Ace & Ember: A Novel

The Mavericks #2

by Kate Crew

A forbidden desire. A game of cat and mouse. A love that could ruin everything. Hold on tight for the wild ride that is the next installment in Kate Crew’s extra spicy Mavericks series!

Evie Emberson is trouble. Smart-mouthed, fearless, and relentless—especially when she’s looking for answers. She’s a hacker with a past that just won’t stay buried, so laying low isn’t exactly her strong suit. Especially when he’s around.

Aiden “Ace” Callahan is her brother’s best friend—brooding, loyal, and a walking contradiction. He spends half his time at the motorcycle garage and half deep in Valeport’s underground, and he lives by a code. Rule number one? Don’t touch Evie.

But she’s not a kid anymore. She’s fire and chaos and everything he shouldn’t want. He knows getting involved would blow up the only family he’s ever had—but walking away is getting harder every damn day.

What starts as snark and stolen glances spirals into something darker, hotter, and way past the point of no return. And the more they try to hide it, the more it threatens to consume them.

Now, with enemies circling and Evie’s secrets putting a target on her back, Aiden will do whatever it takes to protect her—even if it means betraying the brother who made him family.

Loyalties will be tested. Rules will be broken.

And hearts? They’re about to burn.

TROPES

·      Brother’s Best Friend

·      Enemies to Lovers

·      Forbidden Love

·      Morally Grey MMC

·      Extra Spice 

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Contemporary Romance

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 14, 2026

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Reviews

[vikaఌ]

Coming out July 14

Let‘s see how this book will be…

[Molly]

14th Jul 2026

[Gina Malanga · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was my first book by this author I did not read the first in the series and to be fair. It really didn’t matter. The author gave you enough clues that you could understand what happened in the first book with enough knowledge to fully understand the second book. This is definitely a dark biker romance, and I read it in like three hours. It definitely is a dark romance so if that’s not your jam, this is not the book for you. That being said, the characters are all very likable, especially our two main characters which are Aiden and Evie who both have some feelings, but lots of things that are keeping them from acting on them. I don’t want to give too much of the pot away. But when threats start coming in from unknown sources, Aiden has to step up his surveillance of Evie and puts them in even closer quarters and anyone within a 5 foot radius would certainly see there is some sexual attention between the two of them. Definitely a fun read. I will probably go back and read the first one and I can see where the author is going with the next one, so I’ll keep my eye out for that one as well.