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Rockwood Valley Omegaverse #1
Talk about... History
One destroyed nest, two exes, and a long drive back to the town I never wanted to see again…
Seeing my exes rutting an omega in our living room was not how I expected to spend my anniversary. But I’m not an omega that is willing to forgive and forget. Instead, I call my alpha brothers and head back home, leaving everything behind.
Rockwood Valley is the tiny town I ran from the moment I turned eighteen. Anything to escape our family tragedy, and the expectations everyone set for me.
But my hometown has changed and the family business is in tatters. I’m determined to help in any way I can. If I dive into a new job and help rebuild the family business, at least I can’t dwell on the past, right?
I never expected to find mates while trying to put the pieces of my life back together. Cohen, Mason, Ford, and Arden are everything an omega could dream of, but this omega has been hurt too deeply to let them in.
Will I risk letting history repeating itself, or can this pack show me that our chemistry is undeniable?
Talk about… History, is a standalone mmfmm why choose omegaverse, with sweet packs, stubborn but strong omegas, and the small town that they call home. Please note, there are mentions of Domestic Violence and former abuse in this book.
Seeing my exes rutting an omega in our living room was not how I expected to spend my anniversary. But I’m not an omega that is willing to forgive and forget. Instead, I call my alpha brothers and head back home, leaving everything behind.
Rockwood Valley is the tiny town I ran from the moment I turned eighteen. Anything to escape our family tragedy, and the expectations everyone set for me.
But my hometown has changed and the family business is in tatters. I’m determined to help in any way I can. If I dive into a new job and help rebuild the family business, at least I can’t dwell on the past, right?
I never expected to find mates while trying to put the pieces of my life back together. Cohen, Mason, Ford, and Arden are everything an omega could dream of, but this omega has been hurt too deeply to let them in.
Will I risk letting history repeating itself, or can this pack show me that our chemistry is undeniable?
Talk about… History, is a standalone mmfmm why choose omegaverse, with sweet packs, stubborn but strong omegas, and the small town that they call home. Please note, there are mentions of Domestic Violence and former abuse in this book.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
About the author
Jarica James
113 books725 followersJarica is an American author. She prefers writing paranormal and fantasy books. When she isn't writing she is playing her xbox with her husband and fellow nerd. She has two crazy boys who make writing a challenge, but one she gladly accepts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
September 14, 2024
DNF at 72%
Avery and her mates are only getting physical at 72%, so it’s a slow burn. I found this one a little boring, tbh. I found Avery a tad annoying, her back and forth over being scared to move forward with her mates just dragged on and on. And it was very small town vibes. We got more info about the town this books takes place in than we did about the guys. I also didn’t like that as soon as Avery was ready to get physical, they didn’t even wait for Cohen before starting. I stopped reading in the middle of that scene since it wasn’t doing anything for me anyway. Just nothing very compelling about this one. Two stars since I can see this being just right for a lot of readers, it’s just not right for me.
Avery and her mates are only getting physical at 72%, so it’s a slow burn. I found this one a little boring, tbh. I found Avery a tad annoying, her back and forth over being scared to move forward with her mates just dragged on and on. And it was very small town vibes. We got more info about the town this books takes place in than we did about the guys. I also didn’t like that as soon as Avery was ready to get physical, they didn’t even wait for Cohen before starting. I stopped reading in the middle of that scene since it wasn’t doing anything for me anyway. Just nothing very compelling about this one. Two stars since I can see this being just right for a lot of readers, it’s just not right for me.
October 3, 2024
Talk About Boring
The story was sweet, but some things just didn't gel. First, the likes:
I like that the pack was formed as the book progressed. Avery had a super supportive and protective circle of family and friends, and she did grow a bit during the course of the book. I loved the small town feel and the sweet take on a budding pack relationship.
