One for the Money

Trapped On The Tightrope Duet #1

by Holly Monroe

Dr. Alex Shields is not a liar.

Or at least, not technically. Is a lie by omission really a lie? What about if it was for a good reason?

On the day she drags her suitcases through what is usually an abandoned fairground towards the gray and black striped big top of Cirque de Mordu, Alex is only looking for two a steady paycheck and a way to disappear.

She’s not looking for an Alpha, and certainly not for a pack.

But a circus filled with nearly all Alphas that was expecting their doctor to be the same isn’t exactly the easiest place for a female Omega to lay low, and she finds herself thrown onto the metaphorical tightrope as she struggles to stay balanced.

Jude, the big, burly showrunner, isn’t happy she concealed the truth.

Quinton and Matteo, the sadomasochistic duo known for their sword and knife play in the ring, are fascinated by her.

And the Twisted Twins, Dario and Dexter, have reactions to her that are nowhere near as identical as they are.

Alex is running, and the circus may not be the safe place she thought it was to land. She’s going to work out her contract and then leave, because it’s just for the money.

Right?


----------------------------

One for the Money is the first book in the Trapped On The Tightrope Duet, a part of the Cirque de Mordu Omegaverse. This a why choose MMMMFM Omegaverse is for readers 18+ and the author encourages you to read the considerations at the front of the book.

Genres: Omegaverse, Why Choose, Romance, Forced Proximity, Polyamory, M M Romance, Slow Burn

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2025

About the author

Holly Monroe reluctantly lives in Florida with her husband, two kids, and two rescue pups. She's never met a character she couldn't traumatize, but she always gives them their happily ever afters.

They just have to work for it.

Reviews

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need book two in my hands immediately because HOW are you going to leave me with that cliffhanger 😭

I freaking loved this. I love it when her boyfriends are also boyfriends 😌. I always tend to have a favorite guy and Matteo is it for this one but Quinton was an extremely close second. Quinton is the goldenest of retrievers and Matteo is just a calm soothing presence that she needs so badly.

The ultimate hurt/comfort.

thank you to the author for the gifted arc

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars.
It’s definitely holding my attention with all the angst. That cliffhanger is gonna piss me off a little bit though…

[Shelby | Spicy.booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is a fun and endearing story, with a bit of trauma induced angst! Great world building and a lot of wonderful characters that are all very distinct in personality. Even though there are 5 men in this pack, with 5 POVs, I had no issue with telling who was who.

Alex is a rare female Omega, who also happens to be a doctor, and she is on the run. What better place to hide than a traveling circus? The kicker is that she is an Omega and this is an all Alpha Circus, so its pretty hard to lay low. Also she was hired sight unseen, so her being a female Omega is a bit of a surprise for all and some view this as a good surprise and some... not so much. I haven't read a ton of OV so this may be the norm, but the detail surrounding the biology is just amazing! There are even designation-specific illnesses which really affect some of the characters. Its really pretty fascinating how realistic it comes across.

The guys here are great - Jude the show runner is a big gruff teddy bear. Then there are the trapeze twins, Dario and Dexter, who are identical in appearance, but have very separate ideas about Omegas. And Matteo and Quinton who are just so loving and adorable. Really, all the guys are great and you just can't wait for everything to fall into place and for Alex to integrate into this found family. This is a duet that ends in a cliffhanger that made me immediately pick up book two.

Omegaverse Duet
MMMMFM
Omega On The Run
Protective MMCs
Strong FMC
Found Family
Slow Burn
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

[ᴊᴇꜱꜱᴛʜᴇʙᴏᴏᴋᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ☾ ✧˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

full RTC but what i can say is that i am SO glad i waited to read this until the duet was completed bc i am OBSESSED…. and that cliffhanger 😩

updated review:

“𝙈𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. 𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣. 𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚.”

if you want to feel something, then read one of Holly Monroe’s omegaverse books. there’s a reason all of the main characters are part of the circus and how their traumas and broken pieces all fit together in some way. but the road to becoming a pack isn’t going to be easy for Alex and her scent matches when she’s on the run from her old pack, one of her scent matches hates omegas, and not everyone at the circus likes having an omega around.

this is such a great omegaverse, and i can’t wait to see how everything turns out for Alex and her pack.



✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
MMMMFM, AAABOA, 1st person multi POV, late 20s/early 30s fmc (i think) / 39 mmc / 28 mmc / 28 mmc / ??? mmc / ??? mmc
pre-existing MM relationship, MM scene, scent matches, omega on the run, they build her a nest, twin alpha mmcs, autistic mmc, found family, knotting, heat flare, build-a-pack, switch/vers dynamics, accidental bonding, virgin mmc, duet, cliffhanger

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up as I was in the mood for a little trauma mixed in with the circus. Admittedly the first part was a little slow, but it still flowed easily to be able to continue. There is some repetition of information that I don't think is needed too.
There are some parts that hit you in the feels, but for the MCs to have a variety of traumas and chronic illness I was hoping it would impact more.
But I did really love and enjoy this read, and will be picking up the next in the duet so I can read the conclusion because that cliff-hanger...!

[Read.and.Blossom · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

Our FMC was amazing! She ran away from an abusive situation and is on the run so what did she think of? Let’s join the circus! She’s smart too! She’s the doctor 🤭

I loved how different all the MMCs were and the slow burn!! There was no instant love, maybe some instant attraction, but the relationships took time to build!

Learning about all the characters little by little made me more excited to see how everyone would blend together, even to see relationships grow!

Had to read the second book with the cliffhanger in this book!

[Tara Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the circus

First of all, what!?! How dare the author leave us with that cliffhanger, thank goodness it’s being released in just a few weeks.

I absolutely adore Holly Monroe and their books. As always the MMC’s are not all dark, broody and completely ripped with a sunshiny FMC; don’t misunderstand I LOVE books like that. When it comes to Holly’s books I love how real the characters are in their struggles and pasts. I love the disability and mental health rep, the fat and also the fit bodies and just the care that is taken to portray these conditions accurately.

Now to the story itself! Alex is rare since she is an omega who is also a doctor. Needing to hide away for a time she takes the job of traveling doctor with the all male, mostly alpha Cirque de Mordu. Only the alpha that runs the show, Jude, didn’t realize that Alex is a woman or an omega as she is hired sight unseen. This upsets some as a mysterious group keeps targeting Alex in attempts to get her to leave. Once Alex’s blockers fail she finds out that 4 alphas and a bonded beta are her scent match and everything becomes more complicated. The men need to figure out if they want to fight for Alex or let her disappear like she wants. Like I said at the beginning the cliffhanger is brutal but thankfully there’s only a couple weeks between book 1 and book 2’s release. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Sarah D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alex runs away to join the circus as a traveling doctor in order to escape her abusive pack. There, she finds out she’s scent matches to a group of alphas. Alas, her trauma prevents her from trusting and accepting them.

Dexter: hates Omegas because his Omega father murdered his mother
Dario: Dexter’s twin who witnessed the same crime but wasn’t impacted the same way
Matteo: beta partner to Quinton
Quinton: sick alpha, can be cured by scent matched Omega
Jude: the showrunner of the circus and everyone’s boss

A variety of misspellings annoyed me throughout the work. Frankenstine, the Betales, annunciating, etc. I struggle to even write the words because my auto correct knows they’re wrong. Why don’t indy authors use a basic spellchecker? That paper clip in Microsoft Word was trying to help us write essays in the 90s.

I was also generally bothered by the lack of background information. Alex is an ER doctor, so why wouldn’t she know what resources are available for DV victims? Why didn’t she document her abuse and get a divorce when she knows that she’s at a legal disadvantage as an Omega until she does? Why is she as a legal disadvantage when the author tells us Omegas hold powerful positions? There’s a real disconnect here.

Why doesn’t Alex reach out to her parents? (This gets even more confusing in book 2, when we find out her parents didn’t like Rich).

You could wave a hand and dismiss all of this and say DV victims don’t think rationally, but I find it hard to believe that when you’re making your victim an ER doctor who would have a sophisticated understanding of what to do in DV situations.

And you can’t tell me that Omegas are respected, have legal protections in the workplace, and are generally well respected, but then wipe that away with “Except when they’re married, they have no rights, are considered too emotional to report crimes, and are forced by the police to return to dangerous packs to be raped and abused.” Sorry… but this world building makes no sense.

[Chelsea Eckersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 1 🌶️

Ohhhh! That was so good! Most of the time I’m not really into the fmc being “on the run” but I do love a circus theme so I got really into this! The characters were all so loveable and funny. Looking forward to the next one!

[Bent Letters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Jack-Jack · Rating 1 out of 5]

1,5 stars.

At first you get the exact idea of what this is about from the blurb. And so, along the story you start to realize what happened, what really went through annnnddd then it all crashes down.

The delivery was choppy and amateurish. The protagonists were really closed-off people due to past traumas, and yes, everyone here has some sort of trauma, but instead of being woven into the story, it read more like a personality sticker.

Like, the grumpy twin whose mom was murdered by his dad: that’s his entire personality now. He has deep trauma, but doesn’t mind telling EVERYBODY about it at all times. And it went the sort of same way with all the MMCs and the FMC.

We didn’t really know anything about them, they weren’t fleshed out, never fully described. Did they have hobbies, quirks, things they actually liked? The only detail I remember is that one of them is lactose intolerant… and that’s it. That’s not characterization. They almost blended into one another, personality-wise.

The relationships had the same problem I’ve seen in other books. It’s just some poly setup (and to be clear, not RH), more MM than anything, and it just so happens that the FMC has the right traits and is “fated” to be theirs.

That can work in some stories, but here it’s emphasized that the MMCs supposedly share this loooooong history (I mean, almost everyone had already some sort of relationship or past romantic experience between them), except, well, they can only start acting like it the moment the FMC shows up.

Until then, they’re like NPCs waiting for her to trigger their storyline. It made the whole thing be more about them than the actual protagonist.

And that leads to the same problem I see often in MM-heavy stories: it didn’t matter who the FMC was. It could’ve been anyone. One of the MMCs even says it’s hard to develop feelings for someone so closed off, meaning they’re just going along with it because the plot demands it, not because there’s genuine connection.

Add the “convenient illness” one of them suffers from (conveniently needing a fated match) and the whole setup felt, once again, forced and flimsy.

On top of that, the protagonists were miserable most of the time, like kids who couldn't take accountability for their own emotions. I mean, the FMC was a freaking DOCTOR, how come nobody thought about therapy?!!! What is the issue with the lack of mental health?!!

Sigh.

Also, you can easily deduce, from what I've described, that there was absolutely zero (sub-zero, frozen-below) emotional buildup. Just hyper-fast insta-whatever.

The author even tossed in some background about male Omegas being able to get preggo, which only made it feel more like a Wattpad-wannabe idea of a BL than a polished poly romance. Just exchange the FMC for anybody else and voilà.

Which brings me to the next issue. The FMC’s trauma arc was poorly handled. I've got to say it. Her “I’m joining the circus to escape” move was far-fetched. This isn’t about dismissing survivors’ experiences, it's about the way it was written. It felt careless, and combined with the countless plot holes, it just never landed.

In that context, it struck me as really odd that almost every other character besides the MMCs was either some kind of thug, imbecile or a rapist, twisting the story towards a really dark tone.

This context made it even more contradictory: the FMC’s designation was supposed to be “special” and protected, but she was often treated like a nuisance even by random people, as if her very existence was a waste of air.

At the same time, the story insisted she had RIGHTS. So, What does that even mean for society in this world? Were there laws? Systems? Anything? Was this about her being a minority? The book never made it completely clear. Instead, it picked and chose when to be overly descriptive (trauma, violence, medical details, stunts) and when to hand-wave things like political or social structures. That loose, uneven handling left the world feeling shallow, grim, and cartoonish instead of nuanced or believable.

And yes, the author leaves a note about the “fictional” nature of the story. OF COURSE, we know this, we understand. But it only covered details like procedures or dangerous stunts.

That misses the point.

Look, you just have to get in the same mind space with me here: A story, of any nature, still needs consistent ground rules, the kind of thoughtful, experienced base-building that elevates the reading experience. That thing that separates you from the pile.

There was none of that here.

SO, overall, the book felt like a badly tuned instrument: the notes were there, but none ever hit the right chord.

