Is 'Collection-Bred Me' A Common Theme In Stepfamily Stories?

Rhea Ravelle, heiress of a powerful and influential family, goes against her family's wishes and cuts ties with them. She chooses to marry Carter Jamison, a man with a failing career and two children born out of wedlock. For six years, she raises his children as if they were her own and helps Carter rebuild his crumbling business. Under her care, the kids grow into kind, well-mannered little stars, and Carter's company finally makes it big and goes public. But right at the celebration marking his entry into high society, the biological mother of his two children suddenly shows up. And Carter, who is usually so calm, completely loses it. He begs the woman to stay, making Rhea the laughingstock of the entire city. That night, he doesn't come home. Instead, he takes the children and runs straight back to his old flame, playing house as a happy family. Soon after, Carter files for divorce. "Thanks for everything, Rhea. But the kids need their birth mother." The children's mother also says, "Thank you for taking care of them all these years. But a stepmother will never compare to a birth mother." So blood beats love? If that's how it is, then she's done playing stepmother. However, the children reject their birth mother flat-out, and they don't want Carter either. They declare, "Rhea is our only mom! If you're getting divorced, then we're going wherever she goes!"

The plan was simple: move in with my mom, play the dutiful daughter, and count down the days until I could escape back to my real life. I didn’t expect my first night out to end in the parking lot being fucked by a silver fox who looked at me like I was his favorite sin. I thought it was a one-night mistake. A filthy, beautiful secret I’d take to my grave. Until the next morning, when I met my mom’s new husband... and he was him. Now, every family breakfast is a slow-motion panic attack. Every glance across the dinner table is a reminder of his hands on my skin. I can’t tell my mom the truth, but the deeper I sink into the Schmidt estate, the darker the truth becomes. Because in this house, there are no rules. There is no "mine" or "yours." There is only ours. I thought I was falling for a man. I didn’t realize I was being claimed by a bloodline. It turns out I don’t have a husband... I have masters. And they aren't finished sharing.

Since her father passed away ten years ago, Lexi Mitchell has lived a simple life with her mother. As Lexi's 18th birthday approached, her mother told her that she planned to remarry. Lexi readily supported her decision and was happy for her mother, Jessica. Weeks later, Lexi moved to a new pack with her mother, and besides her stepfather, Lexi met two familiar faces, Nolan and Nathaniel. The two bad-boy brothers who used to bully Lexi in school turned out to be her stepbrothers.

Ivy Reynolds moved to the Twilight pack due to her mom's job transfer. As a half-wolf, she was isolated by the other wolves. When the important prom came, no one would like to be her date. Her biggest bully swore to make her a huge joke. Not to fail her mother's expectations, Ivy gathered her courage and called a mysterious line. She finally got herself a prom date Sean Harris who was more charming than she imagined. They spent a sweet night together and Sean confessed that they were fate mates. However, neither of them expected to move under the same roof. Their parents had just got married and they turned out to be stepbrother and stepsister!

Jane Winters moves to Los Avalos with her mother, Sarah, who is getting married to the Alpha, Kyle Heiden. Once there, Jane realizes that her new stepbrothers are the two boys who used to bully her. They had lived with their mother for two semesters and had made Jane's life hell. Now faced with having to live in the same house as them, Jane makes two new friends. Freya is bubbly and just what Jane needs. Sebastian likes her as she is and wants more than just friendship. When Jane turns eighteen she realizes that her mates are Reid and Ryan Heiden, her stepbrothers and bullies. Jane is convinced they're playing a mean trick on her when they tell her they want her. Follow Jane's story as she stumbles through awkward teenage phases, tries to sort reality from fantasy with her twin mates and Sebastian's declaration of love. Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys? Will Jane make the right choice? Who will she choose?

“What the fuck, Jace?!” One dinner. One secret. And suddenly, the boy I’ve loved for three years is staring at me like I’ve betrayed him. Because the man my mother is finally happy with–the man who treats her like she matters—just happens to be his father. Now Jace is furious. Obsessed. Unforgiving. He thinks I knew, that I kept this twisted truth hidden from him. I didn’t. But try telling that to the storm in his eyes, the rage in his voice, the way he corners me and demands answers like my heart isn’t already breaking. For my mom, I should let go. She deserves her fairytale, and if that means cutting Jace out of my life, then I’ll do it—even if it feels like tearing my chest open. But Jace? He refuses. “Walk away from me, Jae,” he swears, “and I’ll burn it all down. Your mom’s happiness. My dad’s engagement. Every ounce of peace you think you’ll have.” Because to Jace, I’m not just his girlfriend. I’m his obsession. His possession. His everything. And he’ll set the whole world on fire before he lets me go. … An obsessive boyfriend who would rather destroy everything than see the girl he loves as his stepsister. And a girl who wants nothing more than to protect her mother’s happiness, even if it costs her own. However, is the sacrifice worth it?