Now, the dislikes:
Im confused as to how Avery was raised with her brothers by an omega mother, and also part of a family pack (before her dads died); Yet, somehow, Avery seemed to know very little about being an omega, pack dynamics, or about the standard expectations of how alphas should treat their omega. Her exes were caught cheating on her with her friend in front of her very eyes. Even going so far as to "finish" while she stood frozen. Yet her reaction to the situation was sub-par at best and somewhat unrealistic. Despite being the first mate found and the most respectful, poor Cohen seemed to get the shaft in comparison to the alphas in the pack. Then Ford was added as a mate to Cohen, and their relationship flourished much faster than the relationship with Avery when she and Choen met first and got to know each other much better. Not to mention, Avery was the omega and should have been their center.
Overall, the story was just okay to me. Nothing to noteworthy occurred, and it was just a bit dull. Odd, considering how much I usually enjoy Jarica James' stories.
The story was sweet, but some things just didn't gel. First, the likes:
I like that the pack was formed as the book progressed. Avery had a super supportive and protective circle of family and friends, and she did grow a bit during the course of the book. I loved the small town feel and the sweet take on a budding pack relationship.
Now, the dislikes:
Im confused as to how Avery was raised with her brothers by an omega mother, and also part of a family pack (before her dads died); Yet, somehow, Avery seemed to know very little about being an omega, pack dynamics, or about the standard expectations of how alphas should treat their omega. Her exes were caught cheating on her with her friend in front of her very eyes. Even going so far as to "finish" while she stood frozen. Yet her reaction to the situation was sub-par at best and somewhat unrealistic. Despite being the first mate found and the most respectful, poor Cohen seemed to get the shaft in comparison to the alphas in the pack. Then Ford was added as a mate to Cohen, and their relationship flourished much faster than the relationship with Avery when she and Choen met first and got to know each other much better. Not to mention, Avery was the omega and should have been their center.
Overall, the story was just okay to me. Nothing to noteworthy occurred, and it was just a bit dull. Odd, considering how much I usually enjoy Jarica James' stories.
September 14, 2024
Talk About…History is the first book in the Rockwood Valley Omegaverse Series. It is a slow-burn, standalone, why choose, small town, omegaverse romance.
This was such an awesome story and I loved the characters. Avery, Arden, Ford, and Mason are all terrific together. I loved all the different aspects of the storyline. I also loved how understanding, patient, and loving that the guys are with Avery. Their road to a HEA is a bit bumpy due to Avery’s past, but in the end they do prevail.
The writing, pace, and flow of the story are terrific, as are the storyline, plot, storytelling, characters, character development, relationship development, and world building. If you love the whole Omegaverse genre then I’d definitely recommend this book.
This was such an awesome story and I loved the characters. Avery, Arden, Ford, and Mason are all terrific together. I loved all the different aspects of the storyline. I also loved how understanding, patient, and loving that the guys are with Avery. Their road to a HEA is a bit bumpy due to Avery’s past, but in the end they do prevail.
The writing, pace, and flow of the story are terrific, as are the storyline, plot, storytelling, characters, character development, relationship development, and world building. If you love the whole Omegaverse genre then I’d definitely recommend this book.
September 15, 2024
Really enjoyed
I really enjoyed reading this book. It didn’t show her being abused just showed how she coped with her abuse and how she came to love her alphas. Totally recommend this book
I really enjoyed reading this book. It didn’t show her being abused just showed how she coped with her abuse and how she came to love her alphas. Totally recommend this book
April 5, 2026
A sweet omegaverse in which Avery fleeing an awful pair of alphas, returns to her home town, only to find her scent matched pack. Each of her alphas and beta were interesting and well differentiated. The plot though became boring and repetitive, due to the low angst and the whole town deferring to Avery.
September 22, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable!
Despite the off-page trauma Avery had been through at the hands of two unscrupulous alphas this was a really sweet and loving book. Avery had been through enough so after witnessing betrayal she went home to recover and rebuild her life. Her mama and brothers were so loving and supportive of her.
Arden, Ford, Mason & Cohen were all wonderful alphas and beta. So extremely supportive of her, going at her own pace, ensuring she always knew they were there for her. Such a lovely romantic story.
🔸Burn = Slow/med,
🔸OW/OM Drama = No,
🔸Alpha Men = A wonderful mix,
🔸Heat = 6/10,
🔸Angst = Very Low,
🔸MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔸RH/ Poly = RH,
🔸POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Human Contemporary,
🔸Tropes = Small town romance, why choose, MMFMM, sword crossing,
🔸Triggers = Past abuse, drugging, scent abuse, cheating - not with the harem!
🔸Book = Standalone bk 1 (with interconnected characters)
Despite the off-page trauma Avery had been through at the hands of two unscrupulous alphas this was a really sweet and loving book. Avery had been through enough so after witnessing betrayal she went home to recover and rebuild her life. Her mama and brothers were so loving and supportive of her.
Arden, Ford, Mason & Cohen were all wonderful alphas and beta. So extremely supportive of her, going at her own pace, ensuring she always knew they were there for her. Such a lovely romantic story.
🔸Burn = Slow/med,
🔸OW/OM Drama = No,
🔸Alpha Men = A wonderful mix,
🔸Heat = 6/10,
🔸Angst = Very Low,
🔸MM/FF = Yes, MM
🔸RH/ Poly = RH,
🔸POV = 1st Person, MPV,
🔸Genre = Human Contemporary,
🔸Tropes = Small town romance, why choose, MMFMM, sword crossing,
🔸Triggers = Past abuse, drugging, scent abuse, cheating - not with the harem!
🔸Book = Standalone bk 1 (with interconnected characters)
December 31, 2024
I honestly thought through most of the book that this would be a duet because it seemed like the first act was really never ending. She left her cheating, crazy exes and flourished in her hometown but my issue is that there was very little relationship development and Avery not putting an effort until the very end of the book. The book focused more on her work engagement vs her relationships with her actual scent-matched pack. I was hoping that Avery would bring back her brothers mate for a surprise as well and there were just so many things that fell through. Opportunities of pack development, family development, more drama from her old pack since they begged her like weasels in the beginning, more could have been thrown in and made this book so much better. Oh and more one on one scenes and more details of the heat vs snippets. It was a good book but it stretched in places it didn’t need to stretch and fell short in spots that needed more attention or attention in general.
September 30, 2024
Good Read
Talk About… History is the first book in the Rockwood Valley Omegaverse series and sees Avery come home on her anniversary to find her pack cheating on her which leads to her moving back to her home town to be closer to her family. But not everything is rosy, especially when questions are raised about how she was treated by her last pack. She also meets her scent matched mates but can she let go of the past and trust them?
I really liked this book, I liked the premise and how it started off. I felt that it added an extra layer to the story, because not only did Avery have to learn to trust again but she also had to deal with what had happened in her past. I loved the characters and how they all contrasted against each other but at the same time fit together so well.
Overall, this was a really good read and a different spin on your typical omegaverse novels. I would recommend giving it a read.
Talk About… History is the first book in the Rockwood Valley Omegaverse series and sees Avery come home on her anniversary to find her pack cheating on her which leads to her moving back to her home town to be closer to her family. But not everything is rosy, especially when questions are raised about how she was treated by her last pack. She also meets her scent matched mates but can she let go of the past and trust them?
I really liked this book, I liked the premise and how it started off. I felt that it added an extra layer to the story, because not only did Avery have to learn to trust again but she also had to deal with what had happened in her past. I loved the characters and how they all contrasted against each other but at the same time fit together so well.
Overall, this was a really good read and a different spin on your typical omegaverse novels. I would recommend giving it a read.
