I have loved the meddling ways of Victor and Alessandro Andrade, in Ruth's other series. So, I was very happy to see them passing on this tradition to the Westerly family. Delinda is a character that is hard to love, due to her sharp tongue and frosty demeanor. Her plan to bring her family back together by marrying off her grandchildren is crazy, but it's definitely going to be fun to read. I really enjoyed Brett and Alisha's story. He fits the mold of the workaholic, arrogant billionaire to a T. Being a kindergarten teacher gives Alisha a vastly different view of life than Brett. The things she went through in her childhood have shaped her ability to trust. I loved her sweet nature and willing to do anything to help those she loves. Her relationship with Brett's family was precious, whereas his was broken and strained. The way things evolved between these two characters was a beautiful journey. I thought their connection was strong from the start, as was their chemistry. I liked that they fought their attraction as long as they could, then exploded on impact. They both learned so much about themselves, as they grew closer together. I am really looking forward to more from the Westerly family.

I have been reading Ruth Cardello for years & she gets stronger with every story she writes! I couldn’t put down this book and I highly recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

In the Heir by Ruth Cardello is the first book in the Westerly Billionaire Series. I love reading the Ruth Cardello's books since she gets me hooked the first chapter.

Alisha Conventry friends Rachelle, Rachelle's mother and younger siblings were the family she never had. She would do anything to help them out. Brett Westerly was Rachelle's older brother who after the divorce of their parents stayed with their father. I love the combination of these too. Alisha found that protecting her friends help her from what felt like the weakness she had in her past. Brett was all business. Brett cared for his family but did so by his financial wealth and in the background so no one would know. He learned this from watching his father. Alisha and Brett had instant chemisty when they met. I love the these together. The interaction had me giggling and smiling at times. I love the banter.

This a five star read by Ruth Cardello. I love how she writes these characters. I love how the story flows. I like how she has the inner thoughts of her characters. The inner thoughts coming up and you gives great insight to how they are feeling. This a must read!

Brett Westerly is his father’s golden child, but it’s come at a cost. As head of the family corporation, he throws himself into his work—hiding in his office is easier than confronting the reality of his broken family. After a bitter divorce that split the family and divided loyalties, the wealthy Westerly matriarch offers an early inheritance to any grandchild who marries and invites the entire family to the wedding. Brett’s brother Spencer rashly gets engaged, and Brett knows it’s his duty to intervene. But he never imagined the unwelcome desire Spencer’s fiery fiancée would spark in him. Now the man who’s used to getting everything he could want has met the one woman he can’t have. Ever since she was a girl, Alisha Coventry considered Spencer and his sister Rachelle the family she didn’t have. When Spencer asks for her help, Alisha has no problem becoming his fake fiancée—until she meets Spencer’s sexy older brother Brett. The chemistry between them is undeniable—forbidden—but as their relationship deepens, Brett is determined to have her. Alisha only wanted to help the family make amends. Now she’s falling for the wrong Westerly.
The book was really good. I loved both main characters as they went through the story. Both characters were well written. I really enjoyed the plot. It was a quick and easy read. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Good start to a new series about a Billionaire family and troubled relations.
Looking forward to reading the next book in this series for resolutions to storylines introduced in this book.

Along with the expected drama one would expect from the description of this story, what I found truly surprising was the hilarity of the banter between Brett and Alisha. As formidable as Brett came off at the beginning of the story, who would have guessed he had such as humorous personality and caring nature. Seeing it unfold was quite rewarding as that came to light throughout the story.

I've always enjoyed the author's writing, this story was no exception in how easily losing myself while reading it was. I look forward to the continuation of the series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This book was a much quicker read than I imagined. I liked Brett and Alisha, I think they are good together. One thing I didn't like (and why I only gave 3 stars was because Brett basically loved Alisha from the first second he met her- that just felt too cliche and silly for me.

Spencer needs a bride and who better to ask than his friend Alisha? She'd be perfect. Alisha is all in, until she meets Spencer's brother Brett. Then all bets are off, because Alisha is falling hard and fast for Brett. Only it can't happen, since she is engaged to Spencer. Or can it? Oohhhhhh!

Ok, onto the plot, this book took forever to get to the epic high. There was so much going on in the book, I had whiplash. Too many subplots. Focus on the one important one!!

Brett Westerly is the oldest in a split family and afraid he is just like is father ( the not so great parts)Alisha Coventry is his brothers ...or is she.....torn as to wanting to do the right thing or what they long for ..Ruth does a great job spinning this web come along and enjoy a great book that is the kick off of a great new series !

A romance where two people fall in love, despite the past betrayal that has happened in their lives. I really enjoy a good fake engagement story.

Review: Cardello is a fairly new to me author since somehow I’ve missed most of her books along the way having only read the first two books in the Legacy series when there are a total of six in the series. I hope to correct that not only with the other books in the Legacy and Westerly Billionaire series but some of her other books as well.

In the Heir was a quick paced read that kept me up later than I should have been because I had to see what would happen next so one chapter would end and I’d start another. And I wasn’t disappointed! There are family and outsiders, some of whom are family, with a lot of hurt, anger, sadness, disagreements, secrets and tears involved. There are three generations of Westerly’s involved and lots of history, most of it unknown to the youngest generation. The siblings don’t always get along since some were raised by their dad and others by their mom after their divorce so it was hard for them to feel like a family. The oldest, Brett, who was following in his dad and grandfather’s footsteps in their family business didn’t have much of a life outside of work. Enter, friend of the family Alisha, and things get complicated for him in ways that he can’t even imagine.

There were a lot of twists and turns to the story. The prologue and epilogue were a nice addition to the story giving me some history but also some closure. The characters were multidimensional especially due to their upbringings and silver spoons in the mouth of some but not others. Their grandmother was stoic and acted like royalty but didn’t get the love or respect she wanted from her own family. We learn a bit about each of the siblings but this was mostly Brett and Spencer’s story along with their sister, Rachelle, and her best friend, Alisha, who had her own family issues growing up and everything she has she’s earned herself. The Westerly’s mom and dad, also played a role in the story and gave me insight on how their family ended up the way they did.

There was a playfulness between Brett and Alisha but also a wariness since each of them had reasons why they lived their lives the way they do. Neither wanted more out of life, or do they? They would take a step forward and several back but also knew neither had ever felt the way they did when they were together. There was a lot of caring and romance from Brett which was so out of character for him. There were a lot of burn up the sheet moments as well. Their time on the cruise was magical. There was a nice flow to the story and the closure I look for but enough loose ends to bring us to the next book in the series and I for one can’t wait!

Divorce split the family but now the family matriarch wants the family to make up. Brett questions his brother quick engagement which leads to a sexy fiance who Brett can't get out of his head. Alisha wants to help her friend until she meets his sexy brother now things get interesting.

I truly enjoyed book. It was a romance book, but with enough drama to wonder if we were going to ever get there. Brett was instantly attracted to Alisha the moment he met her, which surprised him since he was used to getting any woman he wanted since he was not only gorgeous but extremely rich. But it so happens that Alisha is his brother's Spencer fiance, well he was pretty sure they were faking it so that Spencer could get his inheritance. Brett sets out to stop the madness and while doing so falls in love, something he does not believe, and goes hard core after her. Alisha, is also attracted but fighting because she does not want to hurt Spencer, nor her best friend Rachelle and the family she felt she was a part of, boy did she get a rude awakening, when Spencer found out some devastating information. I did not like Rachelle, she did not seem like a good best friend to me, thankfully she woke up, but for while there, I wanted to hurt her. Luckily we got our HEA, and now we will wait to read what happens next..

I’ve never met a Ruth Cardello series I didn’t love! And the Westerly Billionaire series isn’t any different.
Alisha is helping out her good friend Spencer by agreeing to marry him so that he can access his trust fund. His grandmother put a condition on it that they each had to marry to receive their trust fund early. She loves Spencer (as a friend) and his family and so she agrees. Then she meets Spencer’s distant brother Brett…

Brett is a workaholic of epic proportions. But that’s what he was raised with and what was expected of him. He’s been a provider behind the scenes and he’s just fine with that. Until he meets his brother’s fiancée and can’t get her out of his mind. She’s fierce, spunky and says what’s on her mind. And he can’t deny that he’s wildly attracted to her and her personality.
This was my favorite (or one of my favorite) type of stories. Where the CEO (or workaholic executive) is attracted to the sassy woman who stands up for her friends. And thus, ultimately changes him in ways so he’s more approachable.

I hope Spencer’s story is next. Or Rachelle. I can’t decide!

I gobbled this up in one sitting and went on to buy two more, A well written well plotted read, that finished far too early. Off to leave Amazon feedback

I really enjoyed this book. Brett is so much more than he first seems, and I can't wait to read more of the series!

3 “Spin on Fake Marriage” Stars

ARC via NetGalley.


Thank you, Montlake Romance!


This is my first book by this author, and I can see why she's been successfully publishing contemporary romance books for a while. When the romance finally kicked in, the chemistry between Brett and Alisha made this a hot and enjoyable read.

In the Heir is the first title in the author’s new series about a rich family, the Westerly, and the women (and I’m guessing men, too, since there are also sisters involved) who fall in love with them.

In this story, Alisha agrees to “fake marry” her childhood friend Spencer, but ends up falling in love with his brother. The forbidden romance arc immediately grabbed my attention, and it was the best aspect of the story, no doubt.

My biggest problem with In the Heir was that it took too long to get to the best part. I’m not talking about slow burn romance, because I’m a fan of that, but the fact that there were too many subplots, and they ended up taking away from the romance.

The first few chapters were too heavy on the whole “Grandmother is forcing us to marry in exchange for an early inheritance”. We started with a chapter from the grandmother’s POV, and I simply wasn’t feeling it. I get that it was important to set the theme for the entire series, but I wish it had been handled differently.

Since I wasn’t a fan of that beginning, it took me a while to get into the story. I have to say that the moment Brett and Alisha went on that cruise, things improved a lot. The story finally focused on them and their chemistry, and I started enjoying it. I only wish things hadn’t felt so rushed toward the end. Their HEA didn’t feel natural enough, and I blame it on the chapters in the beginning and in the end wasted on the inheritance subject.

So while I did enjoy the romance, I think the book would’ve benefited from focusing more on Alisha and Brent than on the other characters and everything else that was happening with the Westerly family.

Brett Westerly is CEO and eldest of five but it’s come at a cost. All he knows how to do is work but when he meets fierce and smart mouthed Alisha Coventry everything is about to change except she is fiancee of his younger brother Spencer.
When Brett’s grandmother did not get any visit from her grandchildren she decided to give her inheritance to any grandchild who marries. So Spencer wanted to show his fiancee to his oldest brother who he secretly looks up to. When Alisha hears Brett’s demeaning tone of their marriage, she couldn’t hold it and marches back to his office alone and gives her mind. Brett never had any one stand up to him before and he can’t get her off his mind. Even though he knows she is his brother’s fiancee.
Brett’s parents bitter divorce made him bitter about love and marriage and he think his brother is rushing into marriage. He is trying to help Spencer financially but he refuses and he doesn’t know what to do. But he can’t get his mind off Alisha and he starts looking after her.
To Alisha is best friends with Spencer’s sister Rachelle, Spencer’s family is everything she was looking for in a family since she has been abused by her father and lost her mother. She felt she belong to the family until their engagement falls apart.
Whole engagement was sham and she couldn’t keep the charade anymore when she went to see their grandmother. But it shatters this family into pieces. Secrets and lies their parents kept and did not share with their kids shatters this family apart.
Only reason she wanted to reveal the sham was to protect Spencer and she was slowly falling for Brett. But after the fiasco, she feels more alone and she decided to take a cruise alone to clear her head.
THat’s what she thought until Brett showed up... He wanted to make sure she was emotionally okay. He worried more about her than his family. While his family is handing the news, he is falling more deeply into her but he doesn’t want to give into his temptation..
Alisha brings best part of Brett out in him when she is around him. She knew he had it in him but all of his siblings only has seen the other side of Brett only and she intend to change that.. But he knows Alisha is royal to his family first. But their chemistry is off the chart while they decided to stay as friends..
Will they keep it friendly zone until the end of the cruise??
Brett has all the money he can spend but he can’t have one he really wants. What will he do????
Now, Grandmother and mother is finally seeing what their feud created and now they want to team up to do help Spencer....
Can’t wait for the next installment of Westerly.

Drama. Drama. Drama. This is a soap opera of a book- a fun story with angst, laughter, love, betrayal, bitterness, and family shenanigans.

There is a dull moment in the book, even though there was some cheesy dialogue, which of course fits right into the soap opera quality.

Four stars- and I look forward to book 2! A good soap opera leaves you wanting more!