Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite Book 5) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Jessica Stone

Cruel Hate: A College Sports Romance by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cruel Hate (Hidden Valley Elite Book 5) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Jessica Stone

First off, if you haven’t read the book before this, go back and read Cruel Start, and if you have the time the other few books before this one. Ok with that being said, these books are soooo good, they have me in a choke hold.
I’m not super big on sports romance that take place heavily revolving around said sports, and this book has the perfect amount of sports romance and enough angst, heat and drama to keep it fun and entertaining for me.

Phoenix is my best and worst nightmare, he just wants to do what’s best for him, his twin, mom and cousins, to have a good life and succeed, but man, he can be such a moody butthole about everything. I’m in love with his kind protective nature, that he rarely lets show besides to those closest to him and I hate how he hides so much behind the angry macho guy thing. His character development for me in this book was wonderful to see, he’s blossoming. But he still has some growing to do.

Aspen, Aspen, Aspen, my starving little pregnant artist. Aspens one unlucky girl, the night she decides to lose her V card she gets pregnant, jezze. Pro girl can’t catch a break, all she wants to do is pursue he passions with her sister and go to college, a relationship and unexpected pregnancy is the last thing she needs.

So what does this author throw into this mix, a fake relationship, yesssss start the popcorn and buckle up because it’s a bumpy ride with these too. I’ll warn you though, unlike with Cole and Damon, Phoniex’s book is a slow burn, but like the other books in this series, this story ends with a cliffhanger that has me dying to see how she ends out Aspen and Phoniex’s story. Please give this series a shot, seriously, you will not be disappointed.

Cruel Hate, Hidden Valley Elite Series, Isla Vaughn, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, New Adult, Romance, Jessica Stone, September 2023

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