better than the first.
The characters are real and they have their flaws. She brings you into her world and let's you see what makes these people tick. You get to see a turn for the darker side between Ana and Jon. I loved Flynn. And Oz, I still love Oz, but maybe not as much as I had. The jury is still out on Nic. He's got his share of issues, but each character has their share.
I can't wait for the next book. I want to see who Nic winds up with and why.
Profile Image for Felicia Tatum.
Author 55 books470 followers
November 30, 2013
Wow...Sarah M Cradit blew this book out of the ballpark! Ana, Finn, and Jon are an amazingly messed up trio, and of course, my heart always has belonged to Nic. I absolutely loved this book and read it in one night. I can't wait to read more of this world and learn more about these people I've come to love.

Wonderful book!
Profile Image for Kristy Gillespie.
Author 5 books56 followers
July 5, 2013
* I received an advanced reader copy of The Storm and the Darkness by Sarah M. Cradit, which is the sequel to St. Charles at Dusk. The Storm and the Darkness may be read as a stand alone but I’d recommend that St. Charles at Dusk be read first because this is a phenomenal series. (I’m already looking forward to reading the trilogy, The Illusions of Eventide, in 2014, and the following three books in the series after).

The Storm and the Darkness is told by various characters with the focus on Ana, a thirty-year-old, intelligent, guarded, and mysterious woman from the wealthy Deschanel family of New Orleans. Ana moves to Summer Island, Maine, because she’s made a mistake that she cannot forgive herself for. Her cousin, Nick Deschanel, is disappointed and hurt by Ana’s move because they are incredibly close. Ana has always felt that she didn’t belong, that she was different and aloof, but she was taken aback at the frigid reception she receives from the locals of Summer Island. The locals assume that she’s a spoiled rich girl and refuse to accept outsiders. Alex Whitman, the caretaker of Ana’s home, is the only person who shows her any kindness. In fact, he’s smitten with Ana and is convinced that he’s her knight in shining armor. Whereas Ana is drawn to Finn St. Andrews, a handsome fisherman. Finn’s brother John, on the other hand, is unfriendly and rude. In the midst of an impending snow storm, Ana hits her head, and the St. Andrews brothers bring her into their home and attempt to nurse her back to health. However, Ana falls into a deep sleep, their phone lines are down, their food supply is dwindling, and an enemy is about to strike the St. Andrews’ home.

I was immediately drawn into The Storm and the Darkness for a number of reasons. For one, I enjoyed the various character’s point of views; it was great getting to know them on an intimate level. My favorite character is Finn. I fell in love with his warmth, passion for literature, acceptance of others, and heroism. There’s an instant connection, both physical and emotional, between Finn and Ana. Finn is the type of guy that Ana has never felt she deserved; a bright light in her otherwise dark life. But Ana brings something meaningful to Finn’s life as well; prior to meeting Ana, Finn was a notorious play boy with a closed- off heart. I related to Ana’s character as well; especially her intelligence, introversion, and fierce independence. My other favorite characters are Alex, a bizarre yet interesting man, and Nick, a powerful yet troubled man who yearns for love.

The Deschanel family is as multi-layered as an onion, and prove that all the wealth and power in the world is meaningless without love; and love has to start from within.

I highly recommend The Storm and the Darkness, a tale of mystery, drama, and suspense, and the prequel, St. Charles at Dusk.

My review of St. Charles at Dusk: http://kristyfgillespie.com/2013/06/2...

More info about Sarah & her series:

The House of Crimson and Clover Series

The House of Crimson and Clover series follows the lives of two New Orleans families: the august and mysterious Sullivans and Deschanels. The Sullivans, a family of hard-working Irish lawyers, have come from nothing and built a life they can be proud of. The Deschanels, a moderately wealthy family who became extremely wealthy by siding with the North during the Civil War, betraying their people. Both families have a dark and rich history, full of secrets, and full of surprises.

The books in this series unravel the stories of both the individuals as well as the families themselves, discovering the ways these families and their secrets intersect, and each story pulls us even farther into their stories.

While the series is meant to be treated as one long narrative, each book can stand alone and be enjoyed without having read the other books.

