Lover Unleashed

Surgeon Manny Manello has his work, his horse, and... not much else. He's brilliant and driven, and detached. Summoned by someone he thought was dead to the bedside of a spectacularly beautiful, critically injured woman, he's immediately enraptured. Although Manny knows that once he's repaired her injuries he'll never see Payne again, he pours himself heart and soul into making her whole - but losing her memory may cost him everything.

Payne wanted to be free of Sanctuary. Now that she is, she's unwilling to live as a cripple, unable to walk or fight. If the human healer can't fix her, she's determined to die, and even reuniting with her brother isn't enough to change her mind. But can love heal all?

I really wanted to love this book, show more but the whole Manny/Payne drama has a flat feel. Far more engaging? The sub-plot as V and Jane slam head-on into their first marital wall is wrenching and lovely. The brief moments as Quinn and Blaylock continue to suffer separately are something to look forward to, as well.

Ultimately and unfortunately, this feels like a gap novel intended to put more players on the board. With Xcor and his boys, Murhder (who didn't show up at all here), and the ongoing will they-won't they and how much damage can they do to one another drama of Quinn and Blaylock, hopefully Ward has enough irons in the fire to give us another edge of the seat installment soon! show less

LOVED this! This time the focus was on Payne and Manny, as well as Jane and V.

I really like the character of Payne. She may be virginal and naive, but she's fierce and loyal to those whom she loves. While the blossoming relationship between Payne and Manny was light and refreshing, I think what gripped me the most was V coming unhinged and the toll it took on Jane as well as their marriage. I cried every time those two ran up against another wall. When Butch came to the rescue, I couldn't believe he knew just how to push the right buttons to get V to crack.

For the first time, I think there were no Mr. X, Y or Z's in this story and no sign of the Omega. However, a warrior from the past has surfaced, Xcor. It seems he wants to usurp the show more throne from Wrath. I'm not yet sure if he's a possible friend or a real foe. What he has planned points towards foe, but the way he treated Payne makes me think otherwise. Maybe the Brotherhood will expand as the Lessening threat grows bigger?

Hottest scene in this story didn't involve the Brotherhood - le gasp! It was Xcor, Throe and a pro. Nuff said.

Loved the twist at the end involving Manny. Who knew? And seeing V so different, lighter was too sweet. He deserves to be really happy for a change.

I can't wait for the next book and hopefully we'll get to see a female warrior in action. show less

I told myself that I wasn't going to write a review of every single Black Dagger Brother novel. 'Cause honestly that would basically boil down to I liked this one more or less than the previous ones. The writing is essentially the same, as are the plots or each, just focusing on another Brother. But I feel compelled to post a small rant about this one. It was such a prime opportunity....completely lost.

Here, in Payne, we had the possibility of a female with the strength, character, and pedigree to join the Brotherhood. Sure Xhex fights along side the men, but she is primarily the Shellran of a Brother. That's her role. Payne was painted as a true warrior and I was really hoping for a little bit of strong-willed female ass-kicking. What show more did we get? A freaking bed-bound damsel in distress. She was as much of a painted doll as any member of the Glymera. This was only further emphasised by the fact that Manny fell in love with her on sight. Fell in love with her based on nothing but looks, nothing more that what she was with no consideration for who she was. She might as well have been any feckless Disney princess waiting to be chosen by her Prince Charming with no volition of her own. She may be on the cover, but Manny is the main character. The book is about him and Payne's involvement is only in relation to him. She is incidental.

While I always enjoy Ward's writing (I have made it to the 9th book after all), I've like some of the BDB books more than others. This one disappointed me in general and more because I had such high hopes for a good female characters. show less

*Spoilers are clearly marked

I've read all the BDB novels. Some I loved and some I didn't love so much. This one falls into the latter category and then some. I've always thought the BDB lingo was corny, but not too overwhelming - my, how things change.

