The JR Ward Thread

[China Doll]

I just finished Lover Reborn this morning. I am still reeling from it. I thought

Spoiler: show

Ward did a spectacular job showing us how Torh could love again. I liked the longer time frame to see his transition. I agreed with his new HEA because of where he was after Wellsie's death: suicidal, miserable, reckless, irresponsible. He wasn't going to move forward. Some people can move forward after a love one's death and not go crazy like Torh did, but that is them. He wasn't that kind of male. Even when he and Autumn were together, he was racked with guilt. It took him to the end of the book to accept his feeling for her, and her story was parallel to his in a way, both needing to break through a personal tragedy. I did cry, cry, cry during the Fade Ceremony and its aftermath.

On to other characters: I like Qhuinn and Layla as parents. Ward explained it so well. They both felt like they had no one; no family; connection, or power in their lives. If the needing had not come right after this revelation (again - despair and no family connection) for both of them, the decision they made would not have worked.

I loved Marissa and Butch's book. I guess I am in the minority, but thumbs way up for them.

Also, I really, really, really like the dynamics (father/son) between Torh and JM. Those scenes were priceless especially the one in the car when Tohr asked JM if he needed to buckle JM's seat belt like a good little boy. That was funny. There other scenes blew me away. Ward made me feel their closeness especially how Torh feels like he and JM have done these things before. He and JM have come full circle too - Darius being a father figure to Torh; now Torh is a father figure to JM

Xhex is awesome. She finds her way in the Brotherhood's world, her world now too; strong female. Why isn't anyone talking about Xhex becoming a Sister in the Brotherhood. She is intelligent, tough, and capable. Oh, Xhex's scenes with her Mahmen really helped Xhex heal. When her Mahmen tells her she is a female of worth, I shed tears, and when she says she is proud of Xhex' strength, that was something I know Xhex needed to hear.
Lassister, oh Lassiter what can I say. I love Lassiter. Ward left so many questions about him. I will wait patiently for his book. His Maury obsession was tummy, tummy, funny.

Overall, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I also bought the audio, so I will be popping it in the car on the way to work in the morning.
GOOOOOOOOOOOD READ.

[shirleyjo]

Jamie and Pink...

Spoiler: show

We don't know that Layla will survive the pregnancy. Look at how high of a mortality rate pregnancy is among the BDB vamps. That would actually tie things up rather nicely. Layla dies during childbirth, Qhuinn and Blay raise the child. And of course it should be a girl to remind Qhuinn of Layla and cause potential problems down the road for our favorite M/M duo.

Damn, cpb; I never thought of that, but you're right.

I guess I could say I missed that heartbreaking, snot-sobbing, box of tissue ending we got with Rhage, Z, and V...

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I bawled during Wellsie's Fade ceremony! And about JM and Xhex's turmoil being resolved. I think JM convinced himself that he needs to let Xhex be Xhex. That she was a fighter when they met and she still is, mated or not. I think it will always be a thorn in his side but he loves her and convinced her he understands who and what she is. But we all know there are going to be times when they have to be in the field together and therefore related problems

I just finished Lover Reborn this morning. I am still reeling from it. I thought

Spoiler: show

Ward did a spectacular job showing us how Torh could love again. I liked the longer time frame to see his transition. I agreed with his new HEA because of where he was after Wellsie's death: suicidal, miserable, reckless, irresponsible. He wasn't going to move forward. Some people can move forward after a love one's death and not go crazy like Torh did, but that is them. He wasn't that kind of male. Even when he and Autumn were together, he was racked with guilt. It took him to the end of the book to accept his feeling for her, and her story was parallel to his in a way, both needing to break through a personal tragedy. I did cry, cry, cry during the Fade Ceremony and its aftermath.

On to other characters: I like Qhuinn and Layla as parents. Ward explained it so well. They both felt like they had no one; no family; connection, or power in their lives. If the needing had not come right after this revelation (again - despair and no family connection) for both of them, the decision they made would not have worked.

I loved Marissa and Butch's book. I guess I am in the minority, but thumbs way up for them.

