Vengeful Sins: A Dark Bully Romance

Wicked Falls Elite #2

by C. Hallman, Chloe Ryan (Narrator), Sean Masters (Narrator)

Wake up, go to school, come home, sleep, repeat.

Smile, be happy, fit in…

To an outsider, I live the perfect life. Big house, elite school, fancy car, and a doting father.

Too bad it’s all a lie.

No one knows my secrets and no one ever will.

Tucker Kingsley hates me for what I did to him two years ago and he’ll try his best to destroy me, but you can’t break what’s already broken.

Vengeful Sins is an all new dark bully romance and second book in the Wicked Elite series but can be read as a standalone.

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Dark Romance, Romance, College, Contemporary Romance, New Adult, College Romance

Audible Audio

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

C. Hallman is a USA Today Bestselling Author who wrote her debut novel in 2018 and has since published over 100 books in various romance subgenres. Her works have been on numerous bestseller lists and have been translated into 8 languages around the world.
When she doesn't write her next novel, she publishes spicy novellas under the pen name Darcy Rose.

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Reviews

[Valentina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may be spoiled by other books this author has written, but this one feels very generic. The plot is nothing new in a new adult, bully romance. It doesn’t have much depth even with the mental health points. The writing is ok, just the plot is not very inspiring. I found it difficult to maintain interest.

I may resume this one again. For now setting it aside. Rating it 2.5 stars rounding it 3 stars because I usually like most of the author’s books.

[Clara Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeful Sins is the 2nd book in the Wicked Falls Elite series. It's a dark bully enemies-to-lovers storyline that follows Tucker and Maya.
Maya's life might look perfect from the outside with a loving father, big house, nice car, elite school but in reality she living a never ending nightmare. All the while she puts on a fake smile as she's dying inside.
Tucker is fighting his own demons that he squarely blames Maya for.
There's abuse of every kind- mental, emotional, sexual and physical. There are twist, turns, bullying, blackmail with ultimatums, anger, possessiveness, heartache, hopelessness and isolation.
There was a lot of sinister things going on within the story. When everything is said and done who will end up surviving?

I received an ARC through Booksprout an I'm voluntarily leaving my review.

5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is the second book in the Wicked Falls Elite series but can be read as a standalone. This book centers around Tucker and Maya. Maya and Tucker have a past. They both also have secrets they are keeping from people. There is a lot of angst and sadness but has an HEA. I definitely recommend this book, but please check those trigger warnings before diving in!

[Solara! · Rating 1 out of 5]

(1/5) idk abt this. i really dont.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is sooo messy…between messy plot and random tropes i couldn’t find a reason to care for the characters at all.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeful Sins is a dark bully romance and second book in the Wicked Elite series but can be read as a standalone with no cheating or cliffhanger and complete with a happily-ever-after. The story is interconnected with characters from the previous book making appearance and contributing to the story. A dark, twisted, and thrilling read. An absorbing addicting and unputdownable story. Raw. Compelling. Dark. Gripping A brilliantly written story with complex individuals and a twisty storyline that grabs your attention from the start and keeps you rooted and turning the pages until the end. Hang on to your kindle and brace yourself for this tumultuous rollercoaster ride of tension, emotions and anger. This is Maya and Tucker story which is told from a dual point of view.
An enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love vibes story, gothic fiction romance, dark bully romance, contemporary romance, new adult college romance, second chance romance, protective alpha hero story, stalking romance, billionaire romance, protector romance, damsel-in-distress story, romantic suspense forced marriage, with forced drug use, self harm, Dub-Con, Non-Con, hurt and pain, lies, somnophilia, guilt, violence, death, healing, deep dark hidden secrets, drama, twists and turns, darkness, madness, survival, resilience, suspense, mystery, fear, threats, trauma, loss, tragedy, mental health issues, dominance, BDSM, submission, dirty talking, revelations, power play, betrayal, blackmail, obsession, bullying, possessiveness, forgiveness, kinks, acceptance, friendships, protection, praises, manipulation, pawn, degradation, redemption, ass play/anal, kidnapping, family issues, love, family found, captivity, murder, attempted rape, super hot scenes, hate sex, heroine coercion strength, passion, despair, peace, heartache, revenge, jealousy and sold/bought.
Maya has had tumultuous home life in the four years since the death of her mother. From the outside looking in she appears to have a wonderful life, a big house, fancy car, beautiful clothing, elite school and a father who dotes on her too bad it's all a lie. It's all a facade because she's living a nightmare with verbal, mental, emotional and psychological abuse along with mental health issues. No one knows her secrets and no one ever will. Over the years she survives by being numb inside and walk around wearing a fake smile. At home her father shows his hatred for and he only views her as an asset, a pawn in his sick and twisted ponzo scheme. He has robbed nearly half the town on his ponzo schemes and is in over his head in debts and decided to sell off Maya's virginity to the highest bidder. One day Maya was going to tell him that she was going out when she overheard him talking to on the phone Lucian Black, a sex club owner of Purgatory. He was telling him that she was sixteen now and he wanted to see how much he could get for her virginity. But Lucian tells him that she was too young for his club. But if he did it at his house he would be okay.
Maya also heard him saying that he had setup an appointment for her with the gynecologist. In desperation to stop him she decided to give her virginity away. She went to a party and gave it to a guy that she really liked Tucker Kingsley. He was so nice and wanted to take her out on a date. But after two weeks of Tucker continuely following her around she threatened to tell people that he had raped her. Tucker was crushed because he had been vulnerable with her. Two years after the incident and Tucker was fuel by hate for what she had done to him and decided to make her life a living hell at school. He's trying his best to destroy her, but little does he know that he can't break what's already been broken. He doesn't have any idea why she did it because it was her who wouldn't stop coming at him until he sleeps with her. Poor Maya was suffering at home with no end in sight then having to go through all the hell from Tucker and Tiana because she's in love with Tucker who's hang-up on Maya. It was a hate-love relationship. He couldn't get her off his mind to the point where she messes with his erection and had to imagine her face for Tiana to suck him off.
Although he hated her she was the only who he wanted to sleep with. He went to her house late at night and they would've hate sex. Maya self harm herself with razors on her thigh and looking at the scars turns Tucker on because he's a sadist. Maya father if you can call him that was so evil, vile, despicable and relentless in what he wanted and Maya giving away her virginity was not going to stop him from still selling her whether it's to a man the same age as him who swindled out of thousands of dollars or again to Lucian Black now that Maya just turned eighteen. The more hate sex that they have Tucker feelings grew more. Tucker believes that she's his. One day he noticed that regardless of what he did to her she wouldn't even fight back and that the light in her eyes was dead and she wouldn't tell him what's going on. He couldn't let it slide so he went to ask her best friend Wren and when he saw Wren crying he knew that it was bad. When she told him that he father had sold to the highest bidder at Purgatory to a sadistic bidder he was livid and he wasn't going to let another man touched what belong to him.
Maya's dad is so evil that he sold her to someone in Hell. There's three clubs at Purgatory. There's Heaven where you can use a safeword and everything stops, there's Purgatory and there's Hell where everything goes no safeword are used and only sickest, unhinged and most deviants go there. Tucker bought her but he wanted her drugged and he wore a mask so that she wouldn't recognize him. He was her monster and her protector. Her salvation. When she saw that it was him she was mad but she knew that he had saved her and she was glad that it was him instead of a stranger. He took her back to his house where she spend the in his bed. But the next morning her phone was filled with calls from her father. He tells her that the money wasn't enough and that she would still have to marry his friend Clark. Tucker came out of the shower and heard her begging him not to make her marry the old man Clark. He took the phone and told him that she was never coming home and that she now lives with him. She's mine. Mine to protect. Mine to provide for. Mine to shelter.
He forgot to even run it by his parents and tells them that she was his girlfriend. But when he talked to his dad it was then that he found out that he never liked nor trust him and that any day now he would be arrested for the ponzo scheme. Tiana didn't like to see them together and laughed when he tells everyone that they were dating. Since Maya realized that she has Tucker in her corner and that she didn't have to shoulder all her problems by herself when Tiana attacked again over Tucker she gave her beating that she will never forget channeling all her problems. She was happy at Tucker with his family and was looking forward to going home cook with his mother when her dad came up to the school as she waited for Tucker by his truck. He injected her with a drug that knocked her out and took her to Clark's house. As it turned out he had sold her to him for a lot of money, then he texted Tucker to make it looked like her saying that it was over and that she was going to marry Clark.
Tucker was devastated because he thought that she had played him once again while the entire time she was praying that he fines her and rescue her. He was crying to his dad that she left him but his dad didn't believe it and read the message and tells him that she didn't wrote that. That only killed him more because he wasted time in saving her. Mr. Kingsley tells him that they should go check and he called Paul the police commissioner to meet him at her dad's house but they weren't there. Her dad put his hand over hers and forced it into her signing the marriage license. Maya tried to appeal one last time to the father she had known as a child to rethink his decision and it was in that moment that she realized that he never loved her and that she no longer see him as one. She saw the vicious and malicious intent in Clark's eyes. She was still unable to defend herself because of the drugs when he took her to his bedroom.
And when he saw her scars on her leg he was pissed and wanted to know who did it. He tells her that he paid a lot of money for damage goods and that he couldn't sleep with her. He forces her on her knees to suck him off and threaten her if she bites him. When Tucker kicked in the door and saw her shirt torn and he jeans door her legs he went into a rage. It was like he was in an outer body experience and couldn't even hear Maya calling him. He beat him to death and even after he's dead he was still beating. Maya was crying because she thought that they were going to take him away from her and he was going to jail. As Maya laid on the bed helpless it was then that she knew that she was in love with Tucker and that she was going to died without telling him. As Tucker showers her with kindness he always wondered if she liked him for him even though he knew that he loved her. The first thing she did when he took her to the car was to tell him that she loved him, fearing rejection she apologized for saying it but he profess his.
We saw a different side of Tucker once he got his soulmate. He was kinder but still wouldn't take any crap from people at school towards him or Maya. Tucker was mad at Briggs and Wren and their affection and how they were inseparable but he finally understood it. He wanted her to heal so he got her into therapy which helped and bought a new house for them so that they could leave his parents house. They got their hard fought HEA. My only problem with this book was I wished that she told him why she threatened him with rape. He would've understood .

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bookish Lady Night · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Vengeful Sins by: C. Hallman

This one is a dark bully romance! If you read Hateful Vows Briggs was definitely a major unhinged MMC and I thought well can’t get darker than that but I was wrong! This book Vengeful Sins dives way deeper into the darkness and Tucker whoa! Plus the horrible side characters attached to Maya’s father totally caused chills to go down my spine!

Maya and Tucker are the best friends to Wren and Briggs from book one.

Maya is ridden with guilt and dark demons from her home life. Her mother died and her father is a sick man! But when she is backed into a corner she uses Tucker a guy she’s liked and who turns out likes her. But then while pushing him away she pushes a little too hard causing him to snap and hate her even existence and he stops at nothing to make her miserable. But she manages to snake her way into his soul.

Trying to detach from reality while creeping in the shadows to go in noticed Maya is in a very dark way.
One scene sent chills and sadness through me when she is looking at herself in the mirror the person she sees looking back is one that is an empty shell-
“There is not much life left in them; no emotions are staring back, only the numbness that has a hold on me."
It broke my heart hearing how she speaks and treats herself. She takes to using sharp objects to give her feeling and to relieve the pressure she feels. You can see the darkness she lives through on a daily basis like here:
"The roadmap of my agony. Each scar a symbol of one more time I lost the fight. One more time everything got to be so much, there was no hope of release except to slice my skin and let the blood flow. So many times. An ugly, shameful map that leads nowhere."

Tucker pushes her along with several school mates and her father who uses her for his own greedy ways. And when Tucker finally sees the shell seep through her mask something inside him shifts a little but he battles with his own demons and beliefs.

He always thought that she felt she was better than everyone but he soon learns it couldn’t be further from the truth:
“There’s something broken about her. Something deeply wrong."

Keeping herself upright without disassociating herself is something that the author portrays so well in this book! Even though it’s a DARK story it’s beautifully written and will take you on an emotional roller coaster.

Tucker who was once her bully becomes her safe space and helps her heal and in turn he heals the wounds she really never meant to cause him. She’s much like a wounded animal lashing out except she hid her injuries so well that no one knew and got the wrong idea about her.

Definitely read the tiggers this one has many and is like I said a very dark romance with heavy twisted topics. But if you are good with the TWs this book is a perfect read for a book to make you cry, it’s gut wrenching, heart pounding, and has a true enemies to lovers trope.

I definitely can’t wait for book three!

 

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow so much to unpack in this amazing story! If I could give it more stars I absolutely would!

Vengeful Sins is part two in the Wicked Falls Elite duet. This can be read as a standalone, however it is part 2 of the duo. I have not read the first book yet, I recieved an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. After reading this book, I 10000% will be reading book one.

This story is about a beautiful young MFC, Maya. And, a handsome young MMC, Tucker. They are both in college (Maya turns 18 in this book).

There's so much to be said about this book Maya grew up in a happy home (or so she thought) until her mom died. Her relationship with her dad becomes strained and toxic after her 16th birthday (which Maya talks about in the book).

Tucker hates Maya because of something that happened a few years back. Maya tries to live her life in the shadows, especially with all she has going on at home with her dad. There's only so much one person can handle without breaking.

One night things get heated between Maya and Tucker. From then on there's this undeniable pull that Tucker has to Maya. He hates that he is being drawn to her, he doesn't want to have these feelings while being in her presence, he doesn't want to care about anything going on in her life, he hates her.

Eventually, Tucker ends up learning more about what's really going on Maya's home life. He doesn't want to care what happens to her, let her suffer, she deserves it for everything she's done to him. His head and heart have this ongoing battle.

What Tucker ends up doing for Maya makes me love his character.

I strongly disliked Tucker in the beginning of the book. By the end, I absolutely loved Maya and Tucker together. I was so happy there was a HEA. Especially after the dark and miserable life Maya has had to endure living with her disgusting father. If anyone deserves a HEA it's Maya!

If there was one thing I would have added to this book, I would have had Maya finally admit to Tucker what really happened a few years ago so he could fully understand.

Would I recommend this book to a friend: ABSOLUTELY, YES

I recieved this ARC for my honest review, so, do I plan on reading book one? ABSOLUTELY

Did I love this book so much that I'm going to purchase it? ABSOLUTELY

I really hope the author comes out with another book in this series I loved it so much! It was written so well with so much insight into the characters lives and what was going on through it all.

There was so much that went on in this book please make sure you read all the trigger warnings before diving in, your mental health matters!

Dual POV
College Setting
Enemies to Lovers
Explicit Language
Self Harm
Cutting
Mental Health
Trauma
Toxic Parent
Abuse
Bullying
Somnophilia
Forced Prostitution
Sex club
Forced Drugging
DubCon
NonCon
Forced Marriage
Rape
Choking
Asphyxiation
Flogging
SMUT
Violence
Murder
Therapy
Road to Healing
HEA

[Dorrita Winch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeful Sins: A Dark Bully Romance ( Wicked Falls Elite Book 2). A series but can be read as a standalone. This is part of a series but is a standalone. I would deffinatly read book one with Wren and Briggs story. It’s awesome also. Hopefully Carter will have his story next😁.
In this book we have Tucker and Maya. They are our MMC and MFC.
Maya is a delicate, Strawberry blond, blue eyed beauty. And Tucker is tall, muscled and handsome. They are both in college and have past history.
This is a very adult read, dealing with an innocent mfc and a possessive, protective mmc. Deals with physical and mental abuse that no father should put a child through. Skin cutting, lies, secrets and more. But a happy ending for a deserving Maya and Tucker. With Maya finding love, family and true friends. Love the relationship and interaction between Maya and Tucker. Highly recommend, but for adults only. 👍🏻.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping, emotional ride and the second book in the series. Maya’s life looks perfect but hides a harrowing reality of abuse and inner turmoil. Tucker, driven by anger over a shared past, makes her life even harder, only to realize the depth of her struggles. The story masterfully transitions from torment to redemption as Tucker becomes a protector and Maya finds strength and love amidst the chaos. Their enemies-to-lovers journey is intense, raw, and deeply emotional, tackling themes of trauma and healing. This book is a dark romance gem With twists, heartfelt moments, and undeniable chemistry. Highly recommended for readers seeking a powerful, mature love story.

[Amy Kay ♥️ Books are my daily therapy ♥️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

VENGEFUL SINS
By: C. Hallman
Wicked Falls Elite Series: Book 2 of 5
Can Be Read As Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Star Review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5 Spiciness Level
 
RELEASE INFO FOR ARC/ALC BOOKS:
The audiobook version is releasing December 2, 2025. Ebook and paperback available now.

RECOMMENDATION:
Highly recommended when in the mood for a bully & enemies-to-lovers, MF contemporary romance with heavy spice! This book had me in a chokehold from start to finish! The author has a way of writing that makes the characters seem so real, with actual human struggles snd emotions. Such a great book!

GENRE, POV, TROPES, PAGE COUNT:
This book is a dark contemporary romance. The POV alternates by chapter between the MMC & FMC in the first-person. Tropes include MF, bully romance, enemies to lovers, dub-con, second chance, and HEA. Page count is just shy of 300 pages.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW & TIME LENGTH:
This audiobook is recorded in dual narration and is narrated by Chloe Ryan and Sean Masters. It is approximately 8 hours long.

Audiobooks are magnificent. They have a way of immersing the reader further into the story and takes it to a whole new level. These narrators do an impeccable job of narrating their chapters in this book. Being in dual-narration, the narrator has to give a voice to all characters who speak and they both succeed in doing this flawlessly. The transition of voice and pitch changes are seamless and each character is easily distinguishable. Wonderful job!!

FMC:  
Maya Jenkins is 18, lives in a luxurious home with her rich father, yet she has serious emotional trauma and mental health issues. She is a master of putting on a smile to hide all the mess inside. She blames herself for the death of her mother, even though it is not her fault. Her father is just awful. Just you wait, he makes most horrible fathers look like dads of the year! She really is just trying to make it through each day, trying to avoid her father at all costs and trying to find a way out and away from that life altogether.

MMC:
Tucker Kingsley is in the same grade as Maya, so he must be similar in age to her. (I couldn’t find his age anywhere in the book). Tucker is portrayed as an arrogant bully toward Maya, but from his perspective it’s easy to see he is way more complex than this. He is also masking his true self & he’s doing that because of his past with Maya. This being the only book I’ve read in this series, it seems as if the guys in this friend circle are a bully group, rich kids and get what they want. He has some dark, intriguing bedroom kinks which spice up this story and make it much more fun to read! I wanted to call him a golden retriever, but I’m not sure that’s accurate. Maybe he ends up being one outside of the bedroom, but inside he is very much NOT!
 
STORYLINE/PLOT:
Maya and Tucker have quite a past between them. She did him dirty 2 years prior to the start of this book, and since then he has been bullying her intensely. The hatred from Tucker is pretty clear at the start. He has a girlfriend he doesn’t really like who is an awful person. He is just going through life pretty much Willy-nilly with a good home life.

Maya, on the other hand, has completely shut down and pretty well disassociated from the world. When the world tries to creep back in, the panic attacks try to set in which causes her to self-harm. Her reasons for her depression and mental health issues are completely understandable. She’s had to endure horrible circumstances at home and has done so completely alone and with no help from anyone. It was self-preservation that drove her decisions with Tucker that destroyed any chance of a positive relationship.

Once they see each other at a school at the beginning of this book, things kick back up with him bullying her. They have a class together. It’s pretty obvious Tucker really likes her but is angry with her for what she did to him. One of his close friends is in a relationship with a girl they all bullied in book 1, and Tucker doesn’t understand how that happened. I do think it puts into his head that he may have a chance with Maya, though, after seeing this happen.

So, as the story goes on, Maya’s circumstances with her father at home become more and more disturbing and Tucker can’t seem to stay away from her… at first to bully her, but it leads to the budding of a relationship. He does become her hero, in a very messed up way, and they do get a very hard-won HEA!

The best part of this book is the personal growth of both of our main characters. Once they are getting what they need, they become completely different people. I love their relationship by the end!

NOTE:
Definitely check trigger warnings if needed! There are some serious ones!

THANKS:
Thank you Author C. Hallman, Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this amazing audiobook! I am so thankful for each one I am approved for and hope to get to read more from this author and publisher in the future! Thank you!
 
Happy Reading! ♥☻

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Vengeful Sins” is the second installment in the “Wicked Falls Elite Series.” Everyday of college is hell and everyone hates her, especially Tucker. He makes sure that every day at school is miserable in some way for her. Then to add to her misery, she deals with physical and mental abuse as well at home by the one person who is suppose to protect her, her father. Skin cutting is her coping mechanism. Her life from the outside looks ideal, but it is a mirage and a living hell that she can only hope to survive.

“But this is the first time I’ve done it with an audience. An audience who now breathes heavily, eyes fixed on the damage I’ve done. He parts his lips, his nostrils flaring, eyes narrowing like he’s excited by it. Like he might be getting off on it a little. Could that be true? I already knew he was twisted, but is he that twisted?”

The relationship between Tucker and Maya is complicated. On the surface, they hate each other, but underneath, they are very much attracted to each other. Both have demons that they are dealing with, but instead of pushing them apart, it draws them together. When she turns to Tucker for help, he ignores her pleas for help …. in one weekend, thanks to her so called “doting” father, her life turns upside down! She has no choice but to do what he wants! Feeling extremely concerned and guilty for ignoring her, Wren, her best friend, opens up about what has happened! Needless to say, Tucker is in shock and angry at Mays’s father for what he is going to do with her!

The dynamic of their relationship starts to change and he begins to have feelings for Maya. Tucker becomes very protective of her. Maya slowly lets her guard down and starts to trust Tucker. As they grow together, their relationship strengthens and they begin to heal other from the inside out. Will he be her knight in shining armour and save her?

At times you will laugh, you will cry, you will even get frustrated, but over all, you have your fingers crossed that everything will work out for them. They compliment each in some many ways - faults and all. There story of love, hate and redemption will keep you hooked! It has fun, laughs, intrigue and physical attraction. I thoroughly enjoyed this story that goes from hate to love ♥️ From page to page, chapter to chapter, from cover to cover - you will enjoy this beautiful story! This book will not disappoint! Highly recommended 😊

[LeMiliere · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review is written voluntarily after listening to the audio version of this book. The narration by Chloe Ryan and Sean Masters is excellent. They brought each character to life and made me feel each and every emotion.

This book is the second one in the Wicked Falls Elite series. I missed the first book, Hateful Vows, but had no difficulty becoming engrossed in the story, which did not disappoint. The author managed to let us know why there was animosity between Tucker and Maya, which was the result of her using him when she turned 16. Yes, it was to protect herself, but that didn't excuse her behaviour. It resulted in being bullied for the next two years by him and his friends.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. There were so many emotions and not all of them good, that I found myself reeling. Maya suffers so much but the worst of it at the hands of her own father, every emotion was so well presented that I couldn’t help but feel her despair. The way that Tucker treated Maya at the start of their story was bad and made my blood boil as I listened especially knowing what she was going through at home, I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her.

The bullying Maya had to endure at school from her classmates who didn’t have a reason to hate her other than that they thought Tucker hated her was terrible. Things obviously became better once she and Tucker became an item but up until then......

I loved the way Maya and Tucker's relationship changes as their journey progresses and how protective of her he became. He's no angle by any means but when push came to shove he would do anything to protect Maya once he realised what she was facing at home and why she had treated him the way she did. The bond they formed and the love that blossomed almost made every bad thing she had endured at his hands worth while.

I definitely recommend Vengeful Sins! In fact, I have found every book I've read or listened to by C. Hallman to be enthralling; she never disappoints. The plot had me screaming. I literally hated her father and wanted him to suffer much more than he did. I almost wanted a bonus epilogue where he was made to suffer the way he had forced his daughter to. Thankfully, everything works out in the end, but....

Do read the trigger warning before downloading this book, and if they don't put you off, download and enjoy!

