BDB Series by JR Ward (SPOILERS AHEAD)

[Ceej]

I have to ask, am I the only person who's read this series who thinks Phury's book is the best in the whole series?

[Rossy]

He's my least favorite. Wanted to smack him a time or two to get his brain straight.LOL

[Tammy]

Hi Drq - well, where do I begin. Mostly what I didn't like about Phury's book was Phury himself. I've never really liked him. He has always seemed like such a suck - especially with his ridiculous pining over Bella. I just couldn't care about what happened to him, and had no patience for him or the crap he pulled in the book.

Otherwise, you're right - his book was one of the better ones, story-wise. Here's the link to my review (which sets out how much of a suck I thought Phury was, lol).

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Now, V's book -- ooh, don't even get me started. I'm with you, Rhage is my favourite (LOVED his book) but after reading Butch's book I was practically PANTING to read V's. And I thought all of us got screwed over by that one. You are exactly right, imo - she just threw something together and then what she did with Doc Jane was preposterous! (The only thing I would change is to say F*#%ing preposterous!)

Apparently I'm STILL annoyed about that one, LOL.

[Rossy]

Ugh, please don't remind me about the Jane part! I still get angry about it. Every time she appears at a scene these days, i kind of skip the parts that may mention wether she is solid or not....kind of have to psych myself up for it.

I do get why the Warden did it though, but i still don't like it!

[Ceej]

Tammy wrote: "Hi Drq - well, where do I begin. Mostly what I didn't like about Phury's book was Phury himself. I've never really liked him. He has always seemed like such a suck - especially with his ridiculo..."

LOL well I agree that Phury wasn't as *manly* as the other brothers. I kind of felt some sympathy for him because he had to deal with his parents who pretty much ignored him after Z disappeared. But then I was all together with Z when broke it down for Phury. It was something I say all the time. People need to get over themselves, put their big girl panties on and flip the bird at whatever is dragging them down. This is also the reason I liked Phury's story because he did eventually pull his head out of his a**.

I read your review and you sum it up in a nutshell. I wanted to scream when Lover Unbound ended because I didn't *know* V when the book ended. He's the only one I'm still really curious about. His personality comes out more in Rhev's book but I still don't have enough of him. I actually began to like Lassiter because he's such a sarcastic brat lol. I'm all into the Blay and Qhuinn relationship too. I keep wondering if she's really going to do the guy with guy relationship in the Brotherhood. She hinted at it with V and Butch.

So all this said, I could give or take Phury but his story still makes me cry. I'm a bleeding heart. I only have Lover Mine left to read and I don't really feel Xhex as a mate for John.

[Ceej]

Rossy wrote: "Ugh, please don't remind me about the Jane part! I still get angry about it. Every time she appears at a scene these days, i kind of skip the parts that may mention wether she is solid or not....ki..."

I don't understand it at all. The Scribe Virgin was being a spoiled vindictive lil witch. V had to deal with the legacy she gave him and I don't understand how she could not step in and change their destiny the same way she changed Rhage and Mary's. Not even in my wildest fantasies can I be okay with a ghost who can become real

[Rossy]

Check message #91: by Tammy, and further down. We had some talk about V's book earlier and dished about how angry we were about the ending. Check this link here by the Warden where she talks about it too: http://www.jrward.com/bdb/slices.html
Just click where it says "The Interview That Never Happened".

[Ceej]

Rossy wrote: "Check message #91: by Tammy, and further down. We had some talk about V's book earlier and dished about how angry we were about the ending. Check this link here by the Warden where she talks about ..."

So her and V don't like each other? I think V probably had the most promise of all of them because he has such "human" personality. To me, he is the most confident and together of all of them aside from Tohr. Sucks that he got the shaft.

[Rossy]

It sucked big time, i agree. In regards to V and the Warden not getting along, i still don't know what the lie was that she told but since then he hates her with passion.

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

This is so funny! Given I am new to the RRRC group, I am slowly checking out various chats....

I stopped reading BDB series about a year ago 'cos I am stuck about a third of the way through Phury's book! V's book had a pathetic ending (agree - how do you have a relationship with an bit of insubstantial air?? What a roach!) and Phury is such a whinger!! I have no tolerance for him!!

I scored the first 4 books 5 stars - I loved them! But Unbound only got 3 stars... And I have the rest of the series backed up in waiting. (How do I get motivated to finish Enshrined??)