Also, I really, really, really like the dynamics (father/son) between Torh and JM. Those scenes were priceless especially the one in the car when Tohr asked JM if he needed to buckle JM's seat belt like a good little boy. That was funny. There other scenes blew me away. Ward made me feel their closeness especially how Torh feels like he and JM have done these things before. He and JM have come full circle too - Darius being a father figure to Torh; now Torh is a father figure to JM

Xhex is awesome. She finds her way in the Brotherhood's world, her world now too; strong female. Why isn't anyone talking about Xhex becoming a Sister in the Brotherhood. She is intelligent, tough, and capable. Oh, Xhex's scenes with her Mahmen really helped Xhex heal. When her Mahmen tells her she is a female of worth, I shed tears, and when she says she is proud of Xhex' strength, that was something I know Xhex needed to hear.
Lassister, oh Lassiter what can I say. I love Lassiter. Ward left so many questions about him. I will wait patiently for his book. His Maury obsession was tummy, tummy, funny.

Overall, I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I also bought the audio, so I will be popping it in the car on the way to work in the morning.
GOOOOOOOOOOOD READ.

China, I agree with EVERYTHING you said!

[JamieLeaM]

Spoiler: show

That would be perfect! She should just die I just don't see how Blay can look at the baby and think good things about it you know? If I was in love with someone and let's say I can't get pregnant, and he got another girl pregnant "for me". I'd hate him and I couldn't look at the kid. I look at things in books in a personal way just so I can feel the emotion better, and that would be unbearable for me. For Qhuinn, I know he wants a baby but for Blay and Qhuinn I don't think it's a good idea.

I'm not sure I understand

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Quinn getting Layla pregnant for Blay's sake? Not sure what you mean there, or maybe I'm reading that wrong.

Yeah, I'm getting the two threads mixed up and responding to someone over there,

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the way it's said is L and Q have the baby for themselves, but it's good for Blay and Qhuinn and it would be something they could share together, but I was just sharing my part up there about how I felt it would hurt them, not help. If Layla really is pregnant and gives birth and what not, if Blay and Qhuinn get together before L says she with child then drops that little bomb on their new relationship...doesn't seem like that would work very well. Qhuinn would be by Layla's side nonstop to help her, Blay would be left out. Layla would give birth and Qhuinn would be a father to Layla's child giving them something together while Blay just kinda hangs back watching. I don't see how this would work at all, so in that mind frame, I just think it's a terrible idea.

Sorry, I got confused

[pinksapphire]

trader wrote:

JamieLeaM wrote:
Spoiler: hide
That would be perfect! She should just die I just don't see how Blay can look at the baby and think good things about it you know? If I was in love with someone and let's say I can't get pregnant, and he got another girl pregnant "for me". I'd hate him and I couldn't look at the kid. I look at things in books in a personal way just so I can feel the emotion better, and that would be unbearable for me. For Qhuinn, I know he wants a baby but for Blay and Qhuinn I don't think it's a good idea.

Spoiler: show

yeah but if Layla dies what happens to the xcor/throe storyline? she thought about him [xcor] a lot and Ward did say that she knew who xcor and throe's shellans are going to be? will saxton just move out of he and Blay are no longer together. So many questions!

[trader]

Jamie.. I totally agree that this Layla situation is not going to end up well! They (Q/B/L) are all in line to get hurt with this one. And Layla is a most dangerous wild card there, with her connection to the enemy.

Qhuinn won the "most intriguing character" award for me in this book. I may need to go back and reread, since I've never been all that invested in the Qhuinn / Blay storyline. I'm more interested in seeing if he becomes a brother, he certainly proved he deserves to be one. If anything, this book made me more excited for the next!

[drea268]

"He never finds out? Are you freaking kidding me?! That's one of the things I've been dying for to happen, I want him to get all his memories back, I want the brothers to know they really have Darius back! Why won't Ward allow that to happen?! I'm so torn up over this now! "

Warden said several times over the years that JM will never know...it would change the dynamics way too much and that was part of the sacrifice for coming back.

