I walked in on my husband and heard three words no wife wants to hear.
"Let me explain."
Only... it's not what you think. Or... what anyone would think.
What I caught him doing...
What he wants...
I'm scared.
But a little fear is healthy, right?
The Man I Know is a married couple standalone. You won't find a third act break-up, babies in the epilogue or a ton of angst. Instead, this story centers around a happily married couple (with children) who discover, after years of marriage, that one of them needs more. Low-angst and high steam, the plot centers around deepening an already healthy relationship.
Author's Please visit the reading guide on the author's website for all content warnings and other information. For Adult Readers.
Daisy Jane is a forbidden love romance author, inspired by VC Andrews and more . When she's not penning a hot age gap novel or dreaming up steamy stories, she's enjoying the sunshine and warmth at her home in California. She enjoys reading, true crime, exercise and, of course, romance.
I loved this book!!! It's a good married couple after years of being together. And no cheating or really big drama.
Lawson is the perfect man in Jes eyes he's like everything. Even her friends are jealous of her relationship. She's happy they have a great life, amazing kids. But she walks in on him doing something, and for a split second, she backs away, confused. A little on why and why he kept it silent, and im glad Lawson didn't really back away when she wanted an explanation on his fantasies. She wanted to give him what he wanted. And I loved that about the couple they talked about and were honest with each other.
They did have some hiccups when they played in public, which had an omg scene that I felt bad for Lawson.. and we got to meet past characters in Daisy's other books. And maybe future couples in this book!
No ow/om drama, no cheating, slight secondary character, sexy times, no virgins
Recommend-yes Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️ Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶
Married couple Praise kink Degradation Primal play Anal play aggressive rough sex Aggressive physical acts Rope play (light shibari) Tiny Edging impact play Breath play Cnc No condom Hea
3,5 It’s a lot to think about this story. First I really liked the communication and connection between the characters but maybe the fmc went with the flow because of her situation- I don’t know- It’s worth reading.
NO OW/ OM DRAMA. NO OTHERS AFTER MEETING. Marriage of 12 years and 2 kids that decide to start to have kinky s e x H always loved kinky rough s e x but thought that h wouldn’t like it or was going to think differently of him so he decided to not bringing up. He decided that his marriage was way more important than his desires/fantasies so he only fantasize about doing that to his wife in his alone time. I actually thought it was cute and sweet that he had a photo of his wife that he used to help his brain to fantasize. Some others “H” from other books could learn a lesson or two about putting first his marriage than his fantasies or desires. Anyway, both are obsessed with each other and in love and after discovering his *secret* feel more connected to each other. Both decides to take a test and SURPRISE both liked the same stuff. That was a bit unreal but I mean I get it. The decide to think about it and after that starts to do their kinky sex. Everything was going hot and great until he got his wife hurt (without him wanting it) and a police officer went to their hotel room. She went to the hospital and thought that he was going to go to jail. But everything was good bc a nurse explained to them that they need to be more careful and go slower in their *scenes* that they were going. They need to learn more before doing that. I thought that part was more realistic. I mean what would I know I’m a virgin but that sounds more realistic in my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Not bad. I like how it's a married couple testing out kinks without any of that ow/om/cheating/sharing stuff. Usually with these kind of books, it's almost always wanting to bring someone else into the bedroom or going to a sex club to explore and whatnot, so I'm glad this is different.
This book was so good that words almost aren’t enough to describe it. I’ve read almost all of daisys books and this one is by far my favorite.
It is such a relatable story. A woman finds out her husband has been keeping his true desires secret for years and they decide to explore those kinks together. I mean who can’t relate to that.
I’ve never read a book where a married couple isn’t having issues and just falls more in love. It was a unique experience that I won’t forget.
Not only was the story amazing.. but the spice.. holy hell guys. The degradation (also the love) was perfection.
This book promotes healthy communication in a relationship. But it also showcases that just because you’ve read, watched, heard about kink doesn’t make you an expert & accidents do happen… finding that education is important & this is the first time (that I’ve read) that that message has been given!
''I remind myself silently that this man is my husband''
Safety warnings: - H 44 / h 36 - No cheating - No OW/OM drama - BDSM - CNC - HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
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This was alright but I did want some sort of conflict between the two of them a little bit more? Nothing major but something? I can't even think of what though lol
I did enjoy their absolute devotion and commitment to each other. How much they loved one another and how it was portrayed through their POVs, actions and words.
Laws had a lot of self-doubt to get over and self-hatred. He spent YEARS holding onto this secret and shame within him. I wondered a few times if he was not fully 100% happy with his life/sex life because he could not indulge in his fantasies? I had moments of doubt.
