VBT# Unhinged Love - C.Hallman

Review: Unhinged Love - Book #3 Wicked Falls Elite Series - C. Hallman - April 2025

If you’re a fan of dark romance and the ever-addictive bullymance subgenre, Unhinged Love (Book #3 in the Wicked Falls Elite series) by C. Hallman will definitely hit your sweet spot. This time, it’s Carter’s turn to fall — though not gracefully — for Eliana, his brand-new stepsister.

From the start, you know you’re in for drama: Carter assumes Eliana and her mother, Irene, are gold-diggers targeting his wealthy father, Paul. He’s half right — Irene is manipulative and greedy — but Eliana herself is just trying to survive the last stretch of high school and escape to college, away from her toxic home life. Eliana is quiet, reserved, and emotionally battered, while Carter, fueled by assumptions and jealousy, takes his frustrations out on her. The bullying escalates harshly, even to the point of Carter taking intimate photos of Eliana without her consent — a line that many bullymance books flirt with, but here it’s particularly sharp and uncomfortable.

What set this book apart for me, though, was the portrayal of Paul, Carter’s father. In so many dark romances, the parents are absent, cold, or downright awful. But Paul genuinely loves both Carter and Eliana, trying to provide a safe and supportive environment. It added a refreshing layer of complexity, making the family dynamics more believable and emotional.

C. Hallman delivers her signature tension-filled push and pull, balancing dark moments with just enough vulnerability to make you root for the characters’ redemption. The chemistry between Carter and Eliana is electric, and watching Carter slowly realize the truth about Eliana’s situation makes for an engaging emotional arc.

I also caught the teaser for Book #4, Toxic Hope, which will feature Easton and Preston in an MFM relationship with a female lead. Honestly, I’m intrigued but a little skeptical — especially about Easton, who never struck me as someone for that kind of dynamic. Preston, on the other hand, I could see going either way!

Overall, Unhinged Love is a satisfying, addictive read for bullymance lovers, with a fresh twist on family roles and a romance that burns hot and dark.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YoPd6I