What do you think?
Rate this book
Thorns Duet #1
Red Thorns
A bet turned into a disaster.
Sebastian Weaver is the star quarterback and the college’s heartthrob.
Rich. Handsome. Bastard.
Everyone’s attention flocked toward him and all the girls dreamed to be with him.
Not me.
At least, not until he made a move on me.
See, I thought I was stronger than Sebastian’s charms.
I thought I could survive being his target.
I thought wrong.
Little did I know that he will make my most twisted fantasies come true.
Fantasies I didn’t know existed...
Red Thorns is a dark new adult book that contains dubious situations some readers might find offensive and/or triggering.
This book is part of a duet and is not standalone.
Sebastian Weaver is the star quarterback and the college’s heartthrob.
Rich. Handsome. Bastard.
Everyone’s attention flocked toward him and all the girls dreamed to be with him.
Not me.
At least, not until he made a move on me.
See, I thought I was stronger than Sebastian’s charms.
I thought I could survive being his target.
I thought wrong.
Little did I know that he will make my most twisted fantasies come true.
Fantasies I didn’t know existed...
Red Thorns is a dark new adult book that contains dubious situations some readers might find offensive and/or triggering.
This book is part of a duet and is not standalone.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2021
About the author
Rina Kent
51 books39.1k followersRina Kent is a USA Today, international, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.
She's known to write unapologetic anti-heroes and villains because she often fell in love with men no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of darkness, a pinch of angst, and an unhealthy dose of intensity.
She spends her private days in London laughing like an evil mastermind about adding mayhem to her expanding universe. When she's not writing, Rina travels, hikes, and spoils cats in a pure Cat Lady fashion.
You can find her below!
Website
Newsletter
Instagram
Bookbub
Amazon
TikTok
Facebook
Reader Group
Twitter
Pinterest
She's known to write unapologetic anti-heroes and villains because she often fell in love with men no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of darkness, a pinch of angst, and an unhealthy dose of intensity.
She spends her private days in London laughing like an evil mastermind about adding mayhem to her expanding universe. When she's not writing, Rina travels, hikes, and spoils cats in a pure Cat Lady fashion.
You can find her below!
Website
Newsletter
Bookbub
Amazon
TikTok
Reader Group
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,333 reviews
July 15, 2021
Today I really went there and set my bar that low, huh?
It kinda irks me to give this meh book 4 stars... but it also kinda doesn't.
The book had its moments and they ticked my *hidden weird mind pleasure* boxes 🤤 and made the whole experience worth it for me.
“Are you telling me that if I say no, you’ll leave me alone?”
“No.”
But I shall cut straight to the chase 😈 (see the allusion, *winkwink*) and ask what in a name? There's definitely something about the name S e b a s t i a n. 🤒 Every time I come across a Sebastian in romance book, I do a double take because your regular, adequate, normal heroes (meh) are never Sebastians. Thank goddess.
To your deepest, darkest fantasies.
The audacity of this author to dedicate this tame story to OUR deepest, darkest fantasies? Woman, trust us to have fantasies so much wilder.
The only thing that is remotely dark about this book is a rape fantasy and I still I don't see the logic in labelling consensual non-consent as something depraved, you know?
As I've already pointed out, the story is a good ranting material, lovers of roasting books have such a great space to unleash their dark urges on. 🤤
🗨️ Typical high school romance elements dominate the story:
-stupid sex bets
- queen bee and her little evil minions ruling over a college
-popular jerks aka football players acting like a bunch of horny kids who obviously OVERwatched Japanese porno
- closed off, lonely wolf type, sarcastic 🤪 rock listening/anime watching/ manga reading chick with *not like other girls* vibes going for her as a heroine
-her having one and only mousy little friend with a *dicks over chicks* mentality that would rather lick asses to gain popularity than support her bestie... oh well, let me catch my breath.
I’d rather live my twenty-one-year-old life listening to hard rock and having as little contact with humans as physically possible, thank you very much.
🤪
🗨️ Kind of obvious if we take into account the previous paragraph, but clichés and stereotypes permeated the story and turned it into a very average college romance that screams high school immaturity a mile away.
The girl behind the rare smiles and the ‘fuck the world’ attitude. The girl who wears her black hair short and her lips pink. The girl whose headphones seem to be her only friend.
🤪🤪🤪
🗨️ Simplistic approach to portraying racism (I bet it's more subtle and shows in more ways, but I'm not the one to judge. I just feel like the problem runs deeper than immature peer remarks that were for some reason put into the book) and mental health trauma (magical dick healing, byeee) .
🗨️ Zero meaningful dialogues between the main characters. Their relationship was supposed to be based on rape fantasies AND soul connection. That being said, the author decided against building the latter and focused on sex. The fact that there were other things to do and talk about?? Common interests? Topics for conversations? We were told in 1-2 sentences that they walked on the common ground when it came to certain things, but how about letting us catch a glimpse of it in action?
Write down the lifehack 📝 how to waste zero time while writing a romance book: force the main characters fuck non-stop. 😜 Other things will come naturally.
Anyways, meaningful or not, I cannot deny the *romantic* quality to their conversations, okay??
“My dick misses your lips. I think it was love at first sight.”
and my favourite one
He taps my mouth with his cock, not too hard now, but enough to get my attention. “Good slut.”
And with that, his shadow disappears from over me.
I remain in place, sprawled all over the stairs with cum, drool, and tears streaking down my chin.
🗨️ The repetitiveness and Naomi's annoying inner monologue in the beginning made me want to bang my head against the wall. Forest chase might just be my thing too but it gets old fast.
Sebastian draws the car to a halt on a gravelly road. Right in the middle of a dark, empty forest.
His voice gains a frightening edge as it penetrates my skin. “Get out.”
Those delicious, dreamlike first dates 🤤🤤
🗨️ Sebastian should have actually unleashed his beast on someone else but Naomi, I wanted something more than a supposedly terrifying growling shit he pulled on his dumb ass friends.
🗨️ Sebastian is a 5-years-old offspring of Carter Mahoney from Untouchable at his best. The boy still gotta l e a r n, okay??
In my mind, I’m jumping across the table, grabbing him by the neck, then bashing his head against the floor. Once, twice, until blood oozes from a crack in his forehead. Then I go on until he loses some of his teeth and starts wailing like a fucking bitch.
In reality, I remain still.
You see? My Carter boy would have found a way to make that happen and still keep his immaculate reputation as white as a sheet and as shining as the stars before a sunny day. He'd blackmail some poor white trash (no offence) into ruining the poor guy who had wronged him, I swear. 😙🔪
BUT
the other side of the coin... I'm a basic bitch, so yes, I gave this 4 stars for Sebasian alone, whose psycho tendencies came off fake 50% of time.
You bet I was living off the other non-fake 50% though 💅 because
“Everything is game as long as I don’t get caught.” 🤤
and
It’s not fun when the prey knows she’s going to be chased. Since I sensed that she started to expect it, I had to change gears.
... man could not sound more perfect than that ✋
They’re curious ones, her tears, and there’s this primal need pulsing inside me to see more of them. To smear them on her face with my fucking cum.
That's called dacryphilia, 😎 my dudes, and I know this important info due to my GR friend Rosabel's review that I saw just at the right time. Might be my new kink too. 😙
👁️👁️My little cronies, TJ and Anna, I have no idea whether you're reading this or not, but just take a look if, by any chance, you do.👁️👁️
SEBASTIAN KNOWS the my+ little+any nasty insult swoonworthy formula, doesn't he? 😍🤤
He grabs my shoulder blade hard. “Where do you think you’re going, my filthy little slut?”
...
“Look at how these tits are begging to be hurt, to be used and abused like the rest of you, my filthy little toy.”
But the thing I loved most about Sebastian?? His personality split ❤️
One minute the man degrades her and another he's ready to slit her offenders' throats, cuddles her, acts like a caveman and calls her my baby, my Naomi and my girl. 🥺🥺🥺
“What is it, baby? Why are you crying?” His voice is calm, soothing almost.
Now I'll go swoon peacefully in my room, rest assured that y'all got the memo of what this book is all about 😇
Original thoughts lmaooo:
(i finally finished this, gracias a dios, took me only 34 days 🤡 and the only thing I can say I'm mad confused???)
My brain cells are dancing an experimental piece right now, chanting S e b a s t i a n, Japanese porno, forest chase and some other garbage 🤤
DEFINITELY NOT A 1 STAR READ. This trash deserves better
It kinda irks me to give this meh book 4 stars... but it also kinda doesn't.
The book had its moments and they ticked my *hidden weird mind pleasure* boxes 🤤 and made the whole experience worth it for me.
“Are you telling me that if I say no, you’ll leave me alone?”
“No.”
But I shall cut straight to the chase 😈 (see the allusion, *winkwink*) and ask what in a name? There's definitely something about the name S e b a s t i a n. 🤒 Every time I come across a Sebastian in romance book, I do a double take because your regular, adequate, normal heroes (meh) are never Sebastians. Thank goddess.
To your deepest, darkest fantasies.
The audacity of this author to dedicate this tame story to OUR deepest, darkest fantasies? Woman, trust us to have fantasies so much wilder.
The only thing that is remotely dark about this book is a rape fantasy and I still I don't see the logic in labelling consensual non-consent as something depraved, you know?
As I've already pointed out, the story is a good ranting material, lovers of roasting books have such a great space to unleash their dark urges on. 🤤
🗨️ Typical high school romance elements dominate the story:
-stupid sex bets
- queen bee and her little evil minions ruling over a college
-popular jerks aka football players acting like a bunch of horny kids who obviously OVERwatched Japanese porno
- closed off, lonely wolf type, sarcastic 🤪 rock listening/anime watching/ manga reading chick with *not like other girls* vibes going for her as a heroine
-her having one and only mousy little friend with a *dicks over chicks* mentality that would rather lick asses to gain popularity than support her bestie... oh well, let me catch my breath.
I’d rather live my twenty-one-year-old life listening to hard rock and having as little contact with humans as physically possible, thank you very much.
🤪
🗨️ Kind of obvious if we take into account the previous paragraph, but clichés and stereotypes permeated the story and turned it into a very average college romance that screams high school immaturity a mile away.
The girl behind the rare smiles and the ‘fuck the world’ attitude. The girl who wears her black hair short and her lips pink. The girl whose headphones seem to be her only friend.
