The book was on it’s way to a smooth 5 star when I stumbled across 2 “what the f**k” moments – of which one is sending a totally wrong message to woman that have the problem of abuse and stalking. Furthermore there were a few hangups in the timeline and edits – so I could not keep the 5 stars – but it is still a nice and solid 4 star read that I enjoyed. EXCEPT this one moment I mentioned where I was staring at the kindle and asking myself if the female lead was serious…═══ P [...]

Very unique story of freedom, love and second chances. Great debut novel by Leigh Ribbons and I look forward to see if we will hear more about the characters within the pages of Darkness Before Dawn!! The emotions that I felt while reading this book floored me. I felt Matts pain but I will NEVER know the extremes that he went through!! Matt and Dawn have more obstacles than they could ever have imagined before finding their back to one another and what a ride it is!!!!

This book grabbed my heart, made it weep and then slowly put it back together. Matt is a military man that almost lost his life in Iraq. Lauren is Matt's sister & caretaker after his war accident. Dawn is Lauren's BFF and in love with Matt secretly, even Matt doesn't know. When times get hard and life throws punch after punch at Matt he always rises. Dawn has always held a special place for Matt but one fateful night things spiral hot and all her wet dreams come true almost. Lauren keeps t [...]

Dawn only knows Matt through her best friend and his sister, Lauren. She’s heard his voice and popped her head in when Lauren video chats with Matt during his deployment, but they can’t even be considered friends. He sees Dawn as his teenage sister’s cute best friend, but completely off limits. When Matt is injured and blinded by an IED, everything he thought he knew about himself is ripped away, and he’s forced to rebuild his life. After acquiring a service dog, working hard in college, [...]

First of all, this book is very professionally presented and you’d never know it’s a debut release from a new author. The formatting is beautiful and the editing and proofing are really well done. Clearly a lot of work and love went into this book to give it a professional appearance.If you want the short version:Likeable. Lots of drama, fun to read. Good characters. Well-edited. Predictable but still addictive.If you want the detailed version:Editing/Proofing:5 stars Found only a couple min [...]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This was an awesome romance full of suspense. I loved how the author made the main male character blind, but still able to use his training to save the main female character. An awesome book I would recommend to everyone.

From the very first page this book sets itself up to be an epic romance of unrequited love, second chances, and rising above adversity. Readers are literally dropped into the middle of a firefight that leaves them breathless and on edge and from there they get put through the emotional wringer right alongside these memorable characters. In a tale that spans years there are numerous highs and lows, moments of intense realism along with bits of melodrama, that all add up to a journey that leaves y [...]

I liked this book overall, but when broken down into individual parts it probably seems like I'm less than enthusiastic about it.First, Dawn seemed so great in the beginning, definitely young and her level of attachment to Matt at the outset matched that youth. Then there was Matt. He seemed much older than his age and I'm pretty sure the beginning mentioned him being 21 but then later in the book he was reported as being blinded at 19I'd have to re-read the book to catch what was up with that o [...]

First of all, this book is very professionally presented and you’d never know it’s a debut release from a new author. The formatting is beautiful and the editing and proofing are really well done. Clearly a lot of work and love went into this book to give it a professional appearance.If you want the short version:Likeable. Lots of drama, fun to read. Good characters. Well-edited. Predictable but still addictive.If you want the detailed version:Editing/Proofing:5 stars Found only a couple min [...]

Dawn is a woman who doesnt have any family, her family consists of her best friend Lauren and by extension her brother which they had never meet in person until after his accident in Iraq. Dawn has always had a thing for Matt but never told anyone not even her best friend. Matt a man who has lived through so much after an IED went off and killed most of his brothers and blinded him with other damage never thought he would have a happy life after living through all that but after years of not hav [...]

