| Title | : | I, Omega |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1611185637 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781611185638 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | 138 |
| Publication | : | First published September 6, 2011 |
Treasured? Or cursed?
As Gabriel’s father, the Distinguished Gentleman from Pennsylvania and stalwart of the conservative party, pushes the considerable resources at his disposal to locate his missing son, Gabriel explores who and what he is under his master’s careful protection. Gabriel falls for the shifter who is lover and destroyer, owner and...friend?
Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM theme and elements, dubious consent, male/male sexual practices.
I, Omega Reviews
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I found Gabriel to be too submissive for my tastes, and his flashes of independence made me think that this relationship was not something he truly wanted; that the bond between him and his Master was more coercion and Stockholm syndrome than twu lurve. He is physically unable to tell this guy no, and has to be forced into setting his limits. He says he doesn't want a 24-7 D/S relationship, and then all of a sudden he does. It seems like his personal desires have been manipulated by the mating bond, and that is about as unromantic as you can get. I just see Gabriel as too much of a doormat, and that makes me sad for him.
I wouldn't have minded the D/S aspects of the relationship if they felt better balanced as a couple. If I thought Gabriel could truly advocate for his own needs. If Master could remove the stick from his ass, and not act like he has to dominate Gabriel every minute of every day even when he tells Gabriel that he can relax (doesn't sound very relaxing to me.) It just goes too far for my personal tastes. With Gabriel such a willing victim the potential for abuse seems too real; especially when the Master said his dream was to have a full time slave to wait on him 24/7. Sure he’s allowing (isn't that nice of him) Gabriel to work now (but only under some very limited circumstances), but what doesn't say that things are going to stay that way.
I hated Master with every beat of my heart. He is the epitome of every overconfident, arrogant, controlling, bullying alpha male that lives in both het and m/m romance. The patronizing, condescending manner in which he talks to, and treats Gabriel makes my blood boil. He sweeps in, sleeps with Gabriel consensually, but changes him without Gabriel’s knowledge or consent, stalks him, kidnaps him, and then uses werewolf biology, and his own controlling nature, to tie Gabriel tightly to him. Sorry that doesn't sound like much or a whirlwind romance to me. Master is just too all powerful, and all controlling for me. I have a dark desire to read a novel where a man likes this gets broken by someone he considers to be beneath him, and that Gabriel finds someone he can have a healthier D/S relationship with. You know one that respects the life that Gabriel has built for himself, and doesn't want him to be a simpering, pandering, slave all the time. Someone who respects the person Gabriel is, but I digress.
In the end I probably never should have read this, and going into knowing it wasn't going to be my cup of tea I was a bit more generous with the rating. I have no idea why I started this, and having started I have no idea why I read all the way to the end knowing that what I really wanted was never going to happen. I have issues, clearly.
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CUM.
That will be the theme of this review. So please cum hither!
I'm pretty sure I've never abandoned a book this early on, but I waded through 2 torturous chapters AKA 25 pages and I... can't... take... any... more.
Am I overreacting? Exaggerating? It’s true that I don’t particularly delight in geysers of sperm. It’s also a fact that I could be offered a million and still decline being on the receiving end at a bukkake party. If thick globs of cum, showers of spunk, and ropey sprays turn you on like chocolate does me, then the time has come to rub your hands in sweet anticipation.. If not, please read the following quotes anyway. After all, what’s a little cum compared to spending your dollars on a book – which is what 1.200 others on Goodreads alone did – that looks kind of alright, only to discover that you get buckets of the stuff for your money?
Right! Cum lovers, cum haters and Idunnoaboutcummers, buckle up! Because...wooohoooo...here we go!
His master’s cock spurted thick globs of cum into his body. Again and again. (...) Entire civilizations rose and fell as he shot bursts of cum into Gabriel’s ass. Could’ve been ten minutes. Or two thousand years. His dick sliding marvelously on the spunk he’d sprayed into Gabriel’s hole. (...) He pulled his cock free of Gabriel’s hole with a wet plop that trailed sticky cum down his crack. The scent of the shifter’s cum inside him, the intensity of the orgasm that had been denied him these past weeks.. It shattered Gabriel. Cum slicked his hole and his thighs, pasting his skin together. “Messy.” His nose wrinkled. “You didn’t use a condom.”
Gabriel’s shattered wail of completion echoed around the dank, shadowy room as he sprayed, spurting white ropes of cum that spattered on the shifter’s fist and Gabriel’s groin.
