Red Thorns

A Dark New Adult Romance

By: Rina Kent

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Rose Dioro, Jacob Morgan

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 of being 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 listeners might find offensive and/or triggering. Red Thorns is part of a duet and is not stand-alone.

©2021 Rina Kent (P)2021 Rina Kent

Kink. bad high school drama portrayed in a “college”

Sexual scenes and some plot of possible serial killer in the male lead. Teddy Hamilton is one of my favorite narrators, so when he is cast, I usually enjoy. However, the idea that there is this cast system in a college setting… that the main beautiful character has no positive friends or outlets is crazy. Her mother wants her to be “popular” which in turn, she needs to be a cheerleader?! Ummmm in what point does this need or actually occur in an adult setting. Nothing against cheerleaders! But that does not signify popularity in a college setting or even high school anymore?! Anyone else like music, art, gymnastics, softball?! These, or anything like this just naming even a few could have been better than that old cliche.

I can see this plot taking place in a high school where it would be better suited. I was not anticipating this type of “follow what your mother says, be popular, be a cheerleader, group shaming, and being alone” when you have an entire campus.

This seemed too far fetched for the overall setting. This was a huge downfall. Also, the main characters “best friend “ is a total POS. The fact that this strong lead kept speaking to this individual made me want to put this book down numerous times.

Once again. Sex scenes are intense and fun at times if you are into a darker themed, breath and choke play type of kink. The cat and mouse aspect of the scenes was fun, for me at least which was the only redeeming aspect.

Ending does make me want to find out what happens in hope that the next book may fit the adult or college aged setting it should have presented in this one.

Hopeful…

One hell of a book!

Oh my God! This book is a must read. From beginning to end leaving you wanting more.. One of Rina Kent best books by far..

Well damn😏🤌🏼

Sebastian can get it👏🏻😏 I totally devoured this book so quick and when I got to the end I thought I was going to lose my damn mind! I loved Sebastian and Naomi, I also really, really enjoyed the side characters. I wish they were getting their own books but sadly Miss Rina said we are not🥺

Holy Hotness with a toxic twist & cliffhanger.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.75
Narators: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧

I always enjoy listening to anything narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan. The have been the voices of many romance books I listen to. It was a nice change to listen to them both in 1 book. I loved how Jacob Morgan was the voice of Naomi's penpal, keeping me wondering who it could possibly be. Rose Dioro did an amazing job as Naomi. This was the first book I've listened to narrated by her, but I hope there are more in my future.

Tropes:
- Dark College Romance
- Sports Romance (Quarterback/Cheerleader)
- Bet/Dare
- Bullying
- CNC/Primal Hunt Kink
- NonCon/DubCon
- Morally Black
- Vrgn FMC
- Unknown PenPal
- Cliffhanger

This was a new take on a sports romance for me. He's, I've read dark sports romances and I've even read romances where there's a bet/dare placed, but this whole book was different for me. It left me with so many questions by the end of this book that I've already purchased the 2nd book in this duet to go ahead and listen to. I have to say this while first is shocking and surprising and nothing is as it seems by the time book 2 comes around.

Naomi is this lonely woman that only has 2 friends. 1 being Lucy, a fellow cheerleader, who by the end of this book isn't much of a friend. And her 2nd friend is a penpal she's never met, just writes to every week. She knows her penpals first name and that he lives in Japan which is Naomi's heritage.

She attend Blackwood College in an "old money" town that rich kids attend. Naomi is bullied a lot by others, especially her peers and those on the cheer squad and football team. While she has a good front, she lets all their words role off her and dishes it right back. She's witty with a smart mouth and doesn't care about fitting in.

You may ask why is she a Cheerleader if they bully her? Well, she doesn't want to be one, but only does it for her mother. It's just her and her mom and her mother has busted her butt to make sure Naomi has a good life. Naomi is ungrateful at times and always tries to push her mom into knowing about her father. She has her dad built up to something wonderful in her head and even tries to hide a P.I. into finding him. Little did she know.

Sebastian is the Quarterback at Blackwood College and comes from a political family and that "old money." He's always known what is expected out of his life every since his parents death when he had to go live with his grandparents.

Sebastian is part of the popular crowd, always fitting in and playing the past that's expected of him. Yet, there is a darker part to Sebastian. A monster that lurks underneath. When he is bet or dared to sleep with Naomi and take her V-card, he agrees. Yet, when he learns that Naomi is the perfect prey for his monster, he becomes hooked and needs her.

These two start a relationship that isn't normal to others and doesn't fit the mold. Naomi fights him when their alone, but plays the part in front of others. While they are laughing behind her back at the bet she knows nothing about. When she does figure it out, Sebastian doesn't plan on letting her go. Afterall, that was just is way in to her life that he needed.

Things don't go how either one of them plan. This book ended on a heck of a Cliffhanger. Rina has definitely peaked my interest and I definitely need to know what happens. I'm glad I have the 2nd book ready to read now.

One of Rina’s bests!

This book was so intense and very hard to read at times, but it was also one of Rina’s best works. She did warn us that there could be some triggers, so beware going into this, especially if you have had some experiences with bad relationships.

Rina is the queen of dark, complex stories. There hasn’t been one book that she has written that I have not listen to audiobook. Her stories are so intriguing and they just draw you in so deep. You even think about the stories long after you’re done reading them.

The story is told in a three person POV, Sebastian, Naomi, and Akira. Naomi lives with her mother who is a seamstress for an elaborate fashion business. Sebastian is the quarterback at the college they both attend, and then there’s Akira who is Naomi‘s pen pal.

I won’t go into much detail because I don’t want to ruin the story, but all I can say is that the relationship that Naomi and Sebastian have with each other is very toxic. Still, even in their twisted way they care about each other deeply.

As with all of Rina’s books, there is a huge cliffhanger. This is why I won’t start her books until the series is finished. This way, I go right into the next book. 🤪

Couldn't stop listening;)

This book was amazing. As always Rina never disappoints. Teddy was amazing. I can never get enough of that voice. :)

Wild

This was a dark story. I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it at first. But I was quickly pulled in and had to see what happened next. If you’re looking for hearts and flowers this is not the book for you. But if you want something gritty and raw…dig in. I can’t wait to see what book 2 brings!

Cliffhanger!

While this book had much darker subject matter than I was expecting I still enjoyed the overall story. There are a lot of unanswered questions that I hope get resolved in the second book.

This was AMAZING!

I loved this story and I am always down for some primal play and dub-con!!! 🙌🙌🙌🙌 I was weary of this duet because I didn't love Lies & Truths, but this is phenomenal! And the narration is perfection! I'm off to start Black Thorns because HOW DO YOU END A BOOK LIKE THAT, RINA?!?!?!

Excellent story, superb narration, brutal cliffy

This’ll be short and sweet because I need to get to the next book.
Check your triggers. This contains CNC so if that’s a problem, do not even consider this book. If you like CNC and a chase, this is your book!
The story is good…kind of a Cruel Intentions element mixed with CNC.
The narration is excellent! Teddy and Rose are rockstars. We don’t hear Jacob much in this book but we all know he’s a rockstar also.
This ends in a brutal cliffhanger which is why this review is done. I need to get to the next book! Ok bye!