In a secret garden hidden behind a wall of shrubs and trees amid a tiny English village, you'll find L.V. Lane's writing den, where she crafts spicy adventures...Magical and mythical creatures, wolf shifters, and alphas of every flavor give our sweet, sometimes willful omegas and heroines a guaranteed HEA. If you like my books, you might also like my contemporary pen name, Verity Arden!
Content Advice can be found on my author website below and usually against the book description and or author review on Goodreads.
I want to start out this review mentioning how beautiful the setting of the Omega Prey world is. I love the woodsy, medieval vibe. I'm desperate for more of this setting in Omegaverse. So, after much thought I'm rating this book 3.6 stars. This is a lovely MfM Omegaverse romance that ended up being difficult for me to rate. Many elements of this book I adored, while others didn't do it for me 100%. The funny thing is I don't have any criticism to give the author, because what didn't work for me boiled down to personal preference and nothing more. Anyway, I decided to break my rating down and average it out. I'm rounding down to 3 stars, because I looked at my avg. GR rating and I've been rounding up to 4 stars for wayy too many reviews. I need to start being more generous with my 3 stars.
4 stars for the setting - low magic medieval fantasy (my favorite)
The descriptions of the land, culture, language, etc is all done beautifully in this series. I like it.
4 stars for the Alpha/beta dynamic - it was well-thought out and believable.
The author gave a lot of thought to the Alpha/beta dynamic and pulled it off imo. I agree with one of the reviews that called the relationship between all the characters heartfelt. Omegas being rare, how betas respond to Alphas, and Alphas to beta, all the little interpersonal interactions based on their designation was clearly well-thought out.
If you want more of this Alpha/beta dynamic, I suggest reading Lola & the Millionaires: Part One. This is another reverse harem with an Alpha/beta dynamic, but in a contemporary setting. The author also gave a lot of thought into how an Alpha/beta dynamic would work. I think this is especially important, because if I'm being honest, if I was a beta with an Alpha I would be extraordinarily insecure. All it takes is one whiff of an Omega's pheromones and the Alpha can't help themselves. Here L.V. Lane handled that by making Omegas so rare, the Alphas basically have no other options than betas. In Kathryn Moon's OV this insecurity on the beta's part was explored in a thoughtful way too.
4 stars for the smut - it was hot and very well-written
3 stars for the Alpha/beta/Alpha dynamic - Parts of it I loved, I did have one reservation about the two Alphas. This is subjective, and may not bother others. What didn't jive with me was that the two Alphas were biological brothers.
This is surprisingly common in reverse harems. I just got through reading one where the heroine is shared with triplets. I asked one of my friends if she would be bothered by brothers sharing a girl.
Her response: …(pregnant pause)…"No."
Me: "Okayy, well, is it a fantasy you have?"
Her: "…..No, not really."
Me: "But it doesn't bother you to read it?"
Her: "Not really."
Ummkay, so that wasn't helpful. Idk. I guess it is a fantasy for some, and there's nothing wrong with that. Not my kink though. It just doesn't feel natural for 2 brothers to be so okay with sharing a mate, a life-partner. I have enjoyed love triangles where there was a competition between the brothers for the girl.
This is on me because it was described they're brothers in the blurb. I still wanted to read this because I was curious on how the author was going to execute the beta heroine being paired with an Alpha.
I do have a criticism of this part. The two Alphas coming together in Lily's story was given more thought, and was more complex. Here Jack & Fen have never even shared a woman before, and the heroine's dad simply mentions to the head honcho Alpha (Jack), "why don't both you boys bond to my daughter?" And Jack just shrugs and says: "I guess that's what we'll do." hmmmm. I know in this world it's not unusual for brothers to both mate with one girl, but this seemed way too easy.
3 stars for the overall plot - Again purely subjective, for some reason it didn't hook me the same way some of the author's other stories have. I don't even have any criticism to give the author. The plot was solid.
