The Angels' Share

J.R. Ward

Jul 2016 · The Bourbon Kings Book 2 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

#1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward delivers the second novel in her Bourbon Kings series—a sweeping saga of a Southern dynasty struggling to maintain a façade of privilege and prosperity, while secrets and indiscretions threaten its very foundation…
 
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?

Ratings and reviews

When I read the first book in the Bourbon Kings series, I found it to be too much like going back in time to an 80's nighttime soap opera. Seriously I compared it to a mix-up of Dynasty, Dallas, and Falcon Crest with a little Knots Landing thrown in for good measure. While I loved each of those shows when they first aired, it was hard to read the first book because some of the characters were not likable. However, I adore JR Ward with everything in me, so I had to give The Angels’ Share a chance, and I'm glad I did. I found the Bradford siblings to pretty much be spoiled rotten brats in the first book. However, as I read The Angels’ Share, I started to see growth with the characters. Lane, who has to step up way more than he ever expected when it came to the family business, actually has grown up so much since the first book. I also enjoyed seeing him with Lizzie, who was one of my favorite characters in the first book. I honestly thought we might see focus on one of the other Bradford siblings, but The Angels’ Share still focused mostly on Lane and Lizzie with glimpses of the other siblings. I did like seeing Lane finally start to grow up and take care of business, and really enjoyed seeing him reach out to his brother Edward. I really liked Edward in The Bourbon Kings, and was honestly hoping he would play a bigger role in The Angels’ Share. I found myself liking him more and more as I saw him interact with his family. I thought we might get more time with Gin, and though I have to say she is taking way longer to grow up than her siblings, I did like the changes she made for herself and her daughter. Maxwell Bradford returned towards the end of the book, and I feel like he might play an important role in the next book. There are so many twist and turns in The Angels’ Share, some I saw coming others totally threw me for a loop. I really enjoyed The Angels’ Share and am looking forward to the next installment in the Bourbon King's series, which I'm pretty sure won't be out until next summer. Rating: 3.75 Stars (B-) Review copy provided by publisher

This review was written by Marie for a guest review post on Ever After Book Reviews blog: 5 Stars Scandal. Family drama. Juicy secrets. Sex (and hot sex at that!). This book has it all! The return to Easterly didn’t disappoint in The Angels’ Share. The return of so many favorite characters, coupled with the “Dallas-esque” setting, makes this series addicting, exciting, and so much fun! As a fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, I can tell you that the familiar writing style of Ms. Ward brings to life a wonderful world of intrigue and class. Her strong, yet flawed, characters add layers of depth to an already complex and beautifully built storyline. And, as always, they bring their perfect comedic timing to the best situations. I have enjoyed getting to know the Bradford family and absolutely cannot wait to find out what addictive drama is in store the next go round! ***I read and reviewed a hardcover copy of the book gifted to the blog, from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All conclusions reached are my own***

I don't know what it is about this family. I usually do not like soap operas, but I really like this series. Most everyone is wealthy or used to be or is on their way up. There are scandals, deaths, affairs and all the major causes of drama. I like most of the characters despite most of their spoiled upbringing and some bad behavior. It ends in a cliffy. I'm really into it and can't wait for the next installment.

About the author

J. R. Ward is the author of more than twenty previous novels, including those in her #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Black Dagger Brotherhood. She is also the author of the Black Dagger Legacy series, and The Bourbon Kings. There are more than fifteen million copies of Ward’s novels in print worldwide, and they have been published in twenty-five different countries around the world.