I put off starting this series because of all the negative things I heard about it coming from other BDB fans. While this series is based in the same area, and you get to see a few of the BDB boys on the periphery, this series has to be viewed as a stand-alone project.And it's a good one.The characters are strong but flawed, absolutely masculine but still dealing with their weaknesses. The overall arc was strong, the battle between good and evil set up well, and the individual love story in the book was well-written and beautiful. And yet I wouldn't call this a romance novel...at all.Great book, four stars absolutely. I'd recommend it to anyone as a good read as long as they didn't expect Rhage and Mary to come trotting through. ;-)
