Book Review: Blood Fury by J.R. Ward

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Blood Fury
Black Dagger Legacy #3
Author: J. R. Ward
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Released: January 9th 2018
Review Source: Ballantine Books

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this sexy paranormal romance novel set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward tells the story of two couples—both fighting to find love in the midst of the war with the Lessening Society.

A vampire aristocrat, Peyton is well aware of his duty to his bloodline: mate with an appropriate female of his class and carry on his family’s traditions. And he thought he’d found his perfect match—until she fell in love with someone else. Yet when his split-second decision in a battle with the enemy endangers the life of another trainee, Peyton has to face the idea that his future, and his heart, actually lie with another.

Novo, as a female in the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training program, feels like she has to prove herself to everybody—and she has no interest in being distracted by falling in love. But when Peyton proves to be so much more than a rich playboy, she is forced to confront the tragedy that has broken her soul and closed her off from love.

As the two grapple with Novo’s past and Peyton’s present, another couple must contend with a connection that is unparalleled—and potentially scandalous. Saxton, who has had his heart broken, discovers in himself a deep-seated attraction to Ruhn, a new member of the household. But will the other male explore the connection? Or will he close his mind and his heart to what could be true love . . . and cost Saxton everything?

Blood Fury was fantastic, its been a minute since I have read anything that I felt really grabbed me from the 1st page. Blood Fury is probably my favorite Legacy book to date. There was just so much I loved in the books. I would have not mind one bit, if Ward would have written two different books, so we could have more of Novo & Peyton and Saxton & Ruhn. I would have enjoyed it, I just couldn't decided between the 2 pairs, which pair I loved more. 

Blood Fury as you know is the 3rd book in the Legacy series, and it follows the trainees that the Brothers are getting ready for the war that continues with the Lessening Society. It really great to see the trainees grow as fighters every new book. And I like learning about each of them personally, so you can see under all their layers. The cool thing about this book, they are now going out in the field and fighting alongside the Brothers now. Which then means, we get to read about more interaction with the Brothers. This makes me very happy. 

In Blood Fury, I mentioned it focuses on 2 sets of people. I can't tell you who I loved more. It was equal between them. So yes, everyone gets their HEA, but the one, that probably struck the most, is Saxton. Since he isn't new to me as a character, I've had years to grow attached to him, just like the Brothers. So when Saxton, lost the love of his life to another. It did break our hearts even though, we know he truly never really had him, since Blay was always meant to be with Qhuinn. So I always hoped, in the future he would find someone new. Blood Fury finally granted my wish for Saxton. So when Ruhn happens, this was fantastic. Finally, Saxton gets his HEA. Now granted it wasn't easy, but once they hit some speed bumps, they finally can be with each other. You'll just have to read the book, to see how their relationship kicks off. 

Then the next duo we focus on is Novo and Peyton. These two, you either want to slap them, or give them high fives. Talk about being hard headed, if you look in the dictionary, you'll see Novo and Peyton, pictured. But once, they begin to shed some of their tough layers, magic starts to happen. Not, giving details, but things do get very bad before they get very good. 

If you haven't started the Legacy series, what are you waiting for? Plus, I feel like you need to read these to continue in the correct order of things. You want to make sure you have no gaps in timeline. 

Audiobook Review: The Angels' Share by J.R. Ward

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The Angels' Share
The Bourbon Kings # 2
Author: J.R. Ward
Narrator: Alexander Cendese
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: July 26, 2016
Review Source: Listening Library, Penguin Random House Audio

Number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward delivers the second novel in her Bourbon Kings series - a sweeping saga of a Southern dynasty struggling to maintain a façade of privilege and prosperity while secrets and indiscretions threaten its very foundation....

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society - just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder....

No one is above suspicion - especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle - as well as with his former horse trainer's daughter. Meanwhile the family's financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family's demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior...or the worst of all the sinners?

This review will have some spoilers that happened in book one, so if you haven't read book one, get on it and read this review after!

I did NOT read or listen to book one so I was a little lost for a while in this book. It felt all over the place due to not knowing the characters and what they had been through previously. This book starts with the death of William Baldwine, the head of the family and highly successful bourbon business. The story takes place in Charlemont, Kentucky. William leaves the family business in complete chaos financially when he dies. Lane ends up stepping up to the plate and tries to fix the messes. This story is one mess after the other. When some gruesome evidence is found on the Easterly property, an investigation is launched to find out if William's alleged suicide, was actually a murder. Edward, William's oldest son, is looking pretty suspicious due to his difficult past with his father. Their history alone is like a lifetime movie, add to that the drama from the other family members and friends and you have yourself an epic story-line.

