AUTHOR: Penelope Ward
AGE GROUP: New Adult/Adult
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
RELEASE DATE: September 2014
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
FORMAT: eBook
PAGES: Approx. 265
COPY PROVIDED BY: Author
MY GOODREADS REVIEW LINK
RATING: 4.5 Stars!
CLIFFHANGER: No
BOOK BLURB:
You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.
When my stepbrother, Elec, came to live with us my senior year, I wasn’t prepared for how much of a jerk he’d be.
I hated that he took it out on me because he didn’t want to be here.
I hated that he brought girls from our high school back to his room.
But what I hated the most was the unwanted way my body reacted to him.
At first, I thought all he had going for him were his rock-hard tattooed abs and chiseled face. Then, things started changing between us, and it all came to a head one night.
Just as quickly as he’d come into my life, he was gone back to California.
It had been years since I’d seen Elec.
When tragedy struck our family, I’d have to face him again.
And holy hell, the teenager who made me crazy was now a man that drove me insane.
I had a feeling my heart was about to get broken again.
Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone novel.
**Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language. It is only appropriate for adult readers age 18+
REVIEWERS NOTE: Stepbrother Dearest is a standalone New Adult/Adult Contemporary Romance written by Penelope Ward. I was gifted a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review through SOLURI.
4.5 Unconventional, Emotionally Charged Stars!
What A Wild, Intense and Angsty Ride. I Devoured This In One Night!
The Review:
I have to admit, I was a little leary going into this one. I love “out of the box” reads and I love taboo reads but I was a little apprehensive to read about a step-brother/sister hook up. However, this book blew my mind! Once I started it, I absolutely couldn’t put it down, reading it all in one sitting. I loved everything about it. The story is so much more than a step-siblings hookup story. It’s about true love, destiny and holding out for the one that you just know you’re meant to be with. Elec and Greta’s story was intense and beautiful. It was filled with fun moments, angsty moments and painful heartbreak but it was also filled with a spectacular HEA that has left a huge smile on my face.
Quote Spotlight...
"You're the only girl in the entire world that's forbidden, and fuck me if that doesn't make me want you more than anything."
Story/Characters...
The majority of this book is told from Greta’s POV. Elec, her stepfathers son, and a boy she’s never met, comes to live with them their senior year in highschool for a few months while his mother is away. Elec, not wanting to be there at all, storms in with a mountain of attitude and a biting tongue. Right from the start, you can tell he and his father don’t get along and he wants nothing to do with his “new” family, including Greta.
The moment Greta sees Elec, her heart flutters and her mind races with lusty feelings she can’t quite understand. She’s innocent and sweet and he’s anything but that. She tries to befriend him but he’s so angry, he says the most hurtful things. Greta doesn’t give up even when he parades girl after girl in front of her, trying to purposely cause her pain.
But soon their antagonistic relationship blossoms into something more...
Watching the hostility behind Elec’s personality and seeing through Greta’s eyes all the possibility, was bittersweet. You could tell there was something deeper going on. Elec crashes into her life and wreaks havoc, pushing her, hurting her but also making her feel things she didn’t know she was capable of feeling. You see past that wall he’s erected to keep them at bay. You understand it’s a front and what he really needs is understanding. But all too soon, there time ends right when things start to turn for the better...
Skip forward seven years later when the unforeseen happens and you have one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride that just kept getting deeper and deeper.
Quote Spotlight...
“The "one that got away" was supposed to stay away, not come back and leave you all over again.”
These two go through a lot and I enjoyed the angsty forbidden theme in this story. But not all is what it seems and the big reveal shattered me but made everything so much clearer.
Character Thoughts...
Greta was a wonderful heroine. She was strong and gutsy and she didn’t back down. She saw past all the dark lines Elec drew and realized he needed so much more than just a brush off. Her feelings for him were all consuming but she accepted “the way things were” with courage.
Elec was a hot mess. He was headstrong and rude and all things sour. But when it really came down to it, he was there, strong and brave and fighting for what he needed to protect.
And sexy? Ohhh yeah! Definitely. Elec was sexy, gorgeous and his words sent me into a euphoric coma! He might have been rude, crude and tattooed but he was a smexy hot, wicked and bold! I enjoyed his attitude and I enjoyed his alpha-steam!
Quote Spotlight...
"I'm fighting the urge to back you up against this wall and fuck you so hard that I'll have to carry you back to your room."
I also thought the ending with his POV told in story form was a wonderful addition. We got to see his thoughts and feelings and the passion he held for Greta. BUT I do wish that part of the story had been more of a “his” POV than a rehash of her story from his POV. And I wish Elec would have delved deeper into his feelings and what he was doing during his away time. There was a well of angst just waiting to be tapped and I think it would have just rounded everything off nicely if it had been explored.
The Wrap Up:
This book was amazing! For those who are hesitant because of the title, don’t be. There’s so much more to this story than a taboo relationship. It’s convoluted and it’ll definitely have you thinking long after you’ve put it down. This was my first book by this author but I’m on to read more. I loved her writing style and I enjoyed this story and adored the characters. On to the next!
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