🤪🤪🤪
🗨️ Simplistic approach to portraying racism (I bet it's more subtle and shows in more ways, but I'm not the one to judge. I just feel like the problem runs deeper than immature peer remarks that were for some reason put into the book) and mental health trauma (magical dick healing, byeee) .
🗨️ Zero meaningful dialogues between the main characters. Their relationship was supposed to be based on rape fantasies AND soul connection. That being said, the author decided against building the latter and focused on sex. The fact that there were other things to do and talk about?? Common interests? Topics for conversations? We were told in 1-2 sentences that they walked on the common ground when it came to certain things, but how about letting us catch a glimpse of it in action?
Write down the lifehack 📝 how to waste zero time while writing a romance book: force the main characters fuck non-stop. 😜 Other things will come naturally.
Anyways, meaningful or not, I cannot deny the *romantic* quality to their conversations, okay??
“My dick misses your lips. I think it was love at first sight.”
and my favourite one
He taps my mouth with his cock, not too hard now, but enough to get my attention. “Good slut.”
And with that, his shadow disappears from over me.
I remain in place, sprawled all over the stairs with cum, drool, and tears streaking down my chin.
🗨️ The repetitiveness and Naomi's annoying inner monologue in the beginning made me want to bang my head against the wall. Forest chase might just be my thing too but it gets old fast.
Sebastian draws the car to a halt on a gravelly road. Right in the middle of a dark, empty forest.
His voice gains a frightening edge as it penetrates my skin. “Get out.”
Those delicious, dreamlike first dates 🤤🤤
🗨️ Sebastian should have actually unleashed his beast on someone else but Naomi, I wanted something more than a supposedly terrifying growling shit he pulled on his dumb ass friends.
🗨️ Sebastian is a 5-years-old offspring of Carter Mahoney from Untouchable at his best. The boy still gotta l e a r n, okay??
In my mind, I’m jumping across the table, grabbing him by the neck, then bashing his head against the floor. Once, twice, until blood oozes from a crack in his forehead. Then I go on until he loses some of his teeth and starts wailing like a fucking bitch.
In reality, I remain still.
You see? My Carter boy would have found a way to make that happen and still keep his immaculate reputation as white as a sheet and as shining as the stars before a sunny day. He'd blackmail some poor white trash (no offence) into ruining the poor guy who had wronged him, I swear. 😙🔪
BUT
the other side of the coin... I'm a basic bitch, so yes, I gave this 4 stars for Sebasian alone, whose psycho tendencies came off fake 50% of time.
You bet I was living off the other non-fake 50% though 💅 because
“Everything is game as long as I don’t get caught.” 🤤
and
It’s not fun when the prey knows she’s going to be chased. Since I sensed that she started to expect it, I had to change gears.
... man could not sound more perfect than that ✋
They’re curious ones, her tears, and there’s this primal need pulsing inside me to see more of them. To smear them on her face with my fucking cum.
That's called dacryphilia, 😎 my dudes, and I know this important info due to my GR friend Rosabel's review that I saw just at the right time. Might be my new kink too. 😙
👁️👁️My little cronies, TJ and Anna, I have no idea whether you're reading this or not, but just take a look if, by any chance, you do.👁️👁️
SEBASTIAN KNOWS the my+ little+any nasty insult swoonworthy formula, doesn't he? 😍🤤
He grabs my shoulder blade hard. “Where do you think you’re going, my filthy little slut?”
...
“Look at how these tits are begging to be hurt, to be used and abused like the rest of you, my filthy little toy.”
But the thing I loved most about Sebastian?? His personality split ❤️
One minute the man degrades her and another he's ready to slit her offenders' throats, cuddles her, acts like a caveman and calls her my baby, my Naomi and my girl. 🥺🥺🥺
“What is it, baby? Why are you crying?” His voice is calm, soothing almost.
Now I'll go swoon peacefully in my room, rest assured that y'all got the memo of what this book is all about 😇
Original thoughts lmaooo:
(i finally finished this, gracias a dios, took me only 34 days 🤡 and the only thing I can say I'm mad confused???)
My brain cells are dancing an experimental piece right now, chanting S e b a s t i a n, Japanese porno, forest chase and some other garbage 🤤
DEFINITELY NOT A 1 STAR READ. This trash deserves better
January 6, 2022
1.5 🤡✨
This book was so poorly executed.
The most darkest twisted book? My balls.
- The chemistry? non-existent and I have to admit, this is my least favorite RK's book. these two didn't talk to each other, they were just having sex so everything else felt forced to me.
- I didn't like both MCs. Honestly, they had no personality.
Naomi was weak...and Sebastian? 😬🤐
- Another thing I found a bit stupid was the bet. Their relationship could have been developed differently and not as consequence of the bet.
› The only thing that made me laugh in this mess, Akira's letter:
I felt personally attacked here tho.
PS: Thanks to Natasha🖤 for buddy reading this mess with me 😭
✩｡:*•.───── ❁🌼 ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩
This book was so poorly executed.
The most darkest twisted book? My balls.
- The chemistry? non-existent and I have to admit, this is my least favorite RK's book. these two didn't talk to each other, they were just having sex so everything else felt forced to me.
- I didn't like both MCs. Honestly, they had no personality.
Naomi was weak...and Sebastian? 😬🤐
- Another thing I found a bit stupid was the bet. Their relationship could have been developed differently and not as consequence of the bet.
› The only thing that made me laugh in this mess, Akira's letter:
When you said you have friends, I call bullshit. It’s simple really and doesn’t take a lot of mental work to figure it out. If you had any friends, you wouldn’t be talking to some random stranger from the other side of the globe. You’re lonely and it’s not even cute or quirky. It’s your choice, so stick with it and stop bleeding my ears (or more accurately, my eyes) with nonsense about how people don’t understand you.
I felt personally attacked here tho.
Here are some facts, Naomi. You’re selfish. I don’t know what happened to make you that way or if it just runs in your genes, but you have issues.
Every time you write to me, all you do is talk about yourself and think you’re funny because you’re naturally sarcastic about everything—yourself included.
When you say you hate men, I want to reach my eyeballs and gouge them out. You don’t hate men. If you did, you would’ve veered in the other direction or in no direction at all, but you watch porn.
Straight porn.
Hardcore straight porn.
If you hate it, I don’t give a fuck. Don’t write back.
But I’ll continue writing. Don’t read my letters if that bruises your fragile ego, but I’ll keep them coming.
Go complain at customs.
Seriously. I have zero fucks to give at this point. Going forward, we’ll do it my way.
PS: Thanks to Natasha🖤 for buddy reading this mess with me 😭
✩｡:*•.───── ❁🌼 ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩
What part of leave me alone do you not understand? I hate you, asshole.”
“But I don’t.”
She grabs her plate and attempts to leave.
“You don’t have to play so hard to get, tsundere.” He taps her nose. “You’re just a fuck, remember?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 11, 2021RED THORNS IS LIVE!
Dark New Adult Romance that contains dubious/triggering content.
AMAZON US ➜ https://amzn.to/3tkNr4K
INTERNATIONAL ➜ https://smarturl.it/RTBuy
AUDIOBOOK ➜ https://amzn.to/3gRuVxD
This book is part of a duet and is not standalone.
Thorns Duet:
#0 Yellow Thorns
#1 Red Thorns
#2 Black Thorns
Dark New Adult Romance that contains dubious/triggering content.
AMAZON US ➜ https://amzn.to/3tkNr4K
INTERNATIONAL ➜ https://smarturl.it/RTBuy
AUDIOBOOK ➜ https://amzn.to/3gRuVxD
This book is part of a duet and is not standalone.
Thorns Duet:
#0 Yellow Thorns
#1 Red Thorns
#2 Black Thorns
June 10, 2021
The quarterback and the cheerleader get kinky!
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻👩🏼🦰
The heroine: Naomi - she is a bit anti-social, but joined the cheerleading squad at her college because her mom wanted her to. Her mom is a wealthy fashion designer and she never met her father.
The Hero(es): Sebastian - his Grandfather is a a senator and his grandparents raised him. They expect him to take up the family mantle and go into politics like his Grandfather. Sebastian is the star quarterback at the college.
The Story: Naomi has had a small harmless crush on Sebastian since high school and after he accidentally tackles her on the sidelines, he starts showing interest in her. He then accepts a bet from his friend Reina that has to do with Naomi.
The two main characters have a dark side and pretty specific kinks and they both have family issues. Naomi wants to meet her father, but her Mom won’t give her any information on him. Sebastian is living under the expectations of his extremely snobbish and cruel grandparents.
This was actually a very good story despite the often used tropes and the predictability of some of the events. For example, the book begins with Naomi starting up a pen-pal relationship, with someone who wrote to her in high school. I would be surprised if she doesn’t meet him and/or find out his real identity at some point and I can bet who it is. There are also mean girls at the school who antagonize Naomi at every opportunity.
I really liked both of the characters, especially the sizzling chemistry between them. I also liked the Japanese themes in the story, since Naomi was half Japanese. There was a bunch of stuff about their mutual love of anime, Sebastian even had Japanese symbols Tattooed on his body. It is nice to see some diversity in romance novels.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💋💋💋💋
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📙📕📗📘
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 👨🏻👱🏻♀🧔🏻👩🏻👩🏼🦰
The heroine: Naomi - she is a bit anti-social, but joined the cheerleading squad at her college because her mom wanted her to. Her mom is a wealthy fashion designer and she never met her father.
The Hero(es): Sebastian - his Grandfather is a a senator and his grandparents raised him. They expect him to take up the family mantle and go into politics like his Grandfather. Sebastian is the star quarterback at the college.
The Story: Naomi has had a small harmless crush on Sebastian since high school and after he accidentally tackles her on the sidelines, he starts showing interest in her. He then accepts a bet from his friend Reina that has to do with Naomi.
The two main characters have a dark side and pretty specific kinks and they both have family issues. Naomi wants to meet her father, but her Mom won’t give her any information on him. Sebastian is living under the expectations of his extremely snobbish and cruel grandparents.
This was actually a very good story despite the often used tropes and the predictability of some of the events. For example, the book begins with Naomi starting up a pen-pal relationship, with someone who wrote to her in high school. I would be surprised if she doesn’t meet him and/or find out his real identity at some point and I can bet who it is. There are also mean girls at the school who antagonize Naomi at every opportunity.
