Blog Tour Review: To Catch a Rogue by Bec McMaster

From the Back Cover:

An impossible heist. A thief and a rogue. But will she steal his heart, instead?

The Company of Rogues finally knows the identity of the mastermind behind a plot against the queen—but their enemy is still one step ahead of them. When he kidnaps one of theirs, the Rogues plan a daring rescue mission that will lead them into the heart of the bloodthirsty Crimson Court.

It’s a job for a master thief, and there’s nothing Charlie Todd likes more than a challenge. To pull off the impossible, Charlie needs a crew, including the only thief who’s ever been able to outfox him.

He broke her heart. But now she must risk it all to save his life…

Lark’s spent years trying to forget her past, but the one thing she can’t ignore is the way a single smile from Charlie still sets her heart on fire. When he proposes they work together again, it feels just like old times, but she has one rule: this is strictly business.

It’s Charlie’s last chance to prove he can be trusted with her heart. But Lark’s keeping a deadly secret. And as passions are stirred and the stakes mount, it might be the kind of secret that could destroy them all…

Ocean’s 11 meets Dracula, in this sexy paranormal heist by USA Today Bestselling Author, Bec McMaster. If you like sexy paranormal romances, steampunk shenanigans, and plenty of action-adventure (vampires, dirigible flights, and steamy rooftop chases), then dive into this thrilling heist with Charlie and Lark.

My Thoughts:

So . . . that happened! I've been waiting for Charlie and Lark's story for years--YEARS! And it did not disappoint.

It's hard to review books in a series without spoiling the experience for new readers, and this is a series that you need to start from the beginning. It's one of my favorite things about Bec McMasters' series. Each book focuses on a particular couple, but there is a larger story arc running throughout all of the books, and many of the characters from previous books play integral roles. So if you don't start at the beginning, you don't get the full experience. And they're so good. Seriously, go get Kiss of Steel and binge away.

So in the interest of avoiding spoilers, I'll keep this short and sweet. Charlie and Lark both featured prominently as teenagers in the London Steampunk series as blue bloods, verwulfen, mechs, and humans teamed up to topple the Prince Consort's abusive reign of terror. They succeeded, but that doesn't mean everybody is happy with the new world order, and this spin-off series follows the Company of Rogues as they seek to destroy a shadowy enemy determined to wreak havoc on the tenuous peace that followed the revolution. In the previous book, You Only Love Twice, the identity of that villain was finally revealed, and the Duke of Malloryn, leader of the Company of Rogues, was kidnapped. Now the Rogues are heading to the Crimson Court in Russia to get him back.

Charlie and Lark have a complicated history, but when Charlie asks for Lark's help on the mission, she can't say no. As the pair work together to find the duke, they are reminded of how close they used to be but also of the tragedy that tore them apart. And they're both a little older and can't help but notice the changes in each other. Charlie is clear from the start that he misses his best friend and that he now believes they are destined to be more than friends, but Lark is holding back. She's hiding a big secret, and, unbeknownst to the rest of the Rogues, Russia is the most dangerous place for her to be. But Charlie needs her, and she's not going to let him get hurt, nor is he going to let her push him away this time. And as the Rogues are drawn into one trap after another, every day lessening their chance of finding the duke and getting out alive, Lark will have to decide how much she's willing to risk to save the man she loves.

I really loved how Lark's secret played out, and I'm impressed with McMaster's ability to so brilliantly plan for this huge plot twist over the course of so many books. And I love that we have a hero and heroine who actually talk to each other. No big misunderstandings or lying with good intentions here. Charlie is nicknamed "sugarplum" for a reason, and now that we finally learn about Lark's mysterious past, we can look back on her over the course of the books in a new light. And this book is pretty much nonstop action, of both the exciting and deadly kind and the sexy kind. The Crimson Court is full of one twist and betrayal after another, and several interesting new characters are introduced. I have a few quibbles with various aspects of the story, but not enough to detract from my enjoyment of it or my happiness in finally seeing these two young lovebirds find their way back to each other. I am anxiously awaiting the final book in the series, though I will be sorry to say good-bye to these characters. Though a girl can always hope another spin-off series will be in the making...

My Rating:  4 Stars out of 5

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To Catch a Rogue is on a blog tour!

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