the hawthorne legacy – jennifer lynn barnes | blog tour + arc review

The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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Series: The Inheritance Games #2
Expected publication September 7, 2021
Age Range: Young Adult
Genre: Mystery, Contemporary

Rating:

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

Synopsis:

The Inheritance Games ended with a bombshell, and now heiress Avery Grambs has to pick up the pieces and find the man who might hold the answers to all of her questions – including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery, a virtual stranger, rather than to his own daughters or grandsons.

Thanks to a DNA test, Avery knows that she’s not a Hawthorne by blood, but clues pile up hinting at a deeper connection to the family than she had ever imagined. As the mystery grows and the plot thickens, Grayson and Jameson, the enigmatic and magnetic Hawthorne grandsons, continue to pull Avery in different directions. And there are threats lurking around every corner, as adversaries emerge who will stop at nothing to see Avery out of the picture – by any means necessary.

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Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tour for choosing me as one of the participants in the #TheHawthorneLegacy tour. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you’re interested in the other tour stops, check out the schedule!

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Even after the events of The Inheritance Games, Avery and the Hawthorne brothers are still trying to figure out the late Tobias Hawthorne’s motive behind leaving all his fortune to a random girl. In The Hawthorne Legacy, Jennifer Lynn Barnes exposed more Hawthorne family secrets, bloodlines, and games. It’s always about a game, or multiple games happening concurrently. There was no knowing what the Hawthornes are thinking.

Without going into spoilers, the four Hawthorne brothers and Avery embarked on another game that Tobias Hawthorne has left them. As in all mystery books, The Hawthorne Legacy continuously surprised me with the revelations. Two Hawthorne brothers were thrown curveballs while Avery finally has some questions regarding her birth answered. My only reservation was the identity of the “final boss” but in the grand scheme of things, that person’s role isn’t as significant as everything else that was happening.

As Avery tries not to die, there were the lingering feelings she has for Grayson and Jameson. These two boys are polar opposites. Grayson’s quieter, more stoic and keeps things to himself. On the flip side, Jameson is vibrant and charming. If you’re wondering about Avery’s decision in this love triangle, you’ll get an answer. For the most part, I was more concerned about solving the puzzles than this thing between them. It was tough to read because both Grayson and Jameson are interesting characters that I can support. Watching any one of them get hurt would be upsetting.

“You Hawthornes,” I whispered hoarsely, “and your invisible ink.”

Xander appeared quite a bit in The Hawthorne Legacy. He might be the youngest but Xander’s mind work quickly during games and it seemed like he was always on the ball. When he popped up out of nowhere after a couple of times, one can only wonder how he got his information. The last Hawthorne brother, Nash, turns up whenever it’s related to Libby, Avery’s sister. If you’re wondering about the awkward tension between Nash, Libby and Alisa, yes, it’s still there. And still awkward.

When Jennifer Lynn Barnes announced that The Inheritance Games wouldn’t just be a duology, I was so happy! Exploring a lush, sprawling estate filled with hidden tunnels and secret compartments feels like a dream come true, even if it’s vicariously through a fictional character. Because I’m not a huge fan of the love triangle trope, my mind automatically focused on the mystery aspect instead of the romance. However, I have to say that both boys have their own merits, and if I’m Avery, it would be a tough decision to make.

Overall, I had an enjoyable time! The Hawthorne Legacy continued to reveal more secrets of the Hawthorne family. Avery is still overwhelmed with the wealth and fortune that she had unexpectedly inherited. Adding onto that are finding out the truth of her birth and the love triangle. I can’t wait for The Final Gambit, I wonder what it will entail.

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author information

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