Rydeville Elite Box Set, Books 4-6

By: Siobhan Davis

Narrated by: Sarah Puckett, Jay Alder, Alexander Neal, Zane Daniels

Length: 26 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

This box set includes books four to six in the highly addictive Rydeville Elite series from USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Siobhan Davis, and it is full of heart-stopping angst, suspenseful twists and turns, and dark, steamy romance.

For maximum listening enjoyment, it is recommended listeners have listened to Cruel Intentions, Twisted Betrayal and Sweet Retribution before listening to this box set of interconnected stand-alone romances.

BOOKS IN THIS SET:

• Charlie—a dark enemies to lovers office romance:

She's everything I never knew I needed. Now the fight becomes a new battle—to win her heart.

• Jackson—a dark college bully romance:

It sucks to be Vanessa. She's been dragged into this mess, and I'm out for blood. By the time I'm done, she'll wish she was dead.

• Sawyer—a dark M/M romance:

Torn between duty and desire, my heart is on the line. And I risk losing the one person I cannot live without.

Due to mature content and themes, this series is recommended to listeners aged eighteen and older. Contains triggers. Please refer to the trigger warning page on my website.

©2020, 2021, 2023 Siobhan Davis (P)2023 Siobhan Davis

Spicy and addictive

Charlie:
Finally, some redemption for the first beloved, then loathed Charlie from the Rydeville Elite series!

To be honest, I did not think that Siobhan could redeem Charlie, who was perhaps the most heartbreaking character from the Rydeville stories for me. Oh, sweet Charlie. He did horrible things, his humanity totally derailed, and he was the least reliable character- constantly ping-ponging from the right team to the wrong. I loved him early on- he was the sweet teddy bear, seemingly the “heart” of the squad, and then we find that was an act. From then on, his motivations were always in question for me. Last we left him, he’d destroyed much of his life, but we didn’t feel any sympathy for him because he made his bed, even if he comes through at the end for our squad.

So, when I found it he was getting his “happy ending,” I wasn’t sure I could get back behind him- nor was I sure I could trust any emotion was genuine, that he would be a reliable narrator. And, thus, that was my orientation as I started to read Charlie’s story with Demi. Siobhan smartly begins this tale in the key moment when I gave up on Charlie- one of the many mysteries, namely, his and Abby’s botched wedding night. We find out just where he was- and with whom- and why, and we get a glimpse inside what losing Charlie’s father really did to him. And, with that shattering opening, my heart started beating for Charlie again.

He didn’t win me over completely, to be honest, or quickly- he spends much of this story in self-destruction mode- punishing himself for his sins and therefore punishing everyone else around him- and he loves nothing more than to punish and bully Demi, a woman he blames for what he sees as one of his gravest missteps. Oh, and she’s also his PA. We get the love-hate push-pull tension that Siobhan is so good at creating, we get to walk alongside two characters who are trapped in heartbreaking realities (Demi’s life has been derailed as she tries to care for her ailing father) and struggling to cope, and we see them slowly, and unwillingly, weave themselves together when their vulnerabilities they bottle up so closely accidentally seem to spill out with one another.

The romantic pace here is pretty quick- the feelings don’t have as much time to simmer and marinate as they would in a longer novel or trilogy, and we have a lot of ground to cover since we’ve not met Demi before. She suffers a bit for it- we don’t fully know her in the way we know Abby or Harlow or others, but I like her- she’s intelligent and sharp, she’s pretty patient, she’s stoic and rational- she’s grounding for Charlie, like a softer, more steady conception of Abby. And we get the gambit with Charlie- so much so that his emotional whiplash made it hard for me to believe his feelings were fully realized at the end (nor his slow re-entry into the lives of our favorites, like Kai and Abby)- but the bonus content we get in this version (vs. the anthology) really made a huge difference- both in my buy-in with Demi as well as my belief in Charlie.

