Customer Reviews

A Dance in the Dark

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Louisa Patterson would have settled for just being plain. As it is, though, there's no avoiding the fact that she's simply ugly. She's inherited the worst of all the family features and is graced with face not entirely unlike a horse's. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, she also stands to inherit enough money to make her the most sought after prize on the marriage market to the scores of penniless young men now haunting her grandfather's estate and singing her virtues. But Louisa is terribly lonely. All she wants is to be liked for herself, not her money. She begins to think this is impossible, until she stumbles into a well-hidden cave...

Duncan Traherne is a vampire with a conscience. Fearful of killing people by draining their life forces completely, he's retreated into an isolated cave and made it his home, resigning himself to a life of solitude, until one day that solitude is interrupted by a most prepossessing young lady...

This is a novella which isn't much like Karen Ranney's other books. There's no great conflict and no real suspense. It's sweet, but forgettable. Worth a read if you want a quick, light romance, but don't expect a torrid love story. About PG-15. No majorly steamy love scenes here.

I really enjoyed Dance in The Dark as Karen Ranney steps away from the mundane with her refreshing approach to the historical vampire romance. The story brings us in as Luisa's curiosity causes her to stumble upon a hermit's home. Having started the story with no knowledge of characters or plot, I initially found myself questioning the circumstances in which Luisa discovers her stranger. However, my questions were quickly answered and I found the plot blooming into a beautiful story with a surprising and pleasant twist on the paranormal vampire story. I was quickly captivated by this romantic story of Luisa and Douglas from different worlds and looking for acceptance and find friendship and innocent love. I found this story refreshing and numerous times found myself smiling and sighing while reading it. I look forward to reading more works by Karen Ranney.

A passionate story about what love is really about, and how being loved brings out the best in all of us. I couldn't put it down.

I loved this story. Indeed, once I started it, I didn't want to put it down. It was a charming, romantic retelling of the Beauty and The Beast story set in Regency England. Louisa, an heiress, was an ugly duckling who wanted someone to care for her, not her fortune. Her parents had passed and she was living with her grandfather who wanted her to be married. Douglas, a vampire with a conscience, was a loner in the extreme. He was living in a cave with no interaction with others besides what he physically needed to survive. He had his own inner demons to fight as he was guilt-ridden from an incident early in his life. The day Louisa stumbled upon Douglas' cave was a life-changing event for both of them. Karen skillfully used their interplay of words to develop their relationship. There were a few other characters and scenes interspersed in the story but most of the story took place in the cave. I enjoyed this book very much. I was very happy with the ending and actually came away from the book feeling as if I'd learned a valuable lesson from it. Bottomline: This is a feel good book that I'd highly recommend to anyone who loves romance and/or adult fairy tales.

I started out reading this expecting your typical "love story". Well, once I had read a few pages, I literally could not stop until I was done.
It's an odd take of the Beauty and the Beast kind of story but with a twist that makes it incredible and hard to put down.
It definitely is a feel good story that ends with a happy ending but also leaving the reader with a lesson. I found that is what made it so awesome to me. Most romance stories just have the happily ever after thing and that's it. However this book left me with a lesson about life. It really is a very well written short story and one I would definitely recommend to anyone. You don't have to just be a "romance" genre reader to enjoy this story.

A DANCE IN THE DARK is a touching novella of the transformative and redemptive ability of love when we allow ourselves to look beyond outward appearances.
I was immediately drawn in from the moment Louisa entered the cave. Like a moth to the flame Louisa and Douglas are drawn to each other despite numerous reasons against their friendship. Louisa is an extremely rich heiress who has inherited every unfortunate facial feature in her family. She believes she looks as much like a horse as is humanly possible. None of her suitors can see past the face to the person and beauty beneath; to her honesty, fairness, intelligence, and compassion. They pursue only her fortune. It shouldn't still hurt but it does and keeps her separate from everything and everyone, an outcast.
Douglas is voluntarily an outcast and hermit when Louisa stumbles upon him in the hidden cave. Douglas is also a vampire. Not the traditional blood sucking variety either. Really interesting and I've only read a few like him. He can "read" Louisa's thoughts and know her inner self. All her beautiful qualities are revealed to and cherished by him for their rarity. For her part Douglas is always hidden in shadow so Louisa knows nothing of his looks, only what he reveals through actions and words. Together Louisa and Douglas discover friendship that blossoms to more even as Douglas tries to shove her away.
The difference between how we see ourselves and how we look to another when viewed through the eyes of love is the center of this wonderful story. Truly romantic and well worth reading.

I received this story from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

A DANCE IN THE DARK by Karen Ranney is a romantic novella set in Regency England.It is written with depth and details.The characters are warm,charming and enchanting.It has love,romance,being different,despair,loneliness,pain,and an ugly duckling meets the beast.Louisa, a heiress who is considered ugly but has a heart of gold,craves to be loved by someone not just for her money but for her intelligence,quick mind and wit.Douglas, a recluse with a dark secret (he is a vampire),and craves to be able to be with people without fear of hurting or killing them. This is a wonderful,sweet story of fairy tales can come true and have a happy ever after ending.This is a quick read and will leave you in wonder of the true power of love.I would highly recommend this book especially if you enjoy true love,happiness,and finding your soul mate.This book was received for the purpose of review from the author and details can be found at KRKS Books and My Book Addiction and More.

Being one of the not so great looking gals I really related to this story. This is how dreams should end...happily ever after. Ms. Ranney brings alive the daydreams and night wishs of an everyday person and makes you want to believe there is hope for us all to have that romance.