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much, I cannot wait to read the next one because that cliffhanger was BRUTAL. But they have so much fucking shit to work through and it makes me so frustrated. Because as much as I understand where Alex is coming from with her not wanting to bond them or like form a relationship with them, they already love her so much and she just doesn’t see that!! I’m so happy she bonded Matteo tho, but I’m so scared of what he will feel through her in book 2..

Quinton is such a baby, I love him so much, he just wants to prove to Alex that he loves and can take care of her. He makes my heart melt 🥺🥺

And Dario and Dexter?? GAHH I love them soooo much. Dario is such a sunshine character and a sweetheart. The shower scene where he was just talking with Alex while she was showering and telling her about his life? Ahhh, I adore him. And Dexter??y boy!! I feel so bad for him with his dad and how he’s scared to be close to Alex. That scene after their first time tore my heart. But he’s such a lovable character regardless.

And Jude🥺 the Prime alpha and caretaker of the bunch, well one of them, he’s such a big softie who would do anything for his pack and I love that! Him and Dario have gotta get their shit together and fall in love! I need them to fuck and fall for eachother so bad.

Matteooo, the Beta and level headed one, I love Matteo so damn much, his bond with Quinton makes me giggle in giddiness, I love them so. The role he plays in the circus is so fascinating and he takes care of Quinton so damn well. Ah love! 🥰

Alex, Alex, Alex, Dr. Shields. I’m so damn scared for her, I know she’s gonna be fine but it’s so scary, I hope she realizes soon that she loves these men and can’t part from them because her threatening to leave terrifies me and I think she may have already left, if by force or by choice I won’t know until book 2(although I’m kinda hoping it’s by force cause I don’t think I’d be able to handle her actually leaving by choice..)

Their dynamic makes me giggle and cry, can’t wait to dive into book two!!!

[Lauren Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes kids threaten to join the circus when they run away? Well Doctor Alex does just that. She's running and hiding from a pack who have and will continue to control and destroy her. The Showrunner, not Ringmaster, thank you very much, Jude doesn't want an Omega in his Alpha circus. Sure they have a couple Betas, but Omegas are unstable and their heats are a pain to deal with, nevermind their perfume that drives Alphas crazy. Unfortunately for him, the contract they signed sight unseen is iron clad. Quentin and Mateo are a bonded Alpha/Beta where Q unfortunately has a disease that may permanently end his circus act. They are open to Omegas and just want to make everyone feel loved and welcomed. Twins Dexter and Dario are similar yet so different. They do not like Omegas because of their parents and what happened when they were children. They want Alex out and now.
But best laid plans and all. These men slowly realize Doctor Alex is an Omega, but also a very detail oriented and top notch doctor. She wants to bother them as much as she wants them to bother her. Slowly so slowly they all begin to let long-held walls down...until her pack finds her...
I love how different each character is. Holly fleshes them out so well that I know who is talking based on how they speak and act. Also the twins. Dexter is my homeboy and I love him. She made them so different and how they live post-trauma. I just want to snuggle them both, but especially Dex. Holly takes on serious issues both Omegaverse style and ones that men and women today face in every day life. And with such skill and compassion that you understand and feel for the characters.
I zoomed through this because I needed more healing time with the whole group and poor Q who just wants more love and to be in remission. That cliffhanger was just plain mean, ma'am!

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes me want to get in contact with Ms. Monroe so I can get the next book in this duet. Dr. Alex Shields runs away and joins the circus. Yes, you heard that right. She applied to become a doctor for a traveling circus. She knew her name would help in this situation. She knew they would assume she was a male. Not only was she a woman, but she was also an omega. An omega that will be traveling for the next six months with mostly alphas. Alex is on suppressants that should block her pheromones. She did not need any more trouble. Six months should give Alex enough time to figure out her next steps.

Five circus workers, in particular, were drawn to Alex. Jude Oliver, the show runner and owner, Dario and Dexter Reynolds, identical twins, Quinton Black and Matteo Veracruz. Matteo and Quinton are mated. Matteo is a beta. They have all become family while working at the circus. Will this omega shake things up? Most of the circus workers have some type of issue some maybe a little more than others. Alex, being on the run from her pack, fits right in. Not everybody at the circus wanted Alex there. When Alex’s suppressants fail, they find out all six of them are scent matches. Alex does not want another pack or scent matches. Now she has to deal with five men that did not think an omega or a pack was in their future.

