Stepbrother Bastard

Hawthorne Brothers #1

by Colleen Masters

It started off as a dare…a harmless one-night-stand with a complete stranger. He was just another badboy I met in a bar, a harmless fling to start my summer vacation. One unbelievable night of sex, and I’d never have to see him again.

But the next morning as I pull up to the lake house my mom has rented for the summer, I get the feeling my world is about to crumble…it was just supposed to be us girls—me, my two sisters, and Mom…but we’re not alone…

Apparently my mom’s old high school sweetheart John owns the house, and he has three sons, all around the same age as me and my sisters. And they thought it would be a great idea to put us all together under the same roof for four weeks.

We’ll have to share bedroom walls, sit down for family dinners, and suffer through a million other forced, awkward, sexually confusing family activities I’m sure…

And then I realize my mom’s new boyfriend has a son a little older than me. I see him barreling toward me on a 4-wheeler, a lit cigarette between his lips, strangely familiar tattoos on his muscular forearms and chest…as he gets closer I’m filled with dread as I begin to realize who he is…but he isn’t slowing down.

The f*cking prick nearly runs into me.

As he takes off his helmet I’m instantly filled with horror and an undeniable twinge of excitement between my legs. It’s him. The man who took me last night, used me every which way, stretched me more than any man I’ve ever been with before…and now he’s ignoring me, acting like he’s never seen me before in his life.

I have a feeling it’s going to be a fun summer.


This Contemporary New Adult Stepbrother Romance Novel is the first book in the three book Hawthorne Brothers series. The ending is HFN. The book contains harsh language, sexual content, and adult situations that may offend some readers.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Abuse, Audiobook, Forbidden Love, Forbidden Romance

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2015

About the author

Hey there,

I'm Colleen Masters, author of the Faster Series. Thank you so much for swinging by and checking out my stories! As an indie romance author, your support means everything to me. Let me tell you a little bit about myself...

I grew up in Central Jersey, and studied Theatre Arts and English at Monmouth University. (Going to college right next to the beach? Hell yes :D) My dream has always been to make a profession out of writing, so I moved to NYC five years ago and have been working my butt off to make that dream come true ever since. Right now, I'm living on the Upper East Side with my darling fiancé and our corgi, Frodo. (Bit of a lit nerd, what can I say?) All of my friends get such a kick out of my "survival job," but I don't really see my writing as a day job at all--it's way too fun for that!

These books are truly a labor of love, and I'm so happy to share them with you. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!

xo
CM

Reviews

[Author Kiara Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed because I read the first two step-brother books and was really looking forward to this series. I just didn't think it hit the mark in comparison to the first two. A lot of questions weren't answered in this book and I'm not sure if they will be in subsequent books in this series, but I think they should have either been addressed or given some hint that the answers would be revealed later on. It left me in a bit of a limbo. What happened between John and his wife wasn't revealed until almost the end of the story, and it was vague. Earlier in the book one of Cash's brothers mentioned that he and Cash were brothers in name only. What did that mean? Was John's wife not his mother? I was assuming Cash was a half-brother, as the book is titled Step Brother Bastard, but I'm not sure if it is meant to be in the literal sense or figurative. The story wasn't cohesive enough to lead me in a path that would bring the storyline together. If Cash was being referred to as a bastard as a moniker of degradation, I didn't get that sense from his character portrayal. He was certainly a bit pig-headed, but was a pretty stand-up guy throughout the story. Again, this left me confused as to what the author was trying to depict. The ending extremely rushed and actually ended in a bit of a cliff-hanger, yet the next book (as it seemed from the sample chapter) isn't focused on the story of Cash and Maddie. This entire book had my head foggy. There really wasn't any suspense; I could easily come to the conclusion where the story was headed at all times, leaving me rather bored. I don't think I would read the rest of the series, as I didn't care for the first book, but I would consider reading more works from this author in the future.

[Amyiw · Rating 1 out of 5]

2nd time trying to read this and not getting much further. It just doesn't click, don't like either of the characters. Probably will be a DNF that I put back into the reading slowly.

Picked it up a 3rd time and it was a mistake, should have done a DNF. I'm stubborn and it was such a short story. I thought this was a little erotica but really it was contemporary romance. Neither of the characters are likeable. Cash is kind of an asshole, Maddie is immature and an idiot. She is off again on again and instead of saying how she feels, beats around the bush. Then says it is impossible because... fuck knows, because her mom is dating his dad, umm... You met separately and they aren't even married! Both families are totally dysfunctional and the author alludes to Cash perhaps being a half sibling of the other brothers. Hey but that isn't cleared up. And then what happened to the mother other than abandoning the kids, who knows.

Maddie is a basket case because her dad died.... 3 years ago. Mom is moving on and kids have a conniption fit. They are all adults, 19 to 26. And Maddie keeps reminding us how everyone is going to "judge" them because it so strange with their parent's relationship. Their parents aren't even married. And she then goes on to say how it might become an illegal relationship if they do. In what State does she live, the state of confusion, state of denial, because in the U.S.A. there is no state which it is illegal to marry a step-sibling. It might be strange if the kids grew up together but else, it is just a stupid, stupid thing to angst over and lie to her friends and family.

OK, let's face it, I hated Maddie. She is an idiot that makes poor decisions and lies through her teeth. And one of those poor decisions was Cash. Maybe Cash will turn out to be good in the end but truly it is totally lust driven. And then the cliffhanger ending Her boss telling her that there is a no tolerance office dating policy when they are about to sign Cash to model. Open your fucking mouth you stupid bitch of a stupid idiot woman and tell the truth that then either he is ineligible or that since the relationship is already on going it is not part of the policy.

OK, I hate her. I might hate Cash less but maybe because it was told in fist person POV, Maddie's, and she is shallow as fuck all.

This was a waste of 4 hours. Kindle Unlimited so if a shallow 1st person POV contemporary stupidity is your thing, more power to you. Disclaimer, I generally stay away from contemporary as it isn't normally my thing and it rarely rates over 4 anyway, also cliffhangers get a minus star too. Then 2 unlikable main characters....

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddie is on her way from her home in Seattle to a family retreat in Montana. She’s under the impression that her mother has rented a cabin for two weeks for the three sisters to catch up with her mom. On the way there, she meets Cash at a dive bar and they have a quick one-night stand. She makes a quick exit the next morning not saying goodbye, considering the idea of a one-night stand is completely foreign to her.

When she arrives at the cabin she soon finds out that they will be sharing it with her mom’s boyfriend and his three sons, one of which happens to be Cash. The two take advantage of their time there, having sex wherever they can in the short time together. But when Maddie learns that the relationship between her mom and Cash’s dad is more serious than originally thought, she decides that a relationship between her and Cash is not possible and runs back to Seattle. Now she needs to figure out what is more important, her happiness or what she considers is “right”.

The book was a solid four star read right up until the end. And by end I mean the end of the book, not an actual ending. Another wrench is thrown into their relationship and the attitude is kind of like, “oh well, let’s be happy!” The book is left with a “the end, for now”, however subsequent books in the series follow Cash’s other brothers, not his relationship with Maddie. And the follow-on books…they follow the other two brothers and sisters of Maddie and Cash, leaving each of the women paired off with each of the guys, as well as their parents paired off, making it kind of a creepy Brady Bunch.

I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series. I’m not a fan of stories that are going to pair everyone off predictably, and that is exactly what this series does. The story is told in the first person from Maddie’s point of view and while I appreciated the characters and the pace of the story, I just couldn’t get past the lackluster ending. If you’re still on the stepbrother trope kick check this one out and judge for yourself.

[Donna Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindly provided with an ARC by the author in exchange for an honest review....
Very HOT start to a series !!!

This story surrounds Cash and Maddie and their "one night" that turns into a WHOLE LOT MORE !!!

Loved the pace of the story. Witty dialogue, steamy romance.....yup this book most defiantly checked ALL of my box's for a damn good read.

The only reason I gave the book 4 stars rather than 5 was well it ends on a HFN and my inner Disney Princess screams at these endings.

A MUST READ in my opinion !!
I certainly carn't wait for book 2.
4 I'm gonna be your "Stepbrother" and I'm a smokin' hot MC club guy Stars from me!!!.

I certainly will defiantly need to keep with this series and see where Cash & Maddie's affair will go......or will their romance actually go anywhere ?. I guess we'll see !!!

Well done Colleen & many thanks for the opportunity xxx

[Ilene · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Not a bad book but from CM I'd expect more. The story seemed more like an authors first attempt.

And what was with the overuse of big unused words in the first couple of chapters. I get the allure of the word a day calendars and all but most of the times, the words just don't fit in normal conversation.

[Selipperydickdip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid read with a good dose of funny ... and hot and heavy.

[Snarky Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program and really liked it. It fulfilled my requirement for these "step" romances that it not be skeevy; as a matter of fact, I think that having it titled "Stepbrother" is quite a bit of a stretch, as that is NOT an accurate representation of their familial connection.

Maddie is traveling to Montana for a "mandatory fun" Porter family vacation and meeting up with her flighty mom and two other sisters. Her best friend, Allie, is trying to get Maddie to lighten up a bit and challenges her to have a vacation fling while she's gone. Being competitive, Maddie takes her up on it and actually runs into a prospective flingie the first night, in a bar next to the hotel where she's staying on her way to Montana. Enter... Cash. Yup, they do the horizontal (& sounds like quite a few other directions) mambo, and since she's unsure of morning after protocol, she leaves him a note and heads on out. As you already know from the blurb, she and Cash end up at the same place. Why? Because their parents (his father, her mother) were childhood sweethearts and recently hooked back up.

It appears that the other two sets of siblings will also get stories and those are set up a bit in Stepbrother Bastard. While this focuses on the budding romance between Cash and Maddie, especially with questions and concerns regarding what the status is, or is going to be, between the parents and how that would affect THEM, it's also the start of a dissection of family interactions after the loss (either through death or desertion) of a parent. It's also funny how Colleen Masters portrays the shock of the 3 Porter sisters when they are confronted with the violent way that the 3 Hawthorne brothers work out their differences.

Be prepared for a bit of angst... some time jumping... the desire to punch some parents in the throat... and some patented CM smexy times! Don't be put off by the stepbrother bastard title. Quite honestly I'm not sure how it relates to the story, because Cash seems a hell of a lot more put together and in honest touch with his feelings than Maddie is. Beyond the confusion that the title creates (since it does create preconceived ideas from readers before getting into the story) this is a really great story and looks to be a great start to a series! The book does end with a HFN, so I don't know if their story will be addressed a bit in the sibling stories or continued on with another story. Either way, I look forward to revisiting the Porter and Hawthorne siblings!

4.5 stars

[Toya P · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yeah all I can say is that it was meh.

Let me just say that a narrator can SERIOUSLY make or break a story. Terrible narration distracts from the enjoyment of the story & Eli Walker SERIOUSLY fucked this one up. Maybe it might have been better if the book was read.

Her narration reminds me of being in 3rd or 5th grade when someone had to read aloud. Trying to rush through meanwhile making everything sound like run-on sentences. She just rambles on! No breaks, no pauses, no emotional effects. She needs to slow down her tempo. She did aight with female narratives but sucked with the guys’. Was John really angry? Don’t know, couldn’t tell...unless the sentence said he was.

It’s horribly obvious they forgot to do any type of editing during post-production. Anytime Ms Walker sped through a line & had re-read to get the right “effect” or she mispronounced something or read a character’s line in another character’s voices, her sentence re-dos are all there. At first I thought it was something wrong with the download backtracking…nope. Someone fell down on the job.

Thankfully it looks like the subsequent volumes have been done by a different narrator. Haven’t listened to them yet so hopefully they’re better. It would be fan-fucking-tastic if Ms. Masters would have this book re-recorded.

[Morilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story by Colleen Masters, as we've come to expect. Loved the story line, except the very melodramatic "we can't get together because of our parents" attitude. I mean, seriously, the parents are living together, & even if they married their offspring are adults; there is no taboo here! Enough said on that! Love Cash & Maddie; looking forward to Luke & Sophie; guess there'll be Finn & Anna as well. Love the idea. Thanks Colleen, again, great story, suggest everyone should read this

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot and steamy

Wow loved this series so far. What I was a little up set about is how both Cash and Maddie's parents can only think about their selves and what they want. How they don't think about their children's feeling are even care how they treat them. The author did a great job so far can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked the book. There were so many missing pieces that I wish I knew though. There is some serious drama going on both sides of the family and I would have liked to know more instead of thrown in the middle. Cash is hot and so are his brothers. I am hoping the next book will give more details or something. Enjoyed it as a quick read but I am used to more from Colleen.

[Raine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was labeled as a stepbrother book, but technically neither of their parents were married. I did not like this one. The sex scenes I expected from a Colleen Masters book was non-existent and basically glossed over like in the Harlequin novels where they cut from them closing the bedroom door to the next morning.

[Sekena Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sydnie Nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

So he's NOT her stepbrother and he's NOT a bastard. So the title is confusing, but the book is interesting and flew by quickly. It's basically the story of Maddie and her sisters going on vacation with their mom and they happen to be staying at Cash and his brother's Dad's house, with whom Maddie's mom is having a relationship. Both parents are selfish and uncaring about their children, or so it comes off to them, or are violent with bad tempers. Cash and Maddie had a one night stand prior to meeting at his father's house and now are in that weird limbo "are we almost step-siblings/would continuing our tryst be right?" stage. And it seems like the subsequent novels will be about the other siblings all getting together as well. I don't think I enjoyed this book enough to read those books, however.

