Lover Reborn

A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 23 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Number-one New York Times best-selling author J. R. Ward’s novels of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continue, as a vampire warrior crosses the line between life and death…and ventures into an erotic world of dark dreams and darker desires.

Ever since the death of his shellan, Tohrment has been unrecognizable from the vampire leader he once was. Physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair, he has been brought back to the Brotherhood by a self-serving fallen angel. Now, fighting once again with ruthless vengeance, he is unprepared to face a new kind of tragedy.

When Tohr begins to see his beloved in his dreams - trapped in a cold, isolated netherworld far from the peace and tranquility of the Fade - he turns to the angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. But because Lassiter tells him he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed....

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King’s throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past and a very hot, passion-filled future.…But can his heart let go and set all of them free?

©2012 J.R. Ward (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“J.R. Ward's unique band of brothers is to die for. I love this series!” (New York Times best-selling author Suzanne Brockmann)

Interesting

Interesting story in which you want to throw a bucket of cold water on the two lovers and say WAKE UP!!! I really dislike the deception that Layla had to live through and am not sure if I like the idea of an insurrection side story. Time will tell, I guess. The narrator did an excellent job!

EVERY SINGLE PARAGRAPH WAS JUST..... WOW

This is how a book should be written AND narrated - perfect in every way. Brilliant, this was definitely the best yet - if you have missed this series then get downloading - you won't be sorry. Curve ball after curve ball is thrown into the storyline.

I'm sad that I've finished it - but I can finally get my life back because I couldn't stop listening to it but, if you happen to read this JRW, then just give me a couple of weeks to get my housework done - then I'm all yours again and ready for the next installment.

Worth a credit? Oh yea - don't tell Audible but I'd spend 2, 3 or 4 (yea I'm that sad!!)

Lover Reborn

This is not the first time reading this book and it won’t be the last.
Tohr had my heart from the beginning he was always one of the brothers I liked most. I don’t know if it was the way he was with Wellsie or what, but he was just special and when Wellsie passed and Tohr did that poof thing, I wasn’t mad. I know a lot of people are made he left JM behind but he lost the love of his life in such a horrific manner. What good would he have been to JM at that time?

This book you know something was going to happen with No’One but I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. She is punishing herself for her choices she mad in the past. He is punishing himself for not being there for Wellsie.

But they shared this connection, maybe because she was saved by him and Darius I don’t know or was it because he took care of her until she had Xhex. I guess we will never know but now with her showing up its got Tohr in a tails spin that’s for sure.

“It takes true courage to break through the past.”

How true is this quote for the book they both have to break through to get to the other side of their pasts.
We find out why Lassiter is hanging around and it breaks my heart. He is there to save Wellsie and their young get to the fade because she got stuck in the in-between.
I love all of Lassiter’s-isums... He has some of the very best lines.

“Sh -- it. I missed Maury, but I DVR’d Ellen.”

“I bought us all big mac’s.”

“Besides no Maury in heaven.”

“Plus this place has cable.”

Watching No’One become Autumn was sweet and I loved it. Her first feeding was something too.
Not only her connection with Tohr but also watching her be a mother figure of sorts and the relationship grow.
My favorite quote by Autumn.

“My daughter, my beautiful strong, worthy daughter.”

And come on the motorcycle scene with Xhex – EPIC!
So yes I cried at the end of this book it was emotional, you saw the struggle it was for both Autumn and Tohr to not only come together but find love. So when all was said and done and what happened, happened… I bawled, there I said it are you happy lol…

Now to Lover at Last people!

Bravo!!

Don't start with this book. Start in the beginning, and read all the books in order. They just get better, and better. I think there's a whole new beginning in this book. Unlike most series, that seem to go stale after awhile, Ms Ward, has completely recaptured my interest in the series, with this book. I love how she has several stories going on at the same time, and the new group of bad guys are really getting interesting. Unlike the lessors though, you kinda start liking these guys, hoping they will join forces at some point. She leaves enough unresolved stories, to mark your calendar for the next installment. The narration is excellent, to make it a "must listen"

LOVED IT!!!

I???m a colossal fan of this series; I look forward every year to the time when J.R. Ward and Jim Frangione will take me away to the Black Dagger Brotherhood???s world, and I will get completely lost in the drama, passion, tension, sensuality and ultimately romance.
So, did Lover Reborn do it for me? ??? Absolutely without a doubt, although the romance and tension didn???t come exactly from whom I expected, it never took anything away from my enjoyment; the character???s progress and growth proved sufficient to engross me from beginning to end.

In a way, I felt Ward was trying to give us a different kind of Romance, the kind that???s not easy or happy, but tortured, and after having spent almost 5 years with Tohr, I wouldn???t have believed it otherwise.
Did he get the best Shellan? Probably not, but I thought he got just what he need it.
Is almost a fact now that the series has taken a new direction, where the main couple is no longer the center of the story, but just another in the many plots and updates in the novel, and I can sense some might not be happy with the change. In my case; I???ll take anything Ward gives me as long as she continues to capture my heart and attention.
The side stories are amazing and so realistic; I constantly forget that I???m in a fantasy world and that these guys are just a bunch of vampires in Caldwell NY.
One more thing I love is the fact that the Lessers aren???t as important, and we are starting to get a different kind of evil, one that is not going to be as easy to identify as such, but the gray area between good and evil is going to come into play and it's going to force you to dig deep and question your likes and dislikes for these new guys.
In conclusion, the action sequences are some of the best if not the best in the series, the drama is at its all time high, and last but not least the writing is phenomenal.
The hints???. Well, more than hints of what's coming for Blay and Qhuinn are gonna have you wishing 2012 away.
I LOVED IT!

NARRATION:
Jim's delivery is superb in every aspect, with the minor complaint about his female voices, but honestly at this point they don???t even bother me at all because he is the reason why this book is not only 4 stars
Just one thing to the new audio listener, it takes a few chapters to get used to his voice and delivery, but once you do, you won???t have it any other way.
Look at the ratings for this book, so you can get an idea of how highly Jim's performance has been evaluated.

Love/Hate

Would you consider the audio edition of Lover Reborn to be better than the print version?

The audio was okay but sometimes a little to monotone. I sometimes found it hard to relate to the characters when he made voice changes.

WONDERFUL!!!!

This may be my favorite BDB yet!
I cried and listened to the last few chapters twice. The “good book” afterglow will stay with me for a while.
I love how JR Ward goes in depth on so many characters. Can’t wait for the next book!
The Jim Frangione is a FANTASTIC narrator!
Start this series from the beginning, it makes a difference!

I Liked It !

I have had this book for a couple of months now and for some reason I wasn't looking forward to reading or listening to this book. I don't know why I waited I never listen to others opinion on books. I love this series and this book it had some very hot sex scenes. Tohr's shellen Wellsie was killed by a lesser 15 months ago and she has been stuck between heaven and hell because he was unable to move on. No'One who Tohr and Daruis helped years ago when she was kidnapped by a syn eater and gave birth to Xhex who is mated with JM. This book had a lot going on in it like the last one. First John and Xhex I knew after reading "Lover Mine" that they would have problems with her fighting and him being protective of her. Second Tohr and the way he treated No'One/Autumn and her needing and him not helping her although she didn't want him to help her. Third Layla who thought she was in love with Xcor and although Thor felt the same for her and her feeding him in the meadow didn't she think that was weird I did. The BOB I don't like Xcor not only for what he did to Thor but Wrath as well. Reading the reviews for this book was disappointing I loved this book it had action and I enjoyed that a lot. I also didn't like that Qhuinn had sex with Layla, but I was glad that Blay is still in love with him. I am looking forward to reading the next two books in this series.

Tohr finally gets his book!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I've always loved listening to the brotherhood books and I find a lot of the details when I listen that I missed in my initial read. Jim Frangione does a great job with the different characters and his tone is great to listen to.

The editing at times can be a little choppy. Sometimes you can clearly tell where something was added or a cut between takes was too quick.

Overall I would definitely recommend this series and audiobooks to anyone!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lassiter!

What does Jim Frangione bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Great tone and the change in his voice between characters is great!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

If you're at all emotional you'll need kleenex towards the end.

BDB - the best vampire romance novel published

Would you listen to Lover Reborn again? Why?

Recommend this book and the entire series. They are great. Yes I will listen to it again. I have the other books in the series. What makes this series so terrific is that there are multiple stories are going on at the same time. The characters are wonderful mesh of good and bad and the story is full of twists and surprises

What other book might you compare Lover Reborn to and why?

Absolute love this series. Lover Reborn doesn't disappoint. It's complex and wonderful. I love all of J.R. Ward's novels.

What about Jim Frangione’s performance did you like?

No one and I mean NO ONE can top Jim Frangione's narration. I'm in love with his voice!

Any additional comments?

This is one of the best in the BDB series!