Empire of Lust

Empire of Lust, Book 1

By: J. L. Beck

Narrated by: Sierra Kline, Benjamin D. Walker

Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

I made a mistake. At sixteen years old I fell for the wrong man.

Callum Torrio. Ruthless billionaire. Dangerous villain. My best friend's father.

At twenty one, I gave up hope that he would ever notice me. He’s twenty years older than me and an arms dealer for the mob. The smart choice would be to forget he ever existed.

But that’s not possible. His icy blue gaze, sculpted physique, and huge rough hands play a vivid part in my dreams.

Then one night everything changes. Every fantasy I ever had, he brings to life. Dominant and possessive, he praises and worships me. He makes me feel like a woman, when all my life I’ve felt sheltered and controlled.

But Callum has dark secrets and a past that refuses to let go. I knew he was a bad man, but I never would have anticipated this…

This dark romance is the first in a three-book series. It contains dark themes and things that may be triggering to some. Please avoid if you don't like possessive, controlling antiheroes.

©2023 J. L. Beck (P)2023 Dreamscape Media

Spicy but soft

She's a runner, kinda tired of it. The spice was nice but I was getting irritated at the girl. Kinda was left wanting with more of the guys dark side as well.

Not horrible for quick entertainment

If you are expecting a good plot this isn’t it. It’s an easy read/listen but the plot is all over the place. Bianca’s character is annoying at best. In the last few chapters I found myself telling her to just shut the hell up. I found it decent to kill time on a road trip but not sure if the second book is worth it.

It wasn’t what I was hoping for.

I guess I thought with the characters a little older I’d like this more. Callum is around 45 but they never tell you. Bianca is a college graduate with her bachelors so she’s 22 or 23. Callum yells at her all the time. He loses his temper. He threatens her. Bianca runs, comes back, runs, comes back and runs. I didn’t like their dynamic. It came off as abusive instead of hot alpha. Also, the character for Bianca’s dad is supposed to be overbearing. He’s not though. He doesn’t call her too much, he doesn’t get in her business yet she’s always saying she can’t go home because he’s so overprotective. It didn’t make any sense. The narrators did a good job. The male narrator slipped into a southern accent for part of the book and that was distracting. I I’m not planning on reading the second book.

Wow

This book is just wow wonderful writing both Sierra Kline and Benjamin walker were great I can’t wait to listening to the next book.

Overall 5⭐️

Overall, I give this book 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I feel like there could’ve been a little bit more character development, especially knowing this is going to be a series. But that’s what has me hooked because I can’t wait for book 2!!!

Female Narrator Great. Male Narrator- eeehhh…

Story is pretty heavily s*x driven, don’t get me wrong, I like me some 🌶️, but this doesn’t provide suspension of disbelief. Love female narrator, male narrator doesn’t feel like it matches up to male lead in story. Plus Callum’s dialogue doesn’t feel like it marries up to the character he is supposed to be, soooo yeah. Still on the hunt for a spicy story with a well fleshed out plot and characters!!

Loved it!!

The FMC is a little annoying, like she knows MMC is a thug yet she expect him to change. But over all it was a good story.

Minimal plot and maximum steam!

Plot was scandalous and book starts off like a sexy fantasy. Continues to be extra steamy. Ends with a cliffhanger.

Running Away

The number of times the main character left after being upset was a bit much.

Waste of a credit

I read a lot of spicy books and, while the spicy scenes are decent, BOTH MCs are just SO unlikable, I found myself disgusted the majority of the book.

The insecurity trope is strong with the female MC (whose voice actress sounded like an older woman trying to sound like a young Valley girl). The male MC is dislikable in literally every way (and the voice actor constantly sounds like he’s talking through gritted teeth).

I almost called it quits at hour 3, 5, and 7, but listened to the inconclusive, crappy ending so you didn’t have to.

Save your credit and go read Lily Gold or Megan Hart or something.