The Raven's Alpha

by Rebecca Louise

When Eddy Elwood, a successful alpha baker, finds himself at a crossroads in his life, he's forced to confront his longing for a mate. Little does he know, his destiny is about to collide with Darcy Mortlake, a quiet omega with a secret admiration for the kind-hearted alpha. As they embark on a fateful trip together, their up-and-coming connection is put to the test when they're confronted with a malicious force that seeks to tear them apart, threatening to shatter the very fabric of their bond.

Eddy Elwood
At forty-one, I've given up hope of finding my fated mate. Leaving my birth pack at eighteen was a bold move, but I wanted to follow my dreams – opening my own bakery, making friends, and living a peaceful life. Now, as I face the possibility of being solo forever, I'm starting to realise that maybe I've been too focused on being alone. Who knew being a soft-hearted grizzly bear would be a curse?

Darcy Mortlake
As a lonely omega, I've always felt like I'm living in the shadows. But my fascination with the alpha of my dreams has become an obsession. I've been watching the baker from afar, mesmerised by his gentle giant demeanour and kind heart. To catch his attention, I've been leaving small gifts on his doorstep, hoping to spark a connection.

The Raven’s Alpha is book one in the Nature’s Embrace Series. This age-gap omegaverse is a journey of love, danger and knots. Meet Eddy, a big-hearted alpha who's been searching for his mate, and Darcy, a curious omega who's been hiding in plain sight.

Genres: Omegaverse, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal Romance

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2024

About the author

MM Author

Reviews

[Joanna Grosz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another author to add to my collection of favorite omegaverse writers. This book hooked me instantly, practically from the first pages. I really loved how Darcy brought gifts to Eddy and how their bond slowly developed. The way their chemistry unfolded was delightful, and the bedroom scenes were incredibly hot—very well written. Even little details, like the choice of Darcy’s name, felt like treats for me, as well as his appearance with long black hair, which led to an adorable scene where Eddy washed and brushed his hair.

I really enjoyed this story. Even if it had some imperfections and unresolved elements in the plot, I can easily forgive them because the whole thing had such a pleasant-read vibe , and was so nicely-constructed, and reading it brought me immense joy. The book reminded me of Eden West's books in terms of world-building (books I very much love), where the omegaverse rules are almost identical. That made it easy for me to quickly immerse myself in the world presented here, and just smoothly enjoy the rest.

This is a very enjoyable book to escape the grayness of reality and dive into the vibrant world of shapeshifters, filled with problems and dynamics so different from those of our world. I think it’s quite a successful debut-in-the-genre book, and I can confidently give it five stars, guided by my emotional response.

[Audi♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Their sexytime at the bakery..with frosting!!! 🤭
This was extra fluffy n cute.
I liked the lil friendship they had before knowing they were mates. The way Darcy would leave Eddy special gifts, like.... the crystals his momma gave him!!! 🥹
I loved that they BOTH saved themselves for each other.
It's slow paced and really sweet. The endings drama was stressful.
I just wasn't a fan of how awkward/hesitant Eddy was all the time. He wasn't very alpha.

Thank you for the arc!

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus ) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the biggest fan of the writing. Instead of letting things come across naturally by the character's actions and thoughts we're told exactly what the interactions mean which ended up becoming overly wordy and repetitive. 

The whole drama with the OW was extremely annoying. Why was Eddy taking a 'friend' he knew had romantic interest in him to his house when they had made their intentions clear about wanting him and he didn't reciprocate those feelings? Why did it say in Darcy's POV that Eddy's   eyes lingered on the sway of the OW's hips if he was supposed to be unfazed and uninterested ????  When did he even get Darcy's necklace back when he only kicked the OW out of his house ?? There was nothing about him demanding she remove the necklace??

I can appreciate a shy, introverted and unsure character but Eddy just didn't appeal to me at all even with the author telling me exactly the connection he felt with Darcy I still felt like it was lukewarm and not as intense as a fated mate pull should feel like.

Why were they waiting to bond???? Why not talk about it ??? Did Darcy's heat go away because of the drugs he was given or because of the trauma he suffered??? That whole plot of unbounded omegas being in danger was so OTT and didn't fit into the rest of the story at all IMO.

The spicy scenes also felt disjointed and weird.

What I did like:
♥︎Both virgins. Eddy especially was saving himself for his fated mate.
♥︎Raven shifter. Darcy was cute, basically wooing Eddy by leaving him gifts. 🥺

I didn't read the epilogue because I couldn't be bothered.

