Cross the Line

Shadow Valley U #3

by S. Massery, S.J. Sylvis

Scarlett Wallace has hated me since the moment we met.
Fine—feelings are mutual.

When she transfers to Shadow Valley U, her dad’s brilliant idea has us living under the same roof as newly minted step-siblings, and she becomes impossible to ignore.
Too stubborn. Too tempting. Too off-limits.

But when I mess up with the wrong crowd, they demand repayment.
and unfortunately, they decide Scarlett is the perfect leverage.

She deserves a fresh start after what happened at her last school…
Instead, she gets me—her stepbrother. 
The guy who can’t stay out of trouble…and can’t stay away from her.

Protecting her means crossing every line.
Wanting her means destroying the rest.


Cross the Line is a spicy new adult romance featuring a fighter and his brand new enemy (AKA step-sister), brought to you by the bestselling authors S. Massery and SJ Sylvis.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Forced Proximity, Sports Romance, College, Romance, Sports

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 11, 2025

About the author

S. Massery is a dark romance author who infuses all her stories with a dash of suspense. Formerly from Massachusetts, she now resides in Southern California with her dog, Alice.

Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs—including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.

• Facebook Group —> http://facebook.com/groups/smasserysquad 

• Facebook —> http://facebook.com/authorsmassery

• Instagram —> http://instagram.com/authorsmassery 

• Newsletter —> http://smassery.com/newsletter
• Tiktok —> http://tiktok.com/@smassery

Reviews

[Kursed Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

In danger of losing his athletic scholarship at Shadow Valley University, lacrosse player, Cross Lopez, must find other housing and a tutor quickly.

Scarlett Wallace left Yale to start fresh. The last thing she needs is another arrogant ass creating problems for her.

Whew… I’m not usually one for a slow burn. The angst is angsting and the tension is tense in this one. And I was panting like a bitch in heat.

Obviously these tropes aren’t new. Yet it was still all the things we could want and expect from these two authors. In fact, I’m really sad that this was the last book in the series.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥
Darkness: 🩶🩶
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😡😳🫠😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}

POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): Dark-ish, New Adult

✨ Tropes: Blackmail, Bully, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Rich Girl/Poor Boy
 
💫 Microtropes: Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Interracial/POC, Panty Thief, Tattooed MMC, Tragic Past, Who Hurt You?

🔆 Character: Athlete, Underground Cage Fighter

💋 Kinks: Biting/Marking, Primal, Public Play

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Touch-Her-and-💀

⛔️ Safety Squad: Rape (Not by MMC), Violence and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, and in the past and present. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📍 Setting: College

⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!

📣 Type: Cross the Line is the final book in the Shadow Valley U series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[S.J. Sylvis]

Available now!

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: http://bit.ly/48y1OtZ

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/4mvDeNA

[Megan Coggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this almost in one go.
It was relatively short and fast paced.
With a plot that kept me turning the page.

Where are my step sibling taboo lovers?!
Cause Cross & Scarlett are just that.

This had that bully aspect to it.
Where he can do it but no one else can.

“She’s my stepsister. I’m supposed to be protective, aren’t I? It’s like…I can mess with her, but no one else can.”

Secret underground fighting.
A suspense plot.

Solid end to the shadow valley series.

Arc review ✨

[Wendy Marie (myrisingphoenixera.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3🌶️
🔥Step Siblings
🔥Forbidden Love
🔥Forced Proximity
🔥Bully
🔥Enemies To Lovers
🔥College Athlete
🔥Dual First Person POV

This is a fast paced, tension filled college bully romance. I’m not usually one for bully romances and it was a little much for my tastes, but the mmc is redeemable in the end. Cross and Scarlett’s first meeting is at their parent’s wedding, it did not go well. At the start of spring semester Cross finds out he’s in jeopardy of loosing his athletic scholarship. He needs to find new housing and a tutor. His stepdad offers a house he had fixed up close to campus. Their plan to avoid each other was working until Scarlett transfers to Shadow Valley and they find out they’re going to be housemates. He does everything he possibly can to make her life miserable, but she dishes right back at him. The tension between them was palpable. They’re both in denial about their feelings and trying to make each tother’s lives miserable. When that tension finally snaps, there is no more holding back. Cross’ underground cage fighting gets him into trouble with the wrong people when he agrees to throw a fight. When it turns out to be someone from Scarlett’s past he can’t hold back and she gets caught in the middle. I had to remind myself a few times that they are only 20 years old because of their behavior, more so with Cross. Scarlett is feisty and even after going through something so horrible she wasn’t afraid to stand up to Cross. This leads to fun bantering and spicy times in the woods and the library.

🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.

Plot: 4
Engaging: 4
Character: 4

Thank you S. Massery & S.J. Sylvis for the gifted advanced copy.

📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦‍🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦‍🔥

A Few Favorite Quotes:
“One second, I’m ready to murder him, and the next, a flush is working itself up my neck. Not to mention, we’re stepsiblings.”

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I almost read this in one sitting, you bet. I enjoyed being back at Shadow Valley U with Cross & Scarlett! I could feel the tension building while reading and I always love when they give in finally! Especially since they were both so far in denial about how they felt, doing everything to ignore those feelings! The last 15% of the book literally flew by, and I could have read so much more about these two! As always, check your TW if you need to. But if you have enjoyed the other Shadow Valley U books, then buckle up for another fun read!

WHAT TO EXPECT:
♥️ Step-Siblings
♥️ College Romance
♥️ Enemies-to-Lovers
♥️ Lacrosse Player MMC
♥️ Underground Cage Fighter
♥️ Forced Proximity
♥️ Forbidden

Thank you so much to SJ Sylvis and S. Massery for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

[Jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ugh, as much as I like S Massery and SJ Sylvis, I hate to admit this book is my least favorite in the Shadow Valley series and this series is my least favorite among all of SJ's books. Like the first installment, Sticks and Stones, there is a bully trope here as well, and for someone who's been bullied throughout her entire childhood, which is not fun at all, bullies as main characters are a real turn-off. What's worse than Stones in book 1, the major bully in this book, Cross, the underground cage fighter and lacrosse player, really takes some pranks on the female main character, Scarlett, too far, in my opinion. For example, stuffing her in the trunk and pretending to recreate her date-rape scene just to "test" her? Hell no.

What's worse, Scarlett even finds being bullied...super hot and sexy coming from Cross? Why and how and what in the world? I'm just fed up to see how people romanticize the act of bullying and Scarlett's reaction toward it simply justifies the wrong deed even more. Call me biased, but the bully trope really isn't my cup of tea and I don't think it will ever be.

Besides, despite the fact that there are quite some darker elements in this book compared to the first two, including cage fighting, kidnapping, and deadly threats from unknown strangers, the majority of them feel pretty rushed. I really hope to see these plot designs get better developed instead of simply mentioning them without further elaboration. I mean, those are very good and captivating potential!

All in all, I won't recommend Cross the Line but if you're a die-hard fan of either S Massery or SJ Sylvis (the latter for me!), I won't stop you from picking this series up and hopefully you'll end up enjoying it way more than I do. At least the holiday novella, The Christmas Playbook, is a solid 5-star read for me so there's that. :)

***Thanks to SJ Sylvis for providing her Patreon girlies with an e-ARC!***

[Luna ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

»You're hot, Scarlett. He's going to be hating the fact that his stepsister turns him on, is more like it.«

★ ★

❥ 𝑺𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She was okay? A little bit bland and boring, but I liked her.

❥ 𝑪𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 ⋆✮
He‘s such an asshole. I couldn‘t warm up to him throughout the book.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
Sadly I didn‘t enjoyed this book. It was underwhelming, compared to the previous books and I skimmed a lot of chapters. There was no tension, no twists and no interesting character development. This whole book felt bland and flat. The usual spark books from the author usually have was missing.
Scarlett and Cross don‘t have tension in my opinion. They hate each other without any good reason and Cross is straight up a mean asshole. I didn‘t like them together and I‘m not sure if I want them to be a couple. Their story felt rushed and without any depth to their relationship.
Overall I‘m not a fan of this book. Hopefully the next one from this author will be better.

𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Nope.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 1/5
spice: 2/5
humor: 2/5
couple/tension: 2/5
world building: 4/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, bully romance, dark, college, step siblings, forbidden romance, opposites attract, rich x poor, underground cage fighter, hate to love

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 Sticks and Stones ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Heart of Thorns ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2.5 The Christmas Playbook ★ ★ ★ ★
#3 Cross the Line ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Madeline Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5- I LOVED the book prior to this one when I read it so was very excited to get approved for an arc of this one but unfortunately this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I feel like the book needed to be much longer than it was to be fully developed, the plot had so many intricate plot points that often felt rushed through and needed more time. In addition, it felt like Cross and Scarlett’s relationship came out of nowhere so quickly because things were so rushed. SJ Sylvis has written some of my favorite books so I was a bit disappointed with this one. It definitely was a quick and easy read and I didn’t want to put it down was just hoping for a little bit more. If you enjoy forced proximity, enemies to lovers with a bit of suspense then this is for for you!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading a few step-siblings books lately and let me tell you, they never disappoint 🤭 I absolutely ate this book up! Loved every minute of it, but I expected nothing less from two of my faves 😍

I love how they can't stand each other at the start and then end up not being able to get enough of each other ❤️‍🔥

"𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞."

