Review: Nocturnes & Nightmares by Keri Lake (The Sandman #1)


Note: An advanced reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author via Give Me Books Promotions.

There's a strange sensation humming through me when I stare back at her half-cocked smile and shiny eyes. A zap of something foreign and gratifying at the same time. The way one might look upon a small bird that has just eaten from the palm of his hand. 
The very thought has my fingers curling into tight fists, just as they would with a bird so trusting.

Whenever I pick up a Keri Lake novel, I know I'm in for a hell of a read. With Nocturnes & Nightmares, the first book in Lake's Sandman duet, I may even forgive the author for that evil cliffhanger of hers, although cliffhangers are almost always a given with duets and trilogies. It's a two-week wait for the second novel, and the second I finished book one, I was immediately antsy to get my hands on book two because I need answers to all the damn questions swirling in my head. I'm used to Lake's stories being outside of the box, and this series starter was that and so much more. If you like your stories like I prefer my chocolate--DARK!--then look no further than Keri Lake's.

Nola Tensley is trying to make the most of her circumstances, but she's struggling. She works as much as she does to ensure that she and her eleven-year-old son, Oliver, have a roof over their heads and other essentials like food and clothing. She's desperate to still give Oliver a good Christmas, so when Rhett Voss decides to rent the in-law suite on her property for double what she was initially planning to ask for it, the timing couldn't have been better. The New York stock trader seems to be everything he claims to be, but there's something about the man that piques Nola's curiosity. What she doesn't know is that there's someone else who's focused their attention solely on her. The media nicknames him "The Sandman", only he doesn't bring dreams... He's a woman's worst nightmare.

Everything about this novel--from the story to the characters and whatever else in between--was the sort that guaranteed I would not look away from my e-reader from start to finish. Filled with both tension and intensity, Keri Lake has written a book that is, indeed, dark and she doesn't sugarcoat anything that happens to any of the characters nor do I expect her to do so. After all, you know what you're getting into when you read Lake's books--multi-layered characters, a complex story line, and simply fantastic writing. Besides Voss and Nola, I confess that I may be even more emotionally invested in Oliver but in order for you to find out why, you'll need to read the book. I'm keeping this review as spoiler-free as possible, and that's a must when it comes to any genre but especially when it deals with suspense. Nocturnes & Nightmares was, ironically enough, one dream of a read. Five-plus stars! ♥

Release Date: 29 April 2019

Date Read: 29 April 2019

Learn more about Keri Lake.

Purchase Nocturnes & Nightmares on Amazon.

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