4+4+4+3+3=18/5=3.6 So 3.6 stars :P
Trigger Warnings: Safety: This is a standalone with a HEA :) It isn't necessary to read the previous books in the series (I haven't, beyond book 1).
*ARC received from booksprout["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
I am so glad to have finished it so I can leave all of *waves hand* that behind. I wanted to DNF about 40% in but I thought I’d stick it out. Not worth it y’all lol. Don’t dread reading a book. This is gonna be long, because I’m just that frustrated.
Where do I begin…This wasn’t terrible…but wasn’t good either. I can’t say I hated it, I was pretty indifferent because I couldn’t bring myself to care for ANY character in this book. I’d laugh at the ridiculousness if I wasn’t so dang exhausted for dragging myself to the finish line.
The book is about 75% sex and since I’m me, I thought I’d love it, do a little dancey dance, be happy, but no 🥲 Turns out I have to actually like the characters just a little to even enjoy the smut, especially after the first few scenes. And it’s kink I like! Done so, so horribly I wanna be offended on the kinks behalf lmao. Please don’t think this is anywhere near an accurate or healthy depiction. All we have is a MMC- no wait 2 MMCs- who had no respect for anyone or anything except getting their pleasure. Absolutely. Nothing. No one.
The FMC…what was her name? Oh, right, Hazel- couldn’t remember because it was almost like she didn’t have a name, it was said maybe 3 times in total by all the characters combined. I’ll get into that in a moment. Idk if the goal was to have her identity completely wiped out, except for being Masters toy, but if so, it was successful. She was such a flat, one dimensional character. There was not one thing she did in this whole book except be used for sex. No blame on her, she didn’t know better, she was pretty much brainwashed into thinking her only purpose in life was to be used, “rutted,” anytime, anywhere by her master(s). If she was good or bad, or heck, breathing, she was threatened with being strapped. Damned if she do, damned if she don’t. She kept questioning her worth as a beta because Jack kept pointing out all the differences and what should’ve been happening if she were an omega, all the time and a lot of times during sex. Girl, I’m so sorry. You deserved better.
Jack, the main MMC, was disgusting. For such an Alpha, he was pitiful. All he did was rut Hazel. There was no conversation that didn’t revolve around sex the entire book. I could’ve sworn he didn’t even know her name, even though she was his fiancé (she was arranged to be married to him by her father) since a few pages in. He never referred to her by name until 41% in. In his inner monologues (which were dreadful) and his dialogue he only referred to her as she, lass, or beta (felt pretty dehumanizing). Speaking of lass: my partner is Scottish and in the years I’ve known her and been around other Scottish people, I have never in my life heard the word lass be used this much!!! The repetition was killing me.
So 50% in, the second MMC, Fen, Jacks bro, was thrown in like he was an afterthought. Wished he’d stayed forgotten lol. He didn’t bring anything to the table, there was no point to him. He also fell in love with Hazel the day after meeting her, having spoken nothing of importance with her, only after sleeping with her. From this point on, I was really struggling to finish. Good news is it’s easily skimmable because the next 40% were just forgettable, overused, repetitive sex scenes, and the other 10% was a catty female character who hated our FMC for being female? For being with Jack? Idk and I didn’t care honestly.
There is OW drama, on page sex with OW, and just genuinely shitty characters all around. Save yourself.
This is already long enough, I’m just working myself up at this point 💅 lol I don’t recommend. Not even for the smut. I’ve read L.V. Lanes books before and they’re pretty good, this was just one hell of a miss.
Tale of a blonde, petite beta with a "cute" character in the time of small kingdoms and warrior "clans." There is a lot of spanking as usual while she is trained to pleasure two brothers, one being the king. She is a beta that isn't magically changed into an omega by their goddess. I like the setting because I love the medieval period but the relationship doesn't thrill me. Also, these "betas" are not of the traditional type in the omegaverse. Typically, it is only an omega that can take a knot and conceive from an alpha but the betas in these series are able to do these two things. So, it's like Lane removed the feverish nesting and uncontrollable heat from the omegaverse with these new betas. lol
I wanted to love this. But I didn’t. I liked it. But it felt long AF and I honestly stayed for the smutt bc it was hot and dirty lol -MFM alpha brothers share a beta mate -breeding -smutty smut smut and it’s hot lol. -so much 🥜 , they PUSH ON HER TUMMY and jr comes out 😂🤣 -long AF… honestly I skipped at some point and just got to the smexy times which was a lot lol -knotting -HEA
Swoon worthy standalone addition to L.V Lane's Omega Prey series/universe. The world building is dynamic, descriptive and detailed. I loved the dynamics between Jack, Jen and Hazel. This is a Spectacular read with amazing storytelling.
Triggers, notes, and warnings: On the Omegaverse scale, this would sit somewhere around the middle. It's important to note that this is a fantasy book in a fantasy setting, with fictional beings known as alphas, omegas, and betas. They are not like regular humans and more like shifters having animalistic tendencies. This is not a depiction of real-life behaviors, nor realistic in any other way. Scent, marking, heat, rutting, and rough intimacy are very much part of this story. In this book, we have a beta paired with two barbarian alphas.
If rough intimacy, size difference, spanking does not appeal to you, this is not the book for you. The men (alphas) will touch and handle the h as they determine because this is their nature. The h has no say in this. They will discipline her and force pleasure upon her, to further drive the bonding. But they will also cherish, protect, and would give their lives that she might live. Still reading? Still interested?... I hope you enjoy my fantasy book :)
It's not often that I don't finish a book. I stopped 25% of the way through this one. I have read the first few books in the series. I felt the lines of consent were becoming blurred, but I kept reading. In my opinion, this book depicts outright rape. Whether an Omega or a Beta. Whether an Alpha or not. No means no. At the very least, this book should come with a trigger warning.
Quick spicy read that was fun enough, but didn't feel quite on the level of the first one I read. I have a feeling I'll be trying a couple more though, because they are the kind of mindless read I enjoy here and there and because having read one later in the series already, I'm curious about the stories of some of the other characters. This one just didn't quite feel as developed in terms of both the plot and the emotions.
Whilst this is book #5 of a series, I found it very easy to read stand-alone. I perhaps didn't get the fullest picture of the setting, but Ms Lane does a very adequate job of world-building and so I never felt lost, confused or baffled.
Trained For Their Pleasure follows a lot of the common tropes found in omegaverse stories, but it also throws the whole thing on it's head by featuring a beta as the heroine. I loved how the author handled this, how Hazel's mates prepared her, her responses to Alpha behaviour along with the advice of a visiting omega. I so hope this heralds the opening of a gateway for more books with beta protagonists. In true OV style, there are some elements of Jack claiming his mate that verge on dub-con. However Hazel not only accepted her fate but enjoyed and relished every single moment of it, which lessened what could otherwise have been a very dark moment.
Whilst there is a fair amount of sexual activity in this story - and let's face it, we don't expect anything else from the genre - there is also a lot of meaty plot to balance the story. There are strong hints at a future ménage for some side characters - and I can see that being quite a stormy journey. However, back to the book at hand. I found all three characters likable and endearing. Jack was quite introspective, calm and settled with the mantle of power he wore, whilst Finn was charming, playful and suave. Best of all was Hazel, who delighted in keeping her Alpha's on their toes and who, despite her diminutive size, more than held her own with them.
The epilogue was absolutely wonderful, holding everything and more that I could have wished for - and some things I had hoped to see pass! It also was I truly felt the depth of the bond between Hazel, Finn and Jack. I'd bought into their physical attractions, as well as the feeling of possession that the Alpha's had for their sweet, little beta. However this was where I was fully convinced of just how deep their feelings ran. It also left me with that wonderful "warm fuzzies" feeling of having read a great romance story.
Trained For Their Pleasure is a standalone novel in L.V. Lane's Omgea Prey universe. I really enjoyed the different spin on omegaverse since here we have an alpha/beta relationship. I was curious how this would work without all the typical alpha/omega dynamics. Ms. Lane did such an amazing job with this story in making the bonding process and the intimacy different and yet still chock full of everything I so enjoy about omegaverse. Here we have a sassy beta Hazel who recently lost her husband (though it appears that the relationship wasn't very deep) and a king of the barbarian clan Jack who also lost a mate and has a younger brother Fen who might have some history with Hazel. Despite Hazel's objections, a deal is struck between her father and Jack and, as is common in this world, she has no say in the matter from there on out. This book may have been the hottest L.V. Lane book yet and that's saying something since this author is the queen of steam. Jack is quite the manipulator and the dirty talker and doesn't take no for an answer. Not that Hazel is really saying no, despite her protestations. Once Fen enters the picture, the heat kicks up even further. There's a clan war and evil rival shenanigans going on in the background. There's a sweet and satisfying HEA for the threesome. I definitely enjoyed this story and hope to see more of this world in the future.
The cover shown here is not the one on the edition I read. That was cartoon-like and mentioned nothing about omegas. Pity, because I recently discovered the Omegaverse and it makes me want to hurl.
The cartoon cover gave me mild kink/a little bit cosy vibes. More fool me because this sure as hell is not cosy. It's disgusting. Gross. Painful sounding. All about subjugation.
A supposedly pampered slave is still a slave. And that's what she is, isn't it? She's beaten for anything but instant compliance. It never occurrs to anyone that her consent is needed. And don't even get me started on pheremone-induced arousal. That is not consent! Apparently we're supposed to be impressed that one of the brothers saved a woman from attempted rape. I'm not. This virtue signalling doesn't make all the other shit OK.
I'm absolutely not OK with the extreme lack of agency given to the female main character.
I have read some steamy books before, but I have to say, Trained packed quite a punch that just kept coming (Pardon the pun) I enjoyed the fully developed characters and vibrant world building. It drew me in even when I began to think the story was a little bit too hot for me to handle and kept me reading. I would definitely read another of L.V. Lane's books though next time I don't think I will read it in the same room my family are inhabiting :)
The title kind of tells you what you need to know, but in case you need more: this is a historical/barbarian omegaverse story about two alpha males who need to ‘train’ their bratty beta mate. About 20% plot and 80% smut with lots of dom/brat vibes, praise, knotting and breeding kink. It had more discipline/pain that I usually prefer (although all characters were into it), but I liked this more than I will tell anyone in real life.
Ok..I knew this was an OmegaVerse type book--- lots and lots and LOTS of heat. But, gee, there has got to be more to a book than non-stop boinking. There were little tiny flashes of character development and even a plot, but you had to wade through oh so many pages of repetitive bed gymnastics to get to the good stuff. A disappointment.
I would recommend this to someone who only pretty much reads smut and has a breeding kink, I guess. There wasn't really a plot, and the way the entire book flowed I was just really not liking it at all. Sure, the spice was okay, but it kind of gets annoying reading essentially the same books over and over. Nothing stands out or is even remotely memorable about this one.
The writing and editing of the ARC version of the manuscript was clean, with no typos that I found and well constructed sentences. The world building of the eastern clans and their culture was competently drawn. The characterization was well done, with the heroine and two heroes being sympathetic individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The development of the romantic relationship was SIZZLING. I would say the heat level in this romance was five chili peppers. The plot was tight and exciting, with the build up to a clan war. As a consequence, the pacing was very quick. This novel had low angst and very high stakes throughout, which tends to be one of my preferred narrative structures for a romance novel. This novel used the Barbarian trope and the Arranged Marriage trope. The heroine’s consent to the marriage was not sought, it was arranged between the hero and the heroine’s father. The world building, plot, and pacing were all four stars. The characterization and development of the romantic relationships were also four stars. I therefore gave this novel a combined rating of four stars. This novel had a Happy Ever After ending instead of a cliffhanger ending, so that was a big plus. I recommend this novel to readers who enjoy Omegaverse romances with an A/B pairing, though I will admit to a personal preference for A/O pairings. I also really enjoyed the BDSM elements. I look forward to reading the next book in this series when it releases. I will probably not buy myself a keeper copy of this novel, not because it was not very well written, but simply because it was not an A/O pairing.
