August 2015 Book of the Month & Giveaway

September 24, 2015 05:35 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

My favorite five-star read for the month of August is a brand new contemporary romance/family saga by a wildly popular author. It's also the start of her new series of the same name. Now some readers – even some of the author's staunchest fans – admittedly didn't like this one as much as her others. The most common complaint I heard was that it's too much like a soap-opera. Well, I'll admit that it is. In fact, it strongly reminded me of the old '80's nighttime soaps like Dallas, Dynasty, or Falcon Crest. From me, however, that's a huge compliment, because I loved those shows, and I've been a regular viewer of some of the daytime soaps in the past too.

The book centers around a wealthy Kentucky family who are owners of a bourbon-making business that's been passed down for generations. The Baldwine family's crazy lives take the word dysfunctional to a whole new level. Youngest son, Lane, left the the family estate two years earlier, trying to get as far away as he possibly could from his abusive father and from the only woman he'd loved and lost. He'd been forced into marrying a conniving socialite, destroying his relationship with Lizzie, the head horticulturist on the estate. Lizzie's heart was shattered by what she saw as Lane's betrayal. Now that he's back, the old attraction burns hot once more, but she isn't sure if she can trust him not to break her heart again. Lane and Lizzie must navigate some treacherous waters in order to find happiness. The book is jam-packed with secrets, lies, sex, greed, and maybe even murder. For me, it was an exciting start to this new series. That's why I'm naming J. R. Ward's The Bourbon Kings as my August Book of the Month. If you enjoy family sagas or soap operas or if you're simply a fan of the author and haven't read this book yet, you should definitely give it a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.

The Bourbon Kings Book Cover

Cover Blurb-

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 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.

Read my complete review of The Bourbon Kings.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a copy of The Bourbon Kings to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!

International Entrants: You are welcome to enter my contest, but please note that not all eBooks are available in all countries due to copyright restrictions. If this is the case and you've chosen an e-book, Amazon does offer an option to trade for a gift card (I'm not sure about B & N). If you choose print, I can mail it to you via the Amazon website that services your country, pending availability and cost. Otherwise I will mail it to you via Amazon's standard international shipping, but it may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive, and I won't have the capability of tracking the package.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways

Tags: J. R. Ward