This is sprinkled with a few dark themes which we love! And a little bit of blackmail, scheming and kidnapping is always fun 😏 Cross is not a fan of Scarlett from the very first interaction at their parents wedding. Skip forward 6 months and now they're both attending Shadow Valley U and her dad has them sharing a house 🤭 WHAT DID HE EXPECT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! 😂

"𝐈'𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈'𝐦 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞."
"𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝?"
"𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮."

A little bit of drama is all it takes for Cross to realise that he cares a lot more about Scar and her well-being than a step-sibling should 😏 and we love it when the grumpy ass gets all protective of his "sister" 😮‍💨

While this is a part of the Shadow Valley U series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone. Add to your tbr asap, cause what's one more book on the tbr 🤷🏼‍♀️

What to expect -
🖤Bully
🏒Step-sibling
🖤Enemies to lovers
🏒Forced Proximity

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cross The Line
Shadow Valley U Book 3
S. Massery
S.J. Sylvis

Crossroads & Scarlett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Step siblings
College
Enemies to lovers
Lacrosse
Forbidden
Forced Proximity
Underground cage fighter

I loved being back at Shadow Valley U again.

Such a great series. This book was darker for me than the others.

Oh, my the angst and tension in this was flying off the page!

I read this in one sitting.

The action and suspense was great. The underground cage fighting added an element of danger and thrill.

Aside from the danger, suspense and angst, these two were really emotional and protective of each other.

They were so bratty towards each other lol and when they finally gave in. Shoot. So hot. They have great chemistry. That push and pull was fantastic.

The forbidden aspect of their relationship added such tension it was delicious

This was a really great book. I loved their dynamic

All S. Massery and S.J. Sylvis books are fantastic

I love the worlds they create together.

This was the final book for Shadow Valley U. It was a great close to this series.

So thankful for this arc.

[KayBeReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cross and Scarlett are thrown together, first meeting at their parent’s wedding. It’s friction from the start and then they are thrown in a house together, what could go wrong? These two can’t stand each other. Cross is playing tricks on Scarlett and she tried to snoop but it didn’t go as planned. These two are fire and ice. Cross is starting to have the hots for Scarlett and vice versa. Plus they’re starting to care about each other. Both of them have secrets and they are both trying to use them are trying to use each other’s secrets against each other. The tension is building both sexual and suspenseful and I can’t wait for both to explode. Honey the sexual tension finally exploded and it was a sight. Two words: Chase scene! Once they opened Pandora’s box there is no closing it back. Cross is like a man possessed when it comes to Scarlett, he sees red. And I love it. These two complement each other so well. My favorite thing about their relationship is that Scarlett did not bow down to Cross. If he dished it she would dish it right back. For the majority of the book we are just cruising along, setting the ground, a little banter, a little bully but the last 40% the gas was pressed to the floor. The suspenseful tension was popped and we learned all the things. They both got their lick back on those that did them dirty. My favorite was Scarlett’s. This was a great story and I enjoyed it.

[Haily Volk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I will read anything that is written by S.Massery & S.J. Sylvis! Anything they write I eat it up every single time and this book was no different. Like the tropes in this?! LOVED them all! Step siblings, forbidden, taboo?! You don’t have to pull my arm!

Cross and Scarlett HATE each other when they became step siblings! They want nothing to do with each other until Scarlett transfers to shadow valley U and ends up having to roommate with Cross. GUYS. Their banter in this was EVERYTHING. The hate to wanting each other?! SO GOOD!

Scarlett has a secret & doesn’t want her dad to find out. Cross has a hidden identity that he doesn’t want his mother to find out due to past trauma with his father. So they both end up finding out each other secrets and they keep it hidden. I loved that about them! The way they had each other backs just warmed my heart! Cross was willing to do anything for Scarlett even if it ends up putting him at risk. They are PERFECT!