He wasn’t prepared when his master shot. At the club that first night (...) cum had wetted Gabriel’s face and neck. His master fed him every bit of it now. Gabriel, who had gulped down an embarrassing number of men, choked. He swallowed as the shifter’s cock spurted and spit, but taking it all was impossible. Spunk trickled from Gabriel’s lips and dribbled down his chin. When he gasped for breath? He sucked in semen that soon dripped from his nose and wetted the wiry blond hair at the shifter’s groin as his master continued fucking his cock in and out. Gabriel loved every minute of it. Every burst of cum. Every thrust that brought more and still more to his greedy mouth. (...) His cum slid down Gabriel’s gullet, painted his chin, and flavored the very air he inhaled through his nostrils. The shifter pulled free, hand at the base of his dick to splash the final pulses of spunk over Gabriel’s face. Gabriel licked salty cum from his lips. The shifter swiveled his hips to slap Gabriel’s semen-slicked face with his softening cock and Gabriel loved that too. “Clean me up, boy.”
So more cum lapping and slurping ensues after this.... Gabriel’s 'slutty dick' keeps 'jerking in whorish delight'....'sticky semen that dribbles from his hole gets massaged into his skin'..and finally...
The magic words.“Sleep, pretty baby.”
All of this coming from only the first 25 pages. I kid you not!
Earlier musings (should've gone with my gut feeling, ungh)
What's with the Bashers versus the Lovers for this book? Dah, my curiosity is getting the better of me.:p Buddy read with Jenna and Lo-Lo.
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January Author of the Month...
The Gregg
It happened again. I'm not sure how she does it, but The Gregg did it again. She's little by little making me her dirty little bitch.
I picked this up and the next thing I knew I was done. I was sucked into the KNOTTING/shifter/fuckhot/slaveboy/collars void. Ok, ok, I went willingly. Who am I kidding?
TWO WORDS: SO. HOT.
A couple times. Tis true. Cal and Gabriel are that hot.
"Mine to feed, mine to fuck. Mine to play with, punish, and protect. Say it."
"You're my pet, my pretty baby. Mine to care for. Mine to keep."
"I am your world."
"And nothing works for me without you in it. Never forget that, Gabriel."
Gabriel and Cal… hit so many buttons I felt like the Easy Button. On a good day.
Gabriel's a sub and Cal's "beast" recognizes and claims his boy immediately. Gabriel's spooked by the KNOTTING and takes to living on the streets. But the beast is country strong and persistent.
The more KNOTTING, claiming, marking happens the more docile Gabriel becomes. Well, sort of. Gabriel likes a good spanking and loves to be mastered so he's got to act up every once in a while, right? Sadly, chastity was only threatened but there was some delightful edging/orgasm denial and tons of biting.
It's the caring and grooming and tender moments between the two of them that got me, though. How possessive Cal is of him. How Gabriel's most comfortable at Cal's feet. Naked excepting his collar.
Cal's protectiveness isn't entirely based on his alphadom and Gabriel being his mate. It seems Gabriel, due to his omega tendencies, is highly sought after by other packs as well as his father who's a highly ranked member of Senate. The omega to a pack leader, once they've bonded, streamlines pack dynamics, making it function optimally and apparently omegas are hard to come by. Hence, all the double secret protection around Cal's compound.
I am your omega, your mate. Shaking with nerves and lust, Gabriel smiled. I am not afraid of what we are.
What they are is HHHHOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTT!!!!! Dance off hot.
This book went directly to my favorites shelf. It did not pass "Go". It did not collect $200. Helluva way to kick off 2015.
Do NOT let the dub-con tag scare you. It's hardly even worth mentioning. Gabriel needs so prettily and Cal meets all those needs. IN spades. The Gregg might've just earned the title Empress of Smut Mountain.
Recommend to those who like hotness and marking and collars.
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Once upon a time... he was normal! Once upon a time... he was human! Now... he was running from the man who's very being he craved more than life itself!...
This is the second novel I have read from Kari Gregg and I have to say I love her style of writing... she hits you hard and fast, immediately gaining your attention, throwing you into the middle of the action before the details are drip fed slowly, encouraging you to turn the pages for more snippets of information.
As with Collared, I Omega is a very character driven novel and light on the world building, rather like a photograph when the main object is crystal clear and the background blurred drawing your eyes to the focus of the picture, yes it would be nice to see the whole picture but it doesn't detract from the tale.
The focus of this picture is Gabriel... as a human he was a payroll accountant, he had his life well organised and his future all planned... he was also a sub, a pain slut who liked to play in the clubs, but had no interest in a 24/7 relationship.
After being on the run for months, tired and hungry and unable to stomach the only food he was able to catch... Rats! His Master finally tracks him down! He was powerless in his presence, his human wanting to run and his werewolf wanting to submit!
