Nests and Nuptials

Scent Valley University #2

by Polly Maple

She doesn’t want a pack. They plan to change her mind.

Kady Sinclair prides herself on being a strong, independent omega. She practically lives in the library, works for the college paper, and has her entire future mapped out. A future that doesn’t involve any alphas distracting her from her goals.

However, when her controlling father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, Kady has to take drastic action to avoid walking down the aisle.

While Kady fights to retain the freedom she’s worked so hard for, she meets the Valen Pack, who believe she’s destined to be theirs.

Ezra… The sexy professor with a fear of commitment.

Calder… Her quick-witted editor who loves a challenge.

Hale… An animal lover with a heart of gold.

Riven… The math genius who makes a mean cup of cocoa.

Despite their undeniable connection, it’ll take more than amazing chemistry for Kady to admit her true feelings. The Valen Pack wants to prove to their omega that being taken care of isn’t a weakness, but Kady’s stubborn resistance will be hard to break.

Will she accept that they’re her scent match or subject them all to a lifetime of loneliness?

***

Nests and Nuptials is a sweet, standalone, omegaverse romance set in the quirky world of Scent Valley University. Get ready to swoon over four hot alphas, meet your new fictional BFFs, gasp at spicy knotty heats, and giggle along with their banter. This low-angst, why choose romance series will hit you in the feels like a warm hug and comes with a guaranteed HEA.

Genres: Omegaverse, Romance, Why Choose, Fantasy, College, Humor, Found Family

508 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2026

About the author

Polly Maple writes sweet omegaverse romance filled with all the fuzzy feels. Her fated mate love stories feature swoon-worthy alphas, characters you'll want to befriend, and a side of fun banter, all wrapped up in knotty heats that feel like coming home.

When Polly isn't dreaming up love stories, she's chasing her feral toddler, pestering her husband to make her chai lattes, and snuggling up under blankets watching reruns of her favorite comfort shows.

Reviews

[Chelsie Lucas · Rating 1 out of 5]

No.
Nope.
No.
I can’t stand the trope where one of the main male characters comes in and act, rude and immature, and like a complete ass for literally no reason.
The FMC had been working her butt off to become the editor, and then one of the main characters comes in, takes the spot and acts like a dick from the start.

Plus, we have the fake dating trope, but it’s not even with the fact that she’s going to end up with so it’s extra drama added in for no reason
Then there’s also the drama with the Dad

So it’s just a pack that’s not great and one of them is not even nice to her in the beginning, another fact that she doesn’t like and also treats her kind of like shit, and then her dad that treats her like crap

You’re telling me that every man in the story is pretty much a pile of trash and I’m supposed to want to keep reading it ?????

Nah.

[Athena of Velaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for the genre!

[Maria F · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Letting go, even for a little while, may be exactly what I need.”

I really like this series for the unique and well-developed college setup built around designations. The scent sororities are the coolest thing and the network of best friends that develops out of it is just perfection! I am so invested in all of these girls!

This book feels a touch more angsty given the dispositions of several of our main characters! But it is still solidly in cozy territory for me! I love when pack members all have individual meet cutes and these were fantastic meet cutes with great variety and lots of sparks. My heart melts for our boy Riven! So swoony! I think he is my fave and definitely has my fave temperament.

I really enjoyed Kady’s story and greatly enjoyed the pack that she fell for!!!!

What’s Inside
❤️ Omegaverse
❤️ MFMMM
❤️ College Romance
❤️ Meet Cutes falling from the sky!
❤️ Scent Matches
❤️ Scent Sorority - the best Gal Pals!
❤️ Knotting special feature (my jaw dropped)
❤️ Arranged Marriage gone wrong


The Vibes
Cozy comfort with a sprinkling of angst

I think this was perhaps a bit longer than I would have preferred for the amount of action taking place. At times it felt a bit repetitive and slow but then would pick back up. Some internal monologues felt repetitive.

Definitely a nicely cozy read (as is Bonds and blooms!) that I really enjoyed. AND LET ME TELL YOU!!! I may have peeked at the ‘zon to see if the next book was being teased yet and I AM SO GLAD I DID- I NEED HER STORY!!!! (You will just have to go check yourself- I’m not spoiling anything here).

Overall 4.25/5 Stars

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you!

