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The Inheritance
Augusta “Tucker” Delacroix is perfectly content running a successful oil field supply company until her brother and business partner, Jim Bob, dies suddenly. Things go from bad to worse when the family's lawyer introduces her to Monique, a beautiful stranger who turns out to be Jim Bob’s mistress and mother of his son. Monique wants Jim Bob's son to be a Delacroix, and Tucker steps up—it’s what family does. Willow Vernon has never approved of her sister’s affair with a wealthy married man, but when tragedy strikes, Willow assumes care of her nephew. When Tucker demands shared custody rights, Willow’s ready to go to battle. Tucker’s the same kind of irresponsible philanderer as Jim Bob, and she’s not falling for the Delacroix charm like Monique did, no matter how tempting Tucker might be. Family ties bring Tucker and Willow together, but they could also tear them, and any chance they have at love, apart.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2020
79 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Ali Vali
56 books456 followersAli Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey "Devil" series and the Genesis Clan "Forces" series, as well as numerous standalone romances including two Lambda Literary Award finalists, Calling the Dead and Love Match, and her 2017 release, Beauty and the Boss. Ali also has a novella in the collection Girls with Guns.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 15, 2020
3.75 Stars. This book felt very typical Vali but I enjoyed it anyway. If you like the feel and vibe of Vali’s books- her loyal family oriented butch character and her strong femme character- chances are you will enjoy this. And while the characters felt very familiar, their storylines weren’t. Interesting jobs mixed with a crazy family dynamic made this really entertaining to read.
This best way to describe this would be a family-drama romance. And there is a lot of drama so this actually had a very soap opera-ish feel to it. I don’t know if it was because I grew up with my mother watching her soap’s every day, but I actually like this over the top drama feel. Actually, if you have ever read Vali’s Cain Casey series, Tucker (the main in this book) is the more level headed, law abiding version of Cain. There is plenty of secrets and backstabbing that could fit right in with the mobsters Cain knows. So if you enjoyed the Cain books but are interested in a more law abiding, violent free version, I think you will enjoy this too.
The romance itself is actually very slow burn. While the chemistry and attraction is there right off the bat, all the drama turns this into a very slow burn. While it’s slow, it’s never boring. Because of all the drama in between everything, the book stays entertaining and kept me turning the pages. I even teared up a few times since Vali wasn’t worried about playing with my emotions. Once the romance heated back up I was pretty happy with it. It did get a little fast towards the end, but Vali obviously wanted to give us a very big HEA after everything the character went through so I was okay with it.
I don’t think I would put this on my favorite list of Vali books, but as I said it was classic Vali, which I enjoy, and I was very entertained. If you want a romance packed with a lot of juicy drama, this book is for you.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
This best way to describe this would be a family-drama romance. And there is a lot of drama so this actually had a very soap opera-ish feel to it. I don’t know if it was because I grew up with my mother watching her soap’s every day, but I actually like this over the top drama feel. Actually, if you have ever read Vali’s Cain Casey series, Tucker (the main in this book) is the more level headed, law abiding version of Cain. There is plenty of secrets and backstabbing that could fit right in with the mobsters Cain knows. So if you enjoyed the Cain books but are interested in a more law abiding, violent free version, I think you will enjoy this too.
The romance itself is actually very slow burn. While the chemistry and attraction is there right off the bat, all the drama turns this into a very slow burn. While it’s slow, it’s never boring. Because of all the drama in between everything, the book stays entertaining and kept me turning the pages. I even teared up a few times since Vali wasn’t worried about playing with my emotions. Once the romance heated back up I was pretty happy with it. It did get a little fast towards the end, but Vali obviously wanted to give us a very big HEA after everything the character went through so I was okay with it.
I don’t think I would put this on my favorite list of Vali books, but as I said it was classic Vali, which I enjoy, and I was very entertained. If you want a romance packed with a lot of juicy drama, this book is for you.
A copy was given to me for a honest review.
January 18, 2020
I LOVED this :)
This is a story about love, loss, and family.. I haven’t read a lot of Ali Vali’s books before, but it seems I was missing out a lot!
This book was so entertaining because it wasn’t just focused on the romance which I loved because it was full of angst. This book could’ve easily turned into a boring one, had it not been for the amount of action/backstabbing/secrets.
What I liked most is the family aspect.. There’s a lot of family drama due to the passing of the MCs brother... and the storytelling I thought was brilliant.. It’s one of those books that that will get you hooked because with each chapter there’s something happening..
A lot of amazing supporting characters as well helped the plot become so entertaining.. at times it felt as if I was watching a TV series! I mean the amount of drama in this book is incredible I’m not sure how all this fit into one book! I guess that’s why this author is one of the seasoned authors in FF fiction.
The MCs were your typical butch/femme but what I liked about them was how strong they both were. The mother was also a very interesting character and I loved the banter between those 3!
I totally recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a family/drama/entertaining read with a very slow burn romance! For bonus points: sex scenes were HOT :)
My rating is a 4.5 rounded up to 5.
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
This is a story about love, loss, and family.. I haven’t read a lot of Ali Vali’s books before, but it seems I was missing out a lot!
This book was so entertaining because it wasn’t just focused on the romance which I loved because it was full of angst. This book could’ve easily turned into a boring one, had it not been for the amount of action/backstabbing/secrets.
What I liked most is the family aspect.. There’s a lot of family drama due to the passing of the MCs brother... and the storytelling I thought was brilliant.. It’s one of those books that that will get you hooked because with each chapter there’s something happening..
A lot of amazing supporting characters as well helped the plot become so entertaining.. at times it felt as if I was watching a TV series! I mean the amount of drama in this book is incredible I’m not sure how all this fit into one book! I guess that’s why this author is one of the seasoned authors in FF fiction.
The MCs were your typical butch/femme but what I liked about them was how strong they both were. The mother was also a very interesting character and I loved the banter between those 3!
I totally recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a family/drama/entertaining read with a very slow burn romance! For bonus points: sex scenes were HOT :)
My rating is a 4.5 rounded up to 5.
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”
January 21, 2020
As others have written before me, this is a classic Ali Vali novel. Don’t trust the blurb, it manages to both be misleading and give too much away.
Willow Vernon meets Tucker Delacroix at a work meeting and they end up having dinner then spending the night together. Neither knows their siblings are involved and parenting a child together. Willow knows of her sister’s affair with a rich married man and when she realises Tucker is his sister, she feels played and nips the relationship in the bud. Then all sorts of events happen, both in their personal and professional lives, that bring them together, for better or for worse. I won’t spoil, the author took her time setting the scene and it wouldn’t be fair to jump the gun (though there’s no gun in this book).
The Inheritance is all about family, what makes a family and the sense of duty that goes with it It’s full of angst and miscommunication and banter. Yet for some reason, in Ali Vali’s books, that’s not enough for me.
I always get the same feeling with Vali’s novels, the story is good but I can’t get myself to care about the characters. I often find them monolithic, and the characters in this book are no exception. The butch hero is strong and loyal, her love interest is femme to some extent, stubborn and sexy. The villains are bad and more often than not stupid. I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s just not for me.
Then again I couldn’t stop reading, all the while rolling my eyes at how far-fetched parts of the story were. In her review, Lex mentioned the soap opera feel of this book and she’s totally right. Which makes me think that what doesn’t do it for me in Vali’s books is actually what her fans enjoy.
So if you’re already a Vali fan, you’ll probably like this book a lot. If you’re still on the fence, it might help you decide. And if you haven’t read any of the author’s novels so far, this might be a good place to start.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Willow Vernon meets Tucker Delacroix at a work meeting and they end up having dinner then spending the night together. Neither knows their siblings are involved and parenting a child together. Willow knows of her sister’s affair with a rich married man and when she realises Tucker is his sister, she feels played and nips the relationship in the bud. Then all sorts of events happen, both in their personal and professional lives, that bring them together, for better or for worse. I won’t spoil, the author took her time setting the scene and it wouldn’t be fair to jump the gun (though there’s no gun in this book).
The Inheritance is all about family, what makes a family and the sense of duty that goes with it It’s full of angst and miscommunication and banter. Yet for some reason, in Ali Vali’s books, that’s not enough for me.
I always get the same feeling with Vali’s novels, the story is good but I can’t get myself to care about the characters. I often find them monolithic, and the characters in this book are no exception. The butch hero is strong and loyal, her love interest is femme to some extent, stubborn and sexy. The villains are bad and more often than not stupid. I’m not saying it’s bad, it’s just not for me.
Then again I couldn’t stop reading, all the while rolling my eyes at how far-fetched parts of the story were. In her review, Lex mentioned the soap opera feel of this book and she’s totally right. Which makes me think that what doesn’t do it for me in Vali’s books is actually what her fans enjoy.
So if you’re already a Vali fan, you’ll probably like this book a lot. If you’re still on the fence, it might help you decide. And if you haven’t read any of the author’s novels so far, this might be a good place to start.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 11, 2020
The Inheritance is a family drama with the strong women we’ve grown to expect in novels penned by Ali Vali. Tucker Delacroix holds her own running an oil supply business with her brother Jim Bob. The opening scenes help illustrate the bond these two share and make it clear that Tucker runs the business while her brother deals with his own personal dramas. Willow Vernon is the classic femme with a spine. She and her sister Monique are close and supportive of each other even though Willow hates the fact that the married man who fathered Monique’s infant son is not taking an active role in her life.
Tucker and Willow connect at a business meeting. Instant sparks and instant attraction lead to a mutually satisfying one night stand. What happens next needs to be read to be appreciated. There are breakups, reconciliations and heartbreak in many of the novels we read but Ali Vali does herself proud with the structure of this story. No question there is foretelling of things to come and that is intentional and pulls the reader into their lives and their drama. Things are going to get messy and there is nothing to do but see if the main players can pull up from the nosedive.
The blurb for this novel does not reflect the true nature of the story and that is unfortunate. Miscommunication factors large in the telling and Willow comes across as emotional and often cruel in her treatment of both her sister and Tucker. Resolution may slip into telenovela territory and me and my bowl of popcorn were fine with that. Lots of emotions, satisfying ending.
Well done.
ARC received with thanks from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Tucker and Willow connect at a business meeting. Instant sparks and instant attraction lead to a mutually satisfying one night stand. What happens next needs to be read to be appreciated. There are breakups, reconciliations and heartbreak in many of the novels we read but Ali Vali does herself proud with the structure of this story. No question there is foretelling of things to come and that is intentional and pulls the reader into their lives and their drama. Things are going to get messy and there is nothing to do but see if the main players can pull up from the nosedive.
The blurb for this novel does not reflect the true nature of the story and that is unfortunate. Miscommunication factors large in the telling and Willow comes across as emotional and often cruel in her treatment of both her sister and Tucker. Resolution may slip into telenovela territory and me and my bowl of popcorn were fine with that. Lots of emotions, satisfying ending.
Well done.
ARC received with thanks from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
January 16, 2020
The Inheritance is such a classic Ali Vali book! It made me feel like I was home again as I read this story.
The main characters are exactly the type of people you expect in an Ali Vali tale. Tucker Delacroix and Willow Vernon are both strong characters. They are the butch/femme combo we have come to look for. As another reviewer mentioned, Tucker and Willow are similar in many ways to Cain and Emma Casey from the Devil series, except Tucker is a powerful and legitimate businesswoman while Cain is more of a mobster. The plot is complex with lots of twists and turns, and a few unexpected consequences.
As with all of Ms. Vali’s novels, there is a major theme about family in this story, and of course there is a child as well. That is a theme I’ve come to expect in all of her books. Some of Tucker’s family would fit very nicely in a Jerry Springer Show with their antics, and this creates a lot of conflict and drama.
What made this novel special for me is something I read in the Acknowledgments. Ms. Vali based one of the characters (Jim Bob) a little on her brother who passed away a few years ago. According to the author, her brother loved to fish, have fun with his friends and family, and he passed away way too young. The same thing happens to Jim Bob in the story. It is wonderful how she shares a little of her brother with us in this tale.
There is a good deal of angst in this novel, and it causes Tucker and Willow to be at odds for a good portion of the book, even though the attraction is almost instant when they meet. It is a very touching romantic tale when they finally do manage to come together as a couple and as a family.
There is one other thing I want to mention that Ms. Vali does with just about all of her books. She drops in little bits that puts most of her stories in the same universe (or the Valiverse as I like to call it). For instance, Jim Bob was mentioned briefly in Second Season, and Jim Bob’s “fishing camp” was used as a setting in that book as well as this one. There are several other mentions of people and places from the Calling the Dead series, the Cain Casey series, and other books, but I will let you look for those as you read.
One last note: I also bought the audio book and actually listened to the narrative as I read this e-book. The audio book is also well done, and I think this added to my enjoyment of the whole story. If you like books with strong characters, complex plots, family themes, and steamy romance, then you will like this book. If you are an avid fan of Ali Vali’s novels like I am, then you will love this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review. I also bought the audio book from Audible.
The main characters are exactly the type of people you expect in an Ali Vali tale. Tucker Delacroix and Willow Vernon are both strong characters. They are the butch/femme combo we have come to look for. As another reviewer mentioned, Tucker and Willow are similar in many ways to Cain and Emma Casey from the Devil series, except Tucker is a powerful and legitimate businesswoman while Cain is more of a mobster. The plot is complex with lots of twists and turns, and a few unexpected consequences.
As with all of Ms. Vali’s novels, there is a major theme about family in this story, and of course there is a child as well. That is a theme I’ve come to expect in all of her books. Some of Tucker’s family would fit very nicely in a Jerry Springer Show with their antics, and this creates a lot of conflict and drama.
What made this novel special for me is something I read in the Acknowledgments. Ms. Vali based one of the characters (Jim Bob) a little on her brother who passed away a few years ago. According to the author, her brother loved to fish, have fun with his friends and family, and he passed away way too young. The same thing happens to Jim Bob in the story. It is wonderful how she shares a little of her brother with us in this tale.
There is a good deal of angst in this novel, and it causes Tucker and Willow to be at odds for a good portion of the book, even though the attraction is almost instant when they meet. It is a very touching romantic tale when they finally do manage to come together as a couple and as a family.
There is one other thing I want to mention that Ms. Vali does with just about all of her books. She drops in little bits that puts most of her stories in the same universe (or the Valiverse as I like to call it). For instance, Jim Bob was mentioned briefly in Second Season, and Jim Bob’s “fishing camp” was used as a setting in that book as well as this one. There are several other mentions of people and places from the Calling the Dead series, the Cain Casey series, and other books, but I will let you look for those as you read.
One last note: I also bought the audio book and actually listened to the narrative as I read this e-book. The audio book is also well done, and I think this added to my enjoyment of the whole story. If you like books with strong characters, complex plots, family themes, and steamy romance, then you will like this book. If you are an avid fan of Ali Vali’s novels like I am, then you will love this book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review. I also bought the audio book from Audible.
August 28, 2023
DNF at around 25% or so? The blurb was purposefully misleading and that just pissed me off. That was an issue of mine on another Vali book so maybe she likes to surprise her readers, but I don't appreciate it.
January 19, 2020
I have come to really like Ali Vali and am in the process of trying to read her precious books. So when this became available I jumped at the chance to read it. This is a straight romance really. No gangs or super military people or cops of that nature. It's a sad story with happy elements and I really found myself liking all the characters. I will say that i wish more time was spent on the grieving process and that aspect than the business. I also felt that Jim was kind of blown over more than Monique and honestly both were equally sad and what they did made me a bit teary eyed. With that said I did enjoy the book and look forward to catching up on everything else.
December 22, 2019
I went back and forth between three and four stars way too long before ultimately deciding I was going to round up. Why the big internal debate? Allow me to explain...
The best thing about The Inheritance is that it has the fantastic feel of a traditional Ali Vali romance. You've got your gallant, sexy, family-oriented (and usually rich) dark haired butch who quickly and completely falls for the strawberry blonde femme who is strong, has a sharp tongue, and is sexy as hell. They always have sizzling chemistry and funny and sweet banter. The family usually plays a big role in some way, too. And business. All of that was present in the newest book.
The Inheritance was also missing the thing that has really bothered me in the past couple of stand-alone romances I've read by Vali - the rush ending/resolution. With this one, there was a lot going on and some of it did get wrapped up quickly but I didn't feel like we were pushing a page limit or that the author just decided it was enough. I was given the time to believe in the partnership development and connection.
Now for the things that prevented the book from being a 5-star for me. There were a couple of times where I felt that plot twists were just over the top. My BS meter was pinging so hard my Kindle was shaking. But, those bits didn't last long and even though I rolled my eyes and grimaced, I didn't feel like quitting. The other thing that got me was the switching of POVs mid-scene with no warning. I know some authors and readers are cool with this but nothing - and I do mean nothing - will rip me out of a scene faster than being yanked out of one head and dropped into another. It causes me to stop, figure out if I'm losing my mind, backtrack a few sentences or paragraphs to see if I missed something, readjust to the new mental setting, and then start over where I got caught off guard. I really wish that didn't happen. Particularly because it tends to happen during emotionally intense scenes because the author is trying to show all the feels from everyone. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it.
So there you have it. I absolutely recommend The Inheritance for all you Ali Vali fans. It's sweet and funny and the best stand-alone romance by the author I've read in a long time. Makes me want to reread Carly's Sound again. *sigh*
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the chance to take an early crack at it!
The best thing about The Inheritance is that it has the fantastic feel of a traditional Ali Vali romance. You've got your gallant, sexy, family-oriented (and usually rich) dark haired butch who quickly and completely falls for the strawberry blonde femme who is strong, has a sharp tongue, and is sexy as hell. They always have sizzling chemistry and funny and sweet banter. The family usually plays a big role in some way, too. And business. All of that was present in the newest book.
The Inheritance was also missing the thing that has really bothered me in the past couple of stand-alone romances I've read by Vali - the rush ending/resolution. With this one, there was a lot going on and some of it did get wrapped up quickly but I didn't feel like we were pushing a page limit or that the author just decided it was enough. I was given the time to believe in the partnership development and connection.
Now for the things that prevented the book from being a 5-star for me. There were a couple of times where I felt that plot twists were just over the top. My BS meter was pinging so hard my Kindle was shaking. But, those bits didn't last long and even though I rolled my eyes and grimaced, I didn't feel like quitting. The other thing that got me was the switching of POVs mid-scene with no warning. I know some authors and readers are cool with this but nothing - and I do mean nothing - will rip me out of a scene faster than being yanked out of one head and dropped into another. It causes me to stop, figure out if I'm losing my mind, backtrack a few sentences or paragraphs to see if I missed something, readjust to the new mental setting, and then start over where I got caught off guard. I really wish that didn't happen. Particularly because it tends to happen during emotionally intense scenes because the author is trying to show all the feels from everyone. I get it. I don't like it, but I get it.
So there you have it. I absolutely recommend The Inheritance for all you Ali Vali fans. It's sweet and funny and the best stand-alone romance by the author I've read in a long time. Makes me want to reread Carly's Sound again. *sigh*
Thanks to BSB and NetGalley for the chance to take an early crack at it!
January 16, 2020
I’ve been tricked I’ve been. Wait, I was going to open with ‘this is the first book published in 2020 that I’ve read, and the first lesbian romance I’ve read this year, and the first pure lesbian romance I’ve read by this author (all of the others involve crime/mystery/or Science Fiction elements)’.
Right, but back to tricked. The book description gave me a different impression about the book I was going to read. There’s nothing that I can spot that is specifically wrong, it is just misleading. And I’m not sure how to word things without being spoiler-y. The things mentioned happened, just . . . just not exactly how it is implied, and the last sentence in the second paragraph is so misleading I might as well label it as ‘wrong’.
The book opens with Tucker and Jim Bob fishing. Then Jim Bob continues doing his thing, living and stuff. Interacting with his family. Interacting with his mistress and Grady – their child. Working with lawyers. Working at the company. At any moment, I expected him to fall over dead. Along with the Mistress, Monique. I mean, that’s what the book description implied.
Something like three seconds after Tucker meets Willow, they sleep together. Which seems weird considering the book description. Mind you – no one has died yet. Tucker was given the stereotype of being a player, and sleeping with someone you just meet isn’t exactly evidence against that reputation. Being there in the morning. Sending flowers. Wanting another date. Sleeping with that same woman again only to wake up with that other woman gone? Yeah, these people aren’t playing to the roles they seemed to have been given. Again, all of this has occurred before anyone has died.
*Thinks about the book. Rereads the second paragraph.* Willow never approved of the affair. That part is true. The rest is crap. There’s never really a stage wherein Willow assumed care of the nephew and Tucker demanded custody (shared or otherwise). But, again, I’m going into spoiler territory, but because the second paragraph is basically misleading and wrong. Other than the ‘never approved’ part. Also, ‘irresponsible philanderer’ as applied to Jim Bob is also crap. Soooo….
I liked the book well enough. I liked the kid, and the characters I was supposed to like. I wasn’t supposed to like Ivy, Jim Bob’s wife. I probably wasn’t supposed to like Big Earl and that Mann guy, nor like Jim Bob’s adult children he had with Ivy. And I didn’t like any of them.
There was something I was going to mention somewhere up above, but got distracted. Throughout their first meeting, Willow and Tucker, Tucker kept thinking and/or fearing that Willow was . . . I cannot recall exact wording, but something that would convey a person whose emotions change on a dime, and would probably end up burning stuff on her front lawn. A fatal attraction type women. So: Tucker had the stereotype of being a player, which didn’t fit, and Willow had the ‘crazy woman’ label attached which . . . quite frankly fit more than expected. Her personality, reactions, emotions, and stuff, screamed ‘crazy women’ throughout the book. There were reasonable reasons, but still.
There were two sets of things that happened near the end of the book that were iffy, and actually had me lower the rating a tiny bit (well, the first one, not the second). One involved Ivy and Jim Bob’s children (); other involved, separately, something Tucker was doing that would normally end up being the reason for a couple breaking up and/or having some major fights in lesbian fiction works, but cause no issues here ().
Rating: 3.8
January 16 2020
Right, but back to tricked. The book description gave me a different impression about the book I was going to read. There’s nothing that I can spot that is specifically wrong, it is just misleading. And I’m not sure how to word things without being spoiler-y. The things mentioned happened, just . . . just not exactly how it is implied, and the last sentence in the second paragraph is so misleading I might as well label it as ‘wrong’.
The book opens with Tucker and Jim Bob fishing. Then Jim Bob continues doing his thing, living and stuff. Interacting with his family. Interacting with his mistress and Grady – their child. Working with lawyers. Working at the company. At any moment, I expected him to fall over dead. Along with the Mistress, Monique. I mean, that’s what the book description implied.
Something like three seconds after Tucker meets Willow, they sleep together. Which seems weird considering the book description. Mind you – no one has died yet. Tucker was given the stereotype of being a player, and sleeping with someone you just meet isn’t exactly evidence against that reputation. Being there in the morning. Sending flowers. Wanting another date. Sleeping with that same woman again only to wake up with that other woman gone? Yeah, these people aren’t playing to the roles they seemed to have been given. Again, all of this has occurred before anyone has died.
*Thinks about the book. Rereads the second paragraph.* Willow never approved of the affair. That part is true. The rest is crap. There’s never really a stage wherein Willow assumed care of the nephew and Tucker demanded custody (shared or otherwise). But, again, I’m going into spoiler territory, but because the second paragraph is basically misleading and wrong. Other than the ‘never approved’ part. Also, ‘irresponsible philanderer’ as applied to Jim Bob is also crap. Soooo….
I liked the book well enough. I liked the kid, and the characters I was supposed to like. I wasn’t supposed to like Ivy, Jim Bob’s wife. I probably wasn’t supposed to like Big Earl and that Mann guy, nor like Jim Bob’s adult children he had with Ivy. And I didn’t like any of them.
There was something I was going to mention somewhere up above, but got distracted. Throughout their first meeting, Willow and Tucker, Tucker kept thinking and/or fearing that Willow was . . . I cannot recall exact wording, but something that would convey a person whose emotions change on a dime, and would probably end up burning stuff on her front lawn. A fatal attraction type women. So: Tucker had the stereotype of being a player, which didn’t fit, and Willow had the ‘crazy woman’ label attached which . . . quite frankly fit more than expected. Her personality, reactions, emotions, and stuff, screamed ‘crazy women’ throughout the book. There were reasonable reasons, but still.
There were two sets of things that happened near the end of the book that were iffy, and actually had me lower the rating a tiny bit (well, the first one, not the second). One involved Ivy and Jim Bob’s children (); other involved, separately, something Tucker was doing that would normally end up being the reason for a couple breaking up and/or having some major fights in lesbian fiction works, but cause no issues here ().
Rating: 3.8
January 16 2020
May 22, 2022
Family.
I listened to the audiobook version and quite enjoyed it. I thought both the story and narration were good. Narration wise, it was expected that I'd like it since Lori Prince is one of my favourite narrators, though I wasn't thrilled with the voice she used for the butch main character, Tucker. But I got used to it after some time.
Story wise, I had hopes. While I didn't love every one of Ali Vali's stories I've read, I absolutely adored Calumet, one of her latest books and had high hopes that I'd love this one just as much, especially since I liked what I read in the blurb.
The broad storyline felt similar to a book I've read before - Hearts in Motion by Miranda MacLeod (Vali's book was published first), and I remember loving the idea of two aunts fighting for custody of a child only to end up in love with each other and forming a family unit. I was looking forward to feeling the same here. It turned out to be slightly different and not in a bad way. For one, getting to this part of the story took some time and I started to develop an attachment to the side characters. This makes it really sad since we already know the unfortunate fate of these characters from the blurb, but it really helped me understand the main characters, Tucker and Willow, better. It also helped a lot with their chemistry, which I thought was lacking at the start. I also love that Vali devoted a decent amount of sweet family time for the main characters and their little boy even before their "happily ever after", which makes it all worthwhile to listen to.
I listened to the audiobook version and quite enjoyed it. I thought both the story and narration were good. Narration wise, it was expected that I'd like it since Lori Prince is one of my favourite narrators, though I wasn't thrilled with the voice she used for the butch main character, Tucker. But I got used to it after some time.
Story wise, I had hopes. While I didn't love every one of Ali Vali's stories I've read, I absolutely adored Calumet, one of her latest books and had high hopes that I'd love this one just as much, especially since I liked what I read in the blurb.
The broad storyline felt similar to a book I've read before - Hearts in Motion by Miranda MacLeod (Vali's book was published first), and I remember loving the idea of two aunts fighting for custody of a child only to end up in love with each other and forming a family unit. I was looking forward to feeling the same here. It turned out to be slightly different and not in a bad way. For one, getting to this part of the story took some time and I started to develop an attachment to the side characters. This makes it really sad since we already know the unfortunate fate of these characters from the blurb, but it really helped me understand the main characters, Tucker and Willow, better. It also helped a lot with their chemistry, which I thought was lacking at the start. I also love that Vali devoted a decent amount of sweet family time for the main characters and their little boy even before their "happily ever after", which makes it all worthwhile to listen to.
March 26, 2020
Yes, this is what you expect to see from a Ali Vali novel. Family is everything in this story. The Delacroix Clan is basically like the Casey Clan, but unlike Cain Casey, Tucker Delacroix keeps within the law. And yes, don’t read the blurb, it gives away most of the plot.
And, oh boy, that plot was over the top. Vali serves more family drama than the average telenovela. Communication between Tucker and Willow is barely there and so we go through this whole silly song and dance after they fall into bed together. That lasts throughout most of the book until suddenly it’s all good again. Tucker was such a dude in everything she did. I really don’t see the appeal to be honest. On top of that her character was flawless in looks and deeds, you could just slap a halo on her and be done. I was not a fan of Willow either. She was vindictive and shrill and lost her cool more than once.
The Inheritence failed to convince me, but if you like your drama big, your butches flawless and your femmes emotionally unstable then this is your story.
f/f explicit
Themes: American South, oil, family is everything, death comes a knockin' , drama-lama telenovela style, so butch even the kid calls her daddy.
3.4 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
And, oh boy, that plot was over the top. Vali serves more family drama than the average telenovela. Communication between Tucker and Willow is barely there and so we go through this whole silly song and dance after they fall into bed together. That lasts throughout most of the book until suddenly it’s all good again. Tucker was such a dude in everything she did. I really don’t see the appeal to be honest. On top of that her character was flawless in looks and deeds, you could just slap a halo on her and be done. I was not a fan of Willow either. She was vindictive and shrill and lost her cool more than once.
The Inheritence failed to convince me, but if you like your drama big, your butches flawless and your femmes emotionally unstable then this is your story.
f/f explicit
Themes: American South, oil, family is everything, death comes a knockin' , drama-lama telenovela style, so butch even the kid calls her daddy.
3.4 Stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
January 24, 2020
I am such a fan of Ali Vali's that I will read anything she puts her name on. Even a romance without mobsters.
I read The Inheritance in three sittings, interrupted by life the first two times. But once I was able to read without interruption...I tore through this book.
Tucker has shades of Cain Casey and Sept, but she is very much her own person too. She is funny as hell, I can't tell you the number of times I laughed out loud reading in the dark. I'm sure I woke my partner a few times. I really liked Jim Bob, Stella, Monique and Willow. Boy, that woman needs a social filter when she gets mad! She really knows how to wound someone with words! Speaking of words, I actually highlighted a few things that stood out for me.
- "I'd rather have my fingers ripped off by a rabid monkey"
- "Are you some gun nut who votes Republican? If you admit to voting for the Cheeto, we can't be friends, and I'll need therapy for sleeping with you."
- Sweet baby goats, she had to get out of here before she embarrassed herself.
- "You look like homemade sin" (Apparently this is not a compliment)
Every one of these lines shows the author's skill with dialogue, and her skill with characterization is just as sharp. It's the people in her stories that make an Ali Vali story so readable. Yes, they are usually more successful than us, but we want to be their friend. Most are good people that we would enjoy spending time with.
(Okay, except for Ivy and her kids)
The characters (including the aforementioned kids) grow and develop, frequently reflecting the best of what it means to be a caring human being. (Except for Ivy). As in every one of the author's other books, family and the commitment to them is front and center in this book. It's clear that family means a great deal to Ali Vali, and the fact that this carries over to her fiction provides a layer of identity and consistancy for her readers.
I would happily give this book much more than five stars if I could.
Brava, Ms. Vali!
I read The Inheritance in three sittings, interrupted by life the first two times. But once I was able to read without interruption...I tore through this book.
Tucker has shades of Cain Casey and Sept, but she is very much her own person too. She is funny as hell, I can't tell you the number of times I laughed out loud reading in the dark. I'm sure I woke my partner a few times. I really liked Jim Bob, Stella, Monique and Willow. Boy, that woman needs a social filter when she gets mad! She really knows how to wound someone with words! Speaking of words, I actually highlighted a few things that stood out for me.
