Wild Side

Rose Hill #3

by Elsie Silver

The next book in the Rose Hill series from Sunday Times bestseller, Elsie Silver!

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary, Forced Proximity

401 pages, ebook

First published March 4, 2025

About the author

Elsie Silver is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of sassy, steamy, small town romance. She’s a born and raised Canadian girl who loves a good book boyfriend and the strong heroines who bring them to their knees. Her books promise banter, tension, and a slow burn that comes to a screeching halt.

Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars

”every eye in the stadium is on him. but his eyes are on mine the whole time.”

Elsie Silver paints once again a fresh small-town romance that balances deliciously raw emotions and palpable attraction, blending harmonically grief, love, and the kind of commitment that feels inevitable with a found family plot line.

Tabitha is strong-willed, sharp, and fiercely independent; someone who has learned to stand on her own while taking care of the people she loves. Rhys, on the other hand, is steady, secretive, and sculpted like a warrior. he watches, waits, and understands her in ways she wishes he didn’t. they were never meant to be more than distant acquaintances, linked only by her sister, his close friend. but when tragedy leaves behind a three-year-old boy, Milo, their worlds interlace in a way neither of them predicted. a marriage of convenience sounds as the only way to keep Milo safe and give him the life he deserves.

what initiates as an arrangement infused with tension—Tabitha pushing him away at every turn, Rhys refusing to go anywhere—slowly blooms into something deeper. beneath the resistance is a man completely devoted to her, and a woman terrified of what it means to let him in. and i absolutely loved how the author found the perfect equilibrium in their couple’s dynamic between mooring and the irresistible pull.

i adored how the novel isn’t just a love story; it’s about loss, healing, and finding family in unexpected places. with an undeniable chemistry, heartfelt moments, and a hero who would do anything for the woman and kid he loves, this book is completely engrossing and i couldn’t put it down !

many thanks to Periwinkle Poney & the author for providing and e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

……
here we goooooo (GOT THE ARC 🥂)
….
Elise Silver? marriage of convenience? SINGLE DAD? she hates him? but he’s obsessed with her????? I.NEED.IT.NOW.

[Marianna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen, if Elsie silver writes it… I’m absolutely devouring it like it’s my last meal on the PLANET!!!!!! So no surprise I LOVEDDDDDDDDD this book and read it in a day.

GRUMPY SINGLE DADDY SUPREMACYYYYYYYY. No guys like I have a problem. I’m a single dad addict. Send help.

Enemies to lovers?? Fake marriage???!!! God this was so good!! GRUMPY MMC X BLACK CAT FMC????? The dynamic between these two was everything! The tension??? The banter????

THE MOUTH ON THIS MAN????? Bye. Passing away.

Now. Now….. hear me out okay. This dropped from 5 stars to 4 stars because I fear for me personally… the wrestling plot line was a major ick. Like I had to skip over all the scenes of his “acting”, guys I’m sorry I just couldn’t do it!!!!! I just kept picturing hulk hogan even though I know that wasn’t the inspo at all, I couldn’t help it!!! Also in comparison to the first two in this series Rhys didn’t come close to daddy Ford and West. But I did still love this book, the first two in the series just make the competition TOUGH!

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike every other romance I’ve read, I actually enjoyed Tabitha & Rhys’s relationship once they were together & seeing how they showed their love to each other (I usually love the tension/getting to know each other better)

The first half didn’t catch my attention like usual with Elsie books, I think the miscommunication at the start could’ve been avoided & their bickering was more fun as side characters 🥲

Not my fav in the series, but still enjoyed!!!

[Yana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What else did we expect here?! Elsie silver does it yet again, I am not even a little bit surprised. Small town, marriage of convinced and forced proximity, AND there’s a little child involved?! Like yes 1000x

[Heather Mclarry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ As a wwe Monday night raw watcher growing up this was everything to me HAHAHAHH

[Ali Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars! This book instantly hooked me!! I love the marriage of convenience, parent plot, and found family vibes. Plus the chemistry was GREAT. The way they tease and make fun of each other but are also so attracted to each other 😍
The onlyyyy reason I wouldn't rate it higher is that it is my 8th book by Elsie Silver & I feel like this one didn't really have anything new in it. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing! It's the classic Elsie Silver book I know & love but I think something a little unpredictable would've pushed it into a higher rating! Really really loved the characters and their story though!! Also Rhys' job was super interesting!

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking LOVED it!! This one and Heartless are my absolute favorites so far from Elsie 💛🌷🍃🌻🌿

Omg my besties! I loved this one so much and I’m glad I picked this one up despite not finishing the first one. Now, I definitely want to try the second one too.

In Wild Side, we follow our FMC, Tabitha Garrison and our MMC, Rhys Dupris.

Tabitha works at a bistro and Rhys is a professional wrestler. Their worlds collide when Rhys becomes Erika's (Tabitha's sister) landlord. A few years pass and the Tabitha meets Rhys again, later finding out that he's listed as the guardian of Erika's son, Milo, following Erika's passing.

Since Rhys is actually not Canadian and has to travel back and forth for his job, they decide to marry each other so Tabitha can take care of Milo when Rhys is gone. Because she doesn't trust him to take Milo with him.

Omg! I’m realizing I might really fancy this whole marriage of convenience trope lol. But not only that, both Rhys and Tabitha were such good main characters.

Tabitha is a queen! She’s sassy, smart, strong, bold. She doesn’t back down and she’s loyal as hell. Love her so much!

Rhys 😍- lol aside from being named Rhys 😍 which should sum it up but he’s amazing and caring and loyal. He’s devoted and sweet and comforting.

I’m such a sucker for a single dad and this one was done with such a good twist. My heart was aching for both of them over the situation with Milo. And ofc for Milo as well.

The tension and chemistry between these two was electric! So good!

The pro wrestling thing was a little weird but Elsie pulled it off! (Just a me thing 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Highly recommend this one! I’ll edit this again- just needed to get out my initial thoughts. Editing via my phone.

🍀Single Dad
🍀Marriage of Convenience
🍀Western Romance
🍀Small Town
🍀Slow Burn
🍀Banter x Spice

[April (s.i. work is busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars ★

"When I become Wild Side, everything falls into place."


Damn, Elsie has done it again! I swear she is the QUEEN of small town romance, and I will never get enough!

Wild Side is the third installment in the Rose Hill series and is my favorite yet. Small town romance is becoming one of my favorites. It doesn't stop there. It's also a marriage of convenience, which I love and was portrayed so well, another favorite single dad, and slow burn. It is not just a romance, though, but a story following the process of loss, greiving, and healing.

Tabitha crossed paths with Rhys three years ago when he became her sister's landlord. Now, as she grieves the loss of her sister, he approaches her with the news that he has been left guardianship of her nephew. When guardianship is contested, they form a plan to marry until they can figure things out.


Tabitha Garrison works at the local bistro that she owns, and it fits her as she loves taking care of others. I love that Elsie writes such strong fmcs, and she is no exception. She is so strong-willed, fierce, sassy, and sarcastic, and I adore her so much. She goes through great lengths to protect and do anything for her family and loved ones. This was shown with what she went through and did for her sister. She literally did everything that she could to help her when her sister didn't always deserve it. I understand why she did what she did. That protectiveness was always there for her nephew Milo and got even stronger. She would do anything for him, and it shows through her in everything that she does. She is so strong that she's not one to break down, but when she did, I just wanted to wrap her in the strongest hug and hold her.

“I am with my family, Rhys. If I didn’t want to be here with you, I wouldn’t be.”


Rhys Dupris is a professional wrestler who hides himself until he takes on the role of his character. When he's in character, he holds himself more confident and is able to put his insecurities aside. He's not one to open up to people and hides a lot about himself, and he doesn't feel like he deserves many things that he has due to his upbringing. He is so selfless, though, caring, and holds a soft spot for Milo. Their relationship was so cute to watch. I just loved watching him slowly open himself up and show his vulnerabilities. I love a man who can show this side of himself, too bad not many men in real life do. Oh, and the mouth on this man, yes, please! Oh, and Elsie made me fall for another man with the name Rhys.

"Being Wild Side was my ticket out of a tough upbringing, and slipping into character always feels like tugging on a favorite old hoodie. It feels like peace."


Tabitha and Rhys start off with animosity with her constantly trying to push him away while he just stood by and took it, turned into a marriage of convenience, that dipped into a slowly budding relationship. Their sexual tension and banter along the way was everything. The chemistry that these two exuded for one another is off the charts, though it burned slowly while also toeing the line of spicy. I loved the way that he was protective of her and the way that she was always teasing him in a fun, playful way that kept things on the lighter side when it was needed. She showed him that she would be there for him at every turn whether he wanted her to or not, and was worthy of being loved. He showed her the care that she needed even when she didn't think she did or didn't want to take it. They just worked so well together from the very start, even though they didn't know it.

“Thank you, Tabitha.”
“For what?”
“Turning my life from black and white to full color.”
“You did the same for me. I help you find your color, and you help me find mine.”


I swear Elsie writes some of the best found family! I'm such a sucker for it and eat it up every time! I loved seeing West, Skylar, Ford, Rosie, and Skylar once again. The support that they all give to not only Tabby but one another is endearing.

I was a bit worried about the pro wrestling in this one, but it worked for me. And even though I was in a mini slump, I still couldn't seem to put this down. I can always depend on Elsie to help me with a slump and keep me hooked. Now, I'll be over here impatiently the next in the series that has me intrigued.


Favorite quotes and moments

"Rhys Dupris is the carnival ride that I just can’t manage to get off of."

“What’s wrong, husband? You look like you can’t decide whether you want to kill me or fuck me.”

“I pinky promise that no matter what happens, I will never take anything that’s yours.”
“You know these aren’t legally binding, right?”
“Yeah, but only a total asshole breaks a pinky promise.”
“I pinky promise that no matter what happens, I will never take anything that’s yours.”

“I wish you weren’t seeing me like this.” My brow furrows. “Like what?” “At my worst.” I tip my head toward her. “Then it’s all uphill from here, baby. It’s going to make seeing you at your best so damn special.”

"Every eye in the stadium is on him. But his eyes are on mine the whole time."


︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵


˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ Pre-read

I'm excited to be back in Rose Hill 💚 And with a man by the name of Rhys, who is a single dad 🤸‍♀️ sign me up!!

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the death of her sister, Tabitha is ready to take over custody of her nephew Milo. That is until she finds out her sister’s landlord Rhys, the man she blames for her sister’s downward spiral, has been granted custody. When they form an arrangement to keep Milo close to both of them, the last thing Tabatha and Rhys expect is to want more than a marriage on paper.

Y’all, I cried. And more than once. To me, this is probably the biggest indicator that I not only loved these characters and their story, but that I also felt fully connected to them on a visceral level. I admit that I was reticent about where the story was going. I am not the biggest fan of “marriage of convenience” or wrestling for that matter. However, like Elsie Silver is known to do, she made me love fall in love with this trope similarly to the way she turned a book featuring an accidental pregnancy into one of my favorites.

Each and every character in this story was fully fleshed out, completely relatable, and fully lovable. As a result, it was incredibly hard not to develop a rooting interest in their happiness (hence the crying). Tabatha is such a spitfire. Burdened with untapped feelings over the loss of her sister and her potential involvement, she is still one of the most emotionally intelligent and emotionally mature characters I have encountered of late. She is a boss who shows up for both her people and her baby (the restaurant she worked to build).

Rhys is a little harder to get to know at first. Surrounded by emotional walls of his own making, a result of his upbringing in foster care, Rhys keeps both Tabby and the reader at bay. But as she helps to knock down his walls, allowing all of us to get to know how dynamite this man really is, his vulnerability makes him all the more endearing. Milo and the rest of their friend group where the side characters needed to create the sense of family that shines through in this book. And although I didn’t come away a wrestling fan, I sure did come away a fan of Wild Side and maybe a fan of Little Willy too.

As always, the steam was steaming in this one, although it’s not quite as intense as her others. Every scene fit, but more importantly, Silver creates the tension needed to make their chemistry explode once they do have their doors off the hinges moments, and she does this by not overdoing it or incorporating unnecessary scenes too early. This is probably what I love most about her open door romances, and what sets them apart from others.

🎧 The audiobook is equally fantastic. Helmed by Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor, heavyweights in the narrator community, the characters come to life through their impeccable narration. It’s fun and flirty, but with the emotional impact these two are able to bring to any role.

Read if you like:
▪️marriage of convenience
▪️sports romance
▪️touch her and die vibes
▪️wrestling
▪️foodie romance
▪️cinnamon roll alpha
▪️forced proximity
▪️small town
▪️no third act break up

CW: death by overdose (off page), parental abandonment

📌 This third installment of the Rose Hill series releases on March 4, 2024.


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

A huge thank you to Periwinkle Pony PR and Bloom Books for sending the gifted copies my way!

[manas (traveling) · Rating 2 out of 5]

tomfoolery.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.9⭐️

[anh · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars

This isn’t a bad rating. In fact, this is the best book in the series so far—which, to be fair, isn’t saying much. Wild Love was a disaster; I honestly couldn’t tell you what it was even trying to do. Wild Eyes was a step up but still had its fair share of secondhand embarrassment. And now there’s Wild Side, a book I actually enjoyed. Not in a way that will stick with me forever, but it kept me entertained, and sometimes that’s all a book needs to do!

This book follows Tabitha, who finds herself in a marriage of convenience with Rhys Dupris—the man she has every reason to despise. When her nephew’s guardianship is put at risk, she does the one thing that might save him: she marries Rhys, despite their complicated history and her complete lack of trust in him.

I really liked Tabitha’s character. Fiercely independent, constantly putting others first, carrying more than anyone should have to—she never made things easy for Rhys, and I loved that. A strong fmc who holds her own is always a win!

Rhys - easily the best male lead in this series. He’s not my fav man in the Elsie Silver universe (Theo Silva supremacy 🤭), but in this series? For sure! The way he let Tabitha hate him while continuing to look out for her? I ate that up. His past was sad, his protectiveness over her was intense (in the best way), and the jealousy?? Made me weak. There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching a character who believes he’s unworthy of love slowly realise he’s wrong.

Now, his job… I have to be honest, the pro wrestling angle DID NOT work for me. I can’t even explain why, but something about it gave me the biggest ick to the point where I had to skim those scenes. Maybe it was the way it was written, maybe it was just personal preference, but every time his "acting" came up, I physically could not I’m sorry.

Tabitha & Rhys- That aside, the tension and banter between these two? Perfection. I love how Rhys gave Tabitha the love and care she was always giving to everyone else, and she gave him the unwavering loyalty and sense of belonging he never had. They just fit. What really worked for me was Rhys’s quiet devotion. He never tried to convince Tabitha to see him differently—he just cared for her, whether she wanted him to or not. That kind of unwavering patience gets me every time! Slowly, she starts to realise he’s not the person she thought he was. He’s steady, protective, always there when she needs him, even when she refuses to admit it. Their chemistry was electric, and the push-pull between them was done so well!

I guess the excitement started to fade once they actually got together, and my investment dipped. The tension had me hooked, but once all the angst was resolved and they became a couple, it just didn’t hit the same. I wouldn’t say the second half dragged, but I definitely wasn’t as engaged as I had been during the buildup.

Still, this was a fast-paced, enjoyable read. I had fun with it, even if I doubt I’ll be thinking about it weeks from now. Of course I will absolutely be picking up the next book because ex-boyfriend’s DAD?? 😏 GIVE IT TO ME 🫴🏻

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Thank you to the author for an early copy of Wild Side)

ANOTHER 6 STAR BOOK IN 2025!?!?

I.

CANT.

FUNCTION.

PROPERLY.

AHHHHHHHH. RHYS THE MAN THAT YOU ARE.

I am also crying. I cried twice during this book. No joke.

This is HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE ELSIE SILVER BOOK. I am NOT kidding. I thought Willa and Cade were my favorite but nope. Rhys and Tabby are now. They were real, they were passionate, they were raw, honest, and best of all, they felt tangible.

—marriage of convenience
—hate to love
—he’s a pro wrestler, she’s a chef
—slow burn

Ugh I can’t. I can’t even begin to describe to you what this book means to me. I don’t even think there are words that give this book the proper dedication it needs.

Perfection. Brilliant. Beautiful. Masterpiece.

Yeah, Wild Side is it. It is now my all time favorite Elsie Silver book and I will accept NO criticism on it whatsoever. My ears are closed. I love Rhys and Tabby so much it pains me. I felt so connected to their characters and their romance, that I want to go back and re read this all over again.

A STANDING OVATION for Elsie Silver for Wild Side, go ahead stand up and clap, because I did when I finished reading this book.

[glavreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have never met an elsie book i didn’t love but rhys and tabby were transcendent.

RHYS DUPRIS, YOU ARE THE MAN FOR MEEEEEE.

cade eaton, theo silva, weston belmont, i will always love you but rhys? that’s my husband. i’m a married woman now. my other dads? we can still see each other discreetly but i’m COMMITTED.

i read and LOVE a lot of romance books but it’s rare that a book completely captivates me to the point where i finish it in one sitting and never wonder how far along i am in the story because i simply don’t want the book to end but wild side did that and more.

their story was so emotional but the real-world heaviness was perfectly balanced with truly laugh out loud banter, OUT OF THIS GD WORLD CHEMISTRY, and the sweetest formation of a family.

rhys and tabby might just be my favorite elsie characters ever ever ever. i am a grumpy, black cat fmc lover through and through and tabby was EVERYTHING. she was hilarious and tough and will hit home for the all the girlies who aren’t soft or flowery but show their love by putting others needs before their own over and over and over again. i adored how protective she was of rhys.

