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The Dazzling Truth by Helen Cullen -Review & Excerpt

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The Dazzling Truth by Helen Cullen -Review & Excerpt

 

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Description:
When we met we were such untethered spirits floating through the world, as if one of us might drift away if we didn’t hold hands tightly. We were imperfect people, who fitted perfectly together.

On an island off the west coast of Ireland, the Moone family are shattered by tragedy.

Murtagh Moone is a potter and devoted husband to Maeve, an actor struggling with her most challenging role yet – being a mother to their four children. Now Murtagh must hold his family close as we bear witness to their story before that tragic night.

We return to the day Maeve and Murtagh meet, outside Trinity College in Dublin, and watch how one love story gives rise to another. And as the Moone children learn who their parents truly are, we journey onwards with them to a future that none of the Moones could predict . . .

Except perhaps Maeve herself.

 

 

Review:

The Dazzling Truth by Helen Cullen is a standalone Irish family saga.  The story revolves around the Moone family in Ireland, which starts off with a terrible tragedy in 2005, that shatters the family. Maeve and Murtagh Moone and their 4 children live on a small island (Inis Óg) west of the mainland. It is Christmas Eve, and when morning comes Murtagh realizes Maeve is not home.  He knows she likes to take walks when she needs to be alone, but he becomes concerned when she has not returned.  The family and the townsfolk all help to look for Maeve, and late that day she will tragically be found, with Murtagh trying to hold his family together.

The story then switches to 1978, detailing how Maeve and Murtagh met at college, and how an American woman and an Irish man fell in love. Maeve was an inspiring actress and Murtagh had a bright future as a potter, creating wonderful ceramics.  The storyline then jumps forward each chapter by a year or two, as we learn all aspects of their life.  Murtagh’s understanding and helping Maeve, when her bipolar depressive condition acts up, which will get progressively worse over the years. They move to Inis Og, where Maeve will give up her career, and Murtagh becomes successful; friendships develop, and mostly the birth of each of their children; Nollaig (first girl), twins Mossy & Dillion, and Sive the youngest girl. Maeve manages to control her issues (which started slowly when she was very young), but her debilitating condition worsens her to exhaustion, doing her best to not let her family know how bad it has become.   This will eventually lead to the tragedy that takes place in 2005

The story then moves forward after the tragedy with the family suffering and coming apart through the seams.  We watch as each child over the years has a hard time dealing with what happened, and Murtagh does his best to keep them together. 

The Dazzling Truth was a story of family, love, tragedy, mental illness, with good/bad times; especially with the children going on with their own lives and dealing with the past.  I have to say that early the story was a bit slow, but the ending was very well done and satisfying.  The Dazzling Truth was very well written by Helen Cullen.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