Thank you so much S.Massery & S.J. Sylvis & VPR for this eARC!❤️

What to expect:
❤️Step Siblings
🖤College Athlete
❤️Bully Romance
🖤Taboo
❤️Enemies to Lovers
🖤Forced Proximity

[Misty • booksplusplants · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Step siblings Cross and Scarlett are forced to live together on their college campus. Cross loves tormenting Scarlett every chance he gets until someone from her past shows up. Then he becomes her biggest protector.

They get into a little bit of trouble due to Cross’s illegal fighting, and someone from Scarlett’s past. Definitely kept me turning pages to see what would happen next.

ARC review

🥊Step siblings
🥊Enemies to lovers
🥊College
🥊Forced proximity
🥊Forbidden

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross + Scarlett

-stepsibling romance
-bully/forbidden
-enemies to lovers
-college athlete
-forced proximity

the tension between these two from the jump was amazing & so so juicy! it made that snap just that much better & boyyyy was it delicious!!

[hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

got whiplash and kept reading it as stardew valley

[Lorena Garcia -- Brittany's Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start off with Cross and Scarlett both being surprised by his mother and her father's news that they were getting married to each other. Cross and Scarlett met at the wedding since it was so quickly and so out of left field. At first glance, both Cross and Scarlett were throwing each other glares. Cross couldn't believe that he was about to inherit a step-sister but he and his mom were moving into Scar's father's house. Scarlett was studying at Yale for a while so she was not privy of what was going on back home before the wedding.

Scar decided to return home at the last minute to stay and enroll at SVU because things she didn't want to talk about or remember of what happened at Yale. She was keeping that to herself or at least until she felt it was a good time to sit down with her dad and talk to him about it.

Cross and Scar had had to live in the same house while attending the same University and at first, Cross wanted to make Scar's life a living hell but she was no push over and also gave back as much as she received.

But at one of Cross' fights, he finds out why Scarlett left Yale and came back home and things got crazy from that point on.

I do have to say the chemistry between Cross and Scarlett was hot. The instant that they both hooked up, it was game over. And I loved how he became so protective of her and was willing to do whatever it took to protect her.

This is my first book by both authors and I have to say it was great. I loved the characters, their back and forth and their insanely hot attraction towards each other.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️/ 2.5 🌶️

Cross and Scarlett are great additions to the Shadow U series. I have always loved both these authors and this book shows it. The writing, the plot, and the spice were just 🤌🏼
The bully, step-sibling trope is done perfectly!

The only thing I am sad about it was only 240 pages 😅. It was a quick, short read that left me wanting more.

Tropes: Step-Sibling, College romance

[Caitlin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

whew - what a ride. I love a taboo romance so this was right up my alley. The bullying, the spice, the protectiveness - yesssss. Throw in the underground fighting situation and I was SOLD. This was definitely dark at times, but I ate it up. I love S. Massery and S.J. Sylvis and will read anything they co-write because it always delivers.

[emilyreadsandreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thank you to SJ and S.Massery for this ARC to review!

This is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity, forbidden romance, step siblings romance.

There’s underground cage fighting, blackmail, and verbal sparring…oh and sexual tension that is out of this world!

[Laura (lady_h_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
One fuck is not going to be enough to get her out of my system. Such a number might not exist.

I binged the heck out of this book! Who needs sleep when you are waiting for the enemies to become lovers and for the MMC to realize how much an ass he's been? Totally worth it!

Enemies to lovers and forced proximity are two of my favorite tropes, and when you throw in a touch of the taboo with step-siblings, I am even more invested.

I was not a fan of the MMC, Cross, for the first part of the book. He had a huge chip on his shoulder and took it out on Scarlett. Being the innocent bystander, knowing her full story, it was hard to accept the way he treated her... But all that changed once he realized how wrong he had been. Then he embodied the "touch-her-and-die" mindset I am feral for.

This is a slower burn MF romance that gets very spicy! I think it stands well on it's own, so while it is part of the Shadow Valley U universe, it can be read and enjoyed as a complete standalone. Cross and Scarlett get their HEA.

Thanks to Valentine PR and the authors for the eARC.