[Aine_ Murphy97 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nest and Nuptials Book Review -
Scent Valley University #2

Genre - Omegaverse
Rating - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rating - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Vibes -

Diving back in with the Stella House Girls, Kadys father is forcing her into an arrange mating with a pack she doesn’t want. Kady has always been a strong independent omega who decides her own fate and takes charge. In the hopes of getting rid of her father she agrees to fake date this horrendous pack of slimy alphas but in the middle of all this she runs into 4 Alphas all of whom are her Scent Matches, in a suprise heat spike she seeks their aid.

The Valen Pack is Ezra the professor, Calder her new newspaper editor, Hale secret CEO,
Riven the Autistic and Sweet Genius. Each one of them charms and intrigues Kady in a different way, half the pack know she’s special while half the pack want to deny their feelings for her. After a bumbling off random meetings they convince Kady that these Alphas her Scent Matched deserve a chance to prove themselves worthy of her. A weekend away in a small town with a heat thrown in for some sweet scenes and excellent spice. Kady fights to keep the Valen pack when her dad steps in but love prevails.

Kady learns that her new pack and letting her alphas caring for her doesn’t take away from her independence and career goals for the future. A beautiful story of taking a chance of true love. Can’t wait for the next book. Would highly recommend this series.

[SnowyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nests and Nuptials by Polly Maple
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
⤷I’m absolutely obsessed with this series, Polly Maple is a must-read for me! Kady’s and Pack Valen's story exceeded my expectations & definitely made it to my favorites for this year!
⤷I adored all the characters, they were all unique, relatable & had incredible chemistry! Kady’s feisty independence, Hale’s protectiveness & care, Ezra’s fun & professor sexiness, Calder’s passionate ambition, and River’s extra sweet neurodiverse personality stole my heart!
⤷You must read this sweet, spicy, low-angst, and cozy university omegaverse romance! I can’t wait for Delilah & Sabs next, the foreshadowing for their books got me so excited & wanting to hug Delilah!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🩷 Why Choose - AOAAA
🩷 Omegaverse
🩷 Found Family
🩷 Cozy College Setting
🩷 Scent Matches
🩷 Fake Dating Gone Wrong
🩷 Independent FMC
🩷 Cat Buddy - Larry
🩷 Neuro Spicy MMC
🩷 Best Friend’s Professor
🩷 Sorority Sisterhood

𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬:‘babygirl’(E), ‘pumpkin star boy’, ‘little fighter’ (H), ‘Mr. Hotshot Editor’ (K),
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:
📌Kady (O): The Hyper Independent & Feisty law student, who isn’t looking for love.

“I look back at the cabin and see the outlines of my four alphas inside the cozy cabin, reminding me that I have another choice. A life that’s filled with excitement, laughter, and people who care about me. For the first time, a future with them feels a lot less scary than a future without them.”

📌Hale (A): The Protective & Responsible Pact Lead with a heart of gold, soft spot for animals, & wants to prove that being Kady’s pack will work out. (🪢🐓)

“Those with independent, strong spirits tend to be the ones who are in the most need of love.”

📌Ezra (A): The New Laidback Botany Professor, who has No-Strings fun & meets her at a bar first.

“But I thought you didn’t believe in scent matches.” “I didn’t.” Ezra’s teeth graze along his bottom lip. “Until I met you.”

📌River (A): The Sweet Math Genius & Neuro Spicy Viking Alpha, who is passionate about stargazing & makes the best hot chocolate.

“Kady?” I pretend to be so engrossed in my book that I can’t hear him. “Just because you can take care of yourself doesn’t mean you always have to.”

“Even though a once in a lifetime constellation phenomenon is happening, I can’t bring myself to look away from her. Kady Sinclair is all I ever want to see. I carefully map her face like it’s the sky—her large, aquamarine doll eyes, cute nose, the slight sheen of her pink lips, and pointed chin. I’ll never get tired of looking at her.”

📌Calder (A): The New Editor at The Valley Voice, who is passionately competitive with Kady.

“Good.” Calder takes my chin, looking deep into my eyes. His fingers on my skin create a heat that travels down to my toes. “For however long we’re in here, you’re mine. You follow my orders. No questions asked. If you let me, I’ll worship every single inch of you. On my terms.”

📌Sorority - Stella House: Book 1 Faye & Pack Silverwood, Delilah and Sabs

𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚: Beautiful Character Art
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭:
📍Scent Valley University
⤷Halloween ‘Monster Masquerade’, Club Knotty, Appleby Farm - Rose Harbor (Hale’s parents), Fair,
────────────────

[katie ⭐️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine up until they referred to a woman’s cl!t as a ‘love button’ 🤢

[Belle Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!

