Book Review – Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #9) by JR Ward

5 stars!!!

“All his life he’d wondered why he’d never fallen in love, and now he knew: He’d been waiting for this moment, this woman, this time. The female is mine, he thought. “ – Manny

Wow I did not realize how much I had missed the BDB world and JR Ward’s writing until I picked this up! This book kept me up reading till the wee hours of the morning and actually ended up being one of my favs in the series ( tied with Rhage, Wrath, and Zsadist’s books).

I squeeeed out loud so many times while reading it!!

JR Ward is a truly gifted author – her books are the perfect blend of humor, HOT romance, sweet HEA endings (of course!), wonderful world building with plenty of action, and a reoccurring group of favorite characters/couples that never fail to bring a smile to your face and tug at your heart strings.

In case you havent read anyof the BDB books yet, the opening lines of this book will give you a feel for the writing style:

“‘I want to blow you.’ Dr. Manny Manello swiveled his head to the right and looked at the woman who’d spoken. It was hardly the first time he’s heard that combination of words, and the mouth they’d come out of certainly had enough silicone in to offer a good cushion… at another time in his life, he probably would have taken her up on it, under the why-the-hell-not theory. Now? File that under not-so-much…she leaned forward, flashing him a set of breasts that didn’t so much defy gravity as flip it off, insult its mother, and piss on its shoes…. Candace was one of those Manhattan social types who was nothing but a pimp away from being a prostitute…”

This book wasn’t just about Payne and Manny even though they were the ‘main’ couple of the story. It was also almost equally about Vishous and Jane’s relationship, and consequently V and Butch. For some reason, I always liked them both as individuals but never fully connected with then in Lover Unbound as a couple, but in this book, it just kinda brought their story full circle for me.

And V and Butch’s storyline is really wonderful – I love how they are closer than brothers, but not crossing the line into a romantic relationship, but still somehow, there is something deeper going on there. I love the healing process Butch brings to V’s terribly tortured character – its incredibly heart warming/wrenching.

“Listen to me. You have the fashion of a park bench and the interpsonal skills of a meat cleaver —“
“Is this supposed to be helping?”
“Let me finish–“
“What’s next? The size of my cock?”
“Hey – even pencils can get the job done – I’ve heard the moaning from your room… I’m just telling you – you need that female in your life. Don’t fuck shit up. Not now – not ever, feel me?”

I loved Payne’s character!! She was so adorable but strong, with a no BS attitude even in the face of dealing with a horrible situation..

“Payne looked back through the glass at the human on the bed. “Yes. I am in love with him. And if you try to dissuade me by the fact that I have not lived yet enough to judge, I say unto you…fuck off.”

And Manny was the perfect male for her.  For Payne, as a born fighter, dealing with being paralyzed is literally a fate worse than death and the way they were just crazy about each other and then how he healed her was just so heart warming… and HOT!  did I mention the hot part? 🙂  …I think that since he didn’t originate from their world, it was part of what helped the book feel so much like the first ones, because it allowed the reader to see into the world again almost like an outsider in a way – it gives it an extra thrill. But they were seriously adorable as a couple together!

I love how no 2 relationships in this world are the same – there is always something new and unique about each one so it never gets repetative.

And it was so good to see little bits of the other Brothers – Rhage in the triage (!!) he only had a few lines but boy was I reminded of how much I love him!!

Manny to Rhage as he stitches him up while Rhage is trying to get him to tend to the others first:

“You’re all right, you know that.”
“Fuck…that…” The fighter smiled, flashing fangs. “I’m… perfect.” <3 <3 Yes, you are Rhage! lol

And Wrath! I don’t know why but something about him just makes me squeee and read with the silliest grin on my face whenever he is in the scene.

Also really good to see so much of Qhuinn “scanning through inside of the club, he put his fuck filter on and began weeding through the women…” I’m so stoked that him and Blay are getting their own book! Those boys need a HEA!!

I’m going to start Lover Reborn first thing tomorrow – I hear that Tohr sizzles in it!! …. that guy SO deserves something happy to happen to him!

Click here for the complete reading order of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.