Jes was different, she only figured out she liked all the things they eventually tried out because of finally knowing what Laws truly wanted in the bedroom but as she put it she enjoyed it more and more because he was the one she was with and he was enjoying it so she felt happy. He was into rope play, rape fantasies, CNC, intense dirty talk, and a few other bits. They went about it in a really impressive way. They both sat on both of their wants/needs for a week, to think things through by themselves and then come together to talk and figure out rules and what was out of the questions. It was done in a realistic manner for two people who truly loved each other and wanted to move forward with this new experience.
The hotel scene was not supposed to be funny, but it was to me, the nerves and fear Laws had during the entire encounter was just such BAD timing. We did get to meet two characters who each have a book and I don’t know if I’ll ever get to them.
There was another scene where Laws talks to his friend Greg who is going through a divorce about what makes a relationship work after so many years and Laws explanation was on point FOR ME. Everyone is different but his description that being friends above all else is so important really spoke to me.
Overall, this was a smutty enjoyable read. I read it in one sitting so despite my 3.5-star rating, it still was great enough to get through it quickly, but I live for angst, and I wanted some haha
“I will fucking destroy you. Fuck you so hard you can’t walk. And I won’t show you mercy, I’ll make you crawl. I’ll force you to try and get away. But you won’t get far. I’ll catch you, and tie you up—bind you—I’ll get off on the way your flesh strains and rubs raw against my knots. The way you’ll be marked by my ropes.”
Whew, this was an amazing original story for the genre. As someone who has been in a healthy relationship for 18 years/married for almost 10 I can definitively say that sex is a practice. You can fall away from it (thanks babies), you can get complacent, you can become ashamed or meek thanks to your own stupid issues and sabotage your connection or you can knowingly enjoy in a mind blowing connection with someone and afterwards know that those feelings and moments can never be recreated with anyone else. I have been through all these moments and more.
This was about a couple who (a little over the top sickening sweet at first) love each other and are very happy in their relationship but those open lines of communication are not completely there and when Jess finds Laws doing something that reveals his kinks it causes an initial panic.
What saves them is talking through everything and working out a plan. I loved all the steps they took to figure out how this would work. I loved the quiz (my husband and I took it and now he’s so turned on by something he never realized about me) and I loved than Jess even got into all the play and surprised Laws with it.
“She licks her lips and takes her hand from my balls, bringing it to my chest. her thumb strokes my nipple, and that's another thing I didn't know I liked until my wife. She started pinching and rubbing my nipples before I'd orgasm and now, it gets me there.”
It could have potentially been slightly shorter but after reading this I felt really empowered and basically confirmed with my beliefs that sex between two consenting adults is some of the most fucking fun times you get as a couple.
“people that judge the sex you have in the privacy of your own home, speaks more to their own happiness and contentedness (or, ahem, lack thereof) than actual disapproval of your behavior.”
This was a little bit fantasy too with how perfect most of the things worked out for our couple but know that good relationships create foundations like these two.
Also, real men do this for their women and I’m having the most fun ever knowing babies are out of sight for us🥰:
“like the king he is, he had a vasectomy so I didn’t have to bear the responsibility of birth control and he gets to fuck his cum into me as often as he likes. It’s a win-win.” 🥹😜🥳
There is a little skin in the game moment so know it’s not just pure erotica but mostly that is the gist of it.
You don't understand this story was everythingggg.
I don't typically (scratch that, I pretty much never) read books where the MCs are already in an established relationship. I'm just the type of person who loves reading about a romance from the very beginning.
But honestly, this book was SO good, and it was simply because of the writing. I felt like I knew these characters, despite the fact that they had already been with each other for 14 years. There was just really strong and consistent characterization that I loved to see. The characters were so mature and acted their age: their communication was so good, and it really made the story low angst, and felt a lot more true to their situation.
It led to such a special story of exploration between two people who loved eachother so deeply, and further strengthening that relationship, not to mention the fact that the smut was 🥵🥵🥵.
This is definitely a story that I'll be coming back to.
Freaking love this book. It's smut alright, there is s*x scene in almost every chapter ;) but the feel it gives is everything. This is about married couple who just discovered what their fantasies are and discuss about them..just WOW, they are ones that have the most healthy relationship I've ever read.
I don’t know how to review without any spoilers, soo I’m sorry. Tbh for the first ~25% I was…bored. It picked up from there, but I will say the first spicy scene after their revelation wasn’t great for me.
