Lover at Last by J.R. Ward | The Black Dagger Brotherhood
Romance at a Glance is a podcast where hosts Bridget and Shani review romance novels and interview some of romance’s biggest authors diving into candid conversations about life, relationships, and sexual desires. Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor. Leave us a rating and review on iTunes.
Full transcript available below.
Book Review at a Glance
Hero Rating: Blay
Shani: 🍑🍑
Bridget: 🍑🍑
Hero Rating: Quinn
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆🍆
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McDaddy
Bridget: McDreamy mates Mcliesalot
Classy to Nasty:
Primal and urgent but Vanilla
Romance at a Glance Reviews Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
If you caught any episodes this season, you know we were SOOOO excited to finally get to Quinn and Blay's book. We have been shipping them since they were newly transitioned and the sexual moments they had in past books had us hot and bothered.
We left off in the last book with a magical ending for No’one (ie Autumn) and Tohr, saved by Lassiter of all people. And Quinn makes direct eye contact with Blay for the first time in a long time and lets his feelings shine through. Coming for you.
We were PUMPED, to say the least.
And this book was such a letdown. There was no real story between the two of them (no outside conflict to battle, or overcome), just petty lies, misunderstandings, and a real lack of listening and belief on Blay's part, which was shocking.
Not at all the romance, we were promised, the bulk of the book takes part over 4 days and the "romance" is glossed over in a chapter.
That said, there are some good sex scenes and moments, but not enough to sway us.
Other notable side plots:
Layla & X'cor - their scene together was actually quite lovely
Layla and the baby
Assail and Sola - setting up a future romance
Learning more about The Shadows Trez and IAm and their S'hibse culture
On Romance at a Glance, we discuss and review all genres of romance novels, as well as get into the nitty-gritty of real-life romance, relationships, and sex... while cracking each other up. Expect some spontaneous singing, funny anecdotes, honest reviews, and naughty language.
Quick Guide Review of the Book and Notes
Book Title: Lover at Last
Author: J.R. Ward
Audio Narrator: Jim Frangione
Part of a Series: Yes, Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 11
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Cover Art:
Shani: Yummy little thing…. The book cover is Quinn because of the mismatched eyes. I wish it had them both cuz they are both Brothers.
Bridget: Yes, please!! Love the boxing looking hooding with no sleeves and revealing the abs. The intense stare. The jaw clench. The dagger.
Synopsis: Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....
Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward…
Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.
Hero Rating: Blay
Shani: 🍑🍑 Blay stood up for himself much more in this book. But didn’t like the lying.
Bridget: 🍑🍑 FUCK THIS FOOL! What happened to the Blay from the previous books?! This made no sense to me and I did not like him in this book.
Hero Rating: Quinn
Shani: 🍆🍆🍆 Zero to hero.
Bridget: 🍆🍆🍆🍆 Quinn really stepped up over the course of the last few books and that persisted in this book. Love that he was acknowledged by the King and the BDB as well as getting
McDreamy to Mc Steamy:
Shani: McDaddy
Bridget: McDreamy mates Mcliesalot
Classy to Nasty:
Primal and urgent but Vanilla
Favorite Line in the Book:
Shani:
“I am very comfortable with conflict, be it of the legal or mortal kind. My father was a mediator, a bridge maker. I am a grave maker.” - Wrath
“God, he was probably too young to be this old, but life had a way of being about experience, rather than calendar days.”
“I love you. You are my heart beating outside of my chest.”
Bridget:
You are e’er on my mind, but for a different reason, I venture to guess.” Layla took a deep breath as her heart pounded anew in her ears. “I’m not certain…it is so different from your own.” - Layla & X’cor
“Your family is right here. Waiting for you…and we love you.” - Layla to Quinn putting hand on her belly
“Dance with me? In front of everyone…be mine, and dance with me.” - Quinn to Blay
“I never thought I’d say this…but you don’t know me.” - Quinn to Blay
“Let me inside you again, Blay…” - Quinn
Favorite Review:
Shani:
Tekla ✨ rated it did not like it
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS, YO.
I have waited six years to write this review. And in my mind, this was never the kind of review I imagined I'd post.
QHUAY RELATIONSHIP
The thing is that Qhuinn and Blay were pretty much ready to be together many books ago. JRW just kept coming up with plot devices and excuses to keep them apart. And the same happened in this book. They could have gotten together right when Qhuinn begged Blay to have sex with him.S
Instead, Blay lied through the whole book about Saxton. And Qhuinn settled for the easy way out. He had Blay without having to face his issues. It was anticlimactic, and honestly, JRW had a long book to pace things right. But she decided to hold them back with a million different excuses and then wrap it all up in 10 pages. The flow was all over the place. I wonder what her editors do, tbh.
They told each other some pretty awful things that never got solved later on, too. There were attacks and accusations, but not real talking and development. It all happened off page. We were told they were talking a lot now, but we didn’t get to read these conversations.
Bridget:
Sammy Loves Books rated it 3 stars
I waited over four years and was tortured through four books of angst, just to get a Novella disguised as a Novel. That's right!! And I'm Pissed about it! I am gonna be in the minority with this review. Everyone is swooning over Qhuinn and Blay getting their HEA, but I feel that the Warden robbed, swindled, hoodwinked, and cheated us and Quay out of that HEA. There were so many unrelated stories going on, that I found myself hoping for quality time with "Quay". But what I got was a whole lotta time spent building up love stories for Xcor & Layla, Assail & Sola, and Trez & Selena…...
Worth the Read?
Shani: If you’re sticking with the Brothers you have to read it. Lots of development of future couples plotlines.
Bridget: 2 stars, only if you wanna keep reading much to my sadness.
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Full Podcast Transcript
Recommendations:
Welcome to Romance at a Glance, a podcast that uses romance novels to dive into candid conversations about life, relationship dynamics, and sexual desires.
As hosts Bridget and Shani review books and interview some of romance’s biggest authors, they explore the breadth of the genre, openly embracing the sex, diverse couplings, and taboo in order to create a safe space for listeners to be exposed to different lifestyles, fantasies, and to pique their naughty curiosity.
Expect 100% honest reviews, spontaneous singing, life lessons, indecent anecdotes, and bawdy humor.
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