December 27, 2024
4.5 stars
This book was super sweet, and I loved watching Avery get more confident as she found herself again. There are two things I wish we had more of. The first is that so much of the book was dedicated to seeing them all come together, I wish we saw more of them functioning as a pack and seeing friendships build between the members. Also, my vengeful little heart wishes we would have seen more retribution directly for the two alphas in the beginning. I get that the story is focusing on the future and positivity, but I kind of feel like sometimes choosing violence is alright too.
This book was super sweet, and I loved watching Avery get more confident as she found herself again. There are two things I wish we had more of. The first is that so much of the book was dedicated to seeing them all come together, I wish we saw more of them functioning as a pack and seeing friendships build between the members. Also, my vengeful little heart wishes we would have seen more retribution directly for the two alphas in the beginning. I get that the story is focusing on the future and positivity, but I kind of feel like sometimes choosing violence is alright too.
October 7, 2024
This was a cute and cozy small-town romance, and I enjoyed the slow burn. However, I didn’t really connect with Avery, the FMC, and I wished the characters had more depth given the length of the book. There were too many things happening at once, which made it harder to focus on the relationships. Still, it was an easy, low-stakes read, and I’m curious about the next book in the series.
March 21, 2026
This was such a sweet story. Avery is forced to move back home after she is betrayed by her pack. Hurt and a bit lost she dives into a new life and career. She never expects to fond love and happiness as she works on changing her life. Absolutely loved the characters and the story and can't wait to read more books in this series.
November 4, 2024
Really liked this story and characters and the small town community. It was not deep and things moved fast but it was a nice easy enjoyable read. Will read others in series.
November 13, 2024
3.75⭐️ 2🌶️
Read
March 11, 2025DNF’d @ 67% I just wasn’t feeling the characters or the story. There’s nothing wrong with it, other than it’s not for me.
December 19, 2025
2.75⭐️
March 8, 2026
ja ich schäme mich auch das ich die gelesen habe
May 8, 2026
DNF @ 88% I really tried but there was so much inner monologue and harping on the same things over and over without any real character development or any type of action, sexual or otherwise 😅
March 30, 2025
Stopped at about 50%.
September 13, 2024
Jarica James will always be my go to for omegaverse. I loved her jaded omegas series and of course her Holiday Hollow series she did with Chloe Gunter. I am certainly not about to miss this new small town series. Rockwood Valley was the home for Avery but she left her small town life in exchange for a life in the big city where she seemingly had it all. And it came crashing down in fell swoop. And she returns to her hometown with no alphas, no job.
In true Jarica fashion, she sets for us a new small town with that Hallmark movie type vibe but with the added bonus of a an MM romance. In this book, Avery doesn’t meet an established pack. She is scent matched to these 4 guys on separate occasions and they build their relationships naturally. It was a nice change of pace and I truly enjoyed the story. I can’t wait to read the next story!
In true Jarica fashion, she sets for us a new small town with that Hallmark movie type vibe but with the added bonus of a an MM romance. In this book, Avery doesn’t meet an established pack. She is scent matched to these 4 guys on separate occasions and they build their relationships naturally. It was a nice change of pace and I truly enjoyed the story. I can’t wait to read the next story!
November 13, 2024
⭐⭐ 2.5 stars
Avery is cheated on by a pack she was with for five years. She realizes following the dissolution of said pack how toxic and controlling they were. They tricked her into thinking they were scent-mates and then slowly isolated her from everyone in her life. She moves back home where she helps her three brothers increase business to their brewery and their town. Back home, she meets four mates, Cohen, Arden, Ford, and Mason. She's very insecure and untrusting when it comes to meeting these mates. However, she quickly accepts them and they eventually claim her and live HEA.
There is no conflict in this story whatsoever. It was quite boring. Her family and mates are all supportive but low-key tell her she needs to get over these concerns for her new pack. I can understand not blaming your new partner for the sins of your old one, but it's only natural for Avery to be insecure and unsure because she meets her new pack weeks after leaving her old one. This is the basis of the plot but it ends up being resolved fairly quickly and the rest of the book is just bleh. It's not good or bad, just boring.
