Payne, twin sister of the Black Dagger Brother Vishous, suffers a devastating injury, and brilliant human surgeon Manuel Manello is called in to save her. Their attraction is instant, and as powerful as it is dangerous. But as human and vampire worlds collide, a centuries-old score catches up with Payne and puts both her love and her life in jeopardy.

Listening Length

18 hours and 34 minutes
Author

J. R. Ward
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Jim Frangione
Audible release date

March 29, 2011
Language

English
Publisher

Penguin Audio
ASIN

B004U8N8BG
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Unabridged
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Product details

Listening Length	18 hours and 34 minutes
Author	J. R. Ward
Narrator	Jim Frangione
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	March 29, 2011
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B004U8N8BG
Best Sellers Rank	#9,152 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #51 in Erotic Romance #115 in Paranormal Erotica (Books) #142 in Fantasy Romance (Audible Books & Originals)

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It's official; I'm a BDB fan!

Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2014

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It's official; I really am a BDB fan. I enjoy Ward's "voice"; I get a kick out of her made up "Wardisms" and her fixation on name brands. And I really enjoy the commraderie and bantering between the characters that I feel I have come to know so well.

That said, I wasn't looking forward to LU. Manny never did anything for me in the romantic hero department so I was thinking "meh". Well as far as romantic leads go, that was still meh, but I really liked him as a character. I enjoyed the way he stood up to Vishous, I admired his devotion to Glory and I respected the way he thought Payne's ability to kick a$$ was hot. I liked Payne, who was sort of a "ninja Chosen with attitude" character and the introduction to Xcor and the Band of Bastards was promising. (Although I have to say that the resolution of Payne and Xcor's issue was kind of anticlimatic - and then I kept waiting for her to heal his lip, which she didn't).

There was plenty of Vishous, Jane and Butch interaction. V. really is a tortured hero. Which I thought I loved, but apparently I only like to a point because truth be told I was getting a little annoyed with his hissy fits. Then I was reminded of the extent of his trauma and felt bad for getting annoyed. I think V. actually has it all over Z. in the "messed up" department. Nice wrap up however and hopefully V. is on the way to improved mental health.

There was a little bit of Blay and Qhuinn development; or lack of development as the case may be. Sadly no Lassiter. I was not originally a huge Wrath fan but I am warming up to him, maybe it's his connection to George; that and the fact that he seems to be reasonably enlightened. The inclusion of the Jose de la Cruz and Thomas Del Vecchio scenes did exactly what they were meant to do - convince me to try out the Fallen Angels series.

All in all the BDB series is proving to be a welcomed escape from reality and allot of fun.

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ditfd

BDB universe expanded

Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2011

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My favorite series are those in which the author is able to successfully use each book to expand and illuminate the fictional world and characters s/he began in the first book, and I found "Lover Unleashed" exceeded my expectations.

I've noticed from some of the other reviews that there is some sort of expectation that each book be primarily about one couple, but in terms of a series, I personally find that those kind of series become formulaic and predictable over the long haul. My favorite "series" are those where the separate books are more like volumes of one big, giant read, rather than compartmentalized separate books, and I find JR Ward's BDB to fit that bill perfectly.

I like to read about what else is going on with other characters that I know and love, and find that this book was very well-rounded in that department. The author is more than capable of keeping several interesting related and relevant subplots going simultaneously and tying it all together into what I thought was very good story-telling. So while the book is primarily about how Manny and Payne get together, there are related subplots having to do with V, Jane, and Butch, and Blay, Quinn, and Saxton, as well as a new group of vampire warriors added to the mix, making this installment a solid addition to the series, and a very good story. My anticipation for the next installment is complete!

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Kindle Customer

Man, this story has the best HEA you're ever gonna read!!

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2017

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J.R. Ward is a master at the craft of writing and creating the most riveting storylines that will steal your breath and her unique sense of humour in the words she writes will tickle your funny bone and you'll never regret or forget reading about these amazing and unique characters that will become a staple in your own personal library and having read this particular book and series for myself, I can tell you that I find myself feeling privileged to get to read this particular series and you will too!!!

