I was provided with an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Tijan's latest novel Anti-Stepbrother and honestly I cannot give this book less than 5 hot hot stars.
I'll admit that Tijan is one of my all time favourite authors, the Fallen Crest series is one that I read over and over and recommend to everyone who asks for different books to read so when Anti-Stepbrother was announced I was definitely expecting good things and waiting not sopatiently for its release.
He told me to 'settle, girl.'
He asked if 'something was wrong with me?'
He said I was an ‘easy target.’
That was within minutes when I first met Caden Banks.
I labeled him an *sshole, but he was more than that. Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.
He was also to-die-for gorgeous, and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.
Okay, yes I was a little naive, a tad bit socially awkward, and the smallest amount of stalker-ish, but if Caden Banks thought he could tell me what to do, he had another thing coming.
I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what if I fell for the anti-stepbrother instead?
He asked if 'something was wrong with me?'
He said I was an ‘easy target.’
That was within minutes when I first met Caden Banks.
I labeled him an *sshole, but he was more than that. Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.
He was also to-die-for gorgeous, and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.
Okay, yes I was a little naive, a tad bit socially awkward, and the smallest amount of stalker-ish, but if Caden Banks thought he could tell me what to do, he had another thing coming.
I came to college with daydreams about being with my stepbrother, but what if I fell for the anti-stepbrother instead?
This story sees us focusing on three main characters, Kevin the douche bag stepbrother, Summer the seemingly innocent stepsister and my new favourite book boyfriend Caden Banks. And I will add right from the beginning that this isn't the typical stepbrother romances that we've been seeing quite a lot of recently.
Summer believes that she's in love with her stepbrother and after crushing on him for so long she eventually got her chance to experience all of him 3 months ago, but after trying to surprise him on her first day of college she ends up surprised herself. They say love can blind you but Summer finally starts to open her eyes to the kind of person he really is and lets be honest, he is a class A dick head.
And then there's Caden, not known for being friendly with freshman, his reputation proceeds him and being Kevin's fraternity brother doesn't help make the best first impression, 'The asshole' has a job to change Summer's opinion of him.
Excerpt
He wasn’t looking at me any more. I wasn’t even sure he was really in the room.
I needed to leave this alone. He had given me the clues—looking away, his jaw clenching, pain like I’d never heard from him sounding loud and clear. My instincts were telling me to shut up, but I couldn’t. I had this burning need to know more about Caden. I needed to get in there, past his walls, and I wanted to understand him.
I wanted to help him.
Caden was hurting, and I wanted to take that away.
“What happened?”
Caden turned his gaze to me now, and I felt branded by the pain I saw. His eyes were stricken. “Does it matter?”
“No.” My breath caught and held in my chest. I wanted to go to him, but I also wanted to slink away. I was stirring up his pain, but I had to know. “What happened, Caden?”
“Why do you have to know?”
“Because it’s hurting you.”
I made a decision, though I had no idea what the ramifications were going to be. I stood, my legs going numb and my stomach clenching, and I moved to his side. He leaned back, his head falling to the couch, and he watched me.
The need to ease some of his hurt outweighed the fear of what would happen next. Swallowing tightly, I stepped over to straddle him and sat down.
“What are you doing?”
He asked that softly, still holding his beer. I took it from his hands and put it on the stand next to the couch. Then I just sat there. He had to do the rest. I’d already made the first move.
I glanced down at his hands, feeling like an idiot. “What happened?”
“Why are you pushing this?”
I looked back up to find confusion warring with need in his eyes. He wasn’t pushing me away, so I sank further into his lap.
“You haven’t told anyone else about this.” It wasn’t really a question, but I saw the confirmation in his eyes. My chest tightened, thinking about whatever secret he held. “Please tell me.”
“No.” He shifted forward, and I braced myself, expecting him to push me away. He didn’t. His hands grasped the backs of my legs and lifted me so I was more fully on his lap.
I could feel him between my legs, and my breasts almost pressed against his chest. I waited. I wanted to see what else he’d say
“But not because I don’t want you to know,” he added. “Because it’s not my secret to tell.”
I nodded, my stomach doing somersaults now. “That makes sense. I can respect that.”
And there we were. His hands cupped my ass, and the pain in his gaze became something darker, something I felt too, something that began to turn off all rational thought.
“What are we doing here?” he questioned, his voice like a caress in itself.
I leaned forward, my gaze lingering on his lips. “I didn’t really think it through.”
“And now?”
“Still not thinking it through.”
“You’re okay with that?”
In that moment, the truth exploded in me. I wanted him. I wanted this—but it was more. I needed this.
