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Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #8)

J.R. Ward

Start date: August 1, 2013

Finish date: August 31, 2013

Discussion: Challenges: What's the Rush

Why we're reading this: Part of our group series (re)read: Black Dagger Brotherhood …more
[close] Part of our group series (re)read: Black Dagger Brotherhood

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Challenges: What's the Rush

* 2025 Series Read: K.N. Banet's "Jacky Leon"
By Steph , Serious series addict · 103 posts · 33 views

last updated 3 hours, 23 min ago

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* YEAR-LONG CHALLENGES
By Steph , Serious series addict · 1 post · 389 views

last updated Aug 17, 2010 11:14PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 14, 2009 Steph rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook-great-narration, year-read-2010, series-ongoing, author-웃, audiobook-listened-to, series-i-love, sos-bom

Read Excerpt @ 4/11/10 - John & Xhex's Story - can't wait for the book release!

"Xhex's name was in his skin. Ever a part of him. 'Til dead did his flesh decay off his bones."

Lover Mine ... how to review this book honestly without (too many) spoilers ...

The Hallelujahs:
† Qhuinn realizes his feelings for Blay (when will they get their book?!)
* Peeks into Quay relationship, but ... MORE, please!
* Qhuinn's bonding scent makes an appearance
* He gets all dumpy, grumpy when Blay "flirts" wi ...more

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Dec 09, 2009 Trish rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, j-r-ward, paranormal-romance, vamp-romance, favorites, bdb

I loved this book. So much packed into one read. John Matthew and Xhex's story of grittiness, love, action, and revenge. Darius's history with the brotherhood, history of Tohrment, more with Blaylock and Qhuinn, history of Xhex, and history of Xhex's mother (shocking to me/not expected). I also loved reading more about Payne and I am looking forward to her upcoming book. I admit sometimes I wanted to skip through some of the parts about the lesser society but, there are so many changes that happ ...more

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Jan 08, 2010 Kristen rated it liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First, let me start off by saying that I think Ms. Ward is "the" standard in the vamp romance genre. The Brotherhood was my introduction to anything more adult then Twilight. And that has been good and bad. The Brotherhood stories are usually chock full of romance, sexuality, amazing characters and lots (and I mean LOTS) of testosterone in the banter (and the profanity) to balance out all the erotic steaminess. But I finished this book and thought "where'd all that great stuff go?"

Despite the fa First, let me start off by saying that I think Ms. Ward is "the" standard in the vamp romance genre. The Brotherhood was my introduction to anything more adult then Twilight. And that has been good and bad. The Brotherhood stories are usually chock full of romance, sexuality, amazing characters and lots (and I mean LOTS) of testosterone in the banter (and the profanity) to balance out all the erotic steaminess. But I finished this book and thought "where'd all that great stuff go?"

Despite the fact that I absolutely adore the Brotherhood, I felt a little let down in this book. Don't get me wrong - I love John Matthew, Blay, Quinn, and Xhex. And, the story line with the lessers was much more interesting then in the previous books (although still skim-able and, in fact, you wouldn't miss much if you skipped those chapters in their entirety). But the camaraderie of the Brotherhood was missing from this book. The playful banter between them. Them telling each other to stick stuff where the sun don't shine. I don't shy from the profanity, so I very much missed their colorful conversations with one another. In some ways the fact that there was so much less of it made me feel a little like I wasn't visiting the same little universe I have come to enjoy so much. We got very little exposure to Wrath, Z, Phury, Butch, Rhev and the rest of the bunch (not to mention, except for Doc Jane, the women were no where to be found). It was a little disappointing. I liked seeing us get back much more of Thor, although even that felt almost short-handed. I missed the interaction and the dialogue between the Brothers so very much.

The jumping between the story line about the haunted house - could have lived without. And unless Payne and Mhurder are set to hook up next, I am not really sure why the one about Mhurder was mixed into the story. It felt very distracting. It could have been accomplished in an epilogue or prologue (although it really wasn't relevant enough for a prologue). Additionally, the background of Darius and Thor and Xhex's birth - that would have worked very well in an epilogue I think. It seemed to me that it was meant to explain both Xhex's birth and the relationship between Darius and Thorment, but, honestly, because John Matthew doesn't really ever come to realize that he is Darius reincarnated (much to my disappointment too) - not explicitly - it seems as if that part was a waste and it could have been shortened to just give us what was relevant regarding Xhex and No'One.

