Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward | The Black Dagger Brotherhood
Romance at a Glance is a podcast where hosts Bridget and Shani review romance novels and interview some of romance’s biggest authors diving into candid conversations about life, relationships, and sexual desires. Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor. Leave us a rating and review on iTunes.
Full transcript available below.
Book Review at a Glance
Heroine Rating: Bella
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Zsadist
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: He is my Mc Dreamy. I love the way he tries to care for Bella. And definitely a McSteamy in the sheets.
Bridget: I think he is supposed to be a McSteamy, but really underneath all the trauma, he is her McDreamy
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla, primal, and very emotional
Romance at a Glance Reviews Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
We had a blast this week reading one of our favorite Brother’s stories! Zsadist and Bella did not disappoint us during the re-read and while we definitely forgot some of the amazing world-building that happens with the rest of the Brotherhood, we were so happy to find we are still very much on their team!
Some standout highlights we got to talking about on the podcast
Skip this section if you don’t want SPOILERS!
How sad we were that all the other Brothers thought Zsadist would rape Bella after he literally spent weeks and weeks desperately searching for her.
The fact that while in lesser captivity she is hoping that he will save her.
The absolutely crushing sadness of Z scrubbing his wrists raw because he believes that he’s been tainted by the mistress and his imprisonment.
Our continued belief that a thruple needs to happen in this series.
Bella’s needing (SO HOT RIGHT NOW IN HERE ISN’T IT?)
Wellsie :( the saddest of the sad faces for our always fav John Matthew.
18 months of pregnancy for vampire women??!
And Zsadist actively trying to be worthy of her by eating, learning to read, and generally not keeping Phury up constantly with worry.
On Romance at a Glance, we discuss and review all genres of romance novels, as well as get into the nitty-gritty of real-life romance, relationships, and sex... while cracking each other up. Expect some spontaneous singing, funny anecdotes, honest reviews, and naughty language.
Quick Guide Review of the Book and Notes
Book Title: Lover Awakened
Author: J.R. Ward
Audio Narrator: Jim Frangione
Part of a Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis:
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…
Heroine Rating: Bella
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 - I really love Bella. I think she’s patient with Zadist and understanding. I also think shes smart as heck. I wish she was a little tougher with her boundaries. And when Zsadist tries to give her to Phury.
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 - I love that she doesn’t let him push her around emotionally. She calls him out for thinking he knows what she is thinking or feeling. And at the same time, she is very patient with him and his trauma triggers. For instance being willing to not be on top as that flashes him back, or even take his vein until he OKs it.
Hero Rating: Zsadist
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆🍆 - My favorite rage beast! I love it when he fucks the shit out of her during Bella’s needing. He is so sweet Bella when he finds her after her kidnapping by the lessers, and never gives up on finding her. He is so worried about not tainting or hurting Bella and keeping her safe even from him.
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆🍆🍆 -My favorite part about him is that he is so confused. A lot of his rage and anger and defensiveness are covering up confusion about what sex is supposed to be like, and what being touched or held in a positive way is supposed to be like. He literally never had a single day of healthy adult sexual or non-sexual touch before his 100 plus years of being a slave. This is heartbreaking, and his main concern about being with Bella is that he is somehow tainted and will taint her.
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: He is my Mc Dreamy. I love the way he tries to care for Bella. And definitely a McSteamy in the sheets.
Bridget: I think he is supposed to be a McSteamy, but really underneath all the trauma, he is her McDreamy
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla, primal, and very emotional
Favorite Lines in the Book:
Shani:
Bridget:
Favorite Review:
Shani’s from Audible:
Adore Zsadist...abhore Jim Frangione
What did you like best about Lover Awakened? What did you like least?
The depth of pain the leads have to overcome makes for a conflicted yet tender storyline.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Zsadist is my favorite brother...definately the character that has the most growth in the series and the most depth.
What didn’t you like about Jim Frangione’s performance?
It was unremarkable, bland even. The Brothers do not have individual voices, even Butch who has a Boston accent, was read in the same tone as Wrath (also suppose to have an accent.) There is such a richness in dialogue, snappy sarcasm and smart ass one-liners, contrasted with sincere, heartfelt depth that the practically monotone reading was just horrible. If you can READ this book, don't listen to it. The AUDIO is a WASTE of an incredible story. I would avoid all books read by this performer, at all costs.
