Romance Readers Retreat: Review: Rooke by Callie Hart

*****5 Stars*****

I have to confess, I knew nothing about this book before reading it. I had an inkling that Rooke was going to be a bit of a bad boy, but having not even read the synopsis, I had no preconceived ideas whatsoever. Anyway what did I expect, this is a Callie Hart novel so I should know to expect the unexpected and that none of her male characters can be described as a bit of a bad boy. They are more the 'You'll do as I say and love it' type of guys.

At first I was like ' OK this story is a little bit different'. I mean it's not often I come across a book where the heroine, is older than the hero, eleven years to be exact. However it wasn't the age difference between Sasha and Rooke that made them the most unlikely couple, but it was Rooke bulldozing his way into Sashas life that made me take notice and in my opinion the age difference was quickly diluted by the fact that these two were so damn good together. I mean what guy would happily attend a romance book club to get the girls attention? And if there is such a guy, he's an absolute keeper by my reckoning.

What hit me hard with this book was Sasha's story. I can honestly think of nothing worse than what she went through. To the point that it pained me to read the first chapter. What made me truly love Rooke was the way he made Sasha, for once since that fateful day, believe she could be happy again. The guy absolutely worshipped the ground she walked on and that was clear from the very beginning. Definitely lot's of swooning moments with him, I can tell you. Sasha just about sums up my feelings for Rooke when she describes him as...... 'The man is sex. Pure, unadulterated, unfiltered sex. From the way he walks, to the way he wears his clothes, to the ink that marks his body...Everything about Rooke Idlewild Blackheath screams...F#CK ME!'.

I loved that there was a mention of some characters from one of Callie's previous books. In fact there was so much about this book I loved that I absolutely devoured it in one sitting and quite frankly I didn't want Sasha and Rooke's story to end.

Reviewed by Louise Dale

Watchmaker. Car thief. Heartbreaker extraordinaire.

Rooke Blackheath has spent enough time in juvie to know that he really doesn’t want to go to jail. The food sucks, the clothes itch, and there are absolutely no women in sight. Well…none he wants to fuck, anyway.

He should probably stop boosting cars, but the money is stellar and the high is out of this world. And why should he turn his back on something that sets his soul on fire anyway?

The answer to that question comes in an unexpected form: a petite five-foot-three firecracker named Sasha who refuses to give him the time of day no matter how thick he lays on the charm.

Rooke’s not easily deterred, though. Just like the watches he builds from scratch, Rooke knows all too well how women tick. Women are a game to him. A game he always wins.

Sasha doesn’t stand a chance.

***

Sasha Cross’s life has been permanently derailed since her son died five years ago. You wouldn’t know it to look at her, of course. She has a great job, a beautiful house, and caring friends. Every week, she hosts a book club featuring the sexiest, most romantic stories on the planet, and every week she falls for a new fictional knight in shining armor.

Fictional men are perfect, though. They don’t hurt you. They don’t break your heart. They don’t cheat on you after your child dies, and they rarely ever leave the toilet seat up.

When Rooke Blackheath shows up at Sasha's workplace, it’s clear he’s nothing like the men who grace the pages of Sasha's favorite books. Dangerous, arrogant, sharp-tongued and sarcastic, Rooke’s not the kind of guy she needs in her life. Not to mention the fact that he’s eleven years her junior.

They don’t live in different worlds. As far as Sasha is concerned, Rooke lives in a different galaxy altogether. She’d like to keep it that way, but fate appears to have other plans.

When Cinderella lost her shoe, Prince Charming showed up at her door.

When Sasha Cross loses her book, an entirely different kind of rogue comes a-knocking.