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 façade. 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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“Mega-star Ward charts a new course with the launch of her captivating family saga! Money and privilege collide with dark secrets to expose the gritty underbelly of a society family. Ward’s talent for managing a large ensemble cast works well as she introduces readers to a rarified community whose inhabitants are used to getting what they want, no matter the cost. While there are several romantic threads within the book, this is a soap opera-style saga whose plot arc will evolve over the course the series.”
— RT Book Reviews (4 ½ stars, Top Pick!)
“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.”
— Gena Showalter, New York Times bestselling author“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.”
— Susan Elizabeth Phillips, New York Times bestselling author“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.”
— Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author“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. The clothes, the whiskey, and the gorgeous Kentucky backdrop will sweep you away.”
— Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author“J. R. Ward kicks off a new contemporary series with The Bourbon Kings…an engrossing read peppered with danger and glimpses into an intriguing world of privilege and pleasure.”
— BookPage" Wow! This is a truly horrible story. It's predictable, boring, misogynistic, racist and simple. The orators voice and style makes for a downright difficult listening experience. I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be for this disaster, but it's not me. "
— Michael S, 7/3/2021J. R. Ward is the author of more than forty novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling Black Dagger Brotherhood series. There are more than fifteen million copies of her novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in more than two dozen countries around the world.
Alexander Cendese is a New York–based actor and narrator whose credits include roles on and off Broadway, in films, and on popular television shows, including Law & Order: SVU and All My Children. He holds a BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.