[The Bodacious Bibliophile · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be completely honest, I couldn’t stand this book. Both the MMC and the FMC were just written so unlikable. Their personalities are all over the place. I just never really felt their romance or love for each other. The guy was just so arrogant and aloof and just all over the place and the leading lady was just annoying and didn’t know what she wanted and it was all just very unlikable.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars!!!!!
Honestly this book has soo much potential, but fell short. The premise and character development of Cash was amazing, but Maddie (SMH) acted like a teenager vice a 20-something grown woman.

[Julez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was going good until it didn’t. Great start and then it just took a nose dive and then it ended. Such great disappointment. I don’t even want to read anymore books in that series. Wasted my precious time.

[Michelle Russell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh, typical story line. Not many oh mys in the read. Did a lot of skimming because I got tired of hearing her talk.

[Pianisuparse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 'I did enjoy this one. The chemistry was sizzling. Easy to read, funny and hot' stars.

[Krys · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible, child-like writing. The conversations have no substance. I couldn't stand this book.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the characters but I didn't like the ending. I like to have a solid conclusion to a story even if it is part of a series.

[madara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt bit rushed. But overall liked it.

[Tuesday · Rating 3 out of 5]

listen to was good would read if found at the library or buy used

[Donna Repsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review, and here it is.

What an unexpected and nice surprise! I can honestly say, that this is the best stepbrother romance I've read to date, and I've read a lot of them. Sadly, most of the others in this sub-genre are all about the sex, with virtually no plot, no backstory, no humor, no real dramatic tension other than the perceived illicit romance between possible step-siblings, which is why this novel earned 5 stars--it includes all of the aforementioned.

Maddy, who lives and works in Seattle, is headed to Montana for a 2-week family vacation with her mother and sisters. Prior to leaving Seattle, her best friend bemoans the sad state of Maddy's sex-life and dares her to have a one-night hookup with a stranger before her 2-week vacation is over.
Halfway there, Maddy stops for the night at a cheap motel and heads the the bar next door for a drink and meets Cash, who protects her from a couple of sleazy MC club members and the next morning, she has a hangover and a sexy naked man in her bed. She leaves him a note and sneaks away before he wakes.

When she arrives at her Montana destination, she learns that her mother, a flighty artist, is sharing the vacation home with the new man in her life, John. All the sisters are upset by this but trying to move forward in spite of their father's death, 3 years earlier. Maddy learns that John has 3 sons, who will also be joining them on this vacation, and imagine her surprise when one of them turns out to be Cash.

What follows isn't the expected one-note sex, guilt, and resolution tale, but rather a fascinating look at the dynamics of dysfunctional families, as well a seriously absorbing romance, as two very likable characters try to come to terms with their own family histories, falling in love in the process. I am very much looking forward to reading the other novels in this series.

My only complaint, is that so far, the title of this novel doesn't make a bit of sense to me--maybe it will as the series progresses.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking hotness!! Another great story by Colleen Masters.

Maddie has just gotten out of a lackluster relationship and is on her way to a vacation with her mom and two sisters. Before she leaves, her best friend dare her to have some fun, as in a one night stand. Not one to deny a challenge, she accepts.

Halfway to her mom's, she stops for the night and ends up at a biker bar. She meets the arrogant Cash Hawthorne. Oh, what a man. They spend the night flirting back and forth. Maddie has never had a one night stand and wanting Cash to be her first. It happens but the next morning she doesn't know how to handle it and leaves a not.

Maddie makes it to the lake house and only to be blindsided by her mom. Her mom is visiting with an old high school sweetheart and his boys. And who is one of the boys bit Cash. To say that Cash is pissed off with the way she left, is an understatement.

After sometime and talking, they give into their desires. Maddie is still having a hard time accepting that they can be together, even though they are not related in anyway.

You learn about Cash's backstory and why he was kicked out of the Army. He really is a great guy.

The tension between Maddie and her sister is real. You can see that something is going on with Luke and Sophie. Can't wait for that book!!!

Once her mom drops the bomb that she is selling the family home and staying with John, all hell breaks lose. Maddie still doesn't know how to handle a relationship with Cash. Cash has put it out there what he wants but he won't be the one to come to her.

