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.

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.

Wow! What a family! Complicated, arrogant, entitled... and yet, there is a lot of love for each other here. One problem, some members do not know how to share this love.

Miscommunication is most of the problem. It does not help that circumstances have separated and embittered the parents of our characters. It goes to show you, money does not buy love and understanding.

The interplay between Brett and Alisha is very interesting. She moves him from the first time they meet. She is forbidden to him, but how can he fight this powerful force driving him to her?

Loved all the complications and our characters' reactions. Cannot wait to read more about this very dysfunctional family!

I am voluntarily reviewing this title. Thank you to the publisher for sharing a copy of this book.

I am a huge fan of Ruth Cardello books. They are always such fantastic reads so when I got a chance to read In the Heir I was thrilled and I dived into this story as soon as I could and it was just fantastic.

In this book we mainly follow Alisha and Spencer and Its safe to say these two don't meet under the best terms and don't start there relationship in a warm and fuzzy way , however as the story goes on and they get to know each other , things change between them. I love the romance in this book , Ruth Cardello always writes such romantic , fun , swoon worthy , sexy romances in her books , there were so many odds against these two and there were times in this book I wondered how was this going work out with all that is going on with this family , but all my worrying was in vain because, love always finds a way.There are just so many reason why these two are just perfect for each other and Its makes me so happy that they are together. The Westerly family has so many issues lol . but at the core of it they love each other and you can clearly see that this book , I love this family already and its just the first book in the series .This book was sexy , fun, heartwarming , addicting and constantly kept me wanting more . I cannot wait to see what Ruth Cardello writes next !If you love all these things in your books you should definitely pick up a copy of In The Heir as soon as you can .

Wow! These Westerly's are one messed up bunch! There should be some pretty amazing stories coming from this divided family as secrets are revealed and healing begins. If you're of fan of Ruth Cardello you will recognize Alessandro and Victor Andrade from prior books. They make an appearance in this one as they share their matchmaking ways with the family matriarch Delinda Westerly. Willing to give their ways a try she offers up early inheritance to any of the siblings that marries and invites the entire family to attend.

Before long Spencer announces he will marry his long time friend Alisha. The eldest of the Westerly siblings Brett fears this isn't a real marriage and wants to stop it before Spencer can do anything crazy. Never does he expect the wave of attraction he feels for the bride to be. This is the last thing he needs with the strain between himself and his brother already at a breaking point but standing by and watching this happen isn't an option either.

All this crazy and that's just the beginning of the story. I highly recommend everyone grab a copy and get the whole story.