J.R. Ward - Lover Mine

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Reprint edition (November 30, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451231554

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. Long divided as a terrifying battleground for the vampires and their enemies, the city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.
John Matthew has come a long way since he was found living among humans, his vampire nature unknown to himself and to those around him. After he was taken in by the Brotherhood, no one could guess what his true history was- or his true identity. Indeed, the fallen Brother Darius has returned, but with a different face and a very different destiny. As a vicious personal vendetta takes John into the heart of the war, he will need to call up on both who he is now and who he once was in order to face off against evil incarnate.
Xhex, a symphath assassin, has long steeled herself against the attraction between her and John Matthew. Having already lost one lover to madness, she will not allow the male of worth to fall prey to the darkness of her twisted life. When fate intervenes, however, the two discover that love, like destiny, is inevitable between soul mates. 

J.R. Ward starts off this novel exactly where she left off the last. Xhex is missing, still, kidnapped in the aftermath of the Brotherhood's mad rescue of Rehvenge. Much like every Brother when faced with the loss of his female, John Matthew goes off the deep end. And when the Brothers go off the deep end, it usually means they act like asses toward everyone around them and say "Sorry, bro" later. John Matthew is no different.
  I have had some complaints about John Matthew over the course of his involvement in the Brotherhood stories. First of all, I get he was abused and suffered - but so did pretty much everyone in these stories. They all have backgrounds and that's what makes them so compelling. When Tohr loses his shellan and disappears, rather than be sympathetic or even just take advantage of the family and friends surrounding him, John Matthew chooses to be angry all the time. At Tohr, at the world, at Lash...it doesn't matter. It seems odd to me that he loses a father figure but gains a real sister and many close friends, and still reacts so strongly. Maybe I don't have a great understanding of the human psyche, or I get annoyed easily. The point is I had a problem with John Matthews reaction.
  I did like the development of Xhex, however. I like that she went from hard-ass to understanding and caring shellan.  And oh, Blay and Qhuinn. I desperately await the day when we shall see your HEA (Happily Ever After), as Ward calls it.
  The plot moves along quite well, and Ward always manages to interweave multiple subplots that will come to fruition later. She has great skill in keeping all those plots straight. She also has wonderful world development. All of the details are fully fleshed out and feel natural and unforced. She draws you in and makes you want to live in that version of Caldwell, too. The denouement of the novel is absolutely beautiful, and the final(-ish) scene will make you laugh and cry and rejoice all at the same time. Maybe not cry, but it's definitely a feel-good scene with all the Brotherhood and their families around for John Matthew's mating ceremony.
  Overall: A-