Lover Avenged

This book was a little bit different than all the rest because it is mainly about someone who is NOT a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. I was always intrigued by Rehvenge’s character, and I enjoyed learning more about the Sympath colony. However, I could have done without the details of his sexual escapades with his HALF-SISTER. Ewwww! I realize that it wasn’t Rehv’s fault and that he was being blackmailed, but I didn’t like reading this part of the book, solely because he was related to the Princess. Too incestuous for me.

As with Zsadist and Vishous, Ward has a way for making us fall in love with these bad boys! Rehv is a hooker with a heart of gold (as well as pimp and drug lord), and only Ward could make us feel the show more way we do about Rehv. There is a reason why he does what he does, and he doesn’t do it for selfish reasons. I love the protector role that Rehv takes with his sister, Bella. As Rehv’s past unfolds, we see what a man of character he is and what lengths he has gone to in order to protect Bella and his mother. The scene towards the end with Rehv singing a lullaby to Nalla had me in tears!

I enjoyed learning more about the two shadows, Trez and iAm. They are absolutely committed to Rehvenge, and I like that. I hope we get to learn more about them!

Rehv falls for Ehlena, who is a nurse at Havers’ clinic. I loved everything about Ehlena, and it was not a surprise that she melted Rehv’s sympath side. I loved her “fall from grace” from the Glymera, which showed us how resilient and tough her character is. The intimate scenes between Rehv and Ehlena were totally hot! I am sure my face was flushed while I was listening, especially during their steamy phone sex during which Ehlena found a new use for her stockings! Ward has created another brilliant pairing in Rehv & Ehlena. I love them together!

I loved that Ward drew in a lot of the other members of the BDB into this book. There are so many sub-plots going on! Even Mary and Doc Jane resurface!

I enjoyed revisiting the relationship between Wrath and Beth, and I find that I like Wrath more now than I did in Dark Lover. His battle with himself over the loss of his sight was heart-breaking, and I loved seeing that vulnerability in him. Wrath’s relationship with Payne is interesting, and I can’t wait to see where that goes!

I loved delving further into John Matthew’s relationship with Xhex, but I hate how John Matthew changes during this book. I wish that Ward hadn’t turned him into such a cold-hearted bastard! I know he is hurting, but sheesh! He is taking it out on the whole world! I am glad that Tohr is finally getting his act together, even though it is "too little, too late" for John Matthew.

We learn more about Xhex and her ex-lover, Murhder, who was a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Her shell, too, is chipping away and underneath all that tough exterior is a woman who is struggling to keep a lid on her emotions.

And let’s not forget Lash…he is turning into quite the antagonist! He is the villain that you love to hate.

Ward masterfully ties all the sub-plots together into a superb ending! And what a cliff-hanger!! I could hardly wait to start on the next one.

I love Ward’s sarcastic humour, and I was laughing out loud on a number of occasions throughout the book.

Wrath to Butch: “Put on your big-girl pants and deal.”

And the touching moments:

Wrath’s thoughts: “But every once in a while, from out of the blue, someone reaches the quiet place where you spend your private time and changes the way you see yourself. If you’re lucky it’s your mate…and the transformation reminds you once again that you are absolutely, positively with the right person: because what they say doesn’t touch you because of who they are to you, but because of the content of their message.”

Ahhhhhhhh, just melts the heart, doesn't it?

Jim Frangione, how do you do it? I want his job. I want to narrate steamy novels, LOL! I have said it before and I’ll say it again: Frangione *IS* the BDB! There can never be another narrator for this series! His smooth, sultry voice during those intimate scenes is the icing on the cake!

This the first instance in the series where I have noticed some technical issues with the recording. There are some long pauses, and I can hear at other points where there was noise in the background when Frangione was cued in. It also sounded like Frangione was shouting the chapter numbers, and I jumped nearly out of my skin each time. It seemed like the volume on the chapter headings was louder than the rest of the narration. Either that or his voice was more commanding. I also prefer when the chapter number is preceded by the word "Chapter". I believe that this is also the first time in this series where Frangione simply says "One" instead of "Chapter One." I much prefer the latter.