Title: The Storm and the Darkness
(The House of Crimson and Clover series, book 2)
Ana Deschanel has made a terrible mistake. The only chance of protecting the other people involved is to flee New Orleans, the only home she has ever known, for the quiet solitude of Summer Island.

Summer Island, Maine (population 202) is not the tranquil escape Ana imagined. The locals are distant and cold, especially her neighbor, the reclusive veterinarian Jonathan St. Andrews. Her only lifeline is the kind but odd caretaker Alex Whitman. Showing up at all the right moments, he warns her she is completely unprepared for a Maine winter. As the first winter storm approaches to whispers of an island shutdown- Ana realizes that she may soon be cut off from the rest of the world.

After a surprising encounter with Jonathan’s brother, Finn, Ana finds herself braving the storm to return something to him. Unprepared for the Maine storm, she slips and falls onto the jagged rocks along the shore. The St. Andrews brothers find her in the nick of time, but she remains unconscious. As the storm worsens, the St. Andrews brothers learn there are other, more sinister forces at work closer than they ever imagined.

With no help from the outside world, they must find a way to protect themselves from both the storm, and the growing darkness that looms across the island.

Author: Sarah M. Cradit

Sarah is the author of the Southern Fiction series, The House of Crimson and Clover. The series was born of her combined loves of New Orleans, family dramas, and the mysterious nature of love and desire. Her books combine elements of mystery, suspense, intrigue, romance, and even paranormal. She is always working on the next book in the series, and absolutely loves connecting with her fans.

Sarah lives in the Pacific Northwest, but has traveled the world from Asia to Europe to Africa. When she isn’t working (either at her day career, or hard at work at writing), she is reading a book and discovering new authors. The great loves of her life (in order) are: her husband James, her writing, and traveling the world.

Book Links:

House of Crimson and Clover:
Home Page & Overview: http://sarahcradit.wordpress.com/an-i...
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahcradit/the-...
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/houseofcrimso...
The Storm and the Darkness:
Home Page: http://sarahcradit.wordpress.com/an-i...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...

Social Media Links:

Blog: http://sarahcradit.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/houseofcrimso...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thewritersarah
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Profile Image for Pam.
183 reviews1 follower
October 14, 2013
I was lucky enough to win this book here on Goodreads. It has complex characters and twists and turns that you don't see coming. This is the story of Ana. A girl unlike any other. She is highly intelligent. She does what she can to keep a wall between herself and others except for Nicolas. Her close dependence on her cousin Nicolas and his on her is what she has come to depend on. She decides its time to go off by herself and spend time deciding what to do with her life. To bring herself out of this darkness. It has spiraling down and out of control. She really knows this when she makes the mistake of her life when she hurts someone she cares about. A small island off the Maine coast in winter seems just the place. She is not welcome on the island of around 200 people but her family has owned a house there forever. She meets Old Alex the keeper of the property who helps her set in for the winter storms. The two brothers next store. One brother Jon so rude he will not speak. He is the island vet. The other Finn is a fisherman who waves to Ana everyday he comes in on his boat. Once the first big storm comes in all these lives will come together in the most unexpected and terrifying way. Secrets that are best left secrets come out into the light. This is a must read.
Profile Image for Stalking.
291 reviews7 followers
August 11, 2013
This book is the 2nd in the series but you do not necessarily need to read the first (but you would miss out on an amazing story) to understand what is going on here. The author does a magnificent job bringing her characters to life. The descriptive genius of her first book carries over to this one. You can feel as though you have known these people and the places they've been. I absolutely adore Sarah's writing style and her remarkable talent. Huge kudos out to the creator of the cover as well, it is beautiful and perfect for this book! Sarah M. Cradit is THE author to watch!


Ana Deschanel comes from a very wealthy and well known family in New Orleans. She has may secrets but she decides to leave everything and everyone behind to get away from her latest secret. She goes to her family home on Summer Island. The seasonal town is preparing for winter and Ana relies on her homes usual caretaker for help in preparing. Appearances aren't always what they seem and Ana will find out who she can trust and who she can't. Secrets will be exposed.

Profile Image for ✰  BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰.
2,837 reviews12 followers
July 7, 2013
I received a copy of The Storm and the Darkness from the author for an honest review.

