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Property of a Legacy

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Legacy and Bless have weathered every storm together. Their love has endured addiction, betrayal, and heartache, which forced them apart for years.

Legacy, a former hustler turned successful security entrepreneur, has fought his demons, specifically to reclaim his life, family, and Bless. No matter the time that has passed, his love for and obsession with Bless never wavered. But old wounds keep him longing for her from afar.

Bless, a resilient and devoted mother, has battled her own fears and doubts. She stood by Legacy’s side through his darkest moments. But that loyalty weighed so heavily on her that she had to walk away from the man she will forever crave. Despite the distance between them, she continues to long for Legacy. But a long-buried secret has built a wall between her and Legacy that she can’t bring herself to climb.

As they struggle to overcome the shadows of their past, Legacy and Bless must decide if their love is strong enough to survive. When Bless’ long-buried truth comes to light, it sends shockwaves through their already severely fragile connection. Then Legacy is forced to navigate the dangerous underworld he thought he escaped from five years ago. Meanwhile, Bless grapples with her own guilt and the fear of losing the only man she’s ever truly loved.

Will they be able to heal and move forward, or will the weight of their secrets and the revenge of the streets pull them apart forever? Property of a Legacy is a heart-wrenching, passionate tale of redemption, loyalty, and the unbreakable bond between two souls destined to be together.

375 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2024

574 people are currently reading
191 people want to read

About the author

Jessica N. Watkins

82 books1,171 followers
Author of Urban Chick Lit, Erotica, and Contemporary Urban Fiction... Jessica N. Watkins was born April 1st in Chicago, Illinois. She obtained a Bachelors of Arts with Focus in Psychology from DePaul University and Masters of Applied Professional Studies with focus in Business Administration from the like institution. Working in Hospital Administration for the majority of her career, Watkins has also been an author of fiction literature since the young age of nine. Eventually she used writing as an outlet during her freshmen year of high school as a single parent: “In the third grade I entered a short story contest with a fiction tale of an apple tree that refused to grow despite the efforts of the darling main character. My writing evolved from apple trees to my seventh and eighth grade classmates paying me to read novels I had written about kids our age living the lives our parents wouldn’t dare let us”. At the age of twenty-eight, Watkins’ chronicles have matured into steamy, humorous, and realistic tales of women's literature. She hopes that The Epitome of Femistry series will successfully emulate ideal femininity while tackling stereotypes, familiar heartache, and relatable distress in a humorous, sophisticated, and erotic fashion.

Jessica N. Watkins is available for talks, workshops or book signings. Email her for more information at Jessica@femistrypress.net.

Additional information can be found at www.jessica-n-watkins.com.

Follow Jessica on Twitter - @authorjwatkins.

Follow Jessica on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/authorjwatkins

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5 stars
395 (58%)
4 stars
189 (28%)
3 stars
79 (11%)
2 stars
9 (1%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
Profile Image for Rashawnda.
1,391 reviews1,164 followers
August 7, 2024
“You’re a dream that I don’t have to close my eyes to see.”

Oh to be young and in love! For Bless and Legacy these two had their entire lives ahead of them. At just 18 years young, they were a family of 4 and even with the odds potentially stacked against them, they knew as long as they had each other, the world around them could crumble to nothing but they would still come out on top.

When a night out on the town leads to tragedy, their young world was unable to withstand the consequences of very adult actions and they are left shattered beyond repair. These poor babies really did try, but every decision after that was a result of that fateful night and navigating through those troubled waters proved to be more than they could have ever prepared for.

This story of Bless and Legacy’s love was a journey!!! Jessica warned us that this was not a fluffy romance and she wasn’t lying! It was raw and gritty and heartbreaking yet hopeful. It was a tragic love story that left you hanging on by a thread wondering if love is enough and not just is it enough but if it’s strong enough to bring you back from the pits of hell!

The book does time jump between the past and present and the way Jessica layered their story made for such an intense yet beautiful read!

🤎It was Pam for me because one thing she’s going to do is “stir the pot” but be spot on with her assessments every time
🤎It was Bless in mommy mode for me because she really didn’t allow anything to come before those kids
🤎It was Bless and Sky for me because the sister bond was tight like glue
🤎It was Darrell FINALLY standing on business for me because what took you so long

There were moments where I felt certain characters Raj *cough* and Chantel *cough* and Monique *cough* got way more page time than they deserved. I also felt that the ending was a bit rushed but for me this has been an issue that ALL authors have been struggling with lately. They give us layered, developed stories then rush the endings. I would have liked to see more of Legacy and Bless a bit more in their adult element as a couple AFTER they got on the same page. They were in a tug of war most of the time so that dynamic was missing for me slightly.

My Chicago sis consistently proves why she’s the one and not the two and I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
Profile Image for Nay .
449 reviews
August 4, 2024
Bless and Legacy are childhood sweethearts but an unfortunate event hurt/sadness draws them apart. Years later they are still very much in love with each other and don’t know how the other feels. This was an amazing second chance romance.

Also I’m mad a few characters didn’t get theres minus one and it was long overdue 😒🤣
Profile Image for ReadnliftwithShar.
1,874 reviews
September 3, 2024
whew 😅

4.5⭐️if Jessica doesn’t stress me out, did I even read the book?! Property of a Legacy was such a good read. It’s not often that the hero in the book has to overcome the hurdles such as the ones Legacy does. I was rooting for his character the entire story. I empathized with Bless because she had to think about her kids and their wellbeing but it was clear that she still had a soft spot for Legacy. This book had many twists and “aha moments” and it all came together beautifully in the end. I enjoyed it!
Profile Image for LaToya Lee.
353 reviews
August 3, 2024
Second Chance Urban Romance

Bless and Legacy shared a love that they knew would last forever. The after effects of a tragic night push Legacy on a downward spiral, ruining his relationship and putting a strain on his relationship with his children.

Ten years later, Bless and Legacy still can’t help but be drawn to each other. Unhealed wounds, past mistakes and secrets threaten to keep them apart but with the love these two had for each other? Nothing could keep them apart.

I enjoyed watching these two find healing together and I loved Legacy’s development throughout the story.

I just have to mention Bless’ mom - Pam. Her condition isn’t funny but she said some wild sh*t 😂
Profile Image for April.
656 reviews180 followers
March 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐️| I love everything that Jessica writes! In this story, she mixes romance and drama keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. Very very strong character development, easy to love protagonists that makes it easy to become invested in their struggles and milestones. The chemistry between the protagonists is undeniable, and the raw emotions throughout the plot makes a powerful read. Legacy & Bless have experienced so much during their relationship. From addiction to heartbreak to betrayal to devastating secrets. When circumstances force them to separate, they never could find true love with anyone else, as it was clear they were meant to be. When they end up backk in the same city, will they reconnect or remain strictly coparents.

A must read for those who enjoy urban fiction packed with love, loyalty, drama and emotional roller coasters!
Profile Image for Markita_Reads.
621 reviews25 followers
November 29, 2024
5 ☆
Legacy and Bless have weathered every storm together. Their love has endured addiction, betrayal, and heartache, which forced them apart for years.

This story will definitely hit you in the feels in the most painfully beautiful way! I wish I could read this book again for the first time.

The audiobook is amazing! It's dual narration, which I love. The narrators did a great job bringing the story and characters alive! They were extremely easy to listen to and also followed along with the story!

Thank you, Netgalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for JustB.
81 reviews17 followers
January 28, 2025
This was emotional from beginning to end. All mixed in some good and some bad. I’m happy everything turned out to be better in the end.
Profile Image for BookBoo.
315 reviews11 followers
March 24, 2025
⭐ 5/5

This is the most 'high stakes' romance book I've ever read (for now) lol.
This story had SO many layers—it was a rollercoaster, but it was a great journey! Not only are the FMC and MMC imperfect, but so are the side characters! I never ran into a book that builds up it's side characters in a way where it felt full circle in the end.
Profile Image for Crimson.
615 reviews4 followers
October 9, 2024
The book was great! Read the damn book.
Profile Image for Jazz&#x1f48b;.
45 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2025
This was such a beautiful story😭😭. The love they had for each others was unmatched! The trials and tribulations they went through to get back together was a roller coaster. But it was worth listening to. Legacy ended up finding his way to the light in his world of darkness. He cleaned himself up and got his family back!