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 estrellas (⭐️⭐️⭐️💫).No mentiré, tengo sentimientos encontrados con esta lectura.

"Because she is mine. Mine to protect, to provide for, to shelter. I've never been so sure of anything in all my life as I am of that."

(igual me dio risa cuando dijo eso porque su papá le dijo, te ayudo, y él le respondió esto y yo me quedé en plan: pero si no trabajas y el dinero que tienes es el de tu papá 🤨🤨🤨)

Primero, quiero decir que yo empecé a leer este libro porque pensé que tenía el trope de "reformed mean girl" el cual yo amo con todo mi corazón, pero no. En realidad es un bully romance y quedé medio traumatizada, la verdad.

Sobre los personajes, Maya me cayó bien. Sentí mucha pena por ella y yo solo quería que ya se acabara su sufrimiento y fuese feliz. De verdad que merece muchos abrazos. Ahora, Tucker… uhm pues me cayó mal. La verdad no puedo olvidar como fue y se comportó con Maya. La verdad llegó a ser muy cruel, hasta sádico y pues eso no me gusta pero bueno, al final ya “medio” lo perdoné (no).
Olvídelo, es un 🎻 y recuerdo cuando dijo “mejor me voy antes de que la mword” y yo me quede así 😰 porque según yo lo pensó en serio. #miedo#pánico#terror#horror

Me hubiese gustado ver más, o sea en el epílogo. Me gustó y todo pero de nuevo metieron el gogogo y ya estaba cansada (no mentiré). Igual me lo comí he!

Otra cosa. Me pregunto como Maya no terminó con una infección (por cierta escena, la cual también me dejó muy consternada) y/o embarazada porque nunca dijeron si estaba en birth control o algo así. Oh! Y me gustó como manejaron lo de la terapia. Me sorprendió (para bien) que metieran ese tema en un libro de dark romance.

También siento que faltaron poner más TW al inicio de la historia. Entre ellos rape, así, con todas sus letras y el término que es.

Conclusión: La verdad no puedo decir mucho ya que yo fui la que me metí solita a leer este libro aún así habiendo leído los TW. Eso sí, noté algunas faltas de ortografía en mi libro. Oh siento que el me faltó una platica de Maya y Tucker. Igual me entretuvo la historia a pesar de todo, yo diría que es una lectura palomera que se lee rápido y que no es para todos (creo que yo incluida).

[The Romantic Rush Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vengeful Sins, the second in the Wicked Falls Elite series, is a dark, gripping bully romance that takes readers on an intense, emotional rollercoaster. Maya’s life appears perfect on the surface. Elite school, a big house, and a seemingly caring father, but underneath, she endures abuse, trauma, and secrets that threaten to consume her. Tucker, haunted by a painful past connected to Maya, initially makes her life a living hell, yet their undeniable chemistry pulls them together in a story that is equal parts heart-wrenching and steamy.

The tension between Maya and Tucker is electric from the start. Their relationship begins with hate, betrayal, and a tumultuous one-night stand, but fate continually draws them back together. Tucker’s struggle with his feelings, resentment, anger, desire, and the need to protect Maya, creates a raw, compelling dynamic. He's unlikable...deeply..at first, but like all bullies, he grips you. Meanwhile, Maya’s resilience, vulnerability, and growth make her a heroine you can’t help but root for.

This book is layered with suspense, secrets, and dark themes, including emotional and psychological trauma. It’s a story about survival, trust, and finding love in the most complicated circumstances. Despite the darkness and bully dynamic, the romance is deeply satisfying, and the enemies-to-lovers journey between Maya and Tucker is executed with intensity, passion, and plenty of emotional depth. The twists, revelations, and character development keep you hooked.

The audiobook narration was DELICIOUS. I'm a massive Sean Masters fan, and I find his vocal range and grit shines best in dark, edgey anti-heroes, so he was the perfect casting. He brings Tucker to life with a perfect mix of arrogance, vulnerability, and sultry charm.And Chloe Ryan’s portrayal of Maya captures her quiet strength and emotional complexity. Their dual performance makes the story even more addictive, giving voice to every nuance of emotion and all that juicy tension.

If you love dark, emotionally charged bully romances, this will hit. It’s intense, addictive, and super on genre trend.Maya and Tucker’s journey proves that even in the darkest circumstances, love, redemption, and hope can prevail.

[Bee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 44 %

Read to me by Alexa.

So I should have known that I wasn’t gonna love this book, because I didn’t love book 1 of this series of standalone…. But unlike this book, I was able to get through book 1.

I always say that if you were going to write a dark romance where the MMC is the antagonist/villain and also the endgame for the FMC… Then the MMC needs to not only be a villain, but he also needs to be attractive/redeemable somehow to the reader. IDNF this book because the author did not achieve that here in my opinion.

Tucker is every woman’s worst nightmare as far as I am concerned. He is a fuck boy that thinks he is a good guy. Which aside from being completely unattractive is way too much like real life. The premise of the bullying between Tucker and the FMC in this book is that she has wronged him somehow in the past. But we, the reader don’t know what that betrayal is until about the point where I DNF’d.

So Tucker and the FMC have sex at some point in the past. After the sexual encounter, the FMC basically tells him great. Thanks for a great night but I’m good now. She’s not mean she’s not an asshole about it. She just makes it clear that she has no desire to pursue anything further with him. She had a good time, but she does not wish to continue beyond that one night. Tucker does not like this. And he corners her and makes her feel uncomfortable. And so to get him to leave her alone, she tells him that she will tell everybody that he raped her if he doesn’t leave her alone. She never actually tells anybody this. And she only says this under duress. And so now here we are the reader reading a whole book where he thinks it’s justified to terrorize her because she threatened to tell people that he raped her because he was actually harassing her..…. 🧐

As someone who reads dark romance, I don’t need the MMC to be a good guy. I don’t even need him to always make sense. But again, I need him to be redeemable/attractive to me. And this kind of fuck boy, behavior, fictional, or not ….. is unattractive. And it reads way too much like real life for me. If I want this kind of behavior, I can go encounter the men that are running around in the world..

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Run Time: 7 hrs, 52 mins
Narrated By: Chloe Ryan; Sean Masters
AUDIO Release Date: Dec 2, 2025.

So this is book 2 in the Wicked Falls Elite series. Although it said this can be read as a standalone, I felt like I was thrown into a book already in progress for the first 30% of the book. So personally I’d say read book 1 first, as I feel I’d have followed this better if I’d done that.

Although I wound up enjoying this story, it took almost half the book for me to get to that point. In general I’m not a huge fan of the bully trope, but this book sounded interesting so I decided to try it anyway. For the first half of the book I couldn’t stand the way the FMC was bullied by the MMC (but later on when I realized why he was acting that way, I didn’t feel as upset with him because she had threatened something really terrible. Although I still don’t condone bullying.) She was also bullied by a vindictive girl. And something I really didn’t like in the first half was the fact that when the MMC found out she was self-harming, he had her do it in front of him. That was absolutely despicable in my mind. But things did change in the second half of the book for the better between them. She did eventually get help for her coping mechanism/self-harm. - The book wound up intriguing me once I realized WHY he was being so mean to her and exactly what she was going through at home. The rest of the book was unveiling the horrors of what her father was capable of and how the MMC came to her rescue time and again. So while I was upset by the first half, the second half evened everything out and by the end of the book I enjoyed the overall story. - Spice Level: 4/5. Rating: 4/5.

TW’s 👇

- Depression
- Loss of a parent
- Bullying
- Self harm-mutilation
- School bully video
- Bully encouraging self-harm
- $ex club
- Dub-con
- Non-con/drugged
- Forced marriage (not with MMC)
- Being sold (nothing to do w MMC)

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC in return for my honest review.

[Good Booking Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you thought Briggs in Hateful Vows was unhinged and a bully, then wait till you meet Tucker!
Vengeful Sin is dark bully romance and the second book in the Wicked Elite series.

Book 2 give us more of Tucker and Maya. They are BFF's to Briggs and Wren, and after an incident 2 years ago, Tucker has hated Mya with such seething rage, he goes above and beyond out of his way to make her life miserable.

For the last four years, Mya wants nothing more than to be as invisible as possible. She has secrets and personal demons that haunt her in her nightmares and during the day. When she looks in the mirror, she...

"...lock eyes with my reflection. There is not much life left in them; no emotions are staring back, only the numbness that has a hold on me."

Her only escape and relief can be found in sharp objects: "the roadmap of my agony. Each scar a symbol of one more time I lost the fight. One more time everything got to be so much, there was no hope of release except to slice my skin and let the blood flow. So many times. An ugly, shameful map that leads nowhere."

There is a pivotal moment in the book where Tucker realizes that she's not a stuck up snob, who thinks she's better than everyone else. Rather, there is something seriously not ok with Mya: "There’s something broken about her. Something deeply wrong."

Mya, battling inner demons, feels the emotional turmoil on a visceral level every day. She is constantly on edge - emotionally worn down, isolated and struggling with the unresolved trauma.

Tucker slowly understands what been happening, and although he still harbours some resentment from their past, he is determined to be help her heal.

This is their love story, and it's dark, twisted, and unhinged.

Please review the TW/CW as the book deals with themes of forced drug use, self harm, dub-con, non-con, sexual assault, somnophilia, violence, death.

I received a free ARC of the book and this review is my opinion.

[༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆ 𝘓𝘪𝘢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

જ⁀➴ ⋆𖦹𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ༉‧₊˚.

4★

⋆𖦹 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 ⋆𖦹
𓆙 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴
𓆙 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𓆙 𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𓆙 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘔𝘍 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦
𓆙 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘹 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭
𓆙 𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶?
𓆙 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘦

𝘔𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵: 🗝️
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺. 𝘐 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘨 𝘰𝘯. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘏𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘮𝘢𝘯'𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘐'𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴!

≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫

⋆𖦹 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴:⋆𖦹

: ̗̀➛ 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘢 - 𝙈𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙥𝙤𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝. 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙥𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮.


: ̗̀➛ 𝘛𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳 - 𝙊𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙢! 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠. 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙞𝙩.

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𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 : 🗝️
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝙄 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙖 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚. 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤. 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠.

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[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

We saw at the end of Book #1 that Wren and Briggs got together as Wren moved in with him and Briggs's dad went on the run after trying to kill Wren. Now for Book #2, we have Wren's friend Maya and Briggs's mate Tucker. These two have had a strong love/hate relationship and we are about to discover why as years ago when Maya was sixteen she heard her Dad trying to sell her off. So she went out and got drunk and slept with Tucker. After some nasty words, the pair went their separate ways, but for Tucker -Maya is the girl that broke his heart as he had liked her and since then the hurt turned into hardened hatred. Now though as Maya turns 18, her father is more than determined to sell her to the highest bidder which in this case is Chase, and this time not for sex but for marriage. Can Tucker save the woman he loves to hate? Maya though has another dark secret, one that keeps her from showing her skin - she cuts herself to feel and let go of the pain. What happens when one cut might go too deep? Maya is broken, but too prideful to let anyone into her circle and her pain as she fears that it will make them hate her even more than she hates herself and she doesn't know if she would be able to live with that much hate. As always this was another awesome dark bullymance from C.Hallman and a great book as she is one of my favorite dark authors. I am interested to see if we get any more titles in this series as I would love to see the girl that could tame and tie down their friend Carter who is a horndog and loves girls for their bodies and nothing else. In conclusion, C. Hallman delivers another gripping dark bullymance with Maya and Tucker's intense journey, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment and the possibility of Carter finding someone who can challenge his playboy ways.

[Brina's Emotional Borrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book! I just couldn't put it down. I rated this book 4 stars.

Most of the book, I heard Dochii's song 'Anxiety' in my head, because that is what I felt, anxiety.

This book felt less like a bully romance and more like an abusive parent situation. Tucker did do some messed-up things, but I would not compare them to what Briggs did.

Much of the drama and high-stakes conflict comes not necessarily from Tucker, but rather Maya's home life, where the real danger lives.

Tucker and Maya have some history and fleshing this out is the other part of the story that creates the tension. What could she have done to make him hate her so much?

