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The Aces' Sons #9

Michael: The Hawthornes

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Michael Hawthorne has known what he wanted from life since he was fourteen years old.

A Harley, to join the Aces Motorcycle Club, and to marry Emilia Robertson.

When he turned eighteen, those three things seemed within his grasp… until Emilia and her parents disappeared without a word.

Three years later, Emilia appears on Michael’s doorstep—older, beautiful, and mother to a toddler who looks just like Michael.

He doesn’t know if he can trust her.

She doesn’t know if she can count on him.

He’s still in love with her.

She never stopped loving him.

Everything Michael’s ever wanted is within his grasp again, but in order to get it he’ll have to find a way to forgive the girl who broke him.

261 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2023

178 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

About the author

Nicole Jacquelyn

39 books3,583 followers
Nicole Jacquelyn started writing before she started elementary school, however she didn’t start publishing her stories until her senior year in college. Today, she’s the author of the best selling Aces Series, Hawthornes Series, Fostering Love Series and Bouchers Series. She loves to read, drinks too much coffee, and lives in Oregon with the coolest children in the entire world and an English Bulldog named Blue.

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5 stars
349 (51%)
4 stars
184 (26%)
3 stars
123 (18%)
2 stars
19 (2%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️.
2,093 reviews36.2k followers
May 4, 2023
1.5 Stars

As a LONGtime fan of Nicole Jacquelyn, it bums me out to rate this so low, but thems the breaks, folks. I haven't loved the books of this spinoff series nearly as much as the original series (which is usually the case), but this one is probably my least favorite of them all thus far.

I thought Emilia's reasons for disappearing were LAME. And she didn't have had to pay nearly enough penance in my opinion. In fact, "not nearly enough" pretty much exemplifies how I felt about this book in general. Seriously though, this story felt rushed and had none of the angst, chemistry, and/or depth that makes Nicole Jacquelyn one of my all time favorite authors.

Not sure what happened with this one, but it was definitely a huge miss for me.
Profile Image for Wendys Wycked Words.
1,590 reviews3,956 followers
April 13, 2023
I absolutely love this author's writing style and I definitely love this series and the original ones, so it pains me a bit to give this story 3 stars instead of 5. I loved seeing all my old time favorite characters and I can't wait to read the next books that are hopefully coming.

That said... I just didn't like the heroine of this story. I have always loved/been partial to strong kickass heroines, though sometimes the shy and nerdy heroines steel my heart. Emilia though, she annoyed the shit out of me. Not once, not twice but throughout the whole book. Michael made up for a lot of it, but not enough for me to give a higher rating.
Profile Image for Suzanne.
1,456 reviews24 followers
April 9, 2023
3.5 Stars

I was so excited to get back into another Ace's book. Michael and Emelia's story started off YA and cruised into that middle ground between NA and couples' zone.

Throughout the book, both characters felt like they had some more growing up to get through. I loved the sense of family, well the Hawthorne side of the family because we only heard about Emelia's controlling parents - I don't recall any scenes with them in it.

The story is relationship focused rather than club business, yet throughout it had an MC romance vibe.

I rounded my rating up to 4 Stars as even though I would have liked a little more angst and suspense, I only put it down to sleep!
11 reviews
April 12, 2023
10/10 and she’s baaaack!

I’ve got to say, I was really worried about reading Michael story, and am so thankful I did. After reading Kara I was thinking Nicole was getting bored of this series and half heartedly attempting to finish. Sometimes second generation story lines ruin the whole series, so I was hoping that was not the case. Michael did not disappoint! I feel like she was back on the mark with this one. I don’t give bad reviews , I think I have loved books that others have hated, so I just chalk it up to taste. The Ace’s are my all time favorite MC series and watching their children grow into adults and having their own lives has been incredible. I don’t do summarization on reviews, I hate reading those, I just want to know that whoever read it , thought it was worth sharing about and reading as well. This is an awesome read. Thanks for continuing the story! Again 10/10 win!
Profile Image for Vfc.
1,543 reviews
April 21, 2023
They were friends their entire lives, spent every year in the same class in school, and still, Emilia’s family saw his family as white trash criminals. It probably began as Michael’s mother dropped him off at kindergarten with a half-shaved head, the rest of her hair a vivid blue, and a matching septum ring. She didn’t exactly scream PTA mum. Though, it might’ve very well started the first time his father collected him up on the back of his bike. Either way, their narrow-minded opinion of him was set in stone, never to be swayed.

Three years later…accompanied by a two-year old toddler…she’s returned to make amends for unceremoniously leaving without a word.

Emilia’s parents were suffocating and controlling. They controlled every aspect of her life, that control, forced their only child afraid to make her own decisions. They conditioned her to believe she was worthless. They made her feel beholden to them, whilst at the same time…a burden to them.

Once, she’d spoken about getting a job and her own place and they refuted how young and ill-equipped she was to be a mother, and that they were better prepared to raise Rhett. She never forced the issue again.

She loved her parents, but they demanded exacting standards. They’d never let her forget that she had a responsibility to pull her weight. As a child, it was to achieve good grades, follow the rules, do all the chores. Any time she didn’t meet their expectations, the punishment was swift. If she didn’t clean the dishes, well then she could eat off the counter the next day. With her fingers. The bathroom wasn’t clean? Then she wasn’t allowed to shower. A bad grade? She couldn’t do anything except study after school until bedtime.

When she’s stressed, her coping mechanism is chopping off her hair, looking for the rush that blocked out whatever punishment her parents doled out.

Michael finally understands that Emilia’s leaving had less to do with him, and more to do with the emotional abuse she was subjected to, and being railroaded into decisions that were beyond her control.

Minor grammatical errors:
“They were supporting me, putting a house over my head”.
(It’s a roof over my head).
2,432 reviews3 followers
May 1, 2024
Michael and Emilia were childhood friend and grew to be a couple as they got older. They had to hide their relationship because her parents were totally against everything his family stood for with the MC. Emilia was going to head of to college while Michael joined the MC.
When she disappears for no reason everyone is stunned when she returns 3 years later with a mini Michael in tow.
Emilia was pretty much brain washed by her parents. They convinced her to have her child adopted but once she gave birth she couldn't go through with it.
Once they were gone she did everything she could to make her way back to Michael. The one issue I have is why didn't she call him and tell him she needed him? What her parents were up to? She knew his family was totally different, that she was accepted by all of them. So her staying around and suffering for years just didn't add up for me.
16 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2023
A MUST READ

I probably say this to every book I read from Nicole Jacquelyn, but this is book was SO GOOD!!! Her books for this series just keep getting better and better and there is not one I don't love. I finished this book thinking darn now I have to read there whole series again, but it's not like I don't say that all the time, lol. I've already read this book 2 times and I am ready to read it again. I promise you that you will love this book. Michael is the perfect combination of Tommy and Heather. This book is AWESOME!!!!! Now I anxiously awaiting Rumi's book.
Profile Image for Anik -  MamaBearsBookshelf.
299 reviews93 followers
May 19, 2023
I'm a BIG Nicole Jacquelyn fan .But this novel wasn't my favorite of hers. It was a good read but it was just okay for me. The story was interesting and very fast passed but yet very annoying and a little all over the place. I'm happy I got to read it though. It was cool reading about all the other characters and the older ones also. This wasn't my favorite couple but can't like them all. Anyways I can't wait for the next book . =)
Profile Image for Catherine.
53 reviews17 followers
April 12, 2023
Wonderful way to continue a saga

I have been obsessed with the Ace's since Craving Constellations. Some authors I feel extend stories along to the point it feels as if they're just doing it for the money. Not Nicole Jacquelyn. We had the OG with the introductory of the club and their families, followed by the series for their offspring in the Sons extension, now we have the Hawthornes, and it just keeps getting better and better. Michael is the son of Heather and Tommy, Tommy being the son of Callie and Grease. Like his namesake Michael is a protector and he finds his happy ever after in high school with Emilia. Emilia is not part of the club life but as it is, the Ace's welcome and love her as if she's one of their own. Sadly, her own parents are not the warm and fuzzy type. At the end of their senior year, Emilia and her parents disappear only for her to return 3 years later with a carbon copy miniature version of Michael in her arms.

What I love about these stories is that we have our focus always on the main characters, but our past characters are also there supporting but not overtaking, the elders dishing out sage advice and us readers getting more about our favorite past couples. Jacquelyn also has a way of writing children so that they're still kids. There's no prodigy 3 year old waxing poetry as some authors tend to mature their younger characters, no, Rhett is spouting out words he hears and giving them in that rambling all over the place way toddlers do. It makes the characters feel more realistic.

All in all Michael is a wonderful beginning for the Hawthornes and I'm looking forward to this extension of the Ace's family books.
Profile Image for Patricia Brioux.
Author 1 book47 followers
August 4, 2024
So, typically I shy away from reads where it’s like boom, it’s two years later and surprise, you’re a daddy; meet your son. I find those storylines extremely selfish and hard to connect with…but…with this one, Nicole did it in a way that I wasn’t constantly screaming, ‘you b*tch, poor Michael, you stole so much - first step, first word, first tantrum, first laugh.’ So, please keep in mind when I say hate, that’s putting in mildly. However, with this read, the mental and emotional abuse Emilia was subjected to with her batsh*t crazy parents was abhorrent. Parents are suppose to be your safe place but Emilia’s parents were, and still are, her nightmare; f*ck manipulation, and f*ck mental/emotional abuse. Emilia was/is a warrior and I think because her read was what it was, I found myself not only sympathizing with her situation but also connecting with a storyline that 99.9% of the time, I hate. I mean, it helps when all I wanna do is squeeze me a little Rhett; he was just the cutest little peanut - and how Emilia did him right under a roof where there undoubtedly was so much influence and opinion was truly remarkable. Like I said, she is a warrior. As for Micky, I couldn’t help it guys, my heart still bleeds for this man; he missed so damn much…and not by choice. Ahhhh…my heart can’t take it. He wanted it ALL with that woman. I wish she could’ve figured it out sooner but I guess the important take away is that she eventually did.

*A beautiful story of forgiveness, second chances, and happily ever afters!
Profile Image for Alyssa .
660 reviews53 followers
April 13, 2023
Meh. My review of these spin-offs are becoming a bit redundant, I know... but here we are again :///

Plot had potential but never really came through in the way I hoped it would. I mean, the secret baby trope can be the most mouthwatering, angsty goodness in romance when done well so I was so excited for this one pre reading but this just ended up feeling so lackluster and easy, with a somewhat lame reason for seperation, imo. And on top of that, the characters really lacked substance for me. I was being sold this unbreakable connection but besides a few glimmers of heart, I wasn't really all that invested in it. To make matters more meh, at the start I thought this may be reminiscent of the og aces series but, unfortunately, it ended up lacking many of the things I have droned on and on about missing in the last few installments: heart, angst, plot, and some hope of a true, undeniable connection... not just something that is easy and convenient for, what seems to be, checking the box for these characters stories :( but I will say this one felt somewhat better on that front, and overall it wasn't terrible... but it is 100% forgettable - especially as the cameos are becoming less and less exciting. However, yes, I will keep reading these bc I just can’t seem to help myself, lol 😕
118 reviews1 follower
April 13, 2023
First off let me say overall I love Nicole Jaquelyn and historically I have LOVED all her books. I did enjoy this one but not sure it rose to the level of love that her other books have and I'm not entirely sure it's this books fault. LOL, I'm sure that makes no sense.

I feel like Craving Cecilia opened up another path that Nicole could explore. I WANT to know more about Mark's team, their new life in Oregon and the kids they need to rescue. Selfishly it also allows Nicole to write about that generation longer, I'm not ready for the kids or the kids kids to be adults. That means Grease and Casper and Callie and Farrah even older. What about Poet?

This book felt more like a novella then a stand alone story. It was short, overall not much drama like so many of her past books and just seemed to end shortly. I didn't feel like it dived deeply into Michael and who he was as a person. I wanted to know more about the artist side of him. For an MC book, it felt very light on the MC and what the world looks like now.

Again, I enjoy Nicole's books and I'm not going to stop. I just felt like this didn't rise to her normal level of amazing.
Profile Image for Rachel.
183 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2023
A mix of friends-to-lovers and second chance romance, we follow Michael and Emilia from their high school years to Emilia’s reappearance in Michael’s life in their twenties. After Emilia mysteriously disappears, Michael does his best to move on and forget until suddenly Emilia reappears - baby in tow. This kicks off the rest of the love story - there is surprisingly little MC action in this MC romance except for some minor dustups with Emilia’s dodgy previous employer - and the majority of the book is Michael dealing with Emilia’s abandonment and the fall out from her overly controlling and abusive parents as well as trying to become a family together with their toddler son. Although this wasn’t my favourite of the Ace’s Sons series, it was an enjoyable read with fairly low stakes. There was never any doubt that the two would work it out so there was very little of the angst in the book that hit hard, and the best part was the interactions between Michael and Rhett and watching them learn to become father and son. I’m always interested in seeing how the young’ns of the club gets on, but some of these sequel books can be hit and miss and this one was more miss for me.
Profile Image for Teryl.
1,249 reviews
April 17, 2023
Man, I hate giving this rating, because this is a series I really enjoy. This book was like a fluff novella. It was really short, the drama was lame, the reason MFC stayed away was super lame. I miss the early on books in this series. Felt like they were written with more substance. Hopefully the next one is better.

It's time for a family tree, because for the life of me I don't know who Nova (side character) belongs to. She grew up at the club with Michael, so she has to belong to one of the club members.

Seeing my favorites in their 60s was weird to me.
796 reviews2 followers
April 18, 2023
Home

Michael and Emmy grew up together and were in love. Emmy left and no one knew what happened. Three years later she returns with Michaels mini me in tow. What happened to make her leave? I titled this review home because the feel of home was so strong. As someone who grew up in a dysfunctional home I envy those that grew up in a loving home. That is why I like MC books because of that. This book shows what family is all about. Michael and Emmy have ups and downs, Rhett has toddler melt downs but they deal with it.
Can't wait for the next book!!!!
27 reviews17 followers
April 12, 2023
I was happy to have this book. I love this MC. Each book brings you right back home.

I do wish that there was more back story to Emilia's family. Why were they the way they was, and where did the problems with Michael come from? Really, just why? We saw her reactions to things happening now, but there was no real history behind it. I also wish there was more explanation behind Rhett's full name.
Profile Image for Mimirureviewbooks.
2,209 reviews
April 17, 2023
Michael: The Hawthornes, book 9 in the outstanding series written by the amazing author Nicole Jacqueline. I was so looking forward to read another Ace's book, this is Michael Hawthorne & Emilia Robertson story. The author doesn't disappoint, WOW. This book has it all, amazing family members, loyalty, many emotions, MC romance, This series just gets better as it goes.
I'm looking forward to the next Hawthorne, maybe Rumi's book.
899 reviews12 followers
April 10, 2023
2.5 stars. Both main characters were immature and made some really poor decisions (mainly Emilia). I’m never a fan of secret baby tropes but glad they worked things out. Had to skim a bunch to get past some of the ridiculous parts so that’s not good.
Profile Image for Breanna.
1,174 reviews21 followers
April 12, 2023
Loved it!

The Aces’ will always be my favorite MC! Getting to know the Hawthorne family has been the best. I seriously think Michael is one of my faves! He’s so calm and sure of his path. Absolutely a caretaker. Emilia is working through and finding herself. Can’t wait to see more in the future. Nova and Rumi… can’t wait!
Profile Image for Rose.
1,454 reviews14 followers
July 26, 2023
I absolutely loved Michael and Emilia's story. As always with this author, I was drawn in right away and I stayed invested in their story all the way through. I loved touching base with beloved characters from previous books as well as see how the whole MC family so easily accepted Emmy back into their fold. Looking forward to Rumi's story.
Profile Image for Kelly Junior.
156 reviews2 followers
April 8, 2023
Loved it 😍😍

There are no words to express my joy and love with this book. It was amazing gripping and so much fun. So many emotions .i loved it. Micheal and emeila make a lovely couple.
Profile Image for Alicia.
327 reviews9 followers
April 9, 2023
The BEST!

NJ always manages to make each book better than the last and leave me wanting to do a complete Aces reread each and every time I finish a new one! Thank you for all your stories!
61 reviews
April 16, 2023
Fantastic!!

Couldn’t put it down! Read it in one day! Love this entire family!! Loved seeing Grease and Callie, Will, Molly, Rebel, Farrah, Casper, all of Tommy and Heather’s kids, Charlie, CeeCee, Lily, Leo, Gray, Olive… oh my!! Fantastic!

Can’t wait for more!!
42 reviews
April 16, 2023
So excited for more

No matter how much time has passed between books I always get sucked right in. Since the first aces book way back I've been hooked. So excited for what's to come with the Hawthorne books. The ending sets us up for the next one. Oh Rumi I can't wait!
Profile Image for Paige Whitecotton.
2,559 reviews9 followers
May 20, 2023
loved it.

Great book. Parents can either help there kid or screw them up. Emilia learned that. Michael just wanted to love her. When they get their second chance it’s tough but they finally figured it out. Great read.
Profile Image for Traviesa.
447 reviews
June 12, 2023
2.5-3 stars Holy shit, Emilia annoyed the fuck outta me. I wanted to reach through the screen and shake her ass. If it wasn't for Michael, I would've left it at 2 stars, smh. I have to say the 2nd & 3rd generation of this series have absolutely NOTHING on the 1st generation.
Profile Image for Nikki.
18 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2024
An easy read

I still love the Aces and take any opportunity to submerse myself in their life. This gave me the much needed fix but lacks the real connection that the first books had in spades.
Profile Image for Elisha Karr.
73 reviews37 followers
April 8, 2023
Amazing!! Like coming home.

Love Mickey! Those Hawthorne boys were always my favorite!!! Thanks for another great read! Can't wait for the next Hawthorne.
Profile Image for Kim  Brewing.
3,623 reviews37 followers
April 10, 2023
A great addition to the series. Love how family was shown
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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