Single Dad Omega by Alice Shaw
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Single Dad Omega (Road to Forgiveness #2) (ARC) was graciously provided to me by the author for an honest review.
“Strength, Love, and Forgiveness”
As a reader, I have noticed the existence of various times when I have really been put through the gamut when reading a particular book, and, when it comes time to writing a review, so many different thoughts begin to rush around in my mind, thereby making it difficult to be able to put them into any sort of logical order necessary for a great emotional review. Well, that is my present state. As I allow everything to settle, from my most recent read, a most unique and highly-emotional read, I will allow all of these rampant thoughts to form a coherent and honest review. Having just read, Single Dad Omega by Alice Shaw, I have discovered that it was one of the most indescribably emotional and powerful reads I have read in a very long time. And, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to have read it. Regardless of the vast spectrum of emotions I had experienced during this read, I really am glad to have experienced it.
Having read and enjoyed the previous book, Secret Baby Omega, from the Road to Forgiveness Series , from this author, I had an idea of what I was getting myself into when I began reading this next release from the same series. Well..that’s what I had thought anyway. Was I actually prepared? Umm..no. No, I was definitely not prepared. In retrospect, regardless of having read the previous book, nothing would have prepared me for what I had encountered in, Single Dad Omega. I found that Single Dad Omega was one of those stories which had managed to jam so much into it’s plot, that it was difficult to be able to reach other important aspects, which would have been important for a smoother pace, its plot and and, also its storyline as a whole. This is a heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, and ultimately, a heart-warming story about survival. It’s also about the process of attempting to rebuild one’s life after surviving a traumatic event, which mercilessly has shred part of one’s soul, an event which has been set on replay for years on end. As if that’s not enough, this is also a story that does contain triggers, in that, it does contain acts of bullying, abuse, corruption, and, also acts of..murder and attempted murder. It was very often a difficult read. Did it only contain difficult-to-read moments? No. It actually did contain sweet, adorable, beautiful, and heart-warming moments as well. But, they were, unfortunately, difficult to see due to all of the almost never-ending challenging moments the mc’s had to endure time and time again. I found myself wondering how much the two wonderful, caring, dedicated, and, strong mc’s would be able to endure, and where was the happiness that they so desperately had needed and righteously had deserved? As I continued to struggle my way through this read, as there was nothing that I had wanted more than to see utter happiness and joy be reached by these two amazing men. It was a long road, but one in which I was glad to have traveled down, where I would be able to support these men and their family through vasts amounts of crying, shock, bawling, and, huge amounts of crazy-strong hugs. And, with that, I’d sure glad I did…
Single Dad Omega, by Alice Shaw, is a story about two men, Tate and Elliot, who are struggling through their prospective lives for similar, but yet, very different reasons. Tate, a hardworking father having lost his husband in a tragic accident, is struggling to not only provide a life for his son Rowan and himself, but also to be able to make it past those visions of the actual event that continue to be a constant struggle for Tate. Being able to survive something such as this is something insurmountable for anyone, and, to be able to attempt to strive towards this during times of countless hate crimes done unto him and his son, is clearly an impossible feat to accomplish. As Tate and Rowan attempt to rise above this increasingly dark and murky muck, and, have a somewhat normal life, they begin to see a clearing, and, the beginnings of the brightest and most beautiful sun that they have seen in a very long time. Tate and Rowan found their sunshine…and, his name was Elliot. Elliot is a transported police officer, a dedicated and loving man, having recently moved from Dallas, for the sole purpose of being able to provide the best kind of care for his ailing father, a retired police officer. As Elliot desperately tries to take care of his ailing father, the added bullying and acts of vandalism should have pushed him over the edge. But, they didn’t. As Elliot is that ray of strengthened sunshine, he rose above and made it an even bigger point to help Tate solve the mystery of the countless acts of vandalism as well as the hate crimes which were committed onto Tate, Rowan and, also onto Elliot. During his time of attempted survival through the ever-present muck, Elliot also came across his own knight-and-shinning-armor..and his name was Tate.
This story, as mentioned briefly, is overflowing with so many different tumultuous moments, with a small tidbit of warm and loving moments, that, it could almost be construed as too much. As Single Dad Omega is a heart-breaking story about survival, not only for individuals, but, also for families, during times when inferiority and blame run rampant for many individuals. I absolutely adored Tate, Rowan, Elliot, Lee and a few of the secondary characters. It was so painful and yet so very heart-warming to see Tate and then Tate and Elliot attempt to discover what was developing between them..an alpha and a beta or an alpha and an omega? I loved seeing them build a kind of relationship that is one that almost comes out of now where, and, is the perfect answer to the unknown and silent pleas having been made by both men and their friends. And yet, just as soon as that beautiful flower had started to grow, something catastrophic had occurred to bruise their happiness, thereby making the read almost a desperate read in and of itself, thereby finding it easy to predict some kind of traumatic event happen, yet again, for this loving and developing family. It was like a rug constantly being yanked right out from underneath this reader, each time I got comfortable. You see? It’s a lot. BUT, despite having whiplash from all of those shocking moments, my yells and screams and countless wads of tissues having been used, were completely justifiable when that moment finally had occurred. Finally. Wow. What a tough and rough road Tate, Rowan, and, Elliot had managed to survive by the thinnest of margins. It was not easy. Through everything this strong family had gone through, each of them had learned something very valuable, that, it is through unwavering strength and a whole lot of love, that love will always be there in many different kinds of shapes and forms. And, that is sure a beautiful concept to grasp, and, I absolutely adored Tate, Rowan, and Elliot and their loving strength which had survived over all.
Single Dad Omega is a huge story. Clearly, there’s a lot to the storyline. The plot is a long and detailed one with moments that both contribute both positively as well as negatively to the overall plot, as well as the pace for the overall storyline. I had wished that these moments were structured differently so as to allow a better view of various important moments, instead of the contrary. In addition, another run through with the editing process would be beneficial so as to curtail the typos, inconsistencies, as well as the overall structure of the storyline as a whole.
As there were many times when I thoroughly enjoyed and loved reading Secret Dad Omega, there were honestly times when I almost had had enough. Even though I thought that the wrap-up of the plethora of events that had occurred, kind of fell flat and should have, in my opinion, had more of an ending, regardless of the needed additional editing run through, I was so glad to have read about Tate and Elliot’s developing relationship and was so ridiculously happy for their own special ending. They, in addition to a few of the secondary ones, had carried me through the read and I am so incredibly happy to have read that Tate and Elliot were able to find their own ray of sunshine, and, are now able to jump start their new life together, knowing that all of their loved ones continue to walk right along with them as they continue towards their own glorious rainbow, built out of love and hope for a continued strong and loving future. I am so happy for them and their beautiful family..:)
*star rating: 3.80 ‘I really liked it’ stars*
