Devil’s Cut  (The Bourbon Kings #3) by J.R. Ward – Dual Review

Devil’s Cut
Bourbon Kings series – Book #3
by J.R. Ward
Release Date: August 1, 2017

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Description:
At first, the death of William Baldwine, the head of the Bradford family, was ruled a suicide. But then his eldest son and sworn enemy, Edward, came forward and confessed to what was, in fact, a murder. Now in police custody, Edward mourns not the disintegration of his family or his loss of freedom . . . but the woman he left behind. His love, Sutton Smythe, is the only person he has ever truly cared about, but as she is the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company’s biggest competitor, any relationship between them is impossible. And then there’s the reality of the jail time that Edward is facing.

Lane Baldwine was supposed to remain in his role of playboy, forever in his big brother Edward’s shadow. Instead he has become the new head of the family and the company. Convinced that Edward is covering for someone else, Lane and his true love, Lizzie King, go on the trail of a killer—only to discover a secret that is as devastating as it is game-changing.

As Lane rushes to discover the truth, and Sutton finds herself irresistibly drawn to Edward in spite of his circumstances, the lives of everyone at Easterly will never be the same again. For some, this is good; for others, it could be a tragedy beyond imagining. Only one thing’s for certain: Love survives all things. Even murder.

Barb’s Review:

Devil’s Cut by J.R. Ward is the 3^rd and final book in her Bourbon Kings trilogy. Devil’s Cut picks up immediately after Angel’s Share left off.  Edward, the oldest brother, is now in jail, having confessed to the murder of his father, William Baldwine.  There was no love lost for William’s death, as everyone in the family rightfully hated him, as he was an evil & destructive man.

Lane finds himself in a mess trying to cope with his father’s funeral; working with his friend and financial genius Jeff to help save Bradford Bourbon from bankruptcy; and at the same time find the truth about who killed his father, as Lane knows Edward is protecting someone.

All of this is the focus of story, with Lane, Lizzie, Gin, Samuel, Max, Sutton all playing major parts in this intense family saga.  While Lane has Jeff working on every possibility to save their company, he and Lizzie try to find out who Edward is protecting.  I mentioned in my previous review, that I loved Lane and Lizzie together, and that has not changed.  But I also wanted so badly that Sutton could find a way to get Edward stop hiding from the love they both have for each other, but first she has to help Lane and Lizzie discover the truth…..something which as we get closer will be a surprise.

Gin, who near the end of Angel’s Share, married Richard, for his money, knowing he was a bully, who eventually would beat her.  Samuel, who truly did love Gin, but felt there could never be a future for them; when Gin finds herself in danger, it will be Samuel who will come to her rescue, and along the way he will discover a truth that has been hidden from him for years.  Another surprise here. 

Max, the youngest brother, has a small role here, but slowly he begins to realize that perhaps it was time for him to stop running away, as his father could no longer haunt him.

J.R. Ward gives us a wonderful tense mystery that will have all the Bradford/Baldwine family totally buried in disaster, deceit, and desperation to save them all.  But as things begin to unravel and heat up, things will come to a head that will bring them all together.  I cannot tell too much more, as it would ruin the story for those who should be reading this series.  

Devil’s Cut brings this series to a satisfactory conclusion, and what an ending it is.  There were so many twists, and surprises, as well as a wonderful happy ending to this fantastic series, which Ward has created and written so well for us to savior.  I loved the Bourbon Kings series, and the wonderful family saga of the Bradford/Baldwines.  If you have not started this series, I suggest you do so by reading the first book, The Bourbon Kings.

Sandy’s Review:

DEVIL’S CUT is the third and final installment in JR Ward’s dramatic, contemporary, adult THE BOURBON KINGS series focusing on the uber rich Bradford/Baldwine family of Charlemont, Kentucky- a bourbon dynasty whose beautiful façade hides many dark and dangerous secrets. Like the previous installment-The Angel’s Share-Devil’s Cut is an ensemble story line that looks at the aftermath of William Baldwine’s death and the investigation into millions of dollars in missing money. The entire series covers little more than a week in the life of the Baldwine/Bradford family.

Told from several third person points of view DEVIL’S CUT continues to focus on the Bradford/Baldwine family as they struggle to come to terms with the death (murder) of their father- a man despised by both family and employees-and a man who spent the final months of his life wiping out the family fortune. With eldest brother Edward Baldwine confessing to the murder of the family patriarch, Lane Baldwine struggles to keep the Baldwine Bradford Bourbon Company from declaring bankruptcy in the face of a growing list of bank loan defaults. Prodigal son Max returns only to come face to face with the woman he has always loved, and daughter Virginia ‘Gin’ embarks on a dangerous journey with a man she knows will destroy her life.

DEVIL’S CUT follows several paths as each of the Baldwine siblings battles demons from the past. With their ailing mother little more than a shadow of her former self, Max reveals to Lane a long kept family secret that will change the siblings dynamics as a new perspective on past events begins to unfold. A death-bed confession; heartbreaking confessions; and the discovery of a well-timed investment find each of the siblings focusing on a possible future with the man and women they love.

If you are a fan of the author’s Black Dagger Brotherhood you can’t help but notice a few similarities especially as it pertains to some of the individual characteristics, peculiarities and talents of the story line characters. e.g. singing voice of Max vs Zhadist

DEVIL’S CUT is a story of drama, betrayal, heartbreak and revenge. The dysfunctional Baldwine/Bradford family must face the media, the police, and the truth as to the extent of damage one man was willing to inflict upon the people he should have loved. Years of emotional and physical pain have taken their toll. The premise is dramatic, revealing and intense; the characters are broken, rebellious but strong; the romances are fated-five second chances at love, and a future free of trauma and guilt. JR Ward’s amazing THE BOURBON KINGS is an engaging, fascinating and passionate series that will leave you breathless, and wanting more.

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