Love Kady even though her scheme at the beginning of the story was so silly. But she is bad ass because of her mind.
Love the neurodivergent rep.
Great to see the friendship moments still with the girls.
All of her alphas were great but two stand out. Riven is the sweetest with his honesty and innocence. And Hale the way he makes sure everyone is taken care of is lovely plus he cares for animals need I say more.

Looking forward to the next one.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nests and Nuptials completely stole my heart. What I expected to be a fun, fluffy romance turned out to have so much more depth, especially when it comes to hyper-independence and the terrifying art of letting people in.

Kady is fiercely self-reliant to the point of hyper-independence. She’s built her life around not relying on anyone, and Polly Maple handles that aspect of her character with so much care. Watching her slowly unravel that armour, not because she’s weak, but because she finally feels safe enough to be vulnerable, was honestly one of the most beautiful parts of the story.

I also really appreciated the neurodivergent representation woven into the book. It felt thoughtful and human rather than tokenistic, characters were allowed to exist fully as themselves, with their quirks, coping mechanisms, sensitivities, and strengths treated as part of who they are, not something to be fixed or labelled. There’s a quiet validation in seeing that kind of portrayal inside a romance that’s still swoony and sexy and joyful.

This book balances banter, heat, found family, and genuine emotional growth so well. It’s soft where it needs to be, intense when it counts, and deeply comforting by the end. A guaranteed HEA that feels earned.

[Nina's Reading List · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kady kinda pissed me off

[Jordan Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

terribly mid

It honestly might be two stars simply because it dragged.

“Those with independent, strong spirits tend to be the ones who are in the most need of love.”

Love Riven. Love Hale. Like Calder. Kady and Ezra are really insufferable and I swear this is the longest book known to man because of it. I’ve been held hostage because I kept putting it down, because it’s miserable.

Chapter 35 is when Ezra and Kady stop wearing their @$$es as hats. 80% and I think we’re finally getting somewhere. Somehow… I even like her blowhard dad.

From the beginning, the concept of the fake dating with THAT pack, was insane and then until didn’t amount to anything. They were just expelled and went quietly?! I find that hard to believe, they were willing to get rid of the cat…

Kady stayed annoying to the end. There are some questions left unanswered but I suppose maybe book 3 will close those loose ends.

Delilah’s book will probably be the best of them all. I hope.

Overall, Kady was iffy at best in Faye’s book and insufferable the majority of this book. Even Ezra came around. Like how are we still not sure when bonding is or even if it ever will happen??

[Karleigh Kocar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Kady and her packs story. The emotional development they all had to work through to get on the same page and believe in each other to make things work was so good.

[Alexandria G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit, this entire series is working up to being one of my favourite omegaverse romances. This series follows four women referred to as “the Stella’s” and basically follows them as they build their friendship at college… and their forever mates.

I’m not going to lie, this book started off with me being nervous. Kady is headstrong and determined, but her actions in this one? Nerve wracking. And then things started to get better and better as she slowly met all her mates and their story began to take off.

Each character had their own issues and hesitations, but they were all so… them. I love how each character is different, has their own likes and dislikes, but ultimately come together to ensure their omega is taken care of.

If you don’t have this series on your radar, I highly recommend adding it if you’re a fan of:

Omegaverse (duh)
Found Family
Scent Matches
Fake Dating Gone Wrong
Why Choose Romances

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: New Adult / Adult Omegaverse
Spice: 2.5/5🌶️
*spice ratings are relative to similar books in the same genre*

The Catalog: MFMMM omegaverse, fake dating gone very wrong, independent omega, scent-matches, neurodivergent rep, rival journalists, angst, inconvenient heat, alpha with a double knot, commitment phobic alpha, heat tending, inexperienced alpha

Kink: public sex, power exchange, bondage, temperature play, sensory deprivation (blindfold), DP, DVP

Pack Dynamics:
α Ω α α α
• Ezra (α): commitment phobic professor
• Kady (Ω): independent omega that doesn’t want a pack
• Hale (α): the pack leader continuing his family’s legacy
• Riven (α): the sweetheart alpha with neurodivergence
• Calder (α): the cocky newspaper editor that gets off on competition

Synopsis:
Being a Sinclair isn’t easy. Kady’s life is often controlled by her father, curated by PR people, and otherwise dissected by the public. So when her dad promises her to a pack, despite not wanting to ever bond, she becomes desperate and fake dates the worst pack on campus. However, while she’s fighting to gain her freedom, she meets the Valen pack, and all those things she’s always tried to avoid—a pack, alphas, bonding—come knocking.

