Reading Between the Wines book review #144/115(met goal in Sept!) for 2023:
Rating: 3 ½ 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
RELEASES on January 9, 2024!!!

Sipping thoughts: I love Rachel Hawkins and have been able to read a new release from her in December every year. I did not realize it until I looked back but I read The Woman Upstairs in Dec 2020 (4⭐), Reckless Girls in Dec 2021 (4⭐), The Villa in Dec 2022 (3⭐), and now The Heiress in Dec 2023. I enjoyed this book and almost gave it 4 stars but something stopped me but it doesn’t take away the fact that I enjoyed it. I did figure out the twist after reading the first few chapters. So, I enjoyed pushing through to see how it would come out.

Cheers and thank you to @StMartinsPress and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheHeiress.

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The Heiress was a bit of a slow start for me, but once I got maybe 25% into it, I couldn’t put it down! Ruby is an outstanding character, and I was absolutely sucked in by her letters and story. Ashby House takes center stage in this gothic tale of a young man who doesn’t want the hefty inheritance left to him by Ruby, his mother. Nor do his other surviving family members want him to have it either. Little does Cam realize, Jules, his wife, wants the money and house. What follows is Ruby’s story told in the form of personal letters to who we think might be Cam….but is it?

Of all of the Rachel Hawkins books I’ve read so far, this one might be one of my favorites. It was a little slower to take off than some others, but readers will be rewarded for sticking with the story!

Great book. I would definitely recommend. Enjoyed the storyline and characters. The story did not fall flat. 4 stars

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm going to be honest here I got to 20%, and I wanted to DNF this one multiple times. The reason I didn't was because of Ruby's letters. The beginning dragged and was quite boring to me. It was hard to keep up with. The "chapters inside the chapters" were hard to decipher sometimes. But then I got to the middle of the book, and I couldn't put it down.

I felt for Cam. His dysfunctional family was just that, dysfunctional. All they cared about was their image and their money. They would do whatever they could to get their hands on Ruby's money.

There were a few twists, but one, I saw coming. There were hints here and there about it. The others made my mouth drop open.

This is worth the read and I am glad I stuck with it.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins, and St. Martin's press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story has 3 POV's: Ruby (told through a series of letters), Cam, and Jules. Ruby is easily the most captivating character with the most scandalous stories. Ruby has 4 dead husbands and reveals what happened through the letters (a la The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo style).

Cam and Jules are husband and wife who come back to Cam's family estate after Ruby's death. Cam very much does not want to come back but did so on Jules's encouragement. I don't like Jules - I didn't like her character, I didn't like her motivations, I didn't like her at all. Especially after a reveal towards the end of the book, it kind of made me doubt some aspects of their relationship on her part. However, it takes real skill to create a character that inspires this much emotion in readers (for good or bad).

There are lots of family secrets that get revealed along the way and I didn't start putting things together until about 30-40% of the way in, which is a good turning point in my opinion.

This family is wild - there is also a lot more drama than I was expecting but it is a story about a family so it doesn't take away from the story but adds to it. I prefer my books to have at least one likeable character that
I can root for and Cam probably takes that title but only because the other characters are all so unlikeable.

A captivating and engrossing read of wealth, greed, family, secrets, and murder - I recommend giving it a go if those are up your alley!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a twisty, gothic tale filled with lots of family drama, deception, greed, lies, and murder told in multiple points of view that kept me quickly turning the pages.

We get to read about the past and present from Cam (Ruby’s adopted son who she left all her fortune to), and from Jules, Cam’s wife. We also get to learn about the fabulously snarky Ruby, from letters and some newspaper articles. I thought the newspaper clippings were a great way to get to know more family history without it being a character doing an information dump.

If you’re looking for a book to keep you up late into the night, with some fun turns you may not see coming, then I highly recommend The Heiress!

Ruby is perhaps the nation’s most infamous heiress, having been kidnapped as a child and then found, as well as having been married to four husbands who all died in different ways. Her adopted son Camden wants nothing to do with the family after she dies, starting a new life with a wife and a teaching job. But Camden and his wife, Jules, find themselves pulled back in to the McTavish empire, with consequences far beyond what they could have imagined.

This book was so good, as is everything Hawkins writes. The mysteries around Ruby’s life are so intriguing, and so well laid out. And the twists! One actually had me gasping out loud. I would definitely recommend this book, and all of Hawkins’ works.

This is my favorite book by this author!

I loved how intricate the story was with multiple timelines and narrators. A lot of the characters are unlikable but still relatable which is a nice balance. There were so many twists and secrets packed into this story that I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for an easy mystery book full of drama.

When a wealthy matriarch, Ruby McTavish, breathes her last, it sets the stage for a family dynamic that brings out the darkest facets of each member. The inheritance, bestowed upon Ruby's adopted son Camden, triggers a reluctant return to the toxic embrace of the McTavish clan. Having distanced himself from the family's vileness, Camden, accompanied by his wife Jules, is thrust into a whirlwind of secrets, betrayals, and lies that have festered over the years. The narrative unfolds through a series of revealing letters from Ruby, exposing explosive truths and the indomitable will of a woman who wouldn't be deterred, even by her four late husbands.

Narrated from the perspectives of Cam and Jules, the story takes a riveting turn as Jules's sharp-witted and snarky commentary adds an entertaining layer to the unraveling drama within the McTavish household. The complexity of characters is masterfully portrayed, with everyone concealing more than meets the eye. The narrative's wild twists and turns, coupled with the family's sordid history, create a captivating tapestry that kept me engrossed from start to finish. For enthusiasts of the genre, this novel promises a thrilling and enjoyable read, delving into the intricate web of familial intrigue and the hidden recesses of each character's past.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC!

I have read a few other books that this author has written and this, in my opinion, might be her best yet! Hooked from the beginning this book is a page turner with some twists. Highly recommend.

This book follows Cam and Juliet a married couple that must return to Cams family home to sort out a financial mess his family has gotten into. Cams family is rich and the mansion is his to own as well as the money. But will his family give up without a fight ? He is adopted and they don't believe is a rightful heir.

Cams mother has been writing letters to tell of her evil deeds. But why is she telling cam all this? There are so many secrets. But Ruth is spilling them all. Which one will be the most shocking? You will not be able to put this down.

This is Rachel's Hawkins best novel to date. You need to read this book. This book is the exact amount of crazy I've been looking for. There is nothing I love more than a story with an absolute nutter or two. This was an Absolute delight and I couldn't read it fast enough.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and st martins press for this arc.

"The Heiress" is more than just a gripping thriller; it's a roller coaster ride through the mind of a woman shaped by tragedy and money. Ruby McTavish's life is laced with secrets and shadows. The book delves deep into the motivations of a lady who is both compelling and perplexing.

The characters have their own desires, regrets, and goals. From the mysterious Ruby, who is plagued by the ghost of her childhood trauma, to her adopted son Camden, struggling to reconcile his past with his present, each character is a puzzle piece that slowly reveals the distorted picture of the McTavish legacy. And when Hawkins throws in a twist that makes you question everything you thought you knew, the suspense keeps you glued to the pages until the shocking climax.
“The Heiress" is a story that will stay with you. I urge you, don't just read "The Heiress," get lost in it. You won't regret it.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.

I'm a big Rachel Hawkins fan so I was very excited to read this early! I overall loved the plot of the book, but found it quite predictable considering you got multiple POVs from the different main characters. Even with it being predictable I did enjoy the book and would recommend. Excited to see her on her book tour soon!

While a bit predictable, this book delivered with it's fast-paced storyline, and interesting characters. I enjoyed the tale of Ruby and her life, through her letters, as well as the storyline of Cam and Jules, and the terrible McTavish descendents. I would recommend this book for a quick, fun read.

I enjoyed this book so much. I thought that it would be super predictable but I was so wrong. I could have never imagined the story coming together like it did at the end. This is a book I will be thinking about for quite some time. I will certainly be recommending it to others.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a fast paced read that will keep the reader guessing and turning the pages!

I have read all of Rachel Hawkin’s books and she is an auto-buy author for me. Not only are the covers of her books gorgeous, but the plot usually has some element of suspense that keeps me wanting to read more.

In The Heiress, we have several characters that alternate telling their story. Camden and Jules are married and are some of the main characters in the book. Intermixed within their stores are chapters from Camden’s mom, Ruby McTavish, the wealthiest woman in North Carolina.

Ruby McTavish dies but Camden wants nothing to do with his past. Now, Camden is being asked to come back to Ashby House because his uncle has passed away.

Ruby, Camden and Jules have their own secrets they are hiding. What will happen when Camden and Jules return to Ashby House?

Things that I loved about this story:
-The chapters were clearly marked with the point of view of the character telling their story.
-Ruby’s story reminded me of Evelyn Hugo at times (because of how many times she gets married!)
-Ashby House takes on a character of its own. The grand descriptions reminded me of the Biltmore House in North Carolina.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins and St Martin’s Press for sharing this story with me before it was published. This book is out on. January 9th!

I have enjoyed books by this author before, this one reminded me a bit of a kid napping story meets the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo with a thriller twist.
Overall I enjoyed it, I bet it would be great as an audio book.

The Heiress
Rachel Hawkins

Rachel Hawkins’ thrillers are absolutely the best and in each book, the stories just keep getting better and better. I could not put this one down literally I wanted to pick it back up every moment I had to read. the story line was intriguing and the epistolary portion was like another story in itself which I also enjoyed - written by Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore - a woman who is notorious among their parts for being a kidnapped child of the wealthiest family in Tavistock, and also for being a widow four times. Then the story is told in the view points of Camden, Ruby’s adopted son who rejects his inheritance, and Jules his wife who is eager to live a lavish lifestyle.

It’s so exciting to read it because at every page, the plot thickens and more information is revealed by what currently is happening, and also the confession letters from Ruby.

Thriller fans, this is a must read!

Holy moly! A darker, soapier, Evelyn Hugo that takes place in my favorite place and also gives a shout out to my not very well known Alma Mater (Go cats! 💜💛)?! YES MFING PLEASE!

Okay but this book was amazing. Written in SUCH a smart way that kept me staying up until 3am to finish it. Multiple points of views with letters and news articles thrown in- you simply won’t be able to put it down.

I honestly wish this had been just a smidge longer! (Which is a RARE thing for me to say when it comes to books).. but some of the story parts that were skipped over or mentioned in after thoughts (for one example: the end struggle with Ben and Jules), I found myself wishing I could’ve experienced them in more detail! I love the storytelling so much, I just kept wanting more!

And that tidbit in the epilogue that the real Ruby may have been alive all along!? YES WITH THE AMBIGUITY🤌🏼👏🏼

I honestly just ate this up. This was actually my first RH read and I’m stoked I began with this one. I can’t wait to read more!

Thanks so much to St. Martin’s Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

Reading this novel helped to absorb more of the plot. The writing was well done. The multi-perspectives was fine, however, I felt a little overwhelmed with so many characters and family. This novel quickly put me in the mind of The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo with mystery and thriller crammed in.
For me, this novel was not one of my favorites since it was hard to seperate it from the other novel I compared it to. It was heavy on cursing & no gore. I felt there was a lot of time spent explaining the twists. I rated three stars but I will recommend to those who love mystery & thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital advance copy. This is my personal opinion. I have received no compensation for my review.