The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The Inheritance Games #2

Rating: ★★★★☆

Dates Read: 2/22/23 - 2/22/23

    After the stunning revelations in "The Inheritance Games," Avery Grambs is left to grapple with the aftermath and seek the man who may hold the key to her unanswered questions. Despite being a virtual stranger, Avery was named the heir to Tobias Hawthorne's vast fortune, leaving her to wonder why he chose her over his own family.

    A DNA test confirms that Avery is not a blood-related Hawthorne, but as she delves deeper into the family's secrets, she uncovers clues that suggest a more profound connection than she ever imagined. The mystery intensifies, and Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic Hawthorne grandsons, tug Avery in opposing directions, complicating her quest for the truth.

    Amidst the growing intrigue, lurking threats emerge from unexpected adversaries, determined to remove Avery from the picture by any means necessary. As the plot thickens, Avery must navigate a dangerous landscape where her very existence is questioned, and the quest for answers becomes more perilous than ever before.

    I had a great time reading this sequel! It felt even more action-packed than the first book, and I'm eager to see how Avery's character develops further in the next installment. Just like its predecessor, the second book in "The Inheritance Games" trilogy is filled with fun and mystery. Although I must admit that the puzzle-solving can get a bit repetitive, I still believe it deserves the same praise as the first book.

    Avery is still on a quest to unravel the mystery of why she inherited the fortune, but now there's another puzzle to solve: the role of the man from her past in all of this. Prepare yourself for more clues and thrilling problem-solving as you follow Avery's journey. And, of course, the intriguing Hawthorne brothers will be there to spice things up. I particularly appreciated the more intense love triangle in this book (team Grayson!) and eagerly anticipate seeing how it unfolds. The unexpected plot twists were also a pleasant surprise. Overall, the book was good—maybe not fantastic, but certainly very enjoyable. I simply need answers!

    Now, let's talk about the sequel being a bit of filler. While it's indeed entertaining filler, I have to admit that the plot doesn't progress much. If you loved the quirky mystery surrounding Tobias Hawthorne and his family in the first book, you'll still enjoy this installment, but be prepared for more questions than answers. One thing that held me back from loving this book as much as I wanted was the pacing. The first book left us with a massive cliffhanger and a clear goal in mind, yet it takes quite some time for that goal to be achieved or the cliffhanger to be resolved in this sequel. The slow pacing between those points felt a bit drawn-out.

    Despite these minor gripes, overall, "The Hawthorne Legacy" continues the excitement and mysteries from the first book, and I can't wait to read the rest of this series!