I received a free advance review copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Prepare yourself to swoon, feel lusty, a little naughty, and enjoy this Alpha/beta pairing. It is rare that I’ve read an A/B pairing written so well. The plot was fast paced and exceptional. The world building of the clans in this book is fully dimensional and I can pictures the lands, the kings, and the surroundings as I am transported to the shores of Loch.
L.V. Lane is a phenomenal author when bringing her thoughts and stories to paper and TFTP is no different! I started reading this book in the morning and couldn’t put it down until I absolutely had too! You will fall in love with the gruff, but stunningly handsome Jack. You will swoon hardcore for Fen. Although, Hazel is a simple beta she was built for these two men... but can she be trained for their pleasure? Pick up a copy to find out 😉
I cannot wait to see what Lane comes up with next and where she will transport our minds to for her next world ❤️
Hazel first meets Fen and he steals her first kiss. Then years later after she marries and her husband is killed in battle. Hazel went back home. Jack occasionally goes to Hazel's father, Pike, as he's a farrier. Jack spies Hazel and wants her even though she is a beta and he is an Alpha. Jack claims her and brings her home. Fen, Jack's brother, eventually comes home and learns of Hazel. He remembers her. The brothers are to be her mates. Read this book and find out how it ends. Can a beta be all the Alphas need?
Well pull up your pants and get ready for one heck of a rumble with this book! Do you want to be trained by any of these alphas? It was a very delicious read and I personally thought it was an awesome read! Steamy and oh and I would not mind getting a beducation from these alphas. If you want dirty this is the book for you. It will have you heating from the inside and will honestly bring you to your knees with desire. So take it from me this is a book you want on your bookshelves!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A different but intriguing take on Alpha/Beta pairings. It pulled me in from beginning to end and held my attention. Well-developed story line and characters. The world building is detailed and imaginative. I really liked how the author built up the relationship between the main characters. I recommend this book and would read more books by this author. Enjoyable and worth the time. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If dubcon isn’t your thing then turn away now cause you will be offended😈
This is the story of how an widowed beta became the mate to an Alpha king and his Alpha brother. And you may ask yourself how a Beta would be able to satisfy 2 Alphas? Why through training of course😈😈
OMG! I loved this story so much. I personally haven’t ever read a beta/alpha relationship story but I loved the idea of this as soon as I read the description. The author is so graphic/detailed about what goes on within these characters relationship to train the beta mate for their needs you will need a new kindle because that baby is gonna be melted by all that heat🥵🥵🥵.
I love everything I’ve read from this author and would recommend for anyone who loves omegaverse!!
Lots and lots and then more alpha sex! Never ending sex once they started! Tad plot with the brothers and neighboring clans. But once Jack broke her in there was no letting up. It will get you all hot and bothered! Way hot and bothered.
What in the actual hell did I just read? It was like a car wreck and I couldn’t look away. I’ve never seen “Oh!” used so many times in a novella. It also felt like it may have been written by AI. Anyway, weird.
I absolutely loved Hazel and her mates, Jack and Fen. Hazel is a beta, and a widow, and expects that if she marries again, it will be another beta, however the goddess has other plans for her. Jack has been a lonely widower for a year and has no interest to take a another mate as alphas do, until he sees Hazel. Fen is Jack’s unruly younger brother, and coincidentally was Hazel’s first kiss. There are a lot of issues that crop up throughout the story, but ultimately they get their HEA. Absolutely recommend!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.