Rogue Wave

Cupid Meets Crime Scene #3

by Allison Bettes

The grumpy sheriff next door is the last man she'd ask for help—but she may not survive without him.

Marine biologist Hazel O’Hara has a gift for being in the wrong place at the right time. When a coastal storm uncovers something that was meant to stay buried, she finds herself tangled in mystery and danger – and increasingly tangled with Hank McAllister, the divorced, decade-older, infuriatingly hot sheriff next door. It’s an age gap romance she never saw coming, and he refuses to admit it’s happening.

Except he keeps showing up.

Hank tells himself it’s professional. Someone has to keep this woman alive. But proximity is a dangerous thing, and Hazel has a way of getting under his skin that no amount of gruff dismissal seems to fix.

The danger is real. The tension is worse. And the slow burn between them is the most stubborn thing about either of them.

Some waves you don’t see coming until they knock you under.

Genres: Romance, Forced Proximity

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2026

About the author

Romantic Suspense Author

My books are a thrilling blend of romance, mystery, and suspense — think Cupid Meets Crime Scene®.

My journey into the world of romance and suspense started when my grandma handed me her well-worn copies of Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts novels — I was hooked.

My day job is a scientist, but I'm also a mom to both 2-legged and 4-legged children.

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25🌟 | 3🌶️

When banter is basically foreplay, I know I’m going to have a good time.

Hank and Hazel had such a fun dynamic, with her bold, sunshine energy constantly clashing with his grumpy, rule-following ways. Their chemistry felt effortless, and Hazel’s nicknames for Hank had me laughing more than once.

Hank was definitely a favorite. Watching his tough exterior soften around Hazel was so satisfying, and I liked how protective and attentive he became without taking away from her independence. Hazel was just as fun, with plenty of personality and grit, while Nigel, Shadow, and Dougie added even more charm and humor to the story.

The little science facts and chapter quotes were such a fun touch, especially when they tied into some of the funniest moments. Add in the slow-burn romance, a little mystery, and enough suspense to keep things moving, and this made for a really entertaining read.

I had a lot of fun with this romance and its wonderfully quirky cast of characters.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Allison Bettes and The Author Agency for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rogue Wave throws a tsunami of banter, laughter, flirting, and snark as foreplay between Hank & Hazel. The chemistry ripples between them every time they end up in each other’s faces. The citations Hawk throws at Hazel had me doubling down with laughter.

Dougie and Shadow are an absolute welcome addition, giving us that extra zest in laughter and danger. When Hank drops his wall, does he turn even yummier with every chapter after? Heck yeah! His swoon worthiness just keeps increasing.

Hazel is a firecracker and not one to back down. I love her grit and her relationship with Nigel. When her past keeps knocking, Hank turns up his alpha protector side, and I sat back excitedly watching it unfold.

When danger peaks, I enjoyed the teamwork between Hank and Dougie, along with the surprise twist for Hazel. These two are my favourite couple at this stage.

If fun, banter, flirting, and danger colliding with relationships is your thing, this Author is the way to go!

[Nena Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. All the nicknames she kept coming for Hank had me cracking up. And the side characters, I loved them. I hope this book turns into a series, I want a Dougie book. I thought it was well written, with loveable characters, it moved a lot a comfortable pace, it had me turning the pages. This book was ao much fun and had me cracking up. I highly recommend

[Rebekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading Rogue Wave by Allison Bettes as an ARC, and I absolutely loved it! This was my first introduction to the Cupid Meets Crime Scene series, and Allison made it incredibly easy to jump right into the story.
One of my favorite things about her writing is the way she crafts a slow-burn romance. The chemistry between the characters builds so naturally, creating the perfect amount of tension and anticipation. And when the romance finally starts to unfold, there's just enough spice to keep things exciting without overshadowing the story itself.
I also have to mention the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. They were hilarious and had me laughing out loud more than once. Those little touches added so much personality and humor to the book and made the reading experience even more enjoyable.
The combination of romance, mystery, humor, and engaging characters completely hooked me from the start. By the time I turned the last page, I knew I needed more from this series. In fact, I enjoyed Rogue Wave so much that I've already ordered the first two books so I can go back and experience the series from the beginning.
If you enjoy romantic suspense with a well-written slow burn, a touch of spice, witty humor, and a mystery that keeps you invested, I highly recommend adding Rogue Wave to your TBR! 📚💕

[Ivy Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ ARC Review ✨

This was such a cute, really REALLY cute read, even with the little suspense/mystery woven into the story! We have a grumpy sheriff x sunshine marine biologist couple, and it’s also kind of an enemies-to-lovers love story toooo!

I really enjoyed the marine/animal facts throughout the book, plus all the random science quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The fact that some of the science facts actually led to hilarious scenes had me giggling a few times 😂 And Hazel’s cute nickname for Hank?? 🥺 I also LOVE Shadow!!

I really, really like our sheriff, aka Hank! He’s so gentle and attentive toward Hazel, even though he looks grumpy on the outside. I really enjoyed their relationship—the jokes they share, the flirty comments, and all their little interactions 🥺

And the spice in this story? SO YUMMY! 🌶️ It was written so beautifully without ever feeling like too much.

Now I have homework to read another book in this series, and I also can’t wait for the next one!!! I think I just found my new favorite romantic suspense author! Yay!!! 🥹💕

Thank you for the ARC, Alison & The Author Agency! 💛

[Debra Slonek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever played in the ocean with your back to the sea when a rogue wave surprises you and just knocks you over? Rogue waves can appear without warning, out of nowhere and in a very sneaky fashion.

Now, figuratively speaking, a rogue wave can show up in the form of a person…a person with an insatiable curiosity and a rather sunny personality. This could be a problem if you are the grumpy sheriff who just so happens to live next door.

I just introduced you to Hazel and Hank. This is their story. Brave, sassy Hazel and our tough, yet soft hearted hero Hank, really clashed when they first met.

This drama/romance/mystery is filled with well developed and multi layered characters, entertaining banter, much humor and just enough danger to keep you on your toes.

Hazel, a marine biologist who worked at the local aquarium, had the best interactions with the creatures she cared for. One specific creature was a huge challenge…Nigel the octopus. I loved his naughty antics and personality. So very entertaining!

As the book came to a satisfying end, I was sad to say goodbye to many of the characters. This was a very entertaining read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Booked With The Emily’s through BookFunnel. All thoughts expressed in this review are mine.

[Simoné Wolmarans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was SO adorably cute!! 🥹💕

Firstly, there’s just nothing like a big, hulking, brooding sheriff who is secretly pining after his quirky, loud, completely unapologetic new neighbor. And Hank? Sir. I see you. 😂

I absolutely LOVED Hank & Hazel. Their banter was everything, and Hazel’s ridiculous nicknames for him had me laughing more than once. But what really got me was how wholesome and organic their relationship felt. There was no forcing it, no unnecessary drama between them. Just two people slowly finding their way toward each other, and I ate it UP.

This story truly had a little bit of everything. A little mystery. A little suspense. A little family drama.

But a WHOLE LOT of beautiful romance. ❤️

Hank and Hazel were ridiculously cute, and I genuinely loved watching their relationship unfold. Sometimes you just need a sweet romance with a brooding man, a sunshine-adjacent woman, plenty of banter, and enough chemistry to keep you turning the pages.

Absolutely adorable. 🥹💕

𝑇𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠:
🔥𝑁𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑏𝑜𝑟𝑠
🔥𝐴𝑔𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑝
🔥𝐺𝑟𝑢𝑚𝑝𝑦/𝑆𝑢𝑛𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒
🔥𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑛
🔥𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝐵𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑖𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑀𝐶
🔥𝑆ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑓𝑓 𝑀𝑀𝐶

[Inge Mosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect Cupid-meets-crime romance! It was so fun, cute, and at some points genuinely surprising!

I loved brooding Sheriff Hank, the biggest grump you can imagine. But underneath all that growling is actually a great man who has been secretly pining for his pretty neighbor. I loved the contrast between his grumpy personality and the softer side he ultimately showed around Hazel.

The banter between Hank and Hazel was so entertaining. Hazel just says exactly what she thinks, and I loved that about her! The banter was su fun and their chemistry was so good.

The crime mystery made the book even better, and I was pleasantly surprised by the plot twist! It kept me guessing and added a really fun extra layer to the romance.

I haven’t read the first two books in the series, but I most definitely will now. I really enjoyed Allison’s writing style and this was such a fun, cute, and spicy read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

[Amanda M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like one of my favorite series and this book it was a fantastic addition. I loved, loved every bit of this one. There is loads of banter, snark, flirting, chemistry, and a hint of danger. Plus you've got one little mischievous octopus that I just loved. And of course the little fact pieces at the start of the chapter those are just so fun to read. As far as the characters they were just perfection. Hank and Hazel were chef's kiss. And the narrative is well crafted. I found this to be a fun and entertaining read. It's engaging and addictive. I highly recommend grabbing a copy especially if you like age gap, small town romance, a big broody sheriff, a marine biologist and grumpy x sunshine vibes. Thank you to the author agency and the author for a copy of this. All thoughts are my own and freely expressed.

[Sunny Shelly Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rogue Wave was really cute and fun story from an author who is new to me. Hazel and Hank had great chemistry, and the snarky banter-foreplay between them was off the charts. There were so many laugh-out-loud moments between grumpy sheriff Hank and sunshiney Hazel.

It was a nice touch the way the author wove in tidbits about sea life through Hazel's work as a marine biologist, and I enjoyed the suspense angle in this story. In the beginning, Hazel was a major thorn in Hank's side, but it's one of my favorite things to see a gruff hero completely melt as he tries to protect a woman.

I tend to read books by the same group of authors, but every now and then I venture out to a new author, and I quite enjoyed Allison Bettes' story here!

I received a complimentary copy and voluntarily left a review.

[Sheridan Mullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

The enemies to lovers trope in this one was done so well! I enjoyed that it wasn’t a huge part of the story but definitely added to the character building and tension between Hazel and Hank. Add in the antics of the supporting characters and it’s a great recipe for great story. It is easy to read and keeps you engaged in the suspense as well as the push and pull between the MC’s.

I love when you get to witness a couple actually being a couple. How they navigate the day to day and not just the big things. I felt like we got a lot of that from Hank and Hazels relationship which made me so much more invested in their story because they felt real to me. There are bot a lot of questions on how they interact “behind the scenes” if that makes sense. So it’s easy to root for them because they feel like your friends or neighbors. They may fall fast but it’s sweet and believable in the best way.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and this is Hazel and Hank’s story.
Hazel is a marine biologist by day, and chaos magnet by night, while Hank is the gruff town’s sheriff. A sudden storm turns deadly; Hazel and Hank are forced to rely on each other.
This is a well written easy to read, slow burn story, with family, friendships, emotions, suspense, intrigue, danger, mystery, secrets, grumpy / sunshine, opposites attract, an age gap, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, and unpredictable, small-town romance.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Serena Buss · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐ 3 🌶️
Oh my goodness! I am obsessed with these books in this series! They just keep getting better!!
Rogue Wave is an amazing, captivating age gap, neighbors to lovers romance! I love Hazel and Hank's story so much! It's beautifully written, keeps you entertained, and hilarious!! I was literally laughing out loud at the banter between Hazel and Hank as well as the scenes with Nigel the octopus. I love a grumpy sunshine romance where the sunshine FMC softens that grumpy, hard exterior MMC. I love this story so much! I love this whole series and can't wait to read more! Thank you Allison for including me as an ARC reader!

[Tasha Thrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, this book truly amazed me with its quality! While the tropes initially sparked my interest, the blurb completely captivated me and left me craving more.

This is the third installment in the series, and I am definitely going to read the first two books right away! I’m hooked! Plus, it tantalizes readers with juicy hints for potential future series—yes, please!

I love how this story drew me in. No matter how much McGrumpypants tried to give her tickets or enforce the rules, she remained true to herself, embracing her wild and free spirit.

I can’t wait to dive into Gale's story or even Vivi's! Please, keep the books coming!

Thank you for this amazing opportunity to read the eARC, and I am happy to provide my honest review in return.

[Karen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just the right amount of mystery. Just the right amount of banter and spice. Just the right grumpy x sunshine mix. And the marine animals that provided bits of humor. Hazel, a marine biologist let her guard down and asked for help. Hank, her broody neighbor let his walls crumble and let her in. The slow build mystery and the slow burn romance created a plot that was both intriguing and sweet. I’ve enjoyed this series, this was a great addition!
4.25 stars
Thanks to the author and Booked With the Emily’s for the paperback and eARC

[Dara Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: Thank you to Allison Bettes and The Author Agency for sending me an advanced copy of Rogue Wave to read and review

Rogue Wave was my first Allison Bettes book, and it won’t be my last! I’m a sucker for irritation to lovers, and this delivered! I was cracking up at all the nicknames Hazel came up with for Hank!

I love Hank and his protectiveness. When Hazel’s cell phone was stolen by an ornery octopus, Hank came running to keep his woman from danger. I really liked Dougie’s character. His book is going to be so interesting!

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book: Rogue Wave
Author: Allison Bettes
Series: CUPID MEETS CRIME SCENE BOOK 3
Pages: 236
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

This is book 3 in the Cupid Meets Crime Scene and follows Hank and Hazel 🩵

Hazel is a Marine Biologist who finds some drugs wash up on the coast line. She ends up having to call the grumpy sheriff who just loves to give her tickets.

Hank is the town sheriff who loves rules and order, which is the opposite of Hazel. The more time he spends with her, the harder it is to not catch feelings.

Their back and forth banter and the names she calls him are hilarious 😂

[Leslie Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel and Hank are my favorites so far in this series! I had so much fun reading about these two. Hank was a grumpy cop who pretended Hazel annoyed him when in reality he fell for her without even realizing it. She was spunky with a really cool job as a marine biologist.

I loved the quick pacing of this story. The suspense (as always with this author) kept me excited for what was going yo happen next. Hank and Hazel also had some really sweet moments that made me swoon hard. I cannot wait for Gale story next!

[Cindy Fong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel and Hank go from enemies to lovers in this fast paced cute story. Hank is the town sheriff and he likes to wield his power in the form of tickets to his cute neighbor Hazel. When Hazel finds some contraband that washes up on the beach behind their homes, Hazel becomes a target and Hank and Hazel find themselves getting closer. This story will have you chuckling, swooning and gasping. From mischievous animals, sweet moments, suspense and intrigue this story will take you on a journey.

[Alicia Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really fun read! Fun story line with romantic suspense, witty laugh out loud banter and a bit of spice.

The suspense adds to the story line and makes it interesting and keeps you turning pages!

This was over all written really well and I enjoyed it from start to finish. It was funny, intriguing and really cute.

Will definitely be adding more of Allison Bettes to my TBR

[Lilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐️
LOL! I loved all the funny quotes at the start of every chapter. They were so quirky and perfect for Hazel’s character.

Hazel and Hank were the perfect opposites attract couple for sure. And this book had an interesting plot, lots of humour thrown in, blazing hot spice, and a pinch of suspense.

[H S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ suspense, spice, and banter all wrapped up in a romance! Chaos always seems to find Hazel and Hank is a rule follower and yet they end up constantly crossing paths and being drawn together. They are opposites attract and a bit of enemies to lovers but you do get to see their relationship grow even with regular day to day things. A great mystery in addition to plenty of chemistry and fantastic characters! Well worth reading!

[Noell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seriously, the Cupid Meets Crime Scene books just keep getting better! And with the little look into book 4, I know history will repeat itself. Allison knows what she is doing, and she is simply crushing it!

[Moneè Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was perfection quick read,funny, mystery, found family.
I honestly having a hard time finding the words cause this was honestly good light hearted read with a bit of mystery.

[Tiffani Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Allison and I loved it! I was chuckling to myself throughout the entire book, and its so fun when you find a book that does that!

It was lighthearted but still had enough drama to create some suspence and keep you hooked. I looooved Hazel. The nicknames or names she called people, her quick wit and sass, her intelligence and genuine love of animals made me love her so much she might be one of my favorite FMCs. Hank was a bit gruff, but I loved how he'd sonetimes fail to keep up that exterior around her or after she said something snarky. The fact his police dog abandoned him so fast for Hazel's affection only added to how much I enjoyed this.

[Kristina artNerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a smutty book can also make me laugh!! This series has been sooo good and the special edition copies are STUNNING !
Love a STEM FMC and she’s curvy! Absolutely ate this book up so fast !!

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute. Loved Hazel's character. She was witty and quirky. Definitely the sunshine to the grump. Hank was a fierce protector hero. Loved the clever quotes at the beginning of every chapter, almost every one of them made me LOL. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Erin Gillott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! And I think Hazel and Hank’s story is my favorite so far!! I can’t wait for Gale and Viv’s stories to come!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored Hank and Hazel! Hank is the grumpy sheriff who lives next door to the sunshine marine biologist Hazel. Hazel seems to bring trouble with her wherever she goes. As she's coming the shore looking for treasures after a storm, she stumbles upon a bunch of drugs and quickly became the center of a crime scene. I loved the banter and tension between Hank and Hazel. She genuinely thought he hated her but he was just trying so hard not to fall for her. I've been really enjoying romantic suspense and Allison Bettes is so good at writing it! I absolutely cannot wait for Gale's story! I've just loved every second of this series!

[katapolt13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

This is book 3 of the Cupid Meets Crime Scene series and I absolutely loved it. The way that Allison writes is simply magic. As a plus-size woman, I love when I see myself represented in the FMC. As a big girl, we all want a man that can throw us around in a fun way.

Hazel is a marine biologist creates a storm of trouble wherever she goes. She is like a magnet for problems and mess, but such is life. When she innocently stumbles across a crime scene, she is forced to work with the grumpy sheriff that is always giving her tickets and pointing out her chaos.

Hank demands professionalism and rule following, it is quite literally his job description as a sheriff. Feeling the need to keep Hazel alive because someone has to (the lie he tells himself) he finds himself drawn to her. He doesn’t need any chaos in his life, except maybe this particular brand is ok.


✨ What to Expect ✨
👀 Romantic Suspense
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🤩 Curvy FMC
💀 Touch Her & D!e
😈 Sassy Banter
🚪 Forced Proximity
🦮 K-9 Therapy Dog
🐙 Octopus Matchmaker