Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Rules to Follow

SERIES: Davey’s Rules #1

AUTHOR: Susan Hawke

PUBLISHER: Self Published

LENGTH: 284 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 14, 2019

BLURB:

Davey’s Rule #86: A good Daddy will never lie to his boy… even by omission.

Travis Miller has a pretty solid life in the small California beach town he calls home. He’s working his way up in the district attorney’s office, he owns a home with an ocean view, and he has close ties with his family. Life is good. If only he could find a sweet boy to call his own, life would be… perfect.

Adam Nichols’ life has never been easy. Growing up in foster care taught him to be strong, so finding himself in a violent relationship was a shock. Now that he’s finally free of it, he faces new problems. He’s jobless, homeless, and terrified of starting from scratch.

With a little help from an old friend, Adam discovers a whole new world. He goes from rock bottom to renting a room from a hot assistant DA and working at Daddy’s Lap, a kink club that opens his vanilla eyes to things he’d never imagined. His new roommate is a balm to Adam’s damaged soul. The tender way Travis cares for him is almost like the Daddy kink community he’s seen at the club. But Travis isn’t a Daddy… right? If he were, surely he’d have said so.

What happens when a lie by omission threatens to bring their budding relationship tumbling down around them? Will Travis ever be able to earn Adam’s trust again?

This is the first book in a new series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book. Possible trigger for references to domestic violence.

REVIEW:

I have no idea how I have missed reading this author before (more widely known for mpreg writings as Susi Hawke) but I can tell you she’s on my radar now!

Daddy Travis Miller is in such need of his own boy to care for that he even went on one very disastrous date with Davey! Who couldn’t see that being a match made in hell? So when Travis finally ventures back into Daddy’s Lap and sees that Davey is worrying about something big his “Daddy” kicks in and he jumps in to see what is troubling the pesky bartender. It turns out that Davey is very concerned about his ex-college roommate Adam. Adam’s good-for-nothing boyfriend has been using his dear friend for a punching bag…again! Raphael, “the big leather Daddy who owned the club” immediately offers Davey’s friend a job and Travis then offers a room in his home near the college he rents to students at a discounted rate. When Travis and Adam meet it’s obvious that there is an attraction between the two. After the run-in with Adam’s ex all Travis wants to do is take care of the bruised boy. But is the very vanilla Adam even open to such a unique relationship?

I enjoyed watching the developing attraction between Travis and Adam as they navigated their feelings and desires. I was however extremely disappointed in Travis’ lack of sharing when Adam brought up the whole Daddy scene. It was the perfect opening if not way too tardy. It felt like he was almost grooming him at one point. And his brother had no trouble pointing out his mistake…not that he listened. I felt as if it became almost dishonest. Yes, Adam was new to these type of relationships and was having his eyes opened wide to the various types of relationships within the Daddy community at the club, but he wasn’t as naïve as Travis had considered. You couldn’t be and last at that club even if it wasn’t your kink. And Travis was a member so it made it feel even more dishonest. I know that books need their climatic scene for resolution to happen but that could have easily been Adam’s ex’s appearance. The thing I that did appreciate happening was that Travis was taught a very valuable lesson in honesty and trust that will work for them in the future.

I loved some of the side characters. The diva Davey was a hoot. I can’t wait to meet his future Daddy. That is going to be one interesting story with his list of “Rules” in play! And I really want to meet the Daddy that tames the prima donna princess Preston. I’m not into the “littles” stories but it was interesting to see the dynamic between Landon and Mikey. I’m sure it was a bit shocking for Adam to see Michael instead of his friend Mikey at his graduation. But I think the story I am looking the most forward to in the future is Travis’ brother Bryan.

All in all I really enjoyed this story and can’t wait for the next in the series to come.

RATING:

BUY LINK:

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