Leigh's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 Stepbrother Dearest was one of my favorite books. So to find that Penelope Ward had written a story that veers off from that book, I couldn't contain my excitement. 
 Ok. Let's be honest. Just the fact that it was a book by Penelope Ward made it so that I couldn't contain my excitement. But knowing I may see Elec again made it ever better. 
 Neighbor Dearest focuses on Chelsea. Readers of Stepbrother Dearest will remember her as the girlfriend of Elec's with whom he broke up in order to find his happily ever after with Greta. Chelsea was a sympathetic character, and while I rooted for Greta and Elec to wind up together, I couldn't help but feel badly for her. She was sweet and kind and didn't deserve to have her heart broken. Neighbor Dearest picks up where Stepbrother left off and finds Chelsea trying to recover from her heartbreak, to find love again, and change her story. 
 Enter sexy, beanie-wearing, artsy, nextdoor neighbor Damien, with his adorable dogs (the Double D's), stalker tendencies and his super-sonic hearing. 
 I have to say that I loved Chelsea and Damien together. I adored the friendship that arose between them, I loved the caring way that Damien looked out for Chelsea despite his resistance to a relationship, I salivated over the tension that grew, and I felt for both of them and the idea that fate and fear would hold them apart. Neighbor Dearest was tender and dirty and so heart-breakingly sweet that I never wanted it to end. 
 What I love about Penelope Ward's books are her heroes. They are not over the top. They are not cruel or petty or caricatures of men, but good decent guys. They don't play fast and loose with feelings, they don't take love for granted, and they love with all their hearts. My heart literally aches when I read her books, both for her characters and the situations in which they find themselves. This story was no different, and it was so worth the night of sleep I lost to finish it. 
 Neighbor Dearest was one of those books that once you start, you can't get out of your head. The characters became friends and I felt emotionally invested in their relationship. I felt their fears and their highs and lows and loved the story being wrapped up in a nice little bow at the end. I enjoyed getting a small glimpse of Elec again and being teased with the hope of Chelsea's sister getting her own book, but most of all, I enjoyed my escape into the world of Penelope Ward and her ability to tell one downright amazing story. 
 Review copy provided for an honest review.