In the idyllic town of Cherry River, secrets simmer beneath the surface, threatening to unravel the lives of those entangled in a web of love and betrayal.
Lyrics never lie. And some lovers never let go.
For singer Sloan Callow, returning to his lake house marks a desperate bid to shield his orphaned sister from the clutches of their dangerous brother, Nathan. Little does Sloan know that fate has a different plan in store.
You broke my heart before I knew your first name.
Reunited with Sofie Belle—Nathan's former flame and the object of his hidden desires—Sloan's world ignites with passion and danger. But, as their forbidden connection deepens, Nathan's sinister threats escalate, casting a shadow over their blossoming secret romance.
I was in love with the idea of you when I was a kid. Now I’m in love with all of you.
As darkness descends upon the idyllic lake house, an unforgiving enemy sets its sights on capturing young Adélaïde—thrusting Sloan and Sofie into a harrowing battle for their lives. With the relentless motorcycle gang closing in and buried family secrets surfacing, they must forge an unbreakable bond to safeguard all they cherish.
J.R. Rogue first put pen to paper at the age of fifteen after developing an unrequited high school crush and has never stopped writing about heartache. She has published multiple volumes of poetry and novels. Her work has been recognized with three Goodreads Choice Awards nominations, a testament to the impact of her work on readers.
In addition to her writing, J.R. Rogue is a certified yoga teacher with additional certification in Yoga Nidra and Trauma-Informed Yoga. She is passionate about mindfulness and meditation, and currently studying Foundations in Meditation. Furthermore, J.R. Rogue has been sober from alcohol since January 1st, 2020, a personal achievement that she is proud of and that has strengthened her commitment to mindfulness and wellness.
J.R. Rogue resides in a small town in the Midwest with her family, where she enjoys a peaceful life reading and telling stories
Teach Me, the final novella in the Summer of Secrets series, follows eldest sister Elizabeth Sophie as she navigates the small town of Cherry Cove that she had left behind in search of healing and herself. She wants to help at Bordeau Books, she wants to heal her relationships with her sisters, and she wants younger Sloane Callahan, she just doesn't know how to achieve any of it. With a teaching job and a pile of secrets held close to her chest, Sophie finally allows the great loss of her and her sisters' life to guide her in the direction she must go.
"I think I'm in love with a fleeting moment. Wishing on this stolen thing we have."
Oh my word, J.R. Rogue, you dirty, smutty writer! I mean, with a cover like this I knew I was going to get some naughty out of one of my fave angst queens, but Teach Me was downright filthy...in the best way possible. A little bit taboo, a lot a bit emotional, Teach Me is the perfect conclusion to the series. Not only do we get closure on the other sisters' stories, but we get the older sister perspective and it brings things full circle. Sloane and Sophie have a shared responsibility, brought about by similar losses. In one another they see a friend, a companion, someone who understands. Through the fog of lust they navigate the difficult waters of grown up responsibility brought on long before it's time. It's heart-wrenching, romantic, and somehow still smutty; J.R. Rogue has talent.
"I want to call him my future. I want to call him mine. I want to crawl into his bed every night. But how can that happen?"
Teach Me is another hit from J.R. Rogue, her lyrical prose weaving a story about love and loss, she takes readers on an emotional journey. As a whole, the Summer of Secrets series was just an incredible reading experience. The three authors, Christina Hart, Cynthia A. Rodriguez, and J.R. Rogue, bring to life the Bordeau sisters, their small town, and their fierce, sometimes difficult love for one another. Together these authors tackle the difficult subject of loss and the painful, beautiful experience of life. I highly recommend these novels and all three authors.
“This boy is tired and worn down from the life he didn’t ask for. I know the feeling.”
In the third and final book in the series, Rogue ties the stories together in a way that feels effortless, profound, and purposeful.
The story takes us on Sophie’s journey, the eldest sister of the Bordeau girls, who’s back in her hometown after running from her responsibilities. But when she happens to meet a younger man who oddly resembles her first love, she quickly learns that the good looks are not the only thing the two have in common.
Ridden with guilt and remorse from past decisions, and an undeniable attraction to her student’s brother/guardian, Sophie finds herself in the arms of a next-level encounter that feels potentially taboo.
What starts as an older woman gifting new experiences to a younger man, turns into much more, as he unknowingly gives her lessons on selflessness and how to handle the burdens she’s fumbled with.
Now, with a shaken uncertainty of her future, and unforeseen feelings in multiple aspects of her life, Sophie has to decide what comes next; and if she can repair her past mistakes, not for herself, but for the sake of her sister.
