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The Story of Son

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First released in the anthology Dead After Dark, dive into this hot novella from #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward. Available for the first time ever as a standalone ebook, get lost in the sinful pleasures of a vampire so obsessed with one woman, he will relinquish her blood, if only he can have her heart...

Held captive by a dark, seductive vampire with an unworldly hunger, the beautiful Claire Stroughton fears her life as a lawyer has irrevocably taken a turn for the worse. But when this deeply sensual-and highly dangerous-vampire convinces Claire that his desire for her is stronger than his lust for blood, she is compelled to give everything up to him, body and soul...

Please note: this is not part of the Black Dagger Brotherhood even though it's set in the same "world".

114 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2008

296 people are currently reading
4998 people want to read

About the author

J.R. Ward

221 books52.4k followers
J.R. Ward is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels, including the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. She lives in the South her family.

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5 stars
3,240 (48%)
4 stars
2,016 (30%)
3 stars
1,048 (15%)
2 stars
249 (3%)
1 star
80 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 521 reviews
Profile Image for Sammy Loves Books.
1,137 reviews1,681 followers
May 15, 2015
I read this story in the anthology, Dead After Dark that I picked up at my local library, and Loved it!!

Son

A definite 5 star love story of a lawyer and a vampire finding love against all odds. This story was very touching and I loved the heroine. She was smart, aggressive, and fiercely loyal. All traits making her worthy of an alpha male vampire.

I would love for Ward to develop this into a full novel or allow these characters to find their way to the BDB world. Who knows...maybe Son will find his way to the BDB Training Camp! LOL
Profile Image for Sophia Triad.
2,241 reviews3,764 followers
February 11, 2020
Michael and Claire

He grabbed on to her in so tight her bones bent. As he buried his head in her hair, his voice dropped to a growl.
"Mine," he said."You are mine. Always."

A short story thar takes place in the same world as BDB, but it is not part of the main series or the spinoff. Maybe at some point in the future, we will have a connection with the Brothers, who knows? Ward has hinted that there might be something there that we will see again in the main series together with some answers.

Michael has been a prisoner of his own mother all his life. His only joy in life are women that his mother brings him as a present once per year. Michael is extremely innocent, gentle and nice...for a vampire.

Claire is an attorney who visits strange Miss Leeds for one of her cases. After a cup of tea, she will wake up at her client basement and she will become acquintant with Michael. She will spend 3 days with him before she is set free. But she will never forget him.

This is a really well-written short story. I wish it was longer, but I have the feeling that we will see again Michael and Claire.
Profile Image for Jason Bradley.
1,092 reviews316 followers
April 13, 2018
okay, so.... Let me tell you how much I was enjoying this story. It was great. A strong powerful woman who doesn't feel like she needs to have a man or children to define her, who can be alone without being lonely. Who doesn't bend to the pressure to be a certain way, who is happy with who she is. She stays strong in the face of being abducted. She acts logically and asks the right questions.
Then there is Son (Michael). He was the gentle monster. The beast that Claire falls in love with.

But then it becomes a JR Ward book. Anything nonconformist is a flag to wave, a reason for pride, until love comes along. You see, love cures all. Once in love, you no longer like BDSM, piercings... and now it even cures the strong woman. Claire realizes that up until she fell in love, she was just a man inside a woman's body... because a REAL woman couldn't be strong and independent and not need family to define her. Now she suddenly wants baby food on her blouse and no longer wants to work as a powerful lawyer.

And the book was ruined. I stopped reading at about 70%.
Profile Image for warhawke.
1,548 reviews2,235 followers
June 8, 2015
Type: Standalone Novella
POV: Third Person
Rating:





Claire Stroughton was a lawyer specializing in estate management. When one of biggest and long time client called for a meeting, she didn’t think much about the long drive to Caldwell. A simple trip for a signature turned out to be more than she bargained for when her client apparently had something else in mind.

Son was different from the day he was born and that unfortunately earned him a life in isolation. He never wanted something more until he met with the headstrong Claire. He was afraid of the possibility while she was determined to show him something new.



I’ve always been a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series since I first picked up the first book. However, since the books are so long, I stopped at book 2. I’ve been meaning to continue the series, but still can’t find the time. So when I saw this novella, I knew it would be a good substitute until I can get to commit to reading the full books. Yes, this novella certainly helped with my craving, but at the same time made it worse because it reminded me what I’ve been missing.

“Let me help you. Give me your word.”


The Story of Son was about two individuals taking chances, doing something outside their comfort zone. Sometimes you never realized what you need until it presented itself to you.

She might look like a lady from her chignon to her sensible pumps, but on the inside she was a killer.


I love Claire as a heroine. She was strong willed and assertive, always knew what she wanted in this life. But when something happened that required a change in her beliefs, she wasn’t afraid in adapting.

He was as beautiful as his voice, as beautiful as his scent, as beautiful as an angel . . .


Son, or Michael as Claire renamed him, was hard not to fall in love with. His innocence and sadness pulled me to him. He was incredible polite and old fashion – a perfect gentleman. But do not be mistaken for him being a pushover. He was alpha to the core. And he had long hair with red and black!



All the feeding scenes were incredibly sexy. I don’t even mind that they fell in love within three days. I mean vampires are different from human. They probably excrete some kind of hormone making women dropping their panties in a snap. I know I’ve been affected by that haha!

Overall, this little standalone novella is great addition to the BDB series whether you’re a huge fan or just started to dabble in the sexy world of fangdom.

“Mine,” he said. “You are mine. Always.”




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Profile Image for Jen.
1,655 reviews1,161 followers
April 23, 2015
Of course I loved this novella from JR Ward! In true "Warden" fashion this was full of sizzling sex, and a ton of emotion. She sure knows how to pack a punch, even if the story is short and has so much crammed into so little! I wish it were longer, as I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the tall,dark,tortured and sexy vampire. Yes, poor "Son" aka Micheal was like so many of JR Ward's heroes...tortured...Poor guy, and I fell in love with him from the first page he was introduced! How could I not?? He had black and red hair that fell down to his waist..oh yeah...I am totally buying what she is selling! LOL My favorite thing about Ms. Ward is how she is able to describe her characters so that it feels like I am watching a movie. I have never had diffuculty visualizing any thing that she writes.

I don't really want to give any part of the story away; but we have Claire, who is a lawyer; and Micheal; who is a captured vampire who has an innocencs about him that is so endearing. If you love the BDB series, then this is a must read! It will keep you satisfied while we are stuck waiting for a year for the next installment of our beloved Brothers!!! I can't believe I waited so long to read this one! It was origionally included in an anthology but now has been released on its own. Worth every penny in my eyes!
Profile Image for Exina.
1,275 reviews417 followers
May 16, 2015
2.5 stars

I read this story in the anthology Dead After Dark years ago, but sadly I didn’t like it more now than back then.

The story is enjoyable enough but feels a little half-baked to me.

Still, a must-read for fans of the series BDB!
Profile Image for CC.
1,252 reviews730 followers
September 3, 2015
4.5 Stars!!

Son/Michael is a vampire who is forced to endure a life in captivity until Claire gives him a chance at hope, love and a valued existence. Claire is an attorney who lives for the job and the competition, but she has never had the urge to settle down into the married life. When she is summoned to meet with her client at the Leeds Estate, Claire soon discovers her client has ulterior motives. The short client appointment turns into a weekend stay that irrevocably changes Claire’s life.

Once Claire realizes she is being held captive in the estate, she is confronted immediately with the reason why she is imprisoned, so Son can “take from her” the vital sustenance he needs. The interaction between Son and Claire is friendly but also cautious. While they are fearful, they still treat each other with civility. Additionally, Claire is immediately taken by Son’s overwhelming male presence.

“His six-foot five frame was dressed in a red silk robe that fell to the floor and was tied with an embroidered sash. His hair was as black as night and pulled off his face, falling down in vast waves…The perfection of it was stunning, with his square jaw, thick lips, and straight nose the pinnacle of male magnificence.”

