Blood Kiss

I absolutely loved BLOOD KISS! This spin-off series of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series is just what the doctor ordered! The book is almost 400 pages, yet it was an unusually fast read. I couldn’t put it down! J.R. Ward goes back to her roots and brings us a story reminiscent of DARK LOVER. Since DARK LOVER was the first romance book I’d ever read, it was like coming home. I love the concept of a series around the warrior training program and loved getting to see some new faces. Paradise, daughter of Abalone, the King’s First Advisor was first introduced in THE KING (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #12) and had a few appearances in the last book, THE SHADOWS (#13). She was raised in the aristocracy of vampire society known as the glymera and has been greatly sheltered all her life. Paradise wants to find her own way and not be limited by the glymera’s misogynistic gender roles for females. She feels she can do that by joining the training program. It may not be the path for her, but it’s something she’s dreamed of doing. I really loved Paradise’s character. We’ve seen her polite and confidant but we don’t get to see the “real” her until BLOOD KISS. Her strength is astounding and she has a solid core of steel. She’s also loyal, kind and is an all-around badass female. I loved her. She is a brilliant character and a perfect fit for Craeg. And Craeg…*dreamy sigh* this male is amazing. He’s not from a rich family but he is strong, determined prideful and a bit stubborn. In many ways, he reminds me of Zsadist, John Matthew and Rehvenge. Craeg’s characteristics are similar to theirs but he is clearly his own character. He is also brilliantly crafted and was made for Paradise. Their romance was very steamy and I loved watching them both fall. Marissa and Butch also have a storyline in the book and it’s pretty serious. Some past and current issues are plaguing the couple and it takes a lot of strength, courage and determination in order to set things to rights. Vishous, as always, is by Butch’s side and brings his wisdom and overt sexiness to the story. Doc Jane and the rest of the medical staff have a few honorable mentions as well as Tohr and Rhage. The ladies of the mansion have a girls’ night and it is hilarious! And then there’s Lassiter who titillates and disgusts us with a few “unusual” apparel choices :) I’ll say it again, reading BLOOD KISS was like coming home again. It was so comforting and so wonderful. The entire book is amazing. I laughed several times as well as teared up at a few places and was left with feelings of peace and contentment. Readers will fall in love with this new series and be clamoring for more! Thank you J.R. Ward for bringing us all “home” again. ***I was gifted an eBook copy from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

This story is so sweet! It is a breath of fresh air after reading 1-12 of the main series straight through. It still is intense and dark, but all of the story lines are wrapped up in the same novel, instead of continuing on through two or three books like they do in the BDB main storyline. My brain needed a little break from all of the loose strings and this was perfect for that. I have also loved reading about Butch ever since book 1. I love how they approach his past trauma, and Mary's explanation of why we cannot bottle it up. I love the very real connections and disconnections between the married couples in the series. I love how the author can use just a few sentences to sum up what we read in the past books, to help bring that character back to the front of our minds. Now, I am refreshed and ready to find out what happens with Layla!!!

I'm hooked on the all the black dagger brotherhood & legacy books. The pull to keep reading is so strong I cant seem to put them down. I haven't laughed and cried so much in a truly long time. Though from time to time I notice small but annoying mistakes the author missed that I can't ignore. For Example, in the beginning of this book Marissa could not get the docs from the brotherhood training center to come treat an emergency trauma case at safe place because they were just starting an operation on Tohr for compound break of his femur. Yet 2 hrs later Marissa arrives home at BDB mansion to find Tohr & his shellan having Last Meal at the table with everyone else. How was he supposed to undergo surgery on a broken leg,wake from anesthesia,jump up & immediately hike the 1/4-1/2 mile long tunnel on foot to the mansion & be sitting happily at the dinner table eating a big meal & socializing with everyone- all in 2 hrs.? That just doesn't make sense, even for vampires in these novels.