The Stepbrother: Red's Tavern Book 5 by Raleigh Ruebins

 I have been waiting the entire Red's Tavern series for Sam to find his HEA and it was totally worth the wait when you read The Stepbrother!

From the Author:

Sam’s guide to summer:

Step 1: Get stuck on an epic family road trip with your straight, cocky, filthy-rich stepbrother.

Step 2: Pretend he didn’t kiss you on the first night of the trip.

In high school, Fox was my rival. My new stepbrother was already a career-obsessed city boy, and I was a proud small-town theater geek. I said good riddance when his cocky ass finally moved to the big city, leaving us behind.

But now after years apart, Fox agreed to come on our big family road trip.

And he’s definitely not a teenager anymore.

We’re sharing way more than just an RV. I’m closer to Fox than I’ve ever been before--camping, hiking, and swimming in the summer heat. I’ve grown out of my acne and glasses phase, and I’m not afraid to talk back to him. But I’m also getting lost in his eyes. When he kisses me, I’m not sure if I’d rather strangle him or push him into bed.

...But I want his lips on mine again.

Even though I should know better.

Fox has secrets, too. He’s been through hell, and I’m discovering the sensitive man behind his exterior. He takes me seriously, when everybody else sees me as a boy-crazy gym bunny in a tank top. But when Fox finally starts to win my heart, he gets an irresistible job offer back in NYC.

But it doesn’t matter.

It’s not like I was falling in love with my damn stepbrother, anyway. Right?

My Review:

Sam has always been one of my favourite characters in the Red's Tavern series - so lost and yet so hopeful, so I was excited when I found out that he's getting his HEA and surprised and delighted when it turns out to be his high school nemesis and stepbrother, Fox!

Honestly, I think this book can be read standalone if you need to - the characters from Red's Tavern have only mild impacts on the story, since so much of it takes place on their epic RV adventure, but in a way that's what makes this book even better - you take both Sam and Fox out of their natural habitats and sparks fly!

The Stepbrother has the right balance of sweet, heat, funny and poignant to keep you reading from beginning to end!  It's currently available on KU too!