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The Imperial Nursery: The Complete Trilogy: An Emperor × Omega MM Omegaverse Romance Collection

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He came to the Imperial Nursery to care for a stubborn little panther cub. He never expected the Emperor to look at him like the love he'd lost six years ago.

THREE COMPLETE NOVELS. ONE POWERFUL BLACK-PANTHER EMPEROR. ONE FORGOTTEN OMEGA. ONE LITTLE CUB DETERMINED TO MAKE THEM A FAMILY.

Adrian Vale is good at taking care of children.

Frightened wolf pups. Stubborn lion cubs. Even a tiny royal black panther who steals food, argues about everything, and insists he doesn't need anyone.

What Adrian isn't prepared for is Emperor Lucian Crowe.

The most powerful Alpha in the Empire is dangerous, impossibly handsome, and accustomed to being obeyed.

But when Lucian brings his mischievous nephew Dio to Adrian's nursery, something unexpected happens.

The little panther decides Adrian belongs in his life.

And the Emperor keeps finding reasons to come back.

Lucian watches Adrian with a longing he cannot explain. He remembers things no stranger should know. And beneath his terrifying reputation is a man who sits beside sick children, comes home exhausted, and looks at Adrian as though he's afraid to lose him all over again.

Because Adrian has no memories of his life before six years ago.

And Lucian knows more about those missing years than he's willing to admit.

As their attraction grows, shared meals turn into stolen kisses. A lonely Emperor learns to ask instead of command. An independent Omega discovers that being loved doesn't have to mean surrendering his freedom.

And a very opinionated little panther begins treating them like the family neither man knew he could have.

But the past won't stay buried.

Stolen memories, old royal records, and a conspiracy reaching into the Imperial Nursery threaten everything they're building together.

To win Adrian's heart, Lucian must do something harder than ruling an empire.

He must let the man he loves choose him freely.

Across three complete novels, their relationship grows from a mysterious reunion and a fragile first kiss into passionate intimacy, a second chance at marriage, and an extraordinary new family.

There will be terrible breakfasts, a giant black panther who secretly loves having his ears scratched, one tiny cub determined to supervise the adults, and three unexpected little heartbeats that change their lives forever.

He was once the Emperor's lost Omega.

This time, he's choosing to become his husband.

THE COMPLETE IMPERIAL NURSERY TRILOGY

Book 1: The Emperor's Hidden Omega

A powerful black-panther Emperor, an independent nursery teacher with six missing years, an adorable royal cub, forbidden secrets, and the first sparks of rediscovered love.

Book 2: The Emperor's Pursuit

A second-chance courtship, an old royal betrothal, romantic kisses, fragile trust, and an Emperor learning that love cannot be commanded.

Book 3: The Final Bond

A heartfelt proposal, a wedding freely chosen, passionate intimacy, a surprise triplet pregnancy, three new shifter cubs, and the complete family happily ever after.

For readers who MM Omegaverse romance, powerful Alpha Emperors, independent Omegas, black-panther shifters, forgotten love, second chances, protective instincts, slow-burn attraction, on-page intimacy, adorable shifter cubs, found family, marriage, Mpreg, and complete HEAs.

ALL THREE BOOKS INCLUDED. ADRIAN AND LUCIAN'S ROMANCE IS COMPLETE.

Follow their entire love story from the first mysterious reunion to marriage, three new cubs, and a lasting happily ever after.

The Imperial Nursery continues in Book 4, The Marshal Who Stayed, featuring a new couple and a standalone romance. Book 4 is not included in this collection.

463 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

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About the author

Rowan Ashford

218 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Sully (sulliedjedi).
998 reviews299 followers
Did Not Finish
May 27, 2026
📣📣📣 This is such a big deal for those of us who want to avoid AI when reading ARCs!!!


As most of you already know, none of the ARC groups have a no-AI policy. That means it's up to you to check the cover, the author's socials, etc.

Yes, there are AI covers on books on NetGalley, although if a reader's review is AI-generated it will be hidden or removed. (Yes, that means readers are held to higher standards than authors and publishers.)

And despite their no-AI claim—
Please be advised that Gay Romance Reviews and our affiliated businesses do not support the use of generative AI.
By submitting your book/audio to GRR, you confirm that generative AI was NOT used to create any part of the text, audio, or book cover.
Should it be discovered later that generative AI was used, service will be terminated without refund.


Gay Romance Reviews absolutely has promoted ARCs with AI covers, and not only that they promote (and PROFIT) off books that are written by authors that use AI, whether that's for narration, translation, or book covers. (They use affiliate links for Amazon and promote books on sale with AI on a daily basis.)

Anyway—I've been burned before reading an ARC, taking notes, making highlights, drafting a review, only to find out the cover is AI and the author is selling GenAI merch (XANTHE WALTER).

It was actually BookSirens that I had issues with two authors and refused to write a proper ARC review last year (Xanthe Walter and Ginn Hale), and I left feedback politely (it was, I can be polite!) explaining that I wouldn't have requested the ARC if I knew either that the cover was GenAI or that the author had a history of using AI.

Today I saw for the first time that AI use is noted on a book on BookSirens. I wasn't going to request it, it's blatantly obvious that the cover is badly done GenAI, but I was shocked to see not only is it marked with AI use, but you can see that clearly tagged without clicking on the book link in the ARC emails they send out.