SPEAKING OF MY MOTHEREFFING MAN. good forking lord. rhys actually has me speechless. stoic but soft and sensitive and scarred from his past. grumpy but possessive and appreciative and braggy about his wife. HUGE AND MUSCULAR AND TATTOOED AND HOT but also the sweetest, softest father figure for milo.

rhys gave tabby the love and care that she’d been giving everyone else her entire life and tabby gave rhys the loyalty and family he’d always wanted and now i’m emosh again about how perfectly they completed each other and how they had perfect banter and chemistry and care and love and understanding of each other!!!!

and don’t get me started on how electric HOT they were. i can’t even think about it without blushing ok the tension, the chemistry, the PINING and they couldn’t even bother to hide it because they were so obviously horny and desperate for each other I JUST WANNA WATCH ok.

i’m done now (i think). my new favorite elsie book (i’m pretty sure). a top read of the year already (without a doubt).

[madi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

i really loved this one. it had such a soft, emotional feel to it that stuck with me even after i finished. it didn’t quite reach five stars, but it was close. wild eyes is still my favorite in the series, but this had so many moments that came close. west still has my whole heart, but rhys is definitely up there now too.

tabitha was such a well-done character. she felt real — guarded and a little tough, but with good reason. she’s been through a lot and it shows in how careful she is with her heart. even when she was being difficult, i understood where she was coming from, and i liked how she always tried to take care of the people around her, even if it meant pushing them away.

rhys was so easy to love. he’s quiet, observant, and shows he cares through actions, not words — which made him feel even more genuine. his bond with milo was so sweet, and i loved how consistent he was when it came to tabitha. he never tried to change her or pressure her, he just showed up again and again until she started to trust him. that quiet loyalty hit hard.

the romance felt slow and intentional, which worked perfectly for their story. there wasn’t any over-the-top drama — it was just two people learning how to lean on each other, figuring out how to turn something unexpected into something real. i also loved the focus on grief and found family — it gave the story so much heart.

₊˚ ‿︵‿︵‿︵୨୧ · · ♡ · · ୨୧‿︵‿︵‿︵ ˚₊

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ pre-read ♡⋆°｡⋆𐙚
⤷ i haven’t read the first book yet, but i loved the second one so i had to pick this up next!! elsie silver’s writing just pulls me in every time, and i’m already obsessed with the vibe of this series. can’t wait to see the dynamic in this one and fall for a whole new couple 🥹💕

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS! 🌟🔥💍

MY FAV IN THE SERIES. PERIOD.

MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE? CHECK.
SHE HATES HIM BUT HE'S OBSESSED? CHECK.
HIS NAME IS RHYS? CHECK, CHECK, CHECK. 😏

I ate this book UP. Rhys Dupris is the definition of grumpy, broody, protective AF, and secretly the softest man alive. The way he was completely gone for Tabby from the start?? 😮‍💨

Tabby?? ICONIC. She had so much on her plate, yet she handled it all like a queen. The chemistry, the angst, the tension—OMG IT WAS EVERYTHING. Their banter? Top-tier. Their stares that lasted a little too long? ILLEGAL.

📝 BUT THEN... 😤 THE ELLE THING. I won't lie, I got lowkey pissed at Rhys for even CONSIDERING going through with it. Like sir, SAY NO AND MOVE ON. BUT, he didn’t actually do anything shady, so I forgave him (eventually... maybe).

Also, Erika??? Rot, girl. That’s all I have to say. ✋

💖 FAV MOMENTS:
✔️ The slow-burn tension that had me sweating 🥵
✔️ Rhys calling her “baby” 🥹💘
✔️ Milo being the cutest kid ever (but why wasn’t he around more???)
✔️ The wrestling plotline—lowkey felt like a WWE fever dream but I LOVED IT 😂🏆
✔️ That epilogue?? Rhys as a dad? YES PLEASE. 😭💖

Final thoughts: Best book in the series so far. Elsie Silver doesn’t miss. If you love small-town romance, marriage of convenience, and a hero who's secretly a lovesick simp, YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

P.S. BASH'S BOOK NEXT??? EX-BOYFRIEND’S DAD ROMANCE??? Elsie, you’re actually insane for this and I love you. 😭🔥

━━━━━━━━━━━⊱♡⊰━━━━━━━━━━

Marriage of convenience? She hates him, but he’s obsessed with her? And his name is RHYS? 😏 I NEED this book ASAP! 💍🔥

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things Elsie has single-handedly made me love that I used to strongly dislike in books:
- accidental pregnancy
- grumpy MMCs
- kids
- songs/lyrics

and now…
- fake marriage


Elsie does it again. I love this series so much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so this was good. Like the first 50% was so good that I really thought it would end up being a 5 star read. I mean, Rhys was literally amazing - NOT a manwhore, a recluse and totally into Tabby from the get go. I don’t think you could really go wrong with a man named Rhys tbf. But then the Elle thing happened at around the 60% mark. In Rhys’ defense, he didn’t want to even fake kiss her but the fact that he says that he wants another excuse other than his ego to not do it (even if it’s in his work contract or something). That honestly ticked me off and despite him not entertaining that shit in the end, it still annoyed me😒 But I digress. Other than that, the book was really good - miles better than Wild Eyes - and I really enjoyed reading about Rhys, Tabby and of course, Milo. Oh, and I forgot to mention…Erika’s a manipulative and lying cunt. I know you shouldn’t speak ill of the dead but that bitch deserves it ffs. Also, I’m SUPER excited for Bash’s book because EX-BOYFRIEND’S DAD???? BIATCH I’M SOLD🤪

The quote that irritated me:

“Rhys: What if I have to kiss her?

