Love Is Darkness

Valerie Dearborn, Book 1

By: Caroline Hanson

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

Valerie Dearborn wants a life as light and fluffy as cotton candy, but it's more like a puffer fish: pointy, unusual, and - if not prepared exactly right - deadly. In London for graduate school, Val knows she's finally free. Her father and ex-almost-boyfriend are back in California and she's out of the Vampire hunting biz for good. Or is she? She draws the attention of Lucas, a 1600 year old Vampire, and King to his kind. He's also wicked hot.

As golden as Lucifer, and just as tempting, he makes Valerie an offer she can't refuse - help him find out if the Others (Empaths, Fey, and Werewolves) still exist or he'll stop protecting those she loves. Lucas tells her that Empaths were a Vampire's biggest weakness before going extinct hundreds of years ago.

While the Fey or a Werewolf might kill a Vampire, an Empath could enslave them, seducing or harming with emotions at will. The one detail he leaves out? Valerie is an Empath. And after 1600 years of an emotionless existence, Lucas wants Valerie like a recovering alcoholic wants a wine cooler. Can she keep those she loves alive, stop Lucas from munching on her, survive a fanged revolution, and still find a way to have that boring, normal life she's always wanted? Probably not, but boy is she gonna try!

©2011 Carrie Avila (P)2014 Carrie Avila

Many books seem to have the same story line

What did you like best about Love Is Darkness? What did you like least?

It was very predictable. The characters were okay and some likable or interesting. The story was lacking humor, wit, action and the love story was weak and uninteresting. The book did not divert my attention from chores or anything.

Would you be willing to try another book from Caroline Hanson? Why or why not?

Probably not. The story was very one dimensional. I think she follows a formula as many do but I prefer a Diane Duvall or Jeanine Frost book with action great characters and a world that envelops you in.

What aspect of Emily Woo Zeller’s performance would you have changed?

She was good. Her male voices could be improved but she was okay.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No.

Any additional comments?

(Many people will like this!!!!) I am spoiled by the authors I mentioned. It took me many tries to finish this book over years. I was determined to finish some books or if I could not then to write a review.

Interesting new series

This is a very interesting and intriguing new series I'm not altogether sure how I feel about it, it was kind of teasing it would get you all hyped up but then it like left you wanting. I mean the tension between the father and the daughter was just a little too much and they kept going from past to present a little too much I had to rewind a little bit so maybe that's just me maybe I just got confused a bit. I am going to get the second book though because though it had a little bit of a slow start and it jumped from past to present a lot the dynamic relationship between Val Lucas and Jack left me wanting to know what's going to happen next

Not a strong female lead.

This first novel in the series set the stage for the author's continuance of story. I personally enjoyed much of the story line. However, I found that the time hops from chapter to chapter seemed a bit strange. Our main character Val isn't my favorite character. It seems like she is extremely indecisive due to her decision changes in a split second. she will be adament about her decision and a second later it's different. I don't know if I will continue this story but I did enjoy it on a one time read base level.

Excited its in Audio !!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I read the series before I fell for audio books, I read them multiple times and now I can listen to the bloody chaos, murder,kings you don't mess with who patiently crave beautiful empaths full of sexual fustration...Addicting stuff

Which character – as performed by Emily Woo Zeller – was your favorite?

Emily Woo is Amazing at what she does, but well, she did make Lucas seem more delicious...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

OMG, The sex, made me jealous it wasn't me in that dark chamber with King Lucas... blushing

Designed to hook you on the series

No surprise in that the story leaves you hanging at the end so you will want to buy the follow-up story(ies). The narrator is pretty good. She has an expressive voice and does good work on this.

Great narrator

Emily does a great job! The story is a nice change. Trying to get the other magical creators back is a nice twist.

Probably the best way I spent my weekend

The easiest listen that I'm happy to recommend. The performance was good. But honestly the story is fast paced and you want more. You get significant character history and the author pays attention to the gr8 details that make a book good. There's great oneliners and you will certainly be glad you read it. This is Twilight all grown up.

Great book worth a credit!

Although many of the other reviews weren't great. I think this author shows real promise and does a wonderful job capturing real human emotion. No person starts out strong and perfect. There is room for growth with the main character and author does a great job of setting that up. This book is worth the listen and in my opinion been unfairly judged. Yes its vampire romance but It's done very well in my opinion. Starts out slow but is great in the end.

Entertaining!

I didn't love this book but I did enjoy it.The main character Val is tied up in the supernatural world as her father is a vampire hunter. As an adult she's in London and comes upon an ancient powerful vampire. Her attraction to him seems to confuse her. One minute she wants him and the next not so much. They are drawn to each other in a situation that can't happen.

Val isn't exactly a normal human either. She's a little something more and I did enjoy her character and think the author did an excellent job building her character.

I enjoyed the supernatural aspect of the story but it was a little more romancey than I like and less suspenseful. It was a great story and lovers of paranormal romance would really enjoy it. I prefer a little more thriller in stories I read.

The author has a fun way with words and uses some great descriptions. Narrator Emily Woo Zeller did a good performance. Her pacing was smooth and characters distinguishable.

talk about a cliffhanger...

this book wasn't one of my favorites...
it just kept going and going with nothing. I was kinda bored. it's soo I want him wait no I dont... this charter doesn't know herself and that bothers me. I not sure about this series i want to give it another shot but I don't want another book like this one. I mean pick a direction and stick with it already.