Rourk Kavanagh is an elite elfin warrior, and a member of a human Special Forces team. During a routine mission in Afghanistan, he crosses paths with a dark supernatural creature—a d'jinn.
His world gets turned upside down when the unthinkable happens: Keegan, his one true love, is kidnapped by an evil d'jinn. The d'jinn is seeking revenge for the death of his brother at Rourk's hands.
Fueled by fear over the potential loss of his wife, Rourk has only one thought—embrace the rage.
Julia crane is the author of the Keegan’s Chronicles, IFICS. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination.
As we all know Julie Crane is a bada** mofo, and I love her dearly why because I always get to beta read her books and she spoils me rotten (winks.) On to the review!! My Rourk, my Rourky ugh I love him, he's still as playful as he was when he and Keegan were first dating, "be sure to breathe between bites. I'm not sure how I would explain to my team sergeant that I didn't make my flight because of a trip to the emergency room." He still has his hotness, "with a grin on his face, Rourk tossed his shirt off and joined Keegan under the covers." So I had some weird vibes before reading this book because I love Keegan just as much as I love Rourky, and I thought we would get a book about Rourk and what he does when he goes bye-bye but that's not the case we get BOTH point of views in the book plus more so I was really pleased with that. Keegan goes through something traumatic in the book and I applaud her for her courage, and will, "I will not allow you to break me. There is nothing you could do to me that would break me. My body is nothing than an outer shell. My soul resides deep inside and you cannot touch it." Every time Julia gives me a book to read the woman is like all nervous especially with this one as it's her first novella, and as always I assure her I will NOT hate it, and I don't I love the way the woman writes she does have talent (and no I'm not just saying this because she does spoil me) but it's the truth. I was VERY pleased with my Rourky!
This was my first introduction to Rourk Kavanaugh, elfin warrior and mate of Keegan, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity. Rourk is very much an alpha male, determined to protect his wife and those around him: a trait that comes into frequent play as a soldier on deployment in Afghanistan and part of an elite unit. While his army unit has no clue of his otherworldliness, he is a valued member and leader of the team. Meanwhile, Keegan is clever and funny with curiosity to burn, the connection to Rourk is solidly portrayed, even when she is depressed by his absence.
Julia Crane pulled no punches, setting us straight into the story that will be a great test for both Rourk and Keegan. From the pain of separation from one another, into the midst of enemy territory, and the separation Rourk feels when he alone understands the threat of the Djinn, this novella was an edge of the seat read. There was a real sense of loss and pain, and the resolutions were fitting.
I received an ARC copy from the author for purpose of honest review for a book tour. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
This was a short story spinoff to Julia Crane's Keegan's Chronicles. I really liked the better look into the characters of Rourk, Keegan, and Thaddeus. It was nice to see how they have grown. Lots of bad things happen in this short story but, good comes out at the end! Lots of emotions going on, anger, sadness, loneliness, disbelief, and finally happiness. I can't wait to see what happens next for the characters!
Definitely not what I expected; it was a bit more "violent" than the other three coexist books, but it was still amazing! The connection between Keegan and Rourk continues, and makes me fall in love with them even more. They are an amazing couple. It was nice to see more of Rourk, his perspective of things. You'll definitely be surprised to what is going on. A must read.
I was giving for honest review. I really enjoy the tale of Rouke and look forward to more of Rouke. I highly recommend reading Keegan tale first if not read them to get more insight to the work that this follows of Julia crane awesome Job. I look forward to more in this spin off series.
Halfway through this one, I was... really, really confused to be honest. The original books sound as if they were written by a 15-year-old. The story is so lame there is not even properly one. The heroine is so immature and annoying I was surprised that even one person wants to be with her.
Now, suddenly, halfway through this one, it got kinda... hardcore?? We get kidnapping, attempted rape, miscarriage... I mean, it was written much, much better than the three books in the series. It actually had a plot for once. But honestly? This sudden change in format... If that's the way the author writes now, it's very good for her. But I don't think it was a good thing to suddenly come up with this in the novella for this series.
Not to mention, even if the writing was a bit more mature, the characters... hmp... were not (seriously, she has her attacker frozen, grabs a knife... and instead of pushing and shattering him, or stabbing him, she just... runs? what?). So I really have to give two stars to the entirety of this... hmp... thing.
