Why The Rogue Had Me Hooked, Heart Racing, and Needing More

Alright, buckle up, because I need to talk about The Rogue by Roxanne Tully—and no, this isn’t your grandma’s single dad/nanny romance.

This book had me clutching my Kindle like it owed me money at 2 a.m., heart pounding like I was in some sort of emotional boot camp. I was desperate to know what happened next, but also lowkey terrified because the tension was so thick, you could slice it with a butter knife.

You know those sweet little single dad/nanny tropes? Yeah, toss ‘em out the window—The Rogue smashes that cliché, drenches it in small-town drama, secrets darker than midnight, and gives you a story that’s messy, real, and downright addictive.

Meet Levi: rugged, brooding, and absolutely owning that single dad vibe.

But here’s the thing—Levi’s not just some heartthrob with a dad bod and a tractor. This guy’s carrying scars that run deeper than the ranch he’s working. Past heartbreak? Check. Guilt? Double check. A mountain of responsibility? Oh yeah, and it weighs on him with every step he takes.

What Roxanne Tully does so well is showing how trauma shapes Levi without letting it define him. He’s not just a walking “brooding dad” trope—he’s a fully fleshed-out man who’s trying to survive, to be a good dad, and somehow, maybe, to heal. His protective nature isn’t possessiveness disguised as love; it’s a shield forged in fire because he’s been burned before. And you feel that. Deeply.

Then—enter Tessa. The woman who breaks down Levi’s walls not with some magic spark, but through subtle moments and shared vulnerability. The way he looks at her when no one’s watching? That’s not just lust—that’s the terrifying first flicker of trust, and honestly, it’s beautiful.

Forget the damsel-in-distress nonsense. Tessa’s running from her own storm, and she’s doing it on her own terms. She’s fumbling her way through nannying, googling how not to fail, but what shines through is her grit and heart.

What’s so refreshing about Tessa is that she’s not perfect. She’s messy, scared, flawed, and fiercely trying to hold it together. And that’s what makes her real. Watching her earn Levi’s trust and his son’s trust through sheer effort—not magic—is so grounding.

And the stakes are real. Tessa isn’t some random girl stepping into a picture-perfect life; she’s hiding from a past that’s clawing its way into the present. That tension? It isn’t just for drama—it’s a hard-hitting reminder that sometimes love isn’t a clean slate, but a battlefield where trust is earned inch by inch.

You know they’re gonna get together. Every glance, every accidental touch, every late-night conversation brimming with unspoken feelings—it’s all electric. Roxanne Tully stretches this out with masterful control, making the payoff worth every agonizing moment.

When they finally give in, it’s not just sexy—it’s deeply emotional. It’s relief and fear and raw vulnerability all wrapped up in a moment so perfectly earned, you want to stand up and cheer.

Tessa’s past? Unexpected and gut-wrenching. Her connection to Levi’s past? Explosive. When the truth comes out, everything shifts—trust shatters, the town buzzes, and emotions explode.

Levi’s reaction is perfectly human—angry, scared, confused—and that makes the fallout feel painfully real. Watching them fight to rebuild what was broken is tough, but beautiful, and a reminder that love isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up even when everything is a mess.

Because it’s not just about the heat or the heart—it’s about real pain, healing, and the courage it takes to be vulnerable. It’s about tearing down walls built for survival and daring to hope for something better, even when the past screams that love is dangerous.

The chemistry is undeniable, the plot twists hit like emotional grenades, and the characters? Fully human, with all the messy, beautiful contradictions that come with that.

This isn’t just a book you read—it’s a story that sticks with you long after the last page, a reminder that real love is messy, complicated, and absolutely worth the fight.

If you are a fan of:

• Single Dad Romance 

• Nanny Romance 

• Slow Burn Romance 

• Small-Town Setting

• Secret Past 

• Enemies/Protectors 

• Forbidden Attraction

You will LOVE this.

5/5— Highly recommend.

Just don’t blame me if you lose sleep because you won’t be able to put it down.

So seriously, have you read The Rogue yet? I need a fellow reader to scream about these twists with before I start texting the characters myself.