Talk about one phenomenal book! Holy smokes! I finished LOVER ETERNAL by J.R. Ward last night and could barely hold myself together until I could get to a computer and tell you all what a wonderful book this was.
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Pages:441
My Recommended Age Group: Adult
Released: March 7, 2006
Other books in series: Dark Lover (Book 1), Lover Awakened (Book 3), Lover Revealed (Book 4), Lover Unbound (Book 5), Lover Enshrined (Book 6), Lover Avenged (Book 7)
From J.R. Ward's Website:
My thoughts:
I became an instant fan of Ward after reading Dark Lover, the first installment of her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The story of love found and the fight against evil was a great escape and quickly turned into an instant addiction. I couldn't help but to run out the door and pick up the second book, LOVER ETERNAL right away. As with any book that I'm in love with, once cracking the cover I probably would have finished it in one sitting if it weren't for the other books that required reviews or that darn thing called a job. Regardless, I constantly found myself drawn back to the story, cuddling up with a blanket and losing myself in Ward's newest tale of good versus evil.
LOVER ETERNAL has, as the name suggests, a heavy theme of love. It's quite the passionate book as I'm beginning to understand all of her books are. This book centered around the story of Rhage, one of the Brothers. Rhage, or Hollywood as he is sometimes referred to, is a total chick magnet and absolutely gorgeous. He can, and does, have his pick of any female out there. What could be wrong with this scenario; most guys would love to be in this situation, right? Well, for Rhage, he's tired of the centuries full with meaningless love. He longs for the time when he can find a female that truly loves him and not just his image. That might be near impossible though because he has a secret hidden deep within him; a beast that comes out in times of extreme stress or excitement. A beast that's capable of eating a Lesser whole and then going back for more.
When there's a strong hero, we've got to have a strong heroine and Ward does a fantastic job with this. Mary is our lovely heroine with a musical voice and steel-grey eyes. She's a fighter, a tough chick, a survivor. She has to be after having beaten the odds and survived Leukemia. The treatments from her disease have left her body scarred and misshapen. She's afraid of intimacy and has lived a life lonely life working and volunteering, but without any true companions save for her next door neighbor Bella. When Mary finds herself face to face with Rhage, however, will her insecurities be enough to quell the fire growing between them? Will Rhage be able to control the beast within or will his passion for Mary be her ultimate demise?
With side stories including the ongoing war with the Lessers, a new Brother found and some serious romantic tension involving Bella and a couple of the Brothers, LOVER ETERNAL turned out to be a really great read. At first I was irritated that the viewpoints kept changing as Ward brought us from one story to the next, but the irritation lasted only a couple of words or so as I became totally engrossed in where she led us. And the ending! Oh my word the ending! Seriously, first you throw a fantastic book at us and then throw a fantastic end in along with it. You spoil us Ward!
Warning (you knew it was coming): The title is LOVER ETERNAL. It is a passionate book. Probably not the best book for younger readers. Sensuality rating of 4/5.
Writing:10
Interest:10
Passion:10+
Originality:10
Characters:10+
Pace:10
Overall: 60/60 - A+
Book Cover:2/3
Definitely a stinking big A for LOVER ETERNAL. How could it not earn a high rating when my husband actually had to pry my fingers away from the book so that he could turn the light off and go to sleep! Even now I'm sitting here contemplating if I can make it to the bookstore and back on my lunch break today or not. Oh wait! I have the third book at home already. I nearly forgot! Yay for being prepared! Good thing I didn't remember that last night or I'd still be sleeping.
My recommendation: Go buy it. Read it. You'll LOVE it.
Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Publisher: Signet Eclipse
Pages:441
My Recommended Age Group: Adult
Released: March 7, 2006
Other books in series: Dark Lover (Book 1), Lover Awakened (Book 3), Lover Revealed (Book 4), Lover Unbound (Book 5), Lover Enshrined (Book 6), Lover Avenged (Book 7)
From J.R. Ward's Website:
Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.
Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant on Rhage’s protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. Her faith in miracles was lost years ago. But when Rhage’s intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves…
My thoughts:
I became an instant fan of Ward after reading Dark Lover, the first installment of her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. The story of love found and the fight against evil was a great escape and quickly turned into an instant addiction. I couldn't help but to run out the door and pick up the second book, LOVER ETERNAL right away. As with any book that I'm in love with, once cracking the cover I probably would have finished it in one sitting if it weren't for the other books that required reviews or that darn thing called a job. Regardless, I constantly found myself drawn back to the story, cuddling up with a blanket and losing myself in Ward's newest tale of good versus evil.
LOVER ETERNAL has, as the name suggests, a heavy theme of love. It's quite the passionate book as I'm beginning to understand all of her books are. This book centered around the story of Rhage, one of the Brothers. Rhage, or Hollywood as he is sometimes referred to, is a total chick magnet and absolutely gorgeous. He can, and does, have his pick of any female out there. What could be wrong with this scenario; most guys would love to be in this situation, right? Well, for Rhage, he's tired of the centuries full with meaningless love. He longs for the time when he can find a female that truly loves him and not just his image. That might be near impossible though because he has a secret hidden deep within him; a beast that comes out in times of extreme stress or excitement. A beast that's capable of eating a Lesser whole and then going back for more.
When there's a strong hero, we've got to have a strong heroine and Ward does a fantastic job with this. Mary is our lovely heroine with a musical voice and steel-grey eyes. She's a fighter, a tough chick, a survivor. She has to be after having beaten the odds and survived Leukemia. The treatments from her disease have left her body scarred and misshapen. She's afraid of intimacy and has lived a life lonely life working and volunteering, but without any true companions save for her next door neighbor Bella. When Mary finds herself face to face with Rhage, however, will her insecurities be enough to quell the fire growing between them? Will Rhage be able to control the beast within or will his passion for Mary be her ultimate demise?
With side stories including the ongoing war with the Lessers, a new Brother found and some serious romantic tension involving Bella and a couple of the Brothers, LOVER ETERNAL turned out to be a really great read. At first I was irritated that the viewpoints kept changing as Ward brought us from one story to the next, but the irritation lasted only a couple of words or so as I became totally engrossed in where she led us. And the ending! Oh my word the ending! Seriously, first you throw a fantastic book at us and then throw a fantastic end in along with it. You spoil us Ward!
Warning (you knew it was coming): The title is LOVER ETERNAL. It is a passionate book. Probably not the best book for younger readers. Sensuality rating of 4/5.
Writing:10
Interest:10
Passion:10+
Originality:10
Characters:10+
Pace:10
Overall: 60/60 - A+
Book Cover:2/3
Definitely a stinking big A for LOVER ETERNAL. How could it not earn a high rating when my husband actually had to pry my fingers away from the book so that he could turn the light off and go to sleep! Even now I'm sitting here contemplating if I can make it to the bookstore and back on my lunch break today or not. Oh wait! I have the third book at home already. I nearly forgot! Yay for being prepared! Good thing I didn't remember that last night or I'd still be sleeping.
My recommendation: Go buy it. Read it. You'll LOVE it.
I'm really going to have to try JR Ward again. I read one book and didn't care for it but I've heard so many people raving about this series.
ReplyDeleteYEAY!!!!! THIS is my FAVORITE book of the bunch. I adore Rhage and Mary together....ahhh makesme want to read it over again. The next book is also wonderfully awesome. I am glad you are enjoying this series as much as I have
ReplyDeleteI don't knoooow....This one just isn't as good as the first and I am 3/4 through. I am thinking about just jumping 5 chapters... Fickle women get on my nerves. My sister had cancer, and meeting other people with it, they don't feel sorry for themselves. I am hoping it takes a turnaround... Z is my favorite by far. Seems twisted, but yet he's not.
ReplyDeleteAnother great review!! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE J.R Ward!