One of Your Greatest Fans,

Lena deLeon
lenadeleon2004.ld@gmail.com

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RoloPoloBookBlog

Lover Unleashed

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2011

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WARNING: Do not, I repeat do NOT crack the cover of this book unless you have the time to both begin and finish it! Tuesday morning, March 29, 2011, before I even got out of bed I fired up the Kindle (in the dark) and fumbled around until it was set to page one of this long-awaited novel. I proceeded to rush my 5-year-old through the morning routine and gleefully kicked her and my husband out the door with the warning that I would be reading all day so leave me alone. It took me roughly ten hours to joyfully and excitedly plow through this latest installment of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Lover Unleashed may very well be the best book of the series to date!
At the end of Lover Mine (John Matthew & Xhex's story) devoted readers knew without doubt that the next installment of the series was going to be Payne and Manny's story. What we didn't know was how Ward was going to make it work. After all, she's already done the immortal falls for a human bit in previous Black Dagger novels. Lover Unleashed had the potential to be a repeat plot with different characters. And this is why J.R. Ward is a best-selling author and I am not. In no way, shape, or form did Ward repeat herself with this plot line! In Lover Unleashed Ward finds, as she always does, a new and inventive way to make the impossible possible. Payne and Manny's story is original in so many ways that it can almost survive as a stand-alone novel rather than being a part of a long-running series. For the first time Ward re-focuses our attention on characters she had previously dealt with as she is telling us a brand new story. What I found most impressive about this novel is Ward's character development. Payne and Manny are both very simple yet very complicated characters that bind the reader to them from the very beginning. Sorry reader but you are hooked right out of the starting gate with these two, and there is no stopping once you start reading.
As is typical of Ward, these two fated mates face incomprehensible and dare I say impossible challenges such as: 1) Manny being brought into a world he can't possibly fathom; 2) Manny having to deal with the sort-of-not-really-dead nature of Jane; 3) Vishous wigging out over his past, present and future and 4) for the first time ever, the possibility of a mated pair (V and Doc Jane) separating. I won't lie, I panicked a little at number four. While spending so much time on Vishous and Jane may seem like Ward is repeating herself, I assure you, she is not. Payne and Manny's story is intricately linked with the evolution of Vishous and Jane's story. Ward brilliantly and masterfully weaves the paths of these couples' lives into a fast-paced and exciting read that will be ridiculously hard for you to put down.
Another first in this novel is the very limited appearances by older and beloved characters such as Rhage, John Matthew, Rehvenge and their respective mates. I was very surprised to discover that the limited appearances didn't bother me nearly as much as I thought they would; Payne and Manny's story is simply too engrossing to really notice the loss of the other characters. Yet another first, the role the Lessening
Society plays has been reduced to a secondary role at best. Oh sure, there was some whacking of lessers by the Brotherhood but the Society's evil, take-over-the-world schemes weren't at the forefront as they generally are. To be frank, this was a rather unexpected and refreshing change in the series. But, there is also a diabolic point to this last change: Ward is using Lover Unleashed as the platform for the introduction of a new big bad: Xcor and his merry band of bastards, a group who may possibly be more dangerous than the Omega ever dreamed of being. While Xcor and his soldiers certainly cause problems in this novel, Ward really just introduces them to us and gives us just enough information about them to know that they are going to unleash Hell itself on Caldwell in the future! Just as Lover Unleashed is a perilous and thrilling ride, the future of the Black Dagger Brotherhood promises even more!

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Sarah (Feeling Fictional)

Black Dagger Brotherhood book 9

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 30, 2015

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I used to be the biggest fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, it was one of the first paranormal romance series I discovered and I read the first few books over and over again. Then we got to Phury's book and it all started to go downhill, yes, things did start to pick up again but I never quite regained my original love for the series. The little things had started to bug me much more than they ever used to, the silly names, the irritating slang, the evil beings that smell of baby powder (seriously baby powder? WTF was the Warden thinking?) and worst of all the way we seemed to get less and less of the main characters with every book. We were spending far too much time with other characters, even seeing things from Lesser's points of view which really doesn't work for me and the romance no longer felt like the focus. So I'd kind of put the series to one side and it took a long time for me to get the urge to pick it up again. In fact, it was almost 3 years to the day between me reading Lover Mine and deciding to pick up Lover Unleashed.

I didn't exactly have high expectations going into this book, but you know what? That 3 year break did me the world of good and I absolutely loved being able to catch up with these characters again. I'd missed the brothers and I'm now starting to feel excited about the series again so I'm really pleased I gave it another chance. The things that used to really irritate me are all still there but they didn't annoy me as much this time around, possibly because they weren't as bad as normal or perhaps just because of my break but whatever the reason it worked for me because I found myself enjoying every minute of this book. It still isn't my favourite of the series but it's definitely my top out of the most recent ones I've read and I'm looking forward to continuing and FINALLY catching up to where the series is at now.

