Omega's Choice

by L.C. Davis, Joel Abernathy

An alpha who gave up everything to heed the call to battle, and the omega who refused to wait for him...

When Emmett left, he shattered my heart. It took me years to put the broken pieces back together, and now he's back, acting like he can just pick up where he left off.

The pack might still recognize him as its rightful leader, but if he thinks it's going to work with me, he's dead wrong. I'm not fragile, lovesick boy he abandoned without a care.

But as much as I try to push him away, there's something about him that still gets under my skin. Something that simmers like heat and aches like love, but one night--one moment of weakness--results in a consequence that could bind us both forever.

Now I'm the one who has to choose between the family I've always wanted and the life I've build without him?

If Emmett wants me, he's going to have to prove it. And this time, I'm not going to make it easy for him.

-

Omega's Choice is a second chance mpreg shifter romance between a possessive alphahole warrior and an omega with an MD who isn't going to take any of his BS. Prepare for high angst, high heat, and strong pack and family dynamics, with each story in the series focusing on a different couple's journey.

Genres: Omegaverse, M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Second Chance, Romance, Paranormal, Werewolves

363 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2022

About the author

Hi! I'm L.C. Davis, author of The Mountain Shifters Series, Queer Magick and the upcoming Great Plains Shifters series. I write MPREG and M/M fantasy.

I love hearing from readers, so feel free to reach out here on Goodreads or via email at author@lcdavisbooks.com!

Reviews

[Shawn Cha · Rating 1 out of 5]

yeah I couldn’t

I couldn’t finish the book. It was just so annoying to read. Probably isn’t for me.
You meet bishop who’s an omega and has his childhood sweetheart emmett.
When Emmet leaves bishop at the alter to choose a different path he gave literally no good reason why he was going to leave bishop and everything they built together on. His excuse was to have each other experience more of what life has to offer them both since they’re both so young. Meaning he wants to see other options like in life and people and if they’re really meant to be together they’ll come back after they’ve both experienced it all. How selfish and ignorant can you be? And the fact that Bishop even takes him back, like have some self respect. He left you and not even for a good reason. You’ve both slept with other people so obviously the relationship will never be the same again.
Worst part is that bishop had to change himself entirely just to not fit into the whole stereotype and in the end he goes back to what he tried so hard not to be. Like how is that even progressive? Your an addict, ironically and a doctor you should seek some psychological help. Your both different people now with different paths. You should’ve found someone who actually appreciate, loves, and values you. Who knows what he has and not until he doesn’t anymore.
I don’t like this book because it shows that people are weak and always sub-comes to old feelings. Move on, there are a million other alpha or whatever you like out there and if you gave them half a chance you’d probably would’ve found someone who could love you better than Emmet could’ve. Emmet made his choice and he should lie in it.
People just don’t respect themselves.

[Lyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ooof, this was a hard one to read. Clearly, this was an overall reflection of women’s suffrage in an MM book, but I don’t think it landed the way the author probably intended. At least, not for me. Alpha Emmett, after abandoning his mate with zero warning or explanation, never really apologizes for the treatment of his omega, Bishop. That alone was enough for me to never feel good about him. But add to that he comes back to the pack after almost a decade away, actively questioning an Omega’s place on the council, saying omegas don’t “want” to work and shouldn’t, assuming they all want to be homemakers. Okay, clearly he hasn’t learned anything in his time away. But then not using protection during their first sexual encounter after he returns? Gross, gross, grossss. I really, really didn’t like his character. His actions were irredeemable and then he took so long to even try to be redeemed, I didn’t buy it when it happened. It felt undeserved. I loved Bishop at first, but I felt he should have stayed strong in his feelings and was far too easily swayed by lust. He gave in to the hormonal urges and paid the price. This story, for me, was not a pretty picture to try to pretend was based on love. Lust, sure…I believed they loved each other in the first chapter, but I never believed it again. I just felt irritated by Emmett’s behavior and Bishop’s weakness. In the end, I was disappointed by this book, because it felt like it accidentally glorified sexism and supported patriarchal ideals while masquerading as progressive. The ending felt so rushed, that even though the main character seemed “redeemed”, it didn’t feel real or natural. Too much of the book was spent with him supporting the idea that omegas weren’t worthy of positions of power or jobs outside the home (women, does this sound familiar?). Emmett doesn’t just suddenly get a free pass because he loves an omega and wants what’s best for that single omega. Where was his concern and care for other omegas before that? It felt so fake, and forced, to assume forgiveness of these opinions and actions in such a a short time and with so little actual work by Emmett. The prose itself was well written and the characters were well developed, even if not in the way I could enjoy in the end. The whole book just reeked of our current political climate of those in charge being men who see no issue with dictating the lives of the “more vulnerable class” “for their own good”. And then in the last 5% they see the light because they love one of that class? I don’t buy it one bit. And the council was still disbanded? Omegas careers and right to vote are still at risk? I am giving this 2 stars because it was well written, and I’m hopeful for future installments to be a little more gracefully executed with more respectable characters….but overall this book just made me feel sad.

[Janet (iamltr) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yall...

Ok so, while I loved the story about an omega who was rejected in front of the whole pack getting back up and making a life for himself and daring to push back on the whole "alphas control everything" crapola, I had many issues with this one.

In here we have Bishop, who from an early age loved and sexed up Emmett, the golden alpha. On the day that Emmett was supposed to declare their mating, Emmett instead said nah, and threw Bishop away. He didn't give a crap about how much hurt and damage he did. Cause alphas, amiright?

Still, Bishop thought that maybe he would get a letter, call, something, but nope. Emmett ghosted him and was living his best life.