Jes says she wants to explore Laws’s desires, mid sex, and he finally gives in to her wanting to try it out. He immediately flips the switch and goes straight to degradation and choking her until she almost passes out. I know that she said she wants to explore his desires with him, but some conversations need to be had first? Discussions around limits, anything neither is willing to try, a safe word, etc really should’ve been had.
Here’s a snippet of the scene I’m talking about. They were having sex as usual when she said she wanted to explore what he’s interested in with him. He basically flipped her over mid thrust and started this, no discussion on if there was anything she wasn’t into, establishing a safe word, anything.
I love books with CNC, breathe play, and rope play. The spice wasn’t the issue, it was the lack of communication going into it.
“I don’t need you to be breathing to f**k your holes, you little wh0re.” Oh my God. In the years we’ve been married, I’ve never heard Lawson Briggs say these words. F**k, yes, and bitch when used in the context “son of a bitch” while watching baseball, yes. But this? “This is my c**t, and you’re my filthy f**king sl*t.” Fucking sl*t? My head spins, though it’s pinned to the pillows by my husband's hand. My husband is ch0king me while brutally f**king me.
I’m a big fan of Daisy Jane’s writing and find that she writes spice in a realistic manner like they’d play out in real life and not for shock factor like books often do. However, I got hung up on the lack of discussion prior to going full swing into the manner in which Laws wanted to explore. Especially as there was zero aftercare after that was the first time they ever explored anything that rough or kinky in their 12 years of marriage.
Tropes/Highlights: - Age gap - 12 years after the HEA - CNC Roleplay - Breathe play - Spitting - Degradation
I received this as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I don’t think I’ve ever read a married couple Romance before, and I honestly do not know why there aren’t more of them.
Daisy Jane explores a story of an established marriage and what happens when they are faced with an unexpected challenge. Jes discovers her husband Laws has a dark desire he’s kept hidden from her. Something he feels he has no right to want and could never ask for.
Laws loves his wife with everything he is and Jes will stop at nothing to understand the man she loves entirely. There’s nothing he could want that she wouldn’t want to give him.
With communication and honesty you follow them as they explore all their needs and desires. They truly are couple goals when it comes to this part of the story.
This is low angst, no 3rd act break up, no cheating with communication, honesty and sexual exploration is everything you didn’t know you wanted in a taboo romance.
Daisy neeever disappoints! If you want a book of a healthy marriage with a wonderful family and the discovery of kink… THIS IS THE BOOK. I am 100% convincing my husband to read this… or let me read it to him. I’ve always wanted to read a book of with the “after” of finding their HEA. We need to normalize romance and kink in marriage! I freaking loved it. Check tw/cw but going in blind will not let you down.
Everything about this delicious romance was absolutely flawless, I loved every single aspect of it. It had a simple, drama free plot and it revolved solely around the main characters and their dynamic which I found refreshing. It was sweet and romantic yet dirty and hot 🔥(Just exactly how I wish my future love story and epic marriage will turn out IRL, lol)
Jes and Laws have been together for 14 years, they are happily married, parents of 2 boys of 7 and 10 years old. They are still very much in love, and have a healthy sex life, but Laws is hiding a secret: he has dark fantasies, urges that make him want to act out violent scenes with his wife. Ashamed of these desires, he keeps them tightly leashed inside of him, and only indulges from time to time in solo cessions where he pleasures himself to these scenes in his head. One night though, Jes sees him. She is shocked in the beginning but encourages him to talk about it. Together they take an online quiz to discover more about each other's true desires, and decide to act on them.
This book is about their journey into roleplay, rape fantasies, bondage, consensual non-consent, ... their newfound discovery of each other, the errors they will sometimes make.
I really enjoyed this book. I have read a lot of BDSM books, some that I found realistic, others much less, and all of them or close to, have been about a new couple, people meeting in a club, or strangers exploring things, but this is the first book I read where this is an established couple, married, with children, not struggling, but in love, and looking to explore more things in their sex life. I loved our open and talkative they were, I loved Jes and her reaction, how she would reassure her husband and get him to open up and not make him feel judged or a monster for having those needs. How she even loved him more for it because she finally got to know him completely. I loved Laws and how he was so loving with Jes.
This has got to be, hands down, one of my favorite books Daisy has written. Simply because I love Daisy and her books, but I haven’t read a story like this one before.
Laws and Jes are happily married, they have a beautiful family and a beautiful life they have created with each other. But sometimes you just need to add a little bit of spice… or a lot after a little while and boy oh boy, they did exactly that.
I ate this book up, chapter 12….👀👀👀 oh hello.
This book gave me all the feels.. and had my heart racing because wow. Speechless for the most part, but in the best way possible!
Daisy never misses with her books, seriously. Highly recommend her books, especially this one if you want to read about a couple who is already happy and just become even happier together by the end!
TROPES: ❤️ 12 years after the HEA ❤️ Exploring s3xual fantasies ❤️ Low to no angst ❤️ No third act break up ❤️ No cheating ❤️ Light breath play ❤️ Impact play ❤️ Shibari/Rope Play ❤️ CNC Roleplay ❤️ Simulated Eiffel Tower & 🍑 Play ❤️Cameos from Men of Paradise!
The Man I Know is couple perfection. Lawson and Jes are the epitome of a heathy relationship, good communication, and just plain sexiness.
I loved their dynamic and their chemistry is so hot. I loved how Jes took Lawson’s secret kink in stride and in doing so created a much deeper connection between the two of them.
I liked that this story was about a married couple already in their HEA. Sometimes, you just have to shake things up.
Look, Daisy Jane blew me away with this book. God, I love it. A lot. I really do love the characters in this book and I love the storyline that is presented in this book. No joke, I laughed a lot. Especially when the children were present. 😂
Instead of speaking about both characters separately, I am going to speak of their relationship because that is the main thing in this book.
Laws and Jes are the main two characters that have been married for about 12 years and have been together for 14 years. They have two kids that I love their characters in the book. Even if we never got what led up to their romance, I still felt that you could see that they are romantically involved. And I like that around Laws and Jes we get more of a sense of how the relationship between them became what it is, especially between Laws and Greg.
I love how Laws and Jes work around the newfound knowledge of their relationship. It was something I found unique and interesting when it was portrayed in the book. 🫶
You can say that the main plot of the book is smut, but really it’s the exploration of a new world for the characters in this book. Laws and Jes are great examples of how communication is important in any relationship and I love it.
I don’t speak much about spice in books but the spice in this is super well done. I even like how at the end of the book Daisy Jane gave sources of what she used to become known for this book.
And if you have read other Daisy Jane books, Van and Sammy show up 😏
Jes and Lawson have been married with children for years and they have a very strong, happy marriage. Until she catches him doing something sexually that both shocked and surprised her. Her husband isn't like that. They actually talk and Jes attempts to give Lawson what he's dreaming about. Anndd that's all I can say without giving any spoilers!!
I loved their marriage. They were so good together and I was rooting for them to work through this and come out of it okay. The journey for them was so realistic bc being married is hard work sometimes and you know they are struggling. However, they're also having sex. A lot of sex. Hot, sexy, adventurous SEX. I may or may not have had a cold shower afterwards! Lol just kidding!
Despite the couple being married I barely felt their chemistry and neither of them had anything exciting about them other than the H (Laws) worked with rope. I skipped through the last 25% because it just seemed to go on and on and I hate to dnf, but I wish I hadn’t wasted my time.
Sub plots of other characters sex lives and relationships just to make the main couple seem like they had their shit together felt lazy, and then the incident when the h ends up in the hospital because the couples role play got out of hand, confronted by a cop and his friend a nurse who was also happens to be “into the lifestyle” and there’s “not many of them”, what are the chances?!
Bleh!
Two stars for the writing but the story is 0.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Omg how do you sum up this book… This is such a different and refreshing take on a romance book that I’m not even sure how you can fully express how much you really need to read this book in just a few words. I’m going to try and do this the justice it deserves. A happily Married couple, gets a even HAPPIER HEA! It is almost like it’s the best epilogue after your favorite story, got a whole additional book dedicated to just the HEA.
This is the most refreshing while still being spicy and sweet book I’ve read to date. Daisy continues to one up herself with writing books that I become obsessed with. Her writing is just pure perfection. A perfect mix of reality and kinky fantasy with real life shit but the perfect HEA that we all want out of romance books!! You have no Choice but to be captivated by her characters and their stories. Her kinks are just 🫠🫠🫠. The journey is phenomenal.
Laws and Jes are happily married and in a period of growth in their relationship. They have kids. They have jobs and friends, with real life problems they are dealing with. And then they are like in all marriages rediscovering each other again! They are emotional while determined to fight for each other and their continued happiness. While also learning new things about each other and growing together by communicating with each other. We get to watch and be enthralled in this couple’s life as they are on this discovery with each other and you’re captivated by them, their perseverance, their love. This couple is so relatable it was one of the first books I read whole sections out loud to my husband. We’ve had some of these conversations before! We laughed together at parts of it and he asked for “check ins” throughout my reading of it. Then stayed up and listened to me decompress after I finished it at 2am… he didn’t even read it and he needed to know how it ended and all the tea he missed! Lol 😂
This book is not overly angsty. But it does tug at your heartstrings because I feel like everybody’s felt and dealt with some degrees of the issues approached in this book. This book is like a shining beacon of hope and inspiration for relationships! This book is still a Daisy Jane book! It is KINK. And it is melt your panties HOT. Seriously I’ve never worried if I was going to run out of dry panties before while reading a book. But leave it to Daisy to say “hold my drink” and give it a shot. 😂
Daisy thank you for this book. Thank you for the bravery to write something so different but magical. I am still gonna bother you and PRAY for my Penny revenge book. IYKYK. 🖤
After seeing tons of teasers for this book, I was so intrigued that I one-clicked the day that it came out. After reading it, I must say that it's definitely one of the more unique romances that I've read.
This is a married couple romance, but more than that, it's a HAPPILY married couple romance. There is no drama, cheating, or serious angst going on here. Jes and Laws are happy and still very much in love after 12 years of marriage and they are content in raising their children and being a family. So when Jes walks in to find her husband doing something that she finds somewhat disturbing, she's obviously shocked.
Laws has been hiding a part of himself from Jes. He has desires that are dark and depraved, and he's embarrassed by them...too embarrassed to share them with his wife, but she's the only one that he'd ever want to live out these fantasies with. Discovering her husband's darkest needs, Jes finds out that she too has desires that had not yet been awakened. Together, they begin to live out their fantasies and face their fears.
Just a few things that I loved about this book: These are mature characters who are happily married and there is communication between them. Yes, there is a lot of steam in this book, but there is also a lot of dialogue. Jes and Laws TALK to each other and communicate their needs. That's something that is so often missing in romance books. There are hiccups along the way -- everything isn't smooth sailing for these characters -- but again, they work through these roadblocks together. I also loved the secondary characters and their stories that are weaved throughout this book. This is a look at marriage and couples, both happy and unhappy, and it's such a true-to-live depiction that we don't see often enough.
Now, there could be some definite triggers in this story for some readers. Laws' desires are very dark and depraved. There is impact play and a ton of consensual non-consent and force, but the key word here is CONSENSUAL. Still, there are scenes that some readers may find disturbing so please read with caution.
As a woman who has been married for many years, I truly enjoyed this story and would like to see more books like this one.
3-3.5 ⭐️ This is a nice contemporary romance about a perfectly happy and in love couple with a great sex life.... except for the fact the husband has desires he has been too ashamed to share with his wife their entire relationship.
I liked that this was a "normal" couple, him a small business owner (blue collar) and her a stay-at-home mom who thrives in the role. They are great parents to two young boys and best friends who are just as in love with each other after over a decade together as they were in the beginning. The shuttle kids to scouts, do dishes and you know, normal stuff.
The only hang up is that the hero has a kink he doesn't even fully understand and he fantasizes about it when he has to, alone, thinking only ever of his wife as he does. Consensual non-consent (CNC) is one of my favorite kinks and it was definitely interesting to see it in this context though it wasn't the hottest representation of it I've read. Some of the scenes on their own were hot, but the author takes pains to include a lot of proper research and communication (and the pitfalls of thinking you've done enough of both when you haven't, appropriate to a couple new to the kink exploring on their own), so the realism cut down the heat for me.
Also, in between the heated bits it is back to their "real life" and while I DO like that as a change to the fantasy billionaire/Cinderella kink books, altogether it might have been too much realism for me to the point of leaning toward boring. Also, very probably due to my recent mood, the super in love perfect couple had me feeling simultaneously happy for them and envious of them, kind of like some of their friends in the story.
So, a nice contemporary romance with mild CNC kink exploration, but not something I would be likely to read again.
Kinky, Spicy, and so Much More!! Check the TW beforehand if you need it.
This book shows how communication is extremely important in a relationship and to not be ashamed for kinks you like or want to explore.
Laws has been hiding a side of himself from his wife for the last twelve years of their marriage, but once she stumbles upon him freely acting on those urges becomes an issue for them. Laws wants to hide his darker side and depraved acts, but now that Jes knows she pushes for him to live out his kinks and fully accepts this part of him.
There are a lot of trial and errors for this couple stepping into the unknown to help Laws feel more comfortable with this other side he's been ashamed of for most of his life. This book shows how this seemingly perfect married couple works through this new adventure in a realistic way. This book definitely gives you tons of kinky spice, but it shows how working with one another to fully understand this new kink can be an up and down experience until they find their new groove.
So if you're looking for something that gives you all the dark spicy kinks but shows how this couple makes this new adventure work over time, definitely grab this one. It's not just kinky, but it shows the emotions of how to communicate with your partner is a must to achieve balance and happiness.