Lover Reborn 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:
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Tohr
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: Mc Meh-he-aight
Bridget: McDumby McSadface Mcbutthead
Classy to Nasty:
Very vanilla. Another one of those dudes withholding the D and the good things for so long.
Romance at a Glance Reviews Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward
AKA Tohr was a big dummy for way too long & renamed No'One Autumn
Here's the thing. If all the other side plots hadn't been as good, we think this would have been a 2 star for us... because we weren’t that into the Tohrment and No'one (Autumn) storyline.
He was just such a stuck-in-the-sand sad sack for so long. We’re not saying you can just get over someone who dies tragically super fast and be in love with someone else. But he didn't even get rid of the stuff or really get over everything till the VERY end of this book. So, he fell in love faster, but wouldn't acknowledge it...
That said, great side plots with Xhex and No'One, Xhex and John Matthew, Quinn and Blay (yes!), Quinn and Layla and more.
If you like the BDB, you gotta read this one, because otherwise, you'll have no earthly clue what is going on with the rest of the Brothers.
Some major points we discussed:
Tohr and his seemingly unending stupidity in not letting go of Wellsie for so long
No'One name pronunciation!!!
No'One getting renamed Autumn (Spoiler: We were not for it!)
John Matthew and Xhex's arc of him going all bonded male on her and Xhex not taking it
Quinn and Blay! Quinn is coming for Blay!
X'Cor and Layla's meeting and the fact that he puts his mouth on her... but don't they all?!
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 Reborn
Author: J.R. Ward
Audio Narrator: Jim Frangione
Part of a Series: Yes, Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 10
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis: Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.
When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams—trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquillity of the Fade—he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....
Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future…but can his heart let go and set all of them free?
Heroine Rating:
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 She was a lot better than I thought she was going to be. I was happy she got up her backbone at the end and left the mansion and was like, nope, we’ve come full circle now. I’m done with your selfishness.
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 I really liked No’One! I thought her quiet strength and slow learning of emotions and the world were really lovely. And how gentle and not jealous she was of Wellsie. I also really liked the relationship that developed between her and Xhex. Did not love the name Autumn though
Hero Rating: Tohr
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆 It took him way to long to get it together.
Bridget: 🍆🍆 In the earlier books I would have said 4 or 5… but in this book, he was 2. HE WAS SUCH AN IDIOT for so long. Duh, you’re the problem. She’s gone, bro… except not really. Also, he was way fucking harsh to No’One more than once and I didn’t like that at all.
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: Mc Meh-he-aight
Bridget: McDumby McSadface Mcbutthead
Classy to Nasty:
Very vanilla. Another one of those dudes withholding the D and the good things for so long.
Favorite Line in the Book:
Shani:
“Text me when you want to see me again, he signed. I'm giving you your space, but know this: I will wait forever for you.” John Matthew to Xhex
“You never realized how thick your fog was until it lifted.” Tohr
“I have other things I want to do to you,” he growled. “That could be just the beginning. If you want.” Tohr to No’One
“From one king to another, know that I'm giving you the middle finger right now." And he was, with a smile.
“Life’s meant to be lived blind—that’s how you don’t take shit for granted.”
"You get hard and I'll castrate you as soon as she leaves." To Throe when Layla feeding him.
Bridget:
“If you don’t get the fuck out of my way, I’m going to bend you over that desk of yours—” “Prove it.” - Blay and Saxton
JM waking up Being female was not a disability in any sense of the word. But he had treated it as such, hadn’t he. He had decided that because she was not male, in spite of all her qualifications and skills, she couldn’t go out into conflict.
But she feared that once your name was in the back of a male—and worse, a full-blooded warrior male—things changed. Expectations shifted. - Xhex
“And if you think my standing up for myself is a goddamn political statement, you mated the wrong goddamn female.” Xhex to John Matthew
“Because it’s hard when you’ve loved one person with everything you’ve got, and she’s gone, and someone else comes and treads all over her territory in your heart.” Tohr to Autumn
Jesus Christ… she had been really fucking naked. Tohr after seeing No’One swimming
Favorite Review:
Shani’s from Audible:
Tekla rated it it was ok
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3587456-tekla
Just a fair warning: This book buttfucked me raw without lube (~*spoiler*~ pun intended) and destroyed my heart and sanity. My feelings are all over the place and I need to vent. Cursing, spoilers and inappropriate gifs ahead.
I'm actually so disappointed in Ward. I used to believe in her. I trusted her. 100% But she's been dragging out their story for too long and adding ridiculous plot devices to hold them back. Don't bullshit me anymore with "they aren't ready". They are and they were. You made Torh be ready and stuffed a whole year into a book to make it happen, so STFU and give us Qhuay already!
Bridget’s from Goodreads:
Princess under cover rated it 1 star
Update: lowered to 1 star because I got reminded about how disappointed I am in the wreck that is Tohr's story...
Very disappointed. And I'm a HUGE JR Ward fan. I was really looking forward to Tohr's story. If anyone deserved a happy ending it's Tohr.
BUT.
What the hell????? This book is 2 stars because I love JR's writing style, the other characters that we follow, their continued development. But for the main couple of the story, I'd give this something close to 1 star. It's that bad!
Cover Art:
Shani: Liked the blue eyes. He can get it.
Bridget: Jaw clench for the win! I actually feel like Tohr looks older? Like he should be in his late 30s or early 40s looking… but hottie for sure.
Worth the Read?
Shani: You have to if you want to keep going. Didn’t hate it, gave it 3 stars.
Bridget: I just think it could have been so much better! the side plots were great. 3 stars also.
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Full Podcast Transcript
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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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