Wolf

The Brotherhood #1

by Penelope Black

"Kiss a stranger."

Those three words started off a series of events I could have never predicted.

Fresh off graduation, I have my entire summer planned out: European vacation with my cousins, college courses, and working.
But then my mom calls and drops the bomb: she's getting married to the rumored head of the Irish mafia.
Even though I've been looking out for her for most of my life, we haven't lived together in ten years. So when she invites me to stay with her for the summer, I don't hesitate.
And I make a new summer plan: skip the vacation, take online courses, and dig up dirt on Mom's new fiancé.
What I didn't plan for was Wolf Fitzgerald--and his brothers. Dangerously good-looking with tattoos and bad attitudes.

And my new stepbrothers.

Genres: Romance, Why Choose, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Mafia Romance, Dark, New Adult

259 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Penelope Black lives in the Midwest with her husband and two tiny humans. When she's not writing, she enjoys over-the-top action movies, iced chai lattes, and soaking up the sun in her backyard with a good book.

Keep up with Penelope on all platforms:
Newsletter—>bit.ly/PensNL
Facebook—> facebook.com/author.penelope.black
Facebook group—> facebook.com/groups/penelopeblack
Instagram—> instagram.com/authorpenelopeblack/

Reviews

[Ken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did I miss something here? Like, seriously how does this book have so many good reviews. It's the slowest burn, with the slowest writing, that I've ever read. I mean at least give us SOMETHING!

Anyways, it's not even a reverse harem in the first book...there's an obvious suggestion that it will probably become a reverse harem later down the line. But for the most part it's just a few little PG-13 makeout sessions and slow burn.

Storyline seems cool too, but geez....we didn't need an entire book to get this point across. Oh, I'm so frustrated. I really wanted to like this book and I've been waiting for the last one to release so I could start the series but honestly, I don't think I'm going to move on to the other two books. I like 'steam' in my books, not this junior build up nonsense. But that's just my preference.

Rating = 2 stars = sooooooo slow
Steam = 2 stars = PG-13, non-existent other than some makeup scenes and dry humping really
Storyline = 3 stars = it's interesting, but takes too long
Plot Twists = 2 star = the main one isn't very shocking
Writing Style = 2 stars = so slow! I skipped so much, just trying to get into the storyline.
Denouement = 1 stars = nothing gets resolved
Cliffhanger? = YES
HEA? = NO

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an entertaining why choose, stepbrother romance. The story definitely took a bit to pick up for me, but the last half was so dramatic and I couldn't stop reading. She moves into her mom's husband's house and starts falling for her step brother. But then she realizes her other two stepbrothers are people she knows... oh, and there's also a mafia aspect? Like I said, I was intrigued and can't wait to read the next one.

[Amara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more!!

Wolf by Penelope Black is amazing.  Excellent storyline and characters. Plot sucked me in. Lots of questions unanswered. Definitely recommend this one. Don't know how I am gonna wait until January 13th for the next book Rush, but but guess I have to lol.

Contemporary RH, multi POV, 1st of the series, ends on a cliffhanger


☆ Alaina - FMC, singer, 18

• Wolf - MMC, possibly soon to be step brother, part of Junior Brotherhood Council, Cormac's adopted son/nephew Conor

• Rush - step brother, JBC, (adopted or actual?) son of Cormac, visits the bar she sings at and meets her as Declan

• Sully - step brother, adopted son of Cormac, JBC, Alaina's ex bf James

• [Possible 4th?)


Available on KU or Amazon now.

[Vee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only 9% in, but it reads very YA. Insta-love seems to also make an appearance 🫣🥲

This is in prologue, so the author doesn’t hold off on showing you how obsessed this man is. He’s never met her and he’s already calling her his ‘little bird’ and saying stuff like ‘she will be my Queen’. Naturally I’m thinking…great another man who thinks the FMC is pretty and makes stalking his whole personality. She could be a be a serial killer. She could chew with her mouth open. She could have the worst personality in the WORLD. For god sake get to know her first.