It seems like a juvenile question, but if Tabitha tells me no, then I won’t. I’ll violate my contract—I just need an excuse that isn’t my ego. Dots roll and then stop. Roll and then stop. Seconds pass with nothing. Then…

Tabby: Just pretend it’s me. ;)
Rhys: I’m serious.
Tabby: So am I.
Rhys: I don’t like this.
Tabby: I’m sorry, Rhys. I hate that you’re in this position. I really do. But if it’s any consolation, I don’t always like work either. I hate chopping onions during prep, but some days I get stuck doing it because I can’t pawn it off on the kitchen staff every time. But it’s part of the gig. If this is part of the gig, so be it. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot on my behalf. I’ll be fine. Maybe pretend she’s onions?
Rhys: Are you sure?
Tabby: Strangely, I think I’d rather not watch it. So give me a heads-up. But yes, of course—work is work. Like you said, we’ve got a lot of extenuating circumstances. Don’t worry about me.”

——> WHY TF ARE YOU ASKING HER??? You don’t want to do it, then you say NO and be goddamn fucking faithful to your wife (he was faithful dw)🙄

P.S. Erika (the sister) had the hots for Rhys but it wasn’t reciprocated and the H mentions that he thought of her as a sister and a friend.

Safety squad:

- no real OW drama/OM drama (just some jealousy scenes from both MCs)
- no cheating/sharing
- no manwhores
- no double dippping/sister sharing (whew!😅)
- marriage of convenience
- hate to love
- he calls her “baby” (don’t ask me why that got me all soft and shit🥹)
- HEA (with a baby)

***

Okay so the latest sneak peek isn't giving me vibes that Rhys has messed around with the sister - just that he evicted her, left her homeless and is now trying to take custody of Tabby's nephew. Honestly, I think I might enjoy this :)

***

ELSIE SAID THAT ROMAN REIGNS IS HER INSPO FOR RHYS I'M FUCKING DYING FUCK OFF HE'S SO FINE OMG😭 Now that's we got that out of the way, I'm curious to see how their story is gonna be - I hope I'm not let down again😔

***

OMG OMG I JUST SAW THE COVER AND BLURB REVEAL AND I. HAVE. SO. MANY. QUESTIONS.

***

I just read the sneak peek of Wild Side and I'm??? So??? Confused??? Isn't Rhys supposed to be a single dad? Where's his kid? So many questions and no answers are scaring me😭 I just need to know that Rhys wasn't involved with Tabitha's sister or anything...I'm gonna hurl if that's the case because I absolutely hate when there's the whole sister double dipping thing😬
***
Update: RHYS AND TABITHA??? MARRIED??? I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW MORE!!! ALSO SHE HATES HIM SOOOOOO😮😮😮
***
Eventhough I didn't particularly enjoy Wild Eyes, I'm still gonna read this because the whole thing at the end about [redacted] and [redacted]???? I'm excited to see what Elsie does with their story👀 Also, sorry for being such a tease but I'm just gonna say that I was right about who the next book is about😂 Will be back on release day to let y'all know the couple's name!

[cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

why am i almost always reading about single dads who are 10+ years older than me?

we all have our hobbies.

: ̗̀➛Rhys
i liked Rhys in the other books, but i absolutely loved him here. you think he's this grumpy, mean guy, but he's actually so shy it's adorable. the way he loved little Milo was so heartwarming. actually, just the way he treated anyone he cared about was too much for me to handle.

he was so tender and sweet.

"I promised to comfort you, and I didn’t do it quite right, but I was trying the best I knew how"

also his mouth???????????

“Tabitha, wipe that smirk from your mouth, or I’ll fuck it off.”

i'm sorry, i wasn't aware of your game.

: ̗̀➛Tabitha
bad bitch. i love her. i feel like, if written right, i always get to love the girl who everyone thinks of as mean. yeah, she is but she's also funny, considerate, selfless and hot. i would fall in love with her too.

reading about her grief really got to me. i like how it was portrayed, not only with sadness but also anger. and i too was angry at her sister😀

: ̗̀➛overall
i enjoyed this, it was really good. however it does not top Wild Eyes for me. i don't think anything in the series will. we'll see if the next book does (i'm so excited to read it😭). West is still my favorite Rose Hill man, but Rhys comes in at a close second.

pre-read

rated Wild Love 1 star and Wild Eyes 5 stars, so this could really go either way.

please be good😭🤞🏻

[ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK I SEE U MISS ELSIE! 3.75 rounded up rtc!! also i need the fourth book like NOW

⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆

pre - read.
immediately starting this after finishing wild eyes!! rhys and tabs look like they could be one of my favorite couples from the elsieverse 👀

★ buddy reading this with my best girl pati!

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me giving an Elsie book 3 stars? Not on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. 😔✋

As someone who LOVED the first 2 books in this series, I’m so sad this one fell short for me. I loved the first 40% of this, but then the story just got so boring and the romance felt so poorly developed and rushed. I did love both of the main characters though and I feel like they could have promised a really good story if there was just some more development. Maybe my expectations were just way too high but this one definitely wasn’t my favorite.

[aislinn ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.2.5 stars, spoiler-free review below. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ .
my thoughts & feelings

➤ i'm so surprised that i'm rating a book from this series below 5 stars because this series has been FLAWLESS for me up until this point. don't hate me for this rating, i know this one is many people's favourite of the series and it physically pains me that i didn't enjoy this more.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
➤it took me soooo long to get hooked to this book. for the first 40% ish, it was a struggle to pick this book up. i loved the beginning in theory, but in execution i found it to be so bland and lacking something… i don't even know what exactly but something was missing for me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
➤this is one of those rare instances where i preferred actually seeing them together than the build up and slow burn of them getting together. i adored these two as a couple and i wish i could have gotten more of what we were given in the last 30% because my rating would be so much higher if there was more of that.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

