Cattleman Bran Turner is left shorthanded during busy calving season when a bull tramples his hired hand. Rural Wyoming isn’t exactly a hotbed of qualified candidates, and the only applicant for the position is the pampered town beauty, Harper Masterson. The curvy cowgirl gets under Bran’s skin at every turn, but with no other options, he reluctantly hires her.

When sexual sparks ignite, down-on-her-luck Harper enjoys convincing Bran that not only is she capable of pulling calves, feeding live-stock, and handling backbreaking ranch chores, but she doesn’t mind getting down and dirty, either. Harper also discovers the hot-bodied cowboy isn’t all work and no horseplay…and he’s got more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Bran will learn quickly that Harper is no country mouse—and that she might just have what it takes to stick around for the long haul.

Title: SADDLED AND SPURRED
Author: Lorelei James
Series: Blacktop Cowboys, book 2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance
Publisher: NAL Publishing
Year of release: 2011, March 1
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Source: Bought via The BookDepository

First line:
"You're firing me?" Harper Masterson stared at her boss.

Memorable Scenes:
- a tanning salon called TAN YOUR HIDE and a nail salon called GET NAILED > hilarious!
- the goat incident > I died laughing and still chuckle when I think of that scene
- Bran listing all the things he loves about Harper > I could hardly read as my eyes were filling up with tears

Harper Masterson is sweet and caring and she gives her all when she commits to things. I loved her as the heroine of this book. Underneath her girly-girl, beauty-queen veneer there's a headstrong, selfless woman who keeps to herself because of stuff her wayward mother's done.

Bran Turner is a rugged, gruff and sometimes grumpy rancher with a heart of gold. He’s straightforward and laid-back and a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it.

I really liked the initial reluctance in both Bran and Harper and how they slowly but surely gave in to the sizzling and undeniable chemistry between them. Because I loved that part of the romance so much I'm a bit ambivalent about the sex scenes though. No question they were hot and of the usual Lorelei James standard but the speedy way the sexual relationship between Harper and Bran evolved from vanilla (with a disappointing first encounter for Harper) to full-out spanking wasn't consistent with Bran's character for me.

SADDLED AND SPURRED is a character- and romance-driven story, there’s practically no plot except for a little story involving Harper’s youngest sister Bailey but that was so small and secondary I can’t even really call it a plot.

Though my favorite of the two books out in this series is still CORRALLED, which probably has a lot to do with the ménage setting that book started out in, Lorelei James once again made me a happy reader with another one of her books. It had everything I love and though not as impressive as CORRALLED, I must say SADDLED AND SPURRED was a worthy successor in the series and upon finishing it I am more than anxiously awaiting the next Blacktop Cowboys novel because WRANGLED AND TANGLED is going to be another winner. I'm absolutely convinced of that.

Easy, fluent, with awesome dialogues and effortlessly blending in of back-story, banter, humor and heat Lorelei James' writing never fails to please me and turn me into a gushing mess. SADDLED AND SPURRED was no different. From the moment I started it, I just couldn't stop reading and finished it in 24 hrs!

Favorite Quotes:
The stunned expression on Bran Turner’s face might’ve been comical if it hadn’t filled Harper with dread.
His mouth tightened. His dismissive gaze swept over her as if she’d coated herself in skunk oil. “You’ve got to be f#ckin’ kiddin’ me. You’re my new hired hand?

Good Lord. The woman had worn a miniskirt, a silky shirt, and hooker boots to apply for a job…as a ranch hand. Didn’t she realize that most days she’d be covered in cow shit, mud, and hay?

She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t believe she was turned on by Bran’s chest-thumping declaration. Any part of her feminist side bowed to the primitive part of her makeup that wanted to be taken by this man –every way imaginable.

“You cannot hang me upside down like I’m a slab of meat, Bran Turner!” Her head bounced with Bran’s every confident footstep.
“Sweetheart, your indignity would mean a helluva lot more if I could understand what you’re sayin’ but bein’s your words are muffled against my ass, I can’t.”

“You were amazing, Harper. Flat-out amazing.”
“Really?”
“A winner for sure. And you can tell Becca to bity you, but darlin’, that’s my job.”
“I like the way you bite me. Makes me all tingly.”
“I live to make you tingly.”

First in a new series about some hard-riding rodeo cowboys...and the women who can rein them in.

Sports therapist Lainie Capshaw has been rehabilitating injured cowboys long enough to know that a charming western drawl combined with a fine physical form doesn't mean you fall for the man.

So no one is more surprised than Lainie when she finds herself involved with not one, but two different men: Hank Lawson, a bullfighter, and Kyle Gilchrist, a bull rider. Lainie feels guilty about her two-timing, but it doesn't keep her from doubling her fun-that is until Hank catches her with Kyle.

She's shocked that Hank isn't mad. But she's more shocked to learn Hank and Kyle are hometown buddies. But when the men offer to share her-in every way-she knows that she's going to have to choose the one man who can give her the ride of her life.

Title: Corralled
Author: Lorelei James
Series: Black Top Cowboys, book 1
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Nal Signet
Year of release: 2010, August 3
Format: Trade Size Paperback, 339 pages
Source: Received for ARC-review from author
First line: "Screwing two guys doesn't make you a slut."
Memorable Scenes:
- The saddle/sawhorse scene > hot doesn't even begin to describe this scene
- The colored condoms scene > hilariously funny in the midst of some scorching sexy times

The very first line of this book (see above) drew me in immediately. Okay, I admit that the ménage trope lover in me interpreted the sentence in a different way than it was meant to be but I’m willing to bet I am not alone in that. Truthfully in the beginning of the book Lainie isn’t screwing both guys at the very same time. She is kind of dating them at the same time. But as the blurb indicates it soon went the course of my initial thought.

Lainie Capshaw works as a med tech for the two largest rodeo organizations: CRA and EBS. She’s hooked up with 2 cowboys, each competing in 1 of the organizations, Hank Lawson is a bullfighter with the CRA and Kyle Gilchrist is a bull rider with the EBS. When they discover by chance that Lainie is dating them both, the suggestion of a threesome is quickly made and they embark on a road-trip together for Kyle’s rodeo tour with the CRA.

Both Kyle and Hank are as alpha as they come and they’re both hardheaded and very competitive but that’s where the similarities end because otherwise they are total opposites. Hank is dark and brooding, very down-to-earth and not much for antics, sexual or otherwise. However, Hank has a hidden kinky side he keeps in check because he thinks Lainie isn’t into that and I was happy to see that side emerge in the course of the book. Kyle is a golden boy, vibrant, impulsive and sexually inventive but also sweet and he has his moments where his competitiveness ignite some darker thoughts in him.

