Brutal Days

Hidden Valley Elite #3

by Isla Vaughn

No sacrifice is too big.
No secret too small.
I’m out to win, and I don’t even know the game.

My opponents? They’re the Academy’s football stars, gods among their peers, and I want nothing to do with them.
But I’m stuck on a mission to help out a friend, and keeping my distance shouldn’t be too hard.
That's when Damon Savage walks in, looking like he stepped out of a magazine, and worse—my friend wants him… and I’m the one who has to play matchmaker.
I’m tangled in a web of lies, and only I can set myself free.

There’s only one problem with my plan… Damon’s determination to bend me to his will and my dark desires to let him.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Dark Romance, Love

190 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2023

Reviews

[Lammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Well … that ending was awkward 😬. It was only a matter of time before all the scheming came to a head, but that was not how I would have guessed it would go down

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I 100% enjoyed this, and the story was fast-paced and easy to get into. I loved the characters! Damon is possessive alphahole, and im here for it!!🖤 I loved Sky and her ability to stand up for herself and not take shit from anyone. The chemistry between them is great!!

[Kacie Mummawh0reads.x · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Sky’s best friend Gia reveals her goals for their senior year of high school, Sky does everything she can to help her achieve her goals.
Now she’s stuck on a mission to help out her bestie, That's when Damon Savage walks in, looking like he stepped out of a magazine, and worse—Gia friend wants him… and I’m the one who has to play matchmaker.
She got herself tangled in a web of lies but only Sky can set herself free.
There’s only one problem with my plan… Damon’s determination to bend me to his will and my dark desires to let him.

⚠️ brutal days is an enemy-to-lovers, dark high school bully romance with plenty of Angst. This book contains mature content that some readers may find disturbing. It is book three in the hidden Valley elite series, but can be read as a standalone! Note this book ends on a cliffhanger!!

4.5⭐️I love this and devoured it in just a few hours! The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is a petty one- the cliffhanger. 🤣🤣 I went in blind as usual and was left 😱😱😱 at the ending! Damn you Isla Vaughn!!! Well played!

[SaviLeeLind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla Vaughn has me seriously fan Girling. I love her bully romance and adore her characters. Book 3 in the elite series is just as amazing as the first two. Damon and sky are like night and day. Sky has a good heart and wants to help a friend and Damon just wants to get the girl. Secrets, deception, jealousy, loyalty and lastly a love to hate chemistry they can’t fight. I loved every moment of this book and I’m on the edge waiting for what’s next.

[Brittany Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhhhh that cliff hanger!!!!! This installment of the Hidden Valley Elite series is by far my absolute favorite. The banter between Sky and Damon is everything. I need the next installment now!

[AMG · Rating 3 out of 5]

High School/Bully/Enemies to Lovers

SYNOPSIS (of Book 3): This is Book 3 of a set of stories relating to the two Savage brothers, Cole & Damon, and their cousins, Phoenix & Shane. Each boy has a duet dedicated to them and their love interest. The first duet covers Cole & Riley‘s story and this Book covers Damon and Skye’s story. It‘s a bully/enemies to lovers trope but is light on the bullying. This continues on from the first two books in terms of Damon‘s home life and the same characters appear. Damon, his brother and cousins are the Elite of the high school and are the kings of football. There is angst around Damon‘s relationship with his father and around Skye‘s abusive father getting out of prison. Ultimately there is a HEA. Heat wise its around 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

This was a DNF at around 80% for me. I found the first duet slow but thought this might be better as the overall writing of the first duet was decent enough. Unfortunately this was equally as slow and repetitive and unfortunately seemed to have pretty much taken the first duet and just changed the names! OK, I‘m exaggerating but not by much - the FC has an abusive father who is due to be let out on parole; Damon hates his father and is acting out; Skye is beautiful and looks like her mother but doesn‘t believe she is beautiful; there‘s repetitive back and forth between Damon and Skye - love/hate.

This story is even less unique than the first duet. Damon is obsessed by Skye who doesn‘t like jocks and doesn‘t want to date Damon. However Skye‘s best friend Gia has a check list for her last year which includes dating a king of the school, losing her virginity and becoming prom queen. Skye does a deal with Damon whereby he agrees to date her friend, Gia, and Skye then agrees to keep Damon happy sexually. Yes, essentially the FC agrees to prostitute herself so her best friend can get a date. Her best friend also turns out to be a superficial, spineless girl so you have to wonder why. I gave up because the story just kept going in circles with Skye refusing to give in to Damon‘s demands (despite being the one to propose and agree the deal in the first place), Damon then ignoring Gia and Skye then doing what Damon had asked so that Damon would continue „dating“ Gia. I don’t need to read the rest of the duet to know that clearly Gia will find out about the deal Skye has struck with Damon and be pissed (rightly so as no real friend would think this is something that a best friend would do) and that there will be some type of angst when Skye‘s father is paroled.

