Review: Lover Reborn by JR Ward

Title: Lover Reborn

Author: J.R. Ward

Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood, #10

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: NAL

Release Date: March 27^th 2012

ISBN 13: 9780451235848

Format: Hardcover/Paperback/eBook

Source: Amazon

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Contact J.R. Ward

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

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Rating: 4 Bad Boys – Really Enjoyed It!!!!

Reviewer: Kat

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Author Summary

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment is a heartbroken shadow of the vampire leader he once was. Brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel, he fights again with ruthless vengeance- and is unprepared for a new tragedy. Seeing his beloved in dreams—trapped in a cold, desolate netherworld—he turns to the angel to save his former mate, only to despair at the path he himself must take to set her free. As war with the lessers rages, and a new clan of vampires vies for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between an unforgettable past, and a future that he doesn’t know he can live with… but can’t seem to turn away from.

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My Thoughts

If the Paranormal Romance genre had blue bloods or an aristocracy, the Black Dagger Brotherhood would be among the nobility and elite.  It continues to be the foremost paranormal romance series on the market.  It’s the most well known, highest ranking, with the largest fan base.  Each and every year, the polls prove it to be the highest among the most anticipated novel of the year. 

I’m not saying it’s the best PNR series; just that it leads the pack in rank, fan base and esteem.  I feel there are just as good if not better ones out there, but they just don’t have the exposure or haven’t been on the market long enough to be recognized yet. 

Among the elite of this genre, you will always get a great read when you pick up a J.R. Ward novel.  Her writing skill shines, her delivery is perfection, the plot in each novel is suspenseful and intriguing and her characters are well developed. Some novels are better than other but all are fabulous!

That being said, I’m going to assume you’ve read the series up to novel and know all about it before you read this review.  Otherwise, you should stop now…

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About the story…

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Lover Reborn gives us Tohr’s story.  He’s included in all the novels in the series, but has not had his own story told until now.  Early in the series, he lost his mate Wellsie.  Even though she was only in the story a short time, she made one hell of an impact.  She was the woman we all wanted to be like.  So when she died, we were devastated right along with Tohr and have been grieving for him ever since.

The extent of Tohr’s grief and his inability to let her go emotionally has kept Wellsie and their child from moving into the Fade for eternal peace. A fallen angel, Lassiter, is sent to try and get Tohr to finally deal with her death and let them go.

Since we loved Wellsie so much, we were all very apprehensive about how Ward was going to write about Tohr with another woman.  But never should we have doubted the genius. The story she told was thoughtful and heartfelt and most importantly, written with tactful respect to Wellsie’s memory.  And over time, Tohr started to move on.  

No’One has been in a few novels as a servant to the Scribe Virgin. In the last novel, as Xhex was about the marry John Matthew, No’One announced that she was Xhex’s mother. There’s an entire story about how Tohr and Darius (a brother killed by the enemy) saved No’One long ago from a Sympath who was holding her captive and made her pregnant with Xhex.  With Tohr and Darius’ help, No’One had the baby; however, consumed with grief and unable to cope with what happened to her, she immediately killed herself.  Instead of going to the Fade, she went to serve the Scribe Virgin. She came back to try and build some sort of a relationship with the daughter she abandoned. 

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About the Characters…

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So that is the basis of Tohr and No’One’s story.  However, most authors of these long running series are starting to incorporate other storylines into the same novel.  In Lover Reborn, we see a lot about John Matthew and Xhex’s relationship, Qhuinn, Layla, Blay and the new-to-town Band of Bastards.

So, now here comes the touchy part because after reading many reviews already posted, I find that I am in opposition with the general consensus on many of these characters.  However, I am expected to give a review so here it goes…

No’One/Autumn…Sorry if saying her name is a spoiler but I can’t bear typing No’One again.  I liked Autumn.  I thought it was admirable that she wanted to have a relationship with Xhex after all this time.  She was incredibly patient and understanding with both Xhex and Tohr.  But…she was really getting starting to get on my nerves with her perpetual pity-party.  To name herself “No’One”, hide behind an ugly monk-like robe, moping around the mansion... Really?  Come on!  It was a bit too much.  As poorly as Tohr handled the confrontation he had with her about said pity party, (my words not his), it needed to be done.  She had to snap out of it.

Then there’s Layla…and once again I know I’m going to find myself alone swaying in the breeze on this one.  But I like her.  All that poor girl wants is to find some happiness and to have sex.  Gods, she even went through the proper training to be an ehros (a Chosen trained in the matter of sexual arts.  Phury and the brothers treat her like a blood slave and it’s just not fair to her.  It’s not that I want her and Qhuinn together or anything like that but I hope she will find her HEA someday.  I don’t think she poses any threat to Qhuinn and Blay being together at all.

There was quite a bit of time spent on Qhuinn & Blay’s relationship. Again, I know I’m in the minority here but I’m not team “Qhuay” as people are calling them.  I just find Blay too boring for Qhuinn.  There’s enough spark in our boy Qhuinn to keep Caldwell lit for days.  I never did find Blay very interesting and certainly not enough to want he and Qhuinn together.  Blay and Saxton are fine together.  They can sip tea by a fire in the library wearing their vests and loafers and be content.  While Qhuinn is out killing stuff in his leathers and shitkickers.  I just don’t see them as a couple. 

There was also a lot of time spent with John & Xhex and it was a very good thing.  Xhex is not like the other shellan.  She’s a fighter and wants to be in the midst of all the action.  The brothers aren’t wired for that kind of female so it’s realistic for them to have issues adjusting.  They did and a good part of the book was dedicated to them working through those issues. 

There’s a new cat in town… Assail.  He reminds me a little of Rehvenge in the early days and I’m very excited to see what role he’ll play in the series. 

Oh, and there’s the Band of Bastards.  I really liked their introduction to the series in the last novel and the potential they had to be either friend or foe.   They made their stance but I’m completely confused about their characters.  These guys switched personalities so drastically and fast that I couldn’t keep up.  Maybe in the next novel, all will be made clearer to me.

There are lots of twists and turns in this novel and they provide great lead-ins to the next one. 

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A few things had me actually laughing out loud…Poor Hollywood really shouldn’t try and make jokes.  Especially about the Easter bunny.  Hop-along Hollywood will never live it down.  I absolutely get a kick out of when the women go into their needing.  Not just their hellren but also all the men get nonstop erections and that business is just too funny to read.  I don’t want to give a spoiler but this is too funny to hold back.  You know how arousing it is for the boys when they feed, well Layla is put in a position where she had to feed someone other than a brother.  Vishous was actually holding a gun to the poor guys pecker while he was feeding.  I near died laughing.

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Bottom Line

As I stated above, the Black Dagger Brother is among the elite in the Paranormal Romance genre.  You will always get a good read from J.R. Ward and Lover Reborn is no exception.  There’s a lot that happens in the overall series so you won’t want to skip this one.  Highly recommend it for all you BDB enthuasists!

Happy Reading!!

4 Bad Boys – Really Enjoyed It!!!!

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