Step-Lover

by Bella Jewel

I met him before I knew.

I loved him before I knew.

I didn’t know he was my stepbrother when I fell for Bladen. I fell for a mystery guy who I spent a long, amazing weekend with. Then he got up and left me, without even a goodbye. I was nothing more than a bit of fun.

He broke my heart.

I didn’t see him again.

Until my mom and her new husband, Jack, decide to take us all on a family vacation to the lake so I can meet my new stepbrothers for the first time.

I don’t see it coming.

When he gets out of that car, my world stops. My passionate lover is…my stepbrother.

He isn’t the same man. He’s a prick and he makes sure I know it.

I’m not the same woman. I’m in love with him and I very much plan to make sure he knows it.

He won’t make my life easy. I won’t give up.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Forbidden Love, Contemporary, College, Erotica

406 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2015

About the author

Heya!! My name is Bella, I'm a new aussie author and I am as crazy as they come. I'm playful, friendly and always up for a chat so stop on by x

Reviews

[Sbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 love triangle star.... This WILL contain spoilers.
So, I was really excited to read this book. The whole "step-sibling" genre is really hit or miss, and believe me I have read a LOT of misses, but none "missed" like this one. When the story first starts I like both Aria and Blade, but by about 40% in I thought both were idiots. Let me rephrase that, they were both emotionally stunted, immature, idiots. Aria, girl, how much more of Blades shit are you going to take? He goes back and forth from you to Peyton and back again. He even calls you BOTH the same endearments, and "my girl". Instead of running fast the other way, you continue to take his shit. He tells you he loves Peyton, so you take a break and then the first time he looks your way....there you go running back to him. Why? Sure he is gorgeous, but that is about the depth to him. Aria and Blades relationship (and mostly lack thereof) was a joke, and so unbelievable I am literally shocked to see all of these 5 star reviews. The book I read was not about the taboo relationship I thought it would be. It was about Blade being with 2 women at the same time, and yes having sex with them, and Blade pushing Aria away, again, and again, and again. I really wanted to DNF this book as soon as Peyton was introduced because at that point I knew where this was going. I was not prepared for Blade to take up for Peyton, profess his love, beat a guy up for her, and defend her.(mostly while professing his need, and want for Aria) Was this a love story about Blade being with Aria or Blade being with Peyton? UGGGGG I was pissed off for the last 30% of this book and then after that I was insulted that the author chose to write such a weak female lead. I really could continue to rant on about this book, about how Aria "outed" her other step sibling among other things, but I really don't have the energy after reading this book. My final remark would be that if you are going to label your book as a "step sibling" book, don't make the book about a love triangle.
Maybe this author is just not for me, I will not be reading any more books by this author

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my God!!! This was perfect...

I fell in love with this book from the first moment...
I couldn't put it down at all!!!


Our heroine Aria was broken inside from the moment that lost her beloved father and sister in an accident...

Now, ten years later, her life change since her mother had remarried with a sweet and caring man. The only problem in her life is that she can't forget the man that spent with him an entire weekend of passion, before she wakes up and finds him absent... That cost her too much even though that happened a year before... She can not forget him, even though she never learn his name!!!


One day, her "parents" announced her that they will spend the summer in a lake house together with his three sons, whom she haven't seen them never again... When the boys arrived there, she discovers in shock that one of them, is the guy that she can't forget...

But this guy is so different from the one she met then... The nice, tender and sexy guy is vanished and in his place is an edgy, angry and extreme hostile man...

From the first moment, she was trying to stay away from him and she was trying to persuade herself to see him like a brother, but that is impossible... no when they exchange all the time hot glares and they are drowing to each other... After lots of efforts to deny their real feelings and after many incidents they end up once again in the bed together, but once again in the morning he is missing. He left her again and for second time Aria's heart shattered in tiny pieces...


After a year and after a lot of effort to move forward... Blade returns, but now they are both in relations... But for once again the invisible string that bound them was thick and vibrates around them.

They will manage to stay away from each other or they will follow their hearts???

Well, i really liked the main characters...
Aria was a sweet, kind and very clever girl. She was loving with passion... After lot of effort she accepted her new family and got close to all of them, especially Blade's brothers Brody and Ripley... They tied together with an unique bond... That's why she was trying so hard to stay away from the love of her life, because she was caring for all of them and they became a family for her... She didn't want to hurt them, especially her mother who after all those years she was for the first time happy.
And Blade... Oh, my Gosh!!! I just love this guy even though he made huge mistakes that hurts Aria so badly... He was trying to make the good choice, but he was ending upall the time to make the things wrong and bad... But the way he was loving Aria was magnificant...