[Ayla Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

My oh my. So far, I have read every book in the Hidden Valley Elite series including the prequel to the first duet about Riley and Cole. Once again Isla Vaughn hooks you on page one building the tension and suspense of what’s going to happen next. Never expecting turns but always seeing the signs when you think back. Told from dual perspectives of Damon and Skylar we are taken on a very heated journey.
Finally, senior year, this was the last year of high school and Skylar’s best friend had made a to do list of her four goals for the year. One for each quarter of the year, get invited to the Ring, get a popular boyfriend, lose her virginity, and become prom queen. Gia is nothing if not ambitious, but Skylar is the one tasked with playing deal maker behind the scenes. After her best friend selects Damon, the one person that has asked her out not once but twice and failed she has no choice but to give into his demands for him to “date” Gia. Damon is suddenly in a whirlwind of intrigue about the mystery that is Skylar. Taking full advantage of their agreement he quickly becomes addicted and even obsessed with her and fiercely jealous, which is very new for him. Both on the edge of a double-bladed knife desire and hatred war between them. Damon is used to getting any girl he wants with a single word, but Skylar is not like the others, she has a backbone made of steel and fire and isn’t intimidated by him or the girls that swarm the Elites. Gia on the other hand had no backbone and was quickly had Skylar and Damon both furious with her for her lack of defending her best friend.
Can Damon and Skylar overcome their hatred? What will happen to Gia when they can no longer keep their feelings a secret? Skylar’s father is set to be released from prison soon. What does that mean for her and her mom’s future? Enemy to lovers is honestly by favorite troupe and Isla Vaughn has hands down became my favorite go to author. Each of her amazing stories is based on realistic situations with a hint of fairy tale, for the happy ever after at the end of each duet. Brutal Days has a lot more heat than the previous installments but that was to be expected with Damon’s high levels of excess energy and need for a release be it football, a fight, or intimate. June 22nd, 2023 cannot come soon enough to learn how Damon and Skylar reach their happily ever after in Brutal Nights.

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal days is the third book to the Hidden Valley Elite Series, but it is book 1 to Damon and Skylar's tense enemies to lovers romance story. Skylar wants nothing more to finish her senior year as a writer, help her friend with her senior mission, and have nothing to do with the "Elites" as she does it. When her friend zeros in on Damon for her senior dream goals, things get tricky. She wants him and Sky has to help her. But how? He's controlling, a jerk, one of the football stars who's untouchable in their school, and to top it off Sky likes him too. She doesn't want to want him, but she can't help it. She makes a deal with him to help her friend, but she's getting stuck in a huge the web of lies and she can't seem to cut herself loose. She'll sacrifice everything to help her friend, but her plan is bound to blow up in her face. Damon wants senior year to fly by so he can join his brother in college and run the football team there. His brother, his two cousins, and he have been working toward that plan forever. NFL together all the way! Unfortunately senior year is dragging by. He needs more to distract himself, but what? Underground fights normally help, but he needs more to dull his rage and distract him from his family life. He doesn't like Sky's friend. She talks to much, her perfume gives him a headache, and she's clingy but he'll date her if he can get what he wants from Sky. Sky gets under his skin. She's mouthy and has a fire in her eyes, but he wants her. He can't help but want to bend her to his will. Maybe once he has her he'll get her out of his head. Hopefully. Will there little deal work out? Will her friend stand up for her or will she hate her forever? Will Damon get the distraction he needs? Will he ruin his senior year over some stupid girl? Man oh man do you need to read this book!! This book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger and you will want to run and grab the next book asap. I know that I can't wait to read the next one! This set has been so great so far! The characters stories hook you in and you won't want to put this book down. If you love new adult, romance, enemies to lovers, tense, spicy back and forth banter, and drama filled books then you will love this one!

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal Days is Book Three in the Hidden Valley Elite Series. It is a fast paced, and riveting bullies-to-lovers story that centers around the characters of Skylar and Damon. Skylar is an aspiring writer and best friend to Gia, who has set her sights on football running back Damon. Part of Gia’s senior plan involves becoming popular by dating a popular student. Gia wants Sky to act as matchmaker and although she wants no part of it, she reluctantly goes along with it because she will do anything for her best friend. Sky wants nothing to do with athletes and is not impressed by them or their status yet for some odd reason is attracted to Damon. Plans go a bit sideways when Damon becomes attracted to Sky even though he finds her to be mouthy. He is attracted to her feisty attitude and becomes determined to bend her to his will. As the attraction and feelings between them grow, Sky and Damon must hide how they truly feel or risk having their secrets exposed.

The author’s writing is exquisite, and I was drawn in to the story right from the beginning as I read about the complex relationship between best friends Skylar and Gia. The characters were multi layered and well developed, which can be seen through the characters of Sky, Gia, and Damon. Sky loves her best friend and will do anything for her yet knows that her friend can be demanding and unreasonable at times. Right out of the gate we learn that Sky is smart, loyal, dedicated, and wise beyond her years. She is not impressed by status or titles and has no desire to be popular. Gia, on the contrary, wants to be popular, wants to date an athlete, and is determined to be prom queen. She comes across as selfish, spoiled, manipulative, and used to getting her own way. Gia might consider Sky to be her best friend but also treats her like her puppet. Damon is a typical jock who is self-centered and used to getting his own way. This book was full of angst, secrets, lies, drama, tension, sizzling chemistry, and forbidden romance. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This is the third book in the Hidden Valley Elite series but it is also the first book of a duet. This is the story of Damon and Skylar. She is so glad that high school is almost over and she can leave and go off to college. She has a best friend Gia who is different from her and the once band geek has decided that she has a list that she needs to complete for her senior year. One goal for each quarter. Get invited to the underground fighting ring, get a popular boyfriend, lose her v card and become a prom queen. Skylar of course is focusing on her journalism and is tasked with the worst assignment of writing about the football home games. Between the bad assignment and her best friend sort of losing her mind, Skylar life is not exactly going great. When Gia sets her sights on Damon one of the elite in school Skylar tires to talk her out of it because he is not the nicest person and two she knows there is no way he will want to have anything to do with Gia. But he has set his eyes on Skylar so he has her where he wants her when she asks him to date Gia and she will do whatever he wants.
I was hooked on this book from the beginning. I love Gia. She is one tough cookie who doesn't let anyone mess with her and she isn't afraid of them. Shes a self appointed protector of Gia too. She can't for the life of her figure out why this is so important to her but she will do anything she can to make Gia's dreams come true. However you will learn some thing about Gia and throughout this book I liked her less and less. Damon knows he is hot stuff and maybe under all that strutting around and how he wants the world to see him, there might be a decent person. I am still out on that statement, but we get to see glimpses of promise. Like I said this book is the first in a duet so you have to have the next book to find out what happens. I can't wait to get that book in my hands.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG!!!!!!!!! My friends are back and they brought some new people. I am down for that. I have missed these characters. On a side note, I should totally take stars off my rating for that ending. I knew it was going to end on a cliffhanger but Uhhhhhhhh, I was not expecting to be there dangling just by my fingertips on my strong hand waiting on the rescue of the next book.

Okay, let’s catch up on what happened. Riley and Cole have gone off to college leaving behind the rest of the Elite. Damon, Phoenix and Shane are starting their senior year of high school. Skylar, who made a brief appearance in Riley & Cole’s story, is a reporter writing for the school’s blog on the football team. This is where the conflict begins. Skylar writes an unflattering article on Damon and now he is out for blood but as much as he wants to take her down, he finds her intriguing.

Skylar is in the midst of her drama. Her best friend is on a mission to complete a list of goals to make senior year awesome, Skylar is not interested. Skylar’s abusive father is about to get out of jail. She just needs to get through the year to get the heck out of dodge, as the saying goes. She might have written that article to rile Damon but also because it was how she saw it. Now, Skylar needs Damon’s help to make the best friend’s senior year goal list a reality. It just comes with a price.

The consequences of Skylar’s actions are catching up to her and now she is caught between a rock and a hard demon. Will her choices justify the ends? I sure don’t know but I hope the next book will tell me!!!

This author, this series….UHHH-effing-mazing!!!! The author draws you and then teases you with crumbs of information that will make sense later when you realize you know. The characters’ emotions are as real as the pages on which they are written. Beautiful. I crave the next book but know that when I devour it, it will only leave me wanting more.

