Thanks to everyone who commented and apologies to those outside of Europe who wanted to enter.
The 4 books will be going to :
Sue Aitken
Tracey Risebrow
Donna Barrie
Jade Elliott
Congratulations and I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!
Dec 222009
Dec 172009
Vishous lives up to his name, in battle, in the bedroom, in the Brotherhood. It’s the only way he knows how to be. Gifted or maybe cursed with a hand that can cause death or healing, it seems he is doomed to be paired forever with Butch, his best friend and the Brother he fears he is in love with. After being shot and nearly killed by a Lesser, he is accidentally taken to an ER where Dr Jane Whitcomb is on duty. After starting emergency surgery, she is shocked to find her patient is something other than human and when the Brotherhood arrive in a hurry to bring him to their own medics, Vishous insists on Jane being brought along. For a human Jane is tough and used to being in charge of her own life and work and being held captive albeit comfortably doesn’t sit well with her. Something about Vishous intrigues her and for some reason she brings out the bonding instinct in him. Can Jane be the one to help Vishous overcome his tortuous past and is he something to do with an odd event that happened in her childhood. Only time will tell, and time is running out.
I’ve always loved the character of Vishous and the quirky banter between him and Butch. Definitely up there as one of my favourite Brothers. The confusing love he feels for Butch too tugs at my heartstrings and I’m glad it gets resolved in this book. Jane’s character is sassy, no nonsense and you can’t help but admire her when she, as a human stands up to the Vampiric Brothers in the matter of medical issues. She knows her work and woe betide anyone, even Wrath who gets in the way. That Vishous is a Dominant sexually was really well handled and I have to say very exciting. This only gets more so when Jane enters the picture and being such a strong willed personality herself, sparks fly. I couldn’t help but cry at the big event at the end of the book and the resolution, it was very creative, well written and emotional.
As always there is more going on in the book than just the central characters, I love that there are always threads running from other books as the other Brothers and their lives are always involved too. Keeps you glued to the pages with no mercy!
Rating: 
Dec 162009
Butch O’Neal is a former Cop and the first human to know of the existence of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Not only does he know it exists but is welcomed as a friend and ally. Being human, he is kept apart from the nightly battles the Brothers go through with the Lessening Society and becomes increasingly frustrated at being unable to help. Reckless with is own life, frequently drunk and disorderly and impossibly in love with someone he can’t have, the course of his life changes forever one extraordinary night when he risks all to save a civilian.
Being the fourth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series makes Lover Revealed no less passionately absorbing and emotional as the first three. It was really good to see Butch as the central character as I was wondering how he was going to continue to fit in with the Brothers when he was ‘only’ human. It seemed only a matter of time before he self-destructed and having liked the character right from the first book, it was the last thing I wanted to see. I have to applaud how J. R. Ward resolved the issue and his helpless love for Marissa, seeing him become what he always wanted to be. Himself.
I also loved the transition of Marissa from the obedient reserved aristocratic doormat she started as, into a woman who was worthy of being a Warrior’s mate. Butch himself goes through several realisations about himself and every time you think it will mean his death, he comes through from sheer balls, force of will and the love of the Brothers, especially Vishous. Another brilliant installment of the series!
Rating:
Dec 102009
The Black Dagger Brotherhood are elite vampire warriors and brothers in arms trusting each other with their lives. They stand between the civilian vampire population and the evil Lessening Society.
Zsadist is the most terrifying of them all, a former blood slave who was tortured and tormented so badly before his rescue, his mind was all but broken. With a reputation for viciousness and feared by the lessers, he struggles to keep his rage leashed. The only person who can even remotely control him is his twin brother Phury, that is until the seemingly impossible happens. Zsadist makes an emotional connection with the beautiful aristocrat Bella who was instantly entranced and saw beyond his scars and self-disgust to the magnificent warrior he should be.
When she is taken by the Lessening Society, Zsadist’s rage knows no bounds and everyone, even his fellow Brothers are wary of him and worried at what he might do. The best they can do is help him and try and control the outfall.
Lover Awakened is the third book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and in all honesty they just keep getting better. This is Zsadist’s story and I didn’t really know what to make of him when he appeared in the first two books. It seemed he had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, too broken mentally to function. You knew snippets of his history but not the major story of what had happened that made him become the vampire and Brother he was, with such a tenuous hold on his sanity. The character of Bella, you first met in Lover Eternal and you already liked her by this book. That only increases as their journey unfolds.