Thoughts:
I’m so happy to be back at Scent Valley University! I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Bonds and Blooms, and really loved the little sneak peeks of Faye and her pack in this one! Kady Sinclair is one of the Stella sorority omegas we meet in book one, and I was really eager to see what she was going to do with her father’s forced engagement!

Kady is an independent, over achieving, boss babe omega that doesn’t want to lose her freedom by getting a pack. However, maybe what she needs are partners that will support her, not stifle her. There are also some interesting family dynamics between her and her ultra famous/ultra wealthy father, which added to the overall conflict. Kady’s desperation to remain unattached was commendable, but at times frustrating.

Pack Valen was a lot of fun. There’s Hale, the leader, that’s trying to find balance after inheriting his father’s legacy, Calder, the alpha that took a job that was all but promised to Kady, Ezra, the severely commitment phobic professor, and Riven, the sweetest alpha imaginable. Their dynamic as a pack is a little confusing, but they all love and support each other, which was very sweet, specifically concerning Riven and his neurodivergence.

The romance portion is what I would describe as medium-fast burn physical relationship, but slow burn feelings. I wish there had been more time for emotional development between Kady and her pack in the last third. I enjoyed the time she got to spend with each of them in the later part of the book (their dates were cute).

This story started out with a bang, and I wasn’t expecting all of the angst, but I was living for the drama at the start. The first 40% was really engaging, and I binged it quickly. However, at times it did feel a little drawn out. Also, I wish there had been more time at the end to see the Valen pack together. It felt like a lot of their issues remained unresolved, and parts of the story feel very incomplete:
• To me, the final resolution with Ezra didn’t feel adequate. I’m not sure he did enough to prove himself to Kady, or to me.
• I wish more had been said about Hale and the “family business vs veterinary school” conversation
• While I can appreciate that Kady wanted things to go slowly, because she never made a bold decision/declaration, their love story doesn’t feel complete. If there had been more time devoted to their emotional relationship, maybe she would have gotten to the same level as the guys, and it wouldn’t feel so up in the air.

[Cool Aunt Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know….. I liked a lot about this story. But, some things just didn’t hit the mark?

The Good:
Kady is an independent omega, wanting to do life her own way. Her characterization stays the same throughout the story. Love that.

As stated in my review of the first book in the series, I absolutely love the Stellas as a group. I’m glad that Faye is still a part of the group. And my main man Larry obviously had a larger part in this one.

Riven was just the sweetest. I couldn’t help but smile during their solo time. Gentle giants with a dash of neuro-spiciness might be my kryptonite. His tenderness was endearing.

And don’t get me started on the double knot sitch Hale has going on. Get it girl 🥵. Hale was a great lead alpha, especially for Kady. If anyone could relate to her upbringing, and being known in the corporate world, it was him.

The Not So Good:
While being a “cozy” story, there was definitely more angst and tension than the first book. But, some of the tension was just sort of….. drama?

One alpha only wanted Kady for a one night stand, pushing her away for the rest of the book only to immediately change his tune at the last second. It happened so fast, that it didn’t have the emotional impact that I wish it had. He was let off the hook way too easily. (I might be a certified Ezra hater.)

Kady’s dad’s little lackey was gross. The entire interaction where the lackey gets the Valen Pack arrested, and basically gaslighting Kady when she tries to say nothing was wrong was gross. Her dad not giving her agency until an alpha confirms they are scent matches? Gross. I know this was the point, so good job, I guess.

Then, once she finally starts spending time with Valen Pack, she’s very rude to them. She has multiple inner thoughts of telling herself that she’s “being a bitch” to them. A lot of this stems from Ezra being a douchebag (see above), and Calder being just a bit too arrogant.

Then there’s the Fake Dating trope. It was interesting to do a misdirect, and have it be a pack Kady doesn’t end up with. But, they were already set up in the first book as terrible alphas. I’m sorry, but Kady’s character is written as smart, and very well media trained from her father. Picking that pack just seemed dumb. Unnecessarily dumb.

Finally, I’ve never read an ov book where they don’t bond. Like, what? I’m glad Kady didn’t fold on her convictions, and the story points out *it’s coming* but… come on. It could have been an epilogue.