[Jessica Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal Days (Hidden Valley Elite Book 3) by Isla Vaughn - Review by Jessica Stone

I LOVE this series, I could not recommend it more, Isla Vaughn has stolen my heart and given it to these guys.
This is book three in this series, not including a short prequel and this book focuses on Damon, the younger brother to Cole from the previous two books. Part of me was worried that this book would be more tame than the last two because it's centered around Damon, but boy was I wrong.

Isla does a wonderful job building up the tense angsty situations and letting them explode, she creates fireworks between her main love interests while not making the book overly "romantic".
This book in particular takes its main characters relationship to a different delicious level by making it a hidden relationship/forced/enemies to lovers, with a little bit of spice mixed in by having her pay Damon basically with her body to date her best friend and make her high-school dreams come true. Now... we all think know how this is going to end, but I did not expect the twist that popped up. Sky's past coming back to haunt her and her inability to let go fully and put her trust in a man holds her back for a bit, but she blossoms and it's beautiful.

All in all I really enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the continuation of where the last book left off, the follow through on the story, the depth to the characters and the hurt they've experienced, all quit enjoyable. Sprinkle in a little mystery and spice and you've got this wonderful book.
I'm pretty excited to see what the author does in the next installment of the series, and to get to know all of the main characters better.

Brutal Days, Hidden Valley Elite Series, Isla Vaughn, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, New Adult, Bully Romance, Jessica Stone, June 2023

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Brutal Days is the third book in the Hidden Valley Elite series by Isla Vaughn. It is a New Adult (High School) romance, with a bit of an enemies-to-lovers element, angst, drama, secrets, lies, jealousy, friendship, intrigue, emotion, and much more.
The ‘Elites’ are the top of the food chain at Hidden Valley Elite high school. They are brothers Damon and Cole, and their cousins, twin brothers Phoenix and Shane. They are the football stars of school, and every girls dream- and they know it. The final year of high school means that plans are afoot- bucket lists are made, and Skylar has an important quest that she has been tasked with. But Damon has an agenda of his own. Soon, sparks fly, and things heat up- and you guessed it- things take an intriguing turn that you won’t want to miss.
Damon and Skylar’s story is set to continue in the next instalment- “Brutal Nights” (Book #4). So I can’t wait to see where we go from here. I am also excited to know that each of the elites are set to get their own book/s as well, so we will have more books to sink our teeth into.
This is the third book in the series, but the first book in Damon and Skylar’s story, so it could be read as a standalone if you wanted. But, having said that, I highly recommend reading the previous three books (prequel, Book #1, Book #2) before starting on this one as I feel that knowing what happened there will enhance your reading experience of this story. The previous books help lay the foundations of the series, as well as giving character introductions, and other ‘groundwork’ which knowing will definitely help elevate your reading experience of each instalment, as well as the Hidden Valley Elite series, as a whole.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Isla Vaughn!

[Misty (Reds Romance Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damon Savage is the enemy, an Elite, the popular football star that she shouldn't be attracted to, but secretly is... but she's not the only one. Her best friend Gia likes him too and wants to use him to gain a little popularity and for a few other things... but Skylar can't let her friend date a guy like him. He's all wrong for her, but for Skylar now that's a different story!

The pages of Brutal Days had me at first glance, once my eyes found the words there was no prying them away... it words were so addictive! Our young heroine Skylar has found herself in quite the predicament, she likes a boy she doesn't want to like, as he goes against everything she believes, but there is just something about him that draws her in... and she hates it. But she is not the only one who has taken a shine to him, her bestie likes him too and wants to claim him as her own, but the bad boy only has eyes for one of the girls... Skylar is the one he wants, but Skylar can't bare the thought of hurting her friends feelings by breaking the bad news. So she comes up with a plan... one that has the potential to ruin everything if it goes sideways!

Once again this author has dazzled me with her well penned words and perfectly drawn characters, as soon as I met this trio I was enamored by them, I had to know everything... and the story they had to tell did not disappoint, it left me dying for more! I cannot wait to see how this one plays out, especially after that ending!! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, it's a can't miss dramatic little page-turner!!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Beejai Bohls · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in the series did not disappoint. It was amazingly well written, had great characters and world building, even had the steam that I crave, all while being a little angsty. All of those traits lead to a very fast paced, quick read for me. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen. What would you do if you BFF decided she wanted your crush? That is what happens with this story. The twists and turn, the lies being told, the wanting of someone you know you shouldn't. It is all in this book. I can't stress enough how amazing this series is and I feel like with every book that comes out in the series it is just a bit better than the last. Now, I normally state whether you would just pick this book up and start the series. However, this time I am going to say that you should start with the first book in this series because you do meet the characters for the future books throughout the stories, you don't know how they will play a part in the upcoming books but you get a glimpse of who they are. I also might be biased because I absolutely love this series and think that everyone needs to read it!! If you do find yourself starting with this book in the series (which if we face it sometimes happens). You will be able to follow along smoothly, you just won't have some background information on the characters. However, you will want to go back and read the other books in the series because you will be hooked. If you have a couple hours to just invest in yourself by reading a book let this one be the book you choose. You won't be disappointed.

