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Jacky Leon #7
Rogue Alpha
The world knows me as Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan, the werecat that fell in love with a werewolf. I prefer Jacky Leon and I knew what I was getting into when I allowed myself to fall in love with Heath Everson.
We’re standing against centuries of animosity between the two species and it’s a dangerous place to be. I’m checking the shadows, and securing my territory, making sure no one can sneak up on us. Heath is keeping his eyes on more obvious problems, though, like the powder keg in Dallas.
The Dallas werewolf pack was once Heath’s pack. They relied on him, trusted him, and even loved him. No one can forget how his time as their Alpha had ended. Add in the troubles they’ve had since he’s left, and I know what Heath expects. It would be foolish to ignore the obvious threat brewing in the city.
Something bad is going to happen.
And the problems we face are much more nefarious than we could have bargained for.
We’re standing against centuries of animosity between the two species and it’s a dangerous place to be. I’m checking the shadows, and securing my territory, making sure no one can sneak up on us. Heath is keeping his eyes on more obvious problems, though, like the powder keg in Dallas.
The Dallas werewolf pack was once Heath’s pack. They relied on him, trusted him, and even loved him. No one can forget how his time as their Alpha had ended. Add in the troubles they’ve had since he’s left, and I know what Heath expects. It would be foolish to ignore the obvious threat brewing in the city.
Something bad is going to happen.
And the problems we face are much more nefarious than we could have bargained for.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2021
388 people are currently reading
408 people want to read
About the author
K.N. Banet
36 books715 followersAuthor of the Jacky Leon series, Kaliya Sahni series, and Everly Abbott series, along with standalones that belong in the same world as all of them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
January 8, 2022
This is seventh in an Urban Fantasy series that builds plot and character arcs over time. Read them in order.
Having read the others, you know about what to expect. Well, except that this one has Hassan going a antagonistic now that he knows Jacky and Heath are actually "together" together. So that's tense. Like some of the others, this one also has a slow ramp-up with something like 20% of the book before things heat up. I actually appreciate that because I'm invested in the family dynamic and want those domestic details. Chances are, if you're still with the series at this point, you probably are, too.
I don't have much else to say. It's a solid five stars and a welcome addition to the series. I only regret putting it off as long as I did.
A note about Chaste: Jacky and Heath are in a committed relationship that includes sex. None of it is on-screen. There are a few shifter-related clothing-less bits, but with zero detail. So I consider it pretty chaste.
Having read the others, you know about what to expect. Well, except that this one has Hassan going a antagonistic now that he knows Jacky and Heath are actually "together" together. So that's tense. Like some of the others, this one also has a slow ramp-up with something like 20% of the book before things heat up. I actually appreciate that because I'm invested in the family dynamic and want those domestic details. Chances are, if you're still with the series at this point, you probably are, too.
I don't have much else to say. It's a solid five stars and a welcome addition to the series. I only regret putting it off as long as I did.
A note about Chaste: Jacky and Heath are in a committed relationship that includes sex. None of it is on-screen. There are a few shifter-related clothing-less bits, but with zero detail. So I consider it pretty chaste.
June 20, 2024
Oh man, I loved it so much that I'm torn between immediately re-reading it, and immediately re-reading the whole series so far. Aiiiiieeeee!
Re-read April 2023
It was interesting reading this book after Secrets & Ruin.
Re-read April 2023
It was interesting reading this book after Secrets & Ruin.
July 2, 2024
Absolutely fantastic! One of my most anticipated read and miss K.N Banet never disappoint! This series keeps getting better and better and I’m totally obsessed with this world!
January 2, 2022
This series had promise in the beginning but I really need to stop reading it. I normally wouldn't write all this out but the reviews don't match the book I just read, which feels.. unbalanced. Maybe it's just that people who don't like the series already don't read this far, but I do have a hard time getting why no one else was bothered by the things I was bothered by.
The dialogue is super cheesy. Jacky is full of bravado that she can never live up to. When she does act, it's usually weak or poorly thought through. Here's an example. They go confront a house full of werewolves and witches. Jacky is all, "I AM SO TOUGH. I MUST WALK RIGHT IN, NO SNEAKY BUSINESS ALLOWED." Heath--for some reason--decides to climb through a window or whatever, and then when he gets there, he does all the business. Jacky was just there taunting the bad guy to distract him so Heath could get in. Then Heath is like, "Okay, so remember that insane werewolf with rage issues that tried to kill you? I've heard he's locked in the basement, and I have this random urge to free him. While I finish up here all by myself with these bad guys, can you just pop down to the basement and unlock him without letting him kill you? You are the most important thing to me and I can never risk you, but this makes perfect sense, okay thanks see you later, baby." Cue Heath getting kidnapped and Jacky eventually getting knocked out and dragged home by the suddenly nice insane werewolf.
What really gets me, though, is how the characters just.. blather on and say all this dramatic stuff that people would never actually say. Why is Landon suddenly spilling his heart to Jacky and pledging his loyalty to her? I mean, we know that's what's going on. There has been a build-up to them becoming friends, and now they are becoming family and that is great, but his words are so awkward and poorly timed. She is just heading out into battle and he's suddenly become a poet professing his devotion to his father and thus to her. This is not who this character has been. It doesn't WORK for Mr. Private to suddenly start saying stuff like that.
The most annoying parts are harder to explain. There are numerous problems in.. continuity? Character integrity? Logic? There are a ton of problems like this. Individually, you'd brush them aside, but if you start noticing them, they are everywhere. Okay. There's a birthday party for a human teenager. All the parents show up and sit around outside chatting while the "children" hang out and watch a movie. First of all, this does not really happen at teen birthday parties. If such parties exist, the parents generally don't stay. And if they do (and granted, most parties don't happen at a werewolf's house) then.. easily the most unrealistic thing I have ever read was when the birthday girl's dad suggested that yes! They could not only start watching a second movie, they could watch the entire trilogy if they wanted to! And all the parents just settled back to casually enjoy a nice long conversation with parents they'd never talked to before this day. No, "oh, no, little Johnny can't stay another FOUR TO SIX HOURS longer than we had planned on a weeknight because we have to go make dinner!" or "Oh, we really can't stay.. our other kids are with a sitter and we need to pick them up!" They were all just like, "okay, cool, this is normal." I promise you, this is less realistic to a parent than the entire premise of werecats and werewolves existing is.
So anyway, all these people who have been super secretive with humans previously, they are just randomly talking all about werewolves and werecats and how old Heath is. Heath jumps in and says something like, "HA, yeah, if you want to know anything about the American Revolution, I lived through it and I'm your guy!!" A brief conversation leads straight to the Civil War so we can talk about Landon's birth, and someone comments that they didn't know werewolves were involved and it's sad that they were also fighting for their freedom. Heath dramatically jumps in to point out that yes, KAREN, it's not very nice to talk about history with someone that lived it. I mean, WTF, dude, you JUST said you could tell them things about history. Way to kill the vibe.
Other instances of this were scattered throughout the book. They captured a werewolf, but Heath decides to wait to interrogate him until everyone else is present. Then they hang around a minute and suddenly start interrogating him without anyone else being there. This happens a lot--they say they're going to do one thing, but then randomly end up doing something else a few pages later. Jacky wants her father to treat her like an adult capable of making her own decisions about life, but she acts like a child, stomping her feet and refusing to speak to him. Hasan dramatically tells the witch council members that if they need to be killed, it won't be a werecat or a werewolf that does it--he'll call in Subira. ALSO A WERECAT. I mean--sure, she's other things as well, but, still a cat. I could go on but this review has already gotten out of hand.
Anyway, there is a note at the end that yes, the author does know what happens next. Well, of course she does. Don't we all freaking know what happens next? Heath becomes more dominant than Callahan and ultimately takes over his position on the council. (This will probably happen when Callahan uses the scentless witch magic to try to kill Heath.) Jacky, his mate, also is forced for reasons that will never actually make sense, to join the council, which allows her to take the second seat for werecats, since Subira was never allowed to due to also being a witch, and this makes it all nice and tidy to unite the werewolves and werecats and create a lasting peace amongst them, and increase the werecat standing in supernatural society. This will also allow Jacky's werecat family to accept and approve of her loving union with Heath. Oh, and Carey will probably eventually decide (or be "forced") to become a werecat. Heath and Jacky will fight about that for three and a half minutes and then get over it.
I mean. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong. We'll see. Or not, if I stick to my current resolve to stop reading this series.
The dialogue is super cheesy. Jacky is full of bravado that she can never live up to. When she does act, it's usually weak or poorly thought through. Here's an example. They go confront a house full of werewolves and witches. Jacky is all, "I AM SO TOUGH. I MUST WALK RIGHT IN, NO SNEAKY BUSINESS ALLOWED." Heath--for some reason--decides to climb through a window or whatever, and then when he gets there, he does all the business. Jacky was just there taunting the bad guy to distract him so Heath could get in. Then Heath is like, "Okay, so remember that insane werewolf with rage issues that tried to kill you? I've heard he's locked in the basement, and I have this random urge to free him. While I finish up here all by myself with these bad guys, can you just pop down to the basement and unlock him without letting him kill you? You are the most important thing to me and I can never risk you, but this makes perfect sense, okay thanks see you later, baby." Cue Heath getting kidnapped and Jacky eventually getting knocked out and dragged home by the suddenly nice insane werewolf.
What really gets me, though, is how the characters just.. blather on and say all this dramatic stuff that people would never actually say. Why is Landon suddenly spilling his heart to Jacky and pledging his loyalty to her? I mean, we know that's what's going on. There has been a build-up to them becoming friends, and now they are becoming family and that is great, but his words are so awkward and poorly timed. She is just heading out into battle and he's suddenly become a poet professing his devotion to his father and thus to her. This is not who this character has been. It doesn't WORK for Mr. Private to suddenly start saying stuff like that.
The most annoying parts are harder to explain. There are numerous problems in.. continuity? Character integrity? Logic? There are a ton of problems like this. Individually, you'd brush them aside, but if you start noticing them, they are everywhere. Okay. There's a birthday party for a human teenager. All the parents show up and sit around outside chatting while the "children" hang out and watch a movie. First of all, this does not really happen at teen birthday parties. If such parties exist, the parents generally don't stay. And if they do (and granted, most parties don't happen at a werewolf's house) then.. easily the most unrealistic thing I have ever read was when the birthday girl's dad suggested that yes! They could not only start watching a second movie, they could watch the entire trilogy if they wanted to! And all the parents just settled back to casually enjoy a nice long conversation with parents they'd never talked to before this day. No, "oh, no, little Johnny can't stay another FOUR TO SIX HOURS longer than we had planned on a weeknight because we have to go make dinner!" or "Oh, we really can't stay.. our other kids are with a sitter and we need to pick them up!" They were all just like, "okay, cool, this is normal." I promise you, this is less realistic to a parent than the entire premise of werecats and werewolves existing is.
So anyway, all these people who have been super secretive with humans previously, they are just randomly talking all about werewolves and werecats and how old Heath is. Heath jumps in and says something like, "HA, yeah, if you want to know anything about the American Revolution, I lived through it and I'm your guy!!" A brief conversation leads straight to the Civil War so we can talk about Landon's birth, and someone comments that they didn't know werewolves were involved and it's sad that they were also fighting for their freedom. Heath dramatically jumps in to point out that yes, KAREN, it's not very nice to talk about history with someone that lived it. I mean, WTF, dude, you JUST said you could tell them things about history. Way to kill the vibe.
Other instances of this were scattered throughout the book. They captured a werewolf, but Heath decides to wait to interrogate him until everyone else is present. Then they hang around a minute and suddenly start interrogating him without anyone else being there. This happens a lot--they say they're going to do one thing, but then randomly end up doing something else a few pages later. Jacky wants her father to treat her like an adult capable of making her own decisions about life, but she acts like a child, stomping her feet and refusing to speak to him. Hasan dramatically tells the witch council members that if they need to be killed, it won't be a werecat or a werewolf that does it--he'll call in Subira. ALSO A WERECAT. I mean--sure, she's other things as well, but, still a cat. I could go on but this review has already gotten out of hand.
Anyway, there is a note at the end that yes, the author does know what happens next. Well, of course she does. Don't we all freaking know what happens next? Heath becomes more dominant than Callahan and ultimately takes over his position on the council. (This will probably happen when Callahan uses the scentless witch magic to try to kill Heath.) Jacky, his mate, also is forced for reasons that will never actually make sense, to join the council, which allows her to take the second seat for werecats, since Subira was never allowed to due to also being a witch, and this makes it all nice and tidy to unite the werewolves and werecats and create a lasting peace amongst them, and increase the werecat standing in supernatural society. This will also allow Jacky's werecat family to accept and approve of her loving union with Heath. Oh, and Carey will probably eventually decide (or be "forced") to become a werecat. Heath and Jacky will fight about that for three and a half minutes and then get over it.
I mean. Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong. We'll see. Or not, if I stick to my current resolve to stop reading this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2021
This was sooooo good! Just when I think Banet can't get any better she just knocks it out the park.
Most series would be getting a bit stalemby book 8, but there are so many over arching plot developments in this book, whuch are so effectively interwoven with the individual plot of this book, as well as superb character development - both of Jacky and Heath and the side characters. I think that is what makes this series so awesome.
Jacky and Heath continue to be amazing together and I love them so much. Landon also got a lot of development here, which was very welcome. Fenris makes an appearance from the earlier books and I have to say that I loved him.
If you haven't read this series, what are you waiting for? Go do it now!
Most series would be getting a bit stalemby book 8, but there are so many over arching plot developments in this book, whuch are so effectively interwoven with the individual plot of this book, as well as superb character development - both of Jacky and Heath and the side characters. I think that is what makes this series so awesome.
Jacky and Heath continue to be amazing together and I love them so much. Landon also got a lot of development here, which was very welcome. Fenris makes an appearance from the earlier books and I have to say that I loved him.
If you haven't read this series, what are you waiting for? Go do it now!
December 17, 2021
These books just keep getting better and better
January 27, 2022
4.5/5.0
Another riveting installment in this superb series. I think much of the appeal is in the author’s ability to draw readers into the character’s lives, make them feel real, then slowly uncover all the depth and humanity in each. It is done with such a deft hand that each character becomes someone we want to understand, then grow to love them just as they are.
The storylines are also page-turning addictive, offering both warmth, love and loyalty while delivering nail-biting suspense and action. It all adds up to pure reading pleasure!! I’m just annoyed that my bingeing is at an end… at least until the next book publishes!
Another riveting installment in this superb series. I think much of the appeal is in the author’s ability to draw readers into the character’s lives, make them feel real, then slowly uncover all the depth and humanity in each. It is done with such a deft hand that each character becomes someone we want to understand, then grow to love them just as they are.
The storylines are also page-turning addictive, offering both warmth, love and loyalty while delivering nail-biting suspense and action. It all adds up to pure reading pleasure!! I’m just annoyed that my bingeing is at an end… at least until the next book publishes!
September 24, 2025
This series is great but this is the first that I'm not satisfied with the ending as there are too many hanging lines.
So I just felt it was more up in the air at the end and might decide to put it down until it is finished. I really really enjoyed parts of this and loved others and was left wanting more but this time feeling a little cheated. 4 1/2
So I just felt it was more up in the air at the end and might decide to put it down until it is finished. I really really enjoyed parts of this and loved others and was left wanting more but this time feeling a little cheated. 4 1/2
December 15, 2021
Charcoal
I’m just bored with these series - both Jacky Leon and Kaliya Sahni. They’ve dragged on for far too long. This latest book was a retread of Book 1. Witches, again. Wolves, again. Jacky refusing to talk with her family, again. The tribunal, again.
I am reminded of Sue Granfton’s Kinsey Millhone books. There were 26 in the series, one for each letter of the alphabet. I stopped reading at H.
Maybe if the author ever gets around to finishing either series, which I sincerely doubt is ever going to happen, I’ll check back in, but I can only assume that surely the characters from both series need another 8-20 books each to detail their travels to South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Antarctica, et al and fully explore, in minute detail, the last million years of earth’s history relative to the immortal species and their rivals. Not to mention their wedding planning.
I’m just bored with these series - both Jacky Leon and Kaliya Sahni. They’ve dragged on for far too long. This latest book was a retread of Book 1. Witches, again. Wolves, again. Jacky refusing to talk with her family, again. The tribunal, again.
I am reminded of Sue Granfton’s Kinsey Millhone books. There were 26 in the series, one for each letter of the alphabet. I stopped reading at H.
Maybe if the author ever gets around to finishing either series, which I sincerely doubt is ever going to happen, I’ll check back in, but I can only assume that surely the characters from both series need another 8-20 books each to detail their travels to South America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Antarctica, et al and fully explore, in minute detail, the last million years of earth’s history relative to the immortal species and their rivals. Not to mention their wedding planning.
December 14, 2021
Jacky is Back!
Lucky #7 in this series did not disappoint!!
There’s something special about a love that thrives in chaos.
In book #7 of this continuing series, Jacky and Heath continue to hit obstacle after obstacle. Whether it’s another supernatural crisis, a family full of judgement, or human interference, there’s no doubt that this couple continues to face issues that threaten their future together.
