Review: "The Bastard Heir" by Whitley Cox and Ember Leigh

The Bastard Heir by Whitley Cox & Ember Leigh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

TW: cancer/breast cancer

When their estranged father passes away, Callum Winters and his younger brothers Carson and Colton learn that they must spend a full year living in the small town of Winter Harbor, Oregon in order to claim their inheritance. Their father grew up in Winter Harbor but left under a cloud of scandal, and the townspeople aren't exactly welcoming to anyone with the last name Winters. Callum's relationship with his brothers is strained as well, particularly his middle brother Carson, who was responsible for Callum's breakup with his first love, Harlow Jackson, eight years earlier. Since their breakup, Harlow has gone on to become an estate attorney in her hometown of Winter Harbor, and her firm has assigned her to handle Callum's father's case. As much as she'd like to refuse, she's on the verge of making partner and can't afford to say no to anything her boss asks of her, even if it means working with the ex who dumped her in humiliating fashion. It quickly becomes clear that Harlow and Callum aren't over each other, but each has changed in the years they were apart. Can they figure out a way to build a life together that will make both of them happy?

This story was more of an emotional rollercoaster than I was expecting, but I was quickly drawn into it and couldn't wait to find out more about the Winters family and their ties to the town of Winter Harbor. Callum and Harlow were incredibly likeable, sympathetic protagonists, and the tension and chemistry that remained between them was palpable from the moment they saw each other again. Without a doubt, they were still in love and meant to be together, but the challenges they faced weren't easy to overcome. While I was rooting for them the whole way, I might have liked to see Callum grovel a bit more to make up for the way he treated her in the past.

Overall, I very much enjoyed "The Bastard Heir" and would recommend it for fans of angsty/emotional contemporary romance, with a content/trigger warning for those who may be sensitive to stories involving cancer/breast cancer. I look forward to learning more about the Winters family and their secrets in the next book of the series!

*Review copy provided by the authors. All opinions expressed are my own.

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