[Stephanie Runyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isla Vaughn created Brutal Days to continue her Hidden Valley Elite series. The book features Skylar McCormick and Damon Savage. Skylar has promised to help her friend, Gia, to get her senior year goals: get invited to the underground fight club where all the cool kids were; get a popular boyfriend; lose her virginity; and become prom queen. However, Skylar knows that this will not be as simple as Gia attempts to make it sound. The following day, Skylar is watching the football team practice since it assigned her to write an article for the school’s blog. Damon approaches her and tells her to come to the barbecue with him. He wasn’t asking since he knew almost every girl in Hidden Valley Academy wanted him. Skylar told him no. Unfortunately, Gia zeroed on Damon Savage as who she wanted to date.
Skylar had propositioned Damon on behalf of Gia. She offers to do all of Damon’s homework as long as he dates Gia. Damon told her for every date he had with Gia then she would have to pay him back by doing him “favors.” Skylar thought she could resist Damon’s charm, but find it attracted her to him. She finds she will go further with Damon than she ever imagined.

The story has several steamy moments, however; I had struggled with what actually made Skylar decide to lower her guard. I couldn’t imagine how she could claim to be loyal to Gia when she was happy with paying Damon with her own body. The end of the book was perfect in leaving readers hanging and wanting to read the sequel. I felt bad for poor Tucker- Cole beat him up for being around Riley and then Damon beat him up for being friends with Skylar.

[Brandy Jo Rymer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isla Vaughn scored a touchdown with the 3rd book in the Hidden Valley Elite series! I loved Damon's mysterious character from the first two books in this series and was so excited for him to be one of the main characters in his tale of enemies to lovers story. Skylar is the perfect fiesty female to stand up against Damon's broody, "I can have whoever I want" attitude. I love the change that you see through the unique ability of Isla Vaughn to develop her character, and then slowly lead you along the path that she wants you to take to recognize the growth in some and the decline of maturity in others. This is truly one of my favorite Hidden Valley Elite books in the series so far, Isla Vaughn continues to grow as a writer as she spins these tales of the Elite's romantic lives. I love that she does not leave us wondering about our prior characters but doesn't allow them to be the key players as their story continues in the shadows, where we may peek in on them from time to time but maintain our focus on our stars of the story. If you have not read the prior books in this series I highly recommend you look them up and get reading! This book took me less than a day to get through, it was so enticing I couldn't put it down! I am so excited for Book #4 to come out soon, the wait is excruciating, being left on a serious cliffhanger right at the last minute, I am dying to know what's next for Damon and Skylar, will they get their happily ever after, or will Skylar sacrifice everything for her BFF? Is her Daddy finally getting out of prison and if so will he be making a visit to check in on his wife and his little girl who's all grown up?
Brandy Rymer
06/2023

[Katelynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed at the right time! Aspiring writer Skylar despises athletes, especially one of the star running backs, Damon Savage. Damon is intrigued by the feisty Sky. She gives off the impression she isn't impressed by him nor cares, which is a novel feeling for this playboy. Sky's best friend Gia has a plan to become a popular prom queen, and the key to this plan is Damon. Willing to do anything for Gia, Skylar bargains with Damon to meet his physical needs if he makes Gia and the school believe Gia and Damon are together. The secrets and feelings keep building as they have to hide their true feelings from everyone else and each other. It all ends in a dramatic and awkward cliffhanger I'm dying to get answers to!

Skylar is a strong heroine, but not in the typical.... I need to prove a point way similar to my independent 2 year old. She has a strong voice and sense of self without letting all the petty crap bother her. Her love and loyalty to Gia is complex but everstrong on her end. She does feel like an effortless cool girl trying to rise above high school nonsense. Damon is just as enchanted by her as the reader and she makes him question everything. He finds himself looking for an emotional connection that's new for him. Together, these two give off plenty of chemistry and have great banter. The push and pull is enjoyable as they navigate their odd situation. I really liked the plot and the fake dating another twist! I can't wait to see what happens next!