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In their short time together, Claire and Son (whom she names Michael) develop a deep bond and they wonder how they can continue their relationship given Michael’s captivity and circumstance. Their discovery is quite lovely, selfless, and very hot – let’s not forget how hot vamp sex can be! After Claire is released, she is determined to find a way to rescue Michael, but she does not want to create a different type of caged existence for him. As the plot continues to develop, Claire and Michael find their way back to each other and they do get their version of HEA.

“This was him staking his claim to her in addition to loving her. This was a possession by something other than a human man and it was totally fine by her.”

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Having only read the first book of the Black Dagger Brotherhood a few years ago, this novella was a perfect compliment to the world in Caldwell. I don’t know if Claire and Michael ever weave their way into the BDB series, but their story was beautifully written and left me wanting to know more about Michael’s origin.
Profile Image for P .
695 reviews345 followers
March 9, 2015
เป็นเรื่องสั้นที่แทรกอยู่ในเล่ม Dead After Dark ของเชอร์ริลีน
เนื้อเรื่องไม่ได้เกี่ยวข้องกับหนังสือชุด BDB โดยตรงหรอก แต่เหตุการณ์เกิดอยู่ในจักรวาลเดียวกัน
สงสัยว่าทำไมเพิ่งมาปล่อยขายแยกเอาป่านนี้ ทั้งๆที่หนังสือตีพิมพ์ตั้งแต่ปีมะโว้ (7 ปีที่แล้วได้มั้ง)
แต่เอาเถอะ แฟนๆ J.R. Ward อย่างเราก็อุดหนุนอยู่ดี

เพราะนี่เป็นเรื่องสั้นที่สนุกและเราหยิบมาอ่านบ่อยมากๆ
โดยเฉพาะฉากที่พระนางถูกจับขังด้วยกันนี่ อร๊างงงงงงงง มากมาย
พระเอกมุ๊งมิ๊งน่ารักมากกกกกกกกกกกกก

เอิ่ม ... จะบอกว่าหน้าปก นี่ไม่ใช่พระเอกที่เราจินตนาการเอาไว้เลย เหอๆ
น่าจับไปขึ้นหน้าปก The Shadows มากๆ เทรซกับไอแอมชัดๆเลยคนนี้

ขอก็อปรีวิวทีเคยรีวิวไปแล้วมาแปะนะ
Profile Image for Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews .
1,566 reviews211 followers
December 18, 2015
Well that was a great little story! I hope they find the brothers and make their way into future books. I am sure there are question and concerns they can help each other with.

Perfect little taste until the next BDB/Legacy book comes out :)

Me likes!
Profile Image for Floripiquita.
1,475 reviews169 followers
October 27, 2018
Historia cortita y entretenida sobre una abogada de armas tomar y un vampiro muy caliente y dulce al mismo tiempo, con todas las características de los que salen en la serie de la Hermandad, pero que de alguna forma no está relacionado con ellos.
Profile Image for Kimberly Carrington-Fox.
859 reviews195 followers
April 20, 2018
Un breve y demasiado simple relato situado en el universo de los vampiritos pero no relacionado con ellos. Obviamente al ser tan breve es todo muy apresurado y con lagunas por todos sitios pero tiene un macho de valía que es un encanto y al que le huele el pito a canela y una sesión guarreril decentilla. Una lectura para echar un ratito
Profile Image for Mrinmayi.
155 reviews672 followers
October 17, 2020
I totally get the hype !!
I mean J. R. Ward is that author who makes you wanna read all her books
HOWEVER, I shouldn't have started with this book

This was the first book I read by this author & I have to say..she keeps you engaged
•Her writing style is amazing
•She pulls you into the plot

But since this book is a novella..the romance felt underdeveloped
I really wish it was a full-length book
Because I think the characters were really interesting
But it felt kinda insta lovey (Which was a given bcoz of the length of the book)
But still, it did not meet my expectations

Got the pun??!! hehe
But I will definitely read the authors other books🤗
Profile Image for Stacie.
2,550 reviews274 followers
July 24, 2018
4 1/2 "Captive" Stars!!

I loved this novella. I completely fell for Michael and Claire. It was very sweet and very sexy. It packs a punch for around 100 pages, but I do wish there was more. Because... Questions! The mother!!

