Otto: The Hawthornes

The Aces' Sons #11

by Nicole Jacquelyn

Esther Allen doesn’t get in trouble. She follows every rule. She’s nice. Goes to church twice a week. Never talks back. Never steps out of line.

Otto Hawthorne makes his own rules. After growing up in its shadow, he’s finally a member of the Aces and Eights Motorcycle Club. He’s quiet. Surly. A bit of a loner.

The idea that they would meet at a party in the woods is completely illogical.

The instant attraction is absolutely irrational.

Under normal circumstances they wouldn’t have even crossed paths.

Once they do? Both their lives are changed forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Forbidden Love

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

5/28/25: Upgraded to 4 Stars

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed this more that I thought I would and I rather liked catching up with the rest of the MC people and I loved how Otto was with Esther. However, the second half of the story felt so rushed and I definitely needed more of the ending fleshing out, it was all just too conveniently wrapped up.

[Frederick Nunez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto: The Hawthorns

Otto and Esther were struggling to become a committed couple. Esther belong to a strict religious community. She meet Otto at party and had sex. Esther became pregnant and was forced to live in isolated cabin. Otto and his family rescued Esther. The storyline was excellent and incredibly, it involved the other Hawthorns family. I love reading this author’s novels.

[Anne in VA · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for the romance, 2 stars for the MC storyline. First book I've read by this author (I think), and I'm honestly shocked by how much I liked it---well, not totally shocked. I'm a sucker for the marriage of convenience/shot gun wedding trope LOL. Usually, when you jump into a series that's already 11 deep, the whole book is filled with so many secondary characters the author is trying to shove down your throat, it becomes a chore to finish.

That didn't happen here. Yes, there were lots of secondary characters, but I actually enjoyed them. I really liked Esther and Otto. The part where things fell apart for me was the drama with the MC. It's a big part of the story, yet the ending was a whole lot of nothing. Left me feeling a bit underwhelmed at the end.

***Correction: this was not the first book I ever read by this author. After checking my read history, turns out I've read several lol***

[michelle lunson · Rating 4 out of 5]

freaking amazing ,

Nicole you knocked this book out of the park it was awesome I had all the feelings with this book I felt the emotion and happiness I have all your books and this is my top 2 I cannot wait for the next book I’m already counting down the days your writing honestly just gets better and better keep going amazing job

[Laur Laur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this, there was action and adventure to keep it moving and the leads worked really well together. I did think there were some commonalities that could be had between biker clubs and religious fundamental militants though... even though the author didn't seem to mean to portray it.

[Grinning Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto, a multigenerational member of Aces and Eights, runs into his one night stand, Esther, daughter of extremist church leaders, while taking care of club business. He takes one look at her and sees she is pregnant with his child. So right from the opening, the book grabbed me. Otto is hot, cranky, and a bit of a man Ho-ho-ho. He also has a weakness for long hair and Esther’s hair, when she takes it down for him, is down to her butt. Hormones take over. Esther, who thinks Otto is the most beautiful guy she’s ever seen, is a sweet, amiable, and slightly naive good girl. Who doesn’t know her father’s church is made up of religious extremists who are violent.
I like the Opposites Attract trope here, although both of them are kind people. I liked the surprise pregnancy trope and especially how it was revealed. And Esther could have her own Pioneer Woman tv show.
MMC/FMC- Otto and Esther
POV- 1st, dual
Genre- MC Romance
Length- novel
Heat- Open-door explicit.
Series? Y
Safety? Y
Triggers- language, violence, sex, firearms, arson, rental tablecloths.
Tropes- Opposites Attract, Forbidden Love, One-Night Stand, Reformed Man ho-ho-ho, Surprise Pregnancy, Dysfunctional Family FTW.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto and Esther. I knew from the very beginning before chapter 1 started that I was going to love this book. I have read and followed this author for 10 years now and every time she writes a new Aces book, I grab it right away. A union between a super religious cult and a biker club is not on anyone's radar but young love has a way of working out...especially when parents push and pull. I loved how Otto's family rallied around the two of them to facilitate their marriage and how strong the naive Esther became in the end. Looking forward to Otto's brother's book because yikes, that boy is messed up emotionally. Great storytelling and a sweet romance underneath all the darkness.

***** 5 ***** "the kids are alright" stars

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half had potential!! I would argue more than I have seen in the last (10 or so, lol) installments of this spin off. I loved the idea of Esther and Otto and they totally had chemistry. However, the second half got slow and a little too domestic for me. It felt like a novella and lost a ton of the momentum I felt in the first half. The characters that felt so rich at the start turned a bit shallow, and I also don't feel that the relationship really evolved beyond attraction and proximity, sadly. Additionally, there were a few plot holes that bugged me a bit...but I am settling on this being enjoyable enough. Have I absolutely loved any of these spinoffs? No. Will I keep picking them up because I am a sucker for this "world"? Absolutely! I love em to bits.

[Catheryn]

Probably the sweetest MC story I ever read. I liked that both characters were young, she was 19 and I think he was around 22.

I thought the MOC reason was a bit unrealistic, but I guess made sense because of her religious upbringing. I liked both characters and how well they balanced each other.

I was not expecting this to be a fade to black romance. Even with the language used and some of the subject matter, it being fade to black seemed a bit odd. But I am not familiar with this author, so I don't know if she does this for all of her books. So I'm not rating it. But I thought the rest of the story was pretty good.

[Copper78 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the series. Insta love and a very unrealistic hook up for a girl from a religious cult to sleep with a near stranger at a party. (Especially in public on his car!) There was a bit too much going on with all the gun smuggling religious zealots and abusive family...just a lot more unrealistic stuff that seemed too far fetched. And Otto seemed far too happy to all of a sudden be a father and responsible for this almost stranger. Parts were sweet and I adore NJ's books for the most part, this one just didn't feel as fleshed out and deep as many of her others. But I love this series and will continue reading anything she writes.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Read

A Pastors daughter and a newly minted Biker. Esther, quiet, stickler for rules, virgin gives it away at a bonfire party and as the saying goes, “it only takes one time” gets pregnant. But her strict cultish father isn’t having it and she’s sent to an isolated cabin to live out her pregnancy. Except her father is part of a militia group that stole weapons from the biker gang her baby daddy is sworn to. Read to find out more

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

I hesitated, chose another book to purchase/read more times than I should have before I decided to click Otto. Glad I didn’t know what I was missing!

Endearing characters, romance and a bit of suspense, written in a way that put me in a book buzz, now to go back and read Rumi.

[Wendy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto

Fantastic read. I absolutely loved Otto and Ester’s story ❤️❤️❤️ an action pack read full of chaotic danger and drama. 100% recommend this book to everyone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ you will not be disappointed 😎

[French Press Bookworm Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

aces

Reading this was like catching up with old friends. Esther and Otto were great. I loved their connection and how Esther wasn’t weak even when she had every reason to be. Can’t wait to see what happens with Titus

[Tracy Robinson]

Short and missing

Short on story and quick to finish with no usual follow up. Happy but disappointed. Heather didn't cooo over het granddaughter. We didn't even get to read about the Dr.'z appointment. No storyline

[Becky Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series

Love all the Aces books. The originals and next generation. Love Otto and Esther. I just wish we could got the birth and reaction from Otto. Looking forward to Titus' book.

[Linda Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

great characters

Such an enjoyable story and characters. Loved every step of the character’s journey to a HEA. If you want a good romance with some suspense this is a great choice.

[Aimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Otto was a great character and the way he was with Esther was fab. Even though there didn’t know each other well they pushed through and managed to be what the other needed.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, these Hawthorne men and all the Aces. Otto and Esther have sex in Otto's car one night. Otto is drunk so he's not clear on all the events of the evening but tries to contact Esther afterward. And then she disappears. Esther's family is part of a very religious group where women are completely under the thumb of their husbands and fathers.

Months later the Aces discover the location of their stolen guns. And guess who is at that location? Alone and pregnant.

Every time I think I found my favorite Ace or Ace's son, the next book comes out and makes me change my mind. Such a good story and love to see the whole MC if only in a scene or two. Can't wait for Titus.

[Elisha Karr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Aces read.

Another great read! Love this series. Otto didn't disappoint. I love how they all remind me of Grease. Can't wait for the next

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that we are seeing Tommy and Heather’s family. This was good! A little grit just like the authors is brilliant at - really excited for the next one.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otto

Absolutely amazing!! Love this author her books just keep getting better and better. Can’t wait for Titus’ book hope it comes out soon.

[Googly55 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series. Makes me want to go back and read Heather and Tommy’s book.

[Traviesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars

[Kim Brewing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. The gang is all here! The suspense part seemed to wrap up fairly quickly without any real answers to the "why" Esther's dad did what he did to her. Can't wait for Titus' story

[Elsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! Can’t wait for Titus

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

it wasn’t a bad book

But for 300 pages it could’ve been so much more. I would’ve appreciated a fully fleshed story. Oh, hopefully we get more of Otto and Esther in the next book

[Justadele · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking love this series!!!

Each book in this series is better than the last! I loved Otto and Esther's story!!! I can't wait for Titus' and Joel's book!