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Stiff

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My arrogant stepbrother has a secret.

I never saw a dead body before I met my new stepbrother Easton Wright. Back then I was just another normal college girl trying to escape her small town life.

Easton is an ex-FBI agent turned private investigator, and he thinks he’s the best thing to ever happen to our family. His blood-boiling grin and tattoos all make me want to stay far, far away.

That is until my stepmom convinces me to come work for him. It’s supposed to be “good experience,” but I can tell Easton only wants to experience making me blush with all his filthy talk.

I hate being in his office. He’s such a cocky bastard, but I can barely stop myself from imagining his rude lips against my neck.

Things only get worse when a serial killer follows him home. The bodies are piling up, and Easton is somehow intimately connected with the murders.

He drives me insane, but I’m so deadly interested in everything he does.

I need to crack the case and get to the bottom of my mysterious stepbrother before I become the final tragedy.

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2016

156 people are currently reading
791 people want to read

About the author

B.B. Hamel

200 books2,523 followers
I'm a long time reader, writer, and lover of Romance! Writing is my dream and my passion, and I want to share my stories with you.

I live in the Philadelphia area with my husband and two dogs.

Website: http://www.bbhamel.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bbhamelwriter

Check out my mailing list for updates, giveaways, and more! http://bbhamel.com/signup

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5 stars
228 (25%)
4 stars
269 (30%)
3 stars
277 (31%)
2 stars
73 (8%)
1 star
42 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
Profile Image for Kira Simion.
918 reviews143 followers
July 16, 2016
Would have been higher but, the sex scenes were a little....off?

The killer and Easton were pretty okay though.

2.5=3 stars. Decent read with a nice cover. The green blends well With the background and the guy is okay in his pose but, maybe a smidgen too much to the left? A little to the right would help. The fading blend also is a little off. You. An barely see the "S" in "Stiff" to be honest. (Sorry. I'm a little picky. I see what I see.)
Profile Image for A. Cook.
401 reviews24 followers
June 28, 2016
Sometimes, its hard to balance a good plot with the kink that's needed to fit in a specific genre. With this entry by BB Hamel a good balance was almost met. The male lead (Easton) a former FBI agent is back home after taking the wrap for a bad call by his former partner. Drowning in self pity, he's not interested in rising above mediocre. For all his cockiness, Easton is a real softy. As for his counterpart, Laney is smart and well matched with Easton. I feel that its important in these stories that one character doesn't overshadow the other.

Now, back to the balance. Stiff was a good story because it didn't constantly revolve around the main characters attraction to one another. Yeah, there is the traditional eye-popping scenes and the book definitely lives up to it's name. I was more intrigued by the secondary plot and the serial killer. This portion of the story should have been expanded a little more. Overall rating for this one is 3.5.
Profile Image for ♥ WishfulMiss ♥ .
1,434 reviews115 followers
July 18, 2016
Better than the last BB Hamel book I read. Still a bit repetitive but the plot and characters were way better this time around.

Taboo love between newly made step siblings with a lot of kinky rough sex and a crazy killer mixed in. It was entertaining and hot. Not sure if it was very memorable or anything but it was an easy enjoyable read.

Surprisingly safe, neither is a virgin, and there was no OW/OM drama or cheating. H is a fleshed out character who, although, an obnoxious ass at times gave a just enough of his nicer side to keep him H material. The h was also pretty okay, she wasn't a push over and thankfully didn't have any TSTL moments. Overall a good read.
Profile Image for A. Cook.
401 reviews24 followers
June 29, 2016
Stiff Sometimes, its hard to balance a good plot with the kink that's needed to fit in a specific genre. With this entry by BB Hamel a good balance was almost met. The male lead (Easton) a former FBI agent is back home after taking the wrap for a bad call by his former partner. Drowning in self pity, he's not interested in rising above mediocre. For all his cockiness, Easton is a real softy. As for his counterpart, Laney is smart and well matched with Easton. I feel that its important in these stories that one character doesn't overshadow the other.
 
