Book Title: LOVER UNLEASHED

Author Name: J.R. Ward
ISBN #: 978-0-451-23316-5
Publisher Name: Penguin Group/NAL
Date Released: April 2011
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Pages: 489
Retail Price: $27.95
Book Format: Print.


BACK COVER BLURB:
Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark warrior cloth as her brother. Because she is a fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side . . . and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.

When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can – and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night – like vampries – he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.

As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide . . . just as a centuries-old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her live in deadly jeopardy.

COVER SNARK:
It’s okay. But are they using the same guy over and over again?

FIRST LINES:

Xcor saw his father killed when he was but five years past his transition. It happened afore his very eyes, and yet even with the proximity, he could not fathom what transpired.

I was shocked. This was still a J.R. Ward book (product placement galore – though less so, 400 year old men talking like they grew up like white boys who are trying to be gangster and failing miserably, side plots that overtake the hero and heroine’s story). All the things that drive me crazy about her series was still there, but it was like someone held her back and what was left was a tightly plotted and focused story that I hadn’t seen from her in years.

Manny and Payne had a decent romance. I wish there was more of it and it was more fully developed. When I got to the end, I was like that’s it? However, since I was expected far, far less between them, I wasn’t as annoyed like I usually am. A lot of the focus inside LOVER UNLEASHED is focused on V and Jane. I could be wrong and often am (not really, but that sounds more humble), but I got the feel that the focus on V and Jane was Ms. Ward’s way of saying ‘my bad, I’m sorry that V’s book sucked donkey doo-doo and this is my way of making it up to my readers. This is how V and Jane’s relationship arc should’ve been.’ Now, if she’d do the same with Phury and what’s her face, I’d be over the moon and might actually go back to purchasing her novels instead of getting them from my library.

To be honest, I can’t tell you if the story was really good, or that my expectations were so low that I was shocked that it wasn’t as awful as I assumed it would be so I’m hyping it up more than it should be. My judgment may be screwed.

I am back to being curious about where the BDB series is going to go from here. Ms. Ward set up some new interesting plot lines that include Butch’s real father, The Bastards and their planned revenge on Wrath (why, what’s up with that), and who is that Toe’s father and family (yes, I know that’s not his real name, but WTF).

So from deciding to totally give up on the BDB series, I’m back to being intrigued to what’s coming up next. So that’s a good thing.

BTW. If anyone knows, whose the next book about?

WHERE PURCHASED:
Borrowed from my local library. I’m still leery about paying for one of her books, even after this. Time will tell.

RATING: