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Rules We Break #3
Don’t Bang Your Stepbro
I'm not one for rules, but Don't Bang Your Stepbro is kind of a no-brainer.
Until I wake up naked in a Vegas hotel room with my stepbrother, Beckett, each of us with a hell of a hangover and a matching wedding ring.
We've already made a huge mistake, so what's the point in denying what's been simmering between us for ages? Might as well enjoy the honeymoon, right?
But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Or at least, it's supposed to.
With a hometown of family and friends who see us as brothers, not lovers, we have to find a way back to who we were before this snafu. But some boundaries can't be uncrossed.
You don't bang your stepbro, but maybe . . . maybe when he's your husband . . . you do.
Contains mature themes.
Until I wake up naked in a Vegas hotel room with my stepbrother, Beckett, each of us with a hell of a hangover and a matching wedding ring.
We've already made a huge mistake, so what's the point in denying what's been simmering between us for ages? Might as well enjoy the honeymoon, right?
But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Or at least, it's supposed to.
With a hometown of family and friends who see us as brothers, not lovers, we have to find a way back to who we were before this snafu. But some boundaries can't be uncrossed.
You don't bang your stepbro, but maybe . . . maybe when he's your husband . . . you do.
Contains mature themes.
9 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 17, 2024
354 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
About the author
D.J. Jamison
83 books1,002 followersDJ Jamison writes a variety of queer men finding extraordinary love through M/M Romance! She is a lifelong reader and has always loved writing and editing, with a ten-year journalism career before she began publishing romance. She has books in ebook, print, and audio, as well as German, French, and Italian translations.
DJ lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.
Join DJ's mailing list at http://tinyurl.com/DJandCompany
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DJ lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.
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November 10, 2023
MM Romance
Stepbrothers
1 Star ⭐️ Skimfest
I should have DNF’d this and I regret not doing so. Obviously I wasn’t looking for literary greatness from a book titled “Don’t Bang Your Stepbro” but it sounded like a funny good time. Instead this book was horribly bland and started in the middle of a scene. It was such an abrupt start that I felt like there must have been one hell of a cliffhanger in the previous book or something showing them as more throughout the series but I looked at reviews and asked my friends only to find out they were as baffled as I was. I should have cut my losses then but it started with a bang (literally) and it appeared there would be pining because the town viewed them as stepbrothers not lovers and with them about to takeover their dad’s business there was just no way they could be together despite them getting drunkenly married in Vegas. Adding to that weirdness was the fact neither of these guys had been with men before but Beckett started to feel something for Wes a few years ago and Wes saw his gay friends kiss a couple weeks ago and randomly wondered what it would feel like to kiss Beckett. It was so bizarre because they had been best friends and roommates since they met at age 16 so why now? It didn’t make much sense.
So these two get home, hide their marriage with plans to annul it yet are hot for each other and instead of the author giving us some fuck hot sex scenes or I dont know, letting us get to know these guys because they were one dimensional as fuck from the abrupt way this started, she has their little sister move into their trailer because she’s having problems with her boyfriend thus cockblocking them. It made the book stall out and the only time we saw them spend any meaningful time together was at their landscaping job but that was painfully boring. Once they finally have some time to themselves, the sex scenes were super cringy or just lackluster, no in-between. Of course we find out that Beckett loved to get pegged by his ex so he’s the perfect bottom and Wes randomly becomes this dirty sex talker calling Beck his filthy slut? It just didn’t fit with their vibe at all especially with the sex being so bland.
This book took me forever to read because every time I attempted to read it, I fell asleep. This shit was a great cure all for my insomnia, no joke. At some point I started to skim hoping I’d either hit some hot sex scenes or something more interesting would happen but it never improved. The dad was made out to be a villain at the start but that plot line turned to dust by the end. Neither one of the stepbrothers became more than the one dimensional caricatures they started as and tbh I had a hard time telling them apart and I’d forget whose POV I was in. The best part of this was probably the names of the new neighborhoods, Dix and Beaver Hole 😂 but at the same time that was a bit ridiculous and hard to believe anyone would approve them.
I don’t think this author is for me as I disliked Truth Or Darren almost as much as this one. The townspeople are too up in everyone’s shit and while that works for me sometimes, this isn’t one of those times. I really struggled with how to rate this because it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read but it’s so unbelievably boring, the characters too one dimensional, and I fell asleep so many times reading it that I can’t imagine rating it any higher than 1 star. The book I just DNF’d with the cringy dick sword fighting was heaps better than this and I think that says a lot!!
Stepbrothers
1 Star ⭐️ Skimfest
I should have DNF’d this and I regret not doing so. Obviously I wasn’t looking for literary greatness from a book titled “Don’t Bang Your Stepbro” but it sounded like a funny good time. Instead this book was horribly bland and started in the middle of a scene. It was such an abrupt start that I felt like there must have been one hell of a cliffhanger in the previous book or something showing them as more throughout the series but I looked at reviews and asked my friends only to find out they were as baffled as I was. I should have cut my losses then but it started with a bang (literally) and it appeared there would be pining because the town viewed them as stepbrothers not lovers and with them about to takeover their dad’s business there was just no way they could be together despite them getting drunkenly married in Vegas. Adding to that weirdness was the fact neither of these guys had been with men before but Beckett started to feel something for Wes a few years ago and Wes saw his gay friends kiss a couple weeks ago and randomly wondered what it would feel like to kiss Beckett. It was so bizarre because they had been best friends and roommates since they met at age 16 so why now? It didn’t make much sense.
So these two get home, hide their marriage with plans to annul it yet are hot for each other and instead of the author giving us some fuck hot sex scenes or I dont know, letting us get to know these guys because they were one dimensional as fuck from the abrupt way this started, she has their little sister move into their trailer because she’s having problems with her boyfriend thus cockblocking them. It made the book stall out and the only time we saw them spend any meaningful time together was at their landscaping job but that was painfully boring. Once they finally have some time to themselves, the sex scenes were super cringy or just lackluster, no in-between. Of course we find out that Beckett loved to get pegged by his ex so he’s the perfect bottom and Wes randomly becomes this dirty sex talker calling Beck his filthy slut? It just didn’t fit with their vibe at all especially with the sex being so bland.
This book took me forever to read because every time I attempted to read it, I fell asleep. This shit was a great cure all for my insomnia, no joke. At some point I started to skim hoping I’d either hit some hot sex scenes or something more interesting would happen but it never improved. The dad was made out to be a villain at the start but that plot line turned to dust by the end. Neither one of the stepbrothers became more than the one dimensional caricatures they started as and tbh I had a hard time telling them apart and I’d forget whose POV I was in. The best part of this was probably the names of the new neighborhoods, Dix and Beaver Hole 😂 but at the same time that was a bit ridiculous and hard to believe anyone would approve them.
I don’t think this author is for me as I disliked Truth Or Darren almost as much as this one. The townspeople are too up in everyone’s shit and while that works for me sometimes, this isn’t one of those times. I really struggled with how to rate this because it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read but it’s so unbelievably boring, the characters too one dimensional, and I fell asleep so many times reading it that I can’t imagine rating it any higher than 1 star. The book I just DNF’d with the cringy dick sword fighting was heaps better than this and I think that says a lot!!
October 28, 2023
No. Just... no.
We've all met Wes and Beckett in the previous books and they were stepbrothers looking almost too cozy sometimes, but everyone around them wasn't really clear on what's going on between them. They'd occassionally show up, crack a joke at trivia night and that was that. Point being - we don't really know them or their background.
🟢 And here's my first major problem with this book. No prologue. No build-up. Nothing. This book gave me nothing. Opening the story with Wes and Beckett getting married drunk in Vegas and getting intimate right then and there on the first few pages already. Alright, so I thought maybe this is just present time and we'll get a chapter or two about how it came to this point.
As the story continued, we did not get a journey back in time or anything, no, it was clear there was some pining going on with Beckett, but we didn't get to experience it. You can read bits and pieces here and there and make of it what you will, but Wes and Beckett are all in from the first page forward and it wasn't like reading about stepbrothers at all. They were just calling each other "bro", but that was about it.
Beckett and Wes started living together when Beckett was 16 years old and it's said they first didn't get along, but then started working together in the family company and basically became besties. But that was said in two sentences tops! Why couldn't we get that story??? Why didn't the author start there?? Beckett was clearly pining for his stepbrother, but again, it wasn't adressed, in fact at the end of this book I'm still not clear if they were both pining for each other or what the hell was going on??
🔵 Another issue was the sex. So, Wes and Beckett were supposed to be straight, but you wouldn't think it reading this story. Beckett had twink written all over him and Wes was hard for his stepbrother's dick from the first page onward, so how are they straight anywhere?
When they get down to it, suddenly Wes is saying slut this-slut that (cringe AF) and having this intense dirty talk that was completely out of place in this situation. It's a rare moment for me actually not liking the sex parts in a book, but I couldn't stop cringing. The story needed about 50% to get to the point of them being sluts for each other.
"Jesus, Wes." He chuckled. "Wash that mouth out with soap while you're in the bathroom."
"I'll be gentle when I take your ass virginity."
Yeah. Swell. 🙄
The one thing that I keep thinking about is their first ass play that is just fucking terrible. These two were very new to touching men, right? So in they go and completely unprepared, unwashed or whatever, Wes sticks his finger in Beckett's ass and then pulls it out and licks it. Fine, just a finger, whatever, it's fine. He then puts 2-3 fingers in his ass, but to top it all, he then puts them in Beckett's mouth, so he'll lick them.
I mean sure, I can imagine Beckett was washed and it's a hot foreplay, but it didn't state anywhere that Beckett was in fact washed, so here's me thinking - really? Were they sucking on shit? Because they very well could be sucking on shit.
The point here is that this book is not good . The story has a lot of loose ends, we get absolutely no history between Wes and Beckett and therefore I couldn't enjoy it, it didn't work. How can you enjoy a story that starts somewhere in the middle? I was bored out of my mind, it was pointless - and 320 pages of it! This book could've had 100 pages less and it would still be too much for this trainwreck of a story.
February 9, 2025
This was okay.
I don’t really see myself reading anything else from this author in the future.
I don’t really see myself reading anything else from this author in the future.
October 13, 2023
"We could never undo what we had started in Vegas. What had started in my heart even before then. I was in love with Wes Potter, and there was no turning back."
I just love when a couple of dude bros fall head over heels in love. Wes and Beckett have been thick as thieves since they were young. Everyone knows them as a pair. Where one goes the other usually follows. So when they get drunk in Vegas and one decides a great prank on their friends would be to get married, of course the other is going to go along. It's all fun and games...until it isn't.
Getting married causes both men to start to reevaluate some things. For Beckett, these feelings aren't exactly new. He's been pushing down his growing feelings for his stepbrother for some time. For Wes, his feelings are a bit more recent, but no less valid, which is why it surprised me that he tended to be the one to push for more. Well I guess it wasn't that surprising considering Wes is the more outgoing of the two and tended to be the one who got them into trouble.
"Look, I like cuddles as much as the next guy, but what I really want is your fat dick buried in my ass while you use your strength to manhandle me like a ragdoll."
The steam in this one was fire 🔥🔥. Wes has the dirtiest freaking mouth I've read in awhile and I loved every second of it, as did Beckett. I was really glad how supportive the friend group was, but I didn't truly have any concerns there. We've gotten to know the trivia guys throughout the series as they each fell in love and I knew without a doubt they would have Wes and Beckett's backs. I'm sad this is the last book in the series for now and I will miss this crew of amazing men!
I just love when a couple of dude bros fall head over heels in love. Wes and Beckett have been thick as thieves since they were young. Everyone knows them as a pair. Where one goes the other usually follows. So when they get drunk in Vegas and one decides a great prank on their friends would be to get married, of course the other is going to go along. It's all fun and games...until it isn't.
Getting married causes both men to start to reevaluate some things. For Beckett, these feelings aren't exactly new. He's been pushing down his growing feelings for his stepbrother for some time. For Wes, his feelings are a bit more recent, but no less valid, which is why it surprised me that he tended to be the one to push for more. Well I guess it wasn't that surprising considering Wes is the more outgoing of the two and tended to be the one who got them into trouble.
"Look, I like cuddles as much as the next guy, but what I really want is your fat dick buried in my ass while you use your strength to manhandle me like a ragdoll."
The steam in this one was fire 🔥🔥. Wes has the dirtiest freaking mouth I've read in awhile and I loved every second of it, as did Beckett. I was really glad how supportive the friend group was, but I didn't truly have any concerns there. We've gotten to know the trivia guys throughout the series as they each fell in love and I knew without a doubt they would have Wes and Beckett's backs. I'm sad this is the last book in the series for now and I will miss this crew of amazing men!
January 15, 2025
3 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
This was another cute addition to an adorable series. I’m really loving D.J. Jamison’s writing.
While I was very excited for this book, because the stepbrother trope is my absolute favorite, I will say I was just a touch disappointed. Maybe it’s an issue with the audiobook/narration itself, but I found it really hard to distinguish between Beck and Wes. Even now, I don’t know who was who. Their inner monologues were just so similar and I just felt lost most of the book.
