Five-Star read for me. Will be recommending this to those who love psychological thrillers with lots of plots twists.

This was a fascinating story with many great twists.
We meet Cam and Jules, a young couple living a simple life in Colorado. Cam is part of a very rich family in the mountains of NC (great setting with lots of atmosphere!) His adoptive mother Ruby McTavish was fabulously wealthy and known for having buried multiple husbands. Cam is her heir and controls the wealth of the rest of the family as well.
The secrets of the family are brilliantly revealed in the book. Even though dead when the story opens, Ruby gives her amazing life from her viewpoint. Shifting narrators is a technique very cleverly used.
I found the book very compelling and could not put it down. The ending did not disappoint!
Rachel Hawkins at her best in my opinion.
Great for readers who enjoy thrillers as well as family drama!.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the chance to read a great ARC and give an honest review.

5⭐️ Wow! I loved this! This book is full of action, mystery, and suspense! I can’t remember the last time I read a book in one sitting like this one!

It follows the drama of a very wealthy North Carolina family. The matriarch of the family and heiress was Ruby McTavish. She died 10 years ago, but when her nephew dies, Ruby’s son (Camden) is pressured by his wife to go back to North Carolina to settle the estate and mansion.

This book is told through 4 entertaining POVs - Camden’s, his wife Jules, letters from Ruby, and old newspapers/magazines articles.

Every character has secrets leading to multiple suspenseful plot lines that make this a fast paced read! Why did Camden leave NC in the first place? Why did Jules pressure Camden to come back? What happened to all 4 of Ruby’s husbands who died? What happened to Ruby when she was kidnapped as a baby?

This all weaves together to keep you turning the page.

The characters are well developed and a little morally gray. It took me a little way to get the characters and their relationships straight, but you can pick it up pretty easily. Jules’ chapters speak to the reader directly doing a great job “breaking the 4th wall” which was refreshing. It was fun to hear from Ruby through her letters. You got to hear from Ruby how she ended up with each husband.

Without giving too much away, I loved the ending and how everything came together and was explained. A little far-fetched, but a very enjoyable read.

I also enjoyed The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins, so I need to get my hands on the rest of her books!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and St Martins press for the ARC! To be published January 2024

Sometimes I wish I had a tail to wiggle when I got excited.

That’s bizarre, right?

Well if I DID have a tail it would be wagging right now.

I went on a book binge for the past week and would put one book down and pick up the best without even so much as a pee break .

I was lost in the pages and I couldn’t not quench my insatiable thirst for more and more thrillers. Deep down, subconsciously, I was searching for a book that would make me stop dead in my tracks.

Mission accomplished

The Heiress!!!!!!

Rachel Hawkins is the queen when it comes to delivering 5 star books and this book literally broke the 5 star scale.

Mesmerized by the cover, this was a book I just had to have. I wish I could whisper a warning in my naive little ear before I picked this one up as my day became completely consumed by Hawkins’ words. Yes, this book is THAT good.

My mind is blown…

I will be unable to pick up another book for a bit. I need to let this one settle in.

Here’s a bit of a teaser for you :

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins comes a twisted new gothic suspense about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind.

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will––and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.

I didn't remember requesting to read this title through Netgalley, but man am I glad that it appeared on my shelf to read. While this wasn't my usual type of psychological thriller, Hawkins kept me engaged and guessing throughout the entire thing. The "twist" but a bit predictable, but I don't think that's a bad thing; I'd rather guess what's coming and have the plot set up in a believable way that just clicks than to be blown away by a surprise ending. Rachel Hawkins constructed things perfectly and truly fleshed out the characters. I loved that in each character perspective, you could truly "hear" their own individual voices shine through- there was a depth written into each perspective that I often feel is lacking in books written through various points of view.

Now I"m off to add The Wife Upstairs and The Villa to my TBR list!

Thank you to Netgally and St. Martines Press for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another great summer mystery by Rachel Hawkins! Took this one to the beach and finished it in a few hours! Couldn’t put this down!

A slow burn, twisty southern thriller about Ruby McTavish, a four-time wealthy widow and childhood kidnapping victim whose marriages and family have always been a focal point of good and (mostly) bad publicity. Indeed, her legacy seems to leave a tremendous amount of family backstabbing long after her passing. The alternating voices of her son Camden, his girlfriend Jules, and letters Ruby wrote to a mysterious recipient in her final years, creates a page turning family drama that is hard to put down. The twists really accelerate in the last quarter of the book and while I guessed a few of them, author Rachel Hawkins makes it tough to figure out the entire family puzzle until the final pages. A great read that will keep you up late into the night to finish. Highly recommend!

