Exhale

The middle to the end of this book was much better than the beginning. That doesn't happen often for me. 

My review is full of spoilers. I'll wrap it in a spoiler tag just in case there's some scrolling by.

Okay let's start from the beginning.1. Detective Doyle from the FBI. Aren't they Special Agents?2. The entire roadside exposition. Oh my God. It's lazy info dumping.3. You know, the fact that Ellie is trans just shows how bullshit inheritance based on gender is.4. Nicolae didn't have any proof Franny's parents murdered her. Zero. Such proof couldn't exist because of course they did not murder her. But he convinced her ex husband, who was then in the process of convincing their child.5. The ending twist was anticlimactic. Whoa reveal. Whoa cliche bad guy gets killed by bigger bad guy. Whoa fight, whoa it's over. Just like that.6. I knew he was going to be an omega immediately we learned what an omega was.7. Honestly I saw a review that turned me off when I first read the blurb that said Ellie was ungrateful. But after reading it, man, see it from her point of view. She's just been with her grandparents, who we now know are innocent, and returns to find her dad shacked up with a man they both hated last time they were together.8. Andrei is so cute omg. I cannot believe they just left that child to sort of hang around until Jack stepped in. What a society.9. I don't remember who, but someone said all the female alpha wolves are bitches. I mean, literally they are hehe. But also casual sexism.10. The romance was kinda quick. That first sex scene was hot holy fuck. But then Ellie arrived and plot started to plot. Then suddenly marriage proposal. Didn't really feel Nicolae fall, or even Jack. It was hot though.11. Ellie is sixteen. That mate bond thing. Did the author really have to include it?12. I know I've mentioned the ending reveal before. But it honestly fucking sucked. Too easy a villain. Easy to dislike, easy to defeat.

Beautiful writing, extensive world building, three dimensional characters. Jack is an admirable, supportive father, Nico has a kind, sympathetic side to him. Could have been better with a dual POV since the romance built up really quickly and it would have been nice to see Nico's thoughts on it, especially seeing as it's an enemies-to-lovers relationship. The ending is pretty much expected. There are some minor unresolved plot points (like Francesca's motivations in faking her death then finding Jack again ). Has the potential to be 5 stars if not for the plot issues.