Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood. After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself…
For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites, but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect—or at the very least, perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side and his King and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can’t understand—or control—the panic and insecurity that plague him…
And that terrifies him—as well as distances him from his mate. After suffering mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities—and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world…and Mary’s. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from…
The Beast by J.R. Ward primarily focuses on the quickly devolving relationship between Rhage and Mary. It also seems to be a book that really pulls in a lot of the side characters to make the story work – which I absolutely loved. Rhage and Mary are one of the first couples w meet in the BDB series, and it was so nice to have a chance to really look into their lives again – even if they aren’t in a very good place right now.
This book also reminds us that The Black Dagger Brotherhood isn’t all about romance. There is a war raging in the background, and something big is about to go down. You can feel it building up on the pages. Something is going to break with either the Scribe Virgin or the Omega, and it’s going to be life-changing for everyone.
There are a few storylines that involve the kids and babies of the household, and they added a little bit of a softer touch that the story needed. In a few years, the Brotherhood is going to have its hands full with all the new youngsters.
A wonderful addition to the series with romance, adventure, suspense, and plenty to make you laugh and cry (sometimes both at once).
Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on… except for his brother, iAm.
iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around… but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.
Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice…
I have been wanting to learn more about the past of the brothers Trez and iAm. While parts have been hinted at in previous books, The Shadows really goes into their past and their very unusual society. I found it fascinating and really want to go back to their homeland and see a lot more of it.
Trez’s story was just about everything I had hoped for him. It was freeing and bittersweet, but so meaningful. Of course when he finds love, it can’t be simple. It’s going to be messy, complex, and potentially dangerous for everyone around him. But it was so worth it. It changes him. And I like the new Trez (even if he makes me cry) a lot better than the old one.
While Trez is having his life-changing moment, iAm isn’t immune to fate. It turns out they ahve a lot of things to take of back home, and that a lot of things they thought were true might not quite be what they thought they were. The journey both brothers take are oddly parallel until the very end. i dont always like romances with mutliple people getting their moment in the sun, but it seemed fitting that Trez and iAm, so inseparable, would have their story together as well.
There are a lot of lingering storylines for other member sof the Brotherhood that weave their way through the book, and a few new loose ends are left at the end to draw me into the next book. Once again, the story Ward presents is engaging. I’m just afraid taht we won’t see as much of the Shadow’s society in the future – similar to the way the Smpathes faded from view after their one story.
When a job for a full-time nanny/housekeeper is posted in Langdon, NC, Poppy Delacorte is quick to apply. Jumping at the opportunity to move after a public shaming by her deceitful ex- boyfriend, she accepts the offer. When she arrives at her destination, Poppy learns there’s been some kind of mix-up at the agency and her new employer refuses to hire her because she’s not a gray-haired older woman. Something about younger women working for him and vying for the next Mrs. Jordan Perry position.
But before she can even make arrangements to figure out what to do or where to go next, Jordan seeks her out and offers her a temporary arrangement since he has no one to watch Katrina.
Poppy is secretly relieved with the reprieve, vowing to be the perfect nanny/housekeeper so that it becomes a permanent arrangement.
Jordan leaves on business—which in turn, leaves Poppy and Katrina trying to muddle through their new relationship and life. Except she doesn’t always get it right, discovering that teaching and nannying are two very different jobs.
Will Poppy need to move on and keeping searching for the place where she belongs and God’s plan for her life, or could this be where she finally puts down roots?
You will not like Jordan at the beginning of the book – he is an opinionated and rather biased man that thinks only an old lady should be a nanny to his daughter. He comes off as a little full of himself, convinced that every young marriageable woman is out to rope in for themselves.
I loved when Poppy called him on his crap! She has a spine and I think more romance heroines need to stand up for themselves without being snarky or mean. When she finally arrives at Jordan’s ranch, her love for children is quite clear, and Katrina and her bond very quickly. For much of the story, their relationship overshadowed the potential relationship between Poppy and Jordan. But as Jordan’s daughter, I think it was just as important for Katrina to fall in love with Poppy.
I feel like I never really got to know Jordan very well. He obviously loves his daughter more than anything, and he really wants what’s best for her. But that’s really got from him for most of the story. I really wanted to see more beneath the surface and in his heart.
This is book two of The Great Smoky Mountain Getaways series, but can definitely be read as a stand-alone book.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
