Welcome to Litsy!

I probably wouldn't have finished this if I didn't have to lead the discussion for this at work this month. The twists and mystery were fine but it was very hard to connect with the characters. So many bad people behaving badly.

1-20-25: My 6th finished book of 2025! Fantastic story! Told from the point of view of Camden and Jules, a married couple, and letters from Camden‘s adoptive mother, Ruby, this story is a wild ride of confessions and plot twists. Cam and Jules must go back to Ashby House, where Cam grew up, to finally receive his inheritance. But he doesn‘t want it or anything to do with his adoptive family.Many secrets are hidden in Ashby House.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣6️⃣

Cam returns home after 10 years to his inherited beautiful estate in the mountains after some convincing from his wife. Once they arrive the truth of the woman who adopted and raised him comes to light from some papers in his mother‘s desk. I don‘t know if I just wasn‘t in the mood but this book just did not capture me and I found a few plot holes wondering why certain information was even brought up. Just ok to me.

I may not have read this if I didn‘t need a Southern Gothic book for my library‘s book challenge. I would have missed out on a great book. Lots of secrets & lies. #12booksof2024 August @Andrew65

This week I wanted escape… but couldn‘t. So I caved & opened your gift @AmyG - thank you so much!! I can‘t wait to read this book, the cozy additions are perfect, I love that frame for me & buggy… and I already drank the mocha cocoa .. w/ some marshmallow liqueur 🫢🤤😴 Thank you for this spot of joy!! ♥️♥️

We also had our #reallifebookgroup book exchange & I scored this Picoult! 👏🏼👏🏼

Also spotted: this $400 deco in the wild 😳 (yes, TJX 😜)

I started this on audio, which wasn‘t working for me. Switched to print and blew through it. A gothic tinged mystery. Ruby McTavish‘s adopted son left home soon after her death in 2013 and hasn‘t returned, wanting nothing to do with his adoptive wealthy family. What happened? Does it have anything to do with the fact that Ruby was kidnapped as a baby? Why is Camden‘s wife so keen for him to return to the family home? Quick, fun popcorn read. 🍿

#weekendreads

This is what I have on tap this weekend. Hope to finish the Kushner, I‘m over halfway through. Escape Velocity is for #LitsySciFiBookclub . I might bail on The Heiress. So much heavy foreshadowing, which irks me. Sadly none are my #10beforethernd picks. 🙃

3 stars

A guessing game of who is NOT a gold digger.

Used this book for my library‘s book challenge—prompt is a Southern Gothic. I loved this book & wouldn‘t have put it down except I had to do life responsibilities. Story revolves around Ruby & the McTavish family. So many secrets, it was fun to uncover them all. Gave it 5⭐️ on GR

4 ⭐️
A mystery\thriller you won‘t be able to put down.m

An absolute page turner.

I. Loved. This. It is good, clean sinister fun with twists and turns right up to the end. It was just what I needed to get out of a reading slump.

Found this on the new rack at the library, and picked it up, having read a couple other Hawkins books and enjoyed them. Anyone read this one?

Twist upon twist! A story of privilege and generational wealth, haves vs have-nots with plenty of intrigue and murder. I found this entertaining while I was listening to the audiobook but I‘m likely to forget the entire thing in no time. I appreciate it for the entertainment while it lasted though! I read another by Hawkins that I enjoyed a bit more than this, but it was pure entertainment, tagged below. A nice palate cleanser.

Family secrets, too much money, inheritance issues all make this another smart and twisty thriller from Hawkins! Great on #audio, was happy to run errands so I could listen longer! #BookspinBingo

I‘ve enjoyed this author‘s novels before but I REALLY liked this one! This is my favorite of hers so far! Putting all the pieces together kept me listening to this audiobook, as did the great narration. The characters are all deliciously twisted and most are unlikable in the best possible way. Definitely recommend! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I have enjoyed all the books I‘ve read by this author. I hadn‘t read the blurb before starting this one so I was pleasantly surprised that it took place in NC. Some nice twists and a satisfying ending.

#WickedWords #voyage

#WickedWords 3/5

Two first-person narratives PLUS letters from a dead character PLUS excerpts from newspapers, books, etc? That's just too much to keep track of and was covering up a weak plot. I still enjoyed the writing because Hawkins writes such fantastic unlikeable characters but there just wasn't enough here for a novel.

I have come to love this author! This was a definite 4.5☆ and a great audiobook. Ruby McTavish is the matriarch of Tavistock NC. When she dies her adopted son, who is her heir, receives a letter from the uncle and has to return to Ashby house to get things in order, even though he vowed never to return. Jules, his wife, just knows they will make their home there. And as the book unfolds, we read Ruby's letters that hint at dark secrets⬇️

This might be my favorite of hers. Very good twisty mystery following a cutthroat family going after the inheritance of an Heiress (who herself is connected to multiple mysteries).
Jules was annoying at times, & towards the end it was kinda like “yeah, I get it” but there were some riveting twists which is tough to do in such a classic scenario.
The audio narration was great, especially the man he was emoting his ass off.

I loved learning Ruby's secrets through her letters. This book was un-put-downable and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Ben, Libby, and Nelle were awful human beings with no redeeming qualities. You will love to hate them! Note that this is more of a family drama than what many would consider a typical thriller. The twist was "meh", hence 4 stars instead of 5.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC!

“This house is as twisted as the people that live in it.” Pretty much sums it up!! Murder, deceit, multi generational dysfunction, love, hate… 🖤

💛Starting this evening. You ladies inspired me on this one.💗

I wasn‘t expecting that ending.

A young heiress disappears. Then reappears years later.

She lives a charmed life.

She leaves her estate to her adopted son Cam. You want to know why he leaves his 9 figure inheritance to his relatives and moves across the country to be a teacher & marry Jules.

Cam is called back after the death of his uncle and the mystery begins to unfold.

Recommended for those who enjoy a twisty gothic mystery.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

A twisty tale told partially through letters and newspaper clippings. The ending was a little disappointing for me, but still a solid novel. 4 stars.
@ReadAway2024

Brilliantly smart and captivating. The story is filled with intertwined secrets and family drama. Entertaining and immersive.

A Rival Most Vial and System Collapse were also favorites (and might take a bonus spot when I get to those), but The Heiress was definitely my favorite January read.

#readingbracket2024 #bookbracket2024 @CSeydel

Ruby McTavish, a notorious heiress dies and leaves her fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Having grown up and always made to feel like an outsider by the McTavish clan, Camden escapes and starts a new life. However, Camden is forced to reckon with his past when he is summoned home to deal with the crumbling estate. This was terrific. I loved the different POVs; especially Ruby‘s. Thanks to St. Martin‘s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

5/5

Ten years after the death of his adopted mother, Ruby McTavish, Camden along with his wife Jules return to Ashby house to deal with the inheritance and extended family members left for Camden to sort through. Ruby's secrets are slowly unraveled as Camden and Jules confront their future.

I loved this gothic thriller and the way the story was told through Ruby's letters as well as Camden and Jules's perspectives.

UNPUTDOWNABLE!!!! What a read I just couldn‘t put away filled with family secrets, intrigue, inheritances, and the haunting legacy of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. Yup, that‘s how many husbands Ruby went through! Ruby is an enigma and there are unsettling revelations all throughout this read that definitely keep you reading.
Obviously, it reminded me a lot of THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO but, dare I say it, THIS WAS BETTER!

This book was completely compelling and filled with so many twists and turns it made it very difficult to put it down to do anything else. The characters are flawed and morally suspect, the murders and murderers are numerous, the connections are twisted and the plot is intricate. In spite of the story being somewhat convoluted, it was a very fun read and I really enjoyed it. I agree with others that this is Hawkins best book yet. 4.5/5 stars

Now Available! 🥳🎉📚
The Heiress- Rachel Hawkins

Book Review- https://www.boleybooks.com//the-heiress/

#boleybooks #TheHeiress #rachelhawkins #netgalley #bookbuds #mustread

4.5⭐
Ruby McTavish was giving me some Evelyn Hugo vibes with the way she told her backstory…and what a backstory it was also it was wildly different than EH‘s story but still rather epic. This was shaping up to be a four-star book for me...until the end, some of the twists you could see coming because the clues are there to pick up on, which is half the fun…but I didn‘t pick up on the most significant one. It was overall very well played.