- "I'd rather have my fingers ripped off by a rabid monkey"
- "Are you some gun nut who votes Republican? If you admit to voting for the Cheeto, we can't be friends, and I'll need therapy for sleeping with you."
- Sweet baby goats, she had to get out of here before she embarrassed herself.
- "You look like homemade sin" (Apparently this is not a compliment)
Every one of these lines shows the author's skill with dialogue, and her skill with characterization is just as sharp. It's the people in her stories that make an Ali Vali story so readable. Yes, they are usually more successful than us, but we want to be their friend. Most are good people that we would enjoy spending time with.
(Okay, except for Ivy and her kids)
The characters (including the aforementioned kids) grow and develop, frequently reflecting the best of what it means to be a caring human being. (Except for Ivy). As in every one of the author's other books, family and the commitment to them is front and center in this book. It's clear that family means a great deal to Ali Vali, and the fact that this carries over to her fiction provides a layer of identity and consistancy for her readers.
I would happily give this book much more than five stars if I could.
Brava, Ms. Vali!
January 24, 2020
An Amazing, amazing read. And my first book by Ali Vali. I am amazed by the writing, the storyline, the description of the two protagonists, the enemy-to-lovers and the butch-woman relationship, I really liked the relationship that evolves between Tucker and Willow.
The cover is very very beautiful and I love it.
If I recommend it? absolutly
The cover is very very beautiful and I love it.
If I recommend it? absolutly
January 4, 2020
This was Ali Vali being Ali Vali, including a few hard to believe plot twists. Nevertheless it was a very good read.
January 26, 2020
I fear I am in the minority with this one. A WHOLE LOT happens in this book. A whole lot. Unfortunately I felt very little of it. There were wide swaths of this book that had me scratching my head. A couple of times I almost just stopped. Just not my cup of tea I guess.
I received and ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received and ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2020
The Inheritance by Ali Vali
4 Stars
This is an “old school” Ali Vali romance. And that is a good thing.
This is the story of two sets of siblings. Tucker Delacroix and her brother Jim Bob have been running a very successful oil field supply company in Louisiana. Delacroix Oil and Gas Co. that was started by their father and grandfather, but under the leadership of the two siblings, the company has grown substantially. Monique and Willow Vernon are also very close siblings. Monique is a paralegal at a law firm that specialized in oil field contracts and leases and Willow is an engineer at a major oil company, Suntrust Oil. Willow isn’t very thrilled that Monique has been in a long term relationship with a married man and even less thrilled to learn that Monique is pregnant and she has yet to tell Willow who the father is. I think you can guess.
Tucker is one side of a classic Ali Vali heroine. Tall, dark and beautiful. She is charming, smart and the best at whatever she does and she turns women’s and men’s heads wherever she goes. Willow is the other half - petite, blond/reddish hair, green eyes and curves. Both women are fiercely loyal. Sound familiar? Yup, it’s the Xena/Gabrielle trope. Is this a bad thing? Not in Ali Vali’s capable hands. I might be biased. I never read Xena fanfic, but I did read Xena AU (alternative universe) stories. Usually, Xena/Gabrielle type characters in a modern setting. Vali’s online stories were among the first and best that I read when I started reading online fiction (2004ish).
This story has a lot of family drama and angst. I almost teared up at one point. There is also corporate drama, especially when there is multi-million dollar deals at stake. But mostly it is about family and of course romance.
It not all drama. I loved Tucker’s Louisiana mother, Stella full of wisdom and sass. Willow described her as “a woman who exuded strength, and she seemed to genuinely care about those she loved”. A couple lines I highlighted –
On Ivy, her daughter-in-law: “Hell, God himself is unfit to deal with Ivy even with Satan backing him up.”
Or… “Being different isn’t a bad thing. Who we are as individuals is not only what makes life a wonderful thing, but gives us power to annoy the hell out of people.”
If you want to read early Ali Vali fiction – check her out her page on Academy of Bards or Xenafiction.net (Athenaeum). After I finished this book, I went back to read a couple of favorites – Over Easy and her Harry & Desi series.
An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes books and Netgalley for an honest review.
4 Stars
This is an “old school” Ali Vali romance. And that is a good thing.
This is the story of two sets of siblings. Tucker Delacroix and her brother Jim Bob have been running a very successful oil field supply company in Louisiana. Delacroix Oil and Gas Co. that was started by their father and grandfather, but under the leadership of the two siblings, the company has grown substantially. Monique and Willow Vernon are also very close siblings. Monique is a paralegal at a law firm that specialized in oil field contracts and leases and Willow is an engineer at a major oil company, Suntrust Oil. Willow isn’t very thrilled that Monique has been in a long term relationship with a married man and even less thrilled to learn that Monique is pregnant and she has yet to tell Willow who the father is. I think you can guess.
Tucker is one side of a classic Ali Vali heroine. Tall, dark and beautiful. She is charming, smart and the best at whatever she does and she turns women’s and men’s heads wherever she goes. Willow is the other half - petite, blond/reddish hair, green eyes and curves. Both women are fiercely loyal. Sound familiar? Yup, it’s the Xena/Gabrielle trope. Is this a bad thing? Not in Ali Vali’s capable hands. I might be biased. I never read Xena fanfic, but I did read Xena AU (alternative universe) stories. Usually, Xena/Gabrielle type characters in a modern setting. Vali’s online stories were among the first and best that I read when I started reading online fiction (2004ish).
This story has a lot of family drama and angst. I almost teared up at one point. There is also corporate drama, especially when there is multi-million dollar deals at stake. But mostly it is about family and of course romance.
It not all drama. I loved Tucker’s Louisiana mother, Stella full of wisdom and sass. Willow described her as “a woman who exuded strength, and she seemed to genuinely care about those she loved”. A couple lines I highlighted –
On Ivy, her daughter-in-law: “Hell, God himself is unfit to deal with Ivy even with Satan backing him up.”
Or… “Being different isn’t a bad thing. Who we are as individuals is not only what makes life a wonderful thing, but gives us power to annoy the hell out of people.”
If you want to read early Ali Vali fiction – check her out her page on Academy of Bards or Xenafiction.net (Athenaeum). After I finished this book, I went back to read a couple of favorites – Over Easy and her Harry & Desi series.
An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes books and Netgalley for an honest review.
February 22, 2020
I think my expectations were too high for this book. I expected the story to start with the two MCs thrown together as guardians of the titular “inheritance” and the resulting slow burn with lots of tension, domestic moments and spicy/sweet scenes.
That didn’t happen. We get a sudden sex scene shortly after the MCs meet, then they go their separate ways and basically are not together for the majority of the book, only to have everything come together right before the end of the book like a switch was flipped. There are also scenes written from practically everyone’s POV, including a lukewarm MF sex scene that I didn’t really need to experience.
One interesting thing about the multiple POVs is we get an interesting take on how femmes and butches are treated by men. Willow is very careful around men, wondering if she’s in danger or being hit on, while Tucker is relaxed and buddy-buddy with the guys.
The relationship between Tucker and Willow basically goes nowhere until about the 80% mark when the switch flipped and bam! HEA. I didn’t feel any chemistry other than lust. Willow is shrill, vindictive and jealous. She comes across as somewhat unstable and holds a grudge like nobody’s business.
I fell for the blurb, but the actual book disappoints.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
That didn’t happen. We get a sudden sex scene shortly after the MCs meet, then they go their separate ways and basically are not together for the majority of the book, only to have everything come together right before the end of the book like a switch was flipped. There are also scenes written from practically everyone’s POV, including a lukewarm MF sex scene that I didn’t really need to experience.
One interesting thing about the multiple POVs is we get an interesting take on how femmes and butches are treated by men. Willow is very careful around men, wondering if she’s in danger or being hit on, while Tucker is relaxed and buddy-buddy with the guys.
The relationship between Tucker and Willow basically goes nowhere until about the 80% mark when the switch flipped and bam! HEA. I didn’t feel any chemistry other than lust. Willow is shrill, vindictive and jealous. She comes across as somewhat unstable and holds a grudge like nobody’s business.
I fell for the blurb, but the actual book disappoints.
Rating: 2.5 stars
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
February 6, 2020
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t think I’ve read anything else by Vali, but I know she’s written a ton of books, and I’m usually a sucker for instant family type books, so the premise of this intrigued me.
The problem is that the blurb is kind of misleading, in that it lead me to believe that the main characters (Tucker Delacroix, who runs a company with her much older brother James Robert, who goes by the unfortunate name of Jim-Bob, and Willow Vernon, an engineer who works for a company that does business with the Delacroix’s) would somehow end up raising their nephew after ‘tragedy strikes’. While that does happen, the way it happened was... well... a little much.
First off, Willow’s sister Monique is Jim-Bob’s mistress, and both Monique and Jim-Bob feature heavily in the first half or so of the book, as do Jim-Bob’s cliche ridden wife Ivy, and his two kids Tara and James Robert Jr, who goes by the even more unfortunate name of ‘Bubba’. These characters take up way too much space in the book. The MCs actually meet early on, but don’t know who the other is or how their lives are entwined and hook up for some sexy times. Then Willow discovers who Tucker is and blows her of with an unfortunate choice of words.
The rest of the first 65% of the book is mostly just a lot of angst ridden stuff about Jim-Bob’s life (which basically boils down to him being unable to man up and leave his bitch of a wife to be happy with the woman he really loves. Willow’s assessment of him is pretty much spot on) and how this impacts everyone around him. His kids are spoilt brats and his wife is a lush. Willow also has issues with her sister’s place in Jim-Bob’s life, so when the pivotal moment(s) arrive, she’s none too happy about it.
So the main thrust of what’s described in the blurb doesn’t actually take place til about the 70% mark. That means the MCs relationship is incredibly rushed, and just to make it more frustrating, Ali inserts (or really continues) a ridiculously over the top family/work related sub-plot into this section that quite literally had me saying ‘Oh come ON’ multiple times while reading it.
Tucker’s PA is also overly friendly in a way that would get one of them sued in the current climate, but at least Tucker’s mother Stella was a hoot and any scene with her in it was golden. The last 10% of the book is essentially spent tying everything up into a nice neat bow, with a HEA that didn’t feel anywhere near earned. The book also relies on way too many coincidences and contrivances to push the plot along.
I saw a couple of reviews that called this a ‘classic Vali’, if that’s the case, it’s probably my last. It wasn’t terrible, but there were too many contrivances for me, my suspension of belief only goes so far, and it was really tested here. 2.5 stars, rounded up because I liked the MCs and Stella, I just wish the romance had had more space to develop.
I don’t think I’ve read anything else by Vali, but I know she’s written a ton of books, and I’m usually a sucker for instant family type books, so the premise of this intrigued me.
The problem is that the blurb is kind of misleading, in that it lead me to believe that the main characters (Tucker Delacroix, who runs a company with her much older brother James Robert, who goes by the unfortunate name of Jim-Bob, and Willow Vernon, an engineer who works for a company that does business with the Delacroix’s) would somehow end up raising their nephew after ‘tragedy strikes’. While that does happen, the way it happened was... well... a little much.
First off, Willow’s sister Monique is Jim-Bob’s mistress, and both Monique and Jim-Bob feature heavily in the first half or so of the book, as do Jim-Bob’s cliche ridden wife Ivy, and his two kids Tara and James Robert Jr, who goes by the even more unfortunate name of ‘Bubba’. These characters take up way too much space in the book. The MCs actually meet early on, but don’t know who the other is or how their lives are entwined and hook up for some sexy times. Then Willow discovers who Tucker is and blows her of with an unfortunate choice of words.
The rest of the first 65% of the book is mostly just a lot of angst ridden stuff about Jim-Bob’s life (which basically boils down to him being unable to man up and leave his bitch of a wife to be happy with the woman he really loves. Willow’s assessment of him is pretty much spot on) and how this impacts everyone around him. His kids are spoilt brats and his wife is a lush. Willow also has issues with her sister’s place in Jim-Bob’s life, so when the pivotal moment(s) arrive, she’s none too happy about it.
So the main thrust of what’s described in the blurb doesn’t actually take place til about the 70% mark. That means the MCs relationship is incredibly rushed, and just to make it more frustrating, Ali inserts (or really continues) a ridiculously over the top family/work related sub-plot into this section that quite literally had me saying ‘Oh come ON’ multiple times while reading it.
Tucker’s PA is also overly friendly in a way that would get one of them sued in the current climate, but at least Tucker’s mother Stella was a hoot and any scene with her in it was golden. The last 10% of the book is essentially spent tying everything up into a nice neat bow, with a HEA that didn’t feel anywhere near earned. The book also relies on way too many coincidences and contrivances to push the plot along.
I saw a couple of reviews that called this a ‘classic Vali’, if that’s the case, it’s probably my last. It wasn’t terrible, but there were too many contrivances for me, my suspension of belief only goes so far, and it was really tested here. 2.5 stars, rounded up because I liked the MCs and Stella, I just wish the romance had had more space to develop.
January 21, 2020
The Inheritance is the first book that I have read written by Vali. When I read the blurb on this book, I had no idea really what I was getting into. There are two MCs Tucker and Willow, but in many ways there is also Jim Bob and Monique who are sorta like mains because the story is in many ways driven by what happens to them. So with that said, The Inheritance is a book about Family, growth, trust and love.
There is a LOT of stuff going on in this one, but I still found it easy to read and only had to remind myself who Stella was (Tucker and Jim Bob's mom). I have read other books that had a many supporting characters There are a TON of strong characters in this one and they all feed off of each other. I must admit that if I had a least favorite character it would be Willow. For at least have of the romance she is irritating. At some point later in the book, I begin to like her because she does soften up a bit. I did enjoy Tucker, Jim Bob and Monique and they are what helped to make this story an enjoyable read. If I had any complaints, I would say that it would have been nice to have a little less going on in this one. To be more specific, the emphasis on will and the "inheritance" that Jim Bob leaves behind just was a bit much.
I give this one 4 stars.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.
There is a LOT of stuff going on in this one, but I still found it easy to read and only had to remind myself who Stella was (Tucker and Jim Bob's mom). I have read other books that had a many supporting characters There are a TON of strong characters in this one and they all feed off of each other. I must admit that if I had a least favorite character it would be Willow. For at least have of the romance she is irritating. At some point later in the book, I begin to like her because she does soften up a bit. I did enjoy Tucker, Jim Bob and Monique and they are what helped to make this story an enjoyable read. If I had any complaints, I would say that it would have been nice to have a little less going on in this one. To be more specific, the emphasis on will and the "inheritance" that Jim Bob leaves behind just was a bit much.
I give this one 4 stars.
This ARC was provided by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.
January 26, 2020
An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I was taken by surprise with this read as I felt the description was different than the book itself. I liked that as I went in expecting something and going something else instead. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters and the jumping the gun accusing each other really bothered me. After the deaths I started liking the story and characters more but half the book was over at that point. This was a good romantic read but it wasn't outstanding.
April 24, 2021
Inheritance of Love
This is my first book that I have read by Ali Vali. I loved it. Already want to reread it. At first I thought it was a little slow getting into it, but then I realized I was just not used to such an in-depth history of the characters in the book. I think it made it that much better. I loved it! The angst throughout was remedied wonderfully. Patience was a theme throughout as well as forgiveness, but love is as well. I couldn't put it down, and was sad when I crashed at 85% completed. First thought when I woke up was my book. This is a must read. I am so looking forward to diving into more books by Ali Vali.
This is my first book that I have read by Ali Vali. I loved it. Already want to reread it. At first I thought it was a little slow getting into it, but then I realized I was just not used to such an in-depth history of the characters in the book. I think it made it that much better. I loved it! The angst throughout was remedied wonderfully. Patience was a theme throughout as well as forgiveness, but love is as well. I couldn't put it down, and was sad when I crashed at 85% completed. First thought when I woke up was my book. This is a must read. I am so looking forward to diving into more books by Ali Vali.
April 15, 2020
Never judge a book by its cover and that's exactly what I did when I first saw The Inheritance. It fell flat for me, turning me off. The story itself, though, was anything but flat or unappealing.
49% into the story I had cried, twice. Damn you, Ali. I won't divulge as to why, but I will say that the relationship between sister and brother, Tucker and Jim Bob, tugged at my heartstrings more than once, and when their lives were flipped upside down, I was devastated for the brother-sister duo and anyone around them who genuinely cared for the Delacroix siblings.
The Inheritance was more about the Delacroix family dynamic and their successful oil company than the romantic aspect of it. I honestly don't feel like this was a romance story. Tucker Delacroix and Willow Vernon meet at a company meeting to discuss plans for an oil rig that was set to be built out in the ocean somewhere and the attraction was instant. Hours later of flirty banter, they found themselves in bed with each other. There was no time for romance, especially after Willow discovered that Tucker was somehow affiliated to Jim Bob, a man she detested because he had seduced, bedded and impregnated her sister, Monique. It didn't help that Jim Bob was a married man to a drunk, volatile woman with ungrateful children. However, the way Vali wrote it, Willow was none the wiser towards Jim Bob's predicament. Ah, the drama and suspense ensues. Willow, for some strange reason, thought Tucker had been playing her just to get her into bed and laugh about it later with her big, older brother. Willow, in her humiliated state, took off, immaturely might I say, without so much as goodbye or an explanation. I find that very annoying when women behave that way instead of sitting down and having a mature conversation, but then all the books would be boring due to lack of drama. As much as I love a butch seducing and ravaging a femme, I was more than okay with Tucker staying far away from Willow and her erratic ways of thinking. Willow got under my skin and touched all my nerves more than once. Even Monique, Willow's sister, had had enough of her.
This story was a rollercoaster with highs, lows, and loop-de-loops. I found it fascinating to learn how some of the business is handled inside the offices of an oil company as opposed to how it's handled on the actual rig. I'm a little familiar with the work done on a rig, but I had no idea what the "suits" did on the inside. The "rig-pigs" or the workers don't appreciate the "suits" because a lot of them haven't experienced the rigorous and dirty work that goes into running and maintaining an oil rig. The Inheritance, however, was different given that the Delacroix family raised their children to know what it was like to sweat and get grease under their fingernails before even stepping foot inside an office. I appreciated that, and it made me love the Delacroix siblings even more. Ali Vali did a brilliant job at building up all the layers only to slowly peel them back one by one, tugging at our heart, filling us with rage, having us on the edge of our seats, and cheering on the one thing that usually can solve problems within a family; love. Ali also did a great job at closing the story with no holes left open, no questions left unanswered.
A solid 5 stars. You'll shed a tear or two, you'll laugh, you'll blush, you'll swoon for baby Grady... and maybe Tucker, too. After all, she's a six-foot butch with charm, who wouldn't?
49% into the story I had cried, twice. Damn you, Ali. I won't divulge as to why, but I will say that the relationship between sister and brother, Tucker and Jim Bob, tugged at my heartstrings more than once, and when their lives were flipped upside down, I was devastated for the brother-sister duo and anyone around them who genuinely cared for the Delacroix siblings.
The Inheritance was more about the Delacroix family dynamic and their successful oil company than the romantic aspect of it. I honestly don't feel like this was a romance story. Tucker Delacroix and Willow Vernon meet at a company meeting to discuss plans for an oil rig that was set to be built out in the ocean somewhere and the attraction was instant. Hours later of flirty banter, they found themselves in bed with each other. There was no time for romance, especially after Willow discovered that Tucker was somehow affiliated to Jim Bob, a man she detested because he had seduced, bedded and impregnated her sister, Monique. It didn't help that Jim Bob was a married man to a drunk, volatile woman with ungrateful children. However, the way Vali wrote it, Willow was none the wiser towards Jim Bob's predicament. Ah, the drama and suspense ensues. Willow, for some strange reason, thought Tucker had been playing her just to get her into bed and laugh about it later with her big, older brother. Willow, in her humiliated state, took off, immaturely might I say, without so much as goodbye or an explanation. I find that very annoying when women behave that way instead of sitting down and having a mature conversation, but then all the books would be boring due to lack of drama. As much as I love a butch seducing and ravaging a femme, I was more than okay with Tucker staying far away from Willow and her erratic ways of thinking. Willow got under my skin and touched all my nerves more than once. Even Monique, Willow's sister, had had enough of her.
This story was a rollercoaster with highs, lows, and loop-de-loops. I found it fascinating to learn how some of the business is handled inside the offices of an oil company as opposed to how it's handled on the actual rig. I'm a little familiar with the work done on a rig, but I had no idea what the "suits" did on the inside. The "rig-pigs" or the workers don't appreciate the "suits" because a lot of them haven't experienced the rigorous and dirty work that goes into running and maintaining an oil rig. The Inheritance, however, was different given that the Delacroix family raised their children to know what it was like to sweat and get grease under their fingernails before even stepping foot inside an office. I appreciated that, and it made me love the Delacroix siblings even more. Ali Vali did a brilliant job at building up all the layers only to slowly peel them back one by one, tugging at our heart, filling us with rage, having us on the edge of our seats, and cheering on the one thing that usually can solve problems within a family; love. Ali also did a great job at closing the story with no holes left open, no questions left unanswered.
A solid 5 stars. You'll shed a tear or two, you'll laugh, you'll blush, you'll swoon for baby Grady... and maybe Tucker, too. After all, she's a six-foot butch with charm, who wouldn't?
March 1, 2020
Tucker Dellacroix runs a large company with her brother Jim Bob. Jim Bob is very unhappily married, but obligations to his first family have kept him from getting out and marrying his girlfriend Monique who's pregnant with his child. To complicate matters Tucker has the beginnings of a relationship with Monique's sister Willow. When they first get together both Tucker and Willow are unaware of their siblings relationship, and their relationship is broken almost before it starts when Willow discovers who Tucker is, but subsequent events have the family connection drawing them together again.
While Tucker and Willow are great characters, I felt very uncomfortable with the amount of death and grief that ends up being the catalyst for the main relationship here. A ready-made family is one thing, but it seems like a very unhealthy background for an ongoing life, particularly when this is essentially Tucker's first real relationship.
While Tucker and Willow are great characters, I felt very uncomfortable with the amount of death and grief that ends up being the catalyst for the main relationship here. A ready-made family is one thing, but it seems like a very unhealthy background for an ongoing life, particularly when this is essentially Tucker's first real relationship.
January 16, 2020
3.75 STARS ROUNDED UP TO 4 STARS
I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THE BOOK FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY AND VOLUNTAILY LEAVING MY REVIEW.
TUCKER CO-OWNS HALF OF A SUCCESSFUL OIL COMPANY WITH HER BROTHER JIM BOB. AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER BROTHER ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE WITH JIM BOB'S WIFE AND ELDEST KIDS.
WILLOW ALSO WORKS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY AS AN ENGINEER. SHE IS NOT BEST PLEASED AT THE CHOICE OF PARTNER HER SISTER HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH.