Inis Óg: 2005Murtagh had woken that morning, once again, to an empty bed; the sheets were cool and unruffled on Maeve’s side. He had expected to find her sitting at the kitchen table, wrapped in her hound’s-tooth shawl, pale and thin in the darkness before dawn, a tangle of blue-black hair swept across her high forehead like a crow’s wet wing, her long, matted curls secured in a knot at the nape of her neck with one of her red pencils. He had anticipated how she would start when he appeared in the doorway. How he would ignore, as he always did, the few moments it would take for her dove-grey eyes to turn their focus outward. For the ghosts to leave her in his presence. The kettle would hiss and spit on the stove as he stood behind her wicker chair and rubbed warmth back into her arms, his voice jolly as he gently scolded her for lack of sleep and feigned nonchalance as to its cause.
But Maeve wasn’t sitting at the kitchen table.
Nor was she meditating on the stone step of the back door drinking milk straight from the glass bottle it was delivered in.
She wasn’t dozing on the living-room sofa, the television on but silent, an empty crystal tumbler tucked inside the pocket of her peacock-blue silk dressing gown, the one on which she had painstakingly embroidered a murmuration of starlings in the finest silver thread.
Instead, there was an empty space on the bannister where her coat should have been hanging.
Murtagh opened the front door and flinched at a swarm of spitting raindrops. The blistering wind mocked the threadbare cotton of his pyjamas. He bent his head into the onslaught and pushed forward, dragging the heavy scarlet door behind him. The brass knocker clanged against the wood; he flinched, hoping it had not woken the children. Shivering, he picked a route in his slippers around the muddy puddles spreading across the cobblestoned pathway. Leaning over the wrought-iron gate that separated their own familial island from the winding lane of the island proper, he scanned the dark horizon for a glimpse of Maeve in the faraway glow of a streetlamp.
In the distance, the sea and sky had melted into one anthracite mist, each indiscernible from the other. Sheep huddled together for comfort in Peadar Óg’s field, the waterlogged green that bordered the Moones’ land to the right; the plaintive baying of the animals sounded mournful. Murtagh nodded at them.
There was no sight of Maeve.
As he turned back towards the house he noticed Nollaig watching him from her bedroom window. The eldest daughter, she always seemed to witness the moments her parents had believed—hoped—were cloaked in invisibility, and then remained haunted by what she had seen. Ever since she was a toddler, Murtagh had monitored how her understanding grew, filling her up, and knew it would soon flood her eyes, always so questioning, permanently.
He waved at her as he blew back up the pathway. Later, he would feel the acute pain of finally recognising the prescience his daughter seemed to have absorbed from the womb.
‘How long is she gone?’
Nollaig was now standing before the hallway mirror, her face contorted as she vigorously tried to brush her frizzy mouse-brown hair into shape. She scraped it together into a tight ponytail that thrust from the back of her head as if it were a fox’s brush.
‘Ach, you should leave your gorgeous curls be, Noll,’ her father cajoled, ‘instead of fighting them.’
She smiled at him but slammed the mother-of-pearl hairbrush down on the sideboard.
‘I don’t have curls, I have Brillo pads,’ she sighed. ‘Did she say where she was going?’
Murtagh squeezed his daughter’s arm as he continued into the kitchen. ‘I’m sure your mother is just out for a walk. Happy birthday, love. Lá breithla shona duit.’
He placed a small copper saucepan of water on the range to boil and waved the invitation of an egg at his daughter. She nodded begrudgingly and curled into the green-and-gold striped armchair that sat in front of the stove.
‘With your white nightdress, you could almost pass for the Irish flag,’ he joked, and was gratified with her snort of glee.
He watched the clock hand count three minutes in silence. Expected any moment to hear his soaked wife splash through the door. He was poised, ready to run towards her with a towel and hushed reprimands for her careless wandering, but the boiling, cooling, cupping, cracking and spooning of each egg passed uninterrupted. Nollaig yawned, stretching her arms and legs before her in a stiff salute.
‘Why don’t you go back to bed for an hour?’ Murtagh asked. ‘We’ll all have proper breakfast together later.’
She eyed him with suspicion but acquiesced. ‘If Mam’s not back soon,’ she said, sidling away, ‘come and wake me. Promise? We’ll go out and find her. Remind her what day it is, for God’s sake.’
Murtagh nodded, ushered his daughter out of the kitchen and watched her climb the stairs.
Born on Christmas Eve, twenty years before, she was the only one of their children who came into the world via Galway maternity hospital and not into the impatient arms of Máire O’Dulaigh, the midwife of the island. She resented it; how it made her feel less of a true islander. What was more, the specialness of her own day for individual attention, her birth day, was irrevocably lost in the shared excitement of Christmas. In retrospect, it had been a mistake, perhaps, naming her Nollaig, the Irish for Christmas, and further compounding the association. No nickname had ever stuck, however. She wasn’t the sort of child who inspired others to claim her for their own with the intimacy of a given name.
‘Born ancient,’ her little sister, Sive, always said of her, with bored disdain.
And Murtagh sympathised. Nollaig carried the weight of being the eldest with pained perseverance, heavy responsibilities that were self-imposed. Her mother harboured a not always silent resentment of it, and it seemed only natural, if unfair, that Maeve and Sive gravitated more towards each other; the baby of the family shared her mother’s wit and wildness and often expressed the irritation her mother tried to hide at Nollaig’s sense of duty.Excerpted from The Dazzling Truth by Helen Cullen, Copyright © 2020 by Helen Cullen.
Published by Graydon House Books


 

 


HELEN CULLEN wrote her debut novel, The Lost Letters of William Woolf, while completing the Guardian/UEA novel writing program. She holds an MA in Theatre Studies from University College Dublin and is currently studying further at Brunel. Prior to writing full-time, Helen worked in journalism, broadcasting and most recently as a creative events and engagement specialist. Helen is Irish and currently lives in London.

Social Links:

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Twitter: @WordsofHelen
Instagram: @WordsofHelen
Facebook: @WordsofHelen
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In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

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In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford – a Review

 

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Description:
James Lionel Falconer has risen quickly from a mere shop worker to being the right-hand man of Henry Malvern, head of the most prestigious shipping company in London. With Malvern’s daughter Alexis running away to the country after a terrible tragedy and refusing to return, James’ ascent to head of the company seems inevitable. But even a charmed life like James’ is not without its setbacks.

A terrible fire threatens to end his merchant career before it’s had a chance to truly begin. Mrs. Ward, James’ former paramour, has a secret that could change his life forever. And his distaste for Alexis Malvern is slowly growing into feelings of quite a different sort. Can James continue to be the master of his own fate, or will all of his charm, intelligence, and wit finally fail him when he has to enter the lion’s den?

 

 

 

Review:

In the Lion’s Den by Barbara Taylor Bradford is the 2nd book in her House of Falconer series, and even if you have not read the first book, this reads very well as a standalone. In the Lion’s Den is set in Victorian times in England 1889-1892. James Falconer, our hero, has worked hard working for Henry Malvern’s shipping company, and has successfully risen up to be his right-hand man.  James enjoys his job, has a great relationship with Malvern and other staff members, but he continues to dream about opening his own business in time. 

Alexis Malvern, is Henry’s daughter and heir apparent to the company, who after the death of her significant other, runs away to the country side, avoiding anything to do with the company.  Alexis has friends where she is staying, as she slowly grieves, and she ignores her father’s constant attempt for her to return home.  

When some things go wrong, such as a fire, and embezzlement, James is promoted by Henry Malvern to become managing director of the compnay.  He travels to Kent to meet with Alexis, to show her the changes being made, and she is very rude to James.  In a short time, Alexis will realize that she cannot continue to stay away, and it was time for her to go home to her father and the company.   James agrees to stay another year and train Alexis on taking control of the company and becoming the managing director, as well as the charity she runs.

What follows is watching Alexis work with James, and a slow built romance starts, as both have strong attractions to each other.  Alexis realizes how mean she has been to James, and knows this was due to her feeling an attraction to him early on, making her run away.  I really loved James and Alexis together, and was happy to see that Alexis was able to rise above her tragic loss and open her heart up again. I also loved many of the secondary characters who played a major role in this story. 

In the Lion’s Den was well written by Barbara Taylor Bradford, with a wonderful Victorian background, a bit of history, wonderful characters and romance.  This is a difficult review to write, as you really need to become immersed into the story line, enjoying Bradford’s ability to narratively tie all the pieces together.  In the Lion’s Den is another winner for Barbara Taylor Bradford, and I suggest to read this story. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward – Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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The Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward – Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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The Angels’ Share
Bourbon Kings series – Book #2
by J.R. Ward
Release Date: July 26, 2016

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Description:
In Charlemont, Kentucky, the Bradford family is the crème de la crème of high society—just like their exclusive brand of bourbon. And their complicated lives and vast estate are run by a discrete staff who inevitably become embroiled in their affairs. This is especially true now, when the apparent suicide of the family patriarch is starting to look more and more like murder…

No one is above suspicion—especially the eldest Bradford son, Edward. The bad blood between him and his father is known far and wide, and he is aware that he could be named a suspect. As the investigation into the death intensifies, he keeps himself busy at the bottom of a bottle—as well as with his former horse trainer’s daughter. Meanwhile, the family’s financial future lies in the perfectly manicured hands of a business rival, a woman who wants Edward all to herself.

Everything has consequences; everybody has secrets. And few can be trusted. Then, at the very brink of the family’s demise, someone thought lost to them forever returns to the fold. Maxwell Bradford has come home. But is he a savior…or the worst of all the sinners?

 

 

Barb’s Review

Warning: If you have not read the first book in this series, there may be spoilers.

Angels’ Share by J.R. Ward is the 2nd book in her Bourbon Kings series. Angels’ Share begins where The Bourbon Kings left off; William Baldwine, the Bradford/Baldwine family patriarch, is dead, having committed suicide.  As the family prepares for the funeral, there is no sadness, nor mourning, since he  was an evil man, whom just about everyone hated.  Lane and Lizzie continue to be the center focus point of this story.

Lane is out of his element, with the family and their Bourbon business facing financial ruin due to their father’s staggering hidden dealings.  Lizzie will step up and take control of the house, the staff and do what she can to give Lane the support he needs.  I really do love them together. 

Lane will bring in his college roommate to help in trying to decipher the financial mess, as well as helping him take control of the business.  Angels’ Share continues to be an intense family saga, with the return of most of the main characters we have come to know from the first book.  There are a few twists, and everything changes early on when murder is suspected, which will add the element of mystery to the story.

What makes Angels’ Share so good is the complex characters Ward has created, not to mention all the secrets, lies, deceit, as well as romance throughout the book.  As much as I love Lane and Lizzie, I also love Edward, who has suffered so much because of his despicable father.  Edward is damaged both physically and mentally, but he remains loyal to his family, even if he wants nothing to do with the business or family affairs.  He continues to keep his distance from the mansion, as he lives on a ranch.  But we cannot help see how he is hurting, especially in his love of Sutton; but Edward feels that he is not the man he used to be and is not worthy of her.  I so want them to find a way to make it together and Edward to somehow get strong again.  Will this happen?  At this time, the chances are very slim, especially after the ending.

Again, Ward has created a fabulous cast of characters: Gin, the snobbish sister, who slowly might be changing for the better; Samuel, the lawyer, who loves Gin, but thinks she is too spoiled to trust her with his heart; Miss Aurora, the woman who brought them up, whom they all look at as their true mother; Sutton, she is the strong successful independent woman, who I pray will save Edward; Chantal, the ex-wife, good riddance; Max, the missing brother who returns home, and I cannot wait to find out more; Amelia, Gin’s daughter also returns home, and I would love to know about her too.

Angels’ Share is a wonderful continuation to this family saga of a wealthy successful family facing ruin, in more ways than one.  The story is well written, with many surprises, intrigue and the romance between Lane and Lizzie has gotten even better.  We watch as the family members grow as their lives change, and a bond begins to bring them closer as disaster threatens.   I cannot wait for the next book to come out.  If you enjoy family saga stories, you need to read this, as J.R. Ward is writing an addicting series.

 

Sandy’s Review

THE ANGEL’S SHARE is the second installment in J.R. Ward’s adult, contemporary, dramatic series focusing on the uber rich Bradford/Baldwine family of Charlemont, Kentucky- a bourbon dynasty family whose beautiful façade hides many dark and dangerous secrets. Although no one particular couple is the star THE ANGEL’S SHARE is an ensemble story line that looks at the aftermath from the apparent suicide of the Baldwine patriarch, and the investigation into millions of dollars in missing money.

Told from several third person points of view including Baldwine/Bradford siblings Lane, Edward and Gin, THE ANGEL’S SHARE focuses on the search for the truth behind the apparent suicide of William Wyatt Baldwine-the CEO of the Bradford Bourbon Company. The resulting death slowly reveals the dark secrets, lies, betrayals and illegitimate heirs of a man beloved by no one, despised by all. Edward, as the eldest son has been broken by his father-destroyed in body and soul by a man with a black heart and a darker soul; Lane is the man who will struggle to keep the family heritage up and running; Gin is a woman who has given up and is willing to risk her life to save her family. Deals will be made, secrets will be revealed, lives will be destroyed in the process. THE ANGEL’S SHARE is not a story of romance but of a family, passionate in their beliefs, who are struggling to gain some semblance of control over their business and their lives.

The Bourbon Kings is a modern day story akin to the 1980s Dallas and Dynasty-the uber rich families, their friends and the hidden secrets locked behind closed doors, addiction and lies. Death is an escape from the mayhem; to love is a struggle met with misunderstanding and betrayal. Once again, romance took a back seat to the family drama and investigation, and to the impending collapse of the bourbon dynasty. J.R. Ward writes an amazing tale of betrayal, struggle and loss for one family whose lives have imploded beneath a mountain of secrets and lies.

 

excerpt

 

Toyota trucks were not supposed to go seventy-five miles an hour. Especially when they were ten years old.

At least the driver was wide awake, even though it was four a.m.

Lizzie King had a death grip on the steering wheel, and her foot on the accelerator was actually catching floor as she headed for a rise in the highway.

She had woken up in her bed at her farmhouse alone. Ordinarily, that would have been the status quo, but not anymore, not now that Lane was back in her life. The wealthy playboy and the estate’s gardener had finally gotten their act together, love bonding two unlikelies closer and stronger than the molecules of a diamond.

And she was going to stand by him, no matter what the future held.

After all, it was so much easier to give up extraordinary wealth when you had never known it, never aspired to it—and especially when you had seen behind its glittering curtain to the sad, desolate desert on the far side of the glamour and prestige.

God, the stress Lane was under.

And so out of bed she had gotten. Down the creaking stairs she had gone. And all around her little house’s first floor she had wandered.

When Lizzie had looked outside, she’d discovered his car was missing, the Porsche he drove and parked beside the maple by her front porch nowhere to be seen. And as she had wondered why he had left without telling her, she had begun to worry.

Just a matter of nights since his father had killed himself, only a matter of days since William Baldwine’s body had been found on the far side of the Falls of the Ohio. And ever since then Lane’s face had had a faraway look, his mind churning always with the missing money, the divorce papers he had served on the rapacious Chantal, the status of the household bills, the precarious situation at the Bradford Bourbon Company, his brother Edward’s terrible physical condition, Miss Aurora’s illness.

But he hadn’t said a thing about any of it. His insomnia had been the only sign of the pressure, and that was what scared her. Lane always made an effort to be composed around her, asking her about her work in Easterly’s gardens, rubbing her bad shoulder, making her dinner, usually badly, but who cared. Ever since they had gotten the air cleared between them and had fully recommitted to their relationship, he had all but moved into her farmhouse—and as much as she loved having him with her, she had been waiting for the implosion to occur.

It would almost have been easier if he had been ranting and raving.

And now she feared that time had come—and some sixth sense made her terrified about where he had gone. Easterly, the Bradford Family Estate, was the first place she thought of. Or maybe the Old Site, where his family’s bourbon was still made and stored. Or perhaps Miss Aurora’s Baptist church?

Yes, Lizzie had tried him on his phone. And when the thing had rung on the table on his side of the bed, she hadn’t waited any longer after that. Clothes on. Keys in hand. Out to the truck.

No one else was on I-64 as she headed for the bridge to get across the river, and she kept the gas on even as she crested the hill and hit the decline to the river’s edge on the Indiana side. In response, her old truck picked up even more speed along with a death rattle that shook the wheel and the seat, but the damn Toyota was going to hold it together because she needed it to.

“Lane . . . where are you?”

God, all the times she had asked him how he was and he’d said, “Fine.” All those opportunities to talk that he hadn’t taken her up on. All the glances she’d shot him when he hadn’t been looking her way, all the time her monitoring for signs of cracking or strain. And yet there had been little to no emotion after that one moment they’d had together in the garden, that private, sacred moment when she had sought him out under the blooms of the fruit trees and told him that she’d gotten it wrong about him, that she had misjudged him, that she was prepared to make a pledge to him with the only thing she had: the deed to her farmhouse—which was exactly the kind of asset that could be sold to help pay for the lawyers’ fees as he fought to save his family.

Lane had held her, and told her he loved her—and refused her gift, explaining he was going to fix everything himself, that he was going to somehow find the stolen money, pay back the enormous debt, right the company, resurrect his family’s fortunes.

And she had believed him.

She still did.

But ever since then? He had been both as warm and closed off as a space heater, physically present and completely disengaged at the same time.

Lizzie did not blame him in the slightest.

It was strangely terrifying, however.

Off in the distance, across the river, Charlemont’s business district glowed and twinkled, a false, earthbound galaxy that was a lovely lie, and the bridge that connected the two shores was still lit up in spring green and bright pink for Derby, a preppy rainbow to that promised land. The good news was that there was no traffic, so as soon as Lizzie was on the other side, she could take the River Road exit off the highway, shoot north to Easterly’s hill, and see if his car was parked in front of the mansion.
Then she didn’t know what she was going to do.

The newly constructed bridge had three lanes going in both directions, the concrete median separating east from west tall and broad for safety purposes. There were rows of white lights down the middle, and everything was shiny, not just from the illumination, but a lack of exposure to the elements. Construction had only finished in March, and the first lines of traffic had made the crossing in early April, cutting rush-hour delays down—

Up ahead, parked in what was actually the “slow” lane, was a vehicle that her brain recognized before her eyes properly focused on it.

Lane’s Porsche. It was Lane’s—

Lizzie nailed the brake pedal harder than she’d been pounding the accelerator, and the truck made the transition from full-force forward to full-on stop with the grace of a sofa falling out a second-story window: Everything shuddered and shook, on the verge of structural disintegration, and worse, there was barely any change in velocity, as if her Toyota had worked too hard to gain the speed and wasn’t going to let the momentum go without a fight—

There was a figure on the edge of the bridge. On the very farthest edge of the bridge. On the lip of the bridge over the deadly drop.

“Lane,” she screamed. “Lane!”

Her truck went into a spin, pirouetting such that she had to wrench her head around to keep him in her sights. And she jumped out before the Toyota came to a full stop, leaving the gearshift in neutral, the engine running, the door open in her wake.

“Lane! No! Lane!”

Lizzie pounded across the pavement and surmounted barriers that seemed flimsy, too flimsy, given the distance down to the river.

Lane jerked his head around—

And lost one hold of the rail behind him.

As his grip slipped, shock registered on his face, a flash of surprise . . . that was immediately replaced by horror.

When he fell off into nothing but air.

Lizzie’s mouth could not open wide enough to release her scream.