The packaging might be very pretty, but the inside could be total sh*t, as that famous saying goes.

Closing statement - Insta-love is nauseating.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm super excited to read more Penelope Black, especially her Rosewood series but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me.

I felt like it was really slow & the fmc was super immature. All the coincidences in the book were also just too much for me. I was hoping for something a bit darker when I saw step brother, mafia, & why choose but it just fell flat for me.

2.5⭐
- why choose
- step brother(s)
- second chance
- irish mafia

[abbey willcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m also a wolf in sheep’s clothing, I blend and adapt. And sheep never see me coming until my blade is sticking out of their throats.”

Hell yes!! I absolutely devoured this book in one sitting 😅😍 gripping is an understatement, kept me hooked from the first page. Love the relationship Alaina has with her two cousins, Mary and Maddie. I would totally be down for a night out at O Malleys with them all doing some karaoke 😂 4th songbird needed?! 👀🤣 they are a lot of fun and honestly could’ve kept reading just them 3 haha only kidding. WOLF 😍🙌🏼 ahhh I’m a little in love. Douche moments but hey nobody’s perfect right? Rush & Sully 👌🏽 looking forward to getting to know them more. We know Rush more in this story than Sully. I absolutely love how certain “things” are all connected and the twists and turns. I mean, you definitely can see it coming but it’s still just as good and doesn’t take anything away from it! This is only the beginning and i am SO ready for some more!! Lots of unanswered questions!! That cliffhanger was nasty! Although I’m eager to see a certain wolf be let loose and hunt it’s prey 😉

“Because that wolf - that primal, vengeful, violent part of me that’s been buried for years has been unleashed. Heaven help anyone who gets in my path now.”

BOOM!! Next book, let’s go!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[Laura Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read from this author and I have to say I throughly enjoyed.. there are obviously a bunch of unanswered questions but I think I will get my answers soon enough ..

This is a different take on a forbidden stepbrother reverse harem mafia romance .. say that ten times fast .. Wolf is a hot tattooed vp in the brotherhood and he’s sinfully sexy .. Sully is his adopted sibling and also familiar to Alaina .. Rush is sexy and controlling and tends to be the leader when Da is away .. each one of them have a story to tell and I am excited to hear it ..

Alaina has been locked away in boarding school and now an all girl college .. every since her dad went missing, her mother has been less than loving and it seems for the most part Alaina has accepted that..I’m not sure what’s going on with her mom and dad but I feel like it’s going to have something to do with the brotherhood and January feels like a long time to find out ..

I think this was a great series opener, it’s a slow burn and I do mean slow.. but I am okay with that.. I think you will be too..

[chaoticcaffeinatedbookgremlin ▪︎Manda▪︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5⭐
Steam: 🔥🔥 / 5🔥
Plot:🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 / 5🥇
Genre: Mafia Romance / stepbrothers / reverseharem
WOLF By: Penelope Black

I couldn't stop reading. This is my first book by this author and it definitely won't be my last. I was hooked from the first page and oh god the banter in this book is fricken perfection. PENELOPE GAVE ME ALL THE DIALOG MY LITTER HEART DESIRES!! I seem to be finding the perfect books lately and this was definitely that. A mafia romance with my favorite step brother trope, some mysterys and secrets. The cliffhanger at the end to suck me into the next book immediately. I didn't find one thing I didn't like about this book, it was so well done and the plot line was so different from the usual mafia romances I read. I cannot wait to finish this series and than read all of her other books. Oh boy I'm so ready baby!!

[Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS





Now that’s what you call a book! This author was a totally new one for me and I am so surprised that I liked her book so much because that rarely happens!! “Wolf” is the first part of a brand new trilogy “The Brotherhood” by the author Penelope Black. Told in multiple perspectives , get ready to meet the sinfully delicious Fitzgerald Brothers!