Now, back to the balance. Stiff was a good story because it didn't constantly revolve around the main characters attraction to one another. Yeah, there is the traditional eye-popping scenes and the book definitely lives up to it's name. I was more intrigued by the secondary plot and the serial killer. This portion of the story should have been expanded a little more. Overall rating for this one is 3.5.
 
Profile Image for Carla.
750 reviews41 followers
January 27, 2016
http://thesecretworldofbooklovers.blo...

I got this book for an Honest Review by the author and loved it!

Another amazing Stepbrother story by B.B. that you just MUST READ!

This time the characters get sucked into a mystery they need to solve to survive.

Ex FBI agent Easton Wright, AKA the hot stepbrother, has some deep dark secrets that have come back to hunt him, he is certain of it.

Laney is young and excited for this opportunity, little did she know, it would change everything…

Crazy good sex scenes, a thrilling police investigation and a serial killer make this book THAT good.


If you don’t want to miss it get the book now!

thesecretworldofbooklovers.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Racy.
1,711 reviews16 followers
January 18, 2016
I received this for an honest review. I love reading B.B. Hamel’s books. I always get tickled when I first see the title of the book because my mind will always go right in the gutter..LOL This was really a great story and yes though Easton was stiff the title has a deeper meaning. *snicker*

Laney Mason who was a junior in college wanted to work her way into the FBI. She thought she left the small town behind until one day when her father called asking her back. He surprised her with the news that he was married. It is not long before she finds herself back in the small town working a job her new stepmother had setup.

Easton Wright was a handsome former FBI agent. He had worked in the special serial killer task force in the FBI. There were things that caused him sleepless nights. He knew once he closed his eyes the nightmares would come. He had things that were hard to live with. He was now a PI and his mother wanted him to allow his new stepsister to work with him.

There were things Easton was not looking for. He was not looking for his new stepsister to be so hot and he was not looking for her to be smart and catch on to things quickly. There were a few stumbling blocks along the way.

Laney was learning there were ghost in Easton’s past. Things that no one wanted to talk about. She was also learning there is more to him that met the eye. Deep down he truly was a caring person. She saw the good in him that he did not want anyone to see.

It is not long before danger comes knocking at the door. It appears the serial killer is back from the dead and he is trying to send a message to Easton. Easton does not understand. He knows that this serial killer is dead. Laney is in danger. Easton must do all he can to keep her safe. Deep down he is in love with her and his mistake is he is not hiding it very well. Will it be to late for Laney? Will Laney be another nightmare that comes back to haunt Easton?
Profile Image for Lucia.
591 reviews6 followers
January 22, 2016
Out of all of the stepbrother romances I’ve read by B.B Hamel, Stiff has far become my favourite.

From the get go, this story felt different in the way it was written and also where it was headed.The pace was steady and I didn’t feel like anything moved too quickly as things can sometimes with romance stories; there was a good development of the relationship between the two main characters Laney and Easton before things get steamy. I also loved the fact Laney and Easton clearly had something in common with the careers, rather than just it being more based on their chemistry, although that was sizzling along from the get go too. The way the author also allowed Laney to earn Easton’s respect as being a strong and intelligent woman was refreshing as it’s easy for the male to overrun the female sometimes.

One of the scenes that I really liked was the scene surrounding ‘TON’ (I won’t say what it was so I don’t spoil the story for others) but I instantly picked up on where I thought it was going and thought it was a very clever way and hoped it was leading where I thought it was.

Stiff was action packed and tension filled throughout, at times so thrilling and endearing that it gets you right on the edge of your seat wanting to know where it’s all leading. From the get go I couldn’t stop reading and I could never have predicted how the story ended up. I loved it.

For anyone looking for a good standalone romantic suspense with a HEA, I would definitely recommend this book.

*I received a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews133 followers
Want to read
March 17, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/17/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
My arrogant stepbrother has a secret.

I never saw a dead body before I met my new stepbrother Easton Wright. Back then I was just another normal college girl trying to escape her small town life.

Easton is an ex-FBI agent turned private investigator, and he thinks he’s the best thing to ever happen to our family. His blood-boiling grin and tattoos all make me want to stay far, far away.

