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Bridgewater Bay #1
Playing With Fire
As a teenager, omega Riley Morris fell in love with the sexiest Alpha in school and ended up pregnant and alone. But he learned his lesson well. Playing With Fire is a good way to get burned. Now Riley is a twenty-year-old single dad, struggling to raise his three-year-old son and his teenage sister. Working as a maid by day and stripper by night, Riley is too busy to become romantically involved with Alphas. Alphas only want omegas for one thing anyways.
Logan Donovan is an Alpha firefighter, with no mate, no children, and no prospects. And he’s convinced himself he’s happier that way. But when he pulls omega Riley Morris from the roaring flames of an apartment fire, sparks fly. And when Riley is released from the hospital into Logan’s temporary protective custody, things between Logan and Riley heat up faster than either of them planned.
Will Logan and Riley find a way to let their guards down long enough to fulfill each other’s fantasies, or will they get burned?
Find out in Playing With Fire!
Logan Donovan is an Alpha firefighter, with no mate, no children, and no prospects. And he’s convinced himself he’s happier that way. But when he pulls omega Riley Morris from the roaring flames of an apartment fire, sparks fly. And when Riley is released from the hospital into Logan’s temporary protective custody, things between Logan and Riley heat up faster than either of them planned.
Will Logan and Riley find a way to let their guards down long enough to fulfill each other’s fantasies, or will they get burned?
Find out in Playing With Fire!
276 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2021
10 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 111 reviews
July 2, 2021
This book is one of the best mm mpreg stories I have read. James Thorne is a wonderful new author. For a regular mm omegaverse mpreg, this was well written. The complexities of the relationships, and the emotions of the various characters are spot on for each one in their situation. Riley was definitely my favorite character. Single Omega parent struggling to trust again, as well as struggling to take care of his teenage sister and toddler son. So glad they had a Happily Ever After. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book when it does come out.
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October 25, 2022DNF.
July 4, 2021
such a good story.. good characters... sweet....i enjoyed reading it.
June 23, 2021
This is the first time that I read a MPREG novel. I never knew what that was. Well I'm glad I did this was absolutely different from what I normally read.
This is James Thorne debut novel.
Riley is a single dad to a cute two year old little boy
Named Benji and also looks after his teenage sister, while working two jobs.
A tragedy happened and Riley ends up in hospital and he is an omega.
Logan is sexy as hell firefighter and is all alpha.
Logan couldn't stop thinking about Riley the moment he met him. The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts.
And holy hotness. This book as you feeling all sorts.
I really can't wait for what James writes next.
#kbsbloggingandreviews.
This is James Thorne debut novel.
Riley is a single dad to a cute two year old little boy
Named Benji and also looks after his teenage sister, while working two jobs.
A tragedy happened and Riley ends up in hospital and he is an omega.
Logan is sexy as hell firefighter and is all alpha.
Logan couldn't stop thinking about Riley the moment he met him. The chemistry between these two characters is off the charts.
And holy hotness. This book as you feeling all sorts.
I really can't wait for what James writes next.
#kbsbloggingandreviews.
June 28, 2021
Being that this is the debut novel for this author, it wasn't an awful book. However, there were some inconsistencies and issues with characters that could be worked on for the next book.
As for the characters, I think Logan was the most fleshed out. His traits and personality stayed the same throughout the book. He was a bit of a doormat, but if the author had played more into fated mates, his behavior would have fit the story without it seeming as if he had no backbone.
Riley is a bit all over the place. He's strong and independent one minute, but a few minutes with Logan and he's ready to be dependent on an Alpha. He's hot and cold with Logan and over reacts most of the time. He's pissed that Logan had to sign papers to be his temporary guardian when leaving the hospital, but he should know the laws. This was a bit of a plot hole for me because Riley delivered after his Odad was put in prison.....so he would have had to be released to an Alpha's care then as well. There was no romance and no real chemistry between the 2 main characters. If their relationship hadn't been so rushed, the author may have been able to create more tension and feelings between Logan and Riley. As written, this doesn't really read as a romance.
Unfortunately, once Logan mentioned who his dad was and his occupation, I'd guessed the rest of the plot and how the book would turn out. It's a story that has already been written and I hope the author will take the chance on an original plot next time.
There are some inconsistencies that bugged me and pulled me out of the story. These may have been picked out by beta readers, but maybe not.
#1. Riley's scent keeps changing. It starts hibiscus and vanilla and move on to hibiscus, vanilla and peaches and then almond and vanilla and changes again.
#2. Benji sometimes speaks like an 18 month old with just a couple of word sentences, but he also speaks in full sentences.
#3 O Dad and A Dad-please don't do this again. Not only is it chunky, but it's unnecessary. Introduce the characters by their name and their designation if you want, but it became rather irksome and Benji calling Riley O dad constantly was irritating as heck.
#4. Kendall calls out of the blue and wants to meet. He tells Logan and Riley his parents have died and he has cancer so there's no-one to take care of Kaleb after he's gone. I don't understand why they just let them go on their merry way. It's not realistic. Who took care of Kaleb while Kendall's health declined and why did Logan. want Riley to be in a suit so he could be the sexiest omega at his ex omega's funeral? OY
All in all this isn't a bad book, but it definitely needs more eyes on it. I will be keeping an eye out for a second release and look forward to the authors future books as he continues honing his writing and style. The idea is there, the universe. he created is a good one....it just needs a bit of help getting there.
*I received an Arc, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
As for the characters, I think Logan was the most fleshed out. His traits and personality stayed the same throughout the book. He was a bit of a doormat, but if the author had played more into fated mates, his behavior would have fit the story without it seeming as if he had no backbone.
Riley is a bit all over the place. He's strong and independent one minute, but a few minutes with Logan and he's ready to be dependent on an Alpha. He's hot and cold with Logan and over reacts most of the time. He's pissed that Logan had to sign papers to be his temporary guardian when leaving the hospital, but he should know the laws. This was a bit of a plot hole for me because Riley delivered after his Odad was put in prison.....so he would have had to be released to an Alpha's care then as well. There was no romance and no real chemistry between the 2 main characters. If their relationship hadn't been so rushed, the author may have been able to create more tension and feelings between Logan and Riley. As written, this doesn't really read as a romance.
Unfortunately, once Logan mentioned who his dad was and his occupation, I'd guessed the rest of the plot and how the book would turn out. It's a story that has already been written and I hope the author will take the chance on an original plot next time.
There are some inconsistencies that bugged me and pulled me out of the story. These may have been picked out by beta readers, but maybe not.
#1. Riley's scent keeps changing. It starts hibiscus and vanilla and move on to hibiscus, vanilla and peaches and then almond and vanilla and changes again.
#2. Benji sometimes speaks like an 18 month old with just a couple of word sentences, but he also speaks in full sentences.
#3 O Dad and A Dad-please don't do this again. Not only is it chunky, but it's unnecessary. Introduce the characters by their name and their designation if you want, but it became rather irksome and Benji calling Riley O dad constantly was irritating as heck.
