Book Review : Lover At Last

Lover At Last

(Black Dagger Brotherhood Series #11)

Author: J.R. Ward

Published by: The Penguin Group

Release date: March 26th, 2013 (U.S.)

Source: E-book owned by reviewer

Where to buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google

Genre: Paranormal Fiction

Audience: Ages 18+

THE RUNDOWN:

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: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…

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.

WHAT WENT DOWN:

Blaylock and Qhuinn's eluded happily ever after, at last, has arrived!

This highly anticipated novel in the popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J.R. Ward was simply OUTSTANDING. Hands down; 5 birdies!!! Tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet, tweet!

And the sex scenes... SWEET! SWEET! SWEET! SWEET! SWEET!

Well, they were rough, but so very sweet, if you know what I mean. But more on that in the "down low".

This book had it all; romance, super drama, mucho comedy, and plenty of action (yes, double entendre right there). Our protagonists, Blay and Qhuinn, after many long years of dancing around their feelings for each other, finally came clean... while getting dirty, dirrrrrty! Innuendos are abound as these characters exude pure, male sex. Really, I could not be happier with the way their journey ended. True to who they are, the males danced around their feelings until the tension they'd built around them exploded and the pieces fell exactly how they were meant to.

Inner monolgue as well as external interactions from all characters were classic J.R. Ward, as was the continuation and beginning of new plot/stories. I'll admit that in the first read-through I read through the non-main character parts expeditiously, so when I read it again, it was so much better and I could take in more! The author gave us just enough of subplot; Assail and Sola, Trez and Selena, and Xcor and Layla's stories will keep us salivating for the next installments.

Kudos, J.R. Ward. Thank you for this long-awaited story.

THE "DOWN LOW":

Look, I'm gonna keep it real - I needed a cigarette after reading this book. And I don't even smoke.

This novel both satisfied me and kept me wanting so much more! J.R. Ward is the reigning queen of complicated, drama-filled relationships ... but she's also damn good at writing a HOT, STEAMY love scene. And trust me, there were plenty to choose from in Lover At Last.

Blaylock and Qhuinn. I don't know where to begin with these two, nor do I want them to ever stop!!! Reading about one Brother or phearsom male is one thing. Reading about two of them? Together? Quite another. The tension between the two has been getting higher, and bigger, and *ahem* tighter, since their first kiss in Lover Enshrined. That first scene when they finally came together in Qhuinn's bedroom? I....it was...I don't even have words! But I will tell you something, if it was a restaurant, it would definitely be referred to as The Sizzler. And I have to give props to their tender moments, too. They were just as wonderful as the sex, if not, more so. The contrast between the rough love-making that these two soldiers had and their sweet words was heart-melting. They really are one of the greatest couples OF ALL TIME. No arguments allowed.

Favorite quote/scene:

“You know, I don’t think I ever thanked you,” Qhuinn murmured. As Blay’s baby blues shot over, he wanted to look away— the eye contact was almost too much. But then he thought of his brother in that hospital bed— and all the ways people got robbed of time.

Jesus, he’d held so much in for so many reasons— all of which had seemed perfectly valid. But how arrogant was that? That kind of reticence assumed he’d have the time to talk about stuff when he wanted. That the person he had in the back of his mind would always be around. That he himself would be.

“For what?” Blay asked.

“For driving us home. Me and Luchas.” He heaved a great breath in and let it out slowly. “And for sitting out here with me all night. For going to Payne and getting her to help. For backing me up on the field, and during training. Also, for all those beers and video games. The chips and the M& M’s. The clothes I borrowed. The floor I slept on when I stayed over. Thanks for letting me hug your mom and talk with your dad. Thank you… for the ten thousand kind things you’ve done.”