Just like in the previous books in this series we are greeted with action, mayhem, and murder. But along with the good, old favorites we also experience some long awaited love, acceptance, and growth…lots and lots of growth.
I’ve always felt that great books are those that inspire you to relate what your reading and feeling to what’s happening in the world today. Rouge Alpha forces you to see that no matter who is against you, who hates you, who rejects your choices, ultimately love can win. And with love, communication, and compromise you can prevail victorious.
Heath lays it down with a statement that really says all that needs to be said, “Every wolf in my pack will know that you are the woman I want eternity with, and they’ll accept it. Or they can leave.” With this kind of devotion at your side anything is possible. You just have to believe in it.
I can’t wait to see how the story of Jacky and Heath continues to unfold as well as the stories of each character in their world
Lucky #7 in this series did not disappoint!!
There’s something special about a love that thrives in chaos.
In book #7 of this continuing series, Jacky and Heath continue to hit obstacle after obstacle. Whether it’s another supernatural crisis, a family full of judgement, or human interference, there’s no doubt that this couple continues to face issues that threaten their future together.
Just like in the previous books in this series we are greeted with action, mayhem, and murder. But along with the good, old favorites we also experience some long awaited love, acceptance, and growth…lots and lots of growth.
I’ve always felt that great books are those that inspire you to relate what your reading and feeling to what’s happening in the world today. Rouge Alpha forces you to see that no matter who is against you, who hates you, who rejects your choices, ultimately love can win. And with love, communication, and compromise you can prevail victorious.
Heath lays it down with a statement that really says all that needs to be said, “Every wolf in my pack will know that you are the woman I want eternity with, and they’ll accept it. Or they can leave.” With this kind of devotion at your side anything is possible. You just have to believe in it.
I can’t wait to see how the story of Jacky and Heath continues to unfold as well as the stories of each character in their world
December 19, 2021
This series is just so great, not a dud amongst the seven books so far!
Jacky Leon is now werecat liaison for North America and sharing her territory with former Alpha of the Dallas pack Heath Everson together with his werewolf son Landon, his human daughter Carey, and her barmen Dirk and Oliver. Her werecat family are furious that she has chosen to date/love a werewolf and are hounding her (with love) to drop the relationship, suggesting that maybe she wasn't thinking straight after her fiance died and has latched onto the first available male. Added to which, the close bond between Jacky and Carey has begun to weaken as Carey distances herself, an issue compounded when Jacky discovers that Oliver is arranging Carey's birthday party - and no-one asked her for help, the only woman in their circle!
In the middle of Carey's birthday party, a large pack of werewolves attacks Heath's home, they knew it would be coming one way or another but when Heath interrogates the sole survivor it seems the truth is more shocking than they could have imagined.
What I like about these books is that they are action-packed and plot-driven, but no-one is infallible and there is a progression in the underlying relationship between Jacky and Heath. In addition, the secondary characters have their own storylines which also develop.
Overall, a great escapist read, fast and furious, acknowledging the way in which Jacky has developed as a leader.
Jacky Leon is now werecat liaison for North America and sharing her territory with former Alpha of the Dallas pack Heath Everson together with his werewolf son Landon, his human daughter Carey, and her barmen Dirk and Oliver. Her werecat family are furious that she has chosen to date/love a werewolf and are hounding her (with love) to drop the relationship, suggesting that maybe she wasn't thinking straight after her fiance died and has latched onto the first available male. Added to which, the close bond between Jacky and Carey has begun to weaken as Carey distances herself, an issue compounded when Jacky discovers that Oliver is arranging Carey's birthday party - and no-one asked her for help, the only woman in their circle!
In the middle of Carey's birthday party, a large pack of werewolves attacks Heath's home, they knew it would be coming one way or another but when Heath interrogates the sole survivor it seems the truth is more shocking than they could have imagined.
What I like about these books is that they are action-packed and plot-driven, but no-one is infallible and there is a progression in the underlying relationship between Jacky and Heath. In addition, the secondary characters have their own storylines which also develop.
Overall, a great escapist read, fast and furious, acknowledging the way in which Jacky has developed as a leader.
December 21, 2021
4.5 Stars
Let me start with my complaints: I wish more had happened with/between the werecats and Jacky. Though I am happy that there was some interaction I still wanted… more. But it looks like I will be getting my wish in book 8.
Now, onto the rest, I loved the development in Landon’s character and how much more of him and Dirk we saw. I also loved the developments in Jacky and Heath’s relationship. One review I read said that this story felt like a repeat of the first book, and I can see that… to some extent but it did not lessen how engrossed I was when reading. I thought it was really interesting, actually, how things had been building from then to now.
I really appreciate how much of normal life the author often gives us before 💩 hits the fan. I love slice-of-life moments. I’m excited to see what happens next.
Let me start with my complaints: I wish more had happened with/between the werecats and Jacky. Though I am happy that there was some interaction I still wanted… more. But it looks like I will be getting my wish in book 8.
Now, onto the rest, I loved the development in Landon’s character and how much more of him and Dirk we saw. I also loved the developments in Jacky and Heath’s relationship. One review I read said that this story felt like a repeat of the first book, and I can see that… to some extent but it did not lessen how engrossed I was when reading. I thought it was really interesting, actually, how things had been building from then to now.
I really appreciate how much of normal life the author often gives us before 💩 hits the fan. I love slice-of-life moments. I’m excited to see what happens next.
June 19, 2024
What the heck?! This was the best book in the series I think! I was really struggling to get through Shades of Hate and even the next book, although I rated it highly I did not actually love but this one! This one was really great! So many things are coming together so well! And I just love the idea of Jacky having to deal with Heaths pack! And she’s growing into her place and even making proactive plans for dealing with werecats instead of avoiding like she did in the past. That’s very nice growth! I’m just so happy I am back to enjoying this series! It’s was a very shaky moment there with Shades of Hate.
December 16, 2021
The Rebel and the Rogue
At book 7 and this series is still amazing. Picked it up and was mad I had to put it down for work. The book started off easy. Catching us up from where things were left last book and quickly gets back into the action. What I love is that there are abt 3 sets of issues going on but nothing feels jumbled or overwhelming. Jacky and Heath are attacked and as usual go into this jointly but for the first time we get to see Jacky grow and take things on. She and Heath stand on their own and take on the new big bad. Their little family is finally getting the hang of things and everyone is finding their place.There are twists here that tie all things that have happened together. Pieces that will break your heart for Heath & Jacky but also "new" characters that add a new dimension to things. Her dad is a bit of an ass but I can't wait to see how things play out. You won't regret this book. I'm just upset I finished it so quickly and have to wait till next year for the next book. This series is fantastic.
At book 7 and this series is still amazing. Picked it up and was mad I had to put it down for work. The book started off easy. Catching us up from where things were left last book and quickly gets back into the action. What I love is that there are abt 3 sets of issues going on but nothing feels jumbled or overwhelming. Jacky and Heath are attacked and as usual go into this jointly but for the first time we get to see Jacky grow and take things on. She and Heath stand on their own and take on the new big bad. Their little family is finally getting the hang of things and everyone is finding their place.There are twists here that tie all things that have happened together. Pieces that will break your heart for Heath & Jacky but also "new" characters that add a new dimension to things. Her dad is a bit of an ass but I can't wait to see how things play out. You won't regret this book. I'm just upset I finished it so quickly and have to wait till next year for the next book. This series is fantastic.
January 6, 2022
YES PLEASE.
Reading this is like boozy hot chocolate and staying up all night. And I definitely enjoyed both of those things while reading this.
I love K.N. Banet's books, and this continues Jacky Leon's series pretty flawlessly. I loved that the main conflict in this book was not in any way Jacky's doing. I also really liked the shift in the relationship between Jacky and Heath -- there's a lot of emotional connection here that I always felt was missing in the first books, and it fits their very slow burn romance.
The beginning 30% is a bit slow since it really just focuses on Jacky's life with Heath and Heath's family, but the rest of the book is so intense that I think it works.
Reading this is like boozy hot chocolate and staying up all night. And I definitely enjoyed both of those things while reading this.
I love K.N. Banet's books, and this continues Jacky Leon's series pretty flawlessly. I loved that the main conflict in this book was not in any way Jacky's doing. I also really liked the shift in the relationship between Jacky and Heath -- there's a lot of emotional connection here that I always felt was missing in the first books, and it fits their very slow burn romance.
The beginning 30% is a bit slow since it really just focuses on Jacky's life with Heath and Heath's family, but the rest of the book is so intense that I think it works.
December 15, 2021
Why are all of my Jacky Leon reads 5 stars? Every single book so far, and with each book I fall more for Jacky and Heath. I can't wait to see what they will have to deal with next.
This time, the Dallas pack is having problems. Heath can't let it go because it was his pack once upon a time. Jacky understands and aids him, but when the pack sends members to kill Heath and Landon, all bets are off. Jacky will decimate the pack, but on her revenge mission, she finds out that a third party is involved—witches.
I can't wait already for the next book to come out in July 2022.
This time, the Dallas pack is having problems. Heath can't let it go because it was his pack once upon a time. Jacky understands and aids him, but when the pack sends members to kill Heath and Landon, all bets are off. Jacky will decimate the pack, but on her revenge mission, she finds out that a third party is involved—witches.
I can't wait already for the next book to come out in July 2022.
January 15, 2022
This one had a good plot but it took about 25% of the story before things started happening. So- a slow 25% where we rehashed how we got to this current place. Solid story once it got moving, maybe at 40%? 3.5 stars for me. I may be losing interest or am just jones'ing for Stardew Valley, we will see.
We see the Dallas pack fall apart and Fenris told to play nice with Jacky. Hasan is giving them grief over their relationship and witches try to take over the world.
We see the Dallas pack fall apart and Fenris told to play nice with Jacky. Hasan is giving them grief over their relationship and witches try to take over the world.
March 28, 2022
I really didn’t like the last book and unfortunately this one didn’t start well for me. I’m afraid I find the family drama that keeps going over old ground a bit boring. However the slow start changes about a quarter of the way through and the story becomes pretty much all action.
Overall this was a much better story than the last few and was back to the standard of the early books.
Overall this was a much better story than the last few and was back to the standard of the early books.
January 5, 2022
I'm excited for the next book to come out. I think in this one we really got to see a culmination of the growth that Jacky and Heath have been going through since book 1.
January 15, 2022
Werewolves, witches, and an engagement! Things are really heating up... and Jacky has her family nickname. Can't wait for the next installment.
May 13, 2024
Nu börjar spänningen öka.
January 10, 2022
I loved it! Every time I finish a new Jacky novel I want to shout that it's my favorite but they're ALL my favorites! The maneuvering and plotting and gut wrenching redemption of a character was expert level writing. Excellent series!
March 20, 2023
Rogue Alpha
Banet, you are starting to get sloppy in your writing, or is it your editor(s)?
Around pages 61 - 63, there were two misspelled words. In the next to the last chapter, you had incorrect pronoun usage in the predicate of a sentence. Remember, if you are not sure which pronoun to use - omit the other person you are referring to first- inject the pronoun (I or ME), then using the correct pronoun - write your sentence correctly. NEVER use “I” in the predicate of a sentence.
As for the storyline, what a crock of junk!
From an earlier Jacky Leon book, it was evident that once Heath left his pack in Tywin’s hands, it would fall apart. Adding Madison, the witch relative of Emma who had been killed off in the first book, was a bit dramatic. She certainly had Tywin right where she wanted him.
The gaes she casted over Tywin and his pack was a bit much. Tywin sending Ranger, a former close friend of Heath, and the other werewolves in to kill Heath and Landon on Carey’s birthday was mean.
