LOVER AWAKENED

Author: J.R. Ward ISBN: 0451219368 9/2006 PARANORMAL Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there’s a deadly war raging between vampires and their slayers. And there exists a secret band of brothers like no other - six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Of these, Zsadist is the most terrifying member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. A former blood slave, the vampire Zsadist still bears the scars from a past filled with suffering and humiliation. Renowned for his unquenchable fury and sinister deeds, he is a savage feared by humans and vampires alike. Anger is his only companion, and terror is his only passion—until he rescues a beautiful aristocrat from the evil Lessening Society. Bella is instantly entranced by the seething power Zsadist possesses. But even as their desire for one another begins to overtake them both, Zsadist’s thirst for vengeance against Bella’s tormentors drives him to the brink of madness. Now, Bella must help her lover overcome the wounds of his tortured past, and find a future with her…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

As usual, J.R. Ward packs a powerful punch into her latest novel of The Black Dagger Brotherhood, LOVER AWAKENED. With plenty of intrigue, new characters, and a tormented hero, any lover of her stories will be pleased with this one.

I must confess that the book before this one, LOVER ETERNAL, is my absolute favorite pick for 2006, so it's hard for me to be completely fair to LOVER AWAKENED. There is no doubt that it is an enthralling read with superior writing and a compelling plot. Plus the characters, namely Zsadist, Bella, and Phury, are downright phenomenal. It is also a very revealing and emotional read, making it an essential part of the Brotherhood series. I just can't shake LOVER ETERNAL from my brain, so perhaps nothing will ever be able to compare to it!

I have no doubt that all of the Brotherhood novels are, or will be, addicting and wondrous. They are simply too captivating not to be.

Shannon Johnson