Chasing the Omega: Small Town, Book 1 is a paranormal urban fantasy for young and new adults written by Jessica Edwards. Alice really had nothing to complain about with her life, even if it did seem a bit ordinary and occasionally ho-hum. Her job at the diner was actually enjoyable most of the time and gave her extra money, and high school was, well, high school. She loved her English class and wasn’t terribly keen on athletics -- unlike her best friend Sam who had gone from being captain of the cheerleading squad to becoming an ardent football player. Everything changed, however, after the diner closed one evening. Her co-worker, Terry, had asked her to put the trash bags into the dumpster for him. That in itself wasn’t a problem; the wolf who was waiting for her out there definitely was. As he stood there growling, his eyes blood-red and seemingly filled with a personal hatred for her, Alice could only think to kneel in submission and hope that it would respect that and leave. It did leave, but not until it had bitten her on the shoulder.

Chasing the Omega: Small Town, Book 1 is a marvelous and well-written romp on the wild side. Fans of the shapeshifter genre should definitely consider giving this original and enthralling book the once-over. The author’s take on werewolves is a refreshing change from the expected, and her characters, both werewolf and human, are credible and well-defined. I will confess to being somewhat jaded by werewolf fiction generally and wasn’t sure when I started reading Chasing the Omega but I soon became a fan after finishing the opening pages. Edwards’ story is gripping, and the plot works so very well. I’ll be looking for the next book in the Small Town series. Chasing the Omega: Small Town, Book 1 is most highly recommended.

In Chasing the Omega: Small Town by Jessica Edwards, we meet Alice who is 18 years old, working in a diner after school, when one night everything changes. Taking out diner garbage, she faces a huge wolf. After attacking and biting her once, the wolf leaves and Alice, shaken, goes home with no idea what she is about to go through. The school gang – Kellen, Bane, and Silver, led by Ryder - have never shown any interest in Alice and her best friend, Sam, but now they do. All of a sudden they are part of her life and, when new boy Max appears in town, Ryder steps up to try to protect Alice from something she didn’t know she needed protecting from. Alice really doesn’t want anything to do with Ryder. The time will come though when Ryder will be the one person who can keep her alive. When Alice faces an enemy she didn’t know existed, will she pay the ultimate price for a crime she never committed?

Chasing the Omega: Small Town by Jessica Edwards brought to mind a popular book and film series – a shortened version of Twilight but with werewolves instead of vampires. I was immersed in this from the very first page and read it in two sittings. Right from the start, you are drawn into the story and there isn’t one page where there is nothing happening. The action moves fast, the tension is palpable and you really can't help but fall in love with Ryder King! The character development is great, they are all easy to like and their backstories are being brought out gradually. I suspect, and hope, that more will come out in the rest of the series. I felt the story moved a little too fast at times, with events happening too close to each other and too quickly. However, this is a good start to a series, and I am looking forward to reading the rest.

Chasing the Omega is a work of paranormal fiction for mature teens and new adults, penned by author Jessica Edwards. Eighteen-year-old Alice Smith lives in Small Town, where nothing remarkable ever seems to happen. But when she encounters the sudden emergence of a huge wolf on the night of a full moon, a terrified Alice escapes with only a bite and a troubled mind. The bite sets off a terrifying and confusing chain of events, not least because Alice’s survival attracts the attention of gang leader Ryder King, a young man who knows a lot more than he’s letting on about the nature of her injury.

Author Jessica Edwards sets up an interesting and compelling premise for her characters to enact, leading us through a plot filled with intriguing discoveries, violent surprises and romantic developments as the story progresses. Veering between paranormal romance and fantasy mystery, the plot surrounding Alice unravels at a good pace and we get to know more about her and her personality as the story progresses. Ryder is an enjoyable leading male for fans of the genre, certain to draw the eye and interest of readers from the get-go. The romantic storyline delivers lots of angst and satisfaction, whilst the atmospheric setting of the small town drama gives the novel an enclosed, tense feeling in places where it reaches its darkest depths. Overall, Chasing the Omega adds another enjoyable dark fantasy romp to the growing genre that many readers will enjoy getting their teeth into.

