Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)

I acually started to cry at the end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I am offically hooked to the series.

There are 6 books in the Black Daggar Brotherhood series. Get and read all 6, they are great!

Sometimes, you've just got to get some brain candy, and knowing I was in one of those places, I decided it was long past time that I picked up the second book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. And, wow, I am so glad I did! While I liked the first book, the second one is so much better on so many levels, brain candy notwithstanding.

Lover Eternal gives us the story of Rhage, aka "Hollywood", a womanizing vampire with a truly frightful curse. Rhage is only looking to find some release when he encounters the human Mary, a "warrior" in her own right as she's battled cancer and the loss of her mother. Neither is looking to get involved but they can't deny the deep attraction they feel even as they try to push one another away. Rhage, being a member of the Black Dagger Brotherhood which protects vampires from the evil lessers, isn't supposed to become involved with a human at all, and Mary is facing a return of her cancer and cannot understand why the drop-dead gorgeous vampire would want to be with her. As the two struggle to drop their defenses, both are faced with cruelty and choices that could prove fatal.

Filled with the members of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, it was a pleasure to see them all interact as the story developed. There were a couple of side stories involved as well that set the stage for future books, thus whetting my appetite to get to the next one. While I dislike how the vamps tend to call women "females", I really can't find anything to complain about as I was immediately pulled into the story. Lots of sex, lots of action, lots of emotion...this one fulfilled precisely what brain candy is supposed to do. Recommended!

Oh I loved Mary and Rhage's story!
I almost cried at the end with what the Scribe Virgin tells M&R about her gift.
I'm looking forward to reading about the rest of the brothers.
This series has so many possibilities!

Rhage has always been the sexiest of the brothers for me, and Ward has written a very good second book, further developing her back story and cleverly laying the groundwork for future books (John/Darius, Zsadist, etc.).

However, I was just a bit disappointed at the ending.

*** SPOILER BELOW -- DO NOT READ ON IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW! ***


Since I think Rhage is simply sex on legs, my pleasure at finishing the book was dimmed by learning that he would never be producing any baby vampires due to Mary's illness. Trivial, perhaps, but it seems like an unnecessary downer: if Mary's health can be restored, why not her fertility?