Lover Enshrined: A Novel of The Black Dagger Brotherhood

A book about the power of pain and letting regrets hold an axe over your head, waiting to fall at any time. Of trying to do everything for everyone so you dont have to look at yourself. About the lengths people will go to to feel numb in the place of pain or regret, or even happiness. And of the despair and lonliness and shame that comes with addiction for the addict, and the fear, helplessness and frustration that the loved ones of the addict feel when there is not to be done. A story of finding the will to let go of your own expectations and accepting yourself, flaws and all, of finding that reason to get up and make a change, to find help in dislodging the monkey on your back and learning to make ammends with yourself and others who you had even inadvertantly hurt and pushed away with addiction. A very true to life look at the power of addiction. How the drug use will make you hate yourself more and more, and push you to use more and more to escape that hate, only for it to grow more. Of a families attempts to talk to an out of control addict on the verge of suicide who believes there is nothing left for them but pain and regret. And of the strength and hope that can be found when that first sober breath fills your body, feeling like the first deep breath you've taken in..forever. A story of redemption in your own eyes, not someone else's, and of realizing love is not a concept you can give to nor accept from anyone when you cant accept it from yourself. And that even at your worst, someone who loves you will stay and talk nonsense to you if only to give you comfort, and realizing that is what means the most, not the looks or the parts that would be considered inferior to others you mistakingly compare yourself to. This book is about taking a stand for what you think is right, even if it destroys years of tradition, because it is what you believe is right....and in having to deal with the consequences of those choices, both seeminly insignificant and those beyond the imagination of their reaching. And taking responsibility for who you are and what you did, and rising from the ashes, forgiving your sins, real or imagined, and becoming stronger for your trials of fire.

The most uninteresting of the books in this series. Phury has his moments as a side character but a whole book was a mistake. I've read all the books and this is the only one I feel I could have skipped. Zsadist from book 3 was my favorite though, if that's any kind of reference for you.

Phurys story broke my heart and the struggle to find himself in his addiction and depression made the story so vivid to me. The truth about the Omegas son and the connection kept me glued to the pages! Loved it. Everytime I think Im going to try and start a new series.. BlackDagger pulls me right back in !