This book had some very frustrating moments. While I enjoyed the back and forth time hop, I found Lulu to be very naive and unlikable. If something seems to be too good to be true, it usually is; in the case of Nick I truly don't know how she could have fallen for all of his lies and deceit. The only thing that shocked me was the end, and finding out what actually became of Maggie, Duncan, and Iyla. This one did keep me on my toes and overall it was okay, but it's not one I will be recommending. Thank you, NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jane Renshaw for the opportunity to read this one in exchange for an honest review.

The perspectives of this book (the step-mother, Maggie, and wife, Lulu) as told during totally different time periods (more than 20 years apart) were really engaging to me and well done. Al though the ending wasn't altogether a jaw-dropping surprise for me, the suspense building up to it had me racing to finish the book. The characters were interesting (maybe a tad exaggerated) and the story unfolds beautifully with its thrilling twists. My first by Jane Renshaw but definitely not my last. #netgalley #thestepson

Amazing read! Wow! With someone that has stepsons I had a difficult time digesting how Maggie could make the decision she did. I mean, she could have just left?! But I Was struggling wondering who’s version of events was reality! And the last twist had me shocked!! 10/10 recommend!!!

This one was interesting. Domestic thriller with a different kind of step son. It is not about a child, which makes it even more creepier

I threw in the towel. There is more profanity than plot. I'm not waiting for the newborn's first word of F

The story is moving so slow. It does read without the profanity as a B-movie.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review The Stepson, I'm sorry it didn't work out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audio copy of The Stepson in exchange for an honest review.

After a whirlwind six months psychotherapist Lulu has just married the man of her dreams, Nick. Nick has had it rough; as a teenager his mother fell down a flight of stairs to her death, his father remarried quickly and began a new family. One night when he returns for an outing he discovers his beloved father, "evil" stepmother and new baby sister have vanished. No-one knows what happened to the three people but Nick has always suspected that his step mother murdered his father and fled. Now he that is married to someone he loves and must be over protective of Lulu so no harm comes her way.
Maggie is a reformed juvenile delinquent who fell in love with an older man with a tragic past and a son who doesn't seem right. Her stepson constantly tortures her but whenever he is caught he acts so innocent that no one believes he did anything wrong. When he starts hurting her baby girl she knows it is only a matter of time until he could kill them both.

The story is told in duel perspectives from Lulu in current time and Maggie from 1997. I liked the unknown back and forth of what really happened to the family, who was crazy enough to murder Maggie or Nick? The story is fast paced and kept my attention has some twist (some predictable) with a satisfying ending even if a tad far fetched. While none of the characters are exactly likeable it works well for Nick and Maggie. Overall this is a fun mystery I would recommend checking out.
I have the audio version read by Narrated by Mhairi Morrison; Katherine Littrell; Joshua Manning who all did a great job and kept the pace of the story humming along.

I loved the narrator with her accent. I smiled everytime she described something as "Bonny" The plot switched between two time lines. At first, I was confused. After I got used to the two timeliness, the book flowed very well.
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had actually read the words instead of listening.

This is a twisty story. Nick was traumatized as a child when his family, father, step-mother and sister all disappeared. Now, as an adult, he is overprotective of his wife and insists she carry pepper spray and stay in contact with him. His wife has had enough and insists they go back to the "scene of the crime" and relive or retell the story and see if they can alleviate his fears. What we have is a dual telling of this story and ultimate chilling climax.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* uhhhh can someone say yikes? wouldn't mind buying this, would recommend

This book was insane!!! It took me a little while to get into the book and become familiar with the characters. My mind was racing trying to figure out what was going on or what would happen next! This book will get your heart racing

Lulu has a career she loves and has found the man of her dreams in her husband, Nick. She’s had a whirlwind romance with Nick and has only known him for a number of months.

When Nick was 16, his family disappeared without a trace when he was away on a day trip. He always blamed his stepmother for what happened to his family and is overprotective of Lulu as a result. She feels that due to his trauma it might be best to return to his childhood home so that he can confront the demons that still haunt him from his past. What other demons will be unleashed as a result?

