Comments on: Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:28:07 +0000

Stephanie, first, yay you finally read it! And second, that’s exactly how I felt: if this were the first of the BDB I’d read, I’d likely love it best. And, while I’m not quite as enthusiastic about LA as I am about LE or DL, I still couldn’t put the book down.
I’m going to speak for HK here and say that we were both stunned and disappointed that Butch’s story is next in line. Now that I’ve had some more time to think about it, telling Butch’s story next is clever. It will, hopefully, be an opportunity to stay up with the Brotherhood’s over arching story while, perhaps, adding some variety and break some of the repetitive issues with the series.
Even if Butch and Marissa’s story doesn’t accomplish those things, I’m sure Ward will be her fabulous self and nothing else will matter.

By: stephanie 'day late and a $ short' feagan

stephanie 'day late and a $ short' feagan — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 20:10:09 +0000

So, guess what I did until 4:30 this morning?
Thoughts on Lover Awakened:
I loved it, I really did. Obviously, if I stayed up until 4:30 a.m., I was rather carried away. Today, I’m working on a very complex set of tax returns, and finding it hard to focus – but not from lack of sleep. I just keep thinking about this book. As much as I loved it, there was something about it that kept me from enjoying it quite as much as the first two. I’m mulling it over. Perhaps it’s the difference in the romance itself – Bella’s pursuit of Z, versus the other way around. Or maybe because he was such a tortured character – literally and figuratively – it bugged me on some level. If I had never read the first two and started with this one, I suspect I’d be over the moon about it. But it’s difficult not to compare, and Lover Awakened was a bit of a different read.
That’s not a bad thing – just different.
One element I really liked – and this is probably my inner Bombshell writer talking – was what happened to the villain. Won’t say more so as not to spoil, but I thought it was perfect, the way Ward handled it. To me, this made up for how Bella’s abduction and trauma was somewhat glossed over. I noted – probably because of what was said here – that Bella commented, several times, that she couldn’t remember most of what happened to her. If I wasn’t a writer, I’d take that at face value. Since I am a writer, I saw this as a way for Ward to avoid having to go there. I mean, get down and dirty and go there. I don’t blame her – I’d have done the same thing. Two wounded, tortured central characters can get messy and unwieldy and maybe a little too close to reality. I had no problem with Ward skirting it to an extent.
Wendy, you, my friend, are so right – I was stunned to see who’s up next. I thought his story wouldn’t be until later. I confess, I’m dying to know how that one turns out. So, once again, I’ll be watching for the release date and haul ass to the bookstore the day Lover Revealed comes out. This is an infatuation I have no interest in losing.

By: Adlay

Adlay — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:35:28 +0000

I unfortunately have to wait another week until I can purchase this book and I cry myself to sleep every night. I am a student in college so EVERY penny that I have goes toward my education. Maybe I’ll just put it on my debit card and put my account in the negative dollar amounts. I think this book is worth the charge. Wish me luck!!

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:38:39 +0000

HK–I avoid that message board as much as possible, but end up there about once a month, because someone googles the next Ward book, lands on my blog, finds out I’ve gotten an advance copy (since JR sends me ARCs of the books) and then posts my link on the board. Then it shows up in my stats and I go to be amused at how much her fans hate me for reading the book 3 months before it’s set to release. I’m evil, I know, lolol.
And actually, the people on that message board are relentless on trying to figure things out and guess at things and get spoilers, and I’d just rather not KNOW. I want to be surprised and in the dark a little when I read the next book, not analyzing what’s happening and how everything fits with everything else. Sometimes, I just want to read to sink into the story, you know?

By: Jennifer Y.

Jennifer Y. — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 18:51:54 +0000

Thanks HelenKay for letting me know about the order.

By: Kassia

Kassia — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 16:25:27 +0000

I have been hesitant about series — it’s my allergy to cute spellings, you know — but Wendy’s near breathless commentary (not slight HK’s analyis, never to do that) that sold me. It’s on my desk, has been there for a while (sorry Stef…reviewing has its privileges), and, well, you know how I said I’d be reviewing regularly forever? Right after I devour this series. Sorry, priorities.
Oh, right, HK, whip. Will be sneaking this series in between regularly scheduled work. You sold the most jaded of souls.

By: HelenKay

HelenKay — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:47:26 +0000

My love for JR Ward and her books astounds me. Like Stef, I wait for each new one to come out and then whine when I can’t immediately read it. Even gloated when I got my copy before Wendy got hers. All this is a bit odd since I’m not a huge paranormal fan. Here the fact these guys are vampires never gets in my way. Probably because they’re big ‘ole alpha males – love those. Nothing about the bonding or language here bothers me. In fact, it strikes me as very guy-ish. Guys living and talking together, all in a state of arrested development to some degree because of how they became what they are, and all living their lives to fight. In real life, they’d probably just grunt. Ward gives them much more depth than that.
It’s true Ward doesn’t spend much time on the females in the series. Doesn’t bother me a bit. The Brotherhood is about the men. Sometimes the romance even feels secondary. I feel a bit cheated by that, but tolerate it because the males are so well done.
On the order question – I read the second book first. We reviewed it here. After that, I went back and picked up the first and then waited for this one to come out. Never felt lost. I think you can jump into this series and double back, but if you haven’t read any, I’d go from the beginning.
Angie – Have you been hanging out on the message boards again… Lover Awakened does talk about John’s lineage. There’s no question he plays a much larger role here. It will be interesting to watch this subplot take on more and more significance.

By: AngieW

AngieW — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:25:12 +0000

Yep Stef (shouldn’t you be writing?) that’s it.
John is Darius. Or Darius is John. Whatever, they are the same “soul” or something along those lines. If you ask me how that “reincarnation” works, since Darius died when John was ostensibly alive, I will freely tell you I have no idea but avid readers of the books have picked them apart and point to this as the reason John has such an odd reaction to first meeting Beth.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:57:25 +0000

Don’t be paranoid Stephanie, it doesn’t remember me either (which is really annoying). One of these days I’ll get to the bottom of that issue.
Angie, you can reveal whatever you’d like.

By: stef, who should be working

stef, who should be working — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 00:45:57 +0000

I think I know, Angie. Does it have something to do with what happened at the first of the first book? Like, somebody who died?
p.s. – how come I check the box to remember info, but it never does? I’m starting to get paranoid.