BOOK REVIEW: Stepbrother with Benefits by Hazel Kelly

4 Stars

Feeling like the third wheel at his own apartment where his sister and best friend have gotten together (see book #1 My Best Friend’s Sister), James Mason has bought a house with issues almost as big as his family issues. And James’s family situation is only getting dicier when he temporarily moves into his dad’s house, still occupied by his step-sister.

Brie, 25, is a graduate student working on her MFA and trying to get published.  She doesn’t want any distractions, but it’s hard to ignore the step-brother who she’s always had a crush on.

“She’d never uttered my name like that before, as if she were pleading with me and surrendering at the same time. The sound made me harden on the outside and soften within. I sank my fingers into her hips and sucked a slip of her neck between my teeth, eliciting a whimper from her that made me forget everything: who we were, why it took me so long to do this, why it shouldn’t continue.”

I took an interest in James during the first book so I was pleased that he got his own story. Told via his and Brie’s alternating first person POV, James is a solid, reliable guy, trying to hold his family together and get the girl he always had a thing for. His advice and assessment about their parents was spot on.  

I had mixed feelings on Brie. On one hand, I high fived her for comments such as:

“‘Don’t infect me with your offensively dated views on gender roles.’”

At other times, I found her a little cool (not cold though) and detached. Now this was probably fitting for her character who’d gotten the short end of the stick when it came to her family, but it made it harder to feel warm and fuzzy about her.

“I was a headcase lately, swinging like a pendulum from blanket impersonator one minute to manic queen of vengeance the next, my moods as hard to predict as the fall weather.”

I was frustrated with her at times, especially when she pushed James away or didn’t even let him in. She didn’t have the spunk that Maddy did in the previous book.

In fact, that low angst steamy feel from book one seemed missing, right along with the actual Scrabble scene. It was such a motif and yet was only referenced rather than depicted. I kinda felt like it mistakenly ended up on the cutting room floor and needed reinserted. No pun intended….okay maybe a little one.  

Now what I ate up (I swear no pun this time) was the appearances of Quinn and Maddy. Quinn especially stole some of the scenes and made me want to re-read their story.

Now I’m hoping Maeve Mason gets her own book and her man before she makes a trip to the sperm bank.  

Safety Recap: 

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. H is not a manwhore; h is not a virgin. No rape but the h is a victim of attempted sexual assault and harassment. OW/OM drama: Minimal. OM: The h suffers advances/groping by her professor. Also minor presence of a friend that’s interested in her, but she’s not interested in him. OW: Minor appearance of H’s former hook-up as the host of a party, but H is no longer interested in her and she is seeing someone else too. HFN/HEA.

GOODREADS

*I volunteered to review this ARC from the author. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating. To the best of my knowledge, this title was presented to the blog without any conditions or stipulations.

COVER REVEAL/BOOK REVIEW: Sweet Dreams by Jamie Schlosser

~Blurb~

Jeff and Ashlyn are stuck in the virgin zone. What’s that? Well, it’s when two people have been dating for several months, but they have yet to make it past first base. The longer it takes for one of them to make a move, the harder it is to just do it already.

But things are about to change.

Jeff has plans. So does Ashlyn. Mission: Drive each other crazy.

If it works, they’ll both get what they want this Valentine’s Day.

Release Date: February 10, 2020

GOODREADS    BOOKBUB

~BOOK REVIEW~
3.75/4 Stars

Jeff and Ashlyn are both nineteen year old college students who were introduced in Outcast. If you haven’t read that one, I’d definitely recommend it as it provides added glimpses of their characters. (Plus it’s a good story!)  

“Sweet Dreams” is a short story that tells of of Jeff and Ashlyn’s hook-up after months of dating. On one hand, I’m a little bummed that this wasn’t expanded into a novella so we could have gotten more build-up.  I would have definitely liked to read more about their dating days.

“‘Five seconds after you’re out this door, I’ve got my cock in my hand. I think about you naked. On your back. Bent over. On top of me. In the shower. In the pool. Name any scenario, and I’ve jerked off to it.’”

Never the less, their hook-up is pretty hot—one of those nice blends of dirty and steamy but without being cheesy.

Told via their dual alternating first person POV, both Ashlyn and Jeff are both likable characters. I especially appreciated that Ashlyn was confident, and she wasn’t insecure about her body.

I kinda wish Jeff would have reveled in showing her off though rather than covering/hiding her. That’s so much more empowering. But all in all, they were a sweet pair.

Now I have to admit, I had some trouble with the epilogue. While it had a “realness” factor to it, for someone with emetophobia like myself it didn’t leave me with feel-good vibes. Truth be told, I would have far preferred more of the beginning of their relationship and less of the later years.

Safety Recap:

No cheating. No sex scenes w/OP. No OW/OM drama. H&h are both virgins. No rape or sexual abuse. HEA.

*Title purchased in February 2020. All reviews written by Book-Bosomed Book Blog are honest opinions. In the interest of transparency and providing unbiased book reviews and to avoid misleading other readers, it is the blog’s policy not to withhold or delay any reviews no matter the star rating.

~Part of the Sweet Enough to Eat Series!~