BLOOD TRUTH (Black Dagger Legacy #4) by JR Ward- a review

BLOOD TRUTH (Black Dagger Legacy #4) by JR Ward-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 13, 2019

As a trainee in the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s program, Boone has triumphed as a soldier and now fights side by side with the Brothers. Following his sire’s unexpected death, he is taken off rotation against his protests—and he finds himself working with Butch O’Neal, former homicide cop, to catch a serial killer: Someone is targeting females of the species at a live action role play club. When the Brotherhood is called in to help, Boone insists on being a part of the effort—and the last thing he expects is to meet an enticing, mysterious female…who changes his life forever.

Ever since her sister was murdered at the club, Helania has been committed to finding the killer, no matter the danger she faces. When she crosses paths with Boone, she doesn’t know whether to trust him or not—and then she has no choice. As she herself becomes a target, and someone close to the Brotherhood is identified as the prime suspect, the two must work to together to solve the mystery…before it’s too late. Will a madman come between the lovers or will true love and goodness triumph over a very mortal evil?

••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD TRUTH is the fourth instalment in JR Ward’s contemporary, adult BLACK DAGGER LEGACY paranormal, romance series focusing on an elite group of warriors in training. This is Rexboone ‘Boone’ son of Altamere, and Helania’s story line. BLOOD TRUTH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The Black Dagger Legacy Series is a spin-off from, and runs parallel to the author’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Several characters cross-over for cohesion and history.

Told from several third person perspectives including Boone and Helania, BLOOD TRUTH follows the search for a killer; a possible serial killer who is targeting young, female vampires at an underground club (Pyre’s Revyval) catering to vampire wanna-bes. An anonymous phone call to the Black Dagger Brotherhood pulls Boone into his first murder assignment, an assignment that brings our hero face to face with his fated mate. Enter Helania, a vampire female who is searching for person who killed her only sister. What ensues is the building relationship between Helania and Boone, and the potential fall-out as the killer is closer than anyone could have imagined.

Boone knows loss having suffered his mother’s mysterious death, and the recent murder of his sire but meeting Helania stirs something within Boone he could never have imagined, something that would bring our couple closer together towards their own happily ever after. Helania has struggled in the eight months since her sister’s murder. Desperate to learn the truth, Helania goes ‘undercover’ at the local club in search of the person responsible for destroying her life.

Meanwhile, Boone’s life at home spirals out of control when a number of the Glymera (rich and powerful vampires) are murdered including the man he has come to call father. As Boone prepares to send his father into the ‘Fade’, our hero will discover that his father kept many secrets, secrets that are about to be revealed.

The relationship between Boone and Helania is one of immediate attraction but Helania becomes a suspect when Butch O’Neal’s experience as a detective tells him Helania knows more than she is willing to reveal. Protective of the female he will come to call mate, Boone’s need to bond will be overridden by Helania’s need to remain independent and strong. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large and familiar ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (Wrath, Butch, Tohr, V, Rhage, Dr. Havers, Doc Jane, Saxton) as well as the ever popular doggen Fritz; BoB’s Zypher, Syn and Balthazar; the re-appearance of Boone’s fellow trainees, as well as Boone’s friend Rochelle; his father Altamere, and the numerous members of the Altamere household including his father’s butler Marquist.

BLOOD TRUTH is a story of betrayal, revenge, family and blood. Secrets are revealed; vengeance takes aim at the innocent and young. The premise is engaging, entertaining and energetic: the romance is seductive and intense; the characters are familiar, dynamic, and colorful.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Blood Kiss
Blood Vow
Blood Fury
Blood Truth

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blood Fury (Black Dagger Legacy #3) by JR Ward-Review and Giveaway

BLOOD FURY (Black Dagger Legacy #3) by JR Ward-Review and Giveaway

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BLOOD FURY
Black Dagger Legacy #3
by JR Ward
Release Date: January 9,2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, romance

Blood Fury

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 9, 2018

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 an erotic 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?

•••••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD FURY is the third instalment in JR Ward’s contemporary, adult BLACK DAGGER LEGACY paranormal, romance series, a spin off from Ward’s number one selling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Once again, the author addresses two building relationships: BDB trainees Peyton and Novo, as well as Saxton, the King’s legal advisor, and Bitty’s uncle Ruhn. BLOOD FURY can be read as a stand alone but for backstory and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order especially the Black Dagger Legacy spin off.