That is until my stepmom convinces me to come work for him. It’s supposed to be “good experience,” but I can tell Easton only wants to experience making me blush with all his filthy talk.

I hate being in his office. He’s such a cocky bastard, but I can barely stop myself from imagining his rude lips against my neck.

Things only get worse when a serial killer follows him home. The bodies are piling up, and Easton is somehow intimately connected with the murders.

He drives me insane, but I’m so deadly interested in everything he does.

I need to crack the case and get to the bottom of my mysterious stepbrother before I become the final tragedy.
Profile Image for Robyn.
59 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2019
What can I say about this book.. it feels like speeding in a school zone. None of it was at all believable and it's pretty much exclusively a 2 man show which makes it feel like a rushed fanfic. The sex scenes are uncomforrable. You could argue that it's a taste thing I guess 🤨
Easton, our leading man, tests the waters by telling his sis she has a nice ass. Then when she doesn't respond poorly he decides to up the ante .. by like 110% ..
I'm not going to pull quotes so just think of the most graphic way to tell someone you wanna screw them.
(If the 'sis' thing makes you uncomfortable then too bad because it's repeated incessantly throughout the book).
I was excited for a story with a side of sex and this book did not deliver.
I didn't finish it in the end. I tried but then I realized that I really don't care what happens to any of the characters 🤷
Profile Image for Michelle Ballard.
365 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2016
Wow!! Stiff is an amazing book!! Not only do you get romance but you also get a mystery also!!! BB has this special way of writing these amazing stories that not only give you the romance side of the story but it also gives you an awesome mystery that sucks you right in and can't stop reading!!

Laney is asked to come home to work with an ex-FBI agent for the summer but what she doesn't know is that he is her step brother and he hasn't agreed to work with her yet. Laney was all set to work her waitress job for the summer and then start her Senior year of college. When Laney finally gets home she is greeted by who could only be her stepbrother and he is not all the friendly to her. Can she keep him at arms length?

Easton has been home for about four months after leaving the FBI after a case went terribly wrong. Easton has his own private eye company that doesn't make a lot of money just enough to live off. When his mother tells him her latest scheme she is working on he is not happy because that means he has to work with his step sister. When murders start getting closer and closer to where they are living Easton knows it could only be one person but that person is dead. Now that these murders are in his town he needs to figure out what is happening but he is distracted..... Can he figure it all out before it's too late??
Profile Image for Donna Sweeney.
661 reviews15 followers
January 24, 2016
Kindly provided with an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review.......

Another outstanding Stepbrother read from BB !!!

This is Laney and Easton's story, shes a student, he's a former FBI agent......seriously could there be anything that screams more Alpha than that !!.

Anyway, without completely ruining the plot......a whack job from Easton's FBI days gets back on the scene and Easton is on a mission to keep himself safe and Laney........purrrrrfect !!!

BB is an incredible author whose story lines leave you at the edge of your seat. The heat BB writes between the leading characters will have you fanning yourself !!. To date I have not read a book from BB that I have not enjoyed.

So if like me Stepbrother reads float your boat then this baby is for you !!

Well done BB.....another seriously HOT rockin' read !!

Many thanks for this opportunity xxx

Later peeps xx
Profile Image for April.
523 reviews5 followers
January 17, 2016
****received an ARC for a honest review****