Oh my gosh!!! This book was full of secrets, drama, and craziness. I love J.R. Ward's ability to paint a scene. She gives such amazing detail to every single location of her books that it's like watching a movie play out in your mind as you're reading. Her writing makes you want to get on a plane and live in the place she describes/creates. Even though I did not read book one, I feel J.R. Ward did a great job with the back stories of the characters, so I wasn't completely lost the entire book. I really love Lane's character because of his strong will to right the wrongs in front of him. He doesn't give up and always tries to come up with ways for the business and family to survive. I also love Lizzie, she compliments Lane perfectly. She is down to earth and is very supportive and loving to Lane. They are the power couple of the book. I also loved Lane's friend Jeff, even though he gets dragged into the mess of the Baldwine family, by force I might add, he remains a loyal, amazing friend.

The Narrator: I really enjoyed Alexander Cendese's narration of the book. I felt he did an extremely great job with the "pompous" feel of some of the high society voices. I also thought he did a great job bringing the women to life. The southern drawl he gave to Lizzie made me smile every time she had a part in the book. He has such a range to his voice that it really sounded like different people talking the entire time I listened to the book. That in itself is amazing to pull off. I would definitely read other books narrated by Alexander Cendese.

The rating: I am rating the narration of this book 4.5 stars because I LOVED hearing the story! The audio version truly brought the story to life for me and I liked "hearing" it even more than reading it.

Book Review: The Angels' Share by J.R. Ward

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The Angels' Share
The Bourbon Kings #2
Author: J.R. Ward
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: July 26, 2016
Review Source: NAL | Netgalley

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society—just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…

No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior...or the worst of all the sinners?

This review will have some spoilers that happened in book one, so if you haven't read book one, get on it and read this review after!

The story: I did NOT read book one so I was a little lost for a while in this book. It felt all over the place due to not knowing the characters and what they had been through previously. This book starts with the death of William Baldwine, the head of the family and highly successful bourbon business. The story takes place in Charlemont, Kentucky. William leaves the family business in complete chaos financially when he dies. Lane ends up stepping up to the plate and tries to fix the messes. This story is one mess after the other. When some gruesome evidence is found on the Easterly property, an investigation is launched to find out if William's alleged suicide, was actually a murder. Edward, William's oldest son, is looking pretty suspicious due to his difficult past with his father. Their history alone is like a lifetime movie, add to that the drama from the other family members and friends and you have yourself an epic story-line.

The likes: Oh my gosh!!! This book was full of secrets, drama, and craziness. I love J.R. Ward's ability to paint a scene. She gives such amazing detail to every single location of her books that it's like watching a movie play out in your mind as you're reading. Her writing makes you want to get on a plane and live in the place she describes/creates. Even though I did not read book one, I feel J.R. Ward did a great job with the back stories of the characters, so I wasn't completely lost the entire book. I really love Lane's character because of his strong will to right the wrongs in front of him. He doesn't give up and always tries to come up with ways for the business and family to survive. I also love Lizzie, she compliments Lane perfectly. She is down to earth and is very supportive and loving to Lane. They are the power couple of the book. I also loved Lane's friend Jeff, even though he gets dragged into the mess of the Baldwine family, by force I might add, he remains a loyal, amazing friend. I definitely would love to read more about Edward's character, I cannot wait until the next book comes out.

The dislikes: I felt this book was a little lengthy. I found myself sometimes daydreaming and would have to re-read certain parts until about halfway through. I don't love this series quite as much as I loved the black dagger brother series, but it was still an amazing read by J.R. Ward. If she wrote the phone book, I would read it.

The rating: I am rating this book 4 stars because I truly enjoyed the story and drama that unfolded! I will be purchasing book one because I would like to find out everything that happened in book one that I missed. I recommend starting with book one. J.R. Ward truly never disappoints! Grab some bourbon and popcorn and hold on tight for ride this series will take you on.

Book Review: The Beast by J.R. Ward

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The Beast
Black Dagger Brotherhood #14
Author: J.R. Ward
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: April 5th 2016
Review Source: NAL

Rhage and Mary return in a new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a series “so popular, I don’t think there’s a reader today who hasn’t at least heard of [it]” (USA Today).
Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself…

For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect—or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can’t understand—or control—the panic and insecurity that plague him…

And that terrifies him—as well as distances him from his mate. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities—and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world...and Mary’s. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from...