That story touched my heart so deeply...


I can't wait for Brody's and Melanie's story...

And i hope there'll be Ripley's story too...
Bella is that possible??????

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read for me, but I am gonna be honest and say that I liked the supportive characters more than I did the main couple. Thankfully Brody and Melanie have their own book now, which I have already read. Ripley was my favorite though...but I don't think he will ever get his own book :(

Blade wasn't anything special in my opinion with his wishy-washy behavior and Aria was a pushover who couldn't make up her mind. Th story was pretty great though and since I loved all the other characters, I still enjoyed reading this one. 3,5 stars

[* Meli Mel * · Rating 3 out of 5]

♥♥♥ 3.5 STARS ♥♥♥

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'All this time I never knew his name. If I did, this wouldn’t have happened. But no, we thought it would be sexy and fun to leave it a damned mystery.'

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This book starts off when eighteen year old Aria, goes out with friends and ends up having an amazing weekend with a hot stranger she met at the bar. Something happened that weekend, Aria felt this strong connection to him and she loved how sweet and tender he was with her. They agreed to no names and to one weekend only, but Aria hopes for more. Those dreams crash and burn when the sexy mystery man leaves without a goodbye. A year goes by since this event took place, a lot has changed, which includes two families coming together as one. Aria will get to meet her step-brothers soon when they all go off for a one month family bonding experience. She is quite excited to meet them, but never in a million years did she expect one of them to be the stranger that left her a year earlier.

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“I ran when I should have stayed and now it’s too late. I can’t have you. Even if I wanted you, I couldn't have you.”

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As soon as I began the story, I thought it was very interesting. I liked Blade and how he was with Aria when they first met. Unfortunately, when they reunite, Blade was anything but sweet. I didn't think he would react the way he did to seeing Aria again. I was so upset and hurt for Aria. The whole story was told in Aria's POV, so when things like Blade being douchenozzle happened, I really wanted to know what exactly was going through Blade's mind. He was über sexy, don't get me wrong, I just wish he hadn't been such a jackass.

The story moves forward in time, once again after their family vacation is over. I was crossing my fingers that finally something good would come of it. Blade and Aria are now living in the same town, after Blade, once again, left her. I really wanted Blade to redeem himself here, but the only thing that happened was a whole world of more hurt. I honestly don't know how much more Aria could take of it because it was killing my emotions. I got frustrated by them, and even teared up because of the pain. I really wanted them to be together, so it was really upsetting watching them push each other away, rather than to work something out like adults. I thought I would end up loving Blade completely, but the way he kept changing his mind near the end had me going nuts. I was losing hope for these two.

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'Love finds us for reasons unknown and when it finds us, it latches on.'

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For the most part, I did enjoy the story itself, sure it had its moments, and the characters sometimes drove me crazy, but it was good. I liked the secondary characters, especially Ripley, the youngest step-brother. I am still very curious about Brody, and can not wait to read his book. I liked when things finally got good for Aria and Blade. It was really great, and I loved how both of their parents reacted and the things they said. And I liked Aria, and felt for everything that happened in her life. Overall, it may have not been my favourite step-sibling romance book, but it was still good. And I am definitely going to be checking out the next book.



~ARC gifted to Kris & Vik Book Therapy Cafe in exchange for an honest review.~

[Iselreads(lexie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I like the story. I just have a problem with Blade with his continuous hurtful words to Aria. I mean, I love me some asshole-jerk-prick-hero, but it's the kind of hero who always, always redeemed himself. It was a looong wait. So long that it was almost over. And Blade did not just do it for me. He just said sorry. Really? And Aria, obviously that was enough for her. I mean, gurl! And suddenly everything was just dandy. Ah, no. That's not how you do it. But, I still liked this book. Loved it even. Almost.

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

★Complimentary Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review★

I've been dodging step brother books like the plaque lately mainly because it seems to be the newest rave at the moment and I've read crappy ones that just didn't have a unique story line, this book here, was all about being unique..I loved this book, it had so much happening within the storyline not just about a love between two people that bordered on forbidden, due to a mingling of two families..I loved the three separate glimpses into the three brothers, the parents rough road of heartbreak, loss and finding love..Aria's troubled emotional past, a weekend of abandonment, of meeting a man she grew to care about, I just wish I didn't inhale this as fast as I did..once picked up I couldn't put it down, so easy to get absorbed in the story..

Will add more to my review later, a definite must read..