[A.E. Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷🖤🪶 ARC REVIEW 🐦‍⬛ THE RAVEN’S ALPHA 🐦‍⬛ BY REBECCA LOUISE 🪶🖤🩷

First of all, I have to apologize to the author for being awfully late with my review. It is in no way a reflection of the book, because I enjoyed it immensely—just life and my stupid brain getting in the way.

Okay, so I loved Rebecca’s Voyerism Series and when I saw the cover for The Raven’s Alpha—because yes, you know me and covers—I had to beg for a cooy!

I don’t read a whole lotta shifter romance but I do adore the omega/alpha dynamic. And being an English Lit major the RAVEN alone had me tripping so hard!

Okay, okay, back to the book. First of all, this author has taken a huge step from her debut writing-wise. This book was so beautifully written and it sucked me right in. It was so vivid, colorful and emotional. I was the f#cking Raven and I was the goddamn bear too!

Second, I just adore the two MCs! The lonely baker bear Eddy who just wants to find a mate, someone he can share his simple life with. God, my heart hurt for him 🥹🥹

And Darcy, the beautiful Raven who is just as lonely, stalking his bear, leaving small gifts for him. Gods, does Darcy deserve love, family and eternal protection. ♥️♥️

What I really loved about this book is that the dynamic is not one-dimensional. Darcy is not stereotypically weak, in need of rescue. He’s strong but craving the love of his Alpha. And Eddy, too, is multifacetted. He’s vulnerable, doesn’t always make the smartest decisions, but his big bear heart just longs for his mate.

The steam was top tier and everything I love about the Alpha-omega-Dynamic. I love that the author built up the tension and left us begging for more! All the first were just swoonie, beautifully depicted and so very very filthy. Gods, do I love the use of the words SLICK and KNOT 🤗🤗🫦🫦🔥🔥

Thank you for letting me read this book, Rebecca 🩷🖤🪶 It was beautiful and I’m sold on this new adventure of yours

[JoJo Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rebecca's first series, and I had to ask her to let me read this book. I adored the cover and the premise, and I’ve always been a fan of the Alpha and Omega dynamic.

This book is completely different from the ones I’ve read before by Rebecca, however she didn’t disappoint—it’s beautifully crafted and filled with so much emotion, I was pulled right in.

The main characters are fantastic and incredibly lovable.
Eddy, the solitary baker bear, just wants to find his mate, someone to share his simple life with. And Darcy, a raven, who’s just as lonely, quietly watching his bear and leaving him small tokens of affection.

Darcy—my favourite character—is strong and yearns for the love of his Alpha. Eddy, too, is vulnerable and imperfect, but he shares the same longing for his mate.

Rebecca is exceptional when it comes to the steam factor, and this book didn’t disappoint in that regard either.

I’m so glad Rebecca gave me the chance to read this book, and I absolutely fell in love with both Darcy and Eddy.

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read anything by this author before and when I read the blurb for this book I immediately wanted to read it.

I'll start off by saying I liked the introduction to Omegaverse chapter that was in the beginning of the book, I think that's such a great way to introduce new readers to the Omegaverse world. I also appreciated how Rebecca explained what A/B/O stands for, along with explaining the different dynamics for each designation.

I thought this book was cute and full of sweetness. I adored Eddy, he is such a sweetheart. He is the epitome of a teddy bear personality, it also helps that he can actually shift into a bear. I loved that he's a baker, and owns his own bakery! I wish there were more scenes of him baking and working in his story, we get more mentions it him working in his bakery then scenes in his POV when he's working there. He's adorabley awkward and I adore him for that. You can tell he truly cares for Darcy and wants what's best for his mate.

Darcy is full of sass and an exuberant personality. Eddy is more shy and reserved, whereas Darcy is bold and outspoken. I enjoyed the contrast of their characters, it provided a nice dynamic. I liked the tender scenes where Darcy would leave trinkets for Eddy, and in return Eddy would leave fruit and seeds for Darcy, I thought those moments were so cute!!

I thought the story flowed decently for the most part, there was a couple times where it felt a bit disjointed to me.

(----------SPOILER--------))))


For instance, before they had gotten hit Darcy was going into heat... But the whole time he was held captive that never came back up, which left me confused... Wasn't he supposed to be going through his heat? It was mentioned once beforehand then nothing afterwards.