There were a lot of aspects I loved though. I always adore a drunken Vegas wedding. Plus I adore a one-bed trope. And the spice was really doing it for me, like immediately after waking up in Vegas they were foaming out the mouth for each other. So hot. This author just has such a way with dirty talk that I eat up every time.
Unfortunately, the fact that I couldn’t tell who was who at any point took me out of the story a lot because I was just so confused. Maybe it would’ve been better if I read the ebook instead of going the audio route.
I’m sad I’ve reached the end of this series, and I’m not sure whether there will be more in the future. But I’m definitely interested in reading more from this writer.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Format: audiobook
Narration: 🎤🎤🎤/5
This was another cute addition to an adorable series. I’m really loving D.J. Jamison’s writing.
While I was very excited for this book, because the stepbrother trope is my absolute favorite, I will say I was just a touch disappointed. Maybe it’s an issue with the audiobook/narration itself, but I found it really hard to distinguish between Beck and Wes. Even now, I don’t know who was who. Their inner monologues were just so similar and I just felt lost most of the book.
There were a lot of aspects I loved though. I always adore a drunken Vegas wedding. Plus I adore a one-bed trope. And the spice was really doing it for me, like immediately after waking up in Vegas they were foaming out the mouth for each other. So hot. This author just has such a way with dirty talk that I eat up every time.
Unfortunately, the fact that I couldn’t tell who was who at any point took me out of the story a lot because I was just so confused. Maybe it would’ve been better if I read the ebook instead of going the audio route.
I’m sad I’ve reached the end of this series, and I’m not sure whether there will be more in the future. But I’m definitely interested in reading more from this writer.
October 27, 2023
Definitely my favourite of all the Granville books!
Wes and Beck were really entertaining and I always love a good stepbrothers story.
Looking forward to the new Ozarks series, and also Logan's Christmas book.
Wes and Beck were really entertaining and I always love a good stepbrothers story.
Looking forward to the new Ozarks series, and also Logan's Christmas book.
November 9, 2023
3.5 rounded up ~
Low angst reads are my favorite, add in codependency vibes, possessiveness, fluff, tenderness and now you’re speaking my language. : )
I enjoyed seeing the couples from the other books again and I continue to enjoy this author’s writing even if at times the story feels a tad too long.
I’m not a fan of the matchmaking grandma and sometimes I wanted to slap Beckett cos he should’ve just said no to being set up on a date once him and Wes decided to be together. I’m sure she’s supposed to be there for humor but it just annoyed me. 🙈
The dirty talk was a little weird, I don’t normally like when the MC calls the other a slut but somehow adding “MY slut” and “ just for me” makes it more tolerable 🫠
No others after getting together/ no cheating
HEA, epilogue 6 months out
They’re obsessed with each other and I loved it 🥰
My ratings always reflect my enjoyment of the story. ❀
Low angst reads are my favorite, add in codependency vibes, possessiveness, fluff, tenderness and now you’re speaking my language. : )
I enjoyed seeing the couples from the other books again and I continue to enjoy this author’s writing even if at times the story feels a tad too long.
I’m not a fan of the matchmaking grandma and sometimes I wanted to slap Beckett cos he should’ve just said no to being set up on a date once him and Wes decided to be together. I’m sure she’s supposed to be there for humor but it just annoyed me. 🙈
The dirty talk was a little weird, I don’t normally like when the MC calls the other a slut but somehow adding “MY slut” and “ just for me” makes it more tolerable 🫠
No others after getting together/ no cheating
HEA, epilogue 6 months out
They’re obsessed with each other and I loved it 🥰
My ratings always reflect my enjoyment of the story. ❀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2023
Tropes: stepbrothers, found family, friends to lovers, secret relationship, accidental marriage, workplace romance
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: dirty talk
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: taboo relationship, parental disapproval
Beckett and Wes are 26 and they both think they're straight. They have been stepbrothers since they were 16. They live together in close quarters in a trailer, they work together at the family landscaping business, they live in each other's pockets. On a trip to Las Vegas they get drunk and they wake up and married. They think they already had sex, and they wake up horny and naked together, so they decide to go ahead and have sex. In for a penny, in for a pound, so they might as well remember it and enjoy it! Spoiler though they didn't actually have sex while they were drunk.
They sent a drunken video to their friends when they got married, so they have to pretend that they didn't actually get married. They don't want to look irresponsible and scandalous. But there's still attracted to each other and they love each other in many ways so they need to decide do they want to go for a relationship even though it's scandalous?
This was a sweet low angst book. At times it was probably too mushy and cliche. But it was a nice read. It was sweet how much they cared for each other, fit together as partners, considered each other's feelings. And they were dirty talking and filthy together. Granville is a town filled with friendly faces and nice found family.
I haven't read all the other books in this series. I think I'm missing relationship development by not having read the previous books, because they're skipping those moments of awareness and UST and build up. Sounds like this book should have had a prologue to catch us up! Those moments are critical in building tension.
Some notable moments:
"He laughed, sounding slightly unhinged. “A wild night is partying with strippers, Wes! It’s not…not…this! You’re not supposed to bang your stepbro, man!” “Well, hey, at least we got married first?”"
"“It’s like going on a date with your parents, huh?” I said. Colt cracked a small smile, which felt like a breakthrough. “Are you Mom or Dad?” “Do you really have to ask?” “Beck’s obviously Mom,” Andi said with a smirk. “Bullshit I am!” I exclaimed. “Wes is fun-loving, but I’m the one who keeps everyone in line. I keep us organized, I clean up the messes, I…oh, shit. I am the mom.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
Feels: 4/5
Steam*: 3.5/5
Kinks: dirty talk
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings: taboo relationship, parental disapproval
Beckett and Wes are 26 and they both think they're straight. They have been stepbrothers since they were 16. They live together in close quarters in a trailer, they work together at the family landscaping business, they live in each other's pockets. On a trip to Las Vegas they get drunk and they wake up and married. They think they already had sex, and they wake up horny and naked together, so they decide to go ahead and have sex. In for a penny, in for a pound, so they might as well remember it and enjoy it! Spoiler though they didn't actually have sex while they were drunk.
They sent a drunken video to their friends when they got married, so they have to pretend that they didn't actually get married. They don't want to look irresponsible and scandalous. But there's still attracted to each other and they love each other in many ways so they need to decide do they want to go for a relationship even though it's scandalous?
This was a sweet low angst book. At times it was probably too mushy and cliche. But it was a nice read. It was sweet how much they cared for each other, fit together as partners, considered each other's feelings. And they were dirty talking and filthy together. Granville is a town filled with friendly faces and nice found family.
I haven't read all the other books in this series. I think I'm missing relationship development by not having read the previous books, because they're skipping those moments of awareness and UST and build up. Sounds like this book should have had a prologue to catch us up! Those moments are critical in building tension.
