As usual, Jim Frangione does an outstanding job with the narration. I would actually characterize this as V and Jane: Part II. However, if you are expecting an amazing romance between Payne and Manny it just doesn't happen in this book. She's going somewhere with some of the old and new characters and I am definitely on board with this series. I hope Ward doesn't make us wait another year before the next installment arrives. Just like Phury's installment is a buildup to Lover Mine. The romance between Payne and Manny is just a convenient backdrop for new and old questions. There is a ton of new information and interesting new characters you might come to love or hate. I gave it a three because for the dedicated fan you can't miss this installment. It's a very tedious listen in the beginning.

This one starts off slow and I can usually deal with that out of Ward. If you are a fan of the series and loved Phury's installment this is the book for you. Overall a decent read but not one I want to listen too over and over except for the Butch/V parts. The shellans must all be on vacation because I don't remember seeing/hearing anything about them. No Rhage humor, no Phury/Zadist to speak of. She's already said she can't sell a whole book on these two because her readership won't support it so get on with the novella and give fans of Blay/Quinn a break. If she continues to tease her readers with will they/won't they for too long with no payoff, nothing she writes is going to be enough to satisfy the people who are invested in the m/m couple. Ward keeps teasing her readers with this couple. Love the bond and the humor between them all. The emotional dynamic between V/Butch and to some extent Jane is just terrific. Poor Marissa is barely mentioned except to nod approvingly as Butch goes off to fix V. The best part of the book was V/Butch/Jane. Okay, hard to get invested in that storyline. Payne's hurt, Manny gives her sexual healing, Manny can't deal with the vampires and Payne’s impact on him for like six hours, Payne's kidnapped and rescues herself in one night, Manny finds out he's Butch's half-brother and Manny/Payne have sex, the end. The storyline didn't really have time to develop in the week or so the book covers. Loner who doesn't know he's missing anything out of life but suddenly finds his shellan and 'Mine.' It was a little too quick and I think that's the problem.

Manny was pretty much what I expected too. She had that mix of innocence and warrior which is pretty much what I expected from her.

This book was good but not as emotionally satisfying as some of the others.

Lover Unleashed by J.R. Ward