This was a great book that lived up to the blurb that was meant to draw in readers. Yes! I was hooked from the start and fell in love with all the main characters in the first few words. The story was predictable in that you knew it would be about the love Dawn has secretly kept hidden for the older ruggedly handsome Matt who is the brother of Lauren, her BFF. While you know what the plot will unfold, you are still kept on the edge of your seat as each obstacle and heartbreak occurs. When Matt i [...]

I gave this Book a rating of 5 ✩’sTitle: Darkness Before Dawn Series: (Never Lose Sight Book 1)Genre: Military Romance, Romantic SuspenseAuthor: Leigh RobbinsFormat: Kindle EditionPublished on: June 15, 2017I voluntarily reviewed a Free Courtesy Advanced Reader Copy of this book>-< >-< >-< >-< >-<>-< >-< >-< >-< >-< >-< >-< >-<Character’s Descriptions:Matthew Cage was injured while serving in the Marines in Iraq. [...]

This story line is very unique. I like that Leigh Robbins has included real life themes to the story. The way the words flow of the pages and combines into an amazing story is great. It is a very well written book.I like that the Hero is blind and we can read about the issues with that and how he manages and feels about it. We feel how difficult it is for him to make a normal life and live with it. Matthew is a man that has issues and dark periods. These moments are also there because of his tim [...]

**SPOILERS** The story was thoughtfully and emotionally paced. Lauren married and was widowed at the young age of twenty four. Matt divorced, Dawn and him spend the night together but he was a jerk and let her go thinking it was a mistake. He was becoming an alcoholic and decided he wanted to stop drinking and counciling vets so he could stabilze his life. Lauren decides that it is best to move to North Carolina and start over. She persuades Matt and Dawn to move with her. Lauren and Dawn start [...]

What a great read and a fantastic story!  Leigh’s telling of Matt and Dawn’s story is filled with angst, discovery, acceptance, and finally triumph.    The story is well written and you’ll fall in love with the characters.Matt’s injuries has him drowning in his own hell with dark thoughts and hoping tomorrow will take a vacation.   Fortunately, tomorrow doesn’t take a vacation but the sun rises by the name of Lauren, his sister, who helps him get back to the living.  Lauren’s [...]

Oh my! This is one of the most beautifully written books that I have read and it based on a real story. This is also the debut novel by Leigh Robbins and is so talented - a real gem of a book. This is based round Matt who's younger sister,Lauren, has a best friend called Dawn. They haven't met in real life only seen each other on Skype and photos. Matt is in the military and whilst on active service he is blinded when a IED is exploded near him. This book encompasses how he battled with living a [...]

Overall, a good read with a unique storyline that I doubt we will see repeated in another book. I really liked Matt’s character; from the first page, his part of the story was quite captivating. Dawn wasn’t quite so well-developed but later did get an emotional and psychological trauma of her own to deal with. Some aspects of this book required a good deal of knowledge about the subjects in question, and I felt the author did well on those and the story came across believable because of that [...]

Dawn is a young woman who falls in love with her friend’s brother since the very first time she lays eyes on him through a screen on the computer.Matt is a young marine who becomes blind in a trap in Iraq.I think the title is very appropriated for this book.Although the book was a little too slow at the beginning, it gets better later. The story is hard because the theme is hard and because it is based on a true story.War and devastation are two words that always come together. The ability to [...]

This is such a carefully crafted tale of strength, determination, hope, and love. Witnessing Matt's fight to regain himself after such tragic injuries made me want to see him achieve every success he desired. Dawn may have started out with a school-girl crush on him but it became something so much more. I thought it was was awe inspiring to see their 'family' of friends pull together to help Dawn through a horrifying event no one should ever experience. I loved that there was a pretty even balan [...]

This is a beautifully written and emotional read.The depiction of what faces soldiers in war, and afterwards, when they return home injured, is very well written. Matthew is blinded by an IED ending his career in the military, and making it difficult for him to copewith life outside the army.Dawn is attracted to Matthew despite never having met him. She is his sister Lauren's best friend, and knows him via photographs, and Skype calls.What follows is fairly predictable, a failed marriage, relian [...]