Ranger losing his leg was graphic.
Having to kill thirty plus werewolves of Alpha Everson’s former pack was difficult for Jacky, Landon and Heath. But Heath being able to clearly notice the emptiness in the wolves eyes let him know that something greater was amiss with the Dallas pack.
Hurting Dirk and causing him to have to Change without his permission was a sad time! The pain that he had to be forced to endure through the first change, and the harshness from both Heath and Landon was hard to read.
( I do have high hopes for Dirk and Landon.)
Landon admitted to also being an Enforcer who would never make it as an Alpha.
Fenris, an Enforcer of years, was hilarious in this book! A true character who you really do not know if he’s really crazy and “needs therapy,” or was just half human-half werewolf who has lived so long that he just says and does as he pleases because he knows he can and did get away with his …whatever!
The killing of the witches was justified for what had been set in motion years before (from first book.)
The only part that was really worth reading was the last two chapters. Heath made a proclamation to become a rogue alpha, and Jacky stood up for herself and Heath to her Changed father Hasan!
Not a book I’d recommend.
Banet, you are starting to get sloppy in your writing, or is it your editor(s)?
Around pages 61 - 63, there were two misspelled words. In the next to the last chapter, you had incorrect pronoun usage in the predicate of a sentence. Remember, if you are not sure which pronoun to use - omit the other person you are referring to first- inject the pronoun (I or ME), then using the correct pronoun - write your sentence correctly. NEVER use “I” in the predicate of a sentence.
As for the storyline, what a crock of junk!
From an earlier Jacky Leon book, it was evident that once Heath left his pack in Tywin’s hands, it would fall apart. Adding Madison, the witch relative of Emma who had been killed off in the first book, was a bit dramatic. She certainly had Tywin right where she wanted him.
The gaes she casted over Tywin and his pack was a bit much. Tywin sending Ranger, a former close friend of Heath, and the other werewolves in to kill Heath and Landon on Carey’s birthday was mean.
Ranger losing his leg was graphic.
Having to kill thirty plus werewolves of Alpha Everson’s former pack was difficult for Jacky, Landon and Heath. But Heath being able to clearly notice the emptiness in the wolves eyes let him know that something greater was amiss with the Dallas pack.
Hurting Dirk and causing him to have to Change without his permission was a sad time! The pain that he had to be forced to endure through the first change, and the harshness from both Heath and Landon was hard to read.
( I do have high hopes for Dirk and Landon.)
Landon admitted to also being an Enforcer who would never make it as an Alpha.
Fenris, an Enforcer of years, was hilarious in this book! A true character who you really do not know if he’s really crazy and “needs therapy,” or was just half human-half werewolf who has lived so long that he just says and does as he pleases because he knows he can and did get away with his …whatever!
The killing of the witches was justified for what had been set in motion years before (from first book.)
The only part that was really worth reading was the last two chapters. Heath made a proclamation to become a rogue alpha, and Jacky stood up for herself and Heath to her Changed father Hasan!
Not a book I’d recommend.
January 24, 2022
2.5
While I'm still a fan of the series, I found this a frustrating installment.
For the positive first, we get more balance with Heath and Landon and their power level. Jackie has calmed down considerably on her trust level, territorial aggression, and reasonableness. There's more resolved with Dirk and Landon, and more realism with Carley not being perfect as she's trying her toeing of the lines with teenage hormones. There's some resolution with the large Dallas pack finally.
For the negatives and this will sound strange, there is way too much dialogue. An unusual complaint, I know, but if you read this book, you'll see what I mean. Almost the entire book is dialogue exchanges, most large paragraphs. Out of over 360 pages, I'd say if you trimmed out all the non-dialogue parts, you'd have maybe 15 pages. It's way overdone and abundant. Never slows down besides small breaks. All events, action scenes, long dialogue with no down-time. Much information is repeated from previous books. Long dialogue scenes for every relationship and numerous characters.
My previous complaint that the author way overdoes the dialogue tags remains. Someone speaks "softly" on every page even if it doesn't make sense for them to do so. This stays unbearably distracting.
It was dull in parts due to the heaviness of the dialogue, some of it feeling repetitive, we don't need pages and pages of the two main characters devotion to each other back and forth. We've resolved the affection with accepting Landon and Carley no, I had thought, but we get a lot more dialogue repeated in this book about it again.
Usually her meetings with the family are a hoot, but this is the first in the series they are absent other than a small moment at the very end.
While I'm still a fan of the series, I found this a frustrating installment.
For the positive first, we get more balance with Heath and Landon and their power level. Jackie has calmed down considerably on her trust level, territorial aggression, and reasonableness. There's more resolved with Dirk and Landon, and more realism with Carley not being perfect as she's trying her toeing of the lines with teenage hormones. There's some resolution with the large Dallas pack finally.
For the negatives and this will sound strange, there is way too much dialogue. An unusual complaint, I know, but if you read this book, you'll see what I mean. Almost the entire book is dialogue exchanges, most large paragraphs. Out of over 360 pages, I'd say if you trimmed out all the non-dialogue parts, you'd have maybe 15 pages. It's way overdone and abundant. Never slows down besides small breaks. All events, action scenes, long dialogue with no down-time. Much information is repeated from previous books. Long dialogue scenes for every relationship and numerous characters.
My previous complaint that the author way overdoes the dialogue tags remains. Someone speaks "softly" on every page even if it doesn't make sense for them to do so. This stays unbearably distracting.
It was dull in parts due to the heaviness of the dialogue, some of it feeling repetitive, we don't need pages and pages of the two main characters devotion to each other back and forth. We've resolved the affection with accepting Landon and Carley no, I had thought, but we get a lot more dialogue repeated in this book about it again.
Usually her meetings with the family are a hoot, but this is the first in the series they are absent other than a small moment at the very end.