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bella Jewel is one of my favorite authors and I've read and loved almost all her books so it's no surprise that this one is right up there with the rest :D



If you are a stepbrother novel fan then you are definitely going to enjoy this one :D If not then there are other Bella Jewel novels that you'll definitely love :D



A year has passed since Blade and Aria had a one weekend relationship that left her wanting more and him being scared of something more...so he left without a word...

A year later they discover that their parents had gotten married and now they are stepsiblings.





The story jumps from present to past telling their story and what happened between them a year ago.

The story is basically like any other stepbrother novel (and that's why I couldn't go more then 4 stars) but what sets it apart from the rest is the way the author tells the story.

Blade is described from the beginning as a much broodier Liam Hemsworth so I immediately knew he was hot :D



Aria is a sweetheart that has been through a gruesome accident in which she lost her father and sister and that still haunts her. She wants her mother to be happy and that's why a relationship with Blade is unimaginable to her.



But after a year life has a funny way of setting things right :D

[Chiara Cilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angst e tensione sessuale: un mix esplosivo!

SQUEEE, what did I just read?! Bella Jewel did it again! Ho adorato questo romanzo ▬ era da tanto che non mi sentivo così coinvolta con un New Adult :D Sapete bene che sono una lumacona e impiego anche più di una settimana per leggere un libro, invece questo l'ho divorato in quattro giorni! Ed erano 405 pagine, eh *O* questo per farvi capire che non riuscivo proprio a staccarmi ▬ tanto che mia madre arrivava a sgridarmi perché, lavorando già al computer dalle 8 alle 19, non riposavo mai gli occhi. Eheheheheeh sorry, mommy, ma questo romanzo è stato super ♥

 «Andiamo» dico a Mel, e gli passiamo accanto.
 Lui si scaglia su di me, stringendo le dita attorno al mio bicipite e attirandomi a sé. Si avvicina, così che la sua bocca sfreghi contro il mio orecchio. «Attenta, Tulipano. Io non faccio giochetti».

Alzi la manina chi sa cosa amo alla follia in una storia! Yep, bad girls. L'angst. E' un elemento che non deve assolutamente mancare, e questo romanzo ne è saturo ♥_♥

L'attrazione tra Blade e Aria ti fa arricciare gli alluci per tutta la lettura, tanto è veemente.

 Le sue mani mi afferrano i polsi di scatto e lui mi trae contro il suo corpo. «Sappiamo entrambi che non ti è passata, Tulipano».
 Serro la mascella e cerco di liberarmi, ma mi tiene vicino. Così, posso percepire quanto sia diventato ancora più massiccio dal nostro ultimo incontro. Si china, facendo aderire i nostri corpi. Le sue labbra sono vicine alle mie e posso sentire il suo respiro caldo sulla bocca. «Non hai dimenticato quanto ti ho fatto sentire bene».

E questo è solo il secondo degli awww che ho sospirato durante la lettura, and I regret nothing xD

La tensione sessuale che si respira, pagina dopo pagina, vi lascerà senza fiato! Immaginate di dover passare un mese intero con l'uomo che vi fa palpitare il bassoventre con un solo sguardo, ma non poter fare assolutamente nulla. Immaginate quale livello può raggiungere il desiderio insoddisfatto...

 «Non riuscivo a dormire. Vuoi sapere perché?»
 «Veramente no» gracchio.
 «Ecco perché».
 Dimena i fianchi e il suo cazzo preme proprio tra le mie gambe. Boccheggio e cerco di sottrarmi, ma non posso muovermi. Mi ha bloccato contro il muro e ora il suo cazzo è proprio lì, e maledizione, mi piace.
 «Blade, fermati» sussurro.
 «E' sbagliato».
 «Blade».
 «Proibito».

*corre a prendere un estintore per se stessa*
Ne volete uno anche voi? No, perché io l'ho finito di leggere ieri sera, ma riscrivendo questa citazione mi sono schizzate le pulsazioni a mille ahahahahahah

Ma questo romanzo non mi ha solo fatto ansimare.
Mi ha anche spezzato il cuoricino più volte.
Why? Perché Blade è uno stronzo. (Non guardarmi così, ragazzo, sai bene che lo sei stato e per poco non sono saltata dentro il libro per accoltellarti nel sonno ▬ poi vediamo se scappi!)

 «Urla mentre ti sto scopando, fallo contro il mio petto. Meglio ancora, mordimi, piccola».

Nella seconda metà del libro mi sono ritrovata con una mano sul cuore più di una volta, percependo come mia la sofferenza di Aria nel vedere Blade con un'altra. So bene cosa vuol dire amare da lontano, essere consapevoli che avresti potuto essere tu, la ragazza che lui ora tiene per mano...

