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Heat of Love #1
Slow Heat
A lustful young alpha meets his match in an older omega with a past.
Professor Vale Aman has crafted a good life for himself. An unbonded omega in his mid-thirties, he's long since given up hope that he'll meet a compatible alpha, let alone his destined mate. He's fulfilled by his career, his poetry, his cat, and his friends.
When Jason Sabel, a much younger alpha, imprints on Vale in a shocking and public way, longings are ignited that can't be ignored. Fighting their strong sexual urges, Jason and Vale must agree to contract with each other before they can consummate their passion.
But for Vale, being with Jason means giving up his independence and placing his future in the hands of an untested alpha--as well as facing the scars of his own tumultuous past. He isn't sure it's worth it. But Jason isn't giving up his destined mate without a fight.
This is a stand alone gay romance novel, 118,000 words, with a strong happy ending, as well as a well-crafted, non-shifter omegaverse, with alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. Content warning for pregnancy loss and aftermath.
Professor Vale Aman has crafted a good life for himself. An unbonded omega in his mid-thirties, he's long since given up hope that he'll meet a compatible alpha, let alone his destined mate. He's fulfilled by his career, his poetry, his cat, and his friends.
When Jason Sabel, a much younger alpha, imprints on Vale in a shocking and public way, longings are ignited that can't be ignored. Fighting their strong sexual urges, Jason and Vale must agree to contract with each other before they can consummate their passion.
But for Vale, being with Jason means giving up his independence and placing his future in the hands of an untested alpha--as well as facing the scars of his own tumultuous past. He isn't sure it's worth it. But Jason isn't giving up his destined mate without a fight.
This is a stand alone gay romance novel, 118,000 words, with a strong happy ending, as well as a well-crafted, non-shifter omegaverse, with alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. Content warning for pregnancy loss and aftermath.
436 pages, ebook
First published May 16, 2017
784 people are currently reading
3475 people want to read
About the author
Leta Blake
65 books1,774 followersAuthor of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and fan favorites Training Season, Will & Patrick Wake Up Married, and Slow Heat, Leta Blake has been captivating M/M Romance readers for over a decade. Whether writing contemporary romance or fantasy, she puts her psychology background to use creating complex characters and love stories that feel real. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her writing and her family life.
If you'd like to be among the first to know about new releases, you can sign up for Leta's newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bdn32H
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 899 reviews
February 12, 2024
May 2019
Still the greatest thing since slice bread 🥰🥰🥰
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
September 2018
You the best!
July 2018
This is my 5th listen in the past couple months. I’m obsessed with it, and fall in love more everytime 😍
My most fave audiobook ever!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SLOW HOT FIRE
Final Rating: 4.5
Squeeeeeeee!! This review will probably just be all gushing cus of reasons. What a surprise to my senses and my feels Slow Heat was. I’ve read a lot of non-shifter omegaverse in fanfic and I don’t see it a lot in published works and when I do they’re not that great. But this book and the narration was a slam dunk.
Micheal Ferraiuolo is the TRUTH!!
The Story: 4.5 Pants Off
Jason Sabel is a young Alpha not yet into maturity. He attends universiy to learn how to finally care for his Omega when they meet. As an Alpha he’s got urges but Omegas are to remain pure until they meet their one true match so he’s getting no love on that part. But that doesn’t stop Jason from getting himself into something warm. So he gets off with his best-friend Xan another Alpha, which is a forbidden complication, but horny growing boys.
When Jason meets his much older omega Vale, a professor at his university it’s quite unexpected and everything is set to work against them but instinct is a hard thing to deny. To the world their union would be a disaster because Jason is a young Alpha, and to everyone else Vale is a used up Omega who has been through many heats but Jason will not be denied his true match and he’s very much willing to risk it all for Vale.
Vale Aman has his hang ups, after going through two very traumatizing heats. An omega is required to bare children and that’s something he can never do. So, he will not let Jason suffer a childless union no matter how much his heart will hurt. For each day he spends getting to know Jason, it’s a little bit of himself that he loses to the young man. Walking away will be hard but it’s for the best even though it will break him.
So like wow, what a rollercoaster this was. I’m all about the older guy poking younger dude, but this one had a case of younger guy poking older dude. Along with heartache and miscarriage, a very bloody sounding miscarriage.
Things I Liked: Pretty much everything. The story is entertaining, while a bit on the very long side it really kept me entertained all through.
I enjoyed Jason and Vale as characters and their slow burn coming together.
The writing is amazing. Leta Blake delivered a complex and very unique novel with so much undertones about serious topics like gender, and society norms. There’s a richer meaning, and it’s so much more than dudes who get pregnant.
I enjoyed all the supporting characters and they added more spice to the story (but sometimes they were there just a little too much).
Things I didn’t Like: Jason’s sexual relationship with his best-friend. Initially I really disliked Xan but there is so much to his character that I’m looking forward to his story. I just find their relationship contradicting, especially after Jason meets Vale. Like the Alpha/Omega bond is this undeniable sacred thing so Jason and Xan together just seemed wrong.
So much story about other people that wasn’t Jason and Vale. The most intense and heartbreaking moments in the book really had nothing to do with the main MCs and that really bothered me. Their entire story could have been wrapped up in 150pgs or less.
It also didn’t need to be so depressing and angst filled through out. For once I needed something to go easily, but every aspect just had to have some obstacle to get over.
Vale! At a certain point his negative thinking and woe is me attitude really started to irk me. He was way too into his feelings and by the end I was over him. I would have been on board if Jason said “adios you whining omega”.
It’s not a perfect 5 ⭐️s because it really did get draggy and Vale got super whiny and I swear he became the one with the lower mental age.
Overall, I really loved the story and there is just so much more to discuss but then this review would be a 10pg review and ain’t nobody got time for that. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
The Narration: 5 Pants Off
Michael Ferraiuolo is my favourite narrator ever!! While I am new to the whole audiobook movement, Mr Michael is the best I’ve ever heard. He made the story so freaking epic and I am convinced I love it for the sole reason of his narration (Maybe).
Each character voice was unique and exciting and there was never a moment where I was confused about who’s who. He really brought his a-game and I want to dive into any audiobook he’s done.
Even if the story wasn’t very good Michael Ferraiuolo would have made it enjoyable regardless, he brought Slow Heat alive. This is one story I will be listening to over and over again and eagerly anticipating the second book in audio form.
May 13, 2017
A for effort. I adore Blake's writing style and story-telling ability. I'd never place Blake's writing in question, so it's the story that fell flat for me here.
This book didn't know what it wanted to be.
1. Dystopian - Sure, technically. It does take place in a future where the world, as we know it today, is over. But it doesn't read that way. There are phones with wires leading into walls - GASP! There are offices with desks, and books, paintings, and it all felt very 90s.
2. ABO universe, but no shifters - Sure, technically. But make no mistake, this read like a shifter book. There're alphas needing to breed. There're omegas in heat, overcome from the pain of excruciating lust. There's knotting. There's back arching and presenting one's ass. There's imprinting. There's a wolf-god. There's a wolf-Bible FFS. So while there may be no fur and claws to be found, I'm still calling BS on that one.
3. A book in the ABO universe dressed up but really about women and non-straight rights - In this respect, it didn't feel like the 90s, it felt like 1800. The alphas are the male gender of current society. The betas are a third gender and pretty altogether forgotten in this culture. The omegas are the female gender of current society. But there are no females in this world. Everyone has boy parts....well externally at least. Omegas have a womb. And they are treated as the weaker and less than gender. Marriages are arranged with contracts in which omegas give everything over to their alpha. And they have no rights, especially with their own body. It's illegal to prevent pregnancy and punishable by death to have an abortion. And an alpha who wants to bottom for another alpha? Unmanned. Abomination. Good times.
4. A romance - This is what I came for. But because of all the other crap (seriously, this book had everything but the kitchen sink), our MCs really didn't get much page time. We didn't even get to the declarations.
5. Sexy - That it was. It was downright filthy. Self-lubing buttholes, growly alphas, pleading omegas who need their holes stuffed. My girl parts were happy. But this wasn't enough to make me enthralled with the story. And there weren't as many scenes as one would think - like I said, not a lot of page time between the MCs.
Let me address an elephant in the room for a lot of readers. While there is mpreg in this story (in a major way), it didn't include either MC. I know that makes a difference for some.
Major niggle: While I was uncomfortable enough with all the oppression stink in the room, our alpha MC has not one, but TWO on page sex scenes with someone who is not his omega in this book. I was downright squirming with discomfort, especially the second time, when he'd already imprinted on his omega. Squick.
So that's where I am. After all that, I have no idea what I think or how to write a more coherent and organic review. So I'll simply leave my word vomit here and let you take from it what you will. A for creativity though.
This book didn't know what it wanted to be.
1. Dystopian - Sure, technically. It does take place in a future where the world, as we know it today, is over. But it doesn't read that way. There are phones with wires leading into walls - GASP! There are offices with desks, and books, paintings, and it all felt very 90s.
2. ABO universe, but no shifters - Sure, technically. But make no mistake, this read like a shifter book. There're alphas needing to breed. There're omegas in heat, overcome from the pain of excruciating lust. There's knotting. There's back arching and presenting one's ass. There's imprinting. There's a wolf-god. There's a wolf-Bible FFS. So while there may be no fur and claws to be found, I'm still calling BS on that one.
3. A book in the ABO universe dressed up but really about women and non-straight rights - In this respect, it didn't feel like the 90s, it felt like 1800. The alphas are the male gender of current society. The betas are a third gender and pretty altogether forgotten in this culture. The omegas are the female gender of current society. But there are no females in this world. Everyone has boy parts....well externally at least. Omegas have a womb. And they are treated as the weaker and less than gender. Marriages are arranged with contracts in which omegas give everything over to their alpha. And they have no rights, especially with their own body. It's illegal to prevent pregnancy and punishable by death to have an abortion. And an alpha who wants to bottom for another alpha? Unmanned. Abomination. Good times.
4. A romance - This is what I came for. But because of all the other crap (seriously, this book had everything but the kitchen sink), our MCs really didn't get much page time. We didn't even get to the declarations.
5. Sexy - That it was. It was downright filthy. Self-lubing buttholes, growly alphas, pleading omegas who need their holes stuffed. My girl parts were happy. But this wasn't enough to make me enthralled with the story. And there weren't as many scenes as one would think - like I said, not a lot of page time between the MCs.
Let me address an elephant in the room for a lot of readers. While there is mpreg in this story (in a major way), it didn't include either MC. I know that makes a difference for some.
Major niggle: While I was uncomfortable enough with all the oppression stink in the room, our alpha MC has not one, but TWO on page sex scenes with someone who is not his omega in this book. I was downright squirming with discomfort, especially the second time, when he'd already imprinted on his omega. Squick.
So that's where I am. After all that, I have no idea what I think or how to write a more coherent and organic review. So I'll simply leave my word vomit here and let you take from it what you will. A for creativity though.
May 6, 2017
Wow-- I loved this! Couldn't put it down.
When I read oddles of fics in fandom, I was always drawn to Omegaverse, but I'd never read it in a professionally published book. I've been meaning to try one since they are popular right now, but I was wary of picking up an author I'd never heard of. Then I saw Leta Blake had an Omegaverse book coming out. Yes, please!
This totally worked for me. There are no shifters involved. Instead, the world appears to be a future version of our own planet in which females no longer exist and instead there are 3 male genders -- betas (who cannot bear or father children), alphas (who are the big tough guys who father children) and omegas (the supposedly submissive sex; men with internal wombs who can bear children, albeit with difficulty). The omegas appear to have been created by scientists, perhaps to carry on the race after the females died out.
There was enough world-building over the course of the book to fill in the basic details of the how and the why. Other than the gender swap, there were some politics and religion sketched out in this brave new world. Otherwise, only minor details were changed from our own time, such as no cell phones. It felt more or less contemporary.
As part of the socio-political culture, there is a very specific set of "protocols" that are to be followed when an alpha and omega who are bond mates (erosgape) meet. Their families have to arrange a "contract" to form the permanent union. In the case of this story, the bond-mated couple are an odd one -- a quite young (19) alpha male student and a 35-year-old professor. Besides concerns about whether the older man is a suitable mate for the younger (and vice versa), there are also critical questions of fertility that appear to be an insurmountable obstacle to the pair.
Jason, the young alpha is always determined to have his mate and acts with integrity and a lot of guts to hang on to him despite the legal and familial obstacles. The older omega, Vale, also wants Jason badly, but he has more internal conflict over not feeling like he's a good enough mate. There's plenty of angst in the story, and a quite tense climax involving danger to a main character and an intense omega heat.
Of course, the entire raison d'etre of Omegaverse is (whispering) for the sex. The idea of "heats" and "knots" and mpreg and unbearable sexual urges that overrun reason is rather appealing to some. I must say, Leta wrung every drop of UST and hot and heavy sex scenes from the concept that one possibly could. Those who like their mm romance on the hot side will looove this one! I sometimes skim or skip sex scenes, but not here! But I also really loved the characters and just the entire story arc was fun and kept me glued wondering how things could possibly work out for Jason and Vale.
Bravo, Leta! Amazing job, as usual. I would totally read more Omegaverse books like this one.
When I read oddles of fics in fandom, I was always drawn to Omegaverse, but I'd never read it in a professionally published book. I've been meaning to try one since they are popular right now, but I was wary of picking up an author I'd never heard of. Then I saw Leta Blake had an Omegaverse book coming out. Yes, please!
This totally worked for me. There are no shifters involved. Instead, the world appears to be a future version of our own planet in which females no longer exist and instead there are 3 male genders -- betas (who cannot bear or father children), alphas (who are the big tough guys who father children) and omegas (the supposedly submissive sex; men with internal wombs who can bear children, albeit with difficulty). The omegas appear to have been created by scientists, perhaps to carry on the race after the females died out.
There was enough world-building over the course of the book to fill in the basic details of the how and the why. Other than the gender swap, there were some politics and religion sketched out in this brave new world. Otherwise, only minor details were changed from our own time, such as no cell phones. It felt more or less contemporary.
As part of the socio-political culture, there is a very specific set of "protocols" that are to be followed when an alpha and omega who are bond mates (erosgape) meet. Their families have to arrange a "contract" to form the permanent union. In the case of this story, the bond-mated couple are an odd one -- a quite young (19) alpha male student and a 35-year-old professor. Besides concerns about whether the older man is a suitable mate for the younger (and vice versa), there are also critical questions of fertility that appear to be an insurmountable obstacle to the pair.
Jason, the young alpha is always determined to have his mate and acts with integrity and a lot of guts to hang on to him despite the legal and familial obstacles. The older omega, Vale, also wants Jason badly, but he has more internal conflict over not feeling like he's a good enough mate. There's plenty of angst in the story, and a quite tense climax involving danger to a main character and an intense omega heat.
Of course, the entire raison d'etre of Omegaverse is (whispering) for the sex. The idea of "heats" and "knots" and mpreg and unbearable sexual urges that overrun reason is rather appealing to some. I must say, Leta wrung every drop of UST and hot and heavy sex scenes from the concept that one possibly could. Those who like their mm romance on the hot side will looove this one! I sometimes skim or skip sex scenes, but not here! But I also really loved the characters and just the entire story arc was fun and kept me glued wondering how things could possibly work out for Jason and Vale.
Bravo, Leta! Amazing job, as usual. I would totally read more Omegaverse books like this one.
January 3, 2020
4.5 Hearts!
It is definitely not a secret that I love me some ABO and this right here? Probably one of the best in depth reflections on this dynamic, delving into its origins and complicated culture, as well as the intricate rules and laws that aid the genetic drive and instinct that fuel the coming together of an alpha and an omega.
Here, in this post apocalyptic society, the human race has survived a long ago referenced “Great Death”. Females are extinct, but through many years of gene manipulation and evolution, the creation of different male subtypes have yielded a situation where only the alpha/omega pairing can reproduce. Thus, any and all social obligations are geared towards that top priority where, unless detrimental to one’s health, inhibiting conception or interfering with pregnancy is illegal. To help along the procreation urge, alphas and omegas look for their one true mate - their “Erosgape” - a primal instinctual imprinting that is the ultimate and most coveted life goal.
Jason is a young alpha who greatly romanticizes his future. He’s only ever thought about finding his “Erosgape”, and Jason cannot wait to meet this man so they can live happily ever after. He just has to be patient in finishing his education so he can attend the social events that facilitate such. However, when Jason suddenly and surprisingly comes across older omega Vale on campus, what Jason thinks is a done deal with his “Erosgape” is anything but. Being 16 years older, Vale long ago gave up his wish of finding his alpha and settling down and having kids. His life has not been easy and past circumstances have basically rendered Vale infertile and thus, the story mainly revolves around whether he and Jason will officially sign a contract to seal their bond.
I readily admit that most of the time I don’t quite mesh with Blake’s stories. What should be slam dunks, often leave me wanting or frustrated. Not this time around. Now, I know I have ABO beer goggles on, but I’ll reiterate again that this is probably one of the best I’ve come across (not counting my love for a particular fanfic pairing) at being thorough in relationship progression and keeping it angstily interesting and fueled by boatloads of UST. I was impressed about the exploration of this AU that highly prizes the relationship between an alpha and his omega and all the nuances that can come into play. Once imprinted, and definitely once consummated, neither will ever find another that can give them what they need. The uncontrollable alpha drive, coupled with the omega desire to be claimed, marked, and protected is what makes this push pull so compelling and fascinating.
Narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo, I’ve definitely found me a new narrator to enjoy. To me, he was a complete win, often reminding me of both Tremblay and Russo all in one. Ferraiuolo perfectly conveyed the longing and desire and painful insecurities of these two men. It simply was just a wonderful listen, and I hardly noticed that this was 14+ hrs long. Almost. Lol.
However, never fear that through all this contemplation and conflict is a really great story about two mismatched individuals who would be very hard pressed to work on paper, let alone real life. Jason and Vale are given the pheromone nudge to find their win with each other, and I enjoyed both MC’s immensely despite some niggles that other reviews have already probably commented on. This satisfied all my ABO buttons, where the good ones always make me squirm but titillate me nonetheless with dominance and submission, heat fueled yumminess, and of course KNOTTING. Luckily, the sequel has just been recently released featuring supporting cast members Xan and Uhruo. I’m torn between diving right in or waiting for hopefully Ferraiuolo’s narration, but for sure, I won’t be saying no to reading more!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
It is definitely not a secret that I love me some ABO and this right here? Probably one of the best in depth reflections on this dynamic, delving into its origins and complicated culture, as well as the intricate rules and laws that aid the genetic drive and instinct that fuel the coming together of an alpha and an omega.
Here, in this post apocalyptic society, the human race has survived a long ago referenced “Great Death”. Females are extinct, but through many years of gene manipulation and evolution, the creation of different male subtypes have yielded a situation where only the alpha/omega pairing can reproduce. Thus, any and all social obligations are geared towards that top priority where, unless detrimental to one’s health, inhibiting conception or interfering with pregnancy is illegal. To help along the procreation urge, alphas and omegas look for their one true mate - their “Erosgape” - a primal instinctual imprinting that is the ultimate and most coveted life goal.
Jason is a young alpha who greatly romanticizes his future. He’s only ever thought about finding his “Erosgape”, and Jason cannot wait to meet this man so they can live happily ever after. He just has to be patient in finishing his education so he can attend the social events that facilitate such. However, when Jason suddenly and surprisingly comes across older omega Vale on campus, what Jason thinks is a done deal with his “Erosgape” is anything but. Being 16 years older, Vale long ago gave up his wish of finding his alpha and settling down and having kids. His life has not been easy and past circumstances have basically rendered Vale infertile and thus, the story mainly revolves around whether he and Jason will officially sign a contract to seal their bond.
I readily admit that most of the time I don’t quite mesh with Blake’s stories. What should be slam dunks, often leave me wanting or frustrated. Not this time around. Now, I know I have ABO beer goggles on, but I’ll reiterate again that this is probably one of the best I’ve come across (not counting my love for a particular fanfic pairing) at being thorough in relationship progression and keeping it angstily interesting and fueled by boatloads of UST. I was impressed about the exploration of this AU that highly prizes the relationship between an alpha and his omega and all the nuances that can come into play. Once imprinted, and definitely once consummated, neither will ever find another that can give them what they need. The uncontrollable alpha drive, coupled with the omega desire to be claimed, marked, and protected is what makes this push pull so compelling and fascinating.
Narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo, I’ve definitely found me a new narrator to enjoy. To me, he was a complete win, often reminding me of both Tremblay and Russo all in one. Ferraiuolo perfectly conveyed the longing and desire and painful insecurities of these two men. It simply was just a wonderful listen, and I hardly noticed that this was 14+ hrs long. Almost. Lol.
However, never fear that through all this contemplation and conflict is a really great story about two mismatched individuals who would be very hard pressed to work on paper, let alone real life. Jason and Vale are given the pheromone nudge to find their win with each other, and I enjoyed both MC’s immensely despite some niggles that other reviews have already probably commented on. This satisfied all my ABO buttons, where the good ones always make me squirm but titillate me nonetheless with dominance and submission, heat fueled yumminess, and of course KNOTTING. Luckily, the sequel has just been recently released featuring supporting cast members Xan and Uhruo. I’m torn between diving right in or waiting for hopefully Ferraiuolo’s narration, but for sure, I won’t be saying no to reading more!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for a honest review
April 29, 2018
Very well written but too long, exhausting, and angst filled for my taste.
July 7, 2021
Reread March 2018
So, so good! I know I will reread this one again. I love how many serious topics the author touches upon whilst developing a beautiful romance. I loved Jason and Vale and the brilliant world building. (I never ever caught on the amazing fashion of the day in my first read! Omg!). I know Xan's story is next. Will it involve Urho??? I can't wait. Please, Miss Blake, don't let me wait too long!
Original review:
I have never read anything about alphas and omegas before. (Wolfsong by TJ KLune is about the ‘wolfiest’ thing I’ve done) so I went in with no preconceived ideas whatsoever.
Male pregnancy was another first. Although intrigued by the idea, I was a bit sceptical how this could work out.
Well, the five stars say it all: I LOVED it. Every little bit.
Leta Blake’s writing is more than convincing, it is downright wonderful in every way:
The world building is incredibly detailed and involved.
We are in a distant future where only men exist. To ensure the survival of the human race after the Great Death wolf genes were used to create alphas, omegas and betas who all have their particular roles to play.
The rules and regulations governing Jason and Vale’s world all have the aim to ensure reproduction is achieved. But they are ruthless and controlling, taking away alpha’s and omega’s personal rights over their own bodies. The consequences are often heart-breaking and inhuman, particularly for omegas. The issue of male pregnancy was dealt with really well!
Jason is an alpha, full of the enthusiasm of youth and ready to take on the world. He is genuine and lovely and has such a good heart, I couldn’t love him more. At only 19 he is brimming with energy and simmering sexual power and can’t wait to find his omega. (No wonder when they keep watching all those ‘educational’ videos at school! *g*)
However, when he ‘imprints’ on Vale it is clear from the beginning that theirs is not the average alpha/omega relationship. Vale is not only 15 years older (yes! age gap!) which is more than frowned upon, he’s also a professor at Jason’s school. And he is more than reluctant to throw the life he has built away for some young “wild kid”.
Leta Blake describes their budding relationship beautifully. While Jason just wants Vale and is driven to do everything to have him (and he is totally endearing in his efforts), Vale is very hesitant and cautious about the whole thing, even if they are “Erosgape” (an alpha or omega’s biologically and spiritually determined mate”) How can he sign a ‘contract’ with Jason, his “baby alpha” (that made me really grin!), when he has dark secrets that impact severely on their joining?
Above all Jason and Vale don’t really know each other. Yes, they seem to be ‘meant’ by fate and genetics, but are they really compatible? Does age not matter? Does life experience? Do interests? I adored the slow burn between them, the gradual development of real attraction and emotions, something that goes way beyond the need and sexual urge pushing them together.
Speaking of which – darn, these guys are ultimately hot. The sexual urgency between them is primal (remember: wolf genes!!!), their need overwhelming, their love making instinctive and intense. Absolutely sizzling and breath taking!
That gets me right to one more issue:
Both men have a sexual partner before they meet. Vale out of necessity and Jason is simply young and horny. The thing is that one of them does have sex with his partner after ‘imprinting’ and there have been discussions whether this was cheating.
Although it isn’t right, I do understand why it happens. Jason and Vale haven’t really met beyond the imprinting incident. They don’t know each other at that point at all and are total strangers. The MC and his partner need closure, need to say good-bye, so they can move on. And that’s exactly how this scene was written – as a very sad and poignant parting. And there is deep remorse afterwards.
But this book is more than just brilliant romance. It is thought provoking in many ways as it explores moral questions like equality of sexes, rights over your own body and whether you want to have children and same sex relationships (meaning two alphas). Please read Katerina’s amazing review Katerina's review for a more in depth discussion.
Leta Blake proves once again that she isn’t only a brilliant writer, but also incredibly versatile. I do hope there will be more books to come dealing with this world!
Highly recommended!
So, so good! I know I will reread this one again. I love how many serious topics the author touches upon whilst developing a beautiful romance. I loved Jason and Vale and the brilliant world building. (I never ever caught on the amazing fashion of the day in my first read! Omg!). I know Xan's story is next. Will it involve Urho??? I can't wait. Please, Miss Blake, don't let me wait too long!