This book does end on a cliffhanger. Alex’s old pack is looking for her. Does Alex need to leave the circus before they catch up with her? There is a whole bunch more going on in this book. It is definitely worth a read. If you like Omegaverse, you will enjoy this book. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of them. There are still some workers that don’t want Alex around. Will the guys be able to figure out who they are?

[Whitney Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to the big top, where secrets are currency, danger dances in the shadows, and desire tightens around you like a velvet noose; and what's more you want it to.

Dr. Alex Shields isn’t a liar… not really. But when you're an unbonded Omega walking into a den of dominant Alphas, a little omission might just be survival. From the moment she drags her weary body through the gates of Cirque de Mordu, the tension crackles; charged with danger, heat, and the slow, steady unraveling of everything she thought she knew.

This book had me hooked from page one and I could not put it down. The circus setting is lush, gothic, and dripping with a seductive menace that made every chapter feel like a forbidden caress. And the men. Oh, the men. Jude is all gruff command and barely leashed fury. Quinton and Matteo? Knives and sadism with a touch of obsession. And the Twisted Twins, well, let’s just say their mirrored faces hide very different desires, and I was so here for it.

Even though Alex is on the run, she’s not fragile. She's clever, composed, and watching her navigate this dangerous, testosterone-soaked playground had me biting my lip and clinging to every word. The power play, the secrets, the tension between submission and control, it’s dark, delicious, and utterly addictive.

This isn’t just another Omegaverse, dark romance it’s a high-wire act of lust, danger, and emotional unraveling. If you like your alphas intense, your omegas cunning, and your romance laced with shadows, Cirque de Mordu is your next obsession.

🎪 Come for the circus. Stay for the fire. Burn with the pack.

[Callan Shive · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rush!!! With it pretty much starting with Alex running away to join the circus as their doctor, it felt like a carnival ride. There were so many things happening that I truly felt like I had no idea of guessing what was going to happen next. I kinda felt like I was on an adrenaline high the entire time and now I’m crashing.

The spice in what bits that we got (looooove the slow burn of it) was just *chef’s kiss*. The scenes really fit the story and didn’t feel out of place. I didn’t feel that the smut was randomly thrown into it just for the sake of having it in there. It was really fitting and I just loved the connection between the certain people involved *wink wink*.

Every character was like an onion and I LOVE IT. Honestly, let me have them all as part of my little nest. There was just so much more at play than just letting instincts run their course. There was so much processing before just jumping head first into the mess and I loved seeing the thought process of each. I wanted to know more about them and I wanted to know every little thing that makes them all them.

I adore the dynamic between Matteo and Quinton a lot. I want more pleaseee. The care they have for each other is just perfection. I loved the dichotomy of Dexter and Dario as they are more than identical twins. They are two very different people who deserve to be seen as more than just the same person. Don’t get me started on Jude and Alex. I want them both with me and with each other. Jude is just a gruff bear that I want to wrap up in a blanket burrito and Alex, I just want to pamper her the way she deserves.

I started and I didn’t want it to stop.

[Maria F · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nothing is going to be okay if this doesn’t work. If we don’t get the chance to know her.”

There is SOMETHING about Holly Monroe’s writing that REALLY captures your attention and HOLDS it! Characters are flawed and relatable. The plot is jam-packed while developing complex relationships. I really like the balance Monroe strikes in her books. This book follows suit!

What’s Inside?
🎪Omegaverse
🎪MMMMFM
🎪Omega on the run
🎪Scent Matches
🎪Nest Shopping X 2
🎪 Found Family
🎪 Designation-specific illness
🎪 Cliffhanger

One of my favorite parts of Omegaverse is NEST BUILDING! There is a wonderful focus on nesting in this book that I absolutely adored! The first nesting trip is absolutely so precious!

