Length: 130,000 words approx.
Cover Design: Dar Albert @ Wicked Strange Designs
Heat of Love Series
Blurb
Young Xan Heelies knows he can never have what he truly wants: a passionate romance and happy-ever-after with another alpha. It’s not only forbidden by the prevailing faith of the land, but such acts are illegal.
Urho Chase is a middle-aged alpha with a heartbreaking past. Careful, controlled, and steadfast, his friends dub him old-fashioned and staid. When Urho discovers a dangerous side to Xan’s life that he never imagined, his world is rocked and he’s consumed by desire. The carefully sewn seams that held him together after the loss of his omega and son come apart—and so does he.
But to love each other and make a life together, Xan and Urho risk utter ruin. With the acceptance and support of Caleb, Xan’s asexual and aromantic omega and dear friend, they must find the strength to embrace danger and build the family they deserve.
This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the second in the Slow Heat universe. It’s 130,000 words, with a strong happy ending and a well-crafted, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. No cheating. Content warning for brief sexual violence.
4.5 Stars!
Alpha Heat is book 2 in the Slow Heat universe, it could be read as standalone, but I think you'll enjoy it even more if you read them in order.
We met Xan and Urho in Slow Heat and I loved Xan so much there that I was one of the countless readers begging Leta for a sequel with these two and she didn't disappoint.
Xan is an unmanned alpha and Jason's best friend, who wants a romantic relationship with another alpha, which is forbidden. My heart broke at the lengths he'd gone to punish himself for his 'unnatural desires' and I was glad when Urho found out, so he could actually do something about it. Xan was caring, reliable and sweet, and I hated that his own father treated him so poorly.
Urho is Vale's best friend and past lover, who'd lost his omega and child during childbirth. He was controlled and steadfast, willing to do anything to help Xan out, instead of Xan risking his own death at the hands of another alpha.
I really liked the progression of their relationship, while Urho had already experienced the love of his erosgapé (pretty much the equivalent of his soulmate), he fell for Xan and discovered a new kind of love that was perhaps not as all-encompassing, but still passionate and intense with Xan. They had amazing chemistry and were well-suited in pretty much every aspect of their lives and of course, it didn't hurt that every sex scene they had together (and even the one with Caleb) were hot, hot, HOT!
I really liked the relationship Xan had with Caleb, his Omega, even if there was nothing romantic about it. If you're wondering, this is not truly a MMM, since Caleb is asexual and aromantic, but there's a scene near the end in which the three of them are together and only Xan is with Caleb sexually, at the same time that Urho is with Xan. So, if that is what's stopping you, I promise you, it wasn't all that bad, actually, as I stated before, it was quite hot. However, if the idea of poor Caleb being subjected to a heat when it's the last thing he wants to experience puts you off, well, you could always skip that part. The book is well-worth a read even without that part.
I loved catching up with Jason and Vale and that they were such an integral part of this story. I nearly had a heart attack with all that was happening at the same time around the 80% mark, but it was all good.
I hated Monhundy and Xan's father with the fire of a thousand suns. And was quite happy with how they were dealt with. It was brilliant, actually!
I'm a bit torn with the secondary storyline with Janus, Xan's cousin, and Caleb, and while I understood that Caleb wasn't really in love with him, the way he acted made me wonder sometimes.
Overall, I can't recommend this book enough. It was fantastically written and Leta did justice to Xan and Urho, Jason and Vale, and even Caleb. This was such an engaging read and I just couldn't put it down until I was done with it. I really wouldn't mind reading more in this universe in the future, maybe something with Ray, Xan's beta brother? Anyway, just pick it up, you won't regret it.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
May 15 - The Novel Approach, OMG Reads
May 19 - Love Bytes, My Fiction Nook, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Mainely Stories
May 20 - MM Good Book Reviews
May 21 - Making It Happen, Dog-Eared Daydreams
May 22 - Bayou Book Junkie
May 23 - Mirrigold, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Diverse Reader, Wicked Faerie's Tales & Reviews, V's Reads, Oh My Shelves, Lillian Francis, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Kimmer's Erotic Book Banter, Gay Media Reviews
May 24 - Joyfully Jay
Author Bio
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/letablake
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LetaBlake
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letablake
Website: https://letablake.wordpress.com
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