The Bourbon Kings

This was a soapy delight that harkened back to the days of Dallas or Dynasty. I will admit that the very wealthy and privileged Baldwines (a.k.a the Bradfords) were a bit hard to root for at first. However, as the story moves forward, you see the humanity and vulnerability starting to surface in each character.
There is also a larger mystery unfolding behind the scenes that begins to move the pieces on the board to what will surely be a heady explosion. I like that Ms.Ward didn't try to just redeem the characters. Instead, she has allowed it to slowly play out as it would likely do in real life. Or, real life in a book about Bourbon Barons in Kentucky.
People aren't always likeable, nor are they able to pull a 180° turn in their life show more when it is in such disarray. It is always a slow learning and changing process. I truly hope that this is how Ms. Ward proceeds with her saga. I, for one, will be eager to keep visiting her lovely soap opera to see how it all pans out! show less

I must warn you that this book includes rape!

There was one thing that bothered me the most in this book. The multiple point of views. Bourbon Kings isn't only the story of Lane and Lizzie, it's the story of Gin and Samuel T., Edward and Sutton and of course of the drama that follows. Their stories have been more than set up and I highly doubt that any of those two couples will be together by the end of the second book. There is already so much angst, frustration and truths that haven't been told and they should have been long ago. What makes me sad is that if Samuel T. had stayed back things would have been very different.

Judging by the sneak peak of the second book at the end of this one, the story will continue to be told from Lane's show more point of view and when I realized that, I found it weird at first and then it seemed logical since he is way into the family secrets. I thought that in book 2 another couple/person would be the main focus (and I already couldn't decide which one I wanted more). Maybe the multiple point of views will allow the other siblings to tell their story in a satisfying fashion.

I am not sure if I like with Gin and if I approve her actions. I won't even comment on Amelia and the identity of her parents. I just cannot believe that she would allow someone to treat her like that dude was. I hope that in the next book she will have her big girl panties on. I wonder if we will ever see Max in person. He is mentioned in the couple flashbacks we get, but we never see him in person. Hopefully Edward will take more control over things now. I really liked his relationship with Shelby and I would like to see how that will go.

The ending was a little abrupt. When I finished the book, I thought that something was wrong with my copy (I got an ARC), but I checked it with the published version and the ending is the same *enter sad face*. From all the small or big plottlines only the one about Lane and Lizzie has ended and even that isn't solid. So many threads are loose that I would almost consider the end a cliffhanger. I really hope that this story won't go further than the second book. I don't want to wait a lot to find out how killed who and where the money went. I need answers and I need them now! show less

The uber-talented J. R. Ward has done it again. With The Bourbon Kings, the inaugural book in her new series of the same name, she has once more created a world that I'm eager to inhabit. This is the beginning of a family saga that isn't unlike the old '80s nighttime soaps such as Dallas and Falcon Crest that I consumed like candy, except this one is set in the world of high class liquor. We're introduced to the Baldwine family who take the word dysfunctional to a whole new level, and yet somehow I find myself rooting for all of them – or at least the kids anyway – to find their happy endings. And speaking of happy endings, Ms. Ward really freaked me out a little as I neared the end of this book. I actually started to worry, when show more about fifty pages from the end, she threw in a curveball for our hero and heroine. After the not so happy ending of her latest BDB book and accidentally picking up whispers of fans not liking this one as much as some of her others, I thought maybe she'd gone the unconventional route again, but I'm thrilled to report that everything righted itself before the final page. There is a happy ending, but still lots of room for more storytelling, not only for our “main” hero and heroine, but for all the other characters as well. I'm thoroughly intrigued by all of them and the overall story, so I'll be eagerly awaiting the release of the next book, which I'm sure won't happen until around this same time next year.

Lane is the next to the youngest of the Baldwine siblings and the youngest of the three boys. For most of his adult life, he'd been playing the consummate billionaire playboy, until he fell for Lizzie, the head horticulturist at his family's sprawling estate. They were a match made in heaven, but marrying the hired help is just not something that's done in his social circles. Through a series of mistakes and bad luck, Lane ended up married to a conniving socialite, destroying his relationship with Lizzie. After that debacle, he took himself off to New York, where he's been sleeping on his best friend's couch for the last two years. He never wanted to come home, but circumstances bring him back at a time when his family needs him the most. Lane finds himself in the unenviable position of trying to make sense of what's going on in his crazy family and needing to step up to the plate and lead during a time of utter turmoil. At this point, he's probably the closest thing to a normal, sane Baldwine there is, and that's not saying much since he's a pretty tortured individual himself. Of course, once he's back at home, he almost immediately reconnects with Lizzie and knows he wants her back in his life more than anything he's ever wanted before. I think it's super sweet that Lane never stopped loving Lizzie and that he remained faithful to her despite being separated from her for two years and marrying someone else. With the help of Lizzie and Miss Aurora, the family cook whom he considers to be his mother, he's slowly learning to become the strong man his family needs right now, even though the frightened little boy he once was is still inside him and would prefer to run away.

