Lover Eternal 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: Mary
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Rhage
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McSteamy to McSelfless Dreamy
Bridget: McDreamy
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla. However, we do get a hint of kink when Mary (and the brothers) chain up Rhage and the beast comes out partially to play in the bedroom.
Romance at a Glance Reviews Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
We like Rhage and Mary’s story because we think everyone can relate to going out with someone that they consider “out of their league” either physically, sexually or financially and wondering what it is they see in you. And most of us can relate to having dated someone who is the questioning one, and that they don’t understand that you just love them or want them!
Some fun moments for us in the book that we discuss on the podcast are when Rhage and Mary go out to dinner for the first time and he orders EVERYTHING on the menu. This repeats in future books and is so funny. He doesn’t even try to pretend that he’s human in that regard. The amount of food he orders is comical.
Another thing we heart in this book is everything to do with John Matthew. Especially Wellsie’s kindness and him feeling like he has a home now.
When the brothers tell Rhage he has to wipe Mary’s memory and he says it won’t matter because she’ll be gone soon. WE CRIED. She is dying and that is the most heartbreaking moment. He found her and they knew he was going to lose her.
Zsadist and Bella. OMG, we ready for their book next!! SHIPPING IT HARD.
Mary is such a courageous person, not only in having sex with Rhage while the beast is out (that scene was so hot and tender), but also walking up to it and petting it and saying that it was time to give Rhage back to her.
We love that Mary is SO happy to have gotten her miracle and Rhage is trying to throw her out of his room because he doesn’t want the Scribe Virgin to take back her gift of Mary’s life.
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 Eternal
Author: J.R. Ward
Audio Narrator: Jim Frangione
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
Genre: Paranormal Romance (VAMPIRES!)
Synopsis:
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 band 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 a 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 on 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...
Heroine Rating: Mary
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑 - She was strong and independent, but her self esteem was weak.
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑 -I like Mary a lot. She keeps questioning Rhage’s affections for too long I thought, but other than that, I was definitely on her team.
Hero Rating: Rhage
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆 - Rhage isn’t my favorite brother, but his concern over hurting her and all the brothers with the beast is such an endearing and vulnerable character trait. He’s funny and puts his foot in his mouth all the time, but all that bravado, it turns out, is covering up a mushy heart.
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McSteamy to McSelfless Dreamy
Bridget: McDreamy
Classy to Nasty:
Vanilla. However, we do get a hint of kink when Mary (and the brothers) chain up Rhage and the beast comes out partially to play in the bedroom.
Favorite Lines in the Book:
Favorite Review:
Shani’s from Audible:
MalenaHaas - 2 stars
Pissed me off half way through the book.
::spoilers::
The protagonist couple does something so stupid, I couldn’t finish the book.
He won’t sleep with her because his beast will come out unless he “levels down” with sex or violence so he leaves to go to the bar with his love waiting in his room. When he gets back he confirms he slept with another. No woman in their right mind would sleep with someone after that, let alone their first time, and then claim they felt they were in the bad because they took advantage of the man who had just slept with someone else hours prior. I call bs.
Bridget’s from Goodreads:
Exina rated it 3 stars
I know that many of the fans favor Rhage from the Black Dagger Brotherhoodseries. And although it is not my first read, and I really tried, but still, I failed to like him, or his story. In Lover Eternal, my main complaint is the alteration (or revealing the true nature?) of Rhage’s personality. I prefer the devilish, funny, sexy Rhage he was before, not the weeping, whining, peevish man he has become.
Rhage wants Mary to be honest with him, to share her feelings and fears with him, to let him into her life in a couple of days. But he doesn’t tell her very important things about himself. Unspoken words, hidden facts, and mistaken assumptions poison their relationship. Of course, in time they get over this...
Mary’s behaviour is understandable because of her disease, and she is a strong and courageous character, but has irritating moments as well.
I'm not saying I hated the main characters but I was disappointed.
I liked
- John Matthew’s storyline! I cried with him over that bowl of rice. I love that scene.
- Mr. O. Distinguishable antagonist, a psychopath. Really terrifying.
- Mary’s scene with the beast.
- More and more information of the world and traditions of the vampires, and of the Brotherhood.
- Bella and Zsadist. Their story seems really intriguing.
Cover Art:
Shani: Her lips his neck, yes yes yes
Bridget: Oooo her kissing that neck. Very sexy. He is the sex god of the vampire race, so I guess it makes sense, but Mary isn’t a super forward heroine, so not sure it translates. Also, if I didn’t know it was paranormal, this cover would not tell me that.
Worth the Read?
Shani: Yes
Bridget: Yes, even if it is just to keep going to future books!
Buy Lover eternal and then tell us what you think!
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Full Podcast Transcript
Recommendations in paranormal romance!
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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