John and Xhex got a truly wonderful love story which turned out to be of epic proportions due to Darius’ involvement. This book introduced a few new characters but pretty much left it at that. In previous editions, the secondary plots set up a back story for the next books. Unlike previous books, the love story had a prominent role in this one. But to accomplish this they need to overcome the burdens of the past and learn to truly trust each other. We experienced their initial awkwardness, followed by sexual tension, tentative trust and full on implosion. To me, the great thing about John and Xhex’s relationship is that it has been running for a couple of books.

But there’s much more than meets the eye to Xhex and John is drawn to her like a moth to a flame. With her athletic body, her strong features, her men’s haircut and her tough as nails attitude, she’s hardly your typical romance heroine. Now Xhex must be one of the most controversial characters of the series.

He wants to belong to someone and his object of affection is Xhex. Warrior body or not, inside John Matthew feels small, empty and out of place. In Lover Mine he has turned into a beautiful vampire male with a warrior body, who lives with the King of his race and fights with the Black Dagger Brotherhood. When we meet him in Lover Eternal, he’s a scrawny little mute who lives in a run down apartment and carries a big secret with him. John Matthew, aka Darius reincarnated, is undoubtedly one of the most popular characters in the series. But most importantly: it’s about John Matthew. About revenge, trust, friendship and love. About circumstances and relationships coming full circle. Lover Mine is the eighth book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

Lover Mine by J.R. Ward