Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance
Pages: 365
Book Blurb:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sinner brings another hot adventure of true love and ultimate sacrifice in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world.
The location of the glymera’s notorious prison camp was lost after the raids. When a freak accident provides Nyx clues to where her sister may still be doing time, she becomes determined to find the secret subterranean labyrinth. Embarking on a journey under the earth, she learns a terrible truth—and meets a male who changes everything, forever.
The Jackal has been in the camp for so long he cannot recall anything of the freedom he once knew. Trapped by circumstances out of his control, he helps Nyx because he cannot help himself. After she discovers what happened to her sister, getting her back out becomes a deadly mission for them both.
United by a passion they can’t deny, they work together on an escape plan for Nyx—even though their destiny is to be forever apart. And as the Black Dagger Brotherhood is called upon for help, and Rhage discovers he has a half-brother who’s falsely imprisoned, a devious warden plots the deaths of them all…even the Brothers.
My Review:
By now, you should know that I am a huge fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This book is the first in a set of side books connected to the BDB world. The Jackal was imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit into an underground, secret prison that the Black Dagger Brothers had no idea existed. Nyx's sister was also imprisoned there, and she vowed to find a way to help her escape. When an opportunity opens, Nyx takes it, recklessly endangering her own life in the process. Lucky for her, the prisoner who finds her is the only one who would be willing to save her but only if she saves a piece of him as well.
This was a great addition to the BDB series. I loved the flashbacks with Rhage and Darius. I enjoyed seeing the brothers back when they mostly worked solo and hadn't bonded as a family yet. It was comforting to see how far they've come since the onset of the series.
The Jackal was such a tortured soul, and I absolutely loved him! He was full of so much goodness that it pained me to see how much of his life was destroyed because of the glymera. Nyx's character was great as well, though I wanted to strangle her a couple of times when her actions put The Jackal in danger. I loved their bond and how they slowly let the other into their hearts. And the twist with the Commander was wickedly awesome! Ward really knows how to create villains!
I also loved how the story came full circle at the end. I only wish there would have been a scene between Wrath and the Jackal. I mean, I was already teary-eyed, but that would have completely put it over the top. All in all, it was a fantastic story, and I can't wait to read the next one!
Genre: Kidnapping Crime Fiction
Pages: 98
Book Blurb:
Without thinking about consequences, a robber becomes a kidnapper and forces two women to accompany him as he escapes into the wilderness. With a day’s head start, Adam and his captves lead detectives on a chase through the mountains.
As the women use their wits to avoid his wrath, he realizes one is a liability and must be eliminated. His intentions for the other, however, are different.
My Review:
This story kept me engaged from the very beginning. Adam means to pull off a store robbery like he's done many times before. Threaten everyone's life. Take their phones, wallets, and jewelry. Lock them up. Leave without being tracked. Easy in, easy out. All the gains. Very little risk. Unfortunately, Adam lets his emotions override his logic when he sees his former girlfriend as one of his hostages. Eager for retribution, he kidnaps her and her friend after his heist.
Realizing his mistake in bringing the friend, Adam has to figure out how and when he is going to dispose of her. Meanwhile, Darla and Anna work to find a way to keep Adam calm so they both can walk away with their lives. The author did an awesome job in creating the tension in this story. Every chapter kept a great pace and made it easy to want to keep reading. I loved how Anna's grandmother's voice helped her make good choices throughout the story. There is a bit of sexual violence, but I felt the author wrote the scene well without going into details.
If you're looking for a quick read that will keep you turning the pages, this is a great story to choose!
Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance
Pages: 495
Book Blurb:
Number one New York Times best-selling author J.R. Ward is heating things up this winter with a holiday novel featuring some of her most iconic Black Dagger Brothers.
