Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion

A topic for those of us who want to talk about J.R. Ward's brand new m/m book. Take it away, Susinok!

ETA: Beware of SPOILERS!!!

Woo hoo I'm reading it! I like it so far. Like I said I don't think Ward is going to let us down. The story is flowing with past events and within her over all storyline.

OK I am halfway through this book. Got to the first full sex scene.

Ward does not shy away from anything. It is very much like the rest of her books. Passionate, agonizing emotions, and lots of drama.

So far I really like the book. I love this series and this book is as good as the rest of them. As far as the m/m aspects, she treats that relationship like all the others in her series. Unflinchingly.

you're already halfway through!!!

Damn it! I'm stuck doing my taxes. Why did Ward have to release this week? She waited five damn years to release the week I have to do my taxes! ;-D

Josh wrote: "you're already halfway through!!!

Damn it! I'm stuck doing my taxes. Why did Ward have to release this week? She waited five damn years to release the week I have to do my taxes! ;-D"

And I'm stuck completing my evil professional dossier... so I can renew my teacher's license... and have a job. ;-) Then I get to do taxes! It will be a few weeks before I can consider tackling a big book. ;-(

Well, not too many weeks, since I'll only have two...

Susinok wrote: "OK I am halfway through this book. Got to the first full sex scene.

Ward does not shy away from anything. It is very much like the rest of her books. Passionate, agonizing emotions, and lots of d..."

I read fast. And I'm NOT working on my taxes yet...

I'm done! Anyone wanna talk about it? I did love it.

I'm so glad you loved it!! That is good news, indeed. I hope it is a good experience for most of her fans. So happy to hear, it was good for you. ;-D

I can't imagine the fans being unhappy. If they followed the story up to now, they had to have some emotional investment in the story, which was amply rewarded. Even if the man on man sex (which was HOT by the way) is not what they want to read, you can always skip over that part.

The book satisfied on all fronts. It advanced the story line, got Quinn and Blay their HEA, and introduced some new players.

Great News! Thanks, Susinok!

Checking out Amazon and it's already got 71 reviews, 50 of which are 5 stars. I think she did it! :)

The hardback version is #7 on the overall new release bestsellers list (among a bunch of cookbooks). The kindle version is #1 in the paid Kindle store.

Pretty nice numbers for a hardback mainstream m/m romance.

Susinok wrote: "Checking out Amazon and it's already got 71 reviews, 50 of which are 5 stars. I think she did it! :)

The hardback version is #7 on the overall new release bestsellers list (among a bunch of cookb..."

Oh yeah! I'm so frustrated I can't read right now. I'd forgotten how long Strange Fortune is. It's almost an 11 hour audio book.

Susinok wrote: "Checking out Amazon and it's already got 71 reviews, 50 of which are 5 stars. I think she did it! :)

The hardback version is #7 on the overall new release bestsellers list (among a bunch of cookb..."

I'm still a little skeptical, because the latest BDB books have been downers for me — some of them just ok and some of them downright disappointing. I did love the first 5 books though. A lot. And I'm forever thankful for J.R. Ward for arousing my love for m/m by introducing me Vishous and Butch, Qhuinn and Blay.

So, I'm definitely going to read this one, since I've been waiting for Qhuinn's and Blay's story for so many years. For some weird reason I also feel that I "own" it to the author — because she finally decided to write this story, I can't abandon her NOW. I hope I don't sound crazy (ahem... crazier than usual). If this wasn't their story I would have been done with this series already, I'm afraid.

And I'm really looking forward to discussing the book here with you!

I found BDB about two years ago. I read the first books all in a row and then waited for John's book to come out. I still liked Johns and Mannys and now Tohr and Blay/Quinn. Because of the multiple story lines it seems like the series has more longevity for me.

If it were structured more like a traditional paranormal romance I would have lost interest by now.

I'm sorry, I was disappointed. It completely felt like she just shoved the novella she promised earlier into this book. There were 4 (4!) other storylines that got almost the same amount of page time as they did, really!?! I know she has been going that way with the last few books but I didn't appreciate it in those books either.

I do think she did the emotions with Qhuinn and Blay fantastically. I enjoyed Qhuinn's journey.