December 17, 2021
Jacky and heath
I am at a loss for words! This book was so heartbreaking good! Everything is a complete mess in Jacky and heaths life at the moment. And yet they are more in love with each other then ever. The absolute lengths these two will go for each other and the family they have built gives you goosebumps. I have said this before and I will say it again, I never get tired of this series, its captives you immediately and pulls you along the way to the wildest adventures of one bada$$ heroine (Jacky leon). This book had me a emotional wreck for so many reasons, ones I won't spoil, but it seems everyone is personally hit in this book. Things come to light that are so devastating, it ripped my poor heart out for all of them. Im glad they are so strong together and have seriously added to the little misfit family they already have, they are going to need more ppl in their corner. Since these two can't stop pi$$ing ppl off again. Lol. As for jackys family, besides the one person who has stuck by her, I'm over them! I know I know! Why would I even say that? Because most of the time they are just down right horrible individuals that don't deserve Jacky in the slightest. She's so much better then all of them! I can't wait to read the next book! And I hope heath and Jacky get a serious HEA.
I am at a loss for words! This book was so heartbreaking good! Everything is a complete mess in Jacky and heaths life at the moment. And yet they are more in love with each other then ever. The absolute lengths these two will go for each other and the family they have built gives you goosebumps. I have said this before and I will say it again, I never get tired of this series, its captives you immediately and pulls you along the way to the wildest adventures of one bada$$ heroine (Jacky leon). This book had me a emotional wreck for so many reasons, ones I won't spoil, but it seems everyone is personally hit in this book. Things come to light that are so devastating, it ripped my poor heart out for all of them. Im glad they are so strong together and have seriously added to the little misfit family they already have, they are going to need more ppl in their corner. Since these two can't stop pi$$ing ppl off again. Lol. As for jackys family, besides the one person who has stuck by her, I'm over them! I know I know! Why would I even say that? Because most of the time they are just down right horrible individuals that don't deserve Jacky in the slightest. She's so much better then all of them! I can't wait to read the next book! And I hope heath and Jacky get a serious HEA.
December 17, 2021
Fantastic is an understatement Can't wait for no 8!!Jackie is my ultimate fav
July 31, 2025
Daaaaamn! Look at Jacky and Heath shakin' things up! Love it!
October 19, 2025
Reread ik ga toch naar 5 sterren want wat een geweldig boek! En dat einde....
Weer een goed deel vol spanning! Ferris begin ik steeds leuker te vinden. Ik ben benieuwd naar het volgende avontuur!
Weer een goed deel vol spanning! Ferris begin ik steeds leuker te vinden. Ik ben benieuwd naar het volgende avontuur!
December 19, 2021
So, Jacky’s here again and doesn’t know what fate has in store for her, because as it turns out, planning birthday party for her favourite growing-up human is just the tip of an iceberg in this book.
Similarly to Royal Pawn , Rogue Alpha is a throw-back to Oath Sworn , and while the previous book dealt with, let’s say, the side story (albeit a big one) problem of the first novel in the series, this time we’re dealing with the main issue. Namely, the Dallas pack problem which has been an unfinished business for Heath through all of the earlier books. Turns out leaving the problem behind is not always a good idea, especially when later said problem not only comes back knocking on your door, but literally barges in taking it off its hinges.
So, the above-mentioned birthday party where now teenage Carey tries to connect the human and supernatural parts of the her life? Well, it doesn’t go well. But all in all, the girl takes it well, especially considering the events of said evening. Big things happen and Jacky’s newfound family has no choice but to react…
I think Rogue Alpha can be considered as the closure of the first almost-half of the series. And it does a fantastic job as it focuses on the parts that started the whole series, while leaving enough of the intriguing threads to weave the rest of the story with. And so many things come full circle in this novel…
The overall mood of this book is rather dark but there are few rays of sunshine that make it through the layer of clouds. One of them is seeing Jacky interacting with the certain members of the Heath’s former pack once again, after she’s changed so much, and what’s more important, has gained the much needed confidence. The second being the relationship within the heroine’s found family and while not all of them are deeply explored, the whole portrait feels complete, as sometimes sketches are enough to see that it works. The last but not the least, is the brightest ray of them all and as it’s definitely considered spoiler, I’ll just say that while it comes in time when one would least expect it, it’s done so in style of the story’s spirit that makes it even more heartwarming. Loved it!
As for the characters… Jacky and Heath are well-established ones but at the same time there’s still full room for their personalities to grow with the each volume of the story. Rogue Alpha puts more emphasis on the established parts, but I think those are the traits one already has come to love. What I’m mainly talking about is the maturity, especially in the situations that desperately need it from the characters. I love the fact that with each novel Jacky and Heath prove more and more that they’re just made for each other. They not only are, but also act like adults should and form the real partnership, with all its up and downs included, but always coming off as the united front when the situation demands it. Also, both of them are romantic in the practical kind of the way which just makes them so endearing. Well, one can’t write a review for this book without mentioning the treasures from the bottom of the jewelry box of the series. Landon and Dirk are the obvious ones, I think, but there is another one that shines very brightly in this one. Fenris is the kind of the character that I was expecting to see once again, but not exactly like this. Without going into the spoilers, I’ll just say that I loved his role in this part of the story. Definitely grew on me, this one did.
Rogue Alpha is the great show of the werewolf kind of fireworks. Now, that the blurb of the next book is out I just can’t wait to see the werecat kind of ones. So many things are bound to happen. Not all of them good for the main characters, but who cares, when the story is so fantastically written!
ARC for the honest review.
Similarly to Royal Pawn , Rogue Alpha is a throw-back to Oath Sworn , and while the previous book dealt with, let’s say, the side story (albeit a big one) problem of the first novel in the series, this time we’re dealing with the main issue. Namely, the Dallas pack problem which has been an unfinished business for Heath through all of the earlier books. Turns out leaving the problem behind is not always a good idea, especially when later said problem not only comes back knocking on your door, but literally barges in taking it off its hinges.
