[PRE-ORDER] Empire of Desire (Empire, #1) by Rina Kent

Release Date: 01/05/2027

forbidden romance • age gap • father's best friend • forced marriage • dark romance

Gwyneth Shaw never expected one impulsive kiss to complicate her life quite so thoroughly. Nathaniel Weaver is older, powerful, successful, and completely forbidden. As her father's best friend, he is the one man Gwyneth should never want, let alone fall for.

But when circumstances force them into a marriage neither of them expected, keeping their distance becomes impossible.

The Vibe

Gwyneth is determined, spirited, and far less easy to intimidate than Nathaniel might have anticipated. Nathaniel is controlled, commanding, and accustomed to getting exactly what he wants. Their age difference and complicated history add another layer of tension to an attraction neither of them can simply ignore.

The romance thrives on forbidden chemistry, power dynamics, sharp tension, and the push and pull between two people who know they probably should not be together. Nathaniel's cool exterior makes Gwyneth's attempts to get under his skin all the more satisfying.

Set against the polished world of powerful lawyers and wealthy families, Empire of Desire delivers a steamy, angsty romance filled with obsession, temptation, and complicated emotions. Each book in the Empire series follows a different couple, so this story can be enjoyed as a complete standalone.

Spice Level

• 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️  (5/5)

Tropes & Tags

• Forbidden romance
• Age-gap romance
• Father's best friend
• Forced marriage
• Marriage of convenience
• Power imbalance
• Older hero
• Younger heroine
• Workplace romance
• Wealthy hero
• Contemporary romance
• Dark romance elements
• High-society setting
• Forbidden attraction
• Steamy romance

Books in Series (In Order)

• Empire of Desire, #1
• Empire of Sin, #2
• Empire of Hate, #3
• Empire of Lust, #4