Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Ayla Phipps

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

The accident took every moment they had but gave them everything they needed and more. What an incredible finale to Phoenix and Aspen’s duet. As always, the talented Isla Vaughn takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions, happy, sad, angry, devastated and keeps going without warning. This book picks up one month after the events of the first half of the duet, Cruel Hate.
Phoenix has been in a medically induced coma to help his mind and body heal as much as possible before he woke up. Aspen other than minor bumps and bruises is okay and so is the baby, much to her father’s dismay. Just when things seem to be the darkest Phoenix wakes up, and for a moment everyone is happy until reality sets in. Phoenix thinks he is fourteen years old and a freshman in high school, but still every fiber of his being is drawn to Aspen. With his defenses out of the way the door is opened wide for them to get to know each other without attitudes or fears getting in the way. Information starts to seep through when Jillian, yes, the punt bunny returns, with some vengeance and spills the beans about Aspen being pregnant. Shane’s mysteries in the first book get some insight when he lets out that Grandad has been running him to death with errands for the family business. Reckless ideas of reconciliation with their father come to light and so much more.
How will Phoenix get his memories back? Without their defenses can Aspen and Phoenix finally find the balance they need? While the world of the Hidden Valley Elite is the same, essentially, the characters go on so many journeys throughout this book. Phoenix loses his defenses and Aspen drops hers to let him in. Knowing that we are always promised a happy ending at the end of each duet keeps me counting down the days to each new entry to find out what will happen next and how it will all end. There are no perfectly wrapped little packages here, the author makes sure the characters fight for what they want, nothing is handed over easily. More so, the mystery, suspense, and growth never end. My lord the way she set up the final duet, Shane’s story will finally be revealed part one, Wicked Games, October 26th, 2023.

View all my reviews