This novel had twists and turns until the very end, some expected but others not. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia #TheStepson

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the different narrators and their accents were spot on! It was very easy to listen to their voices and the story held my attention the entire time. There were a few parts that made me so mad I wanted to throw my phone and smack Lulu but I liked how it was all wrapped up in the end! I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes warped stories about family dysfunction, relationships with psychos, and all the twists to go along with it!

Without giving any spoilers, I’ll just say that even though there weren’t any twists I didn’t see coming, I enjoyed watching the full story come together piece by piece. I recommend The Stepson to domestic thriller fans.

I am a library associate and received an advance copy from #NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't get into this book. I tried. I even started it over twice and just couldn't do it. The narrator was horrible. I don't know if it was her narration or the story itself, but I didn't like the audiobook. That being said, I will check it out in print to see if I enjoy it more.

One star.

Ever read a book where you think you can guess what's going on, but keep waiting for the big reveal that will turn the seemingly obvious on its head? I won't spoil it, but if you love twists and thrills, this is not the book for you.

As well, if you need to find a character to relate to, just one character you can dig into and think "yeah, I'd be freaking out too" or "sure, why wouldn't she assume that?", again, this is not the book for you. I couldn't find anything to appreciate about oh-so-naïve Lulu the therapist's character. As for her new hubs, Nick: UGH. Everyone was written so predictably, like they were intended to be caricatures. I gave up trying to care, and felt exasperated for the entire second half of the book as they struggled with simply ridiculous situations and mindsets.

The audio narration was surprisingly great for such a meh book. I enjoyed how well all the different accents and distinct characters were done, even when what they were saying was making my eyes roll.

A big thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. I wish I could say I enjoyed it, but honestly, it was such a predictable letdown.

I absolutely loved the pace of this book. I was fully immersed in the story and stayed intrigued by the plot and characters.
Having two timelines and perspectives link through Nick was a very interesting way of writing the story.
While I enjoyed the ending I was not surprised at all by it. That is what caused me to drop off a star.

I’m sorry to say this was a struggle for me right from the start. I had a hard time with the narrators. And could not connect to the storyline as a I was so distracted by the narration. Some books are better read than listen to. This might be one of those.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a creepy read! Nick was so twisted and had me believing he was a victim for so long, but his character was very well written to keep the reader guessing. This was a very exciting read and held my attention throughout the whole experience.

I want to give this book 5 stars, but it stressed me out way too much. Everyone had an excuse for all the crazy activities that were happening. I'm fine with books being far fetched, but this was so infuriating. There is no way people would turn a blind eye to this stuff. However, I couldn't stop reading it and it gave me all of the emotions this book intended for the reader to have.

This book was so well written and engaging. The characters were spot on, minus some people being ignorant.

I can't wait to read Jane Renshaws' next book!

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book is told from multiple points of view. There is the stepmom, Maggie and the new wife, Lulu. You hear things from both points of view. You're not quite sure who to believe or who is telling the truth. Both points of view revolve around Nick the stepson/husband. In these stories, Nick is both the evil stepson who does all these heinous things and the lovable husband.

This book made me so mad. I thought it was going to be another book like “the push”. I was ready to throw this book out my window into traffic. I was so mad for the stepmom. No one believed her. That boy burned her hand. Pushed her daughter, they're into traffic, well almost into traffic. And that's what it took. I was so frustrated. The end of the book, I was thinking, are they going to gear up for a second book. They're setting it up for a series. But that epilogue!!! It totally saved this book from being a 2-Star book. I would have been so upset if they had built these characters up just to let them down at the very end, thank God for that epilogue.

Also, a million kudos to the narrators of this book you guys did an outstanding job you could feel the frustration you could feel the hatred and the terror coming through! Amazing Work, you guys did great!!

Thank you, Netgalley & Dreamscape Media for this ARC audiobook copy
Thank you, Jane Renshaw for this crazy rollercoaster of a book
Thank you, to Mhairi Morrison, Katherine Littrell, & Joshua Manning for lending your voices to this book! What a ride you took us on! A million standing ovations to you all.