Alaine has had her whole life uprooted, She is moving in with her mother to her new stepfather’s house , with her three new stepbrothers. Wolf, Rush and Sully are her new roommates. This book mainly consisted of the relationship of Wolf and Alaine and the other two brothers made few appearances , but with the way the story is going , it is definitely gonna be a Reverse Harem. Wolf is an unpredictable brother. With his easy demeanor and killer smile , he can pretty much charm anyone. What they don’t see is the predator lurking beneath him. A step sister is someone he never wanted. That is until he saw her.



Alaine’s innocence and intelligence calls out to him and he can’t help but be attracted to her in the first place. That is when he knows that his other brothers have somewhat of a minor relationship with her too aand it’s all a big mess. The book ends on a cliffhanger and had me desperate for wanting more from this story!

I want the next book so desperately I can’t even tell you guys! The story is marvelous and It seems like any amount of praise for this book will be less! A definite recommendation to all the dark romance lovers out there ! If you are into RH romance with themes like secret cults and lots of twists and turns , then this is your book to pick ASAP!




Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Bookbub | My Blog

[Heartofhomesteadreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

RELEASING OCTOBER 21st, 2020

“Little Bird”

Wolf is a riveting read that will keep you wanting more. As soon as I started this book there was no way I was putting it down. I have read many mafia romances but this one takes the cake. It is very unique with a new spin on the typical mafia type books.

Alaina hasn’t seen her dad since she was young, which leads her mom to push back and leave her at a boarding school. She has her cousins with her, and learns to accept that her mom doesn't want to be around. One day she gets a call from her mom after over 10 years asking to spend time with her over the summer and she jumps at the chance, but all is not what it seems.

There are many secrets at play at the Summer Knoll Estate. Question is: What has she gotten herself into? Who are these brothers? Lastly, who is her dad?

This book left a lot up in the air and had a few surprises along the way. Looking forward to getting the next book RUSH, in my hands! Warning: This book ends in a cliffhanger!!!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope Black is a new author to me and she absolutely killed it with this book! I’m only sorry I didn’t read it sooner.

Alaina unexpectedly moves in with her Mom’s new husband and sons, all of whom are high-ranking in The Brotherhood, the Irish Mafia. Much of this book details Alaina’s character and her relationship with Wolf, one of her soon to be stepbrothers. We also get some world building and background on The Brotherhood and the various key players. There is some mystery, twist and turns, and definitely something fishy going on with Alaina’s Mom and her new husband. I’m also thinking that Alaina’s Father somehow plays a key role.

This book was definitely a slow-build but there is some amazing chemistry between Alaina and the brothers and I’m looking forward to more steam (fingers crossed!) in the next book. Incredible start to the series and onto the next book!

[Melluvsbooks]

DNF - like watching paint peel 😴😴😴😴

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read a mafia romance in forever so this was a good return. It was much more of a slow burn and not nearly as spicy as I was expecting, but it all added to the growing tension between Alaina and the guys. I'm also a sucker for the step-brothers trope, it's one of my favorites. The beginning was a lot of set up for the series and I have so many questions. So much happened in the last third of the book, I couldn't stop listening. Time to dive in to book two now!

[thehotmesslibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wolf is book one in the new ‘The Brotherhood’ series by Penelope Black. The story is a fast paced read and focuses on Alaina who although having a complicated relationship with her mother, is all too willing to go and spend the summer with her in the guise of spending time together and wanting to build a relationship. The only problem is that her mother seems to love dropping bombshells on Alaina such as having a new fiancée, living in a huge mansion and jetting off somewhere as soon as Alaina arrives…..oh and she will also have three new step-brothers once her mum is married.