 Si avvicina, fasciandomi la nuca con le mani. Preme la fronte sulla mia e mormora: «Cazzo, amore, mi sei mancata».
 Oddio.
 «Così tanto, cazzo».
 Non riesco a respirare.
 «Odio che tu mi faccia tutto questo effetto».
 Indietreggio.
 «Credevo che mi fosse passata, di essere di nuovo felice, ma... cazzo, poi... stasera... vederti con lui e poi ferita...»
 «Blade, ti prego» sussurro.
 «E' così sbagliato» ringhia.
 «Blade».
 Si avvicina, finché le nostre labbra non stanno per sfiorarsi. «Ho chiuso».
 «Chiuso?»
 «Ho smesso di far finta che questo non mi stia squarciando in due».

Adoro quando i protagonisti soffrono le pene dell'inferno, che posso farci, sono sadica per natura :P e qui c'è da soffrire parecchio :3 non tocchiamo i livelli di Life After Taylah, ma ci siamo quasi!

 «Mi hai lasciato, di nuovo».
 Serra i pugni. «Ho dovuto».
 «Hai dovuto?» strillo, alzando le mani. «Che razza di scusa è questa?»
 «Ho dovuto» abbaia. «Perché se non lo avessi fatto, cazzo, non ti avrei mai lasciato andare, dannazione».

Non voglio dirvi assolutamente nient'altro, perché non voglio rovinarvi questo splendido viaggio. Se siete amanti dei romanzi in cui si narra l'amore tra fratellastri, allora non potete assolutamente perdervi questo piccolo gioiellino creato dalla penna inconfondibile di Bella Jewel ♥


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[✿kawehi.reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ I received an ARC via Give Me Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ! ☆

3.5 "forbidden" stars!!





Love finds us for reasons unknown and when it finds us, it latches on.

One year ago, one fateful encounter led to Blade and Aria having one weekend of no holds barred, blissful sex. They never exchanged names or identities, but rather gave each other nicknames.
Blade~ a.k.a “Dante”
Aria~ a.k.a “Tulip”
Then, Blade up and disappeared leaving Aria devastated.



Now present day, Aria has never forgotten that man who she’d given herself to wholly and irrevocably.

Until, he turns out to be the son of the man her mother had married!



Now in an ever-growing entangled web, Aria must battle her conflicted feelings and emotions for her new step bro while still reeling and coping from a tragic past.

How will everything turn out?
Do Aria and Blade have a chance at love?-- A second go at making old wrongs and hurts right while making a real go at a real romantic relationship?
Or are some things just not meant to be?





So, my thoughts:

Those who really know me, all well aware that I love my taboo, step bro and sister reads-- so it shouldn’t be a surprise that I’m reading this. Hehe.

While I did like majority of this read, there were parts where Blade’s character really frustrated me. I did get his intentions, I do. But when he tried to move on and do the noble thing I got annoyed with how he’d address Aria and Peyton with the same words of endearment and how he treated Aria after one particular incident involving Peyton. So, prick!! >_<

Sometimes, I really and truly wondered for Aria's sake and well-being, if Blade was really worth the hassle and heartbreak by the way he treated and ran out on her.

But, as Selena Gomez would so delicately put it, “The Heart Wants What it Wants.”

As for Aria—I liked her. I know some people may think that she’s a weak heroine but I could see her plight and her emotions. I felt as if she was a punching bag of sorts for a lot of characters and was very likeable and sympathetic in her thoughts, actions, and words.



I really rooted for this couple but at times it felt a bit hopeless and bleak due to Blade’s doubts and convictions.



All in all though, a pretty decent read that makes me wonder where author Bella Jewel takes this series in the follow up which will focus on Blade’s tormented brother—Brody, and Aria’s bestie—Melanie “Mel”!! So, so excited!!

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I haven't had any interest in the stepbrother invasion but I knew I wanted to read Jewel's book. Unfortunately, it was a miss.

Okay I'm just going to say it - Blade was a fucktard and Aria was a doormat.

I'm so disappointed because it started out so good. Jewel had me in tears with Aria's back story and I liked the few glimpses into Blade and Aria's shared past. Plus, Jewel has a natural gift of keeping you hooked on every word start to finish even if you don't like what you're reading. I just couldn't put it down.

Aria's mom, Nancy, married a good man named Jack. Jack has three grown sons who live with or near their mother so they have never met Nancy or Aria. So they decided everyone should spend a month at Jack's lake house so everyone can get to know each other. Turns out Jack's oldest son is none other than Blade and he's already well-acquainted with Aria. They had a no-names, cherry-popping weekend of fun a year ago. Aria never got over it.

