Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

I waited with great anticipation for this installment of the Black Daggerhood series.
We would finally give Phury his HEA, yet as the date of release approached many reviews of ARC popped up and the buz was that the book was a complete and utter disappointment. My anticipation for the release deflated.
My daughter was leaving for her two month journey to Japan the day of the release and I wanted to give her the book so she could read it on her 12 hour plane ride so when I got my hands on a copy the night before I happily gave it to her who had not read the reviews and still was on a high. I went out an purchased a copy of it for my eBook reader. I didn't get around to reading it until mid July.

It was FABULOUS!! I will try not to let reviews influence my mood on a book ever again. the main complaint on the book was that Phury's story was loss in all the other storylines going on. Also that Ward was deviating from the paranormal romance theme. All true. Wonderfully true!!

After reading the book I think Phury wasn't strong enough to carry a book the way the others did. Even Butch's story (which is my least favorite of all) had so many things going on for the romance between him and Marissa to reach that HEA that they had to be the main focus.

I think that Phurry's story was not cheated at all. We got to see his HEA and so much more. The War took a place front and center and it was very intense. I think if you wanted a pure romance this series is not going to be offering you that in the future. This book brought the series into a Alt-Universe/Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre with some elements of romance. I couldn't be more thrilled.

Phurry deals with alot of self doubt and with alot of pity parties between it all. Many thought he was overreacting but honestly the guy put his life on hold to search for his twin. The guilt of having been the one not taken shadowed his whole life, then when he finds him, the guy is so messed up that you got to wonder if he did Zadist any favors in saving his hide. I think he is owed some gratitude but I don’t think he should expect it. Zadist is not going to see the need for gratitude because he has too many emotional scars to accept anything good going his way. This is totally dished out in one of the more poignant scenes of the book.

The caretaker became the one needing the care. I loved that Ward explored this relationship because Phurry needed to hit bottom before he could get up. I think there was more that could have been dredged up but I think it was sufficient to get a feel of what was going on there.

The rest of the book was focused on the war between the brotherhood and the lessen society. Seems the Omega fathered a son and infiltrated him into the brotherhood. There is a traitor and when you find out who it is you are a bit thrown back but honestly not surprised.

Love, Love, Love John Matthew in this installment as well as his two buddies Qhuinn (who has problems of his own) and Blaylock (who blew us away with his own little secret!).

Rehvenge shows another side of himself and Xhex is finally intrigued by John Matthew!

And if all that is not enough… We have a new ally bringing home a lost brother!

Rumors are that we won’t be seeing a new brotherhood book for sometime. I am a bit bummed on that front. This is a series that has been on my list of must reads but it has moved to a positions that rivals my all time favorite series (The Outlander series by Gabaldon)

Grade: A

Lover Revealed by J. R. Ward

Fell absolutely in love with this series last summer when I read the first three books all at once. Then came the wait... God, it took forever for the next installment!

This is the fourth of the series and it tells the story of Butch and Marissa. We met both of them in the first book of the series (Dark Lover).

Butch was a cop and his dedication to saving Beth, who became Wrath's Queen, led to his knowledge and presence in the Brotherhood. He left the force after finding the Brotherhood's cause most rewarding. Unfortunately, although he lives with the Brotherhood and shares their secrets, Butch feels unworthy because he is not allowed to fight the Lessers. He might be surrounded by riches but he cannot respect himself and cannot bring himself to pursue Marissa.

Marissa was Wrath's Shellan (the woman that fed him) and although everyone thought they were destined to be bonded, she was set aside for a mortal. Although Butch attracts her she feels unworthy of him since all of her kind (the aristocracy of Vampires) judge her to be less of a woman. She also fears that if she feeds from him that she will not be able to control herself and will kill him (which she almost does).

At some point Butch is captured by the Lessers when he tries to save a Pre-transition Vamp. They torture him because they know that he is friends with the Brotherhood. The Omega arrives and, discovering the prize that is Butch, inserts some evil part of himself into Butch that almost kills him. He is brought to Marissa's brother who isolates him because he fears that whatever was stuck into Butch could be contagious. Butch is turned to save his life but the Evil in hi is causing him to act a bit differently than expected. Marissa, the Brotherhood and the Scribe Virgin are determined to save the man that could be one told in a prophecy.

This book was one of the most emotionally draining of the series. I thought Zadist's story was the worse but in his case the suffering was expected and, for some reason, made me love him more. This story was so entwined with the subplot it was difficult for me to really feel for Butch. It did make me feel deeply for Vishous since I felt that by giving Butch someone to love left V all alone. There were these weird moments in the book that gave me a feel that V wanted Butch in a WHOLE different way. It was quite an interesting view of V.

John also is heavily depicted in this story and honestly, he doesn't do it for me. I am really looking forward to his transformation to see what a grown up, not so whiny, John can offer. Regardless the story was strong and it was wonderful to continue the line of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Grade: B-