I really liked both of the characters, especially the sizzling chemistry between them. I also liked the Japanese themes in the story, since Naomi was half Japanese. There was a bunch of stuff about their mutual love of anime, Sebastian even had Japanese symbols Tattooed on his body. It is nice to see some diversity in romance novels.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|BookBub
June 26, 2024
𖥔 ࣪ ˖🍓 Pre-review ᯓᡣ𐭩
Nobody does it like Rina
𖥔 ࣪ ˖🍓 Pre-read ᯓᡣ𐭩
Another day another Rina Kent book🙈
Nobody does it like Rina
𖥔 ࣪ ˖🍓 Pre-read ᯓᡣ𐭩
Another day another Rina Kent book🙈
August 18, 2024
wth was that 😭😭
May 20, 2024
3.75 stars
I like Sebastian (real) better than Sebastian (beast). 😭 This book is literallyhardcore porn, and JeremyCecily's rape fantasy is child's play in front of SebNao's.
• It has the cliche 'Fuck-her-bet' story, but Sebastian never really did anything except agree just so he could be the ONE to do the fucking with Naomi because he is attracted to her. He sought her out, did some cute things, they started fucking which was WILD, and then became addicted, and the bet is revealed, and Naomi is sad! Super predictable but not bad! I think i'm finally indifferent to Rina's psycho men, and i no longer find bad things in her books but rather cute stuff 😗
Akira, whoever the fuck (I think I might know who he is because I read a spoiler a long time ago), is so toxic? HIS LETTER WAS SO FREAKING TOXIC LIKE BROOOO??? I'd be shitting 😂 and tbh Naomi about to be kidnapped in the ending is REALISTIC because the girl is stupid asf? WHO GOES TO SIT ON A ROCK IN A FOREST? alone? WHO DRIVES ON DARK ROADS WHERE THE FORESTS ARE AT NIGHT? whooooo
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
• Black Thorns – tbr
I like Sebastian (real) better than Sebastian (beast). 😭 This book is literally
• It has the cliche 'Fuck-her-bet' story, but Sebastian never really did anything except agree just so he could be the ONE to do the fucking with Naomi because he is attracted to her. He sought her out, did some cute things, they started fucking which was WILD, and then became addicted, and the bet is revealed, and Naomi is sad! Super predictable but not bad! I think i'm finally indifferent to Rina's psycho men, and i no longer find bad things in her books but rather cute stuff 😗
Akira, whoever the fuck (I think I might know who he is because I read a spoiler a long time ago), is so toxic? HIS LETTER WAS SO FREAKING TOXIC LIKE BROOOO??? I'd be shitting 😂 and tbh Naomi about to be kidnapped in the ending is REALISTIC because the girl is stupid asf? WHO GOES TO SIT ON A ROCK IN A FOREST? alone? WHO DRIVES ON DARK ROADS WHERE THE FORESTS ARE AT NIGHT? whooooo
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
• Black Thorns – tbr
July 14, 2021
ღ I must confess I still have somewhat of hangover from just recently finishing reading Consumed by Deception
Red Thorns is the first book of a duet and is not standalone.
This book is absolutely brilliant!! I’m a big fan of bully romances but this is so much more than just a bully romance! I found this book utterly heart breaking and soul destroying and at the same just flat out crazy good with all the suspense that author through into the book ,not to mention all the 😈😈 I’ll leave that to your imagination
I just couldn’t stop reading this masterpiece! This book goes into somewhat of depth into how bullying can destroy a person!
Sebastian Weaver is the Senator Brian Weaver’s only grandchild and Blackwood’s favorite quarterback.
Sebastian needs to keep up appearances and pretend that he belongs to their secret society club. So, when he is dare by Reina to bed Naomi, he is force to take the challenge
What is Sebastian to do, when his mask, that’s almost become a part of who he is , can no longer remain intact
Naomi might be on the cheerleading team, but that doesn’t mean she is part of the inner click-the secret society club… she refuses to give in to the plastic bunch. unwilling to bow down to her cheerleading captain and her blinded followers, Naomi puts herself in Reina’s line of fire
Naomi was born to a single mother and never met her father, she is in desperate need to find her father without her mother finding out, so Naomi hires a private detective to look for her father … which only opens another unwanted can of worms
We will learn that the survival of the fittest is no joke in this small town
She has learned not only to conceal her emotions but also to never allow anyone to read them… and the one time she did look at what happen
The book was well-written, the choice of words very fitting, carefully crafted. The characters were descriptive and distinct
💖 Hope you enjoy this read 💖
⬇Always remember⬇
📚 Always keep in mind this is just my opinion+ Also I wouldn’t never discourage anyone from reading this book.
September 2, 2024
— 3.5 ★ — am i crazy for liking this even though it was 90% smut? yes but it worked for sebnaomi
June 7, 2021
RED THORNSIs a full length 'Romance' novel by Rina Kent. Spoken in 'Dual perspectives' Ends in a cliff hanger.
It all started with a bet..But it became so much more than that!!
This was a cat and mouse kinky read, it went from hot to scorching in no time at all, where the chase brought out their depraved tendencies.
Naomi: Is a bit of an anti-social loner, joined the cheerleader squad due to her mother requesting it of her, has had a bit of a crush on Sebastian for a while but has kept it under wraps. She's never met her father but has so many unanswered questions concerning him and has even gone so far as to get those answers herself. Her mother is a well known fashion designer.
Sebastian: Our star quarterback and the schools heart throb, is under the care of his grandparents since both his parents died. His Grandfather is a senator so Sebastian has been groomed very young on ways how he should conduct himself when in the public eye.
No one really knows the real Sebastian, he hides a darker side which he never allows himself to reveal.
Until things start heating up with Naomi.
What was a bet between himself and the mean girl on cheer to bed Naomi takes on a more sinister turn in events when things they act out turn into where all inhibitions are let loose as the predator catches his prey, a safe word which is never used.
June 14, 2021
*edit* : my mistake, it is a college romance. I genuinely thought it was high-school because not a single portion of the entire book made me believe it was a college setting.
Can I just start off with the cover? I mean how is that the cover of a college romance? I mean seriously.
Now on to the book ; Think about After. But Hardin says shit like this
“I’m rich, handsome, and a star. Oh, I also come from a prestigious family. What’s there not to like about me?”
“I can feel your blood coating my dick. The best lube I’ve ever had.”
I don’t even know what to say about this except it was painfully predictable? I couldn’t find it in me to give a shit about any of the characters
What did I like? Uh.. the sex? These two were kinky as fuck and this book was steamy but that’s not enough for me.
Overall: I’m so glad this book got over and I would rather slam my fingers into a car door than read the sequel.
Such a shame because I love Rina Kent’s books.
Can I just start off with the cover? I mean how is that the cover of a college romance? I mean seriously.
Now on to the book ; Think about After. But Hardin says shit like this
“I’m rich, handsome, and a star. Oh, I also come from a prestigious family. What’s there not to like about me?”
“I can feel your blood coating my dick. The best lube I’ve ever had.”
I don’t even know what to say about this except it was painfully predictable? I couldn’t find it in me to give a shit about any of the characters
What did I like? Uh.. the sex? These two were kinky as fuck and this book was steamy but that’s not enough for me.
Overall: I’m so glad this book got over and I would rather slam my fingers into a car door than read the sequel.
Such a shame because I love Rina Kent’s books.
June 14, 2021
Listen, if I wanted to just read porn, I’d watch it. That’s really all this book is, sex scenes upon sex scenes and it got boring. Listen, I’ve really liked Kent’s work before. Her Deception trilogy is *chef’s kiss* 🤌🏻, but this truly was not it
Keep reading if you don’t mind spoilers
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
I feel no chemistry between Naomi and Sebastian. The only thing they really have in common is that they share similar fantasy’s. He has rape fantasies and she has fantasies of being raped. Which is good for them I guess?? Though this line is kinda 😌
Anyway, their characters in general were pretty unlikable. Naomi is one of those people that thinks they’re better than everyone, so it somehow justifies her bitchy actions. I realize people are shitty to her, but there’s one point in her inner monologue when she gets pissed that her best friend Lucy got invited to join the ‘popular group’ that Naomi hates so she thinks
Is this not the most backhanded ‘compliment’ you’ve ever heard??? Like ‘ohhhh she’s average, but to me she’s bEauTiful’ like stfu. Then we have Sebastian who’s chapters are just him talking about how he hates his family (without context) and that he’s a ‘monster’ because he likes rape fantasies.
This brings me to my next point, is this actually a ‘dark’ romance or is it just 2 adults engaged in a taboo relationship? Dark romances, in my opinion, are books those in the Mindf*ck series or the Deception trilogy by Kent that I mentioned. Again, this is my personal opinion, if you think it’s considered a dark romance than that’s up to you.
Ever since I read the After series when I was like 15, I’m DONE reading about heroes making bets to take the heroines virginity. It’s honestly gross and I’m tired of the excuse ‘it was never about that, I just wanted an excuse to get close to you’ oh just shut the hell up.
The whole drama with Naomi's family is so confusing and unexpected. I thought this was just some college ‘dark’ romance, now it’s turned into some kind of mafia one???
Theory: Akira, Naomi's weird ass penpal, is actually her dad.
Idk why I’m thinking this, but it’d be hilarious after she talked about the consensual rape her and Sebastian have been having with her freaking dad.
Will I read the 2nd book? Yeah I probably will because why the hell not.
Thorns Duet
•#1: Red Thorns - 1.5 stars
•#2: Black Thorns - tbr
Keep reading if you don’t mind spoilers
⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆ ⋆
I feel no chemistry between Naomi and Sebastian. The only thing they really have in common is that they share similar fantasy’s. He has rape fantasies and she has fantasies of being raped. Which is good for them I guess?? Though this line is kinda 😌
“Shut the fuck up and take my dick like the slut you are.” And then he’s thrusting his cock inside my pussy and his fingers in my mouth at the same time.
Anyway, their characters in general were pretty unlikable. Naomi is one of those people that thinks they’re better than everyone, so it somehow justifies her bitchy actions. I realize people are shitty to her, but there’s one point in her inner monologue when she gets pissed that her best friend Lucy got invited to join the ‘popular group’ that Naomi hates so she thinks
All of Reina’s other subjects are either as beautiful or accomplished—or damn rich—as she is.
