ARC Book Review: Rook and Rebel by Kate Crew

Rook & Rebel

Kate Crew

The Mavericks, #1

Publisher: Avon

Published Date: October 1, 2024

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

416 Pages

Date Read: October 11-16, 2025

Format: 📱

Source: Netgalley

This is book one in an ongoing standalone series. As always, if you prefer a spoiler free review please read my quick review instead of the in depth review below.

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About the Book

Regan Fletcher's dreams used to include making art, going to college, and helping with her father's business. One day she would take over the business... until he got sick. He began to keep her locked up in their mansion so that she was safe; this is when Regan's isolation began. Rook Emberson wants revenge on Cameron Fletcher. Cameron took everything from Rook without a second thought. He can't think of a better way to get back at him than through is own daughter. Neither Regan or Rook can anticipate the secrets that begin to unravel, the feelings that they fight, and the plans that they begin to make.

Quick Review (Spoiler Free)

I've not delved into the motorcycle romance stuff yet. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it, but it ended up being more awesome than I expected. I really enjoyed the underlying story of this romance. I thought the whole premise of an innocent girl wanting to prove her worth to her dad without evening knowing the slightest about the world he was in was interesting.  While this is not the darkest romance I would say I've encountered, it definitely has some dark themes to it for the dark romance girlies out there. If you like the "you're mine" kind of man, then you'll love Rook. Also, there's plenty of spice in here without it being over the top. 

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Now, let's get into the details!!

I really enjoyed the underlying story to this romance. Regan is an innocent girl who just wanted to make art, graduate from college, and give her dad the business legacy that he always wanted. The concept that she didn't even have the slightest clue about the world he was in was interesting. She seemed to constantly be running into walls as he built them up. The whole time I expected her dad to be a complete piece of crap but I did not expect some pieces of the story to play out how it did.

I thought that Evie was an interesting character and would like to know more about her. I'd be interested to know if book 2 will lead into her romance arc. And if it does, I'm totally in for that. She has a strong personality that matches in well with the story.

Rook and Regan have an insta-love romance which is typically not my thing. The way they are introduced and "fall in love" didn't quite hit the mark for me on story arc. I would've liked to see a little more build up between the two characters as they had a very interesting start. The humor and banter was great and Rook compliments her personality as her opposite. And, if you like the "you're mine" kind of man, then you'll love Rook.

This is another one that I would say the romance itself isn't really dark but some of the underlying themes of the story are when you start looking at the crime and murder aspects of "business deals" through the book.

Ratings