Review: Alpha's Redemption (The Alpha/Omega Verse #3) by D.C. Juris

Tondreau has spent the last four years helping raise Cadajen's terminally ill daughter, Linea. Though not mates, they've carved out a happy life with each other. It all comes crashing down when Linea's health takes a turn for the worst. Together, they must face the hardest decision of their lives. Will it tear them apart? And can Tondreau put aside his fears and be the Alpha Cadajen needs him to be?

Holy shit that book hurt like a mother fucker! It was also ridiculously sweet and heartwarming, but my God I looked ridiculous while reading it!

First off this can’t really be read as a stand alone. You might be able to make your way through it, but it will be a bit confusing. This couple are completely different characters than from previous books, but the alien species aren’t described as full in this book and you will be a little lost with some of the terms.


This book deals with one very heavy issue and I will be giving away spoilers in this review, so if you don’t want to know what happens step away!


So let's start with Cadajen, who is an Alien (they’re humanoid but very very alien, as in blue glowing skin and hairless) and an omega. He has a terminally ill 4 year old daughter, Linea, who is at the last stages of her life. Tondreau, (another very Alien humanoid of a different species, he has scales) is an Alpha and friend of Cadajen, he’s been with Cadajen since the birth of his daughter and has helped raise and care for her.


For reasons I won't reveal in this review Tondreau feels he is unable to mate with Cadajen, so they’ve been tiptoeing around the fact they act as mates and are madly in love, but are not in fact mated. Their HEA is perfection and well deserved!


Ok onto the heavy stuff, Cadajen and Tondreau have to go through the process of euthanizing Linea when her condition worsens…. yes, now you see why I was an ugly mess!!! This is beautifully written, which was terrible in this instance because it made every feeling and every ounce of pain seem more real.

They both looked down at Linea when the healer had finished. “We love you, baby girl,” Cadajen murmured. “We love you so much. It’s not because we don’t want you anymore. We just don’t want you to hurt.”
Tondreau squeezed his leg. “She knows.”

Ahhh just reading those quotes has me teared up again.


Everyone knows I’m not a fan of ‘the sad’ or ‘the angst’ in my books, but this gets such a high rating because it is more than that. Cadajen and Tondreau do get their own beautiful HEA and there is just so much love in this book, even the sad moments were only sad because of the love.


Definitely recommend, but only with tissues and if you can handle the heavy content.

A copy provided for an honest review.

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Review: Orion’s Way by D.C. Juris

Orion is a vampire with a tragic past. After running away from abusive parents at the tender age of sixteen, he was turned by a ruthless elder vampire and forced to torture and sexually abuse human feeders and submissive vampires. Though that's all behind him now, he still lives in the shadow of what he was, and it's cost him the loyalty of Xavier, the human feeder he loves. Malagan is Orion's closest friend--the vampire who saved him from brutality all those years ago. Malagan knows the dominant side of Orion--the side Xavier needs--is still there, lurking below the surface. But if Orion's going to find his way back to who he ought to be, he'll need help. And Malagan is just the man for the job.

Previously published by Breathless Press.

More a tease than anything, this short story takes place in a nest of vampires and their human feeders. The world building was just enough to grasp the idea, in a way that allowed the story to flow. Not overly complex, or layered, it was general, and gave the impression of an insular group, with hierarchy and order.

Orion’s backstory is not really explained in a way that would be identifiable if not for the blurb. The reader knows there is damage, and a brief reason why, but it is not the whole picture and I felt that it was a little lacking.

Told from Malagan’s point of view, this is an outsider view of what is going on between Orion and Xavier, and why they are not together. With Malagan’s help directed towards Orion, I’m not sure I buy the storyline without some further convincing.

The BDSM scene and how it was brought up was somewhat believable, and there was heat, but I didn’t feel like I really got enough from either Malagan or Orion, nor how it would help Orion by the end. I was actually more interested in their journey, and relationship development, than Orion working out how to get his lover back.

As stated above, this is a tease, and a glimpse into the author’s style. I would have preferred more, which is a good thing. It kept me engaged enough to read through without stopping, and by the end, I felt like I had read a prologue of Orion’s story.

Recommended for those who enjoy short BDSM stories, with switches.

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Blog Tour + Giveaway: Alpha's Redemption (Alpha/omega Verse #3) by D.C. Juris

D.C. Juris is celebrating their latest release in the Alpha/omega Verse series, book #3, Alpha's Redemption. Not only is there a hot excerpt, but there's an even hotter GIVEAWAY. One lucky winner will have a chance to win an Ebook copy of Alpha's Redemption!

Author: DC Juris

Title: Alpha's Redemption

Series Title and Number: Alpha/omega Verse #3

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kristin Norris

Release Date: July 27 2016

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: male/male alien

Length: 17,651

Genre:Gay Romance, Science Fiction, Alternate Universe, Aliens

Synopsis

Tondreau has spent the last four years helping raise Cadajen's terminally ill daughter, Linea. Though not mates, they've carved out a happy life with each other. It all comes crashing down when Linea's health takes a turn for the worst. Together, they must face the hardest decision of their lives. Will it tear them apart? And can Tondreau put aside his fears and be the Alpha Cadajen needs him to be? .

