Anonymous Alpha by MM Farmer (Bangers & Mash #7)

Title: ⟫ Anonymous Alpha (Bangers & Mash #7)

Author: ⟫ MM Farmer

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ When everything goes wrong and the world is set against him, who can a desperate omega in trouble turn to for help?

Evan

I should have been careful what I wished for, because after the most amazing and torrid heat I’ve ever experienced, I certainly got it! The glittery, bubblegum pop image that the record label created for me, the one I was so ready to move away from, has been blown out of the water, because someone leaked a tape of me and the ESA I’d hired to take me through heat.

And on top of that, despite precautions, I might have an even bigger “little” problem after that heat. I have no one to turn to but Sable, who the media is calling the “anonymous alpha”. I barely know him, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him.

Will he help me, or will he think I’ve ruined his life?

Sable

I’m used to helping high-profile omega clients, but nothing could have prepared me for the media firestorm when a tape of me and Evan Mercer hit the internet. Everyone is saying Evan leaked the tape on purpose to get out of his recording contract, but when I get a tearful, panicked call from Evan, an entirely different story comes out.

I will do whatever it takes to protect my omega, because Evan is mine now, even if it was just an ESA call that brought us together. I’m ready to stand by my man, and once we figure out who blasted his career and his life to bits, the gloves will come off and I’ll show the world just what it means to defend the man I love.

Anonymous Alpha is a stand-alone, an omega in distress, alpha to the rescue story in the Bangers & Mash series. It contains a very good boy doing very, very bad things, the worst day ever, hidden cameras (not the good kind), an escape from the media, friends coming to the rescue, and Evan Mercer’s BIGGEST FAN EVER!!!

PLEASE This is not a shifter series. But you know how the other books have had a warning that no omegas are impregnated during the course of the book? *whistles innocently*

Review: ⟫ I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series so went into it completely blind. I found it fascinating the whole idea of having a service where alphas would help omegas through their heats and enjoyed the way that this was handled in the book – the sex work aspect of this was handled very professionally which was nice to see.

Evan is ready to move on from his teeny-bopper image – and his awful manager. Once he’s through this heat, his contract will be up with the record company and he can outwardly become the grown-up they refuse to allow him to be. His manager is a complete sleaze who sees Evan as a cash-cow and is not happy at the changes ahead.

Into this mix comes Sable, an Emergency Support Alpha, who feels a pull towards Evan that he’s never experienced before in all of his time helping omegas through their heats. He certainly isn’t expecting a sex tape to be released, labelling him as Evan’s anonymous alpha and splashing the time they spent together all over the press.

The 180 turn of the media and some of the fans towards Evan at this negative happening felt a little too realistic – we all know that the press loves nothing more than a scandal and this is a huge scandal. How Evan and Sable find their way through the terrible situation that they’re placed in whilst adjusting to their new bond and a surprise pregnancy makes for an interesting story.

It is light and doesn’t dwell too much on the negative side of fame and the role that social media plays in that, but the subject is touched on and I appreciated that. Otherwise, this is a fated-mates/insta-love story with some hot, very kinky sex and a fight for justice that was entertaining.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Whiskey and Sin by Emily Rath

Title: ⟫ Whiskey and Sin

Author: ⟫ Emily Rath

Rating: ⟫ 3.75/5

Blurb: ⟫ Run.

In a world where unbonded omegas are worth their weight in gold, running is the only thing Silas Wright knows. Run from the criminal alpha pack hunting him. Run from the dark secrets haunting his nightmares. Run from himself.

Stumbling in the dark down a twisting mountain road, Silas is on the run when a stranger comes crashing into his life. This alpha is dangerous, but Silas is out of options. Forced to accept help, Silas finds himself holed up in a lonely mountain cabin. Cornered and desperate, Silas must quickly decide: Can I trust this alpha? Can I let him know my secret?

“My handsome rescuer may be an alpha…but I am no beta.”

WHISKEY & SIN is a standalone MM Omegaverse novel featuring dark themes in a small town setting. For a full list of content warnings, see the author's website. 

Review: ⟫ This was an easy book to sit and breeze through – the story telling was engaging and entertaining, the struggles that Bear had with being an Alpha were interesting as I’ve never read anything like that, and the character of Silas was a strong lead which made me want to see him reach his HEA.

It did begin to drag a little towards the end, and the big battle with the Rainer pack felt a little – well, weighted in Bear’s favour, but I guess that was explained by his military experience.

I did have some quibbles – there was nothing actively done about the Omega Centres and what they were doing; the Beresford Pack were difficult to like, and the fact that to a large extent Bear and Jared were prepared to ditch Silas before they found out his real designation didn’t sit right with me.