Lainie is the daughter of a legendary bull rider, Jason Capshaw, who died tragically during a bull ride. This has great impact on her character and her development in the book. Lainie is sweet and caring but she’s definitely no pushover. She definitely held her ground with the two alpha cowboys trying to outshine each other in order to become the one she would choose in the end.

Lorelei James is amazing at family dynamics and Lainie’s relationship with her mother and the impact of the loss of her father are great examples of this but Hank’s family and Kyle’s bond with his mom also contributed to the intense personal relations I love to read about in her books.

I very much liked the approach Lorelei James took on the threesome aspect of the romance. It’s a realistic one in my opinion because it’s more often that a choice is in play when three people enter a (sexual) relationship, rather than settling in for a permanent three-way relationship. It was very interesting see the dynamics of a threesome at play when it’s something new for all three participants and when they aren’t completely comfortable with it and trying to find their way and their roles in it. The fact that both Hank and Kyle were very take-charge yet a bit unsure of how to make it all work contributed to my enjoyment of this aspect of the romance. It was also fascinating to see how both Kyle and Hank see what is different in what the other ones brings into the threesome and they see what they fail to bring to the table themselves. Initially Hank is more gentle and attentive, more in tune with Lainie’s pleasure and comfort and Kyle brings the fun and kink but in their competitiveness for Lainie’s affections they both try to take over some of the things the other one offers.

The feelings of jealousy envy and possessiveness over Lainie both Kyle and Hank had, stayed on the right side of bothersome for me. Again proof of Lorelei James’ writing skills. It was natural for them to feel these things but on the other hand they knew what they were getting into when they decided to propose a threesome to Lainie. At one point I really empathized with her insecurity about their fight for her affections: Was it about her or about outdoing each other? I applaud how, right when an aspect in the threesome and the arrangement was threatening to become annoying, Lorelei James went and solved it by making Hank and Kyle realize they were handling the whole threesome thing in a not so pleasant way for Lainie and they changed up their tactics. Two thumbs up for Ms. James here. This is what makes her one of my all-time favorite erotic romance authors.

Early on in the book it’s clear, at least it was to me, who Lainie is going to end up with as Lorelei James gives enough small hints and clues towards the direction Lainie’s choice is going. She does this in a subtle manner without giving away too much and making the decisive scene a wonderfully emotional one, which I savored and was in total agreement with.

I liked Celia, Hank’s little sister, a lot! She’s a feisty, spunky little thing who is determined to follow her dream no matter how much her brothers try to stop her because they think it’s for her own good and because of their protective instincts. She reminded me of Keely McKay (from the Rough Riders) and I hope eventually she’ll get her own story in this series too. I even have an inkling of whom she should be paired up with but only time will tell if I’m right…as I was with Keely.

For me comparison with Lorelei James’ first book in the Rough Riders Series (LONG HARD RIDE) is inevitable as the premise of both books is very similar. However there are also plenty of differences, which was something I appreciated and was happy about. One of them was the fact that the page-count provided Lorelei James with even more room to deepen out the characters and to give the relationships room to grow and develop in a realistic time frame. The Rough Riders will always be my first Lorelei James love, but after reading CORRALLED I just know the Blacktop Cowboys are going to give them a run for their money.

I don’t have much material to compare her with, as most of the western-themed romance books I’ve read are by her hand, but I do believe Lorelei James is the queen of all and everything cowboy. She really knows her stuff and that makes her books treasures of knowledge about rodeos and ranching, next to all the heat she delivers in the smoking love scenes. Reading CORRALLED made me wish I could book a flight and hop on a plane to the US, rent an RV and go touring around Wyoming. I am dead serious here. And not only on the off chance that I’d meet a cowboy like Hank or Kyle or one of the others, but the scenery alone and the way Lorelei James described it, is enough to tempt me.

I was also very pleased with the way Lorelei James portrayed the characters. They are very three-dimensional with their issues, flaws and history next to the hot sexiness of the books this is what appeals most to me in her books and CORRALLED is no exception. I loved the dialogues, which were easy and fluent and kept the book moving forward in a fast-paced way and were witty and fun to read. The banter and innuendo between the characters was excellently executed and so were the more emotional dialogues when some heavier subjects were broached.

One thing: CORRALLED is labeled as a contemporary romance (at least that’s what my ARC copy says, I don’t know what they put on the finished copies) but there should definitely be an additional erotic romance label included because of its explicitness and the amount of sex scenes. Readers who expect a sweet western romance from this book? You won’t be getting that. It’s sexy and very explicit. Not that I am complaining here because I expected nothing less from Lorelei James but readers who aren’t into erotic romance might not like this book. Just giving them a head-up here.

No matter what series, no matter if it’s with a digital first publisher or a big NYC print publisher, Lorelei James knows how to write awesome and sizzling hot, need-a-fan, grab-your-man dirty sex scenes. And she skillfully combines them with great family dynamics, intense emotions you can easily relate to and a vast and excellent knowledge of rodeo and ranching. For me CORRALLED equals humor, emotions, depth and hot sex. All the things I love in the books I read were delivered here, making it another keeper on my shelves and convincing me without a doubt that no matter what Lorelei James writes, I’ll adore it.

Quotes:

Kyle and Hank discussing the idea of a threesome:
“That don’t mean that I’m on board”
“For a threesome? Why the hell not? I’m totally on board.” Hank snickered. “You ain’t afraid Lainie will be comparing our dick sizes or something?”
“F#ck off, Lawson. That ain’t what concerns me. What if part of her deal is she wants us to be together, kissing and touching and shit like them women in porn threesomes are?”
That visual immediately caught Hank’s attention. His body went rigid before he shuddered. “No f#cking way am I sucking your dick, Gilly.”

Hank sure knows how to kiss:
His mouth descended and she was lost.
Velvety soft lips brushing hers. Crushing hers. His tongue stroked and teased. Coaxing. Devouring. He repositioned his head, taking the kiss down to the depths of her soul.

Hank feeling a bit insecure after Kyle’s been wooing Lainie:
Bastard had it all planned out how he’d edge Hank out. Flowers, cozy domestic scenes, and the all-important time alone, where he’d probably do some Kama Sutra type sex shit to Lainie that Hank had never even heard of. Or some multi-orgasmic tantric stuff. F#ck that.

