Wicked Ways

by C.J. Torrance

After a drunken promise to his best friend's little sister, Evie, Noah spends the next six years obsessively ensuring she remains single and safe, waiting for the day she'll be his. As Noah rises through the ranks of his security career, he secretly sabotages every relationship Evie tries to have, all while trying his best to stay away.

Evie, unaware of how deep his obsession goes, seeks comfort with him, while trying to bury the crush she’s had on him for years. But as the years pass and their relationship evolves, Noah’s obsession threatens to unravel everything they’ve built—forcing both of them to confront their own morals in order to love unconditionally.

This is a dark romance with mature themes intended for an 18+ audience. Please make sure you read the "Content Warnings" page.

Genres: Amazon

440 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 20, 2025

Reviews

[Bratty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down

I received this as an ARC read from the author, & I was thrilled to be a part of their selected group! I've had the best time chatting with them & the others in our little chaos team & I had an even greater time getting to know & read about Noah & his lovely little sunflower Evie. I'll doy best to keep this spoiler free.

Noah - I loved his character, starting off as a young man when we meet him, just about to start his life, when a wrench is thrown into his plans & takes him off course. We get to see right off the bat what type of man he'll become, with glimpses into how his life got side tracked- he's family oriented, loving, protective & caring. We also get an upfront seat to his relationship with his best friend Eli & I absolutely LOVE the friendship between these 2 & the way they act with each other. That really made the story stand out & feel real for me bc I have a best friend who's husband acts just like that with his own guy best friend, so it made their relationship super relatable for me! We're also reintroduced to Evie - who was once an annoying little girl/teenager in Noah's eyes suddenly isn't so annoying or little.

Evie - The light of Noah's life & his new found growing obsession. She's quirky, vibrant & seemingly all over the place. We don't get very many POVs from her but honestly I didn't mind & the few we do get are perfect & at just the right times. She's independent, loves to stand out, photography & little trinkets. At times she feels a bit dense but I think I kind of love her more for it lol & it definitely wouldn't have worked in Noah's favor of she wasn't.

I loved how this story played out! What started as a seemingly joking pact turned into a real pure obsession. Noah is OTT Obsessive/Possessive & I loved it. We follow him over a 6 year span, watching every little thing he does to spin & manipulate it to his favor. He grows & evolves over the course, but he also is adamant & determined to be what he feels he needs to be for her. It all comes to a beautiful & almost explosive ending plans falling into place & some shifting into something grander. 🖤

I hated to see them go but I loved getting to know them & getting there. My only true complaint would be Evie the few times I felt she was a little dense & the ending for me I was waiting for some heart shattering moment that never truly came, yes there was wrench thrown in but it wasn't the one I was truly expecting & it all came back together a little too quickly for me but nonetheless I loved it all & I'm truly happy with the way it did end.

[kristyl.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wicked Ways completely hooked me. Noah is the definition of a 🚩—a class 1 unhinged MMC—but I wouldn’t change a single thing about him. The banter and bromance between Noah and Eli? Perfection. And when Jace showed up? I screamed. Loved every second of their interactions. This book gave me everything I wanted and more. Can't wait for Lewis story!!

[C.J. Torrance]

Turns out writing morally gray men is cheaper than therapy. Not sure how healthy it is, though... 👀

[LozzyLouReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book didn't give a single care in the world about my emotions. There was angst, longing and desires and also so much sexual tension and frustration when reading along it was so brilliantly torturous at times.

The MMC Noah he starts off infatuated, invested and driven to become a better person and things start to take a turn making morally grey decisions and then bang like a flick of a switch I'm left thinking he's mental and I immediately upgraded him to morally black.

The FMC Evie is quirky, strong-willed and just wants to find that special person to share her hobbies and passions in life with.

All the other characters had a strong involvement in the story and I thought it flowed really well and was brilliantly written. I really liked the plot it was a perfect slow burn that was so gripping, intriguing and shocking. Do not read this book if you have a weak heart, it has some strong dark themes. If you like dark themes, well enjoy the ride!

I would recommend to read it!
I am so glad to have discovered this author and I'm excited and looking forward to reading more from her.

[Bri West · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5

Noah makes me truly question my sanity because this man is a walking red flag psychopath 😂 but like, it was still hot.

If you’re into morally black, cause let’s face it… I don’t think we can consider it gray at this point, men who would do literally anything for the woman he loves, then Noah is your twisted guy. His all consuming love and devotion for Evie is what you’re gonna get all book long. Get ready to have your morals twisted.

The Eli Noah bromance is to die for and truly might have been my favorite part!

I’ll be honest I was kinda shocked there were zero consequences but the anxiety of waiting for them was all the same and i’m glad they got their toxic HEA !

Tropes:
- dark romance
- Daddy issues
- Praise kink
- Obsessive MMC
- Toxic love


Favorite Quotes:
- I would build my whole life brick by brick to take care of her, to be the husband of her dreams and provide for her so she could follow her dreams as well.
- “You are the sun, and I need to be big enough to support your light, and not let anything dim it”

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked Ways by @cj.torrance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5

This book is what happens when a MMC becomes absolutely obsessed and is prepared to play the longest game ever to make everything ‘perfect’. The irony the FMC has the biggest crush on him ever but Noah wants everything ‘perfect’ first.

Noah is the king of manipulating, gas lighting, deception to make sure Evie stays on the hook until life falls into place. The story isn’t high on the violence, murder rating but the efforts Noah is willing to go to for his sunflower makes it dark. If you want to try dark romance but violence isn’t your thing this is a good story to pick up - there is some there but it’s not a main theme.

@cj.torrance I can’t wait to see what darkness is coming from you next 😂🙈

[Kiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book, and am happy to have had the chance to read this!

What a deviously slow burn this book was! Noah is a red flag strapped to a morally gray pole, flapping in hurricane force winds - but let's be honest, still hot. Sculpting reality to fit his dreams, all with a smile. Evie, little miss sunflower herself, had no shot of avoiding Noah's grasp.

I mean, she definitely tried, but Noah was always there to gently (read: sarcasm) correct her haha! I greatly enjoyed the relationship between Noah and Eli, they're so close and their banter is the best. This was a fun, if not slightly unhinged read and kept me interested right through the the end!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah has always known Evi as the annoying little sister of his best friend. However, Noah starts to become obsessed with her now that she is grown. Noah starts to make morally grey decisions and ends up slipping right into morally dark Grey not quite black but getting there. Meanwhile, Evi is thinking something is wrong with things around her because nothing is working the way she thinks it should.... yes Noah we know you did it. Evi is your typical unsuspecting FMC. She seems to just go with the flow until she starts noticing things Noah did. This book is filled with longing, tension, and so much more. You will sit down and read it all in one sitting if you can.

[Lorna Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review...
I found this story to be really easy to read. It was the first MF romance I've read where majority of the POV was from the MMC, I think the FMC had 11 chapters to the books 48 chapters (inclusive of prologue and epilogue). I do enjoy hearing the male POV especially during a spice scene and with the stalking side of the romance it was nice to have a different take with his POV as most stalking romance books are the FMC POV and her thinking she is going mad for the entire book where as with this you just get to be in Noah's blissful obsession. I laughed a few times throughout the story and the spice was rather enjoyable to read.

[Moira Konradsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sooo good! It had me hooked from the first page🖤 Noah is a walking red flag, but who doesn’t love a morally grey, obsessive man??? Loved the story, and how we followed Noah over a 6 year span with every little thing he does and how he manipulates and spins it for his favor and benefit. And how can I not mention the banter filled friendship and bromance between Noah and Eli??? This was such an amazing addition to this book! Thank you SO MUCH C.J. Torrance for the ARC of this one, I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for more from you!

[MJay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morally grey not enough anymore? Say hello to Noah Spencer...
Grey isn't his colour and unhinged is his slogan!

Wicked Ways is Intriguing and captivating. It will send you heading for the cliffs with its plot twists.

This story is brilliantly written with deep emotions, banter, questionable ways and characters you can't help but feel inclined towards.

Wicked Ways is a dark romance with a gripping plot, journeying through love, obsession and shadows of the heart.

ARC Review - 4⭐️
Thank you C.J Torrence 🖤

[Kimberley_Reads_Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in about 8 hours and loved every single second.
Our MMC: Noah definitely deserves to be in prison or in an institution. Noah is obsessed, unhinged, out of control and I love him and I will die on this hill!
Our FMC: Evie has a childhood crush on Noah, she has no idea the lengths he will go to have her as his.
This was an incredible read! From start to finish; the storyline, the characters, everything is perfection.

[book em · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 Noah is a man in love and will literally KILL anyone that steps in his way! Evie js a cutie patootie that WILLINGLY falls for him, she was a goner for him as soon as she met him when they were kids.

I actually adore this book! It’s so beautifully written and has twists and turns that will have you holding your breath.
ALSO the SMUT yes please. 1000 times yes.

I will be thanking the stars for C J Torrance tonight!

[Janene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. The bromance between Noah and Eli was great, the banter was brilliant. Evie I loved her character, independent and links to stand out, just wanting to find her person. Noah is a walking red flag and not sure what it says about me but I loved every minute of it. The tension I just ate up 😍

[Romi Tolk · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m obsessed. This book had me hooked from page one dark secrets, slow-burn tension, and a twist that left me speechless and with a open mouth
If you love morally gray characters and stories that blur the line between passion and dange Wicked Ways is for you. C.J. Torrance always writes the best books if you want to read dark twisted and obsessed stories

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't think this author is for me. Unclear why they had to wait until Noah turned 30 to get married. He had met all of his criteria to be "worthy" well ahead of that. Seemed like a way to unnecessarily add tension. Also, Evie has an excellent point about Noah essentially ignoring her for years. Couldn't drop her a text every now and then? But sure, you love her soooo much.

[Shelby Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red flags galore, but you can't help but root for him 😍 Noah is the man who will do anything to "protect' his bestfriends little sister, just like he was asked to do.

and I love love love the interactions between Noah and Jace, they had me kicking my legs like an excited school girl. 🤭

[Sapphire Sin✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this was such a surprise after “Fall into Oblivion”!

But it was a good surprise!

If you want a book where you can really follow the MMC grow into his morally grey mindset THIS IS THE ONE ✨🖤

[Samantha Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.....

Noah is just WOW!!!!!

This is an amazing book....
I loved the character progression. I could feel every emotion they were feeling!

EPIC!!

[Kelli Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. MMC Noah is one for the books. The way he violated her every privacy was epic. He fought with himself every step of his wicked ways. But he was the villain we love. FMC was oblivious till the end. She is a ray of sunshine everyone loved.