If you read this story as part of the Bully Me: Class of 2020 anthology, GET THE EXTENDED VERSION. Had I rated the story based on just what was in the anthology, I would have probably given it 3.5 or 4 stars. I spiritually love anthologies because you get so much content, but the word limits really limit authors from telling anything that feels complete, which is why so many stories from that anthology ended up being prequels to full length novels. If you are curious, this is still a SHORT novel- but not a novella at 60K words. The extended version delivers 3 extra meaty chapters (two of which are epilogues) that answer some of the burning questions that made me feel Charlie was too hastily concluded in the anthology- particularly three things that felt crucial:
a) more of what Demi and Charlie looked like when they were actually committed and functional (much of Bully Me is them just working their way to being actually together): the extra content here is SO fulfilling and makes me really believe Charlie’s redemptive arc a lot more because I get to see him being the Charlie I wanted to believe he really was
b) more time with Demi: we don’t get three books to love her like we do with Abby, we only have a short novel. And, while I LIKED her in the anthology, I didn’t love her yet- I needed more time with her. Sure, a few extra chapters still mean she’s not my Abby, but we get to see some important moments for Demi that makes us feel more intimately connected to her
c) we find out what happened in that conclusion with Demi’s father

Overall, I’d give this 4.5 stars- Charlie does feel like he’s on the pathway to the redemptive arc, I care about him again, and we have some new ELITE drama brewing that is going to set us up nicely for Jackson and the future of this crew. After reading this, I’m happy Charlie is back at the table- and I think we’ll get more time with Demi, not only because of her relationship with Charlie but also because of her family history.

Jackson:

HOLY SMOKES. I’m left speechless- tears still misting in my eyes from the surprisingly bittersweet epilogue, heart pounding, butterflies in my tummy. I knew I’d enjoy his book- I love everything Siobhan does, but I never expected to have been so ravished by it, to fall so deeply in love with my now-favorite Siobhan book boyfriend Jackson (sorry Kai and Saint!), nor to feel so profoundly moved by the story of our heroine Vanessa and the soulful, tender, cathartic romance with Jackson.

We know and love Jackson from the stories we’ve already read, but in HIS book we get Jackson 2.0. The same fun loving, snarky, charming lady killer that we all grew to adore, also the same man that we realized was masking some deep emotional baggage that he’s camouflaging with his swagger and penchant for chemically medicating his pain and rage. Here, he’s evolved- we get to see more of his substance and depth. I knew there was more to Jackson, but I had no clue just how nuanced and dynamic Jackson was beneath his sassy veneer. Holy hell- this man moves me. He’s swoon worthy and delicious in the best ways - dirty talker, sexy AF, a veritable Adonis, and I’m pretty sure he could charm on the pants off a snake. But, what really made me swoon was his heart- the little cracks of true depth we see as this story slowly chips away at his facade until this beautiful, tender yet strong man appears. His loyalty, his conviction, his protectiveness combined with a sweetness and gentleness, a delicate and raw vulnerability all worked in perfect concert to create this perfect and soulful symphony of a man. So much depth- he’s more than just a pretty boy. And when he says “ I have something to say….”- lord, hold on to your heart and your panties.

And Nessa. I tear up just thinking about how beautiful of a spirit she is- what a revelation she was for me. I was not prepared to love, admire, and relate to this complex heroine nor for her to be my favorite SB woman. Like so many of us, she just wants to matter to someone, to be worthy of selfless love. To find some real connection in a sea of half truths. She wants to be seen- her pain and survival to be valued. This Nessa is nothing like the party girl Vanessa we had heard about and thought we knew- and even what we DO know about her has been completely misunderstood. We see that she’s sweet and caring, devoted and spirited. She’s also hurt and lost, insecure and tentative. But, at her core, she’s a fighter- not just for herself, but for those she loves, for what is right. I don’t just love her- I FLOVE HER. This says a lot, but I think she’s been through the ringer more than any other SD heroine-she’s broken by it, but not yet shattered. She’s resilient and even after all the harm she’s experienced from this f’ed up Elite world around her, she somehow still unflinchingly opens her heart to someone she knows can, and will, break it- she still has hope at her core. She left me feeling raw and exposed- moved and inspired by her bravery.

