Done.
I’m finally done.
I have officially read the entire set of published books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. And I must say that the final two offerings (Lover Mine and Lover Unleashed) were two of my favorites. If you’re in the midst of this series and wondering if you should see the journey through…stick with it my friend. Ward ends on a high note of insta-love at it’s finest. Also, the series is obviously not done. Those of you wondering what happens now that everyone in the Brotherhood is all paired up…worry not…Ward has added an additional pack of hunky vampires and left her usual, massive number of cliff-hangers in the wake of the book’s ending. I’m only sad that I have to finally wait for her next book. It’s always so lovely to have an entire series of books at my disposal…so I can binge on them all at once.
Lover Avenged
Rehvenge is a man alone. He has separated himself from society not only through his illegal choices of employment but also with the obsessive drug use that numbs his Sympath nature. Literally walking around the world numb to all feeling Rehv is about to meet the one person who can bring warmth to his soul.
Ehlena has fallen from the good graces of the Glymera society. Not only has her family lost their fortune, her father suffers from schizophrenia, needing almost constant care. Ehlena goes through the motions of life, working as a nurse to support herself and her father, but can’t allow herself to connect to anyone. Ehlena is about to meet the one man she should run from. And instead of turning him away as she has everyone else, she’s about to run into the most dire of situations to save his life.
A love like this doesn’t come around often and this pair will have to melt the defenses around their hearts to accept each other.
Review
I liked the character of Ehlena in this book. She had a lot going on in her own life with the care for her father and the fall from grace the family endured. It was obvious that she was doing the best she could and succeeding…until she met Rehv. Of course it was the tough times Ehlena goes through in this novel that pull her and Rehv together, but it’s nice to see that by the end of the plot Ehlena could have stood her ground without the help of Rehv. Rarely do we get to see a woman capable of that at the end of Ward’s books and it was cool to see. This seems to be a couple who is working with partnership rather than giving everything up for each other. It’s a twist I’d like to see continue in the newer books in the series.
Rating: 7/10
Lover Mine
Xhex and John Matthew have been circling each other since John was a pre-trans. Even before all of his muscles John and Xhex have had a connection. Since coming into his own John has desired no other woman, and nothing will stop John from bonding with Xhex…
Except that Xhex is missing. Kidnapped by the son of the Omega, Xhex is being held hostage under the sexual torture of Lash. A situation that would break some women only further’s Xhex’s connection with John. Each of these souls has spent most of their lives on the outside of society, never finding the connection to others most people are blessed to be born with. Now that Xhex and John have lived through their tragedies, do they have the vision to see that all they’ve been searching for can be found in each other?
Review
Oh, the book that saved the series. It really is that good. Readers have been watching this couple over the span of 8 books…8 books! Finally, all of that emotion and sexual tension is broken. We’ve watched these characters suffer separately for so long that seeing them find love together is a true joy. What’s so cool about it is watching them find their inner softness and being ok with it. Most of the time the woman in Ward’s couples needs to ‘toughen up’ or at least show that they are capable of fighting for their man or their love. As rewarding as that is it’s also expected. Instead we have the manliest woman I’ve ever seen in a romance novel finding her inner softness to prove her love. This story is endearing to read and also ties up many a plot point Ward has left hanging for far too long.
Rating: 9/10
Lover Unleashed
This book opens with the fallout of the final sparring scene from Lover Mine wherein Payne had found herself paralyzed from a spinal cord injury. Unwilling to have her mother, the Scribe Virgin, magically heal her, Payne returns to Caldwell with the rest of the brotherhood to seek medical attention.
In comes Dr. Manuel Manello a former colleague of V’s shellan Jane. As a trusted surgeon and former friend he’s called in to fix what no one else can. Payne’s injuries go far beyond the physical and Manuel is the only man who can heal her broken body, and her broken soul. Brought together by an instant and intense attraction Manuel may find that Payne has the power to heal him as well.
Review
Oh, Insta-love, how I love thee. I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker and Ward is the queen of instant love connections. In fact they’re the premise of her whole mating/marriage dynamic. If you don’t feel that instant rush of lust and protective instincts it’s not going to work out. This book is a quick one. Love happens within 12 hours. But it’s oh, so worth it. Payne has a naivety to her that allows Manuel to see through all of the potential problems in the relationship and find joy instead.
Also, Ward is writing her multiple plot threads with a vengeance. Expertly weaving side stories involving V and Jane as well as furthering the Layla, Quinn, Blay, Saxton love square? cube? interwoven love triangles? However you say it, V and Jane’s story sets to rest some loose strings in their love story and the latter plot thread sets the reader up for further books with one heck of a cliff-hanger. I’m just hoping it comes to its conclusion in the next book…Hint: those needings always make for some good scenes!
Impatiently waiting till the next book is announced…
Rating: 9/10
Sara O
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