[Trinket Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
This was a short read with spice, tension and all the drama!
This is book 3 in the Shadow Valley U universe, that centres on Scarlett and her new stepbrother Cross. From the moment they meet they absolutely hate each other. When her dad’s brilliant idea lands her at Shadow Valley U and living under the same roof as him, sparks immediately fly — and not in a good way.
Cross is a hot, tattooed, mma fighter struggling with his grades, unknowingly to both of them Scarlett also becomes his tutor and it’s fair to say he’s not the easiest student. Cross is a bully and works to make her life hell, all the while Scarlett is trying to lie low and hide from her past demons. They’re both too stubborn, too tempting, and totally off-limits, and their chemistry is hotttt!
But when Cross lands in trouble with the wrong crowd, Scarlett becomes the perfect leverage. for cross, The instinct to protect Scarlett is instant and he finds himself willing to cross all the lines for her.
A huge thank you to S. Massery, SJ. Sylvis & Valentine PR for this ARC opportunity

[Amanda Kintner · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first...loved the Michael Scott throw in. Keep up the good work. And secondly, Cross was a turd. Very broody, but it was nice. Not sure what that says about me. Taboo story...slightly id say. But totally worth the read. I really liked their dynamic and storyline. Dark, dangerous and the perfect quick read.

[Koisty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Tutor Session Stars ⭐️
Spicy Rating: 🌶️🌶️/5

I was so excited to read this. Like genuinely counting down the days until I could open it. And while it did have some of the allure that I’ve come to love from this writing duo, this one just felt like it was missing something, which is not normal for me with S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery. In the end, while it wasn’t bad, it was definitely the weakest of the books they’ve written so far.

“I’m here because I’m fucking desperate.” He bounces his gaze back and forth feverishly.
“For what?” I whisper.
His eyes narrow, his mouth a breath away from mine. “For you, Scar. I’m desperate for you.”

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
When Cross’s grades slip, and he loses his housing, his stepfather offers him a solution. He has to move into the house with his new stepsister. Which, for both of them, feels like the end of the world. They can’t stand each other. Cross then proceeds to make Scarlett’s life a living hell, especially after she transfers from Yale to Shadow Valley University with a secret. He bullies her. He torments her. He does the whole thing bullies do by making her the laughing stock of the university. But the more he does it, the more he realises that he wants to be the only one allowed to make her life hell. And, unsurprisingly, somewhere along the way, they realise that they might like each other a lot more with their clothes off.

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Now, I adore a forbidden romance, and I also love a step-sibling romance. It’s forbidden, but not that forbidden. The issue is that these two didn’t grow up together. They meet as adults, and it just so happens that their parents get married. So it's not like these two grew up as siblings and then grew into love; they were complete strangers until they met at a wedding as ADULTS. Cross and Scarlett instantly dislike each other, and honestly… I’m not really sure why. Or at least, I’m not sure why Cross dislikes Scarlett so much. He just sees her and then instantly SOMETHING rubs him the wrong way... we’re kind of just told that he thinks she’s a bitch, and we’re expected to roll with it.

Now as I have mentioned, one of my biggest issues is that I never fully understood why Cross hated Scarlett in the first place. I really tried to unpack it, but eventually I just had to accept it for the sake of the book. Because of that, the transition from enemies to lovers felt off. They spend so long hating each other that when the switch finally flips, it feels abrupt and lands in the realm of INSTALOVE. One day, it’s very much “I hate you,” and then suddenly it’s “I fucking love you,” and I didn’t really buy where that deep emotional connection came from. It needed more build-up to feel believable and had none of it.

I also found it frustrating how much time the book spends hammering home the whole she’s my "stepsister, he’s my stepbrother", over and over again, only for that conflict to be basically brushed aside and THEY DID NOT GROW UP TOGETHER... It's taboo because of the label and not the relationship, and it annoyed me. There’s all this tension built around what will happen when their parents find out, and then when it finally happens, it’s just… oh yeah, they already knew, it’s fine. It felt very anticlimactic, especially considering how much weight the book put on that being a massive obstacle.

While the chemistry between Cross and Scarlett was there, I didn’t fully buy it emotionally. Part of that comes down to characterisation. I don’t know how this duo splits their writing, whether one writes Cross and the other writes Scarlett, or if they both write both POVs, but it really felt like Cross was the stronger, more developed character. He had depth. He had emotion. His chapters had things happening. Scarlett, on the other hand, felt like she faded into the background. Her entire personality boiled down to the fact that she used to be a party girl, then experienced trauma, and now dulls herself to cope. She has moments where she pushes back and shows a bit of fire, but overall, I struggled to connect with her. She felt like the weaker half of the pairing, and I often found myself itching to get back to Cross’s POVs because those chapters actually held my attention.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Forbidden Romance - Step Siblings
▶ Bully Romance
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Collage/University Romance
▶ Dual POV
▶ Sports Romance (Lacrosse)
▶ Roommates to Lovers

