“I really do hate all of this,” I confessed. “That I even have to be here. It’s a great retreat. But I hate the reasons why I’m here. I hate my body. All of it. It’s what I hide behind. It’s not the reality of me. I want to look good to the outside world, like nothing’s wrong. Like I’m worthy.”
― Wendy Rathbone, Omega Island: Empty Heat
Callum is an omega who has tried everything: therapy, pills, exercise, meditation, and time. But, when the doctors tell him that his pain during intercourse is caused by a physical deformity, he realizes that if he ever wants to have a family, or enjoy sex, he needs to try something different. He travels to Omega Island: a Caribbean paradise created specifically for omegas to heal using alternative therapies with the aim of experiencing emotional and physical sexual satisfaction in a safe and structured environment.
I chose this book because it was free and because the combination of the title and cover image was too intriguing to pass up. But this book surprised me. I thought the book would be stupid; an easy read that I would giggle through. It was not.
Callum is a twenty-five-year-old omega who has only had negative sexual experiences. His first time was extremely painful and traumatizing. His previously-unknown physical condition, which causes him severe pain, combined with a rough first time resulting in injury for both partners, traumatized Callum. He is convinced that he will never be able to experience sexual pleasure. He blames himself for the injuries he and his partner sustained his first time. He believes he is unlovable and unworthy because of his deformity and his lack of experience. He does not think anyone would ever be patient or gentle enough to take care of him during sex, or to deal with his emotional trauma. Undergoing treatment at Omega Island is his last ditch effort before he gives up entirely.
I won’t go into the details of the treatment, but it involves a sexual surrogate combined with a full-time therapist. Their job is to understand Callum’s physical and emotional trauma and come up with a treatment plan.
The core story revolves around the relationship between Callum and his sexual surrogate, an alpha named Lev. Callum thinks he is broken. He is also afraid of being around alphas, even though he is attracted to them. Things with Lev don’t go perfectly. Callum is plagued by fear, shame, and his own cynical outlook. But, as Lev points out, he wouldn’t be there if part of him didn’t believe he deserved happiness. The core theme that resonated with me was this consistent message: You are not broken. You are beautiful. What happened to you is not your fault. You deserve wonderful things. And you deserve a partner who respects and takes care of you, even when it is difficult. Especially when it is difficult.
Content warning for the description of rape, alpha/omega tropes, mating.
I got this book as part of Stuff Your Kindle Day on Romance Bookworms (Sept 20th-22nd).
You don’t really fall in love with a house. You fall in love with the life you could have in it.
― Alexis Hall, Waiting for the Flood
Edwin Tully lives in the home that he and his first love – his only love – used to share. Edwin is a quiet and shy restoration expert. He rarely interacts with other people, preferring to keep his routine and wondering, endlessly, why Marius left him. Perhaps it was because Marius was impulsive, demonstrative, and larger-than-life. Edwin never understood why Marius loved him or stayed with him as long as he did. And, when Marius left, Edwin was devastated but not surprised.
When Edwin’s neighborhood floods, a civil engineer named Adam comes into his life. Adam is warm and patient. He flirts with Edwin, checking on him frequently. Edwin has convinced himself that he will remain in the house he and Marius made a home, and will be satisfied with the friendly chats with his elderly neighbor and his work. But Adam gives him hope. Adam makes him wonder if someone can love him despite his self-identified shortcomings.
This is the second book in Alexis Hall’s Spires series. I enjoyed the other two books I’ve read, and this novella is a sweet interlude between the heavier content of the others. Unlike Glitterland and For Real, the main character is relatable and likable. Adam is sweet enough, but there isn’t much text devoted to his background. The interactions between Edwin and his neighbor were sweet and grounding. I didn’t love this story, but it was a welcome, lightweight bridge between the other two novels.