What I thought of the plot I loved Rourk, I thought it would be solely from his POV but we also see Keegan’s POV as well. Well since we last left the duo life, is not as blissful as it seems. Rourk is a soldier and travels which is expected but with a supernatural twist. You feel their pain and understand Rourk’s need for revenge, heartbreaking at times it leaves you wanting more...thanks to the always knowledgeable Thaddeus, we get a glimpse of more to come. Strength, devotion and family are always present in this series and I love it. What I thought of the characters: Rourk is still the loveable guy we have already met, always there for his beloved Keegan. He loves hard as well as plays/works hard his loyalty is to the core. Who doesn’t want to have a handsome devil like him around, he would bend over backwards for Keegan if it were to make her happy. Keegan she has matured since we last seen her, the bond her and Rourk share is ever present and comforting to her. Along with her big appetite her big heart shines though in typical worried wart fashion. Seriously, I almost got grey hair from reading her anxiety…lol I loved that we saw our old favorites as well and they help defuse some of the mounting suspense in the book. I especially loved Thaddeus, he was there for his big sister (see family precedence, love it!) What I loved I loved that I can recommend this a teen and not worry about the steamy scenes, because the characters may have marital the bliss it’s tastefully written and not explicit to make the point come across. As I have mentioned before I love the family aspect in this book, the loyalty and playfulness they have for one another. I also love how resilient the characters are portrayed, as with some books they severely spiral out of control, after a traumatic event with Keegan and Rourk that was not the case. I love how Julia takes real world events and puts that supernatural twist and makes it work, flawlessly yeah her genius is showing. What I didn’t like The cliffhanger!! Really?!!? I want to know what happens next. Favorite Quote(s) “I will not allow you to break me. There is anything you could do to me that would break me. My body is nothing than an outer shell. My soul resides deep inside and you cannot touch it.� “Don’t worry, little one. I will help you on your path. It’s not an easy road, but it’s an important one. And this time you will have your brother.� In a nutshell If you’re a fan of the Keegan chronicles this is a must add novella, it makes you want to crush your book with superhuman force because we have to wait and see if we get more installments to the series. Fingers crossed we do because I need more of this story. Go ahead and get this book to understand the awesomeness that is happening in the lovely world Julia Crane has created for us. As always, happy reading! **Reviewed as part of Fun Fab and Tantalizing Reads**
This is a book that I have been waiting on to come out since I first read Keegan's Chronicles. I am a big fan or Rourk. He is hot, sweet, and such a strong person. He had to deal with a lot threw Keegan's Chronicles but he never gave up. This book couldn't have turned out better. I absolutely loved it.
"Rourk" gives us a look into what happened after the Trilogy. If you are like me, after a good series, you always wonder what happened. Well this book tells you. There are laughs, heart ache, death, and life. This book covers it all perfectly.
Rourk is of course in the Army Special Forces. He is good at his job thanks to his Elfin powers. He heads over to Afghanistan for his tour only to find D'jinn's are hiding out there. D'jinn's are bad and can not be killed with a gun.
Meanwhile Keegan is at home in there house they bought after getting married. They have a happy life but a hard one since Rourk is gone so much. Her brother Thaddeus comes to visit and ends up freaking her out a little when he leaves.
"Everything happens for a reason" After Thaddeus leaves Keegan gets kidnapped and revenge becomes a big thing for both the D'jinn and Rourk. What happens next? You will have to read this amazing book to find out.
This book couldn't have been written better. I recommend everyone to read this. This can definitely be read by itself but is so much better understood if you have read the Keegan's Chronicles. Julia Crane is an amazing Author and I can't wait for her next book.
I just love Julia Crane. She has a way of making you fall into a world like you're right there with the characters. *Warning: possible spoilers*
A couple of yrs after Keegan and her chosen elf mate, Rourke marry and get their starter house, Rourk is off to Afghanistan as a soldier in the human army, something elves do before they join the elfin army. As one can expect, there is tragic loss in that 'family' before there is tragic loss in his & Keegan's. There is a happy ending, but not before fighting a d'jinn and traveling half way around the world to do it.
Keegan is much more of a fighter in this book than in previous books. Of course, she's in her early 20s now and not in high school. There was a part where her brother- the all Seer, Thaddeus- and she were brushing up on her training that she didn't really use later in the book. That's probably the only part that disappointed me. I'd have liked to see her physically kick some ass a bit more, but she does get away from her attacker and go through a really rough time after wards.
This might not be as dark as some things out there, but for Crane it's darker than usual. The end, however, does justify the means, and that actually makes everything up to that point worth while (which is more than I can say for some "books" out there).
This was not the first book that I have read by Julia Crane, but it is definitely the first one in this series that I have read. I’ve heard great things about the rest of the series, and after reading the novella, I can’t wait to dig into the rest of the books! This book focuses on Rourk and Keegan, alternating between the characters. Rourk has to leave for deployment in the military, leaving Keegan at home. Never fear! Her brother is here! Her brother is able to see the future, and this makes Keegan nervous because he never comes to visit unless something is wrong... This book is a great mix of fantasy and reality. While Rourk and Keegan are technically Elves, they are immersed in the human world. It’s a great mix, with the two worlds blending perfectly. I look forward to reading more from this author, especially this series! I haven’t read a good story about elves in a very long time...especially ones that didn’t involve Santa. Even if you haven’t read the rest, you can still pick this one up and understand everything that is going on. Give it a try! You won’t be disappointed!
Rourk and Keegan have a difficult journey ahead of them in this novella. Rourk is an elfin warrior in the human military by tradition. Keegan is Rourk's chosen mate. She is a fun and loving elf, but is definitely a worry-wart. Rourk leaves for a 3 month deployment to Afghanistan leaving Keegan at home alone. The series of event that happen after will rock them to their very core. This can either make or break them, and it will definitely have the power to. Rourk, written by Author Julia Crane, is a well written adventurous book. I did have a hard time really getting into the book at first, but once the action starts it draws you in. It is written in third-person point of view letting us see everything from the outside in. It shares some emotions, but also allows us to recreate and create some of the emotions ourselves. There are a whirlwind of emotions involved to a story like this. Let this story be a gateway to a journey you mind will enjoy. 4/5 from Alyssa
I loved this book and I love Rourk. He's just so amazing and those ears. Mmm. Wait ok yes, this is a novella. I so wanted more of this story. I don't want to give anything away so let me just say that this is a continuation of Rourk and Keegan's story.
While Rourk is away fighting in the human war Keegan stays home and waits for her love to return. Because of the curse brought on by dying and coming back to life it's hard for her to be away from Rourk. Even more so for her than what is typical. While away Rourk comes across a species only thought to be from the stories he was told as a child. He never thought they were real. Now he knows they are and when it goes after the one thing Rourk cares about the most he will stop at nothing to protect his Keegan.
Find out what happens to Rourk and Keegan in this short story of the Keegan chronicles.
I don't think I can thank Mrs. Potter's enough for this amazing tour!!
I have been a fan of Julia's for a long time and I love the Keegan Chronicles so much.
When I found out about this book I was jumping with joy.
WHAT I LIKED:
I love Rourk and Keegan's relationship and the development of it since their marriage. I also love that Rourk is still in the military (I love an Elf in uniform).
I can't get over the twist and turns in this short book. Now, I will tell you that life is not easy for the newlyweds. I am just not talking about relationship stuff either. There is more happenings in the Elf world that become revealed throughout.
I love that Julia brought back some characters! HELLO THADDEUS!!
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
There is one complaint for this book .......... wasn't long enough!!
Rourk was always my favorite character from the Keegan Chronicles and he's still my favorite. Rourk is your ideal warrior, always protecting others and wanting to be strong for everyone. In Rourk's case, that strength also comes with a sensitive side and I love that about him.
The book was good and I enjoyed it. It was a great continuation of the Keegan Chronicles and the subsequent books. I would recommend this book to other YA fans, although I do think you need to have read the other previous books to really have a grasp on the characters, the dynamic between them, and the world they live in.
Rourke by Julia Crane was wonderful book and an amazing continuation to the Keegan chronicles books. I have loved all of the books in this series and Rourke was no exception. The relationship between Rourke and Keegan is so romantic and special...and after reading all of the other stories in the series, I enjoyed this glimpse into their married life. Rourke is a warrior and I expect him to be strong....but the strength that Keegan showed in this book was amazing. And I definitely cried over the loss that Keegan & Rourke suffered.
When I saw this book I just knew I had to read it. I'm a big fan of Keegan's chronicles and this book was amazing. I am glad that we got the opportunity to know Rourk a little more and also to know more about Keegan an Rourk's life after they got married. I can honestly say that I could read more about their adventures and hopefully the series will continue, but if not this book was a nice conclusion to the series.
Julia Crane Rourk - A Novella Keegan's Chronicles #4
This book delivered an emotional rollercoaster, and will affect some more than others. I loved this book from start to finish, it's well written, flows smoothly and has many hidden depths. Anyone that has enjoyed the Keegan's Chronicles will love this novella, but if you haven't then this would make a good introduction to the authors writing style and you'll be left wanting to read more of these characters.
Rourk (Keegan's Chronicles 3.5) by Julia Crane 4 1/2
Seeing Rourk's journeys as a warrior, how he handled the stress of his missions was interesting. Reading it with terminology that was accurate was refreshing. His struggles as he knew Keegan was in danger definitely pulled at the heartstrings. As Keegan went through intensely difficult and heartbreaking life changing events it was at times almost hard to read. This was a great continuation of their story.
Having not read any of Julia's previous work and going in with an open mind I really enjoyed this read. It was short, simple and sweet. I really enjoyed the ending. Plus there is a hot elf what more can you ask for..just look at that cover..:) I will be doing a full review on my blog on June 26th. Please stop by...
Well balanced between plot and character development - fast paced and I appreciate the author keeping it clean even though the age group is YA/NA. Enough action for a male read, while keeping it emotionally pulling for females.
The best book in the series! I love Rourk more because of this. The story of this book is great, more of Rourk and Keegan's adventure which is definitely cool!
This is a really fun series. The plot line is interesting. It is not hard to follow. The hero and heroine are interesting, and the chemistry is good and clean!