Touch of Chaos (The Hate and Chaos Duet)

Hate and Chaos Duet #2

by C. Hallman

A continuation of Ren and Scarlet's story.Full blurb to come.

Genres: Audiobook, Dark Romance, Dark, New Adult, Contemporary

1 pages, Audio CD

Published July 30, 2024

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

[Clara Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touch of Chaos is the conclusion of Ren and Scarlet's storyline and what a ride it turned out to be.

Their story was intense, dangerous, dark, emotional even brutal at times as they navigate through past traumas ,tragedies and mental illness. Yet it also had compassion, faith, perseverance and unwavering love.
Ren was in a fight for his life both physically, mentally and emotionally as the tragedies of his past come roaring back front and center pulling Scarlet into the chaos. Yet
Scarlet isn't a wallflower she's fierce, in your face and determined to do whatever it takes to help Ren even facing danger and her angry family head on.
I must say the way the sensitive subjects were handled and not brushed aside or romanticized was a bonus.

Buckle up because this one will grab you from the beginning and hold you tight as you anticipate what could come next.

I received a free ARC through Bookfunnel and Bleeding Heart Press an I'm voluntarily leaving my review.
Five dark, intense ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Leo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Idk the first book really got me into the story but this was a lot less exiting

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Touch of Chaos is book of Hate and Chaos Duet. A full-length standalone novel with no cheating or cliffhanger and complete with a happily-ever-after. A brilliantly crafted story with damage individuals and a storyline that captures your attention from the start and keeps you riveted and turning the pages and rooting for the characters until the end. A stalker romance, dark romance, forbidden romance, best friend's little sister romance, romantic suspense romance, friends-to-lovers romance, with tradegies, heartaches, trauma, drama, revelations, healing, mental health, emotional, psychological, tension, angst, anger, revenge, danger, darkness, lies, madness, surprises, suspense, survival, pain, secrets, mystery, resilience, acceptance, hurt, betrayal, deception, action, organize crime kidnapping crime, trauma, family and love.
The story picks up where it left off in the previous book. Ren has spilt personality disorder where he revert to his dead brother River. River hates Scarlett and she's afraid of him. Scarlett knows that she alone can not help Ren and his hiding from Ren/River. She can't deal with him by herself so she illicit the help of her father who's in the mafia. Xander would do anything for his children, plus he's the most feared man in the state. Although she's scared of Ren she wants to protect him from her father and his men because she's not sure if her father would kill him. Ren needs help from the trauma he suffered from the people who took him and his adoptive sister off street and torture of psychological, emotional, physical and mental abuse. This story is so gut-wrenching and heartbreaking and great conclusion to the story.

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

[JoAnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion we were all waiting for!

Or at least I was. When book 1 (Touch of Hate) came out, I'd gobbled it up so fast and the intense cliffhanger at the end of it...oh boy. So waiting for this one was so hard.

I loved it. I read it in one sitting. The intensity level of the story was much lower than book 1 (which in my opinion was a LOT darker). The beginning jumps straight into the nail-biting-what-is-going-to-happen energy. Things are in motion from the get-go. The drama continues on a lower level while things get figured out. I chuckled at a few moments of interactions with the FMC family, especially her dad (as I read the books featuring him in the past) and got excited for the HEA.

The only thing that faintly disappointed me was my own doing. I was hopeful for more of the intensity that stemmed from the first book, and it started with it but it eased off into more of just wondering 'Are they going to fix the issue?' and 'How fast is the issue going to be fixed?' The story did feel a little rushed to get to the HEA, the MMC didn't seem to put up a whole lot of fight against what he was told, but overall I still loved the whole thing. I'm happy to have our MMC and FMC get their sweetly deserved happily ever after.

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally get the conclusion to Ren and Scarlet's story and it was worth the wait. This delves heavily into the psyche of Ren and River and Scarlet's relationship with both of them. Ren needs tons of help in this book, more than Scarlet can give, and with the help of his and her families he gets it. He finds out so much about himself and works on getting better all the while the book also focuses on getting revenge for the awful childhood both boys and Luna faced with Rebecca and Christian (truly awful people).

Xander is his Xandery self, he loves his children but is the head of the mafia and some things need to be respected. Quinton gets closure and his best friend back, Aspen is apologized to. We get all the closure needed from the Corium trilogy as well as finally getting Ren and Scarlet's HEA (with lots of heat).

