Rogue Acts: The Rogue Series Book #3
Contemporary Romance
January 19, 2018
Self-Published
Reviewed by Kini
Typically at Smexy we like to keep things focused on romance and happy ever afters, but it is occasionally necessary to acknowledge that the last year or so has been very hard for many in this country. It is my understanding that the Rogue anthologies came about as authors wanted to talk about and share stories about the resistance. The blurb about the theme of the third set of stories is noted as such:
When resistance turns to action, love always wins. Seven new romances for readers who love as hard as they believe.
I reviewed the first anthology and used a scale of resistance for each story. I am mixing things up a little and in honor of Andie J. Christopher’s amazing and honest article on sex and consent that was recently published in Cosmo, I will be giving each a score based on “fucking like a feminist.” You’re welcome
Several of the stories had main characters over the age of 40, if that is a thing you are looking for and also include diverse characters. I really enjoyed this anthology. It contained not one, but TWO A+ reads for me, my first for 2018. I firmly believe that several of the stories are individually worth the price of the book.
Make You Mine by Molly O’Keefe
Jay Schulman has come to his breaking point and he has a choice to make: walk away from his best friend and love of his life. Or take a chance and make her his.
It is possible that I highlighted half of this story. It was the first one and I wasn’t sure how any of them could follow it. It was so good. Typical Molly O’Keefe story where she gutted me with her words. Jay is in love with his long time friend Maggie. He believes it is an unrequited love. Spoiler alert, it is not. The way that Jay loved Maggie was beautiful. And of course it wouldn’t be a Molly O’Keefe story without amazing sexy times. This story was tied for my favorite in this series.
Favorite Quote: She hasn’t been touched. Not by anyone in six years. And he didn’t know why that was a surprise to him. But it was. It just… was. Because he’d wanted to touch her every minute of every day for those six years. Because he couldn’t imagine every man on the planet not feeling the same way. But her not being touched was about her, not people with penises. She stood in front of his windows. The curtains were closed, so he knew she wasn’t taking in the view. She was just… hiding. In all their life together, she’d taken the lead. He was her right hand. Her sword. But in this… in this he was going to be in charge. In control. Otherwise he knew it wouldn’t happen.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 5
Grade: A+
Cover Me by Olivia Dade
Elizabeth Stone has no health insurance. No savings. No one to turn to when she finds a lump on her breast…except James Magnusson. Even during his doomed first marriage, James considered Elizabeth a special friend—one he had to keep at a safe distance. Now he’s free, and she needs him…but will they finally have the chance to be together, only to have everything torn apart?
This was the other story that tied for my favorite in this antho. If you’ve read Olivia Dade before, she is typically writes lighter, funnier and more bawdy characters and stories. This was much different and sad and lovely and wonderful. I had to keep taking breaks in between chapters because it was too much for me, but in the best way possible. James is kind and caring and is now divorced after having been married for several years. After life causes Elizabeth to lose her insurance, James suggests they marry for insurance. He quickly takes a closer look at his long time friendship with Elizabeth and sees the things he missed before, including his feelings for her. This story is outstanding.
Favorite Quote: “You,” she said quietly. Not asleep, then. Did she need pain medication? He pulled out slowly. “Me what?” Her eyes were still closed. “Last night, you asked who cared for me.” He couldn’t respond, not with his throat so thick. “You.” She reached for him with a seeking hand, and he laced their fingers together. “You care for me.”
Fucks Like a Feminist: 5
Grade: A+
Personal Audition by Ainsley Booth
Camilla’s living on her ex’s couch, working a few more weeks on a contract before she can leave the city and head west to pursue her comedy dreams. Elizabeth is the last woman she’d expect to get tangled up over—so what harm is a one-night stand? Or a second date?
A f/f story that was fast-paced, funny, and smoking hot story of two ladies that quickly fall in love. Camilla is a teacher and comedian and believes that Elizabeth is out of her league. But they find a way to make it work. This story kind of felt like a novella, but it worked really well for me.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 5
Grade: B
Brand New Bike by Andie J. Christopher
Jake Lieberman is incensed that billionaire Michael Garcia is going to join the president’s council on technology. But when the tech mogul unexpectedly agrees to defend himself on Jake’s podcast, sparks fly and the two men decide to team up inside the bedroom–and possibly out.
A m/m story with heroes that should not like each other, yet are drawn to each other. This was a sexy story of enemies to lovers for a one night stand and more. Michael is a character from Biker B*tch, but this story can be read as a stand alone.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 4.5
Grade: B
The Long Run by Ruby Lang
A Harlem stalwart is reluctantly drawn to the cheeky gentrifier who moves in across the hall, but can she forgive his opposition to her bid for a space in the building?
This was my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed it. I need a reminder in about a month that I have three of her books on my TBR. Annie and Monroe are neighbors, much to Monroe’s dismay. But they quickly build a friendship and when Annie gets sick, Monroe is there. This is a sweet story of two people slowly falling for each other.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 5
Grade: B
Never Again by Stacey Agdern
Actor Sam Moskowitz has an overdeveloped sense of social justice and strong feelings for preschool teacher Deb Taubman. Deb adores Sam but doesn’t trust him (or their chemistry) enough to let him into her life. In the wake of anti-Semitic attacks, they’re drawn closer together, but will their newfound closeness be shattered when the secret he’s been keeping is revealed?
This story is connected with the other stories in the series and I didn’t quite remember the first story and didn’t read the second, so I felt like I was missing a little something. Sam is a famous actor and he gets involved with Deb, a school teacher. I do love a good story when a famous person gets involved with a non-famous person.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 5
Grade: C+
His Neighbor’s Education by Jane Lee Blair
1 rookie charter school teacher + 1 veteran public school teacher + an unexpected attraction and a shared alley: can it equal true love?
Based on the note from the author before the book about this being a faith based story with sex after marriage, I mostly skimmed this story. The basic premise is two teachers meeting and after some initial dislike, they fall in love. The path to marriage felt like it was very quick and hard to know if it was truly for love or for sex.
Fucks Like a Feminist: 4
Grade: C-
All told, there were seven interesting stories of love, resistance, and rogue acts in this anthology. I highly recommend it.
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