Lover Mine - J.R.Ward

 SPOILER ALERT!! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!

Description:

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.


John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.

Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates.

I know this review is a long time coming but after events in real life my thirst for reading was just not there but I think it is back!! At least I hope so for the Mt. Everest of a "to be read" pile...yeah I asked him...and no that is not weird at all!!

Alrighty on with the book - My first thought after finishing this book was I hope beyond hope this is not the last Black Dagger Brotherhood book...I mean I still have questions burning and looming...like what will happen with Qhuinn? Will he get over his unsure feelings for his best friend Blay? Or will he be willing to let Blay go and be with his cousin Saxton and be happy? Therefore allowing himself to find happiness with Layla. Also, as for Layla she has been my favorite secondary character throughout this series (that is not a Brother because as we all know that honor goes to Vishous...yummy). Also yeah Xhex dusted Lash back to his maker the Omega in the way they do all lessers but is that permanent? Or will Lash's daddy dearest the Omega resurrect him or has he honestly and truly washed his hands of his son? Also what about Payne, the other daughter of the Scribe Virgin and the twin sister of Vishous? I've become very interested in her story and want to see her get some happiness after having been centuries in a frozen like state by her mother. Also what of the Scribe Virgin and the Far Side? Since all the Chosen have left for the Other Side to live her light has dimmed? Will her brother, the Omega, finally have his vengence or what is to come? Also what is going to happen with Torhment and Lassiter?? OH sooo many burning questions!

So needless to say I have a lot of questions I want and need answered!! Whew that was a lot but now back to the story of John and Xhex.

We met John in the story of Mary and Rhage and at the time he was unaware of his vampire origins thinking himself only a useless skinny nothing but thanks to another vampire, Bella, who realized what he was and was able to help him find his way to Tohrment. Torhment showed him what he truly was and helped in transition into a foreign world...the vampire world.

Xhex we met in either the first or second book...not sure...but she is half vampire - half sympath and she is a no-holds barred kind of girl. A fighter by nature she hates the sissy stuff but even when John was a pretrans (before turning into a full fledge vampire) she was attracted to him and boy oh boy was she after he...shall we say filled out!! HAHAHAHAHA!!

At the end of the last book Lover Avenged Xhex helps save Rehvenge but in the process that little punk Lash kidnaps her and holds her captive. So the John and the Brothers go on the hunt for her. They find the house she is but because of the spell Lash has over her they can't see her and soon thereafter she breaks free because Lash was going weaker and therefore couldn't up the field he had around her to the full effect. After escaping John finds her and brings to back to the Brotherhood compound for treatment.

Soon we are learning the lives behind both Xhex and John and in their common backgrounds the two forge a strong bond and soon even the ever resistant Xhex has given her heart to John even though from the first moment he met her she had his. Soon they go on the hunt for Lash to exact their revenge for all he had done not only to Xhex but to John while they were in training together.

Although, soon poor Lash finds out his daddy despises him and wants him dead and soon he starts melting like a bowl of jell-o in the sunlight turning to a shadow just like daddy dearest. The culmination is John finally allowing Xhex to have her closure and she is the one to dust him and in that moment Xhex finally realizes that she could never love anyone more than John so with that the two get mated at the end.

Also throughout the books you know that John is really Darius reincarnated. Darius is the father of Beth (Dark Lover). They just think Darius is John's father but unfortunately it didn't come out that he was really Darius...which is another question I have!! Also we find out that Darius and Tohrment are the ones who saved Xhex's mother from her sympath captor and helped her deliver her baby but right after the birth she kills herself. However, the Scribe Virgin lets her stay on the Far Side to work as a maid and in the end Xhex gets to meet her and needless to say Tohrment was a bit surprised being as how he was the one to bury her body!

WHEW...that was a whole heck of a lot!! Sorry if I rambled I am really tired!!

Also if you want to read this story (just to understand what the heck I'm talking about) you can go get your own copy here --> Lover Mine: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

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Lover Enshrined - J.R. Ward

SPOLIERS AHEAD!!! YE'VE BEEN WARNED!!

Description:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other—six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. And now, a dutiful twin must choose between two lives...


Fiercely loyal to the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Phury has sacrificed himself for the good of the race, becoming the male responsible for keeping the Brotherhood's bloodlines alive. As Primale of the Chosen, he is to father the sons and daughters who will ensure that the traditions of the race survive and that there are warriors to fight those who want all vampires extinguished.