Alice never really felt she belonged in her school. She wasn't part of any of the cliques, but none of that really mattered. She had her best friend Sam, and she wanted nothing more. Her mother worked long hours as a nurse, and her father had left them, but she never felt alone thanks to her best friend and others who had made themselves integral to her life. Things were tough, but she was happy. That was, until the night her life changed forever. The bite from a wolf changed her in more ways than one. People who had always ignored her were taking notice, and among them was Max, a new student. As she learns more about her fate she learns about a string of murders, and some hit closer to home than she imagined. Can she discover who is behind these brutal murders, and who to trust before another person falls victim?

Chasing the Omega is Jessica Edwards' addition to the urban supernatural genre, written in the first person perspective of the main character, Alice. In honesty, it took me a few chapters to become invested, but once I had, I was eager to discover what was in store for the young protagonist. Feelings run high and trust and loyalty have to be proven, especially when Alice has more doubts and questions than answers. Written at a steady pace, Chasing the Omega offers shifter action, mystery, suspense, and romance. The characters are typical to the supernatural school scene; however, they do have their own personalities and stories, which we learn about through the things Alice is told. The idea is good and the plot intriguing as you try to guess who is behind events and what secret is being hidden. This is book one in the Small Town series, so be prepared for a sudden stop as things start to reach their climax.

In Chasing the Omega by Jessica Edwards, Alice is just an ordinary teenager until one night as she finishes work at a diner, she is attacked by a wolf. The following day, Alice realizes that her senses have become acutely sensitive; not only that but a dark trio of fellow students takes great interest in her. Their leader, Ryder, now becomes intent on getting close to her. Alice just wants to forget the attack but she soon discovers that her life is about to change completely, and the powerful force that is Ryder is the only person who knows the secret to save her. Meanwhile, a horrific spate of murders begin to occur in her town, and the suspect is believed to be a wolf too. Alice finds herself in a horrifying world and the events that follow make her seriously consider if the attack was an accident or was she chosen for a more sinister reason.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced plot in this book. The emotions and behaviors the characters portray throughout are relatable, as is the development of their relationships with one another. I loved Sam especially; she was forthright in her opinions and brimming with self-confidence. Alice was a great female protagonist with strong morals and quite fearless when faced with adversity. Her relationship with the sultry and enigmatic Ryder was absolutely superb and the chemistry between them was undeniable. There are quite a few surprising twists to the plot which took me by surprise and the final chapter, although sad, is definitely going to propel Alice into the sequel to this book with a different outlook on life. I look forward to discovering how she develops as a character. I believe if you enjoyed the Twilight series, you are going to love this novel too.

Chasing The Omega by Jessica Edwards is a tantalizing, mysterious young adult novel about a teenager named Alice Smith and how her once normal life changes forever. It was just a regular evening for young Alice when one night her entire life was turned completely upside down. Shocked and bewildered, Alice suddenly has to come to grips with her changing body, mind, relationships, and a completely new perspective. With new eyes, she soon discovers that everything she thought she knew about herself, the mysteries of life, and the people around her were totally wrong. And nothing is as it seems in this intriguing tale of survival.

Chasing The Omega by Jessica Edwards is fantastic for those who love a good paranormal mystery. It grabbed me right from the beginning of the story when Alice gets attacked by the wolf. The author does an excellent job of taking the reader on Alice’s journey and making them feel as if they’re experiencing everything alongside her. I loved the in-depth descriptions of Alice’s ‘friends’ and those fine details are part of what makes this fictitious tale seem so believable. Lots of action and suspense with parts of the story where I was absolutely on the edge of my seat. The element of suspense, as well as the paranormal subject matter, make this a thrilling, unforgettable read. I could picture the scenes as if it were a movie. This is one book I found quite hard to put down and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Good character building, good plot, and extremely well-written. Great job.

Chasing the Omega: Small Town by Jessica Edwards is a paranormal story with a great appeal to fans of young adult fiction; it is well-paced and packed with action. Eighteen-year-old Alice Smith thinks it’s just a day like any other, an ordinary day serving at the diner, but everything is about to change when, at the end of her shift, she hears the faint, unmistakable sound of growling. Although terrified, she goes down on her knees and bows her head before the wolf as a sign of submission, hoping the animal won’t attack her, but it leaves her with a single bite before disappearing into the night. Everything changes in her life and it isn’t long before she discovers that the most notorious gang in school is interested in her and their leader, Ryder King, will stop at nothing to find out Alice’s secret. Alice doesn’t like Ryder, but what she doesn’t know is that Ryder might be the only one to save her ultimately.

