Review: A Brother’s Honor – Brenda Jackson

The Granger brothers left behind their family’s Virginia estate—and the bad memories it holds—years ago. But their dying grandfather’s request brings them home: to a failing business, a legacy of secrets and a deathbed promise to make things right.As the eldest brother, attorney Jace Granger is determined to take responsibility for Granger Aeronautics, his family’s failing business. But the years of mismanagement seem impossible to untangle. As CEO, he hires a consultant to turn the company around. Smart, sexy Shana Bradford is the right person for the job—and the right woman to turn Jace’s world upside down.

But the passion between them is jeopardized when old secrets begin to emerge. A woman from Jace’s past suddenly reappears. And an explosive discovery changes everything Jace thinks he knows about his mother—and his father, who was convicted of her murder.

Jace Granger tried to leave his family history behind once before. But this time he needs to face the past…or risk losing his future.

Three brothers. One legacy. A lifetime of secrets.

Series:  Grangers #1
Release Date:  May 28, 2013
Publisher:  Mira
Source:  NetGalley
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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Brenda Jackson is a master storyteller. I have read many of her books and loved each one. When I started to read this one I began to wonder whether this would be the first book where I felt Ms Jackson missed the mark.

The book deals with some very weighty matters from the very start. You dive right into the story. The housekeeper calls to summon the oldest, Jace Granger, to his grandfather’s bedside. Edward Granger, the grandfather, has had a massive heart attack and probably will nor survive. After learning of his grandfather’s grave situation Jace notifies his other brothers Caden and Dalton. The brother’s have a unique relationship with their grandfather because he took them as teenagers after their father was found guilty of murdering their mother. Right away I sort of became hesitant because I didn’t know how Ms Jackson was going to pull off a decent —- nevermind good novel when she begins with the death of the grandfather and 30 year incarceration of the father. She’s one of my favorite authors so I didn’t want to read a dud. However, she pulled off an awesome romance novel with intrigue and multiple storylines involved.

The main romantic storyline is between Jace and Shana Bradford, an industrial consultant that specializes in turning failing businesses around. Jace and Shana try to fight their feelings, but it’s impossible to ignore the sizzling hot chemistry between them. I love that Ms Jackson depicts her heroines as independent, fiesty, and unafraid of their own sexuality and Shana is no different. I nearly fell out of my chair when moments after they meet in her new office she tells Jace that they need to control his libido and her hormones. Shana grabbed the bull by the horns (so to speak)and acknowledged their mutual attraction. However, a blistering hot sex scene on her office desk days later cancels any chance Shana had of keeping their relationship strictly professional. Shana and Jace get their happily ever after with some suspense along the way and many steamy sexscapades. Jace is everything a woman could want in a man. He gives her pleasure the way she wants it, he’s considerate, and he hums her to sleep while cradling her in his arms. I think I’m in love.

Ms Jackson was not content to tell one story, but she gave the reader glimpses into the other stories that will be told later in the series. I am currently waiting with baited breath for the next book in the series. Caden’s high school flame, Shiloh Timmons, broke his heart after she refused to continue to associate with him following his father’s arrest. Years later she attempted to reignite the flame but again left him with a broken heart.

Dalton is a lover of ladies. He meets a mystery lady that stirs his senses and other body parts but unfortunately he doesn’t know her identity. She is none other than Jules Bradford, sister to Shana and a private investigator. I look forward to seeing their storyline progress.

Shana and Jules’ father has also met a woman that for the first time, since their mother died, has him considering marriage. Shana is all for it but Jules has her reservations. Ms Jackson deftly weaves in a second chance at love at an older age into this story of 3 different romances, but she’s not finished. It appears that Sheppard Granger, father of Jace, Caden, and Dalton, did not use all of the evidence available to him to prove his innocence. Now that Jace has found the evidence will Sheppard be free after serving 15 years in prison?

I loved, loved, loved this book. I admire Brenda Jackson’s skill and ability to weave together so many interesting storylines in one book without detracting from any of them. Beware that reading this book will have you hooked for the entire series. It has the best of family love, steamy sex, intrigue, suspense, and old fashioned romance.