LOL - I am still giggling at all your comments!

[Ez]

Rossy wrote: "Ugh, please don't remind me about the Jane part! I still get angry about it. Every time she appears at a scene these days, i kind of skip the parts that may mention wether she is solid or not....ki..."

Oh, I'm with you, Rossy. The Jane thing still pisses me off, and I agree that V got the shaft in his book. If I didn't dislike Phury's book just a tad bit more, "Lover Unbound" would hold my place for least favorite in the series just for that crock of an ending alone.

[Dee]

I just read the part in Lover Reveiled where Phury happens upon Cormina watching Dirty Dancing...awww, soo sweet...if only they hadn't gotten interrupted...

I didn't hate V's book, but i've come to learn that there is a reason why authors do what they do and that they are normally planning 3-4 books (if not more ahead of time)...so there could be a reason for why she did what she did...Diana Gabaldon (who I love) is a master of this, there will be some scene in an early book and then something like 3 books later, she'll tie that loose end up

[Ceej]

Hmm next year V's sister book gets published. Dee you might be right...Payne and Tohr????

Nevermind...she's pairing Payne with Manny, Jane's old boss. So how is she going to give V his due. After reading that interview thing, I wonder if she just didn't know how to deal with V. He's complex. He's the only one who hasn't manifested self destructive behavior because of his curse. He's educated and a kinky as hell.

I'm going to pacify myself and say she chose traits she couldn't really handle and therefore shafted V in the end. :D

[Ez]

I can't say I hate V's book...but it's toward the bottom of my list, that's for sure. I like Ward's style and ideas so much that I don't know if I could outright hate anything she writes, but I'll admit that I didn't like much about Phury's book.

[Ez]

*SPOILERY*







No, she's setting Tohr and Payne up for different people...but I think that comes out in "Lover Mine," and I don't know who has read what in the thread at this point so I won't say more. LOL.

[Dee]

payne is manny I know...I think Tohr is going to be with Xhex's mom (no'one...or something like that)...possibly based on the interview

[Ceej]

Jane wrote: "This is so funny! Given I am new to the RRRC group, I am slowly checking out various chats....

I stopped reading BDB series about a year ago 'cos I am stuck about a third of the way through Phury..."

Approach Enshrined from a point of the story and try to ignore the fact that Phury is one of the wounded sheeple who won't let go of the crap in his life

*side note i'm about to trash my laptop because it's grown a mind of his own. twice i've been moved somewhere i shouldnt be*

[Ez]

*Spoilery*



Dee, in that interview, with what she mentioned about V (that REALLY BIG thing), are you thinking the same thing the author of that blog was thinking - BDSM stuff involving some M/M lovin'?

ETA- I don't know how she jumped to that, but I'm thinking something darker since she said it was something to help him "really connect with Jane" in a "total fucked up way."

[Dee]

I don't know about the M/M, but I think there is def. going to be some more BDSM...I just don't think it was be a primary story line...it'll be a secondary one...I can't see her doing like a Suzanne Brockmann and giving V (and Jane or whoever) a second book, like she did with Alyssa and Sam (if that makes sense..)

the rate i'm going on the series - i'll only have a couple of months before the new one comes out (FYI - Amazon has it for pre-order already in hardcover, no sign of the kindle version yet)

[Tammy]

Hi ladies, so nice to see this thread up and running again!

Harper and Dee - spill the dirt: what interview? what did she say? what did the blogger think? BDSM? with WHO?

**WHOOPS - sorry, this comment was being written at the same time as Harper's and Dee's.

[Dee]

the link to the blog is above...its from the Q&A of a book signing that JR Ward did in Kentucky this past weekend...only catch, you can't post it to her yahoo groups or BDB message boards...but its safe here

[Ez]

Hey, Tammy! The link is in post 145.

[theandrelle]

can i ask about something? though I haven't read Lover Mine and Lover Unleashed is still not available..i do have some sort of hints about Quinn and Blay's "relationship" with each other..and i can't help but be curious if having a M/M in the series would be a good thing? or is it the thrill or something? I have no offense about the idea, just lil' ol' me, curious about that part..so if anyone could explain then that would be great...

[Dee]

I don't see why not, but then I read M/M...its obviously something that she has thought long and hard about, because, at least I, could see the relationship that was developing between the two...and yet, its going to be a novella and not a full length, so it will likely be more focused just on them, vice big story arcs so if you don't want to read it, you don't have to...does that make sense?