Lucy is average on all of the above. Though, in my eyes, she’s the prettiest.
Is this not the most backhanded ‘compliment’ you’ve ever heard??? Like ‘ohhhh she’s average, but to me she’s bEauTiful’ like stfu. Then we have Sebastian who’s chapters are just him talking about how he hates his family (without context) and that he’s a ‘monster’ because he likes rape fantasies.
This brings me to my next point, is this actually a ‘dark’ romance or is it just 2 adults engaged in a taboo relationship? Dark romances, in my opinion, are books those in the Mindf*ck series or the Deception trilogy by Kent that I mentioned. Again, this is my personal opinion, if you think it’s considered a dark romance than that’s up to you.
Ever since I read the After series when I was like 15, I’m DONE reading about heroes making bets to take the heroines virginity. It’s honestly gross and I’m tired of the excuse ‘it was never about that, I just wanted an excuse to get close to you’ oh just shut the hell up.
The whole drama with Naomi's family is so confusing and unexpected. I thought this was just some college ‘dark’ romance, now it’s turned into some kind of mafia one???
Theory: Akira, Naomi's weird ass penpal, is actually her dad.
Idk why I’m thinking this, but it’d be hilarious after she talked about the consensual rape her and Sebastian have been having with her freaking dad.
Will I read the 2nd book? Yeah I probably will because why the hell not.
Thorns Duet
•#1: Red Thorns - 1.5 stars
•#2: Black Thorns - tbr
June 15, 2021
What started out as a bet became so much more between two characters who on the outside are the complete opposites of each other but on the inside, they're one and the very same. But what happens when you skirt the line of danger and destroy feelings you never thought was possible with someone who brings out another side to you?
Naomi is not your regular bubbly college student popular cheerleader. If it was up to her, she would be the one on the sidelines wearing a black hoodie and imagining the queen bee breaking a leg just for entertainment. But due to other things in her life, this is her reality and she is determined to stick it out for the time being despite a lot of outside forces that are trying to take her out. Coming face to face with the football star of the school and him having an interest in her is something that Naomi never saw coming and if she thinks that this is the weird part, she is in for one rude awakening when it comes to Sebastian.
I’m going to be real right now and say that I struggled with this read and my rating for it. I’ve been going back and forth for the past few days on what I should rate it and it was not easy to do this. It took me a long time to finish this book and I came so close to giving up at certain times. Sebastian felt like he was trying to be this big dangerous dominant man in a teenager's body. I couldn't picture it and I wanted the story to be darker. I was waiting for the grit, the tingling sensation of danger looming and I didnt get either of those things.This was sadly a light read when it comes to the type of dark stories that I’m used to reading and it just fell flat for me.
I have to admit that I haven't read much of this author’s work and even though I was not too crazy about this one, I’m still very much curious to see what she’s going to do next in her other books.
![Profile Image for Lori [semi-hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1652024485i/125758944._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
June 10, 2021
2.5 rounded to 2 (rating may change after the duet ends)
I was so ready to love this, but it fell short.
Besides their kink, the characters felt a little underdeveloped (which is why rating may change after duet ends)
Both were a little cliché. I get what Rina tried to do with Sebastian, and I love the idea of it. The execution, however, fell flat. He seemed flat. Maybe it's because we only got a few chapters from his point of view, but other than his dirty talk and supposedly good looks I couldn't find anything appealing about him.
Also Rina tried to make him j/p towards the end, but that felt forced. Again.
Naomi was a little better (because we got more chapters from her) but also a classic Asian cliché. I love that Rina tried to add diversity, but this isn't how you do it. From her interests, to some of the interactions, everything was forced. (There is a reason you should get a sensitivity beta reader. I don't buy for a moment that any Japanese person would agree with how Nao was depicted.)
I'm guessing she's trying to go for Yakuza involvement, so I'm curious how that will go, but already my expectations are very low.
The banter between the characters was great. It was the only thing that was enjoyable.
I have a few more complaints, but I'll add them under the spoiler tag.
I was excited for this because I loved the Lies and Truth lies duet, and I hoped this might be the same or surpass it. So far it's not. But I'm reserving judgement until after the end of the duet.(If I end up reading it, because this was a total miss and I don't think I'll muster the interest. But stranger things have happened)
Unlike the ARC readers, I can definitely say this is NOT Rina Kent's best, and doesn't even go in the top.
-------------------------------
If anyone has safety details on this one, please help a gal out 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I was so ready to love this, but it fell short.
Besides their kink, the characters felt a little underdeveloped (which is why rating may change after duet ends)
Both were a little cliché. I get what Rina tried to do with Sebastian, and I love the idea of it. The execution, however, fell flat. He seemed flat. Maybe it's because we only got a few chapters from his point of view, but other than his dirty talk and supposedly good looks I couldn't find anything appealing about him.
Also Rina tried to make him j/p towards the end, but that felt forced. Again.
Naomi was a little better (because we got more chapters from her) but also a classic Asian cliché. I love that Rina tried to add diversity, but this isn't how you do it. From her interests, to some of the interactions, everything was forced. (There is a reason you should get a sensitivity beta reader. I don't buy for a moment that any Japanese person would agree with how Nao was depicted.)
I'm guessing she's trying to go for Yakuza involvement, so I'm curious how that will go, but already my expectations are very low.
The banter between the characters was great. It was the only thing that was enjoyable.
I have a few more complaints, but I'll add them under the spoiler tag.
I was excited for this because I loved the Lies and Truth lies duet, and I hoped this might be the same or surpass it. So far it's not. But I'm reserving judgement until after the end of the duet.(If I end up reading it, because this was a total miss and I don't think I'll muster the interest. But stranger things have happened)
Unlike the ARC readers, I can definitely say this is NOT Rina Kent's best, and doesn't even go in the top.
-------------------------------
If anyone has safety details on this one, please help a gal out 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
June 11, 2021
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Style: Dark Romance (College)
Story: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Dark Level: 2/5
Sexual Level: SEX-CITINGLY APPEALING
Triggers: Yes
Violence: No
Male: Stoic & Dark
Series: Book 1 of 2
Pages: 302
Audio: GOOD (m/f)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
When I started this story, the overall rating felt like a 3 star rating. However, as the chapters progress, the rating kept going up a bit. At first, I thought the story had no depth, but once certain layers unfolds, it became interesting. Book one is more of getting to know Naomi and Sebastian and their inner darkness and fetish that connects them. It wasn’t until chapter 10 and 11 that my interest piqued. As I like to say, I felt a pulse. Sebastian contains his inner monster. He has built this facade to always keep it at bay. He finally is able to unleash with Naomi. Naomi is new to this experience. She also has a moment in her past that triggers her need for this fetish. She wants to find her father, but I believe this is about to open Pandora’s box. The rich and popular jock with the not so popular loner cheerleader.
Book one has my interest enough to check out book two. I also don’t think the cliffhanger was an atomic bomb for me, it felt ok. Certain scenes, not all, felt a little high school but for the most part it wasn’t bad.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY:
Sexually, this author never disappoints. At times, I find some of her stories to be ok, but the sex scenes, knuckle biting, never disappoints. This will not be for everyone. They had a rape fetish going on, and it’s like whatever they are feeling, that was their outlet of choice. In book one I don’t feel like the story is dark, but the sexual content treads that line. I have to note, I do feel there was more sexual content than storyline.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Lucy -
the so call “best friend”
Nate -
Sebastian’s uncle. Interesting guy. Don’t know if his role will be anymore important in book two.
Sebastian’s friends -
no one worth mentioning.
Akira-
I’m very suspicious of him. I feel there is more to him. Something Naomi’s mom said that clicked. We shall see.
OVERALL:
I found myself liking this one as I have not really connected with the last few books for the author and opt out of reading them. When I saw she was doing a dark college romance, I needed to see if it will give me my groove back. I blame the Elite series; they set the bar too high for me personally.
TRIGGERS: rape fetish, attempted child sexual assault, racial slur/comments etc…
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
Style: Dark Romance (College)
Story: 3/5
Enjoyment: 4/5
Dark Level: 2/5
Sexual Level: SEX-CITINGLY APPEALING
Triggers: Yes
Violence: No
Male: Stoic & Dark
Series: Book 1 of 2
Pages: 302
Audio: GOOD (m/f)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
When I started this story, the overall rating felt like a 3 star rating. However, as the chapters progress, the rating kept going up a bit. At first, I thought the story had no depth, but once certain layers unfolds, it became interesting. Book one is more of getting to know Naomi and Sebastian and their inner darkness and fetish that connects them. It wasn’t until chapter 10 and 11 that my interest piqued. As I like to say, I felt a pulse. Sebastian contains his inner monster. He has built this facade to always keep it at bay. He finally is able to unleash with Naomi. Naomi is new to this experience. She also has a moment in her past that triggers her need for this fetish. She wants to find her father, but I believe this is about to open Pandora’s box. The rich and popular jock with the not so popular loner cheerleader.
Book one has my interest enough to check out book two. I also don’t think the cliffhanger was an atomic bomb for me, it felt ok. Certain scenes, not all, felt a little high school but for the most part it wasn’t bad.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY:
Sexually, this author never disappoints. At times, I find some of her stories to be ok, but the sex scenes, knuckle biting, never disappoints. This will not be for everyone. They had a rape fetish going on, and it’s like whatever they are feeling, that was their outlet of choice. In book one I don’t feel like the story is dark, but the sexual content treads that line. I have to note, I do feel there was more sexual content than storyline.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
Lucy -
the so call “best friend”
Nate -
Sebastian’s uncle. Interesting guy. Don’t know if his role will be anymore important in book two.
Sebastian’s friends -
no one worth mentioning.
Akira-
I’m very suspicious of him. I feel there is more to him. Something Naomi’s mom said that clicked. We shall see.
OVERALL:
I found myself liking this one as I have not really connected with the last few books for the author and opt out of reading them. When I saw she was doing a dark college romance, I needed to see if it will give me my groove back. I blame the Elite series; they set the bar too high for me personally.
TRIGGERS: rape fetish, attempted child sexual assault, racial slur/comments etc…
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful.
June 10, 2021
Wtf😭😭😭 rtc.
June 7, 2021
"I’m called hot,sculpted,a beautiful creation. A modern Adonis.
But no one knows the type of monster hidden beneath the physical perfection. No one except for my Tsundere.”
What I just read?!
This is so much more than just TABOO .
I think this story changed me, it open your eyes to a completely different world than the one you are used to.
I couldn’t believe something like that existed.
“The pain is my aphrodisiac and the roughness is my fix. And I simply get to let go.”
At the beginning it wasn’t easy to accept, but then I sorted of start to understand how their minds worked. Some people have just different ‘tastes ‘ but that doesn’t make them crazy or mad. That’s just who they are.
You should start reading this story with a very open mind, and hold on your thoughts until the end . Wait until you have the complete picture of this amazing , mind blowing but also very triggering story.
The complexity of these characters and how their mind works fascinated me . I couldn’t stop reading it, i had to know what could possibly happen next.
“I’m assertive enough to accept that I’m an anomaly to what society expects from us, and I’m fine with that. I’d rather be abnormal than fit into a mold that’s not designed for me.”
Sebastian and Naomi aren’t the classic conventional couple designed by the society , they are just unique.
Two tormented souls that recognized their missing parts in each other.
I won’t spoiler anything , but you should definitely buckle up because this is gonna be a really twisted and crazy ride, that somehow you won’t help but loving every second of it.
“Now there’s nothing to stop us. Not even ourselves.”
I gave it 547264842 stars
my Blog
I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did.
*ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
But no one knows the type of monster hidden beneath the physical perfection. No one except for my Tsundere.”
What I just read?!
This is so much more than just TABOO .
I think this story changed me, it open your eyes to a completely different world than the one you are used to.
I couldn’t believe something like that existed.
“The pain is my aphrodisiac and the roughness is my fix. And I simply get to let go.”
At the beginning it wasn’t easy to accept, but then I sorted of start to understand how their minds worked. Some people have just different ‘tastes ‘ but that doesn’t make them crazy or mad. That’s just who they are.
You should start reading this story with a very open mind, and hold on your thoughts until the end . Wait until you have the complete picture of this amazing , mind blowing but also very triggering story.
The complexity of these characters and how their mind works fascinated me . I couldn’t stop reading it, i had to know what could possibly happen next.
“I’m assertive enough to accept that I’m an anomaly to what society expects from us, and I’m fine with that. I’d rather be abnormal than fit into a mold that’s not designed for me.”
Sebastian and Naomi aren’t the classic conventional couple designed by the society , they are just unique.
Two tormented souls that recognized their missing parts in each other.
I won’t spoiler anything , but you should definitely buckle up because this is gonna be a really twisted and crazy ride, that somehow you won’t help but loving every second of it.
“Now there’s nothing to stop us. Not even ourselves.”
I gave it 547264842 stars
my Blog
I hope you’ll enjoy it like I did.
*ARC IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*
June 23, 2021
*Sigh*
So I haven't read an RK book in a while, and I admit all the teasers and Rina saying that this was her 'darkest & most twisted' book get intrigued me.. but ya'll, this was not dark. Or twisted. Or intriguing.
So here we have the usual hot guy, Sebastian, who is the big man on campus and can have & nail anyone he wants, but if you guessed that there is more to the cocky dude with all the money but very little emotions, you're sadly mistaken.
As for Naomi, it was like the author took every Japanese stereotype and threw them in, but it's ok because her bullies are super sized xenephobes who have no issues displaying their dislike for her and the rest of her race. Sadly, that was the only real thing about this book, and there's nothing I hate more than a racist.
I feel like the author was trying to be too edgey here, especially with the rape fantasies they both had. I actually understood it to a point with Naomi, especially because of what happened to her as a young girl, and it's not that uncommon for survivors of sexual violence to want to recreate what happened to them in order to regain their control. That's all well and good, but the problem is these two didn't establish any kind of trust or any type of relationship before Sebastian did what he wanted to her. The sex scenes were supposed to be hot I guess, but it just came off really cringey. In order to pull off the rape fantasy scenario, you have to trust your partner to ensure they don't do anything you're not comfortable with, and I know Sebastian technically told her to say no if it was ever too much, and although she didn't.. He was just so over the top with her. And that anal scene? Ow. Ow ow ow. There's nothing sexy about shoving a nine inch dick up your asshole in one solid go.💁
As for the bet, just infinite eye roll. The whole thing is tried and done with, and I just hate these storylines with a passion.
The only thing i did like about this book is Naomi's pen pal, which will probably turn out to be Sebastian. His brutal honesty and zero fucks made me laugh so hard.
I just don't care about any of these characters, and I didn't care about the cliffhanger either. This was just a huge miss for me.
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.**
So I haven't read an RK book in a while, and I admit all the teasers and Rina saying that this was her 'darkest & most twisted' book get intrigued me.. but ya'll, this was not dark. Or twisted. Or intriguing.
So here we have the usual hot guy, Sebastian, who is the big man on campus and can have & nail anyone he wants, but if you guessed that there is more to the cocky dude with all the money but very little emotions, you're sadly mistaken.
As for Naomi, it was like the author took every Japanese stereotype and threw them in, but it's ok because her bullies are super sized xenephobes who have no issues displaying their dislike for her and the rest of her race. Sadly, that was the only real thing about this book, and there's nothing I hate more than a racist.
I feel like the author was trying to be too edgey here, especially with the rape fantasies they both had. I actually understood it to a point with Naomi, especially because of what happened to her as a young girl, and it's not that uncommon for survivors of sexual violence to want to recreate what happened to them in order to regain their control. That's all well and good, but the problem is these two didn't establish any kind of trust or any type of relationship before Sebastian did what he wanted to her. The sex scenes were supposed to be hot I guess, but it just came off really cringey. In order to pull off the rape fantasy scenario, you have to trust your partner to ensure they don't do anything you're not comfortable with, and I know Sebastian technically told her to say no if it was ever too much, and although she didn't.. He was just so over the top with her. And that anal scene? Ow. Ow ow ow. There's nothing sexy about shoving a nine inch dick up your asshole in one solid go.💁
As for the bet, just infinite eye roll. The whole thing is tried and done with, and I just hate these storylines with a passion.
The only thing i did like about this book is Naomi's pen pal, which will probably turn out to be Sebastian. His brutal honesty and zero fucks made me laugh so hard.
I just don't care about any of these characters, and I didn't care about the cliffhanger either. This was just a huge miss for me.
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions.**
January 31, 2022
ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS
Star Rating : 4.5/5 Stars
POV : Dual
Cliffhanger : yes
Hero : Sebastian
Heroine : Naomi
Pace of the story : Moderate
Angst Rating : 6/10
Heat Rating : 9/10
Triggers Involved : Consensual Non Consensual scenes
Plot Summary :
Naomi has always had a crush on Sebastian. The Popular quarterback is something out of a fantasy for her. Not that it matters anyways , because he will never pay attention to her anyways. Until the day he does and nothing will ever be the same again.
Sebastian has so many faces. No one knows the real him. The one he hides from everyone because he knows what will happen when he lets out his beast. Until the day he traps a pretty little prey in his trap. What starts as a bet turns into something much more dangerous , something none of them could have predicted. And now it’s too late for Naomi to run away because once Sebastian shows her his real monster side , no one can save her. She was his , no matter how much she wanted to run away.
Overall Opinion :
OMG. I have read every book by Rina and those who follow my reviews know that I said that Jonathan was Rina's one of the kinkiest characters. Well , ladies , someone much more crazy than that man is here. I first met Sebastian in the truth and Lies duet and Nothing could have prepared me for the real Sebastian. Holy shit , I mean that man can rearrange my insdes anytime , I would gladly volunteer myself lol.
Sebastian is admittedly much more unhinged than all of Rina’s characters. Even much more than Adrian and Aiden. You guys will know what I am talking about when you meet him. The steamy scenes in this book were downright crazy, I mean a few of them had me like - fuck , did that really happen? But yes , It did and there is so much more to come. Poor Naomi never stood a chance against that man lol, He was very very persistent and ruthless .
The book completely had me hooked right from page 1 and I read this one in a single sitting . The ending was crazy and the cliffhanger just about made me chuck my phone at the nearest wall. I need the second book so bad!!!!! We can tell that there is much more to come as a lot of mysteries are still to be uncovered , and I am completely hooked for the whole ride. This duet is totally going to be epic.
Highly recommended to all the dark romance lovers out there! This one is not a bully romance but rather a one that is a dark High school romance with taboo stuff and a whole ton of mysteries! It’s one hell of a ride!
Website | Bookstagram | Facebook Page | Newsletter
September 23, 2021
CNC and primal play galore
Ah. I love reading books with CNC in it… throw in some primal play and I’m sold… but there was something missing to really sell it to me.
The book starts off by giving us the perspective of Naomi‘s pen buddy. Then we get Naomi‘s perspective and we find out that she’s a cheerleader, Japanese, and has a very sarcastic sense of humor. Although she’s a cheerleader, she doesn’t hang out with the “in crowd” or care to fit in with other people. She’s had a crush on her college’s quarterback, Sebastian, and he just so happens to bump into her when she’s distracted.
Sebastian is an all star athlete, well-liked, popular, has political connections, and is extremely handsome. One of his friends dares him to sleep with Naomi, and he takes the bet. He tells Naomi to meet him and she stands him up, so he shows up at her house and gets her to go with him. When they go to his location in the middle of nowhere, their CNC games begin.
I am a huge fan of CNC 🤤🔥🥵 (and noncon/dubcon) so when they started with their scenes, 👏🏻I was all for it😉. Buuuuuut… I didn’t feel the build up to it. So Sebastian takes her to the forest and assumes she would be game to play? How did he know that she would be into it? They barely had any interactions or talked beforehand and all of a sudden he knows she’s into it? I don’t know. This was sketchy to me.
Don’t give me wrong; all of their smexx scenes were hot🔥🥵😅. Buuuut I needed more leading up to them. I get it. There is necessary setting components and characterization that we need to know, but how did Sebastian magically surmise Naomi’s kink is CNC and primal play? Did he sense it somehow? Is there a pheromone he smelled? I mean- I enjoyed the intimate scenes, but I definitely found myself scratching my head before they began.
