Review: Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Book One of the Blood of Gods an Royals series

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Publication Date: August 18, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to newcomer Katerina, who must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But Kat’s first love, Jacob, will go to unthinkable lengths to win her, even if it means competing for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince. And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet fiancée, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the salacious and fascinating details of real history, New York Times bestselling author Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known: Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

What I Liked:

Don't pay too much attention to my rating. I hate three-star ratings, because there are positive three-star ratings, and there are negative three-star ratings. This one is more on the positive side. There was one seriously large thing I didn't like about this book, and then a few small ones, but for the most part, I enjoyed it. It took a while for me to regain my interest, but I finished the book quickly after my interest was rekindled. 

Prince Alexander is named regent in his father's absence. The tournament has just begun, yet danger is all around Macedonia. Hephaestion is Pella's champion in the tournament, and Alexander's best friend. Cynane is Alexander's half-sister, who tries to turn Hephaestion against Alexander. Katerina is an orphan in Erissa, a friend of Jacob. Jacob is a contestant in the tournament, who is in love with Kat and wants to make a better future for her, should she agree to marry him. Zofia is a princess who is in love with a soldier, but will be given to Alexander to marry, if she does not find the Spirit Eaters and change her future. This is a complex story with so many intertwining lives and so much at stake.

I LOVE ancient history. Anything medieval, ancient, etc. History is one of my favorite subjects, and so it's no surprise that historical fiction is one of my favorite genres. Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome has always fascinated (one of the first stories I ever wrote as a child was set in Ancient Greece!), and ancient times in Macedonia is a time of particular. I LOVE the story of Alexander the Great! So I was excited to see what Herman came up with, in Legacy of Kings.

While I am giving this book three stars, it is not in disappointment! I liked this book and will certainly be reading the sequel come next year. The setting is very high fantasy esque - with kings, queens, betrayals, scheming (SO MUCH SCHEMING), swords, fantastical creatures... it's easy to mistake this for more of a high fantasy novel than anything else. This seems to historical fantasy! Herman mixes magic with history, and it is quite alluring!

There are a lot of characters in this book (see my note on this in the next section). Kat is introduced first, so I think of her as the primary protagonist of the story (though she probably isn't - the bajillion protagonists in this book are likely of equal importance). I liked Kat the most anyway - she is calm and calculating, kind and selfless. She isn't in love with Jacob, her childhood best friend. But she accompanies him to the tournament, and she is noticed by the prince. Alexander takes her into the palace, all on a whim.

A lot of things in this book are based on whims. Kat came with Jacob because it felt like something she needed to do. Alexander saved Kat and brought her to the palace because something about her mystified him. The queen didn't investigate a disturbance outside of her window because she didn't feel like she had to. The characters of this world rely on prophecies and intuition and the gods, so they often do things based on feelings and intuition. 

I liked Alexander a lot. He is scarred in the leg, and this is apparently not good luck. Everyone does not want him on the throne because of this deformity, which is so unfair. He is more than capable, more than competent. He is an able-bodied fighter, and a smart prince. Alexander has a clever mind and a good, kind heart.

The other characters in this book are important as well. Hephaestion, Alexander's best friend. Cynane, Alexander scheming, wild half-sister. Zofia, Alexander's future fiancee, in love with another man. Jacob, champion at the tournament, in love with Kat. The queen, Alexander's mother, creepy and power-hungry.

The story starts off rather slow (see below), but it picks up around the one-fifth mark, and I finished pretty quickly after my interest was piqued. I didn't want this book to disappoint me, and I knew I would finish it regardless. Nevertheless, I had no problems finishing the book.

Romance - there is little romance in this novel. Jacob is in love with Kat from the start, but Kat is not in love with him. Nor does she really fall for anyone. Zofia has her own love story, but that looks like it's not going anywhere. Also, she is supposed to be getting engaged to Alexander at some point, so we'll see if that happens or not. I do have a main ship, but I will not mention the names in the review.

I LOVE how this book finishes. All the deceit comes to light, especially in terms of Hephaestion and Cynane. Alexander finds out something very important, as does Kat. Cynane might actually get what she deserves. Zofia might not. So much happens at the end, it was hard to keep up! Not in a bad way though. I cannot wait to read Empire of Dust - if only to find out more about the title! But seriously, I anxiously await the sequel!

What I Did Not Like:

Several things made the rating of this book drop. The most significant - the sheer amount of perspectives this book had. What hurt the book most was the amount of points-of-view the author employed. All third-person, which was probably good, given the amount of perspectives. Kat, Alexander, Hephaestion, Cynane, Zofia, Jacob... I think those were all? Six. Six different POVs. That was waaaay too many. The story felt disjointed and disconnected at first. The pieces didn't fit together, the perspectives didn't make sense against one another.

As the story went on, things started to make more sense. But at first, the book was very slow, and it did not help. I was not getting into the story, especially with so many switches in perspectives. There were way too many perspectives, and the beginning was way too slow.

We need more answers! I'm sure the author will answer a hundred of my question in Empire of Dust, but one of the most frustrating things about reading this book (WHILE reading it) was the feeling of not knowing everything. And yet, some things were very obvious (like the green eyes). 

My biggest problem was definitely the number of perspectives though. That was crippling.

Would I Recommend It:

Still, despite the dislikes, I recommend this book. It is excellent historical fiction, with a generous side of fantasy. Did I mention magic? Kat, Alexander, and the queen have interesting abilities, as does Kat's mother, and some minor characters in the book. Oracles, Pegasus, hellions, and other supernatural beings abound in this book. Very cool stuff! An intriguing novel, worth the read, though you definitely have to muscle through the beginning.

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. Again, kind of ignore the rating? 3.5 stars is more accurate than 3 stars. I liked this book, and will definitely be looking forward to reading Empire of Dust!

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Stacking the Shelves (#135)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, July 19th to Saturday, July 25th?

(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

An ARC of The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow

I actually got this the week before, and forgot to include it in last week's haul! Unsolicited - thank you, Simon and Schuster!

 An ARC of Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

I LOVE this package! The mailer is great! Unsolicited - thank you SO MUCH, Little, Brown! I love Graudin's previous three novels, and cannot wait to read this one!

A hardcover copy of The Glass Gauntlet by Carter Roy

Unsolicited - thank you, Amazon!

An ARC of Jubilee Manor by Bethany Hagen

Thank you so so so much, Penguin! I can't wait to read this :)

A hardcover copy of Show and Prove by Sofia Quintero

A hardcover copy of No Such Person by Caroline B. Cooney

Both unsolicited - thank you, Random House! 

The Vampire Combat Field Guide by Roger Ma 

COLORING BOOK! I haven't ever had an adult coloring book. I am so excited! Plus, crayons!

A hardcover copy of The Seven Lady Godivas by Dr. Seuss

One of his few adult books! This is for the blog tour for Dr. Seuss's newest book (publishing July 28 2015) - What Pet Should I Get? :)

From NetGalley:

Playing for Her Heart by Megan Erickson

It's Brazen! MEGAN ERICKSON! Double win!

Fated by Sarah Fine

YAAASS. Moros and Aislin's book!

Phew. I think that's it. About half of these were unsolicited, so I probably won't be reviewing them. But quite the diverse haul, don't you think? I'm excited!

Favorite Quotes: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Hey fabulous bibliovores! Happy Friday! Today, I'm participating in Phase Four of the An Ember in the Ashes fan activity! Phase Four is all about Fan Art! I'm absolutely horrible at arts of any sort, except music. Graphic arts are not my forte (nor drawing or painting, etc.), so bear with me! And be sure to check out my posts for Phase One (Name the Fandom), Phase Two (Sequel Excitement), and Phase Three (Character Love).

Like I said, I am REALLY bad with graphic arts. I thought about doing a Pinterest board of cool images related to the book, but I think there are a lot of those artwork roundups, especially on Tumblr. But, I did something that I actually had a lot of fun doing - finding my favorite quotes from the book! I scoured the hardcover copy, and found these! The images are from the US and UK book covers. Enjoy!

(Click on these to make them bigger. My post space is a bit small!)

- page 155

- page 191

- page 221 

- page 438

I try, guys :D I will never be an expert with graphic arts, but I will always be pretty great with finding awesome quotes! Sabaa makes it easy, with her lovely writing ;)

About An Ember in the Ashes: 

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Book One of the An Ember in the Ashes series

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: April 28, 2015

Official Summary:

Set in a terrifyingly brutal Rome-like world, An Ember in the Ashes is an epic fantasy debut about an orphan fighting for her family and a soldier fighting for his freedom. It’s a story that’s literally burning to be told.

LAIA is a Scholar living under the iron-fisted rule of the Martial Empire. When her brother is arrested for treason, Laia goes undercover as a slave at the empire’s greatest military academy in exchange for assistance from rebel Scholars who claim that they will help to save her brother from execution.

