Love is Mortal: A Valerie Dearborn Novel (The Valerie Dearborn Trilogy) (Volume 3) Paperback – December 12, 2013

Oh man!! So I am really conflicted. On the one hand, I LOVE Caroline Hanson and especially adore this series. Caroline really did something amazing when she conceived Val and Lucas (and that psychotic biotch, Marion)---they are such awesome characters and in the first two books their energy jumped off the pages. But, on the other hand (and maybe this is 'cause I love them so much), I can't believe the third and "final" book has so LITTLE of the Val and Lucas I've come to love. I know there's a spinoff planned but it apparently won't focus on Val and Lucas. There are a lot of loose ends with other characters so I get the spinoff concept, but honestly I have a one track mind--I'm not particularly excited about Cer, a**hole Jack and weird Rachel, or creepy relative Molly starring in their own book/s.

**I don't think I can give a complete rundown of LIM without spoilers, but I will try. The ending shocked me so I definitely won't go anywhere near it in this review.**

So in LIM, what was backstory in the first two books (think Cer & Virginia) became front and center. Unfortunately for me, I never cared much for their story. So this third book was hard for me because it focused SO MUCH on Cer and all things Fey. In fact, there's very little vampire action, if at all. I thought Caroline did a fantastic job writing about the vamps before, and I am definitely sad that this was a book of Fey and fantasy, rather than a book of Val & Lucas in the real world. For me, that's where the main characters were most vibrant and where they had the best chemistry.

I think the things that make me most conflicted are that 1) we've been on a journey that we knew (hoped?) would end with Lucas' redemption and with Val's metamorphosis into her strong true self and 2) we finally get there but we never get the full view of them in those roles. There's very little 'real' dialogue between Val & Lucas, and I don't think the Val, Lucas, Jack triangle had the come to Jesus moment it deserved. And with the way the redemption concept is handled I think it took away too much of the Lucas who is so bad he's good. It felt like the compromise (sacrifice?) came too strongly from one side only.

All in all, this was a good book in a GREAT series. The fact that I devoured this book in one sitting on the day it was released speaks volumes about the author's talent. She's simply awesome! As fans, we hope for more of some things and less of others, but the story goes where the author takes you, and with a writer like Caroline, you are going to enjoy the ride. I love these books so much I am hoping for a fourth book where Lucas and Val can spend some time together (outisde of the dungeon!) and where redemption becomes a little less redeeming. Wishing and hoping for more is a fan's perogative, right!?!

If you're reading this Caroline--thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your gift. I have read and re-read your books and love to escape into this world. Besitos!!

I happened to run across this series of books by accident. And I'm sooooo happy that I did!! They are awesome!! I loved the way the stories progressed and the crafty way the author tells a story. I also liked the way you get just enough of the back ground information to introduce you completely to the characters, and then the story really takes off, while taking you with it! The author has a way of writing and giving little details that make you feel like you are right there in the room, and can feel the emotions, or even just turn around and see the characters standing next to you. It took me about a week to read the first book, as I was busy doing other things as well. But when I purchased the second one, I could not put it down, It was the first time in my life I had read an entire book in one day! I purchased this last one the same evening and was not really surprised that it's just as good as the first two. So for the second time in my life I turned around and read this last one all in the very next day! I loved this series and plan to find more of her books to try. I'm sure I'll like her other stories but I'm not sure if any of them can take the place of these characters! This is a series that I will read and reread again and again!

Had to think a lot before I wrote this review. In the end, I wanted the author to notice. I know she left an opening for a new story, but I don't know for sure if she wrote a feel-good, hea ending for reviews or not. And that bothers me. A lot. If she was a good author at all, she would have known that an ending with a dark-haired child would have made more of an impact if she's planning a new series. Would have made a better ending than just Molly showing up with her inquiry.

*Spoiler* Lucas already knew Virginia was using Valerie's body and she and Cer had been intimate. He was probably potent too, at only half his strength. The child born SHOULD have been Cer's, with Lucas possibly trying to protect her from the truth. Plus, the ending was rushed. This was a dark magic story, for crying out loud! Come on!