I really liked both Payne and Manny, I think it would have been nice to have had a bit more page time between the two of them but I enjoyed what we got and liked the development of their relationship. I also liked the fact the way they handled Manny being human while Payne so obviously isn't. While we didn't get as much heat from these two as I would have liked there was plenty going round thanks to the other couples and they did have some really sweet and heartfelt moments that just made me smile. I think my favourite parts of the book were with V and Jane though, they have some issues that they needed to work through so it isn't all sunshine and roses but I was so happy with the way things worked out. Butch stepped up and was such a brilliant friend for V when he desperately needed one and I'm glad that they were able to build an even closer bond without crossing any non-platonic lines. There are also some lovely moments with Payne and V, they've spent so long apart and V didn't even know his twin existed until recently so they're relationship is brand new but they've already bonded and care about each other a great deal. Add in the changes we've seen in Qhuinn aswell as Xcor and his band of bastards and I'm excited to see where the series will go from here. I think I've refound my love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I'm really happy about that.

2 people found this helpful

Romanticbookworm

not the best in series but well worth reading

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2011

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Although I agree with many of the reveiws that this was not the best in the BDB series it is still a grea read in my opinion. Yes is did seem like charaters were introduced for future story lines but those characters look like they could become interesting for the next book and better I think to introduce them gradually than they suddenly appear. Also I too missed the other member of BDB as it sometimes seems that the other, who had been so close in other books suddenly were nowhere. Also confused at the purpose of the de la cruz sub story?? But I really enjoyed the Qhuinn Blay and V Jane sub stories particularly the Qhuinn Blay one and hope their story comes soon and lives up to the build up. Wish more had been done to build V ad P's relationship using the past info and agree more could have been done to build Manny and Paynes relationship and HEA which seem to suddenly happen considering what the other before went through.
I hope their will be more than 10 books as otherwise I think some stories could be either lost or rushed like Murdahr and Layla and Q&B and the new group introduced.
But all in all I enjoyed this book more so than Lover Mine and enjoy JR Wards BDB series and she is still my fav author and a great writer.
I read this in Kindle Version and it had a few strange things such as word extended (eg annnnnnd) when not needed so not sure if this was the case in the book also but otherwise was a good kindle version.

Vikki

Lover Unleashed 4.5/5

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2012

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I am a HUGE fan of J.R. Ward, her Black Dagger Brotherhood series is one of my all time favourites. Despite this, I was hesitant about starting this Lover Unleashed, Payne was not a character that had interested me. Manny however, I was curious about. BUT, this is not Manny and Payne's book...oh no...this is Vishous and Jane part 2. In theory Lover Unleashed is Payne and Manny's story of true love with Vishous and Jane's relationship blues as a side story. It doesn't come across like that though, Vishous' story has such passion that it completely overshadows Payne's storyline. Don't get me wrong, this book is still pretty good, and to be honest I was more interested in reading about Jane and Vishous/ Blay and Qhuinn (yes, they're in here too!) anyway.

Manny and Payne's story probably only amounts to about 1/2 of the book, and begins where Lover Mine left off. Payne is in a hospital bed in the Brotherhood's compound where she has remained since her sparring accident with Wrath which paralysed her from the waist down. Dr. Manuel 'Manny' Manello (who some may remember from Lover Unbound) is chief of surgery and the only who has any chance of reversing Payne's paralysis. One problem...he's human...she's not. Payne is the Scribe Virgin's daughter and Vishous' twin sister, making her extremely off limits to Manny, however when this unlikely pair first meet they forge an unbreakable bond. They struggle through Payne's recovery together and have a few blips in their relationship (mainly when Vishous wipes Manny's memories in an attempt to protect his twin) but you can feel Manny's passion for this delicate woman.
The pair discover truths about themselves as the relationship progresses, Payne begins to heal despite all the odds and Manny uncovers a secret from his past that ties him to the Brotherhood forever. I liked Manny as a character, he's strong willed and quick witted, plus is able to stand up to Vishous - no mean feat, he scares me too! Payne however is another matter, up until now she's been this kick-ass warrior who bows to no-one. And yet in this book, she seems to have lost most of her fight, her spirit...plus I find it hard to get my head around the way she speaks. As a couple they don't seem to fit together as well as some of the others do, and their story didn't move me as much as say...Rhage and Mary's. It's not awful, but definitely not my favourite.

