Cover Image: The Inheritance

The Inheritance

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Member Reviews

First I'll say Ms. Vali is one of my favorite authors so was very excited to get a copy of this book. I read this in one sitting so it was early morning by the time I finished it, but I was so glad to have stayed up. The main characters are very strong in both of their respective areas, I will say at first I had a hard time warming up Willow, but as the story continued I finally came around to why she was the way she was. Tucker of course I fell for right away, very much the strong character (much like Cain and Sept in her other books) and so tender under all that rough exterior.

I will say brace yourself for this book, in that it tears at your heartstrings.....I think I went through at least 20/30 tissues. It is much more of a heart breaker story than most of Ms. Vali, but was none the less deep and loving. I believe the secondary characters bring much to all this, the love between Tuckers brother and Willow's sister and how that all ended up I didn't expect but it brought the reason for Willow and Tucker to be who they ended up being. I know that is all cryptic but I don't want to put any spoilers in here.

This story line is over a few months (which a jump in time at the start to a year earlier), and it is based on New Orleans area (if you know Ms. Vali you know that is her passion for story settings), but it does bring in the oil industry back drop which I found interesting. There are a few villains you loved to hate (talking about you Big Earl) but the main antagonism is between Willow and Tucker.

All and all this was a great read but again, have a box of Kleenex close at hand - I am hoping these characters show up again in one of Ms. Vali's stories, just to check up on them cause you want to see how things really look a few years out (hint hint just how many babies can make up a fishing team :-))

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-have some tissues ready

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I loved this book so much!!! I barely have words to describe how reading this made me feel. I cried and cried, laughed, worried and celebrated throughout it. I so enjoy the dynamics that Ali Vali includes between her main characters in this book and all her others. There is no question that this author has an amazing way of writing. You just fall in love with the characters and scenic descriptions. I so wish there could be a second book to continue this storyline and see where everyone in this book goes. It feels like there's a door left open by Jim Bob for Tucker's future and it could easily fuel another book or 5! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Oh my, this is definitively “have tissue by” kind of book. I think I spend 50 or 60% of the book crying my ass of because it was so damn touchy. I love the whole story. From the time Willow and Tucker met, to the very last word in the book. Do I wish there was more? Of course!! I wanted to know what more there was in the inheritance Tucker was referring to even though It was mentioned ,you could take a guess and never know if you are correct!!
I’ve read few Ali’s books and honestly, I think this one beats every single one (the truth is I have not read the Cain series yet so I am not sure).

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Ali Vali did it again! This is a great enemy-to-lovers book about fierce love and family. Don't we all wish we had a lover like the ones Ali Vali creates in her books. Vali made me laugh and cry while reading this book.

In the first chapters, you get an insight into the most important characters. I instantly got a liking to Tucker, Jim Bob, Willow and Monique. Usually, I have a strong disliking towards people who have someone hidden aside their marriage. But the way Ali Vali lets you in on Jim Bob’s life you can’t do other than liking the man and maybe berating him for his stupid choice to stay with his awefull wife (I did want to use less suitable expletives here).
When Willow and Tucker meet their chemistry is great, as is their banter. A fast burn is what follows their first night out. But then Willow discovers that Tucker is Jim Bob’s little sister and breaks it off in a bad way.

What follows is what you know is coming. If you’ve read the blurb you know Jim Bob will pass. But leave it to Vali to make it into a heartbreaking scene in the book that’ll make you cry your eyes out. Vali and love in her books have always some kind of fierceness over it. So in those few pages, I’d become to love Monique and Jim Bob and my heart broke for their love not getting a chance to be a happily ever after. Imagine my heart breaking for a second time.

What Monique had in store for Tucker and Willow is just great, I read it with a smile on my face and it felt like sunlight coming through the clouds after days of sad and dark weather.

Although I love other books by Vali, this one stole my heart because of the simplicity of it. Earlier books by Vali that I read were mostly about crimes and you'll have to pay attention reading those book because of the many characters and intrigue she works in her plotline. In this book the plotline was less complicated, but certainly not less beautiful. The book is full of beautiful emotional moments and Vali did a great job writing down the good, the bad and the ugly. I cried and laughed while reading and had difficulty putting it away.

I can recommend this book to everybody who enjoys a butch-femme, enemies-to-lovers family romance. As a bonus, it is set in New Orleans, which I love. Read it, you won't be sorry.

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Very unique story line. Finding your HEA in a mess of family, love and untimely death. The second quarter of the book was a bit slow, but the end was stay-up-past-bedtime-to-finish quality.

Tucker Delacroix and Willow Vernon get off to a hot start, but when Willow finds out that Tucker is the younger sibling of the man who got HER sister pregnant out of wedlock, Willow runs for the hills - after suggesting that the Delacroix siblings drop dead. Unfortunately, Jim Bob (Tucker's brother) soon does, leaving Monique - Willow's sister - heartbroken and the baby Grady without his father. Monique's sudden death soon after leaves Grady orphaned, and despite her reticence, Willow must work with Tucker to provide Grady with the loving home both Jim Bob and Monique wanted for him.

I really liked Tucker's character. Oftentimes the hard-ass, wealthy, CEO types are ice queens. But while being bad-ass at business, Tucker is really down-to-earth, confident but self-deprecating, and truly loves her family. Just a really well-written character.

** I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **

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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.

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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.

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Ali Vali is ofcourse very well known for her Cain Casey novels...up until know I had only ever read her maffia related stories and this book deviates from the criminal into "normal" day jobs. It is about Tucker and Willow who meet and are interested in eachother unaware of the fact that Tuckers brother has an affair with Willows sister.

This book did not grab me from the first pages, but boy am I glad I decided to read on, because after 2 or 3 chapters the characters were solid, the events playing out drew me in and got me invested in the story and the outcome. Definitely well worth a read!

**ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

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I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a good read it had a lot of family angst with mixed of romance.

Tucker and her brother Jim runs a successful oil company. When he dies suddenly she learns he had a mistress name Monique who had his child she wants her son to know his family without anything in return.

Willow works at the oil company and she doesn't care for the man her sister is with because he still married but when her sister dies she wants to step up and raise her nephew but what about to realize her sister has other plans.

Tucker and Willow are attract to each other as they tries to be there for their nephew. I like Tucker mother Stella and her no nonsense attitude how she help move Tucker and Willow into family with her grandson.

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The Inheritance is a typical Ali Vali novel in every way. Inside the pages the reader indulges in a tale of family drama, family business and a butch/femme romance, all set in beautiful and charming New Orleans. Her devoted readers should be quite familiar with this city by now. Vali’s affections run deep for New Orleans and she often uses it as a backdrop for her romances.

Vali centers this dramatic romance around family ties and commitment, a theme she often uses in her stories. It is quite gripping and emotional at times, but loss and love can be that way. The Delacroix family is central to this tale, and I enjoyed their relationships and interactions very much. Family means everything to them, and blood runs deep. They honor and respect the family name. Tucker, of course, loves them all deeply and would do anything for them, especially her older brother Jim Bob. Her comment and love for him, even in death, leads her to an expected surprise, and it eventually opens the door for a family of her own.

Willow plays the femme against Tucker’s butch in this intriguing romance. Their love story is a little backward and not exactly conventional, but that’s what makes it interesting. Willow is an emotion mess at times, but Tucker remains patient. The things they both have to work through are trying and difficult. Willow eventually grows and makes the changes needed to step up and fulfill her sister’s wishes, despite her heartache and loss.

The supporting characters are compelling, especially Stella, Tucker’s mother. She was a real treat for me. Stella is sharp tongued and quick witted. I really enjoyed her appearances on the page. Monique, too, was another favorite. She is kind and loving. Her insight is what actually brings Tucker and Willow together. Her loving words brought me to tears. She had more emotional maturity than Willow. Through her infinite wisdom, she makes some decisions before her death that aid in gently guiding Willow to where she needs to be to find true love and family.

Though I enjoyed this story very much, there were moments that I felt were rushed. I frowned a bit when Tara, Jim Bob’ daughter, makes a drastic and sudden turn around. Throughout the story she is so hostile toward Tucker. I was confused by her sudden change of heart towards Tucker. It didn’t seem like it was consistent with her character development to that point. I understand that death often yields great life lessons, but I got the impression she is too immature, self centered and entitled to be open to Tucker and of her ideas. Don’t get me wrong; Tara’s change was nice to see, for sure. I just think we needed more pages and character development for that to seem authentic and genuine. I felt the same about Bubba, Jim Bob’s son. This, however, is just a personal opinion and does not affect the overall romance of the story in any way. It still remains a solid read.

If you are a fan of Ali Vali, you will definitely enjoy this story of family, loss and love. If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading an Ali Vail romance, but you enjoy a good butch/femme love story, give it a try. She writes intriguing books with compelling and interesting characters. The romance is always sweet and tender. Her stories are enjoyable reads.