And them and a couple- O..MY.GOD. The connection between Jackson and Nessa is emotional, the chemistry explosive. Both characters are coping in harmful ways to try to survive and numb their personal adversity, both have trapped themselves in the protective armour of the allusions they’ve created about themselves so they can protect the truths- that they are hurting, that they are lost, that they are angry and sad. And, both find each other when they are both fighting to shift their lives- each figuring out who they are as adults and people outside of the painful histories that they’ve allowed to define them. And that leads to some earth shattering romance- yes, all the good steam, but even more so it was like watching two perfectly matched souls collide and then slowly weave themselves together thread by delicate thread. Their relationship feels natural and authentic as they become partners, as their love for each other reshapes what they thought was their purpose and helps them heal the pain that has consumed them both. Siobhan’s writing approach here was also nothing short of inspired- the first ½ of the book is intimate and slower paced, mostly one-on-one, with our leads mostly isolated from the pack- which really helps us swim around in this powerful connection before we get too deep into the intrigue and makes the drama to come that much more impactful.

And oh my- I have missed the Rydeville Elite world. Side by side with this touching, vibrant, and dynamic love story we have the seedy drama from the nefarious Elite. We get the page turning action and twists, the “just in time to save” the day moments that keep my heart pounding, and we get this kooky and endearing motley crue of Rydeville couples (and future couples) that have become this intense and functional family who support and protect other. I LOVE this crew- and I’m so glad we get time with each of them. Also- Sawyer REALLY shows up in this story in a fantastic way- and now I can’t wait for what is next from him.

Has this just become my favorite Siobhan story of all time?! This woman consistently rocks me- brings new and exciting characters and heart pounding stories into my life, but Jackson is truly spectacular- a story that I’m still left thinking, still left FEELING in my heart and soul days later. My words will never do it justice, so just pick it up and find out for yourself- you’ll find that the story of Jackson and Vanessa is surprising and shattering, beautiful and sweet- Siobhan, you continue to amaze me, but you've shattered and rebuilt my heart with this epic tale of two individuals recovering from their pain while also discovering themselves in their love for each other. I LOVE THIS STORY SO MUCH. I can’t wait to see what is in store next!

Sawyer:

I am always exhilarated to be back in the explosive and gritty Elite world- with all the volatile emotions, angsty and complicated relationship dynamics, and the elite world corruption and plotting. In the highly anticipated Sawyer, Siobhan whisks back into the middle of all the drama- and it is a wild ride.

Out of all the Rydeville crew, I was most anxious about Sawyer’s story. He’s a character I’ve always loved, but compared to firey Kai and feisty Jackson, he’s been the cold and distant one. They were all mysteries in their own ways, but Sawyer has always felt particularly closed off, tangled in his own head, distant and non-emotive. Could Siobhan stay true to this fabric of this character while opening him up to us? Can we find warmth and emotional connection in a character who has so clearly fought those very things? And, even more so, I was nervous FOR Xavier- whereas Sawyer is cold and stoic, Xavier is all warmth, exuberant energy, chaotic emotions. I’ve loved him so fiercely since we met him- and like Abby, I feel irrationally protective over him. He’s been the heart and light of this story in many ways, I needed him protected- even if this was Sawyer’s story. From what we’ve read between the pages about him and Sawyer, their relationships has been complicated, angsty, and undefined- and so I knew no matter what story Siobhan gave us (Sawyer with Xavier, Sawyer not with him, them with someone, etc) that the emotional growth would be up to Sawyer, and that those growing pains would be hard on our sweet, eccentric Xavier- risking me feeling even more unsure about Sawyer.

But that is where this story excels- in Sawyer himself. We have several other characters that this story involves and impacts (including some of our past favorites), but this book is called Sawyer for a reason. I won't tell you much about the plot- but there are plenty of reviews that tell you just who gets the HEA, but here’s what you need to know, we have multiple people’s needs at stake, they will all disappoint you because everyone is very imperfect, and that the focus is truly Sawyer. This is HIS story- about his growth. And, while we have some Elite mystery that the Rydeville Scooby Gang is working to solve and we also end up with some pretty spectacular dark intrigue and drama, this is about an emotional liberation for our most restrained leading man. About him unleashing his full self and his full heart.

Narratively, there are some unexpected and interesting choices to this story- the voices we hear and the Elite drama that underscores the romance. I know and trust that Siobhan is an incredible mastermind- always finding the right balance between weaving the larger cross-story narrative and building the standalone romance. So, I know there was intentionality here, even if I’m not yet clear on the why of some of those choices. This story definitely felt different to me in terms of how the story unfolded than its predecessors (the blurb itself indicates it will be) , which definitely kept me on my toes. From the blurb I was worried I wouldn’t know just who to invest in emotionally, but Siobhan cleverly finds a way to make that clear to us- even if we don’t know where it’s going. The sexy burn was also much slower than the prior Rydeville crew, which was an interesting change of pace but made a lot of narrative sense given the relationship dynamics (trying not to spoil so being vague) and Sawyer’s character arc. This is a character that has NEVER had an issue connecting physically- it’s emotionally that is his problem, and so isolating his story to focus on his emotional conflict and repression is a brilliant way to force him to confront it, and to allow his character growth to shine.

We have an incredibly explosive ending- after a lot of angst and a more meta-focused story we get a lot of Elite drama and twists- and the usual Elite grit and violence. We also have a huge emotional catharsis, one that is tremendously rewarding after all the indecision and angst- and one that is touchingly sweet amid all the darkness. In the end, the right people find their way to each other- even if I wanted to stew a bit more in their happiness, and to live more in the head of my favorite person. But, again, this was about Sawyer shining- and Sawyer shines indeed. I’m SO READY FOR DREW.

Rydeville Elite Box Set, Books 4-6

Rydeville Elite Box Set, Books 4-6 is the box set that includes Charlie, Jackson, and Sawyer. I loved reading these books, but the audiobooks brought the books to life, and made me fall in love with these stories all over again! We met Charlie, Jackson, and Sawyer in the first three books, and I loved each of their individual stories.

Charlie is the 4th book in the Rydeville Elite series. This book is about Charlie and Demi and is told from both of their points of view. In the first three books, I wasn't a huge fan of Charlie, but this book made me change my mind about him. He has gone through quite a bit, and I loved getting to know his back story, and seeing how he has grown since meeting Demi. Demi dropped out of college to take care of her ailing father. I enjoyed this story, and seeing how their story ended.

Jackson is the 5th book in the Rydeville Elite series. This book is about Jackson and Vanessa (Nessa) and is told from both of their points of view. Jackson was always the fun go-to guy in the first three books, ready to do anything, but in his book, you realize there is more going on under the surface. Vanessa is trying to survive after getting kicked out by her father, and trying to protect her younger siblings from a distance. Jackson goes after Vanessa to get intel on her family. I loved everything about this book. The characters banter. The story of them getting to know each other. It was pure perfection.

Sawyer is the 6th book in the Rydeville Elite series. I can admit this is my favorite book so far in this series. This book is told from multiple points of view from Sawyer Hunt, Sydney Shaw, and Xavier Daniels. We have met Sawyer and Xavier in the past books. Sawyer is the quiet guy who you don't know what is going on in his head. Xavier was friends with the female lead character in the first three books. Both Sawyer and Xavier are into tech stuff and they got along because of that. Sydney is new in this story. and is with Sawyer to save Sawyer's father's company. However, Sawyer has lingering feelings for Xavier. Can Sawyer save his father's company and get his happy ending?

I loved listening to this box set, and can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

Outstanding! Fabulous! Emotion-filled!

The Rydeville Elite 4-6, an Audiobook by Siobhan Davis is a compilation of three stories in the Rydeville Elite series.

First, is Charlie, the story of Charlie and Demi. Charlie is suffering the loss of his love and his father. Demi is forced to work for the family responsible for her father’s situation, and she hates him. There’s a pull between them, that neither wants, plus there are extenuating circumstances preventing anything between them…he’s harsh, tough, and has an impenetrable exterior. She is too kind, too sweet, too gentle….
This portion of the series was narrated by Sarah Puckett and Michael Gallagher who both do fantastic jobs portraying these characters!!

Next, is Jackson, which follows Jackson and Nessa. Nessa has suffered seemingly irreparable damage, can Jackson break through her walls and help her heal….and learn to love. But, Jackson has his own demons…can he work through those to be there to help her. Can she survive the shocking realities she faces…and will face…torturous and healing story!!! Emotionally draining read…so worth reading!!
This book was narrated by Sarah Puckett and Jay Alder. Sarah was absolutely fantastic!!! Amazing interpretations of the characters and an achingly emotional performance! I didn’t care so much for Jay’s narration. He sounded too happy and carefree for the deeply gut-wrenching situations and characters he was portraying. Overall good.

Finally, there’s Sawyer. This story tore at my heartstrings!! Sawyer and Xavier have a secret thing. Then, Sawyer is emotionally blackmailed by his family to do the unthinkable. Xavier is the poor unfortunate soul who is caught in the middle…his heart dragged through the mud and torn into a million pieces. Sawyer is devastated. Such a touching, intensely emotional story!
This portion was narrated by Sarah Puckett, Alexander Neal, and Zane Daniels. These performances were PHENOMENAL!!!! They really make you feel the anguish and turmoil of the characters!!!

Highly recommend

I just finished this audio boxset and I loved it. I highly recommend.

Charlie

Demi and Charlie had such a rocky road to travel in this story. I was so angry at Charlie and didn’t see any possible redemption for him, but this talented author really opened my eyes. I really enjoyed this emotional story and highly recommend.

Jackson

This book will keep you hooked from the first chapter turning pages as quickly as possible. There is so much drama, trauma, betrayal and suspense. I loved every word. Jackson really evolves after some obstacles and bumbling missteps of course. Highly recommend if just for the drama alone. Such a great story!

Sawyer

I was so thrilled to dive back in to the Rydeville Elite world again and Sawyer definitely fulfilled all my expectations. Siobhan Davis never fails to bring all the emotions, suspense and passion with her stories. This phenomenally written story is action-packed, full of passion, love and acceptance. The road to true love is often rocky but well worth the struggle. I devoured this book in one sitting and hated to see it end. I can’t recommend this series highly enough. It is outstanding, writing at its finest! I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.

All but one

Narrators were great. The only one I did not like that much was Jay Alder, his performance was not my favorite, 3.5 stars for him. The rest t stars.
Charlie - he and Demi meet after the loss of his dad. He drowns himself in booze and meets Demi which sets in motion a sleuth of events. The push and pull comes to head, the anger and intensity turns to passion and over consuming love.

Jackson - he comes up with a plan to get close to Nessa to get her dad. She was supposed to be a means to an end Ha that was so far off. My heart broke for Nessa that girl went through absolute hell and it started with her mother. But she was truly a survivor. Jackson didn't realize what he had until she endured more pain even from him.

Sawyer - he was not as open about who he was or what Xavier meant to him. Which cost him the relationship he had with Xavier. There was a lot sacrifice he made for sake of his family but his lack of communication cost him the most important person.

All the couples had one thing in common they didn't communicate because they were guarded for different reasons. Plus the Elite played a part in everyone's problems too. Great series.

4.5 Stars

This is an excellent boxed set. Even though this was the second time for me to listen to these books, it was still difficult and heartbreaking. I still struggle with the darkest parts of these stories. This time I listened to the books in the correct order which added to the investment of the characters and overall storyline. Below are my original reviews written for the individual books with a few changes.

Charlie ~

This is an excellent standalone. Not quite as dark as a few, but still had the overtones. When an author makes one cry, you know it's good writing. That happened within the last hour. Before that, it was a book that I didn't want to pause. Demi is a favorite character. She was so sweet, loyal, and strong. Her relationship with her father was so special. He made my heart melt. Charlie wasn't my favorite at the beginning, but certainly redeemed himself. Loved the epilougues!

Sarah Puckett and Michael Gallagher are excellent narrators. Both are favorites of mine. They put such emotion into their performances. It rolls like a movie in my head. I didn't want the book to end.

Jackson ~

Whoa! It's taking me time to figure out how to write my review for this book. The world Siobhan Davis has created is so dark, evil, and frightening. The evil made me want to be sick. Trigger Warning: Rape by step-father and his friends as well as sexual assault by her biological father. I cried, no sobbed, wondering HOW this could be written. Knowing that people have had to truly live this kind of depravity breaks me. I continued reading because there had to be a HEA. In real life, not so much. This was the first book for me to read/listen to by Siobhan Davis. I will definitely go back to book one to read more, as well as any other series tied to this world. I want to read more overcoming of evil. It will be great to get some of the other characters back stories. This book pulled me in. It was a great standalone, so I'm certain it's excellent as part of the series!

It was narrated by Sarah Puckett & JS Arquin. Sarah Puckett is a favorite narrator of mine. I love her voice so much. It's warm and smooth. She's an excellent performer. This is the first time I've heard JS Arquin. He has a great voice. He did a good job for most of his parts. I just couldn't stand how he voiced Hunt's voice. It didn't flow well at all. I think Arquin was attempting to make him more meek like? It just didn't work. Unfortunately Hunt was a pretty major character in this book. That's where a star is lost for this book.

Sawyer ~

This series is a favorite written by Siobhan Davis. Each book has had it's HEA but the suspense/mystery that has run through the series has kept each book intense. I wasn't sure how this storyline was going to be handled and kept preparing myself to be disappointed. My heart completely broke for Sawyer. But it sweetly mended by the end. This was written perfectly. I was glad to be on the road so I had few interruptions! So glad Sydney has her HEA in TELL IT TO MY HEART!

Alexander Neal, Sarah Puckett, Zane Daniels are excellent narrators. Perfect performances from all of them. Each of them have become favorites of mine. They are so easy to listen to!

#SiobhanDavisRT

phenomenal

****This review is for Sawyer
I absolutely loved reading Sawyer! This book was amazing and so beautifully written. I seriously couldn't put it down!

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-readEntertainingFunnyGreat world buildingHappily Ever AfterOriginalPage-turnerRomanticSteamyTear-jerkerTwistedUnpredictableWittyWonderful characters

**** Review is for Jackson
I absolutely loved reading Jackson! This book was an excellent read with so many twist and turns

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packedEasy-to-readEntertainingGreat world buildingHappily Ever AfterPage-turnerTear-jerkerTwistedUnpredictableWittyWonderful characters

****This review is for Charlie
I absolutely loved reading Jackson! This book was an excellent read with so many twist and turns

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Action-packedEasy-to-readEntertainingGreat world buildingHappily Ever AfterPage-turnerTear-jerkerTwistedUnpredictableWittyWonderful characters

Elite reads!

Book 4

A wicked read!

Until he realises she’s everything he never knew he needed, and the fight becomes a new battle—one to win her heart...

Oh my word! Another phenomenal read with a wonderful heroine and complex, tortured hero. These two together are one explosive firework that complement each other. Fantastic! Man, I really wished it was longer.

Brilliantly written and I loved getting a glimpse of the other characters. Oh! My favourite characters was the heroine's father. And, of course, when that happened, I was emotional AF. Now, I'm going to nurse my book hangover so goodbye world.

Book 5

A gritty read!

The devil came to her in disguise...
Too bad she didn’t notice until it was far too late...

Oh holy hell...what a ride - a rollercoaster of a ride! Gritty, dark and so full of angst!

I was devouring this book within hours of opening it. These pages are so addicting that you will ignore everything and everyone.

Ugh. This book will take you on such a journey that will leave you raw and bleeding (and then put you back together!).

Book 6

A tantalising read!

Torn between duty and desire...

So... I'm happy...really really happy. When I first heard the book was going to be MMF, I'm not going to lie, I was absolutely upset - I loved my guys together then heard about it going to be MMF - I can tell you something, I have never been truly upset or disappointed about a book until this book. Then...then I saw the author's post on Goodreads about it no longer being an MMF and was so happy (then afraid because who will be the chosen couple?)

I'm so truly grateful for this book, I loved and fought for these boys and I'm so happy at how everything played out. In the end, all the hurt was worth it because what came out of it? Was truly magnificent and hypnotic.

From the story to the characters to just even the smallest details, the author did a marvelous job of writing it, creating a world where we could fall in love with these characters and just be...

Full of hurt, action, adventure, family, friends, arranged marriage, betrayal, attraction and love.

Perfect for readers of contemporary romances.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.

Perfect narrators. Well chosen and extremely good narrators.