Filled with action and drama, Chasing the Omega: Small Town is a well-plotted and beautifully written novel, and I enjoyed the short paragraphs and the author’s unique phraseology which allows the world of the young protagonist and her emotions to come out clearly through the narrative. Jessica Edwards is a great storyteller and her gift for character is apparent in this novel. They are elaborately developed and I enjoyed how she allows readers to perceive the characters in relation to the setting and to each other. The pacing is good and the suspense deepens as one turns the pages, wanting to know who Alice really is and what becomes of her. A page-turner that kept me engrossed.

You can write a story about any person, any age, and if you write it well, a lot of people are going to enjoy it. But if you write a story about a teenager and his or her relationship with other teenagers, a lot more people will be interested and even enjoy it. It doesn't matter how long ago a person’s own teen years were, people enjoy reading about teens. But that is only one reason Chasing the Omega: Small Town by Jessica Edwards is a great read. You must know your audience and, even more important, you have to write for them. Jessica Edwards knows her audience and she knows how to write for them so well that even an old geezer like me can enjoy the feeling of being back in high school again when everything was so silly while being so serious at the same time.

Capturing that special flavor of high school, with the cool kids and the cliques that eventually turn into gangs is the strongest attribute of Jessica Edwards's writing. It swept me back to those days in my own small town so very long ago. It won’t matter if you graduated last year, are still in school, or graduated in 1976 like I did. Jessica Edwards will take you back. Throw in some great characters and a little supernatural mayhem and mystery and you get a perfect novel for anyone who has ever been a young adult. I, for one, really appreciate an author who can do that.

Chasing the Omega (Small Town) by Jessica Edwards is a young adult paranormal fiction tale that would appeal most to an audience composed primarily of mature young adults who enjoy supernatural fiction and who do not mind some adult language, violence, and sexual situations. Eighteen-year-old Alice Smith is living an ordinary life when one night she ends her shift at the diner only to come nose to nose with a horrifying wolf. Alice Smith manages to survive the encounter with her life intact and only a single bite to show for the fearsome experience, yet that one bite is enough to forever alter Alice’s life. Does Alice have what it takes to survive the path she will now find herself walking?

Chasing the Omega (Small Town) by Jessica Edwards is a well-written story that breaks away from many of the cliched norms of most paranormal fiction books. Instead, the author created a unique story with realistic characters, intricate plots, and plenty of unexpected twists. Alice Smith was one of my favorite characters, but it was her friend Sam that was my absolute favorite with how she was true to herself regardless of other people’s thoughts, her loyalty to Alice, and her fun personality. I liked how the author used the real world as the setting for the plot and included bits of pop culture in character interactions. I personally liked the reference to Game of Thrones as it gave me something to connect with the characters right from the beginning of the story. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and I felt that it surpassed the Teen Wolf TV show by leaps and bounds with the author’s attention to detail and character building.

Chasing the Omega: Small Town by Jessica Edwards is an interesting read for fans of paranormal YA fiction. It should have been an ordinary work day for Alice Smith as she prepares to end her shift, hoping that the last customer wouldn’t ask for something else. But everything changes when a terrifying wolf emerges from the night and attacks Alice, in spite of the fact that she assumes a submissive position. The single bite she receives from the wolf doesn’t seem to bother her much at first, but she is about to experience turmoil in her life. It’s not long before the most dreaded gang in the school is interested in her. The leader of the gang, Ryder King, will stop at nothing to ensure he knows the truth about Alice. While she wants to have no connection with Ryder, their destinies are linked in far more ways than she imagines.

I love Jessica Edwards’ style of writing. The story starts in a deceptively simple tone. We encounter the young protagonist looking forward to ending a normal shift, giving the impression of someone who wants to get home fast. Then the dramatic event happens — the wolf attack. I became very curious to find out about the wolf and what would happen to Alice following this incident. The prose is beautiful and the paragraph breaks are just so timely, producing the dramatic effect that readers look for in this kind of narrative. It is interesting to follow Alice as she begins to make sense of her story and as she evolves through the plot. Ryder is another key character whom the author uses to deepen the depth of the protagonist. Chasing the Omega: Small Town has hints of romance, a paranormal tale with interesting characters and strong plot points. Loved every bit of it.