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Petals And Strings

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Some bonds break you, some rebuild you, and some aren’t meant to exist at all.

After ten years in hell, Audrey Walker thought she’d found the pack of her dreams. Instead, she’s branded as a stalker, accused of chasing a pack that was never even hers.

Out of options, her family sends her to the Ash Recovery Center, a place for the survivors of broken bonds. Really it’s just another prison to lock her away in.

As the fog clears away from her locked memories, Audrey glimpses both the wounds that haunt her and the fragile possibility of becoming whole again.

The five men she's forced to live among are just as fractured, haunted, and untrusting as she is. But there’s something about them and their scents she can’t get out of her head.

Then comes in their new therapist. Another scent match. One who has just as many secrets as they do and wants nothing more than to expose every ounce of corruption lingering within these walls.

But healing isn’t safe here… There’s a reason her room was empty. Whispers about missing omegas and a lockdown are something they can no longer ignore.

When the lights go out, no one knows who they’ll come for next.

Gritty, emotional, and edged in mystery, Petals and Strings is the first book in a why-choose mfmmmm omegaverse duet where recovery is war, trust is earned, and no one gets out unscathed.

This duet (Which means there will be a cliffhanger) contains mentions of past abuse, including imprisonment in a breeding ring, trauma, past SA, underground fights and bait omegas, a male omega who will never choose an alpha, broken bonds, abandonment, (assumed) child and family loss, violence, and medical mistreatment. Please read with these things in mind.


306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2025

281 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

About the author

Jarica James

135 books680 followers
Jarica 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for alex.
993 reviews182 followers
December 22, 2025
3 stars ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

☆⋆。𖦹°‧★ Petals and Strings☆⋆。𖦹°‧★

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°。 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 “I know I could have loved you but you would not let me” 🎶

After ten years of hell, Audrey Walker (h) believed she had finally found her place, only to be branded a stalker and cast aside. Sent to the Ash Recovery Center for broken bonds, she discovers it is less a refuge and more a prison filled with fractured men whose scents call to her in unsettling ways. As her lost memories begin to surface and a dangerous new therapist arrives, whispers of missing omegas and locked doors grow impossible to ignore.

—*•.¸♡ ★·.·☾ ゚。´THOUGHTS ゚☁︎。`·.·★ ♡¸.•*⋆—

Audrey is under the impression that another omega stole her pack, and through years of physical and emotional abuse, she develops a deep sense of dissociation. She is no longer confident that her memories are even her own and cannot remember who she used to be. A cruel therapist at the new facility she is placed in pushes her to remember, forcing medication to make her compliant. She ends up forming connections with an alpha, beta, and omega, all of whom are her scent matches. Each of them carries heavy trauma and painful pasts. This is not a soft romance. The trigger warnings are there for a reason, so go into this expecting sadness, grief, and deeply tragic experiences that explain how these characters became who they are.

[Ansel]

“I’ve got you,” I promised him. “You’re safe. Wherever your head is at, it’s wrong. You’re at ARC with me right now.”


“Say it again,” he whispered.


“You are safe. I’m with you, Ansel. No one is going to touch you.”


I personally connected with Ansel the most 🥹💓💌✨. Like Audrey, he is an omega. He is submissive, gentle, and kind, and he desperately needs protection. To everyone else, he comes off as a monster because he avoids people and refuses to speak. In reality, he is terrified because of what he endured. He was used to provoke alphas and treated as disposable. He is not used to kindness at all. When Audrey shows him compassion for the first time and simply holds him and protects him, he experiences a feeling close to love that he has never known before. It is unfamiliar and overwhelming, but he keeps coming back to her, and that is how their bond forms into something deeply intimate and safe.

[Caspian]

“It feels wrong to say, but I never want to bond again. I’m just glad this place brought me out of whatever mania these put me in.”


Caspian also stood out to me. He struggles with the concept of a mate bond because he had a wife and a daughter. He is consumed by guilt, believing he failed to protect them and that they died because of him. Later, it is revealed that he actually saved his daughter, but the therapists had been telling him she was dead the entire time. This leaves him riddled with confusion and guilt, unable to trust his own memories. At the same time, he is forming a connection with Audrey, which troubles him deeply because he feels like he is betraying his family. Still, he cannot deny the pull of the bond, and that internal conflict makes his arc especially painful.

[Ledger]

Ledger has been a steady presence from the moment Audrey arrived. He was the first to encourage her to write out her emotions so she would not be sedated. He acts as her guiding alpha, helping her navigate the environment and making sure she is not placed in harm’s way. He is fiercely protective and would do whatever is necessary to keep her safe. He is also ready to leave with her the moment an opportunity presents itself.

[Ares]

Toward the end, Ares is introduced. He is presented as a therapist, but in reality, he is investigating why people are disappearing. He also turns out to be one of her scent matches. Despite being undercover, he is honest with Audrey about who he is and why he is there. I loved that transparency because he did not want to build their connection on lies. He shows immense respect for Audrey and the pack, and there is no internal conflict between them, which was refreshing. Unfortunately, by the end of the book, Audrey is still taken, and the group is searching for her, so it is clear the next book will involve her captivity.

—*•.¸♡ ★·.·☾ ゚。´OVERALL゚☁︎。`·.·★ ♡¸.•*⋆—

This book is filled with deeply twisted individuals. Expect extremely disturbing content, including manipulation, solitary confinement, and sexual coercion layered on top of already traumatized characters. It is heavy, dark, and emotionally exhausting, but that is very much the point of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ines.
1,339 reviews46 followers
September 14, 2025
I believe this duet has the potential to become my absolute favorite from the hands of this author! There were so many emotions going through my body while reading, and still they were so perfectly balanced it never became overwhelming. These characters all have a traumatic past, but the focus of this duet is on healing and I started to embrace these characters on their path to get there. At times my heart broke for them, but the author immediately focused on the healing proces, granting hope along the way. And it was all done in a way filled with respect for the work it takes to build yourself up again.

Also, I love the twist on two omega’s in a pack, where the male omega builds a friendship with the other pack members and nothing more. It works for this pack to center themselves around Audrey, while still building trust and support amongst each other. The pack in itself has all the characteristics this author is known for in her omegaverses, the only difference is the fact the world around them is so much darker.

I can’t wait to see what book two will bring! The cliffhanger will be stuck in my head until we get there.
21 reviews
November 21, 2025
I just couldn't get into this one. The storyline sounds good but the Characters were a bit soft for the mental and physical trauma they went through.
Profile Image for x.o-St3fani3-o.x.
234 reviews
December 13, 2025
Trauma, Clarity, and Total Chaos

Audrey ends up at Ash Recovery Center and immediately spirals into a full-blown psychotic episode that leaves her heavily medicated. Considering what she’s survived, it’s heartbreaking but not surprising. Ten years of being beaten, mutilated, imprisoned, and used as a breeder; everything about her arrival feels raw, chaotic, and earned. But the wild twist? Just by existing in the same room, she starts unintentionally helping her five new roommates regain clarity and confront their own trauma.

Her new wing is made up of three alphas, one beta, and a skittish male omega; all lugging their own emotional wreckage. Rydell, labeled a “feral alpha,” is actually fiercely dominant and protective beneath the surface. Ledger is the quiet caretaker who keeps everyone fed and makes sure they show up for their sessions. Caspian is drowning in grief and only begins to crack open again when Audrey arrives. Kane, the beta, still has no memories and is consumed by the constant “what ifs.” And Ansel, the sweet but terrified omega, has endured so much that even being near alphas sends him spiraling.

One of my favorite parts was how each person’s trauma felt distinct, but the way they start healing, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes painfully, thanks to Audrey’s presence ties everything together beautifully. What I didn’t love? The facility itself is a complete joke. Several staff members can’t even manage basic human decency, and it shows.

Then Ares enters the picture finally, someone competent. He steps in as the new therapist after the previous two disasters, and it’s instantly clear he belongs in this pack’s dynamic.

I cannot wait for book two. That cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal… but in the best way.
Profile Image for M W.
624 reviews7 followers
November 20, 2025
4.5 stars
Wow I went in to this book pretty much blind but I had read the author before and was very surprised how quickly this pulled me in.
Audrey is an omega that was put in an asylum gor broken bonds for stalking a pack to which she thought was her pack.
Kane, Caspian, Rydell, Ledger and Anson are all in the same ward with varying degrees of trauma. As soon as Audrey gets placed they all start to be calmer and more present due to they realize they are scent matches.
While learning everyone past they start to work through their issues as a pack.
Behind the scenes this asylum is super suspicious and patients are going missing. The staff is horrible only a few listen to them.
This was very good omegaverse. Had a lot of depth and so much about the character development and them healing so nothing really was focused on sex.
The plot twist with Caspian threw me for a loop, all their stories broke my heart. And mr hot dr ares wow ultimate alpha. Some of the immediate therapy techniques unlocking trauma was a little unbelievable and the relationship with Anson moved a little quickly physical wise with their trauma. But so far great start.
Profile Image for Michelle Ann.
712 reviews30 followers
September 17, 2025
Oooff this book!

