LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward

LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward









I finished reading this book last night around 9 p.m. I'm writing this about an hour after finishing the book uncertain if this is the right frame of mind to be putting my thoughts out there in cyber space. I figure if I change my mind I can always hit the delete button. You feel me? ::eye roll::

To be perfectly clear here I've enjoyed the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I think DARK LOVER will always be my favorite to a certain extent because it was fresh take on an old theme. Vampires. I was riveted to this new world created by the mysterious J.R. Ward. I wrote a pretty good review of the book when it came out. I wrote reviews for the second and third books as well. You can check them out here if you are so inclined.

Did I notice the name dropping of expensive clothes, cars, booze, shoes and the like? Sure. I absorbed it as being a part of Ms. Ward's writing voice and style for this particular series. It didn't stop me from wanting to read the books.

Did I think while reading subsequent books in the series that the BDB was so far superior to the hated enemies the Lessers that to even classify the Lessers as enemies to the mighty warriors was laughable? Well, yes, I did, but that didn't stop me from enjoying or wanting to continue to read the books either.

I didn't seem to find the heroines as wimpy and wishy washy as many readers did. I liked 'em just fine. I'm sort of a sacrificial lamb to my relationships sometimes so I get women who do that. As a steady diet it can be debilitating, but for a work of fiction I can deal with it. So that didn't stop me from reading the books.

When my two least favorite people in the series, Marissa and Butch, got a whole book devoted to their relationship I still like a lemming bought a copy of LOVER REVEALED and read it. Not being particularly interested in the H/H didn't stop me from continuing to read this series.

You know where I'm going with this right? I do believe Ms. Ward has succeeded in disillusioning me as a fan permanently. I'm so ticked off with the last 50 pages of LOVER UNBOUND I could scream. In actuality, I did sort of scream. I cannot believe the choices Ms. Ward made to give Vishous and Jane their happy ending. After 458 pages of multiple characters, storylines, obvious bread crumbs for future books I was infuriated with her choices at the end. I was flat out flummoxed by what she chose to do and how she used the Scribe Virgin whose presence, character and power seems to change from book to book to serve whatever story or plot bind Ms. Ward finds herself in. Yeah, color me royally ticked off.

For all the people who follow the series and have enjoyed it, you'll want to read the book like I did. Ordinarily I try to steer people away from reading a book that I found less than satisfactory, but if you've been a fan you're going to have to read the book to be convinced how unbelievable those last 50 pages are. Unbelievable. Contrived. Unsatisfactory. I think there was a huge missed opportunity here and to say I'm disappointed is an understatement. The reviews I've skimmed have been pretty restrained in comparison to the outrage and betrayal I feel right now. But I'm afraid all BDB fans are not going to believe it unless they read it for themselves. Let me offer my sympathy in advance.

Moo Moooooo...

It's okay I admit it. I'm one of the thundering herd that made their way to a bookstore yesterday and purchased LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward. I want to read Vishous' story. There I said it. My name is Rosie and I like the BDB books. I almost can't wait to see what I think about this one knowing it's gotten some mixed reviews. I mostly skimmed the few reviews I've seen because I don't want to be influenced by anyone else's take on the book.

Besides LU I also purchased:

LESSONS OF DESIRE by Madeline Hunter
AIN'T MYTH BEHAVING by Katie MacAlister
DEMON'S KISS by Eve Silver
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK:NATE by Beth Williamson (ebook from Samhain)

MacAlister is hit or miss with me, but when she's on I really enjoy her books especially the dragon series. HOLY SMOKES is due out in November and I'll be purchasing that one for sure. I've liked most of Madeline Hunter's books and was sort of excited about this release because I've been on a historical kick. I've also been in the mood for a western, so I decided to try Beth Williamson after looking at her westerns at Samhain for about a year now.

I still haven't read the ARC of the Lynn Viehl book EVERMORE yet. If you are a fan, as I am, you probably think I'm crazy. I actually think I'll crack LU first. EVERMORE is my ace in the hole. Knowing it's there waiting for me (personally signed no less) makes me feel warm and fuzzy. A little kooky maybe? Cuz, I'm not taunting...really I'm not.

It goes like this...

Reading has been going pretty well. I knocked out the EC Sheedy book KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE and the single author anthology SUGAR & SPICE by Leda Swann. I'm currently finishing THE SERPENT PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt.

For some reason the first time I peeked into THE SERPENT PRINCE it didn't really snag me like it has since I've picked it up to read again. Must have been the mood I was in because I'm really enjoying it second time in. I do love a well written historical. The best thing Ms. Hoyt has going for her, in my ever so humble opinion, is her ability to write a woman true to the historical times she lives in and have the character still be original and fresh. That's not easy to do especially when one has read as many books about 19th century England as I have.

I've skimmed a couple of reviews for LOVER UNBOUND by JR Ward. It hasn't deterred me from wanting to buy a copy and read it. I'm also looking forward to snatching up Madeline Hunter's LESSONS OF DESIRE next week. Then before you know it October is here and THE COURTESAN'S DAUGHTER by Claudia Dain and MINE 'TIL MIDNIGHT by Lisa Kleypas will be out October 2nd. Isn't it great that there's always something to look forward to when you read?

Finally in a bit of puzzling contrariness, as over the freakin' moon as I am to have the ARC of EVERMORE by Lynn Viehl I've barely cracked it. I don't want to start it because I don't want it to be over. If that's not nuts I don't know what is.