All that being said, I enjoyed the book and was pleased with the ending, and the special epilogue available through the author’s newsletter. Be aware of the warnings as they were necessary, even if a lot of the abuse was off-screen, but it was a nice book.

Trouble by Roe Horvat (Winter Sun #3)

Title: ⟫ Trouble

Author: ⟫ Roe Horvat

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Hugh has been in love with Kirby for years, which either makes him the most foolish or the most patient alpha on the planet. Because Kirby Matthews, the famous porn star and omega of everyone’s wet dreams, is resolutely single. But Hugh knows the real Kirby underneath the armor of glamour and snark. When an opportunity arises to be with him during heat, Hugh will do whatever it takes—even get naked in front of the cameras.

Kirby has made it big time, from homelessness to international stardom. He can now enjoy the small things like the feeling of silk on his skin, long showers, and cupcakes. Life is comfortingly simple. But then his longtime crush auditions for a role in his next film, and Kirby is torn. Getting entangled with a close friend, a member of his makeshift family, is a certifiably stupid idea. But saying no to Hugh? Beefy arms, shaved head, and growly voice—all rough alpha, but with a ridiculously soft heart… How is Kirby supposed to resist such temptation?

The most anticipated porn flick of the year, starring Kirby Matthews in heat. Ten days on set, with no privacy and no space to explore their feelings. You can’t fall in love while filming porn, right?

Trouble is an omegaverse erotic romance featuring high heat, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort. HEA, standalone.

Review: ⟫ Roe Horvat has managed to make filming porn not just hot but romantic. Initially, I was a little confused with the time jumps, but the storyline pulled me in very easily and I enjoyed the set-up for the romance.

Kirby appears to have zero inhibitions when it comes to sex – the scene with three alphas seemed to confirm that – but we discover during his time with Hugh that no one has ever truly just wanted to make him feel good. Hugh comes through with that in a touching, sexy and sensitive manner, and I admit I had a tear in my eye with a certain scene involving simply being covered by a blanket.

I enjoyed seeing the previous couples and Burke as an over-protective daddy made me smile. A very enjoyable addition to the series.

Warning: Kirby does porn and there is an explicit scene with three other men in case this is a trigger for anyone. There is no cheating in this book.

Ugly by Roe Horvat

Title: ⟫ Ugly 

Author: ⟫ Roe Horvat 

Blurb: ⟫ When a homeless young omega comes by Burke’s pub asking for work, Burke doesn’t have the heart to send him away. He lets the boy help with some chores in exchange for food, and soon, Emerson’s visits become regular. Then one frosty December night, the boy keeps his head down, hiding in a corner until closing time and looking like he wants to disappear into the ground. Emerson is about to go into heat, and he has nowhere to hide. 

People say Burke is ugly and scary, but Emerson has never been afraid of the burly pub owner. The big alpha has scars down the side of his face, but so what? He must have been in a lot of pain once, poor man. When snow covers Dalton City, and Emerson realizes he’s only days away from his first heat, his feet carry him to the pub by themselves. Burke is the only alpha Emerson trusts not to hurt him. And given the choice between freezing to death or getting abused, Emerson would much rather offer himself to Burke. 

Except Burke is probably the nicest man in the entire city. 

Stunned, Emerson finds himself safe and warm during the snowstorm, without having to sacrifice anything. Maybe he’s even a little bit in love with his rescuer. 

 

Ugly is an omegaverse gay romance, mpreg, non-shifter. High heat, monogamous couple, HEA. 

Review: ⟫ This was beautiful. 

I can’t think of another book that I’ve read that contains such incredibly filthy dirty talk, whilst still managing to be sweet, soft and beautiful. This was a really great story – it would have been so easy to fall into so many tropes, but instead it was a fabulous love story, with Emerson and Burke falling for each other whilst terrified of losing their hearts and being left wrecked. 

There was size kink, breeding kink, heats and ruts – all written in Roe’s incredible explicit style that gets you all hot and bothered – but it was the quiet moments, where Emerson was dreaming about sitting on his man’s lap in the warm, safe and calm, watching the snow outside that stuck with me. For some reason, this story just really resonated with me and made me feel quietly happy. The characters felt real – Richard, struggling with success not being everything he thought it would be; Kirby finally finding a way off the streets; the staff at Burke’s pub – and altogether, it was like a found family that was so accepting, just – so warm! Literally, the only jarring note was Mark who was a little caricature-esque in his evilness, but he was so on the periphery of things that he didn’t impact too much on my love for the story. 

I’m probably not making a lot of sense, but if any of the above kinks appeal to you, I would snuggle up under the duvet and throw yourself into reading Ugly. You won’t regret it.