Featuring one of the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s most iconic couples, Blay and Qhuinn find themselves looking forward to their official mating ceremony. When tragedy strikes just before the happy event, all hope seems lost - and everyone in the Black Dagger Brotherhood rallies around the two of them. Will a freak winter storm bring the unthinkable, or will a warm heart in winter ensure that true love is not lost?
My Review:
No author can make me cry like JR Ward! This is a side story in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It focuses on Quinn and Blay's relationship. For those not familiar with the series, this is MM love in its full force. Quinn and Blay took forever to get together, and once they did, they settled into their relationship well, but they never mated. It just ended up taking a backburner with everything else happening around them. But when tragedy strikes, Quinn reevaluates many things in his life, including his relationship with Blay.
This story pulled at my heart in so many ways! The human story kept me wondering how it tied in, but when it finally did, it was so touching and precious. Z's role in this tragic situation melted me. He's one of my favorite brothers, and his willingness to drop his guard for Quinn elevated him even more in my heart. And Lassiter...that angel truly earned his wings in this book with what he did for Quinn. And Blay...sigh...what a wonderful and true male!
I cannot say enough great things about this story. Yes, you will absolutely need a box of tissues, but it is worth every single one. This book is definitely a must read!
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 25
Book Blurb:
What's a failed supervillain to do when the object of his obsession dies?
Luka Lazarri, vampire terrorist and would-be dictator, faces life without November Snow. He now inhabits a world in which he is utterly defeated, sick and living in hiding, jailed by his own family. He waits for November to be born again, clinging to the hope that he will have the chance to know her. Will the consummate survivor succumb to despair, or will he build himself a new life? And if the reincarnated psychic finally lays her eyes on him, will she see a monster, or a friend?
This short story series explores the life of Luka in the aftermath of the events of She Marches Through Fire (November Snow Book 3).
My Review:
It has been years since I read about November Snow, but I remember absolutely loving her story. I've had this on my TBR list for a while, so I decided to dive back into her story. There is a lot I don't remember, but I love the characters so much, and the author does a great job of throwing me back into the world. Luka was obsessed with November in the series, but when November's life ends, he waits for her to be reborn. As a vampire, he has the luxury of waiting. Without November, he is lost. When they find that she has been reborn, his obsession begins again.
This is just part one of three, but I loved it. Luka struggles with his consequences for what he did in the series, as he should. The author does a great job of keeping the characters true to their personalities in the series. I loved how Flannery, though a baby, can already connect with those from her previous life. I look forward to reading the next episode. If you haven't read the series, I highly recommend it. You can start with book 1
here.
Genre: Paranormal Vampire Romance
Pages: 429
Book Blurb:
Return to the sizzling glymera’s prison camp in this dark and sexy second novel in the new Black Dagger Brotherhood Prison Camp spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward.
In the next installment of bestselling author J.R. Ward’s Prison Camp series, things get steamy when Lucan, a wolven forced into bartering drug deals for the infamous Prison Colony, meets Rio, the second in command for the shadowy Caldwell supplier, Mozart. After a deal goes awry, a wolf with piercing golden eyes swoops in to save her from certain death. As shocking truths unfurl, Rio is uncertain of who to trust and what to believe—but with her life on the line, true love rears its head and growls in the face of danger.
My Review:
I enjoyed being back in the BDB's prison camp. I haven't read Claimed yet, which is the book that I believe explains the wolven clan, but the author does a good enough job explaining that Lucan is part wolven/part vampire. I loved Lucan's protectiveness over Rio, and I love Rio's strength and all-around badass character, but I felt that their love story wasn't full developed at the end. Still, this book had plenty of action.
I loved V's journey of growth and acceptance. I was happy to see V and Jane bonding in the way that V needed, and I loved how Butch was there for him. V and Butch truly have a deep friendship, and I love when it shines through.
I enjoyed the storyline of this book, and I'm happy with the ending, although I would have preferred more when it came to Lucan and Rio's resolution. Still, it is definitely worth reading!
Have you read any great books lately? I'd love to hear from you. :-)