Original review:
I have never read anything about alphas and omegas before. (Wolfsong by TJ KLune is about the ‘wolfiest’ thing I’ve done) so I went in with no preconceived ideas whatsoever.
Male pregnancy was another first. Although intrigued by the idea, I was a bit sceptical how this could work out.
Well, the five stars say it all: I LOVED it. Every little bit.
Leta Blake’s writing is more than convincing, it is downright wonderful in every way:
The world building is incredibly detailed and involved.
We are in a distant future where only men exist. To ensure the survival of the human race after the Great Death wolf genes were used to create alphas, omegas and betas who all have their particular roles to play.
The rules and regulations governing Jason and Vale’s world all have the aim to ensure reproduction is achieved. But they are ruthless and controlling, taking away alpha’s and omega’s personal rights over their own bodies. The consequences are often heart-breaking and inhuman, particularly for omegas. The issue of male pregnancy was dealt with really well!
Jason is an alpha, full of the enthusiasm of youth and ready to take on the world. He is genuine and lovely and has such a good heart, I couldn’t love him more. At only 19 he is brimming with energy and simmering sexual power and can’t wait to find his omega. (No wonder when they keep watching all those ‘educational’ videos at school! *g*)
However, when he ‘imprints’ on Vale it is clear from the beginning that theirs is not the average alpha/omega relationship. Vale is not only 15 years older (yes! age gap!) which is more than frowned upon, he’s also a professor at Jason’s school. And he is more than reluctant to throw the life he has built away for some young “wild kid”.
Leta Blake describes their budding relationship beautifully. While Jason just wants Vale and is driven to do everything to have him (and he is totally endearing in his efforts), Vale is very hesitant and cautious about the whole thing, even if they are “Erosgape” (an alpha or omega’s biologically and spiritually determined mate”) How can he sign a ‘contract’ with Jason, his “baby alpha” (that made me really grin!), when he has dark secrets that impact severely on their joining?
Above all Jason and Vale don’t really know each other. Yes, they seem to be ‘meant’ by fate and genetics, but are they really compatible? Does age not matter? Does life experience? Do interests? I adored the slow burn between them, the gradual development of real attraction and emotions, something that goes way beyond the need and sexual urge pushing them together.
Speaking of which – darn, these guys are ultimately hot. The sexual urgency between them is primal (remember: wolf genes!!!), their need overwhelming, their love making instinctive and intense. Absolutely sizzling and breath taking!
That gets me right to one more issue:
Both men have a sexual partner before they meet. Vale out of necessity and Jason is simply young and horny. The thing is that one of them does have sex with his partner after ‘imprinting’ and there have been discussions whether this was cheating.
Although it isn’t right, I do understand why it happens. Jason and Vale haven’t really met beyond the imprinting incident. They don’t know each other at that point at all and are total strangers. The MC and his partner need closure, need to say good-bye, so they can move on. And that’s exactly how this scene was written – as a very sad and poignant parting. And there is deep remorse afterwards.
But this book is more than just brilliant romance. It is thought provoking in many ways as it explores moral questions like equality of sexes, rights over your own body and whether you want to have children and same sex relationships (meaning two alphas). Please read Katerina’s amazing review Katerina's review for a more in depth discussion.
Leta Blake proves once again that she isn’t only a brilliant writer, but also incredibly versatile. I do hope there will be more books to come dealing with this world!
Highly recommended!
Read
August 3, 2019Slow Heat is now available on Amazon and in KU: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071VMX4QH
Edit: May 11, 2018 - Slow Heat is now available in audiobook narrated by the amazing Michael Ferraiuolo.
Edit: May 11, 2018 - Slow Heat is now available in audiobook narrated by the amazing Michael Ferraiuolo.
October 4, 2020
4.5 stars!
Story:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
MCs: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐
Slow Heat by Leta Blake was a very satisfying surprise. My bookshelf gives it away pretty quickly – with 29 shifter books that I rated with an average of 2 to 3 stars, wolfs are not exactly my cup of tea. When I saw that this book was set in a non-shifter omegaverse, I decided to give it a try. Because don't get me wrong, the whole alpha-omega dynamics, imprinting, heats, knotting and potential male pregnancy are exactly my thing – I just don't like to read about wolfs running through the forest and howling at the moon.
So, let me get into a few more details why this book was such a successful venture.
Jason Sabel is a young alpha attending St. Marjoram's Prep School, where he is learning everything he needs to know about alpha-omega relationships and the way he will be required to behave once he finds his Érosgapé (his true bond-mate) or takes on a contracted omega.
Past the age of hope of finding his alpha, Professor Vale Aman has settled into a good life. Having found an arrangement to overcome the pain of his heats, Vale is focussing on his work, his poetry, his cat and his friends. When suddenly faced with his much younger alpha, Vale isn't sure if he is willing to give up his life for a relationship that is doomed to be difficult.
Or is he risking his happiness out of fear of being hurt?
While fighting their strong sexual urges towards each other, Jason and Vale are forced to follow the protocol of contracting with each other before they can consummate their bond. During the difficult time of negotiations, Jason and Vale are slowly getting to know each other and the attraction between them is growing with every day. Being different in so many ways, Vale discovers that Jason is thirsty for knowledge, curious about the world and especially about science, aware of the burden that omegas have to carry and willing to do all he can in order to make his own omega happy.
But being a fiercely independent man with a tumultuous and painful past, Vale isn't sure if he is willing to give up his freedom for his young and untested alpha.
With his past and one wrong decision casting shadows on his future, Vale isn't sure he is worthy of Jason's love and tries everything to push his young alpha away. But Jason isn't giving up his destined mate without a fight.
The world-building in this book is extraordinary. Leta Blake creates a very interesting dystopian universe set after the so-called Great Death that has extinguished the world as we know it. In a society, where female species no longer exist and in which omegas are an oppressed gender whose sole obligation is bearing children under partially life-threatening conditions, the reader will discover important parallels to our own world (e.g., female and gay rights, arranged marriage, etc.). I really enjoyed the aspect of wolf-politics that played an important role in this story and the author did an amazing job of giving the reader information on the wolf-culture, history and beliefs.
Besides the great world-building, Slow Heat is offering everything one might be looking for in an alpha-omega book when it comes to the sex. Painful heats that are turning the omegas into needy, wanton and greedy creatures, that are begging their alphas to fill them up with their cocks and their seed. If you don't want to read about slick omega holes every few pages, than this book isn't for you.
While some reviewers have been regretting that Vale and Jason don't get that much on-page time for their relationship development, I had the feeling that Leta Blake created very deep and credible characters and in general a very catching storyline involving secondary characters such as the friends of Vale and Jason and Jason's parents. Reading about them and their difficulties did of course take away the focus from the main characters at times, but it has been their stories that gave the world so many interesting facets. I am especially curious about Xan, who doesn't fit into the categories and whose true desire is forbidden by faith and law staging a great premise for the next book in this series. I definitely can't wait to read his story.
Warning: This story entails on-page sex between the main characters and other partners and could be considered as cheating by some readers. Furthermore, the book is labels as mpreg, while it doesn't involve the main characters of the story.
Story:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
MCs: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover: ⭐⭐⭐
Slow Heat by Leta Blake was a very satisfying surprise. My bookshelf gives it away pretty quickly – with 29 shifter books that I rated with an average of 2 to 3 stars, wolfs are not exactly my cup of tea. When I saw that this book was set in a non-shifter omegaverse, I decided to give it a try. Because don't get me wrong, the whole alpha-omega dynamics, imprinting, heats, knotting and potential male pregnancy are exactly my thing – I just don't like to read about wolfs running through the forest and howling at the moon.
So, let me get into a few more details why this book was such a successful venture.
Jason Sabel is a young alpha attending St. Marjoram's Prep School, where he is learning everything he needs to know about alpha-omega relationships and the way he will be required to behave once he finds his Érosgapé (his true bond-mate) or takes on a contracted omega.
Past the age of hope of finding his alpha, Professor Vale Aman has settled into a good life. Having found an arrangement to overcome the pain of his heats, Vale is focussing on his work, his poetry, his cat and his friends. When suddenly faced with his much younger alpha, Vale isn't sure if he is willing to give up his life for a relationship that is doomed to be difficult.
Or is he risking his happiness out of fear of being hurt?
While fighting their strong sexual urges towards each other, Jason and Vale are forced to follow the protocol of contracting with each other before they can consummate their bond. During the difficult time of negotiations, Jason and Vale are slowly getting to know each other and the attraction between them is growing with every day. Being different in so many ways, Vale discovers that Jason is thirsty for knowledge, curious about the world and especially about science, aware of the burden that omegas have to carry and willing to do all he can in order to make his own omega happy.
But being a fiercely independent man with a tumultuous and painful past, Vale isn't sure if he is willing to give up his freedom for his young and untested alpha.
”You have no idea what it's like growing up an omega, spending your whole life knowing that you're going to be claimed by someone, taken over body, soul, and possessions. […] I had a future. Everything that happened until you appeared out of the blue yesterday afternoon was that future. It was my life.”
“I don't know anything about your life. I shouldn't make guesses. My professors are always saying that learning is listening. I'll get better at it. I promise.”
With his past and one wrong decision casting shadows on his future, Vale isn't sure he is worthy of Jason's love and tries everything to push his young alpha away. But Jason isn't giving up his destined mate without a fight.
Vale's heart ached and his throat hurt as he clutched Jason's sleeping body and swallowed back tears. He wanted Jason, wanted to contract with him, but he couldn't fool himself. Once Jason knew the truth, there was no way such a romantic, sweet alpha would stay.
The world-building in this book is extraordinary. Leta Blake creates a very interesting dystopian universe set after the so-called Great Death that has extinguished the world as we know it. In a society, where female species no longer exist and in which omegas are an oppressed gender whose sole obligation is bearing children under partially life-threatening conditions, the reader will discover important parallels to our own world (e.g., female and gay rights, arranged marriage, etc.). I really enjoyed the aspect of wolf-politics that played an important role in this story and the author did an amazing job of giving the reader information on the wolf-culture, history and beliefs.
Besides the great world-building, Slow Heat is offering everything one might be looking for in an alpha-omega book when it comes to the sex. Painful heats that are turning the omegas into needy, wanton and greedy creatures, that are begging their alphas to fill them up with their cocks and their seed. If you don't want to read about slick omega holes every few pages, than this book isn't for you.
While some reviewers have been regretting that Vale and Jason don't get that much on-page time for their relationship development, I had the feeling that Leta Blake created very deep and credible characters and in general a very catching storyline involving secondary characters such as the friends of Vale and Jason and Jason's parents. Reading about them and their difficulties did of course take away the focus from the main characters at times, but it has been their stories that gave the world so many interesting facets. I am especially curious about Xan, who doesn't fit into the categories and whose true desire is forbidden by faith and law staging a great premise for the next book in this series. I definitely can't wait to read his story.
Warning: This story entails on-page sex between the main characters and other partners and could be considered as cheating by some readers. Furthermore, the book is labels as mpreg, while it doesn't involve the main characters of the story.
October 11, 2023
Re-read: 10 Oct 2023
I'M GOING THROUGH A PHASE, OKAY?
First read: June 2018
I came to the MPREG universe like a bristled kitten attempting to get close to some strange creature I’ve never seen before, hissing and spitting, unsure of what I’d find.
Whatever I was expecting, descending upon one of the sweetest love stories in the M/M genre was not on my list.
I’m still in shock of how much I liked this book. Although, I must admit I would have liked it less if there were some on page births going around, so thank the Wolf-god for this small blessing.
There was something very gripping about Jason and Vale's that didn’t allow me to stay away from the book for long periods of time. I’ve read it on my way to work, at work, before meetings, in between meetings, during one very boring meeting, during lunch, during dinner. On the toilet.
A 19 year old alpha with hope and dreams of the future waiting for his destined omega. A 35 year old omega resigned to the idea he will die without ever meeting his mate. Until one day, when baby alpha stops dead in his tracks and his world changes for ever.
Jason’s imprinting was my favorite moment from the entire book.
This book was a smorgasbord of emotions: angst, pain, need, loss, love, loneliness, all nicely blended in a cocktail of pure entertainment. I liked how it was filled with raw allegories of our modern world:
*the celebrated bond in reproduction between the alpha and omega, betas be damned
*the harsh world an alpha desiring another alpha had to live in
*the strong regulations against abortion and birth control
I don’t think I’ll ever become a dedicated MPREG fan, but I’ve totally become Leta Blake’s fan. Now I just need to figure out how much I care about Xan and Urho to decide how fast I should pick up the next book.
This was my first MPREG so I can’t say if this was the best MPREG story ever written, but I enjoyed the bond between Jason and Vale very much.
Now off to tentacle porn to check how I feel about that too. :))
P.S. Jason is blonde so that cover triggers me a little.
I'M GOING THROUGH A PHASE, OKAY?