Bishop, though only a omega, picked himself up and went to an out of state medical school, and became the first omega doctor. Then he fights hard and actually becomes a member of the wolf council, an unheard of triumph.

Emmett with help from the old regime of the pack, does a coup and disbanded the council to become a pack leader of old. Goodbye all those hard fought omega rights, eh?

I hate Emmett and wanted nothing more than for Bishop to get away. I did not buy that ending at all, and I guess everyone was right in that once an omega gets mated, all the other things will go away. Cause that's what happened here. Did Bishop try to fight it? Yea, but that darn heat was triggered by the alpha so you know, its baby time.

The only reason this got 3 stars was just because of all Bishop did prior to becoming just another mated omega.

[Lilly [Hiatus due to School] · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been over a year since I read a new omegaverse story by L.C. Davis (Joel Abernathy), so I was super excited for Omega's choice!

We have the story of Emmett, an alpha and Bishop, an omega, who are childhood sweethearts. Just before Emmett is to take his place in the pack, he literally abandons Bishop to join the military. They become estranged, and as Bishop is nursing a broken heart, he decides to pursue medicine. Seven years has past and Emmett returns to his pack to take his place as the heir.

The world that this omegaverse series is set in, while it is modern-day, Omegas are seen as the equivalent of women in the 1940s-1950s. Their place is in the home, they are delicate, can not lead, are good for homemaking, etc. Even when Emmett returns, he is shocked to see Bishop as a doctor and a member of the pack council (the first Omega).

There are changes, but a portion of the pack wants to return to the old ways. As the future leader of the pack (and one who still harbours some traditionalist thinking), he is faced with the choice of ensuring the progression of rights or losing Bishop if he listens to alphas and betas who want to go back to the old ways.

Without getting too much into details Bishop and Emmett manage to reconcile as their love for one another did not fade during their separation. Despite the anger and hurt (on Bishop's end) and the guilt and regret (on Emmett's end), they realise they are not the children they once were and try once again.

This story has an overarching theme of fighting for rights and ensuring Omegas continue to have autonomy, marriage and reproductive rights. I did not like Emmett for a good portion of the story. He was frustrating character that I wanted shake some sense into him. While he is redeemed in the end, I felt it was rushed as well. He has a lot of making up for how he broke Bishop's heart.

Overall I enjoyed this story! L.C. Davis is one click writer, and I am interested in the direction he will take this series in. His "Mountain Shifters" series was one of the most fantastic omegaverse series I have ever read in terms of the world-building, characters, romance, politics, themes, and how it reflected both women's and Transgender/Non-binary people fight for their rights (Can't recommend it enough). So I have high hopes for this series and can't wait for what is to come!

[Greads · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book pissed me off. So many things were just left unresolved.

[Jesslan Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omega's Choice
By L.C. Davis

As teenagers and into their early 20's Emmet and Bishop have their life planned out together. Emmet has always had his heart set on running the pack with Bishop as his mate and at his side. But when it comes time to affirm his plans for the future in front of the pack he chooses a different road shocking not only the pack, but his parents, Bishop, and Bishop's family, leaving Bishop heartbroken and the object of gossip and petty comments and insults while Emmet takes off for parts unknown.

After they saw each other again, 7 years later, I felt the book went downhill from there. For starters, Emmet's behavior before the shocking turn was always honorable, fair, and protective of the pack, and of Bishop. However, when Emmet returned his behavior and stance on pack politics was not honorable or in his packs best interest. Furthermore he was constantly belittling not only the choices Bishop made in his life after he was abandoned by Emmet, but also choices the omegas in his pack have made for their own lives, as well as railing against the necessity of the pack counsel. His comments making him appear as a wannabe dictator. He was also brutally cutting in his comments and behavior towards Bishop while at the same time wanting to get back together with him.

After Emmet's return Bishop was still the honorable man he'd always been despite Emmet ruthlessly cutting him down left and right. But I was very disappointed that Bishop's mouth was saying one thing yet his actions saying another. IMHO The ending was disappointing and rushed as well.

My biggest disappointments in the ending are when Bishop gets pregnant they don't get mated for the right reasons. They get mated as a means to solve a pack problem. And though they say they love each other I certainly didn't feel that love in any way. Second, the other serious pack issues that came up regarding the disolving of the pack council were not addressed. Nor were they resolved at the end. I felt the ending left those problems open-ended with you seeing some serious trainwreck worthy issues heading their way in the future from the conniving pack members who helped Emmet disolve the pack council to begin with. It also infuriated me that while Emmet finally came to his senses later on in realizing that the council spoke for those who could not speak for themselves (i.e. omegas, etc) he DID NOTHING TO FIX THAT MISTAKE and left his packs omegas, etc in a very precarious situation regarding their past choices of having a career, etc and for their futures.

I've read the Mountain Shifters series by LC Davis and several of Joel Abernathy's books as well. They all had high angst with severe heartbreak and betrayal yet were all concluded very satisfactorily. (Except one of the MS books.) By this I basically mean concluded satisfactorily without the wronged MC being a complete doormat to get to that HEA. But this book was very disappointing in it's ending especially given how much I love both authors writings.

[yaishin · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is everything that's wrong with second chance romances and society in general. also I'm personally someone who bucks religion and tradition so Bishop just bowing down and giving up years of hard work to end up doing exactly what the haters wanted just pisses me off. and to make it worse the book made it seem like Emmett letting Bishop work after the baby made everything better. no it's not. the fact that he has to let Bishop do anything at all just proves my point.

and okay fine he got to keep his career but what about the other omegas he let down without a second thought.

basically what this book is telling me is that omegas only want to be independent as long as they cannot make a family. when they do they don't feel the need to be independent anymore. what bull.

neither the writing nor the storyline was nearly good enough for me to forgive Emmett for even a single second.

also what was up with the magical gifts that were mentioned briefly during the first couple of chapters.