Kyle and Hank discuss sleeping arrangements after Lainie has shut them out of the bedroom:
“I guess we’ll deal with it then. Looks like you ‘n’ me are bunk mates.”
“F#ckin awesome.”
“Sucks worse for me Hank. I thought I’d be snuggled up to soft and sweet-smelling curves and instead I’m stuck with you.”
“Ain’t no snuggling between us, hoss. You touch me and I’m decking you.”

Back Cover:
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.

First a warning: If you haven't read LOVER AVENGED, this review will contain spoilers so if you don't like them, reading further is at your own risk.

What to say about Lover Mine? It wasn't a perfect read but it was most certainly one of the best of the series so far. It was flawed yet awesome. It was definitely a trip back to Ward's earlier books in this series when it comes to romance and yet she threw in some great new stuff too. Her signature writing style with all its annoying slang and mid-scene breaks didn't do anything to prevent the enjoyment of combination of a wonderful love story that was not only powerful and strong but also hot as hell and an action-packed plot and subplots that were fast-paced and excellently put together. The subplots, main plot and romance came together in the end in a way that I don’t remember experiencing in the previous books.

LOVER MINE opens with a prologue that takes us way back to the time where Tohr, Wrath, Vishous and Darius were young vampires and these flashbacks form one of the storylines in the book. A storyline I liked because it provided me with more insight into the Darius/JM connection. However I still think that that thread was a bit glossed over in JM’s POV and would have liked to see more about it.

Then after the prologue I got a bit confused because the real start of the book was in a POV of a totally unknown and new character…At first I thought: WTH? But soon it clicked into place as we went to Xhex’s POV. If you’ve read LOVER AVENGED, you know that at the end Xhex was taken by Lash and now we get to find out what happened to her. The only thing I can say about Lash is that he’s a very sick and disturbed character and I was very glad that what he put Xhex through was mostly off-page because I wouldn’t have been able to stomach reading what happened between them.

To me LOVER MINE had a very different vibe from the other, most recent (LU, LEn and LAv), BDB books I read. I can’t exactly pinpoint what it was that was different about it but the focus on the romance between Xhex and JM was definitely part of it and the flashbacks with Darius and Thor too. I absolutely loved the romance between JM and Xhex. For me it was the best in the series so far, romance wise. Also, the way Ward went back to the beginning and worked her way to the present, bringing storylines together was another part of it. It felt more coherent than the other recent books in the series. Furthermore, as much as I despised Lash as a character I must say that he did make the Lesser storyline a lot more interesting than in the other books. I admit that I have skimmed Lesser scenes in all the other books, except for LOVER AVENGED and LOVER MINE and I can’t deny that Lash has something to do with that.

Xhex is the kind of heroine who has no illusions about herself. She knows who, what and how she is. Her honesty and directness stretches towards herself too and that’s one of the things I liked so much about her. She is realistic and strong and yet there’s a kind of vulnerability to her that really resonated deeply in me. There was no trickery or manipulations; just what you see is what you get. She epitomizes a strong and capable female and to me she’s the strongest Ward heroine to-date. I never would have thought this before reading LOVER MINE but Xhex is my favorite heroine of the bunch. I really didn’t expect to like Xhex as much as I did. The stuff she’s suffered and lived through (and not only talking the Lash stuff here) just baffled me and made her strength even more admirable. I also loved that Ward feminized Xhex but kept her strong and powerful. She softened her up without sacrificing her strength.

While writing this review I realize all of a sudden that I made absolutely no notes of JM’s character! Why? I can only speculate that I was consumed by how much I liked Xhex. It seems that for me she was the one who carried the story and the romance. But I do remember liking JM and the way he was determined to rescue Xhex and love her, no matter what. The scene where he is in the room where she was held broke my heart as I felt his despair and pain. However where Ward succeeded in putting Xhex in a very prominent position for me, she wasn’t able to do this with JM. He too was a character that before this book, wasn’t one I was totally into and despite the way he cared for Xhex and despite Ward’s attempts to make him a very hot hero, the click that was there with Xhex’s character, wasn’t quite achieved with JM’s character for me.

Risking the wrath of all the Qhuay fan girls out there I must say that I am not on that bandwagon. The story line just doesn’t awe or touch me the way it does others. Despite it being an emotional and heartbreaking storyline, Qhuinn’s attitude towards Blay and his reasons for not taking a chance with him, just annoys me and Blay’s self-pity in some parts of the storyline was just too much for me. I actually liked seeing Blay with Saxton but sadly I suspect that’s not going to end up in a HEA. However, knowing Ward, she’ll probably be able to make the Qhuay story work for me when the time for their book comes.

The thing that annoyed me most in LOVER MINE were the “What the F” mid-scene breaks, there were several minor ones that only had me raising an eyebrow but there were 3 that really had me crying out: “What the F!” One was in the middle of a fight scene, 2 were in the middle of conversations…Really Ward? One characters asks a rather crucial question and *poof* before we get the answer, switch to a totally different scene. This is unacceptable and I don’t understand why the editor of this book let this pass by in the book…several times even! Maybe I am in the minority here but this really annoyed me and took away from the pace and tension arc.

Don’t get me wrong; I was not annoyed by the multiple storylines. As might be known I really like books with multiple storylines that come together in the end, when done in the right way but I was not happy with some of the points chosen to do those switches/scene breaks. With the exception of the Qhuay story line I really liked all the side stories in LOVER MINE, even the TV crew one, contrary to others. Probably it was because it all the plots worked towards a good ending and didn’t take away from the focus on the strong romance between Xhex and JM.

Despite the flaws or annoyances it cannot be denied that Ward’s writing is addictive as nothing else. Once you start reading you keep reading. Never mind the weird scene breaks, the ghetto-slang, the product placing or names that you only recognize if you were born and raised in the US and therefore familiar with its pop culture. The stories she tells are captivating and thrilling. The way she sets them up is so brilliant you’ll be dying to know what’s next and you’ll forgive her all the annoyance she causes. I really don’t know what it is with Ward’s writing but no matter how much some stuff annoys the crap out of me, it’s impossible to stop reading and liking it.

