Release Blitz ~ Saved (Breaking Free Book One) by AM Arthur (Reviews + Giveaway)
Title: Saved
Series: Breaking Free #1
Author: A.M. Arthur
Publisher: Briggs-King Books
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Heat Level: 4 - Lots of Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 67,000 words
Genre: Romance, non-shifter Omegaverse, alternate universe, mpreg
Add to Goodreads
Synopsis
He didn’t want an alpha to save him, but fate had other ideas…
Braun Etting was raised to know his place as an omega by his alpha father’s cruel words and fast fists, and he expects nothing but violence from the alpha who may one day mate him. His older brother Kell mated a cruel alpha who abuses him daily, and Braun is terrified of that seemingly inevitable future. When Braun’s father dies in a car crash, leaving Braun an orphan, he’s sent to a halfway house for omegas. But on his fourth night there, he witnesses a horrifying crime that sends him fleeing to the streets alone—and edging into his first heat.
Tarek Bloom is settled in his workaholic, single lifestyle, even if it is somewhat embarrassing to be a twenty-eight year-old unmated alpha. He enjoys his job as a constable, helping people and solving problems, so he isn’t prepared for his life to flip upside-down when he walks into his beta friend Dex’s apartment to help with “a problem.”
The problem turns out to be an unmated, nearly in-heat omega orphan who Dex and his husband rescued off the street last night. The even bigger problem is that Tarek feels the mating bond for this terrified omega immediately—and he’s pretty sure the omega feels it, too. But Braun hates alphas as a general rule, and no way is he giving in to the bond. All mating leads to is violence and suffering, so no thank you. But Tarek’s gentle kindness slips under Braun’s emotional shields, and Braun begins to want. To dream. All Braun has ever known is violent alphas, but Tarek is determined to make Braun trust him—and to trust in the idea of their happily ever after.
NOTE: This is a non-shifter Omegaverse story with alpha/omega/beta dynamics, heats, knotting, and mpreg. In this world, omegas are second-class citizens with few civil rights and almost no protections under the law. Trigger warnings for physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. 67,000 words.
Excerpt
“Would you be able to describe exactly what you saw that night in detail?” Tarek pulled a notepad and pen out of his front pocket.
Braun’s entire body went rigid. “Why? Who are you really?”
“I really am Tarek Bloom.” For a moment, he actually seemed contrite. “What I didn’t tell you is that I’m also a constable.”
“Shit.” Braun bolted out of his chair and toward the front door, fork still in his hand.
In a flurry of movement, Tarek was in front of him, blocking his path to the door, and Braun lashed out with the fork. Dex grabbed his wrist and plucked the fork out of his hand, but that didn’t stop Braun from swinging. He punched Tarek in the chest. Twice. Panic settled in, overriding his common sense, and he tried to push past the brick wall of a man.
“Let me go! I won’t go back, I won’t!”
Arms wrapped around his torso from behind, pinning his arms to his sides. Serge’s comforting scent settled his racing mind a bit, but it was Tarek’s hand on the back of his neck that settled Braun completely.
“Calm down, firecracker,” Tarek said. His deep voice soothed Braun’s frazzled nerves, and his touch sent his pulse racing with delight. “You’re still safe, I promise. No one here wants to hurt you.”
“Why do you care?” Braun snarled. “I’m just some useless omega you’ve known for twenty minutes.”
“You’re far from useless, little one.”
Tarek’s other hand rose, nearing Braun’s face. Braun snapped at his fingers. “I’m only a womb to you.”
“Far from it, my firecracker.” The hand on his neck squeezed. “Far from it.”
The grounding touch made Braun want to roll over and show his belly, but he was done being passed around. Done letting other people control his life. He didn’t want to feel this mating bond to Tarek, but he also couldn’t turn it off. Even with the heat block, Tarek was under his skin, doing funny things to his insides.
Angry and confused, Braun dared look an alpha in the eye.
Saved is book 1 in the Breaking Free series by AM Arthur, which is set in a non-shifter Omegaverse, and deals with mpreg, so if you don't care for those, don't proceed any further, but I really think you'd be missing out.
Braun Etting stumbles into an Omega-trafficking ring when, after his abusive Alpha father dies in a car accident, he's placed in a halfway house. After witnessing the kidnapping of one of the other Omegas, he decides he's not taking any chances and escapes, but his first heat is about to hit and he doesn't have many people he can turn to.
Tarek is an unmated Alpha and a constable. The last thing he expects when he's called to his Beta friends' apartment is finding an Omega orphan in near-heat that his friend Dex and his husband rescued and for whom he feels such a strong pull for.
Braun is afraid of Alphas, though, so even if he feels the need to bond with Tarek, he doesn't want to give in. What will it take for Tarek to prove himself worthy to his Omega?
I loved Tarek. He was amazing, so patient, understanding and supporting. I liked Braun, but truly, he got on my nerves quite a bit. I could understand his reticence, his fear and his hate after witnessing how his brother was treated by his Alpha and how his father treated Braun and his brother just because they were Omegas. However, he took things to the extreme and I hated that even when Tarek proved himself over and over and over, Braun would be such a brat with him. Nevermind that one of my pet peeves is having the character that is not really in the wrong, end up apologizing to the other one. Grrr! Anyway, pet peeves and bratty dispositions aside, Braun and Tarek had great chemistry and I hope we get to see more of their relationship develop in the next book(s) in the series.
The world building and the whole Alpha, Beta, Omega dynamic and politics were fascinating. I was completely enthralled in this new world and everything that was going on in the different 'classes'.
I liked Dex and his husband and I felt so sorry for Braun's brother, I really hope we get to see more of them, as well.
