Quick read as a lead in to the book Savage Lies. This story ends on a cliffhanger. When I started reading it, I was a bit iffy about it. I didn’t really feel any kind of real connection to Riley’s character. But things got more interesting when Cole’s character was introduced. The things going on in his life kept the pace of the book going to keep me interested enough to finish it. And while the events toward the end of the story are predictable, if I read through the series, it’ll be because I need to know how things play out between him and his father. Overall, a good read.
This was a short and sweet novella. It’s getting us set up for the full series that is the author is going to be releasing. I am here for it. I can’t wait to see where the characters go.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Ashley Johnsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAshley Johnson2023-02-06 15:50:322023-02-08 12:23:21Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Ashley Johnson
Savage Start was such an amazing read. This author really blew me away with their book. Savage starts was a romance story but it also had some family drama in there. It was for sure a page turner. The author really drew my attention from the very first page. This book was very unpredictable. I would say this book is for 18+ because there are some mature content in it. Amazing job!!
View all my reviews https://www.amazon.com/review/R57RU9GMT2750/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1349198881
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Melissa Finkhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMelissa Fink2023-02-05 08:34:442023-02-08 12:14:02Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Melissa Fink
This was a very interesting prequel. I’m excited to read the full story and see what happens.
Riley and her mom have been moving from place to place without any stability. Riley would love to stay in one place long enough to make friends. We don’t know why they are on the run. They do whatever is necessary to get money to survive on.
Cole and Damen are twins from the right side of the tracks and don’t have any struggles with money but are at odds when it comes to their parents. Their mom is struggling in the relationship with her husband and the boys are caught in the middle. Cole is on his moms side and Daman is on his dads side. This is all causing more friction in the household.
So much happens in this prequel to get me excited the read the story and see how everything comes together or falls apart.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Deb Robinsonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDeb Robinson2023-02-05 01:58:232023-02-08 12:12:27Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Deb Robinson
This was a great 5 star read, being only 50 pages I read it in one sitting. This genre is quickly becoming a favorite for me. The characters were great, you could feel their connection coming off the pages. Riley and Cole definitely come from different sides of the track but money doesn’t always make things better. Of course we end on a cliffhanger, looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I need to see where their story goes. I will warn that 18+ readers are recommended due to the content and some darkness. If you like Bully Romance 1-click and get started today on this great read.
This is a short novella, a prequel to a promising new adult series. Be aware it does end in a cliffhanger that will leave you wanting more. Can I just say wow, I’m so glad I picked this up to read, but I want the rest of the series now because I have to know what happens next to Cole and Riley.
Riley is a quick thinker she’s had to be, as she’s seen and helped with more cons than she wants to admit. Her mom and her have just moved yet again, and Riley is waiting to find out what the new con will be despite her mom telling her they are finally safe from her father and won’t be conning anyone or moving again. She is trying to figure out her new look to blend in when she stumbles onto a party. It’s there she meets Cole, one of the ElITIES of Hidden Valley. Cole isn’t your typical good-looking jock though he pretends to be, while he hides the family drama he is trying to deal with.
This is a fun, fast enemy to lovers and a new adult bully romance that has left me wanting to know more about Riley and Cole. I honestly can’t wait for the rest of the series to come out.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Donyahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngDonya2023-02-04 18:49:372023-02-08 12:09:56Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Donya Pedigo
What a great start to an adult bully romance series. This is Riley and Cole’s beginning of the Enemies to Lovers series that you won’t want to miss out. Riley only knows the world of cons, her mother being the first example. Cole is his own coming to adult world and very opposite from Riley. Setting on both sides of the fence, these two meet and their worlds change. No spoilers to be found. This new to me author perked my interest. Her story is just getting started with these polar opposites. Their lives are just as we were at their age. And the romance is breathtaking as well. The story is not a stand alone and ends with you wanting so much more. I for one can not wait for the next in this series. Caution this is for adults, due to the contents. Enjoy fellow readers!
At only 55 pages, there was a lot missing from this story.
You meet Riley and her mother who have been constantly on the run, moving cities and getting a new identity.
Cole and his brother are dealing with parents who are constantly fighting.
I feel like most of the story was spent on Cole and his mother and the kids shared between him and Riley came and went. I felt the forward momentum of the story was lacking. I hope there is more to the story in the following books.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Allison Davishttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAllison Davis2023-02-03 21:59:002023-02-08 12:05:03Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Allison Davis
I can not wait to see what comes next! I have read many high school bully romances and none of them have left me craving more as much as this book has. I already have a feeling about what could transpire between Riley, Cole and Damon. I have a strong feeling the three are going to be in a strong desire and hate relationship at first and I can’t wait to see it all unfold.
