Series: Rook and Ronin Series
*Potential Spoilers Ahead*
Genre/Trope: Romance, Thriller, Crime, Past Trauma, Erotica, Larger Universe
How does the book compare with other books in the genre?
These books are something else. I don’t think I have read a series, or multiple series that are quite like these intense books. They have it all and more.
How does it match up to your expectations of that genre?
They were not what I was expecting. They were so much more. Each story expands on a certain characters life and history. New characters were introduced regularly which worked to enhance the stories rather than overwhelm the plot. J.A. Huss did a great job at weaving an amazing story.
The Analysis
Plot and theme
Rook Walsh has had a hard life. Growing up in the foster system, living with an abusive boyfriend before escaping and finding herself homeless on the streets, she doesn’t know how much more she can survive.
While spending her last $10 on a starbucks coffee, Rook is hit in the face by a invitation for an upcoming modelling shoot. With nothing else to lose, she decides to give it a go.
As Rook finds herself thrust into the life of erotic modelling, she finds herself falling for her handsome and overly protective handler and partnering male model, Ronin.
Rook and Ronin must work through their feelings, remain professional in front of the photographers and crews as well as communicate their feelings about performing intimate shots with other models.
As their emotions grow, Rook finds herself signing a contract with a past friend of Ronins. The contract is to model in nothing but paint designed to compliment customised motorbikes for Spencer Shrike and his producer Ford.
As Rook works through her vulnerability and conflicting feelings for the 3 men, she finds herself drawn into their dangerous and illegal history.
Not only that, but her abusive ex tracks her down, unleashing her past trauma and spiking the mens protective instincts along with their need for revenge.
Pacing, emotion, ending and plot holes?
All 3 books in the official Rook and Ronin series take place immediately one after another. They follow the story of the same characters throughout and can be read as 1 large book without any confusion.
Working the erotic modelling into the storyline, you go through the day as Rook without skipping too much time. There are also many spicy scenes between the main couple throughout which gives the book more of an erotic feel.
The story is not just about modelling and sex, we uncover Rooks history and past traumas that make her who she is. There is action and violence in each book as the past catches up with all of the characters.
I liked the pacing for all 3 books. I listened to the audiobooks while driving around for work. The short chapters and speedy plot allowed me to start and stop without missing out on vital parts of the story.
The Analysis
Ford
Ford is desperately trying to get over Rook the only way he knows how to, by walking away. Driving up to Vale in the snowy mountains during a blizzard was not the smartest idea. But if he hadn’t made this trip, he would not have come across Ashleigh and her 3 month old daughter.
Ford doesn’t like babies, or women who do not follow orders. He also doesn’t like how much Ashleigh reminds him of Rook. But he can’t seem to leave her alone.
As they find themselves travelling together, their feelings for one another steadily grow, until the thought of leaving the other behind becomes painful.
Spencer
Spencer has loved Veronica ever since he first laid eyes on her. He did his research and found out about her life before he made his move. She was his from that moment on, but Spencer is not a good guy and his past is coming back to haunt him. Roni is not safe as his girl.
Roni has given up waiting on Spencer to acknowledge her existence. She is done with him. If he won’t even admit that they are dating, he does not deserve her.
But the more she tries to pull away, the tighter he hold on.
The Analysis
Plot and theme
The Company
This book felt longer than Ford and Spencer. It follow the lives of Harper (yet unknown) and James F who has been mentioned previously as a Company assassin.
At first, I did not understand how this book tied in with the others, then I reached the halfway point. An entire web of mystery unfolded bringing in Sasha, Merc, Harpers twin Nick and many more assassins. The Company was explained in more detail than we have yet seen mentioning code names, secret names and ranks.
This book is vital to understanding the larger universe that is The Company.
Meet Me in the Dark
Also known as Merc, this book really changed my view on the infamous assassin mentioned in previous books.
It was a lot darker than any of the other books so far with torture, rape, brainwashing and kidnapping. One of the main plot points in this story is to explain how the Company brainwash their sleeper agents. Merc must work through his conflicting emotions, performing dark and horrible tasks to unlock the secrets only 24 year old Sydney knows.
Sasha makes a short appearance later in the book as well.
Analysis
Plot and theme
3,2,1
Wow! This book is technically not part of the Rook and Ronin universe however it leads into the next book, Sasha. In fact, Sasha is labelled as the sequel to 3,2,1.
It was dark, erotic and sometimes hard to listen to. And the final few chapters literally made my jaw drop. This book was not what I was expecting in a positive way. It contains strong scenes of depression, talk of rape, kidnapping and the selling of babies on the black market.
It should definitely be read before proceeding to Sasha’s story.
Sasha
Taking place 10 years after we last saw Sasha as the feisty 13 year old assassin, Sasha is now a 24 year old undergraduate anthropologist just trying to live a normal life.
But when her past comes back to catch up with her, she is left struggling to work out how to continue forward.
Also known as Wasted Lust, this book ties up loose ends for multiple characters entwined in The Company’s universe.
The Recommendation
I liked how the books all intertwine into 1 large universe. I got a kick out of the appearance of the Vaughn brothers in Tragic. I first met these characters in Alonzo from the Bossy Brothers series I read earlier in the year.
The further into the universe you delve, the more messed up everything becomes. More and more characters become entwined in the dark world that makes up The Company.
These books are dark, twisted and erotic with a great story line that spans multiple books. I highly recommend.
Take a deep breath and dive into J.A. Huss’s vast multi-series world. You will not regret it! It is twisted, dark, sexy and complicated and worth checking out.
Sealclops Books 
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