Volume: 1/3
Publisher: Self-published
Genre/s: m/m romance mpreg
Length: 28 000 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✬✰✰
Trying to get a dreamed job, Omega Aiden Docimo never thought that Brandon Surlin, the owner of the company in which Aiden wants to be employed, would turn out to be not only an incredibly attractive Alpha but most of all his other half chosen by Fate. Usually in such situations, mates bond very quickly but in this case both men have to wait a little bit, even though the mutual attraction between these two is too strong for them to be able to resist it for too long. And all because, before claiming Aiden as his, Brandon would like to make sure that the internal situation of his company is stable enough not to affect his Omega's peace and security. However some incidents can not be predicted and sometimes the risk is simply included in the costs of being in a relationship.
"Up To Code" is a relatively short story that is pleasant to read but unfortunately it has one significant drawback. Namely, in many ways the story is not developed enough. First of all, the fictional universe is quite "foggy". Although we know that it is an alternative reality, it's not much if we take into consideration the existence of the division into Alphas and Omegas, while it doesn't exist in our world. Thus, the reader, or at least that's how it was in my case, would like to know if this division is something natural that existed from the very beginning of humanity or whether its origins were completely different. I think that some of the principles that rule the relationship between Alpha and Omega would be worth presenting, as each author has their own vision of omegaverse. In the case of "Up To Code" it is all the more important because from the reader's point of view the relationship between Brandon and Aiden, fated mates, develops extremely quickly. And yet, according to the main characters, they bond relatively late compared to the others in similar situation. What's more, we also don't have a full insight into their feelings for each other. We don't really know what causes the transformation of their bond into true love. This leads to another problem which is undeveloped storyline. In truth, it consists of successive anticlimaxes. The action doesn't have time to really develop because in an instant all the problems are solved. In other words, this story is too short and it doesn't have time to spread its wings.
Nevertheless, "Up To Code" has its advantages, and the first one, that we can see at the very beginning, is the character of Brandon, or more precisely of perfect Alpha, who is actually not so perfect. And it's not about presenting some flaws which might as well be considered as advantages, as we do, for example, during work interviews. Brandon Surlin is unbelievably handsome, wonderfully built, undoubtedly rich, liked by his co-workers and has a passion for his work. The problem is that his lack of knowledge about the latest technologies is close to ignorance. In his hands the smartphone seems to be an exotic pet that someone gets unexpectedly for their birthday and have no heart to get rid of it, although they have no idea how to look after it. A website of his company? A handy phone app? Sorry but what are you talking about? Not only that, the man does not even show a special desire to fill the basic gaps in his technological knowledge and his thoughts about this topic are clearly visible in the way he speaks and his vocabulary choices. I really like this perfect guy for his lack of perfection. So in this case his creation is a hit!
As an advantage of "Up To Code" I also consider raising and highlighting the topic of Omega working professionally after giving birth to a child. Although sometimes I thought about this problem, I didn't spend much time wondering about it, and yet as long as women are concerned, this issue is always essential to me. I admit that it was Jena Wade who made me finally realize how important this issue is also in the case omegaverse. After all, regardless of person giving birth's gender, a small child needs some special care, and this requires making decisions concerning further lifestyle and personal development. That's why it seems very important to me that not only no one expects Aiden to be a househusband who stays at home with a baby, probably doing some cleaning and cooking, but he doesn't want it either. So he's an example that being an Omega with a child doesn't determine resignation from one's plans and ambitions, and doesn't end anyone's career.
The greatest advantage of this short novel is undoubtedly the "planned" pregnancy. Although I am not an expert on the genre, it seems to me that in most omegaverse stories, and certainly in the vast majority of the books I've read, a child is the fruit of hazard, not of conscious plans. That's why my attention was drawn by the fact that in "Up To Code" starting a family was a decision taken by the lead characters, not the aftermath of a crazy night supposedly without any obligations. I liked it very much because that's how the author emphasized the readiness and willingness of the two leads to start a family, not only showed that their bodies can create a new life just by making love. What's more, she clearly emphasized that Omega is not "a walking incubator", but has the right to decide if he wants to have a child. It really captivated me, because I'm afraid that people often don't pay attention to this issue and yet it is extremely important not only in the context of the genre but also in our everyday life.
In summary, "Up To Code" is not free of obvious flaws but it also has advantages that can not be ignored. Topics related to Omegas's life discussed in the novella give the reader food for thought and although they are not developed in detail, their appearance in this quite short story shows that the author really feels the world she creates, and that's a good reason to praise her.
Headcanon: Because Victoria loves to watch Aiden working and she has a flair for computers, they often spend time together, which always makes Brandon feel lonely so he complains.
Fanfiction idea: Aiden and Brandon are staying longer at work, and as there is no one else in the company, Brandon decides to fulfill his fantasies about sex with Aiden on his desk.
AU idea: AU!Science-fiction. Aiden is a humanoid robot of the ideal mate whom Everett ordered online for Brandon.
Blurb
Aiden was an Omega who needed a job doing what he loved. He never imagined he’d meet his fated mate during the interview. He was ready to bond right away, but something stopped his Alpha from claiming him. Aiden’s patience held strong, but being near his mate every day without bonding threatened to drive him insane.
Brandon owned a successful company, and he wanted to share that success with his mate and their child. But the continued thefts troubled him and the last thing he wanted to do was drag his new mate into any danger.
Danger found them anyway.
This is a 28K non-shifter mpreg novella featuring a sweet romance, a HEA, and no cliffhanger.
Excerpt
With one deep breath and a quick step I crossed the threshold and came face to face with pure sex dressed as a six-foot grown man with broad shoulders, slim hips, dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes.
Holy hell.
Mate, my mind screamed.
Blood roared in my ears as I took in his scent. Oh my God.I’d always wondered how a person knew when they’d met their fated mate. “You’ll just know” was all I was ever told by my Omega dad.
I knew, all right. I could feel it in every part of my body. I belonged to him and he belonged to me already and I hadn’t even heard him speak. All he had to do was give the word and I’d bare my neck, ready to bond.
I couldn’t form words. I never was good with people, least of all people I was attracted to. Though, that hadn’t happened in a long time. I would have to leave the house in order to meet someone and I didn’t do that very often, unless it was for work. In those cases, I kept it professional.I didn't feel very professional right now.
About the Author
Jena began writing in January of 2013 as a New Year's Resolution—and so far she has stuck to it!
She lives in Michigan. By day she works as a web developer, and at night she writes. Born and raised on a farm, she spends most of her free time outdoors, playing in the garden, or ridin She also helps run the family dairy farm.
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