[Kendra Patterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC received from GRR for an honest review.

Bishop and Emmett are sweethearts. On the day that Emmett is to become a full member of the pack (weird that you have to be 21 to be a full member) he picks the life of a soldier over being the next alpha and Bishop's mate. Bishop is completely taken by surprise and crushed. While Emmett is gone Bishop decides to pursue his dreams and goes to med school. Fast forward seven years and Emmett is home and surprised that his father's new doctor is Bishop. Emmett is ready to be the new alpha but his first order is to challenge the council about the need for the council and omega's supposedly being put in positions that they don't want to be in. Emmett and his followers are trying to put the pack back into traditional ways, not caring that it's pushing Bishop back into a subservient position that he doesn't want. Will Bishop forgive Emmett for leaving him seven years ago?

I liked that Bishop didn't wait on Emmett and pursued his dream of being a doctor. I liked that his family supported him 100% and didn't treat him as less than because he is an omega. I didn't like Emmett at all, as he was an arrogant jerk that didn't respect Bishop. He ultimately looked at him as less than and that isn't an equal partnership. I didn't like that omega's had obtained some degree of respect and independence and then Emmett came back and reversed it because he thought it was best for the pack. It mirrored too closely to what is happening in our political clime today. It only takes one person with power to reverse progress and change and in this case it wasn't for the better. Not sure I want to read anything further in this series if this is where it's leading.

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not entertaining to read. I wonder what the author was thinking in writing this story. Emmet is an ignorant alpha who has no interest in learning about the needs of his pack. He is selfish for the entirety of the book and goes along with the “traditionalists” basically because it is self serving and supports his unspoken idea that he should be all powerful and not have a check on his power that the council could be. He never changes throughout the whole book. Even at the end when he is willing to not take up the alpha position, he does so because he doesn't want people to talk baldy about and to Bishop, not because he’s truly internalized the fact that abolishing the council which exists to protect minority rights was wrong and that he is an ignorant dickwad. His “enlightenment” at the end comes across as being disingenuous. He has the thoughts but his actions don’t reflect those thoughts. He does nothing to undo the harm he has caused by leaving the pack the way he did and then coming back the way he did and siding with the "Traditionalists". “Traditionalists” don’t like to give up power which is why they have to be forced. Emmet shows no signs that he understands this and no willingness to act on it.

Bishop was a total disappointment of a character. He starts off strong but everything changes when he gets pregnant. Then he switch personalities and basically just gives Emmet everything he wants. Even though Emmet doesn't ask him to give up being a doctor, it’s not clear that Bishop would draw a line in the sand if Emmet did ask him to do so. Bishop ends up being a pushover and a total waste if ink. It was fucking frustrating to read.

Sometimes a series starts off this way and things are put to rights as the series progresses. Unfortunately, I see no indication that this will be the case with this series and I’m so irritated with story that I might be putting this author on my permanent ignore list. At the least, I suggest that people bothered by the things I've mentioned in my review hold off reading this story until at least a second book in the series is available. Hopefully a second book in the series will show if the author understands the wrongs that need to be corrected or if the author is just clueless and not worth you’re time.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Let’s say I had trouble to review, I changed it more than once, I want to make clear I loved the story but also had moments I wanted to scream. So I liked the story very, on the other hand, there were moments, where I hoped for more or something different.
It was a read that touched and point out the polarized world we live in. For me, it felt at times more like a political read than a romantic one. For a fictional story, I hoped for more drama, less reasonableness or decency.
Omg, I sound horrible. Lol.

The focus here was on the situation of the omega, in real life the part of the title ‘omega’s’ could be about any of the oppressed people in the world: women, Black people, the LGBTQ+ community. It was so palpable.
The progressive ones and the traditional ones. Dissolving rights by the traditional ones. Ugh, UGH!

I had to keep my head straight because I got angry. Most of the time I didn’t like Emmett. Say things and acting on them are two different things, and he failed.

“Omegas weren’t good enough by the simple virtue of being omegas in the first place.”

The story is about making decisions and dealing with the consequences, about second chances, and love can overcome everything.

Finally, at the very last minute, there’s a change, Emmett really changed. Still, silly me, I wanted him on his knees, crawling through the dust, yes I’m horrible, not in real life but in the fictional one.

I missed some deeper emotional connections, I mean the ones you feel in your bones and play with your heartstrings. It’s more about decency.
Communicative the story is strong, the author has a good vocabulary and knows how to put dialogues and monologues on paper. Bow!

I’m afraid my review makes no sense, so in short… I was glued to this story, the content was really good, the dialogues were splendid, the emotional side somewhat less.
A recommendation is worthy!

Ps: Read the blurb for the content

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally felt heartbroken 💔 for Emmett!! What I loved about Emmet was despite everything that happened was how strong he was and how he decided to pick himself up and start a new beginning that no other omega in their pack did.
Bishop didn't rate well with me, even coming back to the pack he seemed selfish even to the point to humiliate 😡 Emmett in front of the pack. He wanted to bring the pack back to traditional ways instead of the advancements they started in the pack while he was in the military. Bishop seem to want to bring the the omegas back to being only a womb for alpha's offspring. In the end he understood how important Emmet's job was to him but what about all the other omegas in the pack!?!?
Don't get me wrong I loved 🥰 the book, just not Emmet 😤 necessarily. 😂

[Poppy || Monster Lover · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so frustrated for 90% of this book. Emmett was such an asshole multiple times and undermined Bishop in every way possible. Sure, he did some groveling and stuff, but there should have been a big ass pack presentation. Bishop deserved so much better.

Spice: 3/5

Triggers: prejudice against social group, war (off page), sibling death (past), pregnancy and delivery, sexual harassment, parent illness

[Marsh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'll be honest, if there is one thing I dislike in books it's when an oppressed person falls in love with someone who actively oppresses them, so you may ask, why in the hell read a book about something you hate?
And the answer is, I love L.C Davis's work and wanted to see how they went about it.
One thing this book confirmed for me is, I still hate it.

I think one of the major problems for me didn't even come from Emmett but from Bishop.
The problem is, he's full of shit.
He talks a strong game, and at the start, he had ticked all my boxes.
But Bishop doesn't actually do much of anything he promises to himself or the reader.
In the first council meeting where Emmette spat his hateful and harmful ideologies Bishop's reaction was massively disappointing.
Despite saying how angry he is with Emmett, he agrees to talk to him with almost no pushback, and then sleeps with him, all while Emmett is not only actively oppressing people, but telling Bishop he is not qualified for his job!

After sleeping with him he then at a party or whatever it was, agrees to talk to Emmett once more, rejects his advances,
only for it to all fall flat when he immediately forgives him when Emmett goes to his house.
It was barely even an apology too! he just said "Sorry about trying to fuck I thought you wanted it, BTW I wish you waited for me and also I still don't think Omega's should have any authority and that you are an incubator but I'm deffo not a tyrant because I don't support trafficking. Want to start over?"

And Bishop, being the submissive cardboard cut-out masquerading as the no-bullshit unconventional Omega he is, says yes!
Despite the fact Emmett still wants him and all Omega's to lose standing in society!!

I very heavily considered DNFing at this point. Because for all that could have Redeemed it, Bishop was exactly who he vehemently denied to everyone he was. He snarled and cursed only to fold like a deck of cards the second Emmett pushed back.
Just about the only thing Bishop doesn't do is take him back, but I was assuming that at this point, I'd probably get a good chapter or two
of resistance, before the pregnancy hormones took over and he batted his wide eyes and decided despite all reason, he was going to let Emmett back into his life.

Also around this point tells his sister Marty that he doesn't think Emmett is a creep. Hilarious as all his interactions with Emmett thus far have been
"I want you to leave me alone"
"I don't believe you, your delicate omega brain clearly wants alpha dick and you couldn't possibly succeed at your job because all Omega's know is home-keeping, having babies, and sex"

Nothing creepy here officer!! (Reminder that at the start of the book Bishop interacts with an Alpha on the council and his behaviour is almost exactly like Emmett's and Bishop thinks he's a total sleaze! ironic anyone?)

He tells his sister that he can't spend any more energy hating Emmett. Maybe I'm just old and bitter, but if there was a guy in my life
who was actively trying to take away my rights while simultaneously trying to have sex with me, I would at the least avoid them like the plague.
But not the 'independent omega' Bishop, who just decides he's going to be civil with the person who stripped him of his
authority in society and is sending Omega's rights back at least a decade, might as well make peace with it and do absolutely nothing to fight for the cause he has apparently been standing for this entire book.

Now I've been harsh on Bishop so far, and that's partly because I already knew what Emmett was going to be when I came here.
I admittedly didn't expect him to be the tyrannical traditionalist he is but hey, what's one more surprise.
Emmett is arrogant, selfish, and so prejudiced he makes Donald Trump look like a neutral party.
The only redeemable quality I've found in him is that he doesn't want Omega's to be on breeding farms,
and even then I feel with enough push he'd probably do it.

Emmett is upset (though he says he's understanding, despite the fact really, he understands nothing) when the Omega's around him
become uncomfortable, despite the fact he's fighting to take away their rights, and hopes that they understand
he, who has been privileged not only in gender but birthright since conception, knows what's best for them.

I understand what his father says when he says "You don't have to see eye to eye with someone to respect them"
but to me, it gives the same energy as when people say "We don't have to have the same politics for us to be friends"
which to that I say. If you want me to have any fewer rights than you do, then no, we can not be friends.

Despite being the hardcore traditionalist he is, Emmett immediately becomes sour when he has to take a Mate to become the leader.
Despite all that talk of Emmett no longer being a selfish kid, he is still very selfish. Sure when it's omega's who lose their rights,
it's for the best! Tradition is for a reason! but when he has to sacrifice his right to choose? well know he has a problem.
Wonder why.

And unlike I predicted, I didn't get one or two more chapters of resistance. I got one or two chapters of filler, and then Bishop immediately crumbled without any push at all from Emmett! I was at this point more...disgusted than anything else.
While Bishop was thinking "What the hell is wrong with me" I was screaming alongside him, what the hell is wrong with you!

So yeah Bishop kisses Emmett, and they fuck. Yay them I suppose.

By Chapter twenty-one I was almost certainly ready to close my tab,
re-read one of my old favourites to remind me why I love reading, post this review and wash my hands of it all.
But hey, I've gotten this far. Might as well see it through.

When Bishop tells his family about his relationship updates with Emmett they all speak the only rational conversation I've read almost this entire book, I felt the only satisfaction this book has given me while they were chewing Bishop out.
Bishop's Father, Marty and Nate may be the only characters who have working brains.
Nate only further won my favour when they revealed their relationship to the entirety of both families, to which he rightfully
acknowledges that Bishop is an idiot who is talking about spending the rest of his life with a guy who at this point
still has not taken back that he thinks Omega's should not be in places of power but also humiliated him on multiple occasions
and left him in the dust.

