With the release of J.R. Ward‘s new book – THE VIPER – I thought I’d reflect on the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and the newer prison spinoff series. These are my insights into J.R. Ward (The Wharden) and her Black Dagger Brotherhood books and they may not align with others’ impressions but that’s what reading fiction does for readers. They can see things the way they want using the author’s words as a kicking-off point. There is a race of vampires, who live among humans mostly in Caldwell, New Jersey. The race was made by the Scribe Virgin (SV) – who is a whole other story – but she has a brother the Omega, who is the opposite of her, jealous, petty and evil. Though, to be honest, there are times in the BDB series you wondered about the SV. She made the vampires and then had to come up with the Black Dagger Brotherhood to protect her race from the “Lessers” which was her brother’s attempt at creating a race. The lessers are soulless humans who prey on vampires of all ages and strangely smell like baby powder. The brothers – Wrath, Tohrment, Vishous, Phury, Rhage, Zadist, Butch, Quinn,…

I don’t remember the first vampire book I ever read, but I do remember the first vampire movie I saw. I didn’t sleep soundly for days after watching Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT movie. In fact, even thinking about it now, I can still envision those vampires at the window and hear them trying to come inside! The sound still gives me shivers! It didn’t help that I was still young (not even a teenager yet) and my best friend had giant bay windows in the living room where we watched the made for tv movie. As night fell, the windows behind us seemed more and more ominous as I was just certain a vampire or two would come calling for us! After watching the movie,  I of course had to read the book, ‘SALEM’S LOT, and Stephen King’s words were even scarier than that old movie. I devoured all of his books that I could get my hands on, looking for something to grab my attention like the vampires had. And oh, did I love Stephen King’s books… but the vampires came back to bite me again when I discovered Anne Rice and Lestat. INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE took me…

We asked one of our reviewers, Jessica Nathan and HUGE J.R.Ward fan, to give us an in-depth, extended review of Ward’s latest release, THE JACKAL, a new book set in the beloved Black Dagger Brotherhood world. Have you read this one yet? Let us know what you think!  *** OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD! J.R. Ward has done it again with THE JACKAL! Fans and devoted readers of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, do not be confused by the premise of Rhage having a half-brother. We were first introduced to blood slaves with Zsadist, and had whispers of the ongoing atrocities in The Beast, and hidden sects of vampire cruelty involving blood and sex slaves and forced labor camps abounded in The Savior and Prisoner of Night. Like the Black Dagger Legacy books,THE JACKAL is the start of something new, yet familiar in Caldwell. Set within the Black Dagger world, the Black Dagger Brotherhood: Prison Camp series introduces readers to the Jackal, a vampire from Rhage’s past, with stunning Bahama blue eyes. The Jackal has lived 100 years in the underground prison when he encounters Nyx, a heroine after my own heart. Nyx is no damsel in distress; she…

by Senior Reviewer Miranda Owen Haven’t we met? Some kind of beautiful stranger You could be good for me I’ve had the taste for danger If I’m smart then I’ll run away But I’m not so I guess I’ll stay Haven’t you heard? I fell in love with a beautiful stranger –Beautiful Stranger, Madonna Two of my favorite romance authors are Mary Balogh and Jennifer Ashley. Both authors write well-crafted character-driven stories that capture the imagination. Both authors also write about extremely close yet also extremely complicated families. Two of my all-time favorite books are both by these authors and are both about characters who meet under unusual circumstances, but who find something compelling and experience an unexplainable initial attraction. I’ve always maintained that AT LAST COMES LOVE by Mary Balogh has one of the best introduction scenes and “getting to know you” dialogue I’ve ever read. The scandalous Duncan Pennethorne, the Earl of Sheringford and beautiful yet very respectable Margaret Huxtable collide at a time when they each have something the other desires. Duncan is looking for a well-connected wealthy wife to satisfy his grandfather and secure his inheritance and, and that particular moment, Margaret needs a fake beau…

Please welcome Fresh Fiction reviewer Debbie Wiley, who is discussing military heroes! Everyone loves a good hero with a happily-ever-after, but what happens to the heroes who experience debilitating injuries or disabilities while doing their heroic deeds? As a social worker for over twenty years, I love when authors tackle social issues in a rewarding way. I’d like to share a few books and authors I’ve discovered along the way who address heroes with disabilities in ways that showcases their strengths without discounting the challenges the characters have faced. J.R. Ward originally started me thinking about this theme as I was reading her new and powerfully intense romantic suspense novel, CONSUMED. Anne Ashburn is a firefighter, a woman who has dedicated her entire life to her career. All it takes is one fire and suddenly Anne can no longer do her job. One of the things I love most about CONSUMED is that we see a heroic woman in an unconventional job role facing her most difficult moments with honesty and strength. Anne struggles to adjust to her new reality as she deals with such a life-altering disability and J.R. Ward doesn’t flinch away from showing us just how potentially…