A standalone enemies-to-lovers office romance set within the Rydeville Elite world.
Demi
Dropping out of college senior year was never part of my plan. But Dad needs me, and I’d move mountains for the only parent I’ve ever known—even working for the company that fired him.
My boss, Charlie, is determined to make my life a living hell, availing of every opportunity to undermine my confidence, to … my confidence, to humiliate and threaten me.
Sleeping with him the night of his wedding might have something to do with his attitude.
Or the fact I’m the spitting image of the woman he really wants.
If our financial situation wasn’t so dire, I’d tell Charlie to stick his job up his delectable butt.
But I’m trapped, and things are only getting worse. Because the more layers I uncover, the more I realize he is nothing l expected and everything I crave.
Charlie
If there was a manual for all the ways a person could mess up his life, it’d have my name written on it.
I can’t undo the things I’ve done, no matter how badly I want to, and every day is a constant reminder of my epic failure.
Especially her.
It’s as if Demi has been put on this earth to punish me. To inflict more torture and pain. Because every second I’m around her, she makes me feel things I don’t want to feel.
So, I lash out. Doing my best to push her away.
Until I realize she’s everything I never knew I needed, and the fight becomes a new battle—one to win her heart.
Due to mature content and themes, this book is recommended to readers aged eighteen and over. This is a slightly extended version of the version that appeared in the Bully Me anthology containing one extra chapter and two epilogues. It is a 60k word short novel that ends with a HEA and NO cliffhanger.
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Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, how I didn’t want to like you but somehow you made me do it. This book was not what I was expecting but so much more.
We all knew how Charlie was left at the end of Sweet Retribution but I really felt no sadness for him at all. He may actually care for Abby but he went about it all wrong. Demi is the daughter of a former employee. She is from a different world than Charlie, and immediately you can tell the amazing person Demi is. She’s taking care of her sick father, working to pay off student loan debt, and not interested at all in Charlie. Their relationship is written wonderfully. Charlie and Demi’s chemistry jumped off the pages.
Charlie was more emotional than I anticipated it would be, but I think it was just perfect. I think Davis did a marvelous job writing this book and making us fall in love with Charlie. I was also hooked from the start and that also surprised me. I didn’t expect to need Charlie’s story as much as I did. I honestly couldn’t stop reading this book. and I needed Charlie to redeem himself. And he finally did.
Charlie was an emotional ride I didn’t plan on taking. Davis surprised me in the best of ways with this book and it was amazing! Siobhan Davis brought all the feels with this book. She managed to make me happy Charlie got is happy. Charlie is captivating, addicting and emotional. If you have read the first three books in the Rydeville Elite series Charlie is a must read for you. 5 emotional stars for Davis and Charlie!
Another gem by Siobhan Davis! I loved Charlie and recommend it to all who love enemies to lover romances! Not reading this would totally be a loss for you 😉
*I voluntarily reviewed this ARC copy*
I was so excited to return to Rydeville to see what transpired after the elite was left in shambles. This is Charlie’s story.
Charlie has burned every bridge and is left to deal with his regrets and loneliness. His bad decisions come back to haunt him in the form of a coworker Demi. Her father had ties to the Barron company and Charlie uses leverage of this to make Demi’s work environment not so pleasant. Demi has no choice to take it because her father’s health hangs in the balance.
However, deep down chemistry is building and a heat licks at the surface of these two enemies. Thanks to some old friends who refuse to give up, they help Charlie pull it together so he can live life without hatred and anger.
Scorching scenes, truths laid bare and some ugly cry moments make this an amazing addition to the Rydeville Series.
What an amazing book of redemption! I went from wanting to skin Charlie in the Rydeville Elite series to swooning in Charlie! Siobhan is the best at making you feel her characters deep in your soul! And Demi was such a sweet character with quite the twist! What a page turner, I couldn’t put it down!
Oh Charlie Boy!
Siobhan has gone and done it again!
Charlie can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first 3 books in the Rydeville Elite series first as all of them are amazing!
How I felt about Charlie during the first Rydeville books was tumultuous and this continued into this book of his own. He might have a strange way of showing it at times when he struggles to admit to himself how he feels, but there is no denying that when he loves, he does so wholeheartedly. He continues to demonstrate some of his miss-guided ways in this book, but you can’t help but love him anyway.
I love Demi! She is just a genuine down-to-earth MFC, with a healthy dose of sass when needed. The relationship between her and her dad is adorable and as someone close to her dad I loved to read their interactions together.
There’s a nice amount of overlap with some of the other characters in the Rydeville Elite world, and this is partly why I suggest to read the other 3 books first.
If you have read Charlie as part of the Bully Me Anthology 2020, please DO STILL get the full version! There are 3 additional chapters in the full version that you NEED. They are an additional chapter to the story and 2 epilogues. The final chapter absolutely BROKE ME! I was ugly crying all over the place. But the epilogues put me back together and gave me all the warm and fuzzies 🙂
I look forward to the next books in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
Aww, Charlie. There’s no denying that when he loves he loves wholeheartedly. Demi relationship she has with her dad is incredible the interaction between the two are epic. Another 5 read from Siobhan
Siobhan Davis has just delivered another 5 star read.
Charlie had me hooked. I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about this book because I hated him in the Rydeville High series. I knew that she was going to have to redeem him massively in my eyes and she did. She broke Charlie and made him the hero I needed him to be and now I can say that I love him so much.
This was a surprisingly emotional read and I loved Demi and Charlie’s love story.
Love this series. Love the stories that have come out of Rydeville and the alpha men who create goosebumps under my skin. Charlie is definitely one sexy alpha with a taste for kink. His addictive and absolutely a hot mess but under all that yumminess lies a beautiful soul with a heart of gold.
Charlie and Demi were adorable to read about . I loved their attraction for one another especially their unravelling lust when they both want to deny what they are feeling. But running only gets them closer to one another. They definitely have a sizzling chemistry and battles to overcome. Their are moments of heartache and loss but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger for one another.
I was excited to read more about the gang, Kai, Abby, Xavier, Hunt, Jackson and Drew) and more lies being brought to the surface.
I cannot wait for Jackson’s story next !!
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.
We’ve met Charlie previously in the Ryderville Elite series. To say I had mixed feelings towards him was an understatement. He made me believe he was sweet and protective towards his loved one, yet he could also betray his best friends for his personal gain. I was excited to get a chance to see if he is truly irredeemable in this installment.
Charlie and Demi met at the most inopportune time. Their chemistry was intense but Charlie blamed her for the unfavorable outcome in a situation that was totally irrelevant to their first encounter. I admired Demi’s strength in standing up against all the hard times that was thrown at her by Charlie, her biggest bully and her boss.
Charlie made some bad decisions that hurt his family and friends in the past. His guilt was eating him up and he was determined to push everyone away. He became distantly cold and disguised his attraction to Demi with hatred. I was delighted to see the old charming and thoughtful Charlie resurfaced once he stopped fighting the undeniable connection between Demi and himself. They had become stronger and better together.
There were a few unexpected twists that definitely kept me on my toes. We had a little glimpse on what their little crew needed to face with the Elite. Jackson’s story will be up next and I can’t wait for what comes next in this series!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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WOW!!!
Worth waiting for!!!!
Charlie was exactly what we needed in uncertainty times and leave it to Siobhan Davis to deliver it. Charlie was emotional, sexy with a lot of hidden layers. Due to his dark past can he recover from his down fall?
In walk Demetria Alexander, aka, Demi is a daughter of former employee of Barron Bank, who was kicked out of his job by Charlie’s dad.
They gave changed the meaning of fighting your inner demons in order to grow to love your self, before you can love anyone else.
Both Charlie and Demi have issues that they are dealing with, but can they come together to heal as a whole? I love the explosive chemistry that this Couple brings to this series.
Once again my hat off to Ms Davis for putting a smile on my face and emotions in my heart
voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this
Charlie Baron is part of the Elite in the Rydeville Series and a bit of mystery, with a kind, dark soul, who learns to redeem himself in this journey. Charlie starts off to be a real prick, among other names until Demi has him testing his real patience.
Demi is the mystery woman in Book 3 and has Charlie turning his insides out… Demi is the woman who brings Charlie back to the dark, kind soul he is and learns to love another.
Charlie and Demi have amazing chemistry and a love that is only their’s…
I loved the beginning of Charlie and flowed through beautifully but the ending epilogue felt rushed and epilogue 2 spoiled and wrecked the whole remaining interconnecting stories… Disappointed…
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
j’ai beaucoup aimé retrouver toute la bande de Rydeville, Charlie nous apparait ici bien plus humain et il nous touche. Demi est une héroïne qui n’a pas froid aux yeux et qui va tout donner pour les gens qu’elle aime. Impossible de le lâcher avant d’en avoir les tenants et les aboutissants.
She’s trying her best to swim against the tide, but everything is pulling her down.
Tears threaten to overwhelm her at the situation she’s in.
He used her when he shouldn’t of, but grief is a strange thing.
Now he’s desperate to make her quit her job, and get her out of his life.
How low will he sink, how stubborn will she be?
We take a trip back to Rydeville and this time the spotlight is upon Charlie.
He was the best friend, the almost husband and then the black sheep. I think he’s played most parts, but still I love him!
He might be an alphahole in places, and he might of done things in the past that are questionable, but watching him open up his heart was swoonworthy!
Demi has a true heart of gold, pausing her life for her family and doing everything she can to get them through to the next day.
She’s the kind of character that inspires you to be a better person.
Together the bring a read that will both break your heart, and make you fall in love at the same time.
An amazing addition to an already fantastic series. I can’t wait to read the next book Jacksons!
Well I must say I’m actually happy Charlie got his HEA. After book 3, I despised him and didn’t care for his story BUT he has redeemed himself. In this book you get to read in depth and see how really is and he’s actually not that bad. He truly cares for Abby and she will always be in his life. Then there’s Demi. They have an office/bully hatred but they have a past. But she’s no one’s doormat; she’s similar to Abby in that they’re independent and strong. As much as she and Charlie fight all the time they actually do love each other. And surprise surprise the person that pushes Charlie to fight for what he wants. You see lots of growth in this book from the other characters too and I actually enjoyed it. These two have a very strong connection and she fit right in with his friends. I enjoyed their epilogues especially the second one.
Charlie was the one that I thought would turn out to be a bad guy but in the end, he turns out to be one of the good guys. I was so glad to see that Charlie was getting his own story because he deserved so much more than just a side character.
Charlie grew up following the direction of his father and The Elite and now he knows it was wrong in so many ways. After losing Abby, he never had her from the start, and losing his father he is trying to move on. And learning the ropes of running his father’s company because he is now going to be running it. His father’s assistant Demi is someone who he wants and it eats at him. They are like fire & ice, oil & water, they don’t seem to mix. That is until they actually talk to each other.
Demi had to leave college during her last year because her father got sick, he is dying from cancer. Now she is working for the company that fired her father and for a man she hates. She hates Charlie so much she likes him. The sparks fly between them each time they are close.
Can Demi and Charlie put aside their petty bickering and see that love can blossom? Will Charlie realize Demi is just what he needs? Can Charlie help Demi with her father?
I really liked this story but to me, it seemed to be missing something, I think it needed more of Abby and the rest of the guys but it was not their story. So it was really good just not great for me. If you loved the Rydeville Elite, then you will enjoy this one too.
**I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.**
Have to say it I love and hate the Rydeville Elite for what they have done yet Siobhan Davis has Charlie Barron’s story finally. We all know he has always loved Abby but in a way did he really love Abby. Charlie has always been known to have a plan in his life, from a little kid to a man out of college he never had to deal with his own choices until now. Everything that has happened in Parkhurst not only changed his life but also set things in motion he never expected. Then we have Demi a new face to the whole series and one I am glad we have for Charlie. These two are like oil and water yet when they let go of their differences and hate there is are emotions none of them expected to ever have. We see Charlie opening up about things he has never done before and having a woman like Demi makes him see he can be so much more than what he was destined to be. Not only this but we see him finally accepting everything that has happened between him and Abby in a way coming full circle. All in all Siobhan Davis made me like Charlie not only for his rough and take charge attitude but seeing that he can be a better man just melted my heart. This is one series you don’t want to miss and excited to see what else Siobhan Davis has in store for us.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
Amount of sex 3.5 / 5
How explicit are the sex scenes 3.5 / 5
Story 5 / 5
Overall: 5 / 5
Charlie is the fourth book in the Rydeville Elite series, and I can’t even describe how excited I was when I saw it on my Kindle! I seriously missed these characters, and I was very curious to see how Siobhan Davis was going to change my feelings about Charlie. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about him and what he did in the other books. So, I started reading tentatively, but the author showed me another side of him, and I absolutely fell in love!
Charlie’s story is emotional, as well as gripping and panty-melting! Demi is such a strong female character, and I immediately loved her! I loved her attitude and how she wouldn’t take any of Charlie’s BS.
Another absolutely fabulous book and a great addition to the series!
Voluntarily Reviewed an Advanced Copy
We have all been wondering what happened to Charlie and if he could find his person through the darkness. We finally get to know Charlie in his story, and it has come to my attention that I did not misjudge him. I always knew Charlie loved Abby, but it was not the love either of them was looking for. Charlie took all his guilt and anger out on the one person who gave him a chance on the night he watched his father die. Her name was Demi, who happened to be his assistant and someone that looked a lot like Abby. Everyday he lived to make her quit, but she is strong willed and full of determination. Once he figures out that he cannot fight his feelings for her they set out on a different type of relationship. In the background the Elite are still lurking, and Charlie is still carrying around those demons. Charlie tells Demi all his demons, but he still hurts her when he leaves her to protect her. You are going to have to read this story if you want to know if he can get his head out of his butt and fight for her.
The story shows us what happened the night of his father’s murder and his wedding night from Demi’s POV. I would have liked to see that night from Charlie’s POV because we always wondered who he slept with that night. I love that we get to glimpse inside of everyone’s life after the last book. The Elite are still going strong trying to rebuild and even though someone new is in charge nothing has changed. The gang will still want to bring them all down for good and I hope we get to see this in other books in the series. I love that we get to see Charlie fall in love and it did come off a little dramatic some of the time with Demi. Their story was short, sweet and to the point. There was not long drawn out drama that can distract you from the love story. It is a great story, but next time can we try to keep from spoiling the other character relationships in the epilogue.
*I read an ARC and this is my honest review*
5 Redeeming Stars!
Let me start off my review by saying at the end of the last book in this series, I was NOT a fan of Charlie and the choices he made. Well…this book changed my mind and he has definitely been redeemed. He was a confused, tortured young man who made some tragic choices. I loved how his and Demi’s story unfolded and some questions were answered. That being said, I thought this book was absolutely amazing. Full of heat, angst, witty banter, heartbreak, healing, surprises and redemption. A few of our favorite Rydeville Elite characters make an appearance as well. SO GOOD!!! It grabs your attention and interest from the first page. I loved it! Looking forward to the next book.