When it Raines it pours and it's been a long, long road with only my belief to keep me dry
Out there somewhere in the world, I know I have scent matches. I know they will meet me and fall head over heels. So things are a little hard at the moment. I have nowhere to sleep, no money, no job. I don't even have a way of contacting my family for help. All I have is this belief that my true love is out there waiting for me.
But my heat is here and even though I've managed to hold off all these years, my time is up. I'm going to have to give in and get knotted by a pack that isn't mine.
But I have one rule- No bonds.
She waltzes into our Dynasty- our bar, looking like everything we've been running from; gorgeous, innocent and in desperate need of our help. We can and we will- but only for the heat. After that we'll return to our lives and give her enough to help send her on her way. An easy transaction. One good deed.
We have one rule and we won't break it, not even for our scent match- No bonds.
This is a 48k word novella why choose novel, that means our FMC won't have to choose who she ends up with. It also contains relationships between the MMCs, an unfaltering belief in true love, family that love you no matter how far you've travelled, and a HEA.
This novella serves as the introduction to the author’s new When It Raines omegaverse. That said, it has its own engaging story and stood well by itself. Tropes include omegaverse, why choose, stubborn FMC, MMCs with trauma, angst/hurt/comfort, groveling and scent matches. Please see content warnings for adult content, including spicy scenes.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 3/5 spicy flames
The Lovely: I loved the main characters in this novella. The FMC is determined to fight for what she wants, even after having her heart broken more than once. And she believes in true love, which others around her find laughable. The MMCs are trauma hardened and have no interest in bringing an Omega into the mix. And they definitely don’t believe in true love. This causes some pretty angsty scenes and the emotion pull (ok, hurt) kept me reading.
This novella as a surprise "prologue" to her upcoming novel Scent of Home. And a suprise it was, it was a great start for a the beginning of a new series.
I felt Bethany's pain, I had to blink my tears away. I love Bethany's character but she could make the H's grovel more.
There were moments when I wasn't sure where this was going but its a novella so it has to be cleared up rather quickly. I really enjoyed the story. I was confused in places, it felt like I was supposed to know about this family. it wad a good time.
The novel was so under developed, making the plot confusing in that it seemed like there was a whole other story (several even) that were missing. There was just too much reference to the famous Raines and their established pack but with out actual backstory that for a bit of time I was wondering if they were a part of another book in the series, and I even checked if it was even from a book in another series she wrote, and both answers were no. At so many points information was glossed over, or there were moments that could have been elaborated on to get a more detailed plut but just weren't.
Another aspect is that Bethany well and truly had no connection with the pack at all other than being scent matches. They all barely knew each other, and an potential interactions they could've had was cut off by the author writing just briefly mentioning them going on dates but never actually putting them into the plot. There was also something about Bethany that rubbed me the wrong way, like she was very naive in a way but more in a spoiled context than anything. She made a point of saying the her birth mom abandoned her with her biological father when she was 2 years old as if it had the basis of a tragic backstory, even though her bio father was a loving and kind man with a pack that was also living and kind. She basically grew up in a very privileged household and then decided to just go off into the world as a teenager looking for love and refusing to go back until she found it.... talk about first world problems. The pack members were hard to get a read on because they didn't have much personalities. Crow was the more forthcoming one, but even then he along with Saint and Hunter were very hot-and-cold the entire time. One minutes they refused to acknowledge Bethany, with one of them convincing the others they don't need her, and then the next second they're all in agreeance for her.
I've read from this author before, and book in the Omega Accords series, and although just was more neutral on that book I distinctly remember that the storyline was at least well developed and had better character connection and believability.
This book was not the best in its current state. I think that if the author were to go back and develop it more than it could be a decent read.
This was a a pretty good read for me, I liked how the fmc knew what she wanted and didn’t stop fighting for it. The men definitely had some stuff to deal with but I’m glad it worked out. I liked the quickness of this read and everything seemed to work out but I definitely need to know about certain people and what happened to them.
If you had your heart set on nothing less than your scent match, how long do you think you’d last before you caved in and changed your mind in your journey to find them?
Bethany Raines has a problem: She didn’t think it was going to be this difficult to find true love, or that it was going to take this long. Now she’s out of money, homeless, and out of time. Her heat is maybe a day or two away and she still hasn’t succeeded in finding her scent matches. Her solution? Hope she can find a pack kind enough to take care of her heat, not bond her in the process, and then let her go at the end.
What she finds instead is a pack of gorgeous and kind alphas she could easily fall in love with, only they don’t believe in love.
Tea Ravine announced this novella as a surprise quasi-prologue to her upcoming novel Scent of Home, which will be the first full novel in the When it Rains omegaverse series (which is likely to be an interconnected series of standalones, just like The Omega Accords). Spare the Bond may be the story of how runaway omega Bethany Raines finds her happy ending with Pack Crow, but it’s also an introduction to the entire Raines Pack, which serves as the nexus of main characters for the When it Rains series.