The weeks of anxiety, pain and hiding, living in fear and terror, the weeks of not knowing who or what he was... was immediately calmed just by being in the presence of the shifter that was his Master... Cal. Gabriel wants him, needs him, he is consumed by desire for his Master who had changed him and his only wish now is that he will forgive him for running.
Cal is an Alpha werewolf and a Dom, when he first meets Gabriel he knows who and what he is, recognises the small fragile submissive man as a human Omega... the most precious and cherished of all within the pack, the glue that holds them together, a balancing and calming influence not only on the pack but also the Alpha. Cal knows this and is only too aware that others will also recognise Gabriel for what he is. Cal must bond, mate and collar Gabriel before another Alpha finds him. But first he needs to gain his trust and love before the bond can be completed.
Cal in his own mind recognises Gabriel as his mate, however Gabriel is confused and conflicted... he is angry at Cal for changing him yet at the same time he is consumed with the need to be near him, happy with the comforting sound of his voice or the gentle touch of of his hand and in return Cal lavishes him with love and the slap of his firm hand on his backside... and any other toys that he might like to play with!
Cal is one very HOT Alpha Male... his commanding voice very clear and those dirty whisperings... well they just had me melting into a puddle on the floor! As a Dom, I think he was a little soft on Gabriel but I can understand that as he was just so adorable, just the vision of him wrapping himself around Cal and nuzzling as close as possible just to be near him and draw in the scent of his Master... I just loved it!
However Cal is a flawed, he is not the perfect Dom, he makes mistakes all be it through the love and protection of his mate and in all innocence he felt he was doing right by Gabriel. From the beginning he should have explained what was happening to him, what was expected of him. There were times when Gabriel was confused he had no idea what was going on or why they were doing things to him, he thought it a punishment when in fact it was protection... he was lost and needed an anchor and Cal had left him afloat!
Once again I am impressed by Kari Gregg... her focus in this novella not the world of the shifters or even the background to how they evolved but her focus is the relationship between the two characters, it is short sharp and sweet, intense and compelling... and I was totally engrossed.
For more reviews, please visit...
Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews -
Luscious, erotic shifter BDSM. Lots of sex but what sex it is!
Mesmerized by the obsession between Cal and Gabriel, I couldn't put this down. At times I really wanted Gabriel to pull away and keep some part of himself, reclaim his independence. He didn't ask for what happened to him...or, did he? Seduced by the idea of two people belonging so completely to each other, I totally loved this. -
1 star - this story was a mess, with contradictions and scenarios that baffled me.
Cover - the single torso works for me, the scratches on the backdrop are good. There's a sort of water stain on his belly that bleeds out a tattoo on his arm - is this meant to be there?
MC's - Gabriel - a submissive, 32 years old, accountant. Story is from his 3rd person POV. Cal - dominant shifter (wolf), alpha, runs an investment company.
BDSM - yes, there's lots. Spanking, both as punishment and pleasure. Tattooing. Hands are manacled a lot. Kneeling, groveling, public sex and some humiliation. I didn't find it particularly erotic; Gabriel spends a significant amount of time curled in Cal's lap. He's also very conflicted about how submissive he wants to be, but the sex and blood run roughshod over that every time.
I shook my head continuously as I read.
In the first chapter or two, I suffered pronoun confusion: too many "he, his, him". Throughout the book were instances of body placement that didn't make sense (e.g., Gabriel is laying on the floor on his side, then he falls into Cal's arms). It appears that Cal can read Gabriel's mind, but then he says he wants Gabriel to tell him what's going on in Gabriel's head.
Having safe words and talking about hard limits seems odd, given that they seem to be in a werewolf pack and Cal is clearly Gabriel's master - in what seems to be more than a contractual BDSM way. This felt a little like the author wanted to do BDSM the "right" way, but the circumstances didn't lend themselves to that. Also, Cal wants Gabriel to call him "Cal" sometimes instead of "sir" or "master", but it isn't clear to me why. It's not as if Cal ever drops out of the master persona.
Punishment vs. pleasure - Cal tells Gabriel: "I spanked you because you needed to know I didn't blame you for not trusting me." and "You felt you had to earn my forgiveness." Later Gabriel thinks: "Yesterday, Cal had spanked Gabriel because he had displeased him." Also, for being an experienced submissive, Gabriel had no sense for punishment vs. protection.
This line in particular bothered me: "The blond sprang away from Gabriel as though Gabriel had leprosy. Or AIDS."
WTF? Surely there would have been a better way to get the idea across.