 

About the Author 2

 

JR Ward (dog)J.R. Ward is a #1 New York Times bestselling author with more than 15 million novels in print published in 25 different countries around the world. The books in her popular Black Dagger Brotherhood series have held the #1 spot on the New York Times hardcover, mass market, eBook, and combined print/eBook fiction bestseller lists and have debuted in the top 5 on the USA Today bestseller list. Prior to her writing career, Ward worked as a lawyer in Boston and spent many years as the Chief of Staff of one of Harvard’s world-renowned academic medical centers. Ward currently lives with her family in Kentucky where she has learned to enjoy and appreciate all things Southern. Connect with her online at www.jrward.com, Facebook.com/JRWardBooks, and Twitter.com/JRWard1.

 

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J.R. and her publisher are graciously offering a hardcover copy of THE ANGELS’ SHARE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward – Dual Review & Giveaway

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The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward – Dual Review & Giveaway

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The Bourbon Kings
The Bourbon Kings #1
by J.R.Ward
Release Date: July 28, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, erotic, romance

The Bourbon Kings July 15Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM / The Book Depository

Description:
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.


Barb’s Review:

The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward is the 1st book in her new The Bourbon Kings series. When I heard that J.R. was planning a new contemporary romance series about a rich and powerful family in Kentucky, I was very excited. The Bourbon Kings was a delightful and intense family saga filled with secrets, scandals, murder, deceit, love and nasty villains. This book brought back so many memories of our favorite TV shows of the past…Dallas, Dynasty and Knots Landing.

The Bradford family are the elite in the Bourbon business, and we get to see their lives in the midst of power, betrayals, greed and sexual exploits. But most of all, we watch as things begin to fall apart for the rich and powerful Bradfords. The sins of the father will force the heirs to fight for their survival. I will say that the patriarch of this family was outright despicable, with no redeeming qualities. With a powerful and devious father, who would stoop to the lowest level to get what he wants, not caring who he hurts in his family, it is no wonder that the children were spoiled, or damaged.

 
The story revolved mostly around Lane, the playboy son, who has been away for almost two years, as he comes back home for a family emergency. Lane comes face to face with the women who he cannot forget. Lizzie King works at the Bradford mansion as the head horticulturist, and she dreads seeing Lane after all this time, knowing she cannot let herself fall for him again. The romance in this story belongs to Lane and Lizzie, as he tries to win her back. Edward is the oldest brother, and he is physically and emotionally damaged by a kidnapping years before.   This was very emotional, as we watch his agony. Gin is their sister, and is somewhat spoiled, though she does love her brothers. Max is the other brother, whom we see early on, but then not again for the rest of the story.

There are some secondary characters who also play a big role, such as Chantal, Lane’s spoiled, snobbish, and nasty wife; Samuel, the lawyer friend who tries to help, and is Gin’s true love.

But the crux of the story is the dastardly deeds of the father, who could very well destroy them all. The consequences are staggering for the family, not to mention the many twists and turns that will affect all, no matter if it’s upstairs or downstairs.

I liked the romance of Lizzie and Lane, though I felt Lizzie was too quick to jump to conclusions, causing the romance to falter. I also loved Edward, and look forward to seeing him find a way to rise up again and move beyond his horrific past. This was a very good story, with a lot more to come. I can’t wait to find out what else is in store for the Bradfords, as J.R. Ward does leave us with a slight cliffhanger.  

Sandy’s Review:

THE BOURBON KINGS is the first installment in J.R. Ward’s adult, contemporary, erotic romance series focusing on the uber rich Bradford/Baldwine family of Charlemont, Kentucky- a bourbon dynasty family whose beautiful façade hides many dark and dangerous secrets. This is Trulane (Lane) Bradford, and Easterly estate gardener Lizzie King’s storyline-a second chance at love for two people from opposite sides of the proverbial track.

Told from several third person perspectives THE BOURBON KINGS focuses on the Bradford family and the preparations for a lavish Kentucky Derby Day brunch but all does not go according to plan. With the return of Lane Bradford, Lizzie’s ordered life is thrown into turmoil when old feelings resurface about the man with whom she had fallen in love. As Lizzie prepares for the celebratory brunch, Lane begins to uncover a family secret that could all but destroy a two hundred year old legacy.

THE BOURBON KINGS introduces the Bradford family of siblings-the victim; the prodigal son; the family whore; and the absent child. Physically and emotionally damaged eldest brother Edward, once the heir apparent, hides in the face of betrayal and pain; spoiled sister Virginia whose own secrets are hidden beyond the walls of the family Estate; and the absent brother Max, of whom, we know nothing about. The family secrets are a dark and dangerous cesspool of abuse, lies, cheating and scandal, and no one in the family goes unscathed or untouched. Lane’s best friend Jeff comes in to help uncover the depth of financial ruin; and Chantal Bradford is an evil princess who has eyes on the ultimate prize. We are also introduced to Sutton Smythe whose love for the once beautiful and heroic Edward has never waivered in the face of unrequited feelings. A large number of Easterly Estate employees fear reprisal and punishment from the Bradford family patriarch-a man whose sins are more dangerous and darker than most.