I would say the true rating is 3.5 stars, but we don’t round up. I will still be continuing the series.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 15%
What the heck happened?
I loved the first book and had hoped that I found a new favorite series, but this book was completely off.
The FMC is very hardworking and works as a journalist. She is very interested in Omega rights and independent. When her dad wants to force her into a marriage with a pack she claims that she is already being courted by one.
The set-up of this scene was so off. She wasn't at her own home, but one of her friend's home and her father's butler found her, entered the home and gave her a wedding invitation to her own wedding. How did that man find her?
Her father then calls her and she tells him the lie so that he will stop. The heck. There was no talk about how she can't just refuse because of money or something else. She then comes up with the idea to ask a pack to pretend to court and then break up with her.
Due to her job she gets to know about a pack that tried to manipulate an omega's choice in a speed scenting event... The pack is misogynistic, foul smelling and disgusting. She convinces the pack to be the one to pretend to court her, because she could expose them for what they did and being seen with her will make them interesting for other omegas. Wtf.
Is this what an honest journalist that stands her ground on omega rights would do? No! She could have tried to convince any other pack and not partake in this humiliation ritual that is bound to explode in her face.

Also, she singled out her friend Sabs so often in her inner monologue that it got weird and felt mean. I thought that maybe it was because Sabs could be the main character in the next book, but she is not.

The first interaction with one of the MMCs is also ugh. She goes to a bar alone and there she meets this guy. They click and talk. They don't talk blankly with each other so they don't know that she is a student and he is a new professor at her university. They go to find privacy. They start a full on bar brawl, because she stands up for her omega rights and then they have sex against a wall outside in public and she dismisses the guy after. The guy goes home to his pack and is introduced to the reader as a lothario that fucked up their move on day one for having a one-night stand when he was supposed to only get groceries. Instead he saw the FMC through the window and wanted to meet her. Ugh. So their meet cute wasn't even natural.

All in all, the main characters felt like unlikable characters.

[Mikaela (risqué.romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nest s and Nuptials - Polly Maple
5/5✨🌟

* SPOILERS *

I really wish I knew what Polly put in her books because just like the first book, I was sucked into her amazing world. The first book was super cute but this one is my favorite. Is every book just going to get better and better?

I knew there was going to be one alpha that was going to be hard to love. That’s just Polly’s style. Ezra and Kady were both so hardheaded about not wanting a pack. Even though, they had the same beliefs, it was so beautifully to see them open up their hearts.

I loved how the neurodivergent was really well written because you didn’t expect it at all. The fact that he had the look of a viking made it even more special because he was just so sweet. I just loved how Riven wanted to look up everything and him buying hers star…. Like ohmygod!

From Hale’s mom making me laugh to almost walking in on them, to Riven literally falling into Kady with his telescope, Calder’s allergic reaction and the cutest moment of giving Larry 2.0 to a little girl, and Ezra’s moment of getting all th snacks for heat and freaking out, this book was just super cute.

I was very pleased when Kady’s dad finally gave up when he realized that these special guys were her scent matches. All he wanted was the best for her. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t have met her scent matches. The moment of Ezra finally giving in of her being his scent matches was probably my favorite part in this book. He was not about to let her dad take her away.

If you’re looking for something super sweet and low angst with all the emotions, this book is certainly for you. With all the vibes from her best friends, a little bit of angst from a pack an just all the feel, definitely check this sweet and cute book.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[kaylaschapterchats · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this world so much and I was so excited to jump back in and read Kady's story.

Kady, she is a very strong, independent and fiery omega. She feels as though she doesn't need help and rarely asks for it. I love her, she loves her friends deeply but her father isn't that great.

Our mmc's are Riven, Ezra, Hale and Calder. These guys, I love them so much. Hale is Lead Alpha and has such a grounding presence. Ezra is all charm and doesn't do commitment. Calder is an alpha who likes to be in control and Riven, he is my favourite, he is just the cutest and loves science and maths. Riven is my favourite for sure!

The plot was incredible. When Kady is stuck is a sticky situation, she enlists the help of a pack to keep up a certain facade. Problem is, Kady meets 4 alphas that flip her world upside down. I really liked how Kady and her alpha's relationship progressed. It felt so real and organic and it was really respectful of them to give the space Kady needed to find her footing in this new dynamic and just let her feel what she was feeling. I also loved that Kady just understood and accepted them for who they are. I could go on and on but don't want to spoil it for anyone 😊

Shout out to The Stella's and Larry, love you all!!!

