#ShelfLove, #COYER Review ~ Stepbrother Dearest ~ Penelope Ward

Stepbrother Dearest by Penelope Ward
Release Date: September 23, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased on Kindle
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms
Goodreads

Synopsis
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+**

I really liked Stepbrother Dearest overall - it ended up being a much meatier story than I was expecting. I did think a little more character development in the beginning would have helped me connect with Greta and Elec more quickly. Here's a quick look at what I thought:

• I liked the setup - these two had a very short acquaintance and it helped with the taboo factor
• I like how determined Greta was to make Elec a part of her life, despite his teasing and taunting. Her compassion was exactly what Elec needed
• I enjoyed the repartee between Greta and Elec when they first met and were getting acquainted. Elec could be a butthead but Greta didn't give up
• I liked getting the Elec's POV - it was presented in a very unique way. I liked finally getting his story and seeing where Elec's insecurities and vulnerabilities came from
• I wished I'd had that little more development of Greta and Elec because it would have helped me invest in them earlier on
• I felt the flow of the story was somewhat choppy in places - probably because of the lack of character development early on. I didn't understand where some things were coming from

In the end, Stepbrother Dearest was pretty impactful. I'll definitely read more from Ms. Ward.