THIS BOOK TOOK ME A FEW CHAPTERS TO GET INTO WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AS I HAVE LOVED WHAT BOOKS THIS AUTHOR HAS WROTE PREVIOUSLY. TUCKER AND WILLOW MEET AT FIRST ON WORK-RELATED BUSINESS. I AM NOT REALLY A FAN OF BOOKS THAT THE MC'S JUMP STRAIGHT INTO BED AFTER ONLY MEETING BUT IT WORKED FOR THIS STORY. I THOUGHT THE STORY LINE WAS GOOD, A COUPLE OF TWISTS AND TURNS IN THE BOOK. THE CHARACTERS WERE GOOD. I LOVED TUCKER FROM THE BEGINNING. WILLOW, AT TIMES I LIKED HER AND TIMES I DIDN'T. THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS WERE A GREAT BUNCH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IVY, TARA AND BUBBA. THE PACE WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT AFTER YOU GET PAST THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS.
ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GOOD READ BUT NOT ONE OF MY FAVOURITES FROM MS VALI.
I RECEIVED AN ARC COPY OF THE BOOK FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY AND VOLUNTAILY LEAVING MY REVIEW.
TUCKER CO-OWNS HALF OF A SUCCESSFUL OIL COMPANY WITH HER BROTHER JIM BOB. AFTER THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER BROTHER ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE WITH JIM BOB'S WIFE AND ELDEST KIDS.
WILLOW ALSO WORKS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY AS AN ENGINEER. SHE IS NOT BEST PLEASED AT THE CHOICE OF PARTNER HER SISTER HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH.
THIS BOOK TOOK ME A FEW CHAPTERS TO GET INTO WHICH IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AS I HAVE LOVED WHAT BOOKS THIS AUTHOR HAS WROTE PREVIOUSLY. TUCKER AND WILLOW MEET AT FIRST ON WORK-RELATED BUSINESS. I AM NOT REALLY A FAN OF BOOKS THAT THE MC'S JUMP STRAIGHT INTO BED AFTER ONLY MEETING BUT IT WORKED FOR THIS STORY. I THOUGHT THE STORY LINE WAS GOOD, A COUPLE OF TWISTS AND TURNS IN THE BOOK. THE CHARACTERS WERE GOOD. I LOVED TUCKER FROM THE BEGINNING. WILLOW, AT TIMES I LIKED HER AND TIMES I DIDN'T. THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS WERE A GREAT BUNCH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF IVY, TARA AND BUBBA. THE PACE WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT AFTER YOU GET PAST THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS.
ALL IN ALL IT WAS A GOOD READ BUT NOT ONE OF MY FAVOURITES FROM MS VALI.
January 29, 2020
Slow burn romance with two very interesting and strong main characters. Augusta “Tucker” Delacroix, talented business woman in business with her brother, Jim Bob. Willow Vernon, talented architect with a sister and nephew she loves deeply. Sadness befalls both Willow and Tucker. As a result, both come together in care of their nephew. How they come together makes for an entertaining story with supportive secondary characters especially Tucker's parents. This read was like watching a soap opera. The ups and downs. The give and take. If you like a strong femme character that knows how to hold her own and take care of yourself and a caring butch character that knows the importance of family, then this is the read for you.
Arc provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
Arc provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
June 8, 2020
Really loved this - though the blurb took me through 60% of the book... So I knew what was going to happen long before it did, which took the mystery out of it. Still good, all nicely tied up with pink ribbon at the end!
January 16, 2021
I liked the book, but it also was somehow...juvenile sometimes. There was a lot of drama, sometimes I just wanted to have the MC’s relax with eachother but then came more drama. The sex scenes could have been better/longer. But the book was triggering me to keep reading it and if a book can do that than it is a good book. 3,5 stars. It was my first Ali Vali book, so not a bad start but not convincing either.
January 17, 2020
Really enjoyed the story
This was a very enjoyable story. There was a lot of sadness for the two main characters to go through. There was also a lot of of chemistry between hot tempered Willow and super sexy, and sweet Tucker. When they finally got together, it was all systems go! The baby was adorable and Tucker’s mother, Stella was a strong and super funny woman. All in all, well done
This was a very enjoyable story. There was a lot of sadness for the two main characters to go through. There was also a lot of of chemistry between hot tempered Willow and super sexy, and sweet Tucker. When they finally got together, it was all systems go! The baby was adorable and Tucker’s mother, Stella was a strong and super funny woman. All in all, well done
February 21, 2020
So this is only the second book I’ve read by Ali Vali, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an emotional rollercoaster and one I didn’t want to get off. I laughed, cried, swooned, and felt uplifted by the end.
Tucker is the quintasessial butch woman in every sense of the word, so obviously, I fell head over heels for her. Especially when she’s vulnerable with Willow and being sweet to her nephew, Gradi. The relationship between Willow and Tucker is (without giving too much away) very complicated, but Tucker just made things easy, and she’s always so supportive of all her family’s needs. Serious Swoon material!
I always love a strong female who is fierce and knows what she wants, and Willow was just that. If there were ever someone I wanted on my side, it would be Willow because when it comes to her family, there is no one or thing more important.
The secondary characters just pulled this whole novel together. I especially enjoyed Tuckers Mum, Willows sisters, Stella and Monique. Both forces of nature who speak their minds and love without limits. Syd, Tucker’s assistant, was good fun too, and I really think there is an opportunity for Syd to have her own story. I liked her flirtatious nature but how she held others accountable. She did stir Willow up the wrong way more than once, but I really warmed to her, and she reminded me of Donna from the TV series, Suits…. And we all love Donna in our house!
I felt the blurb gave to much away and I knew a little too much going in. I would suggest just jumping right in.
I will now be checking the Ali Vali back catalogue furiously over the coming year. And hoping we get Syd’s story one day soon. Great novel!
Star Rating
4.5 Stars
Tucker is the quintasessial butch woman in every sense of the word, so obviously, I fell head over heels for her. Especially when she’s vulnerable with Willow and being sweet to her nephew, Gradi. The relationship between Willow and Tucker is (without giving too much away) very complicated, but Tucker just made things easy, and she’s always so supportive of all her family’s needs. Serious Swoon material!
I always love a strong female who is fierce and knows what she wants, and Willow was just that. If there were ever someone I wanted on my side, it would be Willow because when it comes to her family, there is no one or thing more important.
The secondary characters just pulled this whole novel together. I especially enjoyed Tuckers Mum, Willows sisters, Stella and Monique. Both forces of nature who speak their minds and love without limits. Syd, Tucker’s assistant, was good fun too, and I really think there is an opportunity for Syd to have her own story. I liked her flirtatious nature but how she held others accountable. She did stir Willow up the wrong way more than once, but I really warmed to her, and she reminded me of Donna from the TV series, Suits…. And we all love Donna in our house!
I felt the blurb gave to much away and I knew a little too much going in. I would suggest just jumping right in.
I will now be checking the Ali Vali back catalogue furiously over the coming year. And hoping we get Syd’s story one day soon. Great novel!
Star Rating
4.5 Stars
May 24, 2021
This one pulls on the heart strings. It was so sad when Jim Bob died. The bright spot was when Monique came forward to Tucker and introduced Grady to the family, but then I cried when Monique’s diabetes killed her. Willow was devastated. Through Jim Bob and Moniques wishes Tucker and Willow take over the care of Grady. They are both so wonderful with him and I love how they are thrown back into each others lives and how they let go of the past and start anew. They are so good together and I love the family they make together.
Jim Bob’s wife and kids make Tuck’s life hell even before Grady and Willow were in the picture. I love how Tucker outsmarts them and puts them in their place. I liked how the kids see the error in their ways and realize they were wrong. Willow and Tucker work with them to help them establish a business together. More than I think they deserve but that just shows you Tuckers heart and how she loves her family.
Jim Bob’s wife and kids make Tuck’s life hell even before Grady and Willow were in the picture. I love how Tucker outsmarts them and puts them in their place. I liked how the kids see the error in their ways and realize they were wrong. Willow and Tucker work with them to help them establish a business together. More than I think they deserve but that just shows you Tuckers heart and how she loves her family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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