Baby and the Late Night Howlers
Sweet Omegaverse #1
by Kathryn Moon

I had seen this book mentioned several times in an Omegaverse group I belong to, but the title had totally put judgemental ol’ me off giving it a try. Reading a very positive review by a trusted Goodreads friend, and seeing that she recommended it, was enough to change my mind – and am glad I did.  Baby and the Late Night Howlers is a fun and feisty mash up of RH, romantic suspense and omegaverse, with a very light dash of biker romance too.


Despite that very cheesy title, what I found was a well written, entertaining, and enjoyable story. The author took the time to build distinct characters for each of the male protagonists, allowing me to distinguish one from another. I did feel that at times it slowed the pace a little but I would rather have that and “know” all the men, rather than have them blur into one homogenous, indistinguishable mass. I did struggle with the flicking between club names and real names. Sticking with one, until there had been sufficient time to link the name to the person and their job, would have worked better for me. I did discover a glossary at the end of the book (and after I’d finished reading it) which would have been much more useful had it been at the beginning!

This was unusual in that, unlike the majority of reverse harem stories, there wasn’t one male who was in charge or, or more dominant than, the rest. Whilst Jonah is the President of the Late Night Howlers MC he doesn’t rule over the pack, so although we meet him first (well other than Seth, his beta) he isn’t the “main” man. I mention that because other reviewers did have an issue with it, and forewarned is forearmed, as they say.


A big positive for me was that we didn’t (as can also so often be the case in RH books) get just one “big scene” with each male before moving off to the next love interest. The balance between sex scenes and story was good, this had plenty of plot to hold my interest. The sex was scorching hot, and it’s one of the things we read OV stories for, but the individual scenes didn’t drag or feel as though the went on too long.

Could I choose one of the men as my favourites? I don’t think I can, I was very much swayed by who Baby was with at the time. S eth and Books/MacKenzie were both very focused on Baby, all her men were BUT this pair seemed to understand her needs more than the others did. Bullet/Quincey was the most in-your-face dominant and protective but I loved that Green/Ryan had that natural sexual dominance. I could understand Jonah’s reticence and his issues with claiming Baby and I loved her acceptance and understanding of it, even though it stung. One of my favourite aspects was that this wasn’t a world of downtrodden Omegas, Baby kicked ass – literally – and wasn’t afraid to go after what, and who, she wanted.


I also very much enjoyed seeing the beta’s take a more prominent role. So often they are portrayed as boring, downtrodden and even worthless, but Kathryn Moon has made them just as vital a part of the world as alphas and omegas are. I know I mentioned earlier that some parts were a little slow, but I do think the author missed an opportunity of having meaningful scenes between the beta females and Baby. I’m not sure this would pass the Bechdel–Wallace test. That said, overall I was very impressed with the book. The world building was solid too, a contemporary setting but where the A/B/O dynamic exists and so alpha’s, in general, will form a pack. I definitely intend to read more from this author.

Romantic erotica
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49205606-baby-the-late-night-howlers


Synopsis
Baby’s heat is coming…
After years of assuming she was a beta, discovering her omega designation in a biker bar surrounded by alphas isn’t exactly fulfilling any fantasies for Baby. She only wanted to get laid, not get knotted, bitten, and bonded. Now Baby’s entire life is about to turn upside down.
With the sexual frenzy of her heat on its way, she needs to find a pack, a nest, and alphas she can trust.

The Late Night Howlers have given up hope…
After years of waiting for an omega to choose them, this motorcycle club of alphas is ready to move on with their lives. Until one sweet woman takes a chance on them.
A rundown bar and apartment building is no place to spoil a new omega but the Howlers are determined to do right by Baby when she needs them. All they have to do is keep her satisfied while resisting the mouthwatering temptation to bite and bond her, permanently.

When a rival MC comes sniffing after Baby, her safety is put at risk and the Howlers may be torn apart forever.