ELIAS is the academy’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias is considering deserting the military, but before he can, he’s ordered to participate in a ruthless contest to choose the next Martial emperor.

When Laia and Elias’s paths cross at the academy, they find that their destinies are more intertwined than either could have imagined and that their choices will change the future of the empire itself.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

About the Author:

Sabaa Tahir grew up in California’s Mojave Desert at her family’s 18-room motel. There, she spent her time devouring fantasy novels, raiding her brother’s comic book stash and playing guitar badly. She began writing An Ember in the Ashes while working nights as a newspaper editor. She likes thunderous indie rock, garish socks and all things nerd. Sabaa currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family.

Website | Novel Website | Goodreads | Twitter

**Note: I do not own rights to the book covers, or quotes! All quotes are taken from the final hardcover copy of An Ember in the Ashes.

Blog Tour Review and Giveaway: Bind Me Before You Go by Harper Kincaid

Welcome to the blog tour for Bind Me Before You Go by Harper Kincaid! Excited about this new Brazen novel? Me too! It's now a published novel, so get a copy as soon as possible! Check out my review if you need some convincing :D

Bind Me Before You Go by Harper Kincaid

Publisher: Brazen

Publication Date: July 21, 2015

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

His heart is bound tighter than the bondage he craves...

Determined to put her past behind her, Cassidy Peyton moves to the Big Apple. But New York has a few dark secrets of its own, including Serve, an exclusive BDSM club. It's a place she isn't sure she's ready for, until she sees him watching her. Hot. Intent. Knowing. With eyes that leave her stomach tied in knots, because the loneliness he's trying to hide matches her own.

Security expert David Cavill has more secrets than any man should. Secrets that forever shut down any possibility of love, marriage, or family. Yet Cassidy draws him in, an intoxicating combination of strength, candor, and sensuality that David can't resist. But as their bond deepens, Cassidy must decide if she can love a man whose heart is bound tighter than the form of bondage he craves...

What I Liked:

I've never ventured into the BDSM world before - like the protagonist of this book, I'm very wary of it, especially from what I've heard about Fifty Shades of Grey. Never read the books, never seen the movie, but I can tell you now - that series, and BDSM, aren't my thing. Not really. I mean, I guess I've never tried it, so I can't shut it down, but theoretically, it's not my thing. I guess I won't really know until (if) I try some sort of it. ANYWAY. This was my first venture into scratching the surface of BDSM, and I must say, this book wasn't too bad. The BDSM in this book felt light, not like what I was expecting. Good or bad thing!

Cassidy is a fairly rational, clear-headed, boring person. She moved to New York to get some change in her life, but she didn't expect to be joining her roommate Allison at a BDSM club called Serve. Nor does she plan on meeting David Cavill, a handsome, thrilling stranger at Serve who lights her nerve endings on fire. Cassidy and David can't resist each other, but are they prepared for more than they bargained for?

This book is so short! Yet we get a lot of detail and background about Cassidy, and David. Both of them have issues, and both of them are hardworking, passionate individuals. Cassidy grew up in a difficult place, and David has a home life that isn't easy. The two of them are a great pair, and not just sexually. They have plenty of chemistry together, but they also connect emotionally. 

I love the subplot with Cassidy's roommate Allison and David's friend Leo! Leo is an instructor at Serve, and he and David have worked together at Serve together, and are friends. Leo and Allison meet and the attraction is instant. I like the pair of them!

The story goes beyond the romance, though the heart of this book deals with Cassidy trying something new - BDSM with David. David is into a specific type of bondage, and it isn't *super* kinky, actually. I expected a lot kinkier things in this book, but there really is only one "type" of BDSM going on in this book, and it's pretty mild. 

The relationship is developed super quickly, which bothered me, but meh, they fell for each other hard. But I feel like this book could have benefited from another fifty pages. More on this below!

The chemistry was steamy, the tension fairly thick. I thought this book would be a little hotter, given that it's a BDSM-based book, but that's okay. Overall, I was pleased with this one!

What I Did Not Like:

This book is waaaay too short. The author tries to cram in character development, relationship development, and a very intricate world into a super short book! Like, novella short! I think she does a pretty good job of introducing the BDSM, but the character development was info-dump-like. Also, the relatnioship was super speedy. We have "I love you's" thrown away way too quickly into the relationship.

