Reviewed by Lisa
TITLE: Slow Heat 
SERIES: Heat of Love #1
AUTHOR: Leta Blake
NARRATOR: Michael Ferraiuolo
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 14 hours, 7 minutes
RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2018
BLURB:
A lustful young alpha meets his match in an older omega with a past.
Professor Vale Aman has crafted a good life for himself. An unbonded omega in his mid-30s, he’s long since given up hope that he’ll meet a compatible alpha, let alone his destined mate. He’s fulfilled by his career, his poetry, his cat, and his friends.
When Jason Sabel, a much younger alpha, imprints on Vale in a shocking and public way, longings are ignited that can’t be ignored. Fighting their strong sexual urges, Jason and Vale must agree to contract with each other before they can consummate their passion.
But for Vale, being with Jason means giving up his independence and placing his future in the hands of an untested alpha – as well as facing the scars of his own tumultuous past. He isn’t sure it’s worth it. But Jason isn’t giving up his destined mate without a fight.
REVIEW:
The Alpha/Beta/Omega trope isn’t one I typically seek out but I’m glad I did this time. With a few small exceptions, I absolutely loved this story!
Jason attends the Alpha training school where Vale is a professor. Vale is an older omega who’s content with his current life until Jason unexpectedly imprints on him in a very public manner.
Vale has huge secrets which could very negatively affect his life and he’s not sure if he can trust a very young Alpha to protect those secrets or trust him not to take away his autonomy.
Jason wants his Omega and refuses to let anything keep them apart. Whether it be his father, his youth, Vale’s experience, or their secrets. He wants a partner, not someone who’s subservient to him.
I liked how Jason was consistently trying to be the best Alpha he could and how supportive of Vale he was. Even when his parents tried to talk him out of making a match with an older man who refused to have children, Jason was determined he didn’t want to be with anyone other than his mate. I also liked how Vale wanted the best for Jason even if it meant he’d be without his imprinted Alpha.
I can’t say why but for some reason I found the role-playing sex between Jason and his best friend ridiculously hot yet wasn’t overwhelmed with the sex between Jason and Vale.
I loved this book, however I would have liked to have seen more backstory on the Great Death and how the A/B/O world was created after. I would definitely like to continue this series. I recommend this story to anyone who likes the A/B/O trope or slow burn.
I loved Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance and thought he did an excellent job with the different character voices. He really made this story come alive. I thought he did the dramatic scenes perfectly so they didn’t seem like caricatures as well as making the sex scenes hot without being over the top. I think I’ve only listened to a couple of books he’s narrated so I don’t yet have a decent sample size but I can really see his becoming one of my favorite narrators.
RATING: 
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