Lover Revealed

Yes, yes, yes! I came about this close to saying that I have a new favorite but then stopped. Zsadist will always be my favorite I think. That being said - Butch rocks!

LOVER REVEALED, the fourth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward is awesome. Packed to the gills with suspense and the obligatory romance, this was a book that kept me running through the pages at break neck speed.

Butch is one of my favorite characters because he has really always been the odd man out. I don't want to give away too much detail, but at this point I'm going to assume that if you have been reading this review long enough to get to this point, chances are you have read some of the first three books. Back to my point, I have a warm little show more spot in my heart for Butch. Being the odd human living amongst the vampires certainly can't be an easy life and in LOVER REVEALED we start to see the strain that it puts on Butch. With no place to fit in and really no real way to contribute, Butch ends up floating along, befriended by the brothers but with no stable ground under his feet.

Enter Marissa. We've seen her before in Ward's previous books, but in LOVER REVEALED we get to see her quite a bit more. Butch has had his eyes on her but isn't stupid enough to delude himself. He knows the truth - he will never quite be good enough for the beautiful, aristocratic Marissa. Still, that doesn't keep him from wishing, and hurting. At the same time Marissa is forced to decide what kind of female she wishes to be. If that wasn't enough, Ward throws a lovely little twist in by adding a third party to our love triangle. If there's one thing I can say about Ward it's that she always manages to surprise me.

Ward continues her magic in LOVER REVEALED by giving us the perfect amount of suspense, action, and romance. The fight with the Lessers rages on and though it would make like much more easy for our beloved brothers, it doesn't look like the war is going to let up anytime soon. Her books are among my favorites for a variety of reasons, with one of the main ones being that she integrates her action and romance into each other quite well. The romance never feels heavy and although the action could easily feel like a "boom boom bang" book, it never does. She gives us the perfect amount and always leaves us wanting more.

Of course I have to give LOVER REVEALED a solid A. This was a fantastic book and in my opinion, Ward really stepped it up a notch while writing it. Fortunately I don't have to wait for the publication of book five of the series; instead I get to leap right into the next one! show less

I was surprised at how much I liked this story. Marissa, introduced in previous books, seemed too innocent and whitewashed but I loved watching her grow into someone stronger. Her manifestation into an independent and capable woman was fantastic. Butche's love for her was also another beautiful thing to read. I knew he was obsessed with her from previous books, but his love was pure and unflinching. Learning more about Butch's past and what made him tic was great. Lots of emotional growth from both Marissa and Butch, so one didn't overshadow the other.

I love a story that can surprise me, and Butch's story did just that. So many twists I didn't see coming, and Butch is such a likable character. He almost seems to be the glue that holds the Brotherhood together when things get tough. He never minces words, but speaks his mind and never backs down from anyone, even if he's at a serious disadvantage (him being a human and all that).

While he deals with the sadness of not having been able to get closer to Marissa, Vishous finds ways of bringing the two together time and time again. The story not only takes us through the rekindling and budding love between Marissa and Butch, but the connection between Vishous and Butch gets stronger too, for a reason.

Considering how long Butch and show more Marissa were (being kept) apart, I thought they jumped the gun a little with the intimacy. Just mere minutes after finding out that their long separation was based on an unfortunate misunderstanding and outside interference. Add to that the fact that Marissa is a virgin to the hundredth power and clueless about a lot of things, and the first few love scenes were a little humorous and quite awkward. It may have helped if they had spent more time together to get to know each other better. I don't think Butch was aware just how sheltered she really was, and likewise, Marissa didn't know all the painful particulars about his life. She seemed to dismiss Butch's yearnings for wanting to become a better man for himself and for her. That he was feeling substandard not only in regards to her but also where the Brotherhood was concerned seemed to go right over her head. There were so many "misfires" between the two that I almost gave up on them altogether.

I found it ironic that the lessers always scoff at the loyalty the Brothers have towards one another. While the lessers yearn for power, they have no problem stabbing each other in the back to achieve it. Not to mention that almost every fore lesser has somehow gone off to follow their own agenda and ended up paying dearly for their foolishness.

