Author: Ember Nicole
Series: Stand Alone
Category: Paranormal Romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
"On the surface, it must seem like I have everything. But my life is a perfect lie. I live in a world where omegas don't have to work, don't have to do anything but have their alphas provide for them. An idle, easy life that might be attractive to some. It was once to me until I learned it comes with a gilded cage." - Everleigh
Everleigh is in a bad spot and though three powerful alphas come to her rescue when she needs it the most, she can’t afford to trust them. Betrayed, abused, and lied to by those who claimed to love her most, Everleigh doesn't think she will ever trust anyone again. Legally bound to the Alpha she ran from, there are few options for her. Traumatized, Everleigh is in denial for a good majority of the book, living with the fantasy of freedom when that is not an option for Omegas. I'd have rather a more pragmatic character who made the best of things instead of a girl unable to come to terms with the real world.
"Lawrence made me a princess in the eyes of the city, but my prince turned out to be the villain of my story. Now its time for me to save myself and swear off princes forever." - Everleigh
Cian, Julian, and Rune's good deed of rescuing an abused Omega turns into a more precarious situation when they realize the person they promised to not cage is their scent match. Each of them was desperate to find their Omega and when it came down to it, they were willing to put her needs before their own, even if it meant letting her go. They were unconditional love personified and I'd argue they deserved better than what Everleigh was willing to give them.
I found this book particularly frustrating because of how distrusting Everleigh was of the alphas when readers knew from the dual POVs that they only had good intentions. The book was a long, practically slow-burn romance, which is fine but at points, I just wanted to get to the HEA ending. The third-act breakup was random and out of place, to say the least.
Despite the ever-running theme of an Omega's heat, this book didn't have a ton of spice. Aside from a marathon sex scene that lasted a few chapters 70% of the way in, there was only a sprinkle of spice here and there compared to other Omegaverse novels and I wouldn't say it was very original.
'Runaway Omega' is a little darker than some of the other Omegaverse books out there, one of the main plot points involves human trafficking and rape. Though things start to turn around when Pack Ashe exposes corruption in the city, the conclusion is too quickly wrapped up to feel like any victims were vindicated or saved. Overall, I'd put it in the middle of the crowded pack of Omegaverse books available.
Tropes and Themes: Billionaire, Abuse, Mates, Omegaverse, Heat, Infertility, Reverse Harem, Why Choose, Paranormal Romance, Fantasy Romance
Blurb
Mom told me I was a Beta.
She lied.
I’m an Omega.
I'd always lived a quiet, ordinary life. I never expected anything special would happen to me, but after I present as an Omega, my whole world changes. I lose my home, my family, and even my identity. Then there’s the Alpha my mom promised me to. A man as wealthy as he is cruel.
Now I live in a gilded cage, my life full of constant abuse, and one I dream of escaping. When my Alpha throws yet another party to show me off, I see a chance to run and take it. Society says no Omega can last long without her Alpha, but after a year spent covering bruises, I’m willing to risk it. And if I go into heat? I’ll deal with that problem when I’m far, far away from him .
In my desperate bid for freedom, I run into three hot-as-hell Alphas who smell as good as they look. Not only do they notice my bruises, they can’t miss the way I flinch away from their touch. Yet to my surprise, when trouble hurtles our way, they take over my escape and carry me away to their mansion. I’ll be safe there, they say. I wish I could believe them.
These men seem to want to protect me, but I know all the cruel things one Alpha is capable of. But being at the mercy of three of them?
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