I couldn’t wait to read this final instalment in Marcia’s Emissary novellas, and it didn’t disappoint.
You can read my reviews of the earlier instalments here:
The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody
And so we reach part 3: Love Hurts…
The Emissary 3: Love Hurts by Marcia MearaMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
As founder members of the Archangel Azreal’s Emissary programme, Jake and Dodger have a job to do, steering errant humans away from making poor decisions, and potentially giving them a fresh chance at a good life. There’s just one hiccup on the horizon – Dodger died (and was resurrected as an Emissary) before he’d had the chance to fall in love. After negotiation with Azrael, he now has the chance to do so, but on no account is he permitted to tell the object of his adoration, Juliette, what he is, or what he does at work. Can a relationship survive such a level of secrecy?
Juliette is a wonderfully strong character, and while it seems a little odd that she can take Dodger’s admitted inability to share his work life with her, Meara somehow gets around that using the strength of the two young people’s love. This is a love story, wound around by the gentle paranormal shenanigans that occur wherever the Emissaries go. Adjacent to the core thread, we are treated to a greater understanding of Azrael’s position amongst his fellow angels, and how he is unimpressed by the positions his Emissaries put him in, rather too often this time around, as a result of the grand experiment in love. This is, of course, accomplished by the author with her signature humour, and her compassion for the human condition.
The conclusion, much though I would like it to be otherwise, is the most logical way for the story to be wrapped up, both for this chapter, and for the conclusion of this 3-part story. And while Meara states she has no plans to revisit these characters, one can always hope she will change her mind.
View all my reviews
deborahjay 
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review of TE3: Love Hurts here today, Debby! I’m so happy you enjoyed the wrap up of this trilogy, and hope you’ll keep Jake, Dodger, and of course, Azrael, in your heart for a long time. They’ll live on in mine forever! This series was such fun to write, and something new and different for me, being a paranormal tale from the get-go. While there are paranormal elements in my Wake-Robin Ridge series (ESP, Appalachian legends, a few ghosties), the series is grounded in the real world. The Emissary was my first departure into something that was more paranormal than not, and I do hope to give that a go again at some point.
No, I don’t intend to revisit our trio, but then again, I didn’t intend to write this first one until I got so many requests for more information on Jake’s alter-ego, Gabe Angelino, after his appearance in Finding Hunter, so you never know. 😀 It could happen. But I have a 4th Riverbend novel to write first, and then a spinoff novella featuring Cole, Cole & Dupree, from Wake-Robin. Then we’ll see what I’m energetic enough to tackle at that point. (One of these days, I’m supposed to retire to the rocking chair and take up knitting or the like, aren’t I?)
Thanks again, my friend. It was lovely to see this here today, and even lovelier to read that you enjoyed it. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Retire??? You don’t have time to retire! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. Sad, but possibly true. And heck, maybe not even so sad. Who wants to learn knitting, anyway? 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful to get a report on Marcia’s story. I will share it on my social media.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cheers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Craig. And great to see you here today. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice to see such a lovely review of Marcia’s latest here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I always know I’ll enjoy Marcia’s books, she hasn’t disappointed yet, and I’m sure she never will. ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oooh, never is a long, long time, Debby. I’m sure I could write something truly ghastly in that amount of time. 😯 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀 I won’t hold my breath…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Staci! Nice to see you visiting today! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a great review! Thank you for sharing, Debbie.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Reviewing is so important to all of us (authors) it’s always a pleasure to share 😀
LikeLike
That’s true, Debby, and I haven’t forgotten that I still want to read The Prince’s Protege, too. I know I’ll love it as much as I did the first two, but that doesn’t help get the word out. I simply have to catch up with my reading. Maybe if I forgo the knitting, that rocking chair wouldn’t be so bad. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now you have a workable idea! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, Gwen. I loved Debby’s review of this one, for sure! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent review of Marcia’s book, Deborah.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for taking look.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much for stopping by, John! It’s greatly appreciated, for sure! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Such a fantastic review for Marcia. I positively loved Emissary 3 and all of her Emissary novellas. So nice to see her latest getting such lovely attention!
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤ Yours next, Mae. I'm currently zipping through Cusp of Night…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, you’re going to love those Hode’s Hill books, Debby. So shivery! And full of fun stuff, like (ready, Mae?) BLUE PEOPLE!!! (Who knew?) 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I just looked up the condition – how startling! In a modern setting you’d think you’d walked onto a Star Trek set, but back in those days it must have been extremely difficult to live with amongst prejudice and superstition. Good on Mae for finding such a rare thing to leverage for her story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! I am so honored. Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thanks, Mae! I’m so glad you enjoyed the trilogy! Makes me very happy!! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice review!
LikeLiked by 2 people
😀
LikeLike
Thanks, Joan. I was tickled to see it today! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so looking forward to this book. I loved the first two. A great review, Deborah. Congrats to Marcia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Then you will definitely enjoy this one 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fab review Deb. Spot on. I’m halfway through the book now. Loved the whole series. Congrats to Marcia ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know you’ll feel the same way as me about it – we have that connection ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, lol. I hope to have it finished for this Sunday. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great review of a great book. I loved this trilogy and it makes me happy to see how much others loved it, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to know how much other people enjoy Marcia’s excellent books – thanks for dropping by 😀
LikeLike