Scent matching is another frequent flier of the genre. Our omega here takes heavy duty suppressants, taking scent out of the equation, which is something that I really enjoy. I love seeing how relationships develop while everyone wonders, “are they scent matches?”. Could it be? The suspense creates some delicious tension! And when the matches actually happen it is SO TASTY because they have HISTORY, and much more complex feelings!

This series introduces a few different designation-specific illnesses and the world itself is slightly different from the Lunarcrest City omegaverse books, so you may want to make sure you read through the introductory section. I really liked the additions to this world!

One for the Money is Part One in Trapped On The Tightrope Duet- Book Two (Two for the Show) releases August 18th. So you don't have long to wait at all!

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. My opinions are my own. Thank you!

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

One For The Money is book one of the Trapped On The Tightrope Duet.

There are so many fantastic characters in this story. You have Jude, the showrunner who is a great protector of his crew. We see how protective he gets with Alex as well, but he fights his instincts with her. Quinton and Matteo are together, but both feel a connection to Alex. Quinton thinks Alex is his omega, but as she is wearing scent blockers, he can't know fully. He just knows he has a connection to her. Matteo feels this closeness as well, but he is a Beta, so it isn't the same kind of pull as Quinton. Dario and Dexter are twins, who saw their omega father unalive their mother. This causes both of them torment in different ways. Dexter avoids omegas and has a bit of a hatred towards them. Meanwhile, Dario avoids commitment. All of these characters bring something to the story and I don't think I could choose a favourite if I tried. They are all well rounded characters that without one, everything would fall apart.

Now Alex, is the omega and has gone through a lot of pain and torment in her life. She trusted an alpha in the past and this led her to experience a lot of trauma. She never wants to experience this again so she pushes all of the guys away at one point or another as she doesn't want to lose her right to control herself and her actions.

By the end of this book I was fully invested in all of the characters and the story. I was devastated when it ended as now I have to wait for part two to continue this story and see where we go with this pack. I cannot wait for the next one.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait for book 2!

Dr. Alex Shields has run away to the circus. Actually she got a job with Cirque de Mordu as their crew doctor. Unfortunately, the alpha in charge, Jude, failed to ask about her gender or designation which gives him quite the shock. But Alex needs the paycheck and she needs a way to disappear from her life. The circus performers are almost entirely alphas and they aren't all happy to have her around. Jude is the brusque showrunner who is determined to be rid of her after her six month contract. Quinton and Matteo are the knife throwing and sword swallowing scent matched pair. Dexter and Dario are the Twisted Twins who perform death-defying trapeze stunts. When Alex's blockers fail and she realizes that she is scent matched to all five of them, her life is turned upside down. But will the men decide that they want to keep her around or will they let her walk away at the end of her contract?

This book was so good. I absolutely loved Alex's strength and courage. She is so real and doesn't have to be bright and smiley all the time. The way that Holly Monroe described Alex's journey and how she found herself in a bad situation was so realistic and relatable. I loved that each of the men had a unique personality and character. It was easy to remember and distinguish between them even when they had some similarities. The tension regarding Alex's old pack and reported kidnapping is so good. There are so many questions after that crazy cliffhanger. I can't wait to read book two and get some answers!

[Samantha Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there's one person I am glad ran away and joined the circus, it's Alex- a traumatised omega needing a safe space except she's bit off more than she can chew at this particular circus full of Alpha and Beta males. So much trouble is stirred up which makes for some fun and nail biting reading.

This story is a bit of a hard one, so make sure you read the triggers, there is trauma from a few different angles. It adds depth to the story and evokes feelings to these characters.

I don't read much omegaverse, but have read all of Holly's in her omegaverse series which is all set in and around the same town. But every story is different, each presenting omega is different to what is expected on an Omega, they push boundaries and always find their pack in mysterious and odd ways- unique to each individual. It's rare for an Omega to be a female, so Alex coming into a circus full of Alpha and Beta males is extremely unusual and not accepted by some members of the community. The alphas and beta that this story circulates are all unique in their own way, they have their own stories and feelings amd its such a good found family that I felt attached to them through the writing.

It's a bit of a slow burn, there's stress and tension and alphas rutting and when it gets good, it gets chaotic real fast.

But this book is left on a cliff hanger, and cliff hangers are sooooooo good but my anxiety is peaking and I need this next book!