This was an addictive read, there is joy, heartbreak and suspense that keep you hooked. The book covers many years and takes us through the highs and lows Matt goes through, as well as how Lauren and Dawn are during this time. To me this wasn't really a love story to begin with but about someone Matt having his whole world ripped apart and trying to claw their way back to living again. The time line/ages of Dawn and Matt appear to be a bit in consistent but do not distract from the story. The bo [...]

I received this book free as an ARC for my honest review.This is the 1st book from this author and what a fantastic book. Will defiantly be looking forward to other releases by this author.This is a second change, my best friend’s brother book. Dawn Richards is Lauren’s roommate, she hasn’t met Lauren’s brother Matthew, but with photos and glances at skype when Lauren is talking to him she has fallen in love. Matthew Cage is a Marine, he was wounded losing his sight and nearly lost his l [...]

I voluntarily reviewed this ARC book. Gripping opening, this is a book about learning who you are and changing yourself against adversity. Life can change in a second, and it only took a second for an IED to nearly take and change Matt's life. After surviving the tragedy Matt is lost, his vision gone and his path is life is no longer clear. But sometimes life can also throw you a curveball and lead you on a path that changes you. After a drunken night with his sister's friend, Matt realizes that [...]

I've tried to write this review at least four timesd the only thing I can come up with is a heartfelt thank you to Leigh Robbins for sharing this remarkable story with us. I live in a community populated with tons of active duty military--but a greater number of disabled veterans. These are remarkable men and women who gave so much on our behalf. Darkness before Dawn shares with us one man's sacrifices and the challenging road he traveled to recovery and how love and acceptance healed so many he [...]

loved the writing style, storyline and the characters much emotions and feels heretely its both sweet and sexy where it needs to be, but it also articulates all the struggles of self doubt that this young man has to face and deal withbut what amazing courage and determination he has and he eventually builds this amazing and meaningful life for himself, ofcourse there are various ups and downs through it alld the heroine was his complement, and these two are survivors after living through traumat [...]

Gritty, emotional read detailing one man's journey through the horror of war and PTSD. A story of incredible loss, pain, fear, and triumph. It is heart-wrenching at times and well-written. The characters are so well drawn, one could almost say they know them personally. There is strong language but, to me, it fits the character and the situation. The dragon/angel tattoo is the perfect analogy for the story. I hate spoilers so won't do that to you. I read it in one evening as I could not put it d [...]

Very emotional read. As a military spouse I can tell you that one of my biggest fears when my husband was active duty was his being hurt while deployed. So many things are out of your control. Reading this book brought a lot of those feelings and fears back. I am eternally thankful that in his 23 years of duty my husband was never majorly injured. I knew other spouses that couldn't say the same. This story touches on several realistic emotions. Self-worth and the love of family and friends to na [...]

A big thank you for the ARC, I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I enjoyed this book. I felt it dealt fairly well with real life issues. It made me rethink about some things and I will be a king a self defense class. Every woman should be able to defend themselves. I know it won't work in every situation but I want to feel in control. This book leaves you with the gamut of emotions heartbreak, anger, dislike, contempt you name it but also love and deep friendship. I think that most romance rea [...]

Darkness Before Dawn (Never Lose Sight Book 1)By Leigh Robbins This was an amazing story. The tragedy, the deep friendships, and the suspense. This book pulled me in from the very beginning.Mathew Cage is Blinded in Iraq while in the Marines. After a downward spiral, Mathews sister and friends help him.Dawn Richards first saw her best friend’s brother via webcam. For years, she secretly desired him, keeping her fantasies hidden from the rest of the world, so when Dawn's life is threatened Math [...]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I just have to say wow! It was really good!! It was very well written with a depth of emotions and character development. It also gives some insight into what our soldiers and their families deal with when returning home, especially with injuries. I loved Dawn and Matt! They were perfect for each other and so beautiful together. I can't wait to read more by this author. *I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. This is my hon [...]