Love Transcends Even Life

“'You are a manipulator.' 
'I like to think of myself as more of an outcome engineer.'"

--J.R. Ward, Lover Eternal

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Signet, 441 pages

Publication Date: March 7th, 2006

Source: Bought
Goodreads
Previous Books in Series: Dark Lover 

Goodreads Description

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war raging between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret bound of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Possessed by a deadly beast Rhage is the most dangerous of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

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 ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time 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 to Rhage's protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles 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

So after reading, loving, and then obsessing over Dark Lover I was SO freaking excited to continue in this series. AND the book is about Rhage!? Playboy, sex god hottie?!? Um, YES! Sign me up! And to be honest, Rhage made the entire book. He is not just the superficial smart-ass he makes himself out to be. Not in the least. He has so much more depth than what we initially see and what he gives himself credit for. He is so kind and sensitive and without him in this book I would have liked it infinitely less..

...the reason for that? Mary. She just didn't do it for me. I love Rhage so much...like so freakin' much and her character just fell flat for me. I'm a nurse. I deal with sick patients who have similar illnesses all the time and I still just could not connect with her. Maybe it's because I am a nurse that I wanted to kind of smack her and tell her to stop playing the victim all the time. Stop RSVP'ing to your pity party. You're alive. Carpe diem. This guy is OBVIOUSLY into you. Go with it. I understand her hesitation at first because her self-esteem is low and I did initially really like her. But her constant reluctance to give Rhage a chance started to wear on me after awhile. AND I did not like how everything in the beginning went back to his looks. He is too good looking for me, blah blah blah. I wanted to be like you're the only one focused on looks here. He fell in love with you before even seeing you but based on your voice and the vibe he got from you. Couldn't you judge him the same? Annoying. I don't know. I wanted to like her SO much more for Rhage but she just didn't do it for me. (Re-Read Note: I take back all my Mary dislike after reading and after The Beast. I am totally in love with her now and feel the need to edit this in appropriately. The original review is here intact but I wanted to add this note because I take it all back.)

Rhage, like I said, made the whole book for me. I loved seeing him react to a female of value and seeing the Brotherhood react to his revelations. Hilarious. I reeeeeally wanted to see more of Wrath and Beth but alas, this wasn't their story to tell. Sad face. I DID, however, LOVE seeing the glimpses into Zsadist and Bella. Ooooh, I can feel my heart beating fast just thinking about poor, scarred Zsadist and his broken soul. I'm with you Bella, let's fix this sexy man and make him our own. 

Sorry, that's the next book. Anyways. The lessers are still lurking and while they are obviously the central conflict to our protagonists I don't like reading their scenes. They creep me out. I really don't think their insight adds a whole to the plot. I mean, it does but I don't know, I just am a selfish reader and want only the Brotherhood :) I still want to know more about the Scribe Virgin...because frankly, she seems like quite the bitch. What is this lady's deal? OH AND John Matthew...shit, I can't WAIT to see where this goes. I love how he was incorporated in. Wellsie's kindness makes me wanna cry. I just want to hug this kid and make him better. He is so strong with all he's been dealt and I just am so excited for him to be involved with the Brotherhood!

So while I didn't fully connect with Mary and their love story was not my favorite, Rhage's journey totally made up for it. He is beautiful inside and out. He is kind and caring and there is so much more to him than meet's the eye...and trust me, he is an eye full :)

Should You Read This? Yes. I looooove Rhage. And the rest of the Brotherhood remains fabulous and I can't wait for what's next :)