Book Review: Empire Of Desire By Rina Kent
Empire Of Desire By Rina Kent
Empire Of Desire by Rina Kent - Book 1 of 4: Empire
Tropes: Age gap romance, Father’s best friend, Forbidden romance, Marriage of convenience, Forced proximity, Protective grumpy hero, Billionaire romance, Slow-burn tension, Possessive male lead
Summary:
Empire of Desire is a forbidden, slow-burning, beautifully messy age-gap romance that explores temptation, power, and the kind of obsession that refuses to fade with time. Gwen never expected to fall for her father’s best friend, a man eighteen years older, impossibly powerful, and completely off-limits.
Nathaniel Weaver has everything: wealth, status, influence, control… but the one thing he shouldn’t want is the one thing he can’t stay away from. When a forced marriage throws them together, all the tension, resentment, and unspoken desire finally combust in a story full of chemistry, emotional conflict, and that signature Rina Kent chaos.
It’s forbidden, addictive, dramatic and impossible to stop reading.
💚 LD
This was a solid 4-star read for me, and honestly, Nate completely stole the spotlight. He’s the perfect blend of grumpy, protective, emotionally guarded, and just a little unhinged — exactly the kind of morally grey hero Rina Kent writes best. His quiet intensity and the way he tries (and fails) to resist Gwen made every chapter irresistible.
The age gap dynamic worked so well here. It added this delicious forbidden tension that built slowly but powerfully. The forced marriage trope only heightened everything — the close proximity, the emotional push-and-pull, the vulnerability Nate tries so hard to hide.
Gwen took a little time to grow on me, but as the story unfolded, I really enjoyed watching her character mature and push back against Nate’s iron walls. Their chemistry felt natural, fiery, and addictive.
And THAT plot twist? I swear I just stared at my screen in silence for a full minute. Rina loves to throw curveballs and this one delivered. Overall, it’s such an easy, bingeable, entertaining read — Rina Kent can truly do no wrong.
“He’s carrying me like I’m a weightless feather. The effortlessness of the act does things to me. His strength.”
🤍 AD -
I’ll be honest, age-gap romances can go either way for me, and at first I worried this one might slide into the cringe territory… but by the halfway mark, I was hooked. Nate completely carried this book for me. He’s protective, powerful, emotionally complicated, and his internal struggle was one of my favourite parts of the story.
While Gwen felt immature at times, I did warm up to her as the emotional layers were revealed. Her impulsiveness made sense for her age, and it contrasted really well with Nate’s maturity and restraint. Their personalities clashing actually made the tension sharper and more fun to read.
I also really loved the marriage-of-convenience twist, it created so many great “forced closeness” moments, and their chemistry during those scenes was undeniably good. By the end, I appreciated how much Gwen softened Nate and how much Nate grounded her.
It’s definitely a book I’m glad I stuck with, and I think fans of the age-gap trope will eat this one up.
“You’re the most colorful fucking thing I’ve ever met, Gwyneth.”
💙 AG -
I went into Empire of Desire not expecting much, but it ended up being such a pleasant surprise. I love age-gap romances, and this one delivered all the tension and forbidden vibes I crave. Nate was hands-down my favorite part of the entire story — his brooding energy, his restraint, his protective nature… all of it worked perfectly.
The forbidden kiss in the past, the unresolved tension, the forced marriage — it all blended into such a fun, addictive dynamic. I loved watching Gwen and Nate try to navigate their complicated feelings and the expectations placed on them. Their chemistry was not just physical but emotional too, and that’s what pulled me in.
While this wasn’t the deepest or most intense Rina Kent book I’ve read, it was an incredibly enjoyable, quick, and immersive story. If you’re in the mood for something that’s sexy, light, dramatic, and full of addictive tension, Empire of Desire is such a great pick — especially for age-gap fans.
“Fuck the way she looks at me. As if I'm a god with all the answers and solutions. As if I'm the only one who can make everything right. -Nathaniel Weaver”