My favorite Rachel Hawkins thriller to date!

If my 1st grid of 2024 is any indication this is going to be a great reading year. I feel like I should be tagging Demon as my favorite of the grid because it‘s an instant classic and so good, but honestly I had a blast reading The Heiress!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Avg C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

This was my fave Hawkins book yet. I wasn't totally sold by Hawkins on her last 2, but this book was filled with so many twists and turns I nearly broke my neck trying to keep up! Jewels and her husband Camden live a simply life, but neither's history is simple at all. Jewels convinces Camden to visit his childhood home, the Ashby House, previously owned by Camden's deceased adoptive mom, Ruby McTavish. And let the drama begin! LOVED IT! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⏬

Next up!

This is such a good, twisty, fun story to read. I was prepared for twists so I consciously decided not to consider anything except the specific information provided to me, a dear reader, as it came. I‘m accustomed to liking the stories the Rachel Hawkins read while disliking her characters. What surprised me here was how much I liked Ruby, Camden, and Jules. Way to release a January thriller!

This book is good!

https://reecaspieces.com/2024/01/11/the-heiress-by-rachel-hawkins-macmillanaudio...

I think this is one of Rachel Hawkins' best - at least so far. It really recalls Hawkins' The Villa in the idea that there's always more to the story than surface level. I think Rachel Hawkins did a great job of setting up the big reveals by peppering the story with other twists that weren't as surprising. If a book can have my attention, keep my attention, and continue to replay in my head even after finishing, I'd say it's a pretty good read.

Happy Pub Day!
Great book!!
My review here: http://tinyurl.com/5xt4emn8
@ladyhawkins
St. Martin's Press
NetGalley

WOW!! SO GOOD!!

Still puzzling after all these years are two things.

Was Ruby McTavish really kidnapped and found a year later and why did she adopt Cam and make him the sole heir to the family‘s fortune.

Secrets, secrets, secrets - lies, lies, lies - they all have them and they all tell them in this juicy, difficult-to-put-down read that will have your jaw dropping when you find out everything.

http://tinyurl.com/3nv5bcmp

@ladyhawkins

I enjoyed this fourth thriller from Hawkins! Fast-paced & engaging from the start, it opens with Jules & Camden leaving their CO rental behind to deal with the family that Cam hasn‘t seen in over a decade. Though wealthy, the McTavishes has never been able to buy happiness and Cam‘s adoptive mother with her own complicated string of failed marriages proves that more than most! Multiple perspectives, with some familiar turns, it‘s a quick read!

The Wife Upstairs was my favorite by this author until I read this book. This is hands down her best yet. It has a lot going on. A lot of mystery, edge of your seat thrills, intrigue, murder, abuse. It has it all...

Full review: http://tinyurl.com/5xt4emn8

@ladyhawkins
@stmartinspress
@netgalley

#20in4Readathon #BookSpinBingo #SeriesLove2023
#Friday29thDecemberthruTuesday2ndJanuary #TheHeiress #RachaelHawkins

This book is a twisted new gothic suspense about an infamous heiress and the complicated inheritance she left behind. Ruby McTavish is the victim of a famous kidnapping as a child. She ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family's estate high in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do

Didn't like this one as much as the others of hers I read. Seem liked a mish-mash of a few other books I read. 2.5 stars

This book was a wild ride. With gothic elements centered around an ancestral mansion (Ashby House) set deep in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains, it focuses on the McTavish family...and these folks put the dysfunction in dysfunctional. Ruby, the matriarch, was kidnapped as a small child, recovered and as the oldest child, inherited a nine-figure fortune. She is four times widowed and a force to be reckoned with. At her death, she leaves 🔻