Genre: Paranormal
Book 6 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-22272-5
Releasedate: June 2008
Publisher: Signet
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Phury vowed celibacy, but when he first saw her one word came to mind : MINE!!!

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.

REVIEW
Phury, the celibate one, had no intention of taking a shellan and sharing his life, but certain previous made decisions and events had him come across Cormia, one of his bethroted as a Primale.

She stirs his long dormant feelings right into action, but what about all the others he’s suppose to ‘take’ ?

The change in approach that we came across in the previous 2 novels has been continued, so this new way of storytelling within this series has been set in stone. No longer is the main story-line about the Hero & Heroine but the whole world is starting to become important. This is something you either love or hate, as it takes numerous pages away from the romance storyline.

I have to admit it was a development I had to get used to, but JR Ward pulls it off. In the first few novels of this series she already writes towards the next story, so it already was different from what I was used to, but it still had a closure romance wise. This novel didn’t have that for me.

Phury and Cormia belong together and are equal to eachother. Phury is one of the brothers that didn’t really touch me and now – after reading this novel – still doesn’t do so. His celibacy plotline isn’t as well written out and for me still is not clear enough as to how and why he decided to become celibate. His drug(ab)use is sublimely worked out in all it’s aspects and one ‘personal-problem’ came to light and was over the top for me, as we should have read about it or at least hints towards it in previous novels to make it work properly in this particular one.

Cormia is a sweet darling. Such a doll and adoring. She is a great addition to the mixture of characters in the BDB-world.

The subplotlines with the lessers; and ofcourse Qhuinn-Blay-John; take a new twist making me crave for the next novel, as well as all the other storylines.

Rhev’s story is next, I particularly don’t look forward to his Happily Ever After, because he totally rubs me the wrong way but I indulge myself in the fact the romance is subdued by the other plotlines, so not a lot of pages will be spend to this.

Emotionally the plotline really got to me and stirred my inner core so despite the fact the main Hero & Heroine didn’t really do it for me overall I still was left in awe and was amazed by Ms. Ward one’s more. Eventhough I hoped the Primale plotline would have kept continueing on because I thought it was brilliant and despite the things that didn’t work out as I half expected them to, it is JR Ward’s writing that is of such high quality that I cannot come round to giving her less that the stars I gave her.

Is this a series I will continue reading? I don’t know, Rhev’s story will have to pinpoint that out to me. I don’t know if Urban Fantasy is what I like reading, let’s face it, that is the road JR Ward is going towards with this series, but I do know that I want to know what will happen with certain plotlines. I have a yearning to see how things will continue with John, Blay and Qhuinn but also the long lost brother Thor. How will things end up there?

A coin has two sides and for me the coin is standing upwards on the edge and can still fall on either side. Which way it falls time will tell....

4,5 Stars

Genre: Paranormal
Book 5 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-22235-0
Releasedate: September 25, 2007
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
When he woke up in the hospital and saw her standing beside his bed four words came to his mind: She. Comes. With. Me!
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.

REVIEW
Lover Unbound is in da House! Lock the door; put my phone on silence, the kettle on for tea – this girl was going nowhere! Vishous was ready, willing and able to settle down with me on my couch and if I had to pull an all-nighter: Well DUH ofcourse I would. My bonding scent started flowing and one word kept going through my mind: MINE!!!!

In the end it was not what I expected at all!!!!

I started reading and felt the vibe of the book, the way it was written – it was different from the first four novels. Not necessarily bad – no – I mean its V, my tormented hero, my fave out of the lot of them: in short my expectations were very high beforehand!

I couldn’t wait for the cuffs, whips and leather to dominate, the thing that made Vishous different from the other brothers, the thing that made him mine.

I got settled into the story, page 36-37 came (phoned my sister – she so HAD to call me as soon as she reached that page!) Owh yes, this was JR Ward as I knew her. The BDB-feeling came smack right back to me. So what, that this time around it took a few pages extra?! Right… RIGHT?!

After that moment those pages that played out the scene I started getting confused, gone again that feeling was. It felt like JR Ward was not in touch with the story; NOT in TOUCH with Vishous’ character at all! I know in every series there are novels more difficult to write for an author but I could nearly taste frustration, as if JR Ward struggled with words while putting V’s story together, and amazingly enough it only felt like that with V’s scenes. The scenes with i.e. Blay, John and Qhuinn were A-MA-ZING!