Short but intense This novella introduces Cole and Riley and gives a bit of their background. There are hints of what is to come – family toxicity, romance, bullying and some darker themes. It is a very short taster of the Hidden Valley Elite series and I can’t wait to read more.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Rayne Easthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRayne East2023-02-03 03:02:052023-02-03 09:03:26Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Rayne East
Savage Start is the prequel to the Hidden Valley Elite series and debut novel by Isla Vaughn. It is a very short (50pgs) story that gives a very small taste of what to expect from the rest of the series. It made for an intriguing, quick and easy read. I read it in well under an hour. This is a New Adult (High School) bully romance, although there was very little in the way of romance, bullying, or really much else- as this basically just lays the ground-work for the next instalment/s, giving cause as to why the bullying/enemies to lovers/ angst/ and emotion aspect of the story arises- which I imagine will come in the next instalment/s. The ‘Elites’ are the top of the food chain at the Hidden Valley Elite high school. They are brothers Cole and Damon and their cousins, twin brothers Phoenix and Shane. They are their high schools football stars and every girls wet dream- and they know it. I guess as the series goes on, each of the elites will get their own book/s. This prequel sets us up for Cole and Riley’s story, which is set to continue in the next TWO books- “Savage Lies” (Book #1) and “Savage Truth” (Book #2). This book depicts a toxic family environment, with parental conflict/cheating/yelling matches etc- as well as suicide- darker topics- so this may be triggering for some readers. It ends on a cliffhanger and the story continues in the next book. Happy Reading…
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2023-02-02 22:48:232023-02-03 09:02:50Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Angela Hayes
This quick read gave just enough information for me to be interested in reading the next book in the series in order to find out what happens. Riley and her mother move from town to town…conning their way to survive. They have recently arrived in Santa Monica and her mom promises her that this time will be different. Feeling wary of her mother’s promises, Riley finds herself gathering information and storing it away…just in case. However, a kiss from a stranger puts a wrench in her plans. Cole is caught between enjoying his life as a junior in high school and taking care of his mother’s emotional well-being. He often finds himself comforting his mother while his father is out of town. While at a party, he finds a stranger wandering around…and catches her stealing. Who is this stranger? This story was easy to read in one sitting. The reader gets some good back story and character development. It leaves you with lots of questions that, presumably, will be answered and addressed in the series. Both of these characters seems to have a lot more going on than they let the world see…and I am intrigued as to how their stories will progress!
This is the first book I have read by Isla Vaughn and though it was very short, being the prequel of a new series, I am hooked. It only took me about 2 hours or so to finish. The world the author creates is a very realistic one, the characters feel raw and real in their reactions to things. With a dual perspective of Riley and Cole, Savage Start sets off a whirlwind to come. Riley is new to Santa Monica, along with her mother they have been running from city to city, from character to character since Riley was a year old. Always running from her father never safe until now, or so her mother claims. Cole is a local Elite of Hidden Valley Academy, along with his younger brother and two cousins. Cole’s life seems perfect on the surface, but the façade hides his crumbling family led by his father’s indiscretions. New to the city and a day of travel Riley finds herself walking on the beach before coming up on a house party. Allowing herself a few moments to do a “normal” teen activity she sneaks inside only to get caught stealing. The mystery man disarms her defenses stealing an epic kiss before she flees, but every moment her mind is consumed with fantasies of the kiss and the first guy to ever make her feel the dagger of desire. Is Riley and her mother finally safe? Will the promises she makes come true? Will Cole’s brother ever learn the truth behind their mother’s mental decline? The author is beyond amazing, and I have already got my calendar marked for the release of book 1 in Riley and Cole duet, Savage Lies, March 30th, 2023, I can’t wait to read more about these characters and see where their story leads. The second book Savage Truth, April 27th, 2023, is the conclusion of Riley and Cole’s story with a happy ever after. I can’t wait to go on their journey with them.
<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68042026-savage-start” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672932917l/68042026._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/68042026-savage-start”>Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23199631.Isla_Vaughn”>Isla Vaughn</a><br/> My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5318377575″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /> This was a quick and easy read that will have you feeling all kinds of emotions. Riley has been living her life on the run for years taking up new identities when the situation called for it. Now she and her mother were about to settle for good in Santa Monica but Riley didn’t want to get her hopes up. Cole was living the perfect life, at least that’s what it looked like to those on the outside. When they run into each other at a party their attraction is instant. With all the drama going on in both of their lives will they be able to find happiness? We of course will have to read the rest of the books in the series to find out and I can’t wait! <br/><br/> <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/106111308-charlisa-wahtomy-alba”>View all my reviews</a>
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Charlisa Wahtomy-Albahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCharlisa Wahtomy-Alba2023-02-02 20:07:412023-02-03 09:02:21Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba
This was a really good read! I was pleasantly surprised while reading this, not only because I wasn’t sure what to expect but also because this was a short novella, at only 55 pages. For only 55 pages this author packed a lot of story and content in this novella! This left off on a cliff hanger and there might be a TW for death/suicide if that is a trigger for anyone. But the ending and just the story in general has left me very eager to read the first book in this series! Kudos to the author for a great lead-up story!