Also? There is supposed to be BDSM in this book. There is literally like, ONE sex scene. It involves BDSM, but the BDSM seems mild. Unless... my sexual knowledge has gotten super strange (scary thought), and BDSM suddenly seems tame. I don't think that's the case though. The fact that there is only one sex scene is a trouble to begin with. Romance novels - especially the Brazen novels I've read - need at least three in the book. Not to mention that this is a book marketed with BDSM in it. I expected more!

Would I Recommend It:

I liked this Brazen novel, but I wouldn't necessary consider it a priority Brazen read. It's a good one, but perhaps not the best Brazen I've read. It's on the mild side of BDSM, so even if you're not into that kind of thing, trust me, it's not bad at all. Nowhere near FSoG kind of kinky (not that I specifically know what happened in that book). 

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded down to 3 stars. I'm glad I had a chance to read this one! I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish it were a little more kinky. If you know what I mean. I love the steamy romance and the story was pretty interesting! I'll definitely be looking for more of Kincaid's books in the future.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

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About the Author:

A woman with the heart of a revolutionary,

The mind of a pragmatist,

And the inappropriate humor of your tipsy BFF...

Born in California and raised in South Florida, I've moved around like a gypsy with a bounty on my head ever since. Along the way, I've worked as a community organizer, a professional matchmaker, an art teacher, a popular blogger, and a crisis counselor (to name a few). All the while, longing to have the guts and follow-through to do what I really wanted: to write and become a published author. That wish has finally come true and I am tickled pink with glitter over this good piece of fortune.

What else? Hmm...I love indie, lo-fi, complaint rock played on vinyl, wearing black because it's slimming, the theater, well-informed optimism, happy endings (both kinds),and making those close to me laugh 'til they snort. I'm a self-admitted change junkie, loving new experiences and places, but have now happily settled in the cutest lil' town, Vienna, Virginia. I totally love hearing from readers so stalk me via social media or email me at HarperKincaid26@gmail.com!

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid

Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid

Book Two of the Pretty Dark Nothing series 

Publisher: Month9Books

Publication Date: July 28, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC sent by the publisher

Summary  (from Goodreads):

It’s been five weeks, two days, and eight hours since the demons forced Quinn to throw herself into the raging river, since Aaron sacrificed himself to save her, since his body disappeared without a trace.

Everyone wants Quinn to move on, but she can’t, not after a spirit appears to her at Aaron's memorial, convincing her he’s still alive.

When a mysterious box materializes on the very spot Aaron disappeared, Quinn finds she’s at the center of an ancient prophesy of betrayal, revenge, and sacrifice that takes her to the depths of the underworld to face Lilith—Adam’s first wife.

If Quinn can stop Lilith from unleashing the demon horde Eve, trapped inside the box during the Battle of Eden millennia ago, she will save the human realm and free Aaron from an eternity in torment.

All it will cost is her blood.

What I Liked:

It has been over two years since Pretty Dark Nothing was published! That book was one of my favorite books of 2013. It was very unique ad original and fresh, and I loved it from start to finish. I remember rereading it a few times, and so the book is still one that I remember pretty well. Nevertheless, while I didn't love this sequel like I did Pretty Dark Nothing, I certainly enjoyed it! My rating is more like 3.5 stars, but not quite 4 stars.

It's been over a month since Aaron sacrificed himself in order for Quinn to live. He saved her from drowning in a river, but he himself died. The search for his body has been called off. Yet Quinn does not believe that he is dead. She is sure that he exists still. And he does, which she soon finds out. He is in the Underworld, held captive by Adam's first wife, Lilith. Also, Quinn has Eve's blood and flesh, and she is able to fight ad banish demons. Quinn will stop at nothing to get Aaron back, even if it means allowing Lilith to release an army of demons, effectively dooming humanity. 

This book felt different from Pretty Dark Nothing. Less raw, less emotional. In the first book, Quinn was all over the place, and her character was a bit shaky. By the end, she changed greatly, and became a strong and deadly girl. In this book, Quinn is desperate to find Aaron, with or without the help of her friends or her Sentinel, Azrael. Quinn's desperation makes her impulsive, but also very, very powerful. I am very pleased with Quinn's character development in this book.

The story is wrapped around Quinn's search for Aaron. No one believes her when she says that she knows he is out there. Everyone looks at her with hatred, because he is the one that died saving her. Even Quinn's best friend Reese hasn't been speaking to Quinn. But Quinn's friends don't abandon her, and Reese, Marcus, and Caleb (a new guy friend of Quinn's) band together to help her and support her. I love Marcus - he is a tease and a flirt, and a great other half of Reese. Caleb is calmer and more of a low-key flirt, but he knows that Quinn's heart is elsewhere.

We do get bursts of scenes with Aaron's point-of-view. Aaron is in the Underworld, captured by Lilith, who is trying to find a box that contains her demon army (they are trapped, kind of like Pandora's box). Lilith tortures Aaron in the worst of ways, and Aaron learns strange things about himself that he didn't know. Things start to click and make sense, but Aaron is still trapped. I really like Aaron - his situation is hopeless, yet he never gives up. He is a go-with-the-flow guy, but he is also an impulsive, angry guy when he's provoked. I like Aaron a lot!

There is romance in this novel, and series in general. This book is told in third person, switching between Aaron and Quinn (though more Quinn than Aaron, by far). Though Aaron is held captive in the Underworld, he and Quinn do communicate in this book, in an inventive way. And when they see each other solidly, sparks fly like in book one. Readers will be very satisfied with the romance of this novel - no insta-love, no love triangle. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this sequel. There will definitely be a third book, given the way this one ended. This book was engrossing and engaging, and functioned well as a sequel novel. The third book looks like it will be the epic showdown, and I cannot wait!

What I Did Not Like:

This book didn't have the same feel as Pretty Dark Nothing. One of the things that I absolutely loved about book one was the rawness, Quinn's drama, the difficulty of all that she was dealing with. This book has significantly less baggage. I guess some people might like this though! I just wish it were the opposite, because the rawness of emotion and pain was one of the things that really drew me in,

But still this novel was dark and full of guilt and shame and pain, so I really can't complain all that much!

Would I Recommend It:

Given the uniqueness of this series, I would definitely recommend this book and its predecessor! Not only is the series unique, but entertaining and quite dark, too. Borderline creepy and scary, though I scare easily. The romance is very satisfying The female protagonist is one of those characters that seems like she might be weak, but proves her strength over and over. Such a great novel!

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up o 4 stars. I read this one pretty quickly, which is great, because it shows that the book wasn't boring. I am quite excited to read the third (and hopefully final) novel! I say "hopefully" because I hate waiting for series to be completed! Gimmee the next book now!

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Swoon Thursday (#130): Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from Pretty Dark Sacrifice by Heather L. Reid!

Quinn pressed closer, brushing her lips against his. His mouth opened to hers as she kissed him, soft and slow. He tasted of sunlight and summer, heat pulsing from his skin and into hers, melting all the fear and regret she'd carried for so many months.

Arms pulled his hips to hers, and he let out a soft moan. Aaron deepened the kiss, his nails digging into her waist, and she pulled him down with her until they were both of their knees. She let him guide her to the ground, her back pressed against the golden grass as he used his power to paint the perfect scene. 

- eARC, 71%

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Pretty Dark Nothing | Pretty Dark Sacrifice

I have been waiting YEARS for this sequel! Month9Books is one of my favorite indie publishers. This series is awesome!

Review: The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward

Book One of The Bourbon Kings series

Publisher: NAL

Publication Date: July 28, 2015

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

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. 

What I Liked:

Huh. This book was not what I expected. You know I have not read a single J.R. Ward book? I really want to try her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but it's just so long...  I'm not sure I have the attention span for that many books, companions or sequels. In any case, I really liked this book, and I'm glad it was my first Ward read.

The Bradford family are not entirely who they appear to be. Kings of the bourbon industry, yes, but there is more going on behind closed doors than one could ever imagine. Lane Baldwine has not been at Easterly in two years, not to see his cold wife, or his cruel father, or his listless mother, or the horticulturist he once loved. Lizzie loved Lane too, but she is determined to forget him. Two years later, Lane comes back to Easterly, after receiving distressing news about someone he loves. The arrival of Lane not only brings back memories for Lizzie, but stirs up secrets - past and present - that shake the family and nation to the core.

This book reminds me of daytime soap operas, a bit. My mom watches Days of Our Lives and One Life To Live (though I think the latter is no longer airing), so I know all about daytime soaps. This book rivals one of those shows. Unfaithful partners, cold heartless women sleeping with anyone and everyone, cold heartless men sleeping with anyone and everyone, cold heartless people using sex with anyone and everyone to get back at each other, rich spoiled princesses, underhand deals, paternity in question... this book has it ALL, in terms of soap opera madness.

