Knives Out meets Fifty Shades of Grey in this sizzling romance mystery.
One dead millionaire. Three potential inheritors. And a crazy inheritance game to decide who wins everything .
When eccentric millionaire Alistair Schreiber put me in his will, I was shocked. Then I learned what he had an elaborate inheritance game. Whoever remains in his mansion the longest, without leaving, wins everything. This was already crazy AF. Then I discovered who I was competing with.
Chase , the all-American hunk who was Alistair’s gardener. I’d had a crush on him since I started working at the mansion, and we shared plenty of flirty grins, but now we’re competing for the fortune. Brody , the great-grandson—and only living relative—of Alistair. Although the chiseled California surfer-bro seems like a jerk at first, I soon learn that there’s much more than meets the eye. Xander , the dashing estate lawyer in charge of overseeing the game. With a lean frame accentuated by his perfectly-tailored suit, Xander has an intensity to his gaze that stirs something inside of me every time we lock eyes.
The four of us have to learn to live together while searching every inch of the mansion for the cryptic clues Alistair left behind. And all the while, each of us is harboring a shocking secret that may disqualify us from the inheritance. Can I put aside my growing attraction to my competitors long enough to win? Or will they discover what I’ve been hiding all along?
THE INHERITANCE is a sizzling Reverse Harem Romance full of mystery, suspense, and spicy romantic scenes. HEA guaranteed!
Cassie Cole is a romance author living in Norfolk, Virginia. A polygamist/polyamorist at heart, she thinks Romance is best when served in threes, fours, and fives!
The following ratings are out of 5: Romance: 💙🖤💜❤️ Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Story/Plot: 📕📗📙📘 World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌍 Character development: 😟🤭😤😘🙃
The heroine:Robyn - she worked as a caretaker for a 99-year-old man named Alistair Fritz Schreiber for the last 11 months. He had terrible arthritis, so she helped him get around, helped him take his medication and cooked for him. Though today she found out he died last night and left her something in his will.
The Heroes: Chase - he is the part-time gardener for Mr. Schreiber. He also works as a remote computer programmer for a company in New York. Brody - he is the great-grandson of Alistair Schreiber and only living relative. He is a pharmaceutical sales representative, and he loves to surf. Xander - he is an estate lawyer, and he is executing the will of Alistair Schreiber.
The Story: Alistair Schreiber loved games and was a wealthy and eccentric man. He included his love into his will by making a game of who inherits his fortune. The three people closest to him have to stay in his mansion without leaving for anything. The person who stays the longest, inherits everything, the home, money and more. Xander has to stay as well to make sure Robyn, Chase and Brody are following the rules and don’t leave or destroy any property.
This was kind of a fun forced proximity romance. There were clauses of the will hidden throughout the house and some of them had fun things, like the fact that the person reading one of the cards has to strip down to his/her underwear for the day. Each of the characters were quirky in their own way and I loved them all. It was especially cute when Chase wanted to find a ghost in the mansion and ordered a bunch of ghost hunting equipment and ran from room to room trying to find proof of the paranormal. Brody was afraid of all the noises in the house and didn’t want to sleep in his room alone. Xander was also cute in that he loved trivia so much he studied flash cards.
The story was a lot more involved than I expected and all the players seemed to be hiding something, so there was a lot of intrigue and suspense. The search for each of the clauses of the will was pretty interesting as was what each of them had the players doing. Overall, it was a very different type of story than any I have read before and that made it interesting.
My feelings are very mixed. I don’t know if I didn’t like the writing or the FMC… but this is my first time reading Cassie Cole, so I’ll read another one of her books before I make that decision.
The guys were amazing and really hilarious. and I truly adored Alistair.. For me the the guys carried this book and kept things fun and interesting. I understood Robyn and rooted for her but I couldn’t bring myself to actually like her. it was definitely a slow burn, oh so slow and the spice was lukewarm and somewhat repetitive for me.
I LOVED THE BONUS SCENE. It was so adorably sweet.
Overall it was a journey of emotions. I cringed, laughed out loud, and got very irritable at some points!
The Inheritance is a Knives Out inspired reverse harem following Robyn, a caretaker to Allistair, an eccentric and wealthy old man. When Robyn's seemingly mundane life is flipped upside down after Allistar's sudden death, and she is requested to be at the reading of his will at his sprawling mansion, Robyn is shocked to learn that Allistar left her anything at all, let alone the potential to receive his full inheritance. With millions on the line, Robyn must play a game with Allistair's grandson and gardener to see who survives the longest without ever leaving the estate. The only problem is, she'll be stuck in the mansion with her two wildly attractive competitors and the dashing young lawyer who is serving as the games arbiter.
This was so refreshing and different from other reverse harems I've read. I loved the game and the mysteries that unraveled while the four were inside the cluttered home; I thought it was so cute how the clues were related to Allistair and his relationships with the people he loved. However, despite the unique plotline, the characters and romance fell a little short for me. Everything felt very surface-level and rushed despite how long it took for the characters to get on the same wavelength. I swear one minute they would be making headway in their relationship and the next they would be saying they couldn't trust each other. I just feel like this had so much more potential! The clues and the game made the story fun to follow but the romance and characters left me ultimately unsatisfied.
This was a fun read. Not amazing, but I liked it for the most part. I love how even though it’s obvious it’s based on Knives Out it’s not completely the same and not a rip off. Plus it’s a why choose, which is a definite bonus.
DNF’d at 52%. No. I can’t do it anymore. The characters felt really young in the way they were written, Robyn was annoying like all the time. I felt zero connection to any of the love interests. The spice was mediocre at best. I just can’t push myself to finish this.
This was a really fun read. The inheritance game kept things interesting, with new information and surprises being revealed throughout. Despite being quite a long book, it read quickly.
There is only one thing I didn't like about this book, and that was Robyn. She annoyed the hell out of me with how she acted in certain situations. She was holding secrets and acted like Xander was wrong for keeping his involvement as a secret. She had more than anyone. Also, the way she acted with Brody and the stupid letter. Like leave him alone damn!! Other than her, I adored the rest of the book. Though it was centered around her and the end was about her, I liked the other characters and how the game was played. I love Alistair, and even though he wasn't alive through the hook, I got to know him and his humor!
I like a good why choose romance. I like a story with riddles. I thought I would love a combination of those two ... But this was kind of disappointing.
There are so many little things that annoyed me and if I could give half ratings this would be a 2.5 instead of 3 tbh.
First of all, what's with Na*zi comments? Just bc he - the dead millionaire - was a German guy leaving his country in the 40s didn't make him one and commenting on this about a dead guy without evidence besides that is kinda insensitive and morbid. Totally uncomfortable and unnecessary to the plot.
Second of all, why are they all so judgy and not to mention hypocritical? Just so irritating.
Third thing that was just weird to me was the pacing in the beginning. First one of the mmc's was too shy to kiss the fmc - after having a crush on her for some time - and just a few chapters later they were having sex without much development between them. Seemed kinda forced to proceed with the romance aspect of things.
But the things that just annoyed the ever loving shit out of me (MINOR SPOILER AHEAD), they did not need three weeks for this, if they focused on the task. The riddles weren't too difficult if you know the place and the guy imo. Loved the selfless act but also unnecessary if they concentrated more 🤷🏻♀️
All in all, it was entertaining no doubt. But it has so much more potential to becoming more than 3 - 2.5 - stars.
I swore off why choose romances after reading one series. I read this one because it was recommended by a trusted bookstagrammer, and I did enjoy reading it. I liked the mystery, and the fun trickery of the old man.. But the whole book was over the top for me. Wouldn't recommend or strongly caution against.
This is my first book by Cassie Cole. I really liked that the story was different, it wasn't one of the many over done plots that are out there. Seems like 90% of books lately are copy and paste just change the character names.
To say I loved this book, no. I never really connected with the characters. I wasn't sucked into the story and it's not one that I'll want to re-read in the future, but it was a fun enjoyable read.
I liked the mystery behind the will and waiting for them to find the clues. I felt like the characters were a bit immature at times, especially Robyn. For someone that doesn't want to accept charity she sure did have a lot of her own personal secrets and wrong doings to get to where she was.
Overall it's a fun read with a different plot that is worth reading!
jo es super super super super entretenido y no solo es un libro de romance sino que están resolviendo el misterio y las pistas y todo es divertidillo 100% recomendado yas gracias anto <3
I was excited for this book, thinking it would be a sexy Knives Out, but I was very close to DNF. Couldn’t stand the FMC. Hated the story behind the game. Jokes fell flat. Somehow all of the sex scenes were made weird, either by language choice or the dialogue during and after.
I really liked the mystery I felt like it was well planned but tbh honest if it wasn’t for the smut that was okay the characters wouldn’t have had any chemical at all. We never have a background story for them, like are Xander and Chase only kids or what happened to the family of the guys or personal stuff ya know?? The characters had no chemistry at the beginning and everything felt rush. Also the end is pretty un real like why would the police helped them? Makes no sense and the fact that they didn’t go to work for three weeks and didn’t get fired. Also Robyn kind of sucked and was lacking of a personality:)
If I could split up the ratings between the romance part of the book versus the mystery part of the book, I would. Because the mystery part of the book is truly stellar. Really liked how the author was able to pace the mystery unravelling alongside the romance, and made it organic to the reader.
So my 4-star rating is really representative of the mystery and how it was able to flow naturally through the book as a story plot, rather than the romance itself. It was truly really well done and kept me engaged, else I would have dropped this book early on.
Turns out I don't really like reading about group-bangs lol. 🤷
This was hilariously bad.. Which almost made me like it?
So the premise is riiiight up my alley. I loved Knives Out and I love Clue and of course love a good RH, so I was beyond pumped when I read the teaser for this. So the plot idea? Top tier. The execution of this amazing plot? Uhhh.. definitely not top tier.
First of all, our FMC Robyn is horrible. Second of all.. This was a cluster. Gosh, this could've been so good, but it just wasn't. I can't even be bothered to tell you all the reasons why. Let me also point out that TWICE in my Kindle Unlimited version the author mixed up her characters in the middle of a chapter. As in fully referred to one character by name, when she actually meant to refer to another character. I reread the pages several times to make sure I wasn't just confused, but nope. She fully mixed them up. I'm pretty chill about grammatical errors and such, but THAT is not ok, so I was pretty grumbly after the first time it happened, but then the second time? Nopeee.
I will say, I laughed throughout most of this book. Sometimes because it was truly amusing writing and sometimes because it was so bad and cringy that I couldn't stop the laughter from coming. For example ..
"Give it to me," I crooned. "You want it fast?" "Ohh, I do. Harder."
That was actual text from this book and I just felt awkward reading the awkwardness! I don't even think the author was trying to make me laugh in that scene. I think that was genuine "dirty talk" in the middle of a spicy scene and I was crying laughing. It just didn't fit.
So anyway, I skimmed a lot of this just to see how the plot ended up, which was great actually. That is what is so confusing - I really did like the plot here, from beginning to end. It's all of the character stuff that was so incredibly bad. So yea, this book was not for me and I don't recommend, but if she ever did a major revision or rewrite of this then I'd try it again.
I've never seen Knives Out, but after reading this book, I really have no desire to.
Idk. I gave it 3 stars because it's not like it's bad or poorly written, and the mystery aspect was kinda fun, but it just didn't hit for me.
I feel like none of the characters had any real chemistry with each other, and they were all to quick to be like "oh yeah I don't care if you hook up with all of us". For a why choose, I either want a situation like Lily Gold's books where the guys are used to sharing girls and show her the ropes, or there needs to be some tension before the dam breaks. It came to easy in my opinion.
Also I didn't find Alistair charming. I know he's dead, but still. I didn't like the guy.
Solo por toda la parafernalia que ha hecho el señor Alistair con su herencia ya me cae genial, la verdad que la historia es muy chula y me recuerda mucho a puñales por la espalda la película… Me ha gustado que tengan que estar buscando pistas acerca de la herencia y que parezca que el señor les esté contestando desde la tumba y que empiecen a compartir los descubrimientos que van haciendo y se empiecen a llevar mejor… Y spice pues diría que tiene partes que son bastante spicy pero no se centra tanto en eso por lo que está muy interesante el librooo!!! Me ha gustado todo el misterio como se resuelve, etc.
A rom com reverse harem mystery solving book? SIGN ME UP i said to myself because im responsible for choosing the books that I choose to read.
I have not read a book from Cassie Cole, to my knowledge. This book was an excellent introduction and I was unable to put this book down. I don’t think I’ve previously read a romcom reverse harem. But I really enjoyed it and I strongly recommend this book with, it’s genuine laugh out loud moments, slightly ignorant characters, and spicy, spicy scenes
I have read a similar book to this but I enjoyed this one 1000X better. I banter and growth of the characters was so captivating and made me want more.
I loved the game aspect of the book but I loved the love ❤️
I liked how different this why choose was compared to others I have read. (I’m newer to the why choose game) but I enjoyed their connection.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Oh, the twists and turns in this book made this an amazing read. If you are into murder mysteries and reverse harems, this book is for you. Seriously, this book surprised me more than a lot of books. Although it is a contemporary romance with a HEA, the twists and turns make this book so great, that the usual story line where you know everything is going to work out in the end in a good way, made this book so readable and enjoyable. I am impressed.
First read from this author and I will be reading more. I loved the story line … loved!! This would have been a five star but it took ages to get to the spice but once I got there boy did we get there. Would have liked more from xander’s character I felt like he was just there so would have liked more time knowing him but all in all this book was really really good.
