BOOK REVIEW - LOVER AT LAST by J.R.WARD - BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD # 11 - PIATKUS - HACHETTE - 5 FREAKIN A' STARS!!

By: J.R.Ward
Published By: Piatkus, Hachette
Released : 26th March 2013
Details : ARC Paperback from Publisher, 590 Pages

RATING : 5 FREAKIN'A STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of Lover At Last from the publisher. I am a HUGE fan of Black Dagger Brotherhood and have been very excited about reading Blay and Qhuinn’s book.

I was not disappointed.

I laughed, I got sad, I sometimes even got a bit distressed for some characters. Sometimes I was even saying to myself, ‘Is it getting hot in here?’

J.R will keep the different emotions flooding through your system. I even pulled an ‘awwwwwwwwwwww’ moment.

I will say J.R. Ward has not held back at all in the M/M department. I have loved these two lads since I met them, many books ago, and like so many other readers, we know how J.R. writes F/M , you can imagine how she writes M/M.

WOW! * mouth gapes open * 

I am not well versed in the M/M department, but I have wanted Team Qhuay for as long as all the other BDB lovers and J.R was certainly going to give it to us straight.

Now I don’t want to hear anybody bagging this book if they don’t want to read what Qhuinn and Blay get up to, because these two boys love each other and holy mother of pearl, J.R. writes their scenes energetically and animalistically. I don’t think that is a word? ..too bad, I just made it as I am trying hard to think of how to explain it.

In other words , groowwwwwllllll, it is on fire!

There is passion, and it is very manly. I mean there is only so much plumbing so don’t read this book if you are going to get your panties in a tangle. There are no sweet pecks on the cheeks and only hand holding going on here, people.

This is raw M/M.

Furniture will be screeching across the floor.

These are two warrior dudes who are fighting each other to the very end with their feelings, so it will come out very growllly when they get it on.

I think it is exceptionally well written.

It is all in context to the ever loving painful drama these two boys put their hearts through. My heart broke a couple times with these boys.

"You've always said he's a great fighter. And I know things have been so hard on him -- like I told you the other night, that boy has been breaking my heart since the first moment I met him."


Qhuinn is such a gorgeous character. He just has to sort himself out. When Qhuinn is in protective mode, I was ducking for cover. The boy means business and he will show that turd who is boss, it is time to get out of the kitchen.

He was a great, fearsome protector, and that was precisely what a female needed when she was pregnant, nursing, or caring for a young. That and his innate kindness made him noble to her.

No matter the color of his eyes.

Blay is a beautiful guy, the things he does for Qhuinn.

*sigh* 

I love the voices J.R gives her character’s , they leap off the page the way they talk. 

But there is a lot more to this book too. Oh, yes! There are other character’s side stories being juggled about all slowly interweaving and I love what J.R. is giving us. It took me 5 days to read this badass huge book, because I refused to be in a hurry. I wanted to soak it all up. We only get a new BDB once a year so I was in no hurry to scream through this book. I am so glad I took my time as I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

There is a wonderful cat and mouse game being played out by a couple characters, looking forward to more of them.

And cat and mouse was very erotic, especially if only the cat knew the game was afoot.

..... He had to stop himself from purring.



“You’ve got no reason to follow me. Effective right now.”

“Mayhap I like the view.”As his eyes traveled down her body, another shock went through her, but not the anxious kind. “Yes , I find that I do.”


Lassister gets a peek in and he just makes me laugh every time he opens his mouth. I so want a Lassiter book. Or is he more the BDB sidekick?

“I’m here. Where’s my chauffeur hat?”

“Here , use mine,”Butch said, outing a B Sox cap and throwing it over . It’ll help that hair of yours.”

The angel caught the thing on the fly and stared at the red S. “I’m sorry , I can’t.”

“Do not tell me you’re a Yankees fan,” V drawled. “I’ll have to kill you, and frankly , tonight we need all the wingmen we’ve got.”

Lassiter tossed the cap back. Whistled. Looked casual.

“Are you serious?” Butch said.



“Yeah , watch yourself, angel,” V sneered. “We don’t like your kind.”

Lassiter shrugged, like the Brothers were nothing more than yappy dogs circling his ankles. “Is someone talking to me? Or is that just the sound of losing --“


Fritz, I so love this doggen. The poor love lives in fear of not having a job to do.

Fritz looked confused, and then slightly panicked. “But please, sires, you must join the others. I shall take care of this. This is my position within the household.”

..... Do you think he will let us wipe our own asses?” he said under his breath.

“Only if he doesn’t see us go to the loo.”


The Lesser’s are getting a pounding , sending them back to the Omega, but oh golly gosh ............that was a surprise.

Well, I am not going to tell you...read the book J

Xcor has me shaking my head at his world domination theories...well BDB domination, he is rather conniving.

I must say I like the poor scarred lad but he is getting his heart in a flutter.

From Lover Reborn we got a hint of a Beauty and the Beast storyline for the future. I am looking forward to seeing how that can even be possible.

Romeo and Juliet, move over.

The Band of Bastards, or BOB as I like to refer to them, have so much story in them it makes me excited, cause I KNOW we are getting loads more books. I can just tell. BOB and BDB boys have got some sorting out to do.

The BOB lads are rather fun to listen to with their cave man ways, bringing these boys into the 21st century will be fun.


“Yes, afore the others burst free of their wills and break into that fair cottage of hers.”

Oh mYyyyYyyy, ........

In that moment, Xcor thought of each of his fighters. Zypher , the sexual conqueror *raises eyebrow* . Balthazar, the thief. Syphon, the assassin. And the other one who had no name, and too many sins to count. So he was referred to as Syn.

Throe is an interesting BOB as he is more in the present and very intelligent and literate.

Lots of new storyline coming into play, the seeds being planted in this book.

Very exciting!!!

Trez and iAm, the Shadow brothers, I love Trez, he made me laugh a lot and iAm is such a nice brother. Trez is a bit of a lad and he has his own issues he is running from, he even becomes a bit tongue tied.

iAm , every time I say his name I think of WILL.I.AM from the Black Eyed Peas...hehe.

* rolls eyes *

I am so proud of J.R , she brought the bacon home to mamma in this book. Lover At Last is rich in energetic story line and even I had to turn the fan on. Don’t be shy, lol, the way J.R writes her two boys, you can’t help fan yourself. 

Or was that just me...eeEEeeeeee.

And this is coming from an uber Nerd! 

Take a bow J.R.

Booyahhh!! 

Freakin' A!!

FAVE QUOTES:



Well isn’t that speeeeeeeeeecial.

“I’m not with anybody,” Qhuinn said.

Blay laughed again with an edge. “As in a relationship? Of course not. But do not expect me to believe that you’re spending your off time crocheting doilies and alphabetizing a spice rack with that female.”



As he hung up, he realized V had stopped talking and was looking over at him like maybe something was way off -- hair on fire, pants around the ankles, eyebrows shaved.

“You got yourself a female there, Qhuinn?” the Brother drawled.

Qhuinn looked around for a life raft, and got a whole lot of nothing. “Ah...”



“Wait!”

Z’s voice was a surprise . And so was the Brother’s arm shooting up and shoving Rhage to the side. “Will you get off me!”

“But I’m giving you CPR --“

“I will die before kissing you, Hollywood.”



“Actually ... I can’t,” Qhuinn mumbled.

V put his hand-rolled between his lips and extended his palm. “You got my Brother home in one piece. Fuck the rest of that shit.”

“Word --“

“Yeah, thanks be to God--“

“Hell, yeah --“

“Amen --“



“So tell me more about Qhuinn’s bravery. I love to hear you talk about him, you get so animated.”


“Fuck my cousin, it’s got nothing to do with him. If you were alone, I’d still be right on this carpet, on my knees, wanting to be with you. If you were mated to a female, if you were dating someone all casual and shit, if you were in a million different places in life ... I’d still be right here. Begging you for something, anything -- one time, if that’s all you’ve got.”



Gunmetal was forever the new black.


Layla was out of the bed and closing in on the pair of them -- and holy fucking shit, the look in her eyes was enough to melt paint off a car door : In spite of the fact that she was not well, her fangs were bared, and her fingers were curled into claws... and the icy draft that preceded her made the back of Qhuinn’s neck prickle in warning.

That growl was nothing that should have come out of a male ... much less a delicate female of Chosen status.



In the Old Language, she hissed, “If any harm shall befall him, I will come after you, and find you where you sleep. I do not care where you lay your head or who with, my vengeance shall rain upon you until you drown.”

That last word was drawn out, until its syllable was lost in more growling.

Dead silence.

Until Doc Jane said dryly, “Annnnd this is why they say the female of the species is more dangerous than the male.”

“Word,” someone muttered from out in the hall.



“Let me kiss you.” Qhuinn groaned as he leaned in. “I know I don’t deserve it, but please ... it’s what you can do for me. Let me feel you ...”



“I’m right here, “ he said. “Dad’s right here. I’m going nowhere. Just gonna wait until you’re ready to come out into the world, and then your mom and I are going to take care of you. So you hang tight, we clear?”

Michelle