Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward [Review]

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood #7) by J.R. Ward
Format: hardcover
Source: purchased
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Date Read: July 23, 2011

Black Dagger Brotherhood
1. Dark Lover
2. Lover Eternal
3. Lover Awakened
4. Lover Revealed
5. Lover Unbound
6. Lover Enshrined
6.5. Father Mine
7. Lover Avenged - Paperback | Kindle
8. Lover Mine
9. Lover Unleashed
10. Lover Reborn
11. Lover at Last
12. The King
13. The Shadows
14. The Beast
15. The Chosen
15.5. Dearest Ivie
16. The Thief
16.5. Prisoner of Night
17. The Savior
17.5. Where Winter Finds You
18. The Sinner
18.5. A Warm Heart in Winter
19. Lover Unveiled
20. Lover Arisen
21. Lassiter

J.R. Ward
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Synopsis (Goodreads):

Caldwell, New York, has long been the battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the Lessening Society. It's also where Rehvenge has staked out his turf as a drug lord and owner of a notorious night club that caters to the rich and heavily armed. His shadowy reputation is exactly why he's approached to kill Wrath, the Blind King and leader of the Brotherhood.

Rehvenge has always kept his distance from the Brotherhood-even though his sister is married to a member, for he harbors a deadly secret that could make him a huge liability in their war against the lessers. As plots within and outside of the Brotherhood threaten to reveal the truth about Rehvenge, he turns to the only source of light in his darkening world, Ehlena, a vampire untouched by the corruption that has its hold on him-and the only thing standing between him and eternal destruction.

My Thoughts: Damn this book. It turned me into a weepy, leaky GIRL. I'm not so much upset by the girl part (seeing as I am one), but the weeping thing has got to stop.  I swear, I have to go drink a gallon of water to rehydrate after these books. Arrgh. I lay the blame for all this teary-eyed sniffling at the feet of J.R. Ward, who gave me a tormented hero to rival Zsadist. Yes, Z and Rehvenge are battling it out for top spot on my Men I'd Like To Cuddle Because They're So Damaged list as we speak. Well played, J.R. Ward. Well played.

First things first... the cover.  This is my favorite cover thus far.  We get Rehv's gorgeous amethyst eyes and he has that whole tattoo thing going on.  I do love men with tattoos.  Quite frankly he's yum-a-licious.  What can I say except this cover totally does it for me.  The others are a little ... bland?  I don't know.  They don't stand out for me.  Not the way this one does.  And, yes.  I totally made sure that I had this book in my hot little hand when I originally bought the series just because of the cover.  Shallow, thy name is Kelly.

Secondly, REHVENGE!  I love this guy.  Sure, he's a bad ass drug dealer and a pimp and he doesn't have a problem hurting people or murdering them or ordering his people to hurt and/or murder them but I just think he's awesome.  The disparity between his ruthless attitude in his business versus his gentleness with Ehlena worked.  With her he feels shame over some of the things he's done.  Not all of them, mind you, because his symphath side revels in the discord he's caused but the things he's been forced to do to keep Xhex and his mother and Bella safe... or, more to the point, the way his symphath side finds enjoyment in it even when his vampire side abhors it... I liked it.  I liked the push and pull of the two different sides that he had to deal with.  I liked that he had to realize his own worth just as Ehlena had to realize that she's more than just a dutiful daughter.  Apart they were fractured, together they became strong and whole.

As for the other Brothers... *weeps*  Tohrment.  Oh, Tohr.  And John Matthew.  And Qhuinn and Blay.  Lassiter cracks me up something fierce.  Especially when the Brothers start poking at him.  Oh, Wrath.  And ... yeah.  All of them just killed me.

Guys, this book is a brick.  It's 600+ pages and I still wasn't ready when I made it to the end.  I wanted more.  I wanted more Rehv and more Rehv/Ehlena and more ... I just wanted more.

Which means I'm starting the next book immediately.  Right now.  Just try and stop me.