Firstly, I have not read the first book in this series (St Charles at Dusk) and it is not necessaryto have read it, however I will go and read it at a later date

Anasofiya (Ana Deschanel) has never been able to make a connection with anyone, and after making some questionble personal decisions in her life, she ups and moves away from her family in New Orleans to the house she inherited on Casco Bay in Maine.

Island life is not what she imagined, the natives don't take well to newcomers moving in, and they do not treat her the best, however being a loner this does not worry her as much as she thought.

Strange locals, storms that close the island off for weeks at a time, intrigue and mystery, this book has it all.

Ms Cradit has written this very well, and the story kept me interested the whole way through.

I look forward to reading more of her work.
Profile Image for Marinda.
379 reviews7 followers
June 30, 2013
The Storm and the Darkness is a very well written fast paced story, I couldn't put it down.The characters are well thought out and come to life on the page. The main character Ana comes to Maine to try to start a new life, but coming from the south she's not ready for the way the locals are cold and distant to her. She seems to only make one friend, the caretaker Alex Whitman. Then she becomes friends with Finn St.Andrews and tries to be friends with his reclusive brother Jonathan. An accident and a winter storm conspire to make her Jonathan and Finn's unwitting house guest, and they learn that something or someone is not as they seem. There is romance and danger on the island and Ana is caught in the middle.
Profile Image for Tammy Hall.
401 reviews22 followers
September 2, 2013
This book was terrifyingly terrific! The Storm and the Darkness is in one of my favorite genres to read. I was captivated by the entire story! Ana left not knowing who to trust and no where to turn made for and excellent plot. The plot thickens as winter arrives and it just continues into a blizzard of scenes that leave you breathless. I am completely in awe with this series. My heart is hoping beyond all hope that there is more to come as my mind races thinking this can't be the end. Sarah Cradit has spun one heck of a story that my mere words can only describe as fabulous! I will be looking for more books by Sarah as I am sure they will be very pleasing to this reviewers soul! For sure this one is my cup of tea!
4 reviews
July 15, 2013
Great read! I loved the suspense, and the characters were very well-crafted. Sarah devoted each chapter to revealing each character's point of view in the story. You really understand who each character is and what they are thinking. The story moves along at an exciting pace. I didn't find myself skimming over any parts, like I've done many times during drawn out descriptions of scenery or characters in other books. The books ends leaving you wanting more, so I cannot wait to read the next installation in this series!
Profile Image for Shelby.
219 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2016
The Storm and The Darkness is an exceptional read. The author, Sarah M. Cradit, skillfully weaves together romance, mystery, and the paranormal into a work of literary gold.

This book has it all. Characters that are so well written they could easily step out of the pages of this book and exist in the real world, a storyline that will keep you reading from cover to cover and such vivid detail that you feel as if you are a resident of Summer Island yourself.

I loved every page of this book and I will definitely be continuing this series!
Profile Image for Pamela Beckford.
Author 4 books20 followers
July 26, 2013
I enjoyed the first book, but made the faulty assumption the second book would be the same. There was so much intensity in the book. I loved how the author had everything so well thought out and planned...and it all made sense and worked! This was a great book. The series is very good and I can't wait for the next book. I highly recommend this book
Profile Image for T..
Author 13 books568 followers
September 9, 2016
Very good suspense and a great storyline. The protagonists are not the typical ones you want to love, but anguished characters with problems that unfold with some complexity as the story progresses. Not my favorite location, but well told and gives us some deeper glimpse into Ana. Can't wait to read Nic's story. I'm liking that guy!
Profile Image for Mark.
Author 78 books228 followers
August 14, 2013
First let me state that I enjoyed reading The Storm and The Darkness by Sarah M. Credit. The author introduces interesting characters and story throughout this book, and I knew by the time I reached the middle and what happens to Ana I'd want to read further books by the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Echo.
318 reviews53 followers
July 10, 2013
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Mystery, magic, suspense that even made me slightly jumpy, family and just enough romantic intrigue to keep me well, intrigued :) The writing is fabulously done, I loved how Sarah M. Cradit tells a story. Being able to be in the heads of a multitude of characters I found myself liking everyone that I was reading about. Although, I have to admit the bad guy really did creep me out and I started to get very concerned about what was going to happen. But I don’t want to give anything away…

When Ana decides to run away to Maine after doing something that in her mind is so horrible that she is full of self loathing. She ends up getting more than she bargained for.