So, the above-mentioned birthday party where now teenage Carey tries to connect the human and supernatural parts of the her life? Well, it doesn’t go well. But all in all, the girl takes it well, especially considering the events of said evening. Big things happen and Jacky’s newfound family has no choice but to react…
I think Rogue Alpha can be considered as the closure of the first almost-half of the series. And it does a fantastic job as it focuses on the parts that started the whole series, while leaving enough of the intriguing threads to weave the rest of the story with. And so many things come full circle in this novel…
The overall mood of this book is rather dark but there are few rays of sunshine that make it through the layer of clouds. One of them is seeing Jacky interacting with the certain members of the Heath’s former pack once again, after she’s changed so much, and what’s more important, has gained the much needed confidence. The second being the relationship within the heroine’s found family and while not all of them are deeply explored, the whole portrait feels complete, as sometimes sketches are enough to see that it works. The last but not the least, is the brightest ray of them all and as it’s definitely considered spoiler, I’ll just say that while it comes in time when one would least expect it, it’s done so in style of the story’s spirit that makes it even more heartwarming. Loved it!
As for the characters… Jacky and Heath are well-established ones but at the same time there’s still full room for their personalities to grow with the each volume of the story. Rogue Alpha puts more emphasis on the established parts, but I think those are the traits one already has come to love. What I’m mainly talking about is the maturity, especially in the situations that desperately need it from the characters. I love the fact that with each novel Jacky and Heath prove more and more that they’re just made for each other. They not only are, but also act like adults should and form the real partnership, with all its up and downs included, but always coming off as the united front when the situation demands it. Also, both of them are romantic in the practical kind of the way which just makes them so endearing. Well, one can’t write a review for this book without mentioning the treasures from the bottom of the jewelry box of the series. Landon and Dirk are the obvious ones, I think, but there is another one that shines very brightly in this one. Fenris is the kind of the character that I was expecting to see once again, but not exactly like this. Without going into the spoilers, I’ll just say that I loved his role in this part of the story. Definitely grew on me, this one did.
Rogue Alpha is the great show of the werewolf kind of fireworks. Now, that the blurb of the next book is out I just can’t wait to see the werecat kind of ones. So many things are bound to happen. Not all of them good for the main characters, but who cares, when the story is so fantastically written!
ARC for the honest review.
December 17, 2021
All I can say is, "WOW"! This book was a little bit different from the previous ones as Jacky moves away from her distrustful-of-Heath family and towards her chosen family (as close to a pack as cats will get) of Heath, Carey, Landon, Oliver, and Dirk. In Rogue Alpha, Dirk really steps up and "changes" into the person we have come to know was underneath all of that angst, as his relationship with Landon solidifies and they become public as a couple. This is one of the continuing themes that I love so much about Banet's book - the love and acceptance that the protaganists of her books always have for the people they love.
I do feel bad for Jacky and Heath - all they want to do is live in their little part of the world and be kind to one another, their loved ones, and friends. Unfortunately, being Hasan's daughter and the leader of the North American werecats mated to the former leader of one of the largest packs in the US keeps everyone and their mothers trying to break them up. I hope that this relationship leads to Hasan finally accepting Heath's love for Jacky with his literally jaw-dropping revelation at the end of the book - which I won't spoil, but it sets the scene for what I expect to be an explosive next book.
In Rogue Alpha, everyone is noticing that the Dallas pack has more than floundered since Heath gave up his Alpha position, and this problem is brought directly to Jacky"s and Heath's door when Tyson sends dozens of wolves "officially" to kill Heath and Landon, while they are holding a birthday party for Carey, with innocent humans present, too. Of course, Jacky is there, and without her, Heath, Landon, Dirk, Carey, and humans may have died or been seriously injured. I won't tell much about the story afterward, but this attack sets the stage for the rest of the book's drama and action, as well as the "big reveal" at the end.
I ADORED this book and Banet never disappoints (except with she kills off people. I hope there are Cassius books in the works, Brion gets his comeuppance with Kaliya and Jacky helping kick his ass. Also, Ms. Banet, if you read this, I hope those fae gods who created Sasha can make her again in some fashion. Maybe a bit of Kaliya's reincarnation??????). I digress. This book is exactly what I expect and always receive with this world created by Banet. Run, don't walk, (or run your fingers to your favorite e-book site) and get this book!
I do feel bad for Jacky and Heath - all they want to do is live in their little part of the world and be kind to one another, their loved ones, and friends. Unfortunately, being Hasan's daughter and the leader of the North American werecats mated to the former leader of one of the largest packs in the US keeps everyone and their mothers trying to break them up. I hope that this relationship leads to Hasan finally accepting Heath's love for Jacky with his literally jaw-dropping revelation at the end of the book - which I won't spoil, but it sets the scene for what I expect to be an explosive next book.
In Rogue Alpha, everyone is noticing that the Dallas pack has more than floundered since Heath gave up his Alpha position, and this problem is brought directly to Jacky"s and Heath's door when Tyson sends dozens of wolves "officially" to kill Heath and Landon, while they are holding a birthday party for Carey, with innocent humans present, too. Of course, Jacky is there, and without her, Heath, Landon, Dirk, Carey, and humans may have died or been seriously injured. I won't tell much about the story afterward, but this attack sets the stage for the rest of the book's drama and action, as well as the "big reveal" at the end.
I ADORED this book and Banet never disappoints (except with she kills off people. I hope there are Cassius books in the works, Brion gets his comeuppance with Kaliya and Jacky helping kick his ass. Also, Ms. Banet, if you read this, I hope those fae gods who created Sasha can make her again in some fashion. Maybe a bit of Kaliya's reincarnation??????). I digress. This book is exactly what I expect and always receive with this world created by Banet. Run, don't walk, (or run your fingers to your favorite e-book site) and get this book!
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