Amazing read! Can't wait for Delilah's story 🩷🩷🩷

Thank you so much Polly and your lovely team for the opportunity to read this story and to be a part of your ARC team. I am forever grateful 🙏

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 🌶🌶🌶🌶

🐈 why choose
🩷 multiple pov
🐈 omegaverse
🩷 independent fmc
🐈 fake relationship
🩷 age gap
🐈 innocent mmc
🩷 forbidden
🐈 scent matches / fated
🩷 spice
🐈 so much more...

[Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I may have found an FMC who is me—and I am her. Kady is a strong-willed, academically motivated, career-driven, fiercely independent FMC who is not afraid to throw a punch—literally. She knows exactly who she is and refuses to apologize for it.

After reading a few other reviews, I want to clarify my stance on Kady. Yes, she can be headstrong, and yes, she has a tendency to push away anyone who genuinely cares about her or wants to. Her mindset is very much ‘I can handle everything myself,’ which understandably frustrates her potential pack. She jumps headfirst into decisions because she knows what she wants and insists on doing things her way. Unfortunately, that independence sometimes leads to her getting hurt..

At times, her attitude can come off as rude, and other characters do feel the impact of that. But honestly? I get it. As an academic with a similar mindset—someone who once believed she didn’t need a man until she met the right one—I found Kady very relatable. That level of self-reliance often comes with trust issues.

As for her Alphas, I agree with a concern I’ve seen in other reviews: when there are too many distinct personalities, characters can easily get lost on the page. However, the author absolutely avoids that pitfall. Each Alpha is introduced and maintained with care, and their individual presence remains clear and memorable throughout the story.

Since this is the second book in the series, I also want to highlight how much I appreciate the overall structure. Interconnected standalones are exactly the right approach for stories like this, and the author executes it beautifully.

[Whitney Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging read with a strong, capable omega at its center, and I really enjoyed Kady’s determination to protect her independence while navigating the pull of the Valen Pack. The chemistry is definitely there, and each member of the pack brings something distinct to the table. Hale’s love of animals was especially charming, Riven’s quiet sweetness was a standout, and the group dynamic kept the story moving at a steady, enjoyable pace.

That said, a few threads never quite tied themselves into a bow. The conflict with Ezra, in particular, felt like it never truly resolved. It didn’t evolve or conclude so much as quietly fade into the background and become “a thing,” which left me wanting more clarity and emotional payoff.

Similarly, Hale’s shift toward staying in the family business instead of pursuing vet school lacked explanation or closure, making that arc feel unfinished rather than intentional.

Kady’s role also felt inconsistent. She seemed firmly against the relationship for most of the book, and that resistance never fully softened in a meaningful way, even by the end. Because of this, the conclusion felt a bit abrupt and not as complete as it could have been.

Overall, this was a solid, enjoyable story with compelling characters and a fun premise, but the unresolved conflicts and missing explanations kept it from reaching its full potential. I still had a good time reading it, I just wished the ending had delivered a bit more resolution and emotional closure.

[Emily Buchanan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was hard for me to finish.

First, We have an FMC who’s been treated like shit from all the men in her life, who does not want to pack or a bond, and doesn’t seem to grasp that she could really hurt these guys by stringing them along. There was a lot of drama surrounding a fake dating type situation, but as others have mentioned that that’s not even the pack that she ends up with so it seems a little convoluted for no reason.

Next, we have a pack that is new to the university and there is a lot of friction between the pack and our FMC that I didn’t feel like got resolved. There’s my least favorite trope of a woman who has worked very hard to get recognized and promoted in her job only to be set aside for a man with connection connections. This man also comes in and treats her like a bag of garbage and never really apologizes for using his wealth and connection to get something that she worked hard for. There’s no resolution to this plot line other than they just….share it? Also, in this pack is a fuck boy player who does not want any type of commitment but knows his pack wants an omega, but he continues to fight against it and nobody seems to do anything about it. The rest of the guys are fine if not forgettable.

I still enjoy this world and the tight female friendship that’s being portrayed in the Stella house. I love that we still see Faye around even if she’s packed up. I’m really interested in Delilah’s story coming next so I do plan on continuing. This one just wasn’t my cup of tea.

[Kara McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

please see that this is an ARC review and the book was kindly given to me by the author in exchange for my honest opinion 🩷

Although I loved the first book in the series I feel like I loved this one even more. I love strong and independent FMCs and Kady was absolutely that sort of character. Although I don't have a rich parent chasing me down to try to marry me off to a rich pack of Alphas, I did really relate to kadys struggle of always having to mask herself to live up to her family name and her parents expectations. To live the way that was expected of her, if that would have been her same choice or not.

I don't know about others, but for me sometimes in OV alphas personalities can get lost in the mix if they are too similar or there are too many of them. In this book however that absolutely was not the case. They all stood out and we really got to know them well. Although I would have loved more background on them, since the only one we really got more indepth background on was hale, overall I really loved what we did get to know about each and every one of them. Just have to add that Riven?? UGH I loved him so much. I don't know if it was because my own neurodivergence made me relate to him or if he was just the most perfect little bean but he's probably my favorite alpha ever 🤣🩷

Overall I really really enjoyed this book. Parts of it felt like I was watching a daytime soap with all the drama, and parts were sweet and fluffy. It was just wonderful overall.

[Heather Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nest and Nuptials 🩷

Nest and Nuptials
By Polly Maple
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Returning to SVU for Kady’s story didn’t disappoint. The Stella Girls truly captivated my heart in book 1 (with Bounds and Blooms - Faye’s story) and I couldn’t wait to return for the next story.

Kady is an independent and strong omega who doesn’t want a pack let alone a scent matched pack and yet, she finds just that within the Valen pack. The Valen pack throws Kady for a loop and everything changes while other elements that are out of Kady’s control are in play.

The Valen pack - Ezra, Calder, Riven, and Hale. All strong alphas who each share independent relationships and bounds with Kady. They care deeply for Kady and love her independence and don’t try to tame her or change her. Which is one of the reasons I love this story so much. Kady has a backbone from beginning to end of this book and her pack loves her even more because of it.

I’ve been saying this a lot lately, to be seen is to be loved and these alphas see Kady and love her and encourage her and do not try to change her.

I cannot wait to return to SVU for book 3. I got a feeling it’s going to wreck me and put me back together again and I can’t wait!

[Hali Hegeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last review for the day! Another amazing read from a new-to-me author, who I can’t wait to read more from.

Nests and Nuptials by @pollymapleauthor is a found family, why choose, omegaverse romance between Kady, Ezra, Riven, Calder, and Hale.

I loved that Kady is so resistant to finding a pack, and how she wants to maintain her independence above all else. It made seeing her fall for these men that much sweeter, watching her trust them and find comfort in them that she’s never allowed herself to feel before outside of her best friends. She truly wants what’s best for all omegas, and that passion never fades, and it grows brighter the more she’s accepted for who she is with her pack. It’s a very sweet transformation to watch.

Ezra, Riven, Calder, and Hale all have such distinct personalities, and I loved how they’re so protective of not only Kady, but also of each other. If anyone disrespects or threatens a member of their pack, they’re immediately up in arms, ready to defend each other against any threat. They would do anything for each other and for Kady. Even the grumpiest ones in the pack can’t help but fall for her as they spend more time with her. Deep down they’re all such sweethearts, and I loved their romance with her.

I highly recommend picking this up in KU💗

[BobbiJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, because I absolutely loved the first book of this series. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case. The writing is great, but this book and Kady’s story wasn’t for me.

For those of you who live for all the angst in a romance, this book will be up your alley. But if you are like me and possibly get reading anxiety, this may be too much angst for you. I can deal with some angst, but this book had me stressed the entirety of it, which made it not too enjoyable. This is a preference and I have to reiterate, the writing is GREAT! Just probably not for anxious readers.

Another issue for me is I love the almost instalove that usually comes from scent matches, the bonding, creating a home together, all that. It’s what makes omegaverse such a cozy read for me. You will not get that in this book, specifically, you will not get that from this FMC. Again, that’s preference and I’m positive many of you will love this book.

So if you love angst and you don’t have the above listed needs from omegaverse, you will probably absolutely love this book, but to the ones like me, I would read with caution.

[Stefani Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book one in this series and was impatiently awaiting this books release. I can now officially say it was worth the wait! There was no way I was going to be disappointed with this one!

When we met all the Stella girls in book one Kady was the one who readers would least have expected to find a pack. Reading Kady’s story and watching the Valen pack make her feel safe and loved was beautiful!

