The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward Book Review
I have found that it takes a certain frame of mind to delve into a family saga, one that I do not have all the time. On days when I am frazzled and busy, that is not the time to settle in with a saga. It is quieter, calm days where I can focus and get involved with a deep storyline that I relish diving into books like this new release. From bestselling author J.R. Ward is a new found classic must-read this summer!
The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward
Publisher: NAL (July 28, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-0451475268
Synopsis: For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.
For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.
As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.
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My Thoughts: When diving into a family saga dealing with the rich and infamous, you always expect certain things. Like depicted in the synopsis, you have the upstairs folks and the downstairs folks. I was expecting more about the downstairs folks, but was so pleased to find this book mainly about the family drama that circulates behind the scenes. Not everything is what is seems in the life and times of the Bradford’s.
It took me a few tries to really get into this book. My head was not in the right place and sometimes it is tough finding your way through a family saga, learning who is who and the interactions of them all. But once I settled in, I could not stop reading! I literally read the bulk of this book in 1 day. My eyes were aching when I was done, but it was so worth it!
The author treats you to the classic southern style family with highly descriptive passages that takes your imagination right to the home and grounds of Easterly. The life and times of the mega rich is laid out for you with plenty of twists and turns in the storyline to keep you wanting more.
Not only are you treated to the family drama, secret backstabbing, deception, manipulation, underhanded business dealings, and death, but there is a secret romance that reignites too. That is what sucked me in the most. The delicious combination of all made this a fabulous read! I was engrossed and thoroughly entertained throughout.
This story surprised me in many ways. I love that it mainly revolves among two characters, Lane and Lizzie, with three of his four siblings added for a nice rounding out of the storyline. That made following this story interesting and entertaining. Even though this ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger, setting up the next portion, it was not a terrible one. But it did leave me aching for the next book! I cannot wait to see what comes from the other siblings stories!
Definitely one to grab for an in-depth read that will leave you anticipating the next installment. Things are not what they seem to be with the Bradford family! Well Done!
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.