Once again I notice that I’m not able to write a coherent and logically set up review (as I wishfully think my other reviews are set up) of a BDB book. Every time I read a book in this series and sit down to write the review my thoughts are all over the place and it shows. Sorry for that people but it seems to be the only way for me to review these books…

Quotes:
For all of her life, Xhex's heart had not been prone to breaking. She'd long suspected that it was a result of her symphath side, a kind of congenital condition that hardened her about things that most females lost it over. Turned out that was wrong, however.
As she stood beside John Matthew, and watched his huge body crumple down by the bed, the organ that beat behind her sternum shattered like a mirror. Nothing but shards. She was utterly and completely ruined as he cradled that pillow like it was a newborn, and in this moment of his utter despair, she would have done anything to ease his pain.

The first taste was . . . a transformation. His blood was so pure it blazed in her mouth and down her throat . . . and the fire it ignited in her stomach tore throughout her body, thawing her, enlivening her. Saving her. With greedy pulls, she took from him to revive herself, each swallow a life raft for her to crawl into, each draw a rope slung over the cliff of her demise, each pull on his vein the compass she needed to find the trail back home.

"I want to get mated to you. Properly mated. Like in front of the king and everyone. I want this to be official."
Well . . . didn't that just make his heart stop.
As he sat up and looked at her, she smiled. "Jesus, the expression on your face. What? You didn't think I'd want to be your shellan?"
Not in a million years.
She recoiled a little in surprise. "And you were okay with that?"
It was hard to explain. But what was between them went further than a mating ceremony or a back carving or a witnessed exchange of commitment. He couldn't put his finger on the why of it . . . but she was his missing puzzle piece, the twelfth in his dozen, the first and the last pages of his book. And at some level that was all he needed.
All I want is you. However that comes.
She nodded. "Well, I want the whole deal."
He kissed her again, softly, because he didn't want to hurt her. Then he pulled back and mouthed, I love you. And I'd love to be your hellren

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

In the Scottish Highlands, two warriors are about to clash over a woman of passion…

They were the unlikeliest of friends debauching their way through London: The Earl of Camdonn, a nobleman of vast wealth and power, and Scottish laird Alan MacDonald, a respected Jacobite with ambitions of his own.
But their friendship is destroyed when Alan marries the beautiful Sorcha Stewart --only to witness Cam kidnap her from their bedroom. Then Alan learns the truth: his bride was not an innocent. She took a lover before him --his friend-- who taught her the ways of pleasure.
Now, Alan will do anything to get his wife back. Cam fights to redeem his honor, even as he refuses to give up his desire. Torn between love and duty, Sorcha must watch as the two men she desires go to war over her. And when the battle lines are drawn, all three lovers are lured into a triangle of forbidden passions.

When Dawn Halliday asked if there were reviewers interested in reviewing the upcoming anthology she contributed to, I didn’t hesitate. However, after some emails back and forth we decided I’d review HIGHLAND OBSESSION instead. This has to do with my reading-in-order obsession but I have bored you enough with that in other reviews so I’m not going there in this one. The scorching first chapter of HIGHLAND OBSESSION immediately set the tone for me and I knew I was in for a steamy and emotionally complicated read. My expectations were thoroughly met after that first chapter because Dawn Halliday delivered an emotional and heartbreaking love story against the backdrop of Highland political turmoil, a background that added to the already emotional tension between the main characters of the story.

As I don’t want to spoil the main storyline and important stuff of the book I will not say too much about it but for me it was a beautiful story with a good resolution. I’ve read my fair share of ménage and permanent threesome stories and some were good, some were of lesser quality, some were emotionally detached, some were very intense. HIGHLAND OBSESSION belongs to the good and intense ones. It is well written, fast-paced and engaging. The three main players are distinct personalities with their passionate and fiery nature in common. This makes for a story of passion, betrayal, trust, friendship and love with great chemistry and synergy and emotional, explosive interactions.

I totally fell for the way Alan fought for his wife and showed his resentment towards Cam. Alan is kind, honorable and humble, but that is to a certain extent. Cross him and you will suffer the consequences. He will fight for what he perceives as his with determination and charm. Cam on the other hand struck me as rough and unpolished at times. Dark, brooding and stubborn, he is used to getting what he wants and can be quite arrogant. There were times I actually didn’t like him in the way he was convinced Sorcha belonged with him. In the end, I did however sympathize as I saw why he hides his compassion and tenderness behind his hard-headedness and that he wasn’t out to hurt Alan and Sorcha intentionally. With the battle between Alan and Cam for Sorcha’s love and affection, at first I was afraid she was going to be overshadowed by the men. But my fear was unfounded, bit-by-bit her determination and strength came out and I admired her for standing her ground with both Alan and Cam and fighting for her happiness. When she accepted her feelings, she showed her true smart-mouthed, quick-witted and stubborn self.

This highly erotic historical romance is definitely not conventional and for me that sealed the deal. As I said I have read several stories with this topic, mostly in contemporary settings, but this one was brought in a wonderful combination of history, emotions and characters. Dawn Halliday has a way of enthralling with the imagery in her writing and combined with the strong emotional dilemmas, this book totally worked for me. I will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel, HIGHLAND SURRENDER (coming April 2010), because with HIGHLAND OBSESSION Dawn Halliday gave me an enticing read that has me wanting more.

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Jacket Copy:
Marcus Helios was a member of the Shadow Guard until one reckless act changed it all, bringing him to the edge of madness. His hope for salvation lies in a cryptic message contained within two cryptic scrolls he believes to be in the possession of an enigmatic beauty named Mina. And Mina is not about to hand over the scrolls' secrets to a total stranger.

But someone else has designs on the mysterious relics, and on Mark: Jack the Ripper's jilted bride. Her malevolent embrace will trap everyone within reach, and her dark plans will challenge the powers of all she is destined to destroy.

In SO STILL THE NIGHT we pick up the story about 6 months after the end of NIGHT FALLS DARKLY, in which Mark Helios, Lord Alexander, sacrificed himself to the dark side by going into Transcension (the state of the soul where it is possible to cross to the Inner Realm and destroy the Immortals) in order to defeat the soul of Jack the Ripper and save his fellow Shadow Guard, Archer Black, and his beloved. Mark is now banished and the Primordial Council of the Amaranthine Inner Realm has ordered his capture and execution. The only way for Mark to save himself is to find a few ancient scrolls that hold the secret to the reversal of Transcension. These scrolls are in the hands of Mina Limpett, whose father is in search of the secrets of Immortality. Mark has managed to keep from succumbing to the madness of Transcension but time is definitely running out, not only his time but also that of the entire mortal and immortals population.

Mina is an adventurous woman. She is independent, intelligent, sassy and caring. Her father's quest for everything linked to immortality has left her penniless when she is confronted with the enigmatic Lord Alexander, who is trying to seduce her into handing over her father's discoveries. She seems immune, or rather she wants to think she's immune to Mark's seductive charm but soon she is unable to resist his lure.

