Darkness frightened her, but a killer becomes her muse. -Aaron- Death was all I lived for. Until she came along. Lively. Beautiful. Spicy. I need to kill her, but the urge to keep her is stronger. For the first time in my life, I defy my demons for her. The price? One of us has to die. -Mae- Darkness scared me. Until him. Mysterious. Dangerous. Deadly. He terrified me, but his hidden layers … die.
-Mae-
Darkness scared me. Until him.
Mysterious. Dangerous. Deadly.
He terrified me, but his hidden layers intrigued me more. I can’t help being attracted to the man within. To his beautiful madness and twisted mind.
Even if being entangled in his world could lead to my ruin…
more
amazing read
This was a deliciously dark read and I really enjoyed it. I loved the darkness, danger and angst in this dark capture/kidnap romance and how their realtionship formed.
I can highly recommend and will have to check out more from this author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 vivid stars
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Suspenseful and thrilling, Ruin by Rina Kent is a twisted story with a lot of triggers. It is the first book in The Rhodes series. It definitely hits the mark if you are in the mood for something gritty and dark.
Ruin introduces us to Aaron and Mae. They are not your typical hero and heroine. Aaron is emotionally dark and not all there psychologically. He has an immense urge to kill, seeks blood and feels alive after every kill. Learning to live with the demons in his head is not an easy task.
Mae has lived a good life, she is an artist with a lot of friends and a wonderful family. On the outside, she has life figured out, on the inside something is missing. After running into Aaron, her art takes on a mind of its own. It becomes dark and abstract. She is drawn to him, little does she know she has the same effect on him. After following her, Aaron makes his move and kidnaps her.
Mae puts up a fight every step of the way, but the longer she is with Aaron, the stronger her feelings grow. The more she rebels and talks back, the more Aaron is drawn to her. They develop an unconventional relationship, something I would consider Stockholm, that gets more complicated as the plot develops. Their relationship isn’t hearts and flowers, it is hard and complicated but they open up their hearts and find their version of a happily ever after. This book is full of unexpected twists and thrills
Why I rated this book a 3.5 and not a 4: Although the story and characters were intriguing, there were times I had a hard time following along. I think her writing style was just that, hers. I can’t say I disliked it because I didn’t. It was just different and therefore my 3.5 star rating. I will say that I will continue to follow the series as I am curious as to what Rina Kent will give us next.
This book starts off with such a solid intro you can’t help but stayed glued in til the end. It was intense, it was written with a wonderful crafted hand and it leaves you feeling like you really are in this for the ride. Aaron battle his own demons as he moves through this carefully woven story.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the 1st book I’ve read written Rina Kent; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
I received for an honest review from Booksprout
This book hooked me from the get go I just couldn’t put it down I fell in love with these characters and omg what a story just a perfect read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Dark, dangerous, raw, emotionally deep, and gritty! There is lots of action, drama, humour, LOL moments, intrigue, and suspense, twists, and danger. Well-developed storyline with interesting strong characters you will love. The Chemistry between them is intense. This is an on the edge of your seat read from beginning to end, so hold on to your seats because you are in for quite a ride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love my dark genre and this book my little heart so happy. Aaron may seem like he has it all from the outside, wealth, looks, a title but there’s so much more going on inside his head. He has a thirst for killing and the voices in his head are very controlling. Will he be able to control the voices in his head when it comes to Mae?
Mae has no idea how her life is going to change in one minute. When she realizes what is happening there’s not a chance she’ll fall for her captor will she? When she knows what he’s been through will it change her feelings?
Will they be what each other needs and wants or will Aaron’s inner voices make it impossible?
I’m absolutely loving this author!!!!!!
First off i won this Arc but everything i write is 100% my honest opinion of how i felt about this book 🙂
I ended up really liking this book ,it was dark and twisty with a dash of romance 🙂
I loved Aaron ,he’s such an intriguing character ,hearing voices that want him to kill and spill blood made him think he was nothing but a killer until Mae stumbles into him one night and after that he can’t get her out of his head so he kidnaps her ,at first he doesn’t understand why he feels like he does about Mae but the more time they spend together the more he wants to fight the demons in his head ,he wants Mae to stay alive and protect her which is a first for him ,i loved how their twisted relationship came about and i loved reading about them 🙂 they bring out the best in each other .
