Lover Revealed

By: J. R. Ward

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 16 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Butch O'Neal is a fighter by nature. A hard-living ex-homicide cop, he's the only human ever to be allowed in the inner circle of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. And he wants to go even deeper into the vampire world - to engage in the turf war with the lessers. His heart belongs to a female vampire, Marissa, an aristocratic beauty who's way out of his league. And if he can't have her, then at least he can fight side by side with the Brothers.

But fate curses him with the very thing he wants. When Butch sacrifices himself to save a civilian vampire from the slayers, he falls prey to the darkest force in the war. Left for dead, he's found by a miracle, and the Brotherhood calls on Marissa to bring him back, though even her love may not be enough to save him.

Keep chilled: listen to more titles in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

©2007 Jessica Bird (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Hmmm... Streeeeeetch!

Any additional comments?

My least favorite of the series, but still a worthy listen. My main issue with this book is that up until now, the world Ward has created, and the laws within that world have been established. This book seems to stretch those laws - a lot! I mean, we are reading fiction, so not everything needs to be plausible in real life, but in the world of the books, this book forces the reader to be flexible with what the author wants us to believe. I get why she did it - but... (this is where I have to let it go and give the author authority over her own story).

Having said that, good book! I love, love, love the interaction between Beth and Marissa. So nice to see an author who doesn't make female characters either man-hating BFFs or so catty you want to kill them both. Wards women are beautifully written with true wisdom and stength of character. Both Butch and Marissa are learning how to be who they really are. And like most people, they screw it up along the way. They have a slow start, they fumble the ball a lot - they struggle to understand each other - the first time they have sex, well ... This book is more "human", which in itself made it an interesting read compared the first 3 books.

And of course, as we move through the series the plot thickens and the "big bad" is getting bigger and badder. I can't wait to get to Vs story!!! Jim - I luv ya Jim. (for complete review of Jim, see my previous reviews).

10 people found this helpful

Impassioned, dramatic and delivers a great story

Butch has been one of my favorite characters of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series since he was introduced. What attracted me the most about him was the fact that he is the only human out of the bunch and yet he still manages to hold his own in the vampire world. This alone makes him the most badass of them all in my opinion! His story is different from those of the brothers in many respects but it’s just as riveting and heartbreaking. Plus, it’s about Marissa too who’s a phenomenal character in her own right. Lover Revealed will make you weep, seethe with anger and then weep some more. It’s a killer ride but the ending makes it all worth while.

Lover Awakened is a hard act to follow but Ward still manages to deliver a solid fourth installment. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between V and Butch in Lover Revealed. It’s not easy to convey brotherly love without having their manhood take a slight hit but this book succeeded. The level of devotion and honesty that comes through in this novel is breath taking. The characters try to play it down with some manly joking which made the emotional elements both moving and funny at the same time. Butch puts up a strong front but on the inside he’s really quite vulnerable. I liked reading about his personal conflicts and his struggle to find a place to belong within the brotherhood.

Marissa is just as troubled as Butch but because she’s a female her emotions are always close to the surface and sometimes make her appear weak. I found that she grew a lot as a character in this book. She finally takes charge of her life and even pulls a few ballsy moves that really impressed me. Oh, and she finally gets laid! Anyone who’s capable of remaining a virgin for over three centuries deserves some credit. As a result, in true Black Dagger Brotherhood fashion, Lover Revealed is as scorching hot as its predecessors. Needless to say that after Marissa discovers what all the fuss is about she is hooked! The fact that she’s getting it on with Butch doesn’t hurt either.

This was my first audio book experience with a male narrator. It definitely took some getting used to and I found the female dialogue a little comical at times but overall Frangione does an excellent job. He has a great tone and accurately portrays the badass attitude that’s prevalent throughout this series. Jim also reads the action-y chapters with enthusiasm and the sex scenes with heat.

The ending sort of wraps up Butch’s humanity “problem” with a nice, neat bow but I think that it was fitting and that he deserves his happily ever after just as much as any of the brothers do. Lover Revealed is impassioned, dramatic and delivers a great story. Lover Awakened retains its top seat among my favorites in this series but all bets are off because Vishous is up next in Lover Unbound!