Jane’s character was lovely, nicely put to paper, she stick like glue and worked. Vishous I expected more stronger, more dominant, more in struggle with what he felt for Jane, towards his destiny and the expectations of his BDSM that was raised in the previous novels were downright disappointing for me. Especially in the first 260 pages I felt things could have been left out so that more pages could have been dedicated to deepening Jane and Vishous, but then to me it still would have been just plain and ordinary romance wise because I just don’t think Jane is the one for V. She just doesn’t do it for me. They don’t work like the other Mates in the brotherhood do. But in some ways I’m glad (my ID talking here ;-) ).

After struggling through the first 260 pages I took a break from reading, I was not going to pull an all-nighter this time. I had to distant myself from the confusion, frustration and disappointment. I already had put it aside a few times before but this time I took more than a day for a break. Figured because I really wanted to finish reading this novel I was stressing myself too much and maybe that being the reason I couldn’t get in touch with this story.

After my time of contemplation V started whispering to me again, pulling me back towards Caldwell NY and when I started reading again the last 250 pages grabbed me and I got into the story – the BDB-feeling came back again, jus not as strong as the first four novels gave me. Even though the romance between V and Jane still didn’t grab me in the last half of the book. The built up towards it seemed to take forever and it just wasn’t as explosive as I would have wanted it to be.

Despite the fact the romance part didn’t work for me in this novel, the secondary plotlines were brought so amazingly it totally balanced itself out. I know this was suppose to be V’s story and I have the feeling, for me, it’s just too early in this series but towards the end you are so deeply involved into the characters being entwined in this world and together, that it opted for nothing else than having this story now. There was just no other way.

Be prepared though for some serious Kleenex-moments! The last 70-100 pages I think I went through half a box. The ending between V and Jane – in my opinion – would have been stronger if the Scribe Virgin didn’t do what she did. It would have left things more emotional, stronger, for the time being within the series. For me it doesn’t always have to be a HEA to still make it a good novel.

The story leaves a lot open to be discussed, and promises great things for the near future as a lot of plotlines are still to be played out in the coming novels, which is making this novel a superb series-novel.

I thought Zsadist and John really work together as characters. To see how Zsadist is growing in each novel I think is really put to paper very well. He still isn’t where he should be and due to the fact what he’s been through probably will always have his intense reactions, but overall he is adapting marvellously. Bella’s difficulty, seeming how we already know the outcome, didn’t have that big of an impact on me as it probably should have. And I actually missed Lassiter in V’s story. They seemed to be linked and connected in some way and still have a feud to come to terms with so I was amazed to learn he has no part in this story at all! I did however miss the ritual that, up to now, always seemed to have appeared in each book and the change in writing in this novel I think JR Ward is going to continue. Though maybe I feel it would have been better to continue writing the old way for the “original” warriors, because of the intensity that it brought forth. V and Phury’s characters would’ve been worth it.

I know I’ve been saying that I could do without the Lesser parts in the previous novels but I really missed it in this novel, not so much the lesser but the action that sprang from it. It gave the novels a thrill that made your blood pressure go up and heart rate go through the roof! It gave it OEMPH!

In my opinion the change in writing is not a bad thing at all. It just requires getting used to, but I like it. Just a little warning for those who still have to read this novel: don’t expect what you had before. Go into this novel blank and let the story lead you, don’t hold on to your expectations. This new path JR Ward has gone into sets her apart from the rest of the authors yet again. I’m seriously looking forward to Lover Enshrined ~ only 246 days to go till June 3rd, 2008 ~ the countdown has begun.

What is amazing to me is that out of all the novels (despite the different vibe of this one!); on a deeper level this one touched something inside of me. It stays with me so much longer than the others and leaves an awful lot to discuss and that combined with my overall look on the story making me still give this novel 4 Stars!

JR Ward, for me you did it again!

4 Stars

Genre: Paranormal
Book 4 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-41235-5
Releasedate: March 6, 2007
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
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...

REVIEW
My heart just beated a few beats faster when in the first few pages Vishous phoned Butch. The BDB Warriors have returned! Oh what a feeling. As soon as I had my hands on this book my heart stood still for a moment, anxiety hit me as well as fear.

This is the book.
The one.
No. 4.

It’s the book that makes it to a series and can make it or break it. I had some doubts, do I want to read it with the chance I’d lose that feeling I had with the first 3 novels, but Vishous kept whispering in my ear : “I won’t let you down! Just read and feel me…”

No who can say no to that? So I took that leap of faith, I trusted my warrior and OMFG! It’s been a few days since I read the last words of this novel and I’m still on a high!!!!