I didn’t answer.
I closed the distance between us.
He wasn’t looking at me any more. I wasn’t even sure he was really in the room.
I needed to leave this alone. He had given me the clues—looking away, his jaw clenching, pain like I’d never heard from him sounding loud and clear. My instincts were telling me to shut up, but I couldn’t. I had this burning need to know more about Caden. I needed to get in there, past his walls, and I wanted to understand him.
I wanted to help him.
Caden was hurting, and I wanted to take that away.
“What happened?”
Caden turned his gaze to me now, and I felt branded by the pain I saw. His eyes were stricken. “Does it matter?”
“No.” My breath caught and held in my chest. I wanted to go to him, but I also wanted to slink away. I was stirring up his pain, but I had to know. “What happened, Caden?”
“Why do you have to know?”
“Because it’s hurting you.”
I made a decision, though I had no idea what the ramifications were going to be. I stood, my legs going numb and my stomach clenching, and I moved to his side. He leaned back, his head falling to the couch, and he watched me.
The need to ease some of his hurt outweighed the fear of what would happen next. Swallowing tightly, I stepped over to straddle him and sat down.
“What are you doing?”
He asked that softly, still holding his beer. I took it from his hands and put it on the stand next to the couch. Then I just sat there. He had to do the rest. I’d already made the first move.
I glanced down at his hands, feeling like an idiot. “What happened?”
“Why are you pushing this?”
I looked back up to find confusion warring with need in his eyes. He wasn’t pushing me away, so I sank further into his lap.
“You haven’t told anyone else about this.” It wasn’t really a question, but I saw the confirmation in his eyes. My chest tightened, thinking about whatever secret he held. “Please tell me.”
“No.” He shifted forward, and I braced myself, expecting him to push me away. He didn’t. His hands grasped the backs of my legs and lifted me so I was more fully on his lap.
I could feel him between my legs, and my breasts almost pressed against his chest. I waited. I wanted to see what else he’d say
“But not because I don’t want you to know,” he added. “Because it’s not my secret to tell.”
I nodded, my stomach doing somersaults now. “That makes sense. I can respect that.”
And there we were. His hands cupped my ass, and the pain in his gaze became something darker, something I felt too, something that began to turn off all rational thought.
“What are we doing here?” he questioned, his voice like a caress in itself.
I leaned forward, my gaze lingering on his lips. “I didn’t really think it through.”
“And now?”
“Still not thinking it through.”
“You’re okay with that?”
In that moment, the truth exploded in me. I wanted him. I wanted this—but it was more. I needed this.
I didn’t answer.
I closed the distance between us.
This is YA at its best. Told from Summer's POV there is a great mix drama, lust, romance and a dialogue that will have you laughing one moment and hot under the collar the next. The heroine isn't your typical girl, I love that she is true to herself and allows her quirkiness to show, no need to change herself for anyone.
What I also liked is that there isn't an insta-relationship. Caden and Summer start as friends and the progression is one that's quite sweet. Their personalities actually complimented one another and as their feelings blossomed they were helping one another to grow, becoming stronger at the same time.
"I clung to something that wasn't real. But you, your real. You make me feel loved. You make me feel whole. You put me back together."
If you are already a fan of Tijan then you will not be disappointed and if you are yet to read one of Tijan's books (why the frig haven't you!?), Anti-Stepbrother is definitely a good starting point.
This isn't your typical girl meets boy college story. This is a novel that definitely has all the feels, plenty of angst, just the right amount of drama to have you turning the pages and enough alpha male to get you swooning. It's a story where even the secondary characters have you more than entertained. If you are on the look out for a new book boyfriend then look no further than Caden Banks.
Arrogant. Smug. Alpha.
He was also to-die-for gorgeous,
and my stepbrother’s fraternity brother.
Anti-Stepbrother is NOW AVAILABLE!
Get Your Copy TODAY:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2bH3TEZ
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bOSoib
iBooks: http://apple.co/1Yg47GW
Nook: http://bit.ly/22Vj7dD
Kobo: http://bit.ly/24CzWcI
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1WGmyFl
(September 12th delivery)
Add Anti-Stepbrother to your TBR at: http://bit.ly/1UCNF0f
Thank you!!! I shared your review in my reader group too!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of Tijan but will definitely look out for this book. I want to know what happens now I've read your review!!
ReplyDelete#readwithme
Sounds a good book boyfriend ... I mean book :-)
ReplyDelete#readwithme
I've been meaning to read Tijan for ages - sorry! Lol
ReplyDeleteThis is on my tbr!