Can we just give a round of applause to these lovely bunch of characters. They’re mismatched, they’re a rag tag bunch. On paper, they’re broken, they’re hollow. They are zombies. On paper they should not work. But looking at them through their eyes, they actually work. Rydell, Kane, Caspian, Ledger. 4 guys who barely work, they have their moments, they’re going through the motions. Then she enters the rehab facility and they’re making the steps. They know who she is. Their scent match.

It should not work. In a rehab facility that looks legit but has so much corruption and shady shit going you can barely keep it all straight. Because yeah there’s a lot of nonsense going on in this facility and the director is finally taking notice. Until you realize there’s more to the director. But I won’t spoil it for you. Read the book, I throughly enjoyed it and I need book 2 ASAP.
Profile Image for Readsalot81.
18 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2025
Grim, dark, and pretty unappealing

I really like most of the author's books, but this one did absolutely nothing for me.

You're kept in the dark mostly about their struggles and backgrounds with only a few clues scattered throughout the book.

It's very grim and focused on the awful facility that they stay in. So you're not given much hope, character development is ........... SLOW and plodding .. and the plot seems focused on mostly external conflict. When the characters do open up, bad crap happens, and you're immediately yanked back to that dreary sort of helpless feeling, and it stays that way through the book.

If you like that type of read, this will absolutely be the book for you. But in the past, while she's written about dark topics, they don't overwhelm the book, and this book is different. It feels heavy and ugly and I very much dislike that feeling while reading.
Profile Image for Jens_Book_Cubby.
1,512 reviews55 followers
September 19, 2025
Petals and Strings is book one in the Broken Melodies Duet. It is a why choose, omegaverse romance with secrets, mystery, emotional moments, steam, and more.

Audrey, Rydell, Kane, Caspian, and Ledger are a group of broken individuals who find each other in the most unlikely and dangerous place. I absolutely loved each and every one of these amazing characters and loved how they fit together. I adored the overall theme of healing in the story. I also loved the danger, the secrets, the lies, and the mystery. The cliffhanger left me reeling and excited for more.

As always with this amazing author, this book was well written with fantastic characters, plot, pace, flow, storytelling, storyline, character development, and world building. If you are looking for a terrific omegaverse with damaged characters and focus on healing, then this is the book for you.
Profile Image for Richelle Zirkle.
2,163 reviews12 followers
September 26, 2025
I don’t know how anyone could read this and not fall hard for Audrey and her guys. It’s like the Island of Misfit Toys—they’re a bunch of broken souls that have been relegated to this facility to be medically mistreated and experimented on. What they don’t know is that if they can stay strong, there is hope. Until then, they can try to find hope and peace in their scent match omega, who just arrived. Unfortunately, they’ve all been dealt a cruel hand by bonds in the past, most in extremely traumatic ways, and they’re going to have to build friendship and trust before they can start to move toward something deeper. If you’re a fan, this is one of the darker reads by the author and touches on many mental health struggles, grief, and trauma after all the characters have endured, so be prepared for that. I, for one, really need the next book asap after that ending though!
2,611 reviews15 followers
September 23, 2025
This is the first book and oh what a start for sure of an amazing duet. I can already tell how the story builts and the fact they ball have suffered from trauma and now are healing and it is written beautifully. You can connect easily with the characters and yes it is omegaverse and yes I'm still obsessed but really this is topnotch what the author does. I am loving the fact there's two omega's in the pack and what it brings with it. I do enjoy the fact the story is darker then the previous books so if you enjoy cozyverse maybe this one isn't for you. However if you love darker stories you won't be disappointed.
Profile Image for ReadsBetweenKatNaps.
292 reviews1 follower
November 26, 2025
Dark OV that has you clutching your pearls

I have never read an OV this dark and these characters go through it, but they have to in order to get to the light. I admit I got a bit confused at the start and didn’t know what was happening and that was with purpose. Everything is explained as the story goes along. The characters are so fully developed and their back stories are traumatic for them. The support system they build within their pack is beautiful and unexpected. This is a must read, but be aware of the darker elements as they unravel their trauma and have to relive it all.
Profile Image for Kathryn Barr.
494 reviews10 followers
September 19, 2025
so freaking good!!!