I really loved the beginning of this book where we saw Alaina graduation from her boarding school with her two female twin cousins (who are hilarious), singing in a bar, meeting a random stranger and just trying to be her best self. She is then thrust into a life where there are so many secrets it’s hard for her to keep track. The biggest secret is whether or not her new family are part of the ‘mafia’. Alaina certainly has an inner strength and that can be seen when she takes on Wolf and his brothers. Although the book is mainly about the development of Alaina and Wolf’s relationship, we see the start of Alaina’s relationship with Rush and Sully…..with some huge twists thrown into the mix to keep you guessing and some rather steamy scenes between Alaina and Wolf.

Now onto Wolf! I love these bad boy type characters who have redeeming qualities. Not only is he tattooed, super sexy and at times a larrikin, he has an enormous bond with his brothers and father which transcends throughout the whole story. Even though he is suspicious of Alaina to begin with, he has an intense attraction to her which he hasn’t felt before and at times throughout the book we see that it makes him nervous.

There is a lot going on in this book and it is going to keep you guessing and leave you with a huge cliff-hanger at the end! But you’re going to love it. The book is certainly a different twist on the RH, mafia style books that are out right now.

ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review. All opinions are my own. 😊

More of my reviews can be found on my blog: http://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com

[Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! I thought it was a different kind of set up for RH and i really liked that it was different, and it seems like we’ll get a book for each guy to be the main focus on?

All the characters were interesting, the guys especially. Wolf had a lot of personality you could see on the page, as well as Rush, and even the little we saw of Sully. Alaina though, i do hope we get a little more from her because there were a few times that I couldn’t tell what exactly it was about her that had them in a twist. I do feel for her emotionally a few times, though I couldn’t understand why she was allowed to leave the house close to the end when they were on lockdown!

This is pretty fast paced. It almost felt like instalove or else I’m not sure of the timeline, because it felt like a matter of just a few days and Wolf and Alaina were all over each other. Their time together was really sweet (at certain points, when he wasn’t being a jerk).

This is going to be a very intriguing series! I think there are a ton of things we have no idea about, but I feel like I saw some breadcrumbs so I have some theories. I’m excited to see if I’m going to be right! Def worth a read!!

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and the characters. Even though many of the plot lines are similar to other series, I think the author did a good job of making this story and characters her own. The heroine is very sheltered having gone to an all girls school all her life. I actually really liked her and her personality. She's brave and a wildcat at times. There was a lot of build up in this story regarding the heroine and her mother's background. After her father left years ago, her mother treated her worse than trash. Shipped her away to school and honestly hasn't seemed to care about her since. Which is why it's so odd she makes the heroine 'come home.' I would like answers and to find out more about their mysterious background. I'm more intrigued by that than I even am the guys' being in the mafia lol. Looking forward to the next book!

[Christy Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!!

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started this book but it wasnt this! Yes, I did have an idea what was coming when it came to the brothers but I didnt see that plot twist! I have so many questions I need answers to like yesterday!! I cannot wait to see what happens next! I already love these guys so much!!!

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea why this book has a 4 star rating. I pushed so hard to read and finally gave up at 85%. Where the hell is this author going? Is it supposed to be romance, Mafia, or a 3 way? Why the hell is this girl super emotional? She catches feelings like it's flyers thrown in the wind smacking her in the face. Terrible

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an opener to a new series. This book gives a whole different take on reverse harem and the taboo of step siblings. It’s a slow burn that has left me with so many unanswered questions and a ton of theories currently spinning in my mind. I cannot wait for the next book in the series so I can get some answers and learn more about these brothers.

Book one mainly focuses on Wolf and Alaina but we do meet the other brothers Rush and Sully. I had a feeling I knew who one of them was to Alaina but the other snuck and surprised me. Alaina is quite an innocent character with family issues, she is threw into the Irish mob life unknowingly but I’ve got a feeling she is going to turn out to be one badass character. Wolf is definitely the sexy alpha mail and currently my favourite brother, although that may change when we get to read more in this series.

It’s not often a cliffhanger or a series excites me but this one definitely has and I can’t wait for book 2!