While this book has something of a Cinderella story vibe to it, I hesitate to actually call it that, mainly because Lizzie is no princess in need of saving. She's a stubborn, independent woman who has worked hard for everything she has. She's proud of the life she's carved out for herself and the little farm she bought that's all hers and that fulfilled a lifelong dream. Lizzie continued working for the Baldwines even after her relationship with Lane broke up. He was gone and she saw no reason to quit since he wouldn't be around to tempt her anymore. While she hates the sense of entitlement most of the Baldwines project, she finds her work there fulfilling and she has some good friends among the other staff members. When Lane returns unexpectedly, Lizzie is thrown for a loop. Seeing him again stirs up all those feelings for him that she thought she'd put to rest. Knowing she can't go through the heartbreak of losing him again, she tries to keep their relationship friends only, but he's like an addiction she can't resist. Soon the passion is flaring up between them again, but after everything that happened, she still has a hard time trusting him, which is nearly her undoing.

I really enjoyed Lane and Lizzie's romance. Nothing gets my heart going more so than a reunion romance. The longing between Lane and Lizzie when they come back together is very palpable. You can tell that Lane has never stopped loving her despite all that's happened. It's equally apparent that Lizzie still cares for him and wants to let him back in, but simply doesn't want to risk another broken heart. I think Lizzie is really good for Lane. She helps to ground him in a reality that his wealth and privilege doesn't. Even though Lizzie's mistrust nearly tears them apart again, I loved her selfless act of contrition at the end. I think it really showed just how much she truly loved Lane. The only thing that maybe could have been slightly better is if they'd had a few more detailed love scenes. This book just isn't quite as hot as most of J. R. Ward's BDB books, but I have a feeling that perhaps she was either constrained by word count or trying to appeal to a broader audience since this is a different kind of story.

Much like with her BDB books, the author juggles many other character perspectives. We get to meet Lane's oldest brother, Edward, who used to be the golden boy in business, sports, and basically everything he laid his hand to. He was also his father's whipping boy, and after being kidnapped during a trip to South America and tortured, he's merely a shell of his former self. Broken in both body and spirit, he's been hiding himself away from the world. The only woman he's ever loved is Sutton, the daughter of their family's chief rival in the bourbon business. Sutton is a beautiful, savvy businesswoman in her own right, and far more kind than most of the people who run in their circles. She's also loved Edward from afar most of her life. Things heat up for them in this book, but they end up hurting each other. I hope that these two find some peace and happiness together in a future book.

Then there's Gin, the youngest of the Baldwine siblings. She's something of a spoiled princess, who can't bear the thought of doing without. She's in a position where she'd rather marry an abusive man she doesn't love rather than give up her lifestyle, because trying to make her way in the world on her own scares her more. She also has a teenage daughter born out of wedlock when she herself was only a teenager, but she isn't particularly involved in the girl's life. Gin is one of those characters it would be easy to dislike, but I actually felt rather sorry for her. She's basically a product of her upbringing and suffered from her father's actions almost as much as her brothers. The only man she's ever loved is Samuel T., Lane's friend and attorney. For his part, Samuel T. loves her just as much, but he doesn't really trust her. These two have an incredibly dysfunctional romance in which they sleep with each other from time to time, but won't allow themselves to actually admit or embrace their love. Instead, they've spent most of their adult lives childishly trying to hurt and one-up the other with various affairs. Despite how bad they seem for each other, I'd still like to see them get together once and for all. If they could have an epiphany, stop the game playing, and begin to trust and forgive one another, I think they could turn things around to actually be good for each other.

Other characters whose influence is sure to be felt in the coming books include William Baldwine, the family patriarch, who is a horrible person. I absolutely hated him for all the terrible things he's done to nearly everyone around him, not the least of whom are his kids. I doubt we've even come close to finding out the full extent of his evil deeds. Lane's soon-to-be ex-wife, Chantal, is about as conniving as they come. She's nearly as evil as William, but while I harbor absolutely no sympathy for her, I think she may have been a victim of his villainy as well. Then there's Miss Aurora, who is the complete opposite. She's an angel on earth, nothing but goodness and light in the dark world of the Baldwines. She's a God-fearing woman who's worked for the family for many years and who basically raised all the kids like they were her own. She showed them there was a different path they could take besides the one their evil father was walking down. The middle Baldwine brother, Max, is seen in some of Lane's flashbacks to childhood, but at present, he's missing in action. Mack, the master distiller and Lane's childhood friend, has a strong reverence for the bourbon-making process. He really knows his business and is among the first to start shedding some light on William's misdeeds. Lane's best friend, Jeff, is a banker who comes to Easterly at his request to help make sense of the Bradford Bourbon account books. Last but certainly not least is Shelby, the daughter of the man who put Edward back on track after his kidnapping ordeal. Her father died, so she's come to Edward looking for a job. He hires her, and she ends up picking up where her father left off, trying to save Edward from his own self-destructive behavior. I'm not sure what her future role might be, because she's starting to get pretty close to Edward. She a sweet girl and I really like her, just not as a romantic interest for him.

Overall, The Bourbon Kings was a great start to this new series. There was enough romance to keep me satisfied, while wanting to know what new treachery of the elder Baldwine would be uncovered next. There's lots of mystery and intrigue as well, surrounding missing money and dead bodies that isn't resolved in this book, so I have plenty to look forward to in future books of the series with regards to that, as well as my hopes for future romantic parings. I'm not sure why I've seen indicators that this book isn't as good as some of Ms. Ward's others. I always try to avoid reviews before reading a book like this, but now that I'm finished, I can read them and finally find out. All I know is that it certainly has me hooked. For readers who enjoys soap-opera-style family sagas, I can't imagine this book not hitting a home run. show less

I had been eyeing this book for quite some time. Everyone had been raving about it. I finally decided to pick it up and read it. I wasn't sure what to expect, especially with it being my first J.R. Ward book. Even though I read the synopsis, I felt like I was going in blind.

This book has a Dallas/soap opera feel to it. I know, I know, this isn't about oil. But basically replace the oil aspect with bourbon. With the family secrets, the lies, the twists, the turns, the super wealthy families, this book was totally a TV show.

I had a hard time keeping the characters straight for a good part of the book. Once I had everyone figured out, I was skipping along through the drama.

This story is full of a lot of information, but it's easy to follow show more along and reads fairly quickly. The characters are likable and not-so-much likable throughout the book.

Once I hit that ending, I was full-on immersed with the story and couldn't wait to dig into The Angel's Share. show less

* Thank you NAL for the ARC *

4.5 Stars-

The Bourbon Kings was Southern Charm meets The Royals... It was classy with a whole lot of drama. This was my first read by J.R. Ward and I can now understand why everyone recommends her. The writing was top of the line and the story was intricately weaved and filled with angst, romance, and drama.

The overall gist of the story is that a wealthy family is not as well off as everyone thinks. Each family member is living in their own personal hell. Secrets are being revealed left and right and scandal is behind every door. The tension within the house is thick and the staff are just as intertwined in the plot as the family.

Lizzie is the head gardener and bourbon son, Lane's, ex-lover. What they have show more isn't on the surface though, it’s buried deep within layers of secrets and lies. They are finally getting their second chance at love and a darkness surrounds them. It's edgy, all consuming, and at times, just plain frustrating. My heart was quickly consumed by their fast paced roller coaster ride of a relationship.

The feel is what sucked me in. I felt like I needed a big beautiful hat on my head and a mint julep in my hand. I could feel the air blowing as I read about the statuesque mansion and when things got dark… I could feel the egg shells cracking beneath my feet. It was a thrilling story that kept me hooked with all the intense mystery. While I loved the story a lot, I did feel that the ending was lacking depth. I think the biggest issue was that it was a lot of ideas being pushed into too few words. I would have liked to see certain parts better developed, with more definition. There were a lot of great scenes that were grazed upon and I just feel like they could have been amazing if fully explored.

With all of that being said I think it was a GREAT book that is a MUST READ. I highly recommend it! show less

The Bourbon Kings
By J. R. Ward

I wasn’t sure if I was actually going to read this book because, although it is written by one of my favorite authors, it is not a paranormal romance but I couldn’t resist all the hype about it so I went ahead and read it.

I liked it. J. R. Ward is at her best when she is writing about rich people. She knows her expensive clothing and accessory designers. I wouldn’t know a Rolex from a gumball machine watch but she does and she makes it seem all so glamorous.

The characters were just my kind of characters…all flawed, not pure and innocent but not evil either…well not most of them. I cannot stand sweet and innocent characters. They bore the crap out of me. Have you ever met a sweet and innocent show more person above the age of fifteen? Neither have I? I’ve met people who think they are perfect but they tend to be judgmental and lack a sense of humor. So, I like the characters in this book.

Even though I enjoyed the book, I probably won’t read any more in the series just because I am more into paranormal romances and historical romances and I spend enough money on those. show less

Well this was interesting, no paranormal at all, just a dysfunctional family.

It's been a while since Tulane Bradford has been home, his wife lives in the family home but they don't really talk much. She enjoys being part of a wealthy family and having all the privileges. The staff work hard to maintain the image, including Lizzie King, the Head Gardener. Tulane has two siblings, one brother badly damaged by a kidnapping, both literally and figuratively and the sister trying hard to deal with being a lone parent trying to work out what she did wrong and ended up pretending to the love of her life that she doesn't mind him being a rake, and that her father seems to see her as a commodity to sell to a highest bidder.

And then things start show more to unravel. Money, murder and politics, and now I want to read book 2 show less