This was a nice read for two older people, but the drama was very lowbrow.

MMC and FMC are in their 30s as a single alpha and single omega respectively. In the cultures of the book, by 18, an omega would go through a heat, invite an alpha into their nest, and that would be that. But for the MMC, his father being an omega and the omegas fawning over him warped his perception and his lost himself to his photography. For the FMC - as always - an evil ex cheated her, her toxic family is toxic, and she prefers to live a single life.

Thanks to their friends, the duo meet. The MMC is an arrogant grump, believing all omegas the same. And the FMC is unbelievably patient with him. With the FMC’s alpha(hole) brother’s death, the FMC is now up to bat for matched matings while the MMC is trying to  save off young omegas hoping to be gold diggers.

The proposal?  It’ll shock you.

Fake mating!

I know. No one is surprised.

What I find most interesting in this world is that heat cycles are annual, rather than a monthly endeavor like in a lot of OV books. I liked it.  I enjoyed the FMC being independent and experienced and well-assured.

But it took me a long time to warm up to the MMC. And I lost some respect for the FMC.

I have a personal distaste for children - “tails” - in stories, so I wasn’t all that happy with the FMC’s younger siblings. But that’s my personal distaste. They never add anything  into the story outside being another unneeded outside force for the leads.

But I didn’t like the MMC for how much he made assumptions about omegas. Yes, that’s his schtick. But then it worsened when he kept around friends who constantly disrespected the FMC, and he was aware of it. This was his whole “growth” arc, but I had to laugh in disbelief with his accusations of the FMC and him not realizing why he had those friends. At the very least, I would’ve found all this more believable if he had any non-cartoonishly evil friends outside of Nick, but ya know.

Drama.

FMC - I understood why she was a people pleaser. And I liked how she stuck to her guns with not letting the MMC into her life in every aspect. He didn’t deserve it. But I was hoping for…a bit more during the orgy scene. I don’t know. Sex being the binding factor soured it for me. Sex absolutely CAN be a binding factor for people, no doubt. But…  I didn’t understand why it was for them?

The FMC makes it clear she doesn’t lead with her “parts”, neither does the MMC. And sure, it’s romance so “they’re different”, but it felt…weird the FMC was suddenly embarrassed with her time with a female alpha.

If she’s someone in their 30s, I don’t see the need to be embarrassed about it. It happened. So what? If the MMC makes a fuss, he makes a fuss and obviously isn’t mature enough for a relationship.

 In OV, we seldom get self-pleasure scenes that remain self-pleasure. Always, someone finds them. Always, someone joins in. I was hoping this MC - being older and proud about her toys - we’d have her enjoy pleasure without anyone.

Nope.

Sigh.

I liked this book overall. My personal distaste for the “tails” that were the grating siblings, the MMC’s behavior, and the lack of FMC’s self-care is my own issues. Absolutely would I  recommend this to people who want a non-WC OV with older leads and a bit less toxic masculinity and toxic femininity.

FMC is also a lawyer.

Love that for her.