I also loooove me a surprise virgin… I like when the H finds out the good old-fashioned way 😉😅 but here, it was lacking in emotion for me. It’s a CNC/primal play scene and he just leaves her after- no aftercare- no cuddling- no “hey, you okay?” Nothing 😐. And suddenly, it’s a new chapter. Wasn’t she bruised? Bleeding like crazy? I don’t know. I needed more.
I also found a lot of telling versus showing. I looooove the Royal Elite series (Aiden🤤), but I found myself double checking this was the same author. Maybe because this book is on the shorter side? I also didn’t care for the xenophobic comments, but unfortunately, those are the types of comments POC deal with.
Back to what I liked- the physical component of their relationship was there and their emotional one was building. They each shared personal information that was essential to solidify the connection between them. Plus, they know that their “kink” is heavily judged and frowned upon, so they have that in common as well. I loooove that we have an interracial couple 🥰👏🏻. I also love how DIRTY Sebastian’s mouth is💦- oh dear Lord that man can talk DIRRRRRTY 🔥🥵. Annnnnd I liked that his j/p side came out eventually (but I needed more of his protective side to come out sooner)
Overall, I enjoyed it and want to read book 2 since it ends on a cliffhanger.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/owd/omd/sharing
-CNC/primal play
-noncon/dubcon
-breath play
-xenophobic comments
-parent with cancer
-death of parents
-the H calls the h names during their scenes
Ah. I love reading books with CNC in it… throw in some primal play and I’m sold… but there was something missing to really sell it to me.
The book starts off by giving us the perspective of Naomi‘s pen buddy. Then we get Naomi‘s perspective and we find out that she’s a cheerleader, Japanese, and has a very sarcastic sense of humor. Although she’s a cheerleader, she doesn’t hang out with the “in crowd” or care to fit in with other people. She’s had a crush on her college’s quarterback, Sebastian, and he just so happens to bump into her when she’s distracted.
Sebastian is an all star athlete, well-liked, popular, has political connections, and is extremely handsome. One of his friends dares him to sleep with Naomi, and he takes the bet. He tells Naomi to meet him and she stands him up, so he shows up at her house and gets her to go with him. When they go to his location in the middle of nowhere, their CNC games begin.
I am a huge fan of CNC 🤤🔥🥵 (and noncon/dubcon) so when they started with their scenes, 👏🏻I was all for it😉. Buuuuuut… I didn’t feel the build up to it. So Sebastian takes her to the forest and assumes she would be game to play? How did he know that she would be into it? They barely had any interactions or talked beforehand and all of a sudden he knows she’s into it? I don’t know. This was sketchy to me.
Don’t give me wrong; all of their smexx scenes were hot🔥🥵😅. Buuuut I needed more leading up to them. I get it. There is necessary setting components and characterization that we need to know, but how did Sebastian magically surmise Naomi’s kink is CNC and primal play? Did he sense it somehow? Is there a pheromone he smelled? I mean- I enjoyed the intimate scenes, but I definitely found myself scratching my head before they began.
I also loooove me a surprise virgin… I like when the H finds out the good old-fashioned way 😉😅 but here, it was lacking in emotion for me. It’s a CNC/primal play scene and he just leaves her after- no aftercare- no cuddling- no “hey, you okay?” Nothing 😐. And suddenly, it’s a new chapter. Wasn’t she bruised? Bleeding like crazy? I don’t know. I needed more.
I also found a lot of telling versus showing. I looooove the Royal Elite series (Aiden🤤), but I found myself double checking this was the same author. Maybe because this book is on the shorter side? I also didn’t care for the xenophobic comments, but unfortunately, those are the types of comments POC deal with.
Back to what I liked- the physical component of their relationship was there and their emotional one was building. They each shared personal information that was essential to solidify the connection between them. Plus, they know that their “kink” is heavily judged and frowned upon, so they have that in common as well. I loooove that we have an interracial couple 🥰👏🏻. I also love how DIRTY Sebastian’s mouth is💦- oh dear Lord that man can talk DIRRRRRTY 🔥🥵. Annnnnd I liked that his j/p side came out eventually (but I needed more of his protective side to come out sooner)
Overall, I enjoyed it and want to read book 2 since it ends on a cliffhanger.
⚠️safety squad⚠️
-no cheating/owd/omd/sharing
-CNC/primal play
-noncon/dubcon
-breath play
-xenophobic comments
-parent with cancer
-death of parents
-the H calls the h names during their scenes
December 19, 2023
1.50!
All the things i mentioned below were present but this book still could not live upto my already minimal expectations. not Rinas best work at all.
___
i need a fast paced dark book and i couldnt care less about the plot rn who else to go to for this if not Rina Kent!
All the things i mentioned below were present but this book still could not live upto my already minimal expectations. not Rinas best work at all.
___
i need a fast paced dark book and i couldnt care less about the plot rn who else to go to for this if not Rina Kent!
June 12, 2022
My urge for violence has become less important since you
Trigger warning: non consent fantasies, degradation, humiliation and rape kinks, child molestation
Cue: 🎶 The Days Are Long, The Days Are Hard by Prof Cal
It has been ages ago that I read Empire of Desire which is why I couldn't remember Nate or that Sebastian is actually Nate's nephew (when he had appeared in EOD). RK needs to update her family tree because there's too many to do myself.
And no, I'm not bipolar for the high-low ratings of RK, this book just feeds my kinks and sue me for rating this 3 stars for the forest chase.
THIS IS NOT SPOILER FREE
Naomi and Seb first appeared in All The Lies which immediately had me intrigued because Seb gave psycho vibes (but I was cheated, again). The plotline between Naomi and Seb is briefly revealed in the same book as well, which I won't touch on (I've been trying not to reveal the main plotlines if anyone has even been reading my reviews to get people to read)
So before I continue, this book does contain consensual non-consent scenes but I personally do not think it is something dark or immoral. Maybe I'm fucked up but I think there are far more worse, darker fantasies anyone can have. So to me, this book was fine, any type of chases are fine (
Sebastian Weaver loves chases:
“I won the bet and I want you to run.” “Why?” So I can chase you.”due to his:
sick, twisted cravingswhich involve him chasing her and:
They’re curious ones, her tears, and there’s this primal need pulsing inside me to see more of them. To smear them on her face with my fucking cumhe painting her with his ✨ essence ✨
He's not someone who only chases but he knows how to plot it:
It’s not fun when the prey knows she’s going to be chased. Since I sensed that she started to expect it, I had to change gearswhich is already a few up than Aiden King.
Where would you draw the line though? At the part where he plots or:
She needs to be able to let go on her own without any force on my part. Because while I’m certain we’re compatible, while I’m almost sure she craves the depravity I hide, I want more proof. Anything will do. A gesture, a word—or even a silent agreement would be enough. Without any of those, it’s no different from grooming her and confiscating her will, and I have no interest in a shellthat he wants her without anything holding her back, he wants her at his feet.
He wants her fear:
I’ll let you go and you’ll run. If I catch you, I’m going to take you, use you, abuse you, and fill your cunt with my cum and make you choke on my dick until you’re crying and begging me to stop.”He wants her to beg him:
The more you say no, the harder my dick gets to fuck the word out of you. The more you beg, no, please, the harder I’ll tear through that cunt until there’s nothing left.”He wants her struggles:
All I need is her strangling me, crying, begging for more. Then begging me to stop. Then begging for more all over againso, where would you draw the line?
I should be rolling my eyes or be disgusted but I wasn't, in fact I wanted a lot more:
Now that I had a taste of Naomi’s fear and tasted her subtle excitement on my tongue, I crave more
I use her with a brutality that consumes me
"I’m going to ram my bare dick into that tight cunt of yours and rip you apart and you’re going to take it like the dirty whore you are"I didn't think it was possible to find a guy that aligned with your kinks so well and that too someone who's as possessive:
She’s like this for me. Only me
I mark her in a way I’ve never felt the need to mark anyone beforeand it's not only me but Naomi too:
Otherwise, why the hell would he get off on chasing me and coming all over my face afterward?
I’m craving the degradation and the immorality of it all
Because even if I said no, he didn’t stop. When I begged, he fucked me harder. When I cried, he took moreguess we have more in common that we thought.
Naomi, aside from her fantasies, tried to stand up to Reina and her onions most of the time but even her bestfriend betrayed her (Lucy, you're a fucking bitch - look what the fame you chose got you). The whole bets and bullying was lame so there wasn't a bully trope for me but I empathise with Naomi wanting to rather be alone because I would be too in a supposedly college filled with nutcracks. I don't understand the racist remarks towards her heritage and culture, I feel like that was put in for people to have awareness but in a really bad way because it didn't educate anybody but instead just made way for people to have more Japanese porno fantasies and culture appropriation. There was one, just one line which was supposed to sum up Naomi's sarcastic self but:
“Your body is made for fucking, baby.” “It’s also made for kicking you in the crotch.”at least she didn't take bullshit compared to ahem Reina ahem Asstrid.
Sebastian was described to be this dark, violent man in the other book but in this the closest he came to was:
In my mind, I’m jumping across the table, grabbing him by the neck, then bashing his head against the floor. Once, twice, until blood oozes from a crack in his forehead. Then I go on until he loses some of his teeth and starts wailing like a fucking bitch. In reality, I remain stillwhich made the plot go from 📈 to 📉 because he should have done it and not just daydream it, I can daydream about getting chased by him too and
“Aha. So you prefer manga. Noted. Let’s buy you some and fuck on top of them."
He’s calling me baby, so he can’t be in his beast mode right now
I found her. Someone who accepts me just the way I am without trying to fix me or any of that bullshit. In fact, she gets off on my real nature as much as I get off on hers
If I have to chase her, so be it. I’ll run after her until she realizes there was no escaping me in the first place
But those two sides of Sebastian did not balance the couple's non existent chemistry at all. So, to conclude, they're just two people who got off on their fantasies. There was this one dialogue during which Seb said:
Sick and twisted are only labels they try to contain us with. We’re not serial killers just because we enjoy consensual non-consensual sexual activities. We’re grown adults who recognize our fantasiesthat is all I get from them - one conversation with no link to serial killers and many chases.
So was this book good? I'd say the plot wasn't the main focus on this book and there was a lot of focus on the smut but clearly that didn't stop me from rating this book 3 stars because I can't ignore forest chases, I just can't.
PS: The real ones who know Prof Cal, this is the part where you should be listening to him in the background:
I dash forward until I touch something. The railings. I grab on to them as I climb the stairs. Every now and then, I glance behind me and imagine a shadow on my tail. Only it’s not my imagination. He is right behind me because this scene had me in a hold, up till now
Prof Cal, if you see this I miss you
July 8, 2021
FYI BEFORE I WRITE MY REVIEW, let me just remind you guys about something that i learn for half of my life (BECAUSE I USED TO LIVE IN JAPAN AND I HAVE A FAMILY FROM JAPAN YOKOHAMA TO BE EXACT AND I KNOW JAPANESE LANGUAGE) THAT DO NOT DRAW OR ILLUSTRATE YOUR NOVEL EDIT WITH THIS HEROINE BEING LIKE (KOREAN OR EVEN CHINESE) DON’T DO THAT. PUT SOME JAPANESE ACTRESSES OR JAPANESE MODEL LIKE KIKO MIZUHARA ON YOUR DRAWING OR EDITING PHOTOS BECAUSE IN JAPAN ITS A SIGN OF DISRESPECTFUL TO HAVE A KOREAN OR CHINESE PEOPLE IN A PHOTO BUT SAYS THATS NAOMI (the heroine) when naomi is half japanese. Not korean or not even chinese. Yes japan is that strict when it comes with their identity! I have a cousins in japan and if people told her that she looks like chinese or people assume/judge her as chinese, she would be so mad and says thats so disrespectful.
Even when i sit in a chair that belongs to my cousin from japan and thats his usual chair to sit, he would tell me nicely that please do not sit on his chair because that his and i can get another one. So yes japan is that strict but in more nice way, that too uptight or crazy. And yes i learn from a young age how to bow my head down to greet my family or a family friend in japan. AND KOREAN AND JAPAN THE WAY THEY DO THEIR BOW THEIR HEAD DOWN, IS VERY DIFFERENT. WHEN KOREA IS ONLY HALF OF THE HEAD, JAPAN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH. My Japanese nickname is “ALEXA-CHAN” CHAN is used to said to be more younger female ones, the ones who is not married yet as well…
I SAY THIS BECAUSE EARLIER I SAW A EDIT FROM INSTAGRAM FROM THE AUTHOR’S FANBASE, THE FANBASE ILLUSTRATES A PHOTO OF A KOREAN SINGER AND PORTRAYED THAT IS THE HEROINE NAOMI. When i saw that i was like when a minute, thats korean like she’s full korean not even half japanese. So thats why i say something like this :) and this is just me saying it, not being a big deal. I thought you guys should know about it.
SO THAT BEING SAID…. LETS TALK ABOUT THE BOOK! YES I AM HAPPY TO READ THIS BECAUSE THE HEROINE IS HALF JAPANESE😍😍😍 YOKATTA!🤩🤩 (yokatta means I’m glad/thats good) because i’m proudly asian myself and japan is my second country. So to read my favorite all time author put a Japanese character in her books and even Japanese taste a bit like talking about anime and a bit of Japanese culture, is so good in my eyes🥺🥺 i will definitely tell this to my cousins and family in japan☺️☺️☺️☺️🙏
‼️‼️‼️AS ALWAYS RINA KENT BOOKS OF SERIES IS ALWAYS THE FIRST ONES THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE LIKE SOME OF IT SO DO NOT BE MAD 😄 THE FIRST ONES ALWAYS MADE ME HAVE A IMPRESSION OF “WHY THE HERO IS BEING LIKE THIS? WHY THE HEROINE IS LIKE THIS?” AND THEN THE SECOND BOOK IT HIT ME LIKE OOOOHHHHH….
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS NOT A VIRGIN BUT HE DOESN’T REALLY TALKS ABOUT HIS PAST PARTNERS
‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING
‼️‼️‼️IT HAS SEPARATION FOR WEEKS BUT BOTH ARE LOYAL AND DIDN’T GO TO ANYONE ELSE
‼️‼️‼️NOT LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT. MORE LIKE WHEN THEY FINALLY TOUCH EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE HERO IS BECAME OBSESSED
‼️‼️‼️VERY HOT SMUT SCENES
‼️‼️‼️DARK ROMANCE
‼️‼️‼️TRIGGERS: Violence, past mystery, almost r*pe, sickness, political and dark Intentions.
‼️‼️‼️DRAMA WITH OW BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING. DRAMA WITH OM BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING EITHER. Other drama is about themself😂
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A SASSY ONE I LOVE HER!
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OTT POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE ALPHA MALE FOR SURE. He have a hard obsessed with the heroine and wanting the heroine more than the hero want him. Obsessed!
“Because I’ve never found one compatible enough to say it to.”
“Then keep searching.”
“Why would i when you’re right in front of me?”
“I’m not one of your toys.”
“No, you’re more. If it were anyone else, they would’ve screamed bloody murder the night i asked you to run, but you played along fought and clawed.”
“BECAUSE EVEN WITHOUT THE S*X, I FEEL SOMETHING IS MISSING IF I DON’T SEE HER FOR A FEW HOURS.”
‼️‼️‼️MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO AND LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE.
“MY GAZE IS ZEROED IN ON EVERY BASTARD WHO LOOKS IN HER DIRECTION OR LICKS THEIR LIPS AS THEY PASS HER BY.”
“ALL I CAN SEE ARE DICKS THAT NEED TO BE CUT OFF FOR LOOKING AT MY GIRL WHILE SHE’S DRESSED LIKE THAT.”
“NEXT TIME YOU LOOK AT WHATS MINE OR RUN YOUR LOOSE MOUTH, IT WILL BE YOUR LAST. WATCH YOUR FCKING BACK.”
‼️‼️‼️THIS HAS A CLIFFHANGER SO WAIT TO SEE THE SECOND BOOK😍😍😍😍
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO is so happy and glad that he was the heroine’s first and she was his one and only. I love that!
As what i said above, I’m not trying to be dramatic. But I’m just saying. When you post a edit of a asian woman without knowing or even knows where she’s from actually but said in those post the opposite where that person from, like she’s Japan but you post a korean woman instead saying thats her when she’s not even korean, thats a big difference. that’s disrespectful even for me too as a Asian🙂🙂🙂 I hope you guys know where i coming from this…
Even when i sit in a chair that belongs to my cousin from japan and thats his usual chair to sit, he would tell me nicely that please do not sit on his chair because that his and i can get another one. So yes japan is that strict but in more nice way, that too uptight or crazy. And yes i learn from a young age how to bow my head down to greet my family or a family friend in japan. AND KOREAN AND JAPAN THE WAY THEY DO THEIR BOW THEIR HEAD DOWN, IS VERY DIFFERENT. WHEN KOREA IS ONLY HALF OF THE HEAD, JAPAN IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH. My Japanese nickname is “ALEXA-CHAN” CHAN is used to said to be more younger female ones, the ones who is not married yet as well…
I SAY THIS BECAUSE EARLIER I SAW A EDIT FROM INSTAGRAM FROM THE AUTHOR’S FANBASE, THE FANBASE ILLUSTRATES A PHOTO OF A KOREAN SINGER AND PORTRAYED THAT IS THE HEROINE NAOMI. When i saw that i was like when a minute, thats korean like she’s full korean not even half japanese. So thats why i say something like this :) and this is just me saying it, not being a big deal. I thought you guys should know about it.
SO THAT BEING SAID…. LETS TALK ABOUT THE BOOK! YES I AM HAPPY TO READ THIS BECAUSE THE HEROINE IS HALF JAPANESE😍😍😍 YOKATTA!🤩🤩 (yokatta means I’m glad/thats good) because i’m proudly asian myself and japan is my second country. So to read my favorite all time author put a Japanese character in her books and even Japanese taste a bit like talking about anime and a bit of Japanese culture, is so good in my eyes🥺🥺 i will definitely tell this to my cousins and family in japan☺️☺️☺️☺️🙏
‼️‼️‼️AS ALWAYS RINA KENT BOOKS OF SERIES IS ALWAYS THE FIRST ONES THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE LIKE SOME OF IT SO DO NOT BE MAD 😄 THE FIRST ONES ALWAYS MADE ME HAVE A IMPRESSION OF “WHY THE HERO IS BEING LIKE THIS? WHY THE HEROINE IS LIKE THIS?” AND THEN THE SECOND BOOK IT HIT ME LIKE OOOOHHHHH….
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A VIRGIN
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS NOT A VIRGIN BUT HE DOESN’T REALLY TALKS ABOUT HIS PAST PARTNERS
‼️‼️‼️NO CHEATING
‼️‼️‼️IT HAS SEPARATION FOR WEEKS BUT BOTH ARE LOYAL AND DIDN’T GO TO ANYONE ELSE
‼️‼️‼️NOT LOVE IN FIRST SIGHT. MORE LIKE WHEN THEY FINALLY TOUCH EACH OTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE HERO IS BECAME OBSESSED
‼️‼️‼️VERY HOT SMUT SCENES
‼️‼️‼️DARK ROMANCE
‼️‼️‼️TRIGGERS: Violence, past mystery, almost r*pe, sickness, political and dark Intentions.
‼️‼️‼️DRAMA WITH OW BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING. DRAMA WITH OM BUT NOT TOO ANNOYING EITHER. Other drama is about themself😂
‼️‼️‼️THE HEROINE IS A SASSY ONE I LOVE HER!
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO IS OTT POSSESSIVE PROTECTIVE ALPHA MALE FOR SURE. He have a hard obsessed with the heroine and wanting the heroine more than the hero want him. Obsessed!
“Because I’ve never found one compatible enough to say it to.”
“Then keep searching.”
“Why would i when you’re right in front of me?”
“I’m not one of your toys.”
“No, you’re more. If it were anyone else, they would’ve screamed bloody murder the night i asked you to run, but you played along fought and clawed.”
“BECAUSE EVEN WITHOUT THE S*X, I FEEL SOMETHING IS MISSING IF I DON’T SEE HER FOR A FEW HOURS.”
‼️‼️‼️MANY JEALOUS SCENES FROM THE HERO AND LITTLE FROM THE HEROINE.
“MY GAZE IS ZEROED IN ON EVERY BASTARD WHO LOOKS IN HER DIRECTION OR LICKS THEIR LIPS AS THEY PASS HER BY.”