🥊 rhys
this man is so goooood. considering his entire upbringing and how hard his earlier life had been, he turned out so so amazing. his unconditional love for milo is everything and his loyalty and devotion to tabby is unmatched. i LOVED seeing tabby slowly break down his walls, he's just so pure. elsie silver reallyyyy knows how to write her men. 👏🏻👏🏻 with all of that said though, I didn't feel entirely connected to him for whatever reason.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
🍰 tabby
gosh i love this woman so much too. she's my favourite fmc of this series so far. she's absolutely hilarious and such a badass. i admire her strength and selflessness so much. her and rhys are so alike, those two are the definition of soulmates and no one can tell me otherwise.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 🎧ྀི♪⋆.✮wild side playlist
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎✮feels like -gracie abrams
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮the archer -taylor swift
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮beneath your beautiful -labrinth
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮home -edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮love song -lana del rey
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ✮my wish -rascal flats
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
❦tropes
𓍯𓂃marriage of convenience / fake marriage
𓍯𓂃small town
𓍯𓂃(one sided?) enemies to lovers
𓍯𓂃found family
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
my favourite quotes
❦"her name is Tabitha, not that you need to know. because you? you’re going to keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth."
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
❦"thank you tabby." "for what?" "turning my life from black and white to full colour."
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
❦”hey, asshole. i made you a bowl of carbonara so that i won’t have to hear your stomach all the way upstairs. i didn’t even poison it. bon appétit and good night."
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
❦”this is what you do when you love somebody. and i have every intention of loving you just as thoroughly as i know you love me. you just have to let me.”
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
°˖➴overall
i fully understand why this is so many people's favourite of the series. this book has so many beautiful things about it and i still highly recommend everyone to read this book / series. i just can't rate this book higher because of how hard it was for me to get into it<3
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.


💚💍—pre-readddd
i’m literally SO excited right now. after reading the authors content warnings and notes i have no doubt im going to devour this book. i’m so intrigued and ready to properly meet rhys and tabitha🤭🤭

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Sometimes love and hate are two sides of the same coin."

Tabitha Garrison did not imagine her wedding day like this.
If anything she did not imagine she would be marrying the man who she hates with every fiber of her being.
But she is doing it for her nephew. He is the only thing that matters.
Rhys Dupris didn’t imagine his wedding day going like this either.
He is so used to being behind a mask. And here comes the woman who will reveal who he really is. The woman he's been obsessed with for years.
Marriage is one thing, but feelings are a completely different story line.

"Because much like the very first time I met her, I can't get the woman out of my head. Haven't been able to for the past two years."

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review 💚💚

"This woman is going to be the death of me."

There is honestly nothing new I can say that I have not already said about this series and each book just makes it more and more obvious that YOU NEED TO READ THIS SERIES!! I was so excited for Rhys and Tabitha's book - I just knew it would deliver and IT WAS SIGNED SEALED AND DELIVERED BECAUSE I AM OBSESSED 💚💚💚

"We're feeling complicated and inevitable all at once."

Tabitha is literally my spirit animal and I feel like that is very self-explanatory and RHYS OMGGG that man 🥵🥵🥵 they made me feel all the feels, cry all the cries, and fan all the fanning I possibly could with my Kindle. Tabitha will not stand for any bullshit and honestly I love that. The way her and Rhys are fighting but with good intentions just makes you love them even more. Their story is absolutely amazing and I think I can say one of my favorites 💚

"It's lying to myself that feels like it's going to be a challenge."

And the playlist - I absolutely love and I think it fits perfectly if I do say so myself 💚💚
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jl...)

🎶 "Main Attraction" - Jeremy Renner
🎶 "Close To You" - Gracie Abrams
🎶 "Forever" - Noah Kahan
🎶 "Cover Me In Sunshine" - P!nk, Willow Sage Hart
🎶 "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Next To Me" - Imagine Dragons
🎶 "Unforgettable" - Thomas Rhett
🎶 "You Don't Know Me" - Elizabeth Gillies
🎶 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎶 "Hello" - Evanescence
🎶 "Water Under The Bridge" - Adele
🎶 "Every Heart But Mine" - Dylan
🎶 "Rue's I'm Tired" - Labrinth, Zendaya
🎶 "When You're Gone" - Avril Lavigne
🎶 "Ordinary" - Alex Warren
🎶 "Cry" - Kelly Clarkson
🎶 "Wild Side" - Suki Waterhouse
🎶 "Happen To Me" - Russell Dickerson
🎶 "Lifeline" - Joshua Bassett
🎶 "Hurt" - Christina Aguilera
🎶 "I Am Not Okay" - Jelly Roll
🎶 "Taste" - Ari Abdul
🎶 "Spectrum (Say My Name)" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Too Well" - Renee Rapp
🎶 "Leave The Door Open" - Bruno Mars, Anderson, Paak, Silk Sonic
🎶 "eyes don't lie" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Feel Invincible" - Skillet
🎶 "Easy On Me" - Adele
🎶 "Trouble" - P!nk
🎶 "Sucker" - Jonas Brothers
🎶 "Lose Control" - Teddy Swims
🎶 "Come With Me Now" - KONGOS
🎶 "Control" - Zoe Wees
🎶 "Fire and the Flood" - Vance Joy
🎶 "Back To You" - Selena Gomez
🎶 "Biblical" - Calum Scott
🎶 "fOoL fOr YoU" - ZAYN
🎶 "Like Real People Do" - Hozier
🎶 "Shivers - Acoustic Version" - Ed Sheeran
🎶 "People Watching" - Conan Gray
🎶 "10,000 Hours" - Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber
🎶 "I wish I hated you" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Flatliner" - Cole Swindell, Dierks Bentley
🎶 "Sports car" - Tate McRae
🎶 "You Proof" - Morgan Wallen
🎶 "Burning Down" - Alex Warren
🎶 "Tattoo" - Loreen
🎶 "Greenlight" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Whatever" - Alex Coles
🎶 "Addicted" - Saving Abel
🎶 "HEARTBEAT" - Isabel LaRosa
🎶 "Ruin My Life" - Zara Larsson
🎶 "Eat Your Young" - Hozier
🎶 "Man on the Moon" - Megan Moroney
🎶 "Wild as Her" - Corey Kent
🎶 "Smells Like Sex" - Sizzy Rocket
🎶 "Talking Body" - Tove Lo
🎶 "Lose It" - Kane Brown
🎶 "Rodeo Queen" - KC Johns
🎶 "The Wolf" - The Spencer Lee Band
🎶 "pink skies" - LANY
🎶 "She Looks So Perfect" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "golden hour" - JVKE
🎶 "Everywhere, Everything" - Noah Kahan
🎶 "Everyday" - Ariana Grande, Future
🎶 "Power Over Me" - Dermot Kennedy
🎶 "Paper Rings" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Cry" - Benson Boone
🎶 "Electric Love" - BORNS
🎶 "Miss possessive" - Tate McRae
🎶 "Bigger Person" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Pray" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "the grudge" - Olivia Rodrigo
🎶 "Touch - Acoustic" - Little Mix
🎶 "From Eden" - Hozier
🎶 "The Bones" - Maren Morris
🎶 "Beggin'" - Maneskin
🎶 "Need You Now" - Lady A
🎶 "I Think I'm In Love" - Kat Dahlia
🎶 "Love On The Brain" - Rihanna
🎶 "Coffee In The Morning" - Jeremy Jordan, Matt Copley
🎶 "positions" - Ariana Grande
🎶 "Criminals" - Meghan Trainor
🎶 "Killjoy" - Rob Sonic, Aesop Rocky
🎶 "One Call Away" - Charlie Puth
🎶 "Lipstick" - Charlie Puth
🎶 "The Kinda Woman I Like" - Zach Top
🎶 "Before You" - David J

