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Ruthless Daddies 2 #5
Tyrant
Rumor has it I’m a tyrant.
The head of the Russian mob you don’t want to cross.
After all, I killed my wife when she betrayed me.
Then I buried her in the same grave as her lover, my best friend.
Rumor has it I stole their love child.
The little boy that, for the first two years of his life, I thought was mine.
They say I locked him up on a deserted estate where he’s gone mad talking to imaginary friends.
Rumor has it the boy is mine now.
That I let him roam my mansion completely naked.
And he has a life sentence for paying for his mother’s crimes in my bed.
Rumor has it I’m obsessed with this little ray of sunshine in my dark world.
And anyone who tries to hurt him will soon take their last breath.
Still, you shouldn’t listen to rumors. They're not always true. Sometimes.
Tyrant is a part of the Ruthless Daddies 2 multi-author collab and a complete standalone. Expect to find a ruthless Daddy and the pure, innocent boy he works hard to shield from the world. HEA is guaranteed. Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series!
The head of the Russian mob you don’t want to cross.
After all, I killed my wife when she betrayed me.
Then I buried her in the same grave as her lover, my best friend.
Rumor has it I stole their love child.
The little boy that, for the first two years of his life, I thought was mine.
They say I locked him up on a deserted estate where he’s gone mad talking to imaginary friends.
Rumor has it the boy is mine now.
That I let him roam my mansion completely naked.
And he has a life sentence for paying for his mother’s crimes in my bed.
Rumor has it I’m obsessed with this little ray of sunshine in my dark world.
And anyone who tries to hurt him will soon take their last breath.
Still, you shouldn’t listen to rumors. They're not always true. Sometimes.
Tyrant is a part of the Ruthless Daddies 2 multi-author collab and a complete standalone. Expect to find a ruthless Daddy and the pure, innocent boy he works hard to shield from the world. HEA is guaranteed. Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series!
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 18, 2023
289 people are currently reading
779 people want to read
About the author
Gianni Holmes
107 books1,305 followersGianni Holmes is a USA TODAY Bestselling author who's embracing her love for literature by wielding the pen and creating stories of her own. She's the author of the popular series The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale and The Taking Care series. Gianni is a former teacher of Spanish Language and Hispanic Literature.
These days she can be found writing books, hanging out with her readers, and raising her daughter as a single mother. You can keep in touch with her in the following places:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authorgiannih...
Newsletter: https://www.gianniholmesauthor.com/ne...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/giannigems
These days she can be found writing books, hanging out with her readers, and raising her daughter as a single mother. You can keep in touch with her in the following places:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/authorgiannih...
Newsletter: https://www.gianniholmesauthor.com/ne...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/giannigems
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
October 11, 2023
4.5 stars
“You’re jealous and possessive of Daisy because you love him more than you’ve ever loved anyone, and that scares you.”
I haven’t posted many reviews because I have read 4 books in the last 2 months because I am in the biggest reading slump of my entire life, and I just can’t read anything. But this book was such a breakthrough for me, it was so much fun and I binged this one in a couple of days, when I hadn’t read one page in weeks, which is really telling as to how much I enjoyed this book.
Is the romance in this book so toxic and full of red flags that it would make me call the police on the love interest before I end up chained in a basement? Yes. But thats also what makes the charm of this one. Give me all of the red flags in books, I just gobble them up and think that they make the romance more fun to read. And this one was just so fun.
This book is the perfect mix of a super obsessive romance, with some really cute moments that just put the biggest smile on my face and all of the toxicity and codependency of a good darker romance.
This book was almost perfect for me. I just loved everything it had to offer me and I had the most fun I have had while reading in months while I read it and thats the biggest win in my book.
I received an arc of this book, and this is my honest opinion
“You’re jealous and possessive of Daisy because you love him more than you’ve ever loved anyone, and that scares you.”
I haven’t posted many reviews because I have read 4 books in the last 2 months because I am in the biggest reading slump of my entire life, and I just can’t read anything. But this book was such a breakthrough for me, it was so much fun and I binged this one in a couple of days, when I hadn’t read one page in weeks, which is really telling as to how much I enjoyed this book.
Is the romance in this book so toxic and full of red flags that it would make me call the police on the love interest before I end up chained in a basement? Yes. But thats also what makes the charm of this one. Give me all of the red flags in books, I just gobble them up and think that they make the romance more fun to read. And this one was just so fun.
This book is the perfect mix of a super obsessive romance, with some really cute moments that just put the biggest smile on my face and all of the toxicity and codependency of a good darker romance.
This book was almost perfect for me. I just loved everything it had to offer me and I had the most fun I have had while reading in months while I read it and thats the biggest win in my book.
I received an arc of this book, and this is my honest opinion
August 20, 2023
⭐︎
4.5 Stars Rounded Up!
⭐︎
This was so good. This author is just so good at messed up, toxic relationships and making them so deliciously good.
Yaro is a Russian mobster who believed for 2 years that Chase was his son. He loved him like a son and took care of him as a son. But then it comes out that Chase is Yaro's best friend's son, and his wife had been cheating on him for years, maybe even the whole time they were together.
Because Chase wasn't really his son, and looks so much like his mother, Yaro sent him away to live with a nanny of his and her husband, and he never visits him for 18 years.
Which is good, because "Chase" grows up not knowing Yaro and Yaro doesn't know "Chase." Makes it less weird than it could have been if "Chase" had grown up with Yaro as a father even if he wasn't his biological father.
Daisy is a stranger when they meet again when he's adult, 19 years old going on 20.
Daisy named himself that because the Nanny and husband he stayed with all his life were abusive, and used him as a meal ticket, basically - because Yaro kept sending them money over the years to raise Daisy - and never gave him a name, or education.
The Nanny's husband also, for the past few years - since Daisy was probably 18 or so - had been raping him almost every night, and Daisy was so sheltered by them that he wasn't educated enough to know just how wrong he was for doing that. Probably didn't even know the word rape (because they never taught him to read or write or anything like that).
And don't worry, we don't have to see any of it on page, just the vaguest of descriptions from Daisy when he's comparing it to how good it feels and how much he wants it with Yaro.
Because of what happened with Daisy's parents, Yaro is still not over it 18 years later. He doesn't let anyone close so and not to be betrayed that way again. He fires most people work for him at the drop of a hat and will kill those who betray him, no questions asked.
He's become a tyrant in the ensuing years, and he will fuck up anyone at the drop of a hat. Especially once Daisy comes into his life and he starts falling for him, and he gets jealous and possessive in the extreme, especially with how much he comes to loves Daisy, more than anyone in his life.
Daisy is infatuated with Yaro from the start. Maybe because he's the first person that he's ever actually wanted sex with at first, but it becomes more as times goes on.
