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Reluctant Heir
Blackmail. Backstabbing. Blood. When you’re the daughter of a high profile mafia king, you tend to get used to all three.
I knew my father’s ambitions had no bounds, and I’m proved right when he forces us to pack everything up and move to a place called Cypress, all because the Black Hand is looking for a new family to enter its ranks. Their only condition? That family must have an heir.
The only problem is we’re not the only new faces in town. Others want on the Hand, and they’re willing to play dirty to win.
I never asked for any of this, but I do what I must. For my father, for myself. The feelings—what few I have—don’t matter. The others might view me as nothing but weak, but soon enough they’ll see. My father never loses.
And neither do I.
*Reluctant Heir is the first book in a planned RH/Why Choose trilogy. Violence, swearing, and psycho love interests will be in the pages of this book. This series follows The Black Hand series. To make the most of this world, I suggest you read that series first, but it’s not necessary.*
I knew my father’s ambitions had no bounds, and I’m proved right when he forces us to pack everything up and move to a place called Cypress, all because the Black Hand is looking for a new family to enter its ranks. Their only condition? That family must have an heir.
The only problem is we’re not the only new faces in town. Others want on the Hand, and they’re willing to play dirty to win.
I never asked for any of this, but I do what I must. For my father, for myself. The feelings—what few I have—don’t matter. The others might view me as nothing but weak, but soon enough they’ll see. My father never loses.
And neither do I.
*Reluctant Heir is the first book in a planned RH/Why Choose trilogy. Violence, swearing, and psycho love interests will be in the pages of this book. This series follows The Black Hand series. To make the most of this world, I suggest you read that series first, but it’s not necessary.*
- GenresContemporary Romance
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2022
143 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 18, 2025
Plot: 2.5/5 • Smut: 1.5/5 —————> I really wanted to like this one, but for the majority of it a) I wanted to DNF and b) some of it is so repetitive.
After finding her churches priest dead, she’s out for vengeance. She murders the three men who killed him. Then Giselle and her father move while he’s on pursue of joining The Black Hand. A society that rules everything in the town of Cypress. He has no idea she murdered three men.
After moving to Cypress her father has her doing introductions to all the heirs to The Black Hand. Trying to make connections and network. Her father controls 95% of her decisions. The other 5%? Like the sex club she sneaks off to at night, she controls.
She and her body guard, Zander, exchange feelings for each other in the end. This after he’s seen with one of the female heirs in a comprising position. Doesn’t progress more than a kiss because after all he is loyal to her father. After the revelation she sneaks back out to the club and finds the guy she hooked up with before.
This ends on a cliffy. With more questions than answers. I just felt this dragged on. Maybe it just wasn’t for me. There wasn’t much spice, there wasn’t any character development besides Giselle. 🤷🏻♀️ I won’t be continuing to book 2.
After finding her churches priest dead, she’s out for vengeance. She murders the three men who killed him. Then Giselle and her father move while he’s on pursue of joining The Black Hand. A society that rules everything in the town of Cypress. He has no idea she murdered three men.
After moving to Cypress her father has her doing introductions to all the heirs to The Black Hand. Trying to make connections and network. Her father controls 95% of her decisions. The other 5%? Like the sex club she sneaks off to at night, she controls.
She and her body guard, Zander, exchange feelings for each other in the end. This after he’s seen with one of the female heirs in a comprising position. Doesn’t progress more than a kiss because after all he is loyal to her father. After the revelation she sneaks back out to the club and finds the guy she hooked up with before.
This ends on a cliffy. With more questions than answers. I just felt this dragged on. Maybe it just wasn’t for me. There wasn’t much spice, there wasn’t any character development besides Giselle. 🤷🏻♀️ I won’t be continuing to book 2.
April 4, 2022
that cliffhanger
I am no stranger to CM’s books. This series just might be my favorite of hers. Can’t wait to find out what happens to Giselle and the rest of the heirs.
I am no stranger to CM’s books. This series just might be my favorite of hers. Can’t wait to find out what happens to Giselle and the rest of the heirs.
September 9, 2025
Great Start
The FMC is 18 year old Giselle Santos the only child of Miguel Santos, an experienced criminal with life goals. Vying to become one of the leaders of a criminal organisation The Hand. The only stipulation they have is that contenders must have an heir.
Being a woman in the crime world is brutal, held to higher standards and expected to be blindly obedient. To the other heirs she initially across as weird, dressed completely in white all the time including gloves. Is she really an innocent lamb in den of thieves or is she pulling a con, either way she’s got everyone’s attention whether she wants it or not.
This is a really well written book, the pacing is on point, with plenty of twists and turns. It handles the FMC’s trauma and triggers exceptionally well including the difference between being overwhelmed by trauma and learning to cope with it. I got the impression that the series is aimed towards those who are late teen - mid twenties. That’s not a bad thing by any means. I’m older and none of the twists came as a surprise, if anything there were missed opportunities for darker scenes. Well it’s that or I’m overly pessimistic? Despite not being surprised I can strongly recommend this book it’s fairly intense and really holds the attention.
The FMC is 18 year old Giselle Santos the only child of Miguel Santos, an experienced criminal with life goals. Vying to become one of the leaders of a criminal organisation The Hand. The only stipulation they have is that contenders must have an heir.
Being a woman in the crime world is brutal, held to higher standards and expected to be blindly obedient. To the other heirs she initially across as weird, dressed completely in white all the time including gloves. Is she really an innocent lamb in den of thieves or is she pulling a con, either way she’s got everyone’s attention whether she wants it or not.
This is a really well written book, the pacing is on point, with plenty of twists and turns. It handles the FMC’s trauma and triggers exceptionally well including the difference between being overwhelmed by trauma and learning to cope with it. I got the impression that the series is aimed towards those who are late teen - mid twenties. That’s not a bad thing by any means. I’m older and none of the twists came as a surprise, if anything there were missed opportunities for darker scenes. Well it’s that or I’m overly pessimistic? Despite not being surprised I can strongly recommend this book it’s fairly intense and really holds the attention.
April 2, 2022
Great start to a new series
It was great seeing pieces of the Black Hand again, but learning everything that Giselle has been through makes me want so much more for her! I want to see her grow into her own person & cut her father & his friend down! I can’t wait to find out who Dragon man is - I have my theories but we’ll see if I’m right or reading things wrong. I want to see her build a friendship with Shay & I truly want to see things grow with her & some of the guys, although I’m not fully convinced about all of them yet. So glad I’ve already preordered the next book & can’t wait for it to be here!
It was great seeing pieces of the Black Hand again, but learning everything that Giselle has been through makes me want so much more for her! I want to see her grow into her own person & cut her father & his friend down! I can’t wait to find out who Dragon man is - I have my theories but we’ll see if I’m right or reading things wrong. I want to see her build a friendship with Shay & I truly want to see things grow with her & some of the guys, although I’m not fully convinced about all of them yet. So glad I’ve already preordered the next book & can’t wait for it to be here!
March 2, 2024
please for the love of god
Find something else to say besides “take back my life”. My god, we get it. Something bad happened and she wants to overcome it….. you don’t have to beat us in the face with the same phrase over and over and over again. Just be the bad bish you have the potential of being. Please CM, fix this.
Book overall was alright, nothing to write home about. Interested to see what the next book is about but I’m praying to all that is holy, the next book doesn’t keep hurting my brain.
Find something else to say besides “take back my life”. My god, we get it. Something bad happened and she wants to overcome it….. you don’t have to beat us in the face with the same phrase over and over and over again. Just be the bad bish you have the potential of being. Please CM, fix this.
Book overall was alright, nothing to write home about. Interested to see what the next book is about but I’m praying to all that is holy, the next book doesn’t keep hurting my brain.
April 3, 2022
Secretly Strong
This book blew me away. Giselle seems like a weak character to most but she is secretly strong. She is trying to find a way to get over her past plus out of her father's control. So far the guys have wanted her but she don't feel comfortable enough yet to be with them. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Also holy cliffhanger anxiously waiting for book two.
This book blew me away. Giselle seems like a weak character to most but she is secretly strong. She is trying to find a way to get over her past plus out of her father's control. So far the guys have wanted her but she don't feel comfortable enough yet to be with them. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Also holy cliffhanger anxiously waiting for book two.
April 15, 2022
Love this!