And remember what I said about fanning my Kindle? I was not exaggerating people!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️

"Nothing fake about how wet you are right now."

"Yeah, just like that, baby. All tight, and wet, and bent over, moaning for me. That’s the dream right there."

"You've been watching me on TV, dreaming about taking my cock like the hungry little slut you are. Is that right?"

💍 Tropes 💍

💚 Marriage of Convenience
💚 Enemies To Lovers
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Chef x Pro Wrestler
💚 Slow Burn

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/DGvXw5uIm...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book and was SO obsessed with the banter between Tabitha and Rhys! Are you kidding me!? This book definitely deals with serious and emotional topics, which is what brings the two characters together, but I loved how much they tried to hate each other but just couldn't as they got to know each other more. Rhys is such a closed off character because of his past, and I love how Tabitha didn't judge him and showed him what it was really like to have a family. The marriage of convenience aspect of this was PERFECTION and I was living for the push and pull of their wedding day/reception and how much they toyed with each other. They both knew they were attracted to one another while trying to hate one another, which created so much tension. But it was still slow burn!?!?! I was dyingggg for these two to get together and the payoff was SO worth it. This was such a unique plot with Rhys's profession and it was so fun.

Elsie never fails to make me fall in love with her heroes, no matter how different they are, and Rhys is no exception. This is another amazing romance from Elsie and you have to read it right now!!!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Does love start off as obsession?
Because that’s what I am.
Obsessed with my wife.

I can’t get enough of Elsie Silver’s ‘Rose Hill’ series. Each book gets better and better. I’m a sucker for a good marriage of convenience romance, and this exceeded all my expectations.

I have been intrigued by both Tabitha and Rhys since we met them both in previous books. I wasn’t sure what would bring them together, but Tabitha really seemed to dislike Rhys. And it does have an enemies to lovers vibe for a short time. But it doesn’t take long for Rhys to win her over.

Tabby seems like such a baddie, and in a way, she is. But you see a softer side of her when it comes to her nephew, Milo. And Rhys. With time, he gets the soft side of her as well. I loved these two together. They were such an amazing couple. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as I was reading about them slowly but surely falling for one another.

The romance, the chemistry, the heart… Wild Side had it all. Elsie always slays with her writing and her books are unputdownable. I can’t wait to see what she does next.

[Tarah DeWitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elsie's best yet, somehow. She's in her angst era and I am lapping it up like a kitten. Mrrrowww.

[rei ‧₊˚✩彡]

pre-read:

ngl, i’m not really expecting rhys to be the mmc in this book because he didn’t have that much cameo or is it just me? but i do love me a good marriage of convenience trope!!🌷🫧

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

- 3 stars

the way i thought this was gonna be one of my favorite Elsie Silver books, but it didn't deliver as hard as i thought it would. Cade and Theo stay undefeated in the single dad departement. by the way is the single dad trope in the room with us??? each book in this series is supposed to be about single dads, but i wouldn't count Rhys as one...

i think i major part of my problem with this book was Rhys' profession as a wrestler. i'm really sorry, but i could not take it serious. Rhys acting as Wild Side in front of the camera gave me the ICK and made me cringe with the mask and his line. just everything about that wrestling show was not for me 😭

Milo was such a cutie though. and if i ignore all the Wide Side stuff then Rhys and Tabitha had some good scenes.

┏━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┓
ROSE HILL SERIES

#1 Wild Love - 2 stars
#2 Wild Side - 3.25 stars
#3 Wild Eyes - 3 stars
#4 Wild Card - tbd
┗━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━┛

[gabi⋆˙⟡♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars | honestly i expected more

「 ✦“Our family is special. Unique circumstances. Chosen rather than born into. All tied together in an unusual way.”✦ 」

I went into this book with sky-high expectations because EVERYONE says it's the best in the series. And I believed you all… and okay, it's not a bad book, but I prefer the previous one a thousand times more.

book playlist

•packing it up by gracie abrams
•what hurts the most by rascal flatts
•i wish i hated you by ariana grande
•you’re gonna go far by noah kahan

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔

˙∘ও┆𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 ★
In this story, we meet Tabitha Garrison, a talented chef at a restaurant in Rose Hill. From a young age, she has carried more responsibilities than she should, caring for her older sister, Erika, the town's outcast who has struggled with addiction for years and dies suddenly from an overdose, leaving behind her young son, Milo.

Tabitha is obviously devastated after the news and blames herself for not noticing the signs that her sister was unwell; but at the same time, she knows she can't succumb to grief because there are things to resolve regarding Milo. And naturally, she assumes that as his aunt, having cared for him for a long time while Erika was still alive, she will also be his guardian.

「 ✦“Everyone around me has been crying. I can’t start too. If I start, I worry I won’t know how to stop. Then shit won’t get done. And that’s my job right now. Take care of her little boy. Navigate my parents’ grief. Run my restaurant. Get shit done. Numb is preferable.”✦ 」

「 ✦“He’s the reason she focused so hard on healing for those few years. And all I knew was that I was happy to see my sister trying. I see so much of my sister in him. And my heart aches that she won’t be here to see him grow.”✦ 」

But that's where Rhys Dupris comes in. He's Erika's tenant and also happens to be Milo's true legal guardian, having been named by her in her will before she died. Rhys is a man with an intimidating appearance and a mysterious, broody personality, with an alter ego that no one knows about: Wild Side, a very famous professional wrestler.

But behind that facade hides a man who grew up without a family and doesn't know how to let love into his life because he believes he doesn't deserve it, yet he's willing to do anything to give Milo what he could never have growing up.

「 ✦“I’m glad Milo has someone like her in his corner. I wish someone had fought as hard for me as she does for him. I may not like her, but I admire her grit and devotion.”✦ 」

「 ✦“Rhys has a way of shutting everyone out. I’m not sure what it is, but something about the moment makes me wonder if the man I married even knows how to let someone love him.”✦ 」

Their paths cross again after Erika's death, and after a few misunderstandings and hidden truths, the animosity between them is palpable. However, they share a common goal: Milo's happiness and well-being.

Thus, after a hasty agreement, they decide to marry and co-parent Milo to ensure he can legally remain in Canada with Tabby. But what begins as an arranged marriage, far from genuine, slowly transforms into a found family that neither of them saw coming and that gives them both a space where they finally feel happy, complete and loved.

However, they still must overcome their own fears, insecurities, guilt, and secrets to stay together.

「 ✦“It’s a team effort. A family effort. It’s a foreign experience. But Tabitha has shown me it’s okay to lean on people. That I’m not a burden. That indeed, they will come back even when it seems inconvenient.”✦ 」

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔

˙∘ও┆𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 ★
I must admit that up until the first half of the story I was HOOKED and thought this book would be my favorite in the series… but then everything fell apart for me.

I liked how the story began with a throwback to when Rhys and Tabby first met and then brought us to the present with Erika's death.

Tabby is the type of person who feels she has to swallow her feelings, keeping them hidden from others, so she doesn't let them fall apart and so she can be the strong one, the one who carries everyone else's burdens. And I admit that reading about all those feelings of pain and guilt she carries because of her sister's death was incredibly difficult; my heart ached for her, and I hoped she could heal and move on.

「 ✦“They say it takes a village, and Erika didn’t have one even though she needed it. So I became her village, taking on as much as I could. I grew to love that kid like he was my own. My parents keep telling me I went above and beyond for her… but wondering if I could have done more will haunt me forever.”✦ 」

And then, learning that Rhys had custody of Milo, by Erika's own decision, hit Tabby like a ton of bricks. It must have felt like all the effort, sacrifice, and time she dedicated to caring for and protecting Milo had been for nothing.

But at the same time, we learn that Erika was also like a little sister to Rhys; and that's why he felt so connected to Milo, because he partly raised him and only wants his well-being and happiness. And having grown up without parents himself, in foster homes where he wasn't treated well, Rhys wants to prevent Milo from suffering the same fate as him at all costs.

「 ✦“I think that’s what I’ve found in Rhys. Someone I can talk to about my sister who also has fond memories of her. I don’t have to be the one who came out on top. I just get to be the girl who lost her sister.”✦ 」

「 ✦“Erika didn’t love Rhys. Not in the way I do. I’ve let go of the guilt and decided I’m not taking anything that was hers or could have been hers. I’m taking one thing for myself after years of giving to everyone else. And I’m not letting him go.”✦ 」

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔

I want to give a shout-out to the wedding vows, because even though Tabby and Rhys didn't write the vows themselves, I LOVED IT and I feel like it touched some nerves for both of them. Also… the fact that their first kiss is at the altar is chef's kiss, hehehe.

「 ✦“I, Rhys, promise you, Tabitha, to always respect and admire you and to appreciate you for who you are, as well as the person you become.
I promise that your dreams will be our dreams, and that I will do everything I can to make them a reality for both of us.
I promise to be a spectator to your life, a participant in your experiences, and your biggest advocate in every moment.
I promise to allow you space to be those things in my life too.
I promise to support and encourage you, laugh with you in times of joy, and comfort you in times of sorrow.
I promise to cherish and reinforce the love between us in good times and in bad, when life is simple and when it’s complicated—when loving you is easy and when it takes effort.
I promise to be faithful to you and to place you and our family above all else.
I promise to love you completely and unconditionally, today and every day, and to stand at your side always, wherever life takes us together.”✦ 」

Up to that point, I feel that everything was handled well.

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔

In the second half of the book, I got incredibly bored. Tabby and Rhys's relationship changed almost immediately after the wedding; it was as if they went from rivals to lovers in a single chapter, and I didn't like that. It would have been better if they had developed more of a friendship before all the physical and romantic stuff happened.

Their family dynamic with Milo wasn't shown much either, except for a couple of scenes, and I don't like it when they use a child they have in common to force the "marriage of convenience" trope, only to then abandon it or downplay the importance of that family connection.

After that, everything was really random. I can't explain it, but it's as if the author ran out of ideas on how to move the story forward and made up a lot of filler, especially with Rhys's job, which didn't work to entertain, to speed up the plot, or for anything AT ALL.

⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ 💍💚 ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔



⋆｡˚୨𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰୧˚｡⋆
So... after like a month-long reading hiatus, i'm finally ready to finish this series. I've been told this one is the best and i LOVED the last one so i hope this can top that one, wish me luck 💚

[Madison Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25!!