I love Tea Ravine’s writing and worldbuilding, but what always stands out to me is the way she writes relationships, both romantic and familial. Emotion, comfortable and realistic dialogue, and intimacy aren’t always the easiest things to convey in spicy omegaverse novels, but Ravine somehow manages to make me feel as if I’m right there in the nest or crying in the car. It’s a talent. I can’t wait for more.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
While I have read so many omegaverse books, this was the first one I have read by this author. I have read other works by her, but never an omegaverse. This was a great story that made me connect with all of the characters. I found that this book was angsty and gritty at times but still had such a great connection to all of the members of the pack and our wonderful Omega. One of my favorite omegaverse tropes is the “we said we wouldn’t take an Omega”. It always provides for an entertaining story and keeps me reading. Without the drama, these stories can drag on, but that didn’t happen here. This book was well written with great characters, including the side characters. I am glad I was given the opportunity to read this, because I have found a new Omegaverse author.
Bethany was a great Omega. She is one of those omegas that has struggled and survived. She left her family because she believes in true love and fated mates. She knows that she deserves that. She has been through so much, from the minute she was left on her dad’s doorstep. We don’t often see an omega running away from the family she loves, but Bethany believes in love that much. She has almost nothing and is on the verge of her first heat. She spends her last dimes in hopes she will find the perfect alphas to help her.
Pack Crow is a good group of Alphas who have let their harsh childhood destroy their belief in love. There are some times that you just want to slap each one of them, but they show their sweet side when they are with Bethany. There was a moment when I wanted to hurt them and have Bethany get as far away from them as possible. But they grow and Bethany helps them to see that love is not bad.
This was a great story with spicy times between one omega and three alphas. I thought this was a great omegaverse book and now have another author to add to my favorite omegaverse authors. This is a great omegaverse and at under 200 pages, it is one that is a quick easy read.
A good introduction into the universe and all the characters we’ll be following in the series.
A girl searching for that fated love, but I finally hitting that point where she can’t continue that search. In that desperate moment she stumbles onto maybe exactly what she’s been searching for.
I didn’t really connect with the MCs of this book in the end. The FMC started off decently, making things happen on her own in the world, but once she started relying on the MMCs entirely I fell off. The MMCs were also decent, but when they didn’t expressly state their hard limits before starting things with the FMC I was a little annoyed, especially when they knew she was catching feelings.
Having been introduced to what seems to be all the other MCs of future books in the series and left with an interesting turn of events for our next MC in the epilogue, I’ll be picking up the next book in the series I’m sure.
This novella came as a surprise! I was so excited to get it! I absolutely love Tea’s omega accord book. I was ready to dive into this new world that Tea is writing!
Do you believe in true love? Well Bethany sure does! She is a character I have come to love. I really loved her personality and the way she has her beliefs. When she finds her scent matches it it so cute how they care for her but they are also reserved in a way. Only problem? They don’t believe in love.
Spicy scenes? Definitely but what I love about this is the romance that Tea mixes in with it. It makes me swoon at each romantic scent that isn’t filled with heat! That’s just a plus! lol.
Overall, I’m excited for the next book in this world! This novella was so cute and I really enjoyed it! If you’re looking for an omega who believes in love and alphas who don’t well, then this is the book for you!
Bethany ran from a loving household in search of what her parents had - a true scent matched bond. Life on the streets was more difficult than expected. Desperate and near the bottom, she found what she desired most - her matches. Except her Pack didn't want an Omega. They had made a promise to never bond anyone in; they were all they needed. From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, Bethany shattered. And so did they.
This story is incomplete. The author writes trauma well enough but she took shortcuts with the fallout. There was no relationship development. You can't say they wooed her without showing any of the wooing; it doesn't work. There was no connection other than the scent match. Bethany's connection with her estranged family held up better. I realize this was an intro to the Raines family Omegaverse series but I hope the future stories aren't so rushed.
So the mmcs literally have no care for the fmcs feelings. She lets them see her through her heat, and in my opinion she made her feelings about them very clear.. and they decided to not tell her that it means nothing to them until after the heat? Essentially using her? Gross. They also were essentially courting her beforehand and admit "oh yeah it makes sense she saw it that way" but it never occurred to them while they were doing it? They totally misled her, used her, and then she is supposed to just forgive them?
And then her family learns about it and just says "yeah prove to them you're worth it!" Like she has nothing to prove? wtf!
Literally a villain origin story. Not a romance. But ok.