This trilogy is available on BookSirens, check it out here.

Under Trigger Warnings: Author Used AI, Sex, Death, and Violence

I have no idea if this is mandatory or optional for authors to disclose that. I'm going to contact them to find out and say thanks, because this saves everyone time. And for those that don't care about authors using GenAI, then it being labeled won't affect them at all.


I don't approve or support any authors using GenAI, however, it's a fraction less shitty when the author is honest about it. I'd much prefer an author putting on their copyright page that the image was AI generated, or they use AI to "brainstorm" plots, then the authors that rely on deceiving us.


It's not necessarily about naming and shaming. I think we have the right to know what we are going to spend our money and time on, and who we are promoting and supporting.


A big thank you to:

Rowan Ashford for letting us know you steal other artists work so we can decide whether or not to support you and the 144 things you have published.

BookSirens for making our ARC searches and requests more efficient by being honest about the material you are promoting (and accepting money for).
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,473 reviews64 followers
June 3, 2026
“He simply held structure, because structure was the only thing that worked when the world was rearranging itself too fast for comfort.”

I saw this while doom scrolling Kindle Unlimited 😏 I have been in a bit of a reading slump and looking for something a little different.
I found it!
Right from the opening, I was hooked!
Suspense. Unknown elements. Dark twists. Breadcrumbs.

Not just the typical “OMgoodness what a great read”, more the kind that is so engaging it leaves the family to fend for themselves, while I hold up in a quiet room, calls unanswered, type of engrossed
I am not joking 🤨 I had to know. I could not walk away.
There was a constant tension throughout all three books that kept me tethered.

"Truth isn't always safe." "Safety is irrelevant."
Lucian ruled with an iron fist. There was no compromise.
No softness.
No understanding.
It was his way or no way.
Until Adrian

“I am not letting go. I am still here. I decide to still be here.”
Adrian’s job was to care for the hatchlings, to keep them calm, tethered, and alive.
It was all he had ever known, and he was good at it.
Until a scared hatchling and an overbearing Emporere turned his truths into a jumble of distortions

” Not replacement. Not rival. Mine.”
Dio stole my heart

This is not a romance in the traditional sense.
I do not even know how to explain the overall storyline.
A rebellion with a twist?

There is betrayal
Truths
War
Hope
Determination
Family dynamics
Dark pasts
Secrets
And so much more!

Omegaverse Science Fiction with a romantic undertone?
I'll let you decide
I do recommend this one for those who are up to trying something a little different

I want to mention real quick, this is not a flow type of storyline.
It is more like🤔 think old-time penny movies, the ones where it was multiple still shots, various moments captured, then all played together to form a story.
That is the only way I can describe it.

I do think there was an error, though, when they published the whole trilogy, as events seemed to be missing.
Profile Image for Jeanette Waters.
2,474 reviews8 followers
June 29, 2026
"The Imperial Nursery: The Complete Trilogy: An Emperor × Omega MM Omegaverse Romance Collection" is by a new author to me, Rowan Ashford. The plotline was interesting, nicely wrapped up flying plot arcs. But overall, it wasn't an easy read. Some continuity issues, uneven pacing. And the author must have disagreed because things that I would have liked more dwelling, more context, were quite glossed over. And some that the author concentrated on were not to my taste.

Court politics. Baby dragons. Angsty with some heavy scenery gnawing. I expected a romance, maybe slow burn. This wasn't quite a romance. Two beings butting heads at the beginning are sure to be kissing at the end. But nay. Sort of like expecting rom-com and getting buddy-buddy.

A- or B+. Sometimes it takes a bit to get used to the author's style. I would be willing to give another shot. (And yes, being about dragons makes this reader more inclined to try).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Deb Kel.
3,208 reviews13 followers
June 22, 2026
This was an entertaining read with an original take on omegaverse and plenty of political intrigue to keep the pages turning. I was especially drawn to the mystery surrounding the hatchlings and the growing tension within the Empire, which made me want to keep reading to see how everything unfolded.

I did find the pacing a little uneven, with some sections feeling longer than they needed to be, and I occasionally struggled to keep track of all the politics and world-building. The relationship between Adrian and Lucian was interesting, but the overall focus stayed firmly on the wider plot rather than the romance. Despite that, I enjoyed the story and thought it wrapped up the trilogy well.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Linda.
935 reviews18 followers
June 14, 2026
This was a good story, kept my interest but it was wordy. The concept was interesting, but for me a little confusing on how things were happening. The Empire is ruled by an emperor & a council that doesn't see eye to eye. Adrian is a caregiver at the Nursery & is removed to take care of the Emperors nephew, This causes a rift in the system & all hell breaks loose. Secrets are revealed that were unknown & war is imminent. Medium to high angst, no romance in the tradional sense. We have an Emperor with a cold heart who bonds with Adrian to keep the hatchlings safe & him close. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Barbara Schoonover.
61 reviews3 followers
September 15, 2026
Very interesting concept of Omegaverse, well written and captivating, I enjoyed the book very much.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

(AI use in the cover art, unsure of if it was used anywhere else)
Profile Image for Katsey.
151 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2026
DNF'd

This trilogy wasn't bad and something different from the usual omegaverse stories I read but it wasn't my cup of tea personally. There also wasn't enough romance for me.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews