| Title | : | Ruin (Dark Island Scots, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 389 |
| Publication | : | First published January 7, 2022 |
It was the blood I noticed first. Running down the neck of the man on the ferry.
Then his bruised knuckles, dark eyes, and arrogant smirk.
The handcuffs came last.
No one else paid him attention, but I couldn’t look away. Or deny my instant lust.
I had no idea he was being imprisoned on the remote, dark Scottish island I knew well.
Or that he’d been kidnapped, not arrested.
I went from that naïve girl on the boat, dreaming of stolen kisses, to the one who held the key to his prison cell.
When heat turns to hate, all that’s left is ruin.
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Ruin (Dark Island Scots, #1) is a new adult romance with dark themes, including angst, lust-to-hate-to-love, and lost innocence. This series will be deeply interconnected, so expect the occasional wicked cliffhanger (and McRae cameo). It'll be well worth the heart palpitations.
Lose yourself in Ruin.
Ruin (Dark Island Scots, #1) Reviews
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DNF - I had to gave up after 55%, because:
I didn't like how poorly executed or written it was. And the story... meh, not clear what exactly the author was trying to establish with this. I have not yet come across such extremely bad book like this one. "Extremely outrageous behavior" isn't my kind of thing, nor am I a big fan of abusive stories, but I still try to read occasionally if I see something promising with potentially redemptive characters. My bad luck, this book was not what I thought or predicted. I regret picking it up. I should have seen the reviews before starting. -
2⭐️⭐️
Style: Dark Romance
Story: 3/5
Enjoyment: 2/5
Dark Level: 1/5
Sexual Level: GOOD
Triggers:
Violence: Yes
Male: Bad Boy
Series: Book 1 (Cliffy)
Pages: loc. 4561
Audio: N/A
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
STORY:
WHAT I LIKED:
The premise of the story was appealing; it’s what drew me to the book and the cover. Struan at times gave me the bad boy imagine, especially when around, sweet innocent Thea. Thea was super sweet and gave this story balance. There were different POV and that was interesting as well.
WHAT WAS SO SO:
I could not connect to the way the story was conveyed to me 100%. The story took some time to get into. You saw the desire developing between Struan and Thea, but nothing started getting exciting for me until 40% and that’s a bit far out for me. However, most of all, I just think my enjoyment was hindered in the way the story flowed and I think it’s a me thing with how I am receiving it.
SEXUAL CHEMISTRY
The sex scenes were good. Bad boy turning a good girl naughty type of scenes.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS:
The other characters are interesting Sin, Scar and Burn, but even so, the flow still hinder me.
OVERALL:
Was I entertained? Not really. Did I like the story? Yes, more the premise. Would I read the other book in the series? No, I am not sure if I personally connect with the authors style and that’s more of a me thing. I may need to read another book to see.
TRIGGERS:
****I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read. I based my book reviews on my preferences and what I like, and while these preferences may not be the same for others, I hope this review was still helpful. -
‘I didn’t want to be the good girl anymore. One taste of the bad boy and there was no going back’
If I could, I would give this more stars!!
This is a little darker than normal for Jolie, but she nails it!
Full of angst, chemistry, attraction, drama, mystery and so much steam!! I was engrossed and if adulting didn’t suck so much, I would of totally devoured in 1 sitting!
Loved the McRae’s parts and how Jolie tied them in
Make sure you have your partner handy (or a toy) cause you will need it with Struan’s dirty mouth!!
This does end on a cliffy but oh so worth it!! -
This is not like Jolie’s typical writing at all. It’s was darker.
“It was the blood I noticed first. A red streak trickling the man’s neck, blending with his black hair. “
I was excited to start Jolie’s new book but after reading the first sentence I was excited for a different reason. I knew this one would be completely different than her books about the McRae’s. Struan (MMC) was dark and aggressive. A total bad boy. He had a pretty shitty start to life. No loving family. No happy memories. Thea (FMC) was the typical heroine. Good girl that finally gets a mind of her own and comes out of her shell after meeting the hero. Together, they were explosive. Coming together for wild angry sex and then hating each other after. Both refusing to acknowledge any other feelings for each other other than hatred.