I felt that the mental health aspect moved fast and am not sure if Ren would have been healed as much as he was in the time frame but it is a book, so there is that.

Now I wonder if this world is complete or if we will get another story at some point because I have loved this world for a very long time.

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

[Sharon in SF · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were left with quite the cliffhanger in Touch of Hate, which should be read first to understand the emotional toll our main characters have gone through. At the opening of this book, our FMC, Scarlet, has just run away from the love of her life and her brother's best friend, Ren, who technically kidnapped her to be on the run with him. After spending some blissful time in their little bubble, she realizes there's a dark and dangerous side to him that scares her into calling her head of the mafia dad, Xander Rossi. When Ren was still a child, he and his siblings were taken to a place, Safe Haven, where they were mentally and phsycially abused. At Safe Haven, he witnessed a tragedy that he continues to feel guilt over and has vowed revenge against those that continue to kidnap children for nefarious purposes.
When her father and brother don't believe her story about Ren, Scarlet takes matters into her own hands and ends up in trouble again. Fortunately, Ren risks his own freedom to save her, and ends up imprisoned by her family. Scarlet's love and devotion to Ren convinces her family to get him the mental treatment he needs overcome his traumatic past.
This is an intense story line that finally gives this couple the happily ever after they deserve. Love how it ended!

[Kali Dempsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️

This was not the finale what I was hoping for after 15 months of waiting... You know how the middle of trilogies often are? Like you know you have to get from A to C, so B is full of all the mundane details to get you to that exciting final act? This was like that, except there's no C, you just get B... I feel like if the timing of events had been moved around it would have been better... But the third act happens at 65% and we never get any conclusion to River... He just... Goes away? Maybe? Who knows honestly.

There were good parts. I really enjoyed Ren and Scarlet figuring their S out and the epilogue was super sweet with another third act ish conclusion I was happy got settled. The first half or so was exciting and the intensity I was expecting. Overall I'm happy I read it because I needed to know how their story ended, but it's definitely not something I'll read again and leaves an overall meh feeling about the Corium world in general.

[Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

Tropes : second chances, mental health disorder, possessive H, broody H, tortured H
Ending : HEA
Triggers : torture, violence, gore, mental health issue, mention of child abuse, mention of grooming
Spice : 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Angst : 🔥🔥🔥/5
OM/OW drama : none
Celibate while separated: yes
Intimacy details: rough sex, no condom, anal, oral
Standalone/Series : 2nd book

Hero : Ren
Heroine: Scarlett

Sooo.. I don’t exactly remember the previous book in details. I remember the ending tho, and bits of memory from the girst book came to me while I was reading this.

I enjoyed this but I feel the ending was a bit lacking. Felt like it was a lazy way to conclude the book. Maybe the author wanted to give the revenge the H wanted but didn’t want to do another couple of chapters to do it right.

Other than that I liked the book.

[Coastie Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ren had a crappy childhood growing up. Losing his brother River, this affected him to the point that he believed that River was still alive and had conversations with him, phone calls, video chats and thought everyone could see him. What he didn’t realize was, he was River. River would leave notes for Ren detailing his escapades with Scarlet, making Ren think Scarlet had cheated on him.

Scarlet returns home and begs her family to help Ren/River. He needed someone to talk to who could help him. Bringing Ren to the house, they locked him up in the cellar. Her dad and brother had their doubts about Ren and did not trust him at all.

There is deception, secrets, betrayal, violence, action, and break throughs. Great ending to the series. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

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

[Debbie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book really took off we learned at the of book 1 Touch of Hate with Scarlet, Ren and his brother River, but River is an alternate identity of Ren's. Ren suffers from a split personality he's completely unaware of. River takes over more in this book and we get insight to why Ren is struggling to keep himself under control. A fascinating story of Scarlet and Ren as the boys' desire for revenge on the people who tortured and hurt them comes to light. Their little sister Luna was so small she has no memories before they were all adopted. Can the strong love Scarlett have for Ren save him from himself? What happens when Ren/River become one for her? Can she love River too after his cruelty and his passionate nature so different from Ren? I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely drawn into this riveting sequel that seamlessly continues the journey of Scarlet and Ren from "A Touch of Hate." Delving into the complexities of Ren's psyche, particularly his battle with Dissociative Identity Disorder and their harrowing past of abuse, the story is both dark and deeply emotional. The psychological depth and the exploration of trauma and resilience made this book stand out. The story skillfully balances the darker themes with the enduring power of love and redemption. Although the climax felt slightly hurried, the story was compelling and satisfactorily concluded Scarlet and Ren's tumultuous journey. Hallman has crafted a memorable series that's both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching.