Luckily, Lane and Lizzie are not the crazy ones of this book. Lane wants to stay in New York, rather than live in Kentucky with his wife. He doesn't love her, hasn't touched her in years, but he's married to her... so I guess that his soap opera claim-to-fame. Lane is such a good guy though. He cares about Miss Aurora, who practically raised him. He cares about Lizzie, his former lover. He doesn't hide the fact that he cares about people, which makes him strong. I love his strength, also his protectiveness, and persistence, his intelligence.

Lizzie is a very independent woman, having worked as a horticulturist (head gardener) in the Bradford home for a decade or so. She has her own farm that she is paying off, and she's doing her best to forget Lane and their history. But easier said than done, because he comes back to Easterly, and the memories are still there. Throw in the fact that he will be divorcing his wife (but not because of Lizzie. That wife, Chantal, needed to go from the start). 

This book also follows other characters. Edward, the older brother, who was kidnapped in South America and ransomed, but not before being tortured and injured and scarred beyond measure. Edward lives on a horse farm, breeding horses. Gin, the youngest child of the Bradford family and only girl, is a weird one. I actually hate her, I think. She sleeps with EVERYONE, mercilessly. She does NOT care who lifts her skirts. I'm sorry, I know we're all for feminism, but, um, not classy? Anyone, I felt back for her towards the end. She didn't deserve what was happening, but in the end, she chose it. She's a dumb woman (said so herself), but no one deserves that. Samuel T is the family's lawyer and Lane's friend. He's mixed up with the Bradford family as well, and knows all their crap. Samuel is in deeper than he knows, thanks to a little secret someone kept from him.

This story follows what happens when a little secret unravels into a bigger one into an even larger one. Lane discovers things about his father and the bourbon business that he never would have known. I was riveted with and fascinated by the story. Ward takes this filthy rich, snobby family, and packs more drama and shenanigans than a soap opera. Lots of OMG and WOAH happening in this book! 

I liked the romance. There was a lot of romance going on, not just with Lizzie and Lane. Not in a love triangle way though. Lizzie and Lane are a pair, and no one, not even Lane's wife, can touch that. I had my doubts, because Lane is married in the beginning, but it becomes obvious what kind of marriage that is. Lizzie and Lane have history, so this particular story was a slowburn romance for them. They are angry with each other, yet desperate for each other. Love! The romance was sweet and steamy, though I was surprised by the scant amount of sexy scenes. If you know what I mean,

Other romance - well, there's Gin and a certain someone, but that certain someone keeps his distance from her because he knows her game. The two of them are the exact same person, just different sexes. They make the perfect couple, yet Gin did something foolish at the end of this book. And then there's Edward - he's a dummy too.  The only smart Bradford/Baldwine is Lane.

Anyway. I really liked this book. I liked Lane a lot - I wanted to hug him at most times! I liked Lizzie, despite her lapse in judgment towards the end of the book (it's all good though!). This book wrecked me, had me going through all kinds of emotions. I had to stop reading and process things very often, because my heart was racing and my brain was in shock mode. Ward definitely knows how to write a great story, and a satisfying romance! I can't wait to read the next book.

What I Did Not Like:

The one thing I didn't like about this book is the lack of resolution we get, in the end. Like, we're left hanging a bit, in terms of Gin's future, or Samuel T's relationship with his girl, or the aftermath of a death that was unexpected, or Chantal's next move. Even Lane and Lizzie's relationship - it's solid, but I wish we had a fireworks scene at the end. Basically, this book ended a bit abruptly, and it could have done well with an epilogue. I know this is a series - it looks like it isn't a companion series, likely a sequel type of series? That bothers me a wee bit because with romance novels, I like a happily-ever-after with each book. But. I guess I will have to suffer and wait for the next book.

Would I Recommend It:

I loved this book, so I would totally recommend it! I am quite sure Ward fans will enjoy this book, and anyone looking for a fun (and terrifying) dramatic contemporary novel with a lovely side of romance. The romance is important, but not the focus of the book. So you don't even have to be a romance fan to enjoy this book!

Rating:

4 stars. I haven't been really enjoying the books I've read recently, so this book was a welcome change. I could not read it fast enough! I was literally rushing through some pages at times because it could not be read fast enough! The story was so engrossing and so intriguing and I want more. Give me the sequel or give me, well, I'll settle for only the sequel!

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