Having finished it, this book just made my heart bleed. For Zsadist and all he’d endured, and the half-life he’d condemned himself to, for Bella not only surviving what she went through but coming through it stronger and still having such an enormous amount of compassion. For the whole Brotherhood and their shocking losses that made me cry.
A book so skillfully written, I felt like I was part of the family too. Just amazing.
Rating:
Dec 082009
Carlos Delgado, an operative of B.A.D. has spent the last sixteen years running from his past. When the agency receives some information from the mysterious Mirage about the kidnapping of a young girl and a possible connection to the Fratelli society, they realise they have to find out who Mirage is and bring them in. B.A.D. fears Mirage could pose a major threat to national security and Carlos is sent in to capture them for questioning. What he finds is not at all what he expects. Certainly not a woman in hiding and definately not someone from a high profile family with the technical skills she possesses. Carlos fears nothing but his past catching up with him and this strangely captivating woman unknowingly threatens just that.
Having felt Phantom in the Night rocketed along at an excellent pace, I expected more of the same with this one. I was very surprised that it progressed at a much slower speed and slowly built up to its conclusion. That’s not to say it’s a bad thing and I felt it suited the book and the plot that was unfolding. Had it been rushed, it would have spoiled the build up. It took me a little while to ‘get’ Carlos as the male lead and not as the smart alec pain in the ass minor character he’d appeared as in the first two. You do end up loving him though and realise his previous comments are very him and the sense of humour he has. I thought the character of Gabrielle was well done, I didn’t expect to like her as much as I did. Her whole silk outside, steel inside demeanor was great and fit really well with the other women of B.A.D.
While the book was as engaging as the first two, the emotional side felt slightly off at first, so it took me a while to connect with the main characters. Since that is the only negative thing I can say about it, I think it’s another great addition to the series and the collaboration between Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love. Exciting stuff and I hope there will be more coming!
Rating: 
Dec 072009
I’ve fallen a little behind in reviews due to Tony being away last week, and me being a girly wuss who doesn’t like it when Tony is away and retreats into her little comfort hole. I’ve still been reading so there will be 3 reviews appearing soon!
Now for the good news!
With huge thanks to Piatkus, I have 4 (yes 4!) copies of Lover Avenged by J. R. Ward to give away! What do you have to do to be in with a chance of receiving one?
Post a comment on this blog post! Can be anything – maybe your favourite character from the Black Dagger Brotherhood or your favourite moment, and if you haven’t read any of the books yet, well let me know what you like about Paranormal Romance.
The names of all commenters will go into a hat and the first 4 drawn will win a copy. Unfortunately, due to postage costs, this offer is only open to people in the UK or Europe.
Don’t forget to leave a valid email address when you post, it won’t be published and will only be used in the event you are one of the winners. Do not put your postal address in the comment, I’ll get in touch with you if you win and ask you to send it then.
Closing date will be 21st December at midnight UK time. There’ll be a post sometime on the 22nd of December listing the winners.
Good Luck!
Nov 252009
Terri Mitchell is an undercover agent for B.A.D. working as a consultant for the New Orleans Police Department. The Bureau suspect there is a terrorist group being fronted and funded by a notorious drug lord, operating within New Orleans. Terri’s mission is to find out who they are and what they are planning.
Nathan Drake is a phantom. An ex-covert operative for the US army and now ex-con, he’s lost everyone he ever loved to the organised crime ring and he wants revenge.
When Terri’s path keeps being crossed by the mysterious phantom that has the criminal underworld in a panic, she realises they might just be working towards the same goal. Both trained by life and profession to not trust anyone, they must attempt to work together or die trying. If they don’t, an entire city could perish.
I was a little sceptical about the second book in the B.A.D. series being co-written by Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love as not all pairings work, especially when Bad Attitude was such a great solo effort by Kenyon. Having been unable to put the book down until I’d finished, I’m happy to say it seems like a match made in heaven. I’m unfamiliar with Dianna Love’s work but while Kenyon’s trademarks are clearly present, the superb characterisations and hot scenes definately had an extra level to them. The plot is more intricate and in depth than I would say are Kenyon’s usual style and I think the collaboration has created something special there, definately an interesting setup for further books to be based around. The love scenes while extremely erotic, are well written and the mystery and tension building up between the two main characters throughout the book left me quite breathless. The action is fast paced and quite brutal at times but never overdone or just for the sake of it. Everything just fits in together so well to create an exciting and outstanding book.