LOVER AWAKENED by J. R. Ward

I'm coming out of reader mode to let you know I just finished reading this book, LOVER AWAKENED by J. R. Ward.

I had intended my next blog to be about Nalini Singh's book, SLAVE TO SENSATION, but when I finished reading LOVER AWAKENED I found I just had to comment on it. I've really enjoyed this series so far. Often times when you get to the third book in a multi-book series the umbrella story and plot line can run a bit thin. Even if you have a substantial central love story sometimes the main theme just doesn't hold up or hold the reader's interest. With this third installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I found myself even further immersed in the world Ms. Ward has created. What I liked the most was the depth and detail of the characters and the world they inhabit. The pages flew by.

I'm a fan of the tortured hero and I know not everyone is. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is full of tortured heros. Each warrior has his own cross to bear. Zsadist certainly is one of the more gruesome and cruel. Ms. Ward takes pains in the previous novels, and in the beginning of this one, to let us know that this guy is no cream puff. Here's the summary from the author's web site:

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…

My enthusiasm for the book spilled over into a conversation with the guy I live with last night. We had a discussion about redemption. Certainly I know this book is a work of fiction, but it made me think about deep wounds and pain people suffer from every day. People we know. People we love. Change is hard...very hard. For one to be redeemed one must first believe they are deserving of redemption. Change, redemption, forgiveness. If one little romance novel can make me think about and talk about stuff like that...well, I think it makes it worth reading.

Update: I just read a great review with some added insights and comments about this book at Paperback Reader. Go check it out.

LOVER ETERNAL - J.R. Ward

When I read DARK LOVER, the first book about The Black Dagger Brotherhood, I mentioned the book here . So, of course, when the second installment came out, LOVER ETERNAL, I was anxious to see if the author would be able to continue holding me in the palm of her hand and intrigue me as effectively as she had the first time.

After reading interviews and bouncing around the web at authors' sites, I know how nerve wracking it can be for an author, especially a new one, when each of their books comes out. I don't think J.R. Ward has anything to worry about. If anything I was MORE engaged and interested by her world of vampire warriors. Frankly, I couldn't put the book down!

As I've mentioned in recent months, I seem to be going through a period of extremes in my reading. There just doesn't seem to be much middle ground. So, I am more than thrilled to report this book was a great read for me. I was absorbed with understanding this new culture J.R. Ward has introduced us to. While tortured heros are hardly new to any romance genre, Rhage was written with a depth and empathy I found hard to resist. I know I'm hooked when I begin imagining knowing someone like the characters in real life. In this case beyond being vampire, Rhage as an additional curse and burden, he has a beast within him.

If you are like me there's a part of you that rolls your eyes and cringes at the phrase "beast within". It has been so overused in romance and has come to mean lots of different things. Fantastical as it sounds, Rhage has a real actual beast. After describing this horrific change and disturbing beast in her first book, I was wondering how Ms. Ward was going to deal with it and still make Rhage sympathetic to the readers. She did it though. By layering his character and tuning us into Rhage's interior world and she gives us empathy for his burden. Considering the fantasy world she weaves and some of the truly gruesome stuff this beast does, that is pretty amazing.

While writing this I realized that what appealed to me most about these men, these warrior vampires, was their vulnerability. Ms. Ward doesn't make them mythical. While having longer lives, they do die. These aren't indestructible super beings. Just like the rest of us they each have additional cares, worries and curses to carry through life.

Additionally, while Rhage has his own bag of rocks to carry, Mary Luce, while perceived as a shy librarian type to foil his alpha male (she's a secretary in a law office) struggles to stay a part of the life she's built for herself. I always enjoy when the interior struggle of the characters is a part of the story. When Mary resists believing a man like Rhage would be interested in her, she has history and reason to question his interest. She felt, thought and said things I could imagine any intelligent, rational woman doing in the same situation. While attracted to Rhage, she doesn't fall into his arms no questions asked either.

To recap, in LOVER ETERNAL, the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood is broadened and further explored, the characters are multi-layered and accessible, our female protagnist isn't a wimp and our male alpha is deliciously tortured. Add the background story of the continuing struggle against the villianous Lessening Society, some delicious steamy sexuality and you have one damn good book. Now I am positively salivating for book three, LOVER AWAKENED, due out in September 2006.

DARK LOVER

Over the weekend I read a book with a new twist about vampires. Yeah, I know there are lots of vampire theories, stories, lore out there...so do we really need another one?

Well, no not really, but I really am intrigued by the whole vampire genre, so I HAD to buy the book and check it out.

I'm so glad I did. It provided a deliciously detailed new vampire world, hierarchy and language. Vampires are just another sort of nationality (species) we share the good planet earth with. In this version, we humans have nothing to fear...from the vamps.

I enjoyed the book on a couple of levels. There was the element of intrigue with this different take on all things vamp, the intensity of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and its members. For some this all male coterie might be a little over the top in the testosterone department, but I enjoyed the introduction to the characters immensely and was already trying to puzzle out their individual back stories.

Hopefully my reference to the author providing detail of language etc. doesn't put you off because the book is still very character driven and moves at a reasonable pace.

It has elements of suspense and of course, romance. If I have any criticism it might be that the protagnist king vamp WRATH mellows a little too much to be believable, but it is a small thing in comparison to the introduction to the other members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood whose stories must be told. The next book is due out in March 2006.