Overall a good take on the Omegaverse world.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review*
The Raven’s Alpha is my first omegaverse book, and I absolutely adored it! The story follows Eddy, a sweet, lonely and protective alpha who owns an adorable little bakery, and Darcy, a caring, thoughtful, and playful omega with a tragic past in need of love, family, and friendship. The connection between Eddy and Darcy is so sweet, gentle, giving and caring, and I enjoyed watching it grow, develop, and shift from beginning to end. The spice was steamy and the aftercare was sweet (Eddy is so thoughtful and loving). I am definitely in need of a pink frosted cupcake ASAP 🥵😏

Eddy and Darcy also face an intense situation, both separately and together. Can their seemingly unbreakable bond and shared connection help them through it all? I guess you will have to read to find out.(; Be prepared for a bit of a wild ride as they face some struggles.

I loved having the dual perspective so we could further connect with both Eddy and Darcy through their thought processes and inner monologues, as well as occasional thoughts from their respective grizzly and raven (loved these moments!).

Overall, while some moments felt a bit rushed, it was such a cute and heartwarming story and I enjoyed reading it. Excited to see what’s next for the series! A huge thank you to the author, Rebecca Louise, for the ARC opportunity!

[Elodie Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started so good …. *sigh*

I am really not a fan of last minute angst where the MCs is getting kidnapped after 70-80% of the book ~
Like they knew it was dangerous, why did they go ?! 🙃 as soon as they went into this trip in the non neutral zone, I knew where the book was going but I was like “who will bring angst from nowhere, at the end of the book?” 🙃 a little bit disappointed. 😔

So many things were bring but not developed, like the cat shifter, the other omegas and how they saw Eddy, Darcy’s trauma, Eddy’s insecurities… well and so many other topics that were bring to light but that’s about it…

For the first two third of the book, both of them are very sweet and I really loved them discovering each other. I would have liked to see more ~

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Rebecca Louise for this ARC. This review is entirely my own.

This was not my first book from the Omegaverse but it was the best. Shifters, knotting, fated mates...you can't go wrong.

The MCs were amazing and you can see their love for each other, their care for each other. The story flowed really well and I didn't want it to end.


This is a quick, easy , enjoyable read that grabs you from page one and doesn't let go. Very excited to read the next book and excited to see where the author goes in the Omegaverse.

[Jennifer Ervine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a feel good MM omega-verse story about finding the one person who really sees you. When Eddy and Darcy find each other, they realize they will never be alone again. The way Eddy takes care of Darcy is amazing. Darcy’s mischievous side is exactly what Eddy needs to come out of his shell. The writing was good and there was enough drama in the story to keep me reading.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started off by hitting hard in the feels and only continued to play my emotions. I could not get enough of Eddy and Darcy. I just wanted to hug Darcy and keep him safe from all the bad things. I am always so happy to see how different authors take on omegaverse and this did not disappoint. I am eager to read the next book!

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, fated mates

Eddy and Darcy are so stinking cute.
They're both tired of being alone and lonely.
Darcy has suffered tragic loss and Eddy is so very protective and caring.
He's the anchor Darcy cand depend on.
Darcy's mischievous nature is perfect to help bring Eddy out of his shell.
I really enjoyed seeing them both gain strength individually and learning to rely on one another.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Two beautifully written MCs, with adorable character traits fitting well with their shifter animals. How they interacted before realising they were fated mates was really sweet. The second quarter dragged a bit. I didn't really understand the choices going to visit family through dangerous territory without claiming each other first - maybe if it had been for an emergency, it would have made more sense. I liked the characters more than the plot, so very readable on the whole.

[Readbookswithcats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute alpha/omega story, with a sweet grizzly shifter who isn’t aggressive and loves to bake and a lonely raven shifter who is fond of staring at the bakery owner, from afar! Darcy had a tragic past and Eddy is filled with insecurities. Both find each other and it’s perfect! The book has some angst, kidnapping, drugged MC, slight S.A., but DOES have a HEA.

[Stephane West · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! Rebecca Louise has created a masterpiece that I will enjoy for years to come! I love that Eddy is not your average alpha brute. He is lovable and relatable. I absolutely love how quirky and clingy Darcy is. I also found it refreshing that she didn’t stick to the normal shifter standards in the story. I can’t wait for more!!

[Ashley Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raven’s Alpha is a quick read. The story follows Eddy a bear shifter and Darcy a raven shifter. Overall the story was decent, I didn’t love nor hate it. Most of the story was about them discovering they are fated mates and getting to know each other all while falling for one another. There’s a little bit of action towards the end.