Mae is a great character ,when she gets kidnapped she fights and tries to escape but the more she learns about Aaron the more she see’s that he isn’t a total monster ,he’s sick and needs help and she wants to help him anyway she can ,she totally falls for him and the more they get to know each other the more she wants to save him ,something deep inside brings them closer and they find something that turns their worlds upside down,their love story is dark and addicting and i loved every second of it 🙂
Also totally love Tristan and Dylan 🙂 can’t wait to read their books ! love this world that Rina Kent built ,she writes characters with flaws and dark sides but they still redeem themselves with the good to balance it all out 🙂 looking forward to reading more from her 🙂
This dark and suspenseful psychological romance was amazingly good! Packed with murder, mystery, danger, darkness, kidnapping, passion, and intrigue that makes it very interesting and compelling to keep you glued to the pages of this fascinating story. I wasn’t expecting the turn this story took; it has quite an unexpected revelation that may leave you flabbergasted but it is jaw-dropping good! Aaron Rhodes is super wealthy, handsome, sexy, dangerous, mysterious, and a psychopath. Aaron has very dark tendencies to want to kill and see blood—he lived to see death. Mae Wilson had a normal life until she was kidnapped by Aaron. Aaron became obsessed with the feisty, sassy, and obstinate beautiful woman who is a talented artist. You will learn that things are not always as they seem, as you anxiously wait for the next bombshell. In this captivating story, Rina Kent has constructed a deliciously duplicitous psychological thriller that will lure you until the wee hours and beyond. This storyline has a revenge plot outlined to make you question everything. Second guessing motives and characters. I was flipping the pages in wonder. Don’t get too comfortable reading this book…it is one wild ride! There are several surprises and plot twists and turns within the story that makes it interesting. This disturbing dark romance with gripping details and deep and troubled characters will pique your interest and draw you in from the beginning to the very end.
Ruin is book 1 in The Rhodes series and is definitely a dark and twisted read. Aaron and Mae’s story isn’t your typical romance, but these two are drawn to each other and Mae proves to be the light to Aaron’s darkness. There are many cringe worthy moments, but you just have to see what happens next. Looking forward to Tristan’ story.
Ruin is the first book in The Rhodes Series by Rina Kent. Ruin can be read as a standalone but will go along with other books in the series. The story is told from both Aaron, and Mae’s POV. While this is the first book in the Rhodes Series I do recommend reading Crowed first just so you have a bit of the back story but it’s not a MUST to enjoy the story.
After reading Crowed (Team Zero Book #1), I had expectations of where I thought Ruin was going to go. I was totally wrong! Ruin is a dark romance that’s filled with suspense. There are some triggers, murder, psychological issues, suicide, etc. so if any of these are an issue for you, please take heed to the warning.
Ruin is Aaron Rhodes story.
Aaron Rhodes is a wealthy aristocrat. You would think that he has it all. But underneath the fancy clothing and the posh accent, he fights daily to put on a “normal” face.
Aaron’s childhood seriously damaged his psyche. After his suicidal aunt takes her own life in front of him he becomes mute. Then after his father finally succumbs to the darkness and takes his mothers life before taking his own, Aaron and his cousin Tristen are then kidnapped by Hades and trained to be assassins in the Pit for years before the Rhodes boys escape.
If you have read Crowed then you know a little more about the Pit, if you haven’t then you really should!
As an adult, Aaron has an insatiable blood lust, with the voices of his aunt and father in his head influencing him along the way.
Fate literally puts Mae in Aaron’s path one night and now that she’s caught his attention the “demons” won’t let him rest until he spills her blood.