As his first mate, the Chosen Cormia wants to win not only his body but his heart for herself- she sees the emotionally scarred male behind all his noble responsibility. But while the war with the Lessening Society grows more grim, and tragedy looms over the Brotherhood's mansion, Phury must decide between duty and love.

What? Could it be? Could another of the Brotherhood have wiggled his way to the top spot on my list pushing Vishous down to number 2....NO! BUT that does not mean that I did not love this story because I did!!

I found that Cormia and Phury fit well together. Her pureness helping take the edge off of his demons! Phury did take my breath away and it was not just from the red smoke but his whole self everything about him you thought you might have known from the previous books was blown out of the water but then when the scattered pieces landed again what you saw was the same Phury but with other edges some hardened from spending most of his life first looking for Zsadist then being wound like a top waiting for Zsadist to finally lose it then harboring feelings for Bella and trying to make sense of all of it. I think after everything he went through I might have turned to the Wizard as well in my head and smoked up a bit. I also like how J.R. Ward just didn't make him better like *snap* that. At the end of the book he was still battling his addiction but he was working on it and willing to become a bigger person from it!! And that there showed me he more than deserved to be #2 on my list...so far my list is as follows:

1. Vishous
2. Phury
3. Butch
4. Wrath
5. Rhage
6. Zsadist

BUT do not get it twisted that was hard for me to do because looking at it now I'm thinking "I sooo should bump Rhage up to #3" but oh well I think if you ask me tomorrow they will be in different positions (save for Vishous)!!

OMG finallly Tohrment is back and who is this Lassiter character he is very likable and from what I can tell one sexy angel!! Also somehow I knew it was Lash that was the Omega's child because in my heart of hearts I just couldn't allow it to be either Blay or Qhuinn!!

Well my glorious, lovely readers I'm off to get started on Rehvenge's story...hmm where will he rank on this list....

If you want to read Phury and Cormia's story just go here --> Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 6) or if you have yet to read any of them and you need the first six books in the series just go here -->J.R. Ward Box Set

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Lover Unbound - J.R. Ward

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

Description:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other—six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now, the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warmed against its will…

Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time- until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her.

Since the first book of this series I have been waiting to get my hands on Vishous' story. I don't know from that first book just something about him captivated me...maybe it was his brain...yeah I'm a geek lover or nerd lover whatevs!!!

OH BOY I simply loved this book!! It was sweet, heartwrenching, erotic and full of excitement!! OH MAN to find out that my boy was into the hard core type of stuff didn't turn me away from him at all after learning of his story!! Also I was finally glad to see that maybe the feelings he thought he had for Butch were just from the fact that he had never really cared for anyone in his long life and for the first time he did and he just thought he was in love with the guy.

I really loved Jane...she was a total smartass (kind of like me) she didn't take crap from anyone and she was exactly what Vishous needed in his life. She took him for everything he was from vampire to sexual dominant...yeah hot right??

Well I gave this five stars simply because Vishous still has my heart and Phury right now is working his way in there (I'm reading his story now)!! I have to say I was a little disappointed that in the end Jane gets to stay with Vishous but as a ghost?? I was deeply hurt by that because maybe I like Vishous so much I wanted him to have everything because I think his character deserved it but after much pondering he seemed to be happy and so therefore how could I not be happy for him!!

So you wanna read Vishous and Jane's story well then just go here --> Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5) or you need to read the first six books then go here -->J.R. Ward Box Set

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Lover Revealed - J.R. Ward

SPOLERS!! SPOLIERS!!! SPOILERS!!!! OK is that enough warning???

Description:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now, an ally of the Black Dagger Brotherhood will face the challenge of his life and the evil of the ages.

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard living, ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world- to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He's got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. If he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers...

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, found by a miracle, the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him...


Other than Vishous so far I've been looking forward to the book of Butch "cop" O'Neal!! We've teased throughout the last three books with Butch and Marissa and I'm finally glad the two got their happily ever after!! The chemistry between Butch and Marissa is incredible and their passion is just as hot!!

The two do have to overcome quite a few obstacles what with Butch being a human and Marissa being a vampire and a part of the glymera (aristocracy of the vampire world). Right at the beginning of the book Butch is kidnapped by the lessers and tortured in hopes that he will give up information on the Brotherhood but Butch holds true to his brothers in arms but what happens next was totally shocking!! The Omega cuts off a finger and buries it in Butch's stomach and from there it takes Vishous (my fictional boyfriend) to remove it and use his own curse to help. In the end it comes out that Butch is the long foretold prophecy of the Lessening Society.  Now with the power to literally suck out the essence of the lessers and send them into the void without having to return to the vein of the Omega the Brotherhood now has the weapon they need to ultimately defeat the Omega. Also we find out that Butch and Vishous are the Dark and the Light and the Brotherhood needs both to wage the war against the Omega and the Lessenging Society. THEN it is found out that Butch is actually a descendant of the King, Wrath (Dark Lover). With that bloodline Vishous is able to turn Butch into a Vampire and then he is inducted into the society under the name of Dhestroyer!!

