Reviewed by Larissa

TITLE: Trouble

SERIES:  Winter Sun, Book 3

AUTHOR: Roe Horvat

PUBLISHER: Self-published

LENGTH: 257 pages

RELEASE DATE:  December 8, 2022

BLURB: 

Hugh has been in love with Kirby for years, which either makes him the most foolish or the most patient alpha on the planet. Because Kirby Matthews, the famous porn star and omega of everyone’s wet dreams, is resolutely single. But Hugh knows the real Kirby underneath the armor of glamour and snark. When an opportunity arises to be with him during heat, Hugh will do whatever it takes—even get naked in front of the cameras.

Kirby has made it big time, from homelessness to international stardom. He can now enjoy the small things like the feeling of silk on his skin, long showers, and cupcakes. Life is comfortingly simple. But then his longtime crush auditions for a role in his next film, and Kirby is torn. Getting entangled with a close friend, a member of his makeshift family, is a certifiably stupid idea. But saying no to Hugh? Beefy arms, shaved head, and growly voice—all rough alpha, but with a ridiculously soft heart… How is Kirby supposed to resist such temptation?

The most anticipated porn flick of the year, starring Kirby Matthews in heat. Ten days on set, with no privacy and no space to explore their feelings. You can’t fall in love while filming porn, right?

Trouble is an omegaverse erotic romance featuring high heat, friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, HEA, standalone.

REVIEW: 

Roe Horvat’s Trouble is not for the faint of heart.  Horvat creates a powerful, if at times disturbing, love story between omega porn star Kirby Matthews and Hugh Urban, the bartender at Burke’s pub.  Burke and Emerson are featured in Ugly, the first book in this series.  Emerson used to live on the streets with Kirby until Emerson turned up on Burke’s doorstep, Burke took him in, and then they fell for each other.  

Kirby, Emerson’s BFF, has been coming to the pub for years, so he and Hugh have formed a solid friendship. Hugh is desperately in love with Kirby, but Kirby refuses to contemplate non-platonic feelings for Hugh and assiduously avoids romantic entanglements. However, Hugh gets his opportunity when Kirby, drunk on alcohol and happiness at Burke and Emerson’s wedding, lets slip that if Hugh were doing porn, Kirby would have sex with him. That seed planted, Hugh surreptitiously auditions and is hired for the role of Kirby’s alpha for his next blockbuster film which will track him during the entirety of his next heat.

Hugh’s protectiveness and unselfish pursuit of Kirby’s happiness are beautiful to watch unfold, as is Kirby’s slow realization that he is worthy of love and that Hugh is the alpha, the man, to give it to him.  I loved everything about their dynamic. Hugh’s big, brawny, tough appearance is completely belied by his marshmallow nature for those he cares about – like his brother, his nephew, Burke and Emerson, and of course, Kirby. Kirby, for his part, wears a facade of unaffectedness.  It’s his armor, and he can’t afford to get any chinks in it, even if his own soft heart thrashes in his chest to be with Hugh, his mate. These characters and their dynamic kept me invested in this story, even when the content gets a bit tough to take.

Horvat presents a raw, graphic picture that shows exactly how an omega can be used and abused against their will at the hands of an alpha.  Omega heats leave an omega completely vulnerable – out of control and out of their minds. Their body focuses on one thing and desperately seeks it to the exclusion of all else.  It’s dubcon territory if you think about it;  no omega is in a position to have rational thoughts, no less considered decisions, when in heat. They are completely at the mercy of their alpha to take care of them and to respect their boundaries insofar as they were even given a chance to express any.

While an omega in heat is standard fare in most omegaverse stories, I’d not seen it presented in such a vivid and troublesome way. Horvat pulls back the veil and doesn’t pull any punches. It’s all laid out there. The sexual acts (which include some “gang bang”-esque scenes) may challenge some people’s sensibilities.  Even more unsettling than the graphic presentation, though, are the explicit sexual acts when understood in context, and Horvat’s stunning portrayal of Kirby is that context.  

Kirby is an omega who has been used and abused by alphas when he was living on the streets and had no options.  Now, Kirby is taking back his life and his choices, protecting himself in the only way that he can.  On camera.  Where it’s “safe” during sex because people are present who can step in if the alpha takes advantage or tries to hurt him.  He sets the boundaries for his films. He decides what scenes he’ll do and won’t do.  Yet, it’s crystal clear that the piece Kirby can’t solve for is trust. Even in his porn career, he found a director and consultant who he could trust.  It’s that trust that allows him to survive.  

Hugh is the first man he’s found he can completely let go with.  Hugh doesn’t make him feel vulnerable which conversely allows Kirby to be vulnerable with him – he trusts him implicitly.  That realization rocks Kirby’s world, but for the reader, it also spotlights the potential for ugliness that can easily creep into an omega’s life.

Trouble is an impactful read with a very solid HEA. Note that most of the plot is sex scenes, raw and sometimes troubling, but also sometimes quite beautiful. Horvat’s ability to show the difference is what makes this story so good.  It’s a challenging read at times, but it’s worth it.

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

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