Empire of Lust

An Enemies with Benefits Romance

By: Rina Kent

Narrated by: Connor Crais, Mackenzie Cartwright

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

My boss. My hell.

When I slept with a faceless jock as a teen, I didn’t think I would become pregnant. I also didn’t think I would lose that child.

Several years later, I find out that my daughter is alive, and I’m given a second chance.

One problem, though. The faceless jock isn’t so faceless anymore. He has a name everyone fears: Kingsley Shaw. A ruthless bastard. A heartless devil. And most importantly, my daughter’s father. Oh, and he hates me as much as I hate him.

We’re out to destroy one another with all methods available. Including a dangerous game of lust that might lead to our downfall.

Empire of Lust is a complete stand-alone. No other books should be listened to prior to this.

©2022 Rina Kent (P)2022 Rina Kent

Steamy!

After learning about Aspen and her past with Kingsley I was so anxious to read their story. This did not disappoint - lots of steamy scenes and their love/hate relationship is HOT!!

I enjoyed learning her past and her side of the story with her pregnancy and leaving Gwen. I think this can be read completely as a standalone but i would recommend reading book one first.

Amazing!!!

This story was a rollercoaster of emotions from page one that gave me all the feels with this enemy to lover, second chance at love romance.

I really love Kingsley and Aspen story so much. If you have read the previous books in the series then you know these two are enemies inside and outside their work place but in this book you get to know the full history between them. I'm not going to give too much details because its better if you go in blind and experience the characters emotions for yourself but you get in detailed about their past experiences and the demons that still hunting them.

But the push and pull of this couple is a force of its own. The desire and lust/hate relationships makes this book for me the best in the series. Sooo many emotions, I cried, laughed and swooned after these characters.

I really enjoyed how Kingsley changed from his a$$hole self. In this book he became a knight in shinning armor. I love his possessiness over Aspen.

I think this book was the perfect ending for this amazing series by RK. My only complain is that I wish there was more but hopefully we see some of these characters in future books.

PS: the narrators were simple amazing, they brought all the emotions of this story to life.

*I received an audiobook code through Valentine PR *

4.5 intense stars

Empire of Lust is book #4 in the Empire series. We finally get to have Kingsley and Aspen’s story. My goodness was it a good one! Their chemistry was off the charts intense, filled with all the drama and angst. Kingsley is a powerhouse hero, but Aspen gave as good as she got. Loved both characters and Connor Crais plus Mackenzie Cartwright did a well job portraying them both.

DAMAGE.. ENEMIES.. LUST.. LIES & 🔥 SECOND CHANCES

A fantastic non-stop rollercoaster full of twists and turns that damage and bruise.. and this talented author delivers breathless highs and traumatic heart-pounding lows in a story of love, loss and second chances. If ever there was an anti-hero that desperately needed to be brought to his knees by a worthy opponent, it’s Kingsley Shaw the handsome, charismatic Lawyer whose earns his nickname the Devil. A devoted single Dad to his Angel Gwen. And the strong flawed femme fatale who brings this giant to his knees has sharp banter and balls of steel honed from the wrong side of the tracks. Aspen’s clawed her way up to Senior Partner in Kingsley and Nate’s firm.. but her world there has become a hostile battlefield since she and Kingsley found out she’s the mother of his beloved daughter.. a newborn callously abandoned on his doorstep twenty years ago. But Aspen has no fks to give for anyone else except forging a tentative relationship and get to know the precious daughter she long ago thought dead but was instead snatched away and replaced with lies and a stillborn that devastated the heart of a teen Mom.

Damaged enemies.. teen lovers.. co-workers.. and now parents trying to venomously protect what they hold most precious. However, somewhere in the smoke and flames of their verbal cannon fire, the battle lines get blurred.. and power turns to passion, loathing turns to lust and simmering hate turns to a sensual, obsessive, primal erotic claiming. But what about love?.. what about feelings?.. what about Kingston’s manipulative evil monster of a Stepmother from Hell? and what about Aspen’s villainous Father locked-up with his sinister dark plans for the daughter he’s damaged and soon intends to destroy?

Worth a credit? 100% yes.. sharp cutting banter, emotional turmoil, a possessive anti-hero King who is ALL alpha in and out of the bedroom, a flawed yet strong heroine who becomes a Queen, drama, danger, damaged backstories, suspense, secrets, dramatic revelations, detonation level chemistry, hot sizzling sex and a slow realization they were always meant to be together. Chapter after chapter the toxic and tension grew and Connor and MacKenzie expertly brought it to life along with the heat, the spice and all things nice and together they created a five star audiobook. (This could be a standalone but their breadcrumbs weaved back to Nate and Gwen’s story - book 1).

My favorite Rina book EVER!

OMG this was PERFECTION! This is the 22nd book I've read by Rina. I'm following her suggested reading order for Rina's whole world, and I'm so happy I am! Kingsley and Aspen are perfection! And the relationship Aspen built with Gwyn?! 😭😭😭 the touch her and 💀, the literal found family, the enemies to lovers, THE SPICE BE SPICING, the violence... just ALL of it was perfection! The last few chapters crawled inside my heart and made a permanent home there. Flawless!!!!

Hot hot hot

I NEVER have felt the urge to give a review. I've listened to 100's of audiobooks and this will be hands down one of my favs. hot. spicy. hard and edgy love all wrapped up in one. It's definitely worth every min. I'd listen to it over and over

Tension. Sexy banter. family secrets

****Narration is really good, i love both their voices****

One remark is that the prologue does nothing to assist with understanding how the story starts. The prologue seems unnecessary to the story because one it goes to chapter one, you are like how did we get here and why do they hate each other.

But that aside this book actually keeps you intrigued because of the backstories and the tension that makes it feel like a slow burn one night stand to Enemies to Lovers haha

Love it

I am in love with Connor Crais voice anything he narrated I followed and Mackenzie Cartwright is really good too. Kingsley find out aspen is the mother of his daughter and he want payback for abandoning her daughter not knowing she thought she was dead but someone is behind the lie and betrayal.

Best of the Bunch !!!

While I loved the first 3 books in this series, IMO….Empire of Lust was the absolute best !! Brilliant story and amazing performances by Connor & Mackenzie. I’m looking forward to a re-listen very soon.

I really tried

I tried so hard to like this! I re-listened to the book and everything. I didn't like it. I could not connect with any of the characters.

The series is awesome!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fully enjoyed. Well worth the credit! Awesome narration! Highly recommended! Characters are strong and plot is engaging!

My Boss, My Hell "Kingsley and Aspen"

Audio Book 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love this couple, I've smiled and cried with them, their chemistry you feel from the previous books you already know something is going on.
king's hatred for her is nothing more than he always loved her and was looking for her

I loved their first date
I love that King calls her a witch
I love that she doesn't bow to the king I love it and I had a lot of laughs in the scene where he meets her at the ball.
This is a book you can't stop reading.
The ending is exciting.
And I love her she has another child with him

"I'm a discerning reader so when I love a couple that's special to me, and this couple captivated me from their young scenes to the end when they get married and have a child"

- Aspen is in my top 5 Heroines Rina kent she won my heart, I was moved by her story, her strength and I love that she doesn't lower her head to anyone, but behind that strength hides the pain of losing a son who later she discovers that it is Gwen and even after finding out she continues to fight for her daughter's love and in the end her having a child with the king is exciting.

I love king's voice, I don't like Aspen's voice very much, but that doesn't mean the actress is wonderful.
It's a personal opinion I don't like the actress's voice, but that didn't stop me from crying with the book, and aspen being my second favorite by Rina KENT
All of Kingsley's Chapters are so much fun he has amazing humor.

Enemies With Benefits Romance

Empire of Lust by Rina Kent is an enemies with benefits romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright. This is the fourth book of the Empire series and can be read as a stand-alone.

I love Rina's books! She does an amazing job pulling me into the story and making me fall in love with the characters. I loved the relationship between Kingsley and Aspen. It was a bit toxic and messy, but you couldn't help but root for them. I really enjoyed getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

Connor and Mackenzie did an amazing job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of their work in the future.

I would recommend this book if you like enemies-to-lovers romances, enemies with benefits romances, second chance romances, or office romances.

book 4 in the series

all the books in this series have been great and the way Rina Kent intertwined characters from other books throughout the series has been great. the narrations have been excellent throughout also. I highly recommend these books and others by the author.

Intense and Captivating!

This is the fourth book in the Empire of Hate series. This is a series of interconnected stories. Kingsley and Aspen's story is captivating. They are both deep and intriguing characters. Aspen, Gwyn's mother, is a beautiful character. She is beautiful, strong, smart, and determined. My heart broke for her. Kingsley is enigmatic, dominant, possessive, protective, powerful, and ruthless. Their push and pull relationship is intense and their chemistry is sizzling hot. I liked the unrelenting banter, bittersweet, and steamy. The storyline is complex, entertaining, and enthralling, filled with angst, danger and twists and turns. The supporting characters are amazing. The ending is perfect. This is my favorite book in the series. This is an excellent second chance to love and enemies with benefits. I enjoyed it. Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright did an outstanding job with the narration. They are perfect as Kingsley and Aspen. The audio production is perfection. I HIGHLY recommend this series.

The perfect lusty conclusion to a sexy series!

Empire of Lust is the fourth and final book in the Empire series and is the ruthless, lust filled, enemies to lovers story of Kingsley Shaw and Aspen LeBlanc.
Kingsley Shaw is as a savage, ruthless man. He was raised to be this way. Anyone who gets in his way is on his s**t list and he’ll stop at nothing until he destroys them. Aspen is one person who has always gotten under his skin but since he found out she is the mother of his child that was dumped on his doorstep when he was barely 17 years old, never to be seen of heard from again, he sets out to make her life a living hell. Only along the way he finds himself having sexual thoughts about her and becoming protective over her. He loves to praise and degrade her which umm, yeah, kinda did things to my lady parts that I was not expecting.
Aspen LeBlanc does an amazing job showboating as an ice queen; she pulls off the I don’t give a f**k and will go to battle with anyone persona to perfection. However, underneath she is just a broken woman who was failed by every person who should have loved and protected her. She and King have a past, one night together when they were teenagers which resulted in a daughter, who she was led to believe was stillborn. A daughter who King raised, and as much as he likes to assert he hates Aspen, she is the one person he wants most in the world.
The fabulously talented Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright bring this powerhouse couple to life and sweet baby Jesus, I couldn’t have loved this duo more. Connor’s performance as the cold, calculated, ruthless King Shaw is magnificent. His deep, tone was perfect to convey King’s hate but also was easy to switch up and tap into the lusty, BDSM side of his character. I love all sides of Connor performing romance heroes, but dark antihero, alpha-hole has to be my favourite as he does it so well. Mackenzie Cartwright’s portrayal as the tough on the outside but just wants to be loved and accepted Aspen was something to behold. I loved how she could flip from hard ass to super soft damaged soul and back again flawlessly. This pairing and an absolute dream team, you know a book is in safe hands when you see these two at the helm.
This enemies to lovers, workplace, second chance romance was the perfect conclusion to what has been an epic series. King and Aspen’s story was an absolute dream. I loved the hate, the lust, the BDSM, the fact that he went from hating her to killing for her, his possessiveness, his need to protect her and Aspen her finally letting go of the past hurt and trauma that had shaped her life. I’d been anticipating their story since Empire of Desire and Jesus Mary and Joseph; Rina Kent did not disappoint! This series went out with a bang, and I loved every single steamy, sexy second of it.

A great book, and a great audio to go with it!

Since the first book, I wanted to know King and Aspen’s story. I wanted to read about their one and only time together–of which Gwyn is the result–and see how their obvious hatred for each other as adults would morph into love. It was the enemies to lovers romance I needed, with open animosity and strong attraction.

I wasn’t even disappointed when the love I was waiting for looked a lot like lust. It’s the big struggle with the trope, and it almost succeeded. Let’s say it half succeeded–the successful half being Aspen. She shows respect and admiration for Kingsley even when they bicker, and flashbacks show that she felt something for the boy she met when she was young. On Kingsley’s half, it’s more dubious. Sure, he hasn’t had a real relationship since he slept with Aspen twenty years before, but he’s also quite rash with her and we don’t see a lot of feelings on his part until he admits to them. It’s okay, I accepted it.