This book was sooooo mysterious. One mystery after another kept popping up. One would be solved and then there’d be another unsolved case. I was honestly about to grab the yarn and pins and attack my poor wall! I needed questions answered! I’m getting to the end of the book right? Slowly, everything was falling into place. All my questions were getting answered and I was finally having some peace right? THEN IT ENDED IN A CLIFFHANGER! JOLIE! WHAT?! What?! I reread the last paragraph a few times because I thought I missed something. Nope! It’s just a cliffhanger. Something I don’t think Jolie has done before. Don’t get me started on the epilogue. She’s evil. Absolutely evil in only the best ways.
Definitely looking forward for the second book in this series. -
WooHoo!! What an amazing start to a new series!! We got a glimpse of Struan in Jolie Vines book Betrayed she gave us just enough to want more. And she definitely delivered with this story.
This is the first book in series and it does end in a cliffhanger, but I think it just makes it better!
Struan is the perfect definition of a bad boy and Thea is the perfect good girl, but all it took was a ferry ride for the attraction to ignite. This is not the usual opposites attract story, this story has layers and layers which makes it so much more.
Jolie has given us a start to a new set of characters in a whole new dynamic that is going to grab your attention and keep it until the end. I can’t see what comes next because I definitely have some questions that need some answers! -
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ruin was my first book by Jolie and I wasn’t disappointed. I went into this book blindly and was surprise how much I enjoyed it. This had a thriller feel to it, so it kept me on high alert 🚨
However their were parts I thought could have been explained a little bit better and parts that using common sense could have solved the problem but where would the excitement be in that…
The story was entertaining and it keep me wanting more. I didn’t find this to be a dark book at all. So I’m a little confused to why people are thinking otherwise.
I enjoyed it very much how the Author gave each character there own POV.. but still forced on the two MC’s which was Struan aka Ruin and Thea.
I loved how Thea started off as this meck, shy good girl, but eventually found her inner strength. Struan was your overall a bad boy, but deep down he had a kind heart, but let the insecure little boy within him over power what he would said and do just so he wouldn’t get hurt.
The chemistry between Struan and Thea was pretty hot. I was completely down with his hot demanding dirty talk…
“What, sweetheart? Apparently ye need a reminder of who ye belong to.”
Belong? I gave an exasperated groan. “I’m not yours.”
A dark laugh was my answer. “Try telling that to your soaking wet pussy”
“Ye want me to make ye come with my hands while ye watch, or fuck ye?” At my hesitation, he pressed his teeth to my neck. “Don’t tempt me. I’m a desperate man. I’ll take your virginity here and now. I willnae be gentle.”
By time I got to the end I was still unsure to what the hell was going on and how this book ended with its cliffhanger it made me even more confused to what the fuck just happened..
My only disappointed was, I wish I would have held off until the other audiobooks were released to start this series. I will definitely be continuing this series and would recommend this book.
Audiobook Review: Zachary Webber is one of my all-time favorite narrators and again he did not disappoint! However I gave a overall 4 star rating, because of Zara Hampton-Brown she did a fabulous job narrating Thea, but needs to work on her male voice. I felt when she narrating Struan’s parts she sounded like a old grumpy man. -
Ruin (Dark Island Scots #1) by Jolie Vines is a romantic suspense told in first person from multiple points of view. It’s the first book in a series with a continuing storyline, and as such, it ends with a cliffhanger. The story follows the relationship between Thea Stewart and Struan Gallagher—aka “Ruin”—as Thea uncovers the sinister secrets of the remote island she visits twice a year. Most of the story is told from Thea’s and Struan’s perspectives, but there are seven other character POVs, ranging from one-to-three chapters each.
I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers. Like most readers, I generally prefer books without cliffhanger endings. However, I’m also the kind of reader who enjoys heartbreaking angst, wicked mind-games, and shocking twists, so when a book has a cliffhanger I want it to be deviously good. If it doesn’t sucker punch me in the gut, leaving me breathless and desperate for the next book, then it’s a bit of an anticlimactic letdown.