JR Ward ‘s THE BOURBON KINGS is an escape into the lives of the rich and famous; the privileged; the spoiled; the judgmental side of the entitled few. There is a propensity for stereotyping the affluent, and with it comes the perceived notion of acceptable discrimination, snobbery and the designated rights granted to the wealthy and well-to-do. Dynasty meets Dallas meets The Bourbon Kings of Kentucky-JR Ward’s new series is the updated version of the 80’s late night serials we secretly loved to watch. Saying that, the romance took a backseat to the drama that engulfed the Bradford/Baldwine family. I am looking forward to Edward’s story as heartbreaking as it is going to be.

Because THE BOURBON KINGS is a detailed and elaborate, introductory storyline, the premise followed several intersecting plotlines that allowed the reader a sneak peak at future stories, romances, and the potential fall out of financial disaster and personal ruin. There is some major info dumping in this first installment. J.R. Ward’s style of writing is familiar  with THE BOURBON KINGS of Charlemont, Kentucky.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley.

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J.R. and her publisher are graciously offering a hardcover copy of THE BOURBON KINGS to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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9. Giveaway runs from July 28 to July 31, 2015

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Rulers of Deception by Katie Jennings – Review & Giveaway

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Rulers of Deception by Katie Jennings – Review & Giveaway

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Rulers of Deception
Vassar Legacy – Book #3
by Katie Jennings
Release Date: May 15, 2014

Rulers of DeceptionAmazon

Description:
It’s taken a year to rebuild their empire, but with a thriving merger and its welcomed success, the Vasser Hotel family has risen beyond scandal. But things at the top will never be easy.

The unstable son of their business partner threatens to dissolve the relationship, claiming the Vassers are dangerous. With a twist of fate, a ghost from Wyatt’s past brings death threats from a Colombian drug lord who he’s been running from for nearly ten years.

Meanwhile, a well-respected journalist offers to do an extensive, positive piece on the family, but she may prove more foe than friend. As rumors circulate about Marshall being a killer, mysterious letters and photographs trickle in targeted at the heart of the Vassers. It will either destroy them or have them rising above all to seek the ultimate revenge.

 

Review:

Rulers of Deception by Katie Jennings is the 3rd book in her Vassar Legacy series. Rulers of Deception continues the Vassar family saga story; with their elite Hotel chain, and the family we have come to care about. I have reviewed the first two books, which if you need to get a refresher, you can find them under the Reviews tab (Barb’s Reviews – Katie Jennings). In the last book I mentioned in my review that Jennings had a few more characters that she could write to keep this series going, and I am happy to say she did do another story.

The Vassar family, after surviving a terrible scandal in the last book, have now successfully come all the way back. They are merging their hotel with another hotel, and plans are underway to complete this new addition to the Vassar Hotel chain. The main couples; Grant & Quinn, Linc & Lynette, & Madison & Wyatt are all either married or close. But when things go good, and you are on top, the danger rises from greed or jealousy that will rear its ugly head to try and destroy them again.

The story actually starts off years before, when Wyatt won a lot of money while playing cards with a Columbian Drug lord. But it was his friend Jimmy, who unbeknownst to Wyatt, secretly steals some cocaine. They were able to escape, but no matter how many years pass, things can come back and haunt you.

The Vassars are approached by a famous news reporter with a proposal to help promote them, and remove any previous lingering stains on their name. But shortly thereafter, things begin to happen, with threats, pictures exposed to the press, and possible murder charges. What follows is an exciting story, with all the family working together to find out who is out to get them.

Katie Jennings has created a number of villians, including the son of the hotel they are merging with; Wyatt’s friend Jimmy; the drug lord, and other surprising enemies. The family teams together to fight back, just as things spiral out of control.

What I loved about this story was how strong Madison remains to hold the family and the hotel together, despite attacks on her also. She is without a doubt the leader of the Vassars, even though Grant, and Linc are strong too. I also enjoyed seeing their better halfs.

I will not be giving spoilers, but only to say that Jennings has created a wonderful suspenseful story that flows so well. There were many twists and turns that had you guessing as to who was the mastermind behind the attacks on the Vassars.   Rulers of Deception has everything you would want in a story; suspense, betrayal, hatred, revenge and romance. Katie Jennings has created wonderful characters in the Vassar family that we would love to continue to revisit. If you have not read this series, you need to do so now.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

About The Author
About_Katie_2Nothing can compare to the exhilaration of discovering, at last, a mode of release for the imagination. Mine came, after years of struggling to visualize my creativity, in the form of written word. I found myself with my nose constantly in a book, absorbing the life of the characters and the beauty of the setting. It was intoxicating, to say the least, and the only thing I knew was that I wanted to give writing a shot, and take the thousands of characters and storylines in my head and put them down on paper, and form them into something real and compelling.

