an ok read, I liked this book. in fact I already own it.

I adore reading series featuring siblings, matchmaking elders, and families going through rough times despite being billionaires just showing that they are human as well. A new series by Ruth Cardello, “The Westerly Billionaires” are here to entice us, charm us and warm themselves into the readers’ hearts.

Pioneering the series, Brett Westerly, being “In The Heir” to the Westerly Corporation, along with the corporation comes a legacy of split families and divided loyalties, creating friction among the siblings. But a new twist by the family matriarch throws Brett Westerly into a loop with Alisha Coventry, the supposed fiancé of his brother.

All Alisha Coventry wanted was to help a friend get his inheritance and help his family who has been like the family she never had. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think of being attracted to her supposed fiancé’s older brother. Yet circumstances break the fake engagement leaving her vulnerable to pain and heartache and also for Brett to woe her and what can be better than a cruise to get the love of his life.

A great start to the series, Brett is the quintessential billionaire, having lost a lot and trying to bridge the gap with his siblings, the peacemaker and the golden child to run the legacy, his character so very lovable, humble and humanly relatable. And his perfect complement, Alisha is the most loving and kind person you can come across, her desire to help friends, honest and open minded, one of the best characters that Ruth Cardello created and these two just make a wonderful couple.

Great start to a series, “In The Heir” is a wonderfully charming story of family dynamics, love and forgiveness, and looking forward to the next sibling to get hitched.

And the cover us ultra gorgeous!!!!!!

3.5 Stars!

In the Heir is a meaningful and seductive romance by Ruth Cardello. The characters are well-described, interesting, and compelling. Unfortunately, the book is very wordy and I found the many italicized "thoughts" of the two main characters' to be disruptive to the flow of the narrative.

Kindergarten teacher Alisha Coventry has known about billionaire businessman Brett Westerly all of her life. Alisha grew up alongside two of of Brett's siblings, while Brett remained with his father after the divorce. Alisha is a honorary member of Brett's mother's side of the family, so when a hurtful secret is exposed, she is sort of ignored.

Brett is a smart and gorgeous womanizer, and he sees a goodness in Alisha that he has never experienced before. Once Alisha's fake engagement to his brother Spencer is over, Brett and Alisha are able to explore the sparks that have been developing between them. Alisha discovers the ability to trust once again. She also learns that Brett has a soft side and his family has yet to see it. Brett falls in love for the first time ever, and cannot live without Alisha by his side.

The premise of this book is good and the emotional scenes are quite meaningful. Alisha and Brett are a hot couple and Ms. Cardello does a wonderful job of evolving the heat between them. Family plays an important role in this novel, and the many facets of the secondary characters are tangible. Overall, a solid read.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I am a fan of this author. This is a good opening to a new series. However, I found Alisha to be beyond annoying and indecisive. The story was painfully predictable for me, but the saving grace of this one was the plot twist concerning Spencer. I will finish the series, but for me nothing yet compares to the Legacy Collection.

Ok it just might be the end of the school year blues, but I just did not get into this book. The second in a row.

To me it started off ok. Then it turned into one unbelievable thing after another.
1. After many years of not talking the siblings now are close and call each other all the time.
2. Brett changes his tune after one meeting with Alisha and he is instantly a better man
3. Alisha scarafices what she wants because her friend is more important then her even when they treat her like crap. Doormat.
4. After knowing each other for about two weeks they want to get married.
5. Bitter rivals come together to make things right.
6. I still love my ex and never really loved the man I left him for.

Need I say more soap opera to the max.

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Great start to a new series! I loved this book! The chemistry, steam, angst - everything was just perfect! I can't wait to read more in this series!!!

I received this book via NetGalley.com

Ruth Cardello has taken me out of a book funk. She grabbed my attention with a story line that had so many twists and turns that I didn't want to put the book down.

Spencer and Alisha were supposed to be a marriage of convience. Spencer needed to marry for his inheritance that would help him launch his company to the next level. Yet the plan didn't include Alisha having a spark for Spencer's cold hearted brother Brett. Throw in a dark family secret and people who aren't whom them seem, the reader gets and adventure that you won't forget.

Brett may be cold hearted but that is on the outside and when it comes to business. Family is another story. Always staying in the shadows but ensuring his families success has taken a toll on Brett. But it's so much worse when he can't stop thinking about Spencer's fiance.

When Spencer and Alisha part ways, Brett finally has his chance to woo the woman who has stolen his heart.

Alisha is loyal and loves the Westerly family. Growing up with them made her feel a part of something more. When her childhood would go to the crapper she would run to the Westerly family. But will they have her in the inner circle when the gates of hell open or will they throw her to the wolves.

Brett and Alisha are a dynamic couple. Friends to start, so that Alisha doesn't rock the boat on an already fragile relationship with Rachelle and Spencer. When they can't ignore that there is more they fight it. What evolves is a relationship that will keep you on your toes.

Ruth Cardello knows how to write emotional blackmail. I almost wanted to scream at people, cry for Alisha, and tell Spencer to grow the heck up. Amazing.

Absolutely in love with this series already and cannot wait for me! Ruth Cardello told Brett and Alisha's story as a slow dance with a bow at the end.

Of course everyone will immediately fall in love with Alisha Coventry, but at the same time I want to make her demand to be treated better. Everyone knows her as the loving, dependable friend and are oblivious to her wants and needs and I wanted one of the Westerly's close to her to see that.

Brett Westerly was in his own world of power and money. Having been raised by his dad, he doesn't know the love and affection his siblings do, which so happen to be Alisha's very close friends. I was glad that it didn't take Brett long to get on board and want more from his life. It is almost impossible for him not to once he meets Alisha and her love, innocence and compassion soar through his soul. Their interactions were greatly written. Loved them for one another and not Spencer!

The Andrades are the cherry on top! Loved their influence in the matriarch of the Westerly's decision to bring her family together. Cannot wait for future books!

This is not my type of book, if you, as an Author can't go three pages without using the f word, then you shouldn't be writing. Using the f word over, and over means you have no other way to describe action, or a conversation. Plus for a new book, England has withdrawn the EU, which makes this new book obsolete! I don't recommend.

I loved In The Heir! It was a billionaire romance, which is not my usual type, but it also included a fake engagement and a sort of friends to lovers aspect that really grabbed my attention. I'm so glad I decided to read this book!

Brett Westerly is the "golden child" of his broken and dysfunctional family. He is intelligent, arrogant, a workaholic, and a bit cold at first. I loved seeing him grow and change into a kinder man.

Alisha Coventry is friends with Brett's brother Spencer and Spencer's fake fiancée. She is sweet, kind, and immediately likable. She is also falling for the wrong brother, Brett. Will Alisha help bring this divided family back together, or will she drive them farther apart?

The plot was interesting and relatively fast paced. It held my attention easily. I loved the off-limits/forbidden feel to the attraction between Brett and Alisha. They were flawed but perfect for each other.

This was my first book by Ruth Cardello. It's also the first book in the Westerly Billionaire series. I have fallen in love with Cardello's writing and can't wait for book two!

Wow, talk about some crazy family dynamics! In the Heir is the first book in Ruth Cardello’s Westerly Billionaire series, but don’t worry there’s an old friend or two who make an appearance.

The story opens up with Brett Westerly sticking his foot into his brother, Spencer’s business. Literally and figuratively. You see, their grandmother has decided that she’s willing to part with her millions early if any of her grandchildren marry and invite the rest of their siblings to the wedding. Simple, right? Not so fast… see, Brett’s been secretly keeping an eye on his family for years and he’s not going to let any of them make a mistake by marrying for money. Especially when Brett finds himself ridiculously attracted to Spencer’s fiancée, Alisha Coventry.

Spencer and Rachelle, Alisha’s best friend and Brett and Spencer’s sister, and their mother are the only family that Alisha’s ever truly had so Alisha’s willing to sacrifice a year of her time to help Spencer achieve his dream—to help her family—by acting as Spencer’s fiancée. But not if Brett has anything to do with it…

In the Heir is a great start to this new series. I loved how protective Brett was over all his siblings—even when those same siblings didn’t have any idea. This family is messed up due to their parent’s divorce so many years ago, but I loved seeing the tide turn toward their reunion. It’s going to be interesting to see how their stories develop—see how they respond to their grandmother’s offer and see if old, bad feelings and misconceptions are flung free.

This is a good start to a series. It’s a pretty fast read but takes a lot of setting up for the series. I’ve only read a handful of books by Ms. Cardello but it seems like there is a lot of character crossover in her books. I recognize the name Andrade from the series I read but I don’t know the other characters. I’m guessing they’re in another series though. There is a lot going on and we meet a lot of folks. So far most of the characters aren’t awesome, but maybe as we get to know them we’ll like them.

I like Brett a lot. He seems to have gotten the short end of the stick with his family even though he appears to be the golden child. He’s somewhat bitter about his past but as it unravels in front of him he realizes everything isn’t as it has always seemed. He is a great brother and son and is extremely romantic when it comes to wooing Alisha. He did a pretty quick 180 on his views of the future – realistically it only took a couple of weeks to make that change – but I like where he’s heading. Alisha is a pretty strong character with a crappy upbringing. She is the light that Brett needs in his life and balances him pretty well. He definitely needs someone that isn’t intimidated by him and she is perfect in that role. Their romance was pretty fast and furious but hopefully it will stand the test of time.

Spencer’s book is next and I’m hoping our opinion of him will be changed in it. His world was upended a bit but he still hasn’t shown me he’s not the jerk he appears to be.

Another awesome story from Ruth Cardello. It's going to be so much fun to watch the divided Westerly clan work through their anger, the lies they've been told and the mistakes of the elders in their family. The family split by divorce slowly learns that all is not ever what it seems. I'm so looking forward to all the Westerly books. Ruth is so good a weaving a story that pulls you in and makes you feel all the feels of the characters which are developed so well you feel like you've known them in real life all your life. Another great read. I loved it

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
I have to admit that I can't wait for more from this group of characters. The surprises were unexpected and the pain was real. There is a lot of past that needs to be worked through and smoothed over if the family wants to be whole again.

Alisha comes into the story because she is trying to help out a friend. She has known the Westerly family for a long time and is very close to most of them. However, things fall apart when she realizes that she doesn't want to live a lie. She's not that kind of person and it really bothers her.

Brett, on the other hand, is used to being a work horse. He spends more hours at work than anywhere else. There is no such thing as giving up or not winning in his world. Then Alisha comes along and throws him for a loop because she refuses to give into his demands and she refuses to back down, unlike any other woman he has ever met.

All in all, I really enjoyed the story as we watch two unlikely people find love in an unexpected place from an unexpected person. However, I will say that it did come across a bit too insta-love for my liking and it moved super-fast and in some serious steps that were way too much for me toward the end. That is the only reason why I found this to be a four-star read.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, but if you have read the Andrade books, this will strike a happily familiar cord!

We first meet Spencer and his new (fake) fiancée Alisha, but as you will see from the blurb, Brett is the Westerly that leads in this story, so the twist is just waiting to be revealed. And it is worth waiting for, as we get to know this fractured family and the issues which wealth can cause and hide. I really enjoyed the peeling away of the layers and the artifice.

Alisha is a great character, with plenty of strength given her past, yet also vulnerable in the face of the Westerly family. It was impossible to not be happy that she got everything that she deserved and from a man who finally understood that family is what you make it, not what it costs you.

I am looking forward to Stephanie and Delinda interfering in the future storylines!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Those Andrade men are back to their match-making with a new family! This family really does need help and healing and then secrets come out and there is more pain for the siblings.

I loved the transformation of Brett from a cold, ruthless bachelor to a kinder, loving family man. It was great to see him learn that he could open up to his siblings and how to relate to them. It seems like Brett did not realize that he was starting to become just like his father and if he wanted a relationship, he needed to change.
Following Alisha on the cruise was so romantic, and I loved that he gave her luggage with flowers. Even though he was told that was not a great gift, he knew Alisha and she loved the gift and the thought that he put into her gift.

I really was upset with Rachelle and Spenser when they shut out Alisha. This was their scheme and she was doing them a favor and when it blew up and they were hurt, they did not act like friends. Knowing her past and still shutting her out was doubly cruel, and they better have some major attitude change and apologies in the future books! Even though Rachelle was so uncaring, Alisha still wanted to honor Rachelle's request that Alisa stay away from Brett - which was just none of her business to start with and the engagement with Spenser was a fake!

I really enjoyed the romance and look forward to future books in the series as each of the Westerly siblings finds their future mate.

This is the first in what I assume to be a new series following the lovelives of the Westerly’s. It begins with Brett, the oldest and CEO of his father’s company. He meets Alisha when his youngest brother announces they are getting married.
The moment Alisha walks into Brett’s office with Spencer, Brett knows something fishy is going on. They don’t act like they’re in love, and he can tell that Alisha shares his instant attraction. He sets out to find the truth, uncovering more and more about Alisha each time. She starts to consume his thoughts and time, something he’s never had to deal with before.When a shocking secret is revealed, Alisha feels responsible calls off the wedding and decides to run away for a week long cruise, thinking she will be alone. But someone has followed her aboard determined to make her his.
Is is Spencer or Brett. Who will win the hand of Alisha?
Lovely story told at a nice pace.

I have been highly anticipating this new series (Westerly Billionaire) from Ruth Cardello and she has knocked it out of the park. This story centers on Brett Westerly, head of the family’s company and his family, split up by divorce. When his grandmother decides to give any grandchild an early inheritance if they marry and invite the entire family, his estranged brother Spencer immediately takes her up on it. Meeting Spencer’s fiancé Alisha Coventry, Brett is instantly attracted to her and the chemistry between the two is strong.
Our old friends, the Andrades are friends of the family and with a little help from Victor and Alessandro Andrade, help true love find its way.

Brett and Alisha are total opposites but work so well together as a couple that I couldn't help but root for them. In the heir tonight is book 1 in a new series by Ruth Cardello. It's a spin off from the Andrades series. With the same premise of getting 80 year old matriarch's grandchildren to fall in love and marry to bring the family closer together. It's a fast moving story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
****I voluntarily reviewed and gave my honest opinion of this Advanced Readers Copy of this book from Net Galley.****

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and independent review.
A complicated family saga with lots of secrets, ill feeling, love and friendship. The characters were interesting and well developed and I particularly loved Brett who was strong, passionate, caring and romantic. The way he campaigned to get Alisha was very sexy. Sensitive issues in the book were tackled well, with lots of emotion, and the way in which the book was written drew me in and made it hard to put it down.
I look forward to the next book in this series.