The Blay-Quinn relationship is a little hard to stomach. I don't mind the idea of it, but the fact of the matter is we have been watching this now for a few books. Either resolve it or make it go away. I am tired of reading about the two of them as the same side plot and having it never go anywhere. The breath of fresh air in that relationship in this book was the introduction of Saxton (Quinn's cousin) to the mix. I think that is an interesting little twist. But, it is hard for me to see how that triangle will be resolved without someone getting really hurt. And for the little we see of Saxton, I kind of like him. I think I would like to see more of him.

I also expected more of Rhev and the Shadow twins. For as attached and protective they were to Xhex in previous books, we see surprisingly little of them. And I think there is much more to know about Trez and iAm that would be awesome to explore, but we really don't get much of them either.

This is a book in the "Brotherhood" series, right? So when are John Matthew, Blay and Quinn going to be made Brothers? If they haven't proven themselves after the last book and this one, I don't know that they ever will.

Now, for the heart of things. This is in the romance section of the book store. But the most romance in this book was between Blay and Quinn. And there was, what, one kiss between them. I miss the wonderfully steaminess I have come to expect from Ms. Ward and her awesome characters. It just wasn't in this book. None of it. I am not ashamed to say that when I get to a good chapter in the earlier books, I sometimes re-read that chapter 3 or 4 times before moving on. Here, I didn't have the urge to re-read a sentence, let alone a chapter. Where'd the steam go? I certainly hope it's back for the next book. I do wonder (since I had a similar feeling with Lover Avenged, although that was steamier then this installment) if the change from Mass Market to what ever is causing these to now be published hard-backed first doesn't account for some of this. I read somewhere that these are now considered "urban fantasy" instead of "paranormal romance". That's really a shame. If I had wanted urban fantasy, I would have visited a different section of the book store. Bring back the steam!!!

Then we have Xhex. I always liked her as a character. I think she's a great strong female to be part of the group. Instead of all the damsel in distress stuff that all the other women in this series had going on. But, I am not sure I really understand a lot about her. And that says something since this book was about her and John Matthew. I thought the most interesting and toughest side of her we saw was while she was captive to Lash (and this thing with Lash loving her - wow. That totally could have made things more interesting, yet the lesser sub-plot thing completely got in the way. And what a let down - Lash's end... to say I thought it was anti-climactic is an understatement. It was bor-ing.) She doesn't think she's worthy because she's part sympath, but we really don't get much else. We don't really see the impact of her sympath side - nor do we know how she will control it now that she is with John, and that would have made for more tension and maybe a better story.

The good parts - they weren't as frequent as I would have liked. We did see Thor and John resolve their issues (as brief as that scene was) and we do get a little more info on the angel (forget his name, but he totally deserves his own book or two!! The thing about watching Oprah was great!) Thor's grief when he goes to get Wellsie's dress to give to Xhex was heartbreaking and literally brought tears to my eyes. The sparring between Payne and Wraith was pretty cool. And the mental pictures of what was happening to Lash as his skin was falling off was pretty gross (although that's part of what I like about this series). The little bit of dialogue we do get between the brothers was awesome like always. I guess the reality is that I felt like the stuff I love so much about this series was here, but only in a token kind of way.

Hope the next one better embodies all I have come to expect from this series and author. ...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Nairabell rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 5-star, read-in-2011

John Matthew has now passed through his vampire transition and fights along the other Brothers against the evil Lessening Society. John's heart belongs to Xhex, a half-symphath assassin, who has been kidnapped by Lash. The problem is Lash is no ordinary Lesser, he is half vampire and the son of the Omega and has some nasty tricks up his sleeve. John is desperate to find Xhex, but the question is not whether he'll find her but whether she'll survive her imprisionment and whether she'll let hersel ...more

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May 01, 2010 Jamie ~ Bad Boy Inspector rated it really liked it

Shelves: genre-paranormal-romance, subject-pn-vampires

I give this book a 4.5/5.0. I would have gave it a 5.0 but their was just something missing and I can't put my finger on it. I think I was expecting way to much for JM. I was very disappointed (at first) with the interruptions about the Paranormal Investigation show but in the end it all fell into place. I have a feeling their is still more to come with that situation. But overall J.R. did deliver an amazing book as always and I can't wait for the next one!! ...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Caroline rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourite-series

Excellent read. I like the Black Dagger brotherhood series> Loved the first few books, but a think the series lost it's way a bit in the middle. Fortunately this book goes back to greatness of the original ones. Strong plot, fab characters and steamy scenes. ...more

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