Nearly every character continuously shortened words. Absolutely became "abso". Obviously became "obvi". You know who else shortens words in that manner due to either laziness or stupidity? Snooki. Yah. Lame-ass, famous-for-being-an-airhead, Jershey Shore Snooki. Sucks when you're reading about big, bad, sexy vamps and all you can think of is lame-ass Snooki. Worse than this, "cocksucking" was used as an adjective by 3 different characters, that I can remember. One of them isn't even a show more Brother, so it can't be explained under "New Brother Slang". It was so frikkin' out-of-place, too.


"I’m also your cocksucking king, so you will do as I command, Vishous.”


Are u cocksucking kidding me?! "I am your COCKSUCKING king"??!! LOOL. C'mon, Ward. You can't be serious. Oh, but she is. I did a search on my ebook copy and came up with 6 instances of the use of "cocksucking" as an adjective. Maybe this didn't bother others as it did me, but I found it to be super-stupid.

If you're reading this review of book #9, you likely know the typical BDB format. Two main characters fall in love and a number of side stories round it out. Thank the Scribe Virgin for the side stories. Otherwise I mighta slipped into the Fade from boredom. The main love story was corny and so farfetched. As you should know, it's Payne's story. Ya know, Payne the badass? She was so lame and the story so contrived. Her love interest was a cocksucking lame-o, also. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes throughout every interaction they had. I nearly had an eye injury from the excessive rolling. The dude is human, but he immediately "thinks" like a brother would. He thinks of her as "his female", nearly right off the bat. He growls when he thinks she's in danger. The human. Growls. Right.

Even more annoying, every-frikkin-body is a male or female of worth. Geez Louise. Brothers would think about how their shellans are females of worth. Then they'd think about how their brothers' shellans were females of worth. Then the shellans would think about how their hellrens are males of worth. Payne's human was a male of worth - both Payne & Vishous thought so. Did I mention that Vishous is a male of worth? It really became laughable. They're all of cocksucking worth! We get it, Ward!!

Lastly, I know these books are Erotica. I'm actually not a fan, but typically the fighting and drama are enough to help me overlook the cheesy sex scenes. This time around, the sex was just beyond silly. There were 3 jerk-off scenes by the time I was 33% into the book. 3. Jerk-off scenes. 3. Blah.

I dunno. It was kind of a train wreck, but surprisingly, I didn't hate the book or want to abandon it. (I was skimming and rushing to finish it, though.) You know what it is? This is book #9. It's familiar. It's like coming home to your corny, dysfunctional family. You roll your eyes and then you roll with the punches. I guess I'm just not ready to give the Brothers up. I must be a cocksucking female of worth, true? show less

This book is bittersweet for me: Another superb book by Ward, but I am also sad that I am now caught up in the series and have to wait just like everyone else for the next installment slated for March 2012!

I listened to the last three audiobooks in the series in quick succession. Because the last two ended on cliff-hangers, I could not wait to find out what happened next!

At the conclusion of Lover Mine, Wrath and Payne were sparring and she appeared to have broken her back. This book picks up right where we left off, and The Scribe Virgin allows Wrath to bring Payne to the “other side” to the Brotherhood's mansion. There was a feeling of excitement for me while listening to this because Wrath (being blind) does not know that Payne show more is the twin sister of Vishous. There is anticipation as Doc Jane is summoned to examine Payne, and she takes one look at Payne’s face and realizes she is looking into the face of someone with the same features as her Hellren, Vishous.

Ahhhhh, Vishous! He is one of my favourite bad boys. He figures prominently in this book because he is Payne’s twin.

**SPOILER WARNING!

Doc Jane soon realizes that the damage to Payne’s spine is beyond the scope of her expertise and that there is only one person that can help Payne: Manuel “Manny” Manello. But how will Doc Jane be able to persuade the doctor to come with her?

