Lover Enshrined.

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6)

rated 4 stars

This is Phury's story. We know that in previous stories his status as a solid hero was formed. In this story we see the inner demons really come out. Now, I will say that The Wizard did get on my nerves. I don't like giving our own self loathing a name. Cormia...It took me a while to really connect with her. I'll say that of all the heroines she made me sad. Even Mary with her illness didn't get me down the same way. I felt like she had real strength inside. Cormia, was such a doormat, and I know that maybe centuries of training at being selfless are at fault. I think I didn't like the idea of her being trapped or a prisoner of her station. It just got me down, and I felt like she never...grew a spine and if a woman is going to love a man like Phury with his issues and his addiction, it's going to take someone with a real inner strength and I just didn't feel that from her. Now, I will say, that I enjoyed her discovery. I loved the Dirty Dancing stuff and M&M's do rock...

I think overall there was so much heartbreak in this book, and so little light that it will not be my favorite book. I cringed over Quinn, John Matthew, Blay, Cormia, Thor. I felt like the Brotherhood lost some of it's shine for me. I know sometimes, you have to have tough love, but I felt like they turned their backs on Phury, especially Z. After all he put Phury through, you'd think he'd be a little more supportive.

I for some reason don't have a mental image of Xhex. I see some sort of female body builder type, but no face....I want to see her face. I want to see who John Matthew is so intrigued by.

I know, I'm going on about this, but there was soooo much in this book. The Chosen, Payne, Lassiter, Rhev, Xhex, whoever Eagle man is.

Lover Eternal

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood-2)

Synopsis:

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.
Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…

I loved this story. Ms. Ward is adept at bringing together the love and joy as well as the bitter heartbreak of these complicated relationships. I didn't get the tortured hero vibe from Rhage in the first book. He seemed more like a pretty boy jerk to me. Not a very sympathetic character. I liked Mary, but was wary at first as it looked like she was going to be a whiny patsy. But as it turned out, she was a woman blessed with a well of inner strength and resolve. Rhage turned out to be someone who needed to give love and to nurture as much or more than he needed to be loved and nurtured. I teared up in several places. Just about every scene with John Matthew was a winner for me. I particularly liked the scene when he was to dine with Tohr and Wellsie. I cried, at his overwhelming response to the tiniest amount of care. I believe I'm going to love him, and Bella too. I already love Z, who is next in line for his own story.

This is a solid 4.5 stars for me. I would have liked more humorous interplay between the "Brothers" for this to make it to a 5. (Though the scene with Butch and Rhage in the shower was pretty good. ~~~~~~~~~~Oops. I'm back, my mind was wandering to 2 wet/handsome men.)

Check out this series.

Dark Lover

by JR Ward (Black Dagger Brotherhood~1)

Rated 4 stars

#11 Title read/reviewed in Winter Challenge

Back Cover:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing more than Wrath, the leader of The Black Dagger Brotherhood. The only purebred vampire left on earth, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed-leaving his half-breed daughter unaware of his existence or her fate-Wrath must usher her into the world of the undead-a world of sensuality beyond her wildest dreams.

My Thoughts:

I'll say, there were parts of this book that were dry. I understand the need for that since this is the first in the series and she is setting up her entire culture with all its lengends and myths and beliefs and laws. So, I'll give her some space to do that. Besides that, I found the Lesser POV to be almost a distraction from the story. I don't know, if they play a real role in future books, but honestly I think the lessers could have been almost the invisible enemy and the story would have been just as good, maybe even better. Am I supposed to bond with them, feel sympathy for them, hate them? I just could have done without them really, or rather without having to read from their pov. Anyway......

Wrath, I loved. I loved the interplay between all the fellas. I loved Butch. I loved the wise-a$$ remarks between all of them. I'm already more than a little in love with Z and Butch for sure. The others are close behind. I'm glad that Wrath steps up, and does the right thing over and over. (with Beth, Marissa, the Scribe Virgin...)

Beth, well what's not to love. First of all, she has an awesome name....(heh heh!) I liked that she was a "guys girl". I like that she is drawn to this type of guy before she even meets them (all the cops, ya know?!) She's not a patsy, she has a backbone and is not afraid to use it...I'm hoping she'll be a good influence on Marissa and hope that she and Wellsie become great friends.

I've had this book for a couple of months but for some reason hesitated to read it. I'm glad I did and am already looking forward to the next ones. I know that the rest of the series is supposed to be even better than this one, and that means they will be great, cuz this one is really good.