Yet again JR Ward has putt down words into a phenomenal story/ Such intense emotions between the characters, not just between Butch and Marissa but between all of them! Even in this novel the whole ‘Lessers-part’ makes a perfect fit. It’s so amazing to see all of the characters grow in this series. Even though there’s a certain timeframe within this story, it’s brilliantly written ~ every character goes through their own changes within this time-frame but in their own paste.

I just devoured this book as quickly as I could. It feels like within every scene you can connect with every person in it and feel what they fel and that to me is perfection! JR Ward has outdone herself with this novel and promises a lot for the next book in line!

It just all fits amazingly together. The interaction that exists between Butch-Vishous-Marissa has captured me, embraced me, made me laugh with joy because a bond like that is rare and to be cherished, but also made me cry because of V’s insecurity about it all, and his low self-esteem just broke my heart!!!

It’s yet again an emotional rollercoaster.

I’m barren for words. There’s so much to say about this book, but it will all be spoilers. The Scribe Virgins role in this book (eventhough she doesn’t appear frequently) is so unique, despite the fact that it’s so small.

And ofcourse another brilliant new ritual. What I find is great as well is to see how John is feeling and how he is growing towards his transition. To see from scratch how a warrior comes to be, I think, is amazing and adds so much more to the series. It’s already a built up to what will happen after the 6 original warriors.

I’m just baffled by it and feel an emptiness now that I’ve finished this book because it kept me in it’s grib for 3 days. But it’s time to sober up, come back to earth and live my “normal” life again till Vishous’s novel is vibrating in my hands!

Quote:
Butch when struck down in the floor in the hospitals bathroom and V asking if he’s back:
“For sure, I’m thinking about a future in contracting. Wanted to see how this bathroom was put together. Excellent tile work. You should check it. I want to look at the sink pipes next."

4,5 Stars

JR Ward – Lover Awakened

Genre: Paranormal
Book 3 in the Blackdagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21936-8
Releasedate: September 2006
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
Even within the vampire brotherhood, Zsadist is feared. Still bearing the scars from a tortured past, he is renowned for his unquenchable fury. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion-until he rescues a beautiful female from the evil Lessening Society.

REVIEW
After reading Rhage's "love-story" in lover eternal, I knew this was very hard to top as for me everything in it was absolutely perfect. I took a few days apart to give this book the full chance it deserved and it was a good descision to do so, because though the love story between Zsadist and Bella was near to perfect as well, it didn't embrace my heart as the previous book did.

Ofcourse I had a near-paper-tissue moment but it wasn't quite the 'balling my eyes out - can't stop crying'-thing. But I did have my moments though. What absolutely struck my heart was the thing going on between Phury and Zsadist as twins! In this book it wasn't the 'lovers'-part that got me hooked and reading along every free moment of my spare time, but everything that happened around it.

I had such a great laugh when Bella got into her needing-period and all the warriors were struck with a 'hard-on' at the breakfast table. The whole day I kept seeing that picture in my mind; "note to self - don't read these books when you just woke up with a busy day ahead of you!!! "

Ofcourse the whole Tohrment-Wellsie-John-Sarella scene left me heartbroken and hurting for their grief. Such intensely written that I could literally see Tohrment crushed with grief and his tearing heart taring the whole centre apart!!!!

What I find JR Ward can do like no-one else is create such an intense environment, and describe the emotions going around so perfectly that you can taste/feel exactly how the personages go through them! This series makes me nearly long for this Brotherhood to be real! Because this world will be so much better with Warriors like these walking around - if only for the looks eyh girls!?!

I long to know more about the bond between Phury and Zsadist but I know if Phury's story is coming more will be revealed. I keep saying Vishous is my guy though. There's just something about him that gives me butterflies everytime he enters "the scene".

This book closes with so many things still open that my longing mind is trying to figure out what will happen next. Some may say the open ends are not the "correct"-ending to a book, but I find it refreshingly new and excitingly thrilling. I can't waith to start in Butch's story. Not only to see if Butch and Marissa will end up together and to know what is going to happen when Vishous gave Butch the 'wine" to drink, but also to see what is going on with the others. What will happen with John? How will things continue within the Brotherhood now that Tohr..... And whao, what's up with Rehvenge en the Reverend???? I just love it that there's no real ending to each book, it leaves a lot up for discussion and speculation - probably only to find a complete new vision on things once the next book is out!!!!!!

4,5 Stars

JR Ward – Lover Eternal
Genre: Paranormal
Book 2 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21804-3
Releasedate: March 2006
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
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...

REVIEW
OMG!!! I love this series. Wrath and Beth had me shook up and hooked onto this series but Rhage and Mary have me hung to their story like bees to honey! I just had to spend my every free moment reading on : it captivated me - even had me dreaming about the brotherhood! I'm still in awe. Ofcourse I needed a box full of paper tissues! When a story does that to me... than it's a sublime high for me!