Overall, this was a riveting book! I was spellbound by the fabulous writing and the compelling storyline. It was definitely a recommendable read!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
4.5 Stars!!!
Saved is book 1 in the Breaking Free series by AM Arthur, which is set in a non-shifter Omegaverse, and deals with mpreg, so if you don't care for those, don't proceed any further, but I really think you'd be missing out.
Braun Etting stumbles into an Omega-trafficking ring when, after his abusive Alpha father dies in a car accident, he's placed in a halfway house. After witnessing the kidnapping of one of the other Omegas, he decides he's not taking any chances and escapes, but his first heat is about to hit and he doesn't have many people he can turn to.
Tarek is an unmated Alpha and a constable. The last thing he expects when he's called to his Beta friends' apartment is finding an Omega orphan in near-heat that his friend Dex and his husband rescued and for whom he feels such a strong pull for.
Braun is afraid of Alphas, though, so even if he feels the need to bond with Tarek, he doesn't want to give in. What will it take for Tarek to prove himself worthy to his Omega?
I loved Tarek. He was amazing, so patient, understanding and supporting. I liked Braun, but truly, he got on my nerves quite a bit. I could understand his reticence, his fear and his hate after witnessing how his brother was treated by his Alpha and how his father treated Braun and his brother just because they were Omegas. However, he took things to the extreme and I hated that even when Tarek proved himself over and over and over, Braun would be such a brat with him. Nevermind that one of my pet peeves is having the character that is not really in the wrong, end up apologizing to the other one. Grrr! Anyway, pet peeves and bratty dispositions aside, Braun and Tarek had great chemistry and I hope we get to see more of their relationship develop in the next book(s) in the series.
The world building and the whole Alpha, Beta, Omega dynamic and politics were fascinating. I was completely enthralled in this new world and everything that was going on in the different 'classes'.
I liked Dex and his husband and I felt so sorry for Braun's brother, I really hope we get to see more of them, as well.
Overall, this was a riveting book! I was spellbound by the fabulous writing and the compelling storyline. It was definitely a recommendable read!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
5 Stars!
Braun is a 20-year-old Omega who suddenly finds himself being placed in a home for unmated Omegas after the death of his abusive father. Not long after being there, he finds that the home might not be on the up and up and fears he'll be hurt or possibly sold. His only choice is to risk his life by escaping in hopes he'll get far enough away they won't find him. Luckily for him, he is found by two Betas who decide to take him in and help him.
Unmated Alpha and Constable Tarek finds Braun at his best friend's home and immediately knows he is his mate. Proving to Braun that they are meant to be and that he'll never hurt him becomes the biggest challenge he's ever had to face but he won't give up even if it means putting his job on the line.
What I Loved: I honestly loved Tarek and I thought he was an incredibly loving, loyal and protective man. He was a picture perfect Alpha. I found myself thinking he actually deserved a lot more than he got. He was constantly being a good guy, taking care of people and every time he apologized for his mistakes, he gave his whole heart. He didn't even, in my honest opinion, need to apologize like he did. He was kind of walked over by Braun and it pissed me off because Tarek was a seriously great guy.
AM Arthur really did a great job between the World building and the Character building and I am definitely hooked on this story and the beginning of what I believe will be a great series. The writing was well done and the story flowed so well I could not but it down. I was completely immersed in a world where Alphas, Betas and Omegas walk the Earth.
I adored Dex and Serge and loved what they brought to the story. I honestly would love to read their story, even if they both happen to be Betas. The fact that they were originally Dex's friends but became so close to Braun so fast and for reasons that had nothing to do with Tarek was really nice.
What I Liked: I liked that this story really explored problems and prejudices that are realistic even in today's society. There was a definite stigma to being either Omega or Beta and them being considered lesser compared to Alphas. With all that we are seeing right now in the world it felt quite similar to the struggles women have gone through, the fight for equality and getting rid of gender stereotypes. Throw in the struggles that all minorities face and it was very similar to the dynamics in this story.
What I Didn't Like: As much as I wanted to love Braun and his strength and independence there were a few things that really irked me about him. His unbelievable stubbornness made me angry more than once and, honestly, made me want to scream at him. He would get angry at Tarek for a decision Tarek made, Tarek making the decision with an honest belief it was to protect Braun or that it was for the greater good and instead of Braun being rational and mature, or trying to understand, he just shuts Tarek out. Punishes him by refusing to be around him. Now, I understand being upset but Tarek never does things out of malice or for his own gain.
Without giving spoilers, I'll just say, the first time Braun gets mad at Tarek and pushes him away, Tarek is trying to help others who are facing horrific trauma (Tarek is a constable). The second is when Tarek doesn't want to make Braun distraught and feeling guilty over something he shouldn't. So yes, I understand, be upset, rail against Tarek if you must. But acting as if Tarek is a horrible, selfish, inconsiderate Alpha only looking out for himself is stupid. Not to mention I was fed up with Tarek groveling for forgiveness, he apologized and that should have been enough. I honestly lost quite a bit of respect for Braun by 80% of the book and actually started to dislike him.
Overall, I loved Saved and could not put it down. I might not love Braun like I adore Tarek but I can't deny their chemistry and connection. I love that while the story ends with a great amount of closure, the story is nowhere near done. We have Kell's story which I know is going to wreck me but I'm super anxious to read it. We also have hope that Braun and his experience along with his brother's will be the catalyst to change in the world they know.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.***
Purchase at Amazon
Meet the Author
A.M. Arthur's work is available from Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, SMP Swerve, and Briggs-King Books. When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder. She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she's an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | A.M.'s Pot O Gold | Newsletter
Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments:
Post a Comment