Narration by Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor
Rose Hill, Book 3
From the author:
I’d always dreamed of my wedding day. But not like this. Not looking into the eyes of the man who betrayed me.
But when my nephew’s guardianship is contested, I decide I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him in Rose Hill. Even if it means marrying the enemy.
Rhys Dupris.
A man who is secretive, broody, and completely infuriating. A man whose work takes him away for weeks on end and brings him back covered in mysterious bruises—ones he won’t talk about. In fact, we barely talk at all.
Which would be fine, except when he’s not talking, he’s staring. And the way he looks at me is borderline indecent.
The tension between us has always been palpable. But living under the same roof is a dangerous temptation.
I swore I would never forgive him. But that was before I knew the man behind the mask. The one who’s fierce and protective. The one who’s gentle and patient. The one who shows up for us when we need him most.
He’s not at all who I thought he was.
And that makes hating my husband so much harder… and loving him just a little too easy.
Elsie Silver delivers another standout small-town romance with Wild Side, a deeply emotional story that seamlessly blends grief, healing, found family, and an unforgettable slow-burn love story. Packed with heart, humor, and sizzling chemistry, this is easily my favorite book in the Rose Hill series so far.
Tabitha Garrison is fiercely independent, sharp-tongued, and endlessly devoted to the people she loves. After spending years trying to save her troubled sister, she’s left reeling when that sister dies and leaves behind a young son, Milo. Tabitha assumes she’ll become Milo’s guardian—until she learns that guardianship has been granted to Rhys Dupris, her sister’s former landlord and the last person she trusts.
Rhys, a professional wrestler with a complicated past, is quiet, guarded, and carrying wounds of his own. When circumstances threaten Milo’s future, Tabitha and Rhys agree to a marriage of convenience that allows them to share custody and provide stability for the little boy they both love. What begins as a practical arrangement quickly becomes something far more complicated.
The relationship between Tabitha and Rhys is beautifully developed. She spends much of the book pushing him away while he patiently refuses to leave her side. Their banter is fantastic, their chemistry is undeniable, and the tension simmers for so long that every romantic moment feels earned. Rhys is the kind of hero readers fall hard for—protective, vulnerable, selfless, and completely devoted once he lets someone into his heart. Watching him slowly lower his defenses was one of the highlights of the book.
Tabby is equally compelling. Strong without being invincible, she’s carrying immense grief while trying to hold everything together for Milo. Silver does an excellent job showing her vulnerability beneath the tough exterior, making her both relatable and easy to root for.
While the romance is wonderful, Wild Side is also a moving story about loss and rebuilding. The found-family elements are exceptional, something Silver consistently excels at. The support system surrounding Tabby, Rhys, and Milo adds warmth and depth to every chapter, and little Milo steals more than a few scenes along the way.
I was initially skeptical about the professional wrestling aspect, but Silver made it work effortlessly. In the end, it became just another layer of Rhys’s character rather than defining the story.
And yes, I cried. More than once.
The emotional weight of the story, combined with the tenderness of Tabitha and Rhys’s relationship, made this one impossible to put down. Add in a marriage of convenience, a delicious slow burn, found family, and a hero who would do absolutely anything for the people he loves, and Wild Side becomes everything I want in a romance.
The audiobook is outstanding. Narrators Jason Clarke and Samantha Brentmoor bring incredible emotional depth to the story, capturing both the playful moments and the heartbreak with equal skill. Their performances elevate an already wonderful book into a truly immersive listening experience.
6/2026 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
WILD SIDE by Elsie Silver. Narrators: Jason Clarke & Samantha Brentmoor. Self-published. (March 4, 2025.) ASIN: B0DRDNKCQZ. Listening Length: 12 hours and 17 minutes.
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