Mark is a real charmer; he has no trouble enchanting the ladies and has no scruples about using them for his own benefit. He is also ambitious and determined to be the best at what he does. The fact that he has been banished from the Shadow Guards consumes him and he'll go to any length to redeem himself. He starts his seduction of Mina with only the much-needed scrolls in mind, and the fact that he is also physically attracted to her is an added bonus. But before long the mutual attraction intensifies to something deeper and more profound.

This was another great installment in the Shadow Guards series. It's refreshing, original, suspenseful and romantic. I have to admit I quite liked Leeson (the servant to Archer from book 1 and Mark’s helper in this book), he brought a touch of dry humor wrapped in all-knowing wisdom that I absolutely appreciated and welcomed. In this installment I learned more about the Amaranthine world as Kim Lenox is expanding the world slowly providing more rules, knowledge and background about the Council and the Shadow Guards. There's also an introduction of a new group of Shadow Guards whom I suspect will be playing an important role in future books: The Raven.

Comparing SO STILL THE NIGHT to NIGHT FALLS DARKLY I must say that NIGHT FALLS DARKLY wins the favorite title but it's very close. The end of the first book was rounded up neater than this one. SO STILL THE NIGHT ended a bit more confusing and with a major cliffhanger that raised a lot of questions that will no doubt be answered in the next book. However, overall the plot in SO STILL THE NIGHT was more elaborate and more intriguing. I am very curious as to where Kim Lenox is taking this world of the Shadow Guards. I have faith she is taking us to a good place and I have the feeling that there is so much more to this world than has been displayed in these first two books. I really love the world building, the characters and the overall plot arc that is continued throughout the separate books, with a partial conclusion in each one, adding to the whole.

With SO STILL THE NIGHT Kim Lenox brings her readers back to the gritty London scene at the end of the 19th century. She mixes that vivid setting with an impressive and unique paranormal world, which she builds up thoroughly and consistently, and the cherry on the pie is the romance between Mark and Mina. I am ready for Selene’s story now.

Quotes:
Was it possible she'd grown lovelier since he'd last seen her? His eyes narrowed. Perhaps it was simply the fact that she'd shot him. He'd always admired women who handled their weaponry confidently, and well.

Leeson and Mark about seducing Mina:
"So what is your plan to seduce the girl?"
Mark flinched. Were his methods so predictable? So clichéd?
The old man prodded. "Come on now. We're not tow rascals telling tales. This is strategy. Have you managed to bed her yet?"
"Leeson!"
"Don't be shy, boy. Have you danced the horizontal polka or no?"

Jacket Copy:
Caldwell, NY, has long been the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It’s also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and notorious nightclub that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he’s approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King, and leader of the Brotherhood. Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood, even though his sister is married to a member. Because he’s a sympath, his identity is a deadly secret- the revelation of which will result in his banishment to a colony for sociopaths. And as plots within and outside the Brotherhood take their toll against Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in a darkening world- Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him- and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

Since the blurb on the book itself summarizes the story perfectly and if I did one it would spoil too many events and I am of the opinion readers should experience them without any foreknowledge, I am not synopsizing the book in my review. The only thing I will say is that the book comprises 4 major plotlines: of course the story of Rehv and Ehlena. Secondly the story of Wrath, then there's the storyline of the Lessers with Lash in the spotlight and finally there's the complicated storyline of John Matthew and Xhex. Actually thinking about this, I also have to mention the tiny but important storyline with Tohr as the leading man. These 5 storylines alternate throughout the book and are all connected and interlaced in one way or another.

I find LOVER AVENGED difficult to review. There were things I didn't like about the book: the slang, the messy switches between POVs and storylines in the beginning, some actions by certain characters. There were things I loved about it: Rehv and Ehlena (especially on the phone), the bantering between the Brothers, the storyline with Wrath. Some things started out badly for me and improved considerably along the way: the romance element, both between Rehv and Ehlena as in some other plotlines. Elements that I disliked in other books of the BDB-series worked for me in this book: the Lesser/Lash plotline.

Nevertheless, one thing was constant throughout the entire book: my fascination with Rehvenge, a fascination I've sported ever since I first read about him in this series. It survived everything Ward threw at me in attempts to distract me from it and was kept intact. Without a doubt Rehv has rushed to the top of my favorite hero-list. In this book I learned more about him, his sympath side and his vampire side and every bit of knowledge strengthened my suspicions that he would be a male of worth, despite the shady life he has been forced to live. Yes, Rehv is cunning, cold, and ruthless but he is also loyal, powerful and honorable. Rehv's character is so contradictory. One the one hand he is a hardened, opportunistic drug dealing pimp, a half-sympath with nothing on his mind but his own gain and he’s involved in a sordid blackmail scenario. But his motives for doing all the nasty stuff he has too, are not selfish, they are to protect the ones he loves and keep them unknowing and far from harm. From the start his sarcastic and cynical outlook on his life and situation comes to the surface, however, in the course of the story his motivation and reasoning is revealed, making him into the hero I was hoping he would be. He is the epitome of the anti-hero. For me his good sides outweighed the nasty ones and I must praise J.R. Ward for pulling that off.

Ehlena has had a terribly harsh life and still she takes everything in stride. She is sensible, giving, proud, intelligent and strong. She's very grounded and quick-witted. She is realistic enough to accept certain events in her life, good and bad. And when the time comes for her to show her strength she delivers splendidly and bravely. I couldn't have wished for a better heroine for Rehv. She is his perfect match, even if they come from totally different places and are true opposites. She is the light in his dark life. In the beginning of the book and their romance my heart broke for him because knowing who and what he is, his past and the blackmail he cannot embrace her and love her the way he yearns to. I truly loved the romance story between Ehlena and Rehv even if at first it took second place in the book which took away from the build-up but luckily it didn't take away from the chemistry between them and I loved the way Rehv courted Ehlena despite thinking he was not worthy of her and the way Ehlena falls for Rehv despite thinking he is way out of her league.

Whatever criticism I may have on Ward's vocabulary, the lack of focus on the romance or the way changes of POV/plotlines are picked, I really cannot say anything negative about her BDB world building. It is a mix of fast-paced action, witty sarcastic bantering and sublime multiple storylines. And I really must not forget to mention that the BDB is a tight Brotherhood again. I really missed that in LU and LEn and even knowing it’s because of the big role of Wrath's storyline in this, it was a pleasure to see the Brothers bantering and read the nice old-school sarcastic dialogues between Wrath, Butch, V, Thor and the Brothers' latest houseguest Lassiter.

