Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Playing With Fire
SERIES: Bridgewater Bay (Book 1)
AUTHOR: James Thorne
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 276 pages
RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2021
BLURB:
As a teenager, omega Riley Morris fell in love with the sexiest Alpha in school and ended up pregnant and alone. But he learned his lesson well. Playing With Fire is a good way to get burned. Now Riley is a twenty-year-old single dad, struggling to raise his three-year-old son and his teenage sister. Working as a maid by day and stripper by night, Riley is too busy to become romantically involved with Alphas. Alphas only want omegas for one thing anyways.
Logan Donovan is an Alpha firefighter, with no mate, no children, and no prospects. And he’s convinced himself he’s happier that way. But when he pulls omega Riley Morris from the roaring flames of an apartment fire, sparks fly. And when Riley is released from the hospital into Logan’s temporary protective custody, things between Logan and Riley heat up faster than either of them planned.
Will Logan and Riley find a way to let their guards down long enough to fulfill each other’s fantasies, or will they get burned?
Find out in Playing With Fire!
REVIEW:
Nice first outing by a brand new author.
Riley Morris has had a super rough last three years. He’s an omega that wound up pregnant and dumped by his high school alpha dirtbag. While pregnant at 17 his o-dad stabs and kills his drunk and abusive a-dad, while trying to protect himself, his son and daughter, and winds up in prison for the next 25 years. Riley has been working as a maid during the day and stripper/dancer at a club at night to pay the bills and keep a roof over his, his son Benji and his teenage sister Raelyn’s heads. All this at only 20 years old! When he trudges home after a long night dancing he discovers his apartment complex engulfed in flames. He tries to go rescue his son and sister but succumbs to the smoke inhalation. His home, with all their meager possessions, is gone and he winds up in the hospital. Thankfully his sister and toddler son are safe but now what will he do?
This story is set in an omegaverse where the Alphas have all the control and the omegas are thought of as less than able to think and provide for themselves. Their “rights” are controlled by an antiquated legal system that basically gives all control to their Alphas including basic rights like driving a car only with their signed alpha’s permission! And he can’t be released from the hospital unless it’s to an alpha for a prescribed time? Seriously this is like back in the 30’s or worse for women. Definitely an eye opener on oppression. I did love how progressive Logan was. And Raelyn and Tori working for omega rights was a pleasant part. Logan’s a-dad was a piece of work for sure.
I did find it difficult to think that Logan’s ex Kendall just disappeared, and with all Logan’s family and wealth they couldn’t find him even though Kendall’s a-dad was running for city council. Even though they were young and naïve they thought they were fated-mates. I don’t see that happening. 8 ½ years and no contact? No matter how powerful Kendall’s a-dad was that didn’t seem possible if they were living in the same city and he was a councilman.
I was a tad bit confused as to Riley’s behaviors. He doesn’t want to get trapped by an alpha. He is all about omega rights. He’s a hard worker and provider. But he suddenly wants to have sex (yeah I understand those pesky hormones) with Logan…unprotected sex…and then be knotted??? Just isn’t consistent with being responsible like he is portrayed. They are a brand new couple and unprotected sex and knotting stand a really, really good chance of pregnancy. The Crave part with Logan was new to me too. In most the mpreg books I have read having a monthly heat is common but I have never had the alphas experience this quarterly Crave thing before. And I had never seen the phrase “a-dad and o-dad” used for parents but I found it worked for me. I didn’t have to figure out which parent they were referring to all the time which was nice.
All in all this was a really good book by a brand new author. It could have used a bit more “polishing” by an editor or beta readers but that will come with experience. I look forward to more in this series.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS: