Redemption

Somerset University #4

by Ruby Vincent

Valentina

The only thing I know for sure is I don’t know anything at all.

Zeta Rho Sigma was never just a sorority and I was never really in control. A point they drove home when they toppled the final chess piece.

The man I love is gone. A wall of silence and blank faces surround me. Every day I sense I’m getting tangled tighter in someone’s web.

I will find the truth.

I will get him back.

And the Sallys and Sams will be brought to their knees.

Ryder

Now, I’m pissed.


Redemption is a reverse harem college romance and a continuation of the Evergreen Academy series. This is the final book in the series and features language, dark themes, and sexual scenes. If you're cool with that, dive in!

Genres: Romance, College, Adult, New Adult, Dark

248 pages, ebook

Published August 5, 2021

About the author

Ruby Vincent is a published author with many novels under her belt but now she's taking a fun foray into contemporary romance. She loves saucy heroines, bold alpha males, and weaving a tale where both get their happy ever after.

Reviews

[Andrea Lin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first three books of the series left me begging for more. All the twists, the turns, the drama, the heartache, all leading up to this final book..... which ultimately felt rather anti-climatic.

With a blurb like “Now I’m pissed”, from Ryder. Psycho-hot-sociopathic Ryder. I really expected more from him. There really isn’t much action from him in this book. Just a whole lot of “I should’ve seen this coming”.

I can’t say that the ending doesn’t make sense. It does, in a real-world-life-is-like-that life-goes-on kind of way... but it didn’t give me the resolution or closure that I desperately needed from the buildup in the first three books.

I guess I expected justice, maybe some revenge, some exploitation, exposure, just... something that would feel like a climax. Something final.

[Mai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ryder's POV saved this book (or series) for me which is why he earned 4 stars ⭐ (maybe its also because he is my favourite and I'm biased)
the story itself didn't go as how I personally expected and some things left me a bit disappointed (for example, I wanted a proposal. I got a proposal but not the one I wanted 😬) would have given it 2 ⭐
also, I'm very disappointed that those teaser snippets aren't even in the book! 🙈

[lizzie ₊˚⊹ ౨ৎ (ia, school) · Rating 4 out of 5]

woohoo!! im finally on ryder's book (he's lowkey my favorite) ! and the cliffhanger from the last book ahhh, i need this rn <3

[Saundra Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent series

I fell in love with these characters in the Evergreen Academy series. This continuation into adulthood and their college years is amazing. Each book highlights a different male main character. An undercurrent of danger threads throughout but it definitely isn't predictable!

[Roody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tout ca, pour CA ????

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been so eager to for this book to finally come out after being delayed nearly a year. I’m left slightly disappointed and feeling like the author kinda gave up on this series. I didn’t love figuring out what the big secret ended up being I felt like a lot of the suspicious stuff and lying did not warrant that type of secret. The whole odd secret club that was created in the last book also left me seriously confused we’re all this guys and girls in this secret program like Sawyer and Tegan or were they just willing to go along with the lie? Those characters disappeared so fast, I was slightly interested in knowing more about the guys. I really didn’t love that maverick was willing to stay away I know he had a choice and all that but I still think picking a choice that made your whole family panic for months no matter how big an opportunity it went against the character built in the other books. I feels obvious that telling Valentina would have been a good idea once she started drawing so much attention it was just foolish for these supposedly very smart people to think she would drop everything. Why did we not really see or hear from sawyer or tegan in this book that are genuinely the full reason behind the whole mystery of the 4 books and they are surprisingly missing and left unaddressed, was tegan around dusting the months that maverick and sawyer were gone? The whole book really should have ended at the 90% and went to the epilogue. The whole regan part was rushed and a very unnecessary part of the book. The time of of the end of the book I believe is slightly off because Val would have had to have been pregnant during that 8 month flash forward if I’m thinking properly. I did however love the epilogue I had perviously read battle break and I couldn’t help being seriously sad for Ryder he was the only one I couldn’t figure out if he had a kid so I was glad the book ended with her being pregnant.

[Galina Sulaiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going to start off with what I loved about this book. Valentina, her guys.The ending gave me all of the feels after following their journey. But and I do say but it's because I followed and loved her so much I found it a bit odd that the author would have Valentina go TOTALLY AGAINST CHARACTER by giving that douche Aiden a 4 million dollar car, just because? After he got Ezra shot? Almost drowning her? Threatening her family all is OK because after fighting against cults for years, they only end up back in a secret society? Yeah not feeling that one tiny bit, give Aiden a kick to the balls yeah, her car? Yeah right.

[RomanceBookLoverinSeattle · Rating 2 out of 5]

No one who loved someone the way Maverick did Val would be okay with putting her through what she went through. This completely made me dislike Maverick who had been one of my favorites and has me rethinking my entire feelings for this grouping! The conclusion to the entire secrecy thing throughout all these books- please- just make it make sense because it just doesn’t and in fact makes all these characters unlikable and ridiculous. This is just ludicrous and annoying and I’m seriously bummed this was the ending. Argghhhh!!!!!!

[senna]

*spoilers*

- kind of feels like ruby lost interest in this series after ezra’s book
- it was just anticlimactic and i was expecting more from ryder? but he doesn’t do anything? and maverick is gone for 99% of the book? so there’s that

[Lindsey Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great series!!!

From the first book to this last one had me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. This series was full of drama, dark science, and love story like no other!! I can't wait to continue reading about Adam all grown up!!

[Jessica *The Lovely Books* · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit anticlimactic but enjoyed the gang one last time.

[Tara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of a meh ending for the series. Didn't enjoy the college storyline as much as the high school plot. Felt like the characters weren't done justice and things were dragged out just to have more books.

[Cheyenne Rousseau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well damn

What an ending.

All our questions were answered.

Everyone got their happy endings and we even get to see their future kids.

I can’t wait to start Adams story next even though he’s not the main character hopefully he’s at least in the series a good amount.

Anyways this series was phenomenal I absolutely loved every minute I was engrossed in it.

1000000000000000/10
A bigillion ⭐️’s


Here’s some of my favorite quotes from this book


“He just took off in the middle of the night with no car, and left me and Adam alone in a parking lot? He wouldn’t do that, Marcus. No one would do that! They made him leave you that voicemail because Aiden isn’t afraid of me, but he is afraid of you.” ~Val


They say eyes are the window into the soul. They’re wrong.
Eyes are nothing but colored orbs spinning around in your skull. It’s the curve of your lips. Twitch in your brow. Rigid set of your jaw. They will tell you everything you need to know as long as you’re paying attention. ~Val


I’m close by when Adam wants to wander in and pretend he’s working on a big merger with his papers and crayons in front of the fireplace.” ~Ryder


“I’m glad I’ve got you to run these decisions by, Little Moon. We’re going to make a good team.”~Ryder


“Don’t start. I had to take Beaumont. He was perfect. He should’ve pledged Nu Alpha from day one. Snagging him was worth Moon’s wrath at the time. Now it’s getting old.” ~Aiden


“It’s our fault for all going by the same name. I vote I keep Dad. Ryder, you’re Pops. Ezra, get used to Baba. It means Dad in Arabic.”
“I know what it means.”
“Pops is an eighty-year-old man with a potbelly and twelve grandchildren,” I said.
“How about Pappy? Old man? Dada?”
~Jaxson, Ezra and Ryder



Hudson led a confused Sofia to the middle of the room. “Thank you for being here to witness me make an arse of myself. Hopefully, she says yes anyway.”
“Sofia—”
“Yes!”
He blinked. “But I have a whole—”
“Yes.”
“You haven’t seen the ring—”
“Yes, yes, yes!” She tackled Hudson, kissing the crap out of him.


Esme had her father’s hair and Jaxson passed on his gold locks to his daughter, but the two of them looked so much like me, they could’ve been twins born years apart.


Maverick and my twins, Gadget and Pixel as we called them, were five years old, double our trouble, and so much like their dad, I couldn’t look at them and not see Maverick.


Read this series you won’t regret it

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts where the last left off but from Maverick's point of view. They are still trying to find mavericks and why the sororities are kidnapping people. This book gets steamy in the first few chapters.

With Maverick missing, Valentina finds herself grieving his loss, going from depressed to angry, and finally trying to do something about it. With Valentina involved, that's means the other men are too.

Things aren't what they seem, and they are no closer to the truth. But they took a huge risk for no answers. This book gets really twisted, and she finally gets the facts. But even this tale may be too unbelievable for me. I kinda want to see her happy for once with her reverse harem of hot guys.

This was one heck of a college series, definitely not your normal anything. It was full of suspense, intrigue, and mysterious issues. It all works out and a happy ending finally, although they all had to go the hell to get there.


I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue in this story. I love how determined Valentina was for her family and love. I don't usually like reverse harem books, but this set was a nice change as they were never together all at once. They all have come a long way, and this series was full of action, suspense, hope, and love. The action and the drama all went a little too far, and the steamy scenes are scorching hot, definitely a series for a mature audience.

[Jessica Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Which is why I'll burn down the world if you stop smiling."

We're now following the POV of Ryder and Val.

Maverick is still missing, and Val is devastated. The guys are having a hard time as well. They miss their brother, but they're also hurting watching Val hurt so much. They're all also trying to keep Adam from realizing something is really wrong.

Val refuses to give up on finding Maverick. The guys don't want to give up either, but they also don't want Val getting hurt or possibly losing her too.

I really loved getting another series with Val and her men. I technically read all the books out of series though. I read the Breakbattle Academy series first, then started this series, and then finally figured out there was another series about them.

I think Jaxson will always be my favorite of the guys because he's the cocky boy who is super sweet, but knows he's got it going on and knows exactly what he wants and will get it. Plus the rocker vibe.....yes, please!

All the guys have a piece of my heart though. Ezra is just super sweet. Like he is definitely your hearts and flowers guy. Maverick is just the whole package. Plus he's a techie.....YUMMM!!! Then there's Ryder. The protective, possessive, and mysterious one. He's the one you really have to watch out for because you never know what extremes he'd go to for the ones he loves.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, the whole series!

I loved this full series and the growth of the characters from high school through college. As far as the college series goes, particularly Mercy and this one, I liked the suspense and multiple events. As far as “the big secret” I was expecting more action. Instead it was an explanation and “ok cool, moving on.” I would still be pissed and burn the place to the ground. I don’t care the outcome, I would still be livid and pissed at Maverick, not running into his arms and immediately having sex. I don’t care the secret. He was a dad and basically married. He could have proven his point and informed her. Instead he was willing and planning on staying away from them for 6 months with no other contact. You don’t do that to your family, no matter the opportunity. I wouldn’t have taken him back if he successfully did that. Even with the clue. That changed my opinion of Maverick and not in a good way. I definitely wouldn’t have immediately forgiven jade and aiden. I feel like that explanation was a missed opportunity for some kind of escape and exposure downfall. But it definitely kept you guessing the whole time and I couldn’t put it down. I wish it hadn’t taken so long for the last book to come out as I had to go back and read mercy to catch up again. At least it came out a couple months earlier than expected…so there’s that.

[Twila Leininger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sad

Redemption was no redemption! Very disappointed with Somerset University series… the Evergreen Academy was so amazing and I fell in love with all of the characters… I will remain team Ryder but I expected and was excited! This could have been so much more!

[ErikaWasReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do you continue a bully romance series with a shocking twist into a college series that keeps readers engaged? You go buck wild with the plot.