#4. Kendall calls out of the blue and wants to meet. He tells Logan and Riley his parents have died and he has cancer so there's no-one to take care of Kaleb after he's gone. I don't understand why they just let them go on their merry way. It's not realistic. Who took care of Kaleb while Kendall's health declined and why did Logan. want Riley to be in a suit so he could be the sexiest omega at his ex omega's funeral? OY
All in all this isn't a bad book, but it definitely needs more eyes on it. I will be keeping an eye out for a second release and look forward to the authors future books as he continues honing his writing and style. The idea is there, the universe. he created is a good one....it just needs a bit of help getting there.
*I received an Arc, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
June 16, 2021
I love ABO books and, while the premise of the book sounded somewhat familiar, the story can be powerful, emotional, steamy, and a great read.
This one tried really hard but didn’t hit all those marks. Steamy? Yeah, mostly. Emotional? Meh. Powerful? No. Great read? Close.
I think my challenge with this book was the omega MC. He was so inconsistent, his decisions and commitments changed every chapter, and there was no logical reason (or hell, even emotional reason) for some of his big swings in attitude. I appreciated the author trying to use Riley to advance the story, but I felt he put too much effort into that one tool, rather than spreading his effort to make every part of the story strong.
Ultimately, the book is about Riley, an omega who’s taking care of his younger sister and his 2 year old son, after his omega dad killed his abusive alpha dad and was put in prison. He’s barely making enough money to keep them going. One night, he comes home from work and his apartment building is on fire. He meets alpha fireman, Logan. Lots of stuff happens – probably way too much – as they navigate the ABO dynamics of the world, Riley’s distrust, Logan’s Crave (Rut), and some other surprises.
The author writes well. The story's pace was good, the writing had a ton of great detail, and the supporting characters were engaging and fun. There was some good humor, great dynamic between the siblings and relations. The author definitely talented.
While I felt like I had read this book before, there was still potential. It just didn’t hit what it was capable of becoming. It’s a good read, don’t get me wrong, but it was just overly complicated and, again, the omega MC drove me crazy.
This one tried really hard but didn’t hit all those marks. Steamy? Yeah, mostly. Emotional? Meh. Powerful? No. Great read? Close.
I think my challenge with this book was the omega MC. He was so inconsistent, his decisions and commitments changed every chapter, and there was no logical reason (or hell, even emotional reason) for some of his big swings in attitude. I appreciated the author trying to use Riley to advance the story, but I felt he put too much effort into that one tool, rather than spreading his effort to make every part of the story strong.
Ultimately, the book is about Riley, an omega who’s taking care of his younger sister and his 2 year old son, after his omega dad killed his abusive alpha dad and was put in prison. He’s barely making enough money to keep them going. One night, he comes home from work and his apartment building is on fire. He meets alpha fireman, Logan. Lots of stuff happens – probably way too much – as they navigate the ABO dynamics of the world, Riley’s distrust, Logan’s Crave (Rut), and some other surprises.
The author writes well. The story's pace was good, the writing had a ton of great detail, and the supporting characters were engaging and fun. There was some good humor, great dynamic between the siblings and relations. The author definitely talented.
While I felt like I had read this book before, there was still potential. It just didn’t hit what it was capable of becoming. It’s a good read, don’t get me wrong, but it was just overly complicated and, again, the omega MC drove me crazy.
June 19, 2021
This was my first book by this author and I quite liked it. It’s a quick read, with lots of emotions, a little angst (but not too much), and a HEA. Riley has been struggling, working as a maid by day and a stripper at night, just trying to keep his head above water. His family has been ripped apart by an abusive parent and a society that puts down and represses omegas as the weaker designation that needs protecting from itself. He has raised his teen sister and his own infant son, even though he was only a couple years older than her. One fire in an apartment later and they find themselves homeless and at the mercy of the alpha firefighter who rescued Riley from the fire. Logan is alpha through and through, the privileged son of the DA. He is more sensitive to omega rights than most though, having seen how his father treated his omega sister as a throw away. He has his eyes suddenly and violently opened when he pulls Riley out of that fire and becomes aware of just how unjust the system really is. There isn’t much he can do for society as a whole, but he can start adjusting his thoughts and actions right at home. Despite the societal oppression depicted in this book, which lets be fair..is very real) this is not a heavy read. There is a lot of laughter and love, and adorable kids who have been through way too much between these pages. It was a good book and I would read more by this author in the future.
July 2, 2021
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
The idea was there but the narration style didn't work for me. Told in the 1st person POV with alternating character views, it just felt clunky at times. It took me a while to get used the narration style and there were times within the chapters that I would be cruising along immersed in the story and then something would happen or the style would change slightly and I was pulled out and had to readjust.
It was a hard world they lived in, with the omegas not having many options open to them if they were single without an alpha relative that would stand for them, so I understood the unhappiness of the omegas in this story but at the same time Rae with her attitude annoyed me. She was at fault for what happened at the start but was never pulled up for it.
I liked Logan but didn't understand why he actually went to the hospital at the start, and how it was just accepted by everyone that because he was the alpha he would take care of the family. I liked that he did the right thing and he made mistakes, hard not to when there are so many landmines, but he tried his best.
I had the most trouble with Riley. He was all over the place. I think this had more to do with his age but he ran whenever things got a little hard between himself and Logan. His mood swings made it hard for the guys to connect and thankfully Logan was so calm and patient.
***Arc provided by GRR. This is my honest and voluntary review***
I wanted to like this one more than I did.
The idea was there but the narration style didn't work for me. Told in the 1st person POV with alternating character views, it just felt clunky at times. It took me a while to get used the narration style and there were times within the chapters that I would be cruising along immersed in the story and then something would happen or the style would change slightly and I was pulled out and had to readjust.
It was a hard world they lived in, with the omegas not having many options open to them if they were single without an alpha relative that would stand for them, so I understood the unhappiness of the omegas in this story but at the same time Rae with her attitude annoyed me. She was at fault for what happened at the start but was never pulled up for it.
I liked Logan but didn't understand why he actually went to the hospital at the start, and how it was just accepted by everyone that because he was the alpha he would take care of the family. I liked that he did the right thing and he made mistakes, hard not to when there are so many landmines, but he tried his best.
I had the most trouble with Riley. He was all over the place. I think this had more to do with his age but he ran whenever things got a little hard between himself and Logan. His mood swings made it hard for the guys to connect and thankfully Logan was so calm and patient.
***Arc provided by GRR. This is my honest and voluntary review***
September 17, 2021
Playing With Fire
By James Thorne
When Riley's omega dad goes to jail for killing his abusive alpha dad Riley is left to raise his teenage younger sister, Raelyn, and his 3 year old son, Benji. After Riley is saved from a burning building with his son, Benji, by alpha firefighter, Logan, he's put into Logan's care until he's healed where Logan teaches Riley not all alpha's are the same as his alpha dad and Benji's father.
I loved Logan. He was a sweet and caring alpha who only wanted the best for Riley and his family. I loved Riley too. He was strong, sassy at times, and a great dad and brother. Though I thought he seriously overreacted the first time he met Logan's parents. For the first time I was disappointed in him. Logan deserved none of that.
The world-building could have been a lot better. It seemed like only the bare bones of a world. Some of the characters weren't really fleshed out enough either. Like Benji's babysitter. After the fire she was dropped completely. Was she okay? Did she get hurt? I truly disliked calling the parents a-dad and o-dad. No clue why, but for some reason that just really irked me. It was a good story. Loved the characters. It just didn't feel complete. I didn’t care as much for the last chapter either. It seemed rushed and more of an epilogue since it was at least almost a year later.
The book is in Logan and Riley's POV. The angst level is the high end of low.
By James Thorne
When Riley's omega dad goes to jail for killing his abusive alpha dad Riley is left to raise his teenage younger sister, Raelyn, and his 3 year old son, Benji. After Riley is saved from a burning building with his son, Benji, by alpha firefighter, Logan, he's put into Logan's care until he's healed where Logan teaches Riley not all alpha's are the same as his alpha dad and Benji's father.
I loved Logan. He was a sweet and caring alpha who only wanted the best for Riley and his family. I loved Riley too. He was strong, sassy at times, and a great dad and brother. Though I thought he seriously overreacted the first time he met Logan's parents. For the first time I was disappointed in him. Logan deserved none of that.
The world-building could have been a lot better. It seemed like only the bare bones of a world. Some of the characters weren't really fleshed out enough either. Like Benji's babysitter. After the fire she was dropped completely. Was she okay? Did she get hurt? I truly disliked calling the parents a-dad and o-dad. No clue why, but for some reason that just really irked me. It was a good story. Loved the characters. It just didn't feel complete. I didn’t care as much for the last chapter either. It seemed rushed and more of an epilogue since it was at least almost a year later.
The book is in Logan and Riley's POV. The angst level is the high end of low.
June 16, 2021
Hose Me Down! This book is on fire!
James Thorne has quite the imagination with this story. This book is so different from what I normally read. It's unique in how you actually SEE the characters. You will fall in love with Riley and Logan. From the moment Logan lays eyes on Riley and saves him from a fire he has such a craving for him. He tried to deny the craving for Logan until that first moment alone in the kitchen. But he no longer could when facing Riley. There is so much HEAT in that first moment alone together. After all Riley has been through, he's just wanting to take care of the only family he has left. It's just hard to trust anyone. Watching how these two connect and the love they are finding they have for each other is heart warming. You can see how important family is to them. You will laugh often. You will even fall in love with the other characters (which steal the show at times). I thought Raelyn and Tori were a hoot. Tori and Raelyn have no filter and speak what's on their minds. I could go on and on but then I'd give to much away. I can't say anything negative about this book. I loved it. I highly recommend this book. This book is amazing for being James Thorne's first book. Bravo James! Bravo!!
James Thorne has quite the imagination with this story. This book is so different from what I normally read. It's unique in how you actually SEE the characters. You will fall in love with Riley and Logan. From the moment Logan lays eyes on Riley and saves him from a fire he has such a craving for him. He tried to deny the craving for Logan until that first moment alone in the kitchen. But he no longer could when facing Riley. There is so much HEAT in that first moment alone together. After all Riley has been through, he's just wanting to take care of the only family he has left. It's just hard to trust anyone. Watching how these two connect and the love they are finding they have for each other is heart warming. You can see how important family is to them. You will laugh often. You will even fall in love with the other characters (which steal the show at times). I thought Raelyn and Tori were a hoot. Tori and Raelyn have no filter and speak what's on their minds. I could go on and on but then I'd give to much away. I can't say anything negative about this book. I loved it. I highly recommend this book. This book is amazing for being James Thorne's first book. Bravo James! Bravo!!
June 18, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book so I was pleasantly surprised with the more unique take on an ABO story. The author has included a lot of the elements that I expect from a typical omegaverse story but has also given us some surprises. The focus is on the characters of Logan and Riley, working their way toward a permanent relationship while dealing with scars from previous ones. I liked them both and wanted them to get their HEA. There are several secondary characters who keep things interesting and add some humor to the story. Riley's son Benji is adorable and quite good at keeping everyone entertained while highlighting the importance of family.
The story moves along quickly, with Logan and Riley having a strong attraction between them. There are some scenes where the author has turned up the heat. But there are also some sweeter scenes where we get to see the emotion and closeness along with the physical stuff.. I did feel that Logan needed to be a bit more "alpha" in expressing his feelings for Riley so that we could get all those good feels.
I would definitely recommend reading this book, I think for a first book the author has done a great job with this story.
The story moves along quickly, with Logan and Riley having a strong attraction between them. There are some scenes where the author has turned up the heat. But there are also some sweeter scenes where we get to see the emotion and closeness along with the physical stuff.. I did feel that Logan needed to be a bit more "alpha" in expressing his feelings for Riley so that we could get all those good feels.
I would definitely recommend reading this book, I think for a first book the author has done a great job with this story.
June 18, 2021
I don’t normally read Alpha Omega books - but I was intrigued by the blurb and liked the idea that the A-MC was a Fireman.
I like the fact that the Alpha was liberated and repected the Omegas. So what you get a is patient Alpha trying to love and care for an Omega that’s been burned (metaphorically) and also nearly literally.
After the initial rescue scene though we don’t get any more fire fighting scenes or any mention of that at all really.
I did actually enjoy the book, it was well written. Someone else reviewed that they didn’t like Riley’s mood swings but they were all valid in my opinion. I felt they were integral to his character - he’s been left to fend for himself and his son and sister in a world that thinks omegas are second class citizens, all at a young age. I was expecting some hang ups, some self doubt and some mistrust.
I felt the love story between the two and enjoyed the twists in the story that popped up. It’s a solid 4 stars from me.
I received an ARC via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I like the fact that the Alpha was liberated and repected the Omegas. So what you get a is patient Alpha trying to love and care for an Omega that’s been burned (metaphorically) and also nearly literally.
After the initial rescue scene though we don’t get any more fire fighting scenes or any mention of that at all really.
I did actually enjoy the book, it was well written. Someone else reviewed that they didn’t like Riley’s mood swings but they were all valid in my opinion. I felt they were integral to his character - he’s been left to fend for himself and his son and sister in a world that thinks omegas are second class citizens, all at a young age. I was expecting some hang ups, some self doubt and some mistrust.
I felt the love story between the two and enjoyed the twists in the story that popped up. It’s a solid 4 stars from me.
I received an ARC via GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2021
Playing with Fire is an enjoyable mpreg story about Riley and Logan with minor inconsistencies. Riley is a young single omega dad with a young son and a younger sister he's raising while his omega dad is in prison. Logan is an alpha firefighter who happened to rescue Riley and his son Benji from a fire in their apartment building. In this world omegas have little rights and after being in the hospital for smoke inhalation Riley is released into the custody of Logan. Riley and Logan's journey to love is a very bumpy one but in the end they get their happy ending. I love how protective Logan is of his family and how accepting Riley is when they unexpectedly gain a son. This book is a roller coaster of emotions and who knew a home fire could be the best thing to happen to you. I look forward to more from this world.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book.