First read: June 2018
I came to the MPREG universe like a bristled kitten attempting to get close to some strange creature I’ve never seen before, hissing and spitting, unsure of what I’d find.
Whatever I was expecting, descending upon one of the sweetest love stories in the M/M genre was not on my list.
I’m still in shock of how much I liked this book. Although, I must admit I would have liked it less if there were some on page births going around, so thank the Wolf-god for this small blessing.
There was something very gripping about Jason and Vale's that didn’t allow me to stay away from the book for long periods of time. I’ve read it on my way to work, at work, before meetings, in between meetings, during one very boring meeting, during lunch, during dinner. On the toilet.
A 19 year old alpha with hope and dreams of the future waiting for his destined omega. A 35 year old omega resigned to the idea he will die without ever meeting his mate. Until one day, when baby alpha stops dead in his tracks and his world changes for ever.
Jason’s imprinting was my favorite moment from the entire book.
One moment Jason had his arm around Xan, and the next his life as he knew it ended. A raw, musky scent flooded Jason’s nose and throat, coating his mucous membranes. His eyes rolled up in his head as the scent drilled deep into his brain, awakening him with a soul-deep shiver. Pounding, urgent lust peeled his humanity away, leaving only animal instinct.
This book was a smorgasbord of emotions: angst, pain, need, loss, love, loneliness, all nicely blended in a cocktail of pure entertainment. I liked how it was filled with raw allegories of our modern world:
*the celebrated bond in reproduction between the alpha and omega, betas be damned
*the harsh world an alpha desiring another alpha had to live in
*the strong regulations against abortion and birth control
I don’t think I’ll ever become a dedicated MPREG fan, but I’ve totally become Leta Blake’s fan. Now I just need to figure out how much I care about Xan and Urho to decide how fast I should pick up the next book.
This was my first MPREG so I can’t say if this was the best MPREG story ever written, but I enjoyed the bond between Jason and Vale very much.
Now off to tentacle porn to check how I feel about that too. :))
P.S. Jason is blonde so that cover triggers me a little.
May 23, 2017
Many generations ago the "Great Death" wiped out all human women (but not other species' females), leaving the men scrambling to continue the species without them. Someone got the idea of combining wolf and human DNA to create a new species - wolf-human hybrids, all male but some (omegas) born with a fertile womb and ovulation, able to bear children for their sperm-fertile alphas. Many are born betas, not reproducing but contributing to society. None of these men are shifters, but they have wolf-like and exaggerated, wolf-derived traits. The resulting biology is... unlikely but compelling.
Going into this, you have to suspend disbelief. There is no way that this set-up is the one that would occur from scientists scrambling to produce child-bearing male humans, in the face of the death of womankind. But if you posit that the only scientist crazy enough to take on the challenge and succeed was a gay, sex-enthused, werewolf-nut, then maybe. Just maybe... Nah. not even then.
But if you walk past that, it works as fiction, as a social and biological microcosm that is intense, and mirrors in many ways the issues of our own. Both reverence and discrimination against child-bearers, the stratification of labor, the interplay of religion and regulation that can each harm individuals if done with ideology and not outcome in mind.
Jason is a young alpha, in college, waiting too grow up and go questing after his fated-mate omega. Until the moment he's walking across campus and meets Vale, a professor fifteen years his senior who is, against all odds, the omega fate has chosen for him. The pulls of biology are violently strong, so much so he has to be drugged in order to think straight around Vale. And Vale is shocked, having assumed he was past that point in his life, and would be able to have his settled solitude, his teaching and his little house and garden, forever. And yet, he too feels the pull of a mating so imperative he is almost ready to give up who he is to achieve it. Or perhaps even ready to walk away, to avoid saddling his alpha with an old and probably infertile omega.
The story is enriched by Jason's parents, his college friend who has a shameful kink, Vale's older friends who are shocked by this change in his life, and the laws and regulations we see impacting them. Jason is sweet and somehow believable as the well-meaning teen in instalust, who also has enough alpha in him to be strong and commanding when he has to be, and enough immaturity to feel real. Vale's position is hard, and he has cool grace under pressure, and enough vulnerability to sometimes lose it. The society feels cohesive, and plausible, within its history and constraints.
MPreg (male pregnancy) is a weird and unsettling sub-genre of M/M - when I talk to gay men about it, some find it disrespectful, moving gay men into a biology they neither can have nor want. Some see it as fairly harmless women's fantasy - gay sex without giving up female reproduction. Others seem more wistful as it reflects the one thing human gay men (other than a few transmen) cannot do - birth a baby that is genetically theirs and their lover's. (I should say "cannot do yet" - the recent advances in genetics, surrogacy, and artificial womb experiments are fascinating avenues moving forward.)
The author's ability to create appealing characters, and to keep a consistency and logic within the bounds of the world she has created, make this one of the better MPreg stories I have read. It's also clear that Blake can write sex that smokes off the page. I will be interested to read more about these guys, and look forward to seeing what happens to Xan, Jason's roommate. In a society with really rigid gender roles, the guy who doesn't fit them is no doubt in for a rough ride. The analogies to our modern world are obvious, but still interesting to see explored.
Going into this, you have to suspend disbelief. There is no way that this set-up is the one that would occur from scientists scrambling to produce child-bearing male humans, in the face of the death of womankind. But if you posit that the only scientist crazy enough to take on the challenge and succeed was a gay, sex-enthused, werewolf-nut, then maybe. Just maybe... Nah. not even then.
But if you walk past that, it works as fiction, as a social and biological microcosm that is intense, and mirrors in many ways the issues of our own. Both reverence and discrimination against child-bearers, the stratification of labor, the interplay of religion and regulation that can each harm individuals if done with ideology and not outcome in mind.
Jason is a young alpha, in college, waiting too grow up and go questing after his fated-mate omega. Until the moment he's walking across campus and meets Vale, a professor fifteen years his senior who is, against all odds, the omega fate has chosen for him. The pulls of biology are violently strong, so much so he has to be drugged in order to think straight around Vale. And Vale is shocked, having assumed he was past that point in his life, and would be able to have his settled solitude, his teaching and his little house and garden, forever. And yet, he too feels the pull of a mating so imperative he is almost ready to give up who he is to achieve it. Or perhaps even ready to walk away, to avoid saddling his alpha with an old and probably infertile omega.
The story is enriched by Jason's parents, his college friend who has a shameful kink, Vale's older friends who are shocked by this change in his life, and the laws and regulations we see impacting them. Jason is sweet and somehow believable as the well-meaning teen in instalust, who also has enough alpha in him to be strong and commanding when he has to be, and enough immaturity to feel real. Vale's position is hard, and he has cool grace under pressure, and enough vulnerability to sometimes lose it. The society feels cohesive, and plausible, within its history and constraints.
MPreg (male pregnancy) is a weird and unsettling sub-genre of M/M - when I talk to gay men about it, some find it disrespectful, moving gay men into a biology they neither can have nor want. Some see it as fairly harmless women's fantasy - gay sex without giving up female reproduction. Others seem more wistful as it reflects the one thing human gay men (other than a few transmen) cannot do - birth a baby that is genetically theirs and their lover's. (I should say "cannot do yet" - the recent advances in genetics, surrogacy, and artificial womb experiments are fascinating avenues moving forward.)
The author's ability to create appealing characters, and to keep a consistency and logic within the bounds of the world she has created, make this one of the better MPreg stories I have read. It's also clear that Blake can write sex that smokes off the page. I will be interested to read more about these guys, and look forward to seeing what happens to Xan, Jason's roommate. In a society with really rigid gender roles, the guy who doesn't fit them is no doubt in for a rough ride. The analogies to our modern world are obvious, but still interesting to see explored.
February 25, 2023
Okay ... uh ... where to begin?!? 😳 First let me say, this was my initiation into the Omegaverse genre and what a way to lose my virginity!!! That last 20% was pure perfection! 😲💔😭😮❤️🥴🥰💞 Wow ... just ... W🤯W!! I freakin' loved literally everything about it ... from the first page to the last ... and this is now the benchmark by which I will measure all the many future Omegaverse books that I will be reading. Of course, I realize ... as with any genre ... there will be a plethora of variations on the concept. This one stroked me exquisitely and in all the right places. So ... Leta Blake ... yes, Leta Blake! Will be all over Xan and Urho's story in book 2 VERY soon! How does it have a higher rating than this one?!?!? 🤷♂️
May 18, 2017
An alpha-omega romance where imprinting is not about feelings, only pheromones? Sign me up! No instalove here. which was fabulous. I don't like it when people fall madly in love for biological reasons and not personality, etc.
When young alpha Jason and older omega Vale are imprinted, it is NOT love at first sniff. They don't even know each other and have their own lives. Jason has been friends with benefits with his roommate, who doesn't want to break things off. It's all messy and complicated and emotional. Vale is nearly twenty years older than Jason and has a history that will impact them going forward if they choose to embrace the imprint. The built-in conflict there had me desperate to find out how it was going to end, and the romance between Jason and Vale is a reluctant slow burn--my very favourite kind!
When young alpha Jason and older omega Vale are imprinted, it is NOT love at first sniff. They don't even know each other and have their own lives. Jason has been friends with benefits with his roommate, who doesn't want to break things off. It's all messy and complicated and emotional. Vale is nearly twenty years older than Jason and has a history that will impact them going forward if they choose to embrace the imprint. The built-in conflict there had me desperate to find out how it was going to end, and the romance between Jason and Vale is a reluctant slow burn--my very favourite kind!
May 31, 2018
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
4.5 Stars
I’ll admit to not having read the description of this book carefully until I actually started it and thinking I was going into a shifter book. This is not a shifter story, but a story set in the unspecified future after the Great Death of us humans. The world the book is set in consists of only men of three different genders – alpha, beta and omega - whose DNA has been spliced with wolf DNA. They are human, but exhibit some wolf-like behaviors and traits. I’m glad I wasn’t scared off by this as it is not my usual genre and there was so much new to me here, it was my first omegaverse non-shifter mpreg story and I absolutely loved it! Slow Heat is definitely a slow build as 19 year old “baby alpha” Jason does his best to convince Vale, his 35 year old Erosgape – a destined biological and spiritual mate – that despite the age difference and the likelihood of a childless future, they should be together.
Even though meeting his Erosgape omega would be predetermined, Jason is a romantic and he can’t help imagining the day they meet and how wonderful it will be, how he will be devoted, impregnate him and they will live happily ever after. When it happens, Jason’s mind is set the moment he scents his unorthodox mate. The beautiful, perfect omega is going to be his. He may be younger than he expected to be when the moment happens, but he is determined to be the strong alpha his omega needs from the start. On the other hand, if it was as easy as destiny, Vale would likely give in to his biological drive as an omega, but there are negotiations, contracts and strict government regulation of reproduction and sex that stand in the way. He has lived a long time on his own, almost giving up on finding his mate, and is not sure he can give that independence up now, no less saddle this near child with a lifetime of regret. He believes once Jason learns of what he has done in the past and its impact on their future, Jason will opt out of contracting with him and seek a surrogate who will provide him with the children he deserves, regardless of the lifetime of pain it will cause both of them.
You’ll recognize all the issues raised in the socio-political climate as they parallel our own issues with reproductive rights, gender equality and LGBT rights. A history with a sharp decline in birth rates has raised the stakes for conservative religious groups and groups seeking greater rights and independence for omegas, while the government holds childbirth high above all other rights or freedoms. This background is a large part of the story as it colors everything going on with the MCs and the secondary characters.
Jason and Vale’s future is not guaranteed; they need to go through vetting as if it were an arranged marriage. Until the lawyers and families meet, protocol requires there to be nothing but old-fashioned courting. I adored Jason’s wooing of the reluctant Vale. His earnestness, intelligence and vulnerability quickly chip away at Vale’s walls.
While this is a future world, it’s as if the Great Death wiped out not only people, but many records and technological advances. Scientists study what records they have of the old-world female species and the animals that have been lost. There was gene splicing of wolf into human DNA, but there are no cell phones or computers in sight. They use actual landline telephones to communicate. Being a newbie to this sort of genre I don’t have much to compare it to, but I loved the world building and the fact that this future society was still a bit of a throwback to an older time.
Told in alternating points of view, the story really centers on Jason and Vale working out the differences to get to their contracting, committing themselves to a future together. Yes there was the courting I mentioned, but the biological imperative was not denied for long and the sex is filthy hot. Jason and Vale smolder from the moment they lay eyes on each other and that translated into every connection they make, whether it’s phone sex, voyeurism or actual full on mating. I did wish there was more time for Jason and Vale together as a couple since there were plenty of future obstacles referred to, both as a couple and from the outside, and I really wish we would have gotten more than just a glimpse of that.
There were fantastic, complex secondary characters who all had their own issues to work through, from Jason’s fathers and his best friend, to the family of friends Vale created for himself. I adored Jason’s best friend Xan, whose gender identity doesn’t match the one he was born into. I am desperately hoping Leta Blake gives us his story as his predicament in particular was heartbreaking.