I felt like this was a great wrap-up to the series and all the craziness of their relationships. While I definitely read these for the boys, I liked that a lot of this novel was Valentina forging ahead on her own and bringing the guys in when she chose. It meant we saw less of them, but it felt like it was so true to the young woman we all fell in love with from book 1; she was brave and determined and stood on her own two feet.

I also loved that the scenes we got with Ryder weren’t him saving the day, but instead were moments of him with Adam. Gone is the mercurial, damaged boy, and instead, we see a man determined to be better, do better, than the example he had growing up.

[Tabatha lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this series finally and I am now moving on to the next one which will have Adam in it. I can’t wait.
Loved this series and had no issues with it what so ever. I think the ending wrapped up nicely and I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and ultimately the unveiling of the program! It all made perfect sense in the end. It would have definitely been nice, and would have saved so much drama, had “they” have just told the truth to Val from the start. But we wouldn’t have had all the drama and the series would have been so much shorter, so I’m not complaining!
It was nice to sort of see 10yrs into the future of Val and her family and the nice lil additions in the future. I just LOVE a HEA and given all they have been through since high school, they deserved it!

You should definitely read this series if you haven’t already. It’s great!

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the beginning of this series & the original series that this is based on; however, this book kind of fell flat for me. I thought with a character being taken, there would be more action but it kind of dragged & then had our female questioning the relationship she had with these men since high school & it just didn’t seem to fit for how the characters were on the beginning.

I was glad that we got an ending & wrapped everything up. We said goodbye to characters were loved for a long time & it was nice to have closure.

[Morgan Brynna MacGhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So happy....

I'm so happy that Maverick wasn't hurt. But just... why? I still have questions. I'm kind of at a loss. It was kind of conspiracy theory-ish. Somewhat suspenseful, moreso just too many questions left unanswered. We never see Maverick come home to a house full of brothers who want to rake him over the coals for leaving. This book just is missing key ingredients for me. Also there are minor grammar editing and typos, but otherwise, it is not worth less than the rating I gave it. 😉

[Sarah Ziccardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish I read it right after I read the evergreen series. Lost some of its effect on me since it was so long since I read the first series.

Harem is already together in this book. So you miss all the of getting together stories. And I think that’s what I was really missing from the story, personally.

Lots of drama. A bit unrealistic. But still kept me reading. I was wrong about the twists and turns the story took many times. So it kept me guessing.

I would recommend them. But only as a continuation right after reading evergreen.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses mostly on Valentina and Ryder’s relationship. There is still the drama of trying to figure out the Sams and Sally’s and what’s really going on with them. I loved this book and after two series I just feel so invested in these characters. I loved the snapshot from 10 years later but I still wanted more. I wish there was an extended epilogue!

[Jamie N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the ending ! Possible spoiler

Great conclusion to the series ! I loved the ending it gave you a glimpse of their future and brought everything together ! I always love knowing what their life is like years later ! Every book in the series was good in its own right and always had something going on . 🙂

[Carrie Lansden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!!!

This family has given me so many feelings since I read about them in the series with Adam. You want more of them and I loved their love story. I'm glad we got all the years of their lives that we got. I want more. Lol. Must read series.

[Dragon Priestess · Rating 5 out of 5]

#bookhangover for sure

Ok.OK.. Now let's go read the spin off. But wow.. I feel like I waited forever for the release and then I had to slowly savor the ending. I was definitely surprised by the twists!

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

Ah finally some answers with an interesting twist. I loved all these books both Evermore and Somerset. I’ll be reading about Adam next. This author’s writing is great! So much intrigue wrapped up with a very hot romance.

[Irradiant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointment.

That government conspiracy program was such a let down. Nowhere near as good as the conspiracy behind Evergreen Academy. I expected another secret cult, but all I got was something a few steps up from military training.

[René · Rating 2 out of 5]

The reason for maverick been kidnapped was so disappointing and stupid.
I skipped through most of this book just to see what was going to happen, only to be disappointed.

Wish I didn’t read the college series

[Mercy Munge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book