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Public Sex
▷ Biting
▷ Hair Pulling
▷ Primal Play
▷ Kidnapping - He throws her into his trunk
▷ Doorframe Lean
▷ Rolled Sleeves/Forearms
▷ Under Table Touching
▷ Potato Sack Over Shoulder

Overall, this was definitely the weakest of the four books in the series for me. If I had to rank them, this would come last. If you really love S.J. Sylvis and S. Massery’s writing, you’ll probably still enjoy this, and I don’t regret reading it. It just didn’t have the same zing, impact, or emotional pull that their previous books did, and I finished it feeling a little underwhelmed.

Thank you to S. Massery and S.J. Sylvis for the gifted copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own

[Amber Goulbourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed every book I've read by S. Massery and S.J. Sylvis, and this one is no different. Their stories are spicy but also have characters and plots that really pull you in.

SCARLETT
She left Yale to move home and attend Shadow Valley University. She has a very good reason, but doesn’t share it with anyone.

CROSS
He pays for college with scholarships and money earned from underground cage fighting. His father physically abused both him and his mother.

Scarlett meets Cross when her father marries Cross's mother. He instantly dislikes her and makes negative assumptions about her. She doesn't like him either.

6 months later...
Cross's grades aren't high enough to maintain his scholarships. His only option is to attend tutoring and move into a house that Scarlett's dad had recently purchased. He and Scarlett have no idea that her father expects them to live together in this house. Her dad believes that Cross will protect her, but that couldn't be further from the truth at first.

Cross bullies and blackmails her in the beginning. During a fight he was paid to lose, he learns she left Yale out of fear and becomes determined to protect her, no matter the cost. He doesn't know the details, but he knows the man he fought did something terrible to her.

The men who paid him to lose the fights were terrible people, and both Cross and Scarlett are in serious danger. He is determined not to let them harm her because he failed to do what was expected of him. He had a very good reason for not throwing the fights against the guy from Yale.

When he learns the details about what made her leave Yale, he becomes furious. Protective of women, he seeks revenge after finding out what the guy he fought had done to her at a party. As they spend more time together, they start to give in to their attraction to each other, develop very real feelings, and true love.

My thoughts:
✔️ Cross misjudged her and went too far with his bullying.
✔️ I wish she had been honest with her dad about why she left Yale. What happened to her broke my heart.
✔️ I loved how Cross wanted to protect her even before he realized he had feelings for her.
✔️ The spicy times they have together are both sweet and hot.
✔️ Cross takes revenge seriously, and I appreciated how he helped her find closure.
✔️ Both of them deserved to find happiness, and the ending made me very happy.
✔️ I experienced a range of emotions while reading the book.
✨ There's a lesson in the book, too. Never accept open drinks in places like parties, because you never know if there could be drugs slipped into them. This happens in real life, too. ✨

What to expect:
✨Dark Romance
✨College Romance
✨Step-Siblings
✨Enemies-to-Lovers
✨Lacrosse Player MMC
✨Underground Cage Fighter
✨Forced Proximity
✨Forbidden

Content warnings: violence, stalking, blackmail, kidnapping, off-page sexual assault.

Thank you to the authors for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

[ReadingTilTheBreakOfDawn]

Cross the Line is the third and what the authors say will be the final book in the Shadow Valley U series. While this is a series, they are all complete standalones as the only thing connecting the stories is the fact that the MMC all play sports at SVU. Cross is a Lacrosse player for SVU but he's gotten himself into a bit of a predicament with his grades and how that affects his scholarship, money and housing. Meanwhile, his new stepsister Scarlett has transferred to SVU from Yale, but no one knows why she's transferred. He has not liked this girl since the moment they met at their parents wedding. But what happens when they are forced together in not only one part of their lives, but two??

I have to say I have mixed feelings with this final book. I've enjoyed the previous books and was looking forward to this one, but this one just felt a bit rushed. I loved the bully aspect and it felt really real between the characters. From the moment they met to their living situation to the school set up, I could feel the tension between them and how much Cross despised Scarlett. He genuinely wanted to make her life as uneasy as he could make it. But when she finds out about a secret part of his life, she thinks they may be on level playing ground. Nope. This man will hold all the cards. That's until a piece of her past collides with his secret life and then things start to get muddled real quickly.

