violetpeanut's Review of The Bourbon Kings (Bourbon Kings, #1)

by J. R. Ward

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege - and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal...

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 iron-fisted 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.

'Get ready for summer's most sinful indulgence. The drama never stops in this tale of family secrets, lost love found, rivalries, delightfully nasty villains, and deliciously appealing heroes. Put on your derby hat and join in the fun.' New York Times bestselling author Susan Wiggs

'Breathless fun! J. R. Ward moves her trademark dark and sexy from the world of warrior vampires to the halls of the Kentucky elite, where the family members claws are just as sharp and the consequences just as deadly. I couldn't stop turning the pages!' New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner

'The setting is 80's TV soap opera 'Dallas' meets 'Downton Abbey'... This is high drama, and it's mesmerizing.Fresh Fiction

'I want my "Bourbon" in bed! J. R. Ward delivers a sweeping saga where family roots run deep and passion sizzles hotter than a Kentucky summer. Potent and heady, one taste just isn't enough. New York Times bestselling authorGena Showalter

'The drama and dark secrets behind the Bradford family's empire propel this irresistible story of high-society scandal . . . a read that's rich, smooth, and satisfying as a glass of Kentucky bourbon.' New York Times bestselling authorSusan Elizabeth Phillips

'Soapy elements abound in this Dynasty-esque tale, from lavish wealth to feuds, dirty secrets, and forbidden love Ward is a master of pacing and world building, and readers will love that the cliff-hanger ending guarantees at least a second helping of the Bradfords.' Booklist (starred review)

This review was originally posted on

What a guilty pleasure! The best way I can describe The Bourbon Kings is by saying it's a mix of reality television (think Real Housewives) and a good soap opera (think 80's soaps like Dallas). Like reality TV, there are plenty of rich people problems to gawk at and like the best soap operas, there are characters you love to hate, characters who always seem to come out on top, and complicated motivations. I loved it.

The Bourbon Kings focuses on the Bradford siblings, Edward, Lane, Max and Gin, heirs to one of Kentucky's largest bourbon empires. They are beyond rich and own a sprawling estate. Siblings Gin and Edward play rather large roles in the book while the focus is on Lane and his love interest, Lizzie. This is slated to be a series of books so I'm sure each of the siblings will get to take center stage as the series continues. There are lots of skeletons hiding in closets, lots of disturbing revelations and many awkward and uncomfortable situations. It's twisted and over-the-top and I couldn't get enough.

This is not typically a genre I read a lot of. I usually find the story-lines corny, the dialogue unrealistic and the situations ridiculous. I'm still not quite sure what exactly it was about this book that drew me in so quickly. The plot is not the most original - the rich boy falls for the "regular" girl despite his family's wishes. Hearts are broken, tears are shed, lots of bourbon is drunk and, ultimately, second chances are given. It sounds like the plot of a lot of romance novels. It's not that the plot was bad, it was just predictable. I also was a little disappointed in the romance. There wasn't much of a buildup and not a whole lot of romantic tension between Lane and Lizzie. I actually preferred reading about Gin's love life (hopefully there's more in the next book).

Despite those things, this was a really fun read with a lot of gasp-worthy moments that make this type of book so exciting. This is not great literature, and it's not the most original story. But, you can't really compare those things in my opinion. Just like you can't really compare your favorite soap to an Oscar-worthy film. If you go into it just wanting an enjoyable read with a few shocking moments, a good dose of romance and a whole lotta family drama, you'll be pleased with The Bourbon Kings. I can't wait to see what happens next for the Bradford family; I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

The Bourbon Kings (Bourbon Kings, #1)

by J. R. Ward

Reviewed by violetpeanut on Jul 15, 2015

Reading updates