I found it interesting how mirrored these two characters were throughout this story. Both continued to do things to numb and disassociate. Both wore masks to hide how they felt from the world. Both felt the push and pull of the other and a loathing/liking. Another interesting dynamic about these two is that they seemed to battle themselves as much as each other.

There was one major scene where I was absolutely shocked, and it was the major question: how do you come back from this moment?

At times I wanted to shake Maya. Open up, let the secrets out, stop pushing people who care away. She was so beaten down and unable to let herself feel.

Other times I wanted to shake Tucker. He honestly didn't seem like a horrible guy. Unlike Briggs, he did not come off cold or like a jerk. But he was damaged by Maya's actions when they were younger, which prevented him from really trusting, especially her. He hated her and yet he still cared for some reason.

I do appreciate that this wasn't a "love conquers all" ending. I liked that there was therapy and real work towards healing took place. I was confused that Maya was barely turning 18, but I couldn't remember how old Tucker was.

I did feel a little frustrated at a scene towards the end. I understand that it was meant as a way to reclaim a situation and get it, but I probably wouldn't have gone in that direction.

I was also left feeling like some things were left unanswered or kind of skimmed over.








Spoilers










So some questions I was left with:

Why the heck was Maya's dad trying to sell her at 16 if his Ponzi scheme wasn't falling apart so badly until recently?

Why did her dad hate her so much? It wasn't because of her mom.

Was her mom essentially sold to her dad?
Why was Lucian willing to take Maya to "Hell" when she was a minor??

Why was Clark, a Ponzi scheme partner, willing to pay so much for Maya when things were not looking great?

How did Tiana get away with texting those pics to everyone? How did Headmaster Knightly NOT know? I guess her saving grace was that the day she took the pics Maya was no longer a minor. Also, I was left thinking Tiana was going to do something else.

We never see Tucker finding out WHY Maya rejected and threatened him. I really wanted to see this since it was the entire reason he hated her so much.

[Caged Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Each scar is a symbol of one more time I lost the fight"

This book is dark bully romance with enemies to lovers pathway.

Tucker is a delicious treat to read. Unhinged and dark MMC. Maya is delicate and soft with her demons putting on a facade of happy life.

Tucker and Maya had a history and this turns out to be dark, twister and thrilling read.

Please note that there is all kind of abuse mentioned on page, physical, mental, emotional and that too from someone close that we can't even imagine.

Tropes

🖤Dark Bully Romance
🖤Gothic vibes
🖤Hate to love
🖤Enemies to lovers
🖤New adult romance
🖤Second Chance Romance
🖤Protective and Obsessed Alpha MMC
🖤Damsel in distress storyline

Please read the trigger warnings ⚠️ Please

Tucker was a Bully and he hurts her somehow and Maya was not having a beautiful life at home as well. But when Tucker hit the realisation and then the story took a beautiful turn.

Tucker hates her that she thing she is superior but no on knows that facade but once Tucker saw the Crack he realised something was wrong.

Tucker took a tremendous turn from being a Bully to being a man she needed. He healed her. He realised that she was putting a facade and underneath it there was a girl as delicate as a flower wounded and broken and needs to be held with love.

This book will make you cry at various points, you'll feel for Maya, and the pain she is being through and how she thought that sharp objects are her only friends that can understand her pain.

This book takes you on a roller coaster ride with all the emotions dwelling inside you and then you'll fall in love with the story and the characters..

[B]

📘Vengeful Sins: A Dark Bully Romance (Wicked Falls Elite #2) by C. Hallman

🎧 Audiobook Review
🎙️ Dual Narration Chloe Ryan & Sean Masters

This book is dark, and heartbreakingly human, I felt myself get pulled apart and then slowly put back together.

Maya’s life looks perfect, but behind the smile is pain, control, and survival. Tucker��s rage hits her world like a storm, only to find he’s been breaking someone already shattered. Their story is a brutal, beautiful mess of pain, obsession, and redemption.

Maya’s pain hit me close to home and straight in the chest, it was raw, real, and heartbreakingly human. C. Hallman didn’t shy away from the darkness, she faced it head-on and captured the heavy, tangled thoughts that come with fighting your own mind. The way Maya’s inner turmoil and self-destructive patterns were portrayed felt painfully authentic, like reading the echoes of someone’s private battles laid bare on the page.

Hallman’s writing doesn’t just tell you Maya’s story it makes you feel it. Every scar, every moment of hopelessness, every flicker of fight left inside her. It’s haunting, beautifully written, and handled with a sensitivity that lingers long after you close the book.



The dual narration made it hit even harder. You could feel every word bleed pain right into your core. Both narrators did such a great job of playing both Maya and Tucker. Their fem abd Masc acting is top tier and I will most definitely listen to Audiobooks narrated by them again!




Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ALC!

[PelicanFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

POV:
Your own father is actively working to s3ll you. Yes, sell. He knows he can fetch a high price for a child V.
(Imagine?!)

Written in first person, alternating POVs.
Present tense.


Obviously, we’re treated to an FMC in a tough situation, and who is forced to grow up instantly. I became addicted to this within just a few words, honestly—as I usually do with C. Hallman reads.


Bullying (pretty severe at times).
Set in college, flashbacks to high school.
New adult (FMC is in college).
Corruption.
Traumatized FMC (lost her mom).
C4ptivity.
He falls first.
S0mno.
Tr4fficking.
Extortion.
She falls for her bully.
He falls first.
F0rced marriage.
Non-con.
Grand gesture.

Overall:

OH. MY. GOD.
I related to this character SO MUCH—
⌲ being stuck with a ‘parent’ who thinks she’s property he can use and sell as he sees fit.
⌲ Self-harm and the exact feelings that came with that.
⌲ The intense feeling of dread associated with going home.

Hallman captured these SO PERFECTLY—truly uncanny. It definitely enhanced my reading experience, and might’ve altered my brain chemistry a bit. This is (just part of) why I love her books—they’re empowering.




🎧 Audio:
Oh this audio is flawless—what a perfect production, and voice-acting.



📌 I’m so grateful I was able to listen. Thank you C. and #Netgalley.
📌 Apologies for the cens0rship—I have trouble getting my reviews through otherwise.

[addictedtodarkromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tucker blames Maya for the things that happened in his life, so he decides to bully her. She's had a hard life and is still suffering through the torment.

I really hated Tucker at first, he was cruel to her and made her life even harder. The poor girl couldn't get a break. She's sweet and a survivor. Maya has been traumatized (and isn't out of harm's way yet) and I truly felt for her. I wanted to reach through the pages, go into the story and stand up for her. I know she may seem weak but I still felt she was strong in her way. Not everyone has the same kind of fighting power as others do.

When Tucker finally starts to understand her and see what's really going on, he becomes more protective and possessive of her. I do wish that she didn't just let him into her life so easily after everything but like I mentioned before maybe she just didn't have that kind of energy for that battle.

I liked that Maya's mental health experience wasn't just brushed over and that the story followed her journey.

There was some ow drama that I was frustrated about and one point where I felt he should have stepped in so she didn't hurt herself but overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it!

(Loved seeing the characters from book 1!)

4.25

*I did receive an early copy of the book and have voluntarily written this review

[Susana Sousa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected....

Vengeful Sins is the second installment in the Wicked Falls Elite and can be read as a standalone.

Since Wren and Briggs' book, there's this implied animosity Tucker directs at Maya and it only escalates when the girls get closer as friends, in close quarters...the group, his group of friends......
But, is this warranted?

Maya was a warrior without even noticing because the only thing she felt was the ugliness of having done the unthinkable and becoming numb in the process. Also, the constant struggle against the deceitful enemy and that tiny bit of control she desperatly tries to conquer.....
Certainly having done Tucker wrong, the only thing she can't do is explain herself, accepting his bullying and everything in the sphere of Campus because the alternative simply won't do.

Tucker is mad and more so because the girl he hates so much is the only one stirring something in his detached heart. He'll get even......or will he?

I didn't know what to expect from this story, but not this amount of abuse, psychological strain, guilt and impotence and how it felt to experience the healing of their souls and hearts.
It's a very raw and critic journey, but as soon as Tucker perceives there's something very wrong, he can't help but defend, protect and save the girl of his deepest hurts, but even more, of his dreams.

I absolute loved these two and I hope we're getting more from Wicked Falls Elite!

[Vic · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Vengeful Sins, It’s the same routine every day for Maya. She pretends everything is going great in her life while hiding secrets. We see a cheerful person on the outside while feeling broken inside. Despite that, she always walks with her head held high. The one person she does not take anything from is Tucker. We can agree he’s a bully by the way he treats Maya. Although he treats her harshly, though not justified, we learn why he hates her. Not everything is always as it seems and there’s more to their story.

One thing you notice right away is their chemistry. It is scorching. You can tell they want each other even through their hatred. These two can set fire to each other just with their looks. Tucker holds onto his grudge despite his attraction. Nevertheless, no matter how he feels about her, he is determined to hate her.

C. Hallman took me on Maya‘s emotional journey. It is sad, honest, and scary. We see the façade she puts on every day and how exhausting it can be. You learn about her secrets and the guilt that consumes her. I felt for her so much. This book had me sobbing at times, wanting to hug her. Once truths are revealed, I wanted her and Tucker to find their way to each other despite their history.

[Lily Nocturne · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vengeful Sins (Wicked Falls Elite #2) by C. Hallman
🎧 Narrated by Sean Masters & Chloe Ryan

Vengeful Sins was excellent—a perfect second installment in the Wicked Falls Elite series. The dual narration by Sean Masters and Chloe Ryan was once again spot-on; they bring so much emotion and tension that it feels like the story’s unfolding right in front of you.

The MMC absolutely had every right to be angry in this one—if I were in his shoes, I’d be furious too. But what I really loved was the growth we see on both sides. The way mental health is handled feels raw and honest, and that made the darker, twistier parts of the story hit even harder. There are reveals you truly don’t see coming, and that unpredictability kept me hooked the entire time.

And the FMC? I loved watching her find her strength again. The ending, with her taking her power back—with his help, but still on her own terms—was so satisfying. Also, the side comments from other characters (especially the “your dad’s f***ed” kind of moments) added the perfect edge of realism and dark humor that makes this series so addictive.

C. Hallman continues to deliver dark, emotional, fast-paced stories that don’t hold back. I can’t wait to see what comes next in Wicked Falls Elite.

[AuroraF · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing….just amazing. Emotionally satisfied me crazily good and I didn’t see it coming till I started reading but Maya ‘s perfect writing made me cry, the bully scenes were just right on point, her numbness made me sob for her. AND I LOVE TUCKER, period. After Briggs’ sociopathic character (which I adored) Tucker was full of strong emotions and it broke my heart. I loved every part of this book, except one thing. WHY TUCKER DIDNT LEARN ABOUT THE REASON SHE THREATHEN HIM?? like…it almost feels like a detail that the author forgot. It was the biggest reveal I was expecting till the end but it just never happened and I am so disappointed. I don’t think writer didn’t write that scene on purpose because it was literally the reveal of why he hates her in the beginning and he never got to know why he never had to hate her and kinda learnt how to live with it. But why??????? Maya can tell Tucker everything now except this? Nope, I really think writer just forgot about the first problem after adding so many problems for characters to solve. Still, the book was so good. Read it, recommend it, DO SOMETHING SO THE THIRD BOOK CAN BE OUT!!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series and it was so good. I loved Tucker and Maya’s story. The questions I had from the first book were answered. However, you can read this without reading the first book. I just had questions about Maya and why Tucker hated her so much. My heart just hurt so much for Maya. She has been through so much and kept so much bottled up inside. Tucker is fighting his feelings for Maya. He hates her, but also cares what happens to her. This is confusing and frustrating him to no end. This book is darker than the first book, so beware. There are some triggers that could come up for some readers. There is suspense, drama, angst, revelations, hate, more angst, and twists. This book took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. There is one scene that had me cheering so much for Maya. When you read, you’ll know which scene it is. I am warning you again, this is darker than the first book. Cassy has definitely gotten back in touch with her dark side and I love it and am here for it. I can’t wait for Carter’s book. That boy had me laughing and he is such a man*****. I can’t wait to see the girl who is going to bring him to his knees.