Cruel Love (Hidden Valley Elite Book 6) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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

Cruel Love is Book Six in the Hidden Valley Elite series. This book continues with Aspen and Phoenix’s story, so I highly recommend reading the books Cruel Start and Cruel Hate prior to reading this one. Without reading those books prior to this one you will not understand the characters or their backstory. The story starts with a bang that will immediately draw you into the story and hook you until the end. After a horrific car accident Phoenix was hospitalized and is suffering from memory loss. He wakes up to discover a beautiful blonde girl by his bedside but has no recollection of who she is. Phoenix not only does not know who Aspen is but has no memory that he is the father to her unborn baby. In his mind Phoenix is only fourteen years old and has suffered a head injury incurred during a football game. Aspen is devastated that Phoenix does not remember her or that she is pregnant with his child. She fears that she will be left to raise their baby on her own. Everyone is walking on eggshells around Phoenix for fear that they will set his recovery back, but Aspen does not want to hide the pregnancy from him. The car accident has changed the entire dynamic of their relationship and complicates matters even farther. Will Phoenix remember who Aspen is? Will Aspen be left to raise their baby on her own?

This story immediately drew me in from the first few pages and kept me riveted until the end. Phoenix risked his life to save the lives of Aspen and their unborn child. In doing so, the accident has left him suffering from amnesia and he no longer knows who Aspen is or that she is pregnant with his child. It was an interesting dynamic as both Phoenix and Aspen’s lives were changed by that fateful accident. Phoenix wakes up a different person than the bully he was before. Aspen fears setting back his recovery but eventually her pregnancy will be noticeable and will be impossible to hide. Both characters are forced to make some difficult choices and navigate through numerous challenges as they fight for themselves and their unborn child. It was an intense rollercoaster ride of love, loss, tragedy, unplanned pregnancy, drama, lust, passion, secrets, lies, betrayal, angst, and drama galore. I highly recommend this book!

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