Cruel Start (Hidden Valley Elite) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Shea Gilkerson 7/3/23

Cruel Start by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This novella is technically book 4.5 in the Hidden Valley Elite series. While it is the very first part of Phoenix and Aspen’s story, it’s so much better to read the others, first. I’ve really grown to love Phoenix’s character throughout them, which makes me even more excited to read his arc.

Phoenix eats, sleeps, and breathes football. He has always stuck to the plan – and now that he’s graduated high school, the next step is Thane, which will lead him to the NFL – like his dad. It’s time to buckle down and not let anything distract him once he starts college, but until that first day…it’s SUMMER. That means drinking, partying, one night stands….and Aspen.

Aspen is struggling. Life in general is hard. Family garbage, work life, just…planning for the future. When she gets a chance to sneak away and dive in the cove, she never misses an opportunity. That’s where she meets Phoenix and they leave the world behind for a night. However, in the greatest cherry on top ever, Aspen becomes pregnant.

Their chemistry is out of this world, but this is exactly what Phoenix DID NOT want. He doesn’t know how to be a father, he never had one of his own around. He wanted to have one last summer of recklessness and relaxation until Thane in the fall, and now he’s playing a balancing act. Aspen’s hormones are leading her wildly along through many stages in an already stressful life. These two together are electric, the cliffhanger has me chomping at the bit for book five, and this read is over in a heartbeat.

Excited to read about the group together at Thane in the next book!

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