Lover Eternal

Two hundred years: that's how long Rhage must bear the curse born of his reckless inconsideration. Sex and violence are all he once pursued; now they are the only things that keep the beast within at bay. He has little hope for finding peace during this existence, until Mary Luce enters his life. Irresistibly drawn to her light, he's pulled into a struggle with his own demons as well as the real enemies who threaten the vampire world and Mary. Ward wields a commanding voice perfect for the genre, and readers new to the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood should hold on tight for an intriguing, adrenaline-pumping ride featuring a race of warrior vampires who fill enemies with terror and women with desire. - - Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetite. 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. Possessed by this dark side, Rhage fears the times when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. When Mary Luce is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world, she must rely on Rhage's protection. Knowing that Mary feels the same intense animal attraction, Rhage must make her his alone...

This is the second book in the series and one of my favorites. Rhage is beauty personified in the male form. But the thing I like about him the most is that he is a good friend and loyal to his brothers and has the redeeming quality of being able to express his thoughts and feelings without a filter. He learned a hard lesson from the Scribe Virgin in his curse with his beast, but was willing to keep the beast within himself inorder to save the one he loves the most.

Mary is cautious and caring and wary of Rhage because despite her attraction for him and his caring for her she is dying and not sure what to do with all her swirling thoughts and emotions.

Also while in this book, you get to get inside Butch's head some more and he is just lovable in all ways, but along with Butch you also get to meet John Matthew for the first time, you meet Bella for the first time, and you get to see inside (my personal fav) Zsadist's head as well.

You learn more about the battle the brotherhood is fighting against the lessening society and more about their culture as well.

I could seriously go on and one about this series as it became one of my favorites before I ever finished Dark Lover (book one). The way Ms. Ward writes and the dark humor as well as the fact that inspite of being Vampires and Warriors at that, they are not perfect and their flaws are not broken hearts in the past or other common male flaws in other romance novels...they range from near blindness, to a beast, to slavery/torture, drug use etc.

All in all they are very human in a nonhuman way ;p LOVE THEM!!!! Love this book and love Rhage. My opinion keeps changing as to who my fav is after Zsadist and Rehvenge...thinking it's tied between Rhage/Butch/Vishous ;p