My first foray into this genre was definitely a success. If you would like to test out mpreg as I did, I would absolutely recommend this story. Like the other books I’ve read by Leta Blake, I got the complex story and characters I love, with some pretty hot sex and sweet romance; the genre change was just a bonus. I really hope this isn’t going to be the only book we get in this world as there was such a wonderful set up for more, not just where we leave off with Jason and Vale, but with the many secondary characters who deserve to have their story told.
4.5 Stars
I’ll admit to not having read the description of this book carefully until I actually started it and thinking I was going into a shifter book. This is not a shifter story, but a story set in the unspecified future after the Great Death of us humans. The world the book is set in consists of only men of three different genders – alpha, beta and omega - whose DNA has been spliced with wolf DNA. They are human, but exhibit some wolf-like behaviors and traits. I’m glad I wasn’t scared off by this as it is not my usual genre and there was so much new to me here, it was my first omegaverse non-shifter mpreg story and I absolutely loved it! Slow Heat is definitely a slow build as 19 year old “baby alpha” Jason does his best to convince Vale, his 35 year old Erosgape – a destined biological and spiritual mate – that despite the age difference and the likelihood of a childless future, they should be together.
Even though meeting his Erosgape omega would be predetermined, Jason is a romantic and he can’t help imagining the day they meet and how wonderful it will be, how he will be devoted, impregnate him and they will live happily ever after. When it happens, Jason’s mind is set the moment he scents his unorthodox mate. The beautiful, perfect omega is going to be his. He may be younger than he expected to be when the moment happens, but he is determined to be the strong alpha his omega needs from the start. On the other hand, if it was as easy as destiny, Vale would likely give in to his biological drive as an omega, but there are negotiations, contracts and strict government regulation of reproduction and sex that stand in the way. He has lived a long time on his own, almost giving up on finding his mate, and is not sure he can give that independence up now, no less saddle this near child with a lifetime of regret. He believes once Jason learns of what he has done in the past and its impact on their future, Jason will opt out of contracting with him and seek a surrogate who will provide him with the children he deserves, regardless of the lifetime of pain it will cause both of them.
You’ll recognize all the issues raised in the socio-political climate as they parallel our own issues with reproductive rights, gender equality and LGBT rights. A history with a sharp decline in birth rates has raised the stakes for conservative religious groups and groups seeking greater rights and independence for omegas, while the government holds childbirth high above all other rights or freedoms. This background is a large part of the story as it colors everything going on with the MCs and the secondary characters.
Jason and Vale’s future is not guaranteed; they need to go through vetting as if it were an arranged marriage. Until the lawyers and families meet, protocol requires there to be nothing but old-fashioned courting. I adored Jason’s wooing of the reluctant Vale. His earnestness, intelligence and vulnerability quickly chip away at Vale’s walls.
While this is a future world, it’s as if the Great Death wiped out not only people, but many records and technological advances. Scientists study what records they have of the old-world female species and the animals that have been lost. There was gene splicing of wolf into human DNA, but there are no cell phones or computers in sight. They use actual landline telephones to communicate. Being a newbie to this sort of genre I don’t have much to compare it to, but I loved the world building and the fact that this future society was still a bit of a throwback to an older time.
Told in alternating points of view, the story really centers on Jason and Vale working out the differences to get to their contracting, committing themselves to a future together. Yes there was the courting I mentioned, but the biological imperative was not denied for long and the sex is filthy hot. Jason and Vale smolder from the moment they lay eyes on each other and that translated into every connection they make, whether it’s phone sex, voyeurism or actual full on mating. I did wish there was more time for Jason and Vale together as a couple since there were plenty of future obstacles referred to, both as a couple and from the outside, and I really wish we would have gotten more than just a glimpse of that.
There were fantastic, complex secondary characters who all had their own issues to work through, from Jason’s fathers and his best friend, to the family of friends Vale created for himself. I adored Jason’s best friend Xan, whose gender identity doesn’t match the one he was born into. I am desperately hoping Leta Blake gives us his story as his predicament in particular was heartbreaking.
My first foray into this genre was definitely a success. If you would like to test out mpreg as I did, I would absolutely recommend this story. Like the other books I’ve read by Leta Blake, I got the complex story and characters I love, with some pretty hot sex and sweet romance; the genre change was just a bonus. I really hope this isn’t going to be the only book we get in this world as there was such a wonderful set up for more, not just where we leave off with Jason and Vale, but with the many secondary characters who deserve to have their story told.
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April 29, 2021
This book surprised the hell out of me. Mostly because it was first and foremost a romance with some smut and not just some fuckfest. Emphasis was on the characters getting to know each other while resisting the imprinting. I will admit, though, it took some time getting used to the mpreg situation but I’m really glad I did because this turned out to be a well-written love story with round characters in an intricately set-up Omegaverse.
Without going into too much detail, essentially we are introduced into a patriarchal society, but since no females exist in that world, women’s biological/societal role (and expectations of reproduction) are now filled by omega males.
Basically, once there is a bond between an alpha and omega, the latter has only few rights. Omegas are supposed to submit to their alpha’s will and were purely created (genetically engineered) for breeding which is the prime directive. Thus, relationships between two alphas are deemed unnatural (much like MM relationships sadly have been viewed by some; in that regard this book manages to address current issues wrapped in a different package.)
I especially loved the characters who didn’t conform to society’s expectations/laws and how that impacted their lives: an alpha in love with another alpha; an omega who doesn’t want to be bonded to bear children but sees his life’s fulfillment in academia and writing poetry.
I also found the dichotomy of animalistic urges vs. intellect was nicely emphasized – characters were actually able to choose brains over instinct.
Definitely going to check out book 2! Thank you, Elisa, for recommending this to me!
What you get in this book:
➡️ MM/mpreg
➡️ slow-burn romance
➡️ age gap (Jason is 19, Vale 35 years old)
➡️ complex characters
➡️ no rape
➡️ some hot smut
➡️ convincing, in-depth world-building
➡️ good writing
➡️ some lengths (when will Vale come clean about his past?)
Without going into too much detail, essentially we are introduced into a patriarchal society, but since no females exist in that world, women’s biological/societal role (and expectations of reproduction) are now filled by omega males.
Basically, once there is a bond between an alpha and omega, the latter has only few rights. Omegas are supposed to submit to their alpha’s will and were purely created (genetically engineered) for breeding which is the prime directive. Thus, relationships between two alphas are deemed unnatural (much like MM relationships sadly have been viewed by some; in that regard this book manages to address current issues wrapped in a different package.)
I especially loved the characters who didn’t conform to society’s expectations/laws and how that impacted their lives: an alpha in love with another alpha; an omega who doesn’t want to be bonded to bear children but sees his life’s fulfillment in academia and writing poetry.
I also found the dichotomy of animalistic urges vs. intellect was nicely emphasized – characters were actually able to choose brains over instinct.
Definitely going to check out book 2! Thank you, Elisa, for recommending this to me!
What you get in this book:
➡️ MM/mpreg
➡️ slow-burn romance
➡️ age gap (Jason is 19, Vale 35 years old)
➡️ complex characters
➡️ no rape
➡️ some hot smut
➡️ convincing, in-depth world-building
➡️ good writing
➡️ some lengths (when will Vale come clean about his past?)
May 22, 2017
I thought this one was pretty good. I'm a BIG Leta Blake fan so I couldn't not read it. But paranormal type reads are not my go-to genre. And I've certainly never read one with this type of "universe".
I will say the universe created had some pretty cringe worthy aspects. Especially with regards to the omegas and betas.
But overall the theme was interesting.....and different.
Scorching hot....despite the fact that there weren't that many scenes between the MCs. But I liked both MCs...and the secondary characters as well.
So while this wasn't my favorite Leta Blake read I still liked it.
I will say the universe created had some pretty cringe worthy aspects. Especially with regards to the omegas and betas.
But overall the theme was interesting.....and different.
Scorching hot....despite the fact that there weren't that many scenes between the MCs. But I liked both MCs...and the secondary characters as well.
So while this wasn't my favorite Leta Blake read I still liked it.
November 3, 2021
2.75 stars ⭐️ I was hesitant to read this book because there were mixed reviews of this book. Of course, this was an enjoyable read with the word building. But I wanted to say I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end. Turned out I was utterly exhausted with its length.
This is my least favorite book by Leta Blake.
Nonetheless, the story-building and character development could be appreciated.
I liked Vale and Jason enough to finish the book. But I didn't feel them to my heart. I didn't feel their romance and longing. It felt forced.
I'm not ashamed to admit I was more than invested in Yule and Miner aka Jason’s parent's relationship. 🤩
This is my least favorite book by Leta Blake.
Nonetheless, the story-building and character development could be appreciated.
I liked Vale and Jason enough to finish the book. But I didn't feel them to my heart. I didn't feel their romance and longing. It felt forced.
I'm not ashamed to admit I was more than invested in Yule and Miner aka Jason’s parent's relationship. 🤩
July 4, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
In a time where Roe vs Wade was just overturned, the political undertones as they concern Omega’s rights and welfare hit incredibly hard. It certainly mirrors the hell the US is about to endure thanks to stuffy old white men.
In the story alone you’re hit with it left and right how unfair the world is for omegas, whether they’re bonded to an alpha or not. You’re shown both sides through Vale and Jason’s pater’s experiences. Experience with both heat and pregnancy. It’s an ugly truth in a world they’d want you to believe is a fairy tale.
God, Vale breaks my fucking heart. His resentment at having his choices taken away, his guilt over a past he honestly had little fault in. But mostly his jaded resolution for a future he thinks he shouldn’t have or doesn’t deserve.
Omfg! How could his father demand a child after everything his mate endured?! It’s inconceivably cruel!
Yule’s a blithering idiot without a single ounce of tact. Ugh between him and Urho who’s a plain jealous ass, I’m at my wit’s end. If anyone else hurts my alpha’s feelings I’m gonna kick them in the balls.
It’s funny how many times Urho calls Jason a puppy but Jason is the one to show any kind of restraint and maturity.
And then the cat sat on Jason’s lap and I giggled like a school girl. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Urho!
God bless Miner standing up to his husband, for standing with his fellow omega.
I didn’t mind the slow burn whatsoever but I still felt this lacked a variety of steam. Then fisting was brought up but we don’t get to stick around for the party?! (Anyone who’s read my book Step Right Up, knows I love fisting!)
Otherwise this was a perfectly all consuming read. That I read in one sitting, I haven’t done that in a hot minute.
In a time where Roe vs Wade was just overturned, the political undertones as they concern Omega’s rights and welfare hit incredibly hard. It certainly mirrors the hell the US is about to endure thanks to stuffy old white men.
In the story alone you’re hit with it left and right how unfair the world is for omegas, whether they’re bonded to an alpha or not. You’re shown both sides through Vale and Jason’s pater’s experiences. Experience with both heat and pregnancy. It’s an ugly truth in a world they’d want you to believe is a fairy tale.
God, Vale breaks my fucking heart. His resentment at having his choices taken away, his guilt over a past he honestly had little fault in. But mostly his jaded resolution for a future he thinks he shouldn’t have or doesn’t deserve.
Omfg! How could his father demand a child after everything his mate endured?! It’s inconceivably cruel!
Yule’s a blithering idiot without a single ounce of tact. Ugh between him and Urho who’s a plain jealous ass, I’m at my wit’s end. If anyone else hurts my alpha’s feelings I’m gonna kick them in the balls.
It’s funny how many times Urho calls Jason a puppy but Jason is the one to show any kind of restraint and maturity.
And then the cat sat on Jason’s lap and I giggled like a school girl. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Urho!
God bless Miner standing up to his husband, for standing with his fellow omega.
I didn’t mind the slow burn whatsoever but I still felt this lacked a variety of steam. Then fisting was brought up but we don’t get to stick around for the party?! (Anyone who’s read my book Step Right Up, knows I love fisting!)
Otherwise this was a perfectly all consuming read. That I read in one sitting, I haven’t done that in a hot minute.
July 18, 2018
I only have random thoughts about this one. I kind of liked it, but it was definitely a strange story. Minor spoilers ahead:
1. It is Dystopian about a place (earth?) where there are no women left (why?) and now you can only find only men: Alphas who can impregnate Omegas and Betas who I am not what is their purpose (are they neutral somehow?). Not very good world building. A bit unclear. Lots of questions. And the future reminds a lot of the past. It could have taken place in Victorian times with the arranged marriages and the behaviours of high moral standards.
2. There is not love at first sight, but there is lust at first sight. When Alpha meets his fated Omega, he imprints himself to him. Now, this surely reminds animal instincts and shifters' books, but it has no shifters. Only humans (?) that behave like animals and they need to take alpha quell pills to control their hormones. They also believe in Wolf-god. Who is this guy?
3. I am not sure I liked the chemistry between the two main characters. The Alpha was young (19), while Omega was 15 years older than him. Normally I am ecstatic with this difference, especially when the aggressor is younger (but too mature for his age) and he tries to tame the older wiser hesitant mate. This time, I thought the Alpha was totally immature -especially because he actually cheated after he met his Omega. This is a big NO for me. I hated when it happens in my romance books.
4. I think if you love Mpreg romance books, you may probably love this story. Too much talking about babies. None is actually born in the book, but there is a lot of painful talking about lost babies and difficult pregnancies. To be honest, I haven't read much Mpreg and I was not feeling comfortable with this book after a while. So far the similar books that I have read in the past had happy pregnancies.
5. Overall I the book is highly focused in the erotica scenes and the animal chemistry. Although it tries to go deeper and to explain behaviours and ethics. But I think the end result was very confusing -at least for me...
And I don't think that I will continue with this series.
1. It is Dystopian about a place (earth?) where there are no women left (why?) and now you can only find only men: Alphas who can impregnate Omegas and Betas who I am not what is their purpose (are they neutral somehow?). Not very good world building. A bit unclear. Lots of questions. And the future reminds a lot of the past. It could have taken place in Victorian times with the arranged marriages and the behaviours of high moral standards.
2. There is not love at first sight, but there is lust at first sight. When Alpha meets his fated Omega, he imprints himself to him. Now, this surely reminds animal instincts and shifters' books, but it has no shifters. Only humans (?) that behave like animals and they need to take alpha quell pills to control their hormones. They also believe in Wolf-god. Who is this guy?
3. I am not sure I liked the chemistry between the two main characters. The Alpha was young (19), while Omega was 15 years older than him. Normally I am ecstatic with this difference, especially when the aggressor is younger (but too mature for his age) and he tries to tame the older wiser hesitant mate. This time, I thought the Alpha was totally immature -especially because he actually cheated after he met his Omega. This is a big NO for me. I hated when it happens in my romance books.
4. I think if you love Mpreg romance books, you may probably love this story. Too much talking about babies. None is actually born in the book, but there is a lot of painful talking about lost babies and difficult pregnancies. To be honest, I haven't read much Mpreg and I was not feeling comfortable with this book after a while. So far the similar books that I have read in the past had happy pregnancies.
5. Overall I the book is highly focused in the erotica scenes and the animal chemistry. Although it tries to go deeper and to explain behaviours and ethics. But I think the end result was very confusing -at least for me...
And I don't think that I will continue with this series.
May 13, 2019
Leta Blake is my queen, so this was an unusual miss for me.
We've got a non-shifter group of characters, instalove/MINE mentality (I actually LOVE this in shifter stories and loved it in this one too.) Both MCs have a "friend with benefits" friend, both of whom are in love with the two MCs. There was on-page sex with these friends and my inner wolf was not having it. To add insult to injury Also, this is a long one, clocking in at 408 pages.
The romance felt forced (Alphas and Omegas have heightened awareness when their mate is near) and I fully believed that if it wasn't for the pull of the sex drive in the species, there would not have been a relationship. The men were too different and I doubt either man would have hit it off enough to start a relationship. Or even wanted one.
I didn't like this world, but the world building was awe-inspiring. I didn't enjoy the harrowing and horrifying way omega's bare and raise their children. And the kicker for me: little/no romance. Romance is as necessary as breathing for me right now.
We've got a non-shifter group of characters, instalove/MINE mentality (I actually LOVE this in shifter stories and loved it in this one too.) Both MCs have a "friend with benefits" friend, both of whom are in love with the two MCs. There was on-page sex with these friends and my inner wolf was not having it. To add insult to injury Also, this is a long one, clocking in at 408 pages.
The romance felt forced (Alphas and Omegas have heightened awareness when their mate is near) and I fully believed that if it wasn't for the pull of the sex drive in the species, there would not have been a relationship. The men were too different and I doubt either man would have hit it off enough to start a relationship. Or even wanted one.
I didn't like this world, but the world building was awe-inspiring. I didn't enjoy the harrowing and horrifying way omega's bare and raise their children. And the kicker for me: little/no romance. Romance is as necessary as breathing for me right now.
October 21, 2018
So incredibly good...
Michael Ferraiuolo brings it all to life, it's amazing!
Michael Ferraiuolo brings it all to life, it's amazing!
May 21, 2017
Comencé esta lectura con el máximo escepticismo, eso del omegaverse con alfas, omegas, betas, hombres que se quedan embarazados, personas destinadas a estar juntas, días de celo, el knotting, etc... En principio no parecía mi tipo de lectura. Pero, le di una oportunidad y cómo me alegro porque en terminos generales me ha gustado mucho.
Jason es un alfa que inesperadamente encuentra a su omega, 15 años mayor que él. A partir de ahí ocurren una serie de acontecimientos en los que no quiero ahondar. Tan solo comentar algo, el concepto de persona vinculada biológica y espirtualmente, alma gemela destinada, como queramos llamarlo, es un concepto que nunca me ha terminado de convencer, no lo encuentro romántico, creo que es mucho más romántico cuando alguien te elige y tú a él/ella, ¿dónde está la gracia si todo está predeterminado o llevado por el instinto? Lo que más me ha gustado del libro es que existe el concepto de alma gemela vinculado al instinto, pero siempre hay opciones, la posibilidad de elegir y es un vínculo que aumenta a medida que la pareja se va conociendo. A partir de aquí la escritora va tejiendo una relación al mismo tiempo que nos muestra un mundo distópico que se ve en la lectura que es complejo y ella tiene muy bien atado en su mente. Me han gustado los personajes, muy buenos secundarios, es sexy y no me he aburrido nada, creo que Leta ha conseguido crear un libro bastante completo.
En los contras del libro, creo que le sobran páginas, hay algunas escenas que se alargan demasiado con detalles que no parecen necesarios y que ralentizan el ritmo de la novela, me encantan los libros largos, pero creo que en este caso le habría beneficiado cortar en determinados puntos. Aunque tal como conté el mundo en el que se desarrolla la historia está muy bien construido, en mi caso me habría gustado tener alguna pincelada de por qué o cómo desapareció la humanidad, no entiendo bien cómo desaparece y nos encontramos un mundo posterior tan parecido, con ordenadores, pero no existen los móviles y en la casa de Jason tienen que ir corriendo constantemente al despacho para contestar al teléfono con toma de tierra o.O. Por último, en algún momento las escenas de sexo se me hicieron un poco eternas.
Recomendable, estoy deseando que escriba, eso espero, el libro de Xan.
Jason es un alfa que inesperadamente encuentra a su omega, 15 años mayor que él. A partir de ahí ocurren una serie de acontecimientos en los que no quiero ahondar. Tan solo comentar algo, el concepto de persona vinculada biológica y espirtualmente, alma gemela destinada, como queramos llamarlo, es un concepto que nunca me ha terminado de convencer, no lo encuentro romántico, creo que es mucho más romántico cuando alguien te elige y tú a él/ella, ¿dónde está la gracia si todo está predeterminado o llevado por el instinto? Lo que más me ha gustado del libro es que existe el concepto de alma gemela vinculado al instinto, pero siempre hay opciones, la posibilidad de elegir y es un vínculo que aumenta a medida que la pareja se va conociendo. A partir de aquí la escritora va tejiendo una relación al mismo tiempo que nos muestra un mundo distópico que se ve en la lectura que es complejo y ella tiene muy bien atado en su mente. Me han gustado los personajes, muy buenos secundarios, es sexy y no me he aburrido nada, creo que Leta ha conseguido crear un libro bastante completo.
En los contras del libro, creo que le sobran páginas, hay algunas escenas que se alargan demasiado con detalles que no parecen necesarios y que ralentizan el ritmo de la novela, me encantan los libros largos, pero creo que en este caso le habría beneficiado cortar en determinados puntos. Aunque tal como conté el mundo en el que se desarrolla la historia está muy bien construido, en mi caso me habría gustado tener alguna pincelada de por qué o cómo desapareció la humanidad, no entiendo bien cómo desaparece y nos encontramos un mundo posterior tan parecido, con ordenadores, pero no existen los móviles y en la casa de Jason tienen que ir corriendo constantemente al despacho para contestar al teléfono con toma de tierra o.O. Por último, en algún momento las escenas de sexo se me hicieron un poco eternas.
Recomendable, estoy deseando que escriba, eso espero, el libro de Xan.
July 17, 2018
*note to self: read the blurb before the book*
Did I ever intend to read an MPreg book? That would be a "hell to the no!"
Did I read the blurb before I jumped into a LETA BLAKE book? That would be a "hell to the no!"
I saw the author name, picked it up as a freebie and added it to one of my challenge shelves. *It got picked*
I didn't even realize what I was reading until I was several pages in. My first instinct was to put it aside, asap. But...LETA BLAKE.
Her writing just pulls you in. She has that super secret author power that grabs a reader's attention and won't let go until the last page.
So...if you've ever wanted to read an MPreg book, read this one. If, like me, you've never wanted to read an MPreg book, read this one anyways.
The feelz. Oh, the feelz!
5 stars! A few typos couldn't make a dent in the incredible characters in this fantasy romance novel.
Did I ever intend to read an MPreg book? That would be a "hell to the no!"
Did I read the blurb before I jumped into a LETA BLAKE book? That would be a "hell to the no!"
I saw the author name, picked it up as a freebie and added it to one of my challenge shelves. *It got picked*
I didn't even realize what I was reading until I was several pages in. My first instinct was to put it aside, asap. But...LETA BLAKE.
Her writing just pulls you in. She has that super secret author power that grabs a reader's attention and won't let go until the last page.
So...if you've ever wanted to read an MPreg book, read this one. If, like me, you've never wanted to read an MPreg book, read this one anyways.
The feelz. Oh, the feelz!
5 stars! A few typos couldn't make a dent in the incredible characters in this fantasy romance novel.
May 20, 2017
Simply brilliant world building
This book is so far beyond hot it goes off the supernova scale. The opening paragraph alone is enough to set off a hot flush.
But, it's also so much more than just the sex, there is world building of such a clever degree that it's easy to believe this could be a reality some time in our future.
In this Alpha/beta/omega world there are no more females of the Human species and an event horizon level disaster fused man's genetics with those of the wolf. There are mPREGnancies, usually something which isn't a favourite of mine as it normally gets fade to black-ed or happens off page without any "biological" explanation of just HOW!
Not in this book, Leta gives a rational explanation which isn't just random theory, I could see humankind developing to make it possible.
Lots of elements of this book reminded me of Margaret Atwood's dystopian classic The Handmaid's Tale although - unlike that book which I absolutely hated (sorry feminists and fellow women) - I absolutely loved this one.
Jason and Vale were fully realised characters, totally believable within this world of alphas, betas and omegas and they were surrounded by a cast of absolutely compelling secondary characters, religion and history.
This book made me think as much as it gave me a hot flush. This isn't our world but it mirrors elements of it. There are moments of intense passion, intense pain, emotional connections and true friendships.
I understand some readers have been concerned about something which happens with Jason and his friend Xan but I have to say it didn't bother me. It fit into the context of what was happening once Jason met Vale and their Erosgape (basically a biological desire to imprint which develops into a soul mate bond over time) kicked in.
This is a fascinating world with its omegaverse but non-shifters and I hope it's the start of a new series because i want to know that Xan is safe and gets his HEA. Oh and the cover - smoking!
This book is so far beyond hot it goes off the supernova scale. The opening paragraph alone is enough to set off a hot flush.
But, it's also so much more than just the sex, there is world building of such a clever degree that it's easy to believe this could be a reality some time in our future.
In this Alpha/beta/omega world there are no more females of the Human species and an event horizon level disaster fused man's genetics with those of the wolf. There are mPREGnancies, usually something which isn't a favourite of mine as it normally gets fade to black-ed or happens off page without any "biological" explanation of just HOW!
Not in this book, Leta gives a rational explanation which isn't just random theory, I could see humankind developing to make it possible.
Lots of elements of this book reminded me of Margaret Atwood's dystopian classic The Handmaid's Tale although - unlike that book which I absolutely hated (sorry feminists and fellow women) - I absolutely loved this one.
Jason and Vale were fully realised characters, totally believable within this world of alphas, betas and omegas and they were surrounded by a cast of absolutely compelling secondary characters, religion and history.
This book made me think as much as it gave me a hot flush. This isn't our world but it mirrors elements of it. There are moments of intense passion, intense pain, emotional connections and true friendships.
I understand some readers have been concerned about something which happens with Jason and his friend Xan but I have to say it didn't bother me. It fit into the context of what was happening once Jason met Vale and their Erosgape (basically a biological desire to imprint which develops into a soul mate bond over time) kicked in.
This is a fascinating world with its omegaverse but non-shifters and I hope it's the start of a new series because i want to know that Xan is safe and gets his HEA. Oh and the cover - smoking!