What would have made this romance irresistible?
A better narrator would have sent this over the top. And less time spent with the Lessers, I always just skipped over those parts as I read. They really did not add much depth or more conflict to the story.
Bridget’s from Goodreads:
• Lisa • rated it
5 ZSADIST STARS.
If I was choose to drop the F BOMB in any review, this book would be IT ...
I loved this book, if I haven't quite made myself clear yet, then let me just tell you I have an unhealthy Fixation on all things BROTHERHOOD. This is (so far) my favourite book and brother of the series, and if possible I'm more addicted then ever.
Zsadist THE ultimate in the alpha kingdom of vampires ~ Broken, destroyed, scarred, damaged, dark, dangerous and I LOVED him.
Zsadist is my favourite of the brotherhood and his story stole my thoughts, feelings and book heart. I loved delving more into the brotherhood world and the author has a brilliant talent of bringing other characters into the limelight as the story develops.
Cover Art:
Shani: Same Same. Doesn’t tell me much.
Bridget: Same as her usual. Everyone gets a different color wash. I like the lips on the neck in this one :) But doesn’t tell me anything about Zsadist as the guy on the cover isn’t scarred or tattooed.
Worth the Read?
Shani: YES! I love Zsadist and Bella.
Bridget: Hells yes. My favorite so far of the brotherhood.
Buy it on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop: support local bookstores
One by one they reached out and touched him, their big hands gently on his shoulders.
"Welcome back, my brother," Phury whispered.
Zsadist stared at the males who were behind him. And the oddest thought that if he were to let himself go limp and fall backward... they would catch him.
Favorite Review:
Shani’s from Audible:
Adore Zsadist...abhore Jim Frangione
What did you like best about Lover Awakened? What did you like least?
The depth of pain the leads have to overcome makes for a conflicted yet tender storyline.
Who was your favorite character and why?
Zsadist is my favorite brother...definately the character that has the most growth in the series and the most depth.
What didn’t you like about Jim Frangione’s performance?
It was unremarkable, bland even. The Brothers do not have individual voices, even Butch who has a Boston accent, was read in the same tone as Wrath (also suppose to have an accent.) There is such a richness in dialogue, snappy sarcasm and smart ass one-liners, contrasted with sincere, heartfelt depth that the practically monotone reading was just horrible. If you can READ this book, don't listen to it. The AUDIO is a WASTE of an incredible story. I would avoid all books read by this performer, at all costs.
What would have made this romance irresistible?
A better narrator would have sent this over the top. And less time spent with the Lessers, I always just skipped over those parts as I read. They really did not add much depth or more conflict to the story.
Bridget’s from Goodreads:
• Lisa • rated it
5 ZSADIST STARS.
If I was choose to drop the F BOMB in any review, this book would be IT ...
I loved this book, if I haven't quite made myself clear yet, then let me just tell you I have an unhealthy Fixation on all things BROTHERHOOD. This is (so far) my favourite book and brother of the series, and if possible I'm more addicted then ever.
Zsadist THE ultimate in the alpha kingdom of vampires ~ Broken, destroyed, scarred, damaged, dark, dangerous and I LOVED him.
Zsadist is my favourite of the brotherhood and his story stole my thoughts, feelings and book heart. I loved delving more into the brotherhood world and the author has a brilliant talent of bringing other characters into the limelight as the story develops.
Cover Art:
Shani: Same Same. Doesn’t tell me much.
Bridget: Same as her usual. Everyone gets a different color wash. I like the lips on the neck in this one :) But doesn’t tell me anything about Zsadist as the guy on the cover isn’t scarred or tattooed.
Worth the Read?
Shani: YES! I love Zsadist and Bella.
Bridget: Hells yes. My favorite so far of the brotherhood.
Buy it on Amazon | Buy on Bookshop: support local bookstores
Full Podcast Transcript
Recommendations:
Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires.
As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance’s biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo in order to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.
Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.
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