Darlene's Book Nook: #Audiobook #Review: 5 out of 5 stars for The Beast by J.R. Ward @JRWard1 @PRHAudio

Thursday, October 13, 2016

#Audiobook #Review: 5 out of 5 stars for The Beast by J.R. Ward @JRWard1 @PRHAudio

SERIES: Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #14
AUTHOR: J.R. Ward

NARRATOR: Jim Frangione
PUBLISHER: Penguin Audio
PUBLICATION DATE: April 5, 2016

FORMAT: Unabridged audiobook
LENGTH: 18 hrs and 4 mins
GENRE: Romance/Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Nothing is as it used to be for the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

After avoiding war with the Shadows, alliances have shifted, and lines have been drawn. The slayers of the Lessening Society are stronger than ever, preying on human weakness to acquire more money, more weapons, more power. But as the Brotherhood readies for an all-out attack on them, one of their own fights a battle within himself...

For Rhage, the Brother with the biggest appetites but also the biggest heart, life was supposed to be perfect - or at the very least perfectly enjoyable. Mary, his beloved shellan, is by his side, and his king and his brothers are thriving. But Rhage can't understand - or control - the panic and insecurity that plague him...and that terrifies him as well as distances him from his mate.

After suffering a mortal injury in battle, Rhage must reassess his priorities - and the answer, when it comes to him, rocks his world...and Mary's. But Mary is on a journey of her own, one that will either bring them closer together or cause a split that neither will recover from...

MY REVIEW:

Wow, just wow! I couldn’t help but fall in love with my favourite BDB brother just a little bit more! Not only Rhage, but also Vishous and even Assail!

We have known for some time now that things have not been right with Rhage. Everything comes to a head when Beth leaves Little Wrath (“LW”) with Rhage to rush down to the clinic for a wound on her hand. At first, the gentle giant doesn’t know how to soothe LW but he remembers how Wrath holds his son and pats his back. Soon LW is calm and his little arms clutch around Rhage’s neck and also his heart, and everything is right in the world. Beth returns to find Rhage with tears streaming down his face with LW safely nestled in his arms. How can your heart not melt?? With Mary’s infertility from the chemo treatments, having their own child was never in the cards for them so it was never even a thought for Rhage. Obviously, his heart feels differently. Unbeknownst to him, Mary is also wrestling with her emotions concerning her maternal feelings towards Bitty, the orphaned nine-year old girl at Safe Place. Beth tells Mary about Rhage’s reaction to LW, and Rhage opens up to Mary about it when she confronts him. However, instead of Mary admitting that she is also having the same longing for a child, she says nothing!! So frustrating!! She doesn’t say anything to Rhage about Bitty. When Bitty wishes to return to her home to gather her belongings, Rhage accompanies Mary and the girl and it is the beginning of a blossoming affection all around. Having had an abusive father, Bitty should be a bit hesitant around the big shaggy dog (as Bitty likes to call Rhage) but she takes to him so easily! Rhage communicates with her so well, and Bitty feels safe with him. Bitty begins to open up about her mother’s death as the three of them spend more time together, and soon Rhage enlists the help of Vishous to find Bitty’s uncle. When that leads to a dead end, Vishous takes the liberty of speaking with Saxton about the adoption process and gives a folder with all the paperwork to Rhage. Who knew Vishous had a paternal side to him?! He gets brownie points for that!! Mary finds the folder, and that’s when she finally comes clean about her feelings for Bitty.

Elsewhere in Caldwell, Assail continues to work for the BDB to find out what Throe wants with Naasha. He uncovers one of her dirty little secrets, and he single-handedly rescues a blood slave named Markcus who has been locked up for 32 years. I love how Assail’s character has developed. Could there be a reunion with Marisol on the horizon? I hope so!

As if we weren’t emotional enough with all that going on, Layla goes into premature labour with the twins and one of the babies fights for survival.

I haven’t been this emotional since reading The King.

Jim Frangione was consistent with his new pronunciations except for one: He reverted back to his old pronunciation of Primale (PRY-male, instead of Pruh-MAH-lee). Other than that one faux-pas, he was spot on.

MY RATING:

5 stars!! It was superb! I loved it, and I will likely re-read it again in the future! You should definitely read it if you enjoy paranormal romances!

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