The Angels' Share (The Bourbon Kings #2) by J.R. Ward

The King of Bourbon is dead.  Who will replace him?

NAL sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you). It will be published July 26th.  If you haven't read the first one in the series, you might consider doing that for continuity.  This book can be read as a standalone, though.

When you are living in a family of wealth, finding out you're broke can be a big shock.  It seems dad was spending money faster than he was making it.  He took out debt and then backed it with the family's assets.  The only good thing is that he's dead; now they can blame all the law violations on him.  Unfortunately, it turns out he was murdered instead of a suicide.  That's good news, though.  Then they can collect his life insurance.  Guess what?  He let the policy lapse six months ago...

This family has secrets, big secrets.  Lane finds that his father's assistant who committed suicide after his father's death has a child.  That child looks just like him.

Edward is trying to drink himself to death.  After all, he was tortured and physically disabled while being held captive overseas and his father was the one who told the terrorists where to find him.  But he refused to pay the ransom.  He lost his ability to work with horses and his opportunity for love.  Why not give up?

Max has his own business and he's doing pretty well.  He's found a new woman to be interested in.

The sister is getting married to a monster so she will have the money she's used to.  He makes her sign a pre-nup so she can't get any of his.  She sells her wedding diamond and puts the proceeds in a safe deposit box for her daughter.  She knows the man she married will kill her.  But maybe she can kill him first...

Lane takes over the business and continues to work on his divorce.  He has a new love that helps him calm down and deal with life.  He also finds that he has some of his father's characteristics.  He will get the results he wants even if he has to purchase some and blackmail others.  But he's doesn't overuse these tactics and wouldn't use them at all if he wasn't desperate.

I enjoyed this read a lot more than the first book.  That one was just too depressing.  This one has bad spots and I feel real bad for one character but I bet there will be another book in this series.  I'll have to read that one, too, because the author has captured my interest. Someone has to find a happy ending in this family.

The Bourbon Kings (The Bourbon Kings #1) by J.R. Ward

His father is the current "king" of bourbon making.  They make the most bourbon in Kentucky, the best, and they have lots of money because of it.  The old man thinks he's invincible and he can do anything or take anything he wants.  His sons have a different opinion, though.

Penguin Publishing sent me a copy of this book to read for review (thank you).  It was published July 28th, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore now.

This one has a bit of the flavor of that old Dallas TV show.  It's part of soap opera, part high business dealings and is one of the most dysfunctional families I've ever read about.  The old man cares only about himself.  He has destroyed most family members and he feels no remorse or guilt over it.  He will have what he wants even if he has to give his daughter to a another wicked man.  Money is his god.

The three boys have their own problems; most are caused by the father.  When Lane starts adding things up, he realizes all the bad things going on trace right back to the old man.  He starts putting a plan together to prove his father's wrong doings.  He may get smashed for doing so, but he's through being manipulated.

It's a long story with lots of nuances and nasty things to keep your attention.  The words move well, the ending makes life sound more promising but you know life won't be that easy for this family.  The things the father put in motion are still there and more repercussions will be felt in future books in the series.