This was a fast moving story full of family secrets and murder. I loved how this story was told from 3 different POVs. The letters from Ruby the rich heiress, kidnapped when she was 3 years old and later found. Camden, Ruby’s adopted son who wanted nothing to do with the family money and Jules, Camden’s wife who has some secrets of her own. I really enjoyed this Rachel Hawkins book.

I have read most of author Rachel Hawkins books in the last few years & found them to be pretty good, so I was thrilled to get my hands on her latest, "The Heiress". I enjoyed it more than I expected - this twisty family tale of adopted son Cam McTavish and his wife, Jules, returning to his estranged family’s mansion after he cut them off ten years ago. He's heir to the whole family fortune, from his late "mother" the many-times married Ruby and her N.C. mansion was left to him. Family feuds erupt, of course, and tempers & tensions arise, as all want the family fortune. This was fairly suspenseful & well-written, with plenty of twists and turns, to keep me reading. My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC - my please to review.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Yay! Another great Rachel Hawkins read! I always get excited when I see a new release from this author and this one did not disappoint. At first we think Camden goes back to his hometown to help work on the family home, but we quickly come to the realization there is more to the story as to why Camden initially left this home. The home belonged to Ruby, an heiress to a family fortune that she ultimately left to her adopted son, Camden. With this, Camden was left to deal with greedy family members, each hiding their own secrets. So when Camden and is wife come into town, they each have their own hidden agendas as well. We watch as each character evolves, shares their true selves and the background of Ruby complicated past. Who is playing who?

📖 Book Review 📖

📱”The Heiress” by Rachel Hawkins

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To Be Published January 9,2024

Thank you @netgalley for this early kindle edition.

I am not gonna lie- this twisted, gothic suspense novel kept me up way to late reading. An infamous heiress, her many husbands, and the complicated inheritance she left behind.

In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge mountains lies an estate called Ashby House. The state’s wealthiest woman- Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore resides there with her jealous little sister Nelle, Nelle’s mean son Howell and Nelle’s 2 entitled adult grandchildren. Some smart business decisions and generational wealth have made the McTavish family famous, and the notorious kidnapping of 4 year old Ruby, only to have her rescued 8 months later. Ruby has married 4 times and seems to be cursed in love when each of her husbands dies in very explainable, possibly accidental ways.

When Ruby dies Ashby house, complete with a nine-figure fortune is pass to her adopted son, Camden. But Cam wants nothing to do with it, so he moves to CO, where he teaches English and marries Jules. Fast forward 10 years when Howell’s passing brings Camden back to Ashby to take care of some things. However Jules has other plans, and wants her husband to rightfully claim everything Ruby intended for him. But Ruby was always 3 steps ahead, and through some letters the mystery around Ruby, Ashby House, and her adopting Camden all come to light. Soon, Jules, Cam, and the other McTavishes realize that an inheritance is much more than what’s written in a will, and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.


#somanybooks #readsomemore #audiobooks #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #readersofinstagram #readmorebooks #booklover #bookishlove #readersgonnaread #bookishaf

IS MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious.

When just a child, she was the victim of a famous kidnapping, and as an adult she has become a widow four times over, earning herself the nickname of “Mrs. Killmore”.

In the aftermath of her death, her estate-the Ashby house, along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish―was passed down to her adopted son, Camden, who wants no part of it.

But his wife, Jules, does….

The story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of Jules, Camden and Ruby (through a series of TELL ALL letters) along with some clippings from various magazine and newspaper articles over the years, after Camden is called home to deal with the estate.

This sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun to read, BUT it was probably my least favorite book by this author, and I wasn’t captivated by the story at all.

But, I must give credit where credit is due.

Many authors can write an entertaining book that is ruined by a terrible ending, but this time, an average story was somewhat redeemed by a CLEVER denouement, which earned it the extra .5 ⭐️

3.5 ⭐️ rounded down

Available January 9, 2024

A buddy read which ended up with two of us giving it a 👍🏻and two of us giving it a 👎🏻

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: January 9, 2024
Series: NA
Pages: 304

Loved this book! This is a first time read by Rachel Hawkins, new author to this reader. “The Heiress” was a thrilling read filled with mystery, secrets, and southern drama. Ms. Hawkins did a wonderful job of making this a page turner for this reader and completely not what I was anticipating.
Camden McTavish, adopted son to Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore who was known to be notorious and very wealthy, is summoned after ten years to Ashby House, the family estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tavistock due to his uncle’s death. He’s been gone along time as he has not wanted any dealings with his family and the complicated dynamics of his family. Inheritance…something he could care less about. Family…rejecting them even more, but if there is money involved, his family continues to keep themselves ever present in his mind. He is married to Jules, who has her share of secrets too but loves her simple life with Cam. Having to face up to their past, he and Jules takes the long trek to Tavistock. Upon arrival, they uncover plenty of secrets, deception, and murder. For Cam, he questions everything about the infamous heiress, however for Jules, her mind is set on learning all she can about his estranged family and their twisted secrets they hide.