🏉 hidden relationship
🏉 new adult
🏉 hate to love you vibe
🏉 ongoing series

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Brutal Days by Isla Vaughn
* * * * *
Another fantastic bully romance starting faces you know and giving you just as much drama and excitement and secrets!

Skylar isn't having the senior year she planned.
She is stuck doing the football team for the school blog and now her best friend Gia has decided she wants to have that fantasy senior year - date the popular boy, lose her V card, get invited to The Pit and be made prom queen.
Yeah, that seems likely.
It really doesn't help when the guy Gia has decided to make her boyfriend is the biggest showboat in the school.
Damon is an egotistical guy, start of the football team and trying to just finish off his senior year. He never intended to start up something with the spitfire school blog journalist who will not give him the time of day. However, it does come in his favour - even if very annoying - when Skylar's best friend want to be on his arm.
Skylar and Damon made a deal.
Negotiations and agreements. Taunting and blackmail. Building secrets.
How will the truth come out?

This romance is seriously spicy! No wonder Damon's nickname is Demon, it's about half right. The agreement is very disturbed in a sense - however - it is undeniable that even Skylar wants to get dirty just as much as Damon. The chemistry is flying.
Gia is so bloody spineless! This dream of having the typical 90s teen romance highschool dream is going to blow up in her face and it is Skylar who is saving or lying to her to make sure it happens.
With the ending that was delivered, I cannot wait to see how it goes on and how it ends!

[Christie72 (Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brutal Days is the third installment of the Hidden Valley Elite Series, and it is just as good as the first two books. In fact, Damon and Skylar may have a little bit more of my heart than Cole and Riley….if I’m being honest.

From the very beginning, Vaughn had my attention and kept it throughout the book. What started out as a good intention to help a friend soon turns into a complex situation fraught with lust, emotion, and secrets. Two people who hate each other also can’t stop thinking about each other. What is a dark romance has some really bright places in Isla Vaughn’s talented hands. The push and pull between Damon and Skylar made the book even better. These two characters have had to deal with some really painful events in their past, and so both are intent on having some control in their lives. Yet, they find that they can let go and show parts of themselves to each other that they can’t show anyone else. Skylar is a wonderful, multi-faceted, and strong female lead. Damon has hard edges and can sometimes be a real jerk, but he can also be tender with Skylar. How could I not fall in love with them and their story!!!!

I wasn’t sure if I would like the premise of the book because of the blackmail angle, and I didn’t want Skylar to be forced to do something she didn’t really want to. However, that wasn’t the case. Vaughn did a fabulous job of giving us a dark romance but with a lot of emotion involved. I can’t wait to see the next leg of Damon and Skylar’s journey to happiness.

[Lorralei Hoerner · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Holy Wow!!! Brutal Days is Book 3 in the Hidden Valley Elite Series and the story of Damon and Sky and wow.......their story is a mind game, wrapped up with heavy banter, secrets, lies and some hot and heavy moments that leave you wanting so much more. I definitely recommend reading this series in order to really get to know the characters since the beginning....

Damon Savage is part of the "Elite" of Hidden Valley. He has high expectations of the next steps after High School in playing for college and to the Hidden Valley Society...untouchable. He holds a lot of anger within....especially toward his father....but what Damon did not expect was Sky..he wants her in some kind of way...and plays to win always.

Sky is headstrong, loyal friend and protects those she cares about. When her best friend Gia wants Damon for her own during her senior year of high school..Sky makes a deal with Damon but does not realize the game goes both ways. Damon wants Sky but she does not recipricate back and only wants the best for her friend, Gia, to be with Damon. When the sparks fly between Damon and Sky....what happens when the dust settles?

I cannot get enough of this series let alone with this book!! I was not a fan of Damon in the first two books at all but this book changed everything for me and I love Damon...this book gave me all the feels of a bully romance that I just need more of the Hidden Valley Elite! Book 4 cannot come soon enough!

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Brutal Days was explosive. Damon was so one dimensional and angry in the Cole and Riley stories but to get inside his head and to see his passion in general is wild. Seeing his relationship with his cousins shows more of who he is and watching passion for football and for Skylar definitely switches it up. He doesn't get told no very often, so what happens when he finds out Skylar hates him and all he represents?