The reunion between Doc Jane and Manny is pretty emotional. Let’s not forget that Manny thought that Doc Jane was dead and that he also admitted that he had feelings for her. Well, she did die but not in the way that he thinks she did. And she still lives but not in the “normal” fashion. Understandably, Manny is confused and angry with Jane. However, not one to turn his back in a crisis, he agrees to help Jane.

You know what is coming...Manny takes one look at Payne and feels an instant connection with her, much the same way that Jane felt about Vishous. Payne, too, feels things for Manny that she has never known before. He insists that he can only operate at the hospital and that he wants access to the MRI machines. Vishous relents, and Manny operates on Payne with Jane’s assistance to repair the damage. However, it is uncertain whether she will ever regain the use of her legs. Although Manny’s memory is wiped, he is drawn to Payne’s room and knows that something has happened but he is cursed with searing pain whenever he tries to recall what it is.

Back at the Brotherhood's mansion, Payne is in recovery but making little progress. Payne makes Vishous promise that he will not let her live a life where she is imprisoned in her own body, and Vishous painfully vows he will end her life if that is her desire. Jane does not want Vishous to have to live with that on his conscience for the rest of his life, so she agrees to humanely help Payne end her life with an injection. Meanwhile, Vishous has tracked down Manny and realizes that he may be the only person who can give Payne the will to live. As Manny’s memories come flooding back, he knows he must get to Payne before it is too late. Vishous walks in on Jane holding the needle intended for Payne, and he cannot forgive her for what she was about to do.

The conflict between Vishous and Jane was really heartbreaking. You know what Jane was going to do was wrong, but she was going to do it for the right reason. Wow, Ward really knows how to get you right in the gut! I also like that Ward doesn’t paint the couples as picture-perfect. In Lover Mine, we saw the marital problems between Wrath and Beth. Now, it is Vishous and Jane. Life isn’t all roses, and Ward reminds us that commitment takes hard work. Conflict also generates a reader’s interest, and this is what makes us fall deeper and deeper in love with the BDB!

Manny not only helps Payne to see that her life could still be fulfilling even from a wheelchair, but they discover that there is something about Payne’s feelings for Manny that has a profound effect on her!

Jane's betrayal is the impetus to Vishous' downward spiral, and the only person who can help is Butch. The scene with Butch “breaking” Vishous is utterly raw, and you can feel their pain. I shed quite a few tears. Butch handled his task brilliantly.

This book will be one of my favourites in the BDB series. We get to know Vishous, Butch, and Jane on a deeper level. I enjoyed this parallel sub-story just as much as Payne's and Manny’s story. I love that Ward’s characters are so complex.

A secret regarding Manny is revealed, which affects both Butch and Wrath.

This is the first book that makes no mention of Lash! No doubt he won’t stay away for long and, when he resurfaces, it’s going to be big. The Lessening Society has been inducting hordes of recruits, so that can only mean that a big battle is going to come.

I nearly forgot to mention another sub-story: The Band of Brothers, who come to Caldwell to try to overthrow Wrath as the king. Their plan is to take care of the Lessers and play on the fear of the Glymera and show that they can take care of business better than the Brotherhood. Of course, Xcor has a “score” to settle with Payne because she killed The Bloodletter. Ward introduces an interesting ménage à trois with two members of the Band of Brothers and a prostitute. It was a little shocking as it was something that I totally did not expect to see in a Ward novel, but she pulls it off!

I musn’t neglect to mention Qhuinn and Blay. I like that Ward is giving Qhuinn a bit of a rough time! He so deserves it! It will make him appreciate Blay all the more, and it shows that our boy is growing up a bit. I wonder how long Ward is going to make us wait for Qhuinn to admit his feelings to Blay? And what’s with Qhuinn’s premonition? Will he be mated with Layla?

My only complaint is the ending: The story between Payne & Manny and Vishous & Jane comes full circle and ties up nicely, but the ending felt too rushed for me! I had to check my iPod twice to make sure that a part wasn’t missing!