Now for the part of the book I loved. There are cracks forming in Vishous and Jane's relationship, most of it due to Vishous still not believing himself to be worthy of his female, and he's still tormented by his horrific past. Their relationship fractures over Payne's treatment and I thought it was irrecoverably broken. I couldn't see a way for Vishous to work through his issues, after all they're so ingrained into his being that I don't think he even knew how badly damaged he was. Then I remembered...THIS IS J.R. WARD, if anyone could help Vishous then she could! And oh my God! There is a scene (well several if I'm truly honest) that brought tears to my eyes. For the first time, Vishous, the fierce hard hearted warrior that he is...was laid bare. It's a treat for fans of the BDB because it also adds yet another level to the relationship between V and Butch (as if it wasn't complicated already).

His path certainly isn't an easy one, Vishous becomes increasingly self destructive throughout, and it takes an unbreakable friendship between him and Butch (which by God is put through the wringer) to bring stability back to Vishous' life. It's a heart-warming story of true love - not just the love between Vishous and his shellan, but the love between two best friends who would die for each other. In one word, beautiful.

For hardcore BDB fans (like myself) you will be pleased to know that there is some more Blay/ Qhuinn action, though their story still isn't progressing the way I want it to. Also there appears to be trouble heading the Brotherhoods way in the form of the Bloodletter's old crew. Xcor has his sights set on Wrath and the throne. The Blind King seems to have a war coming his way. Is it one he can win? I don't know...

Though I've picked at Payne and Manny a bit I still thoroughly enjoyed Lover Unleashed. I cannot get enough of J.R. Ward's writing. Her characters are full of vitality, they practically jump off the page and pull you into their world whether you like it or not. I cannot wait for Lover Reborn in March and anyone who has even a slightest interest in paranormal romance must checkout the Black Dagger Brotherhood

2 people found this helpful

Laura

Was ooookkkkkaaaaaaayyyyyy!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2011

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For me, this was one of the weakest in the series. Normally I devour these books in one sitting but this one had me stopping and starting and even skipping some aspects.
I found the drawn out words eg. aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddd REALLY annoying and unnecessary.
I found it odd that the Scribe Virgin did not feature. I found it odd that Payne was able to feed from Manny but in Butch and Marissa's story, Marissa was unable to feed from Butch.
I liked reading about Jane and V again, but it did interrupt Payne and Manny's story which did feel rushed and I felt JRW could have developed more of a story for these two.
Again, the lack of the other Brothers and their Shellans was disappointing.
I was a bit disappointed that in this book we only really got Quinn and hardly any of Blay. I believe their story will be told in a Novella. I like reading about these two but understand they are not everyone's 'cup of tea' so would not get a whole book.
For me, this book was similar to Phury's story in that there were too many other stories going on rather than focus on the main romance which is what I like about the first books in this Series.
I will read Thor's story and hope that JRW makes the series go out with a bang...

One person found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Enjoyable - spoilers ahead!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2011

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I have been an advid reader of the BDB series and still remember my utter excitement while reading Dark Lover Dark Lover: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (Signet Eclipse) and thought, at last a series I can really get my teeth into (pun intended) and since then I have always waited not so patiently for each book to arrive, apart from Lover Enshrined and we all know the why of that!

Manny and Payne could have been a Wrath and Beth but not enough time was taken to fully flesh out their relationsip. Like LE, their story took second place and only about a third of the book was devoted to them. This book was all about Vishous, Jane and Butch and how he finally resolves or at least is on the path to resolving that has happened to him. Even his intereactions with Payne were about him not her. That said his developing relationship with Manny made me laugh out loud, at one point he's searching for a pen to gouge his eyes out after witnessing Manny and Payne in the shower!!

It's also about Jose, Butch's old partner who was trying to apprehend a human serial killer and whilst interesting this just took away from the real story - Manny and Payne. What there was of them just made you want to delve deeper, I loved the way they were together and just wish there was more.

JRW has introduced a new set of vampires to the mix, what I call the Dark Brotherhood. I remember thinking they are the dark side to the BDB where Xcor and his bastards are a parrallel but they are the evil to to the BDB good, Xcor=Wrath, Throe=Phury and Zypher=Rhage but they are really the bad guys! However, I've a sneaking suspicion that Layla will hook up with Throe but then that would derail the vision Qhinn has had of the future.

I continue to be frustrated that we only get a mention of the other Brothers. What's happening with Tohr and where has the Angel gone? If this is a world then surely it should be populated with all its characters? That said, I did enjoy this book, and again anticipate the next in which these questions may be answered. Although I have heard that there will only be 10 books in this series and if that's the case, what are we going to to do??!!!

The upshot, buy the book and enjoy it, I did.

2 people found this helpful

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