Book Review: Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

Title: Lover Unbound (Black Dagger Brotherhood #5 Series)
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 502
Publisher: Signet
ISBN: 0451222350

In Caldwell, New York, war rages between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Now the cold heart of a cunning predator will be warmed against its will…

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

REVIEW

And the adventure of the brotherhood continues with Lover Unbound wherein it is primarily focused on Vishous’ story as well as Jane. Lover Unbound gives us a preview of what Vishous’ life was before the brotherhood which also helps in answering all our questions regarding this eye candy. If you’re asking who might Jane be well she’s the human doctor that treated V and somehow along the line V “kidnapped” her to help with his continued medication and recovery. Another human to add in the mansion, wonder what will Wrath do? 🙂 Teehhee

Phury also shows a significant part in this story as well as Cormina. Supporting characters are not MIA as well and this is what I love about Ward’s style. She continues to incorporate the other characters in each book making the whole series entwined with each other but also serves as a great stand alone book. The story is progressive, the characters matures as the story accelerates and the plot just keeps getting better and better. Weird thing though, V’s the agressive/S&M character in the whole brotherhood yet this book has somehow more tamed, has shorter and minimal love scenes compared to the other books. I wonder why that it – I was expecting a more vivid and detailed description but was left craving for more instead. Amazing, amazing book. Never did disappoint and would highly recommend. Giving it a 4 stars rating!

Black Dagger Brotherhood

1. Dark Lover

2. Lover Eternal

3. Lover Awakened

4. Lover Revealed

Morganville Vampire Series = My oh my!

I am a lover of vampire novels/series if you followed me on my previous blog. Whenever I start reading the first book in a series, particularly vampire stories, I just can’t stop reading book after book which is why I must have at least half of the series. Last week, I devoted my entire weekday to read Rachel Cain’s Morganville Vampire series – there’s 13 books as far as I know correct me if I am wrong guys – and I’ve read all 8 of them and on my 9th book. Thinking about it, the impression one would think is that “Wow she loves the series sooo much she read all 8 books in a week!” but sad to say I didn’t. So next would be, “Well, why did you read 8 books?”. Which is why I decided to write this post.  I’ll  try enumerate the things I hated and liked about the series (actually just the points that I can remember). Just to remind you, this is not a hate post, I just wanted to provide you with the “whys”. In stead of writing a book review for the individual books wherein I’ll award 1-3 stars each, I’d rather write a post regarding the series as a whole.

Book Review: Lover Revealed by J.R. Ward

Title: Lover Revealed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #4 Series)
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 455
Publisher: Onyx
ISBN: 0451412354

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.

Review

Lover Revealed is the 4th book in the BDB series and I must say that it fits in perfectly. This is the book wherein the story is focused on Butch and Marissa as well as their connection within the Brotherhood. To me, O’Neal’s connection with the Brotherhood was kinda off specially since he was human and the first time I read about his “bonding” or attraction with Marissa was tricky – I didn’t know how Ward would eventually make every mesh but Lover Revealed told me the story of how thing would be.

Lover Awakened was a hard book to follow Lover Awakened especially with the intensity of the story – it was about Zsadist after all but Lover Revealed pulled through and I should also add that it was as great as the first 3 books. No disappointments here. 🙂 Okay so what did I love about Lover Revealed? For one, it’s the friendship between Rhage, V and Butch. It’s purely brotherly love – their devotion, loyalty as well as how funny it is to actually read about them three. I often found myself laughing at their dialogues, and for sure I was not the only one. Butch’s ha a lot of bitterness and confusion with his life as well at his relationship with the Brotherhood – it was perfectly human. I believe this is one part of Butch that most sympathized about – how will he be a part of the Brotherhood with all his limits? Ward’s decision in making Butch a vampire was somehow convenience in my point, it was THAT pretty red bow to make everything work together but that’s how Ward wanted it to be and I believe it worked well for both Butch and the series. Now to Marissa. Marissa, Marissa, Marissa. Hmmmmmmm. I can’t find the right word to describe my feelings toward the character, it’s difficult. I mean I didn’t hate her but I wasn’t in love with the character as well. Most of the time she was selfish, immature and just too fragile (to think she is one of the vampire ladies in the series!). For now, she is the most fragile of all the girls in the Brotherhood in my opinion but she’s Butch’s partner so it’s a package – maybe she’ll grow on me in the next books. Let’s see.

Lover Revealed is similar to the first 3 books when it comes to action and drama, pacing, intensity and not short on the erotic department as well. It’s addictive so don’t think that you can put the book down if you start reading it – make sure that before you pick it up, you don’t have anything to do afterwards because I am telling you now there’s no chance that you’ll be doing anything until you finish the book. To wrap this up, what I love about Lover Revealed and the whole series as a whole is the connection between one book to another at the same time that it can also be read as a stand alone book. You’ll read a lot of snippets between the other characters’ lives but the mystery of the whole is left for readers to discover as you pick up the next book. Nothing disappointing about Lover Revealed. Giving it 5 stars on my list!

Black Dagger Brotherhood

1. Dark Lover

2. Lover Eternal

3. Lover Awakened

Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Title: Eat, Pray, Love
Author: Elizabeth Gilbert
Pages: 334
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0143038419

In her early thirties, Elizabeth Gilbert had everything a modern American woman was supposed to want–husband, country home, successful career–but instead of feeling happy and fulfilled, she felt consumed by panic and confusion. This wise and rapturous book is the story of how she left behind all these outward marks of success, and of what she found in their place. Following a divorce and a crushing depression, Gilbert set out to examine three different aspects of her nature, set against the backdrop of three different cultures: pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, a balance between worldly enjoyment and divine transcendence.

REVIEW

To start, I’m not really a fan of non fiction and to be honest with you guys what piqued my curiosity was not the story itself but the hype and buzz of the book that readers shared in addition to watching the film. If I read this book sooner, I would have related to it completely though I was not married, there were moments in my life last year and years before that when I was unhappy, unbalanced and desperate for answers to questions that I myself didn’t want to ask but enough about me.

So Eat, Pray, Love tells us the story of Liz and her venture to find peace, contentment and balance with her life – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Taking a year long vacation to visit Italy, India and Bali; Liz endured an endless journey of discovery and lessons that both enlightened her and frightened her at the same time. For me, this book was a roller coster ride. There were times that I loved it, and there were times that I hated it. It is Gilbert’s story and some may relate, most may hate but I for one is staying in the middle. As I said, there are times that I love it and there are times that I hate it.

It’s just wonderful to read a story wherein a woman finds herself at a cross road of not knowing where to go but somehow seemed to find the right destination after a time of wandering. Her hunger for balance and spirituality is commendable and her bravery for writing a book about her journey was appreciated. It is not easy to be in her situation and be scrutinized by everybody for whatever reasons. For me, this story was great. An amazing journey to tell us that in spite of all our troubles, there will always be something great to look forward to in the end.

Book Review: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

Title: Lover Awakened (Black Dagger Brotherhood #3 Series)
Author: J.R. Ward
Pages: 434
Publisher: Signet
ISBN: 0451219368

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.

BTT: Booking Through Thursday (1)

Q: Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional character? Who and what about them did you love?

A: I believe I had fallen in love with a lot of fictional characters (had a lot of crushes too!) but as far as I can remember or the first name that comes in mind is Noah from Nicholas Spark’s novel The Notebook. I don’t know but whenever romance and love are the topic, this is the book and character that I first think of. I can’t get enough of the character and my love for him will never get old. Teehe!