I thought I was about to read a story based in the BDB world, but this story was completely unrelated to the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. It did take place mostly in Caldwell, but Michael was not like the other Caldie vampires. That was a wee bit confusing at first. I mean you get something I'm your head about the way things should be and it's hard to let go.

Any way, I'm really happy I finally read this story. I've only had it for about three years... And even though this wasn't a BDB book, it made me want to visit with my favorite Caldie vamps. Happy reading!!
Profile Image for Sarah.
3,358 reviews1,236 followers
February 19, 2016
3.5 stars

I've seen mixed opinions on whether The Story of Son fits into J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series or not, some people say it's set in the same world but about stand alone characters while other's say it's in an entirely separate world. I can't confirm for sure either way but to me it feels like a story written by the author before she had finished fully developing the BDB world. In a lot of ways it has a very similar feel to that series (although these aren't characters you'll have met before and I didn't spot any cameos from familiar faces) but it doesn't quite follow the BDB rules, it's almost as if this was a trial run and she used the story to help her figure out the vampire mythology that a lot of fans are now familiar with thanks to the BDB series. That isn't a negative, I just thought it might help to clarify things for readers who (like I was!) are confused about where this story fits into the series.

It's also worth noting that this story was previously included in the Dead After Dark anthology before being released as a stand alone eBook. Again not a complaint but just something you might want to be aware of so you don't end up buying something you've already read.

So, now we've got that out of the way let's talk about the actual novella! The Story of Son is fairly short so you're going to have to just go with the almost instant connection between the main characters but I don't think you'll find that too hard because it's written to J.R. Ward's usual high standards and both Son and Claire are extremely likeable characters. I don't want to say too much about the plot because it would be very easy to give spoilers but when lawyer Claire is asked to visit an important client about a last minute change to her will she ends up getting a lot more than she bargained for.

Son, who Claire thankfully renames Michael, has had a pretty horrible time of things and I felt terrible for the way he had been treated by the people who should have cared for him. Claire is the first person to see underneath the monster he's been told he is to the sweet, caring guy that he actually is and it's her love that helps to save him. I really liked both of these characters and I enjoyed their story even though I would have loved to see this turned into a full length novel. I'd quite like to see more of Michael and Claire but I'm not really sure how that could work, I can't see them being able to appear in the BDB books because of certain inconsistencies in the world building but I can't imagine J.R. Ward creating a whole new series around them when it would be so similar to the books she already writes. It's a shame really because they could have been a great couple to spend more time with.

I'd kind of lost my love of the BDB series a little over the last few years and have fallen behind by not reading the last few releases but this reminded me why I always loved J.R. Ward's writing so much. It's made me realise how much I've missed the BDB world so if nothing else I'm glad it's rekindled my excitement and I'm now looking forward to continuing with the main series.
Profile Image for Elfina Renee.
611 reviews226 followers
April 15, 2015
Excellent...excellent, it was nice rereading this story again. True love, act of desperation and for once a vampire of male worth was in distress. So it was an awesome read....but what is a little bloodletting among humans and vampires? Hahahahahahah
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,268 reviews922 followers
October 11, 2022
Claire is a career driven lawyer so when her longtime client requests she come by at 5pm on the Friday before Labor Day weekend she doesn’t hesitate to go. However, things don’t go as planned and she winds up locked in the basement with the client’s son, a vampire who needs to feed. She’s terrified at first, but this vampire, “Son” as his horrible mother never named him, is sweet and gentlemanly. Despite her reservations and circumstances Claire finds herself attracted to Son and the feelings are mutual.

Finding out Son’s sad story enrages Claire, but she’s got plans to change things if she can manage to break them out of their prison.

The Story of Son
was a short, steamy, addictive story that sucked me in immediately! While set in the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series it’s not a part of it, but fans will definitely enjoy it! It’s a hot romance sprinkled with a bit of danger, and I enjoyed every minute!

A copy was kindly provided by Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Pam Nelson.
3,798 reviews124 followers
October 12, 2022
Interesting!
Now I didn't figured this would be part of the BDB orbit and its not but it is in their world.
I love it.
The mother was a peach.
But what a story of resiliency, I hate what has to happen to him to find his one.
Can we get a heck yes for Claire because wow she is awesome.