Avery is cheated on by a pack she was with for five years. She realizes following the dissolution of said pack how toxic and controlling they were. They tricked her into thinking they were scent-mates and then slowly isolated her from everyone in her life. She moves back home where she helps her three brothers increase business to their brewery and their town. Back home, she meets four mates, Cohen, Arden, Ford, and Mason. She's very insecure and untrusting when it comes to meeting these mates. However, she quickly accepts them and they eventually claim her and live HEA.
There is no conflict in this story whatsoever. It was quite boring. Her family and mates are all supportive but low-key tell her she needs to get over these concerns for her new pack. I can understand not blaming your new partner for the sins of your old one, but it's only natural for Avery to be insecure and unsure because she meets her new pack weeks after leaving her old one. This is the basis of the plot but it ends up being resolved fairly quickly and the rest of the book is just bleh. It's not good or bad, just boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2024
2.5 stars
The book had a lot of repetition, and we don't get a lot of information about the men in her pack.
Avery was also so very wishy washy and at times, the story was slow.
We don't need to read about everyone's diner order. We also don't need to hear the same "story" 3 or 4 times from different people.
With a proper editor, this book could be trimmed down to 315 pages or so but contain more depth and character involvement.
The book had a lot of repetition, and we don't get a lot of information about the men in her pack.
Avery was also so very wishy washy and at times, the story was slow.
We don't need to read about everyone's diner order. We also don't need to hear the same "story" 3 or 4 times from different people.
With a proper editor, this book could be trimmed down to 315 pages or so but contain more depth and character involvement.
November 29, 2024
I liked the premise a lot! Cohen, Ford, Arden, and Mason are all great characters… it just needed to be flushed out more. There is no character growth or depth. I didn’t get emotionally attached to anyone. I didn’t care for Avery at all…. Honestly this book should have been about the four male characters and it would have been much better. They seemed more interested in each other anyway. The side plot (if you can call it that) with Avery’s mom and brothers doesn’t really lead anywhere.
This book somehow just wasn’t enough and it was too much at the same time. It was overall a very boring and dull book.
This book somehow just wasn’t enough and it was too much at the same time. It was overall a very boring and dull book.
September 15, 2024
This was good, not great. The writing felt repetitive at points, the characterization wasn't entirely consistent, the amount of time the story took place over was too short to be believable (after trauma), the spicy parts were fine enough but not very hot. Cute and straightforward but you do need to not read it so closely to enjoy it. I did like that the emphasis was on Avery, the Omega, healing and reclaiming her life, and that the relationships progressed at her pace. The Alphas were very respectful and supportive. I liked it enough to continue the series.
November 3, 2024
even hallmark movies don’t have this much small town propaganda
November 4, 2024
DNF. The writing style, dialogue, and characters were all a bit too immature for me.
December 31, 2024
Ok but I wasn't aware that there was MM in this book. As it's not my favourite trop, it bothered me a bit.
Except this, it was a pleasant story with cute and funny moment.
Except this, it was a pleasant story with cute and funny moment.
March 23, 2026
I blitzed through the first three books of this series in one day. This book was four stars in comparison with book #2, which I rate 3 stars... obviously I liked the books enough to continue the series, but this isn't a five-star book because it didn't wow me enough.
I think I just didn't sense enough emotions here. First of all, it's hard to understand Avery's attitude towards her hometown. She says it was stifling and she wanted to escape, but then the moment her ex-alphas betrayed her, suddenly the town is no longer stifling?
I get that she's homesick and nostalgic, and this is amplified by the heartache that she's feeling (she wants to go back to a place where she'll feel safe)... but the atmosphere of a small town never changes, so at least the author should have had her address how her feelings have changed about feeling stifled in the small town.