Giselle (FMC) may be dressed in white while looking innocent and sweet, however in true CM Wondrak fashion, no one is what they may seem. That goes for the guys as well as they create a really interesting mix of new characters. There is some steam in different ways. Can not wait to see what comes next because that ending was 😳…but I loved it. (I also enjoyed getting more from the characters of the BlackHand world) TW/18+ 4.25/stars
Giselle (FMC) may be dressed in white while looking innocent and sweet, however in true CM Wondrak fashion, no one is what they may seem. That goes for the guys as well as they create a really interesting mix of new characters. There is some steam in different ways. Can not wait to see what comes next because that ending was 😳…but I loved it. (I also enjoyed getting more from the characters of the BlackHand world) TW/18+ 4.25/stars
April 7, 2022
Different
This book took some turns that I wasn’t expecting. I’m not sure who’s all a love interest, who’s all the bad guy, and what the FMC is going to do next. I love the fact that she’s reclaiming herself, bit by bit. And that she’s not the pushover that she’s projects. Can’t wait for summer to read the next book!
This book took some turns that I wasn’t expecting. I’m not sure who’s all a love interest, who’s all the bad guy, and what the FMC is going to do next. I love the fact that she’s reclaiming herself, bit by bit. And that she’s not the pushover that she’s projects. Can’t wait for summer to read the next book!
April 12, 2022
Oh my goodness, this was so good!! Where do I even begin!?
Giselle is beautiful, but that poor girl. My heart aches at all she's been through. I love Zander. And Zek. And I can't wait to find out who her mystery man is. This was hot and angsty and I absolutely devoured it up.
But that ending!? Ugh July 1st can't come soon enough because I need more of Giselle's story!!
Giselle is beautiful, but that poor girl. My heart aches at all she's been through. I love Zander. And Zek. And I can't wait to find out who her mystery man is. This was hot and angsty and I absolutely devoured it up.
But that ending!? Ugh July 1st can't come soon enough because I need more of Giselle's story!!
April 20, 2022
Brilliant read. cant wait to read more. .
Giselle has been lead by her family her whole life, doing exactly what Daddy says. But what Daddy says is harmful in more than one way. Especially when Daddy is in the Mafia and attempting to join the Black hand Which means everything he has is at his disposal, including Giselle.
Brilliant read. Cant wait for the next.
Giselle has been lead by her family her whole life, doing exactly what Daddy says. But what Daddy says is harmful in more than one way. Especially when Daddy is in the Mafia and attempting to join the Black hand Which means everything he has is at his disposal, including Giselle.
Brilliant read. Cant wait for the next.
April 10, 2022
Another amazing read from this author
Yes yes yes! I absolutely adore Giselle, and I feel like she has so much more to find out. I have theories and can’t wait to see how this story unfolds. Also, I want to know who the masked man is!!! Can’t wait for book 2
Yes yes yes! I absolutely adore Giselle, and I feel like she has so much more to find out. I have theories and can’t wait to see how this story unfolds. Also, I want to know who the masked man is!!! Can’t wait for book 2
April 10, 2022
Another 5 star from Candace!
A new series but familiar faces! We meet Giselle as she arrives in Cypress, trying to find herself and her place among all our favourite dark and deadly characters! Great introduction to the series and can't wait for book 2!
A new series but familiar faces! We meet Giselle as she arrives in Cypress, trying to find herself and her place among all our favourite dark and deadly characters! Great introduction to the series and can't wait for book 2!
December 23, 2023
Giselle
What a little power house Giselle is. Taking recovery into her own hands and finding control.
I loved the Black Hand series so was very excited for this. I can see a harem forming but not quite yet.
Jury is out on who is no.1 villain though...
What a little power house Giselle is. Taking recovery into her own hands and finding control.
I loved the Black Hand series so was very excited for this. I can see a harem forming but not quite yet.
Jury is out on who is no.1 villain though...
April 5, 2022
another slam dunk
A great start to a new series and just like all the others it’s worth the read. Can’t wait for book 2
A great start to a new series and just like all the others it’s worth the read. Can’t wait for book 2
April 23, 2022
Fantastic
I loved the first series, The Black Hand series. This is the first book is the follow up series and it’s even better, if possible. I can’t wait for the next book.
I loved the first series, The Black Hand series. This is the first book is the follow up series and it’s even better, if possible. I can’t wait for the next book.
March 26, 2024
Wow
Ok that ending has me feeling all kinds of things. This is a great story and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
Ok that ending has me feeling all kinds of things. This is a great story and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.
April 9, 2024
Horrible woman leaving us with such a cliffy! An amazing addition to this world! I love the suspense! I can't wait to find out who's who, and undoubtedly get my heart broken like the first series. Great writing and story building!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews