I was never supposed to fall in love with my stepbrother. I never intended to. It just sort of happened.
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Rule #4 – You can change your mind, too, Ethan.
We can't. We're done. This girl lives in the same house as me. Her bedroom is just down the hall. It barely takes twenty seconds to go from her room to mine, and yet it's an impossible distance now. She might as well be on the sun.
Ashley knew what was coming.
I knew, too. Why can't I stop thinking about her, then?
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Ethan is a cocky, arrogant jerk. He's always been that way. Why do girls trip over their own feet just to be with him? I don't know! I'll never understand it. Don't they realize he's just going to ditch them after a couple of weeks?
Yes, he can be nice when he wants to be. It's true that he's ridiculously attractive, too. It's not like I want to stare at him when he walks around shirtless, but it's hard not to notice someone like him. He's got that bad boy smile that makes you want to...
Did I mention he's my stepbrother? Ick.
What? You think I'm falling for him? Nope! It's impossible.
Ethan is very arrogant and I just want to.... Ugh! I can't decide if I want to satisfy him or biff him. Maybe both at the same time? 😂 His saving grace is his inner monologue. Love it!
Then there's Princess Ashley. I like how she gets into the bit of role playing they do. Of course, her lack of forethought creates potential disaster. 😱😉
I listened to an author's copy of the audio book with CJ Bloom and James Cavenaugh leading the charge. Both are well suited for the characters. I really do wish the characters maintained their voices throughout though. ❤️
It's safe to say I am not a full on fan of this series! *cheering sound effect*
Book four was where I found myself falling in love with these two and their love story. The dialogue throughout this was genuinely great and brought these two characters to life more than ever. Ethan in particular was the stand out in this book for me. The moments were it was though he was talking to us the reader directly was unique and fun and made me feel truly apart of the book. I also have to mention that the growth we have seen from this man is top tier. Yes, he still greatly flawed, self critical, guarded and kind of self destructive but here we got to peel back some of those layers and see him for who he really is. In book four we were introduced to an Ethan that was begging to feel more comfortable opening up, being honest and sitting in his vulnerability. We saw him both with us as the reader and with Ashley comfortable in being more honest in regards to his feelings for Ashley with cute moments that genuinely made me blush. He is of course still fighting his feelings and there is still so much to dive into but his growth in this book was fun to read and super cute!
As for Ashley, she kinda annoyed me in this one. I found her narration and inner thoughts to still feel too young and the emphasis on her small features (her hands for example) I found to be irritating and uncomfortable. We are seeing her grow to become more comfortable and confident but she still has so many doubts and insecurities and I wonder how much longer it will be until we see her grow a little more.
The spice was probably my fave of the series so far and it was fun seeing them play around with different settings. The ending was unexpected and i have to admit I felt the frustration and disappointment the characters were feeling. With that, how can I honestly not go onto book five?
I really like the tabooish stepbrother/ stepsister stories, so needless to say I really liked this one too. It's a series of short stories that males up one whole. So yeah, you have to but them all, preferably at once. Because if you're anything like me, you'll go through them really fast.
I’m officially emotionally attached at this point! The inner monologue, the narrators, the smut—it’s all so good! These audiobooks are turning into my go-to perfect palate cleansers for my forbidden, taboo-loving soul! Ethan, my guy, can we not, okay — please and thank you. Keep the series coming!
Im loving how emotionally attached I'm becoming to these characters! :) the more i read, the more desperately i crave a happy ending for Ethan & ashley. This is the book in the series where the sh*t hits the fan and everything comes to a stop in their relationship and it pisses me off! Grr.. Why is Ethan suddenly acting like such a prick?! I need book 5 like a drug. Ha! Im a book-junkie lol :) 5 kissing-under-water-stars!
While I wasn't sure about book one, I am glad I continued with the series. It is cute and fun while also steamy and seductive.
Ethan is crass and vulgar. He has a predilection for using the f-bomb and talking dirty. If this offends you, this is probably not the series for you. This being said, he also has a sweetness to him he does well to hide but for with Ashley.
Ashley is intelligent and spreading her sexual wings, so to speak. She's still not sure she's doing the right thing, but it feels so good. Plus, she may have just fallen in love with her stepbrother...
One thing that's really stood about about this series is how directly Ethan talks to the reader as if in a conversation and/or reacting to them. I'm not sure I exactly like this approach to writing, but it hasn't put me off either. Prepare to be sworn at repeatedly and told to mind your own f**king business. Ashley doesn't do this so much. She's technically talking to the reader as well, but it doesn't feel like it so much. It's not in your face like with Ethan. It's not so much her interacting with the reader as it is a narrative. I tend to like this approach more, but I love reading Ethan's chapters and finding out what's going on in his head.
In this story, Ethan reverts back to his a**hole ways. With the parents being home early, his and Ashley's deal must end. Though he doesn't see it this way, Ethan returns to being a jerk in an effort to protect himself. It's the best armor he has and he's wielding it full force.
Ashley isn't happy about the early return of their parents either. She's come to accept the fact that she's in love with Ethan and therefore completely screwed. She's hurt by Ethan's behavior and doesn't want this distance between them. It's a good thing she has Jake as an excuse for being upset or there would be a lot of uncomfortable explaining to do to her mother and stepdad.
Well, it seems the worst that could happen is happening. Their parents came home early, and that means that Ethan and Ashley’s explorations are over. The problem for them both is that it stopped being the casual thing they intended. They changed direction and began to realize that those feelings were real. No one wants to say the “L” word, but that’s what is going on. And this unexpected, abrupt stop to everything is going to be devastating. In reaction, Ethan falls back on his traditional behavior of being a jerk who spends limited time with a girl then cuts it off. But Ashley isn’t “just a girl” anymore.
Ashley is equally jarred by the unexpected return of their parents. She has felt the strength of her feelings for Ethan and is recognizing what it is. So his behavior now is painful. She doesn’t want to pull away. She can hopefully explain away her obvious discomfort on her old boyfriend Jake’s treatment of her, because she doesn’t want to have to get to close to the truth with her parents. She wasn’t supposed to fall for her stepbrother this way. How did this happen?
The Audible version was narrated by: CJ Bloom and James Cavenaugh. They continue to do a good job and bring life into the story as they take on the personalities of the main characters. This is certainly an emotional ride for the listener, but the story will carry you forward into wanting to share the next part of the story.
"I have to pretend I didn't fall in love with Ethan, my stepbrother."
Ashley.
Oh my god, this is my favorite book of the series yet! And so far
Oh my fucking god. It was amazing. Where do I begin.
*That hot tub scene was great..I loved it so much.
In this book, there is still that tension...of denying they have feelings for each other but they both have come to the realization...they just both wish it wasn't true.
Towards the end of this book, my heart was breaking just as much as Ethan's and Ashley's were. They both have accidentally fell in love during such a short amount of time and the week they were promised to do this whole..."Stepbrother with benefits" thing was cut short because their parents came.
Everything was going so well, and now it's like they both had a very rude awakening. They didn't realize how deep they were in it.
How intense their feelings were getting and how much they were falling in love with each other.
They can't just fall out of love now...that's not how it works.
I know they will end up getting back together...or at least I hope, but the question is when. There isn't really an if.
I am so into these characters and their emotions and everything that affects them kind of affects me, which is how I know that these are amazing books.
Ashley and Ethan do some skinny dipping in their pool and then spend a little sexy time in their hot tub. But lines are getting more blurry as the days go by. Things are starting to feel more serious between them.
Which is why they both take it pretty hard when their week alone is cut short by their parents coming home early.
Ashley is devastated and Ethan starts pushing her away...hard. But obviously they can't continue on with their arrangement? Right?
This one started off so sweet. I loved how gentle and understanding Ethan is with Ashley when she's pretty sore from all their fooling around. The hot tub scene and their pizza and movie on the couch date was so cute.
But this one made me sad too! After their parents come home early, Ethan starts acting like a total jerk. And I get it. He's trying to push her away while also overcompensating for his feelings so his parents don't catch on. But it hurts! And I hate it. :(
I need to jump right into the next one now because they better make up dammit! I don't care if they're sneaking around, they're so cute together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This is book 4 in Clark's Step Brother with Benefits series and the story continues with step siblings Ethan and Ashley. I highly recommend reading / listening in series order. These short but steamy reads / listens are fast paced, steamy and give you a glimpse into what each of our main characters are thinking. In this book everything is seemingly going well but feelings are definitely in play if only recognized internally when something happens and everything changes. I love this dual narration - the narrators do such a great job of brining these characters to life - Ethan the bad boy, playboy and Ashley the shy brainiac - both realizing that they can / are more. I can't help by love Ethan and hurt for him at the same time and same with Ashley's character - her insecurities make soften and the two have a wonderful playful dynamic...until. Definitely looking forward to more in their stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs on Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. *this review is based on the audio version of this read
I liked this slice of life. It was entertaining and enjoyable even though it's more like an episode of a TV show than a book. A book to me has a distinct beginning, middle, and end while this book just stopped. The characters were interesting and you got to hear from both of them. Ethan and Ashley's unusual agreement came to an untimely end. They had just gotten closer. Now Ethan has gone "out". Ashley was going out with her mom.