I love the world of Scent Valley University so much and want to exist in it 24/7! It’s such a fun and unique concept for an omegaverse series so if you like cozy low angst storylines in a cozy world this series is for you!

All of the characters in this series are so different and unique that it makes it really enjoyable to read! Even from one book to the other we didn’t have characters that were alike which can sometimes happen in interconnected series. I also love that even tho they are technically standalones we got a good amount of pop ins from the book one characters and Stella girls!

[C. Leste · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eu adorei! É uma mistura entre amor e ódio, desejo e liberdade. A autora soube trabalhar muito bem todos os aspectos da vida da Kady e fui surpreendida porque este livro é completamente diferente da história da Faye (primeiro livro da série). Pude ler com aquele ar de novidade, porque a história é muito diferente, além das personalidades.

Kady é bem difícil de acompanhar porque em diversas vezes se colocou em situações estúpidas e perigosas porque queria sua liberdade, mas no fim tudo se resolve e encaixa, mas quando você pensa que MUITA COISA poderia ser diferente, é inevitável não se frustrar com ela e várias de suas escolhas.

Amei conhecer a Matilha Vale, o amor e carinho que eles sentiam pela Kady aqueceu meu coração. Alguns pontos me deixaram meio "sei la" foi a decisão da autora de deixar alguns tópicos e resoluções nos capítulos finais e durante o cio da coitada da Kady.

Fora isso, uma história adorável. Estou ansiosa para ler sobre a Delilah e imagino o caos que isso será com o retorno do ex.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kady isn’t like other omegas. Fiercely independent and career driven, she doesn’t have time for a pack or bonds. But when her father sends her an invitation to her own wedding, her plans have to change, & quickly.
However, she doesn’t plan on her scent matches slowly working their way into her heart.

Hale, Ezra, Riven, & Calder are all quite different, but their pack is strong, and most of them are willing to make it work. Eventually lol. Even her cat Larry has strong opinions! 🐈 🤣 It was great to experience their relationships developing individually and as a pack!
There’s definitely spice, but also some slow burn romance, stubbornness that fades into acceptance and vulnerability; all leading to Kady and The Valen Pack’s happily ever after!

I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
The Stella House omegas are such a fun group! I loved their appearances in this book!

Thank you to the Author for the ARC! 🫶🩷 She is quickly becoming one of my favorite omegaverse authors!

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

(This review is absolutely NOTHING against the writing or author. I simply just didn’t vibe with the character/story. The writing was great.)

This one was a bit hard for me to get into and finish. I didn’t really vibe with Kady, I like a strong fmc but this one honestly was just annoying to me. I liked the mmcs though, they put up with a lot.
Definitely go into this book with the mindset that there really won’t be a full HEA. The pack doesn’t fully bond, live all together, and we don’t really get to see them say they love each other.
The fmc in this one is probably more commitment-phobic than one of the mmcs (and his entire character was based on being a playboy who’s terrified of commitment).
Kady is literally so dead set on being independent and not needing anyone that most of the time she comes off a bit bîtchy.
⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5

Hopefully the next book in the series will be more of my vibe.

[Anna Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to ARC read this author's first book and then ARC for this book as well and I can seriously say that I have loved both of them, maybe even loved this one more!

I identified so much with the fmc and her desire to be in control and to be the best that she could be! It It totally reminded me of myself in college. I definitely had my assignments done a month early!

This book was seriously fabulous. I especially loved the addition of a MMC that was not neurotypical. It was handled in such a good way. I loved how all the characters treated him with such love and patience.

If you're looking for a boss Omega who is reluctant for a pack, but yet finds one to be a fake one... then this book is for you! Bonus point for the fact that she's not afraid of challenging an alpha!

I've basically begged to be on her Street Team at this point! Thus author is an auto read author for me!

[goodgirl_meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book, got a little mad at a main character for behaving a certain way, then realized you do the exact same thing in real life? Well, now I have. Kady and her pack have taught me that you need to allow people to be in your corner and take care of you sometimes. AND that just because society wants you to behave one way, it doesn’t mean that’s what will work for you or what YOUR people will expect of you. So for all the control freak girlies out there, therapy is in session with Nests and Nuptials. 😂

Polly Maple is fantastic at writing very diverse personalities into her packs, but making every single character relatable too. I thoroughly enjoyed the relationship and character development here. Most important take away: if your grumpy menace of a cat takes a shine to your new boyfriends, they’re keepers!