And Daisy is just the sweetest, most optimistic guy. The perfect sunshine to Yaro's grumpy. But he also develops a backbone as the book goes on and stands up for himself the more sure of himself he becomes, and the more he learns. Because he gets a private teacher thanks to Yaro and gets to learn for the first time in his life. He takes to learning really well, too.
My only reason for .5 stars off of this is the niggle that I loved these two so much that I wish this had been longer. The ending felt a tad rushed just because the climax happens and it's crazy and then we just get one chapter in the aftermath before the epilogue. With what happens to Daisy, I would have liked a little more, and to see more of Daisy and Yaro settled into their HEA together. Also the Daddy kink was barely a factor in this. It was used, but not much. Given that this is a daddy kink book, I think it should have been featured more. But I'm ultimately not too bothered about it.
But other than that, I loved this. The chemistry was on point, the sex was really hot, and the devoted love between them, the possessiveness, was so deliciously good. I'm such a sucker for that dynamic. Where they're so obsessed and devoted to each other to an unhealthy degree.
No one will take Daisy from Yaro and if they dare try, he'll kill them. And Daisy worships the ground Yaro walks on.
This was just so so good. Definitely recommend. Can't wait for more from this author. Onto the next! 😍
This was so good. This author is just so good at messed up, toxic relationships and making them so deliciously good.
Yaro is a Russian mobster who believed for 2 years that Chase was his son. He loved him like a son and took care of him as a son. But then it comes out that Chase is Yaro's best friend's son, and his wife had been cheating on him for years, maybe even the whole time they were together.
Because Chase wasn't really his son, and looks so much like his mother, Yaro sent him away to live with a nanny of his and her husband, and he never visits him for 18 years.
Which is good, because "Chase" grows up not knowing Yaro and Yaro doesn't know "Chase." Makes it less weird than it could have been if "Chase" had grown up with Yaro as a father even if he wasn't his biological father.
Daisy is a stranger when they meet again when he's adult, 19 years old going on 20.
Daisy named himself that because the Nanny and husband he stayed with all his life were abusive, and used him as a meal ticket, basically - because Yaro kept sending them money over the years to raise Daisy - and never gave him a name, or education.
The Nanny's husband also, for the past few years - since Daisy was probably 18 or so - had been raping him almost every night, and Daisy was so sheltered by them that he wasn't educated enough to know just how wrong he was for doing that. Probably didn't even know the word rape (because they never taught him to read or write or anything like that).
And don't worry, we don't have to see any of it on page, just the vaguest of descriptions from Daisy when he's comparing it to how good it feels and how much he wants it with Yaro.
Because of what happened with Daisy's parents, Yaro is still not over it 18 years later. He doesn't let anyone close so and not to be betrayed that way again. He fires most people work for him at the drop of a hat and will kill those who betray him, no questions asked.
He's become a tyrant in the ensuing years, and he will fuck up anyone at the drop of a hat. Especially once Daisy comes into his life and he starts falling for him, and he gets jealous and possessive in the extreme, especially with how much he comes to loves Daisy, more than anyone in his life.
Daisy is infatuated with Yaro from the start. Maybe because he's the first person that he's ever actually wanted sex with at first, but it becomes more as times goes on.
And Daisy is just the sweetest, most optimistic guy. The perfect sunshine to Yaro's grumpy. But he also develops a backbone as the book goes on and stands up for himself the more sure of himself he becomes, and the more he learns. Because he gets a private teacher thanks to Yaro and gets to learn for the first time in his life. He takes to learning really well, too.
My only reason for .5 stars off of this is the niggle that I loved these two so much that I wish this had been longer. The ending felt a tad rushed just because the climax happens and it's crazy and then we just get one chapter in the aftermath before the epilogue. With what happens to Daisy, I would have liked a little more, and to see more of Daisy and Yaro settled into their HEA together. Also the Daddy kink was barely a factor in this. It was used, but not much. Given that this is a daddy kink book, I think it should have been featured more. But I'm ultimately not too bothered about it.
But other than that, I loved this. The chemistry was on point, the sex was really hot, and the devoted love between them, the possessiveness, was so deliciously good. I'm such a sucker for that dynamic. Where they're so obsessed and devoted to each other to an unhealthy degree.
No one will take Daisy from Yaro and if they dare try, he'll kill them. And Daisy worships the ground Yaro walks on.
This was just so so good. Definitely recommend. Can't wait for more from this author. Onto the next! 😍
August 18, 2023
I completely devoured this mafia/daddy romance. Yaro and Daisy are complete opposites with a strong grumpy/sunshine component. Daisy is such an innocent and pure character that I really wanted Yaro to earn his affection and be deemed worthy of Daisy's love. Yaro completely surprised me with his devotion to protecting his ward.
I loved where this story went. It has a semi-dark beginning due to the deep personal betrayal Yaro experiences, which affects his relationship with Daisy throughout the rest of the story. This does help you understand his desperate need to control while being quick to anger in many situations. Daisy offers the perfect balance because he is calm, understanding, and full of forgiveness for the many insane overactions that Yaro displays.
I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and progress. Daisy became such a strong character that should never be underestimated, while Yaro slowly removed some of his strong defensive instincts, while still remaining prickly for the most part.
Loved this mafia romance that takes you on quite a journey that I was sad to see end.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
I loved where this story went. It has a semi-dark beginning due to the deep personal betrayal Yaro experiences, which affects his relationship with Daisy throughout the rest of the story. This does help you understand his desperate need to control while being quick to anger in many situations. Daisy offers the perfect balance because he is calm, understanding, and full of forgiveness for the many insane overactions that Yaro displays.
I really enjoyed seeing their relationship grow and progress. Daisy became such a strong character that should never be underestimated, while Yaro slowly removed some of his strong defensive instincts, while still remaining prickly for the most part.
Loved this mafia romance that takes you on quite a journey that I was sad to see end.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
August 18, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
“He’s so nice to me. Does that mean he likes me?” “Yaro doesn’t like anyone, so get that nonsense out of your head.” “Then why is he taking me with him?” “For…reasons.” “Yup, reason being that he likes me.”
*ARC review*
This book was a wild ride. Definitely dark romance (to me atleast). A not-so-nice main character who somehow ended up redeeming himself. I spent a lot of the time while reading this with an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, but I’m really glad I finished it. It’s a touch taboo, unconventional, dark and just a smidge (more like a whole smear) toxic, but I loved it anyway.
Would he still feel thankful when he learned everything that had happened to him was because of me? That I was no savior at all. I was the one he should hate most in this world.
Yaro had been horribly betrayed in the past, and 18 years later he was so full of mistrust and hate that it nearly ruined everything. Thankfully he caught the eye of Daisy who has never encountered a wrong-doing he wouldn’t forgive. Daisy is a tiny bit damaged for sure, but he never lets that stop him. He was a delightful character. Very naive and a little innocent, while not at all in other aspects. Yaro wasn’t nearly likable at first, but I’m glad I stuck with it. If you read this book, I hope you do, too. After reading the prologue (I cried), I didn’t excpect ending the book wanting to hug both MCs, but Gianni Holmes somehow pulled it off. As long as the content warnings don’t stop you, I would for sure recommend this book.
“That silly smile on your face is going to be to your detriment, Daisy. You have no idea what you’re inviting into your life.” Too bad I didn’t know what detriment meant.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Guardian/ward, dark romance, age gap, a touch taboo, mobsters (I think?), Daddy kink, OTT jealousy and possessiveness, toxic
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Dub-con
Mutilation/torture (side character)
Unsafe sex
Indirect/unintentional prostitution
Child neglect
Child abuse (physical, sexual)
Murder
Gun violence
Spanking (the fun kind)
Spanking (the not fun kind)
Hospitalization
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: Not between the MCs, but it’s a little unclear if Yaro cheats on a ‘girlfriend’ early on to be with Daisy. She’s likely more of a casual hookup.
OM/OM drama: Yes
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
“He’s so nice to me. Does that mean he likes me?” “Yaro doesn’t like anyone, so get that nonsense out of your head.” “Then why is he taking me with him?” “For…reasons.” “Yup, reason being that he likes me.”
*ARC review*
This book was a wild ride. Definitely dark romance (to me atleast). A not-so-nice main character who somehow ended up redeeming himself. I spent a lot of the time while reading this with an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach, but I’m really glad I finished it. It’s a touch taboo, unconventional, dark and just a smidge (more like a whole smear) toxic, but I loved it anyway.
Would he still feel thankful when he learned everything that had happened to him was because of me? That I was no savior at all. I was the one he should hate most in this world.
Yaro had been horribly betrayed in the past, and 18 years later he was so full of mistrust and hate that it nearly ruined everything. Thankfully he caught the eye of Daisy who has never encountered a wrong-doing he wouldn’t forgive. Daisy is a tiny bit damaged for sure, but he never lets that stop him. He was a delightful character. Very naive and a little innocent, while not at all in other aspects. Yaro wasn’t nearly likable at first, but I’m glad I stuck with it. If you read this book, I hope you do, too. After reading the prologue (I cried), I didn’t excpect ending the book wanting to hug both MCs, but Gianni Holmes somehow pulled it off. As long as the content warnings don’t stop you, I would for sure recommend this book.
“That silly smile on your face is going to be to your detriment, Daisy. You have no idea what you’re inviting into your life.” Too bad I didn’t know what detriment meant.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Guardian/ward, dark romance, age gap, a touch taboo, mobsters (I think?), Daddy kink, OTT jealousy and possessiveness, toxic
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Dub-con
Mutilation/torture (side character)
Unsafe sex
Indirect/unintentional prostitution
Child neglect
Child abuse (physical, sexual)
Murder
Gun violence
Spanking (the fun kind)
Spanking (the not fun kind)
Hospitalization
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: Not between the MCs, but it’s a little unclear if Yaro cheats on a ‘girlfriend’ early on to be with Daisy. She’s likely more of a casual hookup.
OM/OM drama: Yes
Third-act breakup: Yes
POV: 1st person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
August 20, 2023
The way this book started off from a 5 star because the beginning chapter was PERFECTION and Lightning in A Bottle, and then dropped to a 4.5, held strong but dropped to 4 and then the whatso ending happened and I'm just staring at this book, in disbelief that
I'm rating it 3.5 stars.
That isn't a bad rating, but bro, I had such... not even high expectations, just expectations that I would adore this book. There's something about Gianni's books that are absolute crack. I flew thru this book, didn't want to step away from it once I started (wc has been so hard for me lately, damn you soc med) and I just love her writing. It's not flowery or even the most brilliant or the best writing in the world.
It's writing that feels at home, feels comfortable and like second skin. It might not wow me, but it feels cozy and safe.
And it's precisely why I'm so disappointment with this book.
To be fair, there weren't any scenes that compels with why I'm disappointed. It just seems that what I had wanted to happen was at complete parallel to what this book gave, y'know? Like, this book was a me problem, but the book itself.
I just wanted something completely different from what this book gave and now I'm just left grumpy and sad.
That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I did but I didn't love it.
Anyway,
Initial reactions:
To think that I had highly anticipated this ever since its announcement and.... Are my expectations even met?
🙅🙆🤦🤦🤦
That isn't a bad rating, but bro, I had such... not even high expectations, just expectations that I would adore this book. There's something about Gianni's books that are absolute crack. I flew thru this book, didn't want to step away from it once I started (wc has been so hard for me lately, damn you soc med) and I just love her writing. It's not flowery or even the most brilliant or the best writing in the world.
It's writing that feels at home, feels comfortable and like second skin. It might not wow me, but it feels cozy and safe.
And it's precisely why I'm so disappointment with this book.
To be fair, there weren't any scenes that compels with why I'm disappointed. It just seems that what I had wanted to happen was at complete parallel to what this book gave, y'know? Like, this book was a me problem, but the book itself.
I just wanted something completely different from what this book gave and now I'm just left grumpy and sad.
That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it. I did but I didn't love it.
Anyway,
Initial reactions:
To think that I had highly anticipated this ever since its announcement and.... Are my expectations even met?
🙅🙆🤦🤦🤦
December 23, 2023
corny as hell idk
September 21, 2024
Oh man, this was such a miss for me. And surprisingly so, because this book is somewhat interconnected with Be Mine, Twisted Valentine, which is my favourite book from this author.
But the dark, gruesome theme didn't work here and the writing was off. I didn't like it.
It's a 2.5 - 2.75⭐ for me and I'll round it down.
🔴 Somewhat taboo - son/father -->guardian/ward (not blood related)
🟢 Age gap - about 25 years 20/45 (my guess, considering the 18 year time gap until they see each other again)
🔵 Bisexual/I can't say what the younger MMC's sexuality is since he's been abused and traumatized and knows only sex with men (❗rape)
🟣 Grumpy/sunshine - older MMC is an asshole and stays an asshole
🟠 Size difference
🟡 A bit of mafia, not much, not particularly dark
🌶️ Smut was good, but I had a weird feeling about younger MMC jumping into sex after being sexually abused for so long; light daddy kink; t/b
This story just wasn't good. The dialogues between the MMCs were stilted, all wrong and couldn't give me the love story I wanted for both Yaro and Daisy.
First of all - Daisy was deeply traumatized. He was sent away to live with a nanny and her husband when he was 2 years old. They've starved and beat him, the husband also raped him repeatedly. He was sent away by Yaro, the Russian mobster who thought Daisy was his son, so when he found out his wife cheated, he sent Daisy away and didn't check up on him - for 18 years.
Daisy did rescue himself from that situation, but didn't get the help he needed. He was just thrown into another hell, only this time he wasn't being locked up and starved, but Daisy was still very much isolated and didn't get the care he needed.
The story made it seem like Yaro's dick was the solution to all of Daisy's problems, but what that did was just complicate things more. Their dynamic was off, something was missing, I couldn't get into it. The sex was hot, but that was about it.
“Now I’m without a woman to fill my bed.”
“Better a lonely bed than her!” He bridged the gap between us and grabbed my shirt. “Oh, Yaro, don’t take her back because your bed is lonely. Let me take her place. You must know I like you. I won’t say awful things about you the way she did. You can trust me to stand by your side.”
That’s what I’m afraid of. I frowned. “You’ve got it wrong. Camilla and I were never close. To me, she was just a hole.”
“Then let me be that hole. Whenever you want. However you want it. I’ll never tell you no, Yaro.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Even if it hurts?”
“Even then.”"
Someone get this guy therapy, pronto!
The story failed to combine the dark themes with the crazy hot love, because this was just crazy - and stupid. This guy had noone in his corner. He was toyed with. Yaro was no big protector of Daisy's and even the forbidden dynamic of them being a father and son for the first 2 years of Daisy's life wasn't talked about. That taboo theme could've been more prominent.
“Daisy,” he said, his face once more serious.
”Yes, Daddy?”
“Swear it on your life. You’ll never cheat. You’ll never leave. You’ll never betray me. Swear it!”
“I swear!”
You've got a very insecure middle aged Daddy who's not really sure he wants Daisy but since he's here and he's got a hot body and is offering himself so blatantly all the time, well then, why not?
No profound love story here. The first few chapters pulled me in but the minute Daisy started living with Yaro is where it all went to shit.
Yaro's character does evolve a little bit at the end, but you still don't get the satisfying emotional resolve you've been hoping for all along. Their relationship is not on solid ground.
Also, just getting a teacher for Daisy basically does nothing. This guy needed to get back to life, meet new people and experience things, evolve and really come to understand how the world around him works (here's where the Daddy should come in) and he hardly ever experienced anything besides sex with Yaro.
Disappointing.
But the dark, gruesome theme didn't work here and the writing was off. I didn't like it.
It's a 2.5 - 2.75⭐ for me and I'll round it down.
🔴 Somewhat taboo - son/father -->guardian/ward (not blood related)
🟢 Age gap - about 25 years 20/45 (my guess, considering the 18 year time gap until they see each other again)
🔵 Bisexual/I can't say what the younger MMC's sexuality is since he's been abused and traumatized and knows only sex with men (❗rape)
🟣 Grumpy/sunshine - older MMC is an asshole and stays an asshole
🟠 Size difference
🟡 A bit of mafia, not much, not particularly dark
🌶️ Smut was good, but I had a weird feeling about younger MMC jumping into sex after being sexually abused for so long; light daddy kink; t/b
This story just wasn't good. The dialogues between the MMCs were stilted, all wrong and couldn't give me the love story I wanted for both Yaro and Daisy.
First of all - Daisy was deeply traumatized. He was sent away to live with a nanny and her husband when he was 2 years old. They've starved and beat him, the husband also raped him repeatedly. He was sent away by Yaro, the Russian mobster who thought Daisy was his son, so when he found out his wife cheated, he sent Daisy away and didn't check up on him - for 18 years.
Daisy did rescue himself from that situation, but didn't get the help he needed. He was just thrown into another hell, only this time he wasn't being locked up and starved, but Daisy was still very much isolated and didn't get the care he needed.
The story made it seem like Yaro's dick was the solution to all of Daisy's problems, but what that did was just complicate things more. Their dynamic was off, something was missing, I couldn't get into it. The sex was hot, but that was about it.
“Now I’m without a woman to fill my bed.”
“Better a lonely bed than her!” He bridged the gap between us and grabbed my shirt. “Oh, Yaro, don’t take her back because your bed is lonely. Let me take her place. You must know I like you. I won’t say awful things about you the way she did. You can trust me to stand by your side.”
That’s what I’m afraid of. I frowned. “You’ve got it wrong. Camilla and I were never close. To me, she was just a hole.”
“Then let me be that hole. Whenever you want. However you want it. I’ll never tell you no, Yaro.”
I cocked my head to the side. “Even if it hurts?”
“Even then.”"
Someone get this guy therapy, pronto!
The story failed to combine the dark themes with the crazy hot love, because this was just crazy - and stupid. This guy had noone in his corner. He was toyed with. Yaro was no big protector of Daisy's and even the forbidden dynamic of them being a father and son for the first 2 years of Daisy's life wasn't talked about. That taboo theme could've been more prominent.
“Daisy,” he said, his face once more serious.
”Yes, Daddy?”
“Swear it on your life. You’ll never cheat. You’ll never leave. You’ll never betray me. Swear it!”
“I swear!”
You've got a very insecure middle aged Daddy who's not really sure he wants Daisy but since he's here and he's got a hot body and is offering himself so blatantly all the time, well then, why not?
No profound love story here. The first few chapters pulled me in but the minute Daisy started living with Yaro is where it all went to shit.
Yaro's character does evolve a little bit at the end, but you still don't get the satisfying emotional resolve you've been hoping for all along. Their relationship is not on solid ground.
Also, just getting a teacher for Daisy basically does nothing. This guy needed to get back to life, meet new people and experience things, evolve and really come to understand how the world around him works (here's where the Daddy should come in) and he hardly ever experienced anything besides sex with Yaro.
Disappointing.
August 20, 2023
My experience while reading this book can be summarized as one huge eye roll. This was nearly a DNF, and by the end I was just skimming.
First of all, this did NOT feel like a Mafia book. Sure everyone made sure to always talk about how big and bad Yaro is, but really he gets walked all over this entire book. His hired staff openly gossips about him in the past and present, a local gang is always messing with his “business”, he’s constantly being betrayed by his own staff, and more than once someone he’s supposed to be intimidating goes off on a rant about him to his face. This man did not come across as a mafia leader at all.
Going off of that, the relationship with his bodyguard, Andrei, was weird. During their first night when Yaro thinks Daisy is suggesting a threesome between the three of them, he makes a point to say he doesn’t share. Yaro then spends a good portion of the book thinking Andrei is sleeping with Daisy (under his roof night I add) and does nothing about it but run away. Like hello?? Big bad mafia dude, you think your bodyguard is fucking the boy you brought under your roof, a major sign of disrespect, and there isn’t so much as a confrontation about it? Yaro was just not a convincing authoritative figure at all.
Besides Yaro being weak there wasn’t really any chemistry between him and Daisy. Again, Daisy called him daddy and loved him unconditionally, but Yaro was the embodiment of the “go girl, give us nothing!” Meme so I honestly wasn’t convinced he had daddy vibes either. Daisy had more chemistry with Andrei in my opinion.
The last major problem I had with this book was the role women played, which is that every single woman in this story was there to be the villain and highlight Daisy’s pitiful innocent baby boyness. Some of them were cartoonishly mean. You had the abusive woman and her husband who raised Daisy, of course Yaro’s jealous lover who was mean to Daisy, Yaro’s staff who made fun of Daisy, and Yaro’s cheating ex wife. The only woman who did anything decent in this story was the maid who took baby Chase away.
Speaking of cheating, Yaro’s entire identity over the course of this story is built around the betrayal of his wife and best friend having an affair, which hurt him so bad that 18 years later he is still unable to open himself up to trust and love. He even makes a comment in the beginning about how much he hates adulterers, then we get a chapter where he visits his brother’s house who is ACTIVELY cheating on his wife and boldly letting his boy toy run the house and ruin his relationship with his family and Yaro doesn’t so much as bat on eye to this. You would think a man who has been so deeply affected by cheating would show even mild disgust at what his own brother is doing, but there is no ill feelings for his brother at all. I admit I openly scoffed after reading that chapter.
So yeah, this was not a well developed story imo and there were a lot of issues. This was my first read from this author and I don’t think I’ll be picking up any more after this.
First of all, this did NOT feel like a Mafia book. Sure everyone made sure to always talk about how big and bad Yaro is, but really he gets walked all over this entire book. His hired staff openly gossips about him in the past and present, a local gang is always messing with his “business”, he’s constantly being betrayed by his own staff, and more than once someone he’s supposed to be intimidating goes off on a rant about him to his face. This man did not come across as a mafia leader at all.
Going off of that, the relationship with his bodyguard, Andrei, was weird. During their first night when Yaro thinks Daisy is suggesting a threesome between the three of them, he makes a point to say he doesn’t share. Yaro then spends a good portion of the book thinking Andrei is sleeping with Daisy (under his roof night I add) and does nothing about it but run away. Like hello?? Big bad mafia dude, you think your bodyguard is fucking the boy you brought under your roof, a major sign of disrespect, and there isn’t so much as a confrontation about it? Yaro was just not a convincing authoritative figure at all.
Besides Yaro being weak there wasn’t really any chemistry between him and Daisy. Again, Daisy called him daddy and loved him unconditionally, but Yaro was the embodiment of the “go girl, give us nothing!” Meme so I honestly wasn’t convinced he had daddy vibes either. Daisy had more chemistry with Andrei in my opinion.
The last major problem I had with this book was the role women played, which is that every single woman in this story was there to be the villain and highlight Daisy’s pitiful innocent baby boyness. Some of them were cartoonishly mean. You had the abusive woman and her husband who raised Daisy, of course Yaro’s jealous lover who was mean to Daisy, Yaro’s staff who made fun of Daisy, and Yaro’s cheating ex wife. The only woman who did anything decent in this story was the maid who took baby Chase away.
Speaking of cheating, Yaro’s entire identity over the course of this story is built around the betrayal of his wife and best friend having an affair, which hurt him so bad that 18 years later he is still unable to open himself up to trust and love. He even makes a comment in the beginning about how much he hates adulterers, then we get a chapter where he visits his brother’s house who is ACTIVELY cheating on his wife and boldly letting his boy toy run the house and ruin his relationship with his family and Yaro doesn’t so much as bat on eye to this. You would think a man who has been so deeply affected by cheating would show even mild disgust at what his own brother is doing, but there is no ill feelings for his brother at all. I admit I openly scoffed after reading that chapter.
So yeah, this was not a well developed story imo and there were a lot of issues. This was my first read from this author and I don’t think I’ll be picking up any more after this.
August 12, 2023
Wow! What a great freaking story! I love Gianni Holmes writing style/storytelling so much. It's like a movie playing in my head. I was captivated right from the beginning and couldn't put this down. Yaro is betrayed by his wife and best friend and finds out his 2 year old son, Chase, isn't really his. After taking care of his wife and friend, he sends the boy away, not wanting the reminder of the betrayal he endured. He's changed for the worst and is now referred to as a tyrant. Eighteen years later, for reasons, he needs the boy back. Chase, now known as Daisy, hasn't had the best upbringing. He escapes an attempt on his life only to cross paths with Yaro, neither knowing who they are, and that's the beginning of their obsession/instalust with one another. When Daisy's identity comes to light, things get even more interesting. Daisy is such a sweetheart and an utter delight, while Yaro is a mean SOB. They were so hot together! Tyrant has high heat, an intense connection between main characters, even though Yaro tried to fight it, and all the feels! Plus, you get a to catch up a bit with a character from another story, which was fun and can't wait for his book in thy future. I truly loved this book and highly recommend!
August 28, 2023
2.5 stars
This book didn't work that well for me. I think it's a matter of me and not the book, as most of my GR friends have been loving it.
That being said, while I enjoyed some parts of it, I had a hard time getting past Daisy being so naive due to how he was raised, or not raised as it were. It made some parts kind of uncomfortable for me. I also felt some parts were just lacking a bit more depth.
TBH, my favorite character in this book was Andrei. I would love to read a book about him.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.
This book didn't work that well for me. I think it's a matter of me and not the book, as most of my GR friends have been loving it.
That being said, while I enjoyed some parts of it, I had a hard time getting past Daisy being so naive due to how he was raised, or not raised as it were. It made some parts kind of uncomfortable for me. I also felt some parts were just lacking a bit more depth.
TBH, my favorite character in this book was Andrei. I would love to read a book about him.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.
September 12, 2023
I'm struggling to find anything I liked about this one. Never felt a connection between the MCs. Nor me and the story. And then I started skimming... Sorry - but this is a 1 ⭐ for me
August 19, 2023
I read the blurb, it sounded fucked up, scandalous...& I wanted this book! This is a tad taboo MM romance with a significant age-gap, mafia & much Grumpy-Sunshine! Glad to get the #ARC, DEVOURED this in around 5hrs! Enjoyed Yaro & Daisy's story, I got emotional so much.
Yaro, mafia boss, had been betrayed by his ex-wife & friend. Sent their love child away. He's short tempered, paranoid, possessive.
Daisy is that kid, 20 & so sheltered, abused by those who should've cared for him. My heart breaks for him 💔.
Circumstances changed, the 2 meet, attraction immediate & hot. Daisy sees Yaro as his savior, calls him daddy (mild kink & spankings!). At 1st, Y hadn't known who the boy is, but when does, he tried to resist but for how long?
D is so forgiving & sweet, he melted even Y who hadn't wanted to care. The more I found about these 2, more my heart ached. Yaro had some bitchy workers, man! Paranoia hits hard, wow. I hated that, but I'm glad how D got fierce & stood up for what he believed in. The twisty climax was cool!
Liked the story & ending, my 1st by Gianni! The tutor, bodyguard, uncles were sweet.
Story ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) The Characters: 4.9/5
2) Top 3 feels: Tears, hot, ohh!
3) Story enjoyment: 5/5
4) Creativity & Conflicts: 4.7/5
5) World build: 4.5/5
6) Relationship: 5/5
7) Steamy scenes: 3.8/5
8) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 3.5/5
Angst: 4/5
Dark: 3.5/5
9) Writing style & pace: 4.6/5
10) Grammar: 5/5
Yaro, mafia boss, had been betrayed by his ex-wife & friend. Sent their love child away. He's short tempered, paranoid, possessive.
Daisy is that kid, 20 & so sheltered, abused by those who should've cared for him. My heart breaks for him 💔.
Circumstances changed, the 2 meet, attraction immediate & hot. Daisy sees Yaro as his savior, calls him daddy (mild kink & spankings!). At 1st, Y hadn't known who the boy is, but when does, he tried to resist but for how long?
D is so forgiving & sweet, he melted even Y who hadn't wanted to care. The more I found about these 2, more my heart ached. Yaro had some bitchy workers, man! Paranoia hits hard, wow. I hated that, but I'm glad how D got fierce & stood up for what he believed in. The twisty climax was cool!
Liked the story & ending, my 1st by Gianni! The tutor, bodyguard, uncles were sweet.
Story ratings:
POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) The Characters: 4.9/5
2) Top 3 feels: Tears, hot, ohh!
3) Story enjoyment: 5/5
4) Creativity & Conflicts: 4.7/5
5) World build: 4.5/5
6) Relationship: 5/5
7) Steamy scenes: 3.8/5
8) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 3.5/5
Angst: 4/5
Dark: 3.5/5
9) Writing style & pace: 4.6/5
10) Grammar: 5/5
December 31, 2023
MMC is way too childlike for me to really enjoy this. He can't read, write, doesn't understand what sex is but is having it, has been abused his entire life (including sexually), acts like he's 4, gets manipulated by everyone around him... it was just too much.
Plus the writing style is so stilted and weird. At one point they're like "Let us burn this place down but come with me and let us remove all our prized possessions first." Like...very TELL and no SHOW. No one talks like people actually talk. They talk like robots pretending to be people.
Plus the writing style is so stilted and weird. At one point they're like "Let us burn this place down but come with me and let us remove all our prized possessions first." Like...very TELL and no SHOW. No one talks like people actually talk. They talk like robots pretending to be people.
August 19, 2023
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars on this one so let’s say 3.5-3.75. I just found it so hard to like Yaro for a lot of the book. It made me soo mad how forgiving Daisy was. He never made Yaro work for any of the awful things he did. And there were quite a few:
-After he sleeps with Daisy and moves him into his home he brings the girl he’s seeing over to sleep with her. (He doesn’t end up doing it but still)
-he then has said girl (who’s awful) take Daisy to get his haircut and take him shopping!!
-Daisy begs to be the one in Yaro’s bed and Yaro tells him that if he isn’t satisfied then Daisy has to watch him screw someone else to see how it’s done and let that person call him Daddy while knowing how badly Daisy wants to call him Daddy (that one was probably the worst) and what does Daisy do? Tells him he won’t let him down!! Like wtf
-Yaro calls him a slutboy and has the maid lock Daisy in his room all because Daisy went into his office wanting to talk to him. Daisy forgives him the next day!
-Yaro breaks up with him and kicks him out of the house, he doesn’t even come to say goodbye so Daisy goes into his office and proceeds to sleep with him one more time before he leaves!!! Gahhhh
Writing this review I should be leaning more toward 3 stars because if this were a FM book it wouldn’t have gotten more than three but for some reason I give a little more leniency on MM books.
Also, not gonna lie, I didn’t like how the author changed the dialogue when it was a Black guy speaking. It was a “stereotypical” way a Black person would speak and that rubbed me the wrong way.
BUT other than that I did like the storyline. Taboo books are my fav. Yaro did kind of redeem himself and I get that he had major trust issues I just wish Daisy would have had more of a spine where Yaro was concerned. I liked the side characters and would like to read more about them.
-After he sleeps with Daisy and moves him into his home he brings the girl he’s seeing over to sleep with her. (He doesn’t end up doing it but still)
-he then has said girl (who’s awful) take Daisy to get his haircut and take him shopping!!
-Daisy begs to be the one in Yaro’s bed and Yaro tells him that if he isn’t satisfied then Daisy has to watch him screw someone else to see how it’s done and let that person call him Daddy while knowing how badly Daisy wants to call him Daddy (that one was probably the worst) and what does Daisy do? Tells him he won’t let him down!! Like wtf
-Yaro calls him a slutboy and has the maid lock Daisy in his room all because Daisy went into his office wanting to talk to him. Daisy forgives him the next day!
-Yaro breaks up with him and kicks him out of the house, he doesn’t even come to say goodbye so Daisy goes into his office and proceeds to sleep with him one more time before he leaves!!! Gahhhh
Writing this review I should be leaning more toward 3 stars because if this were a FM book it wouldn’t have gotten more than three but for some reason I give a little more leniency on MM books.
Also, not gonna lie, I didn’t like how the author changed the dialogue when it was a Black guy speaking. It was a “stereotypical” way a Black person would speak and that rubbed me the wrong way.
BUT other than that I did like the storyline. Taboo books are my fav. Yaro did kind of redeem himself and I get that he had major trust issues I just wish Daisy would have had more of a spine where Yaro was concerned. I liked the side characters and would like to read more about them.
April 15, 2024
I don't know why I picked up this book. Like, I literally cannot give you a single good reason. I had no real expectations, but it managed to let me down anyway. On the surface it's a book about a Russian mobster, betrayed by his wife and best friend and then developing serious, intractable trust issues. In all the chaos of the big betrayal, there's a little kid who Yaroslav (our gangster) thought was his son, but isn't and so the kid gets sent away. Fast-forward 18 years and these two re-unite in the most bizarre way. Anyway, the plot revolves around what a dick Yaroslav is and how his actions damage everything around him. The title was pretty spot-on with regard to that. I never grew to like Yaroslav, he was an emotionally immature and abusive jackass, and it was just a no from me, dawg. However, our other MC, the self-named Daisy, was such an interesting character for me. He had grown up neglected and abused and completely isolated. As such, he knew nothing about the world, was not normally socialized, and so was this utterly guileless person. Literally childlike. This made the smut uncomfortable for me, but he was just such an interesting contrast to Yaroslav's heavy bullshit. . There's some background gangster shit happening, and some eleventh hour drama - hastily resolved, but the book mostly consists of Yaroslav getting jealous and being an asshole to Daisy, then trying to make up. Poor Daisy, he deserved so much better
August 15, 2023
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Tyrant by Gianni Holmes is part of the multi author series , Ruthless Daddies.
