Lover Eternal by JR Ward (Signet Eclipse, 2006)
STATS: Black Dagger brother with “the strongest appetites. He’s the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover—for inside him burns a ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him.” All I can say is – Wow.
THE LOOK: A face so dazzling you have to blink to make sure you aren’t dreaming. “Perfectly square jaw. Full lips. High cheekbones. Broad forehead. Hair was thick and wavy, lighter in the front, darker in the back where it was cut short. And his body was just as spectacular as his head. Big-boned. Thickly muscled. No fat. His skin was golden even under the florescent lights….His eyes were an electric teal blue, so bright, so vivid, they were almost neon.”
LEADING LADY: Mary is “survivor of many hardships.” When she meets Rhage, she’s just learned that the cancer she’s defeated once has returned. She thinks she has nothing to offer any man, but Rhage knows that’s not true the instant she speaks his name—the musical lilt to his voice calms and comforts the demon inside him, drawing him to her immediately.
BOTTOM LINE: Rhage is like an Extreme Fighter with a soft heart and an endearing and genuine desire to protect those he cares for most, even from himself. He can get his feelings hurt by careless words and inadvertent rejection. However, he’ll kill anything that threatens those he loves. And when he’s inspired, he’s one of the most passionate heroes I’ve read about. Even when he has to drink blood from another woman because he can’t drink from Mary, he isn’t able to until Mary herself comes to terms with it. Ward is able to craft Rhage so skillfully that the reader can even forgive the fact he sleeps with another woman after he’s fallen in love with Mary (and she knows it) because it really isn’t something he wanted to do. Again, all I can say is – Wow!
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Have you ever surprised yourself by your ability to forgive and what gave you the motivation to do so?
May 15th, 2008
Virna
in
Charmers, Hero Files, Virna's Heroes, Warriors |
May 15th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I forgave my ex-husband for leaving me. Yes, he had an affair and packed his bags and left me with bills and 3 mouths to feed. But in the end it was the best thing for us. I had to forgive him to move on and be emotionally healthy. He wanted to come back, after six months, but that I couldn’t do, because the affair he really wanted, and so did she. Even with the struggles, I couldn’t live with him again, but I could forgive him after I let time heal me. I also had 3 kids, that needed me. I didn’t have time to wallow in my self-pity. I do believe time heals all wounds, if you let it. Forgiving doesn’t mean forgetting, and learning from the experience. Which I did.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I hold grudges and have difficulty forgiving. Estrangement from family is an example. Being able to forgive would mean my kids could see their grandparents and cousins, etc, but knowing that the family hasn’t changed or can’t apologize means that I can’t get past it. My own issues, I know, but it’s the way I am.
May 19th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I think I used to be extremely forgiving. I forgave my ex longterm boyfriend for a whole lot more than I should have. I don’t think I’m as forgiving now. I kind of worry about that, though. I’m not sure it’s such a good thing even though it’s a protection or defense I’ve formed. I just hope that it’s more middle ground instead of the extreme opposite.