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever want to run away and join the circus? That was a part of the inspiration for Holly Monroe’s most recent publication - One for the Money.

An OmegaVerse book where Dr. Alex Shields is hiding a secret and decides the best place to hide is as the Doctor of a traveling circus, full of alphas doing dangerous acts. The only problem is she’s an Omega and they’re all pretty certain (or terrified that) she’s their scent match.

As someone who doesn’t read OmegaVerse very often (as in this was my first, I’ve always been intimated), this was a good book and I read it entirely in 24 hours. There was a helpful section at the front for those of us who are newer to these books, which I appreciated, as it made it easy for me to follow along. Holly creates such interesting characters and I always want to keep reading to find out everything about them as quickly as possible. The worlds she builds are always very full of details without being over-described, and you feel fully immersed in it. And as a side note, as a healthcare professional, I loved that when HIPAA came up in one part of the story, it was used correctly and also not called “HIPPA”.

This book is spicy, fun, a little devastating, and left me eagerly awaiting the follow-up, which luckily is coming out in a few weeks!

[Mica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced & Immersive!

OMYGOSH I FINISHED THIS IN ONE SITTING

I’m literally writing this review at 3:45am because I binge-read the entire thing. I could NOT put it down! I love when a book ruins my sleeping schedule 😌

Seriously though, the action and pacing was nonstop and I love every second of it. I absolutely adored every character. They are so well-written. This is a whole ensemble of characters and yet it felt like I KNOW each one of them.

I LOVE ALEX so much. She is such a strong person and I legit want to cry for her. She’s been saving herself for so long, all I want is for someone to save her this time. She’s deserves for someone to reach out a hand to her 😭😭😭

Quinton and Matteo are my absolute favorites. I feel soooo bad for Dario because I know how it’s like to live in the shadow of someone else’s needs. Dexter, although I understand his trauma, really needs to get his sh—t together because I fear he’s never even thought of Dario ever??? Jude also needs to get it together especially because he’s the oldest and I kinda expect him to be more emotionally mature about this.

Alex has been through hell and is still going through hell so I literally need these men to get it together.

AHHHH I NEED THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY

[Kayla Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me from the start! An Omega on the run joins an all male Alpha/Beta circus as their traveling doctor! ✔️✔️ Alex needed to escape town and she has only one chance to do it. So she uses the fact that her name will be assumed as male and the show runner never asked her designation to land the job. Was Jude (show runner) pissed yes, but our girl did her homework and the 6 month contract didn’t say she couldn’t be female or an omega. Checkmate!! As she settles in she meets Quinton and Matteo & Dario and Dexter, all of which have acts in the show and have vastly different reactions to her. Things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows though. She’s still running from her past and the guys have their own pasts to deal with. I can’t wait for the second part to come out!! Double points for Holly because the end didn’t feel like a cliffhanger. More like a natural pause in the story. Which really helps my anxious reader brain!! 10/10 recommend even if you aren’t that familiar with omegaverse! Holly always does a great job explaining everything!!

[Crystal LoCicero · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 Stars...

"With these four Alphas and my Beta surrounding me, I find myself wishing that I had run away and joined the circus a long time ago."

I was a little hesitant to start this because I wasn't excited about a circus setting( I don't like clowns, and they give me the creeps), but gosh, was I wrong. This book hooked me as soon as I started it. I like Alex the fmc; she is smart, sassy, logical, and a little damaged. The circus guys were interesting. I love the dynamics and all the issues they are trying to work out. The mm relationships are so fun, hot, and sweet. I am excited to see where they go. The mysterious unknown number is trouble, and I honestly have no clue who it is. I have a list of suspects, but I am nowhere near having it narrowed down. The ending was a big cliffhanger, and I couldn't believe I had reached the end. I will be counting down the days that the next book comes out.

I received this book as an ARC, but my review is completely independent and reflects my genuine thoughts, feelings, and opinion.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and like how it wasn’t the typical omegaverse story. This is a different universe from Holly’s other books! This story had a good plot with some spice sprinkled in, plus MM.