One telling fact that this book really did something with me was the fact that the tissues, which have been laid to rest since LOVER UNBOUND, where brought out regularly during this book. Man, how does Ward come up with these heart-wrenching, cry-my-eyes-out scenes? Not only with Rehv and Ehlena but quite a few of the other characters too. Where in LOVER ENSHRINED the other storylines bothered me and took my attention away from the already little connection I had with Phury and Cormia, the storylines in this one were set up in a way that they entwined with Rehv and Ehlena's story perfectly. All the storylines came together in one amazing conclusion that sprouted out a cliffhanger that will keep me guessing for a long while. Well, at least until the next book comes out.

This truly could have been the perfect BDB-book for me. For the first time I didn't skip the Lesser parts to which I'm confessing having done in the early books. If it weren't for the annoying excessive use of popular slang, abbreviations and acronyms in Ward's writing vocabulary and the first third of the book where switches between the different primary storylines were poorly done in my opinion and therefore making it hard for me to get into the stories properly, this really could have been a 5 stars BDB book. Still, like Rehv was redeemed in the book, I will also grant Ward redemption because after two lesser (no pun intended) installments, she has managed to reel me back into the BDB and yearning for the next book. Off course the enormous cliffhanger at the end of LOVER AVENGED could also be a deciding factor in that.

Quotes:
“It’s simple. I don’t think you should date anyone.” Rehv moved in even closer, until he could see the flecks of gold in her eyes. “But I’m not just anyone.” (...) As Ehlena stared into Rehvenge’s amethyst eyes, she thought that was so right. In this quiet moment, with an explosive sexual vibe linking them and the scent of dark cologne in the air, Rehvenge was everybody and everything.

Lassiter to Tohr:
“So, what are we doing tonight? Wait, let me guess, sitting in morose silence. Or, no…you’re mixing it up. Brooding with soulful intensity, right? What a f*cking wild child you are. Whoo. Hoo. Next thing you know, you’ll be opening for Slipknot.”

“Man, flat ass is right,” Lassiter muttered. “You’re sporting a pair of deflated basketballs back there. Makes me wonder…Hey, I’ll bet Fritz has a bicycle pump.”

Back Cover:
Death is inevitable.
But there are some souls, more wicked and disobedient than most, who defy Death’s claim.
Rebellious souls who must be called to heel.

ARCHER, Lord Black, returns to England at the behest of Queen Victoria to immerse himself in the dark, hellish streets of London’s East End. Among the immortal Shadow Guard, he is the most prolific and cunning of the Reclaimers. He revels in the hunt of his current prey: an ill-mannered, reluctant soul reviled in the daily newspapers as Jack the Ripper. Archer has only one weakness … one distraction … the young woman he spared from death two years before.

ELENA WHITNEY has never wanted for anything – not since coming under the protection of her mysterious and absent guardian, Lord Black, who has gifted her with everything a young woman of quality could ever hope for, including an enviable address, an unlimited income and entrée into the drawing rooms of high society. But now, after nearly two years of indifference, he believes he can sweep into her life and rid himself of her by marrying her off. If he knew anything about her – anything at all – he’d know she had greater aspirations than that.

Immortal Shadow Guard Archer Black is summoned to London to deal with a persistent criminal who's murdering and slashing up prostitutes. Back in London he finds the woman he saved years before while Reclaiming another depraved soul. He discovers the emotional pull she had on him is still there.
Elena Whitney lives in her guardian's home after an accident that left her with severe memory loss. Nevertheless she has ambitions in life and the freedom to follow them. When her unknown guardian, Lord Black, finally makes an appearance, her life is turned upside down, not in the least because of the budding feelings of passion she develops for him.

The main characters are Archer, Lord Black, and Elena.
Elena is a strong young woman who hasn't let tragedy ruin her life and who speaks exactly what's on her mind. She is intelligent, outspoken, strong-willed, sensitive, benevolent, impulsive and rebellious. She has dreams and ambitions and is determined to make them real. She wants to be a doctor like her father was and does everything she can to realize this dream. She volunteers at the charity ward at the hospital and has applied for the School of Medicine for Women. She has no time for romantic feelings towards any one until her guardian shows up in London and for the first time in her life she's aware of him in a way she has never been of any man.
Archer Black is a man of few words. He is elusive, mysterious and compassionate.
Unknown to Archer and thanks to his secretary Leeson, Elena is his ward and when he comes back to London she is the last person he expects to find in his home. He is an immortal hunter and a killer of souls who cannot be saved. His job is to take them and send them somewhere where they can't harm mortals or penetrate the Inner Realm of the immortal world of the Amaranthine. Feelings are unfamiliar to him and he is unable to feel or attach until he met Elena. He doesn't need the complication of living close to the only woman who stirs his cold heart.

I saw both Elena and Archer through their eyes, how they saw each other. Lenox has a way of changing points of view effortlessly; giving me rounded characters viewed from all angles. Elena and Archer are irresistibly drawn to each other from the very beginning. As a reader you follow them in their struggles with each other and their own feelings, all against the background of a dangerous murderer on the loose.

The secondary characters are many. There is Jack the Ripper, whose presence is absolutely tangible in the story even if he doesn't appear physically until the very end. There are Archer's secretary Leeson and fellow Guards, the twins Selena and Mark. There is quite some story between Archer and the twins and in my opinion just part of it is revealed in this book. Selene has a very funny quirk that involves books and I'm sure that there's much more to her than met the eye in this story.
There are also the people surrounding Elena: maid Mary Alice, companion Mrs. Hazelgreaves, the staff and patients in the hospital.
All these secondary characters had their role in the plot and the romance but they never took the focus from Elena and Archer. As true supporting characters they provided the background for the main couple to star against but the book wouldn't be the same without them.

There are so many things I liked about this book that I don't know where to start.
I liked the world, the characters, the romance, and the plot. Everything was mixed together in a breathtaking debut novel with all the elements worked out in a superb way. Slowly Kim Lenox provides information on the Amaranthine Shadow Guards and their world. She builds it up in a great way, mixing explanations and descriptions smoothly with the story. This way she keeps the Amaranthine mysterious until the very end but you don't realize this until the whole picture is formed. Her world building and descriptions of characters and events are meticulous and extensive without interfering with the pace and without making the book dull or repetitive.