Rating:
Nov 252009
J. D. Steele is a former US Army sniper fallen from grace after his partner is killed, and he is left to take the blame for another’s bad decision. A foolish attack on the person responsible lands him courtmarshalled and rotting in jail. Approached by a mysterious trio, a man and two women who claim they can give him his life back. All he has to do is join their shadow agency and perform a simple task. Unable to trust anyone, not even the alluring Sydney Westbrook who is assigned as his partner, and unwilling to kill again, he wonders how he can escape from this predicament and keep his life. The Bureau of American Defense does not mess around.
I’ve yet to come across a genre within Romance that Sherrilyn Kenyon doesn’t excell at. Spy romance? Not quite sure what to call it but oh my it’s good. As she has with her other series, Sherrilyn creates an interesting world for her characters to play in and gives them solid backgrounds. I like the B.A.D. Agency and I love the characters of Tee and Joe even if they are minor characters for this book, I do hope I get to see them in their own story.
The main characters here however are Sydney Westbrook and J. D. Steele. Sydney is a shorter, curvier Angelina Jolie lookalike with a kickass attitude, and an iron knee, who couldn’t love her? Then there is the very hot and mouthwatering J. D. Steele. Oh my!
I love the fact Sherrilyn Kenyon doesn’t just create copies of other characters with minor changes, they are all unique in their own way and have their own flaws and idiosyncrasies. I have to say though that this book feels more erotic and sensual than others have been and no, I don’t think that’s a bad thing, just keep a fan handy 
Fast action, absorbing plot, hot scenes and brilliant characters make this a book you have to read.
Rating:
Nov 202009
Rhage is one of the most ferocious vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Not only do his warrior instincts threaten to break out on a regular basis, but he also carries a beast within him, a curse placed on him by the Scribe-Virgin. Until now, he has managed to keep it under control by fighting against the Lesser Society or by using countless lovers. Then he meets Mary Luce and both beast and vampire find it hard to control themselves around her. Mary though is living under a death sentence from her own body and the last thing she wants is to finally fall in love, just to have to leave.
Having read and enjoyed Dark Lover, the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I didn’t think it could get any better. I was wrong. Lover Eternal is a rush from start to finish with tense, emotional scenes, explosive action and a sensuality that is very exciting. A simple plot and superb characterisations make the book outstanding and I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t expect to like the character of Rhage so much considering his appearances in the first book but with him as a main character here, he was awesome and I fell in love totally. Mary was such a complete opposite to him but had a lot of charm of her own. You see a lot of growth in her throughout the story and you can’t help but love her too. I have to touch on the ending or I wouldn’t do the book or this review any justice. It was so well written and compelling it made me cry and not a lot of books do that to me. An absolute must-read.
Rating:
Nov 182009
St. Martin’s Press have released the following information about Sherrilyn Kenyon’s 3rd book in the League series,
New from St. Martin’s Press is #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s 3-book series, ‘The League’! With over 19 million books in print, Sherrilyn Kenyon is renowned the world over as “the reigning queen of the paranormal genre that she pioneered long before the world had heard of Twilight.” The third book from ‘The League’ series, ‘Born of Ice’, will be available December 1st, 2009.
As with the previous book, Born of Fire, they’ve published a movie-like trailer, which you can watch below or check it out here on YouTube.
There’s more info and the chance to read an excerpt on Sherrilyn’s main website, or this link should take you straight to it.
The excerpt has really whetted my appetite and this little nugget made me laugh out loud :
Oh. My. God.
The one who’d spoken had to be a good six foot four in height. Built in perfect proportions, he was lean and ripped. Broad shoulders tapered down to narrow hips and what had to be the fi nest butt she’d ever seen in her life—she could bounce a credit off that.
Or break a tooth biting it…
Piatkus are the UK publishers, and they’re releasing it on the 3rd December over here.
I really can’t wait to get my hands on it! Check out the preview of the second book Born of Fire and don’t forget to read my review of the one that started it all, Born of Night. And if you want to know why you should read Sherrilyn Kenyon… this is why.
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