“Gaining my interest is dangerous. Losing it was lethal.”- Aaron
Mae has had a good life, loving supportive parents. At first glance she’s just another spoiled little rich girl… but then Aaron catches sight of her drawings. Mae is an artist and it’s in that artwork that the darkness she has inside of her comes out. Seeing her artwork draws Aaron to her even more.
When Aaron begins stalking Mae she can “feel” his presence. At first, although scary, she likes the rush of knowing she’s being watched.
“I laugh, but the sounds dies on my lips. Goosebumps erupt all over my skin. My fingers clutch the soft material as if it’s a shield. A dark, but familiar foreboding envelops my mind. My feet twitch, fighting the impulse to whirl around and look at the shadows. At him. The nightmares’ stranger. My stalker.”- Mae
Then one night Mae literally lands at his feet and he can’t resist the temptation, he kidnaps her.
When Aaron first decided to take her it was with the sole purpose of feeding the voices in his head, while breaking her mentally before spilling her blood.
But once Mae starts to lose that spark in her eyes that first drew him to her, it makes him second guess everything he thought he wanted. Hurting her doesn’t have the same thrill it usually does, in fact, it’s quite the opposite. For the first time in his life, HE doesn’t WANT to hurt someone.
But unfortunately, just because Aaron feels that way, doesn’t mean those voices do and they are absolutely driving him to the brink of insanity with the demand to kill her.
While in captivity Mae has learned of the things that happened to him in his childhood and wants to help him overcome his demons. But Aaron knows just how dangerous he is to be around and tries to warn Mae away from him, but the stubborn little mouse refuses to listen.
Is it possible for Mae to help Aaron be the man he wishes he could be? Will Aaron finally give in to the voices of his father and aunt and spill Mae’s blood? You’ll just have to read Ruin to find out!
When I read Crowed I thought I loved Rina’s work then, reading Ruin I was absolutely blown away. How Rina took an insane man and made Mae (and us readers!) fall in love with him is beyond me but that’s exactly what she did!
I was so enthralled by Aaron’s character that I literally could not put this book down because I just had to know what was going to happen next. I think I was just as invested in finding out the history of the man as Mae was.
The only “negative” which wasn’t really a negative I just would have preferred more of it lol, was the sexy scenes. More sex = Happy Heather
Tristen, Dylan, Kane, I can not wait to read more about all of these guys!
If you like dark, romantic, suspense, then trust me Rina Kent and Ruin are for you!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
RUIN
by Rina Kent
4
Release Date March 14
Ruin is Book 1 in the Rhodes series. It is dark and chilling. The way Aaron’s character is described is intriguing. The way his mind works, all the darkness and bloodlust draws you in. Mae, an innocent woman, with demons from her past was the light to Aaron’s darkness. She was a breath of fresh air.
As dark and twisted as this story was I really enjoyed it. The writing was great and everything flowed. At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel as I’m not one to pick up a victim falls for a kidnapper type of book but this one wasn’t disturbing as I thought it might be. It’s farmer but no rape or abuse was written.
This dark romance is worth the read. It will have you captivated and intrigued from the get go. You call for the characters as well as feel their internal struggles. It’s a great start to what will probably be an amazing series.
This story is dark and deliciously deranged. Aaron is haunted by the demons inside his head. His thirst to spill blood is the only thing he can think about until her. Determined to fight for her freedom Mae finds herself torn between escaping the monster who grabbed her and saving the man she’s beginning to love. This story is fast paced, unpredictable, and twisted. I loved it!
Wow this book!!
It’s not often I’m speechless, but right now I am.
As this was a new to me author I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn’t this!
I was on the edge of my seat the whole book, cannot wait to read more.
This was not your average Love Story ~ it’s deep, dark and gritty. Aaron & Mae are beautifully broken characters that just fit together, proving opposites do attract. Mae’s strength, understanding of Aaron’s inner struggle, her attraction to her captor and her artistic “darkness” make her an enduring heroine. Rina did an excellent job keeping me “in” the story.