March 17, 2025
me reading a book called slow heat: 🧍🏽♀️🤔
me when i find out it’s a slow burn romance (as if it’s not insinuated in the title): 😧😩
i’m honestly surprised that this went way past my expectations. this was my first omegaverse book, a slow burn at that, and i absolutely loved it. i enjoyed the push and pull between vale and jason, and it really paid off when they finally bonded. i typically try to avoid slow burn romances, but this one was done really well. 4.5 stars!
me when i find out it’s a slow burn romance (as if it’s not insinuated in the title): 😧😩
i’m honestly surprised that this went way past my expectations. this was my first omegaverse book, a slow burn at that, and i absolutely loved it. i enjoyed the push and pull between vale and jason, and it really paid off when they finally bonded. i typically try to avoid slow burn romances, but this one was done really well. 4.5 stars!
November 7, 2018
Well all I can say is never say never...
Before I get into my actual review for this book I really need to explain a thing or three...I am so not a fan of MPREG ore even knotting for that matter...it's just a no thanks, never going there for me and yet somehow here we are. I'm also not a fan of fisting and thankfully while that's mentioned in this book it's not an on page thing...thank the wolf gods.
For as much as these things are on my 'no thank you' list when it comes to a good story my resistance has it's limits and when the opportunity to review the audio book for 'Alpha Heat' crossed my path I read the blurb and then I looked at the blurb for 'Slow Heat' and then I went and dug out my big girl panties, my grabby hands and said 'bring it on' and that's how I came to be here. Listening to a story on audio that I've repeatedly said 'No thanks' to and to be honest I don't regret it in the slightest because in spite of all the things I don't like about this there was so much more that I ultimately made me want to give this a chance.
First of all is the fact that this is one hella', hella' good story. I was gobsmacked by how much I enjoyed this one. Seriously folks I did not see this one coming. I figured it'd be different and at the very least I'd enjoy it and I definitely did.
I'm not sure I can really explain this story without turning this into a very, very long review. So I'm just going to try and touch on what really stood out for me and first off it was the world that Leta Blake has created with this first story in her 'Heat of Love' series.
Let's start with the fact that this is not a shifter story...oh, there are alphas, betas and omegas but what there isn't are shifters. But in their place we're given a society that reflects the hierarchy of the social order of wolves as well as being reflective of gender to a degree.
Leta Blake has managed to create a very different world than what I've come to expect when the words 'Alpha, Beta and Omega' are involved and really to go into the details of some of the things that I really liked about this story would require some pretty wordy explanations to allow me to make some kind of sense so I'm going to try and talk more n generalities of the story rather than specifics.
At not even 20 years old Jason Sabel is just coming into his own and learning what it means to be an alpha. So finding his erosagape (destined mates) may be what he thinks he's ready for on a physical level but when his mate turns out to be Vale Aman, someone whose approximately 15 years his senior and seems t have a past the real question becomes 'is he mentally and emotionally ready?'
Jason and Vale have a lot of strikes against them and in spite of the fact that they're 'destined mates' it really doesn't mean love at first sight. There's definitely a slow burn going on here as well as that unwilling attraction that comes with being 'destined mates' you know that purely biological attraction that happens when genetics are involved.
Jason may be young but he's determined to be the alpha that Vale needs and to make Vale see that they belong together, while Vale wants to do what's best for Jason...his Alpha and Vale's sure that he's not what's best for his alpha.
I loved the interaction between Jason and Vale as they got to truly know each other and developed a relationship that was based on more than biological attraction.
'Slow Heat' is on the surface a simply romance set in an alternate reality but when you look beyond that what becomes clear is that there is nothing simple about this story...sure there's romance, there's also a complex society with it's own rules but it's society that like the one we live in is slowly changing. .It's judgments and values are being questioned by the people they seem to be restricting and even by some of the people who seem to benefit the most from them. It's also as about family the ones we're given and the ones we make. Jason has is father and his patter (equivalent to a mother). While Vale's family is gone and he's been left to cobble together a family of a different kind but no less of a family. Both of these men have lives that will be drastically affected by their union.
While I only gave 'Slow Heat' 4 stars, for someone who had 'MPREG' firmly planted in the 'no go' zone this one was a total success for me. Am I off to search out more MPREG stories...no, they're still not something that interest me...in fact I'm actually off to finish listening to 'Alpha Heat'. So probably not more MPREG but always more really awesome stories and speaking of really awesome have I mentioned that Michael Ferraiuolo is the narrator for this book and as narrators go I'm not really sure they get any better. Without a doubt he knocked it out of the ballpark on this one. His voices were unique, superb, consistent and gave the story the depth and emotion it so richly deserved. There are more than a few awesome narrators out there and for me Michael Ferraiuolo is absolutely one of my top 5 and nope I'm not even trying to rank them anymore because there are five of them and they're all #1 to my ears.
Before I get into my actual review for this book I really need to explain a thing or three...I am so not a fan of MPREG ore even knotting for that matter...it's just a no thanks, never going there for me and yet somehow here we are. I'm also not a fan of fisting and thankfully while that's mentioned in this book it's not an on page thing...thank the wolf gods.
For as much as these things are on my 'no thank you' list when it comes to a good story my resistance has it's limits and when the opportunity to review the audio book for 'Alpha Heat' crossed my path I read the blurb and then I looked at the blurb for 'Slow Heat' and then I went and dug out my big girl panties, my grabby hands and said 'bring it on' and that's how I came to be here. Listening to a story on audio that I've repeatedly said 'No thanks' to and to be honest I don't regret it in the slightest because in spite of all the things I don't like about this there was so much more that I ultimately made me want to give this a chance.
First of all is the fact that this is one hella', hella' good story. I was gobsmacked by how much I enjoyed this one. Seriously folks I did not see this one coming. I figured it'd be different and at the very least I'd enjoy it and I definitely did.
I'm not sure I can really explain this story without turning this into a very, very long review. So I'm just going to try and touch on what really stood out for me and first off it was the world that Leta Blake has created with this first story in her 'Heat of Love' series.
Let's start with the fact that this is not a shifter story...oh, there are alphas, betas and omegas but what there isn't are shifters. But in their place we're given a society that reflects the hierarchy of the social order of wolves as well as being reflective of gender to a degree.
Leta Blake has managed to create a very different world than what I've come to expect when the words 'Alpha, Beta and Omega' are involved and really to go into the details of some of the things that I really liked about this story would require some pretty wordy explanations to allow me to make some kind of sense so I'm going to try and talk more n generalities of the story rather than specifics.
At not even 20 years old Jason Sabel is just coming into his own and learning what it means to be an alpha. So finding his erosagape (destined mates) may be what he thinks he's ready for on a physical level but when his mate turns out to be Vale Aman, someone whose approximately 15 years his senior and seems t have a past the real question becomes 'is he mentally and emotionally ready?'
Jason and Vale have a lot of strikes against them and in spite of the fact that they're 'destined mates' it really doesn't mean love at first sight. There's definitely a slow burn going on here as well as that unwilling attraction that comes with being 'destined mates' you know that purely biological attraction that happens when genetics are involved.
Jason may be young but he's determined to be the alpha that Vale needs and to make Vale see that they belong together, while Vale wants to do what's best for Jason...his Alpha and Vale's sure that he's not what's best for his alpha.
I loved the interaction between Jason and Vale as they got to truly know each other and developed a relationship that was based on more than biological attraction.
'Slow Heat' is on the surface a simply romance set in an alternate reality but when you look beyond that what becomes clear is that there is nothing simple about this story...sure there's romance, there's also a complex society with it's own rules but it's society that like the one we live in is slowly changing. .It's judgments and values are being questioned by the people they seem to be restricting and even by some of the people who seem to benefit the most from them. It's also as about family the ones we're given and the ones we make. Jason has is father and his patter (equivalent to a mother). While Vale's family is gone and he's been left to cobble together a family of a different kind but no less of a family. Both of these men have lives that will be drastically affected by their union.
While I only gave 'Slow Heat' 4 stars, for someone who had 'MPREG' firmly planted in the 'no go' zone this one was a total success for me. Am I off to search out more MPREG stories...no, they're still not something that interest me...in fact I'm actually off to finish listening to 'Alpha Heat'. So probably not more MPREG but always more really awesome stories and speaking of really awesome have I mentioned that Michael Ferraiuolo is the narrator for this book and as narrators go I'm not really sure they get any better. Without a doubt he knocked it out of the ballpark on this one. His voices were unique, superb, consistent and gave the story the depth and emotion it so richly deserved. There are more than a few awesome narrators out there and for me Michael Ferraiuolo is absolutely one of my top 5 and nope I'm not even trying to rank them anymore because there are five of them and they're all #1 to my ears.
May 11, 2017
This book is very different from what I've read from Leta Blake in the past, but I loved it. It does have the emotional intensity I've come to associate with this author. It made me pretty weepy at some points, but that's not too unusual :)
My favorite thing about this book is the world building. It's set in the future after a plague wipes out humanity as we know it, and the survivors are men whose DNA is spliced with wolf genes. They're all male, but they have been genetically altered to reproduce. Normally that'd be enough to stop me from reading, but this is Leta Blake, so of course I had to give it a go.
More than focusing on the setting or paranormal stuff (though they have wolf DNA, they're not shifters) Leta focuses on the sociology. Even though humanity pretty much got rebooted, this society formed a new religion, political parties that are in some ways echoes of what we have now, a social hierarchy, and most important to this story, gender roles and reproductive rights. The characters are affected by these things in ways that seem equal parts classic werewolf-style story stuff (again, not werewolves though) and patriarchy. So there are lots of serious themes in this pretty out there post-apocalyptic/sort of sci fi story (not quite sure which category to put this in) that the characters are juggling, trying to find a balance between things like honoring tradition and respecting individual liberties. There are some complex questions here, like what, if any, rights should be affected in the name of preserving humanity? Where's the line between tradition and bigotry? Then muddy those lines even more, 'cause wolf stuff.
But of course this is a romance first and foremost. I wasn't crazy about the match in the beginning and was hoping it would go in another direction. But then, no surprise here, I fell in love with the idea of the heroes falling in love. Their bond transcended biological drive and began to blossom into one of emotional attachment and mutual respect. I will say that some of the sex stuff was out of my comfort zone. I squirm a little when human bodies do some not human stuff in books, but that's my one weird thing I'm a bit of a prude about. But when it was hot, it was crazy hot. The submission and even a bit of voyeur/exhibitionism were.. wow. Good stuff. Now I'm really hoping to read a sequel, because there are two characters I'm really hoping to see find happiness.
Would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for an intense, hot romance with some cool genetic weirdness.
My favorite thing about this book is the world building. It's set in the future after a plague wipes out humanity as we know it, and the survivors are men whose DNA is spliced with wolf genes. They're all male, but they have been genetically altered to reproduce. Normally that'd be enough to stop me from reading, but this is Leta Blake, so of course I had to give it a go.
More than focusing on the setting or paranormal stuff (though they have wolf DNA, they're not shifters) Leta focuses on the sociology. Even though humanity pretty much got rebooted, this society formed a new religion, political parties that are in some ways echoes of what we have now, a social hierarchy, and most important to this story, gender roles and reproductive rights. The characters are affected by these things in ways that seem equal parts classic werewolf-style story stuff (again, not werewolves though) and patriarchy. So there are lots of serious themes in this pretty out there post-apocalyptic/sort of sci fi story (not quite sure which category to put this in) that the characters are juggling, trying to find a balance between things like honoring tradition and respecting individual liberties. There are some complex questions here, like what, if any, rights should be affected in the name of preserving humanity? Where's the line between tradition and bigotry? Then muddy those lines even more, 'cause wolf stuff.
But of course this is a romance first and foremost. I wasn't crazy about the match in the beginning and was hoping it would go in another direction. But then, no surprise here, I fell in love with the idea of the heroes falling in love. Their bond transcended biological drive and began to blossom into one of emotional attachment and mutual respect. I will say that some of the sex stuff was out of my comfort zone. I squirm a little when human bodies do some not human stuff in books, but that's my one weird thing I'm a bit of a prude about. But when it was hot, it was crazy hot. The submission and even a bit of voyeur/exhibitionism were.. wow. Good stuff. Now I'm really hoping to read a sequel, because there are two characters I'm really hoping to see find happiness.
Would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is in the mood for an intense, hot romance with some cool genetic weirdness.
May 16, 2023
Slow Heat has a very intricate society and world that led to an interesting read. It added another layer to an already great romance. I haven't read many omegaverse books, so what's new and exciting to me could be old hat to others.
Looking forward to continuing the series and experiencing the other character's romances.
Looking forward to continuing the series and experiencing the other character's romances.
February 24, 2019
Proof, that an mpreg story can be enjoyable, if and when the author writes it with utmost care and pays attention to the minutest of details.