Lenox' eye for historical details is amazing. I had no trouble picturing myself in Victorian London at the end of the 19th century. Not in the least because of the way she mixed the fictional characters, both main and secondary, with real historical figures like Jack the Ripper, Queen Victoria and Bram Stoker. She embedded them perfectly in the story. The new and refreshing approach of taking ancient mythology to provide not only Archer's background but also Jack the Ripper's actions and motives struck a cord with me since there are so many books on both mythology and Jack the Ripper and Lenox managed to give it an original twist.

Her writing is captivating and addictive. With the use of just looks, touches and kisses and only one real love scene she builds up the attraction between Elena and Archer in a way that's fantastic. It's like watching two magnets being drawn together slowly but surely. She proved to me, who likes her romances steamy, that romance can be just as tantalizing without many physical love scenes. Reading this gradual journey to love at the perfect pace was utterly enjoyable. The balance between plot and romance was excellent. Both were interlaced throughout the book and neither took a more prominent role over the other. I find it hard to name the plot. Yes, there are murders, yes there's a murderer but the plot is so much more elaborate than just a suspense plot to catch a killer. It was set up magnificently. The gradual disclosure of information kept me at the edge of my seat, waiting for the big confrontation to conclude the plot. With her unexpected twists and turns in the plot she lead me all over the place while reading and she gave the book and the characters that welcome veil of unpredictability.
The book has a great ending that entails closure for Elena and Archer but it's only the beginning for Mark Alexander who is the hero of the next book.
For me it's clear, especially at the end that this first installment of the Shadow Guard series is just an introduction and there's much more to come.

With her first book Kim Lenox gave me a enthralling and original romance spiked with suspense and paranormal elements and in me she has found a loyal reader who's hooked and waiting for the next treat.

Quotes:
He felt all tangled up with her, something his mind rejected, but his soul craved.

While "hauteur" was no accurate description -for he was not arrogant in his mannerisms or speech- he emanated inaccessibility, as if every emotion and impulse were kept behind an impenetrable wall. Elena couldn't help but wonder what he would be like if that wall were destroyed.

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.

I am truly at a loss for words and not in the positive sense. To say I'm feeling ambiguous after reading the sixth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series is putting it very, very mildly.
For every good thing I have to say about the book there is a contradicting but... and in every bad thing I have to say about the book there is a slightly positive undertone. And even then I can't truly pinpoint the why, or give arguments that explain this ambivalence but I will try to explain as well as I can.

The first few chapters of the book had me irritated, annoyed and the feeling of emotional numbness took the upper hand over any excitement I had before starting the book. I missed the lively, humorous exciting vibe Ward's books always have had for me. I missed the emotional, intense connection with both the supposedly main characters and the secondary characters in the subplots. The most important reason for this is that there actually were no real main characters. The distinction between main and secondary characters was totally gone in LOVER ENSHRINED and none of the characters had the ability to speak to my emotions.

I saw a depressing Phury, an addict with a voice in his head, pining after his brother's mate. This was so not the Phury I had gotten to know in the previous books. I never had any real fascination with Phury, other than seeing him as the perfect gentleman; always ready to put other's needs before his own. This little connection I had with him was completely wiped away in about 4/5 of the book. Same goes for Cormia, true there were some scenes were she endeared me with her discovery of the world and her wish for individuality but she was not a heroine I could indentify myself with emotionally. The Phury-Cormia match also didn’t convince me; I didn't feel any connection to or even between them until the very last part of the book. I missed chemistry and intensity and I missed the strong bond, which has been there in previous books. Even in LOVER UNBOUND I had the feeling V and Jane had a thing going, even if it wasn’t the thing I would have liked to see.

After the first few chapters I started to get into the story better, mainly because of the subplots, they were fascinating and interesting but not even these could give me that emotional attachment I was looking for. The Rehv plot, the Omega/Lesser plot, the Blay/Qhuinn/John Matthew plot, none of them gave me that feeling I want in the books I read, that feeling I did have in the previous BDB-books, be it in various degradations: being swept into the story to the point of distraction, almost inhaling the pages just to get to the next twist in the story.
And still it was hard to let go of the book. I wanted to keep on reading. This is something I must applaud J.R. Ward for, her writing style, even without the emotional connection, has the ability to keep you reading until the end.

One other thing that kept bothering me throughout the book was how Phury was being portrayed: a hardcore drug addict. There were some things that just didn't add up in his development as a character. Things that just didn't stroke with the picture given of Phury in previous books. Had I been prepared for some things they would have been easier to accept in this book. I had the feeling that, because of these inconsistencies, Ward had to give his story the swirl she did in this book and it didn't feel good and some things just weren't believable. In my opinion if you choose to insert a certain concept, such as drug-addiction, in a book, take it all the way and don't just brush only the aspects than come in handy for the story.

There was a point in the book were I just felt that Phury has to be the most tormented brother of them all, more than Z, more than V. He has suffered the most without the support of others to pull him through it. And still he cares for others and tries to put other's need above his. This was where the hope of some kind of connection kindled, but it died down soon enough because of the inconsistent drug addict thing and the distractions of the other (sub)plots making Phury's story take the backseat in this book.
Every time I thought Ward was going to close the deal on Phury and Cormia, finally focus on them and their story and give me that scene I was waiting for, she switched POV and went to other characters/storylines. Breaking the momentum, leaving me empty-handed because when she would return, scenes later, the moment would be lost and she had to start over again. This happened too often for my taste. The switching of POV’s is no problem when there is one strong plot arc that carries the book, be it a romance or another kind of plot, but that was missing in this one and that's my biggest problem with this book.

Now that I've commented on what bothered me in LOVER ENSHRINED I will wrap this review up on a positive note and recite what I did like about it.

The shift that began with LOVER UNBOUND has taken definite form. A shift towards a new generation of Brothers. A shift in leadership within the Vampires and the Lessers. A shift in the war with the Lessers, which is becoming more challenging, more dangerous and more gruesome.
This is something that J.R. Ward is setting up in a way I have to admire. I just hope that if she is turning away from the romance, she will make-up for it by sticking to this new road she has taken.

Oddly enough the last 100 pages or so gave me a glimpse, be it a small one, of what I needed in the book. There I found a shimmer of emotions, a hint of intensity in the characters and a lot of intriguing set-ups for the next phase in this series. A phase that has a totally different touch and feel. A phase in which the foundations and known facts from the first 4 books are altered.
The game has changed, more players and a whole new set of rules are introduced and I really can't tell if this is a good or a bad thing. Time and future books will have to tell.