[VersaiVex_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey between Eddy & Darcy was a sweet one but also a struggle.
The dual POV helped frame both characters and their backstory to their present status.

Darcy's situation hurt my heart, but the love, patience, care and acceptance by Eddy made their love story something we can all look for in our own relationships.

I loved watching these two sweet men find their footing with each other and separately. While Darcy seems shy and quiet, he has a mischievous side that really brings out Eddy's true nature.

This isn't a quick story of just finding your mate- mate- then it's over. No, these men take. Their. Time. The give themselves time to learn and grow together. Learning what it means to love and be loved.

But this book isn't just a romance. It also has a pretty big plot twist that is heartbreaking.... but does help these two fated mates stronger then they thought they could ever be.

[Cat Face Gargoyle Vesta · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 19% I wanted to try to muscle through. I wanted to stick to the commitment I made to read the whole thing, because as soon as I heard about this book,
I was super excited by the blurb, the character concepts, the setting... but I just couldn't do it. 

This book seems as if it has been largely unedited or proofread. There are formatting errors, missing punctuation and spelling errors, all in the first 10%. Coupled with inconsistencies in the writing, some truly baffling choices in plot points, and a massive section of worldbuilding being presented in glossaries instead of worked into the actual novel, this is like weeding through a first draft. 

If you're looking for a very easy read and don't have high expectations, I'd say grab this, but unfortunately, it really isn't what I'm looking for in a book. 

[Jerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story about fated mates finding each other. Darcy is an omega raven shifter, while Eddy is an alpha grizzly bear. The world that’s been built is fully realized, with different species and cultures mixed in among humans. There are rural villages, larger towns, and areas where not-so-nice shifters prowl.
The narrative is vividly descriptive. Every thought and emotion of the two MCs is there to see. There might be some inconsistencies in the book, but there’s no doubt how they feel.
I do love how Eddy knows he can rely on his father for help in any situation, and Norman is willing to take on the world for his son.
It’s a very heartwarming story. There are bad guys, but love always wins.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and it was such a good book. It was so sweet I really adored these characters. It was a pretty fast read for me.

I love Eddy. Eddy is such a sweet teddy bear but also so protective. Darcy is a playful omega with a little bit of sass. The connection is so sweet and full of passion. It grows and develops so well throughout the book. Eddy knows how to take care of his omega, the aftercare he shows Darcy had me swooning. With that being said these characters also had some struggles they faced both together and separately.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was so cute and full of love, other than some of the struggles lol. But I’m excited to see what comes next by this author. It was so full of passion, love and a very touching.

[Juniper's Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖤MM PNR
🐻Omegaverse/Shifters
🖤Secret Admirer
🐻Alpha Grizzly Bear
🖤Omega Raven
🐻Claimings
🖤NO Mpreg
🐻First Times
🖤Fated Mates
🐻Dual POV
🖤1st Person Narrative

This book is as sweet as the pastries Eddy bakes in his little bakery. The way Eddy and Darcy get to know each other melted my heart.

It's definitely a book you should read if you like shifters and cinnamon roll alphas and mischievous omegas!

[Stealthy Dragon 623 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will read anything with a bear shifter but this one didn't quite do it for me. I loved reading about a Raven shifter and all the shiny trinkets he would gift. Other than that, I feel like scenes and descriptions were repetitive. This book could have been half the length and would have been incredible.

[Michelle Baker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nowhere, NOWHERE, did this book tell you this was an MM romance. I like omegaverse and I like them all to share but I like a woman in the mix when I’m reading. I went backwards and forwards for ages trying to figure out if Darcy or Eddy were female. I don’t think they are.

[Lisa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful opposites attract story of Darcy Mortlake, raven shifter and Eddy Elwood, bear shifter and their journey to their HEA. Loved these characters and how, despite their differences, they are perfect for each other. A must read for fantasy romance readers.

[⭐️ mrs_munken_555 ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately not a book for me. It felt long winded and I just couldn't bond with the story or the characters. I appreciate it may be a slow burn but it's too slow for me.
There were some "cute" elements and it has the potential for the right reader - it's just not me.

[Dreamcatcher]

DNF @ 12%

[Linda Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

book review

I really liked this book. It was super cute and also not at all what I had expected. Some parts were a bit wordy, but I overall enjoyed it :)

[Jennifer Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was super cute and also not at all what I had expected. Some parts were a bit wordy, but I overall enjoyed it :)