When Yaro finds out that his two-year-old isn't actually his and that his wife has been cheating with his best friend, they both end up dead and little Chase shipped off. 18 Years later, he needs to return Chase to keep the peace with his ex-wife's family . Except Chase isn't the happy boy he left. Chase has been abused and neglected which has resulted in a young man whose has named himself Daisy, no education, no social skills, and an imaginary friend. Daisy sees Yaro as his saving angel when he's far from it . Yaro tries to keep emotions away from his physical attraction yet Daisy burrows into his heart. Yaro is afraid of getting betrayed again, but Daisy doesn't give up on him no matter what.
Tyrant is gritty, violent and top-notch steam. Yaro is not a nice man and when it comes to Daisy he's possessive , controlling , jealous and paranoid. He's a strict Daddy but doesn't turn away from Daisy's after sex cuddles. Poor Daisy, my heart broke for little Chase, and the way he was treaded . No wonder he saw Yaro as his savior . Their relationship isn't cutesy but I lived for the little ways that Yaro's care for him came through. The overnight cuddles, firing anyone on his staff who spoke ill of him, and letting him believe that his favorite flower was a Daisy because it made him happy.
Overall, I really enjoyed Tyrant. A high steam, gritty Daddy/boy (no age play) romance between a Guardian and his ward, mobsters, age gap, light daddy kink, punishments, possessiveness, violence , jealous and a satisfying ending for our unconventional pair.
Favorite Quotes:
Foolish boy. Did he think I would love him? Sure, he made me feel things I hadn’t in a while, but I wasn’t naïve. With him, I’d felt jealousy, anger, and possessiveness. But those didn’t equate to love.
Daisy was the first person to hug me in eighteen years. And I was in so much trouble.
I held on to him, refusing to put him down. I needed Daisy’s smiles back. His special brand of zany. “I’ll make it right, I swear.”
"Loving you means facing the possibility of losing you someday, and I’d rather lose you now before this gets deeper.”
“If you are able to love again, it’ll be—” “You. Always you.” I sniffled and pulled away from him, wiping my face with the back of my hands. “I’m not kidding, you know. You find me if you allow yourself to love."
Tyrant by Gianni Holmes is part of the multi author series , Ruthless Daddies.
When Yaro finds out that his two-year-old isn't actually his and that his wife has been cheating with his best friend, they both end up dead and little Chase shipped off. 18 Years later, he needs to return Chase to keep the peace with his ex-wife's family . Except Chase isn't the happy boy he left. Chase has been abused and neglected which has resulted in a young man whose has named himself Daisy, no education, no social skills, and an imaginary friend. Daisy sees Yaro as his saving angel when he's far from it . Yaro tries to keep emotions away from his physical attraction yet Daisy burrows into his heart. Yaro is afraid of getting betrayed again, but Daisy doesn't give up on him no matter what.
Tyrant is gritty, violent and top-notch steam. Yaro is not a nice man and when it comes to Daisy he's possessive , controlling , jealous and paranoid. He's a strict Daddy but doesn't turn away from Daisy's after sex cuddles. Poor Daisy, my heart broke for little Chase, and the way he was treaded . No wonder he saw Yaro as his savior . Their relationship isn't cutesy but I lived for the little ways that Yaro's care for him came through. The overnight cuddles, firing anyone on his staff who spoke ill of him, and letting him believe that his favorite flower was a Daisy because it made him happy.
Overall, I really enjoyed Tyrant. A high steam, gritty Daddy/boy (no age play) romance between a Guardian and his ward, mobsters, age gap, light daddy kink, punishments, possessiveness, violence , jealous and a satisfying ending for our unconventional pair.
Favorite Quotes:
Foolish boy. Did he think I would love him? Sure, he made me feel things I hadn’t in a while, but I wasn’t naïve. With him, I’d felt jealousy, anger, and possessiveness. But those didn’t equate to love.
Daisy was the first person to hug me in eighteen years. And I was in so much trouble.
I held on to him, refusing to put him down. I needed Daisy’s smiles back. His special brand of zany. “I’ll make it right, I swear.”
"Loving you means facing the possibility of losing you someday, and I’d rather lose you now before this gets deeper.”
“If you are able to love again, it’ll be—” “You. Always you.” I sniffled and pulled away from him, wiping my face with the back of my hands. “I’m not kidding, you know. You find me if you allow yourself to love."
August 26, 2023
4.6 stars
April 25, 2024
Yaro and Daisy (Chase)
Gianni Holmes??? One of the best storytellers out there in the book game... They take a storyline... High jack you emotionally with characters... And, make you buckle in for an experience that leaves you astonishing satisfied by the end... But wrung out emotionally, in the most satisfying way... Gianni Holmes... No crumbs left ba-by!!! I couldn't get enough of Daisy fight for a future he KNEW he wanted... As well as Yaro's actually being a man with so much yet too much hurt to tempt fate again by entrusting another with his heart...
The story has... Betrayals, misunderstandings, taboo love, AND unbreakable bonds... I started this book this morning around 2AM... I devoured this book in between that time and 5 minutes ago (3:30ish PM)... That's working 9.5 hrs while trying to take every opportunity possible to really read just ONE more sentence before having to move to the next task... Bravo... Hands down, one of my all-time faves reads ever...
MM
STRICT TOP/BOTTOM
MAFIA/ABUSE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY/DADDY/BOY/TABOO LOVE
HIGH ANGST
4 OUTTA 5 IN THE 🔥🔥🔥 DEPARTMENT
Gianni Holmes??? One of the best storytellers out there in the book game... They take a storyline... High jack you emotionally with characters... And, make you buckle in for an experience that leaves you astonishing satisfied by the end... But wrung out emotionally, in the most satisfying way... Gianni Holmes... No crumbs left ba-by!!! I couldn't get enough of Daisy fight for a future he KNEW he wanted... As well as Yaro's actually being a man with so much yet too much hurt to tempt fate again by entrusting another with his heart...
The story has... Betrayals, misunderstandings, taboo love, AND unbreakable bonds... I started this book this morning around 2AM... I devoured this book in between that time and 5 minutes ago (3:30ish PM)... That's working 9.5 hrs while trying to take every opportunity possible to really read just ONE more sentence before having to move to the next task... Bravo... Hands down, one of my all-time faves reads ever...
MM
STRICT TOP/BOTTOM
MAFIA/ABUSE EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY/DADDY/BOY/TABOO LOVE
HIGH ANGST
4 OUTTA 5 IN THE 🔥🔥🔥 DEPARTMENT
April 28, 2024
Kind of messed up but I'm here for it
The first book in this series where I could properly relate to the characters. Previous ones all felt like someone is telling me what's going on, but there was this wall between that and me hearing it. I'm not sure if I can explain it better than that.