16 people found this helpful

poor marissa

This is a terrible story but it follows suit for abuse. Coincidental marissa opens a home for battered females or females with children who fell on hard times or have an unsafe living condition. When marissa is a victim herself. Not only did wrath treat her like crap but her brother too so she ends up with a helren who only thinks of himself. all the brothers so far was willing to give up the brotherhood for their female except butch - that’s just wrong. marissa deserves better.

plus i don’t get why the queen had to feed butch when wrath said to john they can call on a chosen instantly. another slap in the face. marissa must let him feed from another but gets all pissy when she had to.

sad cause i like her character and i was anxious to see her get hers but it didn’t happen. Just another story that shows once a victim always a victim - because they don’t believe they deserve more.

3 people found this helpful

the lady of this story was getting on my nerves

i kept saying "have sex already!" and i wanted to shake her a couple times..... ungrateful chick! The other parts were great. I'm really enjoying the series.

2 people found this helpful

Narrator was the worst!

Had a hard time getting in to the story and getting a feel for the characters.

2 people found this helpful

My Favorite

Since Butch O'Niel is my favorite character, I have to give this a 5 star rating, after all, I flip through the other BDB books looking for glimpses of his character, but I really wish it was narrated by someone who could capture the characters better and make them more believable. I don't like Jim Frangione.

11 people found this helpful

Butch's Story

Finally!! It took Marissa's brother kicking her out for her to get some backbone. YEAH!! Watching her growth and development was truly satisfying. Learning more about Butch's back ground finally answered some questions about his affinity with/for the Brotherhood. This book sowed seeds for further development, I can't wait for John's story. Will Torhment finally return? Keeping my fingers crossed for him.

4 people found this helpful

Best Listening in a long time

My co-worker should have prewarned me about the brotherhood books...I read each one, got the cd's and then had to download them on my i-touch...I can't count how many times I have listened to them...each time I heard something new...These are some of the best reading I have done in a long time...

4 people found this helpful

Lover Revealed Strars

Butch is my underdog, there are others but I always had a thing for our fair Butch since we first met him. It was like he needed the Brotherhood as much as the Brotherhood needed Butch.

When Marissa and Butch first meet in book 1 I was head over heels in love with these two.
Not only do we see their budding relationship grow but throughout this book, we see so much struggle. And the feeling of not worthy or inadequacy, that broke my heart each time.

Watching Marissa suffer from self-worth was really hard, you have this incredibly amazing vampire who doesn't even know her own worth. How crushing is that? Butch see her in a way she would never have looked at her self.
I love how she comes into her own. The knocking on the table scene with Rev and Havers AWESOME!

Watching Butch go through so many changes in this book was remarkable. I can't even it was just a great read. I want more more more.

So I will leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.

Z - "That's a big one."
"That cop is big V, cop is really big."
"V he's really big."
I think he means he is really big.... lmfao

V- "No more man scarping for you."

Butch- "Ya, I had my chassis overhauled and I run much better now"

Rev- "Hot damn girl you are the s ** t."

Love the narration I can't think of Jim as anyone other than the Brothers now. :)

*You don't have to like my review but its 100% my opinion, and I am allowed to have it.*

10 people found this helpful

With each book, this series gets so much better!

I wasn't immediately hooked on this series. I liked it a lot, but I found it hard to get into the books.
I loved the last one so much that I realized there was a world developing and with each book the richness and intensity increased.
Nonetheless, I was not wild about butch, thinking him only a minor character, and disliking his OCD taste in fine clothes.
Boy was I in for a trip when I read this. Butch ROCKS, Miranda is so amazing, and I love her transition. Vicious has definitely shown his strange side, perhaps worst than Z's used to be.
As more of this world develops, I am smitten and addicted.

I admit I love Revenge too. Can't wait for his story.
Oh and this does not lack in sexy scenes. The tender scene in hospital is hot! That's all I'll say. :)

10 people found this helpful