I can't say the book was bad, but I also can't have a truly satisfied feeling having read the last page and closed it. On the contrary, for the first time I closed a J.R. Ward book glad to have finished it so I can move on to other books on my TBR-pile.

I am sad to say that I can only describe this book with the explanation of the amount of stars I rated it with: Interesting, but not quite there yet!

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.

Where to start? How to start?
The words are tumbling through my head and I don’t know what to write first!
There was a lot going on in this fifth installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I’m still trying to get it together in my head.
I liked the book even though the intensity was less than I had expected and V was not the V I expected him to be from the previous books but still, I laughed, I sympathized, I cried (not as many as with the other books though), I was outraged, I was touched, I was humbled, I was curious...I went through it all while devouring every chapter, page and letter.
Where in Lover Revealed there weren’t many things that surprised me and I had a pretty good idea where the story was headed, in this one every chapter had me gasping at the turn of events hitting me with info I really didn’t see coming. And there were some fascinating teasers concerning John Mattew, Blay and Qhuinn. On Phury it wasn’t so much as teasers as more big chunks of info in preparation of his coming book.

Jane and V were endearing and lovely together and there is were some of the less intense part comes in concerning V. Things just were too endearing and too lovely, going very smoothly and quickly, no big heavy turns and twists, just immediate mutual falling in love and bonding with little to no heavy complications.
In my opinion V shouldn’t be lovely but fierce and I missed that fierceness in him from the moment he realized Jane was his and he loved her. There were moments I would really think: “Come on V, snap out of it and stop being this sappy, that doesn’t fit you!”
The overall vibe I got from reading the parts on V and Jane was distance and detachment. In the other books it was like I was seeing the events and actions through the Brother and his shellan themselves, in this one it was as if the both V and Jane were standing on the outside watching things happen to them.
The HEA Ward made up for them was unconventional and totally different from her previous books but it worked for me. The connection between V and Jane throughout the book is more on an emotional level than a physical one, they were attracted to each others mind and spirit and not so much the physical aspects of each other even in the sexually oriented scenes. This made his HEA acceptable for me because in the end they are together.

V and Butch are to each other what everyone would wish for in a best friend and they were back to their familiar bantering after things put out in the open between them. Things that have been lingering since Lover Revealed and were now spoken out loud, letting them get back to the way they were with each other in the beginning of the series. I knew V and Butch were and are close and there is a real connection between the two but the intensity of V’s feelings blew me away. That was the kind of intensity I expected him to have for Jane.
John Matthew had me tied in knots with every scene he was in.
And his transition hit me like a ton of bricks! Another something I wasn’t expecting in this book...I knew it was coming but thought it would be in Phury’s book.
The Scribe Virgin amazed me both positively and negatively and brought out some ambivalent feelings because on the one hand I sympathized with her but on the other I wanted to curse her at some point. And she really wasn’t the Scribe Virgin I had come to know in the other books, even coming across as a bit more human and therefore showing a vulnerability that bordered on weakness in my opinion.
And then one thing I never thought I would say but I somewhat missed the whole Lesser-part in the book. Where in the other books up to Lover Revealed, it distracted me from the love-story and I wasn’t really into the whole Lesser-thing, here because the love-story was less intense I really found myself realizing that I would have liked a Lesser scene as there have been in the passed...

The world Ward has created is intriguing and she is definitely taking another path down the road of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. In this book changing the focus from the love-story between a Brother and his shellan to showing us more of the world that was created for the Brotherhood. The only disappointment is that Ward had to sacrifice V’s fierceness and intensity to do this.

Even though many things weren’t as I expected them and I’m left again with a lot of questions wandering through my mind, I still closed the book with a satisfied feeling but not on a high like I did Lover Revealed...because the feeling I had after that book being really about Butch and Marissa wasn’t here, I see this mainly as a transitional Black Dagger Brotherhood novel with a little V and Jane on the side.
But still I have to give credit were credit is due. It takes serious guts to take a series that was heading a certain direction and making it a totally different ballgame. For some it will be unacceptable, for me I find it gutsy and I’m curious as to where this all will lead...starting with Phury’s book next April.
I was going to give this book 4 stars inspite of some disappointing elements but then I started reading another book by a total different writer but also in the paranormal genre and thought: “This is what a 4 star book should be like.”

I read this book in March 2007

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. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.

But 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, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.

Holy. Crap.
I didn’t just read this book. I absorbed it, took it into my veins. This was one helluva book!
I’m speechless, or to steal a phrase from Rhage: I’m barren for words....
I hope I’ll be able to find the words to do justice to this book. But I’ll give it a shot.

For me there were 3 major characters in this book: Butch, Marissa and V. They carried the story and did it beautifully.

Both Butch and Marissa came through major style...They are so good...together, for each other. Their love overcomes both their insecurities and makes them both worthy of each other.
Butch turned out to be everything I speculated and then some. His past, his present and his future. I was under his spell from the first time I read about him in DL but now in his own book he just completely blew me away and left me wondering what just happened to me.
He was and most definitely always will be my favourite Brother. The changes he went through from DL to LE to LA and now in this book make him a hero who just takes my breath away.
And how about Marissa, she turned out to have the backbone I suspected must be somewhere inside her. I knew she had it in her to be a magnificent woman and it really surfaced in LR.
She stood up for herself and her love for Butch.

And then there is V.... Now there’s a male who’s definitely more than meets the eye (no pun intended!).
He just ambushed me, caught me totally by surprise. I know others have been fascinated with him from the first but I never really got him in the past books. There was something about him I couldn’t grasp.
In LR I got him. Got his feelings for Butch, his fears, his desires. Got him big time and I guess we haven’t even scratched the surface with this guy.
My heart broke for him and I know he has a lot coming at him but he’ll take it and survive.
This promises a whole lot for his own book. It’s going to be off the scale and I can’t wait!

Ms Ward outdid herself on this one. This series just keeps getting better and better with each book.
Some parts of the book were a confirmation of my speculations but of course Ward also threw some surprises at me.
I don’t know how she does it and frankly I don’t care as long as she keeps doing it. She had me laughing, crying, horrified, excited, moved, repulsed, angry, all in the span of those 462 pages.
She knows how to give you a complete story with the focus around the love between Butch and Marissa, but the sidestories are just as important and significant without being overbearing: The Lessers, the glymera, John, Rehv, the Brotherhood....
Every tidbit reveals a part of this intrigueing world and leaves you wanting more.