JR Ward has created such an immense wonderful brotherhood with warriors that (I anyway) long to meet in my life - even if it's just once - but then again I know I wouldn't go for less knowing these beautiful gorgeous warriors would walk around for real...

The lesser-part is something it can do without because the story itself is so strong! In the end of this story it blended in more into knowing why it is mentioned in this series, but JR Ward writes in such a magnificent way. The love story woven into it is so strong that it doesn't need it, but strangely enought it does fit...

What keeps me brilliantly into this series is that towards the end of each story you are left with a cliffhanger. Eventhough Rhage and Mary were the centre of this story, towards the ending Zsadist and Bella encounter eachother; and knowing Zsadist's story is next; I am left eager to start in it. And what's up with Butch and Marissa? Their story is coming in a few months - sigh - how can I waith that long?!! But I have to say Vishous captured my heart!!!!

JR Ward is brilliant in the way she has written this series. It's like following a series on TV that you're really into - ie. for me 'Prisonbreak'. You just can't wait till you see the next episode to know what's coming!!

Although it did fit in this story, especially when you get to know Rhage's curse a bit - my love-thirst heart took a turn and screamed 'Noooo!!' When Rhage did something and only hours later declared Mary his love for her. It did fit into the whole story; it all strangely fitted like a glove. It was like reading/going through an emotional roller-coaster. And when Rhage went to the Scribe Virgin with his request and the conditions she had laid out, 'a box of tissues' wasn't enough anymore. At some point I remember crying and laughing at the same time.

The following quote left me wondering once again 'is Jesus his own father???'

"And she would have been convinced the mother of God had been under those black robes just now."
Rhage replied : "Actually, that was the Scribe Virgin. Who's a lot of things, but not Jesus's mom. At least, not as far as our lexicon goes."
I always thought that God and the Virgin Mary created Jesus -> so they were his father and mother - making God and Mary in some wicked way lovers; if not, this whole thing is twisted....

Hmmm now this is going to bug me all week....

5 Stars

JR Ward – Dark Lover

Genre: Paranormal
Book 1 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood
ISBN: 0-451-21695-4
Releasedate: September 2005
Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc.
Format owned: HC Rhapsody & MPB
For sale at: The Book Depository Store

Synopsis
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.

REVIEW
Lately I have read so many vampire-novels that I thought 'oh no, not another one'. But I heard so much about the Black Dagger Brotherhood Warriors that my senses started tingling, my hands started shaking and my mind kept saying: 'read-it; read-it; read-it'. I finally gave in and all I can say is: "Yes I am truly and utterly a self-confessed Vampire-addict with a thirst for more". And after reading Dark Lover, on top of it all I have a hunger for Rhage; a longing for Zsadist...you get my point. Especially those who have also read this series, I'm hooked!!!!

I had some trouble at first getting the glossary fixed in my head, because, lets face it, all vampire novels have that good/bad world combined in one, but all authors want their own terms to make them different from all the rest. But once I got the hang of it I got sucked in the story.Wrath and Beth are great characters. Beth is a very strong self-reliant woman and with all the testosteron "me tarzan, you jane" Alpha Males in this series that is exactly what this novel needed to make it spectacular. Sparks flying around from the moment BEth and Wrath meet. Let's be honest, don't we all long for that instant chemistry that leads to great sex?! Not you??? Well I say : I do!!!The story is marvellous, absolutely formidable, but... always that small but... what kept slowing me down while reading it was the whole Lesser-section in between. It felt like a novel within the novel and not something that was actually part of the story. There were connecting points - yes - but it didn't do it for me. Towards the end it came together a bit more, but the parts in between didn't connect as a whole story. I've been told this will be better in part 2 & 3 of this series.

Despite all the Vampire Series out there after reading this book, I felt like JR Ward has turned it around in a whole new packeage/scenery which makes it interesting, fun, and refreshing. I really loved the way she has written it and although some rough language is used in a way I thought 'isn't it a bit much' but then realized that it suits the Warriors so perfectly. What however did bother me a bit was, that sometimes abbreviations were used like : BMOC handsome; and like BVD's underwear - I mean I never heard of those before and I lived in Ireland.... Maybe she should have put those in her glossary as well... just for those outside the USA who are not common with them.

But all in all JR Ward has claimed her way into my heart with these superb Warriors. Definitely an author who has all my praise!!!! I couldn't wait to start in the next novel so (cheeky grin) I already have and all I can say is hmmmm yummy!!!!

4 Stars