NOTE: BLOOD FURY contains scenes of graphic violence, and M/M sexual situations.

Saxton is a male of worth; disowned by his aristocrat family for his sexual preferences Saxton had once considered leaving his current position when the man that he loved (Blay) was mated to another male. With the introduction of Ruhn, young Bitty’s uncle, Saxton discovered a second chance at love when the two were pushed together as Saxton began in investigation into a land dispute, and the threats from the human population, against an elderly female vampire. Ruhn, believing himself not worthy due to events in his past, struggles with many issues of low self-esteem, and his attraction to the King’s official advisor. What ensues is the building relationship between Saxton and Ruhn, and the potential fall out when Ruhn falls victim to the same humans threatening the elderly vampire.

Peyton watched as his best friend and the woman he loved (Paradise) fell in love with another male. Battling his inability to let go of his desire for another man’s mate, Peyton’s actions on the street threaten the life of another trainee. Enter Novo, the woman with whom Peyton would fall in love but a woman who struggles with memories from the past-memories that threaten to overwhelm with the approach of her sister’s mating.

BLOOD FURY follows two couples as they traverse a minefield of personal pain and private heartache, the constant reminders of unrequited love, and acceptance of the consequences of their choices and actions. All four of the story line characters battle ghosts from the past that continue to control much of the present. Ruhn’s history is painful and heartbreaking; Novo has suffered a loss she will never forget; Peyton’s family takes control of his future; and Saxton must purge his pain by letting go of something and someone he once loved.

Most of the Black Dagger Brothers make cameo appearances throughout the story as they, once again, must go into battle against the lessers and human threats to the vampire population. The mention of Assail on several occasions, as he continues to battle his own personal demons, prepares the reader for his upcoming story THE THIEF set to release in April 2018.

BLOOD FURY is a story of family, of loss, of acceptance and love. JR Ward gives Saxton his happily ever after-but -I struggled to ‘feel’ the palpable sexual energy between Saxton and Ruhn that many of her leading couples experience. What little emotion witnessed came at the possibility that Saxton may lose the man with whom he had fallen in love. The $ex scenes, though limited, were a little underwhelming.

Unlike many of the previous story lines in the BDB series I did not feel pulled in too many directions-the author divided our time between two paths that would converge at the ‘I dos’ of a very unhappy vampire. The premise was spirited and lively; the characters were tragic and energetic; the romances were provocative and intense but I was hoping for a little more heat and steam.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Blood Kiss
Blood Vow
Blood Fury

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Reading Cafe and J.R. Ward’s publisher are offering a hard cover copy of BLOOD FURY  to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Follow J.R. Ward on Facebook.

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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8. Giveaway is open to USA only

9. Giveaway runs from January 17-22, 2018

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Blood Vow (Black Dagger Legacy #2) by J. R. Ward-a review

BLOOD VOW (Black Dagger Legacy #2) by J. R. Ward-a review

Blood Vow

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 6, 2016

The Black Dagger Brotherhood continues to train the best of the best to join them in the deadly battle against the Lessening Society. Among the new recruits, Axe proves to be a cunning and vicious fighter—and also a loner isolated because of personal tragedy. When an aristocratic female needs a bodyguard, Axe takes the job, though he’s unprepared for the animal attraction that flares between him and the one he is sworn to protect.

•••••••••

REVIEW: BLOOD VOW is the second installment in J. R. Ward’s contemporary, adult BLACK DAGGER LEGACY paranormal, romance series-a spin off from Ward’s number one selling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. BLOOD VOW follows two separate paths that converge and overlap throughout the story. This is BDB recruit Axe, and aristocratic female/ psychology major Elise’s storyline, as well as Mary and Rhage’s struggle to keep their small family together.

NOTE: If you have NOT read THE BEAST there may be some spoilers in my review.

Told from several third person points of view BLOOD VOW looks at family, friendship, brotherhood and love. Axe, a BDB warrior in training has lost everything in his life. Alone, unmated and angry at the world Axe finds himself in need of a quick influx of cash and when an opportunity presents itself our hero ‘volunteers’ to be the personal bodyguard to a member of the glymera. Enter Elise, an aristocratic female vampire, who is struggling for her independence from an over protective father following the recent murder of a female cousin. What ensues is the back and forth developing relationship between a woman of wealth, and a man who believes he is not worthy of love, and the Legacy trainees dangerous encounter with the Lessening Society.

Rhage and Mary couldn’t be happier now that their family has grown with the addition of Bitty- the young, pre-trans female vampire whose earlier years were marked with neglect and abuse. But Rhage and Mary always knew that Bitty was not completely without blood relations and their worst fears are realized when someone answers their social media search. What ensues is Rhage and Mary’s struggle to keep strong facing the possibility of losing the little girl everyone has grown to love.

BLOOD VOW is an emotional story line that divides its’ focus between the The Black Dagger Legacy, and the original BDB characters but I felt that Mary and Rhage’s story line would have been better suited to the original series as it continues the premise started in THE BEAST. Mary and Rhage are NOT part of the Legacy and yet their emotional battle to retain the child that they love takes up a good portion of BLOOD VOW.

All of the previous story line characters play secondary and supporting roles-Paradise, Peyton, Craeg, Novo and Boone, as well as the introduction of Ruhn who may or may not have caught the eye of the BDB’s legal counsel Saxton. Several (if not most) members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood have cameo roles throughout the story including our resident fallen angel Lassiter whose Christmas plans are left hanging in the balance.

BLOOD VOW is a remarkable story line; an engaging, creative and spirited look at one couple’s struggle to keep their family together; and one man’s desire to be accepted by the woman that he loves. The premise is dramatic and heartbreaking; the characters are colorful and energetic; the romance is passionate and intense. J. R. Ward’s BLOOD VOW is a revealing and intense story of family and love.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Blood Kiss
Blood Vow

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward-review

BLOOD KISS (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward-a review

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 1, 2015

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.

•••••••••••

REVIEW:  BLOOD KISS is the first installment in J. R. Ward’s adult, contemporary Black Dagger Legacy paranormal, romance series- a spin off from her number one selling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. BLOOD KISS focuses Butch and Marissa (from the original BDB) and newcomers/warriors in training Paradise and Craeg. BLOOD KISS should not be read as a stand alone- too much back story and history is missing in regards to the BDB, the Lessers and the aristocratic vampires-all of which are addressed in the current storyline.

Told from several third person points of view BLOOD KISS follows the Black Dagger Brotherhood training program and the acceptance of seven new recruits (from a field of sixty) for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Paradise, blooded daughter of the King’s First Advisor Abalone, is one of only two females who passed the initial testing phase, and has found herself drawn to classmate Craeg-a common civilian-and a vampire who has no idea about Paradise’s legacy or family history. What ensues is a slow building relationship between Paradise and Craeg while they endeavor to remain in the BDB program.

Meanwhile Butch and Marissa have hit a rough patch in their relationship wherein Butch’s nature to protect finds Marissa on the outside looking in-Butch’s Catholic upbringing plays a significant role in his attitude towards women and sex, and with it comes the potential to push away the woman that he loves. When an abused female vampire dies under Marissa and Haver’s care, Butch embarks upon an investigation that leads to the dark and seedy underworld of sex clubs and BDSM.

A number of the Black Dagger brothers play secondary and supporting roles including Vishous (V) and his mate Doc Jane, with cameos by several of the BDB (but not all) and their shellans, as well as our favorite fallen angel Lassiter, whose comedic timing is perfect when everything is about to go to h*ll. We are introduced to five more potential Black Dagger brothers in training: Paradise’s best friend Peyton; Novo-the only other female who passed the grueling initial marathon of tests; Anslam-Paradise’s distant cousin; troubled Axe; and Boone. As per many young adults, our BDB trainees have issues with sex and drugs, but most of all with the loss of so many family members to the raids, years before.

With the release of BLOOD KISS JR Ward has brought back the familiar, the loved, the swoon-worthy; the original Black Dagger brothers and what we loved best about the early installments in the series. Although most of the Brothers do not play significant roles, the feel of, and recognizable familiar atmosphere is present-something that had been missing from the last few installments. With the storyline focusing on only two couples, as well as the introduction of several new ‘potential brothers’, JR Ward has reigned in the number of supplementary and nonessential plotline introductions that have engulfed the latest BDB installments.

Copy supplied by the publisher.

Reviewed by Sandy

Reviewed by Sandy

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