The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

• Title:  The Bourbon Kings
• Series:  The Bourbon Kings #1
• Author:  J.R. Ward
• Genre:  Contemporary Romance
• Published:  July 2015 – NAL
• Source:  Publisher

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. (publisher)

My take:  Reminiscent of the nighttime soaps of the 70s and 80s, Dallas and Falcon Crest, The Bourbon Kings is the story of the Bradford (Baldwine) family who make bourbon. They are filthy rich and have the problems associated with the filthy rich.

The  family is made up of a hateful patriarch, a mother who never comes out of her bedroom, a physically and psychologically wounded oldest son, a middle son who disappeared by choice, a younger son who having returned home feels the need to be responsible, and a daughter, the youngest child, who faces an impossible situation. The supporting characters are colorful and add layers to the story.

I won’t go into the plot more than sharing the publisher’s synopsis. If The Bourbon Kings sounds like your kind of entertainment I think you’ll enjoy it. I liked it and look forward to the second book in the series. If you’re heading to the beach for the Labor Day weekend this would be the perfect book to toss in the beach bag.

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About the author:

J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with more than 15 million novels in print published in 25 different countries around the world. A graduate of Smith College, she currently lives in Kentucky where she has learned to enjoy and appreciate all things Southern. Prior to becoming an expat Yankee, she worked as a lawyer in Boston and spent many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard’s world-renowned academic medical centers.

This summer Ward introduces a new contemporary series set in her adopted home state of Kentucky with the novel The Bourbon Kings. The series will follow the intertwined and scandalous fortunes of several ultra wealthy Kentucky families who have made their fortunes from bourbon.

J.R. Ward lives with her husband, daughter and their beloved golden retriever, as well as many other dogs, in Kentucky. Visit her popular website and fan community at www.jrward.com and Facebook.com/JRWardBooks.

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