I ending was one I didn't see coming, but I really liked some of the answers I got and of course, I 'm building new speculations. To say I'm deeply enamored with this series is an understatement. show less

Lover Revealed is Butch and Marissa's story. Butch is taken by the lessers very early on in the book after saving a civilian vampire. He is tortured for information about the brotherhood, but never gives in (Go Butch!). However, something truly evil is done to Butch before he is left for dead in the middle of nowhere. After the brotherhood rescues him, they question his fate and allegiance. Butch is no longer the same "cop." After healing from his stay with the lessers, he starts to notice some changes: his body is letting off an odd spice scent around Marissa, he is much more aggressive, he can suck lessers into himself, and his blood turns black whenever he destroys the lessers his way.
Marissa and Butch's relationship had so many show more "aw" moments but there was one thing that seriously annoyed me; when Butch called Marissa "baby," I cringed. I really don't know why that bothered me so much. Other than that, everything was fine. Butch wasn't my favorite character, even in the beginning, and this book didn't really change that for me. Although, there were some aspects that really stood out and made me love Ms. Ward's writing even more.
The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a romance book series (just look at the titles). The characters in the series have so much depth, not often seen in adult romance novels. With each book, Ms. Ward astounds me with the way she skillfully balances the passionate love scenes with actual plot. In Butch's story, just like Zsadist's, the central characters grow and change through the story. Butch starts out insecure in his place in life. Later in the book, when Butch is telling Marissa about his past he comments, "I've always been different from other people, not just in my family but when I was working here on the CPD force, too. I never fit in...until I met the Brotherhood...I've been living on the fringes all my life...(325)." As the story progresses, the Butch becomes a part of a family, a part of something he never had. Marissa also finds herself. Even though Butch and Marissa fought a lot in this book, I think it was appropriate. Neither were secure with themselves. After Havers forced independence on Marissa, she started to follow her "Rule Number One: Right or wrong, she made the choices in her life. No one else did (402)." Of course, Marissa doesn't become independent overnight. In fact, she moves in with the brotherhood. Slowly, she begins to become her own person. Her transition from flowing gowns and corsets to pants and turtle necks was very symbolic of her transformation from a push over, aristocrat to a fully independent woman, free of the cage her brother and the glymera had forced her in all her life.
Lover Revealed was definitely a huge step forward in the war between the vampires and the lessers. What happens to Butch changes everything. The Black Dagger Brotherhood have a whole new deadly weapon in the war. As the Scribe Virgin said, "Now the new era in the war begins (399)."
In this installment, Vishous and John Matthews also share some narration time. Vishous has to deal with his confusing feelings towards Butch and Marissa. John Matthews has to come to terms with Wellsie's death and Tohr's leaving. Honestly, I felt bad for Vishous (his book is next!), but not John Matthews. Seriously, John truly annoys me. I feel like every time Ms. Ward writes a John Matthews part I have to fight the urge not to skip forward, mostly because all he does is whine! It's all poor-weak-me. I'm not strong enough to beat up Lash. I'm so weak. Etc. *
While this wasn't the greatest of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books, it definitely is worth the read. Fair Warning: like all the BDB books, there are quite a few graphic sex scenes, violence, profanity, and of course blood and gore. If you haven't picked these books up yet, then I suggest you buy them...yes, buy them. They are too amazing not to purchase because you will want to reread them over and over again.

*note: I've actually read up until and part of the way through Lover Mine (John Matthew's book) and I do like him, much much much better, in that book. show less

First, I really love this series. I have recommended it to males as well as females. Having said that, this one, Lover Revealed was not my favorite. Butch is a little to sappy with his affections for Marissa. Marissa, I want to have issues with but given her life and background it is hard not give her the benefit of the doubt.
With that said, there are characters I do like in this novel. Wrath has grown as a "human." He has become cring towards John Matthews. Zsadist is still evolving and his sense of humor is getting better which means Wrath was right in book one when he said, Zsadist with a sense of humor was another reason for him to live. Vichous is a little vulernable in this one. J.R. Ward alludes to Vichous having deep sexual show more issues and in the next book we will become intimate with them. Rhage is still Rhage which is good.
The Scribe Virgin makes several key apperances in this one. You have to wonder about this "Being." The Omega, the founder of the Lessening Society makes hismelf known and felt to the brothers and the heat so to speak is on...
I will admit Butch serves a purpose in the series. In the grand scheme of reading series there are some books you will enjoy/like more than others. It is a personal preference.
This book has sadness, hope and more pain. This is good because it is a reflection of life. show less

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Butch has been one of my favorite characters of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series since he was introduced. What attracted me the most about him was the fact that he is the only human out of the bunch and yet he still manages to hold his own in the vampire world. This alone makes him the most badass of them all in my opinion! His story is different from those of the brothers in many respects but it’s just as riveting and heartbreaking. Plus, it’s about Marissa too who’s a phenomenal character in her own right. Lover Revealed will make you weep, seethe with anger and then weep some more. It’s a killer ride but the ending makes it all worth while.

Lover Awakened is a hard act to follow but Ward still show more manages to deliver a solid fourth installment. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between V and Butch in Lover Revealed. It’s not easy to convey brotherly love without having their manhood take a slight hit but this book succeeded. The level of devotion and honesty that comes through in this novel is breath taking. The characters try to play it down with some manly joking which made the emotional elements both moving and funny at the same time. Butch puts up a strong front but on the inside he’s really quite vulnerable. I liked reading about his personal conflicts and his struggle to find a place to belong within the brotherhood.

Marissa is just as troubled as Butch but because she’s a female her emotions are always close to the surface and sometimes make her appear weak. I found that she grew a lot as a character in this book. She finally takes charge of her life and even pulls a few ballsy moves that really impressed me. Oh, and she finally gets laid! Anyone who’s capable of remaining a virgin for over three centuries deserves some credit. As a result, in true Black Dagger Brotherhood fashion, Lover Revealed is as scorching hot as its predecessors. Needless to say that after Marissa discovers what all the fuss is about she is hooked! The fact that she’s getting it on with Butch doesn’t hurt either.

This was my first audio book experience with a male narrator. It definitely took some getting used to and I found the female dialogue a little comical at times but overall Frangione does an excellent job. He has a great tone and accurately portrays the badass attitude that’s prevalent throughout this series. Jim also reads the action-y chapters with enthusiasm and the sex scenes with heat.

The ending sort of wraps up Butch’s humanity “problem” with a nice, neat bow but I think that it was fitting and that he deserves his happily ever after just as much as any of the brothers do. Lover Revealed is impassioned, dramatic and delivers a great story. Lover Awakened retains its top seat among my favorites in this series but all bets are off because Vishous is up next in Lover Unbound! show less

In the fourth Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Marissa hasn’t seen or spoken to Butch in months. Since she’s used to rejection, she thinks he wants nothing to do with her.
Butch O’Neal is the only human who knows about the Brotherhood, but he feels like an outsider looking in. He wants to fight and protect the vampire race against the lesser (super-strong soulless humans), but the Brotherhood refuses to let him. After he saves a vampire civilian, he’s captured, tortured, poisoned, and left for dead. Thanks to his best warrior buddy Vishous, he’s taken to a vampire-run hospital, but he’s different. The lessers’ god, the Omega, has put some of his evil darkness into Butch’s body. Luckily, Butch’s new abilities work in the show more Brotherhood’s favor.
I absolutely loved Butch! Despite his abusive childhood, he was strong, easygoing, and determined to help others. He was an honorable person and loved Marissa very much. His and V’s friendship deepened to a whole new level. Neither of them understood the strange connection between them, but it was definitely sexual in nature. Though he wants Marissa, he knows his friendship with V is just as important.
I couldn’t relate to Marissa. I felt sorry for her—she suffered so much pain and humiliation—but most of it was her own fault. She was just too polite to stand up for herself. Though she does grow and become stronger as the book progresses, I couldn’t forgive the way she shamed Butch after they made love for the first time and how she demanded things of him, which destroyed his self-worth.
I really liked most of the side characters. Zsadist has stepped up to teach the warrior trainees, and I loved the scenes with him and John. Poor, sweet John. (I adore him!) After Wellsie’s death and Tohr’s disappearance in the last book, John has become so angry and determined to avenge them. His argument with Wrath, the vampire king, was heart wrenching.
Xhex is an awesome new character. She’s Rehvenge’s symphath friend and lead security guard at his nightclub.
I’m still not fond of Rehv. How will he keep his job as a pimp a secret after the incident with a glymera (aristocratic) patron? This looks like a glaring issue to me, but I doubt it will be mentioned in the later books.
Even though I found some various word choices/phrases distracting, I enjoyed this story and I’m excited to read about V in the next book.
4 Stars show less