I stopped reading this book at 56% in because it just wasn't working for me. Usually when I pick up a category romance, it's always a standalone, even if it's part of a series. With The Rebel's Return, I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story and it wasn't pieced together particularly well form there. I had trouble following it. And then even once I got past the beginning of the story and started to figure out the overall world-building situation I seemed to be expected to already know, there were more editing issues with continuity that just didn't feel like the book itself was lining up to make sense.

The worlds of Miami, Florida and Royal, Texas collide in Nadine Gonzalez's The Rebel's Return, the fifth book in the Texas Cattleman's Club: Fathers and Sons series. This marked my first time reading a book from this series so initially, I was a little confused. However, Nadine did a good job of answering my burning questions throughout the book, in the form of character thoughts of past events. Thus, making this a standalone read.

After the sudden death of her sister Arielle and facing the possibility of prison time for a crime she didn’t commit, Evelyn “Eve” Martin finds herself needing to locate her infant nephew Micah’s father. The problem is she has no idea who he is or where to find him. Finding her sister’s diary gives her a small clue as to where he might be. Packing up what she can for herself and her nephew, Eve travels from Miami to Royal, with only the knowledge that Micah’s father is a member of the Texas Cattleman’s Club. Shortly after their arrival, Eve has a medical emergency, resulting in her placing Micah on a stranger’s car and then passing out. All the details about the aftermath can be found in Janice Maynard’s An Heir of His Own, the first book in the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Fathers and Sons series.

Eve and Micah arrive in Royal around the same time as former Royal resident Rafael “Rafe” Arias Wentworth returns. While the two have never actually met or spoken to each other when Rafe sees Eve admiring a champagne tower at the Cattleman’s Club he knows immediately who she is. The two strike up a conversation and eventually leave for someplace more private. Eve’s opinion of Rafe is a little skewed due to his last name. While Rafe may be a Wentworth and the Wentworths are one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Royal, Rafe is a self-made man and didn’t have a great family life or the easiest time growing up.

Eve and Rafe have this instant and hot attraction for each other. Unfortunately, he’s not a family man and Eve can’t wait to recover so she can play more of an active role in her nephew’s life, who is currently living with and being cared for by Cammie Wentworth, Rafe’s young half-sister.

I’ve loved every book I’ve read by Nadine. Her stories are multicultural and her characters are all easy to love and feel for. One of the things that I loved and found refreshing about The Rebel’s Return was that it was drama-free. Yes, Rafe and Eve don’t see eye to eye but they communicate and work through their issues. Plus, they have a fun playfulness about them. Eve is Rafe’s perfect match as she challenges him and doesn’t back down.

The Rancher’s Reckoning by Joanne Rock is the next and final book in the Texas Cattleman’s Club: Fathers and Sons series. I’m looking forward to seeing how this series ends and how it will affect Eve and Micah.

~ Favorite Quote ~

“Stubbornness trumped hopelessness, but nothing was stronger than fate.”

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
This is a fun, sexy read between two pretty likable characters. The steam is great, but I didn’t feel like there was enough to keep me interested in Rafael and Eve’s relationship in the long term. I feel like you can have conflict without drama, and this book went for no drama *or* conflict.