Excerpt

Tondreau faced him, shaking his head. "You love her, and you show her that love every day, every chance you get." He frowned, his brow furrowed. "Do you know how many of us walk through life without love? How many of us would give almost anything for four years of love?"

Cadajen had expected the first half of the statement. But the second half… "You're not without love."

Tondreau's frown deepened and he shrugged. "I didn't mean me, specifically."

"But you're not. You have to know that. Linea and I both love you. You must be able to smell it on us, at least."

The Malorcian shuffled his papers, shoved them into his bag. "Should I bring home something for dinner, or did you have a plan?"

Cadajen couldn't help but sigh and shake his head. "It never fails to amaze me."

"What?"

"You Alphas. You're supposed to be so strong and brave, but the simple things throw you."

"Love isn't simple," Tondreau countered.

"It's the simplest thing in the universe. It's all the mating and linking that complicates it, but that’s on us. We scramble it up. You shouldn't be afraid of love."

"I'm not," he refuted. "The scrambling it up part concerns me, though."

"I don't think we'd scramble it up."

"There are things you don't know about me."

"Nothing that would change how I feel."

Red shimmered faintly at the edges of Tondreau's irises, his Alpha instincts responding to the words.

Cadajen reached out but stopped short, frowning at the material of Tondreau's long sleeved coat. Wasn't that just so metaphorical? There was always a barrier between them, wasn't there? Not physical, like the clothing -- they'd been naked with each other hundreds of times. He knew Tondreau's body as well as he knew his own. But they'd never been bare together, had they? Well, Tondreau hadn't. There was always something. Some deep dark secret Tondreau feared to reveal and it kept him just out of Cadajen's reach.

He looked back up. The red was receding now. Cadajen wanted nothing more than to rip his glove off and press his hand to Tondreau's skin, chase that fleeting emotion, catch it to him and hold it close. Prove himself worthy to Tondreau. Without truly thinking it through, he stepped forward into Tondreau's space. They were close; close enough to feel the warmth of each other's breath, the heat of each other's bodies, and their lips… Cadajen leaned in a tiny bit closer and stopped when Tondreau tensed. He looked up then and his heart shuddered. “Am… am I wrong?”

Seconds ticked between them, the question hung in the air, and just when Cadajen was certain he’d made a mistake, Tondreau sighed softly. “You're not wrong.”

Cadajen reached for him.

Tondreau stepped back. "We can't."

"Why?" Cadajen barely recognized the voice as his own as the word forced its way out his throat. He knew he sounded like a petulant child, but he couldn't help it. His omega instincts screamed at him to make Tondreau understand, to beg if he had to. "You said I wasn't wrong."

"Daj…" Tondreau sighed again, heavy this time, and raked his fingers through his hair. "You're not…"

"Don’t you dare say I'm not worthy." Not that. Anything but that.

Tondreau's eyes widened and the red threatened again. "I'd never say that. That's not… It's me who isn't worthy. You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me," he pleaded. "We've known each other for seven years. You've helped me raise my child. We practically live together. I love you. I'm in love with you. Don't tell me you didn't know. And don't tell me you don't feel the same. Don't lie to me like that."

"I'd never lie to you." He opened his mouth to continue, but the alarm on his pager interrupted him. He glanced down at it.

Cadajen recognized the alert as the 'if you don't leave now, you're really, really going to be late' tone. They'd set it up years ago, after Tondreau had lingered too long with Linea a few mornings in a row, and the Academy had slapped his wrists for it. He laid his gloved hand on Tondreau's arm. "Go. It's all right. But we're going to finish this conversation. Promise me. You owe me an explanation."

Tondreau nodded. He stepped close quickly, pressed a chaste kiss to Cadajen's cheek, and fled, no doubt grateful for the reprieve.

Purchase

Torquere Press

 

Meet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we're talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake-making, football-watching, rubber-duck-collecting, drag-show loving, full-of-fabulous-with-a-capital-F kinda gal. She's also an ordained minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she's not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair watching Star Trek and Supernatural repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink::

https://www.facebook.com/danielchristianjuris

www.twitter.com/dcjuris

https://www.pinterest.com/dcjuris/

@dcjuris on Instagram and Periscope

http://dcjuris.blogspot.com

Giveaway

Rafflecopter Prize: One winner will be selected to win an eBook copy of Alpha's Redemption.

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Review: Broken Alpha & Devoted Alpha (The Alpha/Omega Verse #1-2) by DC Juris

Any Alpha/Omega readers out there? 

 
Yeah, we thought there might be a few. Check out Chelsea's double reviews of D.C. Juris's Alpha/Omega Verse!


Book #1 - Broken Alpha

Captain Korden Encarit of the North Star thought he'd lost the most important person in the universe to him - his brother and lover, Rennett.

A year later, Rennett has been found alive, a captive on a hostile planet. Only when their sibling link reactivates does Korden realize how bad the damage is: stripped of his mental strength, Rennett is now a Broken Alpha.