Mention is made at the beginning that the "shifter" is also a vampire? Then nothing more is said but blood is exchanged frequently. What was the point in putting a GPS chip on Gabriel when it was never used? There's an underlying story about Gabriel's father, a senator, who is going all out to find his missing son. Very underlying. In fact, it has almost no effect whatsoever on anything. We're told it's happening. Eventually there are CNN news bits. Cal tells Gabriel how they'll handle the phone call when it's time. We are never shown anything. There's also some reason other packs are going to want Gabriel, but the reasoning isn't made clear.
At the 2/3 point in the story I still didn't know what was going on in terms of "what" Gabriel is. Why doesn't Cal explain anything? When Cal does get around to this he tells another one of the pack members, over Gabriel's head, while Gabriel is licking away at Cal's blooded wrist. It's a paragraph of telling and I think it's meant to let us know why Gabriel is special and why the other packs might want him. The story would have been much more interesting if this had been shown and developed throughout. Gabriel and Cal need to "bond", and there seems to be some importance to this but it's not clear and there's very little build-up about it and when it happens it's anticlimactic. -
This was yummy; hot sex that's kind of violent, and the author doesn't explain the whole world to us but gives us some info along the way and trusts us to work it out.
-
*sigh. I honestly thought it was going pretty well, too. Well, it was pretty good? Not great. By no means even near great. It was...solid, though, I think. The explorations into Gabe's identity confusion/crisis as a result of the bonding thing were interesting and semi-valid.
And then...it...devolved. The "resolution" of the giant clusterfuck impasse that went on for literally 75% of the book was the "rape"-love thing I absolutely despise from old yaois - where the uke's technically forced into it against his will but through a system of conditioning is made to believe he really likes it (when it might just be physiological reactions). Of course, there needs to be a resolution, so this is where uke-power kicks in. Once a character becomes an uke, he will automatically start exuding uke-pheremones that no male can ever resist. Along the way, another character will come along and start attempting to force the uke, but of course he's more brutal than the seme. The stupid little uke's like "*sobs. my seme was never this mean/cruel/harsh with me. That means he actually cares very deeply about me and wants the absolute best for me all the time" and then the seme comes riding to the rescue.
Actually, now that I think of it, this book seems like a novelization of those archetypal yaois.
In application to this story, the resolution was weird. I still have no idea how Gabriel arrived at the conclusion that he's Cal's sub for life, heart, mind, soul, etc, w/e. It's like there are steps to the logic missing. Or maybe there's no logic at all and we were supposed to accept it at face value, but as a literary snob, I know that face value is a fallacy and thus cannot be trusted.
Anyways, I enjoyed the first-ish bit more than I liked the last bit. Or the end. Or the projected future.
ETA: I know what it is now. This book is like
What Worse Place Can I Beg in Your Love is pretending to be
Concubine. This is definitely dub-con (and maybe even non-con, since Gabe doesn't seem to be in his right mind throughout the entire book), but it also feels like the author's trying to work it out so that it seems like it's fully consensual. I'm okay with the dub-con/non-con stuff as long as it has definitive purpose within the plot and it doesn't attempt to justify itself as fully consensual. The fail-resolution where it appears Gabriel finally makes up his mind and definitely wants it didn't work for me because it rang of Stockholm and "well, he treats me well because he treats me better in comparison to these other guys," which I've said above bothers me. A lot.
To me, what developed wasn't romance but a full-blown codependency that is masquerading as a romance. Sure, Cal's not a complete jack-ass and does to some degree care for Gabriel, but that doesn't make Gabriel any less codependent on Cal. And Cal doesn't do anything about that, but I think it's more that he never even considered it possible.
Also, combine all of that with the annoying usage of excessive rhetorical questions and random bunches of fragment devolutions and shit, the overall work annoys me more than I initially thought :D -
If you like BDSM and shifters then you'll love this one! It was my first book by Kari Gregg and I thought the story was well written, fast paced and really hot. My only disappointment is that there's no sequel.
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This one was odd. I did like it... I did, but not as much as I thought i would. Gabriel is a slave boy/pet for at least 80% of the book, as in he gets dressed, fed, constantly bound and is even assisted in going to the toilet by his master, with no say or opinon of his own, not that he wants one...I think. That was the other issue, he was very very conflicted about whether he wanted to be with Cal or not and while it added an element of dub con to the story, I think he was too submissive for me to make it a true dub-con, he always wanted to be with Cal, but the moment they stopped having sex he was thinking about but not wanting to escape. I'm pretty sure that made no sense, but it felt a little like that reading it so...
These two were very hot together, lots of rough instinctual sex, it was all rather yummy! I did like the submissiveness of Gabriel, I just don't think it fit his thoughts and I didn't expect this book to be so slavey, but I did enjoy it and had I been prepared for it I would have really had fun with it. Cal ended up being kinda sweet as well, although I don't think it would've hurt to give Gabriel some explanations about him transforming into a shifter. -
No one, and I mean no one, can write a submissive character quite like Kari Gregg. Gabriel is amazing, and Cal seriously knows how to dominate the man. The sex between them is beyond hot, but it wasn't just the sex scenes. Everything about their dynamic is just so intense and erotic.
My main gripe is that I wish the book was longer. I would have liked more world-building, and definitely more of an ending. Like all of Gregg's books, the story feels incomplete and the ending rushed. It's a testament to Gregg's skill, that even despite these problems this is still my favorite M/M shifter book, and that has to be worth five stars. -
2.5 Stars
I, Omega was a mixed bag of love and disappointment for me. So let the rambling begin…. :)
We jump right into this story with both feet running. Gabriel had a “normal” day to day life with a job, routine, obligations, and joys. But after one night with Cal, a Dom were-shifter, Gabriel’s life changes forever. Cal takes Gabriel deeper into his submission and into a world filled with dangerous desires and new ways to be marked, cared for and cherished. No matter how fast or far Gabriel runs, his Master will always find him. Can Gabriel be what Cal needs? Be the shifter’s pet and mate? Can he let go of his human side, his fear, and defiance to allow himself to need and trust Cal and the pack?
I am a Kari Gregg fan. Her writing style, words, and pace fit with my reading heart. Fun, positive words and energy fill her stories. Words like—“fucktastic” and “electrifyingly good” make me smile. Ms. Gregg’s style is showcased again and again in how she describes Gabriel’s swirling emotions and panic: “the frantic hurt and its twin—fear—still twirled madly inside him”, “heart thundering”, or “jangled” nerves. A very strong, distinctive voice with fast moving action and chemistry that lures me in every time. I love spending time in a Gregg world. But….
On to my disappointments. Communication is key in a dom/sub relationship. Individual needs and limits have to be set, clearly expressed and understood. I just didn’t feel that level of communication here between Gabriel and Cal. If anything Cal kept Gabriel in the dark with his new cravings, physical needs, and dangers of pack life. It felt wrong not telling Gabriel what he needed to help him understand and find his way in this new world of werewolves, shifters, blood, and sex. Even when they did sit down and talk, Cal gave half answers and huffiness—“You’re mine. That’s all you need to understand.” Gabriel deserved and needed details as his body changed. His fears and tears made my heart hurt.
The pack, shifter dynamic fascinated me though. Once the pack hit the woods, I longed for more background and history, but that is not the Kari Gregg way. She often throws us knee deep into the story and action where we then play catch up along the way. A technique that fills a story with mystery and suspense, but in this case, left way too many holes for me. Strong likeable characters rule her pages with fun, humor, and sex appeal not the world and environment around them. I liked Gabriel from the get-go. His sweet submissive, bratty tendencies, vulnerability, and need cuddled right up to my heart. And even though, Cal annoyed me at times, their chemistry was off the charts hot! Shuddering, sputtering, slick, sticky, sexy kind of fun filled the pages!
Soooo…to sum up and end this rambling review….I had some fun here. The idea of combining the shifter mystique with BDSM definitely intrigues me, but it just didn’t completely win me over here.
p.s. A strong, sexy side kick can make my heart beat flutter and imagination go wild. Burke, Cal’s beta, has one hell of a magnetic pull! Wow! More Burke please. -
Not quite what I was expecting, but in a good way. In a really good way. These are my favorite types of Dom/sub and master/slave relationships.
There is a sweet, sweet slave boy, who wants nothing more than to please his master. Paired with an affectionate and loving master who gives constant praise to their good little slave boy. And pet names like "pretty baby" and "my pet" make me all kinds of hot. -
This book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions because you're riding with the main character and he has no clue to what's going on at first. The truths are revealed slowly, peeled away in slow layers that I enjoyed. And I would have worried for him, for Gabriel, that he was being abused but from the beginning, at every moment you hear in his own thoughts that he needs Cal, wants whatever Cal wants, and needs to be claimed by his master. To feel whole, Gabriel needs the ownership and the outward trappings of that.
