Vicious Temptation

The Severed Heirloom #2

by Elle Maldonado

She drives a hundred miles an hour to feel something.
One touch from him and she feels everything.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Sports Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Contemporary Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 5, 2026

Reviews

[Hannah Goodwin]

✨ I received an advance reader copy from the author. All opinions are my own. ✨

Sleep? Never heard of her. Especially when you give me a Elle Maldonado book. I ate this book up, I truly didn't think anyone was going to top Maskim, but Thiago? My man, my man, my man. Actually, if Remi ever saw this she would literally end me. I take it back, respectfully, her man is literally everything, and Remi? I have a literal girl crush. This book will have you clutching your pearls, obsessed, losing sleep, and giggling like a maniac at 2 in the morning. From secret society, cop x bad girl, badas$ fmc, touch him/her & 💀. I simply couldn't put it down. From the spice to the storyline, it is an interconnect standalone, but the plot continues through the series and that snippet at the end for book 3? Diabolical. I can't wait for Odette and Matteo. Thank you so much to Elle and her team for allowing me to review this book. Releasing on September 30th. If you love a strong FMC, and an MMC who will hand her the match to burn the world down, add this to your TBR asap.

[chapterswithcarly]

I was sucked into Remi and Thiago's story from the very first page, they exceeded every expectation I had and had me devouring this book in a little over 48 hours. They quickly made their way into my TOP book couples. Thank you Elle, for the opportunity to ARC read Vicious Temptation. 🧡

🧡 FWB to Lovers
🏁 Street Racer FMC x SWAT MMC
🔧 Hidden Identity
🧡 Pierced MMC & FMC
🏁 Her mug shot goes viral
🔧 Double Latine leads
🧡 Gym smut
🏁 Nicknames in another language
🔧 ADHD rep

The relationship between Remi and Thiago was beyond entertaining, I loved their push and pull banter - if you love a she's mean but he likes it, you'll LOVE these two, it made their banter absolutely hilarious but still gave them such sweet emotional moments. The spice between these two.. top tier, so hot, so fun!! The storyline was so engaging, giving us drama while watching their relationship grow.. then knowing the betrayal was going to happen at some point but still not being ready for how it made my heart ache for Remi!! That's my girl, I cried for her. I loved the teaser into Book 3, I can't wait for Odette and Matteo's book!!

SO if I wanna tattoo Remi's mugshot # on me too.. then what?

🧡 "I want your smart mouth, your stubbornness, and every complicated part of your life you're convinced should send me running"...."I don't want pieces of you when they're convenient, Remi. I want all of you."

[Leesha]

*ARC received in exchange for honest review*



Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

I absolutely loved this book. I fell in love with Remi when I read the first book of this series and have been waiting (impatiently) for a while. The banter was impeccable and the spice burns up the screen! I can’t wait for the next book


Some spoilers ahead…….




Thiago comes in and is just everything I wanted him to be and so much more. The way he shows up for her and lets her shine and be her was so beautiful to read. Watching him allow her to love him in ways he hasn’t been was so comforting and sweet.

Remi holds a special place in my heart. She’s fiery, funny, confident, and a little erratic in the best ways. The adhd representation in this was so incredibly written and accurate. I felt like I was reading my own thought at times. Watching her let Thiago in and see all of her and him just being ready to accept and help in any way was so refreshing and important to see.

There is topics of grief, violence, and neurodiversity. If this is something that may cause you to feel distress, read triggers ahead of time so you can take care of yourself 🧡

[Jessica G]

**ARC Review, but this is my true opinion** Wow!!! Loved Remi and Thiago. Remi is a badass who makes her own rules and decisions. I definitely have a girl crush on Remi. Thiago is the man who falls hard and is willing to put his life on the line for her. He’s 6’6 and built like a tank, yes please!!! He truly loves her and she finally opened her heart to him after what happened in Scarred Angel. I appreciated Elle touching on her and Ryuji’s story and how it shaped Remi’s life after and how Thiago had to navigate her past to get her to open up to him. Remi and Thiago’s story was an emotional roller coaster for me. I laughed, cried, blushed, and smiled so hard while reading this. I could read 100 more pages of their story and would still want more of them. Their banter was everything I want in a book and the spice kicked it up a notch. 🥵🥵 Would definitely recommend on its own, but reading book 1 in the series helped set the foundation for this one.

[Kring Mm]

ARC REVIEW:

I AM OBSESSED. OMG. Thiago and Remi story is beyond what i imagined. I have been invested every chapter. Every notes. And i cant get over it. Their encounters, the banter, the romance, the 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶. Thiago has done opposite every single time. He loves her hard and Remi.. oh my girl She is the definition of a woman burdened by negative thoughts, alone and just want to be understood. I love when a character can stand on its own and being bad ass is so chef's kiss.
I love how ZARA is like their experiment child. I just cant believe the twist of the story and how the series will comtinue. Hoping for matteo story could surpass this. But man tbis story is one for the books.
Lovelovelove...

[Hali Adams]

🖤 Swat MMC
🖤 Street Racer FMC
🖤 Hidden Identity
🖤 Viral Mugshot
🖤 Pierced x 2

I did not want this book to end! I thought Valentina’s book was amazing but Remi and Thiago surpassed every expectation I had going into this. I loved everything about Remi, she is such a bad*ss. I loved Thiago as soon as I started reading. The relationship between both characters was so entertaining to read. The banter was perfect without being too much and the spice was top tier. I’m so glad I got to read this book because it’s definitely a favorite for me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Christie Wilcox]

Vicious Temptation by Elle Maldonado

🏁 Street Racer FMC
💋 SWAT MMC
🏁 Hidden Identity
💋 She tattoos her mugshot number on him
🏁 Gym Smut
💋 Pierced MMC
🏁 Her mugshot goes viral
💋 ADHD Rep

[Mai]

Relationship goals: tattooing mugshot numbers

[Lisa]

ARC READ-Current. Review to come.