So here we are, another day, another Black Dagger Brotherhood book. I was looking forward to reading The Beast (Black Dagger Brotherhood #14) by J.R. Ward for so long. Not only do I look forward to any BDB book, but I loves me some Rhage, so I was so excited when this was released. I immediately jumped right into it as soon as it arrived on my Nook. As fans of the series know this was Rhage’s second book (J.R. Ward has begun a second round of books in the series about each character) and we were now moving a step up in his relationship with his shellan (term for a vampire’s wife in the series) Mary, and their desire to have a family.

I will admit in the first quarter of the book I was a little underwhelmed, which totally bummed me out because I absolutely love this series. It/Rhage just came across as so melancholy in tone. Rhage who is our usual goofball was being a total downer and we didn’t really know why. The reason is revealed thankfully not too far into the book, but it still gave me cause to feel a little disconnected to the characters and the plot at first. Then we were also introduced to yet another sub-plot. I have to also admit that all the additional sub-plots that have popped up into this series in the last few books have been exhausting and rather annoying. The reason I loved the first go round of this series was because they focused on the brothers so much. Yes, there were the Lessers (the evil army they are fighting a war against), but we got to spend so much time with the brothers in those original books. Then J.R. Ward started adding sub-plots. Okay, I can handle a new sub-plot in each book to keep things new, fresh and interesting, but in this book alone I counted at least four additional sub-plots on top of the Rhage and Mary storyline. The jumping around to different characters and scenarios was giving me whiplash.

With that said I did feel like once I got past the first quarter of the book things really started to get interesting and much, much better. The sub-plot with the character Assail (which at first I couldn’t stand) actually really got good, whereas I could have done without the one with the human girl and the reporter. The story with Layla had its good and bad parts for me. I’m over the whole thing with her and Xcor being dragged out. It has been dragging out over several books now already. It’s like let something happen to bring this thing front and center or just forget about it. I’m slowly getting over it and I don’t want to because I think it could play out to be a really juicy bit.

I don’t want to give away details because that would obviously just ruin it for you. I still think it is a must read book. I love this series and no matter what I will continue with it until the end. This book wasn’t bad at all, like I said it really did pick up and I got super into it after the initial first few chapters, I just wish J.R. Ward would concentrate on the sub-plots she has already started instead of adding new ones with each book and then dragging out the old ones forever. I mean, if she doesn’t start taking care of what is already there while adding new ones, we are going to end up with 100 sub-plots in the upcoming books and the chapters about the actual brothers will be almost nonexistent. This is the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I would like to focus back more on them.

Overall I give this particular book four stars. Again, I loved the book, I love Rhage, I just wish there had been more about just him and not so much on other characters who aren’t brothers.

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I agree with Pauline 100% when it comes to what she said about The Beast. I was "bored" with the 1st half of the book in a sense. I'm use to so much with these Vampires and Ward took a calm route with the beginning of The Beast. All the sub-plots and secondary characters I could really do without sometimes. I was expecting more about Rhage and his Mary and I didn't get it till sometime after the half way mark of the book. And that's when the magic happened. What I love about Ward and BDB was strong in the second half of the book and at this point I could not put the book down for a second. So this is why I agree with Pauline also in giving the book a 4 star rating. And as always, can't wait for the next installment in this BDB world.

Waiting on Wednesday: J.R. Ward's The Angels' Share

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Angels' Share

A Bourbon King Novel #2

Author: J. R. Ward

Release Date: July 26th 2016

Publisher: NAL

In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society- just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discreet staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…

No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior...or the worst of all the sinners?

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Plenty of time to read The Bourbon Kings first:

Read Yara's review of The Bourbon Kings HERE. 

Book Review: Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward

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Blood Kiss
Black Dagger Legacy #1
Author: J.R. Ward
Reading Level: Adult
Genres: Paranormal | Romance
Release Date: December 1st 2015
Review Source: Signet

The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author…

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself...be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated--and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power...on the field, and off.

This book by the WARDen brought on so many feels. I was beyond excited to start reading it. I was like a kid on Christmas. Why? Easy, because I was going to be back in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood before the next book (The Beast) publishes April 2016. I expected that not too much would be spotlighted on the actual brothers themselves but boy was I wrong. 

Blood Kiss is about the future of the training program, so we meet the new recruits but guess who trains these recruits? The Brothers! So be prepared to read about Butch and V. 

Alright, getting side tracked (Brothers will do that). Back to Blood Kiss, I loved everything about this book. I enjoyed how Ward detailed the initiation period for the recruits, it wasn't all fun and games to make it all the way. At times I thought the Brothers were taking it to far but a few make it and then starts the actual training. During this a romance begins to form that shouldn't be but like all things that are prohibited, they tend to draw one another closer. Then during all that you have a side story going between Butch and his Shellan, that will crush you and have you worrying about the future of those two. And the one fantastic part about this book that I am so thankful Ward left out, LESSERS! There is NO spotlight on them at all, zero, zilch. That was so great, because no part of the book was wasted on those annoying Lessers. Thank you Scribe Virgin for that! 

