The Rogue

Four Corners Ranch #11

by Maisey Yates

What's a little honeymooning between friends?

Rue Matthews has it all. A cute little yarn store to call her own, her upcoming wedding and the best friend on earth. Sure, most people might not understand her relationship with Justice King, but he’s always been there for her. And now he’s going to be her best man…until her fiancé calls off the wedding just before the guests arrive.

Justice loves Rue more than anything in the world. But that love has always stayed platonic because he knows full well she deserves better than him. Though when her fiancé breaks her heart and Rue asks him to show her what passion is really like, he can’t resist. But going on a honeymoon with her turns out to be a lot more intense than either of them bargained for. She’s always been his best friend… Could she be everything?

Four Corners Ranch

Book 1: Unbridled Cowboy
Book 2: Merry Christmas Cowboy
Book 3: Cowboy Wild
Book 4: The Rough Rider
Book 5: The Holiday Heartbreaker
Book 6: The Troublemaker

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Westerns

379 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 29, 2025

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[Bookishlyhaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rogue is book eleven in the Four Corners series! It follows Rue Matthews & Justice King.

Rue and Justice have been friends forever and have always been each other's person. Rue is sweet, a rule follower, neat, kind, innocent, and truly just wants to be loved. Justice is kind and sweet only to Rue, laid back and he considered himself a bad boy. Rue is set to marry a man she has been dating long term but in the back of her mind something never quite felt right. Justice has only ever allowed himself to see Rue as his best friend as he felt he was never good enough for her.

Her fiance calls off the wedding right before she is set to go down the aisle leaving Rue heartbroken but thankfully Justice is there to pick up the pieces. They end up going to what was supposed to be her honeymoon and they both end up seeing what they have been missing all along by finally giving into their desires. Maisey writes such wonderful characters that you can’t help but love.

The narrator Samantha Cook really brought these characters to life and though I enjoyed her performance, I did find her male voice didn’t really sound too different between characters but I was still able to really enjoy it!

This book can be read as a standalone or as part of the series! If you love a good slow burn Western romance, this just might be the book for you!

Thank you to Maisey Yates, Harlequin Audio, HTP books and The Hive for this gifted ALC.

[Lynn Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends forever takes on a different meaning in this emotional and addictive friends-to-lovers delight from Maisey Yates! It's always fun to visit a portion of the Four Corners Ranch collective and this time we're back at King's Crest with Justice and Ruby. They've been best friends since childhood and have each other's backs always ... but having her wedding blow up just as she's readying to walk down the aisle just changed the dynamic of who her forever love is.

Justice has always been the fun-loving cad of the King family who is always there to give support when needed, but knows he's always going to be a love 'em and leave 'em type. I loved getting to the heart of his hang ups and seeing the beauty of him being able to finally release them and love Rue for who she's always been.

I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who loves a cowboy romance with a close knit family and friend circle who have all had their share of turmoil throughout the years but who are surging through and finding love they never thought they deserved. Great characters, a lovely setting and so much heart built into each and every family member's story!

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rogue by Maisey Yates is the eleventh book in the Four Corners Ranch. Each book can be read as a stand alone book. The Four Corners Ranch is a group of four ranches in Oregon. Each of the ranches runs as a separate entity, but they work as a group to allow for growth and funds for that growth. Each ranch seems to have its own “ mojo”. In this novel we are at the King ranch with Justice. Justice doesn’t do long term or relationships. He works hard and does whatever is needed at the ranch.

Justice’s best friend is Rue. She runs a yarn shop (passed down from her grandmother) and lives in her grandmother’s house. She has everything planned down to the last detail. Her binders are how she survives life, except for Justice, her best friend. She is marrying Asher, a man she has been engaged to for years and known for even longer. Justice is going to be her Best Man until the day of the wedding, when it was cancelled.

Justice continues to support Rue through everything, and eventually agrees to go on her honeymoon with her to show her what passion is. OH MY HOTNESS ALERT. The Rogue by Maisey Yates is a great read.

[Donna Repsher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply loved this novel! Rue and Justice were best friends since early childhood, but they're now in their early thirties, Justice just has one-night stands--one and done, and after Rue has her groom, Asher, tell her he's cheated on her, their carefully planned Valentine's Day wedding is off, but Justice, as always, has her back. Neither Rue or Justice has had a good example of a loving relationship from their parents, but it's more than, as you'll find out in this novel.

Their childhood friendship eventually evolves into becomes more, but Justice has good reason to be commitment phobic, and their path forward is rocky, gripping, emotional, and quite simply makes for an excellent read. It gets 5 stars from this reader, and if you've not already read the previous novels in this series, I highly suggest you do so--each book in this series is truly a gem.

[Belinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rue and Justice have been friends since they were young kids. On Eye's wedding down she is left at the alter.

So along with that happening her grandmothers house is taken from her.

Rue decides she needs to be wild, but she drags Justice along. He comes along to watch out for her.

One night at a bar everything changes for them. They pussy foot around each other though for a few days until they decide for Justice to teach her things.

Once that happens things become quite clear to Rue but Justice takes a bit to get there.

Another awesome story in this series. Loved it. I can't wait for Denver's story!

[Flo Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A loving relationship forever

Both Justice and Rue had trust issues. They had been best friends since childhood. The had been stood up by her fiance at the alter and she was hoping Justice would help her navigate this nightmare. What happened though was that they realised that they were always in love with each other and now they could officially work on their loving relationship together. They were initially both stubborn about admitting their true feelings, but once they did they quickly discovered their happily ever after.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting a solid 3 star read...aka a book I read for entertainment, but nothing that would blow my mind. HOWEVER, this book quickly became a 5 star listening experience. We have a mmc who is yearning for the fmc. We have a broken wedding. We have childhood bffs to lovers. We have 2 characters who realized their full potentials. Ugh this was just so good.

For context I have read a few books in this series, but not all of them and I don't think that popcorn reading books in the series has negatively impacted my experience.

[Debs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best friends to lovers

Best of friends Justice and Rue ( short for Ruby) come together after Rue's fiancee of eight years confesses to being unfaithful to her the day before the wedding. Wedding is cancelled, Rue loses her grandmother's house, her plans are in ruins and Justice steps in with a place to stay and a whole new set of challenges that involve Rue and Justice discovering what they really want from being together. Five stars - a great story.

[HTP Books]

Small Town & Rural Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, Western Romance
Miniseries
Four Corners Ranch

[Lynn (book_wine_thinker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a Maisey Yates and Four Corners Ranch addict. Loved this story of friends to lovers! Can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too much talking in circles, didn't like the writing style.