Cressida Aylesworth wants to spend her Halloween at home not at some big costume ball thrown by the company she works for. In fact she doesn’t really want to be social anymore, at least since both of her parents died. Pushed by her best friends influence, she is whisked away to the party by a limo that was ordered for her by none other than her boss.

Upon her arrival she feels as though someone is watching her. Met by her employer he wastes no time in attaching her to his waist introducing her to guest after guest. That is until he is forced to greet the mysterious man hidden in the balcony shadows. With an unexplainable attraction she finds herself wanting to know more. Can he hide the secret of who he is even on this night of the full moon? And can she make it through the danger lurking in the night.

Dark Encounter is a short story perfect for a short road trip. The mystique of this man from the night keeps us enthralled in the possibility of saving him from his curse. Cressida or Criss as she has come to be called is still suffering from her loss and startles readers with her bravery amongst all her angst. Lauren Delaney proves good things come in small packages with this novelette, and I am looking forward to other stories from her in the future.

Reviewed by: Jayne