Bittersweet Darkness (The Order #3) by Nina Croft

Paranormal Romance

From Goodreads:

There are no monsters, only good guys and bad guys. That’s the creed by which Detective Inspector Faith Connolly has always lived.

When Faith discovers that she has a time bomb counting down in her head, she has one goal; to solve the murder case she’s working on—a young girl who was found drained of blood—and in doing so gain closure for a long ago murder never solved. Her investigation brings her in contact with Ash Delacourt. Ash is all black leather, big guns and sexy bad attitude—definitely not one of the good guys.

As payment for a debt, Asmodai AKA Ash Delacourt, finds himself working with the Order of the Shadow Accords. He’s the demon representative on the newly formed Committee for the Integration of Mankind and well…everything else. It’s a chance to be near his daughter, make a new start, and—once he’s met the delectable detective—maybe have a little fun.

There are no monsters. But as Faith’s investigation deepens, her beliefs are eroded and for the first time, she is falling in love—with one of the bad guys. But how can she ever let Ash close when her time is running out.

It seems I just could not get enough of Nina Croft this week.  I received Bittersweet Darkness from Netgalley and read it right after Death Defying.  Bittersweet Darkness is book three in The Order series and I had not read book one, Bittersweet Blood or book two, Bittersweet Magic. It did not take me long to see that Bittersweet Darkness it worked very well as a stand along.  I knew I was missing back-story on some of the characters but there was enough dropped into the dialog and action that I never felt lost.

Faith Connolly is the main female character in the story and I loved her.  She had a blind spot (there are not monsters) but did not realize it.  She was very focused on her job and loyal to the people she worked for.  When she things started to go wrong she had to move past that blind spot to do what was right.  It was very had but she had the strength to do what needed to be done.

Ash Delacout is the main male character and he is a monster.  He thinks he is unable to love and knows that even if he is able he is unwilling to love.  Faith just knocks him off balance.  He has to admit his feelings and accept that Faith has always acted in an honorable manner.

Throw in the angles who do not want change, the fact that the modern world is going to discover that demons, vampires and others are real, that some are working to make sure that happens in an orderly fashion and the plot points are set up for an exciting story.

There is action, suspense, danger, and romance all mixed up in a great story.  Bittersweet Darkness is a fun quick paranormal read that held my attention throughout the story.

Entangled: Edge published Bittersweet Darkness by Nina Croft in 2014.

I received an ARC of Bittersweet Darkness from Netgalley in return for a honest review.