[Espresso Patronum (Giselle Anne) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1//5
𝑸𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔:
•Reverse Harem
•Mafia romance
•Dark contemporary
☘️
I want to preface this review by confessing 2 things: 1) I read these while I had COVID and 2) I do not like reverse harem books. I just don’t, I’m (not) sorry. Anywayyyyy…. I don't understand the positive review. What book did y'all read? Where is the plot? Where is it? I couldn’t find it. It was non-existent. I found myself skimming through a few of the chapters just to find something, anything, to read and hold my attention to. The storyline was alright, I get the authors idea but the execution was terrible. There were few inconsistencies throughout - spelling, grammar, etc. and I get it, I write like shit, but I’m also not an author.
🥃
The whole thing read like a Wattpad entry. I picked this up expecting some “never before read” spice and really found it was more like reading a synopsis for a PG13 movie. The romance, plot and spice were lacking, with most books of this genre there is always one or the other, this had neither. The writing style is slow and forced. The characters are not believable or likable.
🙅🏻‍♀️
“Wolf” was the first installment that was probably the most boring, it’s described as reverse harem but literally nothing happens in the 1st book and it ends off on a cliff hanger… which leads us to “Rush” which was just extremely slow and sorely lacking.

[Gina Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Red" "Little Bird"

This is my first time reading Penelope Black. And i was not disappointed. I was glued to every page. I love Mafia romances but sometimes they can become the same. This one is different. Its a different storyline that I absolutely loved. Yes she meets 3 men but theres a twist, she didnt realize she has history with 2 of them prior... This story had alot of twists and turns and i loved that it surprised me. It will keep you entertained and totally engrossed. But the ending leaves me with so many questions...Who is her dad? What is her mom hiding? and the 3 guys that are brothers(her possible step-brothers?) in everything but blood. Will she survive knowing the brotherhood? I love that it was so interesting that i almost thru my computer at that ending..It does end on a cliffhanger but you will not be sorry when you read this story. I started it and did not put it down until I finished it...

I cant wait until RUSH. This is a slow-burn although you can pretty much cut the tension with a knife but i think that will change in upcoming books..READ THIS, you will not be disappointed.

[R.E. Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ive heard so much hype about this series, and book 1 did not disappoint! Where can I get my hands on wolf? Yuuuum! It's rare I enjoy Mafia books, but this has me absolutely hooked!!! Diving straight into book 2!

[Cheria · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW 😍 What an amazing debut! Slow Burn RH with Irish mafia plus step brothers, lots of mystery and secrets, dropped clues but also WTF is going on 🤯😱

I picked up this book as a rec from a friend, though really hearing RH with Irish mafia plus step brothers 👀🖤🔥🖤 Yeah, I'm in. This is a slow burn RH, where the pacing to the smexy stuff is a simmering burn up to the heat. But this is definitely for mature readers and not YA. Shit. If it's this hot with clothes on, I can't wait to see the inferno to come 🔥🔥🔥

Alaina is sweet natured, full of heart and soul, but not quite having a full life. She has an amazing pair of best friends who are cousins and classmates, and I seriously loved their relationship. At first I was worried that it might feel too juvenile for my reading tastes, but it just felt warm and fun and heart felt 💖 I also think all three have a bit of a firecracker inside of them that will be awesome to see.

I LOVE love love all of the singing and dancing and playlists 🎤🎶 Aside from feeling fun and free-spirited, it went a long way to getting to know Alaina. And while I feel like I'm still getting to know her (this is just book 1), she's written in way that's multi-faceted yet not trying to be 'all the things'. There are other moments of Alaina feeling vulnerable, insecure, overthinking, or shedding tears from a variety of underlying emotions that I found highly relatable. I absolutely love it when FMCs can show courage, perserverance, vulnerability, and tears are not a weakness.