This one did leave me with questions, especially about The Pit. I am certainly looking forward to more from this Author…
OMG – what’s the phrase?? More twists and turns than a country road. Rina Kent is the master of dark and suspenseful romance. Her complicated plots + deep dark characters = a book so intense that I couldn’t put down. Read Crowed first, then Ruin, then repeat to catch all the little bits you missed the first time. I can’t wait for the rest of the Rhodes series books.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aaron’s family tree has so many dark and tragic elements with more twists than a bag of pretzels. As each piece of his haunting past is pealed back, you see more of the struggle he’s had to remain in control of his delusions and try to keep his compulsions at bay. Not so easy if you are a Rhodes, killing is in their nature now.He becomes obsessed with Mae, the lovely young artist he let live in that alley and begins stalking her relentlessly. She can feel him watching but rather than fear, Mae feels excited and thrilled with his attention. Aaron makes a rash decision concerning her that is so completely out of character that it even shocks him! What happens after that is the what had me riveted to this book, with so much WTF in it, so much building excitement and mystery, there was no putting it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4.5 stars!!
This is book one of “The Rhodes” series. This book is also connected to “Crowed” and though it didn’t really make or break reading it, this can be read as a stand alone. BUT I will say reading “Crowed” gave me background info I wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Aaron is a killer. A psychopath. A stalker. But he is my killer. My stalker. My psychopath. ~Mae Wilson
This is a dark romance. Like omg why did I like this so much, romance. The beginning of the book didn’t catch me right away. But a few chapters in and I was obsessed. I couldn’t put the book down. All I could think about was Aaron!! He is like a super sexy psychopath, who I just want to make better!! Ahh this book is crazy good!!
This author writes beautifully. She made me see things I wasn’t sure I wanted to see. I was team Aaron all the way. Even when he was just a crazy guy.
Tristan, Dylan and even Kane. I need to know so much more. I can’t wait for the next book!!
**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest review**
Fear and Bloodlust
One is terrified of being alone in the dark, the other is hidden in his own darkness with a lust for blood.
Fear
She used to have pretty paintings, but since that night she saw him all she can paint is a silhouette with a broken wing. The darkness is pulling her in taking her back to that horrible, terrifying day.
Bloodlust
The need is strong pushing him for the kill. Every week he needs it, the voices need it, he is their puppet until he sees her. He has to have her, needs to see the red staining that pale China doll skin.
Fear meets Bloodlust
He is there putting her into the darkness, then pulling her from the memory, giving her something to cling to.
Can love pull her from her own darkness to help him fight his own?
I was hooked, pulled in, trying to figure out who, why, and what is happening. Where did Mae’s fear come from? Why is Aaron obsessed with the kill? Why did the Rhodes get chosen for The Pit and how did they get out. Why has he not been committed or jailed? What is Aaron going to do to Mae and what is Mae going to do to Aaron?
Love is thicker than blood if you let it in.
Holy Cow!! Aaron Rhodes is the Psycho we all want one of now!! How did that just happen?!?! He’s by all accounts crazy, and unapologetically a killer, and hunter. He craves blood and death. But,but, but…he’s a noble man and really freaking hot . So I guess I’m okay with it. He had a super eff’d up childhood! Then Mae- sweet, gorgeous Mae manages to catch the eye of our delicious, dark anti-hero. She can feel his presence and At first it is a bit exciting as well as it causes some emotions she’s unsure of how she feels about them. This reflects in her work. She’s a talented artist.
He can’t get her off his mind and then something happens and he ends up “with” her. This starts the development of the relationship between Mae and Aaron. He knows just how messed up he is and what a danger to her he is, and she finds out some things about him that may explain why he is the way he is. Is it possible that he can get help and be the man Mae believes he can? Does he think he could ever be capable of not hurting anyone? Read this book and find out. This is a stand alone. And the first book in the Rhodes series. Crowed was the first in the Team Zero series. Both are stand alone books , but there are some character cross referencing so I would recommend reading them both. Plus they are awesome!Check out my review for Crowed too!
*I Received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review of my opinion on this book.