Cruel Start: A Dark College Bully Romance (Hidden Valley Elite)
£0.80
Risk taker? Double check.
Party at the cove with a hot guy? Triple check.
It’s my last summer before college, and my life is on the rails. Work, family drama, and a life that’s almost too much.
When I get the chance to escape… The thrill of cliff diving at the cove is perfect. Just like the hottest man I’ve ever run into. Literally. When the fire between us ignites into a night of passion, it’s best to leave it in the past where it belongs.
The moment the plus sign shows up on the stick, all my risk-taking days are over. And the father? He’s the biggest risk I could imagine. Especially when he finds out he’s about to be a daddy.
Cruel Start is an enemies-to-lovers, new adult bully romance with pregnancy and plenty of angst, and the prequel to Aspen and Phoenix’s duet Cruel Hate and Cruel Love.
This book contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. It is not a standalone and does end in a cliffhanger that continues with Cruel Hate.
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Additional information
| Publisher | Arrowscope Press, LLC (29 Jun. 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 3777 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Not Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 62 pages |
by Kerry Carr
I can’t stop getting excited everytime i pick one of these books up. The author does an amazing job with the characters that you are automatically drawn into their lives. This is part of the Hidden Valley Elite series and I definately recommend reading them from the beginning as the 2 main boys are linked from the beginning as they are cousins and their lives are all link and entwined.
In this short introduction we are with Phoenix and Aspen’s story.
It is a story of instant attraction and how one decision taken in a moment of lust has left them connected forever.
The attraction between Phoenix and Aspen is instant but both of them carry a lot of baggage and family drama which has left neither of them wanting a relationship and when that decision is taken out of their hands what will this mean for them and their futures?
I really can’t wait to carry on reading and delving more into Aspen’s and Phoenix’s life to see how they overcome the challenges that are ahead of them.
Will they learn to drop their guards and give love a chance? Or will their past dysfunctional families make all hope of that impossible.
by katie_83
I love it when authors do prequels to their next full story – it’s a great introduction to the characters and for me gives me a deeper understanding of them and also makes you want to read their full story because you need to know what is going to happen and I am so excited to read Aspen and Phoenix’s full story. This was a brilliant read and having met Phoenix in previous books I was already highly anticipating his story and this taster has made me want it even more. I really loved meeting Aspen in this book, she is a nice character who is dealing with lots of stuff at home. I thought her and Phoenix had this genuine connection and I am looking forward to seeing how this relationship develops over the next two books!
by Stephanie
This is the 4.5 installment in the Hidden Valleys series. Personally, I would read the book in order of the series in order to get the full context and character development but they can be read as stand-alone as well. In Cruel Start we are introduced to Phoenix and Aspen. The author definitely knows how to develop characters, write tension and keep you on the edge of your seat.
by TracyG
This was a real grab ‘em and not let ‘em go read.
Starting the story of Phoenix and Aspen.
New girl, star of the diving team, cliff diver Aspen, is just wanting to keep her head down and get through college, and start her business, keep a low profile where her parents are concerned.
Phoenix the star of the football team is going pro, that’s the plan if he can keep his grades.
Not quite a full on bully romance, but a very on the edge of the genre book, teen pregnancy, hormones running high and behaviours running hot and cold.
I am jumping straight into the next book as it is a need to know situation.
by Wendy Livingstone
This is book #4.5 in this phenomenal series and is a prequel to Phoenix and Aspen’s journey. The last summer before college and one night together, and both of their lives are changed forever. Is history repeating itself as the same as their parents? This is a well written story which has family, friendships, angst, undeniable chemistry, realistic and wonderful characters, and love, which leads to an entertaining, unpredictable, and steamy addictive page turner. I cannot wait to read more about these awesome characters.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
by JulsD
This is a little gem of a series, Cruel Start is the next book in the Hidden Valley Elite series by Isla Vaughn. This book is the start of Phoenix and Aspens story. When they accidentally bump into each other after new girl in town, Aspen, is cliff diving at a local party spot, the two have instant chemistry. However, despite their attraction, Phoenix has a strict one night only policy which means he pushes Aspen away. When their one night together leads to an unexpected surprise, time will tell if they can get over their issues and work it out. I am really enjoying this series and each books is better than the last. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to see how the couple’s story pans out.