I typically shy away from multiply POVs and dual timelines, however this story is so well-written that all the pieces come together to make is a very dynamic and wonderful read. Ms. Hawkins quality of writing made the story come to life on the pages with its intricate twists and turns, scandals of the past and painful memories that had to be dredged up by the now deceased heiress. Closure…there is none in this thriller as the drama and dirty laundry is pealed layer by layer by the family members points of views and the letters written by Ruby McTavish. Money can bring out the worst in family members and the secrets they hide. It also can cause individuals to be ruthless and more sinister in getting what they want…even killing to obtain it. Again, my first by this author and not my last. Totally recommend you read.

Cam and Jules need to return to Cam's long-abandoned ancestral home to wrap up some loose ends with family following his mother's death. As the story unfolds, though, it's clear there are multiple untruths floating around--and everyone has their own secrets.

This story has a unique tri-POV; we get Ruby's letters, Cam's narration, and Jules's narration. The play back and forth between all of them mixes with flashbacks and present-day story lines to keep up a pretty interesting plot. It's not a heart pounding thriller, but easily moves the reader along.

As an avid mystery-thriller reader, this seems a bit more YA. However, the ending did a great job wrapping everything up with just a few small (yet satisfying) twists tossed in for good measure.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: alcohol, sex, language, murder, child death

**Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a family drama centered around the McTavish’s, a wealthy family in North Carolina. Camden, sole heir to his adopted mother Ruby’s family fortune, has distanced himself from the family and has not returned to NC in over ten years until his cousin Ben reaches out after a death in the family. He returns to his family home with his wife, Jules, who has never met Cam’s family.
I really enjoyed this book! Written from both Jules and Cam’s points of view, it is obvious from the start that both have secrets. There are also letters from Ruby and news articles throughout the book, giving backstory to Ruby’s childhood and several failed marriages.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of The Heiress in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book! I am not often a thriller/mystery reading so this was a nice change of pace. I enjoyed the twists and turns and felt the story was effective. Thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This was my favourite Rachel Hawkins book by far. I read the Villa and wasn’t enthused, but this was a written redemption. The story was intriguing, mysterious and I really loved the multiple POVs and timelines. I’m a sucker for added media/written blurbs so I loved the inclusion of newspapers, interviews etc. - it just helped build the world more for me.
I was really happy that the ending had a solid wrap up to it, rather than an ambiguous end.
Ruby’s depictions of her murders had be engrossed in the way you watch a car crash, acknowledging both the horror of it but also the inability to look away.
I found myself liking Jules despite knowing she had a seedy profile as it was revealed. I felt the line between right and wrong was navigated exceptionally.

4✨ for this one!

Cam McTavish and his wife Jules return to his estranged family’s mansion after ten years. He is heir to the whole family fortune. Family feuds erupt and tensions arise. They all want some of the family fortune. This was a very good read with plenty of twists and turns. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC that will be released January 9, 2024!

A Test of Wills.

Murder, family rivalries, and a gorgeous but creepy mansion set this story up for some fun twists and an entertaining read.

I loved the juxtaposition between ugliness and beauty in the characters’ actions and thoughts, and their surroundings. While I was slow to latch on to the plot, overall, the direction and finale held my attention and were satisfying.

The only drawback for me was that the tone and voice of the book had a juvenile feel even though it wasn't intended as Young Adult. Others are rating this much higher so maybe it'll be different for you.

That being said, I’d recommend this to other readers.

I read this as buddy read with DeAnn, MaryBeth, and Jayme and egaged in a few lively discussions regarding characters and plot.

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for my advance copy due to publish on January 9, 2024.

ARC received, thank you Neutrally, and more of Rachel Hawkins yes please!! I thought this book at first was going to be more of a thriller but to me it seemed more like a family drama. Normally Rachel Hawkins is a great fast pace, page turning book however I was reading this extremely slow and couldn't get that drawn in. The characters were laid out great but, for me it just wasn't it. To each their own there. Thank you still ;)