June 29, 2021
3.5 Stars!
It’s always a gamble reading a book by a new author but I’m so glad I took a shot with this one. It’s a quick read with some interesting takes on ABO (I really liked the whole way crave and heats were explained), and an overall sweet romance. There’s some angst, and one of the characters (Riley) doesn’t always act rationally, but with everything he’s been through I thought it made sense and I enjoyed his growth and becoming the person he was supposed to be. Logan was a big strong teddy bear alpha and was exactly what the family needed. This didn’t reinvent the wheel of omegaverse or mpreg, but I’m definitely interested in where the series goes in the future!
It’s always a gamble reading a book by a new author but I’m so glad I took a shot with this one. It’s a quick read with some interesting takes on ABO (I really liked the whole way crave and heats were explained), and an overall sweet romance. There’s some angst, and one of the characters (Riley) doesn’t always act rationally, but with everything he’s been through I thought it made sense and I enjoyed his growth and becoming the person he was supposed to be. Logan was a big strong teddy bear alpha and was exactly what the family needed. This didn’t reinvent the wheel of omegaverse or mpreg, but I’m definitely interested in where the series goes in the future!
July 5, 2021
Really enjoyed this mpreg ABO m/m novel!
Logan, the alpha firefighter, is amazing! So supportive, patient, and happy to be a dad to Riley's baby and younger sister. Riley, the omega, was a little frustrating at times, though I can understand why he would be so jaded. Together they were a super cute couple, and the steamy parts were super fun.
The world was well fleshed out, with ABO politics and negative stereotypes addressed. The pacing was good, but again Riley's behavior and moods were a little too much at times.
Still, I'd recommend this novel for fans of m/m romance, especially ABO mpreg ones.
Logan, the alpha firefighter, is amazing! So supportive, patient, and happy to be a dad to Riley's baby and younger sister. Riley, the omega, was a little frustrating at times, though I can understand why he would be so jaded. Together they were a super cute couple, and the steamy parts were super fun.
The world was well fleshed out, with ABO politics and negative stereotypes addressed. The pacing was good, but again Riley's behavior and moods were a little too much at times.
Still, I'd recommend this novel for fans of m/m romance, especially ABO mpreg ones.
June 18, 2021
I really enjoyed Riley and Logan’s story. This mpreg alpha/ omega book is the first I’ve read from this author and the MC characters were very likable and for me the story flowed well. Riley’s past plays a huge part in his actions and reactions with the other characters and impacts the story greatly. Logan is a wonderful character and I loved how he took everything in stride.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my honest review.
June 22, 2021
Riley and Logan were interesting characters. Riley was flighty even though he had so much responsibility at a young age. Logan was solid and dependable which isn’t to say he was boring. The author meshed their strengths and weaknesses together nicely.
The Omegaverse is one that I enjoy. I felt the author did a good job of depicting the trials omega’s face without being preachy. Good supporting characters rounded out the story. I enjoyed the book.
I received an arc of this book.
The Omegaverse is one that I enjoy. I felt the author did a good job of depicting the trials omega’s face without being preachy. Good supporting characters rounded out the story. I enjoyed the book.
I received an arc of this book.
June 28, 2021
I’m not usually that big of an “omegaverse” fan, but this has to be one of the exceptions. It’s a fantastic story. It has characters that struggle with self-esteem, a biased society, an a-hole character that redeems themselves, plus lots of love and so much more!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 27, 2021
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not always a huge fan of MPreg Alpha/omega romances but I have to say, I enjoyed this one enough to finish it in a single sitting! James Thorne is a new author to me but I thought his work was extremely well written and he built up a very interesting world with this book. From the outset, I fell in love with Logan. He was sweet, brave, caring and supportive at every turn. I thought that he and Riley were a good match (once Riley overcame his misgivings) and there were plenty of interesting secondary characters too. The plot didn't feel predictable and there were some very steamy scenes which I loved! It had a bit of everything; one minute I was nearly in tears, the next I was grinning from ear to ear.
The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is there were just a few niggles and loose ends left, for example what happened to the elderly neighbour from the beginning of the book? Did she survive? I guess we'll never know! Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book (and this author) to others who enjoy MM romance, particularly if you like the Alpha/omega dynamic with a bit of a twist and mpreg. I'm looking forward to any more books that come next as part of this series too.
I'm not always a huge fan of MPreg Alpha/omega romances but I have to say, I enjoyed this one enough to finish it in a single sitting! James Thorne is a new author to me but I thought his work was extremely well written and he built up a very interesting world with this book. From the outset, I fell in love with Logan. He was sweet, brave, caring and supportive at every turn. I thought that he and Riley were a good match (once Riley overcame his misgivings) and there were plenty of interesting secondary characters too. The plot didn't feel predictable and there were some very steamy scenes which I loved! It had a bit of everything; one minute I was nearly in tears, the next I was grinning from ear to ear.
The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is there were just a few niggles and loose ends left, for example what happened to the elderly neighbour from the beginning of the book? Did she survive? I guess we'll never know! Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book (and this author) to others who enjoy MM romance, particularly if you like the Alpha/omega dynamic with a bit of a twist and mpreg. I'm looking forward to any more books that come next as part of this series too.
July 1, 2021
Riley was wary of Logan and rightfully so. He was the responsible one who had to look out for his sister and son - was it easy? Hell no but I admired his sheer strength and determination.
Logan and Riley had a sweet connection. Their bond was intense and I enjoyed watching them slowly give into their desires.
I enjoyed this Riley and Logan’s story. The only thing I think the story needed was a deeper emotional connection between the main MCs. Riley and Logan had a fast paced romance so I felt like everything was breezed over. I loved how Logan made the effort to include Benji - they were adorable together.
“I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
Logan and Riley had a sweet connection. Their bond was intense and I enjoyed watching them slowly give into their desires.
I enjoyed this Riley and Logan’s story. The only thing I think the story needed was a deeper emotional connection between the main MCs. Riley and Logan had a fast paced romance so I felt like everything was breezed over. I loved how Logan made the effort to include Benji - they were adorable together.
“I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*
July 19, 2021
Sigh.. Why do authors do this? We have a potential strong lead character, but then they meet the other main lead and suddenly turn into a hysterical mess?
At the beginning Riley has a potential for a strong, independent omega, who has worked his ass off to keep his sister and baby fed, clothed and happy, doing whatever he can for them, while avoiding getting trapped by an Alpha. Sure, he argues with his teenage sister who is naive and angry, but that is life with teenagers for you. He didn't burst into tears five times per chapter. And then he meets the other MC and turns into a petulant, hysterical, crying mess who likes to throw temper tantrums. Basically he is acting like a toddler. By his behavior alone, even I would assign him a keeper, maybe even a babysitter since he acts like such a child. I have nothing against emotional characters who crave someone bigger and stronger to take care of them, but Riley was not supposed to be one. It is like false advertising. He was supposed to be strong, independent and caring mostly for his kid and sister, yet he comes out as everything that is stereotyped about omegas in the world setting - pining after alphas, hysterical and cannot be trusted to make logical choices or judgements. The constant bursting into tears at the slightest provocation was annoying. Not to mention the relationship development. One date, one ripped paper and suddenly he is all "take me, make me yours forever'. In one day. No taking it slow to overcome his reservations, no talking and getting to know one another. Hate to break this to you, but that paper was signed in duplicate and at any point he could go get a copy of it. Nice as a gesture, but ridiculously pointless. One day, one date and bam, they are having unprotected sex, going all 'mine,mine,mine', talking forever and throwing in some more tears and hysterics. I guess I just expected more. Riley had a promise to be a logical, strong character, but with a snap of fingers, he is a weak, rather pathetic mess that makes irrational choices and jumps in headfirst without thinking it through, abandoning all his reservations and logical thinking for sex, completely ruled by his hormones alone.. So disappointing...
The world was rather harsh and cruel to omegas. Which is another thing that raised my expectations about Riley being cautious and more mature. There were some holes in the world building, but nothing too big. The other characters... I didn't particularly like Logan either. On the one hand, he is this great guy who helps other, is good with children, supports his sister. Yet, he was also a very typical Alpha, pushing for sex, pushing his will onto others and enjoying his Alpha privileges without feeling too bothered about it. The sisters were too immature and irresponsible. They really should have been younger teenagers to excuse their ridiculous behavior, like 13-15. The kid... at the beginning he called Riley 'Da'. Then suddenly he switched to 'o-da'. Like even he suddenly forgot years of learned behavior in favor of an alpha and society assigned designations. Seriously?
I was pretty much done with this about half way, because the bursting into tears and throwing fits were annoying. I continued but it only got worse. More holes and idiosyncrasies, more pointless, over-dramatized tantrums, plus an MC who is willing to give up everything in his life, including his work and his independence, to become a kept omega, whose main task is to keep house, cook, clean, raise children, make his alpha happy. What was that thing about keeping women barefoot and pregnant? Basically, this book was supposed to be about an atypical omega in a harsh world who is strong and going against the grain so to say, but turned into a predictable tele-novela with characters that are so stereotypical for the set world, that the whole idea completely failed.
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the GRR for an honest review**
At the beginning Riley has a potential for a strong, independent omega, who has worked his ass off to keep his sister and baby fed, clothed and happy, doing whatever he can for them, while avoiding getting trapped by an Alpha. Sure, he argues with his teenage sister who is naive and angry, but that is life with teenagers for you. He didn't burst into tears five times per chapter. And then he meets the other MC and turns into a petulant, hysterical, crying mess who likes to throw temper tantrums. Basically he is acting like a toddler. By his behavior alone, even I would assign him a keeper, maybe even a babysitter since he acts like such a child. I have nothing against emotional characters who crave someone bigger and stronger to take care of them, but Riley was not supposed to be one. It is like false advertising. He was supposed to be strong, independent and caring mostly for his kid and sister, yet he comes out as everything that is stereotyped about omegas in the world setting - pining after alphas, hysterical and cannot be trusted to make logical choices or judgements. The constant bursting into tears at the slightest provocation was annoying. Not to mention the relationship development. One date, one ripped paper and suddenly he is all "take me, make me yours forever'. In one day. No taking it slow to overcome his reservations, no talking and getting to know one another. Hate to break this to you, but that paper was signed in duplicate and at any point he could go get a copy of it. Nice as a gesture, but ridiculously pointless. One day, one date and bam, they are having unprotected sex, going all 'mine,mine,mine', talking forever and throwing in some more tears and hysterics. I guess I just expected more. Riley had a promise to be a logical, strong character, but with a snap of fingers, he is a weak, rather pathetic mess that makes irrational choices and jumps in headfirst without thinking it through, abandoning all his reservations and logical thinking for sex, completely ruled by his hormones alone.. So disappointing...
The world was rather harsh and cruel to omegas. Which is another thing that raised my expectations about Riley being cautious and more mature. There were some holes in the world building, but nothing too big. The other characters... I didn't particularly like Logan either. On the one hand, he is this great guy who helps other, is good with children, supports his sister. Yet, he was also a very typical Alpha, pushing for sex, pushing his will onto others and enjoying his Alpha privileges without feeling too bothered about it. The sisters were too immature and irresponsible. They really should have been younger teenagers to excuse their ridiculous behavior, like 13-15. The kid... at the beginning he called Riley 'Da'. Then suddenly he switched to 'o-da'. Like even he suddenly forgot years of learned behavior in favor of an alpha and society assigned designations. Seriously?
I was pretty much done with this about half way, because the bursting into tears and throwing fits were annoying. I continued but it only got worse. More holes and idiosyncrasies, more pointless, over-dramatized tantrums, plus an MC who is willing to give up everything in his life, including his work and his independence, to become a kept omega, whose main task is to keep house, cook, clean, raise children, make his alpha happy. What was that thing about keeping women barefoot and pregnant? Basically, this book was supposed to be about an atypical omega in a harsh world who is strong and going against the grain so to say, but turned into a predictable tele-novela with characters that are so stereotypical for the set world, that the whole idea completely failed.
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the GRR for an honest review**
June 18, 2022
2.5⭐️
Omegaverse can be a bit hit or miss for me, but the blurb sounded interesting so I figured I’d give it a go. Unfortunately, “Playing With Fire” just wasn’t for me. It’s standard non-shifter a/b/o fare with omegas being second class citizens with no rights and basically fleshlights and incubators for alphas. Since his omega father was sent to prison for murdering his alpha parent, Riley has been doing his best to take care of his 3 yo son, Benji and his angry, headstrong sister, Raelyn. When a fire at his apartment building leaves them homeless and in the care of the alpha firefighter that rescued them, Riley is angry at the situation and conflicted by his feelings for their “savior”, Logan. Eight years ago, Logan thought he’d found his fated mate, but when the love of his life simply disappeared, Logan closed himself off from the idea of an HEA and kept a distance from omegas except during his quarterly Crave. So when he finds himself attracted to Riley and invested in his family’s well-being, he’s shaken but willing to see where it goes.
The story starts of pretty promising—Riley is kind, engaging and fun despite being harried and overly-worried about his pill of a sister. Unfortunately, after Riley and Logan meet, Riley becomes an insufferable, screeching harridan that overreacts to EVERYTHING. At first Riley’s anger is understandable (even if misplaced), but then he continues to blow up at Logan, who, bless him, does his best to stay level-headed. Out of all the characters, Logan is the most fleshed out (of somewhat one-dimensional characters), while his sister Tori is the most interesting. Logan is “one of the good ones”, and is aware of his privilege as an alpha and willing to apologize when he puts his foot in his mouth making assumptions. He bends over backwards to make Riley happy…and that’s his character. Tori is an activist, smart, as accomplished as an omega is allowed to be, and I honestly 1) wanted to spend more time with her than Logan and Riley and 2) really wanted to know what she saw in Raelyn because her depiction is mostly entitled and rude bordering on mean.
Logan and Riley’s relationship is basically insta-love and a roller-coaster of Riley being pissed and then fine so there isn’t any much development or character arcs, and there just wasn’t anything in the story unique or engaging for me. Also, fated matings are mentioned but it's never made clear whether or not Logan and Riley are fated mates or if they actually exist in-universe. As a debut effort, particularly for an omegaverse story, it’s fine, just not my cuppa.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Gay Romance Reviews.
Omegaverse can be a bit hit or miss for me, but the blurb sounded interesting so I figured I’d give it a go. Unfortunately, “Playing With Fire” just wasn’t for me. It’s standard non-shifter a/b/o fare with omegas being second class citizens with no rights and basically fleshlights and incubators for alphas. Since his omega father was sent to prison for murdering his alpha parent, Riley has been doing his best to take care of his 3 yo son, Benji and his angry, headstrong sister, Raelyn. When a fire at his apartment building leaves them homeless and in the care of the alpha firefighter that rescued them, Riley is angry at the situation and conflicted by his feelings for their “savior”, Logan. Eight years ago, Logan thought he’d found his fated mate, but when the love of his life simply disappeared, Logan closed himself off from the idea of an HEA and kept a distance from omegas except during his quarterly Crave. So when he finds himself attracted to Riley and invested in his family’s well-being, he’s shaken but willing to see where it goes.
The story starts of pretty promising—Riley is kind, engaging and fun despite being harried and overly-worried about his pill of a sister. Unfortunately, after Riley and Logan meet, Riley becomes an insufferable, screeching harridan that overreacts to EVERYTHING. At first Riley’s anger is understandable (even if misplaced), but then he continues to blow up at Logan, who, bless him, does his best to stay level-headed. Out of all the characters, Logan is the most fleshed out (of somewhat one-dimensional characters), while his sister Tori is the most interesting. Logan is “one of the good ones”, and is aware of his privilege as an alpha and willing to apologize when he puts his foot in his mouth making assumptions. He bends over backwards to make Riley happy…and that’s his character. Tori is an activist, smart, as accomplished as an omega is allowed to be, and I honestly 1) wanted to spend more time with her than Logan and Riley and 2) really wanted to know what she saw in Raelyn because her depiction is mostly entitled and rude bordering on mean.
Logan and Riley’s relationship is basically insta-love and a roller-coaster of Riley being pissed and then fine so there isn’t
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Gay Romance Reviews.
June 27, 2021
I received an ARC copy of this book, for an honest review.
At first glance, this book has everything I want to read. I love A/B/O and mpreg, so this seemed right up my alley. The premise of this book is a good one.
Riley, an Omega, is a father to an almost three-year-old and is also taking care of his younger sister. He is working two jobs to make ends meet. Logan is a hunky Alpha firefighter, and they meet when Logan saves Riley and his son from a fire, that leaves them homeless.
What I love about the A/B/O world is author’s can put their own spin on things, and this author does that. This A/B/O society is not very Omega rights forward, and before the hospital will even release Riley, he must be under an Alpha’s “care”. Logan feeling a pull towards Riley, offers to let him stay in his home, and be under his care, so he can be released.
However, there were several things in this book that made it hard for me to get through it. The author’s terms used to describe Alpha and Omega’s dad, didn’t read well to me. At first, I wondered if it was something that got missed in editing, and then I realized it was just how they were referred to in this book’s world. It was clunky on the tongue, and in my head reading it. That’s a personal preference, and doesn’t take away from the storyline, or the writing.
What did take away from the story, for me, was the MC Riley. He was all over the place with his emotions and reactions. I felt like I was getting a strong case of whiplash! His reactions to things were so unpredictable, and not warranted for the situations, it made it really hard for me to like him. If it had just been a case of being a brat, I would have eaten that up. I’m all about bratty boys. This was not the case. Riley was just an emotional roller coaster of a ride, and I wanted off.
The steam factor was high, but the characters and story were a bit all over the place. This book had the potential to be really good, but for me, it just didn’t quite reach the mark.
At first glance, this book has everything I want to read. I love A/B/O and mpreg, so this seemed right up my alley. The premise of this book is a good one.
Riley, an Omega, is a father to an almost three-year-old and is also taking care of his younger sister. He is working two jobs to make ends meet. Logan is a hunky Alpha firefighter, and they meet when Logan saves Riley and his son from a fire, that leaves them homeless.
What I love about the A/B/O world is author’s can put their own spin on things, and this author does that. This A/B/O society is not very Omega rights forward, and before the hospital will even release Riley, he must be under an Alpha’s “care”. Logan feeling a pull towards Riley, offers to let him stay in his home, and be under his care, so he can be released.
However, there were several things in this book that made it hard for me to get through it. The author’s terms used to describe Alpha and Omega’s dad, didn’t read well to me. At first, I wondered if it was something that got missed in editing, and then I realized it was just how they were referred to in this book’s world. It was clunky on the tongue, and in my head reading it. That’s a personal preference, and doesn’t take away from the storyline, or the writing.
What did take away from the story, for me, was the MC Riley. He was all over the place with his emotions and reactions. I felt like I was getting a strong case of whiplash! His reactions to things were so unpredictable, and not warranted for the situations, it made it really hard for me to like him. If it had just been a case of being a brat, I would have eaten that up. I’m all about bratty boys. This was not the case. Riley was just an emotional roller coaster of a ride, and I wanted off.
The steam factor was high, but the characters and story were a bit all over the place. This book had the potential to be really good, but for me, it just didn’t quite reach the mark.
July 5, 2021
This book is about a young single omega raising his 2-year-old son and 18-year-old sister after his abusive alcoholic alpha father was murdered by his omega father, who did so in self defense and was sentenced to over two decades in prison. In the world of this book, omegas don't have the same rights and opportunities as alphas, have far less job options, and can't even drive a car without an alpha present. Riley works as a maid by day and a stripper by night so that he can support his family and his teenage sister can finish high school and go to nursing school. The alpha who fathered his child abandoned him, and he has a distrust for alphas who assert superiority over omega's rights and wants.
Logan is a firefighter and meets Riley saving him and his son when his apartment building is on fire. He is immediately attracted to him, and because the hospital will only release an omega into an alpha's custody, offers to let Riley, his son, and his sister stay with him until they find a new place to live.
The world of this book is interesting- there's a lot of inequality and I think it would be really interesting in future books fighting that injustice and gaining equal rights for omegas. As much as I hate the way they are treated, it makes the story interesting. As for the relationship between Riley and Logan, I liked it once it solidified. It seemed very back and forth at first. Riley is not happy being forced to rely on Logan (legally), but still wants him in spite of his cold attitude towards him. Logan moves really fast- faster than I think Riley (or anyone really)would have been comfortable with. Then a wall comes up between them. Then they get close, then another wall. A little like a yo-yo, but once they finally commit, which seems like a long time later, but is actually a short time, the overall feel of things is smoother. There are some twists and turns plot-wise that I didn't foresee that was a nice surprise. A happy ending that I really enjoyed.
Pretty good book. 3 stars.
Logan is a firefighter and meets Riley saving him and his son when his apartment building is on fire. He is immediately attracted to him, and because the hospital will only release an omega into an alpha's custody, offers to let Riley, his son, and his sister stay with him until they find a new place to live.
The world of this book is interesting- there's a lot of inequality and I think it would be really interesting in future books fighting that injustice and gaining equal rights for omegas. As much as I hate the way they are treated, it makes the story interesting. As for the relationship between Riley and Logan, I liked it once it solidified. It seemed very back and forth at first. Riley is not happy being forced to rely on Logan (legally), but still wants him in spite of his cold attitude towards him. Logan moves really fast- faster than I think Riley (or anyone really)would have been comfortable with. Then a wall comes up between them. Then they get close, then another wall. A little like a yo-yo, but once they finally commit, which seems like a long time later, but is actually a short time, the overall feel of things is smoother. There are some twists and turns plot-wise that I didn't foresee that was a nice surprise. A happy ending that I really enjoyed.
Pretty good book. 3 stars.
June 27, 2021
*3.5*
This is my first read from this author and I enjoyed the story overall. It had a great premise and I liked the characters involved. The alpha/omega component is a little darker than normal with the history of the way omega's are treated and the rights that they don't have compared to the alpha's in regards to all aspects of their lives.
Logan comes into Riley's life when he rescues him and his son from a burning building. While recovering in hospital, it's decided that Riley, his son and sister will all go and stay with Logan as he has to be released into an alphas care. While there, it's a constant battle with himself as to his feelings for the attractive alpha. They clearly have a connection but Riley isn't sure whether to trust himself or Logan going forward. The heat is hot between the two men, when they allow it and Logan is completely adorable in how tongue tied he gets trying to talk to Riley, trying to let the omega know how he feels without pressuring him as alphas are known to do.
While this story is an entertaining read and has a good relationship that develops between Logan and Riley, one thing that kept me thinking was the bits of story that seemed to drop off or felt unfinished. There is quite a big revelation from Logan's past that then disappears until near to the end and it just left me thinking that would never happen, not with two big things coming from the same source that affects both men's futures. Little things kept pulling me back from becoming fully immersed in the story, such as how Riley flips between saying yes and pulling back from Logan. I can totally understand given Riley's history and omega's history overall but it is over any thing that happened.
There's a good mix of highs and lows across the story and some surprises that catch the MC's off guard but they all work their way towards a hard fought for HEA.
I received an ARC via GRR and am happily giving a review.
This is my first read from this author and I enjoyed the story overall. It had a great premise and I liked the characters involved. The alpha/omega component is a little darker than normal with the history of the way omega's are treated and the rights that they don't have compared to the alpha's in regards to all aspects of their lives.
Logan comes into Riley's life when he rescues him and his son from a burning building. While recovering in hospital, it's decided that Riley, his son and sister will all go and stay with Logan as he has to be released into an alphas care. While there, it's a constant battle with himself as to his feelings for the attractive alpha. They clearly have a connection but Riley isn't sure whether to trust himself or Logan going forward. The heat is hot between the two men, when they allow it and Logan is completely adorable in how tongue tied he gets trying to talk to Riley, trying to let the omega know how he feels without pressuring him as alphas are known to do.
While this story is an entertaining read and has a good relationship that develops between Logan and Riley, one thing that kept me thinking was the bits of story that seemed to drop off or felt unfinished. There is quite a big revelation from Logan's past that then disappears until near to the end and it just left me thinking that would never happen, not with two big things coming from the same source that affects both men's futures. Little things kept pulling me back from becoming fully immersed in the story, such as how Riley flips between saying yes and pulling back from Logan. I can totally understand given Riley's history and omega's history overall but it is over any thing that happened.
There's a good mix of highs and lows across the story and some surprises that catch the MC's off guard but they all work their way towards a hard fought for HEA.
I received an ARC via GRR and am happily giving a review.
July 1, 2021
I'm new to the Omegaverse and so it seems is James Thorne, because my understanding is that this is their first book ever so congratulations on that. I have no understanding however of the Omegaverse and so only review the book as a whole, not the story.
The book, and story, over all isn't bad; it has good bones and the planning has obviously been put in by James Thorne. There was a vision and it was followed just sometimes it went a bit wonky and too many ideas all rushed into the melting pot together.
I liked both main characters; they both have good and bad qualities but also I found that they were both rather changeable throughout the chapters. Sometimes they would be strong and independent, next they would needy and vulnerable for no apparent reason. I'm unclear as to whether this relates to the Omegaverse or of this is a nuance of JT's writing, but I'm inclined to think that this was down to writing in this case unfortunately. The chemistry between them though is well written, particularly the first kitchen scene. Well done JT.
There's a full secondary cast to support the main characters, and these are used extensively throughout the book. Unfortunately I'm not sure they always have the right tone but they are good characters in their own right.
Whilst I really enjoyed this book and it has some really good scenes, there are also some poor bits that could use some further attention. There are some continuity errors that a beta read should have picked up and also some obvious word errors; whilst not affecting the story they do point the story towards the wrong person in that sentence.
So in short I liked this book and recommend that you give it a try; it's going to be part of a series and I look forward to the second. It's been my introduction to the Omegaverse and I'll read more in that trope. xx
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and provide my honest review voluntarily
The book, and story, over all isn't bad; it has good bones and the planning has obviously been put in by James Thorne. There was a vision and it was followed just sometimes it went a bit wonky and too many ideas all rushed into the melting pot together.
I liked both main characters; they both have good and bad qualities but also I found that they were both rather changeable throughout the chapters. Sometimes they would be strong and independent, next they would needy and vulnerable for no apparent reason. I'm unclear as to whether this relates to the Omegaverse or of this is a nuance of JT's writing, but I'm inclined to think that this was down to writing in this case unfortunately. The chemistry between them though is well written, particularly the first kitchen scene. Well done JT.
There's a full secondary cast to support the main characters, and these are used extensively throughout the book. Unfortunately I'm not sure they always have the right tone but they are good characters in their own right.
Whilst I really enjoyed this book and it has some really good scenes, there are also some poor bits that could use some further attention. There are some continuity errors that a beta read should have picked up and also some obvious word errors; whilst not affecting the story they do point the story towards the wrong person in that sentence.
So in short I liked this book and recommend that you give it a try; it's going to be part of a series and I look forward to the second. It's been my introduction to the Omegaverse and I'll read more in that trope. xx
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and provide my honest review voluntarily
June 27, 2021
Playing with Fire is an easy read with a little bit of angst and a whole lot of love. While it includes a lot of elements found in omegaverse stories, it also has a few new additions to keep things interesting and differentiate this world from others.
From the moment Logan rescues Riley and his son from an apartment building fire, it’s game on for these two. They both have their own reservations about relationships, but their connection is so strong that they often find themselves pushing them to the side to be with each other. Once they overcame their hangups, their connection was sweet, steamy and really genuine.
I really enjoyed that Logan wasn’t your typical Alpha, especially the typical Alpha in this world that James Thorne has created. He was open minded, supportive of whatever Riley wanted to do and outspoken about the injustices omegas faced in their society. Logan was also genuinely sweet, patient and loving, even when things got tough/complicated. I thought Riley was a bit of a wishy-washy character, but I think a lot of that comes from him having to put his wants/needs aside to care for his son and sister for so many years. He’s still trying to figure out who he is and what makes him happy, so his
The twists and complications with both of their families kept things interesting and made me want to read faster to see how it would all work out. Both of their families ended up changing a lot throughout the story and seeing them deal with those changes (mostly) together was really heartwarming.
There were a lot of side characters in this story that were great comedic relief (Raelyn and Tori, the epitome of sweetness (Benji and Kaleb) and epic supporters of their friends/family (Tanner). They all really added layers of complexity to the story and I’m hoping to see an HEA for Tanner in a future James Thorne story!
From the moment Logan rescues Riley and his son from an apartment building fire, it’s game on for these two. They both have their own reservations about relationships, but their connection is so strong that they often find themselves pushing them to the side to be with each other. Once they overcame their hangups, their connection was sweet, steamy and really genuine.
I really enjoyed that Logan wasn’t your typical Alpha, especially the typical Alpha in this world that James Thorne has created. He was open minded, supportive of whatever Riley wanted to do and outspoken about the injustices omegas faced in their society. Logan was also genuinely sweet, patient and loving, even when things got tough/complicated. I thought Riley was a bit of a wishy-washy character, but I think a lot of that comes from him having to put his wants/needs aside to care for his son and sister for so many years. He’s still trying to figure out who he is and what makes him happy, so his
The twists and complications with both of their families kept things interesting and made me want to read faster to see how it would all work out. Both of their families ended up changing a lot throughout the story and seeing them deal with those changes (mostly) together was really heartwarming.
There were a lot of side characters in this story that were great comedic relief (Raelyn and Tori, the epitome of sweetness (Benji and Kaleb) and epic supporters of their friends/family (Tanner). They all really added layers of complexity to the story and I’m hoping to see an HEA for Tanner in a future James Thorne story!
July 5, 2021
I have to confess MPREG books are always hit and miss for me because often authors write them like they are MF books and just call both MCs a he. this book felt a bit like that for me .
Being the debut novel for this author, it was an ok book. But it could have been much better if the author would have developed the world a bit better - there were some really interesting ideas there.
nevertheless, it could have been a good read but I just couldn't connect with Riley. we did not learn anything about his past (so who was his alpha then and how did the relationship developed) which would have helped to understand his hot-and-cold attitude towards Logan
furthermore I had real troubles with his reactions - especially when he learned who Logans Dad was. this reaction was for me totally wrong and made any chemistry and feelings between these two unrealistic.
all in all his reactions were totally over the top and not really undertandable for me.
the author could have explained a lot of the behavior between Logan and Riley with fated mates - a concept which he introduced in the book but never really used. It was unclear for me till the end if that is something which happens in this universe or not.
another thing which really bugged me was Kendall - he just contacted Logan to tell him that he has cancer and will die in the next weeks/month and that Logan has to take care of Kaleb
but after that we don't see any interactions between them. I would expect of Logan that he wants to meet Kaleb and get to know him. but nothing ...
so all in all it was an ok read which had a lot of potential but did not really use it. Hopefully the author will develop this universe a bit more for the next book
an ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
Being the debut novel for this author, it was an ok book. But it could have been much better if the author would have developed the world a bit better - there were some really interesting ideas there.
nevertheless, it could have been a good read but I just couldn't connect with Riley. we did not learn anything about his past (so who was his alpha then and how did the relationship developed) which would have helped to understand his hot-and-cold attitude towards Logan
furthermore I had real troubles with his reactions - especially when he learned who Logans Dad was. this reaction was for me totally wrong and made any chemistry and feelings between these two unrealistic.
all in all his reactions were totally over the top and not really undertandable for me.
the author could have explained a lot of the behavior between Logan and Riley with fated mates - a concept which he introduced in the book but never really used. It was unclear for me till the end if that is something which happens in this universe or not.
another thing which really bugged me was Kendall - he just contacted Logan to tell him that he has cancer and will die in the next weeks/month and that Logan has to take care of Kaleb
but after that we don't see any interactions between them. I would expect of Logan that he wants to meet Kaleb and get to know him. but nothing ...
so all in all it was an ok read which had a lot of potential but did not really use it. Hopefully the author will develop this universe a bit more for the next book
an ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2021
James Thorne's debut novel Playing with Fire is a swoon-worthy omegaverse with amazing characters and all the feels one would look for in a romance. The story was innovative and sweet along with a little angst. It's one of those stories that once you start reading you never want to put it down.
As an omega, Riley and his sister have had it rough. They've struggled to make ends meet since a horrible incident took his o-dad away and they were left to take care of themselves. Riley is working two jobs when an apartment fire takes everything they have. When firefighter Logan rescues Riley and his baby Benji from the fire everything changes. Logan, the alpha, is drawn to Riley from the beginning. Riley, although he won't admit is drawn as well, but his pride gets in the way. He doesn't want an alpha to take care of any of them because they were doing fine on their own. Riley has a sour taste in his mouth for all alphas, but the more time he spends with Logan, the more he can't deny the attraction. The love affair begins and along the way, they fall for each other.
When Riley meets Logan's A-dad, he gets furious and leaves with Benji to stay with his friend Tanner. Logan is heartbroken because he doesn't know if he'll get him back. Things happen and Logan starts his Crave period but can Riley forget what he knows to get back to Logan in time to help him through his Crave? Can they last forever?
I am not a huge fan of omegaverse, but James Thorne made me gain a new respect for it. I look forward to the rest of the characters getting their stories told. This is a great start to an amazing series.
I received this ARC for an honest review from Gay Romance Reviews.
As an omega, Riley and his sister have had it rough. They've struggled to make ends meet since a horrible incident took his o-dad away and they were left to take care of themselves. Riley is working two jobs when an apartment fire takes everything they have. When firefighter Logan rescues Riley and his baby Benji from the fire everything changes. Logan, the alpha, is drawn to Riley from the beginning. Riley, although he won't admit is drawn as well, but his pride gets in the way. He doesn't want an alpha to take care of any of them because they were doing fine on their own. Riley has a sour taste in his mouth for all alphas, but the more time he spends with Logan, the more he can't deny the attraction. The love affair begins and along the way, they fall for each other.
When Riley meets Logan's A-dad, he gets furious and leaves with Benji to stay with his friend Tanner. Logan is heartbroken because he doesn't know if he'll get him back. Things happen and Logan starts his Crave period but can Riley forget what he knows to get back to Logan in time to help him through his Crave? Can they last forever?
I am not a huge fan of omegaverse, but James Thorne made me gain a new respect for it. I look forward to the rest of the characters getting their stories told. This is a great start to an amazing series.
I received this ARC for an honest review from Gay Romance Reviews.
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