At the VERY VERY end of the book, Emmett suddenly decides Bishop should keep his job.
NO conversation about other Omega's who are still at risk,
but because he wants the best for this one Omega he decides he will stop oppressing Omega's, or at least this one.
I felt like there was no actual development leading up to this, but whatever.
In the end, Emmett is pack Alpha, Bishop is married and giving birth which has been his worst nightmare for 90% of the book, Emmett has no actual consequences for his actions at the start of the book except Bishop being mad at him for a little while.

I have no idea if the people who love this troupe would love this book,
but even on just a general level, I hated Emmett and Bishop as characters.

Bishop I felt was Weak-willed, and nothing that the book promises he will be. He is barely an activist and turns his back on all Omega's and rational thought because he's addicted to Emmett's pheromones or whatever.

And Emmett just did not develop enough at ALL for my tastes.
If his Omega's are people too realization happened halfway through, I could have forgiven it.
But the very last couple of chapters? insanity.

I think the killing blow for this book was that to me, I felt NO love between these two characters.
Lust? sure- boatloads.
But love? Intimacy? it was all shallow, hollow, and honestly just non-existent.

Now don't get me wrong, I still love L.C Davis and will one million percent be reading and supporting future works,
but this was just...not for me.

[Lexicdark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted this book to be more. It starts off with really good angst, but towards the end, it all kinda gets resolved...? I'm not a fan of the 'everything is fluffy and great and everyone means well' type stories. Not knockin' them, just not my favorite. This story doesn't start off that way and I was ready for all the drama. But then the end just kind of let all that drama go.

There were a bunch of questions still not answered, and unresolved story arcs. But I did not know that this would be a series, so I'm hoping some of that is resolved in the following book(s). But I liked the conflict and determination in Bishop. When you think your world is going one way, then suddenly is ripped away, it's hard to pick yourself up and start again. Then to have what is essentially the love of your life come back and take actions which will rip all your hardwork away? All the drama and tension.

Emmett for his part is trying to do the best he can with what he knows. But I found it disappointing that his time away from the pack didn't enlighten him to societal change the way school did for Bishop. Although I'm sure there might be some commentary in there that being in a regimented armed forces career isn't the best for challenging your 'norms'.

[Twentytoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ehhhhh

Good start then It becomes the same old quick-pace ABO "romances" here on KU. I was really hoping more with such a good start. It kinda makes my inner "girl boss" weep. I was hoping more conflict maybe some impowered speeches about gender role and the changing times before the inevitable get to together. And maybe some angry-sex? That would have been hot. But the story just skips all that. they instantly-mate and the story just sorta wilts and because "blessed mating moon magic" everything get clean up nicely and no one complains about ANYthing. Nice and clean, very Hallmark. If you are looking for some nice fluff this book is for you.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

promise wasted

New spin on the rejected mate theme, tries to show both the progressive omega and the hidebound alpha and the growth the two experience to meet in the middle.

First half is good, meaty and complex, last half the alpha didn’t do half as much digging or groveling for forgiveness, and it fell on the omega to be the adult and put the pack first. Though what’s stopping him from moving to a progressive pack or human town (apart from biological need for home, or some other mystical werewolf crap)?

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Omega's Choice by L.C. Davis. It's the first book in the Wild Hearts Shifters series. I liked Bishop and Emmett's story. I would have liked to see how Bishop was treated after returning to work after his pregnancy leave or if he even returned to work. The whole omega rights thread was left unresolved. That was the only reason the book didn't get five stars. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

[DD · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were good and not so good things about this book. I’m honestly a bit confused. Emmet is basically an intolerable character. His redeeming qualities are few and far between, but in all actuality are non existent. I’m assuming this is the first of a series because there was quite a bit left unanswered. Jarrod, Emmet’s initial views, the group he promised himself to, Bishop’s pride and values. It’s confusing at best 🤷‍♀️

[Natasha Lynn Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars

This one just didn't sit well with me. I couldn't see the good in Emmett at all, I believe Bishop would have been better off with a different Alpha.

[Asteroula · Rating 3 out of 5]

New series and it was not bad.
This story's premise is based on choices.
Everything starts with Emmett's (the Alpha) choice to leave Bishop (the Omega) behind and join the army. That turned everyone's lives around.
Bishop decided to stand on his own 2 feet (four legs) and go against all the traditions in their pack.
He is the doctor now, and when Emmett decides to come back, he has to make a choice again. Either you get with the program or there is no Bishop.
I would love for Bishop to be sterner with Emmett and not fall for his charm or alpha vibes so fast.
Emmett had to grovel more and prove more to Bishop and us.

It was an ok read and I'm opposed to read the next one.

Thank you to @gayromancereviews for the copy.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

mixed bag

This story was going great - about halfway through there seemed to be a bit of intrigue, some emotions that would need a lot of working through and a solid storyline. But after about three quarters of the book, it shifted direction and everything felt like to was wrapped up way too easily or ignored altogether. First half was fab, but I felt unsatisfied the the latter half, with a non-hard-won conclusion.

[VVivacious · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story gave me serious deja-vu! I don't know if I have come across this book before or read a particularly vivid review about it but a lot of the details in this book felt familiar. Anyhow, you are here because you expect a review so here it is.

This book focuses on Bishop and Emmett who are childhood sweethearts (an aspect of their relationship which is horribly underutilized) but on his coming of age day, Emmett decides not to settle down with Bishop and start their life together but to become a soldier.

