#BookReview – “Lover Revealed” by JR Ward

Blurb

Butch O’Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he’s the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world—to engage in the turf war with the lessers. He’s got nothing to lose. His heart belongs to a female vampire, an aristocratic beauty who’s way out of his league. If he can’t have Marissa, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers…

Fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he’s found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back. But even her love may not be enough to save him…

Review

In the fourth Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Marissa hasn’t seen or spoken to Butch in months. Since she’s used to rejection, she thinks he wants nothing to do with her.

Butch O’Neal is the only human who knows about the Brotherhood, but he feels like an outsider looking in. He wants to fight and protect the vampire race against the lesser (super-strong soulless humans), but the Brotherhood refuses to let him. After he saves a vampire civilian, he’s captured, tortured, poisoned, and left for dead. Thanks to his best warrior buddy Vishous, he’s taken to a vampire-run hospital, but he’s different. The lessers’ god, the Omega, has put some of his evil darkness into Butch’s body. Luckily, Butch’s new abilities work in the Brotherhood’s favor.

I absolutely loved Butch! Despite his abusive childhood, he was strong, easygoing, and determined to help others. He was an honorable person and loved Marissa very much. His and V’s friendship deepened to a whole new level. Neither of them understood the strange connection between them, but it was definitely sexual in nature. Though he wants Marissa, he knows his friendship with V is just as important.

I couldn’t relate to Marissa. I felt sorry for her—she suffered so much pain and humiliation—but most of it was her own fault. She was just too polite to stand up for herself. Though she does grow and become stronger as the book progresses, I couldn’t forgive the way she shamed Butch after they made love for the first time and how she demanded things of him, which destroyed his self-worth.

I really liked most of the side characters. Zsadist has stepped up to teach the warrior trainees, and I loved the scenes with him and John. Poor, sweet John. (I adore him!) After Wellsie’s death and Tohr’s disappearance in the last book, John has become so angry and determined to avenge them. His argument with Wrath, the vampire king, was heart wrenching.

Xhex is an awesome new character. She’s Rehvenge’s symphath friend and lead security guard at his nightclub.

I’m still not fond of Rehv. How will he keep his job as a pimp a secret after the incident with a glymera (aristocratic) patron? This looks like a glaring issue to me, but I doubt it will be mentioned in the later books.

Even though I found some various word choices/phrases distracting, I enjoyed this story and I’m excited to read about V in the next book.

4 Stars