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Petals And Strings
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.
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
76 people want to read
About the author
Jarica James
127 books658 followersJarica is an American author. She prefers writing paranormal and fantasy books. When she isn't writing she is playing her xbox with her husband and fellow nerd. She has two crazy boys who make writing a challenge, but one she gladly accepts.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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. 💜
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. 💜
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
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
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
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!
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.
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.
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
Need the next book asap
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
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
November 18, 2025
More grammatical and spelling errors than usual from this author, I enjoyed the premise but it needs an edit
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
This was a really great read. The characters are strong and the storyline is engaging. Looking forward to book 2
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!
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.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews