By Hook or By Rook (London League #4) – Review

by Rebecca Connolly

Series: London League, Book 4
Paperback: 180 pages
Publisher: Phase Publishing (July 1, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1943048843
ISBN-13: 978-1943048847

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The most dangerous journeys…

Jeremy Pratt is a spy for the Crown, and one of the best. He had been in more dangerous situations than he can admit, and has always come out unscathed. But escorting his colleague’s cousin home to her family, even in disguise, just might be beyond his skills, and the temptation beyond his ability to withstand.

May be ones of the heart…

Helen Dalton is convinced there is more to this man escorting her than meets the eye, and something familiar about him, as well. There is only one man in the world who looks at her so intensely, banters with her so easily, and makes her blush so furiously. And when he manages a daring and heroic rescue, she wonders if she ever knew him at all.

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By Hook or By Rook is the newest installment in the London League series by Rebecca Connolly. I love this series! There is a thread that continues through every book in the series, but the book can be read as a stand-alone.

Jeremy Pratt (Rook) has been interested in Helen Dalton for over a year, but it has never gone beyond some casual flirting in the ballrooms. When Jeremy is asked to protect Helen from a suspected attack during a journey to her brother, he reluctantly agrees.

Rook and Helen have a unique relationship with the fun bantering, but they also have sweet moments. During the journey, Helen threatens to kick Jeremy. In a moment of annoyance, he tells her that he will kick her back. This threat eventually turns into sweet moments with them gently kicking each other often.

“His smile, though fleeting, soothed her heart, and she hesitantly kicked his shin. His eyes remained on hers, his throat worked in a swallow, and then, very faintly, he tapped his foot against hers.”

I also loved the scene with them holding hands under the door.

“A soft sound below her caught her attention and she looked down.

The tips of a few fingers had slid under the door, resting against the floor and seeming to hold a very faint tremor in them.

Helen stared at them, still grinning, only now her eyes began to prickle with tender tears. She sniffed them back, then sighed as she laid her fingers atop his, gasping quietly when they curled against hers.

An accompanying almost gasp echoed from the other side of the door.”

Despite Jeremy and Helen finding love, things do not tie up so neatly. Rook has a dilemma of leaving the woman he loves in order to protect her.

This book is clean, however, it does have cursing.

While this book focuses on Rook, there is quite a bit of my favorite series character Gent in it. His book is the first in the series, The Lady and the Gent. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly suggest reading it.

It’s hard enough to wait between books in this series, but waiting after the end of this book might be like going through Rook’s torture.