The story really picked up for me once Alaina arrives in Boston and meets the first of her soon-to-be step brothers. The pacing of the story overall felt good -- once I was gripped it was really hard to put down and I had to hold myself back from rushing my read.

"It sure doesn’t feel like I’m standing in Boston. It feels like I’m in some sort of fairy tale. If fairy tales came with hot guys with tattoos and bad attitudes who drive too fast."

The brothers by adoption and bond - Wolf, Rush, Sully - have grown up in a different world with The Brotherhood and they have the ink, scars, and intimidating looks to show that to the world. Alaina is brought into their world by way of her mother's new betrothal to their father. There's an instant spark connection between Alaina and the brothers that they don't quite understand but just feels right... But can the sweet Alaina fit into their world? Or has she always belonged?

I loved having the Multi-POV. This book was told mostly in Dual-POV by Alaina and Wolf, but we do get some additional POVs by Rush and Sully. My guess is that the next book will have more from Rush's POV based on title name, but that's just a guess. Each brother is his own brand of scary yet delicious asshole H; each unique and layered and impossible not to fall for. There's definitely more to them, and this is only the start. I can't wait to see more of these characters and how they develop over the story and in their relationships.

[Ashley Estep The Art of Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wolf is my first book from Penelope Black and I'm completely hooked. Wolf and Aliana's story is addicting.

Aliana kisses a stranger and the next morning gets a call from her mother to spend the summer with her and meet her new family. Her mother got married and one of her stepbrothers will pick her up from the train station. Now I was completely thinking that her stranger from the night before would be her stepbrother but Wolf is not him.

Wolf Fitzgerald is tall, dark, handsome and deadly. And Aliana is going to bring the Fitzgerald brothers to their knees. She's a feisty redhead that lives up to her hair color. As time goes on and secrets come out its clear so many things are not as they seem.

Every page had me needing more and reading faster. There were so many answers I needed. Black delivered a fast paced, action packed book that I couldn't get enough of.

And let's talk about that ending, the cliffhanger I didn't know was going to happen. This may be the only part of the book I didn't like. I love a good cliffhanger but I feel it should have said somewhere it was a cliffhanger. All in all 5 stars for Black and Wolf and I can't wait to start Rush!

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read and good start to this new series. Alaina and her cousins are quite the girl squad having regular performances at their neighborhood Irish pub. They’re definitely people you could see yourself hanging out with. These guys of The Brotherhood, Cormac Fitzgerald’s sons, have been operating as a unit for a long time and nothing comes between them. Each guy of the group is very interesting and intriguing in his own way, but I’m excited for book 2 to see each of the guys hopefully shine as individuals a bit more. With the cliffhanger this one ended on, I’ll be back because I need to know what happens next.

[Jackie Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Alaina is such a sweet character. I loved the bond that she has with her cousins Mary and Maddison. It is great to witness how the author is able to tease us with the plot and all the characters. She brings them to life and makes you care about each one. I loved all the side characters as much as the main ones such as Wold, Rush, and Sully. I cant wait to read the next book in the series and see if some of the questions I have will be answered. I definitely recommend this book.

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this slow burn RH book about Alaina and her 3 soon to be step brothers. We really got a chance to get to know these characters and get invested in the mystery of this story. There were high levels of suspense as we watched these guys get to know each other and build their attraction and someone tries to get to them. Really enjoyed the start of this series and I need to know after that action packed ending what is going to happen next.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read and it flew by! I believe Black is a new author and she's already learning how to pull a reader in and make them want more. Alaina is a fun main character, she's pretty confident in general but occasionally gets self conscious. I liked her close relationship with her cousins and how strongly she cared for her family.

The romance may have focused more of Wolf in this book, but the foundation is laid for Rush and Sully too. I can't wait to see them all together because these guys are intense and I love it.

The plot may not be that original, but I found it enjoyable and easy to sink into. Diving into book two immediately!

[BLuvsBooks]

Not for me

[alli☀️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75