In truth, I’m just a girl from a small town north of Los Angeles, with an imagination for days and thank goodness a keyboard at my fingertips. And even though my husband thinks I’m a nerd and my mom is undoubtedly my biggest fan, at the end of the day I’m loving life and enjoying giving breath to the characters living in my heart, and sharing with others all the creativity I can harness.

I believe in true love, and I’ve always believed in happy endings. And that is just the beginning of the story.

giveaway

Katie is offering an e-copy set of the entire Vassar Legacy series (When Empires Fall, Rise of the Notorious, and Rulers of Deception), to one (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

 1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. LIKE us on  FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

4. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry

5. LIKE  Katie Jennings on Facebook.

6. The giveaway is open Internationally

7. The giveaway runs from June 30  to July 4, 2014

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Rise of the Notorious by Katie Jennings – a Review

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Rise of the Notorious by Katie Jennings – a Review

 

Rise of the Nortorious

Links to order Rise of the Notorious:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Description:
When their empire fell, darkness descended upon the Vasser Hotel family and shrouded them in chaos. It was a darkness layered in violent sins and staggering deception, made only more potent by a haunting truth. Murder, it seemed, was a burden they couldn’t escape.

With a scandal plaguing the family’s reputation, the Vasser heirs must rise to the occasion and utilize a killer’s advice to turn bad publicity into good, and tradition into innovation.

If only it was that easy.

In an elaborate game of hidden motives and sinister agendas, more dirty truths from the past will resurface, truths that could bring about victory or bloodshed. But how will the Vasser siblings react when the real threat to their family not only has power and control on the mind, but assassination as well? What will they do when it becomes clear that someone out there wants them destroyed, no matter the price?

The Vassers may have fallen from grace, but now they will rise as notorious.


Review:

Rise of the Notorious by Katie Jennings is her second and final book in her Vassar Legacy series.  I enjoyed the first book, When Empires Fall, and found this book to be even better.

This book continues the Vassar family saga story; about their elite Hotel chain, and the family we became totally invested in.  When we last left off in When Empires Fall, the Vassar family was heading towards hard times with their hotel, after a major scandal.  Madison was chosen to be the heir apparent to run the hotel, bypassing others in the family, thereby creating much dissention.  Other then the youngest sister, Kennedy, the immediate family, Grant & Linc, and their loves Quinn and Lynette, stood by Madison to continue to work together, no matter what to save the hotel.

Madison was the heroine in this story.  In the first book, she was a pivotal character, but not as likable as she is in this book.  I really liked Madison’s growth, her ability to stand up to fire, as everything around her was falling apart; with scandals, jealousy, betrayals, threats to her and her family. She had many people against her, who were willing to do anything to make sure she would lose the hotel. Katie Jennings did a masterful job showing Madison rise up, as she faces each threat, as well as the false accusations against her. Rise up she did, surprising many, as she became a public figure, with the majority of the people identifying with her, as she became the respected and admired Vassar family leader. 

Her romance with Wyatt, played an important part in this book, as she knew she still loved him, and needed to learn to trust him again.   What I love about family sagas is that we get to spent time with the family through these hard times.  It was great to see them bond together to join forces to find who is behind the plot to destroy Madison, which includes a kidnapping, a murder attempt, as well as the false accusations to ruin Madison and the Vassar family.   

This story flows beautifully throughout, as there are many surprises and twists.  Who is behind the plot to destroy the family?  Who inside the Vassar domain is betraying the family?  Will Kennedy be saved?  Will Wyatt convince Madison that he truly loves her? Will the hotel survive? You will need to read this book to find out.

One thing you can be sure of is that her brothers will stand beside her, even if they originally were not too happy with Madison taking over the reins of the hotel.  I loved seeing Grant with Quinn again, and their love continues to blossom. I liked that Quinn found a way to win over Madison.  Linc and Lynette were also a great couple that would have to withstand her father’s continual attacks against the Vassars, to help his campaign for reelection.

I thought this was a wonderful series by Jennings, and felt she could have written more books concentrating on other family members.  But she does a great job in tying all the loose ends, and bringing together a satisfying climax.  If you enjoy family sagas, which takes you on an emotional ride every step of the way, then this series by Katie Jennings is perfect for you.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

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