This one, while still a little crazy and hard to believe, was much better. Daisy is outrageous with his nudeness and charming naiveté. His chatter makes you think he never really grew up after being two years old. He really compliments Yargo's temper and extreme mood swings. Somehow, they work.
Not great enough to warrant five stars, but more than good enough for a solid four stars review.
The first book in this series where I could properly relate to the characters. Previous ones all felt like someone is telling me what's going on, but there was this wall between that and me hearing it. I'm not sure if I can explain it better than that.
This one, while still a little crazy and hard to believe, was much better. Daisy is outrageous with his nudeness and charming naiveté. His chatter makes you think he never really grew up after being two years old. He really compliments Yargo's temper and extreme mood swings. Somehow, they work.
Not great enough to warrant five stars, but more than good enough for a solid four stars review.
February 7, 2025
I am in love with Andrei and I want to marry him. I have love hate relationship with Daisy because of many issues and Yaro was just annoying. And I want Andrei book, he really was the best! That's all 😅
September 13, 2023
So.... I don't actually like dark romance books. So why I read 3 in a row.... I have no idea. I guess I kept hoping I would suddenly like one of them.
But nope..
I thought Yaro was an utter and complete asshole and I just wanted Daisy to get himself someone who treated him right.
But nope..
I thought Yaro was an utter and complete asshole and I just wanted Daisy to get himself someone who treated him right.
August 31, 2023
Can’t help but feel as though my expectations for this were way too high.
The blurb really catches your attention and on top of that, it gets off to a really good start.
An exciting premise that feels like the author has failed to capitalise on.
While the characters were great, their story felt surface level and entirely too predictable.
The blurb really catches your attention and on top of that, it gets off to a really good start.
An exciting premise that feels like the author has failed to capitalise on.
While the characters were great, their story felt surface level and entirely too predictable.
April 30, 2025
finishing this book was a fucking torture.
October 12, 2023
heavy on the DNF!!!
i only got 30% in but let me tell you this bullshit i read.
yaro (mob boss?? crime lord??) raised a kid for two years even tho it wasnt his kid. then he proceeds to send the kid away when he found out.
18 years later the kid now goes by daisy and was being abused, starved, and sexually assaulted. he went his whole life without a proper education and liked to run around naked (live your truth i guess). his "owners" tried to burn him alive but he ran away and somehow ran into yaro's car. okay...
yaro then TAKES THIS BARELY LEGAL BOY BACK TO A HOTEL AND PROCEEDS TO FUCK HIM AFTER HE SAID AND I QUOTE,
“I don’t like when it hurts.”
“Because I’ve never made it hurt.” He wielded two fingers inside me like it was his cock, stretching and thrusting. “There’s nothing better than when it hurts so bad that it’s good.”
HELLO????? this isn't even the worse part. while they were doing the do daisy called yaro daddy which is just even CRAZIER!!
yaro found out this boy's TRAUMA and then proceeds to sexualize him for it???
daisy went to "comfort" yaro after his dumbass bodyguard told him that two people died at one of his warehouses??
“Didn’t I tell you not to leave your bedroom naked?” he snapped.
“Does it make you feel good to have men staring at your naked body? Is that why you do it?”
“No.”
Yaro grabbed me by the shoulder, opened his bedroom door, and shoved me out. “Don’t make the mistake of fucking anyone under my roof, Daisy. You and he will regret it. Now go back to your room and stay there unless you have clothes on. And don’t you ever come back to my room naked again, or I swear to God I’ll take the invitation.”
do you know how insensitive you have to be to talk like this to a person who, up until A WEEK AGO, was beaten and sexually abused??? and for the author to write this out just has me sick to my stomach.
i guess the gag is that he's too "ignorant" to know that shit is flat out insane.
i just can't this book pissed me off to no ends. im honestly surprised i got as far as i did
i only got 30% in but let me tell you this bullshit i read.
yaro (mob boss?? crime lord??) raised a kid for two years even tho it wasnt his kid. then he proceeds to send the kid away when he found out.
18 years later the kid now goes by daisy and was being abused, starved, and sexually assaulted. he went his whole life without a proper education and liked to run around naked (live your truth i guess). his "owners" tried to burn him alive but he ran away and somehow ran into yaro's car. okay...
yaro then TAKES THIS BARELY LEGAL BOY BACK TO A HOTEL AND PROCEEDS TO FUCK HIM AFTER HE SAID AND I QUOTE,
“I don’t like when it hurts.”
“Because I’ve never made it hurt.” He wielded two fingers inside me like it was his cock, stretching and thrusting. “There’s nothing better than when it hurts so bad that it’s good.”
HELLO????? this isn't even the worse part. while they were doing the do daisy called yaro daddy which is just even CRAZIER!!
yaro found out this boy's TRAUMA and then proceeds to sexualize him for it???
daisy went to "comfort" yaro after his dumbass bodyguard told him that two people died at one of his warehouses??
“Didn’t I tell you not to leave your bedroom naked?” he snapped.
“Does it make you feel good to have men staring at your naked body? Is that why you do it?”
“No.”
Yaro grabbed me by the shoulder, opened his bedroom door, and shoved me out. “Don’t make the mistake of fucking anyone under my roof, Daisy. You and he will regret it. Now go back to your room and stay there unless you have clothes on. And don’t you ever come back to my room naked again, or I swear to God I’ll take the invitation.”
do you know how insensitive you have to be to talk like this to a person who, up until A WEEK AGO, was beaten and sexually abused??? and for the author to write this out just has me sick to my stomach.
i guess the gag is that he's too "ignorant" to know that shit is flat out insane.
i just can't this book pissed me off to no ends. im honestly surprised i got as far as i did
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
Re-read June 11, 2025
September 5, 2023
Dnf at 40%.. I guess this was never my thing.... Idk whether the characters were the problem or is the story... I felt like I was reading this against my will....
August 16, 2023
Tyrant is a part of the Ruthless Daddies 2 multi-author collaboration. It can be read as a complete standalone. Please ensure you review the content warnings and take care of yourself when reading! Tyrant is a MM mafia romance featuring an unconventional guardian/ward relationship, an age gap, possessiveness, and a guaranteed HEA.
Yaro is a cold tyrant. He’s the head of the Russian mafia, and anyone that crosses him has guaranteed their last breath on Earth. Eighteen years ago, Yaro endured the ultimate betrayal that’s shaped who he is today. Despite growing up on an abandoned estate with “caretakers,” Daisy is a ray of sunshine who chooses to see the best in the people around him. After Yaro almost runs him down in the city streets and they spend an afternoon together in a hotel room, