Ruthless Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Book 1) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Ayla Phipps

Ruthless Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book I have read by the incredible Gwyn McNamee, the first being the prequel to this book, Night Hawke. While it is not necessary to read the prequel it gives a more in depth understanding to Isaac and Jack’s relationship, and what made there reentering each other’s life so intense. Ruthless Hawke picks up five years to the day from the events in Night Hawke, in that time both Isaac and Jack have continued to dream of that weekend, the connection they shared and the what ifs. Finally learning the truth of who Jack is also put into perspective her reservations on sharing any information in the prequel about her identity. In the matter of just a few weeks Jack’s life is yanked out from under her and flipped on its head.
Valentina Marconi, the Italian mob Donne in Chicago, Cutter Jackson, ruthless killer and her right-hand man, also loving married couple and parents to Giacomina “Jack” and grandparents to her daughter Viviana. Jack dreamed for years of finding her “Nolan” and telling him about their daughter but gave up when it seemed an impossible feat. Isaac scoured Chicago in the days after the perfect weekend trying to find any information about his mysterious perfect woman Jack. Valentina faced with an impossible decision, give her daughter over to Satriano, the most powerful Italian mob boss or turn him into an enemy. Her father whisks Jack and her daughter away to New Orleans, to his old military buddy Gabe, and his family to protect his girls. Isaac just finishing court receives a text from Gabe saying family emergency and rushes back to the office only to stop dead in his tracks. Fate, destiny, serendipity something was at work and after all this time had brought them back together. Jack overwhelmed by seeing the blue eyes that have haunted her all these years. Isaac overwhelmed by seeing the woman that stole his soul all those years ago in his father’s office he is rattled to his core. Little did he know the hits would keep on coming in the form of a beautiful little girl with the Hawke Caribbean blue eyes, his eyes staring back at him in his office. Anger, fury, desire, pain. All rush through him in an instant but one thing is for sure he will do anything and everything in his power to protect his girls from every threat.
Will Isaac succeed at keeping them safe? Can Jack let go of all of her fear and live in the feelings, let herself have something she wants? If they win, will Jack and Vivi return to Chicago or stay with Isaac? The world the author creates is realistic, with a touch of fated mates to it. The pain they both went through in the years since they met, brought them to the point they are in now. Makes them learn to appreciate every moment and to fight the fear for something deeper. I can’t wait to read book 2 in the 2nd Generation of the Hawke Family, Reticent Hawke, June 1st, 2023. The mystery of Jude will finally be revealed.

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