Ana comes from a gifted family with different abilities. Her ability is being able to heal herself. She is unable to heal others but she can heal any injury to herself. Ana was likeable but she never crossed over into being one of my favorite heroines. She is an emotionally closed off person with some very emotionally deep seeted issues. It seems like the only person she especially close to and trusts is her cousin and best friend, Nicolas, he doesn’t want her to go but he ends up supporting her. I really liked him and I hope that he gets his own book.

When she gets to Maine, she meets Alex, the caretaker of her house and multiple properties on the island. Which since I mentioned the island, I just gotta say that I think I would totally freak if I went to an island for the winter with extreme winter conditions, that gets completely snowed in and no one can come or go. Craziness, pure and utter freaking crazy...

She also meets her neighbors, brothers, Finnegan and Jonathon. Completely different men, Jonathon is a very mercurial, strange man that I actually found myself really liking. But I am a sucker for the darker book boys. Finnegan was sunny and sweet with a niceness to him. I really liked him but he didn’t grab my interest quite the way that Jonathon did.

After dinner with Finn she tries to go to his house to return something to him, on her way to his house she falls, hits her head and goes into a coma. After that things speed up and get very interesting and had me chewing my nails and stressing. Who will she choose? Jonathon? Finnegan? Add in an obsessively crazy stalker with some murderous tendencies. Her cousin and her ex coming to find her. Everything gets very tense. It’s just an incredibly awesome ride of a novel.

I will say this, I am not to crazy about how it ended, I wish that there was a bit more resolution with the relationships and quite frankly I felt a little heart broken for a couple of different characters but overall I really enjoyed this book. I really want to read the next one in the series. Solid writing with well thought out and defined characters, a plot that kept moving and kept me reading straight thru to the very end. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes contemporary romance with a touch of supernatural and suspense.

Originally posted on Me, Myself & Books Blog
http://memyselfandbooksblog.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Danyca.
97 reviews7 followers
May 22, 2014
Sarah M. Cradit is a brilliant author. She has a way of telling a story that pulls readers in. This book is told from different viewpoints of the characters. It is easy to understand and helps the story flow. It is full of mystery, suspense and romance with a touch of paranormal. I love the way we get to know the characters strengths and weaknesses, we get to see them as human and not some great heroes without any flaws.

Ana is a complex character with a dark side. She is written in a way that readers can understand what is going on in her head while at the same time see the person she works hard at showing the world. She is fighting her dark side and wants to change. When she steps over a line she leaves her home and moves to Maine to try and change. There she is treated as an outsider and even though she prefers to be alone she feels lonely. Her only friend is the caretaker of her house Alex and he seems to be a little different but he is there to always help her. S
Finnegan is a fabulous character; he is sweet, innocent and accepting. He protects his brother who has issues of his own and loves him unconditionally. He is a hard worker and is content with his life. He is smart and well educated but lives his life simply as a fisherman.
Jonathan is Finnegan’s brother and he has a darkness in him that Ana can relate to. He isn’t good around people and comes off as mean and uncaring. He is the islands vet and has some medical training. He too is a complicated character, one I would like to know more about.
Then there is Nicolas and Oz, who we met in the first book. Their relationship to Ana is a close one. While they end up at odds with each other, they still work together to help Ana. It will be interesting to see what happens with these two in future books.
We also get to see Ana’s relationship with her dad and what it is like and get to see his view of who Ana’s mother was.
As the story continues I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat. The surprising twist of events and people not being who I thought they were had me turning the pages faster than I thought possible. I couldn’t put the book down. I didn’t want it to end yet I wanted to know what happened next. I love the way Ms. Cradit can pull readers into her world and make it feel like we are a part of it. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series yet at the same time I don’t want it to end.
Profile Image for Adrienne Woods.
Author 43 books1,583 followers
July 16, 2013
Cloud Words: gifts, Maine, alone, snow storm, rescue sex, conflict.

For this entry I've decided to read Sarah Cradit's novel The Storm and The Darkness.
Wow, what a wonderful read. The story follows a couple of characters and what I liked was how Sarah did it. She divided very short chapters in between these characters and therefore didn't jump in between character and left the reader confused.
Ana, Jon, Finn, Nicolas, Oz, Augustus, and Alex are the characters we follow.
Ana and Jon is two peas in a pod. They are both thinkers and not say much, closed off to others and hard to show their emotions to the people they care for. I've always wondered what was up with people like this, because I'm totally the opposite. Sarah has portray them so well and I really found myself in their heads, which cleared up a lot of things for me. Finn is Jon's brother who loves the ocean and also fall in love with Ana. His the opposite of his brother and Ana sees him as her salvation, where Jon is her darkness. Nicolas is Ana's cousin and also the only one that gets her. I have to warn you, he likes to curse, but an amazing character and I thoroughly enjoyed him. Oz, Collin, is her boyfriend from her childhood, that dumped her for being closed off and married her cousin, and Nicolas' sister Adrienne. Oz also carries a deep secret with him that will get revealed in the story. Augustus is her father a very wealthy business man, and last Alex. I'm not going to say anything about Alex because I will give everything away.
The story is full of conflict, secrets, murder, problems with accepting one self and gifts. Yes, gifts.
Sarah is a gifted writer, who's characters are different from one another as day and night, well crafted and as real as you and me. She write in accents with dialogue and I love that.

Now what I didn't like about it. Some of her chapters, although small, don't have any dialogue in and consist of memories from the past and back story, which does slow the pace down a little bit for me.

Still, loved this book and I would recommend it to everyone that wants to read a good story full of human problems with a twist.

Sarah I thoroughly enjoyed it, and good luck with your writings.

Profile Image for Shawn Verdin.
61 reviews4 followers
November 22, 2013
4.5 Riveting Stars!

I’m going to say this very simply. I loved THE STORM AND THE DARKNESS!

Ms. Cradit has successfully written another book that I can call a favorite. The story centers on Ana Deschanel, cousin to Adrienne and Nicolas Deschanel both of whom we are introduced to in the first book in The House of Crimson and Clover series, St. Charles at Dusk. Ana leaves New Orleans for the solitude of Summer Island, Maine after making an awful mistake. New Orleans and Summer Island could not be any different geographically and climatologically, but changing her location will not change Ana. She will have to learn that she cannot escape herself or her demons. She begins this journey with the help of some great new characters…namely Jon, Finn and Alex. These guys are the catalysts for some interesting twists in Ana’s story. To my delight, we get to spend some time with Anna’s cousin Nicolas and his best friend, Oz Sullivan, who happens to be my favorite character in the series!

Cradit’s storytelling does not hand the reader anything on a silver platter. Her writing is complex, smart, witty and beautiful. One of the things I enjoy most about her writing is her rich character development. Character development and complexity are definitely present in The Storm and the Darkness. Her characters are real. Whether or not one believes in the paranormal element of the story (which I LOVE), the intricate layers of the characters cannot be denied. Just when you think you’ve figured one out, you realize there’s more to them than meets the eye. Their motives aren’t always clear, their intentions aren’t always pure and their actions aren’t always honorable. Good or bad, the characters are relatable.

If you’re looking for suspense, romance, mystery, action, drama, a little paranormal…oh, and a creepy dude that had me peeking into the hallway as I read, please read this book! Cradit has completely reeled me in to The House of Crimson and Clover series, and I will continue reading each book and novelette as quickly as she puts them out.
Profile Image for Carrie.
38 reviews2 followers
July 10, 2013
I received this book from Sarah in return for an honest review, and just have to say thank you so much!

The Storm and the Darkness takes place in Summer Island, Maine. Where everyone knows everyone, gossip abounds and those that only visit in their summer homes are frowned on. Population 202, Ana Dechannel thinks it's the perfect place to run to when her life turns into something she can't face any longer.

Raised in New Orleans, daughter of Augustus Dechannel- Media mogul and billionaire- Ana has wanted noting in her whole life. Except to be normal. Born with a gift like almost every Dechannel, Ana is a healer. But even that doesn't work right, which just makes her feel even more cut off than she already does.

After a dark couple of months, and a night that she wishes more than anything never happened, Ana escapes to Summer Island where the only person who even speaks to her is the caretaker Alex, a middle aged man who wants nothing more than to take care of the sad and lonely woman he sees. But when he finds that he's not the only man whom Ana has shared those rare smiles with, will Alex continue to be the sometimes odd, always helpful caretaker Ana knows?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and find myself wanting to know more about the Dechannel family. I loved the complexity of Ana, the darkness that she and Jon share that lies within so many of us. I loved the different points of views and the emotions that were written out so well.

I was worried that, with this being the second installment of the Crimson and Clover series, that I would be missing information about the characters, but that is not the case at all. Now I just have to get my hands on the first book, and the next and next and next until I am satisfied!

Four stars for this emotional, enjoyable, mysterious book
June 14, 2014
I received this book from Sarah in return for an honest review, and just have to say thank you so much!

The Storm and the Darkness takes place in Summer Island, Maine. Where everyone knows everyone, gossip abounds and those that only visit in their summer homes are frowned on. Population 202, Ana Dechannel thinks it's the perfect place to run to when her life turns into something she can't face any longer.

Raised in New Orleans, daughter of Augustus Dechannel- Media mogul and billionaire- Ana has wanted noting in her whole life. Except to be normal. Born with a gift like almost every Dechannel, Ana is a healer. But even that doesn't work right, which just makes her feel even more cut off than she already does.

After a dark couple of months, and a night that she wishes more than anything never happened, Ana escapes to Summer Island where the only person who even speaks to her is the caretaker Alex, a middle aged man who wants nothing more than to take care of the sad and lonely woman he sees. But when he finds that he's not the only man whom Ana has shared those rare smiles with, will Alex continue to be the sometimes odd, always helpful caretaker Ana knows?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and find myself wanting to know more about the Dechannel family. I loved the complexity of Ana, the darkness that she and Jon share that lies within so many of us. I loved the different points of views and the emotions that were written out so well.

I was worried that, with this being the second installment of the Crimson and Clover series, that I would be missing information about the characters, but that is not the case at all. Now I just have to get my hands on the first book, and the next and next and next until I am satisfied!

Four stars for this emotional, enjoyable, mysterious book
Profile Image for Carver's Book Cravings.
166 reviews45 followers
August 21, 2013
Review by Natalie

Anasofiya Deschenal leaves her hometown running away from all of her friends and family, along with a couple secrets. She moves to Summer Island, Maine in hopes to start a new life. Her only ties back home she keeps in contact with is her dad and her best friend, Nicolas.
When she arrives on the island she meets the caretaker Alex Whitman that has been taking care of the home, her father passed down, while no one has been there. Alex becomes her salvation and shows her how to get ready for the winter storms that are coming.
Ana soon meets her neighbors, brothers Jonathan and Finnegan St Andrews. Jon is standoffish and wants nothing to do with Ana, while Finn and Anna become friends. Ana can’t help but noticing Finn.
When the storm finally comes, the whole town shuts down. After an amazing night with Finn, Ana finds that Finn lost his keys. She decides to take them to him, but something bad happens and Ana is knocked out. When Finn finally finds her she is injured. Truths are revealed and sometimes things aren’t what they seem. Can they help her? What secrets is Ana hiding?
I really liked this book. I felt like the first 30% should be read sitting in front of a nice warm fireplace. The author did a great job at setting the mood. This book has a little bit of suspense, paranormal activity, and humor but with a hint of romance that will leave you wanting more. I give this book a solid four stars.
Profile Image for Stephenee.
1,646 reviews44 followers
February 9, 2014
* I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. *
This book contains just the right amounts of romance, mystery and paranormal elements and the story just blends and flows so naturally. I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish and didn't want to put it down, that's how compelling of a story it is. I enjoyed the way the characters were introduced, the back story on all of them and the way that the past brings them together for the future. I felt like I was on the island with them and could give you directions to the store, the main street in town or to their neighbors homes, that is how detailed the author was in setting up the scene for the story. This story is a rare story in the fact that it has more than one "bad" guy and more than one plot twist that will leave you with your mouth hanging open. The plot has a finding of oneself, a way to help others and also an unlikely hero. I really enjoyed reading about Ana, Finn and Jon and am looking forward to what happens next with them and their friends Nicholas and Oz...or are they no longer friends now....hmmmm.....don't hesitate to make this book the next one on your To Be Read (TBR) list, you won't be disappointed!
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