Lover Eternal - J.R. Ward

The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is a must read for anyone who is addicted to vampire romance books. They are dark, seductive and sensual. The Brotherhood are the warrior protectors of their race and they are all too well aware that they are the only ones who stand between the Vampire race and the Lessers who hunt them down.

Amongst the Brotherhood is one who is cursed. One who carries within him a beast, an dragon, a being that breaks free when he loses control, but a beast that has helped him protect his friends, his brothers and his people.

Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover - for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.

Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships, is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and is reliant on Rhage's protection. With a life threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles years ago. But when Rhage's intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves...

Mary is a fantastic heroine. She's fighting a losing battle against cancer. She has no faith in love, and doesn't believe that any man would want to be with her. She knows the scars she carries on her body. Marks left over from the first round of treatment for cancer, from life, from the world around her. Why would a man like Rhage, whose nickname amongst the Brotherhood is Hollywood, want to be with her?

The book also brings in two characters who will become important later in the series. A female vampire called Bella, and a pre transition male called John Michael. I won't spoil the story by revealing just how vital they are to the series, but watch for these two, it's going to become interesting! Although each of the books is part of a series you could read them as stand alones to a degree. Ms. Ward focuses on one vampire and his mate to be, but doesn't ignore what is going on with the rest of the brotherhood.

These are not gentle vampires. They swear. Kill people. Threaten each other. Drink. Get drunk. Fall down. They act like men you might find in a bar full of Marines!

J.R. Ward has the ability to drag readers head first, kicking and screaming into the dark side. She spins tales that leave you waiting for more and growling for the next book. Currently there are five in the series with the next book due out in April 2008. And I, like many of her fans, keep wanting that next book to be out now. Not April, damnit!

ISBN 0-451-21804-3