I don't want to give anything away but I will say I totally fist bumped the air, hell yessss to women power!

As always Jim is BDB for me, even if that means not actual BDB.
Profile Image for Teresa (Reads_Romance).
293 reviews287 followers
March 28, 2019
Omg. This is my new favorite vampire novella. It was actual perfection and I won’t hear a word against it. Michael is my dream man and I really hope I react like Claire if this ever happens to me. The woman was amazing! I only wish it was a full length novel, but ya know, it was so perfect as a novella I’m not even that mad.
Profile Image for Yukino.
1,120 reviews
February 24, 2017
LETTURA DI GRUPPO E&L

Volevo mettere quattro stelle, ma poi mi sono trattenuta. In fondo è un racconto breve. Nonostante questo, e la prima parte un pò "nave-scuola" per i miei gusti, mi è proprio piaciuto. Tenero e divertente. e poi..chissà mai che ce li ritroviamo nella serie principale della Confraternita. Magari! Anche perchè sono un pò curiosa di sapere...
Ma partiamo con ordine. Questo libro parla di un'avvocatessa Clare che viene convocata da una sua cliente per ricontrollare il suo testamento. Mentre è li, viene drogata e portata giù in cantina dove conoscerà...il figlio della signora.
Non dico altro. Se vi manca la Ward e volete un romanzo fresco, divertente e romantico, senza che vi impegni troppo e ambientato a Caldewell...avete trovato il racconto giusto ^^
Tre stelle e mezzo
Profile Image for Matthew Cross.
422 reviews39 followers
July 2, 2022
oh my god what an absolutely fantastic story , i wish it was a full novel , i didn't want it to end
Profile Image for Dina.
1,221 reviews50 followers
April 26, 2015
5 stars!!

description

I know it's not perfect, but it was for me.

I know it's not my absolute favorite of Ms. Ward's work, but still it was beyond my expectations for such a short story with such a brilliant story line and plot!

I really, really hope those two come visit the BDB pages.. it would be AWESOME!!

Great work!
Profile Image for Rebecka.
499 reviews
April 18, 2015
I loved this little short story!!
Had I known this short was in the Dead After Dark Anthology I would have read it long ago! J.R. Reminds me exactly why I love the Paranormal Romance genre. I would love for the story of Michael & Claire to continue with a search for his father and other vamps in Caldwell. I am sooo not against the story to collide with the BDB hotties!!
Profile Image for Melissa ***BITCH, I'M READING!***.
332 reviews210 followers
September 3, 2013
I'm not really sure why this say it's apart of the BDB series..the brothers are not in it...

That being said I did enjoy the story..maybe Micheal/Son will pop up later in the BDB series..I have no clue...
Profile Image for Megan Riverina Romantics.
1,365 reviews75 followers
August 25, 2024
Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Narrator Performance: 🎧🎧🎧🎧

This novella by J.R. Ward was rather interesting. I quite enjoyed it although it leaves both the reader and characters with unanswered questions. That’s a bit disappointing. I had wished to learn more of Michael’s beginnings.

I love how the story ended. There was definitely a few twists that I wasn’t expecting.

As a long time reader of Ward’s I found this story a bit frustrating. It’s a vampire romance although it’s not part of her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Or is it? The bulk of the story takes place in Caldwell NY which is where the BDB series is set. Plus Michael’s powers seem to be the same as the vampire powers in that world. However Michael himself is different than the vampires of that world and in fact would not be alive if he was a vampire from the BDB universe. Frankly? It’s just confusing.

Jim Frangione is one of the OG narrators of today’s age. He’s been around for a while now and is beloved by many. I’ve always liked his narration but he’s never been a favorite of mine. He doesn’t really do voices for the characters which is what I prefer. I found that this time around he had more pronunciation mistakes in his performance than usual.
Profile Image for Ale Rivero.
1,304 reviews120 followers
March 23, 2022
Este es un relato corto ambientado en el mundo de los vampiros pero no en el de la Hermandad 🤔 creo que involucra a un esclavo de sangre, hace mucho que lo leí, debo releerlo.
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