For the past two years, Elena Whitney has wanted for nothing.  Clothes, money, a fashionable address, and the freedom to pursue her passion for medicine – all have been granted to her by her absent benefactor, Lord Black.  In fact, the only thing Elena does not have is her memory of her life before coming to live in Lord Black’s home.  When her mysterious guardian returns to London, Elena seizes the chance to get some much-needed answers.

One of the oldest and most talented members of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer, Lord Black, has returned to London.  His mission?  Capture and Reclaim the soul of a killer who is none other than Jack the Ripper.  Archer can’t afford distractions, and the beautiful Elena is most definitely a distraction.  Archer saved her life two years before and has done his best to put her out of his mind ever since.  But as panic spreads throughout London, Archer and Elena are increasingly drawn to one another.  Will they have a chance to act on their newfound passion?  Or will the deadly Ripper make Elena his next victim?

Murder, mayhem, passion, and the paranormal – Night Falls Darkly has it all.  Kim Lenox kicks off her intriguing new series with a fascinating plot and an interesting cast of characters who are sure to charm.  I suppose Elena can be considered a somewhat unusual Victorian heroine.  Though unimaginable wealth and opportunity for marriage lie at her feet, Elena’s true passion is medicine and she spends her time working as a nurse and desires to become a doctor.  I liked that about her; it made her stand out to me as a heroine.  She’s intelligent, inquisitive, brave, and willing to stand up to anyone, even her guardian.  Archer, for his part, is a wonderful hero.  He’s sexy and ruthlessly efficient at his job, but to my delight this was countered by his being thrown off balance by Elena and his feelings for her.  Archer and Elena were two strong-willed characters who matched one another perfectly on every level.  Adding to the cast are the twins, Mark and Selene, two other members of the Shadow Guard.  Both Mark and Selene are unique characters, each of them adding another layer to the story.  I finished Night Falls Darkly incredibly impatient to read Mark’s story, So Still the Night.