Very fast quick read that I couldn’t put down. Riley moving back and forth with her mom changing her appearance in each city. Damon and Cole are dealing with there mom who has mental health problems. A father who is unfaithful. Cole and Riley meet at a party and instant attraction.
This book gave me so much for being a short quick read. I experienced many emotions in this must read prequel. There are some twists and turns. The author gave me enough to sink my teeth into and left me wanting more. I am on the edge of my seat waiting until I can read what this series is going to reveal to us. I can’t wait to find out more about Cole and Riley and hopefully other characters as well. This author pulled me into this story and has me completely enmeshed. I highly recommend this book.
This is a new author to me and this story is a prequel to the Hidden Valley Elite series and I am on edge and this story felt so raw and real! Although this story does end in a cliffhanger….I am feeling a whole LOT of emotion already and I cannot wait to dive into the next book.
Riley is new to town, trying to find her way….and blending in when she can. When she stumbles into a party..she is trying to take a souvenir of some sort….until she gets caught by the handsome, Cole. One sizzling kiss, one moment…all it took for Riley and Cole not to forget each other.
This story also entwines family……Cole’s family, which has some dysfunction and mental illness and Riley, whom only has her mom and constantly moving.
I cannot wait to dive into this series and see what this author has in store for the Hidden Valley Elite especially what is going to happen next for Cole and Riley.
I enjoyed reading this romance story, it has kind of a darkness to it as well. This is still a newer author for me which I have enjoyed reading. I found this book to be engaging and hard to put down. It is a well written story where the author brought the story to life by using their writing skills and details. It is a story that I had no problems connecting with the characters and the reality part of it. This is a fast paced story that pulled me in from the start. The characters brought so much to the story which made it easy to read. There is great growth of characters as well as their chemistry. I really enjoyed watching the romance between them. This is a great story that I highly recommend.
This book packed so much more of a punch than I expected. It is quite a short story but the author manages to fit so much depth and development. I was hooked on this story as soon as I started reading. I loved the main characters. They just seemed to fit so well together. They had a strong connection and I wanted to read more about them. I thought the way the author progressed the story was brilliant. It was an amazing story and I loved how it was all weaved together. I read this book in one sitting and could have read for longer. I cannot wait to read more of this series.
A prequel that definitely got my attention and now I can’t wait for the series
Riley is a loner, moved around her whole life trying to blend in and con people with her mother to make ends meet finds herself in an elite neighborhood where she most certainly does not blend in. While out for a stroll in her new town she bumps into Cole who is somehow flipping on every desire for Riley and she Didn’t even know his name. Cole ever the diligent son is always there for his mom because his father is a giant POS and this causes quite the tension in his household.
As these two start to gravitate in one another’s orbit and you can start to feel the chemistry that will undoubtedly burn the next time they meet you are left on an cliffhanger that makes your jaw drop … Looks like the series comes out in March I can’t wait !
WOW!! Dayumn!!!! How could so much happen in 50ish short pages? We got to meet most of the main characters of the series. There was a brief but intense encounter between Cole and Riley. There was a heart-wrenching scene for Cole and Damon. Well, I meeeaaaaannnnn…..There was so much for Damon. He had to realize the father he idolized was the villain after all. Can’t wait to see how Damon grows and changes. There are sooooo many questions left unanswered. Is the woman at the conference Riley’s mom? What is up with the long lost father that they had to flee and hide out all these years? Where does the mysterious uncle fit in? Can Riley change her ways?
I can’t wait for the next one in the series to be released! They won’t get here fast enough! I have to find the perfect shelf for this series because I have a feeling it is going to singe everything around it!!! So hooked and left waiting and wanting more!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00M Policicchiohttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngM Policicchio2023-02-02 14:07:322023-02-03 09:00:10Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by M Policicchio
4.5 stars There is always a staple of high school and that is a bully and the popular kids. Savage Start is an enemies-to-lovers, new adult sports bully romance. It is a very extremely short read at 55 pages. It is a prequel where it all began. Yes there is a cliff-hanger ending but it continues with Savage Lies where Riley and Cole’s story is told and then it continues with Savage Truth and more. This is not your ordinary romance story it is deliciously dark and scandalous that pulls you in. It is intense and intriguing and hard to leave aside to go to work. There is drama and angst, jealousy and deep-seated lies and did I mention bullying? And let’s not forget the hatred that reins. But for all that they’re the deadly Elite. They’re the Academy’s football stars. The privileged boys who rule on and off the ground. Those who play to win and anyone who stands in their way is taken down. You do not want to be on their radar because revenge is sweet. They are playing a dangerous game where lies and lives are at stake. There are characters you will like but there are those who you just want to rip to pieces. I look forward to delving into more.