I’m clearly in the minority, but I kind of felt like that at the end of this book. So I’ve been trying to figure out why, because the event at the end isn’t minor. It should have left me gasping, so why didn’t it? I think it was the ambiguous delivery of the cliffhanger twist before the epilogue and the comparative shock value of all the events leading up to it. It felt mild compared to the intensity of what came before, and the last three sentences were vague, concealing who they were about. If the opposite approach had been taken—revealing whose life potentially hangs in the balance—I think it would’ve had the desired gasp-inducing impact. I’d be desperate to find out the fate of that character.
Overall, I really enjoyed Struan and Thea’s story. It has a darker tone than previous books by this author, which kept me curious and turning the pages to uncover the mystery and discover what was really happening on the island. There’s a large cast of characters: a few I love, a few I hate, and the bulk I’m undecided about. I thoroughly enjoyed the epilogue at the end that revealed a huge piece of the mystery and a character’s true colors. I’m looking forward to finding out more in Sin (Dark Island Scots #2), Lottie and Sinclair’s story.
*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. *** -
Wow! Wow! Wow! This was a thrilling read!
"Struan's look turned predatory, raking over me with raw heat and a hunger I barely understood."
When innocent, good girl, Theadora Stewart, notices the roughed up bad boy on the ferry over to Torlum, he affects her like no other man before. She's never met anyone like Struan Gallagher before but everything about him and his circumstances is a mystery and somehow seems wrong. As her own life begins to unravel, the spark between them roars into something fiery and addictive. Unfortunately, time is running out as they race to discover the secrets of the past and present - secrets that link them to one another.
"She'd come back. She wanted me. A decision slammed into my mind, irrevocable and solid. Mine."
I just ADORED this story! It was dark, gritty and scorchingly passionate. This author has always been fantastic at her craft, but I definitely feel that this series will push her up to another level. Thea's personal journey from meek and gentle girl into a woman of courage, who fights to take control of her life, was heartwarming and almost victorious. I loved her innocence, her good heart, and her passion for Struan. In turn, I adored how Thea made him feel - giving him the tenderness, love and belief that he'd been crying out for all his life. Struan was a brash hothead but I loved his fierce possession of Thea, and the way she made him feel vulnerable and raw. They made an unlikely pair but were so right together. Such an amazing start to a new series!
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Ruin by Jolie Vines
Series: (Dark Island Scots, #1)
Read On: Kindle (ARC Review - Give Me Books PR!)
🚨TW: Death, Sexual Assault, Mentions of rape
⭐️Rate: 5/5
🌶Spice: 3/4
“𝙔𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩."
The story opens up into a stormy boat ride and our two main characters being unapologetically themselves. However, the story follows them as they grow into and become comfortable in who they are. But make no mistake, it is a journey getting there. Ruin and Thea's spice is hot! The strangers kiss to hate fuck to pure and unfiltered need to just be together jumps right from the page and into your heart.
Theadora doesn't know exactly what is happening on this island or with her family and alongside the reader is figuring it out. Struan, our hero, the black haired, broody type (my favorite!) and misguided man is constantly jumping to conclusions about his own surroundings. These two figure out that their stories might just be more intertwined than they thought.
𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙗𝙤𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠.
So there I was, reading, minding my own business, on the island, in the water, and then I turned the page and it was the end. IT CANT BE OVER. I NEED more. Jolie Vines blew this novel out of the water and I am so so thankful that I got to be read it. This is definitely a turn for Vines, but she absolutely delivered on everything she promised.
The sighting of the other McRae's warmed my heart as well as the family that you could see building between the boys. They may not always like their family, but they will always love them. I was attached and felt like I was there on the island experiencing these events with the characters. II read into the early morning hours because I couldn't put this down.
It ends on a cliffhanger, but I promise it is 100% worth it. -
4 Star Review of Ruin (Dark Island Scots #1) by Jolie Vines
AUDIO REVIEW:
Having read or listened to a number of books by Jolie Vines I was intrigued by the premise of this book. The narrators Zachary Webber and Zara Hampton-Brown did a great job bringing this dark story to life for me.
There was a great deal of angst, an emotional roller coaster if you will. The suspense kept me on the edge of the seat whilst listening and the drama as it unfolds will hold you captive.
If you like new adult, dark, well written stories then Ruin is for you. -
read it in a couple of hours on apple books bc it was trending on tiktok… god its so bad like SO bad its literally a badly written wattpad book filled with smut to fill in for the absence of a good plot and good writing lmao.
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Dnf @42% fuck this shit.
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Genre; dark romance
Ruin - Jolie Vines
Thea & Struan
Sin & Lottie
Burn, Scar.
Notes 📝
Omg 😱, bad boys, good girls, abuse, scheming, lies, secrets, death, bad people, fucked up dad and so called friends, chemistry, friends, love, no no nooooo all the feels wtf 🤯😭 cliffhanger 🩸
So if my notes are any indication about how I experienced this book?
It’s just a tip of the iceberg 🤯
Jolie has given her dark side a chance to rise in her steamy Scottish books 📚 and to start with Ruin 🥳🔥🤗 omg it was mind blowing good, the anxiety and chemistry so much fun to experience with the characters, the world building, the storyline and the growth between and for the individual characters so well written.
Yes I’m very excited about this book 📖 and I can’t wait till the next one comes out.
A 5 stars 🌟 read for me 🙌🏻 -
Holy smokes, when I say I couldn’t put this down…I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN! I’ve loved all of the Scottish heroes Vines writes, but these new Dark Island Scots…sizzle. I love the deception, the mystery, the underworld type feel of this plot. I loved the Multiple Point of View that we get in order to hint at what’s to come, while still giving the majority of the story to our Hero and Heroine. And the character development Thea goes through is perfectly paced. I felt her innocence slowly morphing into strength and determination, that ‘no matter what’ mindset she begins to adopt in order to not only survive but to conquer. I cannot wait for the next book, Sin, and there better be a Burn and a Scar book coming down the pike as well! Jolie has outdone herself with this darker tale, something I’m not always keen to read but this one had me addicted, obsessed and thrilled the entire ride. Highly recommended for readers who like their Hero with a dark past and somewhat grey morals who falls for a heroine who’s been kept in the dark about her circumstances and believes in the goodness of his heart from the moment they meet. SO DANG GOOD!!
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This was a good read. Struan is dealing with a lot. Him and Thea meet. They are very different people. We soon find out Thea's dad is missing and things are crazy. Luckily in all the chaos they are able to have some kind of relationship. However, we are left hanging at the end and it will be interesting to see how things play out.
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This book in my opinion should be a 5 star however it fell flat with the plot execution. The idea is present though not enough fleshed out. The characterization is a bit underdeveloped as well.
So this book starts well really and is unique, I don't think I have read a chance encounter between our main characters in which the hero has blood running down the neck, bruised knuckles, dark eyes, and an arrogant smirk. Oh and with pair of handcuffs.
I also like the setting, which is the remote dark Scottish Island. It's atmospheric at the same time jolting. But other than everything is pretty much average. The chemistry and the steamy scenes are pretty much good too. The push and pull are almost there instead-but fell flat just like most.
But anyway, I still liked this and there are some strong moments, and love the newfound family and friendship dynamics incorporated into the story. -
I haven't found a book of Jolie's that I didn't like, and for a second there, I thought that this might be the one exception. For me, the beginning was slow. It didn't grab my attention the way that Jolie's other books did, but I kept reading, because I had heard nothing but amazing things about this book.
I was sucked into her world of darkness and depravity within a few chapters.
Thea and Straun were amazing. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, even though it was a bit unconventional. This was darkness, and a mystery, along with a romance all tied into one, and once I was sucked in, I devoured every word until I had reached the end. I'm most eagerly anticipating the next installment of this series. Jolie has outdone herself with this book! -
Oh, my goodness! Jolie has gone darker here; can this happen in today's society? Well, maybe it can! There's more mystery than ever before, there's steam, SPICE galore (Yes, more than before and she had it nailed before!), hatred, some growing up, McRae sightings (beyond one!) and despite the fact Struan needs his mouth washing out with soap, ye root for the man and his new "pals". You root for Thea too; how can ye not?! This is the first of a new series, so don't expect to have it all sorted in Book 1. Because it isn't! This is certainly one series I'll be binge reading through when it's completed! Until then, I'm standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting for Sin.
