Thursday, September 12, 2019

Bitter Heat by Leta Blake Release Blitz


A pregnant omega trapped in a desperate situation, an unattached alpha with a lot to prove, and an unexpected fall into love that could save them both.

Kerry Monkburn is contracted to a violent alpha in prison for brutal crimes. Now pregnant with the alpha’s child, he lives high in the mountains, far above the city that once lured him in with promises of a better life. Enduring bitterness and fear, Kerry flirts with putting an end to his life of darkness, but fate intervenes.

Janus Heelies has made mistakes in the past. In an effort to redeem himself, integrity has become the watchword for his future. Training as a nurse under the only doctor willing to take him on, Janus is resolute in his intentions: he will live cleanly in the mountains and avoid all inappropriate affairs. But he doesn’t anticipate the pull that Kerry exercises on his heart and mind.

As the question of Kerry’s future health and safety comes to an explosive head, only the intervention of fate will see these desperate men through to a happy ending.

This gay romance novel by Leta Blake is the third in the Heat of Love universe. It has a strong happy ending and a critically-acclaimed, non-shifter Omegaverse. It features alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, mpreg, heat, and knotting.
Content warning for a violent and oppressive society regarding reproductive rights.

Add to Goodreads –


Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆☆
Bitter Heat is the third installment of the Heat of Love series. While I do believe there wouldn't be much confusion if read as a standalone or out of series order, the emotional payoff for the reader would be greater if read in order, simply because of threads tying these main characters to previous novels.

While we've only read a mention or two of Kerry in the previous book, Janus was a large part of Alpha Heat, as a past beau, cousin, and reformed antagonist.

After several bouts of the flu, which not only compromised his health but had him realizing he needed to change the path of his life, Janus takes to the wilds of the hills, seeking retribution, solitude, and mentoring in the medical field. What is thought of as a nurse in the city. Janus is now considered a doctor to the hillfolk, as he stays in a boarding house and assists their local self-acknowledged doctor.

Kerry is under contract with a monstrous alpha, who is currently incarcerated, which in turn imprisons Kerry into a way of life that isn't necessarily consensual. Kerry got more than he bargained for when he signed the contract, locking him into a lifetime of torment. Even while his alpha is imprisoned, Kerry has to have his heats serviced by the very man sentenced for abuses against omegas. With the way the current laws are written, contracted omegas are property, which means anything that happens between the contracted pair is legal, no matter how heinous.

Abused, pregnant, and hopeless, Kerry is beyond reserved yet also stuck in an untenable situation, where he's terrified his son will behave as his sire, forcing him to take unlawful, perhaps amoral action.

Without writing an entire book synopsis to avoid spoilers... Bitter Heat is sometimes dark, sometimes filled with unexpected hope, with many warm and fuzzy moments shared between Kerry and Janus. The novel's slow-burn connection between them ignites to fiery, necessary passion, with a hurt-comfort vibe to heal a few wounds.

There's almost a dystopian feel to the series with the world building. I do wish this was explained a bit more in-depth. I have gone with the flow, but after reading three books back-to-back, I still don't understand how human beings evolved into alpha, beta, and omegas, nor why they pray to the wolf-god. A few mentions to a pandemic, with the bouts of flu from the last novel, but where exactly was this odd religion formed? Religion yet societal yet legal rules and regulations, lending an air that the humans in the series have evolved into what they are now with wolfish behaviors. Why a wolf? Just because of alpha, beta, and omega, which are personality types in wolves, not genders. Why do some have bonded mates and others don't? Where did that phenomenon come from?

While I enjoy the series and the characters' deep connections to one another, I need the world building to be explained further.

While I rated this five stars due to my entertainment and the emotional value I found in the story, as I became invested in the characters, on the world building front, I would have to give two stars, as it's a case of just roll with it and don't think too deeply into it, because nothing has been fully developed nor explained.

Guilty pleasure of mine, I do enjoy omega/alpha novels, and Leta Blake (as well as her other pseudonym) has written most of those at the top of my favorite's list, and this book is among them. I highly recommend to readers who enjoy this author, as well as those looking to dip their toes into this MM Romance subgenre.


Avid Reader☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/M Male Pregnancy, Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

I have not read the previous books in this series.

Kerry is an omega who is contracted to an alpha currently in prison. Kerry's alpha is a man who gets off, literally, on violence and pain. This was not known to Kerry at the beginning of their relationship, but now he can't escape it.

Janus is an alpha who is trying to redefine himself. It seems as though he's quite sickly at times – it was mentioned – but now he wants to give back to a community of people. He finds himself staying in a rural area that is in need of medical personnel.

This is a relationship that is bound and determined to succeed. When Kerry finds himself pregnant with his horrible alpha's baby, he's not sure what to do. He finds comfort in his friendship with Janus. Their world is somewhat of a mystery – there are no humans any longer and I'm not sure if this is because there never was or if they somehow became the alphas, omegas, and betas of this world.

Janus and Kerry's relationship is a slow burn and they let it simmer throughout a lot of the book. Kerry’s relationship with his in-laws was much more confrontational. Despite the overwhelming evidence of their son's psychotic behavior, they keep Kerry tethered to them because the baby he carries could be a second chance for them – for their line to carry on.

This was full of entertaining banter, emotional pleas, and heartfelt relationships. I really enjoyed it.


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.


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  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Alpha Heat Audiobook Tour.



Leta Blake. Author. Human. Working hard to become stellar at life.

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  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Leta’s Lovelies Facebook Group



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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Bitter Heat (Heat of Love #3) by Leta Blake to read and review for this tour.

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