Official Review: Legacies by Harvey Jones

Rebecca675 · Post by **Rebecca675** » 16 Sep 2016, 11:30

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Legacies" by Harvey Jones.]

2 out of 4 stars

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Legacies is a feel good novel centered around transgender rights and sexual acceptance. The book opens from the perspective of Emma, a sexually free grandmother type, providing some back story about how she came to own the hotel that is central to the main storyline.

The hotel is a sexual smorgasbord, catering to and accepting of those from all walks of life. With a bit of back story established, Emma introduces her best friend Macy, who is to become the main character.

After being introduced to the sexual side of the hotel, information she had never been party to in the past, Macy and her boyfriend Tobias, who likes to dress as a woman named “Chantelle”, begin taking an active role in many fetish parties and orgies that take place there.

Becoming more and more deeply ingrained with the hotel and the lifestyle it embodies, Macy and Tobias find themselves taking over the hotel when Emma passes away unexpectedly. The book chronicles their continuation of the accepting atmosphere Emma so carefully curated at the hotel, as well as their adventures abroad as they travel to London, New York, and Hawaii, spreading their humor, kindness, and accepting attitude wherever they go.

I thought the book was alright and I give it 2 out of 4 stars. It was quite fast paced for my tastes, I tend to prefer the author to get me emotionally involved in the action but this story there just wasn't time. A topic or event was mentioned, everything went smoothly, and it was completed. No muss, no fuss. It was also a fairly rosy story, everyone was happy almost the entire time. Nice for a quick, relaxing read, but not realistic enough for true emotional involvement. However, if you want to curl up with an easy, exciting read that won't make you late for your next appointment, this would be a great choice!

My favorite part of the book was the optimism. Everyone had a very Polyanna-ish attitude. Accept everyone, judge no one, etcetera etcetera. As a human being I wish it were that simple, as a reader and realist I know it just isn't. While I love a happy ending and smooth sailing for my characters, that isn't really why we read books, is it? My favorite thing about the book, ironically, is one of my main critiques as well.

My least favorite part was when a pregnant woman (who knew she was pregnant) did a shot of Jack Daniels. Not to play the prude, but that made me judge more than anything else in the book. As a new mom I sipped liquor here and there throughout both pregnancy and breastfeeding, but shots? That was my line, I guess.

The book is a sequel and I would highly recommend reading the first book before tackling this one. The first couple chapters had me spinning my wheels several times, flipping frantically back and forth to find an explanation for something that was never given. I ended up going online to read a synopsis of the first book, which gave me what I needed to move on with a less-shaky understanding of what was going on.

While I wouldn't read this book again, I think it was a solid one and a good foray into an important issue. For those with little to no understanding or experience of transgender and sexual equality issues I think it would be a good choice, as well as fans of the genre who are looking for something familiar but different enough to be exciting.

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Legacies
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AA1495 · Post by **AA1495** » 14 Oct 2016, 10:22

Good point about the pace of the book. Thanks for the great review!

Post by **Annelore Trujillo** » 21 Dec 2016, 20:55

I think the book brings up an important issure, but I don't think that it is for me. Thank you for the honest review!

kimmyschemy06 · Post by **kimmyschemy06** » 27 Dec 2016, 07:54

That was a very honest review. The premise sounds very promising and Emma, Macy and Tobias seem like interesting characters. I think the author dreamed of a world where everyone is accepted no matter who they are and what they do and wrote this book. Good job on the review.