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Title:  Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 5)
Author:  J.R. Ward
Genre:  Paranormal Romance (Vampire)

After 2 years and 4 BDB books, here is what we know about Vishous (prior to "Lover Unbound"):

• He's smart.  Hella smart.  He speaks 16 languages fluently.  He has at least a couple of degrees, is a tech geek, a Boston Red Sox fan, and drives the Black Escalade.
• He is the only one who can heal Butch after Butch does his "Hoover business" on the lessers.
• He and Butch are roommates and live together in "The Pit."
• He likes the Grey Goose.
• He sports a goatee...Rhage does not approve.
• His visions have ceased and he is suffering extreme depression.
• He has suicidal tendencies.
• He's into BDSM and only does it that way.  He keeps a separate penthouse apartment for his "sessions."
• Vishous and Butch are tight.  Really tight.  Like pantyhose two sizes too small tight...and we are left to wonder "what's up with that?"
• He *may or may not* be gay/bisexual.
• He *may or may not* be in love with Butch.

So after the recap we have some definites and a couple of huge "maybes."  Despite his cool exterior, Vishous has revealed himself to be a bit unstable as of late.  His despair and constant state of malcontent starts to take its toll and could become dangerous to himself and to his Brothers who depend on him...especially Butch.

Synopsis:  Vishous is the most intelligent of the brothers and son of the cruel and ruthless warrior the Bloodletter.  Abused and neglected as a pretrans male, Vishous learned early that to survive he had to detach himself from everything and everyone.  Cursed with precognition and the ability to destroy with the touch of his hand, Vishous is focused on battling lessers and protecting the Brotherhood.  

One night, the Scribe Virgin calls upon Vishous with a shocking revelation and a mandate for him to sire the next generation of Chosen and Warriors.  Upon receiving this most unwelcome news, he hits the streets of Caldwell to clear his head. When Vishous suffers a gunshot wound while taking on a lesser, he is rendered helpless as his life depends upon the skills of a human surgeon.    

Dr. Jane Whitcolm is brilliant and ambitious.  Growing up under the critical eyes of her parents, nothing short of excellence was acceptable.  She seems to have outgrown her position as Chief of the Trauma Division at St. Francis Medical Center, but just as she starts to withdraw emotionally from her current life and job, she encounters a most unusual patient.  Through treating this patient, Jane unwittingly opens the door to exciting new medical wonders for her to explore...and dooms herself to a future of pleasure and pain.

No one is more shocked than Vishous when he finds himself drawn to this woman with her sharp mind and no-nonsense attitude.  When a vision is revealed to him, he realizes that she is to return with him to the Brotherhood mansion.  Bound to a destiny that can't include Jane, Vishous is determined to have her anyway if only for a short while.  Jane is not amused when she is kidnapped by the Brothers and locked in close quarters with her "six chamber heart having" patient.  As she plots her escape, she can't seem to stop herself from thinking about her patient who appears to be not quite human.

Warning: *Minor Spoilers Ahead*

( What excites, what bites, and what merely is... )
With some time until Phury's book comes out, I think a reread of these first 5 books may be in order.  I've been dying to do a critique of the series as a whole anyway, so stay tuned for that.

Until then, have a happy book discussion!

Overall Rating:  B+
Song Dedication:  "Vision of Love" - Mariah Carey (There really is no song more fitting to this story than this one.  Google the lyrics and you'll see why.)
Quote:  "Pick out a mask for me."
Bonus Quote:  "Jesus Christ...you look like Hugh Hefner." 

 

  
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Title:  Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 4)
Author:  J.R. Ward
Genre:  Paranormal Romance (Vampire)

Synopsis:

Brian "Butch" O'neal  is the only human to be welcomed into the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Now that he's in, there's no turning back.  He has proven his loyalty to the brothers, but he's not a vampire and therefore can not included in Brotherhood business.  Butch is a man of action and this does not sit well with him, but his options are limited.  He knows too much about the Brotherhood.  He can either stay...or die.  

Butch is in love with Marissa.  Beautiful Marissa is member of the vampire aristocracy and has spent the past few centuries pining for a male who was not in love with her.  Plagued with feelings of rejection and self doubt Marissa must find a way to start anew.  When the human cop shows interest, Marissa is intrigued and curious...but the situation is complicated.

Fate steps in drastically changing Butch's life forever.  He's is at once saved and cursed.  Butch has to redefine the meaning of "family" and decide and who his family his...and who he is merely related to.

At this point in the series, Butch is feeling like a well kept pet to the Brotherhood.  He's got access to all the shiny pretty expensive things, but his manhood is under assault since he's been restricted from fighting alongside the Brothers.  This is no life for Butch.  When faced with the choice of a lifetime on the fringes of the vampire world or death, for a man like Butch the choice is clear.

Marissa is feeling less than useless as a female.  Her self esteem has taken a real beatdown.  Shunned from her social circle and scorned by her brother, she fears she'll never escape her life of humilation and loneliness.  There was only one man who ever made her feel worthy - Butch O'Neal, but he can't sustain her vampire needs.

Or can he?

BDB goodness that'll only make sense if you've read the books:

( Yay!! Bacon and Chocolate!! )

Not all bad, but you know...snark-worthy:

( Booo! Baby Powder! )

Noteworthy mash up of randomness:  

( Running Commentary )

Looking toward the future of the series (Even More Spoiler Heavy):

( A Prediction... )

Overall, this book rocks my world.  It is the only one I really actually "reread" in earnest.  Butch's story fascinates me and I can pull it apart all day long.  This series is solidly planted in my brain and I can't shake those brothers no matter what.

Literary crack I tell you.  Potent shit too.

Bonus:

( Butchisms! )
Overall Rating: Solid A

Song Dedication:  Nothing jumped right out at me, but I think "For Once in My Life" fits nicely. Various artists have covered the song.  Take your pick.

For once I can touch
What my heart used to dream of
Long before I knew
Someone warm like you
Could make my dreams come true

The question is, who would Butch be dedicating this song to?  Hmmm....

Quote: "He's like..bus exhaust or some shit."

 

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Title:  Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 3)
Author:  J.R. Ward
Genre:  Paranormal Romance (Vampire)
  
Synopsis:

Zsadist is the scariest Brother of the BDB.  Kidnapped from his family as an infant and forced into sexual slavery as a young male, he has become a violent and mentally tormented presence among the Brotherhood.  After spending a 100 years in captivity until rescued by his twin Phury, Zsadist can only feel anger and his only pleasure comes from terrorizing others.  Robbed of his innocence centuries ago and physically scarred for life, Zsadist is dead inside and lives only for the thrill of the kill.

Bella, a female vampire of the aristocracy, meets Zsadist at the Brotherhood mansion and is immediately taken in by his dark, menacing aura.  She's frightened of him, yet the more he tries to intimidate her, the more she desires him.  When Bella is abducted by lessers, Zsadist won't rest until he slaughters those responsible.  

Once Bella is rescued, Zsadist insists on looking after her until she has recovered from her ordeal.  Having her so near is comforting and terrifying for Zsadist's tormented psyche.  Can Bella help to free him from his painful past to rescue what's left of his soul?  Is Zsadist too damaged to help Bella when she needs him most?       

Essentially, this is a story about two people trying to deal with post traumatic stress syndrome.  While Bella's ordeal was much more recent, Zsadist continues to live his nightmare from all those years of being used as a blood slave.  Zsadist has some definite issues with intimacy, self-loathing, and anger management.  This proves to be a dangerous cocktail which often times renders him lethal and quite unstable.  

Bella, for her part is patient and determined to claim Zsadist as her own.  She is undeterred and persistent in her quest to break down the barriers that Zsadist has erected around his heart.  She is able to see the beauty that lies beneath and for her there simply is no other male for her.

"Hell Yeahs!":
( +++ )
"Heck Naw":
( Frowny face )
"Holla If You Hear Me":
( Random Ramblings... )

To wrap things up, I thought this was a beautiful story and one that shows a real evolution of character.  It's no wonder Zsadist is a fan favorite, and although he's not "my vampire" he is totally worthy and yummilicious x1000.  I was a little surprised by the fact that Z's story was written before some of the others, but I'm so glad we got the opportunity to learn so much about him.  

This book is a solid installation to a fantastic and entertaining series.

Overall Rating:  A-

Song Dedication:  "Bring Me Back to Life" - Evanescence (The most obvious vampire song ever...but it's almost as if that song was written specifically to be the soundtrack to this book.)

Without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there and lead it back home

...Save me from the nothing I've become

Quote:  "Too late, Bella.  Now...it's too late.  Show me."

...to live inside this story if I'm lucky.


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Title:  Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)
Author:  J.R. Ward
Genre:  Paranormal Romance (Vampire)

Okay, so here's the deal, back in December I made this post about the first book in this series.  These are the tales of a band of vampire warriors bred to defend their race against the Lessening Society (slayers for the uninitiated).  Never expecting to actually like the series beyond one book, I think it is fair to say my review was appropriately snarky at turns, but overall I think it was obvious that I really did enjoy the book.  I just wasn't prepared to hand over my book snob card just yet.

Needless to say I have officially passed the snob card through the shredder...twice...and pulvarized it for good measure.  At 5 books in, I know I am way late discovering the BDB, but this series has knocked me on my ass and I couldn't be happier.  Alpha male?  Yes, please and thank you!  Let's face it, these books won't win any Pulitzers, nor are they meant to, but they certainly take me to places I want to go again and again.  These vampires are deadly, sexy, and addictive...and Rhage is the most beautiful one of all.
    
Synopsis:  There is nothing understated about Rhage.  He's the best fighter, the most impulsive, the most attractive, an insatiable lover.  When Rhage's lack of self control and disregard of others results in the death of an innocent bird, he is cursed with a raging beast for 200 years...an inner dragon capable of laying waste to anyone in its path making him lethal to friend and foe alike. 

Mary Luce is taking things one day at a time.  As a cancer survivor she has learned to be sensible about life.  She lost her faith long ago and when it appears as though the cancer is back, Mary starts to brace herself for the inevitable.  When circumstances force Mary to rely on Rhage for protection, she refuses to acknowledge the feelings that are stirring in her heart.  How dare she dream when there is so little time left?

Like most other novels of this genre, there is no time wasted in getting to the pursuit of love and lust.  Rhage is attracted to Mary and pulls out all the stops to make sure she knows it.  Mary clearly feels as though she is dating above her station, and therefore spends much of her time practically waiting for someone to jump out and tell her she's been "Punk'd."  An average looking woman has no business believing this unbelievably hot male has a thing for her.  His nickname is "Hollywood" for Chrissakes!  Certainly he's toying with her, but ohhhhhh the things he does...

And then there's the issue of her failing health and his need to keep his curse at bay by consistently engaging in physical exertion....of one kind or another.   Oh, and there's also the part where she's not supposed to know anything about his species or The Brotherhood for that matter.  Tricky, tricky sitch...
 
 

The Good:  

 

( Cheers! )

The Bad:

( Jeers! )

Fall out of the chair funny stuff you will only "get" if you've read this book already:

( Highlight Reel )

I said in a previous post and I'll say it again.  I've read loads of books and this one is probably one of the most satisfying reads I've ever experienced.  Not only did I enjoy the story immensely, but I actually cried toward the end...something that I have NEVER experienced while reading a work of fiction.  I mean my heart actually broke in half for one of the characters.  Whether that speaks to the power of the story and the talent of J.R. Ward, or my own rather unstable state of mind these days remains to be seen.  I do know that after I finished reading, I had this ridiculous urge to apologize to the book for leaving it to sit for so long on my nightstand before picking it up.

I have fallen in love with reading again and I have a few vampires to thank for it.

If anyone's looking for me, I'll be in my padded cell now.  K.thx.bye.

Overall Rating: A+++

Song Dedication:  One for Rhage and one for his Beast.  If you read the book, you'll know why.
Rhage: "Crazy Love" - Van Morrison  (I can hear her heartbeat, from a thousand miles...)
The Beast:  "Let's Get It On" - Marvin Gaye (...trying to hold back this feeling for sooooo long....)

Quote:  "You know me.  Always hungry."

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Title:  Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)
Author:  J.R. Ward
Genre:  Paranormal Romance (Vampire)

So now that I've decided to fully submit to my obsession with paranormal stories, I dove into this book not quite knowing what to expect.  20 pages into the book, I was cracking my knuckles and greedily preparing for the snarkfest that was going to ensue should I actually be able to get through all 400 pages of this book.  Bad dialogue.  Bad descriptions.  Big Bad Everything.  It was sooooo ripe for a righteous rip up.  It took days for me to feel any type of compulsion to read it, but still I keep it on me at all times...just in case.  And then the most curious thing happened, the damn thing got good around page 63 or so!

For all intents and purposes, this is a classic Beauty and the Beast story with some mild violence and chick porn erotic interludes sprinkled in for good measure.  

Synopsis: Dark Lover starts off as the tale of a deadly turf war between vampires and vampire slayers. Of the vampires, there exists the Black Dagger Brotherhood which have been designated to the task of defending of their race.  Wrath (yes Lord, that's his name) is the leader of the warriors and the reluctant King of the Vampires.  Darius, one of the most trusted fighters gets killed, in doing so he orphans a half-breed daughter who is unaware of her vampire lineage.  Before he was killed, Darius' last request was for Wrath to assist his daughter with her transition.  Beth (aka the half breed) is busily going about her uneventful life when strange things start to happen...in her town, as well as to her physical being.

In J. R. Ward's universe, vampires are super-agressive muscleheads with a penchant for livin' the thug life.  Her vampires roll in tricked out SUVs, bump rap music, stay "strapped" and are always ready to battle.  They are arrogant and crude.  I guess her point is that we women secretly like them that way??  Not to stereotype, but I find that interesting coming from a Boston legal eagle/medical administrator of the caucasian persuasion...but whatever.  It's her literary world.  Other standard vampire restrictions apply, so no going out in the daytime, but garlic is a go and they spend quite a bit of time checking themselves out in mirrors.

I'm not going to recap this book because I'd imagine that most of you don't really care.  I'll just break it down to some things that I thought were comment-worthy.

What was hot:

( Upgrade! )
What was not:

( Downgrade! )
What was LOL funny or just made me roll my eyes really hard: 

• "Her core bloomed for him."  W.T.H???  M'kayyyy...never quite heard it described that way.
   
• Other than his regal mane of dark hair, his body was smooth and hairless..even "down there." Why do we need to know this??!!
   
• "Man, he was so cold.  Cold down to his marrow.  And she was hot.  Hot enough to make that ice go away.."
  
• Wrath is almost 100% blind, but he can SMELL how fine Beth is.  Yep.  That's what I said.
   
• During sex, male vampires mark their mates with their scent and it serves as a warning to other males.  Talk about putting some stank on ya!
   
• The female vampire's fertility period = 2 days of nonstop sex and the male comes out of it FUBAR for a good long while.  Niiiiiiiiiiiice.
   
• Did I mention the leather?

After all that, I have to say that I liked this book because of it's usage of the fantastical, the mob-like setting, and of course the naughty bits.  I couldn't have cared less about the subplots, but I can't honestly say that I didn't find it entertaining.  It was definintely worth the $4.99 that I paid for it. 

Overall rating: B+

Quote:  See title of this post.
Song Dedication:  Since I've finished the book, I can't stop singing "Your Love Is King."  If this book ever gets made into a movie of some sort, that song sooo needs to be on the soundtrack.  

It's just too perfect.