Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Stepbrother Dearest
SERIES: Crimson Club
AUTHOR: Willow Dixon
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 319 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 3, 2023
BLURB:
Of all the people who could have seen me when I was at my most vulnerable, it had to be him.
Caleb. My stepbrother and the golden child of our messed up blended family. We barely know each other, but for some reason he takes care of me when an incident at the club leaves me helpless and alone.
He hates me as much as I hate him, but something about his bossy attitude and unflappable calm soothes me. I don’t want to want him, but no one has ever made me feel the way he does.
Hooking up with my enemy is stupid as f*ck. So is breaking my rules for him. I know this, but whatever is between us will eventually burn out and I can go back to my solitary life and forget all about how amazing it feels to let someone else take control.
Gray and Caleb’s story is an enemies-with-benefits-to-lovers romance between stepbrothers who discover that sometimes the person you hate is the only one who can give you what you need. Expect lots of steamy encounters, tons of dirty talk, and reluctant feels as these two enemies learn the truth about themselves, and each other. It is the first book in the exciting new Crimson Club series but can be read as a standalone.
REVIEW:
Gray cannot buy a break. He’s been on his own since he was 17 and he spent more than one stint living out of his car. He’s finally found a stable place to live if he can keep his head above water with his weekend job dancing at the strip club as well as doing other work during the week. After his first dance though on this particular night, he’s outside taking a break when he hears raised voices and then a woman scream. He and another dance go to see what’s happening and a woman is being berated and assaulted by an obviously drunk man. His drunk buddies are there too and when the go on the attack, Grey sends his coworker to get the bouncer. He’s a big strong guy and could take these guys – except one of them throws a bottle and hits him square in the forehead, nearly knocking him out. While he’s down they get some good shots in to his knee and arm and body before the owners and bouncer come out. Then in shocking fashion, they blame Gray! The don’t to call the cops and they don’t want Gray to get medical treatment. Well his friends and fellow dancers aren’t going to stand for that and take him to the ER.
Caleb is an ER nurse working the night shift. It’s a crazy busy night and it just got worse when his stepbrother is on his list. It’s clear he’s been assaulted and he’s got a concussion as well as severe knee and wrist strains and bone bruises. Also he has nobody with him and no one he can call to watch over him for concussion protocol for the next 48 hours. They haven’t seen each other in nearly 7 years and this isn’t at all how either of them saw this going. They each have made a lot of assumptions about the other. Caleb can’t believe that he is doing this, but he offers for Gray to stay with him as he’s off for the next few days. Gray is furious. But he’s also in no position to refuse. He also can’t figure out why Caleb is being so nice to him while he’s so surly and angry.
It’s clear that there is something between them. Caleb recognizes submissive tendencies in Gray. Gray is not sure how to feel about all this when Caleb checks on him after he’s gone home. His landlady is so understanding about his situation and wants to help and support him too. He also can’t figure out why he is and Caleb are enemies with benefits now 😉 And things at his work are changing also. Thankfully someone else has taken over the club and things will be much better for everyone. Gray’s fellow dancers are all happy about these changes. They have each other’s backs and have formed a family of sorts.
While all this is going on, Gray’s brother Eli is getting ready to move to California. So many things are changing for him. His brother’s boyfriend is the guy who ruined his life in his opinion when he was a teenager and has left him without a safety net, so that’s a problem too. He feels like he’s on shifting sand and weirdly, his strange connection/relationship with Caleb is the one thing that seems somewhat solid?
Caleb has also been on his own. His mother was Gray’s father’s mistress before they married (unbeknownst to Caleb). His stepfather Russ was a piece of work. He was terrible to Caleb – belittling him, telling him he was worthless, etc. Strange because he treated Gray the same way, but then told Caleb how brilliant and great his own sons, Eli and Gray were. News to Gray! He was abandoned by Russ when he was 5! So this guy was playing both ends against the middle. Both have been operating under mistaken perspectives and it’s clear that they have a lot more in common than was immediately obvious. It’s a real surprise to them that somehow they’ve gone from enemies to friends to lovers to more.
Wow. This was a bit of a tough story for these two. They were so different and yet had so many similar experiences. They each resented the other because of the lies they were told. They have a very strong sexual chemistry from the get-go. Their dynamic changes as they grow closer and understand their own desires. At first neither can understand why they are so drawn to each other and can’t seem to “quit” each other 😉 They talk and text and figure out that somehow they are able to connect and provide a safe place for each other. Gray hasn’t trusted anyone for so long. He’s not had anything easy and he doesn’t think he’s worth love. Caleb has good friends, but he’s not been able to maintain any kind of long term relationship. He’s a lot and he knows it. Gray seems to be OK with taking his focus. Gray has a lot to get past and Caleb is on board to help him. They are reluctant and scared to change the enemies dynamic and it’s a bit of a longer road for them to get to a happy place. It’s a really sweet and hard fought HEA though. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
BUY LINK: