Wild Side

We start off with a little prologue that features Tabitha’s and Rhys’ first meeting. Erika (Tabitha’s sister) had just moved in, and Tabitha takes it upon herself to tell Rhys about her past with addiction and makes him pinky promise that should Erika ever be behind on rent, he’ll give her a call, so that she can jump in.

Cut to two years later. Erika has just passed, so naturally Tabitha is heartbroken and blames herself for not stepping up more. But Tabitha doesn’t solely put the blame on herself; she is convinced that Rhys must shoulder that burden too. After all he broke his pinky promise and kicked Erika out when she couldn’t pay the rent.

Grieving and furious she still pulls herself together and drives to Erika’s old apartment to pack up her belongings. When she tries to enter, she finds Rhys behind her, thinking she’s trying to break into the apartment. Not ready to play pretend she decides Rhys makes for a perfect verbal punching bag. She snaps at him and tells him about Erika’s death, then slams the door shut right in his face.

A little while later Tabitha – meanwhile maybe a little drunk – has to put up with Rhys again. He got into the apartment, to tell her that he has Erika’s will and is Milo’s legal guardian. Since he doesn’t permanently live in Canada, he informs Tabitha that he plans on taking Milo with him to Florida. But Tabitha, quick-witted as she is (even when drunk out of her mind) doesn’t have any of it and gives him her piece of her mind before storming off.

This far I really liked the dynamic of the book. It is clear to us readers that Tabitha is a very good aunt and will fight like a lioness to protect Milo and keep him with his family. I also love that thanks to the changing POVs we know that the same is true for Rhys who grew up in foster care and wants to spare Milo from a similar fate.  

I’m also glad that now we get to the part we actually wanted to read: the beginning of our enemies to lovers story.

So, we all know the setup: broody Rhys, a man of few words and Tabitha a woman who thinks she solely has to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders – aka two people who are very bad at talking and expressing their emotions – fight for the same goal. Which they would know, if – you know – they actually talked. But where would the fun be in that? This way we would have missed out on all the (sexual) tension and that would’ve been a crime. Especially since we know the spice must be good because the male character is tall, handsome, dark-haired, tattooed and (most importantly) named Rhys. I mean true ones will know how this just can’t disappoint.

But back to the story. Rhys drives over to Rose Hill to get a picture of how Tabitha and her family are treating Milo. Obviously, there’s tension between the two of them but since Milo loves them both, they put it aside for him. The pair talk to a therapist to get advice on how to help Milo work though this whole mess. To get Rhys out of her hair after the therapy session Tabitha dumps him with the famous Rose Hill Dad Bowling Crew and goes to work in her Restaurant.

For those of you who don’t know. This book is part of the Rose Hill Series. Four stand-alone romance books that take place in the same city. What they have in common though is that all of the male MCs are Dads and are on a bowling team together. Which is a fun little easter egg through the books. It’s also cute because it’s nice to discover how all of them are connected and it rekindles you with past favorite characters. Or future ones – if you’re like me and started with book four – and no, that was not an accident. Let’s just say the age difference really hit the mark.

The same evening Tabitha (called Tabby by friends and from now on me) takes pity on Rhys not having a place to stay and offers him her basement. She even goes out of her way to make him – what I call – the carbonara of peace. And yes, this is important. Remember it while you read the book.  

Honestly, we can sum up a lot of the story now: though they (and especially Tabby) won’t admit it through Rhys’ regular visits, the two of them start to get fond of each other and the sexual tension is driving through the roof. E.g. the pair of them shamelessly flirting in the bowling alley / local bar which leads to Tabby stroking Rhys’ favorite body part through his pants and Rhys making an offer that involves mirrors, bending over and a bathroom that will leave many readers feral. Though Tabby – unlike some of us readers in her place – declines the offer.

Meanwhile Tabby stays petty as ever. Whilst Rhys is gone for work (which he keeps secret) she buys a cat simply to annoy him, since he doesn’t like pets. And can we please agree that Cleaocatra is a cool name?

Since Rhys doesn’t have the Canadian citizenship, after a lot of back and forth between the USA and Canada Rhys gets into trouble with border patrol. So, to make sure he can still visit and be present for Milo, Tabby and him decide to do the obvious thing – you guessed it – get married.

So, then there’s a wedding – duh. And though they still don’t know much about each other they secretly fall head over heels for the other. Naturally that also means that the sexual tension is spiking. We are of course rewarded with more spice. Like the infamous stair scene.

Tabby has meanwhile discovered that Rhys is a professional wrestler. And after helping him with a promo shoot she steals his mask, and they chase each other and get all hot and bothered on the stairs. Though they stop things before it gets too “complicated” (because a fake marriage isn’t? Might as well enjoy the benefits of it). Although to be fair stopping the stair-sex might have been the better decision for Tabitha’s back.

To be honest, it’s a bit exhausting that the two of them won’t admit that they have feelings for each other. Luckily that’s about to change.

Whilst Rhys is back in Florida Tabby has an evening on her own and decides to read Erika’s old journals. She discovers that Erika has been jealous of her and that Rhys has been pining after her since they first met. She also learns that Erika just put Rhys up as Milo’s legal guardian because he’s rich. But the final straw that makes her go into a meltdown is discovering that Rhys never kicked Erika out. In fact, he helped her. Rhys never corrected her about that assumption though. So, Tabby finally – after her sister’s passing – cries.

Rhys, who wanted to surprise Tabby with a spontaneous visit, finds her in the middle of her meltdown and helps her get through it. And finally (big exhale of relief from us readers) they admit that they have feelings for each other and have sex. The part some of you have been waiting for. And I can happily report that though it’s not in a bathroom, Rhys keeps his promise about bending over and using a mirror. And yes – we kinky readers may fully enjoy this moment now.

Pop up Quiz for all my fellow smut readers, what’s the golden rule after characters have finally slept with each other for the first time? Exactly – have more sex.

So, you guessed it, we get a lot more spice now. And though I get that they are horny I’m not sure if I’m on board with going down on each other immediately after yoga class while still in sweaty leggings. But I guess since Rhys is a professional wrestler, he’s used to sweat and smells – so I’d say enjoy your meal.

Well as to the actual story. Rhys finally feels comfortable enough to tell their friends that he’s ‘Wild Side’ (which is his wrestling name). They all support him and cheer for him through his final rounds and him winning his belt back.

The story could’ve easily ended here. But I guess we needed one last bit of drama. After his win, Rhys goes on promo tour and has a serious injury. Tabby immediately flies to him, but he somehow morphed back into an asshole and kicks her out. Though minutes later she decides she won’t have it and goes back in to support him – and yeah, they are fine again.

The story itself ends with Tabby surprising Rhys with an official letter, that declares that Rhys now officially bears her last name. Honestly that’s a cute moment, since he was in foster care and now, for the first time in his life feels like he actually belongs to a family.

We also get a little epilogue that takes place a few years later and shows us Rhys’ last performance as Wild Side with Tabby, Milo and their newly born daughter in the crowd.

So, what are my final thoughts on the book? Honestly, it’s been a nice read. Yes, the story isn’t too complicated, but I don’t expect that from a book that’s on that level of spicy. I will say though – that even if I didn’t go into detail in the review – I liked how Elsie Silver battled some darker themes like addiction and how it impacts the family as well as foster care and how that leaves a mark even when you’re grown up. I’d say for the context of that genre that has been well executed.

Now two thoughts that are really random. First: if you’ve also read this book, what is that thing Rhys does with his tongue for his Wild Side performance? I don’t get it, and I can’t picture it. I’ve tried to mimic it in front of a mirror (yes, you may laugh now) but I still don’t get it. If you have more clarity, please let me know. And second, and this might ruin your future reading experience of Elsie Silver books, so if you don’t want that skip to the next paragraph. Elsie Silver really likes to make her characters clamp their molars. Honestly, before those books I’ve never really heard of that as a saying. And it’s not bad or anything, I just think it’s funny. I guess every author has signature sentences and we’ve found hers.

And I know some of you have been wondering: yes, the spice is good. It did exactly what it was supposed to do, and it’s safe to say you’ll think back on some of those scenes quite fondly—or hotly.

So, final verdict: a good book that is easy and fun to read if you enjoy spice. So go on, and have fun – especially when you’re in your ovulation phase. I hear you, I see you and I support you, you lovely, kinky bookdragons.