Chapter Index
    Cover of The Brothers Hawthorne
    MysteryRomance NovelThrillerYoung Adult

    The Brothers Hawthorne

    by Barnes, Jennifer Lynn
    “The Brothers Hawthorne” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a spin-off from “The Inheritance Games” trilogy, focusing on the Hawthorne brothers, Grayson and Jameson. The novel follows their separate yet intertwined journeys as they navigate complex family dynamics and high-stakes challenges. Grayson steps in to protect his half-sisters from trouble, while Jameson and Avery Grambs (the heir to their grandfather’s fortune) embark on a twisted game in Europe. Themes of family loyalty, gender, and class dynamics are explored as the brothers confront their identities and sacrifices. The book blends mystery and suspense, continuing the series’ legacy of intricate puzzles and emotional depth.

    The chap­ter opens with Jame­son Hawthorne and Avery at Iguazú Falls, the world’s largest water­fall sys­tem. Jame­son is con­sumed by a sense of hunger—for adven­ture, for Avery, and for the thrill of dan­ger. Stand­ing on a walk­way near the edge of a dra­mat­ic drop-off, he teas­es Avery about dar­ing him to cross the rail­ing, show­cas­ing his reck­less charm. Avery, though play­ful, firm­ly dis­cour­ages him, hint­ing at the ten­sion between his impul­sive­ness and her cau­tion. The majes­tic, unstop­pable force of the falls mir­rors Jameson’s own relent­less pur­suit of excite­ment.

    Back at their seclud­ed jun­gle vil­la, the dynam­ic between Jame­son and Avery shifts to a more inti­mate tone. Avery presents a coin toss game—“heads or tails”—symbolizing their flir­ta­tious ban­ter and unspo­ken attrac­tion. Jame­son, ever the provo­ca­teur, leaves the choice to her, rev­el­ing in the antic­i­pa­tion. Their chem­istry is pal­pa­ble as Avery chal­lenges him with a touch and a dar­ing look, sug­gest­ing a deep­er game with cards. The moment is charged with play­ful ten­sion, high­light­ing their com­plex rela­tion­ship.

    The mood shifts abrupt­ly when a satel­lite phone inter­rupts their exchange. The call is from Grayson, Jameson’s broth­er, con­firm­ing they’ve received Nash’s summons—a “nine-one-one” code demand­ing their pres­ence. Jame­son jokes about Grayson’s past reluc­tance to respond, ref­er­enc­ing an embar­rass­ing inci­dent involv­ing leather pants. Despite his teas­ing, it’s clear the Hawthorne broth­ers adhere to this rit­u­al with­out ques­tion, empha­siz­ing their unbreak­able bond and the con­se­quences of defi­ance. Avery, ever the medi­a­tor, steps in to con­firm their com­pli­ance, cut­ting short Jameson’s antics.

    The chap­ter con­cludes with Avery and Jame­son prepar­ing to leave for Lon­don, acknowl­edg­ing the inevitabil­i­ty of respond­ing to the fam­i­ly sum­mons. The inter­rup­tion under­scores the con­stant pull between Jameson’s desire for free­dom and the oblig­a­tions tying him to his fam­i­ly. Avery’s role as both a ground­ing force and a will­ing par­tic­i­pant in his adven­tures is evi­dent, set­ting the stage for their jour­ney ahead. The blend of dan­ger, inti­ma­cy, and famil­ial duty paints a vivid pic­ture of their inter­twined lives.

    FAQs

    • 1. Comprehension: What is the significance of the “nine-one-one” code among the Hawthorne brothers, and what are the consequences of ignoring it?

      Answer:
      The “nine-one-one” code is an annual summons each Hawthorne brother can use to request the presence of the others. While it doesn’t indicate an actual emergency, it serves as a binding call for family unity—when one brother texts it, the others must respond without question. Ignoring the summons leads to humorous but embarrassing consequences, as illustrated by Grayson’s past experience of being forced to wear tight leather pants and perform karaoke (page 11-12). This tradition reinforces their familial bonds through playful accountability.

      2. Analytical: How does the setting of Iguazú Falls reflect Jameson’s personality and his relationship with Avery?

      Answer:
      Iguazú Falls—described as “unstoppable, off limits, deadly” (page 10)—mirrors Jameson’s adventurous, risk-taking nature. His temptation to test the railing and his hunger for “more” align with the waterfall’s raw power and danger. Avery’s presence as his stabilizing force is evident when she physically restrains him (“Absolutely not”) and removes his teasing focus from the falls to their intimate coin-flip game (page 10-11). The secluded jungle villa further emphasizes their dynamic: while Jameson seeks thrill, Avery grounds him, yet both thrive in their private, untamed world.

      3. Critical Thinking: Why might the author have chosen to interrupt Jameson and Avery’s moment with Nash’s summons? Analyze the narrative effect.

      Answer:
      The interruption heightens tension and foreshadows future plot developments. By cutting short their flirtatious card-game proposition (page 11), the summons: (1) reinforces the Hawthorne family’s priority over individual desires, (2) creates urgency that propels the story toward London, and (3) contrasts Jameson’s carefree attitude with Grayson’s stern response (page 12), showcasing sibling dynamics. This abrupt shift also leaves readers curious about Nash’s motives, effectively transitioning from romantic escapism to familial duty while maintaining the chapter’s playful tone through Jameson’s teasing.

      4. Application: If you were Avery, how would you handle Jameson’s risk-taking tendencies based on this chapter’s events? Justify your approach.

      Answer:
      Avery’s balanced approach—firm yet playful—proves effective. When Jameson eyes the railing, she physically connects (touching his jaw) and vetoes his dare without stifling his spirit (page 10). Later, she redirects his energy through the “heads or tails” game (page 11), offering controlled excitement. To expand this, I’d establish clear boundaries (e.g., “no waterfall edges”) while channeling his adrenaline into structured challenges (like their card-game tease). This acknowledges his nature while ensuring safety, mirroring how she swaps the satellite phone call’s tension for a decisive plan (“We’ll see you in London,” page 12).

    Quotes

    • 1. “Jameson Winchester Hawthorne was hungry—for this, for her, for everything, all of it, more.”

      This opening line captures Jameson’s restless, insatiable nature and his intense connection with Avery. It sets the tone for his character’s driven and passionate perspective throughout the chapter.

      2. “Staring out at the falls, Jameson felt the lure of more. He eyed the railing. ‘Do you dare me?’ he murmured into the back of Avery’s head.”

      This quote exemplifies Jameson’s thrill-seeking personality and his constant push against boundaries. The interaction also showcases his playful dynamic with Avery, who serves as both his partner and occasional restraint.

      3. “Heads or tails was an invitation. A challenge. You kiss me, or I kiss you.

      This moment highlights the charged, game-like nature of Jameson and Avery’s relationship. Their interactions are framed as playful challenges, blending romance with competition.

      4. “Each Hawthorne brother got a single nine-one-one a year. The code didn’t mean emergency so much as I want you all here.”

      This quote introduces an important family dynamic - the Hawthorne brothers’ binding code of loyalty. It foreshadows the summons that will disrupt Jameson and Avery’s idyllic retreat.

      5. “‘If you say one word about leather pants,’ Grayson bit out. ‘I will—’ ‘Did you say leather pants?’”

      This humorous exchange between Jameson and Grayson reveals their sibling rivalry and establishes Jameson’s tendency to provoke his more serious brother. It provides comic relief while demonstrating family relationships.

    Quotes

    1. “Jameson Winchester Hawthorne was hungry—for this, for her, for everything, all of it, more.”

    This opening line captures Jameson’s restless, insatiable nature and his intense connection with Avery. It sets the tone for his character’s driven and passionate perspective throughout the chapter.

    2. “Staring out at the falls, Jameson felt the lure of more. He eyed the railing. ‘Do you dare me?’ he murmured into the back of Avery’s head.”

    This quote exemplifies Jameson’s thrill-seeking personality and his constant push against boundaries. The interaction also showcases his playful dynamic with Avery, who serves as both his partner and occasional restraint.

    3. “Heads or tails was an invitation. A challenge. You kiss me, or I kiss you.

    This moment highlights the charged, game-like nature of Jameson and Avery’s relationship. Their interactions are framed as playful challenges, blending romance with competition.

    4. “Each Hawthorne brother got a single nine-one-one a year. The code didn’t mean emergency so much as I want you all here.”

    This quote introduces an important family dynamic - the Hawthorne brothers’ binding code of loyalty. It foreshadows the summons that will disrupt Jameson and Avery’s idyllic retreat.

    5. “‘If you say one word about leather pants,’ Grayson bit out. ‘I will—’ ‘Did you say leather pants?’”

    This humorous exchange between Jameson and Grayson reveals their sibling rivalry and establishes Jameson’s tendency to provoke his more serious brother. It provides comic relief while demonstrating family relationships.

    FAQs

    1. Comprehension: What is the significance of the “nine-one-one” code among the Hawthorne brothers, and what are the consequences of ignoring it?

    Answer:
    The “nine-one-one” code is an annual summons each Hawthorne brother can use to request the presence of the others. While it doesn’t indicate an actual emergency, it serves as a binding call for family unity—when one brother texts it, the others must respond without question. Ignoring the summons leads to humorous but embarrassing consequences, as illustrated by Grayson’s past experience of being forced to wear tight leather pants and perform karaoke (page 11-12). This tradition reinforces their familial bonds through playful accountability.

    2. Analytical: How does the setting of Iguazú Falls reflect Jameson’s personality and his relationship with Avery?

    Answer:
    Iguazú Falls—described as “unstoppable, off limits, deadly” (page 10)—mirrors Jameson’s adventurous, risk-taking nature. His temptation to test the railing and his hunger for “more” align with the waterfall’s raw power and danger. Avery’s presence as his stabilizing force is evident when she physically restrains him (“Absolutely not”) and removes his teasing focus from the falls to their intimate coin-flip game (page 10-11). The secluded jungle villa further emphasizes their dynamic: while Jameson seeks thrill, Avery grounds him, yet both thrive in their private, untamed world.

    3. Critical Thinking: Why might the author have chosen to interrupt Jameson and Avery’s moment with Nash’s summons? Analyze the narrative effect.

    Answer:
    The interruption heightens tension and foreshadows future plot developments. By cutting short their flirtatious card-game proposition (page 11), the summons: (1) reinforces the Hawthorne family’s priority over individual desires, (2) creates urgency that propels the story toward London, and (3) contrasts Jameson’s carefree attitude with Grayson’s stern response (page 12), showcasing sibling dynamics. This abrupt shift also leaves readers curious about Nash’s motives, effectively transitioning from romantic escapism to familial duty while maintaining the chapter’s playful tone through Jameson’s teasing.

    4. Application: If you were Avery, how would you handle Jameson’s risk-taking tendencies based on this chapter’s events? Justify your approach.

    Answer:
    Avery’s balanced approach—firm yet playful—proves effective. When Jameson eyes the railing, she physically connects (touching his jaw) and vetoes his dare without stifling his spirit (page 10). Later, she redirects his energy through the “heads or tails” game (page 11), offering controlled excitement. To expand this, I’d establish clear boundaries (e.g., “no waterfall edges”) while channeling his adrenaline into structured challenges (like their card-game tease). This acknowledges his nature while ensuring safety, mirroring how she swaps the satellite phone call’s tension for a decisive plan (“We’ll see you in London,” page 12).

    Note