All's Fair in Love and Blood
Jennifer Peel
5.0
Lover Mine: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
by J.R. Ward
About this book
John Matthew has long been a figure of mystery within the Black Dagger Brotherhood, a silent warrior haunted by a past he cannot fully remember. As the war against the Lessening Society intensifies, John is finally forced to confront his true identity and the destiny that has been hidden from him. This installment in the iconic paranormal romance series peels back the layers of his quiet intensity, proving that the most powerful soldiers are often the ones carrying the heaviest burdens.
While John's journey to reclaim his soul and rescue his true love is the central conflict, the narrative is deepened by a complex web of brotherhood and long-simmering desire. The emotional landscape is dominated by the agonizing, slow-burn tension between Blay and Qhuinn, a subplot that many fans consider the true heart of the book. Their struggle with unrequited love and the fear of losing a best friend adds an exquisite layer of angst that fans of the genre crave.
J.R. Ward masterfully balances high-stakes vampire warfare with raw, character-driven intimacy. If you are looking for an addictive read filled with brooding heroes, fated mates, and a gritty urban fantasy atmosphere, this story offers one of the most rewarding emotional payoffs in the series.
- Publication Date
- May 25, 2026
- ASIN
- B003JOAJXC
Reader Reviews
March 28, 2016
FINAL DECISION: Mult-character driven book, this story is angst filled. I thought that the story between Blay and Qhuinn stole the show from the main \"romance\". At the same time, I was happy for the conclusion of John Matthew's story. THE STORY: John Matthew, is a vampire who is also the reincarnation of Darius who was killed earlier in the series. As this story begins, John Matthew is struggling with the disappearance of Xhex, the half sympath, half vampire assassin. The two have had a...
June 13, 2010
I think Lover Mine is hands-down the best installment in the entire Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It's also the most eccentric. It's got the best emotional payoff - there's no other character who's developed as much as John Matthews has, no other Brother who stole our hearts as a scrawny little pre-trans, and no other romance that's been drawn out from book to book the way John and Xhex's has. I was a little worried that Lover Mine wouldn't live up to my expectations - and I was absolutely...
May 2, 2010
The Black Dagger Brotherhood Series: Dark Lover*****(Wrath and Beth: Excellent characters, plot, and romance.) Lover Eternal*****(Rhage and Mary: Love the characters, dialogue, story, ROMANCE) Lover Awakened*****(Z and Bella: A bit dark, but many terrific stories in one) Lover Revealed*****(Butch and Marissa: Characters, story, and romance are all excellent) Lover Unbound****(V and Jane: Still great, but some slow points, and BUMMMER empty ending) Lover Enshrined*****(Phury and Cormia: Core...
August 17, 2012
I have been reading this series for several months with anticipating building in me as I neared the point where I would read this book. Sometimes anticipation can be a bad thing when one is disappointed, but in this case the book lived and then some to my expectation. What a wonderful emotional experience this story gave me! Near the beginning of the series, John Matthew, a young boy who lives by his wits on the streets, is discovered to be a pre-trans vamp who is apparently a lost child of the...
April 7, 2015
So I went into this book with my fingers crossed hoping Ward is on an upward swing with this since I really enjoyed the last book. Turns out I was not disappointed. Yay! One thing did note in this book was that I really wanted to see more of John’s other relationships, he is Beth’s brother after all and they hardly touch on it that I often almost forget. I think he is such a great strong character that I don’t like to see parts of him glossed over. But back to what was in the story. I found it...