Some notable moments:
"He laughed, sounding slightly unhinged. “A wild night is partying with strippers, Wes! It’s not…not…this! You’re not supposed to bang your stepbro, man!” “Well, hey, at least we got married first?”"
"“It’s like going on a date with your parents, huh?” I said. Colt cracked a small smile, which felt like a breakthrough. “Are you Mom or Dad?” “Do you really have to ask?” “Beck’s obviously Mom,” Andi said with a smirk. “Bullshit I am!” I exclaimed. “Wes is fun-loving, but I’m the one who keeps everyone in line. I keep us organized, I clean up the messes, I…oh, shit. I am the mom.”"
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2023
This book didn't grab me right away like I wanted it to. I don't know why, but I just wasn't feeling it.
Luckily, I had read a review before starting, from someone who said it took them a while to get into it, but once they did, they really liked it. So did I.
Step-brothers and absolute best friends, Wes and Beckett, get drunk in Vegas and think it would be hilarious idea to prank their friends by getting married.
Once they are sober, they have to face the consequences and eventually also face up to the not so brotherly feelings that they have secretly held for each other over the last few years.
This is book 3 on the Rules We Break series, but the first I've read.
I now wish I had have read them all in order, as there were so many characters from previous books that I came to adore.
I'll definitely find time to go back to the beginning and read them all.
ETA: After reading other reviews and thinking more, the reason it took me so long to get into it was because the book starts right in the middle of the events and moves so fast.
You don't get a feel for the characters, or get their backstory. It's just bam, right into it. Too much, too soon.
Luckily, I had read a review before starting, from someone who said it took them a while to get into it, but once they did, they really liked it. So did I.
Step-brothers and absolute best friends, Wes and Beckett, get drunk in Vegas and think it would be hilarious idea to prank their friends by getting married.
Once they are sober, they have to face the consequences and eventually also face up to the not so brotherly feelings that they have secretly held for each other over the last few years.
This is book 3 on the Rules We Break series, but the first I've read.
I now wish I had have read them all in order, as there were so many characters from previous books that I came to adore.
I'll definitely find time to go back to the beginning and read them all.
ETA: After reading other reviews and thinking more, the reason it took me so long to get into it was because the book starts right in the middle of the events and moves so fast.
You don't get a feel for the characters, or get their backstory. It's just bam, right into it. Too much, too soon.
March 21, 2025
I have loved this series so much that I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. I don’t know of anything to say that I haven’t already said with the first two books except. Please don’t let this be the end of Granville. I loved the stories and especially all the quirky characters. Throw in Iggy Toma as the narrator and it just doesn’t get any better for me.
August 9, 2024
Rating: 4
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: woke up married, sexual discovery, stepbrothers
DJ Jamison is back with another cheeky story from Granville, and loved reading about these two dude bros and their shenanigans! Waking up married in Vegas seemed fitting for them and created a very intriguing beginning to their story.
Beck and Wes were so close and thick as thieves - being stepbrothers, best friends, roommates, coworkers, husbands… It didn’t really come as a surprise when they didn’t manage to forget what had happened on their little Vegas trip… And considering their chemistry, it felt pretty inevitable that they’d end up being more than friends.
Neither of them had been attracted to men before and I loved to see them explore the feelings and attraction they felt for each other. They were so sweet together! The spice was great, I liked how bossy Wes was, and he definitely knew how to talk dirty! The way that they turned wrestling into foreplay was also really, really hot…
While the tone of the story was pretty lighthearted and fun, there was still room for the complexity of Beck and Wes’ feelings and their situation. I loved how DJ Jamison wrote their relationship development and how well the depth of their feelings came through in the story.
Don’t Bang Your Stepbro was overall a sweet, fun and heartwarming read. It was a great ending to the Rules We Break series, and I’m really going to miss Granville and its quirky characters. It’s definitely a series worth checking out!
-
Thanks to Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Steam: 3
PoV: dual, 1st person
Genre: contemporary romance, MM
Tropes / tags: woke up married, sexual discovery, stepbrothers
DJ Jamison is back with another cheeky story from Granville, and loved reading about these two dude bros and their shenanigans! Waking up married in Vegas seemed fitting for them and created a very intriguing beginning to their story.
Beck and Wes were so close and thick as thieves - being stepbrothers, best friends, roommates, coworkers, husbands… It didn’t really come as a surprise when they didn’t manage to forget what had happened on their little Vegas trip… And considering their chemistry, it felt pretty inevitable that they’d end up being more than friends.
Neither of them had been attracted to men before and I loved to see them explore the feelings and attraction they felt for each other. They were so sweet together! The spice was great, I liked how bossy Wes was, and he definitely knew how to talk dirty! The way that they turned wrestling into foreplay was also really, really hot…
While the tone of the story was pretty lighthearted and fun, there was still room for the complexity of Beck and Wes’ feelings and their situation. I loved how DJ Jamison wrote their relationship development and how well the depth of their feelings came through in the story.
Don’t Bang Your Stepbro was overall a sweet, fun and heartwarming read. It was a great ending to the Rules We Break series, and I’m really going to miss Granville and its quirky characters. It’s definitely a series worth checking out!
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Thanks to Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews for the opportunity to read and review this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
January 20, 2026
This was fun, low-angst, a little dumb in the best way, and it genuinely made me smile.
A super quick, slightly smutty pick-me-up that doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is. Stepbrothers-turned-best-friends, a bad Vegas “prank,” and of course they’re accidentally, legally married. Of course they’ve been in love before.
I didn’t even mind the light miscommunication because it wasn’t the main focus of the story, and the family business angle actually added something different that I really enjoyed.
This is clearly an interconnected standalone, but I haven’t read the other books in the series and didn’t feel like I was missing much at all—so don’t be concerned that this is book three or four or whatever. It works perfectly well on its own.
Overall, this was cute, easy, and comforting—exactly the kind of book you grab when you want something fun with zero emotional devastation. Would absolutely recommend as a palate cleanser.
A super quick, slightly smutty pick-me-up that doesn’t pretend to be anything more than it is. Stepbrothers-turned-best-friends, a bad Vegas “prank,” and of course they’re accidentally, legally married. Of course they’ve been in love before.
I didn’t even mind the light miscommunication because it wasn’t the main focus of the story, and the family business angle actually added something different that I really enjoyed.
This is clearly an interconnected standalone, but I haven’t read the other books in the series and didn’t feel like I was missing much at all—so don’t be concerned that this is book three or four or whatever. It works perfectly well on its own.
Overall, this was cute, easy, and comforting—exactly the kind of book you grab when you want something fun with zero emotional devastation. Would absolutely recommend as a palate cleanser.
