A desperate young
alpha. An older alpha with a hero complex. A forbidden love that can’t be
denied.
Young Xan Heelies knows he can never have what he truly wants: a passionate romance and happy-ever-after with another alpha. It’s not only forbidden by the prevailing faith of the land, but such acts are illegal.
Urho Chase is a middle-aged alpha with a heartbreaking past. Careful, controlled, and steadfast, his friends dub him old-fashioned and staid. When Urho discovers a dangerous side to Xan’s life that he never imagined, his world is rocked and he’s consumed by desire. The carefully sewn seams that held him together after the loss of his omega and son come apart—and so does he.
But to love each other and make a life together, Xan and Urho risk utter ruin. With the acceptance and support of Caleb, Xan’s asexual and aromantic omega and dear friend, they must find the strength to embrace danger and build the family they deserve.
This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the second in the Slow Heat universe. It has a strong happy ending and a well-crafted, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. No cheating.
Content warning for brief sexual violence.
Audiobook Details
Length: 15 hrs, 22 mins
Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo
Book 2
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Young Xan Heelies knows he can never have what he truly wants: a passionate romance and happy-ever-after with another alpha. It’s not only forbidden by the prevailing faith of the land, but such acts are illegal.
Urho Chase is a middle-aged alpha with a heartbreaking past. Careful, controlled, and steadfast, his friends dub him old-fashioned and staid. When Urho discovers a dangerous side to Xan’s life that he never imagined, his world is rocked and he’s consumed by desire. The carefully sewn seams that held him together after the loss of his omega and son come apart—and so does he.
But to love each other and make a life together, Xan and Urho risk utter ruin. With the acceptance and support of Caleb, Xan’s asexual and aromantic omega and dear friend, they must find the strength to embrace danger and build the family they deserve.
This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the second in the Slow Heat universe. It has a strong happy ending and a well-crafted, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. No cheating.
Content warning for brief sexual violence.
Audiobook Details
Length: 15 hrs, 22 mins
Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo
Book 2
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
SPOILER WARNING (sorta): If you have not read Slow Heat, this review contains information that is a spoiler of sorts for book one. As I’d advise against reading Alpha Heat before Slow Heat, I would recommend against reading this review prior to reading book one as well.
Poor, poor Urho. As much as I felt for the emotional turmoil and character growth that Xan experienced throughout Alpha Heat, especially compared to the young man we met in Slow Heat four years earlier, it was the frustration and overwhelming hopelessness at not being able to be in two places at once that Urho experienced during the birthing and heat scene that tore my heart out. Urho’s stoicism and steadfastness in the face of calamity made a scene that could have come off as over-the-top play out in such a realistic manner that I was holding my breath and wringing my hands for him. At one point, I wondered if Blake went too far with the scene in that it nearly eclipsed the romance between Urho and Xan, but then I realized that the scene was so powerful because of the love Urho felt for Xan, as well as his love for Caleb, Vale, and Jason. And such a scene was needed to balance out the back-to-back encounters Xan had with his father and his abuser – the day that Xan Heelies accepted who and what he was, embraced himself, and refused to allow his status as an unmanned alpha taint his love for Urho any longer. Alpha Heat is one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride with all of the soul searching, epiphanies, and acceptance – both of self and of others – that takes place. The beauty of this installment is Blake’s talent in making it all play out in the messiness of life so that the scenes felt natural and realistic instead of contrived and forced. And she delivered up the Xan sandwich I kept telling the guys they had to make happen, and it was every bit as delicious as I’d hoped for.
Just in case the story isn’t entertaining enough, Michael Ferraiuolo is back as narrator. I would imagine it’s difficult to one-up your own performance when you’re as talented as Ferraiuolo is… and yet, he did. Xan wears his heart on his sleeve, while Urho is reserved and quite aloof, and Ferraiuolo not only nailed each man’s identity through the voices he crafted, but he excelled at conveying each man’s strong emotions during their pivotal scenes while staying true to their voices. I loved how Xan’s emotions welled up and he came slightly unhinged when faced with what could have been his breaking point. Just as impressive was how Urho’s outer calm remained intact as he struggled internally with the decisions he had to make while prioritizing others’ health and safety and the potential emotional fallout from those decisions. Because of how well Ferraiuolo brought Blake’s world and characters to life, I enjoyed Alpha Heat far more than I expected to and perhaps even more than Slow Heat, something I did not expect to happen. I do not know if Blake has more books planned for the Heat of Love series as the main characters we’ve met have their happily ever afters, but I sincerely hope so as I do enjoy this world and I’m sure there are more omegas who deserve to find their perfect alpha – Carey perhaps.
Also Available in the Heat of Love Series
Book 1
Audiobook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Audible ~ iTunes
Ebook Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
For reviews & more info, check out our Slow Heat Audiobook Review post.
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.
Connect with Leta
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Goodreads
Google+ ~ Instagram
Michael Ferraiuolo is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the owner of Iron Works Studios in New York City. As a voice artist, Michael has appeared both nationally and internationally in film, radio, and over 100 audiobooks.
Connect with Michael
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website ~ Goodreads
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of Alpha Heat (Heat of Love #2) by Leta Blake, narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo to listen to and review for this tour.
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