A warrior with inner demons falls for a woman who could save his soul in this seductive novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series.Within the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Rhage is the warrior vampire with the strongest appetites. He’s the deadliest fighter, the most voracious lover, the quickest to act on his impulses. He’s also been cursed with two hundred years of … with two hundred years of hell. Possessed by a beast, he lives in fear of the times when his inner dragon comes out and he’s a danger to everyone around him.
Mary Luce has unwittingly found herself in the vampire world, and under Rhage’s protection. With her own life-threatening curse to bear, she’s not looking for love. Besides, she’s stopped believing in saving grace and miracles long ago. But when Rhage’s intense sexual attraction turns into emotional bonding, he knows he must have her for his mate. As their enemies close in, Mary finds herself praying for something she fears she’ll never have: life eternal with the one she loves.
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One of my favorite books! I adore Rhage and Mary’s story. I read it again this past week and I enjoyed it as much as the first time I read it years ago. Small confession – now I just read the romance part of the story. I skip all the Lesser stuff.
Love this author. Have almost all of the books in hardback, but love them so much that I am buying them for my kindle. The first book in the series, Dark Lover, is a really great introduction, but not necessary.
I am really enjoying this series. What I like most about Ward’s writing is that you never know where the story will lead next. I’m always trying to figure out the twists ahead of time and my guesses are no where near where the plot is headed-love to be kept on my toes that way. Already started on book 3 and loving it!
Book Two in JR Ward’s vampire series is better than the first. Rhage is an engaging character that makes me laugh. But when he meets his mate nothing can keep him from her. Loved this book even more than the first one. Rhage and Mary are meant for each other. And it’s nice to see Butch, V, Wrath and Beth again. Love this series.
THIS NOVEL WAS A REREAD :: “Then (January 2011): Never officially rated it the first time I read this novel but I know I LOVED it! | Now (August 2017): 5 out of 5 stars! Continuing right where “Dark Lover” ended, we now follow Rhage. Watch as Rhage deals with fighting the lessers, protecting the civilians and those he cares for from the Society and himself, all while finding his mate. Yet will he be able to handle the repercussions that come with finding the woman who was meant for him?
Like before … I LOVE this novel. Yet, in truth, it’s in a whole new way. I say that because when …”
Read more of this review, a Book Review EXTRAS Video, & a TEASER here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2019/09/idolizing-in-black-dagger-brotherhood.html
One of the very best series out there!! Highly recommend these well written stories and characters!! JR Ward’s is outstanding at building and blending this incredibly sexy, paranormal world!
Truly a most beautiful love story. Rhage and Mary – so romantic. Plus its another incredible book in the BDB series.
Couldn’t read fast enough! The world J.R. Ward creates and the new characters introduced should be confusing, but it’s not. You’re thrown into the world of BDB, and I loved every second of it. Rhage may be my favorite brother – the love he has for Mary is unmatched and so beautiful
Liked it better than book 1. Still not loving the multiple points of view, though. Especially the villain’s (I totally skimmed those).
It was better because, in a way, it was a lot more slow burn. Not gonna lie, though, Rhage and Mary’s first meeting made me kinda uncomfortable. He got all up in her business and she kept telling him no. That’s assault.
Otherwise, it was good. His all encompassing heartbreak there at the end got me in the feels. Also, I thought it was really interesting how Rhage was a man-whore more out of necessity than out of pleasure.
I wish we could have gotten more Wrath and Beth, they barely made an appearance.
This love story is touching. A dying woman meets a movie action hero lookalike who really is into her – what female reader is not going to sigh over that? The part about how Mary discovers that her aspiring lover dislikes sunlight and has “funky choppers” – that is a priceless scene. This author takes the vampire lover trope to a truly elevated level, mixing in enough snark and farce to make the story more realistic than idealized. I prefer this author to Anne Rice.
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you read it. I read this book for the first time about a year ago and I still find myself thinking of it and recommending it to people. Love the world building and the continuing storyline. I lost sleep reading this book because I just couldn’t put it down. Honestly cannot say enough about this book. Very emotional so make sure you have the tissues handy!
Much better than book 1! I love this one. So addicting. Rhage didn’t stand out to me much in the previous book, but REALLY enjoyed his character and his predicament. Her illness is a nice touch. I only wish for a better ending. I found it to be rushed and almost too convenient and it left me with wanting more/different. I agree with the other reviewers on what Rhage did in that one part but I didn’t find it to overtake so much of the book that I disliked the book for it. Rhage’s character seems more intense than his dialogue actually is, so it can read a bit strange but in the end, I don’t have major complaints about this novel.
*4 Stars*
I enjoyed this second instalment of this series, and look forward to reading the next book. I liked both Rhage and Mary, and was invested in their journey. I like all the brothers and am keen to learn more about each of them as the series progresses.
A great world created by the author, and I do recommend.
Rhage’s story! Having been cursed with a beast inside him and not being able to control it, he finds out that not only is he worthy of love but the selfless love he has for Mary will bound them forever.
Now on to Z’s story!
I absolutely loved this book. I have read the entire series but this book is my favorite. Rhage captured my heart and this book will always be my favorite.
4.5 stars
In this book we follow Rhage and Mary’s love story. We got introduced to Rhage at the first book and he is the playboy, Hollywood type of guy (or is he?) and I was interested to read his story (but I was more interested in Butch’s and Z’s story but that’s another conversation). And boy did he blew my mind!!!! I before I start with my positive review, I want to put aside the issues I had with the book.
My main complaint is that he and Mary’s was insta lovey and I’m not a big fan of that. I wished the author had introduced Mary in the first book and set up her and Rhage’s love story, then I would have thought otherwise. But despite that, I really love their relationship development as the story progressed.
Another reason why I wished Mary to first appear in Dark Lover was because I felt her character was a bit shallow at the beginning of this book (and similar but not quite to Beth). But as you progress, she becomes her own person so I guess all is good?
My last complaint is the villain’s POV. It’s just so boring to read and not intriguing at all.
ANYWAY
Now onto all the positivity (hopefully) of this book.
Despite the insta love, I love their relationship more than Beth x Wrath which was shocking to me because I LOVED the latter’s love story. Rhage and Mary are very supporting to each other (Rhage’s curse and Mary’s illness) and it warmed my heart each time I read about it.
Rhage is not what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised by his character. I don’t want to say more because I feel like it’s better if you go into the book blindly and get the full experience. Mary on the other hand started a bit weakly but SHE BECOMES A BADASS in her own right later on and I love her to pieces. She deserves the world.
Honestly, I dislike the Scribe Virgin even if she is some kind of deity to the Brotherhood. At times she is cold and then she gets warms and then gets cold again and I don’t like that. But I’m curious about her and I will be down for a book about her.
We also got introduced to two new characters: Bella and John Matthew.
Bella is amazing and I love how the author improved on her writing in setting up her characters for their book and I am so excited for her and Z’s love story. Speaking of Z, HE IS AMAZING AND I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM. His and Bella’s encounter and onward was just amazing and their story in this book ended in quite a cliffhanger so I am dying to read their book (but as you can see I’m writing a review so after that I hope to dive into the book).
John Matthew is an interesting and mysterious character that we don’t know much about yet. But I love reading his chapters and I love his mother/son kind of friendship with Mary if that makes any sense. It was sweet and I need more of them. He is just a cinnamon roll and deserves all the happiness in the world. I also love his relationship with Tohr and Wellsie. They are like his adopted parents and I LOVE THEM TO PIECES and I also need more of them.
There is also a character that has not appeared yet but I feel he is worth mentioning because we get an idea on who he is and that is Rhevenge, who is Bella’s brother. I do hope he appears in book 3 because of what had happened towards the end of the book. I know he will have his own book (book 7) so I’m excited for his story as well.
We also got some Butch chapters but not as much as book 1 but the few that I’ve read, I’ve drank them up and need his and Marissa’s story as soon as possible (thankfully it’s book 4 so I don’t have that much to wait). We got to see a growing close friendship (if you could say that) between him and Z and I do hope it develops in the next book.
I wished Marissa was there in this book especially the drama that is happening between her and Butch but I understand that this is Rhage x Mary’s story so I won’t complain that much. I will wait patiently for her and Butch’s book and see how it will all play out in the end.
But I love the bromance between Butch and V. I WAS HERE FOR ALL OF THEIR SCENES. They are the definition of a best bro friends and I do hope we get to see more of them and their shenanigans in both of their books.
The ending wrapped up very nicely in which we get an HEA to Rhage x Mary’s story in addition to setting up all the crazy things that is gonna happen in Z x Bella’s story.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with this book and am very excited to continue on with the series!!!