WHOA I didn't mean to get into all that but whatever!! The more I read of these books the more I want and well now I'm off to read the one I've been wanting to read since I read the first book Lover Unbound oh Vishous here I come!!

If you want to read Butch and Marissa's story just go here -->  Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4) or if you have not read the other books you can get the first six books in a box set here -->J.R. Ward Box Set

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Lover Awakened - J. R. Ward

Description:

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society.

Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

Well I was told that these books just get better and better as they go along....WOW those people would be absolutely correct!!

I wanted soo much to be able to reach through the pages and give Zsadist a big hug and tell him he was very deserving of happiness and more importantly that he deserved to be mated with Bella. His story was soul crushing and the fact that he was able to overcome all of that and reach out and find love with Bella was very powerful and touching! It is proof positive that love is in deed a very powerful thing.

In this book there of course was the love blooming between Zsadist and Bella but along with love came tragedy to the Brotherhood...I was soo dumfounded at it that I just had to sit with my mouth open staring at the page for a moment! And oh no I will not tell you will just have to read it for yourselves!!

OH man I am more than ready to pick up the next book Lover Revealed but I've been waiting for what feels like forever for Julia Quinn's new book Ten Things I Love About You to come out so I'm going to pick it up because I am sooo ready to read Sebastian Grey's story...yeah Mrs. Quinn has kept us on the hook with him for awhile and finally he has his own book...YIPPEEE!!!

OH okay back to Lover Awakened...if you want to get your hands on this book just go here
--> Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3) or of course if you are saying to yourself  "self I really want to read all the books" well to get you started you can go here -->J.R. Ward Box Set to get the first six books to get you started!!

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Lover Eternal - J. R. Ward

Description:

Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. 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.

When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...


OMG this story was sooo sweet I was literally crying at the end especially with what the Scribe Virgin said to them...it was a very touching moment and I believe it showed a little of her humanity as well.

Rhage and Mary's chemistry is like off the charts!! I can sort of relate to Mary...you know she can't believe that someone as beautiful as Rhage (his nickname is Hollywood) would ever be interested in a girl like her...simple not over the top beautiful and works at a law office (hmmm this is sort of creepy)...so where the heck is my Hollywood...YOOOHOOO Alexander Skarsgard!!!

Again the Brotherhood comes together to form some of the best characters ever and the story I'm sooo ready to read is Vishous...I've got a huge crush on him but I've two books (I believe) before I get to his!!

Sorry this review is kinda short but it is time for bed and I really want to read to keep reading the next book in the series Lover Awakened...OH YEAH Zhadist...he is one I love as well!!!

If you want to get your hands on this book just go here -->Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)

OR if you want to get your hands on the first six books at one time go here -->J.R. Ward Box Set

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Dark Lover - J.R. Ward

Description:

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.

Well after much recommendation from friends, family and the wonderful ladies over at the Eloisa James/Julia Quinn Bulletin Board (http://eloisjames.net/board) I decided to throw caution to the wind and try this series out.

My only question after book one is this - WHAT THE HECK TOOK ME SOO FREAKIN' LONG???

This book was great!! The characters are wonderful so now I cannot wait to read their stories and I was hooked only after the first chapter and never once did it lose my attention!! I was at work mostly by myself yesterday and when I was really into it the phone would ring...UGH! Oh well I finished it off today and now I've sunk my teeth (get it...sunk teeth...they are vampires...oh well tough crowd) into the next one and I went out and bought the boxed set yesterday merely because the store did not have the third book by itself unless it was in the boxed set so yes I couldn't stand it so I had to buy them even though I already had the first one but I plan on giving that extra one to my sister.

I loved Wrath he was sooo powerfully magnetic and even a little unsure of himself and Beth was just the right compliment to him tough and did not take any crap from him no matter who he was!!!

Well I really must leave you because I have got to get back to my book and if you are thinking hey I would like to check that out go here --> Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) to get the very first book or if you want you can go here -->J.R. Ward Box Set to get the boxed set of the first six books!!

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