I do not think she did the smexy very well at all, definitely not to the extent she did it in other books. It read to me like she didn't want to make people uncomfortable so it was glossed over. She normally gives you every last detail about what was being done/felt/thought, etc. These scenes were almost more about the furniture than the 2 of them and they were crazy short in comparison.

Maybe my hopes/expectations were too high and it couldn't live up to it but I think this may be my last BDB.

I'm reading LAL now. Like it or not, multiple story lines are her style. I'm enjoying the m/m storyline in the book and she's delivering an overall solid read. I don't think fans of Blay and Qhuinn will be overly disappointed. There is always the "I want more" thing. Is it my favorite m/m read or will they be my favorite couple? No way. I'm just excited that the book is reaching a larger audience so my favorite author and couple may be read by a larger audience.

Carlita wrote: "I'm reading LAL now. Like it or not, multiple story lines are her style. I'm enjoying the m/m storyline in the book and she's delivering an overall solid read. I don't think fans of Blay and Qhuinn..."

I'm sorry, you've confused me. You say that they are not your favorite couple and then you say "my favorite author and couple may be read by a larger audience". Can I ask who the author/couple is? Honestly, I'm just confused, I hope this comes across in the manner I mean it, I don't want you to think I'm attacking you or anything.

I do understand that she always has multiple story lines but, for me, this book became more about the other story lines than Qhuinn & Blay's. The earlier books had multiple story lines but focused on the 2 main MC's, she's stopped doing that lately, IMHO. Maybe the world has just gotten too big.

Allison wrote: "I do not think she did the smexy very well at all, definitely not to the extent she did it in other books. It read to me like she didn't want to make people uncomfortable so it was glossed over...."

Really? I thought the sex scenes were really hot, especially the one on the couch, and I did not get a sense at all that Ward was holding back. I really don't see where she glossed at all.

Manny's book also had so many storylines that his and Payne's story was 1 of 3 or 4. And they only has 1 sex scene at the very end of the book.

So I think the many storylines is a pattern with Ward and Quin/Blay's story was not treated any differently than the other, later books where she has so many threads going.

I'm not reading Ward for romance, really. She's sort of slated in a urban fantasy category for me now, because it's not just about the 1 couple per book. Another series that is like that is Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series. A very complex story arch is going through that series and I love it for that very reason.

Susinok wrote: "Allison wrote: "I do not think she did the smexy very well at all, definitely not to the extent she did it in other books. It read to me like she didn't want to make people uncomfortable so it was ..."

I didn't feel like, compared to her other books, the scenes were the same. For many other books they would have been great but she puts so many details into those scenes in the other books, about the characters, not the items in the room, that it didn't work for me. But that's just my reading of it; many other people did like the way she did it.

I guess this series has run its course for me, I haven't loved a book in a long time, since Lover Avenged at least and even that one had parts that I wasn't enjoying completely. Edited to add: I guess I didn't care so much about the last couple of pairings and that's why I didn't realize how little they focused on the main pairing.

Disappointing but that's okay, there are lots of the other authors out there that I can spend my money on and most of them aren't on the best seller lists. I enjoy finding new authors! :0)

Allison wrote: "Maybe my hopes/expectations were too high and it couldn't live up to it but I think this may be my last BDB.
..."

I do wonder if there's going to be some of that going on?

Josh wrote: "Allison wrote: "Maybe my hopes/expectations were too high and it couldn't live up to it but I think this may be my last BDB.
..."

I do wonder if there's going to be some of that going on?"

LOL, it happens to my husband with movies all the time. So maybe that is part of it but like I said I've been uneasy with the series the last few books so I think it's also just that I've moved on.

I'm obsessing over how this book is doing. I check it's Amazon ranks and number of reviews each morning. You'd think I had some sort of stake in it somehow. I'm very happy that it's got such good reviews in general. I really hope it racks up the same number of reviews on Amazon as her other books.

Susinok wrote: "I'm obsessing over how this book is doing. I check it's Amazon ranks and number of reviews each morning. You'd think I had some sort of stake in it somehow. I'm very happy that it's got such good r..."

Yeah, but I feel the same way. I feel somehow that if it does well it's a good sign for the genre as a whole.

Is this a book one can easily follow without having read the other books in the series?

Tina Kay wrote: "Is this a book one can easily follow without having read the other books in the series?"

To be honest, Tina, not really. The backstory between Blaylock and Qhuinn started many books ago, and each book relies pretty heavily on the books in front of them.

Ward keeps many story lines going through out her series and they span many books. You would be terribly confused.

Susinok wrote: "Tina Kay wrote: "Is this a book one can easily follow without having read the other books in the series?"

To be honest, Tina, not really. The backstory between Blaylock and Qhuinn started many boo..."

Thank you, Susinok. I guess I'll need to decide whether or not this is a series I want to get involved with.

Tina Kay wrote: "Susinok wrote: "Tina Kay wrote: "Is this a book one can easily follow without having read the other books in the series?"

To be honest, Tina, not really. The backstory between Blaylock and Qhuinn ..."

You can probably buy only some of the books and read the plot about Qhuinn and Blay, but you're going to miss a bit :)

Darkm wrote: "You can probably buy only some of the books and read the plot about Qhuinn and Blay, but you're going to miss a bit :) ..."

Thanks, Darkm. I do love getting wrapped up in a good series, so I think I may give the first book a go and see if I like it.

Tina Kay wrote: "Darkm wrote: "You can probably buy only some of the books and read the plot about Qhuinn and Blay, but you're going to miss a bit :) ..."

Thanks, Darkm. I do love getting wrapped up in a good seri..."

That's cool, Tina! :-) Let us know how you liked it — ok?

I've only read 15% of Lover At Last so it's too early to say anything yet. But I've enjoyed the Qhuinn and Blay moments so far. :-)

Tina Kay wrote: "Thanks, Darkm. I do love getting wrapped up in a good series, so I think I may give the first book a go and see if I like it. "

I have to tell you that I got the first book thinking, enh. Everyone else at work is reading it I might as well. 5 books later, I was really into the series, I had to get the next one and the next one. At book 8 I got a little tired of the sex. I know, it made me laugh too.

I'm halfway through 8, picking it up the other day, I did slip right back into voraciously lusting after her characters.

Tina Kay wrote: "Darkm wrote: "You can probably buy only some of the books and read the plot about Qhuinn and Blay, but you're going to miss a bit :) ..."

Thanks, Darkm. I do love getting wrapped up in a good series, so I think I may give the first book a go and see if I like it. .."

If you like paranormal and urban fantasy series in general, then you'll like it. If you are more of a contemporary or historical reader, it's a lot of WTF(?).

So.. hmm. The brotherhood are vampires with some interesting twists on the norm. They can only feed off of their own kind. Their spiritual leader has a counterpart who converts full humans into lessers, which are out to destroy mankind.

The Brotherhood's main purpose is to protect the non-fighting vampires and to keep the lessers from increasing.

That's the main backstory that the books begin with. Woven through all of that are the individual books with their romances.

Thanks everyone! These comments are making me want to read it, so I think it's probably going to happen. :-)

Susinok wrote: "They can only feed off of their own kind. ..."

That is definitely an interesting twist.

Johanna wrote: "Tina Kay wrote: "Darkm wrote: "You can probably buy only some of the books and read the plot about Qhuinn and Blay, but you're going to miss a bit :) ..."

Thanks, Darkm. I do love getting wrapped ..."

Just give the series a bit of time.
I remember when I started the language alone was putting me a bit off, but after one or two books I started to really enjoy myself :)

and the sex is hot... I did like the sex.

Joe wrote: "and the sex is hot... I did like the sex."

Yeah it was. :)

Darkm wrote: "Just give the series a bit of time. I remember when I started the language alone was putting me a bit off, but after one or two books I started to really enjoy myself :) ..."

Well I bit the bullet and downloaded the first book. I would love to find another series to read, so I'm hoping it's one I want to stick with. But by the time I make it to book 10 or 11 (or whichever book Lover at Last is), everyone will have read it and this thread will have been abandoned. :-D I'll be in here talking to myself... which probably isn't all that different from real life.

Tina Kay wrote: "But by the time I make it to book 10 or 11 (or whichever book Lover at Last is), everyone will have read it and this thread will have been abandoned. :-D I'll be in here talking to myself... which probably isn't all that different from real life."

Well, yesterday I managed to read a whole 1% of Lover At Last so it actually might turn out that I'm still here when you'll finish reading the whole series... :-)

Tina Kay wrote: "Darkm wrote: "Just give the series a bit of time. I remember when I started the language alone was putting me a bit off, but after one or two books I started to really enjoy myself :) ..."

Well I ..."

Just tell us when you get there and we'll be here to keep you company :)

Right, Tina, we're not going anywhere. :) I'm not sure Josh has read it yet, either. I think he intended to... ;)

Okay, sounds good! I expect one of you to answer when I come knocking on the Special BOM Project door with completed Lover at Last in hand. :-)

Larissa just posted her review of LaL on JesseWave. http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...

The Review is written with extensive spoilers and with some backstory so people who haven't read the books (not intend to) can see the dynamics of what is going on.

If you read the post, I highly recommend reading the comments. Don't miss comment #8, it sheds light on the significance of this book/series (for those new to BDB).

This project sounds like an author's nightmare. Ward has my deepest regard!!!

Reggie wrote: "Larissa just posted her review of LaL on JesseWave. http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...

The Review is written with extensive spoilers and with some backstory so pe..."

Very interesting, thank you Reggie.

(view spoiler)[ I agree that this book is an author's nightmare, and that Ward has brass balls for writing it nevertheless, still, I find myself in agreement with what the reviewer said.
I didn't like how many plots there were this time, way too many. I didn't like that the sex was "weird".
I think a scene after they solved things would have really showed how things could be as well.
(hide spoiler)]

Reggie wrote: "Larissa just posted her review of LaL on JesseWave. http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/201...

The Review is written with extensive spoilers and with some backstory so pe..."

I finished Saturday and thought I'd give it some time to think about it. I have to say I mostly agree with Larissa's review. I'd maybe give it 3.5 stars for Qhuinn and Blay and 1 or 2 for the rest. But I didn't like Lover Reborn so I wasn't really expecting to love this one. There was a lot of groaning and wanting to throw my Kindle up against the wall, LOL. I tried, I didn't skim (much), but I couldn't make myself care about Assail, Sola, Trez, Xcor, or even Layla really.

My biggest complaints about the Qhuinn and Blay storyline: Blay not being honest with Qhuinn about Saxton until the very end. I know he had his reasons but it bothered me a lot and ruined the story for me. Also, I was disappointed there were few conversations, and no meaningful conversations, between Qhuinn and John Matthew or Blay and John Matthew.

It did seem like it was mostly Qhuinn's story and I did enjoy his journey, but I didn't understand Qhuinn having to accept being gay (didn't this already happen in a prior book?). I liked the last 5% or so, LOL. It was nice to see them get their HEA.

I. Am. Stuck.

I'm only 40% through the Lover At Last and I'm really, really struggling. *hangs her head*

I want to like it — I want to LOVE it — but the reality is that I'm pretty frustrated with it. I'm going to take a break and see if that helps. I'll get back to you guys later on.

Johanna wrote: "I. Am. Stuck.

I'm only 40% through the Lover At Last and I'm really, really struggling. *hangs her head*

I want to like it — I want to LOVE it — but the reality is that I'm pretty frustrated with..."

My biggest problem is the stupid names she creates for the book, so much so that most of the times I spend a good 20 minutes trying to figure out how to pronounce it, then every time I come across the name in the book, I say it three different times if I don't know exactly how I've decided to say it. Like Xhex... really?

I pronounced Xhex like Zex. Mostly I see the extra H's as silent. yeah they are really weird, but that's her world building and I just go with it.

Rhage - rage
Fuhry - fury, etc.

Yah, I said it like Zex, but then I thought maybe it was just Hex, or sex or shex... I just gave up. ;-D

Joe wrote: "Yah, I said it like Zex, but then I thought maybe it was just Hex, or sex or shex... I just gave up. ;-D"

As far as I remember, Ward pronounced it like "Hex" somewhere... :)

I'm curious, in which book do Quinn and Blay first appear?

Tina Kay wrote: "I'm curious, in which book do Quinn and Blay first appear?"

I honestly can't remember. John appeared at the end of book 1 if I remember correctly. Quin and Blay showed up when John went to classes with them.