I have read a good bit of books by B.B. Hamel and they are just getting better and better.
This story isn't just about step siblings coming together. It's not all about how it's forbidden and wrong. There is an actually story in there. It's not all about lust and sex.
Easton, an ex-FBI agent and Laney, a criminal justice college student. Lackey comes home after her dad remarried. Easton is now a PI and his mom gets him to hire Laney.
Easton has his demons from the FBI and isn't handling them well. Laney is just trying to go with the flow, but she knows he is hiding something.
The back and forth between the two is really good. They don't just jump into things right away.
This was an interesting and intense read. You have the hot sex, and man are both of them dirty talkers, but throw in some murders and shootouts, it's one bell of a story.
1,250 reviews23 followers
January 17, 2016
The latest from B.B. Hamel does not disappoint. In this story we meet Laney a girl who left her small town as soon as she could and didn't really look back. Now it's the summer and her father wants her to come home and meet his new wife, and her son. Easton is the son of Laney's father's new wife and a former FBI agent. Easton came back to their small town after leaving the FBI and is now a private investigator, who thanks to his mom will now be Laney's boss. Laney is curious about what made Easton leave the FBI, but hopes he can help her learn some on the job training for her criminal justice degree. The sparks fly between these two and then a killer has them both in their sight. Will they solve who is behind the new string of murders that bring up memories for Easton and can they make it through together? I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Vicki Arellano .
133 reviews12 followers
January 20, 2016
I received this arc in an exchange for an honest review. Main characters are Easton and Laney. These two went to the same school together when they were younger but they didn't talk, now they are stepsiblings. Easton is ex-fbi now turned private investigator. Laney is in college studying criminal justice. Easton ends up hiring Laney as his assistant thanks to his mom talking him into it. The storyline was extremely interesting even I wanted to the solve the big case. The chemistry between these two was HOT. They were so much fun and the things they said to each other had me blushing lol. I really hope there's another book about them because I want MORE please..! This is definitely a must read you won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for Sherry Bohrmueller.
1,249 reviews6 followers
January 17, 2016
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

What an amazing suspenseful story. I know it's a stepbrother book, but it was way more than that. The twist in the ending will surprise you.

I have enjoyed every book by B.B. Hamel that I have read and this one blew me away. Her writing style is fantastic, it keeps you glued to the pages with all that is going on with the main characters.

Highly recommend that you read this book, you don't want to miss out on one fantastic story.
Profile Image for Rebecca Membreño.
222 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2016
Gripping story

This was more than a stepbrother romance as a serial killer taunts the former FBI agent by being a copy cat to his last case. Janey and Easton didn't even live in the parents house until she is on summer break. Steamy sex and the mystery of the killer is a great read. The bonus of Cocked is also a good read as these two wanted each for a long time and as Camden returns, he brings very dangerous men to their door. Has a great ending.
Profile Image for Ofelia.
988 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2016
A very suspenseful romantic story.
Profile Image for Elle.
629 reviews69 followers
June 26, 2016
Brain bleach and 25 scalding hot showers is needed after reading this shite. This was such a waste of my time and not a single thing about this was good. Staying firmly away from this "author."
Profile Image for Cheyenne.
582 reviews46 followers
November 21, 2017
This is my third book by B.B. Hammel, and by far my favorite so far. There were a few spelling errors I noticed, but it was nothing horrendous and so far and few between that it didn't bother me. The big homerun for Stiff though is the dirty talk. It didn't have the bad porn star talk that played on repeat in her other books "Long" and "Hard Bastard". I didn't find it repetitive not once, there were new lines used, and it felt natural. Not forced or scripted or like the gy who should keep us mouth shut and leave the rest to your imagination. Yeah, that guy. Luckily Easton is the guy you want to talk. The story is also the best so far. Happy with this one.
142 reviews1 follower
January 2, 2017
I knew it would be good.

As soon as I saw the authors name, I knew it's going to be a good book. Of course it is !!! I love the author !!! This one is kinda dark for me though. It has a descriptive violence which I wasn't crazy about. I still read it though since it was that good ! This book has sexy, filthy mouth bad boy, suspense, violence, HEA. No cliffhanger. Worth 5* !!!
Profile Image for Heather Matlock.
329 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2017
So many twists and turns!

Epically hot steamy with an amazing story! Loved it!! I am forever a fan and looking forward to reading more of her books!
Profile Image for Sn8wflake .
2,391 reviews
August 3, 2018
Step

Step siblings tend to not get romantically involved unless its a book. The PI portion was fun, the killer not so much.
Profile Image for Ann Brown.
3,447 reviews23 followers
March 22, 2019
Great book!

An exciting, sexy, suspenseful story i really enjoyed. Great characters made this a really engrossing read. Action packed and thrilling.
Profile Image for Ashley Seymour.
667 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2019
Good

This book was nothing like I expected it to be, it was so much better! I loved the suspense aspect with the serial killer!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews

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