I honestly would have preferred if this ended with her leaving. That would have been better than her being in this abusive relationship.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Calling all hopeless romantics! This story follows Bethany, an unbonded Omega whose heat is right around the corner. She is the definition of love will conquer all. Enter Pack Crow, three orphans who have grown into strong men who only have room for each other. When they realize Bethany has nowhere to go, they open their home for her, but not their hearts. As they help her through her heat, Bethany and Pack Crow have wildly different opinions on what will happen afterwards. Although this story ends with a HEA, it does rip your heart out and just when you think it’s safe, it does it again. Tea Ravine is a master omegaverse author and I cannot wait to read the next book in the Raines series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This novella was definitely short, but packed with so many emotions. I had all the feels with this one. The FMC and the MMCs were so far apart in their belief in love and faith in other people, their HEA almost didn't happen. Bethany took her doubts and turned them into strength and determination to keep the Crow pack as hers. This was such a good story. So many characters were introduced! Will we get to read their books one day soon? Whatever Tea Ravine writes next will be an excellent story. I have not been disappointed yet!
Let me get this straight. So this pack of guys makes Bethany feel like shit and basically reject her… but then like 5 pages later the guys are all like “she left us!! She abandoned us!!”
??? What.
Y’all made her feel like less than nothing of course she’s not going to stay in your home to continue to be treated like nothing. You saw her through her heat and then 12 hours later you push her away and tell her you and her can never be together but then bitch, whine, and moan that “she’s gone. She left”
A first for me from this author, and I'm pleasantly suprised. I wasn't sure what to expect, she represents it as a touch of grey, so not a true dark romance but tarnished. I would agree, certainly not a dark novel but there were enough moments of angst, of references of past events to have this tickled in grey. These men groveled, the were awful and stuck in there own heads about everything, but they made up for it. Fast burn spice, with a slow burn romance. Very well written, with an omega who knew her own worth, and what she wanted in life.
The author did a great job writing the story, I think it’s just me who had the hard time connecting with it. I did read it all the way through because I wanted to see how it ended, but I didn’t connect with any of the characters. They were all kept on a superficial level for me, no depth or character exploration. The parental pack dynamic confused me too. There were cousins and step children, brothers, and sisters in the same pack. In summary, it felt like the story was a little glossed over.
As with all of Tea’s books, the writing is so good that it draws you in, the characters were likeable, and the storyline was the perfect balance of romance, spice and angst.
A great, quick read. A must read for all omegaverse and Tea fans.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If you're looking for something light/ pick-me-up type of thing, this is it. It still has the omega verse vibes, and most importantly, knotting, but is more on a light-hearted side compared to dark romance in general. I didn't think I would enjoy it so much, but I did! Literally read in one sitting because I couldn't stop. I just wish it was longer
How refreshing to read about MMCs that aren't rich but your average Joe who are relatable. The only downside if you can call it that is I wish the book was longer but I couldn't put it down so a plus there. Thinking to outrun fate and do a relationship without bonds might not mean HEA. Will she risk it all? Read and find out.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series , But I read her previous and I must say that this author is amazing And she keeps her books fun and interesting , They are always Page turners. You will not be disappointed if you pick up 1 of her books. I cannot wait to read to read the rest of the 'RAINESVERSE'
She went from being homeless, and without family, to not only having a family but a very famous family. It was weird that she wouldn't call them for help when she really needed it. Instead the family just waltzed in after years not seeing her and act all protective...it just wasn't for me.
This was a good short Omegaverse story. As a prologue, it was pretty clear that its purpose was to set up the background for characters that will be in future books. However, I absolutely loved some of the side characters we saw in this book so I am not complaining. I liked both Bethany, the omega and her alphas and I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
I don't think the resolution part of the book lasted long enough. Over half of the book was background and the heat with the resolution and relationship dynamics not being long enough to develop properly. The characters themselves are written very well and I like their relationships overall, but we were given very little courting, bonding, and lovey lovey time between them.
So I'm not usually a fan of omegaverse books but I really enjoyed this one. This was such a good and sweet book. I love how she changed their minds. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves a good omegaverse book
I loved this outlook on how fate makes itself known. The FMC is well written and so likable. The MMCs seem very real, not rich, not all knowing just the normal average ones worth a compelling back story.
Received an ARC of this and read it right away — if you’re looking for a quick but thorough OV read this is a great choice. Some shorter novellas seem way too rushed or not thought out but this was very cohesive despite the brevity.
Quick light omegaverse rh with m/m. Low stakes conflict, so I was glad this was a novella. I would dnf this if it had been a full-length novel with this type of conflict. Not a lot of character/relationship detail. Good enough for a filler novella.
This has to be one of the cutest omgeavere stories I have a read. She leaves everything she knows behind to find her scent match pack only to find 3 broken alphas who don't want an omega. Oh, so good. I loved watching this pack find their way to love.