The Lightcrest Outcast

Lightcrest Pack #2

by Luna Lawson

I’d always thought that there was nothing worse than being alone for Valentine’s Day—turns out, there are worse things. Being caught in a blizzard with a strange Alpha is worse.

Or is it?

Mari has always been a disappointment. An omega in a world where Alphas are the only ones who matter, she’s never been certain of her place in life. Adrift, she’s hoping for something—anything—to make her world better. For once in her life, she’s taking a vacation, for once she’s making time for herself.

But Mother Nature, and Fate, have other plans.

Genres: Romance, LGBT, Shapeshifters, Lesbian, Fantasy

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2024

About the author

Luna Lawson is the pen name of a USA Today Bestselling Author and prolific publisher of all kinds of romance, but she's always wanted to write about vampires and werewolves... Lesbian vampires and werewolves specifically.

~ Current Series: Evermore Eternals ~

F/F Historical Fantasy Vampire Romance

Book 1 - Eternally Bound

Book 2 - Eternally Claimed

Book 3 - Eternally Ruined

~ NEW Series: Lightcrest Pack ~

F/F Contemporary Omegaverse Wolf Shifter Romance

Book 1 - The Lightcrest Contract

**COMING SOON**

Eternal Embrace - A Limited Edition Sapphic Vampire Romance Anthology

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the Lightcrest Pack series and a hot book cover to entice.
Yes, there were hot scenes in this quick read but I wanted more to a plot that switched genders and confused. I was disappointed by some improbable scenes and missing shifter aspect.
Oh Luna, I hope all errors will be handled by the next book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of shape shifters. Give me all the Alpha and Omegas and all the interesting things that make up the pack's dynamics. This short story does a nice job leading up to the meeting of our vacationing Omega and mountain living Alpha. I fell for both of them and hoped they would fall for each other too. The story is quick paced, cute, hot, has some tense moments for our little snowed in couple. I really liked the quickie for a book palate cleanser and was left with a smile on my face.

[Eva Kuntschner · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a review based on an ARC I recived in exchange for my honest opinion in the book. Therefore, first and firemost, thank you for the opportunity to review this work!

This is one of my first forays into Omegaverse, and I must say I am disappointed. I was not a fan of the power dynamics in the Alpha-Omega-relationship as it is portrayed - not because I am generally put off by dominant-submissive-dynamics (to the contrary), but because in this case they were to wooden for me, for lack of a better word. There was no character development to speak of, and many of the characters' choices (e.g. for Quinn to just leave Mari at the hospital for no discernible reason) just seemed to happen out of the blue.

The sex scenes were quite hot and well written, but, like many other developments, could have used a little more foreplay, so to speak. Also, why oh why does the Omega call the Alpha's pussy "the forbidden fruit"??? Maybe it's an Omegaverse thing unfamiliar to the uninitiated, but to me this was clumsy and offputting.

Overall I can only give 2 stars. The story and also the characters could have needed some more fleshing out in order to be truly gripping.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second time reading Luna Lawson. The Lightcrest Outcast started off well enough with getting to know the first MC. She seemed likeable. In this novella, I didn't feel dropped into the middle of something like I did with the last Lawson story I read. Like the last Lawson story I read, however, there were some typos and some words and phrases that are repeated too close together so that it catches my attention and is a distraction. The premise was good, and I do like shifters. The execution was a bit disappointing. I would not call this a romance as it was an insta-love with sex scenes beginning within a few hours of meeting. I have never been a fan of insta-love. Perhaps this was meant to be justified by animal instincts and pack dynamics between alpha and omega. Maybe a fated mate trope here. That just didn't work for me. There were some very spicy sex scenes and some Omegaverse themes awkwardly thrown about. Admittedly, I am naive regarding that topic anyway. I found the characters inner monologues a bit amusing. Some of the character choices seems odd. One MC was supposed to be an alpha, albeit an outcast, but nonetheless I expected her to be a bit more confident and take charge outside of the sex scenes, and she was not and did not. Though it was labeled as a shifter romance, there was no shifting on page, only talk of packs. The Lightcrest Outcast was a low angst HEA. I liked the cover. I am not sure I will be reading more of Luna Lawson.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Char Dafoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this, especially the Omegaverse and A/B/O aspects, but I was let down. This story read more like a butch/femme erotica, and THAT is perfectly fine by me, and if the author had written it that way, I would have enjoyed it better. All throughout, words were dropped in -- Alpha, beta, omega, protective, instincts, mate, etc -- to remind us that these characters weren't human, but I also never got a sense that they were shifters, either. We never got to see them in their natural form. The strap scene completely bewildered my mind because how does a female wearing a silicone phallus knot someone? I was also yanked out of the story when Quinn's pronouns, which had been she/her all through the story, suddenly was referred to as 'him'. 😳 Now, as a writer, I understand blunders, but 'her' is hard to fxck up, even the letters on the keyboard aren't close by. Which makes me wonder if this story had originally been written as M/F and changed later.

The sex was hot - odd knotting scene aside - and the whole 'mine, make me yours' lived up to expectations, but the rest had my head in a tizzy.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems more like a stand alone book, well paced

Not usually a fan of short stories but these are balanced well and don't feel rushed. Well done.
Other than a mention of Lightcrest Pack, how are they related to that pack? Which one or both? Not seeing the tie there which is ok if it's a stand alone book. Still good.

[CMLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short story but it still carries an impact. Mari is taking a trip to just get away, in a sense. She doesn’t want to see disappointment on other people’s faces when they look at her.
Quinn is along but by choice. She has a life that she built. When these two meet or should I say got stuck together, fate would not be denied.

[Cricket O'Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick but decent read; cute characters. I think it could have been a bit more fleshed out and would have benefitted from one more pass by an editor, but the dearth of F/F adult paranormal romance means I'll gladly take what I can get.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

editing is a must

Seriously how can an sapphic author have so many him instead of her in their books!

The book started out strong and then felt very hurried toward the end. Overall it was ok.

[Zureena · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad but thrilling.

Cant get enough of this new series. Looking forward to more of them . A 5🌟 all the way. Don't miss out dear readers, each book blows my mind.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this.Short but very sweet with some spice thrown in. I want to read more about Mari and Quinn.

[Lindsay Ottens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ummmm this was different. Very insta love and mates but not horrible over all. The smut was good!!

[Mandy 'Hammie' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read

This was a great quick read. The characters and storyline were engaging keeping me reading from the first page. I highly recommend this book and author.

[Kira Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute

Short sweet annd well wrtten. I enjoyed the story very much. A quick light read. I need five more words
Lol

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

To each her own!

Two wolf shifters, Alpha and Omega, two different packs. A sudden snow storm, a wrong turn and things get changed. Enjoy

[Vicky Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t read the first in the series and didn’t miss it at all, so this can be completely a stand-alone.

A short story with a HEA theoretically with wolf shifters although the only real mention is that one of the MCs is an Alpha and the other an Omega. So it is actually more of a sapphic instalove / erotica romance.

Recommended if you are looking for a light quick read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.