Cal, the alpha werewolf, the master in their master/slave relationship, knows that too truly understand his own value to not only his alpha but to the pack, Gabriel has to have his walls torn down and then rebuilt on a foundation of trust. So Cal methodically gets Gabriel to first be truthful about his own needs, admit to what he can and cannot abide, and then, through constant concern and love, finds his own strength. Gabriel thinks so little of himself, degrades himself constantly and sometimes Cal has to resort to pain to make him stop. But even then, Gabriel is made to understand that if he stands up for himself, he will have everything he truly wants. My favorite part is when Gabriel is telling Cal all the things he can't do and Cal explains to him that of course he can’t because he's not supposed to be good at those things. That's what Cal is for. Cal hunts for him, protects him, does everything for him. He’s the alpha, Gabriel the omega, and only when Gabriel finally gets it do they bond. The idea of the werewolf and the human was made believable and I love that in my paranormals, that it could happen and the reason. Highly recommended. I hope there’s a sequel. -
This was an interesting reading experience, in the best sense. The blurb pulled me in, but when I started reading I was disappointed at first. Initially, it sounded a lot like 'just another' Master/slave story with a cruel Master and a more than unwilling sub. Even if the sub 'sort of wanted' to be treated like he was, his mind clearly wasn't into it. I kept reading because a few people had given it great reviews, so, clearly, they saw something here that I hadn't yet discovered.
I have to say, I wasn't disappointed. Very cleverly woven into the story were several hints that there was more to Gabriel's condition than met the eye. Uncovering what was behind it all was great fun. The story is told entirely from Gabriel's point of view, so I realized things as he discovered them, which definitely made for an interesting experience. This is a story about Gabriel finding his role in life and about growing into a position Cal wanted him for with a vengeance.
Was Cal the perfect Master? Probably not. But then, that made him all the more likeable to me. Just as Gabriel wasn't the perfect sub (although he tried very hard) and that made him more real. The underlying dynamic that is added to the Master/slave relationship is nice and different, and screams for a sequel, as far as I am concerned. I think Cal has a lot to learn as well, and it would be fascinating to see him grow under Gabriel's guidance.
If you like shifter stories with a difference and BDSM tales with a twist, this book might just fit the bill for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Loose Id for the purpose of a review. -
Yep, there was knotting. Lots and lots of knotting. Loved it! -
I am constantly pushing my boundaries with reading, pushing and trying new things even though I swore I would never touch them. This book, it pushed my boundary of never reading the act of knotting, because honestly, I have seen way too many dogs get “stuck” with knotting and I wasn’t sure how the hell that could be sexy.
You know how it could be sexy?? Kari Gregg that’s how.
HOLY FUCK ME STUPID.
Those four words are what happened to me while reading this book. It was so much more than I expected and while there was a decent amount of knotting involved, the story was so much more.
I can't seem to get my feelings straight to give a good review. This book had the mates deal that I find hopelessly romantic in these shifter stories and it had the human kink tossed in and OMG it had endearments up the wazoo! I am a sucker for endearments and each time Cal called Gabriel his pet, or pretty boy or just good boy... clean up on aisle, Sara! I was a puddle of pure goo.
I like that I learned about Omegas and Betas and Alphas right along with Gabriel. I am still a newbie to this world and learning along side the MC was lovely and not overwhelming at all. I loved how Gabriel was human yet had the capacity to be a mate to an Alpha Shifter... I mean, how swoony is that?
I adored Cal so much. He was so patient and growly protective over Gabriel and yet cared for him on this whole other level of romantic. He wanted Gabriel to come about on his own and when that boy finally gets it, gets who he really is to Cal, it was amazing.
So my first experience with KNOTTING (yes JL I will now do the all caps because I get it and thanks again for the confirmation chat) is over and I survived. I get why it's sexy though it won't be something I actively seek out in a book but it also, won't be a reason I don't read a book.
Knotting, it's a thing and I read it. -
2.5 stars
I'm rounding up because Kari Gregg writes some of the best porn in MM. Yeah, I'm pretty easy.
This is insta-love galore. When the two first meet, Cal's wolf quickly recognizes his mate, while Gabriel finds it impossible to refuse Cal, though he doesn't understand why. Ordinarily, I'd scoff at the whole set-up. But it's shifters and fated mates, so I'll let it pass. Insta comes with the territory.
Despite the flimsy base, the romance is actually quite sweet. Gabriel slowly accepts that he and Cal are meant to be together, letting his guard down bit by bit. For his part, Cal gives Gabriel everything he wants, keeping him safe while also giving him time to understand that the two are meant to be together.
Plus, Cal indulges all of Gabriel's kinky desires. Frequently. There's spanking, domination, bondage, and even some exhibitionism. Oh, and KNOTTING. 'Tis hot.
There's a mystery sub-plot thrown in, but it's not fleshed out very well. Though this is Kari Gregg, so I definitely didn't come for the plot. Refer to my first sentence if you're wondering what lured me in.
'I, Omega' is a good read if you know what to expect from this author and are looking for something that's got lots of hot sex and very little complexity. -
Holy f*ck. Amazing how people perspective could changed somehow. I've read this book before. I gave it 2 stars. But I decided to pick it again because it reminds me of 'Collared' by the same author. One of my favorite books of all time.
After re-reading :
How could I gave this 2 stars? F*ck. But that was so good. So sensual. Amazing. I loved this alpha-omega dynamic. The ending was perfect. I don't need another sequel. Prequel? Hell yes.
What I disliked :
- Sex marathon
"I'll do whatever I have to do to keep you alive. Don't ask me to put your life in danger. I can't. I won't."
~Cal
*******************************************
I guess I'm not really fond of 24-7 D/s relationship.
But,
You Melted Me still one of my favorites!! -
Vanessa-crack.
I can't even say what it is I love about Kari Gregg so much except that it is really hard to find the super-pervy stuff really well written. And Kari Gregg can *write*. For me, this wasn't quite my fave of hers (pretty poison gets my vote for that) but it was definitely more of the perv-fest from my favorite perv-dealer.
<3 -
4.5 stars
Shiznit that was hot. Good golly. And romantic in the end. Yeah, don't give up people who don't like what this seems like it is at the beginning because it's sort of going somewhere else. In fact I'm thinking I should up the stars to five not four because really, it's all sorts of hot, yet touching and tells you something about people too. I think, wait for it this touched me. Yup, no, it's rounding to five stars. I dislike voyeurism, I don't get it. At first I thought Cal was being unnecessarily strict and harsh (even though I was enjoying the heck out of his cruelty). I mean, what's his deal right? Big creepy ass pyscho sexy hunk of werewolf kidnapper. And then somehow Gabriel and I got the old Stockholm Syndrome. And now I love him. But for more of why we grew to love him - and I recommend just reading it and ignoring the spoilers that I'm going to give in a vaguish way, see below. -
I loved the story. It was intense and sexy and Cal was a perfect dom.
I wish there was more. Jake is definitely an interesting person and I was a little disappointed he had so abruptly vanished at the end of the book. Nevertheless - 5 stars! -
Oh this did not work for me. I guess slave fic isn't my thing. :/
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Updated here's my official review. Click the logo.
This was an odd one for me. I'm writing out my thoughts before I write my official review. I like Ms. Gregg's books. I liked the theme ~ BDSM. I also enjoy shifters. Still, this one rubbed me slightly the wrong way. It's taken me a couple of days to figure out what bothered me. It's the BDSM interaction. It was off for me.
1. The punishment scene just didn't flow for me. First of all, 10 swats is nothing. I'm not sure how much a werewolf would swat harder. It just came across as unbelievable for me.
2. Cal was not really a Dom. Or I guess I would say he's the kind of dom I have no respect for because he thinks he's a dom and plays at it. Yes, I know he wanted a 24/7 which means "serious" TPE, but seriously, Cal was an asshole. He gives mixed messages. I don't like Cal because he withheld information from Gabriel which I consider a cardinal sin.
Cal also treated Gabriel poorly in ways that I find unacceptable in a Top. It is no wonder his pack treated Gabriel with no respect. Cal said he was testing his pack, not Gabriel, but it doesn't come across this way. It doesn't because we don't know the rules for this pack in this world. In addition, we don't know how Omegas are really treated in this world either. It's not clear whether humans really understand the shifters in this world either. This makes it difficult for me to fathom Cal's motives.
3. Gabriel comes across as a doormat sub. I don't really know any of these types of subs. It was mentioned that he was behaving in ways that made no sense to him. I didn't understand the in ability to truthfully answer the questions. I think I missed the point of this scene. Was it to tell me Gabriel was unable to say no to Cal, no matter what? And why was Cal being such an asshole about it?
This story left me baffled. At the end, I liked Gabriel and I enjoyed the sex scenes. I liked the 3 methods of "marking" Gabriel. I thought it was hot. Truth be known, if my DH said, "honey, I need to keep track of you. I'm getting you a ...", I'd probably just say, "okay, where are we going to get it?" -
This is not a story without flaws. In fact, I would say there were a lot of things that could have used more work. Explanations were rare and mostly inconclusive. The definition of Gabriel's exact role in that pack wasn't as clearly defined as it could have been and Cal was conflicting in himself and especially when it came to his relationship toward Gabriel.
What bothered me the most was lack of details about the world. It seemed like it would be overwhelming and interesting and I know I would have loved this book even more without that aspect of it missing. Still, nothing I've said so far justifies my 4 star rating. To clear that up - it's the writing style.
Just like with the first book I've read from this author, I am almost enchanted with the easy flow of her words. Thoughts flow into actions and emotions bleed into words, it is something I could never get enough of. I can feel the characters on every page and the tension calls to me. What else attracted me was the raw nature of a wolf, that almost uncontrollable urge mixed with instinct which was incorporated into BDSM lifestyle. This story is not exclusively about either, but at the same time it is about both. The submission as well as the need for it was felt and for me that just hit the spot.
When you read as much as I do, it's hard to get stirred up by a book. I can love them, even appreciate them, but those that make me hot and make me squirm are rare gems which I will always reward with a high rating. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm thinking of reading m/f titles from this author. That's probably enough said. -
I, Omega
By Kari Gregg
I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not I liked this book. Even after taking a day to think it over I still haven't really decided. On the surface my answer is yes, but beneath the surface I had problems with it.
I don't like how it starts out, because it actually totally bypasses the most important part... their first encounter, which is the basis of their entire relationship.
After Cal tracks down Gabriel and they're back together again it's pretty much all about drinking blood and sex. There's no relationship building between them other than Gabriel's being so scared and insecure he's extremely emotional and needy. All.The.Time. He came off as having no brain or ability to think for himself for most of the book too.
At the conclusion I was thrilled Gabriel finally grew into his own security in their relationship and wasn't afraid anymore.
When I completed the last paragraph of the book the only question in my mind was... where was Jake when the intruders came upon Gabriel? He'd promised Cal he'd watch out for him and when Gabriel needed him most he was nowhere to be found nor was he mentioned ever again after Gabriel wondered where he was and when Jake would catch up with him.
Seriously? The brat needed to be punished severely. Especially after the wrath he got from Cal the last time and that was only for scaring Gabriel. So Jake gets off with no punishment whatsoever for failing not just Gabriel, but Cal... yet again. -
This one vacillated between 2 and 4 stars for me, so I'm splitting the difference.
It really took a long time to get going on the plot. Gabriel didn't really show a touch of spine or personality until about 60%. Before that he was just a confuzzled cum dump prone to panic attacks and I was stuck in his head. Once the actual story got going I liked it and once Gabriel became an actual character with thoughts outside of Cal I enjoyed it a lot more. Their dynamic after that was my favorite part.
A couple of things took it back down for me though. Would it have killed Cal to talk to Gabriel? You can't just keep saying how confused and scared he is and how he needs to be able to trust without actually ever telling him anything with words. A little bit of who, what, why and how would have gone a long way with the trust thing. Hell I was confused and I wasn't constantly getting my ass beat.
This was definitely more a story about Cal and Gabriel's relationship than about their world. I wanted some more of the world building though. Why was a human omega so valuable, more so than a shifter one? How could two bumbling shifters from another pack get so close when there was so much "protection". Where did the dumbass Jr. Alpha go? How did it go with Gabriel's family? I got sucked in at the latter half and that's when I wanted to know all the things.
But, there was KNOTTING, so all good. -
At first, the author has a good writing style.
But that is all good what I can say about this book.
Where is the story? What is the story?
Whoever has written the blurb does a really good job.
But the rest of the book?? Eewww!!
The book is about some – not good!! – sex scenes, between these there is a story that doesn’t made sense.
There is no explanation about the world; the whole background is missing.
We have characters they outmatch each other in their shallowness.
The author doesn’t comprehend the world of bdsm and is incapable to write about it.
It seems as has the author some ideas and they were put together without thought.
There is no real central theme
The best thing about the book was the blurb. Therefore I give 1 star.
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Kari Gregg is one of the few author's who can write such short stories that I enjoy. She puts a lot of story in a small number of pages. This story was a D/s m/m read. Now for more then initials.
Characters:
Gabriel. A human white collar working son of a Senator. A gay submissive. A human Omega. The man an Alpha shifter's wolf chose for his own.
Cal. An Alpha shifter. A dominant who has the tendency to spoil his sub and a man who will hunt you down if you run from him.
At the start, Cal had already claimed Gabriel, and a frightened and confused Gabriel had run. He was confused and hurting. He didn't really understand what the man he met at the BDSM club had done to him. All he knew was that people were looking for him, and he did not want t be found.
Of course Cal did find him, and this is where the story really started. I enjoyed watching Cal try and earn Gabriel's trust, knowing how important an Omega would be to his pack. Gabriel learning to trust Cal was also sweet. The two of them could of communicated better, but they are men, so that explains that.
We saw a little of the reast of the pack, how they interact and the heirachy at work. There was the drama of Gabriel going missing from his life and other packs wanting him for themselves. Lots of things happening for a quick read.
It kept me interested all the way through, and I will read more of this author happily.
Thanks Monique for bringing this little treasure to my attention. -
Very sexy play in this D/s story that is top notch. While the ending is sweet, the preceding scene seemed a bit too contrived or Cal's pack are useless idiots at patrolling.
