I loved this book. I very much enjoyed the two previous novels, "Dark Lover" and "Lover Eternal" and this book was even better. I've just finished it having spent my entire Saturday afternoon glued to it. And, embarrassingly to admit, I'm wiping away a few tears that I shed whilst reading it.

This book follows the story of Zsadist, the scarred and broken member of the Brotherhood of vampires. We learned a little about him in the previous two books - he's the scary one who may or may not kill his lovers and can't bear anyone to touch him. At the end of the last book, "Lover Eternal", Bella the female vampire was kidnapped and Zsadist discovered he had an obsession with her - trying to find her.

This book starts six weeks after those events - Zsadist is still looking for Bella although pretty much everyone thinks she's dead. Mr O, the Fore-Lesser (head of the vampire slayers) is instead holding her hostage and playing mind games with her. When another vampire held hostage escapes, the Brotherhood come to rescue Bella and Zsadist takes her home to his room. And there starts his troubles.

I didn't really understand the character of Zsadist in the previous books - but in this story we learn about him and Bella through their interaction. What's so great about the story is that it all makes sense, his behaviour is a result of the terrible experiences he had as a blood slave which are given to us as back story. We also learn more about his twin, Phury, how he lost his leg (although not why he's celibate). Bella finds herself attracted to Zsadist but it's almost impossible for her to get through to him because of his huge issues with touch and with himself and his body. The chapters where he learns to tolerate her presence and her touch are brilliantly written, as are the reactions of the other Brothers to their most dangerous comrade's behaviour.

We also learn more about John, the mute young lad who is approaching his transition to Brother and some of his past history too. J R Ward has peppered her stories with flawed characters, people who have experienced awful events which have shaped them into the people that they are which is not always all good.

The Lessening Society continues to rumble on in the background of this book with Mr O and Mr X and the Omega. Those chapters are short and the actual fights between the two sides aren't particularly detailed in this book, but Mr O's character is becoming more fixed.

There are some pretty sad parts to this book and events that happen appear to be setting up for subsequent novels. But overall it was an exhilarating read - the thought that a ruined man can be redeemed; and it's not just a cheesy "saved by the love of a good woman", it's that he finds his equilibrium through a number of different events and with a group of different people around him.

It's a truly excellent book and I highly recommend it to all who like vampire fiction of a more earthy kind!

This author has created a world, you just hate to leave. Lover Awakened is the third book in J.R. Wards, Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This book features Zadist, the scariest Brother you love to hate, and Bella the independance seeking neighbor introduced in the previous book. This book alone will make you read the the first two. There are some good action scenes and brief revisits from previous charactors, I like the way Ward writes her heroines, The women aren't submissive, wishy washy or stubborn to the point of stupidity. I'm just sorry this author doesn't write faster. Here is a book for your keeper shelf.

i won't do a synopsis of the book, but the story, like the 2 before, was wonderful. the reason for the 4 stars instead of 5, is the language in all three books. the guys are discribed as white, but the language is gangster.