I wanted to review these three books together not because they're all in the same mini-series or because they're all set in the same summer or they all have the same sisters involved within them. But because even though they have a lot of similarities, they have so many more differences that really stuck out to me. So instead of breaking them all out, I wanted to include them in one post.
Each story has heartbreak, but each story displays it differently. One is emotional, one is intense, one is electrifying. Each story has a male lead and a female lead but while you are reading these, none of those leads are the same as another. One sister, is not like the other. One male, is definitely not like the other. They're all so different and distinct and I think I loved that the most about these three stories. Yeah, we have three books about three sisters and one summer but wow, who knew how different their journey's could all be.
Jen's book, Teach Me had so much emotion packed into such a short novella. It was poetic and it was melancholy heave for me. Cynthia's book, Hate Me packed so much tension that I could barely stand it any longer. If it was a longer book, I just know I would have combusted internally from all of the emotional and sexual tension. And Christina's book Ruin Me... was electrifying. Christina has some of the most powerful, jarring writing that I have had the pleasure of reading.
I hope you all enjoy the journey these three women took us on. It's quite different than anything else you might ever read from them. But in the best way possible. Indulge. Treat yourself. Explore and love the ride they take you on.
Sophie Bordeau was always a rebel, a loyal rebel though as the oldest of the sisters, it’s hard to be and take on the responsibility. You have dreams and sometimes those dreams take you to the unexpected, like meeting Sloane Callahan. This is a tale of breaking the rules, of not letting standard guide your life and just being who you are meant to be and letting you be with you are meant to be with.
It’s about two people dealing with loss, finding strength in each other and the courage to live life fully. There were such healing moments reading the struggles the my faced and what Sophie learned about herself from probably the last person she ever expected too.
Jen tells such a story of determination and strength all while learning to let go. It was so beautiful.
This story felt sweeter and less angry than the first two. I really appreciated that. The character development was fantastic. The way the stories fit together but can stand on their own, fantastic. Another lyrical story by an author with a poetic heart. A short story that doesn’t feel insta love or rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I never expected the turns and secrets discovered when I finished The Return. J.R Rogue gives us the suspense and romance we love in her books.
Sophie was back in town for one reason and that reason did not include meeting Sloan. Sloan was back for a darker reason, one he protects greatly. When the two meets sparks are instantaneous and one they both fight against because the loyalty they have, the fear they hold on to and the fight with themselves.
On paper Teach Me by J.R. Rogue is an age gap romance but it didn’t truly feel like one. I say this because Sloan was more mature then your typical 20 year old man.
This story starts out hot between Sophie and Sloan but grew into more than just a hot physical attraction. It was more than just an age gap romance. It is about two people who have experienced similar losses in life and how to cope with them. How to find yourself again and be ok with who that will be and what that will look like. How to forgive yourself and learn to accept love from others and learn to open up and give love.
Jen was able to create a poetic, deep meaningful story and I loved everything about it! Jen is definitely an author who should never be overlooked. Her talent speaks for itself.
Teach Me is the 3rd and final novella in The Summer Of Secrets book with 3 stories about 3 sisters during one summer.
Sophie Bordeau is the oldest of the Bordeau sisters and she is the rebel with a cause. After running from her life in the small beachy hometown, she is ready to return and stake her claim within her family...she thinks. But when a guy catches her eye, everything may turn her world upside down. Sloane may be much younger, but he seems to carry a mature and calm way about himself and maybe, just maybe he will have a thing or two to teach the older and experienced Sophie.
3 sisters that kept secrets from one another for the summer led them to figure out themselves and what they wanted out of their lives. I think having Sophie's story the final one wrapped up everything so seamlessly and in a way that was perfect. From youngest to oldest, each sister was very different in their approach of how they handled life, loss and love. J.R. Rogue knows how to write an older woman and younger man, but she went out and started it out with a WOW with these two. I almost didn't have time to take a breath, but these two warranted something fast, hot and fresh. All I want is more of them and to experience more of Jen's beautifully vivid imagination when it comes to these two characters.
While I hadn't read the previous two authors before, I had read Jen's and she is what originally drew me to this particular book. She took on two types of characters that are somewhat familiar, but she put a whole new HOT spin on it and I was totally here for it. If you're looking for an end of the summer read, check out these 3 Novellas. You will not be disappointed!
This is the first book by this author that i've read. It has some darker elements and mentions in the book, so check trigger warnings before reading.
When sofie's parents died, she ran away to the big city to study. She ran away from her demons, her ex boyfriend, she even left her sisters to deal with everything. But now she's back, she has a teaching position, it's not her dream job but it will do while trying to fix her parents bookstore from crumbling and working on building a bond with her sisters again. One day she's meeting with a parent of one of her students, or so she thinks. She meets this younger guy, who seems very familiar and who is very very attractive. Sloan always had a crush on his older brother's girlfriend Sofie so he takes a chance to talk to her when he finds out she is his sister's teacher. The tension between them is amazing. The sparks are ... just firework. What started out as just a summerfling until they both go back home again turns in to so much more. There is so much more to this story but i don't want to spoil anything. You have to find out for yourself!
We get multiple POV's which is amazing, because you get to read the pining between these two. It's well written, spice becomes hotter towards the end and there is a bit of action in it aswell. I really liked it, Sloan is so mature, communicative and kind for his age, it just makes you want a guy like Sloan, the way he deals with things, how he talks about everything very open and honest. AMAZING!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
My parents taught me that I could be whoever I wanted to be, so I'm a teacher with tattoos and a foul mouth. I talk about sex like I talk about the weather. My laugh is loud, and I do things other people would be afraid to do, and I only question it when it's too late.
Sophie is SO different from the other sisters. She seems more upfront with who she is and what she wants. She doesn't really hold back from going for what she wants either.
I wasn't sure about this story when I first started reading. Sophie and Sloane have a bit of a shared backstory, but not a strong one. Their interactions are somewhat taboo as well because of it. Their story moved quite fast, yet it was primarily physical. I wasn't getting a "real" connection vibe between the two. However, this did turn around.
I liked how these characters were intertwined. They have something they each understand, but handled in different ways. It was interesting to see how their lives mirrored each other in a way. When the story started going more in that direction, I found myself more invested.
There are so many different meanings of the phrase "teach me" in this book! 😂
To me, Sophie felt like she carried the most secrets and the most baggage of her sisters. She felt like she was going through a lot of motions without the actual emotion behind it. I found it a little hard to connect to her because it felt like she was always hiding something. Even when she finally opens up, she still feels guarded. I kept waiting for something big from her, but her character was steady for the entire story.
This is an age gap romance, that never really feels that way. Sophie knows what people will think if they find out, but to the reader it didn't feel so hard. Sloane comes across older than he is because of his circumstances. This is why him and Sophie are a match, despite the age difference.... they were both forced to grow up more quickly than they would have liked.
There is no slow burn in this one, but the chemistry isn't lacking. I feel like, if we got more of Sophie's story I might haved loved this one more. I did enjoy it and it was a quick read.
Aaah the perfect ending to the perfect little summer novella series.
I really loved reading Sophie’s story. Since i’ve read the first novella, she’s been in the back of my mind. I wanted to know about the rebel, i wanted to know why she made the choices she made, i wanted to know who she was and i am glad i got to know her.
Sophie and Sloan are just perfect together, they are fire and just too damn hot. But the talks they had were my favorite moments. I love how Sloane , this young guy was the one that Sophie kinda looked up to, the one that settles her, the one that makes her feel wanted. The one that teaches her.
This story definitely didn’t go into the direction i thought it would and boy am i happy it didn’t
I have to say i got a little emotional at the end of the book, seeing all the sisters happy and finally living the life they want.
I like her writing style and will definitely read more books of Jen in the near future.
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this from Cynthia, and wow. *Review for entire series* I just finished this absolute masterpiece. These ladies are 3 of my favorite writers, so I knew TSOS was going to be nothing less than epic. I was right and wrong. These books, these characters and their love stories, are so much more than I ever could’ve dreamed. I love that you can feel each author’s style, but the stories are so intricately woven that they create pure magic. I adore each of their sisters- their different personalities, dreams, flaws, and their love for each other. I love love love Joey, Ezra, and Sloane. They were perfect for each Bordeau girl. These characters are fragile and broken and soft and hard and crazy and beautiful, and you can’t help but feel everything they feel. I can’t articulate my love for these books. I can’t articulate my love for these authors. The world of literature needed this collection. 8483/10 recommend.
This story was not at all what I expected it to be and I LOVE that!!
"You're art. I hope she can hear the words inside of me and feel what I feel around her"
If ever two characters were made for each other , it's Sloan and Sofie. They complement each other in every way possible. They carry the same wounds and in the end their love healed all those wounds.
Rogue's breath of fresh air into a story I already loved was exhilarating. Through all the changes , twists and turns, she managed to create a story that felt like it was a part of something bigger. These characters and their story will forever be etched as one of my favourites. I loved that we got to see more of who Sofie is and how hard she fought against herself to become who she was always meant to be. The love between Sofie and Sloan was effortlessly portrayed throughout the story and I'm here for it!!!
Being the oldest doesn’t always mean you’re designed to make the right choices 100% of the time, and Sophie is proof of that. After making a choice that effects her youngest sister, Sophie has to try to find a way to mend fences with her sisters before her whole world crumbles once again. Though, hiding throughout the summer with a secret that starts in a supply closet does make things a bit more complicated. This was such a joy to read. Watching Sophie’s walls crumble and watching her become more of the person she saw herself as before things fell apart was absolutely inspiring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"He isn't shy. He isn't reserved with his words. What Sloane feels, he says, and it is so refreshing to quit the fucking games."
Sophie and Sloane...just perfect! Perfect way to end off the summer and get all the secrets out in the open. The Bordeau sisters were amazing, and I hope we hear more about them!
The oldest sister Sophie had alot going on, struggling with her own demons and is so different from her other sisters.l, I liked the way she thinks and her feeling are so real and meeting Sloane with an age gap was more delicious. Sloane was very grown up for his age but so so perfect for Sophie. I loved all the sisters and this one tied it together perfectly.
My favorite of the series, Sophie’s story was enjoyable from the start. The characters are complex but with a sweet and vulnerability that you can relate too. Sloane’s character ma6 be younger than Sophie but they compliments each other. Just the right amount of drama and heat that made for an entertaining read.
It was nice to see that just because Sophie was the oldest didnt mean that she should get her book first. Having been able to read all three stories one right after the other was so great and so enjoyable and really amazing to see three different authors take on a character and have all three mesh so well. This trio did an awesome job.
Teach Me is everything you want to read. It has suspense, romance and a troubling past that the main character, Sophie has to move past. J.R. Rogue has a gift for making characters that you can see yourself in. Its so real it hurts.
4.5 ⭐️ This is a page turner, I was enraptured, at times my heart was racing with expectation of what would happen next. It’s heartfelt and emotional with trauma and tragic events that tie these two families together in the worst way. Every character is damaged in one way or another, some by the same event, but they all process it differently which impacts the others in their lives. Sometimes you hurt your loved ones without thought and it takes courage to be the first to say sorry. It’s realistic and raw. There’s darkness in here, and danger and a love that is desperately trying to grow. It’s gritty and suspenseful with mystery and threats, not everyone can be trusted. Read the warnings because there’s some nasty stuff mentioned (events occur off page). If you love a gritty, fast paced suspense romance read this, it’s well worth the effort.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
J.R. Rogue is a one-click author for me. This is an updated and expanded version of Teach Me a novella that was part of a series that is no longer available. I love this expanded world that Ms. Rogue created and fell in love all over again with Sofie and Sloan. The older woman/younger man trope is my favorite and this was done so well. There was suspense, romance and complex family relationships all written in beautiful prose that I got lost in. I need to read Lucie’s updated story and I’m hoping that Katie’s story gets an update as well. Fall in love with these sisters like I did.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved Sloan and Eliza’s story. I enjoyed it in the short story and I love this new expanded story! Seeing the growth and change in the characters as they solve and bind their families while finding each other and growing themselves was so amazing. I love Al the red note series and I really like the brushes with the other characters in the first and second books in the red note series. I love the strength the characters have and how strong the women are in these books! I hope there is a book for Addie and everything that she does and I cannot wait for stories for the other sisters!
Between this series, Red Note and her Muse & Music series, J.R. Rogue has become one of my go-to rockstar romance authors. I literally haven’t read one I haven’t loved and The Return has kept the streak going. Sofie is Sloan’s older brother’s ex and the woman he’s always yearned for. Their story made me smile, sigh and cry, just like a great romance should. I absolutely fell in love with Sloan. I mean, who wouldn’t? Sofie is a very lucky woman. No spoilers, just read the book and enjoy. I know I sure did.
The book cover and the town of Cherry River appear serene yet this story is anything but that….This book features a hot rock star, older woman who happens to be brother’s ex girlfriend, mystery and suspense. I kept turning the pages to unlock everyone’s secrets and to find out what would happen next. J.R. Rogue has written another beautiful and complex story with sprinkles of lyrics that could easily be one of her poems or a good song!