Since this is a quicker read, it's fast paced in the overall development not only in the story itself, but in the relationship aspect. It felt like it went from bully to romance out of nowhere. No real build up to seeing their feelings change over the course of time. And then when the physical part started, it did not jive with Scarlett's past and what brought her to SVU. I just wanted a little more sexual tension build up to make the transition more believable. Because once they crossed the lines, it was ON!

Now, even though I had mixed feelings because of the pacing, I could not put this book down. It was an easy and quick read and I liked the forced proximity of it all as well of both of their BFFs that brought just a touch of comic relief to any scenes they were in. I also liked how they basically blew up the ending and made it work. Perhaps some plot holes here and there, but still a book you could read in one sitting and enjoy the morally grey world that Cross comes from while respecting his mom and stepfather.

If you like bully romance with forced proximity, step siblings, blackmail and a touch of suspense, then I think you'll enjoy S Massery and SJ Sylvis's latest book.

[ana lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

ARC Review ✨✨

You know those books that find their way to us at exactly the right time, in that moment when we need that particular story in our lives?
Well, that’s exactly what happened to me with this book, perfect story at the perfect moment, and I devoured it so fast, in less than a day… 😉

It’s not that this book has something groundbreaking, at least not for me, because it has everything that fits my tastes, in just the right amount. So, we have taboo with stepbrothers who hate each other, meaning we get enemies-to-lovers, but not just any enemies… real bullies. And not just any bullies either, but the sarcastic kind, with incredible humor. Yes, we get all that, plus a story so well written that I couldn’t stop reading until the very end.

Cross—who even has my last name (yyeesss!)—is just amazing! A wonderful character full of layers, with a kind of humor that melts you, even though it’s his mask for all his inner trauma… but he’s so sweet, so gorgeous, and so protective that all you want to do is scoop him up in your arms! And trust me, he’d do anything for his Sis, he’d set the whole world on fire if he had to! (Spoiler, he did!)

She is a beautiful, sarcastic sunshine who went through a tragic moment in her life that dimmed her light, made her stop trusting men, but also made her grow in line with her love for her stepbrother…

And the most important piece of all: we have underground fights, like Fight Club, and believe me, I totally see Cross as the dark-haired Latin version of Brad Pitt! 😄

And their chemistry? Damn, those spicy scenes were so well written and so hot!! The one in the forest, when Scarlet makes him chase her as foreplay…? The one at the restaurant while they were having dinner right in front of their parents? OMG, simply perfect, sensual, with the ideal slow burn that builds into the most perfect smut scenes… seriously, so good!

In conclusion, this book was a true gem, and I have to thank the ARC I received from Valentine Pr… I truly loved everything about it, and even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series yet, I’ll definitely read them now.

If you ask me what the vibes of this book are, I’d clearly say it’s a mix, the good kind, the well-executed kind, between Fight Club, the book For the Fans (MF version), because both characters are just as incredible as Avi and Ky, and also a touch of Elle Kennedy’s Misfit and Rogue: academic, sporty atmosphere, full of secrets and mysteries hiding behind pretty, rich faces.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely yes!!

[Enni (on hiatus) ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel a bit sad that the two-year journey with two of my favorite authors has come to an end! I have enjoyed Shadow Valley U series wholeheartedly and would not have minded staying there for a while longer lol

I feel like the books could have been a bit more interconnected in the same world since now all the books featured an MMC with a different sport which meant that the characters' lives did not really overlap. After all, one of my favorite things in interconnecting standalone series is that we get glimpses of the previous MCs in the other books.

One second, I’m ready to murder him, and the next, a flush is working itself up my neck.
Not to mention, we’re stepsiblings.

Scarlett Wallace.
She returns from Europe to take part in her father's wedding to a woman she's never met.
In addition to a stepmother, she also unexpectedly gains a stepbrother.
A series of unfortunate events in Yale forces Scarlett to transfer to Shadow Valley U.
An even bigger surprise is that she will have to room with her new stepbrother. The problem is, she despises him and he despises her.

Scarlett is a temptation I can’t afford. Both literally and mentally.

Cross Lopez.
He has never come from a lot but he has always managed to make do with what he has.
Scolarships cover most of his school expenses and an underground figting ring has helped him to earn some money from the side.
When his scholarships are suddenly partly revoked, he faces a financial problem.
Even though new stepdaddy dearest has money, Cross does not want to ask him for handouts.
He is foced to live together with Scarlett in stepdaddy's new property and involve himself even deeper in the underground fights to earn money. However, neither comes without complications.