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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.

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I got confused in-between who's talking sometimes. Willow was annoying most of the time and I would've loved to see her grief more. for God's sake I loved her sister and honestly I cried when she died Like seriously I did not expect her to. Tuker was ok. I found myself not that attracted to either of the main characters but that did not made me stop reading however I loved the mom even thought she did not participate in a lot of chapters but she seemed super fun character. it's an interesting book. well written and audited that's why I'd recommend it.


thank you for the Author and her team for giving me a free copy in exchange of an honest opinion

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I love this book, but I’m also a huge Ali Vali fan. But I have to say that the book was mostly about the relationship between the two MC’s, and then their breakup. The inheritance part didn’t come in til the end, but again, I still loved it.

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I'm not usually keen on books with babies, but I do enjoy Ali Vali's writing, so I took a leap of faith. I’m glad I did. The book hooked me within the first few pages and I could not put it down. I pretty much finished it in a single sitting staying up way beyond my bedtime. There are clear sparks flying between the two main characters, Tucker and Willow early on and the heat burns off the page. Then life, and misunderstandings and preconceptions get in the way to pull them apart. As a reader I wanted to shake the hell out of the characters and explain everything I knew but they didn’t. That’s some good writing to make me want to reach into a book. Tragedy and circumstance combine to throw them together again but there are new battles to be fought and new twists and turns to be masterfully woven by Vali.

The characters in this novel drove the story. They made things happen rather than things just happening to them. They may as well be walking down the street outside my front window they are that real; sometimes a little cliche, but the author recognises it which kind of makes me smile. By the end of the novel I felt attached to them and did not want to turn the last page. I cared about them and teared up in a few places. Tucker’s mother, Stella, was a perfect addition with her no nonsense attitude and love of family. Ivy, Tucker’s alcoholic sister-in-law,and her two children were greatly flawed and vindictive, but you could see the layers to their characters. Jim Bob was presented as two sides of a coin depending on character viewpoint which only added to the depth of his personality. Even the lesser characters, such as Trout, stood out as individuals and stayed away from that cardboard grey area many authors pull their minors from. The only quibble I had was I expected Monique, Willow’s sister, to be sicker than she was written given her problems (I’ll not spoil), but that’s because I saw my mother go through the same thing and knew intimately how that cookie crumbles, so I am probably biased.

As always, Vali’s dialogue skills with verbal sparring are wonderful. Some of the back and forth made me wish I had the balls to emulate it in real life (I might practice in the mirror later). She can go from eviscerating to sensual and erotic with equal skill.

Overall, this was a great read. Don’t take too much notice of the cover, which kind of makes it look like a corporate high flyer in a power suit trying to juggle her work-life around a baby. This book is nothing like that at all, it is a rollercoaster ride of emotion and tragedy that will pull you in. Highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing an ARC of this novel for an honest review.

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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.”

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The Inheritance by Ali Vali is an absolutely fantastic book. I was so engrossed in the story that I have to admit I cried a few times.
Tucker and Willow are both really strong characters and AV has written a great butch/femme meeting with this book.

If you're looking for an emotionally roller coaster with instant attraction thrown in then you're going to love this book.

Would I recommend: Yes most certainly

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Ali Vali has such a unique writing style that if I were to jump into the middle of a book knowing nothing about it I would still know it's hers. Her characters' dialogue are always full of compound sentences and I can almost hear her saying the lines in my head.

The Inheritance is fantastic, plain and simple. Set in the New Orleans universe of several of her other books, this story is so different and plot-twisting that I couldn't put it down. At the heart of the story is a man who cheated on his wife, but because of the detailed extenuating circumstances and the way he treats the mother of his new baby, it didn't bother me at all. The story was chock full of family drama and angst, which had me in tears a couple of times. Every loose end was tied up nicely, and there were a couple I had forgotten were even loose.

Every single character was fleshed out to perfection, from the mains to the family members to the admins and the ruthless business rivals.

I hope there's a story in the works where the Caseys and the Delacroix meet and become friends and/or colleagues. Cain/Tucker and Emma/Willow would be entertaining to read about.

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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.

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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.

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Ali Vali wrote a fantastic book! I love this author and The Inheritance lives up to the Vali talent. Set in New Orleans, Tucker and Willow journey a lot of hardships that many people in life have to face. The book is written with humor , compassion, and grace. The story is wonderful and the characters are well developed and the plot was different than I expected and it’s a privilege to have an author so talented sharing her great stories!

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