MY RATING: 4.5 stars! Highly recommended, and I know I’ll read it again! show less

J. R. Ward has done it again with another spectacular installment in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Lover Avenged has pretty much everything I've come to expect from her writing: Swoon-worthy romance that harkens back to some of the earlier books in the series like Lover Eternal; hot love scenes, this time between more than just the main couple; lots of obstacles to overcome for true love to be victorious; an intelligently written fantasy story arc; lots of action and subplots; and a little black humor. All of the brothers and their shellans, except Cormia, put in an appearance, and Wrath and Beth have some front-and-center action which I'll address shortly. Also returning were the villainous, Lash, who's on a major power trip; show more the fallen angel, Lassiter, who's good for some great comic relief; Butch's ex-partner, Detective Jose de la Cruz; Rehv's bodyguards, Trez and iAm; and there was even a brief siting of Jane's former co-worker, Manuel “Manny” Manello, who I've heard has been tapped as the hero for book #9 that is coming out next year (2011). Also, the heroine of book #9, Payne, had her first scene. As always, the story was full of unexpected surprises. J.R. Ward definitely has a knack for the unpredictable, which is part of what makes these books so good for me.

Rehvenge is another great hero that I fell for almost immediately. There were times in previous books that it was hard to like Rehv as his business choices were distasteful to me, but J. R. Ward has always been great at redeeming the seemingly irredeemable. She gave Rehv good reasons for doing the things he's done over the years, put him through the ringer as atonement for his sins, and showed in spades what a beautiful heart he has underneath the hard outer shell of the drug lord/pimp. His vampire and symphath sides war against each other, making him a complete enigma for most of the book. One minute, he would do something seemingly unconscionable, but the next minute, something would happen or be revealed about him that made it impossible for me not to sympathize. Once the reader finds out about Rehv's origins and all the things he's been through over the years, it's truly not a stretch to understand why he's so confused and psychologically messed up. One thing I really loved about Rehv was how he treats all the females in his life (well, at least those who deserve it) with kindness, care, and respect, from Ehlena, Bella and his mother to the “girls” in his employ. I've heard it said that the measure of a man can be taken by how he treats his mother, and if that is the case, then Rehv is a saint.

Ehlena is a wonderful heroine too. She is a nurse and a truly caring soul who is completely devoted to her profession and patients, so much so that she was willing to take a big risk to help Rehv even though she barely knew him. I could very much relate to Ehlena's devotion to her ill father and her deep feelings of loneliness because caring for him has left her without much of a life to call her own. She is completely exhausted by the ordeal and trying to make ends meet the best she can after loosing everything years ago through no fault of her own. In fact, this part hit almost a little too close to home for me, and I admired her for her strength and fortitude. I loved that Ehlena wasn't afraid of Rehv in the same way that all the other nurses at the clinic were. She was a little nervous around him, but I think it had more to do with her attraction to him than truly fearing him. I also enjoyed how she was able to keep him in line even when he was hitting on her. Ehlena had a big heart and in the end, got to show the depth of love and forgiveness that she possessed, as well as a huge measure of courage.

Together as a couple, Rehv and Ehlena were amazing. I liked that Rehv had been admiring Ehlena from afar whenever he visited the clinic. When they finally come together, they both feel completely unworthy of each other and try to hold back their feelings, but the magnetic pull of their attraction just can't be denied. The bulk of the book takes place within a few days, and while I 'm not usually a fan of love-at-first-sight romances, I have to say that J. R. Ward totally sold me on Rehv and Ehlena falling in love so quickly. In the beginning, they have a lot of phone conversations that built their friendship and conveyed a fathomless longing for one another, which reminded me a lot of the hours I spent on the phone with my hubby when we were falling in love. Rehv and Ehlena's first "date" was incredibly beautiful and romantic. I loved how Rehv was so gentle with Ehlena and thoroughly focused on doing things to please her, and how both of them gave themselves so freely and lovingly to one another. In fact, all of their interactions in the early parts of the book were so breathtakingly intense, I had to take a deep breath after each scene to get some air back in my lungs and keep from swooning. J. R. Ward just has a way of caressing the reader's senses with words that can make the character's relationships utterly erotic without them actually engaging in sex. The only complaint I have about Rehv and Ehlena's romance is the length of time that they were apart after she discovered the truth about him. I understood that it needed to happen in order to redeem Rehv and to progress the overall story arc, but it was absolutely killing me. I couldn't help wondering for the last 100 pages or so, how Ms. Ward was going to wrap everything up and give them an HEA in such a short time frame. Of course, she did, but I would have preferred a little more of those swoon-worthy moments after they were reunited. Their scenes at the end were just too brief.

As I mentioned earlier, Wrath and Beth have significant roles in Lover Avenged. I remember that when I finished Dark Lover, I hoped to see more of them, and here they were, back with new challenges to face in their lives and relationship. While I don't like to see a couple unhappy, disagreements and other difficulties are par for the course in any marriage, and in this case, they only served to strengthen Wrath and Beth's love for one another. Wrath struggles with not being out fighting the lessers with his brothers and the day-to-day stresses of being king, which lead him to make some choices that really strain his marriage. Then a major and unexpected event completely changes his life, but with Beth's help, he once again shows his strength and determination to overcome adversity.

John Matthew and Xhex, who become the hero and heroine of the next book, Lover Mine, are also in the thick of things in Lover Avenged. Xhex is much like Rehv in that she struggles between her vampire and symphath natures, and one moment can be utterly scary, doing some pretty terrible things, but the next moment I'm feeling sympathy for her. Readers learn a few new things about Xhex in this book, but I suspect that the bulk of her story is being saved for the next one. Still, I couldn't help but sense that there is a lot of unexplored depths in her character that drive her to do the things she does. John Matthew begins to feel that all his hopes and dreams are shattered and that he will never experience the things he wants and needs from life. His disillusionment makes him retreat inwardly and shut himself away from the world, eventually turning into someone who is nothing like the sweet, gentle John we've seen up to this point. John and Xhex's relationship takes some surprising turns, but most are not in a good way. Sadly, they end up profoundly hurting each other, showing just how terribly wounded they both are. Even though I was disappointed in both their actions, I did, nonetheless, understand them. This couple is going to have to learn to communicate and overcome a lot of emotional baggage, as well as outside forces over which they have no control, in order find their HEA.

Tohr and Lassiter are two more characters who have some important scenes. In the beginning, Tohr is still suicidal and in so much pain over Wellsie's death, that it brought tears to my eyes. Lassiter, for his part, is trying to bring Tohr back to the land of the living. Readers get to find out exactly why Lassiter is there, and why he won't go away even though Tohr feels like killing him if he had the strength. This pair form a very odd-couple type friendship and their banter was absolutely hilarious. Tohr is literally as depressed and low as a person can get, while Lassiter is all perky and annoying the crap out of him. His smart mouth reminds me a lot of Butch, but at the same time it's obvious that he really cares what happens to Tohr.

Other than the ending feeling a bit rushed, and Rehv and Ehlena not getting more extensive romantic scenes after their reunion, there were a couple of other things that kind of bugged me a little. One is that I wish that Ehlena's thoughts and feelings after she found out the truth about Rehv, and especially after she put all the pieces together and realized the sacrifice he had made, had been explored a little more deeply. I knew that she loved him and why she risked everything for him in the end, but I just didn't feel like it was spelled out in as much detail as it could have been and almost seemed like more of an afterthought. Also, one thing I love about J. R. Ward is that she has never been an author to leave loose ends, but I felt like she left a few here. First, the symphath colony's decision regarding Rehv was really not explained. Even though he had the right bloodlines for it, it seemed that half-breeds were detested by them, so it didn't entirely make sense. Another thing is that the why, when and how of one of the two murders Rehv had committed years ago was never explained either, and lastly, his dopamine usage wasn't resolved with complete certainty, at least not in my mind. Perhaps since Rehv and Xhex are close, these uncharacteristic small plot holes will be wrapped up in the next book, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Overall though, my issues were relatively minor and didn't significantly detract from my enjoyment of the novel. J. R. Ward is still an amazing writer and storyteller whose work far surpasses that of most authors I've read. I found myself genuinely enthralled throughout nearly the entire book, and very much look forward to continuing the series soon. Lover Avenged is book #7 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Note: Sensitive readers should know that this book contains quite a bit of strong language, explicit violence that includes torture and two gory ritualistic assassinations, and explicit sexual content that includes incest (though a good reason is given) and generally non-descriptive mentions of BDSM and menage a trois (not involving the hero and heroine). There are also a couple of creepy scenes involving spiders and scorpions which arachnophobics may want to avoid. show less

Rehvenge...enough said! No, but really I think this is one of my favorite books in the series thus far!! Even though he is not one of the "brothers", his story is so interesting and so hard to read at the same time. I am really glad that the Warden gave us a story for his character, his own book, to really dive into his world. You still get plenty of the Brothers as well, so if thats what your in this series for don't worry! However, I think if Rehv hasn't grown on you yet, he will!

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

This is the first Black Dagger Brotherhood book that revolves around a non-bro character and I was curious to find out whether I'd enjoy Rehvenge's story as much as those that came before it. Imagine my surprise when Lover Avenged earned five stars from this reviewer! This novel delivers a one-two punch in that we get 2 characters for the price of one: Rehv AND Wrath! Plus all of the Brothers and most of their shellans make appearances too; this installment really is filled to the brim.

I adored uncovering Rehv's past and learning what makes him tick. All of the Brothers have interesting tales to tell but his is a head above the rest. He comes across as a real "bad boy" with his drug lord, pimpin' ways and his show more half sympath heritage. The reasons why he walks on the dark side are shocking; what's even more surprising is that they actually make sense. Rehv is a good guy forced to do bad things in order to protect the ones he loves. His motives are pure and that's good enough for me. You see, I have a thing for bad boys and Rehvenge definitely fits the bill; plus check out the cover. He's HOT! Please excuse the drool on my paperback...

Ehlena is one of the more likable females in this series. You'll find her picture in the dictionary beside the word "survivor" and quite possibly the word "resilient" too. Her family is in financial ruin, she takes care of her schizophrenic father and yet, still she trudges on. Ehlena's courage and bravery brought tears to my eyes on several occasions. She's just... wow. I'm in awe of her. Screw blade wielding, ass kicking, Urban Fantasy heroines; they ain't got nothing on this chick!

The romantic relationship between the two main characters is touching and realistic. I loved Rehv and Ehlena together! For me, these two are second only to Wrath and Beth as my favourite Black Dagger Brotherhood couple in this series (so far). Speaking of the blind king, I was overjoyed that the royal couple got their own side plot in this book. I've missed them so much! Their woes will definitely make your eyes water but their makeup sessions are something else. My main complaint about Lover Enshrined was the lack of sex, well... Lover Avenged more than makes up for the previous installment's shortcomings!

I like the way that Ward always sets things up for the next book in this series. It's really well done and in this case it's John Matthew and Xhex's story that gets prepped for Lover Mine. You definitely need to read these novels in the correct order to be able to fully appreciate the universe that J.R. has created. The only downside that I have to report with this book is the language used in the dialogues. Ward's trademark street lingo is out in full force and when paired with Mr. D's southern drawl; I found myself having to re-read several conversations before being able to fully understand what the characters were talking about.

Lover Avenged ranks among my top three favourite books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. So far. I'm happy that I decided to catch up on these novels by reading them back-to-back. I still have a few more to go before I'm stuck anxiously waiting for the next installment like the rest of you poor saps. show less

[b:Lover Avenged|5098079|Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #7)|J.R. Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1321039998s/5098079.jpg|5164827] by [a:J.R. Ward|20248|J.R. Ward|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1437768069p2/20248.jpg]
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
5 Stars

Rehvenge.
Dark, Mysterious, Dangerous.
Total Bad Boy. 100% BadAss!

Yep, I admit it. I really have a thing for Rehvenge.
From the 1st time his character entered this series I have wanted and Craved more of him.

I loved his & Ehlena's story.
Passionate.
From a Slow Burn
To
An Inferno!

There is so much to this story that it is a Must Read.
The suspense is high octane.
Things with the Lessers/Omega are going nuts.
No one is safe.

Then there is Lash, the Omega's show more son.

Not to mention all the other characters & relationships going on.

The intimate scenes in this one can scorch the air you breath!
The suspense will make you gasp with & cringe.

Other than Wrath's story, this is my favorite.
Hands down! show less

Brilliant book- just awesome! JR Ward completely came back from the last book- this one was so much more intriguing to me! (I was a little underwhelmed with the previous two books, but boy is Ward back to avenge the other BDB novels- haha!) So do NOT give up on this series, "Lover Avenged" lived up to its title. It has everything I asked for - magnificent (modest) hero/heroine in the illegal entrepreneur Revhenge and nurse Ehlena, intimate love scenes, complex plot...

Ward is truly brilliant in that she can make the audience fall in love with a drug dealing, pimp such as Revhenge. Other than Zadist, I think Revhenge is my favorite vampire. Never thought I would say that after our first introductions of Revhenge as Bella's grumpy and show more overprotective older brother in the previous novels. But now that we finally have him figured out and the history of Revhenge is in the open- he is just as beautiful as Ward pegs his nurse Ehlena to be. Both Revhenge and Xhex were unlikeable to me until this novel. Geesh, now I love them - way to go, Ward.

Now we have the lovely nurse Ehlena as the newest main character. She was bold, adventurous, courageous, a parent for her mentally ill dad and reacted in just the ways I felt I would in her situations. You find yourself heartbroken for her situation and feeling just how unfair life can be. But she takes it in stride and makes good with what she has, never really complaining or being whiney. I have to admit she really pissed me off in the beginning with how she treated Rehv. These two obviously belong together and they were both being totally silly. As cliche as this sounds- Ward had written it so that it really felt like a situation you could relate with. Will probably be my favorite couple in the entire series...IF John Matthew & Xhex never get together!

My favorite part of this novel may have been the deceit that Wrath put Beth through. It brought the romance back and added some heat to the plot. I was really hoping when reading the last few novels that Ward would bring some of the relationships of the other characters to the forefront of another book... and here she did it with Wrath and Beth. Thank you, Ward! I got what I needed.

Sex scenes were pretty incredible in this book- super steamy. No skimping on details. I found myself blushing a few times ;] Also, all the characters have cameos in this novel- the only one I don't recall having any dialogue is Cormia, but she is mentioned in passing. Ward also has Xhex mention a BDB member Muhrder, who went rogue to save Xhex. Can't wait to hear more about him, I'm hoping we do in the next book. Payne, the twin to V, also makes a quick appearance to wrestle Wrath... and 'wake him up.' (Lots of cliff hangers that keep you wanting more!)

"Lover Avenged" has the brotherhood making smartass remarks at one another that will make you laugh out loud. It is awesome, I forgot how funny the brotherhood could be. So much humor in the book! It really assists in alleviating tension that builds up in the plot. For instance, when Wrath questioned the effectiveness of a bullet-proof vest he was wearing because of how light it was- V recommends he strap a garage door or maybe a car to his chest. SOOO many great moments like this in this book.

Your heart will break with John Matthew... and then again with Xhex as they both like to screw around with each other's (and their own) feelings. I know a book is good when I feel like my heart is breaking along with a character. I'm praying this is all resolved in the next book, it will be an outstanding story... especially with all the history we get on Xhex in this book. You will be like, AGH TELL ME MORE!

Long book- but I couldn't put it down. There are so many plots going on at once and they're all intertwined... never was confusing though. It is easy to keep up with. Hopefully you can't put it down either!

Well- I loooooved this book. Ward is back and I think I'm happy I've got this book in hardcover! No swapping or trading for me =) There is so much more for Ward to tell us.... show less

Yes! J.R.Ward has done it again and "Lover Avenged" is a return to the style of her earlier books. I cried, more than once, while reading this story. A character I really never though I could admire became a hero, and one I already admired became whatever term there is for more-than-a-hero. Fans of the 'Black Dagger Brotherhood' will rave, I'm just headed to make some room on my keeper shelf!

Rehv, Rehvenge, or the Reverend...whatever name you use, he's still the same man. Part vampire, part symphath-he's a creature damned by his blood, his birth, and his people; yet somehow he's managed to carve out a life (of sorts) that enables him to take care of those he loves...his mother, his sister, his friends, his employees. For a man who lives show more amidst the wallow of drugs and death, he is kind and loyal to his friends, and death to those who cross him. This same creature is one who has sacrificed more than most can imagine in their worst nightmares...and continues to do so only for others...asking next to nothing for himself. So what happens when a creature like this has to make a decision between himself and a woman who would be the only one who could save him?

Ehlena. She lives a life far different from her peers. Her bloodlines are impeccable, yet she's stretching every penny. Her beauty is that of the glymera, yet she can't remember her last date. She's trapped, willingly, into a life caring for her schizophrenic father. She's a nurse, she's a carer, she knows the difference between right and wrong and believes everyone deserves to be saved. She's also one of the few nurses who can deal with the frightening man who's a regular at the clinic. Their friendship has a rocky start, but quickly becomes what neither was looking for. Will she be strong enough to save Rehvenge?

There are a ton of reviews on the plot line of "Lover Avenged". Instead of rehashing those, I'll say what I liked about this book. Ward has given us a deeper look into those on the fringes of her world's societies. Creating a character that's a drug dealer and a killer; then turning him into a hero is NOT something most writers could successfully accomplish. Rehv is an anti-hero hero--probably one of the most human and complex characters Ward has written. She's done a fabulous job of showcasing sacrifice and redemption...and not just for Rehv and Ehlena. In this story, we get more on the current situation with Wrath and Beth...and I dare you NOT to cry. Yes, there's sadness; but there's also a victory; victories in the plural really, in this story about dealing with the worst deck life can deal; and doing so with a strange kind of honor.

The stark emotional swings I felt while reading "Lover Avenged" were those of a cathartic nature. There were sad tears and happy tears; characters I loved and characters I hated; all wrapped up in the tension of suspense, relief, hope, and sometimes horror, that didn't let up until the final scene of the book. As always when I read, I try to imagine myself as a character in the book. In this book, I wanted to be at least three of the characters, all at different times.

For me, "Lover Avenged" and J.R.Ward have taken the BDB series in another 'zag'; but it's one that's reminiscent of the first few books in the series so it's rather like coming BACK instead of heading out. I don't mind. I'm enjoying this crazy, frightening, wonderful, and scary journey...and I can't wait to see where we're going next! show less