Daisiemae,

I suppose I am in the minority (with you)! I loved this book! I wasn't bothered by the ending at all--I know there is a bigger reason for what happens to Jane, we just have to be patient. And although I love V (how could you not), he isn't my favorite brother either (that would be Rhage).
When I started this one I had already read a lot of negative comments so I was expecting to HATE it! I kept wondering when I was going to get to the 'disappointing part'. It never happened for me--I have no complaints!
Now, on to Phury...:)

I'm with you Shel. I actually LIKED the ending. If the characters themselves were happy...why not the readers?
J

Oh good...I am glad to see that you two liked the ending of the book. (I think we all have very simular taste;) ) For me, it made sense in a way. I know it was unconvientional, but why keep reading the same old, same old...you know?
I was really surprised at the outrage about this book. I was shocked to see people getting a petition together for her to re-write it...I thought that was kinda sorry of her readers to do that. Even if you don't like the book...it is was it is and shouldn't be changed in my opinion...and they need to look at the bigger picture. Don't y'all agree???

I'm with you 100%. If I like every single piece of writing by every single author I like (and Shel can tell you just how many that is!), I'd never do any reading of new authors...which is how I found Kaitlyn O'Connor, J R Ward, and others.

It's the author's world and the author's characters. I still enjoy and read the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series' by Laurell Hamilton and you should see some of her 'vicious' fans who do nothing but berate the way her series' are going.

I always feel like saying, "Shut up and quit reading them then!"
:)
J

I'm so glad to see that some of you who have tastes similar to mine really liked this book. I have a feeling I will too, but for a while there, some of the negative comments about it were starting to make me wonder. I agree with you, Daisiemae, J.R. Ward has a much bigger picture in mind. It's not all about each individual book. Part of what I like about this series is how it makes me think. Lover Revealed took me about 3 or 4 days of pondering and analyzing to get to a point where I felt I had really absorbed it all.

I also agree that it's her prerogative to write what she wants, and if the readers don't like it, oh well! I've read plenty of books I didn't care for but I certainly don't get all bent out of shape about it. Not even everything that happens in BDB is perfect for me, but so far, it hasn't stopped me from enjoying the overall story. I REALLY need to read this book.;) Maybe it'll be my next one.

Mom,
I think you will like this book. There is so much going on with backstories steadily preparing us for the continuation of the Brothers stories.
Like you, there are things I don't like or agree with in each book. But, they give me a range of emotions with each one. Laughter, Sadness, Frusteration, Melancholy, Happiness...they have them all. In my opinion, if a book gets you to feel these emotions, well it's a great book.
Honestly, I love all of these books. I have a feeling that the best is yet to come!
Girl, you need to read this one!!! I am very anxious to see what your thoughts on it will be:)

Great review! I'm one that loved this book, too.

Picked up book 6 today at Walmart. FYI

Ohhhh Kathrynn...maybe I need to go to Wal-Mart tonight!!!

You go girl! I was just looking at those pictures at P.F. Kozak's site. OMG! Going to have to add that book, I think. WEW! :-)

Do I love you ladies, or what?!!! You have no idea how careful I had to be on other boards (Amazon included) because I was the only one who didn't hate this book.

And, Shellie, I warned you, didn't I? V's life was like Z's only worse because the abuse came from his dad. Like I said I never liked his "mom" and after reading this I dislike her even more. Talk about bad judgement! Sheesh. What was she thinking mating with that horrible man???

Anyway, it is wonderful to know you all liked it too. I loved the creative ending. I loved all the backstory that continued with the other characters. And because I am so in love with Phury I loved how it prepared us for his book. Can't wait for that one!!! What a compassionate heart he has. I soooo want him to find happiness, and I hear he finds that and more in "Lover Enshrined." Big fun!

xoxo
Laura Stamps
Author of Paranormal Romance and Erotica Novels
http://www.LauraStamps.blogspot.com (to read excerpts from my novel series)

Laura,
You were so right about this book. J.R.Ward definately knows how to write about compelling heroes and their mates doesn't she?
I am curious to see your thoughts on the petition they have for her to re-write this book. I personally, was outraged...and I am not an author like yourself. So, I know you must have some strong feelings about it yourself.
To me, it would be a violation of some sort. I would think that the books y'all write are a part of your soul...almost like your children, so to speak, and to have people want to protest it, and have an outcry for a re-rewrite instead of seeing the bigger picture further down the line would hurt and outrage me...I have the feeling your would be the same and more.
When I finish reading Phury's story (I can't wait) I am going to start on the Dark Hunter series...I know y'all won't steer me wrong:)

Hi, Shellie--

You are going to love the Dark-Hunter series...and thank us soooo much when you get into it. It really is wonderful. And you'll also see why we are always drooling over Ash. Totally yummy!

As for Ward, there are two main reasons why people didn't like LU. First, they hated the ghost solution to the immortality issue.

Second, they didn't like the fact that half the book was devoted to continuing the story of the rest of the brothers and setting up the next novel about Phury. As for that I loved keeping up with the brothers, so it didn't bother me at all.

The ghost thing....I thought it was a brilliant solution to the immortality issue all authors face when they write vampy PNR novels. You can't have the vamp living for 1000+ years and his mate getting old and dying off in 80 or less years. But like you said the same old solution wears thin after a while. So I know why Ward went with the ghost thing (besides the fact she likes ghosts), and I thought it was a very creative solution that worked.

As a matter of fact, I am facing the same issue right now. My Witchery series is a trilogy. I am doing the final edits on that last book ("Call of the Witches"). Then the paperback spin-off series starts. It's called "The Manigault Vampires," and it is about a group of very wealthy (and totally yummy) vampires living in Columbia. The first novel is called "A Vampire's Kiss," and it will be published in 2009. However the first chapter will be published at the end of "Call of the Witches," which means I am working on it today and the next few days. I talked my publisher into putting the first chapter of the next novel at the end of every novel, because I like to give my readers a sneak peek at the next book. That means you have already read the first chapter of "Call of the Witches." Remember?

The main vamp in this new series is Drayton Manigault. He is actually Wynn's boss, and was mentioned briefly in "What Witches Want" and got a couple of paragraphs in their erotica novella, "Sex Magick." He is a millionaire and runs a very successful computer company called Manigault Technologies. Wynn is one of his software designers, which is why he is always reading computer magazines. That first vamp novel is about Dray and Sara (Maylene's friend from WWW), who falls for him. So I will have the immortality issue to solve for Sara in that novel.

I have said this before, and I will say it again. The book business is a very hard business for novelists. Not only do you have to work on your craft every day to become a skilled writer and storyteller, but you have to find a good publisher, and survive readers and critics who can be unkind, and publishers and agents who can be lethal. That means the longer you are in this business the tougher you skin needs to be. I've been in this business for 21 years now. You know me...I'm all heart. But underneath I am tough as nails to survive this business. Just think. If my poems and fiction have been published in over 1000 magazines worldwide that means I have survived over 15,000+ rejection notices. It comes with the territory, and it the main reason I think computers have a delete key (grin). 98% of the reviews of my books have been fabulous. But I have had a few stinker reviews too. And you're right. Novelists are human, and it hurts. But all you can do is keep going.

Trust me. Ward is a tough cookie. Just as tough as I am. I don't think she was too surprised at the uproar over LU. It was a chance she took. Like you said her books are her babies, and she loves ghosts, so this was a solution she wanted to try. I don't think there would be any danger of a rewrite of LU unless her publisher figured out a way to make even more money out of it. Publishers are in the business to make money. Period. So if there is a rewrite it will make more money for the publisher, not less. But I don't think it will happen. Ward is too busy with future books at the moment.

How do I feel about the petition? Well, you're asking an author who has survived over 15,000+ rejections (some valid, some ridiculous) and keeps on ticking. You never know what readers are going to say. You don't. You have to be prepared for anything. If it's negative you just pick yourself up and keep writing. We don't really have a choice if we want to survive. It's our only alternative. And that's exactly what Ward is doing.

xoxo
Laura Stamps
Author of Paranormal Romance and Erotica Novels
http://www.LauraStamps.blogspot.com (to read excerpts from my novel series)

There's a petition to rewrite book #5? What?

That's crazy and people have too much time on their hands if they are putting or have put one together. Those people need to consider some much needed volunteer work somewhere and put their minds to good use in lieu of a petition for a rewrite of a book.

There's no way in the world that everyone will like everything the same. Ack! Wouldn't that be boring?!

Good grief! I'm going outside.

Kathrynn,
You are so right. I didn't even know about a petition until I read this discussion, but it's funny that I told my hubby the same thing about it, some people just have waaaaay to much time. I couldn't even imagine doing such a thing, because it's just so silly. These people really need to stop being so selfish and think about the author's feelings too.

I loved it! This also made me love V even more. It's great that with every book the author delivers and writes each individual stories of the brothers and because of that it was really hard to choose from who do you like most.

I'm so glad to read your review. It comforted me as I've read so many others saying what you just mentioned about the ending and I'm currently reading it. I know. I'm really late into this BDB craze but I was finally persuaded to go for it and now, gosh, I'm hooked. YAY for you.

Daisiemae, I totally felt the same way as you. I loved Vishous, I felt for him and I was so happy when he found Jane. He is such an interesting character with such depth, that I couldn't help but love him a little. Funny enough, the bisexual tendencies didn't turn me off one bit, but instead made me appreciate his character even more. I'm totally with you on this, I really loved this book!

I started reading the BDB books a week ago, and now im the 6th book.. so yeah.. love them! V's story was heartbreaking to me..and the ending.. to be honest, i was abit put off by it, but thinking more about it, i wouldnt be happy with another ending either, if Jane just wasnt around anymore.. But I've read that there is a bigger picture here, so i just have to keep reading :)