"Action-packed vampire romance"

In Caldwell, New York, the vampires and their adversaries the Lessening Society Slayers are at war. To enable the bloodsuckers to oppose their deadly opponents, six vampires formed the Black Dagger Brotherhood led by Wrath, who loathes Slayers for murdering his parents though hundreds of years have passed and detests humans almost as much.

Wrath learns that one of his top warriors Darius has been killed by the enemy combatants. Though he wants instant vengeance he is more concerned over Darius' daughter Beth, unaware that she is a hybrid born of a human mother and vampire father. To keep her safe, Wrath must bring her into his world, that of the undead; however he fails to realize until later that she has guided him into her world of love when the legendary Omega apparently has need for her.

Though obviously an action-packed vampire romance, DARK LOVER is character driven. Readers will feel vampires and slayers exist especially the former though they are nothing like those found in the Stoker universe. Wrath is terrific as a leader and a lover while Beth proves to be his equal or as he feels his superior. J.R. Ward paints an interesting realm that fans will want to bite into in one delightful reading.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 30, 2005

Summary

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other—six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing their enemies, the lessers, more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood....

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But, when one of his most trusted fighters is killed—orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate—Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead....

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both....