With the help of his friends - ship's Malorcian healer, Sokel, and his fiery Human mate, Sebastian - Korden must try and heal his brother's mind and help him adjust to his new status as omega. But Rennett needs a mate, and it quickly becomes clear that no one is willing.

Will Korden give up everything he has worked for - his career, his ship - buck Presidian tradition, and risk the scorn of their father to save his brother?

This series caught my eye for a lot of reasons, one it has alpha and omegas (so yum!) and then it has two of my favourite naughty sub-genres, incest and Daddy kink!! YES! I mean there is no way I could pass up on a series with both of those making an appearance!!

I don’t know what I was expecting but both books surprised me a lot, did I enjoy them?… yes I actually really really did.

This is a story about aliens. Aliens who have alpha and omega status, both characteristics similar to typical alpha and omegas, but if you're expecting fur and knotting you won't find it here. Kordan and Rennett are brothers, alphas and lovers. Rennett went on a mission nearing a year ago and never came back, Kordan assumed he had died. When our story starts Kordan is given information by Sokel and Sebastian (Kordans best friends and mated pair) that Rennett has been held prisoner and tortured for the time he has been missing. Of course Kordan goes and rescues him, but the severe mental torture that was inflicted changed Rennett from an alpha status to omega.

Before going into this you have to know that all four of these characters are main characters, each have equal page time and most have a chapter or so in their POV.

This story had great characters and a very interesting world, unfortunately I felt that they weren’t explored or explained as well as they could’ve been. We didn’t get to know much about Kordan’s or Sokel’s alien species, we weren’t even given many details about what they look like, just some small insignificant facts like, their blood is yellow. That being said, it didn’t make me feel like I knew these men any less. The feelings and experiences that Kordan and Rennett go through are very well written and I definitely felt connected to them. Some more background information on Rennett and Kordan’s relationship before the kidnapping or how Sokel and Sebastian became mated would’ve been nice. The universe also wasn’t very detailed, there was enough to make the story work, but nothing compared to other alien stories I’ve read.

There were also a few things that tied up too neatly or quickly for my liking. One prime example is, Kordan and Rennett’s father never knew about them being lovers and it's mentioned that it'd be a big scandal if he ever found out. Yet nothing is mentioned about the confrontation other than an off-page conversation Kordan has with him. There’s no fall out, or no acknowledgment that their dad approved, just nothing.

OK getting back on track to the things I liked. I really really liked the closeness between all these men. Their friendship and need for each other is so tangible throughout the writing that I adored the scenes when they needed to comfort each other. Sokel and Kordan’s banter was delightful and Sebastian (being the only human) brought some humour to the story. The premise behind the mind link (that everyone can lock into it) was fascinating and probably one of the few things that was thoroughly explained.

Then there's the heat scene….oh holy moly that was sooooo goooood. I’d read this book just to get to that desperate, clawing, filling, sweaty marathon of hot brocest sex. It was good.

Don’t shoot me but I definitely picked this up for the brocest, which didn’t end up being a main part of this book. Yes it was there and it was hot, but this focused much more on Rennett’s recovery and adaption to becoming an omega and the friendship between the four men. So no, it wasn’t what I was expecting, but I loved the tender moments and the connections present, even if things could’ve been more fledged out.

Check out Broken Alpha on Goodreads!

Book #2 - Devoted Alpha

Sokel and Sebastian from "Broken Alpha" are back. Sokel has long known his Human mate has harbored certain hidden fantasies and desires, but he's not the kind of Alpha to demand anything of his omega. One night, a whispered word slips past Sebastian's lips -- daddy. Ever the devoted Alpha, Sokel sets out to help his mate understand that these cravings don't make him a deviant. But when Sokel visits a fellow healer in an attempt to please his mate, has he gone too far? And will their best friends and housemates, Korden and Rennett, be able to accept this new twist to their lifestyle?

Phew….this is what I call age-play, but not for the faint hearted. This has got infantilism, age-play and a feeding fetish. A lot of people will be uncomfortable with this, so if this quote freaks you out, stay clear.

“You feel so good, baby boy. So good in my hand. You’re so hard for me, so hard for your daddy. I love to touch you like this, my baby boy. My Bastian, my baby. Drink your milk while I touch you. That’s good, isn’t it? You like my touch, don’t you, baby boy? You like it when Daddy touches you?”

Ok so you’ve been warned. Honestly I love age-play, but even I got a big squeamish while reading this...probably because I was equally turned on and appalled at myself.

This book, unlike its predecessor was just about Sokel and Sebastian, Kord and Rennett do make a small appearance at the end, which leads to a pretty hot scene *waggles eyebrows*. Pretty much Sebastian has this kink, and Sokel makes it happen… ending with fairly extreme (but what I found quite delicious) results.

This story could be read as a stand alone, except for the whole understanding of the universe. The mind-link and omega/alpha status’ aren’t really explained in this book and while it's not necessary to enjoy the age-play, understanding them would make a few sentences less confusing. It really is just a lot of kinky scenes.

I obviously liked it and if you like age-play, you’ll like it too, but don’t expect much more than some kink in this short story.

Check out Devoted Alpha on Goodreads!