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Layla is 100% pregnant and another Chosen will have to feed the brothers. And she is Xcor's HEA so I am guessing she does not die. BUT Xcor does have a L-O-N-G way to go before that can happen. Unless she is yankinig chains but usually she just says Keep Reading rather than give out false info. I am sure this will play out as the "back" story in Q/B's book. I never got Saxton but I think he knows where he stands with Blay and it is sweet how he is trying to get the laws changed for Q to be a brother. Wrath will also have to change the laws for Q/B to mate so maybe Saxton will have to do that as well. She did not say much about him at the signing.

These were some of my thoughts after reading the book

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First I do not how on earth she or any author really keeps the facts straight about what they said before to make it all continuous. I suppose that is why I am not an author. For instance, that you know now the huge significance of the apple tree in the floor mosaic at the mansion...the WHY of why Darius built it into the floor. It was mentioned in passing here and there that is was there but it was like "meh, no big deal."

1) Tohr "renaming" No'One to Autumn....one of the best ideas ever!

2) You know I love me my Rhage boy so him dancing was priceless to me! And when he was offended that his "sex god" status might be replaced with Zephyr (sp?) They MIGHT be related somehow.....

3) V offering to teach Xcor to read by shoving the library of congress up his ass.....Let me say, that line alone made me want to meet JR and tell her I love her!

4) Loved that Xhex and A are forming a relationship -- when she called her Mahmen I smiled ....I was afraid Xhex would be very mean to her in this book so I was thrilled I was wrong on that account.

5) I enjoyed seeing more of Lassiter, never quite got his appeal before but I do now. and can't wait for his book.

6) So glad I re-read in Payne's book I think that when Qhuinn saw the little baby girl with the eyes he said something like "Nope, Never going to sleep with Layla end of story" -- in that instant I was like -- OH YEAH something is going to happen where he will....I missed it before. Which is why I think Q/B/L might be the next book b/c I got the same feeling when at the end he looked at Blay and thought "Our future has come"

7) I was never big on the Lesser scenes so for me, I was happy they were reduced and it was more about the internal struggle for the Kingship. (Did I just make up a word?!?!)

8) I soooo did not see the ending coming where Autumn was also pulled out of the In-Between...I actually made an audible gasp. I was like Wrath....blind as bat! LOL Yeah, yeah boooo hissss.....not funny!

9) How the hell is Blay going to react to the baby? And who will Saxton be paired with?

10) I didn't understand where on Tohr's back the branding was....or what it was really? It didn't wipe out Wellsie's name did it? B/C later he said he was going to get Autumn's name under hers....Did you get it?

11) I thought Throe might be related to Rhage or turn good....guess he still might but I initially kind of liked him but when he went back to Xcor -- from then on - she is going to have to make me like him again

12) JM needs to get his head out of his ass a little about Autumn but I get the whole "I don't like the step-parent vibe"

13) LOVED that Tohr really really views JM as his son and calls him son and wanted JM to be a brother first.

14) Cried like a baby at the Fade ceremony when he yelled out his baby boy's name...........and when Z gave him Nalla's bandprint.

[JamieLeaM]

drea

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I didn't understand the branding at all. I thought they were marking out Wellsie's name or something, then he said something about putting autumn's name under Wellsie's so I don't know. I don't get it.

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I would like to point out, that Sax isn't changing the law for Qhuinn just cause he's a nice guy. Wrath told him to, which, by extension is an order so really he couldn't not do it unless he wanted to be punished. However, he is putting in a lot of time. I think the majority of the reason he's working so hard is for Blay and to make him happy I hope the HEA works for all involved.

trader, I agree. Qhuinn was pretty awesome in this book and very kick ass. I like him even more than before.

[shirleyjo]

drea

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I didn't understand the branding at all. I thought they were marking out Wellsie's name or something, then he said something about putting autumn's name under Wellsie's so I don't know. I don't get it.

JamieLea,

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I've read the Fade ceremony twice now and I think the brand (placed over her name) indicates Wellsie is deceased; and even though he had not put his son's name on his back, there was a brand for him also. God, that ceremony killed me!