Lover Unleashed 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: Payne
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Manuel
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: Literally a Mc Dreamy cuz he is a Dr.
Bridget: I think Payne was McRadiance, since she was the hero of this book
Classy to Nasty:
classy but great foreplay-vanilla (but butch and V were nasty)
Romance at a Glance Reviews Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward
AKA Payne and Manny’s book
AKA but really Vishous and Jane’s book part 2: The complete retelling
Was this Payne and Manny's "book" or was this Vishous and Jane's book... again?!
We had A LOT of thoughts.
The main one is that as always we loved the world-building that goes on in these books, however, we didn’t feel like it was justified for Payne to get her own book already (I mean we just met her last book for heaven’s sake!). It was great during the other books that by the time you reached that Brother’s (or Rehv’s) book, you already had spent multiple books getting to know them and getting excited about their mate… and in this, we really didn’t get enough time to understand Payne as a whole person, and certainly not down on Earth, before she got her own HEA.
Secondly, and HUGELY IMPORTANTLY, the “subplot” of Vishous and Jane having marital problems completely overshadows the whole Payne gaining back use of her legs and Payne/Manny romance. We thought it felt completely like a re-write of their book Lover Unbound as well as a step backward.
Listen to the episode as we get into this book in-depth including Quinn/Blay/Saxton drama, X’cor and the Band of Bastards arriving (and fucking..> SQQQUEEEE), and more!
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 Unleashed
Author: J.R. Ward
Audio Narrator: Jim Frangione
Part of a Series: Yes, Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 9
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Synopsis: Payne, twin sister of Vishous, is cut from the same dark, warrior cloth as her brother: A fighter by nature, and a maverick when it comes to the traditional role of Chosen females, there is no place for her on the Far Side… and no role for her on the front lines of the war, either.
When she suffers a paralyzing injury, human surgeon Dr. Manuel Manello is called in to treat her as only he can- and he soon gets sucked into her dangerous, secret world. Although he never before believed in things that go bump in the night- like vampires- he finds himself more than willing to be seduced by the powerful female who marks both his body and his soul.
As the two find so much more than an erotic connection, the human and vampire worlds collide … just as a centuries-old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in deadly jeopardy.
Heroine Rating: Payne
Shani: 🍑🍑🍑🍑 Payne is a badass who gets what’s she wants… to the euthanasia to Manny, to overpowering X’cor.
Bridget: 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑 I thought she was fierce, full of joy at being alive, wonder, passion and was an all-around badass fighter. I really was a fan of how every time Manny said something like “I’ll come”, she was like, “Yes, you shall. Show me and do it now.”
Hero Rating: Manuel
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆 Manny was alright for me he gets a 3. Mostly because he sent her away at the end.
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆 I like Manny, I do. I like that he stands up to V and Butch and doesn’t take shit from anyone especially when he is in surgeon mode. I didn’t like that he kept “protecting her” and even at the end of the book when they had already made with the I Love You, he was like, “if I kiss you I’m going all the way.” It’s like, DUH BRO SHE WANTS IT GIVE IT TO HER AND STFU!
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: Literally a Mc Dreamy cuz he is a Dr.
Bridget: I think Payne was McRadiance, since she was the hero of this book
Classy to Nasty:
classy but great foreplay-vanilla (but butch and V were nasty)
Favorite Lines in the Book:
Favorite Review:
Shani’s:
Andrea ❤Ninja Bunneh❤ rated it it was ok
Seriously, people.
First off, BDB books are addicting. However, this one completely missed the mark for me. It really had me feeling that every relationship is recycled. Vamp bonds with female (in this case, female vamp to male), growling ensues, sex sex sex sex feelings, hard cocks springing out of pants, and finally the lovey dovey conclusion.
SNOOZE.
secondly, I will continue the series like the fucking addict I am.
Bridget’s:
Blacky *Romance Addict* rated it 5 stars
This was such a romantic book, I must say I loved Manny and Payne's story <3
What made it even better was a side-story concerning Vishous! Fantastic :))
The new bad guys are irritating as hell and I had the same urge to skip them as I do the lessers :(
But overall, I loved this one <3
Cover Art:
Shani: Liked the eye contact!
Bridget: Love that the female is the focus and looking directly into the camera. #BITEHIM
Worth the Read?
Shani: 2 stars. Despite actually liking Payne way more than I thought! Was mad about the V & Jane plot that took up so much of the book.
Bridget: I mean, as always, if you wanna keep on with the Brotherhood then you gotta!!! But… that said, despite really liking Payne… (make it so!), this book wasn’t my favorite. It was very long and maybe only 1/3 of the book was Payne’s. I was thrilled about the Band of Bastards and their fucking though… so excited to see them in future books :)
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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