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touch of Chaos is the second part of this duet and it’s just as emotionally draining as the first. Ren’s mind is broken from the abuse he endured as a child and Scarlet has met his dark side. Their relationship is tested as jealousy, anger, and danger turn their lives upside down. I loved the emotional connection that she had and her determination to help Ren heal his mental health. C Hallman turns a horrible situation into something that brings out the strength, power, and courage of love. Family, friends, and your soulmate will always be there to tell you the truth, even if it hurts. Their story ends with a bang and a sweetly written HEA.

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

[book_fairy13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited when I found out this book was finally being released.

Ren and Scarlette had my attention since Corium University, and I was ready to see what had happened since their last book ended.

The book was filled with twists and turns, not just the plot but for the characters. Ren, Scaeltte and River were twisted together and had to find a way out.
It was messy and heartbreaking, with everything they were forced to accept.

I loved how the OG characters dealt with everything. They had to face the shocking truth and figure out how to move on from the pain...

I am happy that I got to finish the series, but I wish it wasn't short.

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

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much complication. In the previous book, we learned the truth about River and Ren. At the beginning of the story, Scarlet is really the only one who knows that truth. Ren is alone, lost and deserted by both Scarlet and River and thinking she has cheated on him with his brother. Scarlet does some pretty good crisis management with the two families and the families do a pretty good job of hearing her. Even thinking the worst of Scarlet, Ren steps up to protect her. After he starts accepting what has been happening and the families actually witness it, Hingis take dramatic turns for them. There are some sweet moments. Very good story and happier ending.

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

[Only.ever.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
✨Touch of Chaos✨

By C. Hallman

⭐ 4/5 ❤️ 5/5

✨ Dark Romance
✨ Past trauma
✨ Conclusion

Ren and Scarlet´s conclusion

The story grabs your attention from the start on. Ren and Scarlet´s conclusion is dark and intense.
The past is coming back while Ren has struggles with physical and mental issues, and drags Scarlet into it.
But Scarlet is fierce and very determined to help Ren, no matter what.
And so he got the right help he needed.
There was a lot to deal with and finally every loose ending got its clearing.
The sensitive subjects were very well treated.

[Jackie Bogart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The intense conclusion to Scarlet and Ren’s story! I’ll preface this by saying, the action in A Touch of Chaos is not all explosions and gunfire. It’s psychological and intense and…wow! I’ve been anxiously waiting for this book since the moment I finished A Touch of Hate. (You MUST read book one first. This is not a standalone!) My favorite books have stories where you’re just not sure who the “villain” is, unreliable narrators are my favorite, and ATOC does this beautifully. The mafia princess? Ren? River? Who’s the bad guy?!? Maybe the all are, maybe none of them are? Everything wraps up beautifully in A Touch of Chaos and C Hallman has definitely made me a fan.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

You need to read Touch of Hate before reading this book. That book ended on a huge cliffhanger and this one picks up where it left off. You will not be able to lay this book down once you pick it up. This is the conclusion to Ren and River and Scarlet. My heart broke for Ren. The help he needs , I can't go into details but man it was gut wrenching. Don't worry if you have been waiting for some revenge it is in this book and I was loving every single second of it. There is so much going on in this book and I fell like anything I say more is going to be a huge spoiler. Just get this book and dive in. I promise you won't be disappointed.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great conclusion to Scarlet and Ren’s story. Ren had such a rough deal but Scarlet’s faith and determination led to Xander hiring the right person to help. It was tough for both Ren and Scarlet, but eventually even Q came round. I thought this was a really good description of split personality and it was done sensitively without romanticizing it. The need for support and a good therapist were highlighted and of course Xanders approach to Rebecca’s cult didn’t hurt. This is a story it is hard to put down and for all the anger and violence, it has the perfect ending.

[Kayla Dempsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was waiting for this book to be released because I needed to know what happened with ren & scarlet, like I was sad when she said this book would be on hold, but thank GOD she released it because now I feel complete and whole! This book was good, it was a quick read and i loved getting glimpses of Quinton and Aspen, while also following Ren and Scarlets story and getting the ending they deserved! I really enjoyed the whole corium universe so much, it was really good and fun to read!! I recommend this universe, start with corium book 1!!! :)

[Samantha (rain.books.and.tea) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ 3🌶️

This was a quick read and the conclusion of the Hate and Chaos Duet. I was so curious to see how this book would end. I was anxious for Scarlet and Ren to get their HEA and see how the Ren/River situation would be resolved.

This book felt much less intense than the first and so I felt like it dragged on a bit. I’m still conflicted on how I feel about Scarlet’s actions with River. I’m going to be thinking about this for a while. But everyone for their HEA in the end so I feel like it was a satisfying ending to this duet.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ren and Scarlet’s Conclusion

Couldn’t wait to read Touch of Chaos after that cliffhanger in book one! Definitely going to need to read Touch of Hate since this is a two book story. Book one and two are interconnected and both need to be read to get the whole picture.

Ren and Scarlet have a very interesting romance and of course Hallman’s books feature dark elements and troubled hero’s. This one is no exception! Twist, turns, angst and an intensity that keeps you wanting to keep reading til the end!

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

[Jean Dewsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, you will be kept engaged and wondering what is next to come.
Scarlett is one fierce sometimes underestimated by her father, Xavier.
Quinton finds closure with what happened to Quinn, and they move forward together.

Ren continues to struggle with his past and the continued dramas that unfold within the compound around Rebecca and the harm she has caused.

It is a really engaging book filled with plenty of dark themes throughout and emotional twists.
Scarlett will not give up on Ren no matter what.

[DFS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one left off with a great cliffhanger. A touch of hate did not disappoint as a conclusion to Scarlett and Ren's story. Ren is emotional damaged and in this book, he is pushed to his limits. Scarlett and Ren, both, step up to protect one another. The story is set in the Corium University universe, so we see some old faces. You need to read "A Touch of Hate" first, but it is not necessary to read the other books in the the Corium University universe. C. Hallman handles sensitive topics dealing with mental health very compassionately, understanding, and appropriately.

[Kelly_Reads_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The finale of Ren and Scarlet's story. I'm so glad it cleared up so much that was left hanging with their lives. There was finally closure with Ren's past and so much to look forward to his future. Ren had a lot to deal with and to let go of.
I found this story just okay, there was nothing exciting or awe inspiring, it just kind of answered questions and then it was over.
I loved the epilogue, it was definitely well deserved!

[Kathy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the dramatic conclusion to Ren and Scarlet’s story and wow what a conclusion it was. Everything was brought to light of Ren’s past and his recognition of things he thought were real, have turned out not to be. His situation had to be difficult yet I feel the support he had was what really got him and Scarlett through everything. Ms. Hallman did it again- writing an epic story that her readers won’t forget.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad it’s over

I was worried about this only being written by one of the authors, but I really enjoyed it. I’ve been waiting SO LONG for the end of Ren and Scarlett’s story, and it was done pretty well. Mental health is a huge topic in this book, and it was done in a great and respectful way. Scarlett is so strong, and I love how supportive she is. Sad it’s over, but it was a good ending.

[Neena · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Her heart is so open to me, even now.’

I am so happy to finish Ren and Scarlet’s story. This is a delicate topic and the writing was good in showing how important it is to diagnose and get treatment. It is more slow burn but definately have some hot scenes!

I would have liked a heartfelt conversation between Roman and Ren since we never really see their bond but they must have one.

I do hope the other kids will get books!

[Norma Mojica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been anxiously awaiting the conclusion to Ren and Scarlet's story since the Touch of Hate shocking cliffhanger. Scarlet has always loved Ren, who is Quinton's best friend, since she was young and recently discovered his dark and complicated side. We will get deeper into Ren's past and trauma and with Scarlet's help, answers. This is a well-written finale filled with danger, suspense, drama and steam. I absolutely loved Ren and Scarlet's well deserved HEA. Great finale!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first had to go back to reread Touch of Hate to remember the details since it had been more than a year. Touch of Chaos picked up where book one left off and it was just as heartwrenching, but less confusing. We finally learn why Ren was behaving so badly. My heart ached for Scarlet. I didn't want to put the book down. A wonderful HEA.

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

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlett and Ren/River have a complicated, heartbreaking, tender love story. If you have ever loved someone with mental illness, you know the pain and how hard it is. Read the trigger warning because this book deals with the gritty truth of how hard it is and the daily struggles. Writing a review for this book is challenging because I don't want to give any spoilers to the plot. Scarlett and Ren do get their HEA and it is so well deserved.