Now that mother of his can go to the deepest parts of hell. I understand she was hurting but he was too. He was still her child at the end of the day. I’m glad his father left her and chose his son over her.
Profile Image for Shon F.
88 reviews2 followers
December 14, 2024
Good read!

This book was definitely a page turner. I was so happy to see Bless and Legacy survive the chaos of life and relationships after connecting so young in life. I gave it only three stars because of poor editing. There was so much repeated content it often became annoying, causing me to skip entire pages. I'm not certain if it was due to lack of proofreading or from the author trying to drive her point across. However, there were several chapters where you would read one point and literally a few paragraphs later, there it was again.
Profile Image for K Lewis.
115 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2025
Narrated by: Opal Black & Myles Washington

This book was an emotional rollercoaster in the best way possible! Property of a Legacy dives deep into real-life struggles—grief, addiction, hustle life, breakups, mental health, and the power of second-chance love.

Legacy’s story was heartbreaking yet compelling. After experiencing a devastating loss, his pain leads him down a dark path of addiction. Bless, the love of his life, has her own battles, and their journey together is anything but easy. The dynamics between Legacy’s parents, Bless’s family, and their children add so much depth to the story, showing how generational struggles and love can shape lives.

Through all the heartbreak and obstacles, there’s hope—like a rainbow after a storm. 🌈 I was completely invested in these characters, rooting for them through every high and low.

The narration by Opal Black and Myles Washington was outstanding! Their voices brought so much emotion to the story, making every moment feel raw and real.

If you love urban fiction with deep emotions, relatable struggles, and a love story that refuses to quit, this is a must-read (or listen)!
Profile Image for Ridim Buk.
416 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2024
3.5 stars

When I first started listening to this I got very excited as it was giving me “before I let go: Kennedy Ryan” which… is my favourite book of all time. The voice actors were good and I could see that this was going to be a similar, heartbreaking experience. While it didn’t live up to my dizzying standards of being compared to the GOAT, it was still a good read.

There was a lot going on in this story with drama on both sides of the family, gangs, drug addiction, teenage pregnancy, trying to date, family health issues, businesses in trouble… the list goes on.

CN: gang/gun violence, murder, attempted SA of the FMC, drug use and addiction by the MMC, pregnancy and talk of abortion.

Thanks to #netgallery and publisher for a copy of this book.

Genre: Romance (MF)
Format: Audio
POV: Dual
Tropes: second chance, diverse characters, mental health rep, sobriety, kids who hold you accountable for your shit.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ /5
Ending: HEA
Age suggestion: 18+
Profile Image for Crissy.
2,815 reviews5 followers
December 2, 2024
Property of a Legacy was a great story, and the narrators did a fantastic job with the story, the characters and portraying the feelings the characters were feeling throughout the story. I felt every emotion as if they were my own and I was going through the ups and downs with the characters. I love being able to listen to an audiobook and being able to feel the emotions I am meant to feel through the narrator's words. Bless and Legacys love was unmatched, and their journey was one not only filled with love but there was also sadness, heartbreak, family issues, betrayal, therapy, redemption and more. I even enjoyed the side characters, and I wish I got the ending to their story but overall, this was a great story that displays the strength and power of love. This will not be my last story from this author.
Profile Image for Tracey.
1,089 reviews5 followers
August 11, 2024
🔥🔥🔥🔥