Skylar is the school journalist who hates sports and athletes, especially the elites, with a passion. While she remains professional in her job, one of the only things she really loves beyond that is her best friend Gia. Gia and Skylar couldn't be more different, other than being outsiders to the popular kids. While Skylar sees that as a pro, Gia has a 4 stage plan for her senior year that includes no longer being an outsider, or a virgin. While Skylar does NOT have any interest in the 4 things Gia is planning, she does love her best friend and wants to see her happy - and that's how she makes a deal with Damon, who Gia has set her sights on.

Trying to help her friend and trying to swerve Damon's advances just leads to lie after lie and Skylar isn't sure what she wants, anymore.

I love the writing style and how engrossed I am with this authors work. There is a ton of information woven into the story without feeling like it's tedious, or like it's an afterthought. Psyched for more of Damon and Skylar!

[Shyla S]

Brutal Days is the third book in the series the Hidden Valley Elites by author Isla Vaughn. Brutal Days is the first part of a duet. So this will end on a cliffhanger. You will need Book 4 (Brutal Nights) to conclude. This is the story of Damon (Cole's brother) and Skylar.

Similar to the previous 2 book... This story was intense, emotional, full of angst, banter... It kept me on my toes and turning those pages to find out what happens next! Couldnt put this down till the end! Isla Vaughn is becoming one of my favorite story tellers!

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤/𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚 = Damon Savage and Skylar
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 = Yes
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 = No
𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚(𝙨) = Bully Romance ♥ enemies-to-lovers ♥ High School ♥ Sports (Football) ♥ Dual POVs ♥ Secret Relationship ♥ Secrets/Lies ♥ Suspense ♥ OTT Possessive MMC ♥ Touch-Her-and-💀
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 = Language ♥ Sexual Content ♥ Fighting
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 = 🔥 🔥 🔥
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

So... with Riley and Cole off to college... the rest of the Elite, Damon, Phoenix and Shane are now starting their senior year of high school. We briefly met Skylar in the previous books... She is the school newspaper reporter and is best friends with Gia. Gia has her eyes set on Damon and wants Skylar to play matchmaker. Unfortunantly, Damon wants nothing to do with Gia and has his eyes on Skylar! With all the drama in her life, the cocky runningback is the last thing she needs.

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure fire and steam! Damon and Sky have volcanic attraction that dripped off the page with their raging intensity that I can only refer to as steamy, emotional turbulence.

Sky will do anything to help her best friend, Gia, achieve her four point goal list before senior year ends. The list includes things like losing her v-card and becoming prom queen, which is a huge feat considering Gia is basically a nobody, something Sky enjoys about being her friend, but suddenly changes with this list.

What does all of this mean in the grand sceme of the plot....well, helping Gia suddenly means letting Damon Savage have access to what he desperately wants...her.

Sky hates everything about the Elites and athletes. She holds nothing back when it comes to speaking her mind, especially to Damon. Probably to most people the animosity in Sky turns them away, but instead the constant back and forth heat between them is like catnip to his twisted mind.

Damon can't get enough of the girl who literally wants nothing to do with him. He enters into a bargain just to get what he wants...her.

This book was pure fire🔥! The tangled web that the two of them weave was addictive to read. It was, grab a bucket of popcorn and watch the destruction unravel worthy. I loved it!!!

[Kerry carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Hidden Valley Elite series and omg I am officially addicted to these books. The author has such a unique way of writing. All of the characters have back stories and quite dark backstories which shape them into the people they are today. I definately recommend reading these books in order as Damon is the brother of Cole from the first 2 books so they follow on.

Well I don't want to give too much away but this story involves Damon and Skylar. Damon is still coming to terms with everything he's learn surrounding his mother's passing (gotta read the other books). This has led him to be a very angry young man. He is a bit of an ass and treats people like dirt. He's easy to be a character to hate.
Until Skylar comes along. Skylar propositions Damon, if he can make her friends dreams come true he will get her. Damon is up for a challenge, after all any excuse to get his hands on Skylar. Not that he likes her (Yeah right) but to make this deal sweet for him.
What unfolds is a story of 2 people finding a connection then never knew existed but with some many people involved someone is bound to get hurt and with the cliffhanger at the end I am literally on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an adult the issues in this book seem so “child-like” but as an adult of a senior/graduating high schooler these situations are scary- very real and very scary. These situations also seem like too much for young adults to handle. With that being said…UGH! WTF! More high school drama for the Elite at Hidden Valley Academy. Really! Wow!

This time it’s about Damon, brother of Cole. Cole was the star in Savage Start, Savage Lies and Savage Truth. Books that should be read in order but don’t necessarily need to be read before Brutal Days. Damon is the star now, he is in a group called the Elite. They are the top of the top of the popular kids at school...the Elite. Skylar is also a senior at Hidden Valley Academy. She would rather remain a wallflower but when her BFF Gia sets her sights on Damon as part of her “four point plan”, Skylar knows she has to step in. But of course things don’t go as planned. Lies are easier to spin than hurting friends.

Skylar and Damon are HOT. If I put their ages out of my mind…oh my!! Their push and pull..their anger and hate and oh my! Yeah, this is a book that should be read. Period. The cliffhanger ending…oh ding dang daisy….yeah…bring on those Brutal Nights!

[Maria]

Complex characters, strong alpha males, fierce women.

Damon - “dumb jock”
“used girls & threw them away”
“Alpha asshole”
“Good @ kissing 🫢”

Sky - what do friends do to please another? How invested has Skylar become in aiding Gia with herr mission?
The good old ‘V Card’. How much trouble can this treasure cause? Skylar aka Sky was placed in a predicament of saving her best friend Gia from her “goals” in her last year at school. And what a list it is. High expectations but with what results.
Damon and his cousins are living the high of Gridiron. The Elite of the team and town. Each has a future to look forward to, still an uphill hurdle to cross. So much happens here that needs to be read. As per rule, no spoiling.
It is left on a cliffhanger and chomping at the bit.

Full of drama that still continues from previous books within the series.
- ? Blackmail
- Seduction
- Expectations
-Sexual demands/favours
- Abuse

Tsk,tsk,tsk. What are we awaiting next?

* note: if reading for first time, read books consecutively as story will flow easier. Due to release dates, there are times when one needs to reca- on previous content.

[Heidi Eich Woodring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal Days is book three in the Hidden Valley Elite series by Isla Vaughn, and I have one for it, WOW!!! I have loved each book in the series so far but Damon Savage took the series to a whole new level for me. I DID not put it down because Sky and Damon truly engross you in the storyline. The chemistry, the drama, the growth, and banter make this a book you will devour.

Sky is enlisted by her best friend Gia to help her get Damon, he’s on her list for her senior year, and personally Sky can not stand him but she wants to help her best friend. Damon, does not have an interest in Gia, he finds her very clingy and talks to much. He sets his eyes on Sky. He can see a fire within her and she gets under his skin, and makes him want her even more. Can Gia get Damon? Will Sky fall for Damon??? This is simply a MUST READ!

Isla Vaughn has written an amazing series so far and each book gets better and better. I highly recommend reading this series and getting to know the whole Hidden Valley Elite crew. They bring you along for an amazing, hit, drama ride that you will not get enough of!

[Helen Dawkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal Days is the third book in the Hidden Valley Elite series, but it is the first book for Damon and Skylar. I didn't think I could love a couple more than Riley and Cole (Book 1 and 2) but I was so wrong. Completely obsessed with them both separately and together. The "relationship" between Skylar and Damon starts out on completely crazy terms, but slowly it turned into something they both actually wanted, craved even. Their relationship is pure mind games from the beginning, on both sides. At the beginning Sky does not care AT ALL about Damon, at least that is what she says out loud, internally she is memorizing his insane body structure. Sky's personality just makes Damon want her even more, they become a game for each other.

What will happen when the dust settles? Will Damon and Sky always hate each other, or can they get over it? Will Gia find out what Sky and Damon have been up to behind her back?

Skylar's abusive father is set to be released soon from prison, what does that mean for her mother and herself? Will they need to flee in order to stay safe?

I cannot wait until June 22nd so I can read more of Damon and Skylar's story!

[Ashley Mertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal Days by Isla Vaughn is available now in eBook and Physical Book
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐⭐ Book Review

Isla Vaughn has not written a book that I did not like. Brutal Days can officially be added to the list. Brutal Days is the third installment of the Hidden Valley Elite series telling the story of Damon and Skylar. This installment is 190+ pages of banter, secrets, lies, angst, chemistry, and tension. I highly recommend reading this entire series in order due to the introduction of characters; however Brutal days could be read as a standalone with Brutal nights as they both reflect solely on this couple of characters. Vaughn knows how to draw her readers in, keep their attention, and have them begging for more the entire time. The cliffhanger at the end of Brutal Days left me thanking the book heavens that Brutal Nights was already in my digital library. Not only do I recommend this book and series, I recommend this author to anyone who enjoys romance novels, enemies to lovers genre, and hidden relationships. This new adult, high school bully romance should be enjoyed by a mature audience but you wont regret the decision to pick up this series!