So I'm going to leave it at that, if your a BDB fan you won't need much persuasion to read this book. It worth every penny and then some. It helps pass the time until The Beast is in our hands. And if you haven't the first clue about this series or the Brothers, have you been living under a rock? Because I know we have talked and praised about this series before. Highly recommend for anyone old enough to read that loves a fantastic paranormal series. My favorite adult paranormal series of all-time! 

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BDB Fans here is the 14th book in The Black Dagger Brotherhood series:

The Beast

4/5/16

(isn't it sexy?)

J. R. Ward Shares Excerpt from The Beast!

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Is it April yet???

The WARDen shared on her Facebook an excerpt from The Beast: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

THE BEAST

Black Dagger Brotherhood #14

Author: J. R. Ward

Release Date: April 5th 2016

Publisher: NAL

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Excerpt from The Beast Manuscript:

Mary was up on her tiptoes, leaning over the top of the bureau, trying to put a pearl stud into her earlobe and missing the hole. With her head titled to the side, her deep brown hair flowed over her shoulder, and man, he just wanted to stroke the stuff. And what do you know that wasn't the only thing he wanted to get his hands on. The clean cut of her jaw caught and held the light from the crystal sconce on the wall and her cream silk blouse draped over her breasts and her slacks fell to her flats. No make up on her. No perfume.

But that would be like touching up the Mona Lisa or hitting a rose bush with some Febreeze.

There were a hundred thousand ways to detail his mate's physical attributes and not one single sentence, or indeed an entire book, that could come close to describing her presence.

She was the watch on his wrist, the roast beef when he was starving, and the pitcher of lemonade when he was thirsty. She was his chapel and his choir, the mountain range to his wanderlust, the library for his curiosity and every sunrise and sunset that ever was or would ever be. With one look or the mere syllable of a word, she had the power to transform his mood, giving him flight even as his feet stayed on the ground. With a single touch, she could chain his inner dragon, or make him come before he was even hard. She was all the power in the universe coalesced into a living, breathing thing, the miracle that he had been granted in spite of the fact that he had long been undeserving.

Quite simply, Mary was his life.

Yeah... even after all this time, he was still feelin' her.

-The Beast, pg. 8 of the manuscript

Book Review: The Bourbon Kings by J. R. Ward

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The Bourbon Kings
The Bourbon Kings #1
Author: J. R. Ward
Reading Level: Adult Fiction
Genre: Romance
Release Date: July 28th 2015
Review Source: NAL

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal....

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.

I have been following this book since the first second it pop up on our radars that it was coming out. That cover right there is pretty sexy and the model isn't even showing some body part. Kudos to the design team on that. So when The Bourbon Kings arrived at my door step, I think I saw double rainbows in the sky. Fans of the WARDen will not be disappointed even if the Brothers (Black Dagger Brotherhood series) are not related to this series. 

First Ward gave us the Brothers, then she gave us the Fallen but now we have the Bourbon Kings. If you love stories about family drama, betrayal, romance and deceit, this is the series to read starting with The Bourbon Kings. This book falls nothing short of any of those genres I just mentioned. I had no idea that the Bourbon world could be so shady, then add the prestige Derby lifestyle to the mix and you got yourself one insane mixture of drama. 

The Bourbon Kings is written with the same style we appreciate from Ward with all that snark we get sucked in with, but here it's fitted for this type of novel and it works. I was hooked few chapters in, needing to know what was going to happen next and who else would pop up dead. I believe that fans of Ward will enjoy reading this book, even if this type of background is usually not something you care to read.

When has Ward ever let us down with her books? And if your not familiar with J.R. Ward's books, its past your time to correct that. Pick up your copy of The Bourbon Kings and dive into the world of these southern families and their Bourbon. 

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“The Bourbon Kings are just like my Black Dagger Brotherhood vampires, flawed heroes for strong women who live and love in a vivid, ever-changing world of passion and excitement. Readers can expect the same big emotions, epic storylines and soul-deep love stories in these books — as well as those signature, OMG, I have to know what happens NEXT! kind of endings.” - J. R. Ward (official press release)

The books have already been optioned for television by Endemol Studios, the entertainment and production company behind the international hit TV series Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, Wipeout, Hell On Wheels, The Fall and Peaky Blinders, among others.