Loved the book and the flow the story held. Legacy was a man of his word when he and Bless had their first child even though he didn't take the path his mother wanted him to he still stood tall until that night when their world turned upside down.
A part of Legacy died right along with his sister and the hurt and hatred from his mother just took him on a destructive spiraling road; the back he fought to get back to where he needed to be took strength. Even after he proved he was a changed man his mother still hated him, so happy when Darryl his father had enough and put their son first when he returned from visiting Legacy.
Communication is a strong key to any relationship so happy they sought out help from a professional to put things into perspective about the way they were feeling. Happy that Sky got away from that snake, wouldn't mind reading about her and Vibe if ever just a thought.
1,126 reviews1 follower
February 13, 2025
4.5 stars
This isn't your typical 2nd chance romance. This book involves addiction, redemption, and soul ties. I loved it. Now, this is a JNW book so of course the love comes with pain and drama. Parts of this story had me all the way in my feelings. I rooted for this couple from page 1.

This is the story of Legacy and Bless. When we meet them they are 18 with two kids. When tragedy happens, their lives take an unexpected turn that upends everything. Trust is broken. Familial ties are lost. Relationships are damaged. They both go thru hell. All the time, their souls are entwined. No one compares. Everyone is not good enough. Slowly they make their way back to each other with the help of great supporting characters. Great story.
1 review
January 16, 2026
Honestly I really loved this book! When it comes to books I read them for entertainment and enjoyment. Wither you have any issues with grammar or the writing style of this book that’s up to you, but I don’t look too deep into stuff like that because that’s not what I’m reading it for. This book was heavy at times but it definitely had a very realistic plot. I love when romance books don’t over romanticize their journey to love. This book was raw and it expressed great emotion. The plot has twists, lies, murder, hatred, and most importantly beautiful elements of romance. This book was so interesting and such a joy to read! I hope I find someone to love me as much as Legacy loved Bless! (Minus Legacy’s issue) if you know you know lol.
508 reviews2 followers
August 1, 2024
5 Star Read

If it’s one thing you can say about a Jessica Watkins book is she will have you all in your feelings and this one did not disappoint.

The absolute realism of everything Legacy and Bless went through will strike a cord with you. You can feel every emotion.

Some secrets will be spilled and there are a couple unexpected twists that just add to the greatness of this book. A couple folks absolutely got what they deserved as well (his mama is a piece of work).

I appreciated time devoted to the couple finding their way back to each other. A lot of times, the happy ending feels so rushed, but we got to see their love rekindle.

Profile Image for Natashia Crawford.
366 reviews7 followers
August 19, 2024
Listennnnn… was this book good? Yes
Was I expecting for this to be good? I prayed
Was I expecting all of what I got? NO

Legacy and Bless loved each other. When I say they loved each other, they lived and breathed one another. It was written so well that you felt that love on the page. Every emotion they felt , so felt. This is what I love to read in a story. How ever the author convey the emotions I want to be able to be so engrossed that I feel them too.

Legacy was put through it and I felt so bad for him. Bless was place in a hard spot too. One thing this story teaches you is that love can weather a storm if you don’t let go of it.
104 reviews
October 28, 2024
Soulmates

This is an excellent standalone! It kind of had me on an emotional rollercoaster! Legacy’s story was so traumatic and beautiful! What he went through and how he worked to overcome it had me rooting for him to win! I loved how he and Bless loved each other even from a young age and through all of the trauma. I also loved how Darrell was the perfect example that black homes still have good Father figures. . There was a good balance of
Intimacy, hood violence, and twists and turns. I loved that this storyline was not easy to figure out! Jessica Watkins always gives us excellent reading material and this one didn’t miss!
Profile Image for Ash.
160 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2024
You did a thing with this one baby.

You did a thing with this one baby. Now while this did pull at my heart strings it did not make me cry but thats not a bag thing. the character development was very good for the MMC and FMC. Ol Charon was to damn much and that is crazy how she just held on to that. But love Darrell. I loved the sessions, I can truly appreciate open communication being written about because to many people dont speak up enough in any kind of relationship. Great read!
Profile Image for Tawanna.
154 reviews2 followers
August 20, 2024
Another Great Story

Jessica has done it again. Her keyboard is magic because she always pulls you in emotionally. That is why I love her books. You could feel the love, grief, anger, loneliness and all of the other emotions years later. I am so happy that Bless and Legacy were able to find their way back to each other. They have a once in a lifetime type of love. I just wish that Riley was Legacy's biological daughter. She may feel some type of way when she is older and learns the truth. But I know they will love her through it always.
Profile Image for T K Vaugh.
1,620 reviews9 followers
September 8, 2024
A Family’s Healing

This was a wonderful book about love’s lost and found!!!…
I love how Bless fought for Legacy, but also realized that she was part of the problem because she was losing herself trying to make sure Legacy was going to get better!!!…
Darrell stood on business and I was proud that he finally spk up about the rift his wife’s anger was continuing to place on their family!!!…
I enjoyed everything about this book and the steps everyone took to heal and learn to love again!!!.,,
1,217 reviews10 followers
August 4, 2024
Loved It

An awesome standalone! Love and loss is true emotions that everyone goes through! Legacy and Bless were teenagers in love until tragedy struck, which cause their love to be challenged in so many ways! Addiction, guilt self destruction KS real throughout this book along with betrayal! Families struggling and turn apart, you will be captivated by this story and all that it entails! Great Read!
Profile Image for Kina M.
722 reviews8 followers
August 15, 2024
not bad

I won’t say it was bad, but it’s not for me. I’m at 24% page 91, and I’m just not feeling it. I don’t really like when authors do flashbacks, and that’s where I am. I mean I was kind of ready to quit reading a while back, but was trying to see what all the 5 star reviews were about. Unfortunately it’s just moving entirely too slow for me, and the main characters are kind of annoying.

So maybe not bad just not my preference.
Profile Image for Renee.
1,048 reviews2 followers
August 16, 2024
Love conquers

Thus was a great read. I loved the storyline because it's a reality of everyday life. How a tragic event can change the course of your life. Bless stood by and endured slot because of her love and soul tie with legacy. Now his mom.blew me I understand her pain and everyone grieves but at some point she should've made amends with her son. In the end you hurt and broke your family you lost out on your grandkids.
Profile Image for Ashley Miller.
622 reviews19 followers
December 6, 2024
These characters went through hell and back addiction early pregnancy friends, with drama, their drama, their families drama! It felt like I was reading power that’s on HBO and I absolutely loved it. I would highly recommend this to any of my followers. I will say I felt like this could’ve been shorter and it could’ve been a lot less dramatic but otherwise good this is my first book of this author.
Profile Image for Tam Heart.
384 reviews6 followers
January 4, 2025
Legacy + Bless

I can't tell you how many times I started, then stopped this book because I didn't think my heart could take what was coming next. Grief, addiction, betrayal, lies... there was so much to unpack in this book because so much happened. A whole lot of shooting and a whole lot of betrayal.
Although it wasn't as somber of a read as I anticipated, it was still a very good emotional read. A lot happened. A lot, a lot.
Profile Image for Kendra Broomfield.
367 reviews
January 29, 2025
I loved Legacy and Bless' story. They had some real life sh*t to overcome. I was rooting for Legacy the whole way through, I can understand his path, but I also understand the situation he created and why Bless made the choices she made. What I could not understand was his Mammy! Girl! I understand the grief of it all, but to literally stay in that mindset of disgust forever was unreasonable. I know he was trying but I would've cut her off a long time ago.
Profile Image for Keeping.Volumes.Harris.
292 reviews6 followers
September 2, 2025
This story was absolutely amazing! 🙌 It gave me all the feels you could think of. Ms. Watkins really outdid herself with this one. It felt so familiar that it was kind of uncanny! There were moments when I felt a mix of emotions—mad, sad, happy, frustrated, disturbed, and puzzled—all at once. It was such a fantastic emotional roller coaster ride! I'm so excited to dive deeper into Ms. Watkins' collection. I really hope Libby gets more of her work soon!
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