J.R. Ward
Lover Unleashed
Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #9

Review brought to you by OBS Staff member Heidi

This is the 9th installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood that follows everyone’s favorite vampire warriors and the ones they love.

Jane sets out to find her old boss, Dr. Manny Manello,  and try to convince him to come back to the Brotherhood Compound to fix Payne’s spine, before it’s too late.  Vishous is a nervous wreck, worrying about both Payne and Jane.

Manny does agree to come and see Payne, and instantly realizes why he’s never fallen in love before, he was meant to fall in love with her.  It becomes his personal mission to fix her, fighting her brother, Vishous at every turn.

After the surgery, Manny’s memories are hidden and he’s sent on his way.  Only to be brought back when Payne doesn’t regain the use of her legs and wants to end her life.  The whole ordeal, causing friction between Jane and Vishous in the process.
With Manny’s help, Payne discovers a way to heal her own body.

Manny eventually must return to his old life, but Payne refuses to scrub his memories.  Vishous witnesses Payne’s love and talks to Wrath on her behalf.  But Manny doesn’t think their relationship will work.  But all that changes when Payne disappears, caught in the clutches of someone with an ancient vendetta against her.  And beings as the sun’s out, it’s up to Manny to find her.

This book picked up right where the last one left off.  And in usual J.R. Ward style,  the writing keeps you  interested and not wanting to put the book down, introducing you to even more new characters and leaving you to wonder about others previously introduced.

I loved seeing Vishous’s protective big brother side and seeing him battle and learn to open up to those that love him.  Manny brings another smart-alecky mouth to the series, making his conversations with Butch and Vishous entertaining and addicting.
I don’t feel that this was the best of the series, but it wasn’t the worst either…just somewhere right in the middle.  It didn’t feel like Manny and Payne were the main focus like the book proclaims, if felt more like Vishous and Jane part two, with Manny and Payne as supporting cast.  I think this book was lacking that last minute climax in the plot that I’ve come to expect.  I thought they were building one, but then let it go, but the book was still good and I liked it and will continue to read the series.