Instead of fessing up that they know each other and having a laugh about it they keep it a secret and try to convince themselves it wasn't meant to be. Let the games begin.

Blade is a confusing mess. He's hot and cold and Aria was happy to take him any time he was hot. But then she was in tears every time he was cold. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. I never warmed up to Blade, I wanted Aria to grow a pair and tell him to get lost.

I think my biggest issue with this book was Jewel was trying to force the shame between Aria and Blade when there's no shame to be had. This book is not taboo. The characters are grown, they are not blood-related, and they were not raised together.

There was an ewww moment and a that-so-would-not-happen-in-real-life moment (both involving Peyton). Seriously eye-roll inducing. The ending made me want to smack Blade and Aria upside the head for wasting so much time.

Even though I wasn't a fan of this book I will probably read Brody's book. He was an interesting character. Melanie has her work cut out for her.

If it wasn't for the tears I would have given this two stars but the beginning saved it.

[✝✝ Ⓓaisy ❣ ✝✝ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come on blog tour soon x

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I definitely wanted to punch Blade in the balls up to 60% of this book, but THANK GOD he redeemed himself in the end!!!

And I can't bloody wait for Melanie and Brody's story, Bella Jewel... Don't make me wait too long, ok???!!!

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/22/2019)! 🎁

[Cristina]

If you're a fan of this author, you might not want to read this. Just saying.

So yes, I DNF.

There was no way I could finish this when I felt absolutely nothing for the main characters.

Perhaps I was the only one to think they were too immature (and that's fine -- to each it's own).

I think if I did finish, I'd have rated this 1 star. I kid you not, this was bad. Baaaad.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Tulip stars!

I loved this book.

I laughed, I shed a few tears, I swooned and smiled. It's HOT and the angst is on over-load.

Aria is our heroine. She is smart, beautiful and innocent but has suffered losses that are so unfair. No one should have to deal with what she has had to. She had my heart from chapter 1. She has a happy family, a beautiful life, her parents are madly in love and her sister is her best friend. One tragic night changes everything.

"Gruesome doesn't happen to us. Not us. Not this family. We're happy. We're loved. Things like this don't happen to happy families.
I was wrong.
It does happen, and it did.
That night lives in my dreams, it haunts my days, and it's a never-ending spiral of agony

*cue the tears*

Several years later, Aria is at the club underage with her friends. She sees a really hotguy checking her out. Her friend pushes her to go talk to him. It can't hurt, right?

"What's your name?" he murmurs into my ear as we move. I shudder and I'm about to blurt it out, but instead I decide to get sexy. So, I smile and say, "We don't need names. I am whoever you want me to be."

They share an amazing sexy weekend together but that is all it was. Aria really never got over this 'mystery man' but she knew going into it that there would be nothing more.

Aria's mom, Nancy, has been dating Jack and has decided to get remarried. Apparently, Jack has 3 sons, Blade, Brody and Ripley, who live in California with their mother, so she will have step-brothers she's never met. Once they are all introduced, guess who one of the step-brothers is?!?! Yup, Blade/Mystery Man!!!

The book is written in present day but every few chapters flashes back to when Aria and Blade met and shared their weekend. I love past Blade. He is everything and Aria knows there is more to him than what he is portraying.

Aria and Blade have to keep their feelings in check around the family and with eachother. Aria refuses to hurt her mother with her new found happiness by telling her she already knows Blade. There is anger between them both because soooo much happened that went unaddressed. The best solution for them is to basically get over it and move on.

"I fucked up walking away from you; I shouldn't have done it. I felt it, and it scared the fucking shit out of me. I ran when I should have stayed and now it's too late. I can't have you. Even if I fuckin' wanted you, I couldn't have you. So I'm angry, and I'm taking it out on you, but fuck, Aria, don't think that I don't regret what happed that weekend."

Throughout their journey of trying to sort out their mess, Aria is also dealing with her own inner struggles of accepting her new step-father and step-brothers and not replacing her father and sister in her heart. Jack is an amazing step-father to Aria and the boys are the best secondary characters I've read about in a long time.

Brody has an inner demon that no one really knows about. They think he is just moody. Once Aria and he have a moment, the truth comes out and their bonding was something beautiful. Aria becomes Brody's only friend and he learns how to start smiling again.

Ripley is the youngest brother. He and Aria hit if off immediately and he confides is most personal truth to her and only her. Their bonding was magical. I love Ripley. I cried for him in this book. I adore when an author can write such realistic issue, especially with secondary characters, and make the reader feel their pain and sorrow but allow their heart to open for them.

