Audibles Presents http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Lover-at-Last-Audiobook/B00BMCXK9S/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1435248890&sr=1-1
Blurb
“The hottest collection of studs in romance” (New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight) returns as number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward brings together two of the most beloved people in the Black Dagger Brotherhood world – at last….
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another….
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young – just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions…but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together…finally become one.
Review (book)
This is Book 11 of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by JR Ward, and it is mostly a m/f series. However, since the beginning there have been hints and suspicions about a couple who were into each other – thus gay or at least bi.
If you haven’t read the series, don’t bother with this. It will barely make sense and it will undoubtedly make you crazy.
I was a devoted fan for the first several books, but lost interest once I realized the very repetitive nature of each story and I began to feel the author was spending less time on developing a tightly woven, character driven story, and began focusing on getting longer and longer books out there with more violence and repetitive sex scenes than anything else.
However… when I saw she had finally paired up the two Vamps who’d been showing gay leanings… and I saw the backlash… and I’m a sucker for these guys… I had to read it.
Welllllll – there were parts that I adored. I loved the hugely masculine and mind altering sex these guys had. Scorching (if not terribly plausible – I don’t think lube was ever mentioned and they pretty much had anal sex every time they touched.)
I loved the deep soul searching and the way these guys finally had a heart to heart and got TOGETHER – AT LAST.
But – there was way more that I did not adore. Frankly I skimmed.
There were so many subplots and entire other couples and couples with other couples and babies and drama and drama and more drama.
Sigh.
It was too much.
If this had been more focused on these guys, their relationship and their immediate exes, etc it would have been a tightly written and probably excellent addition to the series.
I kinda felt like JR Ward didn’t just fully commit to writing the m/m book she wanted – maybe it was her publishers her editors … who knows. But it ended up watering down their love story to a sort of side show and also minimized all the other couples’ stories as well. I was also really, really annoyed at how Qhuinn danced around saying he was gay, or admitting he was at least bi-sexual and that their relationship was still “less than” for being two males.
So – I have to say I gave up on the series at this point, I was glad to see the boys got their sappy ending, but I really didn’t see investing more time in the series. Especially since I enjoy m/m so, so much more.
Audio
I got the audio book because – Thank God – it was narrated by a man – and the sample sounded excellent.
He did a terrific job! He does accents and emotions and doesn’t shy away from the sexy times either.
On the whole, I think the audio version makes the entire book more palatable, though less easy to skip over the stuff I wanted to skip.
I give the book a solid 3 for at least attempting to break out of the “norm” in her genre, the audio a 5 for being awesome, and an overall score of 4 for entertainment value.
