Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Legacy, #1) in Audiobook Junkies

Feb 10, 2015 Darcy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr, audio-book, listened-to-at-work, vampires, new-adult, 2015

I will fully admit I went into this one being very leery. In fact instead of purchasing this one I requested it from my library having lost a bit of faith in Ward and where things were going with the BDB. Now after having read it, I will be getting the audio book from audible to add to my collection. This book so reminded me of the early BDB books, the ones were we had the couple of the book and a little bit of other things in their world. I found it interesting that Ward choose to feature Butch I will fully admit I went into this one being very leery. In fact instead of purchasing this one I requested it from my library having lost a bit of faith in Ward and where things were going with the BDB. Now after having read it, I will be getting the audio book from audible to add to my collection. This book so reminded me of the early BDB books, the ones were we had the couple of the book and a little bit of other things in their world. I found it interesting that Ward choose to feature Butch and Marissa so much, mostly because in a lot of ways their relationship mirrored what Paradise and Craeg were going through.

Butch and Marissa have been a favorite couple, so I hated to see that they had issues in this book, especially as so much of it had to do with their past. Mary was spot on though, that neither of them really dealt with their issues, just buried them. It was only as they were able to talk about them, that their person made them see what they knew they should. You know that they will be stronger after this.

I found myself very intrigued with the training class and what the Brothers were trying to do. I really liked that it was open to all classes of vampires and any sex. The weeding out process was beyond insane!! There is no way in hell that I would have even made it one step, let alone what they all went through. It was during this process that Paradise won me over. I liked that she wanted to help the others when they were faltering, hell...the only reason Peyton even made it was because of her. The one highlight to this was Lassiter and his swim gear. WTH!

I found the early interactions between Paradise and Craeg to be sweet. Craeg so fought things and we know what happens then. I liked that others pushed them together, that Paradise didn't give up and went after Craeg. I knew that her keeping her status a secret wouldn't be good, so when it came out I wasn't surprised and Craeg disappointed me.

The drama at the end surprised me in that I hadn't guessed the bad guy, usually I can. I loved that Paradise took her training and used it! Better was her fathers reaction to everything, that is what should happen, not what happened to Craeg's father.

I'm really excited to read the next book, to see where things go from here for the next generation. ...more

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Feb 10, 2015 Angela Carr rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2015

Craeg and Payton
Love this book, reminded me of Ward's earlier books. ...more

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Mar 20, 2015 Liza rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed Blood Kiss. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect with the BDB Legacy books, but think Ward got off to a really great start with Blood Kiss. I really loved getting to spend time with some of the original Brothers as well. I'll be honest, I have way more respect than ever before for Marissa. I've always been a fan of Butch, and really wondered what he saw in Marissa since they were so different. I loved that she finally found some backbone and stood up to Butch to get him and us to ...more

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Oct 06, 2016 Darlene rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, bought, books-i-own, paranormal-romance, read-in-2016

I am a huge fan of the BDB series, and this is a new spin-off series that runs parallel to the BDB series. I hope that it doesn’t get too confusing with reading books from both series! According to the author’s post on Goodreads about the new series, it will feature the original brothers and their involvement in the new BDB Training Center with the new recruits.

I was very stoked to learn about this new series and, although it appeared to be Ward’s intent to feature the original BDB more prominen I am a huge fan of the BDB series, and this is a new spin-off series that runs parallel to the BDB series. I hope that it doesn’t get too confusing with reading books from both series! According to the author’s post on Goodreads about the new series, it will feature the original brothers and their involvement in the new BDB Training Center with the new recruits.

I was very stoked to learn about this new series and, although it appeared to be Ward’s intent to feature the original BDB more prominently, I feel misled! This installment focused on Paradise, who is the only child of Abalone, First Advisor to the King. Don’t get me wrong: Paradise is very book-worthy. She is a smart and beautiful young woman, who wants to be more than a baby-maker who minds the house and defers to her mate. She wants her independence and, with that, comes the freedom to choose her mate regardless of his class even if that means he is not an aristocrat. I love that about her. As we learned in the last installment of the BDB series, The Shadows, Paradise wishes to apply for entry to the BDB Training Program. We see her strength as she goes through the grueling First Night at the BDB Training Center, and we see her compassion and big heart as she is forced to trudge onward through the different tests and leave her fallen comrades behind. Her father, Abalone, would love to see his beloved daughter mated to Peyton, who is another member of the Glymera and a worthy suitor. Although they have a great friendship and affection for one another, Paradise and Peyton are nothing more than platonic friends. Paradise has an instant attraction to Craeg, who is the son of a commoner. He is just as attracted to her, but he does not want to let anything get in the way of his goal which is to become a trained fighter so he can seek revenge for the deaths of his family members in the Lessening Society raids. Their relationship develops a little too quickly for my taste, but this book is about half the length of a usual BDB novel so maybe that is why Ward sped up the pace! The connection between Paradise and Craeg sizzles, in usual Ward style.

Aside from the opening of the BDB Training Center and the training of the new recruits, the story focused on the attack of a woman who showed up at Marissa’s Safe Place. The woman’s death has a huge impact on Marissa, and she asks for Butch’s help to find the killer. What I liked about this part of Butch’s and Marissa’s love story is seeing them work through real-life problems after their “Happily Ever After” in Lover Revealed. Like any couple, they have their problems and things aren’t always rosy.

I like how Ward narrowed the focus to just the two couples. Normally, there are so many sub-plots going on at once. If this is her intent with this new series, I approve!

Narrator Jim Frangione stuck to the new pronunciations that were introduced in The Shadows. I love his style and characterizations, but I am still getting used to these new pronunciations.

As this series is supposed to be read parallel with the original BDB series in order of publication, the next installment will be The Beast which is #14 in the BDB series. It features my favourite brother, Rhage, so I can’t wait to read that and find out why he was so messed up in The Shadows.

This review was posted on my blog. ...more

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Mar 09, 2015 Mariana Bezerra rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, bought2015, read-in-2016

I liked this book more than anticipated. It was a good mix of BDB and some new vampires. I like this different and a little more light atmosphere, plus there's some hot vampires and even an investigation.

I think Craeg was a good introduction to this world and would be the perfect candidate to the BDB, plus there's some good background story and he's almost the perfect male. I liked Paradise too, she's not that vain, and more phisical than I expected from a girl that has been part of the glymera ...more

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Jul 26, 2017 Sunny rated it liked it

Shelves: team-vampire, a-pnr-uf-fantasy

Enjoyable, but I almost feel like I've graduated out of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, almost. I enjoy visiting with Butch and Marissa. The new couple, Paradise and Craeg, are so-so. I do not find them memorable. The BDB world reminds me a little of the 007 franchise. I go to see those movies for the potential of a great action flick. Maybe the next one will be more memorable? ...more

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