I am in awe of how perfectly written this book is. Leta Blake created a beautiful world, where male pregnancy actually made sense to me, where women don’t exist and the hierarchy was made of alphas, betas and omegas. I absolutely loved that it mirrored the defects of our current world: alphas can’t have sexual relations with other alphas (ring a bell?); conservative views on abortion (sounds familiar?), and other tidbits that reflect on our distorted society.
There was a big age difference between Jason and Vale, but oddly it didn’t bother me, in fact I preferred it that way, this story wouldn’t have been what it was without it.
So, imagine a 19-year-old alpha barely out of diapers, who suddenly finds his omega in a 35-year-old professor. Jason was so cute and adorkable, trying to be the alpha that Vale needed, and I gotta say there wasn’t any fumbling on his part, maybe a bit of hesitancy due to not knowing how to woo a male. LoL But he managed just fine. :)
Vale had his own hang-ups about the whole situation. He figured he was past the age when he would find his mate, he gave up hope, and was actually comfortable in his life. He had an alpha who took care of him during his heats and had a great teaching job. So it was a bit of a shock when a student nearly knocked him on his ass in the middle of campus and wanted to claim him while everyone watched on.
It seemed like he wasn’t too old to be someone’s omega after all. He tried to resist the urge, but despite his fears and his past, he came to adore his baby alpha and couldn’t deny him.
*Now, let’s say there’s a gif right here, but since I couldn’t find one and didn’t actually have time to look for hours for something perfect, instead imagine this (not a direct quote):
He was clawing at his own clothes with fumbling fingers, body shaking all over. He wanted it so much. Bumping into the kitchen counter they toppled over and landed on the floor in a sprawled heap. They gazed at each other, both breathing heavily. He was sure his alpha could smell him, his need. Keening sounds left his mouth and he whimpered at the sheer look of want he saw mirrored in his alpha’s eyes. Mine. The look seemed to convey. Fingers caressing, mouth sucking, little lovebites already forming on his neck; and that tongue, he wanted that tongue deep in his mouth, he wanted to be claimed. Throwing his mate off, he turned on his hands and knees, arching his back and presenting himself, waiting to be mounted.
Don’t mind me, I’m enjoying myself here. XD
The story was a bit slow-moving (and that’s not the same as slow-burn, insta-lust is guaranteed), and I admit that at certain points I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the sex talk, condoms, pills, and babies, and all the rules; and at times it was a bit too wet and slick for my taste, if you get my meaning. It was hot, don’t get me wrong. ;P
Even though personally I couldn’t care less about marriage and babies, I still loved this book. And if I could choose, I’d probably want to be a beta, no drama for me thank you very much.
After a failed attempt to acquaint myself with this genre, my reintroduction couldn’t have gone better with this book. Highly recommended!
I am in awe of how perfectly written this book is. Leta Blake created a beautiful world, where male pregnancy actually made sense to me, where women don’t exist and the hierarchy was made of alphas, betas and omegas. I absolutely loved that it mirrored the defects of our current world: alphas can’t have sexual relations with other alphas (ring a bell?); conservative views on abortion (sounds familiar?), and other tidbits that reflect on our distorted society.
There was a big age difference between Jason and Vale, but oddly it didn’t bother me, in fact I preferred it that way, this story wouldn’t have been what it was without it.
So, imagine a 19-year-old alpha barely out of diapers, who suddenly finds his omega in a 35-year-old professor. Jason was so cute and adorkable, trying to be the alpha that Vale needed, and I gotta say there wasn’t any fumbling on his part, maybe a bit of hesitancy due to not knowing how to woo a male. LoL But he managed just fine. :)
Vale had his own hang-ups about the whole situation. He figured he was past the age when he would find his mate, he gave up hope, and was actually comfortable in his life. He had an alpha who took care of him during his heats and had a great teaching job. So it was a bit of a shock when a student nearly knocked him on his ass in the middle of campus and wanted to claim him while everyone watched on.
It seemed like he wasn’t too old to be someone’s omega after all. He tried to resist the urge, but despite his fears and his past, he came to adore his baby alpha and couldn’t deny him.
*Now, let’s say there’s a gif right here, but since I couldn’t find one and didn’t actually have time to look for hours for something perfect, instead imagine this (not a direct quote):
He was clawing at his own clothes with fumbling fingers, body shaking all over. He wanted it so much. Bumping into the kitchen counter they toppled over and landed on the floor in a sprawled heap. They gazed at each other, both breathing heavily. He was sure his alpha could smell him, his need. Keening sounds left his mouth and he whimpered at the sheer look of want he saw mirrored in his alpha’s eyes. Mine. The look seemed to convey. Fingers caressing, mouth sucking, little lovebites already forming on his neck; and that tongue, he wanted that tongue deep in his mouth, he wanted to be claimed. Throwing his mate off, he turned on his hands and knees, arching his back and presenting himself, waiting to be mounted.
Don’t mind me, I’m enjoying myself here. XD
The story was a bit slow-moving (and that’s not the same as slow-burn, insta-lust is guaranteed), and I admit that at certain points I felt a bit overwhelmed by all the sex talk, condoms, pills, and babies, and all the rules; and at times it was a bit too wet and slick for my taste, if you get my meaning. It was hot, don’t get me wrong. ;P
Even though personally I couldn’t care less about marriage and babies, I still loved this book. And if I could choose, I’d probably want to be a beta, no drama for me thank you very much.
After a failed attempt to acquaint myself with this genre, my reintroduction couldn’t have gone better with this book. Highly recommended!
May 19, 2024
RE-READ: May 2024
Loved it again. I've forgotten how good it is. The whole political, religious and cultural background is exquisite. It's definitely one of the most interesting takes on ABO verse I've ever read.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Beautiful writing and great universe - I loved it!
It was my first Leta Blake book and first non-shifter A/B/O read. And in both cases it was a hit!
Having read a lot of 'normal', wolfy, shapeshifter mpreg Alpha-Omega books, I approached Slow Heat rather cautiously... I was wondering how such a non-shifter A/B/O world would work, how the heats and mpreg would be addressed, how the universe without females would be presented.
What I especially liked about this book was the Author's rather 'technical' descriptions of many things. It starts with the Alphas learning (studying as a school subject!) about Omegas' heats and how to physically and emotionally cope with them. It's a totally fresh concept for me - a reader used to the all-knowing, omnipotent Alphas, always more expert and smarter than the Omegas.
I also loved that here the Omega, Vale, was older and more experienced both as a university professor and as a man who was forced to handle his heats on his own for years. The 'baby' Alpha, Jason, only 19 yo, is a kind-hearted student, eager to provide for his Erosgape, his destinded mate, even though Vale is 15 years his senior.
The way mpreg is handled by Leta Blake is something new to me, too. It's a 'must', the highest priority in a society without females, where procreation and producing more citizens is crucial for survival. Where contraception is very limited, and birth control is actually not an option, even if the pregnancy threatens the bearer's life.
Jason and Vale have some solid, three-dimensional characters around them and I liked all of them.
Thanks to Jason's parents, Yule and Miner, and especially his best friend, Xan, we can get to know him better, understand his background and upbringing and, what's pivotal for the story, his views on Alpha/Omega dynamics and on the physiological aspect of Omegas anatomy.
Vale's array of friends is even more interesting. The two Betas, Yosef and Rosen, who are doomed to live a childless life but whose bed/life partner choices at least are not so fate-dictated, are definitely among the best supporting characters I've ever met ;) They're Vale's rock, through thick and thin, and they're simply nice people altogether.
Urho Chase is a totally another story - an old-fashioned, 'backward' and widowed Alpha who still is decent and kind enough to help Vale and other less fortunate Omegas with their medical problems.
Oh! And the lofty princess, Zephyr - let's not forget about her! :)
As for the Author and her writing? It was compelling and efficient and I felt completely involved in the story. Sometimes it was so business-like and detailed that I could almost believe that such a strange society really exists. Sometimes it depicted a beautiful love story, and not in an over-romantic, cheesy way that many A/B/O books do. Jason and Vale's growing affection, even though lust-lined, was very believable and heart-warming.
It took me ages to finish up this book but it was entirely my fault! I simply didn't want my time with Jason and Vale to end too soon ;)
I will definitely read more books by Leta Blake, continuing this series for a start.
Highly recommended for A/B/O verse fans!
Loved it again. I've forgotten how good it is. The whole political, religious and cultural background is exquisite. It's definitely one of the most interesting takes on ABO verse I've ever read.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Beautiful writing and great universe - I loved it!
It was my first Leta Blake book and first non-shifter A/B/O read. And in both cases it was a hit!
Having read a lot of 'normal', wolfy, shapeshifter mpreg Alpha-Omega books, I approached Slow Heat rather cautiously... I was wondering how such a non-shifter A/B/O world would work, how the heats and mpreg would be addressed, how the universe without females would be presented.
What I especially liked about this book was the Author's rather 'technical' descriptions of many things. It starts with the Alphas learning (studying as a school subject!) about Omegas' heats and how to physically and emotionally cope with them. It's a totally fresh concept for me - a reader used to the all-knowing, omnipotent Alphas, always more expert and smarter than the Omegas.
I also loved that here the Omega, Vale, was older and more experienced both as a university professor and as a man who was forced to handle his heats on his own for years. The 'baby' Alpha, Jason, only 19 yo, is a kind-hearted student, eager to provide for his Erosgape, his destinded mate, even though Vale is 15 years his senior.
The way mpreg is handled by Leta Blake is something new to me, too. It's a 'must', the highest priority in a society without females, where procreation and producing more citizens is crucial for survival. Where contraception is very limited, and birth control is actually not an option, even if the pregnancy threatens the bearer's life.
Jason and Vale have some solid, three-dimensional characters around them and I liked all of them.
Thanks to Jason's parents, Yule and Miner, and especially his best friend, Xan, we can get to know him better, understand his background and upbringing and, what's pivotal for the story, his views on Alpha/Omega dynamics and on the physiological aspect of Omegas anatomy.
Vale's array of friends is even more interesting. The two Betas, Yosef and Rosen, who are doomed to live a childless life but whose bed/life partner choices at least are not so fate-dictated, are definitely among the best supporting characters I've ever met ;) They're Vale's rock, through thick and thin, and they're simply nice people altogether.
Urho Chase is a totally another story - an old-fashioned, 'backward' and widowed Alpha who still is decent and kind enough to help Vale and other less fortunate Omegas with their medical problems.
Oh! And the lofty princess, Zephyr - let's not forget about her! :)
As for the Author and her writing? It was compelling and efficient and I felt completely involved in the story. Sometimes it was so business-like and detailed that I could almost believe that such a strange society really exists. Sometimes it depicted a beautiful love story, and not in an over-romantic, cheesy way that many A/B/O books do. Jason and Vale's growing affection, even though lust-lined, was very believable and heart-warming.
It took me ages to finish up this book but it was entirely my fault! I simply didn't want my time with Jason and Vale to end too soon ;)
I will definitely read more books by Leta Blake, continuing this series for a start.
Highly recommended for A/B/O verse fans!
June 2, 2017
3.5 Stars. Scorching HOT!
This was my first Alpha/Omega and MPREG book. I enjoyed it more than I imagined and am willing to dip further into this MM sub genre.
I truly enjoyed the beginning of this book. There was LOTS of tension between the MCs--a 19 year old alpha and a 35 year old omega. Leta Blake also set up an interesting world in which women no longer existed after the Great Death and scientist created omegas to further the human species.
Blake created characters with depth. The storyline held my interest in the first half of the book. Would the omega, Vale, agree to contract with the "baby alpha" Jason? Could Jason stay away from Vale despite a burning need to be near him? Their dance around each other as well as the interactions of the secondary characters held me. However, this dance went on way too long and the momentum the story had stalled. It didn't pick up again until the very end.
Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed this read--as I always do anything of Leta Blake's--and the sex was ridiculously HOT HOT HOT from the very get go. And by HOT I mean center of the Earth HOT!
This was my first Alpha/Omega and MPREG book. I enjoyed it more than I imagined and am willing to dip further into this MM sub genre.
I truly enjoyed the beginning of this book. There was LOTS of tension between the MCs--a 19 year old alpha and a 35 year old omega. Leta Blake also set up an interesting world in which women no longer existed after the Great Death and scientist created omegas to further the human species.
Blake created characters with depth. The storyline held my interest in the first half of the book. Would the omega, Vale, agree to contract with the "baby alpha" Jason? Could Jason stay away from Vale despite a burning need to be near him? Their dance around each other as well as the interactions of the secondary characters held me. However, this dance went on way too long and the momentum the story had stalled. It didn't pick up again until the very end.
Nonetheless, I truly enjoyed this read--as I always do anything of Leta Blake's--and the sex was ridiculously HOT HOT HOT from the very get go. And by HOT I mean center of the Earth HOT!
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