Melanie is Aria's best friend. She is the strength Aria has always needed and she understands her with just a look or facial expression. She knows when she needs a hug or a laugh. She is the best type of girlfriend a girl could have.

The angst is on overload. While Blade and Aria are trying to move on, they start dating. Their hearts are both being ripped out of their chest and stomped on. I honestly felt for both of them. I know a lot of readers seemed to not like Blade and rated the book lower than I did because of his character, but honestly, how can you not side with his actions?! Blade is a JERK in this book. But I loved his jerk self! They are both trying to keep the family happy but they both want happiness for their parents and siblings.

Someone ends up in the hospital from severe injuries. I thought my heart was going to combust. During this time, Aria decides to have a heart-to-heart with her mother. She can't keep lying to her mother or herself. It's too much and slowly eating her to pieces. I adore, Aria's mother, Nancy.

"Life is a whole lot of what ifs honey, but I've learned that things can happen when you least expect them and those things can turn your life around in one day, one hour, or one damned second. What ifs mean nothing to me. Something could happen tomorrow, or it could last the rest of your life. Live for the moment and live for your heart, not for everyone else's."

The question we all want to know? Is there a HEA?!YES! "My world has been a mass of sunshine since you, Tulip. It's colorful, it's bright and it's perfect. Best thing that ever happed to me, by far. I don't wanna be sappy, but I never plan on letting you go. I love you. I hope you know that." *swoon!!!*

If you love the forbidden romance, then this is a must read in my opinion! The story line was perfect, very realistic and all of the secondary characters are amazing! I can't wait for Brody's book next!!!

[Flavs is Mrs David Gandy♥~♥’ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man! What a good Book! I knew it was going to be a good one. It is Bella Jewel after all.

Loved it! Although Blake annoyed me a little bit, I wanted to smack him around a bit, but he redeemed himself.

Can't wait to read Melanie and Brody's story!! Going to be Epic!

[Deserie williams]

self note: love triangle! he sleeps with both his gf and heroine! This is not for me!

[♥Trish♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book.

[hobilane · Rating 2 out of 5]

let me just start by saying i adore books by bella jewel. however, i'm feeling a bit mixed about this one.

there were all these back and forth between aria and blade. and i'm not a fan of it. aria fell in love with blade after spending a weekend together and he left her. then one year later, he showed up again, only this time, he is her step-brother.

that's when all the back and forth starts. they wanted to do the right thing blah blah so they decided to keep it quiet about the fact that they've met each other before.
meanwhile they attended some party at the lake house, where they were spending their summer with their family, and blade starts flirting with this random chick called peyton.

blade and aria were trying to make each other jealous and end up sleeping together one night but blade decides to leave her AGAIN

he decides to return one year later and guess what? he isn't alone. of all the girls in the world, he choose to start a relationship with peyton, that random chick at the party whom he told aria he couldn't make himself sleep with. that is real smart and nice. bravo. where is the guy who claimed to be untameable?

that's when all the back and forth between blade and aria resumes. he states that he cares and feels for peyton, they're living together and that he is moving to be closer to her, peyton is a good chick blah blah blah but he just can't ever leave aria alone *cues eye roll* i'm getting annoyed at this point and kept cringing at their interaction. why are they doing all this to themselves.

blade said he loves peyton one second and deny it the other when he thought peyton cheated on him. blade refused to break up with peyton and be with aria. he only came back to aria when he thought he found peyton cheating on him when in fact, she got raped. what a clusterfuck. so if all that didn't happen, blade would've stayed with peyton, right?

i must say both characters are not very well-liked. blade had no backbone, he refused to stand up for the one he loves and acted like a coward by running away all the time.

lastly, aria isn't any better. she had no backbone either, she was basically a doormat that was pinning after someone who likes her but doesn't like her enough to fight for her until the very last minute.

[Greta · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When I look at you, Tulip, I don't ever wanna fuckin' look away."

Proibito è ciò che si pensa di questo libro leggendo la trama, e in parte si può anche considerare così ma in realtà i nostri due protagonisti Aria e Blade non sono imparentati. I loro genitori si sono sposati, tutto qui, ma tra di loro non c'è nessuna parentela. Ci tenevo a dirlo per evitare che qualcuno, nuovo del genere, abbia pregiudizi. E' una storia piena di angst e passione, l'ho divorata e l'ho adorata.

Partiamo con Aria, che da piccola ha perso il padre e la sorella in un incidente d'auto che le segnerà la vita per sempre. Lei e sua madre cercano di ricominciare e appunto, sua madre si sposa con Jack, padre di tre figli. Ripley, Brody e... Blade.
Ora, Blade e Aria si era conosciuti già prima che Nancy e Jack si fidanzassero. Hanno trascorso un weekend di passione, dove Aria ha perso la sua verginità, solo che poi Blade è sparito dalla faccia della terra. Quindi potevo benissimo capire il suo shock quando Blade si ripresenta ed è diventato il suo fratellastro - io sarei svenuta, dettagli.

Blade è un concentrato di emozioni. Se prima ti fa incazzare da morire, poi ti fa sciogliere per farti incazzare di nuovo dopo cinque minuti. E' una bandierina del cazzo, l'ho odiato ma inevitabilmente amato. La sua storia con Aria mi ha fatta irritare davvero tanto, per poi farmi venire gli occhi a cuoricino.

Ci tengo ad aprire una parentesi su Ripley, Brody e Melanie che ho adorato. Non vedo l'ora di poter leggere la storia di Brody e Melanie che per tutto questo romanzo con le occhiatine che si lanciavano e i vari "Hey Babe" di lui, io stavo per perdere la testa.

[Brit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advance Readers Copy (ARC) provided for my blog for an honest review

Title: Step-Lover
Author: Bella Jewel
Genre: Forbidden Love
Age Group: New Adult
Release Date: March 9th, 2015
Overall Rating: 3 Stars

I love Bella Jewel's novels, I basically just one click on amazon with out even reading the blurb kind of love. I enjoy most of her novels but this one didn't do it for me. I'm probably the only one who is getting sick of seeing authors write about sibling love but however I felt the characters were lacking depth and the heroine just got on my nerves more times then ten.

It is a little bit different to other books in this genre but still not one of the better ones.

[Alpha Possessive Heroes]

I hope this one is good.. seems like step-sibling/taboo theme are the IT right now.. from rich billionaire.. motorcycle clubs and now this. Lol.

Everyone is writing about step-siblings lately.. and to be honest, most of them are just HEH! or MEH!

So yeah.. since this author is pretty good, I'm putting up a high bar on this one!



I CANNOT WAIT! O__O

[Vaso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew when I started this book that it was going to break my heart!!
I can completely understand Aria, though I put a little blame on Blade for his actions.
They both want to protect their newborn family but their feelings are way to strong for them to hold back!!
This is a forbidden romance that’s recommended to be read!

[Nicole*bookaholic* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. I couldn't get over the fact that everyone called everyone honey though lol.

[Jacqueline's Reads]

NOW LIVE and one clicked ;) - > http://amzn.to/1NA9P0c

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this was was a bit weird for me. Review to come.

[The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review: Surj Harvey 3- 3.5 staras

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So the recent craze to hit the book world seems to be step siblings getting it on and to be honest, with one thing and another, I've managed to steer clear of these novels. Don't get me wrong, this hasn't been an intentional decision, it's just been circumstantial. So when the opportunity came up to review Bella Jewel's "Step Lovers," I thought, why not. I trust this author's work and what better way to see what all the fuss is about than with someone whose work you enjoy. So yup, this brings me to now. I've read it, I finished it and I'm out on the other side. So what did I think?

Well, I got it. I understood the reluctance, the hesitation and the guilt when trying to form a relationship where the parents were already together, particularly in this situation. There was no shame in it but more the impact idle gossip would have on their parents relationship but also what would happen if what if what Aria and blade shared went horribly wrong. It wasn't just about them, there was a whole family to consider. So yeah, I understood. However, what this couple shared was dead in the water before it had even started. Not because of this connection but more because of Blade who turned out to be the biggest douche bag E.V.E.R!!!

All this time I never knew his name. If I did, this wouldn’t have happened. But no, we thought it would be sexy and fun to leave it a damned mystery.

One year ago, Aria and Blade shared what can only be described as a beautiful, no holds barred weekend of sex. The connection was there and it appeared that this could definitely lead to so much more, or so Aria thought. Nope, it lead to nothing because on the final morning, Aria woke up to find Blade gone. No note, no number, not even a name. They'd chosen to remain anonymous for a whole weekend, giving each other nicknames instead.

There was never a promise of anything more but Aria was still left devastated because somehow, in the few, short days the couple had spent together, this man had managed to get under her skin and into her heart. Unfortunately, she'd never fully recovered from it. Fast forward a year and Aria's mother had decided it was time the two sides of the family got to know each other and what better way to do that then a month long trip to a cabin by a beautiful, picturesque lake. What could go wrong? Well holy shit balls because the minute the couple locked eyes on each other, I just knew this was going to be four weeks of hell. There was no spark of lust, no reigniting of passion... God no. instead there was shock, guilt and embarrassment. With Aria's past, this relationship could not happen. No way. Her mother's happiness was of paramount importance and she would do nothing to jeopardise that.

“I ran when I should have stayed and now it’s too late. I can’t have you. Even if I wanted you, I couldn’t have you.”

Unfortunately that wasn't the only problem. Like I said earlier, Blade was a complete twat. I mean, what the hell crawled up ass to turn him into a cold, emotionless dick? I just couldn't work him out. I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt. I tried to find reasons for his cruel, vicious taunts but came up with a blank. Even when certain revelations came to light, his behaviour continued. There was no need for it and to be honest, in the end, he just made me angry. He didn't deserve Aria.

Unfortunately Aria was no better because despite Blade treating her like something he scraped off the bottom of his shoe, she kept going back for more. Grrr. God did it make me mad.... have some self respect woman!!! I know she was young and I know sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants but she was so quick to forgive him and let him off. I wanted her to tell him to go to hell for the way he treated her but a few choice words on his part and she was putty in his hands.... I mean really???

"I haven't been able to sleep. Do you want to know why? This is why."

He jerks, and his hips and his c*ck press right between my legs. I gasp and try to squirm backwards, but I can't move. He's got me pinned against the wall and now his c*ck is right there, and god dammit, I like it.

The secondary characters in "StepLover" were awesome. Blade's brothers each had their own stories to tell and I loved getting to know them. Ripley was just adorable and as for Brody, I can't wait to get his story next. I have a feeling it will be full to the brim with angst and heart ache. The relationship they shared with Aria was heart warming and it didn't take them long to embrace her into the fold.

All in all, this was an okay book. It dealt with the subject matter of step lovers in a realistic way where I didn't feel that what they were doing was immoral (because it wasn't... not really). Instead it was Blade and Aria that drove me bat shit crazy and caused me to eye roll time and time again. Each needed slapping with a smelly, wet fish!!!


I rated "Step Lover" ❤️❤️❤️ - ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Danny Lea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for step-sibling romances, but this was not it. There are a ton of reviews out there that go more into the plot, but I just don't have the energy for that. It started out ok, but then went downhill real damn fast. All the characters were insufferable especially the MMCs Blade and Aria. They were immature and acted like idiots. Aria needed some more self-respect especially when Peyton was introduced. I mean I like me an OTT trainwreck with an added ow, but this was pathetic. Sorry 🙈. I've actually been going back and forth with wanting to read this author's MC books, but I'm not sure. I'm hoping they'll be better than this.

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.**

5 STARS

I LOVED Step-Lover! I read it in a few hours, once I opened it I couldn't put it down. I know the Step genre is blowing up right now but honestly this is much more a love story with some angst thrown in than a taboo affair.

"We don't need names. I am whoever you want me to be."

When Aria meets a sexy hot boy in a bar they have an instant connection. She spends an amazing weekend with him, at the end of that weekend she woke up alone and without his name. She will always remember the amazing time they shared. He will always be "What's his face...the one that got away.

She meets him again at her step fathers beach house. She's never stopped thinking about Blade, he's always held a spot in her heart...until she finds out he's her new step brother. Now what? She can't ruin her mom's happiness. She can't be with him, can she? He pulls, she pushes. He pushes, she pulls.

"I need you to really want this, because I can't take you walking away again. So I'm asking you. If you want this, stay, because I can't go through it all once more."

I definitely cried more than once through this. Ms. Jewel has a way of pulling you into the story. You feel each emotion. I loved the past and present chapters. The beginning with Aria's Dad and sister killed me. Riley's story broke my heart. I'm so happy this will be a series. I can't wait to learn more about Brody and Melanie and hopefully Riley.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a real Bella Jewel fan girl. I have read all of her books and 99% of them get a 4 or 5 star review. This one fell flat for me. I usually have no problems connecting with characters in her books but I just could not make a connection with this cast of characters. The h/H are 19/24 and the h and her friend's behavior was very juvenile to me. The H kept running away again and again but then the two would end up back together. In this scenario, the two met and had a one night stand before their parents got together. So I felt like the "taboo" factor was really missing even though it was used as the reason why they could not be together.
I think some people will like the story but it just didn't do it for me and that makes me sad because like I said I love all of her books. Most likely I'll be skipping the next one in this series. They are really geared to the the young adult/new adult crowd.