Where Winter Finds You: A Caldwell Christmas (The Black Dagger Brotherhood series
When Trez lost his beloved to a tragic death ( The Shadows, Black Dagger Brotherhood #13), his soul was crushed and his destiny seemed relegated to suffering. But when he meets a mysterious female, he becomes convinced his true love has been reincarnated. Is he right? Or has his grief created a disastrous delusion?
Therese has come to Caldwell to escape a rift with her bloodline. The revelation that she was adopted and not born into her family shakes the foundations of her identity, and she is determined to make it on her own. Her attraction to Trez is not what she’s looking for, except the sexy Shadow proves to be undeniable.
Has fate provided a grieving widower with a second chance...or is Trez too blinded by the past to see the present for what it really is? In this sensual, arresting book full of the themes of redemption and self-discovery, two lost souls find themselves at a crossroads where the heart is the only compass that can be trusted...but that may require a courage that neither of them possesses.
Reviews (199)
Mixed feelings
**SPOILERS AHEAD** I must confess that I am struggling with this book. I don’t feel like giving it 4 stars, but 3 seems a little low so let’s say it’s 3.75. The main problem with this book for me is that it sort of reopened a wound that for me was already healed. Selena’s death in The Shadows was devastating. I honestly grieved her death for many months. But I learned to move on, I found comfort in the next books and focused on the other stories and characters (e.g. Rhun and Saxton!) and even though I still felt sorry for Trez, I just knew that he would be fine eventually, just like Tohr after Wellsie. It would take time, but it would happen. So when we first met Therese I was a little worried about how this whole reincarnation thing would play out and after reading this book I can say I was right to be worried. Yes, I am thrilled that Trez finally got his HEA. However, the whole reincarnation thing felt too forced, as I imagined it would. This is Jane turning into a ghost all over again. A sort of Deus ex machina that is supposed to right some wrong. It didn’t convince me though. I think I would have preferred if Therese had been someone else entirely different. And maybe Selena would just show up to give her blessings to Trez. Or if this whole reincarnation thing had at least been hinted still at The Shadows to give us something to look forward to. As it is, it was a little too late to bring Selena back and a little too soon to have Trez fall in love with someone else. Which is really confusing, hence my mixed feelings about this book. I don’t hate it. I just feel that maybe the timing for this story had been completely out of the mark. Despite all that, I really liked Trez’s plans for the future and I wanted to see more of that. Going back to school, changing careers, living with the in-laws, becoming and uncle! Those were things that I wanted to see in the epilogue yet, unfortunately, were just briefly mentioned.
Disappointing
I love vampire romances! I’ve read all of this author’s books, and for a while this was my favorite series. Nowadays the BDB books are hit or miss. This one was a miss for me. The premise was only barely intriguing - Trez, recently widowed of Selena, meets a woman who looks like his dead wife - but I was excited about reading a Christmas BDB book. The heroine, Therese, was not very compelling - pretty and nice but immature and bland. The hero, Trez, wasn’t any more compelling - handsome and strong but sad and confused. They didn’t have much chemistry. The storyline was far-fetched, and the writing was flat. Overall, disappointing.
Kind of Meh.
Where Winter Finds You isn't a standalone. You need to be familiar with the BDB series and you need to read book 13 THE SHADOWS in this series before reading this book. This book was not as well written as J.R. Ward's first 5 or 10 books. The editing has certainly gone down hill and the prices have gone up since Simon and Schuster took over. Trez Latimer is a Shadow who not long ago sacrificed everything to mate with Selena, a Chosen. When she died after their short time together he lost the will to live. His brother and those in his life who care for him worry about this and are concerned that he’ll take matters in his own hands, which he has been tempted to do. But recently, a young woman named Therese comes to work for iAm in his restaurant as a server and stuns everyone from the brotherhood who sees her because she’s a dead ringer for Selena. Therese has come to Caldwell to escape a rift with her family. The revelation that she was adopted and not born into her family shakes the foundations of her identity, and she is determined to make it on her own. Her attraction to Trez is not what she’s looking for, except the sexy Shadow proves to be irresistable. So, Trez gets his HEA. Yay! The ending wrapped up a little too quickly and easily though. There was very little action and danger in this story. There was a tiny amount near the end. The story dealt with mostly the romance between the H and h. You get glimpses of other members of the BDB family. I love when that happens. It seems that J.R. found a way to explain the Darius/John conundrum in explaining how the Selena/Theresa thing was able to happen. Go Lassiter! Does anyone else get perturbed at how J.R. describes something simple with a pound of adjectives, adverbs, analogies and metaphors? Sometimes I just want to get the story plain and simple.