Ward's prose has me laughing so hard that I'm crying one moment...

Butch, while on the phone with Vishous: “Butch tightened his grip on his cell and wished there were an app that let you reach through a phone and bitch slap someone.”

and sobbing the next...

Vishous to Jane: "You’re the reason I get out of bed every night. And you’re the reason I can’t wait to come home every dawn. Not the war. Not the Brothers. Not even Butch. It’s . . . you.”

Ack! How am I going to make it until March 2012 when the next in the series will be released?? Ward, this is pure and utter torture. Lover Reborn (Book #10) is going to feature Tohr, and I think that Xhex’s mother, No’One, is going to be his love interest! I don’t know how I feel about that! I can’t picture Tohr with anyone but Wellsie. I hope that also means that Xhex and John Matthew will figure prominently in the story. And, if Xhex and John Matthew will play key roles in the book, perhaps Murhder will resurface and make trouble for the two of them?

If you love paranormal romances and you haven’t yet read this series, you must! Go online right now and order the series! Don’t get them one at a time because you won’t want to wait between the books! They are so hard to put down!!

Unlike the last two in the series, there weren't any technical issues with this audiobook. Frangione, as always, is an absolute delight!

MY RATING: 5 stars!! Superb book! I could not put it down!! show less

3.5 stars

I've come to the conclusion that JR Ward is not writing novels... she's writing a soap opera. It's never just about the protagonists in the book, it's about the ensemble. I really want the Qhuay book before anything else and find myself searching for their scenes. There was no real mention of Z (my favorite character) or Revhenge (spelling? I'm too lazy to look it up, but he's another character I enjoyed).

Lots of stuff that's happened in the previous books are mentioned, but never delved into deeper. All kinds of characters are introduced and new plots are opened... and you just sort of have to have faith that they'll be wrapped up in the next books. I'm DYING to see how this all ends, but I am getting weary of all the show more add-on's. I'd like to feel as if they're will be some resolution to the "major" story line soon. The Omega and his son are not mentioned at all... just more new stuff coming out of nowhere.

I had no issues with the romance between Payne and Manny. It did seem to have some inconsistencies with how things were laid out before, but nothing that was off putting. A couple of revelations about Manny, had me shaking my head; and I felt no connection to him, but I really liked Payne. She was really cool. I hope she maintains her strength through the next series of books (if she is in any). Vishous had a starring role in this book... I guess because he's the twin, he gets to share?

Anyway, I quite enjoyed the book, but really because this is my crack and I continue to be a fiend :) show less

Reread 2020: I loved all the great details I got to focus on reading this the second time around. Favorite moments:

-All the Manny and Payne. These are two characters I love separately, and they totally sizzle together. Payne is such a badass, in action and in dialogue. I wish that we got to see her more in later books, and hope that eventually she appears more in the series. She’s completely awesome. Manny is great and they sizzle together in their scenes. Her burning the cuffs off her wrists and slapping the hell out of Xcor at the end? Damn.

-The torture-fest that is Qhuinn pining for Blay. Have to say the guy did it to himself, which didn’t make it any prettier to read, but JR Ward really knows how to write the angst. That show more scene where Saxton and Qhuinn talk and Saxton reveals to his cousin that he’s with Blay right now but doesn’t believe he’s his forever? Absolutely heartbreaking. Especially given that once again, Qhuinn drops the ball. Feel so sorry for Saxton as well. Also some great scenes with Layla.

-BoB. This is the first book where we see them. Trying to pay more attention to these guys the second time around to pick up more nuance. Xcor I liked more than I thought I would. The others in the Band, besides Throe, who I remember liking early on and definitely liked here, came off as a bit intense particularly in that last scene with Payne, but it was only their first appearance. They have room to grow. I believe Zypher was the only one named. I enjoyed Xcor’s last scene with Payne.

-John Matthew giving Qhuinn hell about his haircut and removing his metal. Hilarious scene! show less