Review: Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward
Black Dagger Brotherhood #2
441 Pages
Goodreads, Amazon, Author Website

From Goodreads: Within the brotherhood, Rhage is the vampire with the strongest appetites. He's the best fighter, the quickest to act on his impulses, and the most voracious lover-for inside him burns ferocious curse cast by the Scribe Virgin. Owned by this dark side, Rhage fears the time when his inner dragon is unleashed, making him a danger to everyone around him. 
Mary Luce, a survivor of many hardships is unwittingly thrown into the vampire world and reliant to Rhage's protection. With a life-threatening curse of her own, Mary is not looking for love. She lost her faith in miracles years ago. But when Rhage's intense animal attraction turns into something more emotional, he knows that he must make Mary his alone. And while their enemies close in, Mary fights desperately to gain life eternal with the one she loves...

This book picks up after the first book, Dark Lover. This book focuses on Rhage, who was cursed by the Scribe Virgin (creator of the Vampires) causing him to transform into a dragon when he loses control of his emotions. His curse has an expiration date and he keeps track of how many years and days are left. Mary volunteers at the suicide hot line and used to work with autistic kids. She has no family left and lives out on her own, her only friend is her neighbor across the street who happens to be a vampire. Their first "date" was cute, she feels that he was just being nice in finishing their date after meeting her because she feels she is plain and he is model-gorgeous. How would you feel if all the ladies (waitress and hostess included) were batting their eyes and leaving their phone number on a napkin?! Mary is very independent and refuses to let others take care of her, she has gone through a lot health wise and is ill again... Rhage might be a ladies-man but what he really wants is a mate of his own. Oh, their love story is so sweet! Like the first book, there are several story lines that are all inter-connected. In this book we are introduced to new characters who are the main characters in later books of the series. Bella and Wrath are doing well and are happy, I like that we get to see main characters from previous books with little snippets of how their life is doing. Since the Brothers all  live together, each book is like immersing into the life of one of them while still keeping an eye on the others. The war with the Lessers is ongoing and changing, and the casualties are hitting closer than ever to home...

I give this book 4.5 Stars.