This book hooked me from the beginning. It gets off to an excellent start but it loses steam along the way. I think because it is YA and has the usual love triangle trope. Must there always be a love triangle? Ugh. Despite this, there were many things to like within this tale. Hawthorne House is a wonderfully interesting place! I loved everything we discovered there and I want to continue exploring the secret passages and all the rooms and mysteries contained therein. The four grandsons, though somewhat melodramatic, are unique and fun characters with backgrounds that piqued my imagination. Wow! What must it have been like to experience their grandfather's birthday gifts and challenges? Our protagonist Avery, is someone to root for after such a difficult struggle through her young life. However, I believe she needed to ask more questions, dig a little deeper and explore Hawthorne House more thoroughly, for goodness' sake! The clues found as they attempt to "win" the game were interesting but ultimately a bit of a letdown. I did enjoy the journey and it definitely kept me turning pages. I was thrilled with the turn of events at the end so I will read the next to find those answers.

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