Hell ya!!
Now that was a HEA worth waiting for!!! Ever since I read The Shadows I've been dying for this book and I was not disappointed ( not that I ever am ). The Warden has done it again. Every time I think it cannot get any better she proves me wrong. Now every time I do a re-read of the series I can consol myself with the thought of this book giving me the much needed release from grief and passing me into a place of happiness. Thank you for this book!!!
Two souls found once again
Trez's book was so superb, what was once lost has been found again thanks to an angel with a heart for love. Therese who once was at dought for what and who she was and Trez doughting the reason to live have now found all the answers needed. Thank you to the fallen angel. I loved this story and how Trez found his HEA with Therese forever.
Depressing, depressing, depressing Very disappointing
I love this series, I love the authors writing, but this book was just depressing. It was chapters and chapters of the main character thinking about suicide and how sad and depressed he was. It felt like a few pages of very brief happiness and then the rest was just plain old depressing. I don’t recommend this book, read a different one in the series. Who wants to read such a depressing book especially around Christmas? Not me
Finally forever!
Where Winter Finds You is an emotional journey, one that was started in the 13th book, The Shadows, this more of a continuation of Trez's journey to his happily ever after. After losing his Shellan Selena, Trez has been on a downward spiral of grief and pain, contemplating suicide is nothing new for him lately. He felt adrift in the world except for the few times he is around Therese. The woman looks exactly like his Selena, it's almost as if she is his shellan but that can't be, can it? Therese moved to Caldwell from Michigan, she felt compelled to come here after having a fight with her family. Trying to start over with no support, very little money was scary but she was eager to make her own way. Luckily she got a job at an Italian restaurant, the chef I Am, was breed so that was a plus. Trez and Therese both recognize the pull to each other, her because she has been dreaming about him for a while and he because he thinks she is Selena come back to him. The journey they are on isn't an easy one but well worth it in the end.
When Love Breaks Through the Shadows
I have been waiting for the next part of Trez's story. I still cry when I think about the exquisite love he shared and absolute heartbreak that ultimately defines the time he shared with Selena. The untethered honesty with which their story unfolds is unforgettable. There are some hard truths that the main characters, Trez and Therese, must both face in this book. It was impossible to put down because each facet led me closer to the conclusion I needed to know. I was captivated by the sweet love that blossomed, scorched by the heat which consumed, and soothed when they finally find what they both deserve. J.R. Ward continues to reel me into this addictive Black Dagger Brotherhood Universe with her humor, wit, and beautiful prose. Her constant commitment to love, loyalty, honesty, and family are themes which never grow old for me. The notion that one must always fight and protect those they hold dear also shines bright in this book. Where Winter Finds You is a legacy to the sentiment that love must be honest and well-intentioned if it is to survive.
Wonderful BDB Christmas Story And HEA For A Great Coup
I think the majority of us faithful BDB readers that have read this series since the beginning have always felt Trez and Selena deserved a much happier ending. This fantastic story finally brings them full circle. Ward's writing is always complex and full of depth from the characters emotions to the main couple's personal trials to reach their HEA. She sure puts Trez and Selena/ Therese through the proverbial ringer in this one. Another thing I appreciate about her writing is that she is willing to write a big enough book to give the reader a complete story, in this case 480 pages. One of my biggest frustrations is with authors who begin a story, be it one book or a trilogy, then rush the ending leaving important unanswered questions or shallow unfulfilling HEAs. BDB readers do NOT skip this book, not only is it important to the overall storyline but it contains a much needed beautiful HEA!
Emotional with HEA
Admitting I cried at the beginning of the book as Trez replays Selena's death almost had me thinking I can't do this again. But then there is Therese, how is this possible the she is the exac copy of Trez's mate? Does it matter? His queen is here with him and that is all that matters, right? Trez has a connection with her, and Therese has feelings she can not explain. After she left what she thought was her blood family she headed to Caldwell without knowing why. And now she has Trez. As tragedy strikes her family, Trez has more questions then answers, not sure this is right. Is it even possible? JR Ward has brought another brilliant story with emotions all over. Lassiter has his moment to 'shine' which is awesome. An emotional story that leads to a great HEA the Trez deserves. I love this series and can not wait for more.
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