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Wow Jolie Vines really came through with this book!! Dark and Broody and different from all the rest!! This book starts out fast and doesnt let up, this book has so many twists and turns your head will spin!! The main characters Straun and Thea are great and the supporting characters are wonderful and well written per usual for a Jolie Vines book and the McRaes will show up for some cameos which is fantastic 💗 the plot is steamy and and a bit darker than Jolies usual plot lines but that made it a fun read!! Once I started reading I couldn't put it down until I was done which doesnt happen often 🥰 The cliffhanger I could have done without hahaha but it just made me want the next book more 💞 Overall it was a fantastic book and I can't wait to read Sin and Lottie's book!!
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This book is aptly named, it will Ruin you. I absolutely loved this book. I received this as an arc for my honest opinion from Jolie Vines and ugh is all I can say because it’s a bit different from her previous books but I love this new side. Straun is dark, and broody, and just everything I love about a dark character. I love morally gray characters and Straun while not morally gray in some sense, he has some history that makes him a bad boy. Thea is a sweet woman who needed a little bad in her life, to break the mold her father wanted her in. I thought I had pinned down the villain and Jolie went and changed the game. I love that this series seems like it will be connected plot wise vs all her books being neatly wrapped up. The cliffhanger has me needing the next book immediately. I can’t wait for Sin and the rest of this series.
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OMG! Ruin is an amazing book! Struan and Thea have such chemistry that you can't wait to read the next page! Action packed mystery with some steamy scenes that just make you want more. Struan is a dominate alpha and Thea is the opposite of Struan in every way. So happy to see a peak into the McRaes as well. This does end with a cliffhanger. I can't wait to read the next one. This has become one of my favorite Jolie books!
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THAT SCENE WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT AND HE SURPRISES HER HAD ME SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP
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Yes I got myself lost in Ruin and I was told by the author comment on the bottom to "Lose yourself in Ruin" Get ready for the Dark Island😍
"First forget freedom. If you're here, it's for a reason. Ain't no getting out. Full prision is properly the alternative."
...
"Second rule, we a share the work"
Welcome to Torlum Youth Hostel & you belong to The Keeper...
The opening of this book is tense and so many questions. Ferry on a rainy day, English girl find a Scottish boy chain to rail in the rain and NO ONE makes a comment and when her dad has a few whiskies he says there Darkness on this Island...no spoilers
Struan & Theadora/Thea's love story is a dark story and blood. My first fab moment is when he escape and they meet she helps him but they can track him with...no spoilers. He tells her to run that shows he wants to protector from the men & test theory see if it true they can track him. When they take he has her hairband left on his arm and that hairband reminds him to hope...
THAT IT NO MORE SPOILERS. I spoiled one scene but I will say get ready for complex characters and ALOT of tense, suspense, action scenes and of couse romance that you will LOVE. Just a perfect read & a refreshing read😍
YES there is a cliffhanger and it ANNOYING one because I want to know what happened next now....please 🙏
☆MUST READ & FAV☆ -
��☆☆☆☆
Ruin was a dark, mysterious masterpiece that I thoroughly enjoyed. This is my first book by this author and I’m in love with her style of writing. I will be signing up for all of her future releases.
While on a ferry to a mysterious Scottish island. As soon as Thea Stewart saw Struan Gallagher on the ferry, it was lust at first sight. She noticed blood running down his neck, his knuckles were bruised, his eyes were dark and he effortlessly sported an arrogant smirk on his face. The last thing she noticed were the handcuffs on his wrists. No one else paid him any mind. He was going to be imprisoned on the dark, remote, Scottish Island that she knew all too well. He had been kidnapped, not arrested and she was the one who had the key to his prison cell aka freedom.
This book had everything it takes for me to fall head over heels in love with a book. The level of angst was perfection and had my angst-loving-heart happy. The chemistry was off the charts and the hate-fueled sex scenes were enough to have me seriously needing new panties and maybe a cold shower. I loved the mysteries prevalent throughout. Just when one got solved another one popped up. I loved all of the characters! I can’t wait to read the other books in this series. There were sinister elements that had me hanging on to the edge of my seat. I loved the changes that took place in Thea by Struan. I highly recommend this story. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