A lot of this story is controversial and your own life experiences will heavily colour the narrative. So basically, the three major sticking points in this book are as follows:
1. What you think about Emmett's change of heart at his coming-of-age ceremony?
2. How you feel about what goes down immediately after Emmett returns (re: Omega Empowerment)?
3. And, if you feel the main conflict was resolved satisfactorily?
I fell kind of in the middle on all of them and my rating reflects that though I will admit that I liked the resolution because it wasn't so fanciful as to correct every wrong but it was a small change that felt believable and that could be built upon. Considering this is planned as a series, I forsee the author using the events in this book as a catalyst to power the other's couples' struggles in the coming books and she might even use their stories to provide background on the pack's strides to regain the progress it lost following Emmett's return.

I feel like with the advent of the non-shifter omegaverse we have completely lost shifter romances and I couldn't have been happier to have found one in this time and age. I enjoyed this book and if you want to enjoy a good old shifter (another criminally underutilized aspect of this book) romance with some controversial topics at the heart of it, this is for you.

The rest of this review is going to go into detail on the three main sticking points in this book for anyone who wants a better idea before diving in but there will be spoilers so proceed with caution!!

First of all, when I say certain parts of this story are criminally underutilized, I mean it.
1. The story doesn't focus much on the fact that these are shifters who shift and considering the overabundance of non-shifter omegaverse stories, I want my shifter stories to have more shifting!
2. Also, Emmett and Bishop are childhood sweethearts an aspect that is central to their relationship but is never highlighted in the book. There was so much potential there!
3. Another thing with regards to Bishop which is never explored is his empathy, following their breakup, Bishop finds a way to kind of turn his empathy to its lowest setting and then it is just never brought up again. I was actually expecting a genuine explosion wherein Bishop's empathy would be the catalyst but it never happened.
Given the characters and their story and considering the amount of story-telling potential that still exists between Bishop and Emmett, I wonder if the author will consider returning to these characters at a later point in the series.

Anyhow moving on to those thorny issues:
Emmett has a change of heart at what is essentially a coming-of-age ceremony in which he may name the person he wants to mate with. Bishop and Emmett both believe that Emmett is going to choose to follow in his father's footsteps and name Bishop for his mate but he doesn't do that. I understand this.

Emmett is twenty-one when this is happening and I get being overwhelmed by the occasion and choosing something that maybe surprises you but feels true to the path you want to pursue in life at that immediate moment. There are also solid reasons given in the story to support Emmett's decision psychologically, so it is actually well done. He does betray Bishop and the story doesn't wave that off, they speak immediately after and Bishop incisively tells Emmett exactly why he made the decision he made but it also heralds the end of their relationship, though they never actually get much closure in that regards which plays nicely into the fact that when Emmett comes back there is a lot unsaid between these two.

When Emmett comes back the pack immediately undergoes changes that signal a return to traditionalism and an open show of disdain for omegas who have strayed from the traditional path. Emmett is the pack alpha's son his decision to become a soldier threw the pack hierarchy in a lurch. But, now that he is back, he is ready to pick up the mantle, unfortunately, the council wants to make a show of accepting him back. This is intended to be a lesson for future Whittakers to not just leave the pack leaderless. The council owes its powers to Emmett's father the current pack alpha who intended it to serve the interest of minorities in the pack and also to hold his own power in check.

When Emmett returns he is shocked to learn that Bishop is the pack's doctor because omegas are seen as stay-at-home mums and later when he is standing in front of the council for his bid to be reinstated, he is shocked to discover that Bishop is on the council because an omega has never been on the council till exactly two years ago. Now, Emmett is clearly taken aback and in the heat of the moment, calls all institutions that veer from tranditionalism into question including the council. This move leads to the dissolution of the council in a democratic referendum. Now clearly rolling back on the council and this bid to return to traditionalism is supported by many but is also seen as a great step back for the progress omegas have made in recent years. But, it is a more of a symbolic roll back than a hard stance preventing omegas from choosing their own life path.

I'm not a fan of the scene in which Emmett stands up to the council because it really irked me and almost made me DNF the book. It is bad but it is framed to be the main conflict of the story so the issue clearly has to be solved in some capacity or the other.

The resolution has merit even though Emmett calls into question the council based on their decision to allow an omega on their panel and not just any omega but Bishop himself. He does respect Bishop's personal freedoms and he realises the worth of what Bishop does as a doctor. He realises that this is a passion for him and even offers to not be pack alpha because he realises that him taking on the position will mean forcing Bishop to face the ire of everyone who thinks a pack alpha's mate shouldn't be working or have a career of their own and that is significant. He realises Bishop has value outside of being an omega something that gives me hope that he has rethought his ideas on Bishop being on the council though this topic isn't brought up again in the book. Personally, I like the resolution because Emmett is clearly shown to support individual freedoms which gives me hope that if he continues to preserve that line of thought the pack will regain some of its lost progress.

I have been writing some super long reviews lately and it seems to be entirely because of the fact that once I exceed a certain length in a review, I have thought about the story so much that a whole lot more issues that I feel must be addressed become apparent.

Some people will just not like Bishop and Emmett's story solely based on the fact that they believe Bishop should never have gone back to Emmett and that is a valid opinion given Emmett's actions in the book. Personally, I feel like it was kind of inevitable for them to give their relationship a second chance. Bishop and Emmett think of each other as mates and especially for Emmett that means when he is informed of the fact that he can only be pack alpha after he is mated, he let's the idea rest because he knows the only mate he will ever have is Bishop. So, there is a lot of devotion and attraction between these two. There is clearly a lot of love and respect as well. As for their differing opinions, I don't think of them as so insurmountable as to be a complete deal breaker at least by the end of the book but the mileage on that may vary.

This book has a lot of moving parts and that means that people with even similar reading tastes might have wildly different reading experiences with this book. So, proceed with caution!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Omega's Choice is a mpreg omegaverse shifter romance by author L.C. Davis (Joel Abernathy) . A second chance romance for mates that were childhood best friends turned more.

Trust takes a lifetime to build and a second to break.

Omega Bishop and Alpha Emmett were childhood best friends that grew to love. They knew they were destined to be mates. However, when it was time for Emmett to announce his position to take over the pack he decides to become a soldier instead. That choice completely destroys Bishop's trust in him and the future they had dreamed about together. Fast-forward 8 years and Emmett is back to take his place as Alpha and as Bishop's mate. But Bishop's life didn't hit pause while he was away. Bishop has become a valued member of the pack and against omega norm went away to pursue his education and became a doctor. It's going to take a lot more than a few apologies for Bishop to be willing to give him a second chance. Will Emmett be able to prove he deserves to be Bishop's mate and head of their pack.

Maybe I had grown to hate him as much as I'd ever loved him. If only because it was a matter of my continued sanity, but my body still responded to him, no matter how much I resented it.

I absolutely loved Bishop, he carried this entire book for me. Being an empath, his love for Emmett was tangible from the start which made the betrayal heartbreaking to read. Bishop doesn't crumble under his sadness and uses his time to pursue his dreams and be a voice for other omegas being stifled under the oppressive pack traditions. He was just such a strong, independent , caring character, you can't help but love him. I'm not used to not liking one of the of lead MCs in a mpreg/omega romance. Even if I start out not liking them they usually grow on me, but damn did I not like Emmett. His betrayal and disregard for Bishop's feelings were crap and then when he comes back he's so selfish. He continues to belittle Bishop because of his omega status that you just want to smack him. In the end I honestly felt like he didn't deserve Bishop , it seemed like too little too late in my opinion. The intimate scene between them though are emotional and steamy!

Learning to trust him again was certainly one of the hardest things I'd ever done. The only thing harder had been learning to lie without him.

Either way, Omega's Choice is a strong start to an omegaverse series and I wonder who the next will be about. A second chance shifter romance with mpreg, betrayal, second chances, omega/alpha politics, family, forgiveness, mates and knotting goodness. 🔥

[Robin (featherlyreads) 🪺🪶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Omega's Choice is a second chance mpreg shifter romance between alpha, Emmett & omega, Bishop. Emmett & Bishop have been friends since they were very young & in their teen years their friendship evolved into something more romantic. When one of the pack turns 21 there is a coming-of-age ceremony where one's life path is chosen and presented in front of the pack & council.

On Emmett's coming-of-age ceremony, everyone expects that Emmett will claim Bishop as his mate & that he will follow in his father's footsteps to become pack leader. But things don't go as planned. Emmett chooses a military life to fight in a war that is an ever-present threat, which will separate Emmett & Bishop for years to come.

So, after 7 years in the military, Emmett decides it is time to come home: his father is ill & the war is over. Him & Bishop have no knowledge of what the other has been up to in the 7 years so when he goes back into town and finds out what Emmett has become, it is a shock. But he has never stopped loving Bishop.

I really like the politics in this shifter world, I felt it was very realistic and the fact that Emmett & Bishop were on different sides made for great entertainment! At first I wasn't a huge fan of Emmett but he had some redeeming moments & I grew to like him more. But, Bishop was my favorite, I loved how he went to school through his grieving of Emmett leaving & how successful he became. He was amazing I the scene where him & Emmett see each other for the first time in years & Emmett was so flabbergasted, it was hilarious. I was cheering Bishop on the whole time.

The spicy scenes were good, not over the top but just enough to satisfy my naughty side lol. Overall, this was a really intriguing universe & there were a lot of aspects I enjoyed! Anyone who loves mpreg shifter stories will definitely enjoy this book!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.25 stars

Omega’s Choice is the first book in L.C. Davis’ new Wild Hearts Shifters series and I think your feelings about this one are going to rest pretty heavily on how you feel about Emmett. Unfortunately, I never warmed to him and, in fact, I found myself downright angry at him for most of the book. There are two main conflicts here that arise between Emmett and Bishop. The first is the fact that Emmett abandoned Bishop and their future plans when they were young, and Bishop is still hurt and angry (and rightfully so). The men were young, and Emmett regrets his choices, and he wants to reconnect with Bishop now that he is home. At first, Bishop wants nothing to do with Emmett, but slowly the time they spend together rekindles those feelings that never fully died. I didn’t love the way that Bishop seems to take Emmett back so easily with very little in the way of apology or real moment of reckoning. We know from Emmett’s internal monologue that he feels he made a mistake by leaving, but I needed a much bigger effort on his part to apologize and make things right with Bishop for me to feel all in with them again. It just sort of felt like Bishop’s hormones take over and he is still into Emmett enough that he eventually lets it all go, which didn’t give me the closure I wanted as a reader.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Missy~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always enjoy a mpreg shifter story.