I thought the story was interesting but I wanted more. The narrators did an excellent job, especially because of the way the story is written, it's as if the characters were talking directly to you as the listener (or reader). It's smutty and short but good. I recommend listening to this audiobook (or reading the ebook).
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
You will find my original review of book 1 on Goodreads, including details on 📕what it is about, ❤️what I loved, ✅what you need to know and 🦺for the safety squad.
On this episode of Ethan-teaches-Ashley-aaaaaall-the-things: My favorite quotes:
Rule #4 – You can change your mind, too, Ethan.
This week's spicy lessons include: 🌊skinny dipping 🛁hot tub s*x 🐌slow s*x
When the parents show up at home a few days earlier than expected, Ethan and Ashley are nearly caught together. His arrogance infuriated me, along with the way he completely ignores Ashley. But his disdain for anyone who doesn't like him is so amusing. Ashley is smart, the perfect daughter, but sometimes she can be so dense. I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by CJ Bloom and James Cavanaugh, who bring life to these characters. I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan is starting to wonder if he is in love with Ashley. Maybe he has always had a thing for Ashley. Ethan is starting to change, and he’s not too sure how he feels about that. Where is the guy who is a d*ck to girls after a week or two? He definitely isn’t around right now. Ashley is becoming more confident around Ethan and more rules are made! But what happens when the parents come home a few days early? I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well what can I say? The character of Ethan has grown on me, I didn't think he could be a good guy but there is a certain amount of positive characteristics exhibited in this episode. Ashley/"Princess" shows vulnerability and affection in this version and the humour exhibited in this episode is quite warming. The author has definitely worked some magic as I thought these characters were awful in 1 and thought that it would mean that I wouldn't want to finish the series but I am addicted!.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a hot explicit read. This one is still very dirty but it has a little less actual sex as they do some other activities that builds more of a relationship between them and then they get a big surprised that puts a huge damper on their arrangement. It will be interesting to see how they move forward and get out of the situation they have gotten into. This was entertaining and a pretty quick read.
Emotions were at their highest and their lowest during this installment. For both the main characters and the reader. After spending a lovely (and less spicy) day together, Ashley and Ethan are both developing confusing feelings for each other. But things take a turn so quickly that we all end up with whiplash. I’m curious to see how things will play out from here. Because something has to take us from that ending to the original prologue.
Loving the continuing story and Ashley & Ethan's developing taboo relationship. The narrators perform admirably. Things change towards the end of the book and I found myself feeling a almost little upset at the way this part finished, something I certainly didn't expect to feel and it shows that the characters are growing on me to the point that I care what happens to them. Wow, didn't think this kind of story would affect me that way. A sign of a winning book for sure.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Love this series canteen get no better than this What can they do but stop doing what they are doing.. but they can't they feeling is getting stronger and stronger instead of stopping but they still keep going.. this series is fun to read short but it leave you wanna read the next book..
3.5 Again better than the first two books for me. I am kind of interested what is going on plot wise with these, so I will probably continue. It is mostly because of my inability to not finish a series once a start.
Also I think it is worth noting that if these were not recommended for me to read I probably never would have touched them. It is not something I would read.
Why can’t I stop reading these 🤣 it’s like one of those stories on the apps where you have to pay with coins to unlock the next “episode” hahaha I need to know how this ends. It’s hard to believe these two are in college though. She says “eww” way too much about things she already does and with her stepbrother of all people 🤣
Wiw mom and dad just put a damper on there week of funby coming home early. I wonder what they’re going to do now can they stay away from each other and go in with their lives in the same house? I dont think they’ll be able to. But we shall soon find out
Not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said. This is book 4. If a person needs to read reviews at this point, they probably shouldn't read any more of this series. Find book 1 and read it. If you like it, keep going.
Ashley and Ethan have been enjoying each other company. Until it all comes to a screeching halt when her mom and his dad return. I am interested to see what will happen next.
You knew it had to happen, sooner or later, but it was sooner. I guess now I'll have to read the 5th in the series. I can't be left hanging with so many loose ends. Only 4 stars for this installment as it sadly, was so very short.
I like it, but I'm mad at Ethan now. How can he do that to her?? I know thats him and he ditches girls every time, but I was hoping he would be still good to her since he started having feelings for her. I want them to be together already. But otherwise i love this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Arc review/audible I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review. Wow Ashley and Ethan are getting closer as there parents are gone but what happens when they get home ? Want more.
Obviously not the end (with all the other books) but it sort of makes you feel that way. So cute but also shows they don't really know each other very well.
I received a free copy of this book via Cherrylily ARCs and am voluntarily leaving a review.