One care giver, one Gardner, one lawyer, one grandson… one game for love and inheritance. The book had 4 people that were up for millions. Never had drama, had spicy pages and feel good hea( I would have loved more about the future)
Let's tackle the main issue right away, Plant Twat. Chase, lovely German Shepherd that the premise described, I expected him to be somewhat the bundle of joy of the situation, what with the crush theme and the sweet first encounter in the library, which I must admit gave me the yuckies. I brushed that first warning off, cuz why not, he's asking her on a date as she's crying for the demise of their not even yet cold boss.
I thought it'd be just a poor plot management on the author's part, I was both right and extremely, utterly wrong.
I just might say that Ficus boy here is the most legit red flag I've ever read on a romance book after The alcoholic, the shiny fang, and Nox (The rapppist from The Bonds that Tie).
The way he is so absolutely not interested in anything outside himself, let alone the mfc, what with the ghost buster thingy, the gardening, the whole "must resist cuz inheritance ", ugh. The way he absolutely despise Brody, which for the record is the only reason I've bother to give two stars to this book, is uncalled for AND borderline psychotic. As is uncalled for the way the mfc treats Brody herself, but that's a whole other issue I won't even address in the review. Which, says it all.
After Chase finds out about homegirl secret of BEING HOMELESS AND DESPERATE, let pride be allowed in the equation too, but I kind of understand the need to not being pitied, he all but throw a tantrum about it, declaring the need for space and proceed to brush of our mfc, not dissimilarly from what he'd been doing both before and after they fucked. Nothing much has changed there for the reader, and yet homegirl seems to be gutted by it, somehow. What i really really REALLY am struggling to understand is the whole thought behind the Creation of the character in itself, cuz I am relatively sure that he was not meant to come out like this.
And I know, I know that often enough the characters just pick themselves up from the page and develop their own existence themselves, but it's also important for an author to channel that kind of potential disaster into something resembling anything BUT the average American dude with a pistol in the glove box outside his ex girlfriend house. Overall, the book could've been really fun to read, the idea is not short of spectacularly endearing.
As it is, the mfc has little to no depth whatsoever, the first romantic interest is what it is and he lawyer is just plain boring. Brody is good, not nearly enough to support the rest, but if he were to be transferred into any other Book, he'd easily be my favourite character.
My Review: There were many laugh out loud moments for me. Alistair was a goof with his love for games and puzzles. And the Sears catalog had me rolling. 🤣 I love a good RH, but I have to tell you whether you like RH or not, you will love this book. Between the humor, mystery, and sad parts, there are so many layers to this story that make it great. Genre- Reverse Harem Romance
Tropes: - Slow Burn -Rom Com - Mystery -Reverse Harem
Robyn has worked as a caretaker for an elderly patient, Alistair Schreiber, for nearly a year. She comes under suspicion when he is discovered to have died one night. According to Alistair's will, she along with the estate's gardener (Chase), the great grandson (Brody) and the lawyer overseeing the will and estate (Xander) are launched into a "game" to see who will inherit everything. The four relative strangers have to work together to solve riddles in order to uncover different clauses that Alistair has set up prior to his death.
What items do each of them inherit based on the will? How are they significant? What happens if one of them leaves the property? What is Robyn's secret? What is Chase's main job? In the end, what was the purpose of the inheritance game? Did it succeed?
I loved all of the characters and their development, but sometimes Robyn just rubbed me wrong. She was too quick to judge, and her judgment was always pointed at Brody.
Their suspicions of one another slowly evolve into friendships as they spend time together and get to know one another. A delightful story that draws the reader in with clues that are explained as the story unwinds.
You come to read the steam and sweetness you expect from a Cassie Cole book and stay for the mystery. Robyn, Chase, Xander, and Brody are in an inheritance game to win Alistair Fritz Schreiber's estate. They each have a special connection to Alistair. Robyn is his caretaker, Chase is his gardener, and Xander is his grandson. The game is whoever stays in the house the longest wins the estate. Robyn and Chase already have a connection as they've known each other longer from both working at the mansion. But soon she has feelings for the other men too. At first Brody is hard to take but the growth that he goes through during the game makes it easier to start to love him. At first Xander is serious and buttoned up so it's great to see him gradually starts to let loose. As the story goes along you begin to root for them all so you don't know who you want to win by the end. The game is filled with mystery, riddles, small pranks (I'm looking at you Rick Astley!!😆) and laughter. The middle does drag a bit but it picks up again. I also wish that more chapters were written from the pov of the men. All in all its a good read with a satisfying hea.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.