3.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and is the story of Rhage and Mary. I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than the first in the series. Rhage is probably my favorite of the Brothers and I really liked learning about his backstory. Rhage and Mary make such a wonderful couple and you can’t help but root for them. The last few chapters are SOOO emotional, and are very well written. Rhage and Mary both have demons they are fighting. Throughout the story they both learn to lean on and trust one another. Once again, Ward completes the story of the main characters, but leaves a cliffhanger with secondary characters. I’m ready to see what’s in store for Zsadist and Bella in book 3.
This was a 3 1/2 stars for me and here is why.
I was on the fence about Mary. There were times I liked her and times where I really didnt. I didnt like how she treated Rhage a lot of the time. She was never honest with him and just refused to budge especially when she had feelings for him. She was pretty cold in my opinion. I understand from a point because of the disease and she didnt want to let herself feel anything for him and she didnt want him to feel anything for her…although she got jealous as hell. She was the type where she wanted her cake and eat it too. Still thought it seems over done in the book and dragged on.
Yeah, I know how Rhage is portrayed in book 1 but that doesnt mean he deserved the treatment he got in this book. It wasnt just Mary either that didnt necessarily treat him the best. Hell he was so drawn to Marry it didn’t occur to the rest of the brothers she might be his mate?! Talk about blonde moments. There are a lot to these guys and they all have their problems and to be honest Rhage and his issues is a walk in the park compared to Zhadist. Oh man that dude is…I just cant even say how bad I feel for him. It took me awhile to get to this book. I liked the first one and I’m not saying I didnt like this one but I definitely didnt love it. It was very depressing and soul sucking. I was in tears at the end because it was pretty damn emotional. Not that I care if I cry about a book its good an author can make me feel like that. Ms. Ward is talented. Do I love this series enough to continue? No, not really. This particular series just doesnt draw me in like some others do. This series was recommend by a lot of people who love it but its a no for me. Oh another thing, I’m not a fan of the Scribe Virgin. She really holds a grudge but its not even so much as that. Its like she doesn’t care about any of these guys not like a true deity would. She sorta came through in the end but wow she really wanted to see him broken. She took pleasure in that one and you could tell. I understand she is supposed to be about balance and she definitely has her uses but yeah dont like her.
In the second Black Dagger Brotherhood book, Mary Luce is dealing with a lot of issues. Aside from her leukemia returning, she volunteers for a suicide help hotline and meets John, an abused young man who can only communicate through sign language. Even though she and her friend Bella want to help him, Bella knows what John truly is and she contacts the Brotherhood for help.
When Rhage first meets Mary, he knows she’s different from any female he’s ever met. She calms his inner beast—the dragon tattoo on his back literally comes to life, takes over his body, and kills everything in its path—and he’s desperate for the bliss she gives him. Fighting and having sex releases the beast, but he’d rather fight than sleep around. After a century of meaningless flings, he wants something permanent. Unfortunately, he can’t control the beast when in bed with Mary, so he can’t sleep with her.
Mary is stubborn, willful, and wants to protect those she cares about. Her pain over the cancer, her low self-esteem issues, and her lack of trust in Rhage is all understandable and very sad. Rhage’s self-hatred eats away at him, and he’s determined to do whatever he must to keep Mary safe, even betray her. They have a big communication problem. She doesn’t share her pain about her past and the cancer, and he doesn’t tell her about his curse and the problems going on in the vampire world. Though Rhage gets upset with her, as he should, Mary often just accepts his half-truths and refusal to talk. I liked both characters—don’t get me wrong—but I had a hard time respecting them.
Even though I understood Rhage’s reasons and sympathized with him, I don’t like cheating. I thought what he and Mary needed to do in order to solve their intimacy problem was obvious, but they didn’t figure it out until the end of the book, after he cheats on her.
As with the last book, I found it hard to relate to the brothers. Yeah, they’re gorgeous, arrogant badasses, but they take the thug mentality too far. Also, I don’t understand their obsession with name-brand clothes. In fact, the brand name of every single outfit, including jewelry and luggage, that every character wore was always mentioned.
There are some unanswered questions, but they seem to tie directly into the next story. Yay, Z!
I noticed a few typos but nothing major. The writing is good, but there are some awkward word choices. For example, I interpreted the sentence “What’s doing?” as “What’s going on?”
Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next one.
4.5 Stars
Finding love in all the wrong places.