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A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog

Review: ‘Ruthless Hawke’ by Gwyn McNamee

March 24, 2025

Review: 'Ruthless Hawke' by Gwyn McNamee

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Review: ‘Ruthless Hawke’ by Gwyn McNamee

Ruthless Hawke

by Gwyn McNamee
Series: Billionaire Family of New Orleans: The Hawke Family Second Generation #1
Published by Self-Published on February 23, 2023
SubGenres: Contemporary Romance
Format: eBook
Pages: 384
Source: Kobo Plus
Audience: 18+/Adult
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three-stars

Love can be ruthless, especially when you’re a Hawke.You have to be ruthless to be a Hawke.Our empire in New Orleans has only grown over the years.And protecting it falls on my shoulders.Whether it’s in the courtroom or in the streets, I do whatever it takes to get the job done.We’ve already suffered and lost enough.I won’t let anything threaten my family or what we’ve built.But a mysterious woman from my past shows up, with danger in tow.That’s not all she brings with her.The little girl stares up at me with the Hawke blue eyes.Instantly, my entire world shifts.It isn’t just about defending what’s ours.Now, it’s about defending what’s mine.
Ruthless Hawke is the first book in The Hawke Family Second Generation Series. Grab this angsty contemporary romance about a man who will do anything to protect his family, a woman on the run, and an attraction neither of them can deny. Ruthless Hawke can be read as a stand-alone.


Ruthless Hawke is the first full-length novel in Gwyn McNamee’s Billionaires of New Orleans: The Hawke Family Second Generation series. I recently finished the first generation of books last month, and I was excited to start reading the latest generation of Hawke family members. I knew Gwyn McNamee would involve the older generation of Hawkes in the new series, and I always enjoy reading follow-ups on previous characters and also getting a whole new series with new characters. 

Sadly, this book won’t be a favorite. It had a suspenseful storyline to it that kept me on the edge of my seat. There was also drama involved, which I will touch on in my review.

Things I enjoyed, though, was how the MMC, Isaac Hawke, was determined to prove to the FMC, Mina (aka Jack), that he would do anything to have her stay with him, even after her family dangers were dealt with, especially since they had a child together that he was just now getting to know. I loved how the whole Hawke family came together when Jack and her family needed assistance, and I loved how they already considered her and her little girl family. It was great to read how the Hawke Family look out for one another, not only with their businesses, which are now booming but also with their family. 

Here’s the thing, though: the book started rough for me with the MMC being with another woman. Yes, it’s a detailed scene, and I’m not too fond of those types of scenes. He was thinking about the FMC the whole time, but it still bothered me. Then, there was the fact the FMC came back into the MMC’s life, and he had a daughter he was just finding out about. He’s determined to be in the FMC’s life and his daughter’s life, but the whole time, the FMC can’t wait to get back to her parent’s home after they deal with the dangers behind their family. The FMC complained about having no freedom with her parents and was willing to go back, even after being with the Hawke family and Isaac again. She just rubbed me the wrong way. 

In the end, though, things do work out between Isaac and Mina (aka Jack), and they get their HEA. I wish I would have enjoyed their story more, it just wasn’t my cup of tea with some of the issues I had with it. Overall, it was an okay read, and I give it 3-stars. I did enjoy the suspenseful storyline and reuniting with the older Hawkes, plus getting to know the younger Hawkes, who will get their stories in this new series.

I’m looking forward to continuing my binge of this series so I can catch up on it. 

Single/Dual POV: Dual POV

Standalone or Part of Series: It’s part of the Hawke Family Second Generation series and needs to be read in order. I highly recommend reading the first Generation series before the Second Generation, if you haven’t read those first.


What to Expect:
✔️Second Chance
✔️Secret Baby/Child
✔️Suspense


About Gwyn McNamee

USA Today Best Selling author Gwyn McNamee is an attorney, wife, and mother. Originally from the Midwest, Gwyn relocated to her husband’s home town of Las Vegas in 2015 and is enjoying her respite from the cold and snow. Gwyn has been writing down her crazy stories and ideas for years and finally decided to share them with the world. She loves to write stories with a bit of suspense and action mingled with romance and heat.
​
When she isn’t either writing or voraciously devouring any books she can get her hands on, Gwyn is busy adding to her tattoo collection, golfing, and stirring up trouble with her perfect mix of sweetness and sarcasm (usually while wearing heels).
​
Gwyn’s debut novel, Savage Collision, the first book in The Hawke Family Series, was a 2017 Romance Writers of America Passionate Plumes Contest Finalist for excellence in contemporary steamy romance.

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FranJessca
Owner/Reviewer at A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog
I guess I should type a bio here. I'm FranJessca, or Fran for short. I'm the owner/reviewer behind A Book Lovin' Mama's Blog. I've been reading and reviewing books on my blog since leaving the Navy in 2011, and I will keep doing it as long as possible. My favorite genres will always be Romance & Fantasy, and I read every subgenre underneath those two genres. (Sorry, not a fan of nonfiction, so don't try to convince me to read it.)
My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
FranJessca
Latest posts by FranJessca (see all)
  • Happy Release Day + Giveaway: ‘Bracing The Storm’ by J.C. Reed - May 27, 2025
  • ARC Review: ‘Restless Hawke’ by Gwyn McNamee - May 26, 2025
  • ARC Review: ‘From Drummer to Gamer’ by Emberlynn Raine - May 25, 2025

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