3.9✨
Not my favorite domestic discipline story, but I’m also not easy to please. I’m always a sucker for a little bit of angst and the daddy dom swooping in to save the day, so this one worked for me! The sex scenes did get a little repetitive after a bit though. Gideon spanks, Cal cries, Gideon spanks, Cal cries, etc.

4.5 ⭐️

Age-gap. Student-headmaster. Daddy kink. And some definite class warfare and “different rules for the rich” vibes galore in this one. But I did enjoy the way that Cal and Gideon fit in each others gaps, and made each other better people.

This was a quick, fun read…albeit a little forgettable. It definitely services as a good reminder that America is broken and the price of insulin is absolutely criminal.

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.

«Gideon made him feel small and vulnerable and… protected, but out in the real world, Cal had learned a long time ago that there was nobody who would protect him. Still, this charade was nice. It was nice to imagine somebody caring for him, looking out for him.»
I do love a sad-boy moment. There’s plenty of it in this one.

This book has 13 sex scenes. If you want something smutty with kinky Daddy/boy sex and a third-act plot instead of a third-act breakup, this is definitely the one for you.

I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the eventual plot was expanded on throughout the book, and not just added as what felt like an afterthought, almost. I mean, it’s well-written smut with some fun moments as well as some sad moments, so of course I enjoyed it, but there is something as too much of a good thing.

See below quote for a short book summary:

«“In my defense, I was sleeping with the student before you asked me to be the school’s interim headmaster. Also, I didn’t know he was in high school since he was a nineteen-year-old sex worker when we met.”»

4 stars if I rate it as what it is. Good smut.

Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Smut, high school student (19yo), school headmaster, age gap, sex worker, one-time escort, Daddy kink, restraints, sex toys, sensory deprivation, orgasm denial, a lot of spanking, criminal dad, sub space, chronic illness, diabetes type 1, corruption, bdsm, D/s, widower

⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Injured animal
Power exchange
Hospitalization
Complications from untreated diabetes
Violence
Bullying
Vomiting

⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles

«“You are pushing your luck, you little tease. Don’t think for a second I won’t pull off on the next exit and get a room just to spank your bottom until you beg me to stop.” Cal gasped in mock horror. “No. Please. Don’t,” he muttered, deadpan.»

«“You are relentless and impossible to surprise.” “Well, other than last night, the only surprises I’ve ever gotten usually involved me being punched in the face, either literally or metaphorically, so yeah, surprises aren’t really my thing.”»

Initial thoughts: WOW that had so much more depth than I was expecting. Though, I shouldn’t be surprised - Onley James knows how to give us hard to love / down in life characters and find them their perfect match and ending. So… SWOON. Normally age gap or teacher/student etc tropes are something I can take or leave, don’t love em either way. This was not either of those - or at least… not ONLY those (obvious) tropes.

Chemistry?
Perfection.

Angst?
YUP. All there but never compromising or bringing in doubt as far as feelings either character had for the other - something I really dislike - at any point (hope that makes sense!)

Villainy?
Oh. It’s there. The external hoops are more than just situational coincidence. Again, something we can trust Onley to provide; complex layers of external conflict.

Rage Reader Material?
YUP. Because without even knowing it was coming, these characters had issues that pulled from VERY real world problem. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to specify that rage inducing bit is an MC, after a change in financial circumstance, has no choice but to make *many* dangerous choices all to be able to LIVE (access to insulin, rationing - SUCH A HUGE UNFORGIVABLE AND V REAL THING)



So, ya. Recommend.

FRTC