Emmett is an alpha Shifter and Bishop is omega. They grew up together, became childhood sweethearts and assumed that their life would follow the traditional path.
Then, for whatever reason, this is never actually explained very well, on the day of his presentation, as an adult, alpha Emmett suddenly declares that he’s going into the military.
Bishop is shocked, surprised, hurt, and heartbroken .
Over eight years separated , bishop works very, very hard to break the chains and traditions of omega by still being single, and becoming a highly respected physician.
But apparently, in this world building, Omega’s are supposed to be child bears and homemakers, and there are still a lot of the community who think they should stay that way in their traditional niche .
Emmetts
return home shakes things up and his progression towards the alpha leader of the pack causes a lot of changes .
While I liked this story, and I actually liked both characters, I personally thought that Emmett but did not do near, near enough groveling .
The world building was very sparse, and there’s literally only one shifter seen very early on in the story .
After that shifters are really not even a mentioned part of the story .
Not enough world building and very slim character growth.
The reader is really not giving a good explanation of any of Emmett’s actions or bishops for that matter.
I never felt a whole lot of emotion or connection in this relationship .
However,mpreg books are weakness of mine, and I always enjoy reading them .

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing - DNF

I seriously almost never DNF. I can probably count on one hand three times I’ve done so - and this was one of them
Solid first half - great premise. Second half -
I guess one can argue that this the story the author wanted to write, and I can respect that if that’s the case (which would still, in my opinion, be unfortunate). However, it follows that in a story where the omega MC oozes a pioneering spirit and pays a high price for the position he attains, there would either be a true and good faith mindset change on the part of the alpha MC or a stronger development of the sudden “change of heart” of the omega MC. It’s a tad unrealistic to imagine such strong convictions being feebly abandoned under the guise of “choice”. As such, titling it “Omega’s Choice”, when it’s de facto anything but, is in the least a disappointing stretch, if not, completely misleading.
The other aspect that was a no go for me was the lack of legitimate groveling from the alpha MC (and the aforementioned lack of true mindset change). This was a true case of the alpha MC getting his cake and eating it too, while the omega MC suffers, and fights tooth and nail to get there he gets, only to eventually give in to the alpha’s “I know better” bull crap of “natural order of things” without a commensurate protest.

Again, if this was the story the author wanted to tell…then I respect it but it definitely isn’t for me (we definitely have enough of that backwardness in the real world already, unfortunately). If the goal was different, then it fell woefully short.

[Zoe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish this horrible book. I was crying so much not out of my love for it or from angst but out of pure frustration. As a woman that had to fight tooth and nail to where I am now, fighting patriarchy and traditional values this book hurt me and opened a whole can of worms. Emmett’s mistake of leaving at first was understandable to me but his values, principles and attitude when he came back was despicable. I cried so much while he was going on in his tirade against the omegas and his backwater point of view. I thought to myself that bishop’s journey towards equality and liberation of omegas would be enough for me to stick to reading but even he disappointed me.


The way the author tried to make him the activist type that was headstrong and independent but immediately falls to the smallest hint of carnal desire is disgusting. Having unprotected sex the first time they were alone together, chalking it up to “he had a council meeting he just could not miss” so his solution was TO FUCK A CANDIDATE IN AN ELECTION where in he was a major stakeholder in?!??? For all the descriptions of him being smart and ‘top of his class’ did he not see how much of a bad that was???Not to mention him being a doctor, he should have known better. His fickle “resolve” drove me to the point of insanity.

It made me think of all the propaganda against women in real life and how this book just propagated sexist stereotypes masquerading itself as a forward thinking shifters Omega-verse book. 10/10 WOULD NOT read again.

[Miruru Shouting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man, I was in a mood when I was reading this, so I think it made me sink into Bishop's mindset and feeling of betrayal even more. Even though it was about 50 or 60% before Bishop started warming back up to Emmett, I felt like Emmett needed to do more groveling before Bishop could forgive him. But again, I was in a mood and not ready to forgive Emmett lol

There was a lot of hurt/comfort vibes and it's a bit of a slow burn because Bishop and Emmett had to reconcile before things moved on. A bit low on steam too, maybe two or three scenes only?

I loved that this brought up a lot of traditionalist vs new values, like omegas having jobs outside the home and also holding higher positions in society besides being a breeding machine. I loved that even though Bishop was the small/weak omega initially, he grew up to be more muscled and ripped, which was not the traditional look for omegas. Loved that he defied all of society's expectations of him went to medical school, became head doctor for his pack, has his own clinic, and also had a seat in the council.

This was an omegaverse book that defies all the "traditional" tropes and stereotypes of the A/B/O genre. Kinda wished Bishop didn't forgive Emmett as easily but I understand the book can't be 500 pages to drag out the conflict lol Since this has a series name on the cover, maybe the next book will continue to cover more issues and Emmett will continue to have character development and lose his archaic/traditionalist ideals.

Looking forward to more from this series!

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by the author.

[Lauralee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasn't for me.
It features a lot of my guilty pleasure themes and I really wanted to like it, but I just couldn't get into this at all.
The writing is all tell and very little show, much of it felt like reading a summary of events, some parts even like a non-fictional explanation about this shifter world and still there seem to be so many plotholes.
Like how come when Emmett's brother chose to be a soldier it was automatically clear that Emmett would be future alpha leader, but when Emmett does the same he can easily come back - seemingly whenever it's convenient - and retake his former place?
How is it possible that Emmett is gone eight yars and when he is back his younger brother who only came of age and mated after Emmett left has a kid in fith grade upon Emmett's return?
It's small things like that, but the big things were just as hazy to me. I never really understood Emmett's choices, what really drove him and if it ever really changed. And worse, he is not likeable. Like at all.
Bishop always thinks he would make such a great leader, but there is no on page evidence for that - Emmett's thoughts and actions are conceited and self-centered, he has little empathy and no sense of consequence for his actions.
I didn't feel a true character development either, just him suddenly being nice to Bihsop towards the end and for no apparent reason suddenly saying all the right things where he never did before.
Like I said - didn't work for me.