[theandrelle]

hmm..no its fine..it somehow made sense about the idea..it does fit the story if you think more clearly about it..but i do also think of the possibility that they may have their own respective "shellans"..hmm..maybe..don't you think so? i'm not contradicting the whole idea of the story but just pointing out of the "what ifs"..but i guess we just have to see what their story would be about..then maybe it would be more clearer..thank you for clearing that up... ^^

[Ez]

Personally, though of course I'm not against the idea of Qhuinn and Blay since I'm a M/M romance reader like Dee, I think the whole relationship between them developed because Ward was trying to placate the fans who were upset by all of the unresolved homoerotic tension between V and Butch. Way back when Butch and V's books were new releases, I saw J.R. Ward deny any homoerotic undertones within the BDB on her website...which, in my opinion, she only said because there were some people upset by the idea of anything sexual happening between V and Butch. Then, later, the people who would have supported such a relationship came out of the woodwork...and now I think she's trying to appease the M/M romance lovers who also happen to be fans of the BDB series.

But, of course, all of this is speculation on my part. I'm sure people have all kinds of theories about how/why the whole Qhuinn/Blay relationship came about.

[Dee]

she said that they are going to have their own novella - in the link I posted above...but its not written yet...i'm taking that to mean, they are going to hook up, not have their own shellans

theandrelle wrote: "hmm..no its fine..it somehow made sense about the idea..it does fit the story if you think more clearly about it..but i do also think of the possibility that they may have their own respective "she..."

[theandrelle]

ah i see..u all do have a point there..hmm..well we do all have our own assumptions and speculations..i'm just addressing mine..so i guess it's only a matter of what their story will be so that we could understand much better..thank you Harper and Dee... ^^

[Jane (PS), Moderator]

Drq wrote: Approach Enshrined from a point of the story and try to ignore the fact that Phury is one of the wounded sheeple who won't let go of the crap in his life

Thanks Drq. I think I need to somehow put it in a Challenge to force me to read it!! I need to reframe my mind and just 'read'. Good luck with your laptop...!!

[Tammy]

Harper wrote: "Hey, Tammy! The link is in post 145."

Hi Harper! and thanks :) I see Ward is still doing that creepy thing where she pretends her characters are all real and the books tell her where they are going instead of her actually being in charge....and SIX MORE BROTHERS? Hmm.


Drq wrote: "I'm going to pacify myself and say she chose traits she couldn't really handle and therefore shafted V in the end. :D "

Well put!!! He really deserved better.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but all this talk today has made me want to re-read them!

[Dee]

i've been using them for the birthday part of the challenge...because at least 1 person who has had a birthday each month has had at least one of the books on their list

Jane wrote: "Drq wrote: Approach Enshrined from a point of the story and try to ignore the fact that Phury is one of the wounded sheeple who won't let go of the crap in his life

Thanks Drq. I think I need to..."

[KimKirt]

I'm jumping in here, I haven't read any of the other posts really, I'm on book #4 (Butch's book) and just about 1/4 the way in.

****SPOILER*****

I just read the part last night where his 'stuff' came out black???!!!???? OMG!!!

I like Butch, I hope this book is good. I loved Zsadist's story, so I'm coming down off of that one into this one.

[Ceej]

So a bit agao, I'm chatting with a friend who has read all the books. I was telling her about the unanimous dislike of Phury. She pointed out to me Phury's whole game is, he lacks validation. I started thinking and she's right. All the Brothers have some form of dysfunction but Phury's goes deeper because he's never really had anyone give him an atta boy. His parents ignored him, Z used him and Bella was attracted to Z. He just wanted his existence validated and I can't think of one instance in all the books where he was propped up. Anytime he's mentioned it's more a peachmaker/go between. So even though I still think he's a whiner, I think I have a little more sympathy for him

[Ez]

Hmm, that is a good point about Phury, Drq! His 500-page pity party was a bit much for me, but I can see where you're coming from.

[Ez]

Tammy wrote: "Harper wrote: "Hey, Tammy! The link is in post 145."

Hi Harper! and thanks :) I see Ward is still doing that creepy thing where she pretends her characters are all real and the books tell her w..."

Yeah, she's still doing that. You know what it is? Plausible deniability. So if the fans don't like her stuff, she can push the blame onto her characters like, "They told me to do it! Blame V!" LOL.

My eyebrows went up over the 6 more brother things, too. I do wonder how long she's going to drag the series out. Because, honestly, once these next two books, and the Qhuinn/Blay novella, are out, there won't be any characters around that I'll actually give a crap about. I don't know how I'm going to feel about all these new brothers just popping up. Hmm.

[Rossy]

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "I don't know about the M/M, but I think there is def. going to be some more BDSM...I just don't think it was be a primary story line...it'll be a secondary one...I can't see her doing like a Suzann..."

My mind is going in that direction as well. Either way i don't think she will be able to soften his personality as much as she did on his book. It was one of the reasons he has issues with the Warden.

[Rossy]

Drq wrote: "So a bit agao, I'm chatting with a friend who has read all the books. I was telling her about the unanimous dislike of Phury. She pointed out to me Phury's whole game is, he lacks validation. I ..."

That's the only reason i didn't outright dislike his book, but he is still my least favorite brother. In my opinion it took him too long to get over himself.

[Rossy]

Harper wrote: "Tammy wrote: "Harper wrote: "Hey, Tammy! The link is in post 145."

Hi Harper! and thanks :) I see Ward is still doing that creepy thing where she pretends her characters are all real and the bo..."

Really Harper, you are not the least bit curious about the place where Muhrder was sent? I hear those vamps are a bit crazy and makes me wonder how hard core they would be.

[Dee]

the way i'm feeling right now...i'm at like 70% and going to try to finish it up today...is even her least favorite book is still better than half the shit i've seen published, because it is well-written...I think its more that people as readers just didn' tlike what happened, vice the writing sucked...does that make sense?

[Ez]

*Spoiler-ish*



Not really, Rossy. The whole Muhrder subplot in "Lover Mine" was so obvious and contrived. It bored me to tears, and it didn't leave me with any interest in his character. Like at all. I'd probably only read his book because it's the BDB and I'm still a fan of the world. Also, I do like Layla and wouldn't mind reading her HEA. It's like Dee said, even Ward at her worst (plot-wise) is still better than a lot of the other stuff I've come across.

[Ez]

Oh, I forgot about Lassiter. I'm interested in his book, too!

[Rossy]

I know his subplot was ridiculous so am not really expecting anything from him but rather the others, who lived where he was sent when he went bonkers.LOL

[Rossy]

Delicious Dee Challenge Addict wrote: "the way i'm feeling right now...i'm at like 70% and going to try to finish it up today...is even her least favorite book is still better than half the shit i've seen published, because it is well-w..."

Yes, it was not the writing or even the plot itself for me but rather the main character.

[Ceej]

Harper I like Lassiter too. I haven't read Lover Mine yet but does she ever tell why the angst between him and the Brothers? I mean has asked to beat him three or four times and they all exuded instant dislike when he showed up with Tohr. Don't tell me what the issue, just if she reveals it.

I also think I'm done with this thread until I read Lover Mine. I thought Muhrder was dead but I'm getting the feeling he has something to do with Xhex and John. I don't wanna know before I read it!!! Guess I'm going to have to get it tonight on Nook

[Dee]

just finished up lover enshrined...have to say, it def. did get better as the book went on...the last half was probably the best...I wasn't so sure about Cormia at first, but ended up liking her as a character, I think more because she discovered who she was, whereas most of the other females so far have had a sense of self (does that make sense?)

[Dee]

doesn't lassiter show up in her fallen angels series? the name sounds really familiar...

[Ez]

Drq- Ward hasn't explained the beef between Lassiter and the Brothers, at least not that I remember...

[Ez]

Rossy wrote: "I know his subplot was ridiculous so am not really expecting anything from him but rather the others, who lived where he was sent when he went bonkers.LOL"

Naw, I don't really have any interest in that. In fact, I just thought he'd went crazy and vanished, not that he was sent anywhere. LOL. Guess I missed that, or forgot about it...

[Rossy]

I belive it was in Lover Avenged where we figured out that he was not really dead, but was sent somewhere....or maybe a book or two before? Can't remember but i know that we were never told outright that he was dead, just sort of disappeared.

[Tammy]

I mustn't have been paying very much attention to Lover Avenged (lol) - I have NO idea what you guys are talking about! I'm going to order Lover Mine soon so I can get right up to speed.

I was intrigued by Lassiter (was he the guy who showed up with Tohr?) but feel like I've missed something with him. Did you guys feel that way too?