Review: The Darkest Ink by Liza Kay

Title: The Darkest Ink (Light and Dark: Book One)

Author: Liza Kay

Length: 176 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: The Darkest Ink is a fairly good story with a dual mystery plot, and Liza Kay did a great job with Reese’s character.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Sometimes, it takes more than leaving prison to make you free.

Barista. Cat owner. Friendly neighbor. That’s Reese Thompson, and he doesn’t want anybody to look behind this façade. Trapped in a body heavily inked with the shame of his past, Reese’s self-loathing keeps him from fully embracing his freedom after six years of prison. Until a man walks into the café where Reese works, and changes the course of both their lives.

Review: Reese Thompson, barista at Jen’s Caffe, has been out of prison for a year. The café caters to the college crowd, and some find Reese to be a challenge because he doesn’t flirt or socialize with them. His past is a mystery in itself. All Reese wants is to do his job and then go home to peace and quiet and Tizzy, his cat. Jenny Winters, his boss, has tried to set Reese up on a date, but it didn’t turn out well. He doesn’t want anyone asking him questions—he went through that for six years in prison—and he has his own reasons for not getting involved with anyone. A quick hookup at a club suits him just fine.

Charlie Chen is an accountant with hopes of becoming a CPA one day. He finds himself working on an account at his firm that has him frustrated. On a recommendation from a friend, and for a needed break, he goes to Jen’s Caffe for coffee, where, of course, he encounters Reese. Charlie’s voice alone is an attraction for Reese, but Reese believes he has nothing to offer anyone and still can’t see himself in a relationship. In a test to see if they can even be friends, Charlie and Reese go on a ‘silent date’, which, it turns out, is really hard for Charlie. He wants to get to know Reese better, but Reese is not willing to share his life. Charlie might be somewhat geeky and persistent with Reese, but he holds some surprises for Reese, too.

While trying to learn more about Reese, Charlie becomes more entangled with the Castell Construction account. He also has to deal with a boss who’s making him uncomfortable. When Charlie finally sees what Reese has been hiding, he loses it and tells Reese he needs time to decide what to do.

The Darkest Ink is a fairly good story with a dual mystery plot, and Liza Kay did a great job with Reese’s character. He stayed true to himself and slowly opened up to Charlie. There’s no insta-love here; Reese has his reasons for that even though Charlie is persistent. Just waiting to find out more about Reese keeps this book interesting. My interest is piqued to see where Liza Kay takes this series next.

You can buy The Darkest Ink here:
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