Second, Avery's heartache seemed to evaporate the instant she met her scent-mates. I felt like even though she knew her ex-alphas had manipulated her and gaslit her, her feelings surely wouldn't just cut off immediately. They'd spent five years together. She didn't spend time grieving the relationship. It was just too easy for her to move on.
The only indication that she was hurt was that she refused to nest or couldn't nest. The author could have done so much more with this and used this to show Avery's healing. But the author chose not to go in that direction, so it leads to Avery still unable to build her own nest but accepting the nest that her mates created for her.
In the end, I feel like Avery's trauma was just papered over and treated very superficially. Like, there are comments about how her ex-alphas treated her or how she doesn't expect much from her mates and feels that she has to act a certain way... but I didn't see her second-guessing herself or not prioritising herself. She still had boatloads of confidence and strong connections with friends and family even though her ex-alphas supposedly had tried to control her and isolate her.
A big question mark is also how did her family allow this to happen, since they're very close and they don't seem like the kind of people to stay passive if their daughter/baby sister stopped contacting them or stopped visiting them at Christmas & other big celebrations.
As far as the pack goes, I didn't feel that I really knew Ford or Mason. Cohen and Arden had more distinct personalities. I liked that Ford stood up for Avery against his boss before he scented Avery and knew that she was his scent match. However, I thought that it was overly convenient because she wasn't the first omega that his boss had tried to swindle, so why finally speak up now, at this particular moment? He says he and Mason had already been thinking of quitting, yet they had no other job lined up, so it didn't make sense to take action at that moment.
All in all... I felt like this story was almost there but didn't quite reach the spot. The guys are all in once they meet Avery, which is nice, but they just seemed so... bland. Nice guys and caring and... just bland, with not much personality of their own.
I think I just didn't sense enough emotions here. First of all, it's hard to understand Avery's attitude towards her hometown. She says it was stifling and she wanted to escape, but then the moment her ex-alphas betrayed her, suddenly the town is no longer stifling?
I get that she's homesick and nostalgic, and this is amplified by the heartache that she's feeling (she wants to go back to a place where she'll feel safe)... but the atmosphere of a small town never changes, so at least the author should have had her address how her feelings have changed about feeling stifled in the small town.
Second, Avery's heartache seemed to evaporate the instant she met her scent-mates. I felt like even though she knew her ex-alphas had manipulated her and gaslit her, her feelings surely wouldn't just cut off immediately. They'd spent five years together. She didn't spend time grieving the relationship. It was just too easy for her to move on.
The only indication that she was hurt was that she refused to nest or couldn't nest. The author could have done so much more with this and used this to show Avery's healing. But the author chose not to go in that direction, so it leads to Avery still unable to build her own nest but accepting the nest that her mates created for her.
In the end, I feel like Avery's trauma was just papered over and treated very superficially. Like, there are comments about how her ex-alphas treated her or how she doesn't expect much from her mates and feels that she has to act a certain way... but I didn't see her second-guessing herself or not prioritising herself. She still had boatloads of confidence and strong connections with friends and family even though her ex-alphas supposedly had tried to control her and isolate her.
A big question mark is also how did her family allow this to happen, since they're very close and they don't seem like the kind of people to stay passive if their daughter/baby sister stopped contacting them or stopped visiting them at Christmas & other big celebrations.
As far as the pack goes, I didn't feel that I really knew Ford or Mason. Cohen and Arden had more distinct personalities. I liked that Ford stood up for Avery against his boss before he scented Avery and knew that she was his scent match. However, I thought that it was overly convenient because she wasn't the first omega that his boss had tried to swindle, so why finally speak up now, at this particular moment? He says he and Mason had already been thinking of quitting, yet they had no other job lined up, so it didn't make sense to take action at that moment.
All in all... I felt like this story was almost there but didn't quite reach the spot. The guys are all in once they meet Avery, which is nice, but they just seemed so... bland. Nice guys and caring and... just bland, with not much personality of their own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews