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+
5 Fantastic Stars
by Natasha Gentile
Oh Penelope Ward, this woman I swear she walks around with a butcher knife and she asks herself, “whose heart am I going to butcher today?” That answer was easy, it was me. And every single person who will read this book.
So when I was reading this book I wasn’t sure what I was going to get. I had read the blurb, but I wasn’t sure about the step sibling relationship.
Greta is a 17 year old girl living with her mom, Sarah, and stepfather Randy. One day they mention that Randy’s son will be moving in with them for a year. I know that you’re thinking, hmm ok, how bad could it be. You think you know you have no idea!
A lump formed in my throat when he appeared at the doorway. I swallowed hard and took him in for a few seconds, my heart pounding harder and harder as the realization hit that he looked nothing like the picture shown to me.
Elec was taller than Randy, and the short hair I remembered from the photo was now a tousled inky black mess nearly covering his eyes. He smelled of cigarettes, or maybe it was sweeter. A chain hung from his jeans. He wouldn’t look at me, so I used the opportunity to continue examining him as he dumped his bag on the floor.
I’m thinking maybe if my parents, got divorced and my mom remarried I wouldn’t object to this type of stepbrother. I mean it would be hard, but I think I’d be good. And if I had any doubt this would help,
Planning to brush my teeth, I opened the bathroom door and jumped at the sight of Elec wiping his wet body down from the shower. Steam and the smell of men’s body wash filled the air. For some God forsaken reason, instead of runny out, I froze. More disturbing instead of covering himself with the towel, he let it fall nonchalantly to the floor.
My mouth dropped.
My eyes were now glued to his c*ck for a few seconds before my gaze traveled up to the two shamrocks inked on his ripped torso and then to the full sleeve tattoo on his left arm. His chest was dripping water. His left nipple was pierced. By the time my eyes landed on his face, they were met with an evil smirk. I tried to speak, but the words just wouldn't come out.
Okay, so I can definitely work with this, I mean she’s living with a living breathing wet dream. So what are they supposed to do? They get to know each other. I mean they are kids right, you can’t do that much damage. I mean he so doesn't want to be there and takes everything out on her and she knows that he’s leaving soon. So she is just being friendly. Oh, honey you never saw it coming.
You’re not supposed to want the one who torments you.
And just like that he was gone. And along with him her heart was broken, and so was mine. This was heartbreak number one. My heart beat so fast in my chest I thought that it would come out. My breathing was coming sporadically and I thought I would faint. And I swear I knew that Penelope was sitting behind her keyboard, grinning at me.
When tragedy struck she knew, she’d have to face him again. How hard could this be? I mean they are now adults right, no one really remembers the love they shared, right? Wrong. You see, seeing him again, well it unravels her.
Call it intuition or instinct, something made me turn around and look up at the French doors on the second floor balcony that overlooked the garden where I was standing.
From behind the glass, I saw him.
Elec
Yup you guessed it, he’s back in her life oh but it’s complicated. Heart broken the second time. Greta knows he has a life outside this time they are spending together. As much as she warns herself over and over, she can’t stop her feelings.
I hadn’t forgotten one thing, Not. One. Thing.
Break my freaking heart number three. At this point I don't even think that my heart still exists. I know it’s still there, cause it’s now in the bottom of my stomach and it’s aching, and not in a good way!
Now here is the part of the book, I actually want to thank Penelope, in a very clever way, she gave us Elec’s POV. We got to see the past events from his eyes; we got to read his thoughts and emotions.
Now you’re probably wondering if my heart could be shredded any more, and the answer is yes! In this next paragraph, not only did she gut me, but she took her knife, cut open my chest, took my heart and stomped on it like an Irish dancer!
I loved him so much that I couldn't even find the words. So many feelings had risen to the surface, but fear had trumped them all.
These two seem to be cursed with bad timing, missed opportunities and misunderstandings. And Elec always seems to be walking away, from her, over and over. Greta tries to accept that while her love seems to be unwavering for Elec, in spite of the years apart, he moved on and she must learn to do the same.
In classic Penelope Ward style, she keeps you guessing right up until the end, flipping through the pages like a madwoman, devouring the words, while your heart is in your throat! Is there any better way for a book to end?
Alright, that’s it I’m done. I have nothing left inside me to give. I do have one more thing to say, GO BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Thank you for the chance, Ive not had the chance to read this yet but from what I'm hearing it's amazing.
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