Prior to this book releasing, something told me to reread the author’s Rockwood Valley series. The last book made me wonder what happened to Audrey. And now we know!!! Poor, poor Audrey. Her life, and honestly those of her pack, have been truly awful. It was amazing to see them start bringing each other back to life . Cannot wait for the next book. Cliffhanger haters beware! This book ends on a whammy, you may want to wait until book two is closer to being published. 💜
1,693 reviews2 followers
November 30, 2025
Ok so, honest review.
I hate Omegaverse. I didn't realize that that is what I bought. I thought I was buying a shifter romance with an asylum twist.

There was no shifting. And I don't understand this universe. Is everyone Alpha/Beta/Omega? Are they human? Superhuman? Do humans exist?

Now with my dislike for Omegaverse in mind, I actually enjoyed this book! There were some dialogues that was weird to me, but maybe that's normal in this genre.

Really unique plot with diverse and interesting characters. I really liked it, enough to read the 2nd one.
1,875 reviews8 followers
September 19, 2025
Aubrey are fmc has been through the ringer. When she thinks she's found her pack and then is called a stalker and shipped off we get some interesting turn of events. She meets her scent matches but in a place with secrets and omegas going missing we get a haunted asylum feel and I love it. This book touches on trauma and missed memories. I devoured it in one sitting. Can't wait for the next one. Loved the characters and world that has been dreamt up
Profile Image for Sakura.
122 reviews1 follower
September 20, 2025
All the feels

The first book ever for me with a male omega and I am head over heels in love.

It's dark, everyone has their own traumas that they are working through, but the book makes you want to laugh,and cry, and rage. It really has all the feels.

Particulars

Omegaverse
No MM
Profile Image for Martha.
486 reviews4 followers
September 22, 2025
Petals and Strings is book one in the Broken Melodies Duet. It is a why choose, omegaverse romance with so many twists, turns and more. This story was absolutely Amazing and if you've ever read Jarica's work before then you know this story will have you gripping your kindle and hair. I'm so excited to read more from her soon. This story is a MUST read!
Profile Image for Vr.
206 reviews1 follower
September 23, 2025
I had to suspend my disbelief quite a bit to feel fully involved in the events of this book. The idea that the FMC is a miracle cure for everyone around her was a bit far-fetched. However, the story is very fast-paced and highly entertaining.
Profile Image for Beth M..
330 reviews4 followers
January 6, 2026
I liked the characters and story of a bunch of broken people coming together to move beyond their traumas. Only thing I didn't like was the slow pace - if the story hadn't been depressing, it probably wouldn't have bothered me.
Profile Image for Crystal Rivera.
260 reviews9 followers
September 24, 2025
This book was fascinating to the end.. and that cliffhanger.. I'm on the edge of my seat dying to know what happens next.
732 reviews2 followers
October 4, 2025
Cried, fell asleep, read some more, cried some more, slept some more. And now you have me on a choke hold.

Need the next book asap
15 reviews
November 17, 2025
Great read

So much heart wrenching trauma from everyone involved, and they are slowly healing together, loved this so much. Plussss, double omega, whoch is like, my bread & butter
Profile Image for Ellen.
425 reviews4 followers
November 18, 2025
More grammatical and spelling errors than usual from this author, I enjoyed the premise but it needs an edit
1,122 reviews
November 22, 2025
Great read

This was a really great read. The characters are strong and the storyline is engaging. Looking forward to book 2
Profile Image for Dominique.
1,065 reviews7 followers
November 15, 2025
The first book in the Broken Melodies duet has me in an absolute chokehold. I love how James can pull together a broken, struggling bunch of individuals and give them hope, acceptance, and of course a chance to heal. This group, composed of Audrey, Rydell, Kane, Caspian, and Ledger, fits together so well within unlikely circumstances. It was so easy to fall for all of them. The pace of this book was perfect with an array of secrets and emotions produced throughout. I think I may just lose my mind waiting for the next book!
Profile Image for Jemma Newby.
1,707 reviews10 followers
November 11, 2025
Nooooo I need the next book. I am hooked on this brand new duet. My heart feels for Audrey and all the guys , I need the second book so I can get some answers. It is such an incredible read , this omegaverse will have you gripped and falling for each of the guys. Amazing read that I would highly recommend.
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