We’ve got twin alphas with childhood trauma, a Māori alpha with past substance abuse and is now sober, a cinnamon roll alpha dealing with chronic pain and a calm but dominant beta. Dr. Alex Shields is our rare female omega who runs away from an abusive pack to join a circus as their on call doctor. Not only is she the only female but she is also the only omega. She thinks she is safe as long as she stays on her suppressants and isn’t found by her former pack but oh is she wrong! She deals with threats from unknown carnies to make her leave and she becomes extremely ill from her suppressants. Our 5 MMCs who happen to be her scent matches try to fight for her trust and help her heal from both her past and her current illness. But in the end the carnies threatening her figure out her past and now she has to leave before her abusive pack finds her.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid omegaverse story, part 1.

Alex is an omega fleeing from an abusive situation. She hires on to be the doctor for a travelling circus, surprising the circus members because she's not the expected male alpha doctor. She gets closer to Jude (alpha, showrunner), Quinton (alpha, sword swallower) and Matteo (beta, knife thrower), and the twins Dario and Dexter (both alphas, trapeze artists), but there are a lot of trust issues preventing them from forming a pack.

Be aware that there are several darker themes in this book, so be sure to read the content warnings. Most everyone in the pack has some form of trauma or thing that they are dealing with, some more healthily than others.

Poor Alex just keeps getting hit with situation after situation in this book. We see her struggle to (understandably) trust that the men to catch her when she continually falls, partly because the men are struggling to accept the omega in their midst. We see glimpses of how this pack will form but it's hard to do so under all of the threats to Alex.

I'm definitely looking forward to part 2!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a very long time where I did not want to put it down and do other activities, this had me in a chokehold. And that cliffhanger!

The FMC has some past trauma, and for the most part the MMCs are respectful of her requests. They don’t steamroll her, but they subtly take care of her as Alphas would. The FMC is a strong independent women, but not in the foolish stubborn way and accepts help when someone normally would.

The theme is obviously circus oriented, and this theme is present in the book vs it being mentioned and we never actually see any circus scenes.

The plot takes precedence here, with 2 spicy scenes. It’s definitely a slow burn but you don’t even notice because the relationships being crafted between the characters is so easy and engaging. There were a few grammatical errors (autocorrect probably at play here as the words would be completely wrong), but I think it happened two maybe three times. Not enough to be annoying or dock my rating.

[spirits.affection · Rating 5 out of 5]

binge worthy

Holly’s at it again with an amazing OV story. This dark and twisted world of crazy alphas and a broken omega doctor is sure to excite. I was patient and waited until both parts were released as I knew a book by Holly would be amazing as all of her Lunarcrest books have been. Seeing a new OV world with new Illnesses and dynamics from her is very exciting just like this circus with its insane acts of sword swallowing and tightrope walking with no net. Another thing I love about this author is even if things feel out of control and like the characters won’t get their Happy ending she will always deliver. Any person who can write villains that you love to hate is an amazing writer in my mind, I’m excited to see what’s in store for this Doctor and their adorable festival smelling scent matches.

[Margareth Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One for the money: sure enough!!!

One for the Money (Trapped on the Tight Rope, Book 1) had me screaming in the best way possible. Dr. Alex Shields is sharp, fierce, and trying her best to stay invisible—until the circus (and Jude) turn that plan upside-down. Jude, the burly showrunner, has a temper thinner than the tightrope Alex’s walking… and he’s definitely not overreacting. Meanwhile, Quinton and Matteo—our delightfully twisted sword-and-knife duo—are dangerously intrigued, and Twisted Twins Dario and Dexter bring chaotic twin energy that’s as hot as it is unnerving. Holly Monroe captured desire, danger, and one hell of a tightrope walk, and I’m already pacing for the next book. ♡♡♡♡

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored the circus setting. It’s different than the books I usually read but it was so fun. There were parts when they were talking about the show that had me clutching my kindle for dear life. It was very tense. The character were also very unique and all had their issues, I mean they are in a traveling circus so there has to be something going on with them. The dynamics of this omegaverse was a bit different than the usual one has and took a minute to figure out. It was a very fresh take on this genre. The omega is the only one who can initiate a bond so there were no alpha accidental bonds.

This was a really fun read and I’m excited to see where things go in the next one.