Cross Lopez. My stepbrother. The bane of my existence. The guy I’ve found myself in love with.

It is not even clear why Scalett and Cross begin hating each other but it is obvious they do. Cross' behavior actually reminds me so much of the MMCs in Hockey Gods series so I can definitely see the S. Massery influence here. And I loved it! Cross was just a bit tamer version compared to e.g. Greyson.

I loved seeing Scarlett and Cross' relationship develop and how little by little Cross began to change from tormenting to protecting. But I guess it is true that once you torment someone, you want the sole rights to tormenting.

I kind of feel like this series kept getting better by each book and I am sad to see it end. It's not common, after all, to have a good collaboration by your favorite authors.

I received an ARC of Cross The Line as a member of both authors' ARC teams

[Brownshugar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book absolutely consumed me. Cross the Line is the third installment in the Shadow Valley U series and S.J. Sylvis and S.Massery has outdone themselves. Even though you can read this as a standalone I suggest reading the previous books just because... Please check your trigger warnings before diving in because this one gets heavy.
​The premise immediately hooked me. Scarlett arrives at her father’s wedding and discovers she has a stepbrother. It sets the tone for a relationship built on shock and forbidden tension. We jump forward six months to find Cross struggling. He is fighting underground, failing classes, and risking his scholarship. When he moves in with Scarlett the forced proximity trope is executed perfectly.
​Scarlett is such a strong FMC. She arrives at Shadow Valley U looking for a fresh start but gets pulled into Cross's messy life. I loved the tutor and athlete dynamic here but it is so much darker than your average college romance. Cross tries to hate her. He tries to ignore her. But his need for her ruins everything else.
​The conflict comes to a head when Cross's involvement with a bad crowd puts Scarlett in the crossfire. The blackmail element added a layer of suspense that kept me turning pages late into the night. It is angsty and raw and the chemistry between them is electric.
​If you love tropes like enemies to lovers, forbidden love, and taboo romance with a heavy dose of angst this is for you.
​Big thanks to S.J. Sylvis, S. Massery, and Valentine PR for the ARC.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

Cross the Line might honestly be my favorite book in the entire Shadow Valley U series. Scarlett and Cross had me hooked from page one. Their first meeting—at their parents’ wedding, of all places—sets the tone perfectly: instant dislike, immediate tension, and that delicious “we should NOT be attracted to each other” energy that only grows stronger as the story unfolds.

The forbidden romance angle (recently-minted step siblings) adds so much angst, and the forced proximity had me grinning because you just know these two are going to combust. Cross being both a lacrosse player and an underground cage fighter? Yes please. And Scarlett holding her own while carrying scars of her own past—loved her.

There are darker elements woven into the story—trauma, bullying, blackmail—and I genuinely appreciated how well the authors handled them. Nothing felt tossed in for shock value; it all added depth to both characters and made their connection feel earned.

Their dynamic? Pure tension. They deny their attraction so hard, insist they can’t stand each other, and yet every scene between them practically crackles. Watching them shift from enemies to fiercely loyal partners was SO satisfying. By the end, they’d do anything for each other, and I was fully invested.

I flew through this book. Fast, gripping, angsty, emotional—everything I want in a college romance. I was honestly sad when it ended, not just because I needed more Scarlett and Cross, but because it meant the Shadow Valley U journey was over.

[Lauralee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cross and Scarlett are suddenly step siblings when their parents get married. Granted, they’re in college when this happens so it shouldn’t be an issue right? Wrong. Scarlett has to transfer away from Yale when she has a traumatic event happen (please check triggers). And she ends up transferring to Shadow Valley University because it’s closer to home. Her dad sets her up with a place to live, but there’s a catch. Her new stepbrother that she cannot stand also lives there. They embark on a journey of what can only be described as Cross, her step brother being a bully because he doesn’t want Scarlett to find out what he’s doing in his spare time, fighting in illegal fights.

3 Stars. Okay so. When I started reading again I read so many step brother/ step sister romances so I like to think I’m a good judge of them. I like S. Massey and love her style of dark romance. However, this book was way too short for it to accomplish what it needed to. I love a fast paced book so much but this didn’t provide much backstory, detail or anything. I am interested in reading the rest of the series because people seem to really like it, but I do think this probably could have benefited from an extra hundred pages and exploring more of the forbidden aspect. The spice seemed very plain and not nearly as plentiful as people are making it seem. Which granted, it’s subjective but I expected a bit more grit with this kind of romance.