“ALL I CAN SEE ARE DICKS THAT NEED TO BE CUT OFF FOR LOOKING AT MY GIRL WHILE SHE’S DRESSED LIKE THAT.”
“NEXT TIME YOU LOOK AT WHATS MINE OR RUN YOUR LOOSE MOUTH, IT WILL BE YOUR LAST. WATCH YOUR FCKING BACK.”
‼️‼️‼️THIS HAS A CLIFFHANGER SO WAIT TO SEE THE SECOND BOOK😍😍😍😍
‼️‼️‼️THE HERO is so happy and glad that he was the heroine’s first and she was his one and only. I love that!
As what i said above, I’m not trying to be dramatic. But I’m just saying. When you post a edit of a asian woman without knowing or even knows where she’s from actually but said in those post the opposite where that person from, like she’s Japan but you post a korean woman instead saying thats her when she’s not even korean, thats a big difference. that’s disrespectful even for me too as a Asian🙂🙂🙂 I hope you guys know where i coming from this…
September 6, 2023
Oh God! I hope Rina Kent NEVER writes a black heroine.
The way this author is making this heroine's "asian-ness" this big ass deal in this book, makes me soooo uncomfortable. Like, why can't she just write an Asian heroine the same way she writes her billions of white heroine? I'm so uncomfortable...
Please, I beg you authors to write heroines of races other than White as casually as you write white heroines. And stop making "racism" a plot point in the book whenever the heroine is not white.
This felt fetishy and weird.
Maybe sensitivity readers are a good thing, after all. Rina Kent should have hired some.
I also want to let authors know that ppl's special sexual preferences and kinks have nothing to do with equal gender rights.
I'm saying this because there's a scene in this book where Naomi was doubting her "feminism" because of how she likes Sébastien's superior height...?
Huh?
What does liking a tall person have to do with gender equality...?
I'm so confused and uncomfortable.
Okay, so here's the other issue: Naomi and Sébastien have noooooo chemistry.
You can add all the sex scenes and all the depraved kinks you want in your book, but if you did no work in building a chemistry between your 2 leads, then you wasted all of that.
The way this author is making this heroine's "asian-ness" this big ass deal in this book, makes me soooo uncomfortable. Like, why can't she just write an Asian heroine the same way she writes her billions of white heroine? I'm so uncomfortable...
Please, I beg you authors to write heroines of races other than White as casually as you write white heroines. And stop making "racism" a plot point in the book whenever the heroine is not white.
This felt fetishy and weird.
Maybe sensitivity readers are a good thing, after all. Rina Kent should have hired some.
I also want to let authors know that ppl's special sexual preferences and kinks have nothing to do with equal gender rights.
I'm saying this because there's a scene in this book where Naomi was doubting her "feminism" because of how she likes Sébastien's superior height...?
Huh?
What does liking a tall person have to do with gender equality...?
I'm so confused and uncomfortable.
Okay, so here's the other issue: Naomi and Sébastien have noooooo chemistry.
You can add all the sex scenes and all the depraved kinks you want in your book, but if you did no work in building a chemistry between your 2 leads, then you wasted all of that.
February 15, 2023
¡RINA LO HIZO DE NUEVO!
Creo que esta es de sus novelas con más escenas spicy donde los protas realmente juegan con los limites de lo moral en estos. Aunque todo es con consentimiento (mas o menos) previo, sí hay partes donde dije "bruh, esto es demasiado". 🙊 Pero yo amo a Sebastian Weaver aunque este medio zafado.
Creo que esta es de sus novelas con más escenas spicy donde los protas realmente juegan con los limites de lo moral en estos. Aunque todo es con consentimiento (mas o menos) previo, sí hay partes donde dije "bruh, esto es demasiado". 🙊 Pero yo amo a Sebastian Weaver aunque este medio zafado.
August 10, 2024
➼ 2.5★
”Soon enough, we were speaking an identical language only the two of us could recognize.”
this was mid. am i going to read the sequel anyway? ofc i am.
September 13, 2021
Definitely not my favorite Rina Kent book. Too many things felt… off. If I had to hear one more time that Naomi loves true crime podcasts/shows I was going to start plotting a true crime of my own.
I’ve absolutely loved most of the books in Kent’s dark new adult mafia world (specifically the Deception Trilogy) but this one was a bust. Sure, it’s “steamy” but it’s not really the dark, gritty, twisted, emotional, angsty, addictive read I expect from Kent. I
“It all started with a bet” - this trope is too overdone if you ask me (you didn’t) and this particular bet felt like it was thrown in at the last minute to give the plot more substance. As a whole this storyline (if you can call it that) fell flat. I love some steamy scenes as much as the next gal, and Kent’s writing can get pretty hot, but these scenes were a little awkward and over the top. Let your kink flag fly… just maybe discuss a few things first (especially if you’re barely an adult and a virgin with a traumatic history). The relationship between Sebastian and Naomi was lacking and it felt like they were both trying too hard to be “grown ups”.
Also, I’m all for a sassy heroine who beats to her own drum but Naomi borders on annoying and her inner ramblings got a tad cringey. Now don’t worry, I found faults with BOTH main characters. Sebastian is kind of a butt head, to be completely honest. And how many times do we need to be reminded that he wears a mask and he can’t show his emotions or truly be himself because of his important wealthy political family? I got it the first time.. And the thirty first.
I’m hoping the next book is a major upgrade but I’m not holding my breath. The best part of this was Naomi’s snarky pen pal and I’m crossing my fingers there’s a good twist with him (and he doesn’t turn out to be someone I already dislike). We shall see…
I’ve absolutely loved most of the books in Kent’s dark new adult mafia world (specifically the Deception Trilogy) but this one was a bust. Sure, it’s “steamy” but it’s not really the dark, gritty, twisted, emotional, angsty, addictive read I expect from Kent. I
“It all started with a bet” - this trope is too overdone if you ask me (you didn’t) and this particular bet felt like it was thrown in at the last minute to give the plot more substance. As a whole this storyline (if you can call it that) fell flat. I love some steamy scenes as much as the next gal, and Kent’s writing can get pretty hot, but these scenes were a little awkward and over the top. Let your kink flag fly… just maybe discuss a few things first (especially if you’re barely an adult and a virgin with a traumatic history). The relationship between Sebastian and Naomi was lacking and it felt like they were both trying too hard to be “grown ups”.
Also, I’m all for a sassy heroine who beats to her own drum but Naomi borders on annoying and her inner ramblings got a tad cringey. Now don’t worry, I found faults with BOTH main characters. Sebastian is kind of a butt head, to be completely honest. And how many times do we need to be reminded that he wears a mask and he can’t show his emotions or truly be himself because of his important wealthy political family? I got it the first time.. And the thirty first.
I’m hoping the next book is a major upgrade but I’m not holding my breath. The best part of this was Naomi’s snarky pen pal and I’m crossing my fingers there’s a good twist with him (and he doesn’t turn out to be someone I already dislike). We shall see…
March 9, 2022
La reina del Cliffhanger.
Madre Mía SHOOK quedé.
Nunca me pensé que fuera tan kinky y dark, si me gustó, pero no disfruto de las escenas violentas y que tengan sangre.
Cuando leí el libro de Rei y Ash, ten��a muchas ganas de leer sobre la historia de Sebastian y Naomi y les juro que no sabía que esta bilogía era de ellos, sino hace mucho que la hubiera leído.
Sabíamos que Reina había lanzado un reto a Sebastian de tener sexo con Naomi y que él había aceptado, ella lo odia, pero él sigue molestándola, eso lo sabemos por ese libro, pero el desarrollo no y eso es lo que tenemos en este libro.
Además, que conocemos más a profundidad a los personajes, sus motivaciones y sus gustos pervertidos que les digo que no disfruté porque dolor y sexo NO LIKE.
También tenemos el misterio del papá de Naomi y luego tenemos ese final de impacto que por si tenían la duda ya leí la segunda parte ya que no me pude detener para hacer esta reseña.
Madre Mía SHOOK quedé.
Nunca me pensé que fuera tan kinky y dark, si me gustó, pero no disfruto de las escenas violentas y que tengan sangre.
Cuando leí el libro de Rei y Ash, ten��a muchas ganas de leer sobre la historia de Sebastian y Naomi y les juro que no sabía que esta bilogía era de ellos, sino hace mucho que la hubiera leído.
Sabíamos que Reina había lanzado un reto a Sebastian de tener sexo con Naomi y que él había aceptado, ella lo odia, pero él sigue molestándola, eso lo sabemos por ese libro, pero el desarrollo no y eso es lo que tenemos en este libro.
Además, que conocemos más a profundidad a los personajes, sus motivaciones y sus gustos pervertidos que les digo que no disfruté porque dolor y sexo NO LIKE.
También tenemos el misterio del papá de Naomi y luego tenemos ese final de impacto que por si tenían la duda ya leí la segunda parte ya que no me pude detener para hacer esta reseña.
June 17, 2024
2.75⭐ ( 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 )
- this book should've been titled "𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 & 𝙣𝙖𝙤𝙢𝙞 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧" because quite literally all they did was fuck.
-For almost 80% of the book there was only smut which wasn't what i signed up for. If they weren't fucking? They were sexting? And if they were doing either? they were thinking about it.
- their relationship is baseless except for their shared kinks that kept them going back to each other.
- nothing actually happened until the last 10% were Naomi found out it was a bet and man didn't even THINK about grovelling and instead chose to break into her house because he was going insane without fucking her, classic Rina men.
- Naomi has a backbone surprisingly, which made me like her so much.
- rina's 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 with virgin fmc's continue as usual which I don't usually mind or pay it attention but for this plot especially? it was a mistake.
- this book should've been titled "𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙥𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙚𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 & 𝙣𝙖𝙤𝙢𝙞 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧" because quite literally all they did was fuck.
-For almost 80% of the book there was only smut which wasn't what i signed up for. If they weren't fucking? They were sexting? And if they were doing either? they were thinking about it.
- their relationship is baseless except for their shared kinks that kept them going back to each other.
- nothing actually happened until the last 10% were Naomi found out it was a bet and man didn't even THINK about grovelling and instead chose to break into her house because he was going insane without fucking her, classic Rina men.
- Naomi has a backbone surprisingly, which made me like her so much.
- rina's 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 with virgin fmc's continue as usual which I don't usually mind or pay it attention but for this plot especially? it was a mistake.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,333 reviews