Because they were scorching hot together! The whole series is kinky, and this one was doubly so. Maybe because of the side of hate. Maybe because, in the middle of their tornado of lust and hate, they don’t have much consideration for the people around them. Public encounters don’t bother them. And at the same time, they’re trying to keep their affair secret. Hot, I’m telling you.

I loved that their feelings for each other mostly develop because of a third party’s intervention. Their daughter isn’t trying to set them up, no. But she wants them to at least get along, because she loves her father, and she wants a relationship with her mother. The resulting tension between the three of them leads to some change in their dynamics. The fact that Gwyn is now a married woman had also an influence, especially since she married her father’s best friend and associate.

This book was really Aspen’s story. How she reconnects with her daughter. How she starts something with Kingsley. And how she deals with her past. She grew up in an abusing home, while her father was in prison. Because he was a criminal! There’s a whole mafia slash family intrigue that was quite gripping. The book is about Aspen dealing with her past to make herself a better present.

Narration was exceptional. The female narrator was capable to show Aspen’s strength as well as her more vulnerable side, and the male narrator did Kingsley’s constant rage and arrogance perfectly. A great book, and a great audio to go with it!

Empire of Lust

Oh yeah, that's an ending of a fantastic series.
All books can be read/listened to as a standalone, but I enjoyed listen to the whole series a lot, so I wouldn't want to miss it.

King's and Aspen's enemies-to-lovers story is a sexy, wild one with full of action.
We also could put all puzzle pieces together and got the whole story about their connection and past.

A book worth of reading/listening to it.

Hot enemies to lovers. Great narration.

Well, ever since I found out the little secret Aspen had been hiding in Book 1 of this series, I needed her story and I’m so glad that Rina wrote it. This is a full on enemies to lovers story with an alpha to the max as the MMC.

Aspen is desperate to be accepted as Gwen’s mother and King is determined to undermine her connection with his daughter any way he can. There is so much verbal sparring in this one and some super assertive adult time. There is hair pulling and biting and hickeys galore! Phewy she was a hot one!

We find out why Aspen’s dark family connections prevented her from being Gwen’s mother from the start and slowly but surely she builds that relationship back up. King can’t help but want her and he struggles with his feelings choosing to focus on their physical connection.

There’s definitely a suspense element to this book with Aspen’s past catching up to her. This book has great pacing and the narrators kept me interested from start to finish. Mackenzie shows that she is a versatile voice actor, giving us all the emotions that Aspen feels. Connor once again gives us an alpha but also easily lets us get into King’s head and feel his inner turmoil over his feelings for Aspen and her blossoming relationship with his daughter.

It’s a suspenseful, second chance enemies to lovers romance and definitely one of the highlights of this series.

This one is the best!

There are some books you just wait for and this one is one of them. When I met these Kingsley Shaw and Aspen LeBlanc in the first book of this series, I knew there had to be a story, and boy is there ever. Kinglsey is one of those antiheroes that I really had a tough time liking. His arrogance and flippant attitude is tough at times, but somewhere there just had to be a heart. Aspen has so many layers. Her past is surprising, her heartache real and the way she loves is timeless. Their story is complex, an enemies to lovers kind of story, a love hate relationship with a push pull that can be so nasty that it's hard to believe they can be hot together! But once we get down to the bare bones of it all, there are two broken people, misunderstood, deceived and can only be fixed by each other. Kent writes with a double edged pen, giving us the best listens. This story has it all. A fantastic couple with a difficult journey, thrilling suspense and an ending to beat all others. I love this series and especially this book.

Let's make this book even better with Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright performing it for us. Crais is so versatile. From comedy to dark romance, he is a true talent. Kingsley is not an easy character, and Crais gives him the air of darkness and danger, and finds his heart and tenderness. Cartwright, who I adore, is so good as Aspen. Broken, but strong as ever, she keeps Aspen's emotions raw and real. This is one of my favorite teams together and this performance is amazing.