Cutting her vacation short and returning home, Maddie is a wreck. Her best friend Allie puts together a plan at work to get them together.

I hope there is more to this story and to see where they go from here, cause the ending left me wanting more.

[Caroline F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new trilogy. As the blurb forewarns, it’s not a cliffhanger but a HFN ending, so I hope to see more of Cash and Maddie in the next two books.

Maddie is pretty straitlaced and sticks with safe, boring guys – which means that her relationships are safe and boring. On a road trip to a vacation destination to meet up with her mother and two sisters, she stops overnight at a motel and ends up hooking up with a gorgeous, tattoed, ex-army stranger (a challenge set by her best friend) – her first ever one night stand. Unsure of the morning after etiquette, she sneaks off while he’s still asleep, leaving a friendly note behind, feeling slightly wrong-footed, especially as she felt that they had had a strong connection.

After a couple of wrong turns, she finally arrives at her destination, only to find out that her mother is living with her old high school fiancé, who has three sons – one of whom turns out to be Cash – her one night stand.

The main issue I had with this story was the title – which was a complete misnomer: Cash was neither her stepbrother nor a b’strd.

What I liked about the story was that it was very readable; there was fantastic chemistry and dialogue between the characters; and the fact that Cash was all-in from the get go. Maddie has her own issues with her flaky mother, and still dealing with the loss of her father. Cash doesn’t have the best relationship with his father and he reveals the reason why he’s no longer in the army – he’s a pretty, solid, decent guy.

I’m going to start the second in the series shortly and I hope that the third story will definitely pull all the strands together.

[Romance Between The Sheets · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I loved about this was the steamy and hot sex scenes between Cash and Maddie and how they fought the chemistry they had. Also the other siblings all held their own within the joined family dynamic in the group settings. It does make me want to read the other books in the series just to see them all find love and happiness even though their parents are a bit left of field.

Now although titled as a Step Brother romance, really they are all grown adults and I thought the story centred more on the fractured relationships they have with their parents. I do understand that Maddie felt a sense of taboo as not wanting to jeopardise her mother’s happiness and Cash really is his own man and did not give a shit about anything apart from his brothers.

The differences in the personalities of the sisters and brothers and their connections within their own trio of family and where they stood as oldest, middle and younger child was really interesting to me. Their placement in affection from their own parents and then as they entwine together and ultimately stick up for each other and support each other I found one of the best parts of this story.

I would have really enjoyed seeing more of the aftermath of the family when Cash and Maddie leave the house especially a conversation between the two parents to see how they ultimately felt would have maybe resolved a few more questions for me. I admit I really did not like Maddie’s mother as a character, her girls are screaming out for affection and stability after their father’s sudden death and she is just so flightly – I wanted to strangle her in some parts of the book.

[Lexee Toste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read. Cash and Maddie are great characters that are struggling with their relationship and feelings for each other because of their parents' relationship. They meet and immediately have a connection and have a one night stand. Maddie is not sure what the protocol is and so leaves early with just a note left behind as she heads to go hang out with her mom and sisters. Then low and behold Cash is there as well. There parents knew each other back in high school and have reconnected. This makes Maddie very iffy about continuing a romantic relationship with Cash even though that is all she wants to do. It doesn't help that neither one has a good relationship with their parents. Their parents don't seem to care about anything else but what they want. There is a lot of angst for Maddie, more so than Cash, on continuing there relationship and wanting it to be serious. The emotions in this story were very believable and I did not feel like it was overdone because it fit their personalities perfectly. These were unique characters. The story ends with what seems to be a HFN. I would be very interested to see what happens next in this story and with these characters...along with their siblings.

[Sharon Hatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about keeping it in the family!
The Porter women have not been close for some time, losing her father was hard on Maddie, and she hasn’t spoken to her mother or sisters in a while so it was a surprise when her Mom requested they get together for a family vacation, but that was only the beginning of all the surprises to come! The first is a bet from her best friend that she have a one night stand on vacation (she’s not the type to do that), then the stranger she finds to win that bet! Cash is hard to leave in the morning but not having done the whole one night stand thing Maddie just leaves a note and walks off, later she finds her Mom is shacked up with an old high school boyfriend and holy mother of all surprises he is also Cash’s father and Cash is also there for a family vacation! A fun, romantic read featuring the most dysfunctional Brady Bunch of all time! I love the characters, they are deeply emotional and layered and the story was entertaining and well written, can’t wait for book two!! Highly recommend reading! **This book was received in exchange for an honest review**