Review: ...a tedious concoction of monotony......
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
I love this author.  I really do.  And it pains me to write anything less than a 5★ review.  But this third installment of the CONVERSION series was nothing less than a weak, flimsy, cripplingly slow plot with very little substance, and I think Ms. Stephens would agree.  It's basically "a day in the life of" a loving vampire couple and all the sobering changes Emma must adapt to.  The first ⅓ of the book is recapping and reiterating the first two books in this series, with very little eventful facts while reintroducing Gabriel and his mystique into the plot along with Emma forced into conversion.  The second ⅓ of the story involves the adjustment of Emma into her new life surrounded by her loving families and facing a few dilemma's that slowly takes us into the final ⅓ of the book.I wanted to love the continuation of this fascinating Paranormal romance. It held all the usual aspects of a PN romance, and the first two installments had that extra combined spark of intrigue with a touch of humor that had me in stitches a few times. I love Emma. She was one lonely young woman before she met Teren Adams. She'd had her fair share of dates, but never connected with any of them. She was just an average, everyday 25 year old girl working an average job in San Francisco. She's genuine, spunky, sassy and somewhat quirky. When she meets Teren, she accepts his vampirism without prejudice or discrimination...in fact, she (at first) is a little disappointed that his vampire powers are more human and less vampire. She's absolutely refreshing.And then she marries Teren and the emotional connection they eventually share is quite amazing. And Ms. Stephens has fabulously captured and described their love for one another leaving no room for the reader to wonder just HOW MUCH they are drawn to each other. All told with perfect balance between witty dialogue and descriptive narration.And whats not to love with Teren? The author has depicted him more human than vampire. He's gorgeously handsome, warm and caring...dedicated, committed to Emma & his children...loving and wholesome. He's powerfully protective to his bonded mate and wife, Emma. There is nothing he would not do for her or his kids.It's really a phenomenal story filled with family closeness, and the hope and fear that love and loss brings, but alas... very little drama (in this 3rd installment).  I loved all the supporting characters...but especially Hot Ben with his coming to terms with mythical creatures that are not so mythical...and Great grandma Halina and her sassy, powerful hawtness. Through all the highs and lows of all the different events that Teren and Emma muddle and fight through - - Ms. Stephens seems to be only filling space with empty facts up to the point where a child disappears and the despairing agony parents face while searching for that precious lost one.  Only then does the book pick up...but even then, only slightly so as the drama of the search is so drawn out with reiterating different characters' roles and directions in the futile search.There were a few discrepancies.  I was continually asking myself; WHY would a vampire disclose everything that he is (even showing his fangs) to a human childhood friend..scaring her to death in a closed space when he's going to have her mind erased of such events afterward?  I know Teren wanted closure...but...um...really??  What was to be really gained by that except to fill book space?  And if parents are going to be sleeping in a soundproof room in their home...WHY on earth would you not put child monitors in your childrens' room?  Those are just two points that had me grinding my gears. <shaking my head>The final two chapters were nothing more than inane drivel and separation of characters going their way...wrapping up who goes where, who marries who, and Emma & Teren moving to a new home and a boring, long, drawn out, detailed description of its splendor.  It really took everything I had to finish the last two chapters.  3 ★'s.