Sandy M’s review of The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward
Contemporary Romance/Family Saga published by NAL 28 Jul 15

For those of you who are fans of Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, be warned before you begin reading this book – it is entirely, completely different. No gimmicks with dialogue, no cheesiness. Aside from the hero trying to right all his wrongs to be with the woman he loves, what I like most about this book is we get three other main stories and a few minor ones all in one place. Some readers may not care for that, but I’ve always been a fan of the secondary romance in any books I read, so this family arc is right up my alley. Ms. Ward pulled me in and kept me in place until the last word was read.

Though it’s probably already been said, to get you in the right frame of mind, think of the 1980’s TV soap opera Dallas – times ten. A more modern wealth and all it can bring – and take.

It’s been two years since Lane’s and Lizzie’s lives exploded after finding love. She’s the horticulturist for the family estate; he’s the youngest son in the family that’s made their fortune from bourbon. An emergency has brought Lane home after his self-imposed absence. He’s determined to show Lizzie she’s been the only one for him since they met and he left his playboy ways behind. The biggest problem will be getting rid of his wife, a woman who expertly manipulates at the drop of a hat in that evil southern way. Even with a good plan in mind, things happen left and right to knock Lane off track on his way to happiness.

Lizzie is just as determined as Lane, but her plan is stay as far away from him as possible, and it shouldn’t be difficult as the estate staff prepare for the annual brunch to celebrate the upcoming Charlemont Derby. It is quite impossible, however, and she finds herself falling all over again, especially in light of his intentions to pave the way for them to have the life together they’ve both dreamed of.

In the meantime, we get to meet the rest of the family. There’s older brother Edward, who was the heir-apparent before a horrible event took everything from him. He now runs a horse stable, hiding from those he used to hobnob with and dousing himself with booze to keep the pain at bay and bought women to make him forget – or maybe it’s remember – the one he can no longer have. Then there’s the only sister, Gin. She’s the typical spoiled child of wealth. Having never worked a day in her life, she has a child she can’t relate to and is in love with a man she’s played too many times. She also has one of the best scenes in the book when she finally swallows her pride and declares her feelings. Then there’s the mysterious Max. We get to know only a little about him in flashbacks and a few mentions throughout the book, which makes him all the more a curiosity. All three are quite intriguing, but it’s Edward’s book I’m looking forward to at this point.

If you’re familiar with the old show Dallas, get ready to have your recollections of J.R. Ewing chucked and taken over by the patriarch of this family, William Baldwine. This man causes havoc left and right just because he can, especially when it comes to his children. I’m hoping we eventually find out why that is. There are other very memorable secondary characters, i.e., Miss Aurora and Greta. Then there’s just the drama that never seems to stop when it comes to this family, at times horrible drama. Secrets are revealed throughout the book, so you’re constantly drawn in, not only to see how the characters react and resolve but also to see what happens next. Yep, you’re that hooked.

Okay, the romance issue. I agree with what I’ve seen and heard so far, there’s not a huge amount. For me, though, candlelit dinners and the like is not all there is to romance. Lane spends the entirety of this story to do the right thing for Lizzie, to show her how much she means to him. That’s much more memorable and romantic to me. I don’t need a requisite four sex scenes in every novel I read. The time spent with the other siblings is for setup for the next books in the series, yes. But this is also a family saga, thus getting to know the family is imperative. If these family characters aren’t as intriguing, likable, and sympathetic as they are, it would be a whole different story. This family, however, is hip deep in secrets, sorrow, and trouble, so the triumphs, as few as they are, and the love to come will make it all come together in the end. You just have to give it a chance.

Another thing I like about this book is it deals with older characters, especially the hero and heroine. We don’t get more mature main characters that often in romance, so I really enjoy them when I come across them. While there is probably a new crop of younger readers with every passing year, there’s also “older” readers as those same years go on. I’m one of those. Twenty-somethings don’t hold the same appeal as they once did for me – thirty-somethings, heck even forty-somethings would be welcome a bit more often.

I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series. No idea when that will be or what the title is or anything; nothing on the author’s site so far. But I have a feeling it’s going to be worth waiting for.

Grade: A

Summary:

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.

No excerpt available.