To Love and Protect His Omega - Quinn Michaels (ENG)

Title: To Love and Protect His Omega
Author: Quinn Michaels
Series: Justice Brothers
Volume: 1/?
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Pages: 364
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub

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Gunnar Justice divides his time between his work as a police detective and taking care of his eight-year-old daughter. Just a year ago, he lost his husband, and although time passes inexorably, the man still can't come to terms with the fact that he couldn't protect his beloved from a terrible fate. When a kitten adopted by his daughter becomes seriously ill, Gunnar immediately takes the pet to the nearest veterinary clinic. However, he never would have thought that this way he would not only save the kitten but also find a medicine for his still bleeding heart.
Liam Chandler, a young, attractive omega veterinarian, every day lives in fear of the past. He recently ran away from a purgatory of a nightmarish relationship and now he's trying to hide from his dangerous and lunatic ex-boyfriend. When one day, at the door of the veterinary clinic stands a really handsome "chance" for a new beginning, the newly started life of the young vet begins to slowly turn upside down in a very positive way. Liam just has to overcome his fears and give a chance to his growing feelings.
The problem is that the past doesn't let these two forget about itself so easily and forces both men to fight for the longed-for, though uncertain, future.

There is no doubt that "To Love and Protect His Omega" is a hundred percent homosexual romance, however, it is impossible not to notice that the whole plot of the book consists of many various elements that make this novel the way it is – unique. Beyond presentation of the pure love story, that we expect from the very beginning, and embedding it in the realities of omegaverse, the author quite accurately portrays life dramas and hardships of everyday life of the two main characters. What's more, she adds a pinch of mystery story to whet our appetite and often gives us insight into the psyche of her characters who experienced the inexorability of fate. Thanks to all of this, the novel is not only really interesting and has much to offer but also allows higher number of readers to find something for themselves in the story. But, at the same time, the plot must reconcile all these elements with one another, which is not always possible simultaneously. And that's the reason why, from time to time, or rather from page to page, we must wait patiently for what we like most in this story.

I must admit that for some time omegaverse occupy a very high position on my list of topics that I love in literature and comics. However, in the vast majority, the novels I've seen revolve around shapeshifters which is a counterweight to the mangas of this genre I've read, in which a similar race is quite rare. Undoubtedly, both these types of omegaverse are really tempting and I'm happy to reach for titles of both kinds, however, what captured me in "To Love and Protect His Omega" is precisely the fact that the novel belongs to the genre of "non-shifter omegaverse". Thanks to this, the story presented by Quinn Michaels becomes more real, believable and closer to our everyday life. And it doesn't matter that we are in the fictional universe, where not only same-sex marriage is something completely normal but also sexual reproduction in such a relationship is not really a problem. We're not dealing here with urban fantasy or science-fiction but with an "improved", "corrected" real world. All of this really has its unique magic that attracts readers, and I undoubtedly became enchanted by this story.

Another advantage of the novel is the growing step-by-step relationship between Gunnar and Liam. The main characters are not thrown in at the deep end right away, when the first encounter results in a great love or physical attraction that can't be resisted. Before any stronger feeling is born between Gunner and Liam, they have the opportunity to get to know each other better, as their characters, general flaws and virtues, life situation and sexual preferences are concerned. This is all the more important because, in both cases, the painful past engraved deep wounds on their hearts and psyches, which are still unhealed. In favor of the novel speaks also the fact that these two are for each other a remedy for the painful events of the past but there is no way for the "happily ever after" to come immediately. The characters must earn it.

Since I already mentioned the characters' drama, I would like to come back to this topic for a moment. Undoubtedly, Liam deserves our particular attention, as I consider him to be the best created and best introducted character of all in this story. And I must mentioned that all of them are quite nicely written here. The problems this young man has to struggle with are so serious that his good introduction in the book was certainly not an easy task for the author. Nevertheless, Quinn Michaels did a really great job. Liam is shown not only as a very believable character but also as someone psychologically quite detailed. All the things that happened to him in the past come back to him constantly, raise his fear, make him cautious all the time, and what is more, make it difficult for him to live a normal life and build a relationship. However, at the same time, the omega doesn't stand still but he changes, he's taking up the fight with himself and his fears. As readers, we witness all these actions. In short, Liam is a character whose evolution is shown really nicely, and although it could always be done in more detail, there's nothing really to complain about.

In conclusion, "To Love and Protect His Omega" is a piece of pretty good reading that we can fully enjoy. Refine, believable story, likable and well-constructed characters, and the feeling that is born on the ruins of the past. It's definitely the novel worth recommending that you must read.

Review in Polish: To Love and Protect His Omega - Quinn Michaels (PL)