Sub-Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Author site: www.jrward.com

Let's cut to the hipper-than hell chase, shall we? J.R. Ward's romances about elite Black Dagger Brotherhood vampire warriors are the novels you should be reading. Unless, of course, you're not woman enough.

These novels are not for the faint of heart. So if you don't like books so packed with action you can barely catch a breath between scene shifts, the Black Dagger Brotherhood isn't for you. And, if you detest earthy sensuality that's nearly raw in the way it makes you soak up the emotions and physical pleasure of the lovers, stay away from these novels!

But if you enjoy good-versus-evil thrills — and sexy give-you-goosebumps chills — J.R. Ward's "Lover Unbound" is the engaging, distinctive and wickedly arousing new book that'll rock your world.

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The hero of "Lover Unbound" is the Black Dagger Brother Vishous. He's legendary among the vampire race as a brutal slayer of enemies, and a dominant, skilled and aggressive lover. Vampire females line up to submit to his will for just one night. And one night is all he'll give each; he remains in charge of these impersonal seductions, which have nothing to do with anything close to love.

Years of horrific abuse by his father — the infamous vampire warrior Bloodletter — left Vishous in a finely honed state of non-feeling. But the cold comfort of that ends when Vishous is mortally injured while fighting lessers, evil undead out to kill off the vampire race.

Dr. Jane Whitcomb operates on Vishous' wounds, even after she notices her unnaturally gorgeous patient has a six-chambered heart and, well, fangs. But it's not until Jane wakes up as a prisoner in the Black Dagger Brotherhood's compound that she realizes the truth: Her patient is a very large and virile vampire. And he seems to think Jane's his property.

This doesn't feel as creepy to Jane as she wishes it would. Sure, she's being held against her will, forced to tend to Vishous as he recovers. But he seems to need her for things far more intimate than medical care; with Jane, Vishous feels.

Unfortunately, that's not working in Jane's favor. Vishous is destined to become primale. This supreme warrior spends his life mating with chosen female vampires, to keep the race from dying out. This means Jane has to accept this painful fact: After she heals his wounds and heart with her care and love, she'll be sending him into the arms of other women — and into a future she never can share with him.

"Lover Unbound" is classic Ward; the writing and plot style are vigorous and edgy. That makes the push-the-envelope dialogue, fight sequences and sex even more hardcore.

Ward skillfully titillates throughout the novel with unfolding adventures of characters we've come to love. And even better, she flashes magnificently teasing glimpses of excitement we can look forward to in a few novels down the line.

Think you're woman enough for the Black Dagger Brothers? Then you probably ought to...

Buy the book.