October 16, 2023
I loved this book so much. GAHHH
We have met Wes & Beckett in the previous books and I have adored their chemistry though they were Stepbrothers, you could also tell there was more to them though they were not together in any of the previous books.
Wes & Beckett had gone on a business trip to Las Vegas & you all know what happens in Vegas, drunk marriage. The marriage was supposed to be a prank but they got married for real and the next morning they both fooled around because the damage had already happened so why not just let it go? But they were planning on getting a divorce as soon as they came back to their small town & also keeping this marriage a secret because they didn't know how their families would react.
After coming back home, they tried to keep their feelings and hands off each other but they couldn't control their lust and also the need to be close to one another after having a taste of each other in Vegas and let me tell you things just got so hot once they decided to accept their feelings for each other and not getting a divorced. Wes & Beckett's bedroom chemistry was so hottttt and Wes's dirty mouth gahhhh I enjoyed it so much. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter between them.
I loved how their families and friends accepted their relationship, their interactions were so beautifully written.
Overall this story was filled with humour & was so much fun to read, I loved it so much. Though I am sad that this series got over, I am looking forward to other series which will be coming soon and I recommend you to check out this series.
* I received an ARC copy from Neon Rainbow Reviews and this is my honest review *
We have met Wes & Beckett in the previous books and I have adored their chemistry though they were Stepbrothers, you could also tell there was more to them though they were not together in any of the previous books.
Wes & Beckett had gone on a business trip to Las Vegas & you all know what happens in Vegas, drunk marriage. The marriage was supposed to be a prank but they got married for real and the next morning they both fooled around because the damage had already happened so why not just let it go? But they were planning on getting a divorce as soon as they came back to their small town & also keeping this marriage a secret because they didn't know how their families would react.
After coming back home, they tried to keep their feelings and hands off each other but they couldn't control their lust and also the need to be close to one another after having a taste of each other in Vegas and let me tell you things just got so hot once they decided to accept their feelings for each other and not getting a divorced. Wes & Beckett's bedroom chemistry was so hottttt and Wes's dirty mouth gahhhh I enjoyed it so much. I enjoyed their interactions and the banter between them.
I loved how their families and friends accepted their relationship, their interactions were so beautifully written.
Overall this story was filled with humour & was so much fun to read, I loved it so much. Though I am sad that this series got over, I am looking forward to other series which will be coming soon and I recommend you to check out this series.
* I received an ARC copy from Neon Rainbow Reviews and this is my honest review *
October 26, 2023
I was not too keen on the first few chapters and how the story started but then all of a sudden I was fully invested in it. The other 2 books were kind of middle of the road for me but this one was really good. It was great to finally see Wes & Beck come together after seeing glimpses of them in the previous books. They were both hot & sweet and I enjoyed it quite a lot.
October 25, 2023
4.5 to 5 stars I really enjoyed it
November 2, 2025
It's a fun and fluffy read, I'm just disappointed because a setting and premise like that- and zero drama??? What???
December 15, 2023
3.5 stars
This one wasn’t really my fav of all the books I’ve read by this author. Maybe one of my least fav. I did really like both of the characters but I wasn’t interested in the plot at all. I actually skimmed a significant amount of the book because, sorry to say, I just didn’t care I guess. I mean they were cute together but everything else that was going on didn’t hold my interest. Not the side plot with annoying Andi and Colt or the whole thing going on with the town. So all the stars go to the two MCs and that’s about it.
NO CHEATING/SHARING
SLIGHT WOMAN DRAMA (barely)
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
This one wasn’t really my fav of all the books I’ve read by this author. Maybe one of my least fav. I did really like both of the characters but I wasn’t interested in the plot at all. I actually skimmed a significant amount of the book because, sorry to say, I just didn’t care I guess. I mean they were cute together but everything else that was going on didn’t hold my interest. Not the side plot with annoying Andi and Colt or the whole thing going on with the town. So all the stars go to the two MCs and that’s about it.
NO CHEATING/SHARING
SLIGHT WOMAN DRAMA (barely)
NO THIRD ACT BREAK UP
April 1, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up-
I initially picked this because I needed an audiobook and it was on Hoopla. I like the plot and that the guys aren't vapid characters- but the sheer amount of inner dialoue is exhausting. I have a jard time believing any young man in his 20's is having these emotionally deep conversations with himself multiple times a day...and I'm sorry but until the end of the book, I thought the dad was kind of a huge dick.
I can appreciate Wes' conviction that his dad wouldn't disown Beck or sell the business, but the level of discomfort and worry Beck had didn't seem like it just came from past abandonment issues. Overall I just found the parents to be disappointing as far as how they actually behaved vs how their characters were described. Colton's personality rehab didn't feel overly authentic either, considering the homophobic comments at the beginning, but then he blames his poor behavior on feeling slighted and financial issues?
I loved the friends and will probably listen to at least Laurie's book. The puns and town names were great too and there were some laugh out loud moments that didn't feel forced.
I initially picked this because I needed an audiobook and it was on Hoopla. I like the plot and that the guys aren't vapid characters- but the sheer amount of inner dialoue is exhausting. I have a jard time believing any young man in his 20's is having these emotionally deep conversations with himself multiple times a day...and I'm sorry but until the end of the book, I thought the dad was kind of a huge dick.
I can appreciate Wes' conviction that his dad wouldn't disown Beck or sell the business, but the level of discomfort and worry Beck had didn't seem like it just came from past abandonment issues. Overall I just found the parents to be disappointing as far as how they actually behaved vs how their characters were described. Colton's personality rehab didn't feel overly authentic either, considering the homophobic comments at the beginning, but then he blames his poor behavior on feeling slighted and financial issues?
I loved the friends and will probably listen to at least Laurie's book. The puns and town names were great too and there were some laugh out loud moments that didn't feel forced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2023
I have loved all the Granville stories and can't believe this is the last one. This can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend all the other books too. This was just what I needed. It is low angst, stepbrothers to lovers/friends to lovers, a secret wedding, full of banter and steam but it's also a sweet story. Stepbrothers Wes and Beckett live and work together and basically do everything together. They are known for their pranks. On their latest prank they thought they would prank everyone by saying they got married in Las Vegas which they actually did but not that Wes remembered as he was drunk. It turns out that Beckett has been in love for a while with Wes and Wes comes to realise that his feelings are platonic either. They decide to try and pursue these feelings in secret but secrets always tend to come out but luckily by then they know they want each other. It comes with a few ups and downs but it was such a fun read.
October 28, 2023
Great End to a Great Series!