Savage Start by author Isla Vaughn is the prequel story to the Hidden Valley Elite series. It features Riley, a teenager who is constantly on the run with her mother. They never can get too comfortable anywhere before it’s time to pack up what little they have and take off again. But there’s a boy she is swept away by and she has to know more about him. The handsomely popular Cole is often finding himself having to nurture his mother’s mental health while his dad is constantly gone for business conferences and working late hours. Will he find time to try to bump into the girl that comes along with blurry memories of a party, but definitely a kiss he can’t forget?
While the book is not even remotely lengthy, it certainly packed a punch and definitely has left me wondering what is yet to come. I felt like the bouncing back between Riley and Cole’s thoughts worked out very well and didn’t become confusing. I am definitely interested in seeing what comes next with Riley and Cole.
Riley has been raised in a world of cons. Her mother always has a con running and now they have moved again, Riley expects the con will soon be revealed. Meeting Cole he is the polar opposite of her and he lets Riley know he is on to her. Both have issues in their families and Cole’s is cusping the edge of changing everything in his life.
This is a cliffhanger prequel. The story gave just enough insight to the dynamics of the characters to peek your interest and pick up the new books. The chemistry is there, and I like that the characters are completely different but, in a way, have some similarities that it could pull them together. Looking forward to seeing where the story goes.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Emily Heislerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEmily Heisler2023-02-02 13:40:322023-02-03 08:59:06Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Emily H
Isla Vaughn starts Savage Start out very well. The story pulls you in and you get involved in the character’s life and waiting for more. It did have some predictable aspects but was well written allowing you to continue on despite. Only complaint, if you could call it one, is it was over before it really got involved. Or maybe I read it too fast either way, would definitely read again and be sure I have the rest of the series handy to complete it all in one sitting. Despite the length, I am left wanting more.
This book is amazing. It is a short quick read that will keep you wanting more. I am normally not one that likes a cliff hanger but for some reason, I don’t mind it with this book. It is probably because, it was an incredible story that hit on everything I needed in a book. I was definitely left wanting more and feel that even if it did have a definite ending, I would still be craving the next book. IT sets the stage for what seems like an amazing new series. There is character development throughout the book which is something I always hope for. The twists and turns that this book takes surprised me but in the best way possible. There is everything one could hope for in a bully romance; heartbreak, love, angst, twists that you don’t see coming, and will leave you wanting more. If you have a few hours of free time I highly suggest reading this book and being sucked into it. I would suggest being prepared to feel everything the characters do because the book is well written. I can’t say enough good things about this book without giving things away and I don’t want to do that. Do yourself a favor and read this book you won’t be disappointed. Reviewed by: @bbohls
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Barbara Bohlshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBarbara Bohls2023-02-02 12:16:232023-02-03 08:58:05Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Barbara Bohls
For being such a short and quick read, I loved this! Author did amazing with this story and my goodness, that cliffhanger? WHAT? I didn’t want this book to end and I NEED more lol. Cole is simply amazing and he’s got such a soft spot for his momma. He’s always there for her, especially when his dad is being a POS…which is 99% of the time. Riley is so used to moving because her and her mom are constantly on the go. Her dad is also a POS. There’s betrayal and tragedy and heartbreak in this..I honestly didn’t expect for the book to go the way it did. Great read though and I can’t wait to read more!
This is a really gripping short read. The characters are amazingly written. They have so much depth that you can’t help be drawn into their lives. Both the main characters Riley and Cole have traumatic lives. Both have family issues which affect them in ways no young adult should he affected. Riley and her mum are on the run from her father. They never stay anywhere for long and because of this Riley has a distrust of people. Cole’s family is very toxic. With a dad constantly cheating and his mother suffering from mental health problems it is a volatile mix. The way Riley and Cole meet is unexpected but one thing is for sure they never forget each other. This story does deal with some issues that may cause a trigger for some people like mental illness and the consequences of untreated mental illness. The author handles this in an emotionally honest way which brings the situation to life and makes your heart break for the characters involved.
I can’t wait to see what is in store for Cole and Riley and if they will ever see each other again.
Riley and her mom are in a new town once again….for a job or for a break? Riley chooses to take a stroll Down the beach where she sees a house having a big party with tons of kids her age so she goes right in like she belongs there when she runs into Cole and tries to lie to Him about who she is but, she didn’t get far. He kisses her to prove something to her and that kiss Cannot be forgotten by him or her. Cole’s parents are having issues and it seems Cole is the only one of the sons who actually Care and try to help his mom. Riley starts trying to gather information about Cole but not for a job….because she wanted to know more. That ending though…wowzer!!! This has the potential to be a great series. Cannot wait to see what happens!!!!
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