Dearest Ivie (Black Dagger Brotherhood #15.5)

So honestly, as with most novellas there isn’t much I can say about this book because I don’t want to give anything away. I thought on this all night, in fact three days after reading it I was awake all night thinking about it. Thinking about exactly what I would say that would convince you that Dearest Ivie is a book that needs to not only be in your hands but on your shelf. I was laying there trying to think of something other than “It’s a J.R. Ward book, DUH!” and I came up with two simple but I think moving and motivating points.

1. Dearest Ivie is an extremely emotional read, I cried big fat tears…that quiet encompassing sadness kind of cry, the kind that moves you down to your very soul. Wait, don’t run off yet. Why is that important? Well because often times when you get into an author who has a large volume of books with in a single series or world things can get mundane, redundant, less…but with Dearest Ivie I truly felt connected to these characters and both their struggles and their love. I think that this is one of those rare cases (when it comes to large series) where the author is writing a book that is truly from her heart. It is’t a book to keep you up to date on characters, it isn’t a book to move along a plot, it isn’t a book to give the readers anything really. This is a book, a story, that the author simply had to tell. I don’t know if it is because of a personal connection to the storyline (if so…prayers and well wishes) or if it is simply a story that spoke to the author late in the night and said, I need my voice heard, I need people to know that in love their is hope. I don’t know the reason for the story I am simple glad that J.R. Ward gave it to all of us because in it’s pain and sadness there is beauty and hope.

2. So this point comes to you because I have seen several readers mention that they felt like there was no reason for the story (see above) because it doesn’t move along the BDB storyline and there I have to argue. I think (and this is all just my midnight pondering) that there is a very large and perhaps surprising move happening here for the BDB storyline. I think that underneath the beautiful story of Ivie and Silas there is another story. There is a story of perhaps redemption, a set-up for the unlikeliest of possibilities. I think this is Haver’s new beginning. Yes, I said it HAVERS! This is a look at a Havers we haven’t seen. This is a look at a man with a deep conscious and desire to serve and help his race. This is a look that says…I have been horrible, I have caused pain, I have been cruel, but I am possibly more than has been seen and now I want you to see the REAL me. Think on that!

Sufficed to say I ADORED this book. Days later I am still moved by it, still pondering it, still re-reading passages. If you are a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood do not pass this one up, especially if your reason is that you don’t think it has anything to do with BDB (see above), pick it up simply because it is truly a beautiful love story!

DEAREST IVIE by JR Ward is a novella set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood focusing on aristocratic vampire Silas, and nurse Ivie, who works for Havers at his clinic.

Told from third person perspective (Ivie) DEAREST IVIE follows the building relationship between an old country vampire Silas, a member of the aristocrat, and Ivie, a young nurse struggling from pay cheque to pay cheque. When a recent job interview found our heroine unacceptable due to her age, Ivie and her best friend Rubes spend a night on the town where Ivie will meet her future, a future with an end date that Ivie knows nothing about. Enter Silas, a well-to-do vampire aristocrat whose attraction to Ivie is swift and powerful.

DEAREST IVIE is a quick read; an emotional but predictable story line about opposites attract that reveals some of the struggles and disparity between the have and the have nots. The interaction with the BDB is negligible except for the mention of the King. The secondary and supporting characters are familiar with the inclusion of Havers, Doc Jane and Ruhn. We are introduced to Silass majordomo Pritchard, Ivies father Hirah-a tattooed vampire biker, and of course Ivies bestie and fellow nurse Rubia aka Rubes.

JR Ward leaves a few open ended plot points including Silas hunt for his missing brother, as well as the potential for a story line for Ivies best friend Rubes. The premise is sweet, heart breaking and emotional; the romance is quick and intense; the characters are colorful and charismatic.

I love vampire romances! Ive read all of the Black Dagger Brotherhood books and liked them, even loved some. As the series has gone on, Ive found myself liking them less and less. This book was another in that theme. The premise was neutral – aristocrat & nurse fall in love. The heroine, Ivie, was mildly compelling – pretty and kind. The hero, Silas, was similar – handsome, aristocratic, and sexy. They had good chemistry, but not much sizzle in comparison to earlier BDB books. The storyline was so dark and sad that it overshadowed all of the other aspects of the book, and the happy ending wasnt enough to offset the rest of the story. It seemed as if the author had recently been through a terminal illness with a close friend or family member and needed to write it out of her system. Overall, not a bad book, just too sad for me.

This was a short and great novella!

The main characters are Silas and Ivie.

Silas is a Glymera vampire. He’s an aristocrat but a very respectful, gracious and, thoughtful one. He’s also very mysterious.

Ivie is a nurse at Haver’s who takes her job seriously and who’s used to dealing with death on a regular basis. She’s nothing farther from an aristocrat. She comes from a very loving family and it shows.

When Ivie and Silas meet at a bar, Ivie is tempted and even more when he proceeds to ask her out. Refusing is harder than she thinks.

Dearest Ivie brought me back to earlier BDB books. My favorite scene involves Silas meeting her family. Her dad who’s a biker and who’s fiercely protective of Ivie makes for a good laugh.

Silas, seriously, these are not your peeps. My dad has tattoos and a Harley. He and my mahmen live in a prefab house out on a farm, and eat their own chickens. Were talking beer out of a can, a store-bought cake, and hunting dogs running around under the table.

I was also surprised about the turn of events and I found myself crying over it. Ivie was rock solid when she needed to be but she also understood her limitations.

It was extremely hard not to fall for Silas. He was everything Ivie needed. Ivie for her part was smart, honest and she had no qualms about speaking her mind. She told it like it was. No sugar coating.

I hope to see these characters again in another BDB book.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

I have read all of the black dagger brotherhood books & spin offs and this latest offering is sadly highly predictable.further, i feel the characterisation,in particular the heroes, was lacking.yes this is only a novella but i still expect to like the characters and for them to have some personality .in my opinion this adds nothing to the series, however, die hard fans will no doubt wish to read it as i did.

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