Happy sigh! I just love being back in Granville! Wes and Beck have been in the mix of the friend group from the start and I was eagerly awaiting their story. It did not disappoint. Wes and Beck have been close from back when they were teenagers and their parents got married. They live and work together and are joined at the hip. They've always had a deep connection and love for each other. Filled with so much love, so much sweetness, and so much heat! Once they gave into their desires boy did they steam up my kindle. And the dirty talk was off the charts hot too! This was such a perfect ending to a great series. We get so much time revisiting with characters from the town, we get so much found family, and so much love. I will miss Granville!
Happy sigh! I just love being back in Granville! Wes and Beck have been in the mix of the friend group from the start and I was eagerly awaiting their story. It did not disappoint. Wes and Beck have been close from back when they were teenagers and their parents got married. They live and work together and are joined at the hip. They've always had a deep connection and love for each other. Filled with so much love, so much sweetness, and so much heat! Once they gave into their desires boy did they steam up my kindle. And the dirty talk was off the charts hot too! This was such a perfect ending to a great series. We get so much time revisiting with characters from the town, we get so much found family, and so much love. I will miss Granville!
October 25, 2023
I have loved every moment that DJ Jamison has given us in Granville. First with The Games We Play series and then with the Rules We Break series. Each book has just been enjoyable and made me love the crazy town and characters. I will certainly miss them a lot.
In the final book, we get Wes and Beckett. These two have been side characters in many of the books. The glimpses that we got of them was intriguing and made me wonder what was happening behind the scenes. The stepbrother trope is one of my favorites but so many times the conflict gets pushed to the side and it’s solved way too easily. DJ did such an amazing job here of showing us the turmoil that both Wes and Beckett faced in taking their relationship deeper. Beckett in particular felt the pressure to tow the line because he was only the stepchild and felt like his place in the family was not guaranteed. I really felt for him. He just wanted a family to love him forever and not leave him when it became too difficult.
The choice that Wes made at the end with regards to surname made me tear up. I absolutely loved him for showing Beckett how much he meant to him. Even now, it makes me tear up to think about Beckett finally feeling a sense of belonging. This is my favorite book of the series and such a great ending.
I cannot wait to see what happens with Logan in Grinch Kisses and Fisher in the new series set in Swallow Cove (in the Ozarks). I know whatever DJ writes, I will love the characters as much as our friends in Granville.
I received an ARC copy for my honest review
In the final book, we get Wes and Beckett. These two have been side characters in many of the books. The glimpses that we got of them was intriguing and made me wonder what was happening behind the scenes. The stepbrother trope is one of my favorites but so many times the conflict gets pushed to the side and it’s solved way too easily. DJ did such an amazing job here of showing us the turmoil that both Wes and Beckett faced in taking their relationship deeper. Beckett in particular felt the pressure to tow the line because he was only the stepchild and felt like his place in the family was not guaranteed. I really felt for him. He just wanted a family to love him forever and not leave him when it became too difficult.
The choice that Wes made at the end with regards to surname made me tear up. I absolutely loved him for showing Beckett how much he meant to him. Even now, it makes me tear up to think about Beckett finally feeling a sense of belonging. This is my favorite book of the series and such a great ending.
I cannot wait to see what happens with Logan in Grinch Kisses and Fisher in the new series set in Swallow Cove (in the Ozarks). I know whatever DJ writes, I will love the characters as much as our friends in Granville.
I received an ARC copy for my honest review
December 15, 2023
2.8 ⭐️ Wanted to DNF at 50% but on principle finished the book to see if giving up would be a mistake. Well.. It wasn’t 😅
Some smex scenes are good enough as always but the rest is boring 😔
Maybe for someone it will be a good choice because of low angst but for me it wasn’t enough 🤷🏻♀️
I don’t remember what was in the second book but the first one (Don’t Date a DILF) is still fresh in memory and it is my favorite one from this series.
Some smex scenes are good enough as always but the rest is boring 😔
Maybe for someone it will be a good choice because of low angst but for me it wasn’t enough 🤷🏻♀️
I don’t remember what was in the second book but the first one (Don’t Date a DILF) is still fresh in memory and it is my favorite one from this series.
October 17, 2023
What an amazing end to a great series. This book was probably my favorite DJ Jamison book (so far). Wes & Brck were so funny and so perfect for each other. I'm sorry to see this series end, but I'm excited for the next one and DJ's contribution to Christmas Falls.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
I received an advanced copy and voluntarily gave my honest review.
October 25, 2023
Don't Bang Your Stepbro is the third book in the Rules We Break series by DJ Jamison. This is the story of Beckett and Wes. I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
October 25, 2023
I have really loved this whole series and the whole town of Granville. I've loved all of the characters and this group of friends. I had high hopes for Wes and Beckett's story, and while it was a good story, and a fun read, for some reason I didn't like it as much as the first few books. Probably just me and my mood at the time because I still loved the series and will probably end up reading it again down the road.
October 26, 2023
Stepbrothers to husbands
Wes and Beck were teased as a couple a lot in the prior books so fun to have that be resolved. But overall it was kind of underwhelming for me. A lot of the plot seemed to be around their landscaping jobs, which was unique but not terribly interesting to me. I did enjoy the dirty talk and their relationship didn’t center too much on how they’re stepbrothers, but more on how their friends and family would react. There was a bit about how their marriage certificate was delayed and I thought, oh, maybe there will be a twist and they aren’t really married. But nope, it was used in a different way.
Wes and Beck were teased as a couple a lot in the prior books so fun to have that be resolved. But overall it was kind of underwhelming for me. A lot of the plot seemed to be around their landscaping jobs, which was unique but not terribly interesting to me. I did enjoy the dirty talk and their relationship didn’t center too much on how they’re stepbrothers, but more on how their friends and family would react. There was a bit about how their marriage certificate was delayed and I thought, oh, maybe there will be a twist and they aren’t really married. But nope, it was used in a different way.
August 15, 2024
I’m so happy that I finally got around to reading this book. I’ve been putting it off for a while now cause I didn’t want this series to end and say goodbye to the characters and town that I’ve grown to absolutely love and adore. But with this authors new series just coming out I really wanted to be able to jump into that series with everything being read and caught up.
The book starts out with Wes waking up in bed with Beck after a crazy night out in Vegas and coming to find out that they ended up getting married. I’ve read a few books with the trope of waking up married and having a crazy night out in Vegas but I liked how this just opened up right away with them waking up next to each other and finding out. It wasn’t drawn out and I didn’t have to read a lot of chapters to wait and see them waking up married. It got right to the point.
When it comes to Wes and Beckett their feelings for each other completely took me off guard. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t what we ended up getting. Which is not a bad thing! I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was going to take a while for them to come to terms with how they are feeling for each other and why they were happy being married but it turns out they both have been having feelings toward one another for some time and waking up married in Vegas finally gave them the excuse to cross some lines into a territory they never thought they could go into.
You can tell that the biggest problems they’re facing is the fact that they are step brothers and how will their family react to them being together and their friends. It was the biggest driving force for them to stay apart from each other and not move forward with their feelings.
This book continues to surprise me. When it comes to the dynamics between Wes and Beck I thought going into this that Wes would be the more hesitant one but throughout the first half of the book we see both of them struggle with their feelings for each other and trying to move forward as brothers but Wes was the one more pushing for something to happen between them not ready to let things go. Beck was just scared and didn’t want to lose his family or job which is understandable.
I loved how considerate Wes was when it came to Becks feelings and respected his boundaries. He did push here and there but never did anything to make him uncomfortable just trying to show him that he cares and does want to try things out with him. I especially loved how supportive both of them are to each other and always had each others backs even when things were awkward between them they were always there for one another.
Right from the beginning I wasn’t sure about Wes’s dad and his relationship with either of the boys. It had me in my feelings throughout the whole book cause I wanted Beck to be loved and he deserves that and to have a family and with Wes god bless his heart was so naïve to how his dad was treating Beck. I honestly didn’t know how things would play out in the end when it came to them and their family and I loved that I had no idea and had me waiting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen. Luckily everything works out in the end and we understand his dad a lot more also.
I really loved seeing all the guys again and seeing Laurie be such a good friend to Beck and being there for him was so nice to see. I just loved hearing about everyone that we have already met and read about and some Easter eggs for her upcoming series. Even seeing Lyle being a good friend toward Wes. I really enjoyed seeing Logan and Fisher. I ended up reading Logan’s Christmas book last December and really enjoyed it and we get Fishers book in the new series this author is writing. I just loved getting to see glimpses of them and I’m really excited to read about Fisher and his man next.
The sex in this book is seriously the hottest and dirtiest thing I’ve read by this author by far! And I loved every minute of it.
In the beginning I wasn’t sure how this book would turn out and how everything would play out but I should have known that everything would be okay in the end. I loved that we get to see Wes and Beckett get there happily ever after and finally get to love out in the open and be honest with themselves and others.
Overall this was a beautiful way to end this book/series. At the end we get to see all the guys together from the Games We Play series and everyone in this one as well. We see everyone happy and moving forward towards their future and happiness. I’m really sad to say goodbye to these guys cause I had an absolute blast with this series and this amazing quirky town that I can’t get enough of. This series and the Games We Play series was the ones that got me into this author and I’m excited to see what she does moving forward. Especially can’t wait to see Fisher and get to discover a whole new town by the lake and a whole new friend group and community. I definitely recommend this author and this series.
The book starts out with Wes waking up in bed with Beck after a crazy night out in Vegas and coming to find out that they ended up getting married. I’ve read a few books with the trope of waking up married and having a crazy night out in Vegas but I liked how this just opened up right away with them waking up next to each other and finding out. It wasn’t drawn out and I didn’t have to read a lot of chapters to wait and see them waking up married. It got right to the point.
When it comes to Wes and Beckett their feelings for each other completely took me off guard. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t what we ended up getting. Which is not a bad thing! I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it was going to take a while for them to come to terms with how they are feeling for each other and why they were happy being married but it turns out they both have been having feelings toward one another for some time and waking up married in Vegas finally gave them the excuse to cross some lines into a territory they never thought they could go into.
You can tell that the biggest problems they’re facing is the fact that they are step brothers and how will their family react to them being together and their friends. It was the biggest driving force for them to stay apart from each other and not move forward with their feelings.
This book continues to surprise me. When it comes to the dynamics between Wes and Beck I thought going into this that Wes would be the more hesitant one but throughout the first half of the book we see both of them struggle with their feelings for each other and trying to move forward as brothers but Wes was the one more pushing for something to happen between them not ready to let things go. Beck was just scared and didn’t want to lose his family or job which is understandable.
I loved how considerate Wes was when it came to Becks feelings and respected his boundaries. He did push here and there but never did anything to make him uncomfortable just trying to show him that he cares and does want to try things out with him. I especially loved how supportive both of them are to each other and always had each others backs even when things were awkward between them they were always there for one another.
Right from the beginning I wasn’t sure about Wes’s dad and his relationship with either of the boys. It had me in my feelings throughout the whole book cause I wanted Beck to be loved and he deserves that and to have a family and with Wes god bless his heart was so naïve to how his dad was treating Beck. I honestly didn’t know how things would play out in the end when it came to them and their family and I loved that I had no idea and had me waiting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen. Luckily everything works out in the end and we understand his dad a lot more also.
I really loved seeing all the guys again and seeing Laurie be such a good friend to Beck and being there for him was so nice to see. I just loved hearing about everyone that we have already met and read about and some Easter eggs for her upcoming series. Even seeing Lyle being a good friend toward Wes. I really enjoyed seeing Logan and Fisher. I ended up reading Logan’s Christmas book last December and really enjoyed it and we get Fishers book in the new series this author is writing. I just loved getting to see glimpses of them and I’m really excited to read about Fisher and his man next.
The sex in this book is seriously the hottest and dirtiest thing I’ve read by this author by far! And I loved every minute of it.
In the beginning I wasn’t sure how this book would turn out and how everything would play out but I should have known that everything would be okay in the end. I loved that we get to see Wes and Beckett get there happily ever after and finally get to love out in the open and be honest with themselves and others.
Overall this was a beautiful way to end this book/series. At the end we get to see all the guys together from the Games We Play series and everyone in this one as well. We see everyone happy and moving forward towards their future and happiness. I’m really sad to say goodbye to these guys cause I had an absolute blast with this series and this amazing quirky town that I can’t get enough of. This series and the Games We Play series was the ones that got me into this author and I’m excited to see what she does moving forward. Especially can’t wait to see Fisher and get to discover a whole new town by the lake and a whole new friend group and community. I definitely recommend this author and this series.
October 22, 2023
Don’t Bang Your Stepbro by DJ Jamison is the third book in her Rules We Break series. I suggest you read the others first as they will give you insight into the quirky town of Granville, Nebraska, where the story takes place as well into characters that were introduced in the previous books. This story begins in Los Vegas where Wes and his stepbrother Beckett have gone on a short vacation. They have been stepbrothers and wingmen for each other for many years and work for their father’s landscaping and nursery business that is doing really well. However, this particular morning they realize they had gotten married after a wild time the night before. This is not good news because everyone, including themselves, had believed they were straight. Luckily they had sent a video to all their friends that said they were married but made it look like a prank. They were both panicking because their father did not find this amusing as it didn’t look good for the company. He was looking to retire and expected to leave the business to Wes but after this stunt he gave them an ultimatum that they had better do a great job on the work they were doing at a park in Granville or he might sell it to another company. For their whole adult lives both Wes and Beck expected that they would take over the company because they loved it and worked hard as the bosses of their crews so this crushed them, and also meant they had to keep their burgeoning attraction a secret. In the last year they had become very aware of each other in more than a brotherly fashion but they never acted on it until Las Vegas. Over the next part of the book they have to come to terms with what happened and whether or not they want to reveal their true feelings to each other and then to their friends and family. There is a lot of angst involved as they go back and forth but they finally realize that they want to be together forever and stay married and figure out what they have to do to stay this way. I really enjoyed this book, as I have the others in the series. Wes and Beck are great characters, always caring about each other, even though their personalities are quite different, and they play to each other’s strengths. They have many hot love scenes, first being cautious in private and later full out when they can. Their family plays an important part in this story, especially their father and sister, and in the end they are there for them, even as they declare their love for each other. There is some angst as Beck doesn’t really feel like his step-father loves him, especially after what his previous one did, and he has to come to terms with what this implies. Their friends are great and try their best to help them out, even in some funny situations. And the town of Granville itself is something else and will cause you to laugh at some of the happenings there. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like stories about stepbrothers who become more to each other, a quirky town and people that often butt in, and trying your best to overcome difficulties in work and life that lead to a very satisfying ending.
October 27, 2023
I have been devouring this author's stories since I read Two Thruths and One Lyle a long time ago. I loved them all. And this last one was no less!
I've been waiting for Wes and Beck because through previous books, you could see that something was brewing between them. Something powerful and intense, that everyone saw but that they, due to their circumstances, hid even from themselves.
They did everything together, worked, lived and went out to have fun together. They were stepbrothers and best friends, but above all, they were kindred spirits. They balanced each other, and complemented each other, and where one went, the other went, so it's not surprising that during their trip to Las Vegas, Wes decided that making his friends believe that they had gotten married was a good sprank. And as always, Beck agreed and then they went further, and decided that getting married for real was even a better joke. Until it exploded in their faces and stopped being a joke and became a truth that they had been denying for a long time, even years, in the case of Becket.
And when they returned home, they realized that it was not so easy to "leave in Vegas what happened in Vegas." But Wes's fear of disappointing his father by failing in his landscaping business, and Beck's fear of losing the only real family he ever knew, put obstacles in the way of their journey to their HEA. But the love they felt for each other was too strong to continue denying, and with the help of some friends, they managed to reach the end of that journey, together.
I read a review somewhere that said that in the story the author wrote a lot about their landscaping job. I want to highlight that although it may seem like a lot, the reality is that this town has a life of its own. It is the third MC in each of the stories in this and the other series, and is as important as each of its inhabitants, both the MCs of the previous books and the secondary ones. Therefore, it's not surprising that she places so much emphasis on what happens in the town. Whether it's a park or house renovation, a parade, or a council meeting, just to name some.
I loved this story, it's fun, entertaining, full of steamy moments, some romantic ones too. I love the banter not only between Wes and Beck, but between them are their friends. With cameos from practically all the characters from both series, which gave a magical closure to this one and a goodbye (for now? Hopefully!) to this small town of Granville.
I was given an advanced copy an voluntarily wrote a review.
I've been waiting for Wes and Beck because through previous books, you could see that something was brewing between them. Something powerful and intense, that everyone saw but that they, due to their circumstances, hid even from themselves.
They did everything together, worked, lived and went out to have fun together. They were stepbrothers and best friends, but above all, they were kindred spirits. They balanced each other, and complemented each other, and where one went, the other went, so it's not surprising that during their trip to Las Vegas, Wes decided that making his friends believe that they had gotten married was a good sprank. And as always, Beck agreed and then they went further, and decided that getting married for real was even a better joke. Until it exploded in their faces and stopped being a joke and became a truth that they had been denying for a long time, even years, in the case of Becket.
And when they returned home, they realized that it was not so easy to "leave in Vegas what happened in Vegas." But Wes's fear of disappointing his father by failing in his landscaping business, and Beck's fear of losing the only real family he ever knew, put obstacles in the way of their journey to their HEA. But the love they felt for each other was too strong to continue denying, and with the help of some friends, they managed to reach the end of that journey, together.
I read a review somewhere that said that in the story the author wrote a lot about their landscaping job. I want to highlight that although it may seem like a lot, the reality is that this town has a life of its own. It is the third MC in each of the stories in this and the other series, and is as important as each of its inhabitants, both the MCs of the previous books and the secondary ones. Therefore, it's not surprising that she places so much emphasis on what happens in the town. Whether it's a park or house renovation, a parade, or a council meeting, just to name some.
I loved this story, it's fun, entertaining, full of steamy moments, some romantic ones too. I love the banter not only between Wes and Beck, but between them are their friends. With cameos from practically all the characters from both series, which gave a magical closure to this one and a goodbye (for now? Hopefully!) to this small town of Granville.
I was given an advanced copy an voluntarily wrote a review.
October 19, 2023
Beckett and Wes's story won me over effortlessly. Forbidden love has always been one of my weaknesses, and seeing these step brothers try and fail to resist their chemistry was exactly the right mix of angsty and romantic for me. In my very biased opinion, the only thing more surprising than Beckett and Wes's spontaneous Vegas wedding prank was the fact that somehow they hadn't acted on their simmering attraction sooner. They knew each other so well, had been best friends and business partners for years, and to me it seemed so obvious that their natural compatibility would extend into more romantic pursuits. But it wasn't until waking up married that these two finally threw caution to the wind and devoured each other, and boy was that a game changer in their relationship. Wes and Beckett struggled a little to find their footing again after returning home, mostly because they'd convinced themselves they couldn't act on their feelings and had to go back to being strictly brothers. On the one hand, I understood their fear of backlash from their friends and family, and it did give me a lot of respect for them as individuals to see them slow down and make sure they carefully considered the consequences instead of diving all-in without thinking. But the inner romantic in me was also desperate for more of Wes and Beckett, and over time it became clear that they had been way too affected by their Vegas nights to lose that extra level of closeness. It was hot as heck to see them fail so epicly at resisting each other, but also really sweet to see how steadfastly they supported each other and wanted each other to be happy. That, more than anything, convinced me they were meant to be together, so I was extra thrilled when Beckett and Wes decided to take the leap of faith and explore something. They still had to find a way to run their business together, tell their family and friends, and fend off well-meaning matchmaking attempts, but that was all part of the journey to their eventual (and very satisfying) happy ending. I loved the twists and turns along the way, and seeing Beckett and Wes come out in love and happier than ever made it all worth it.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
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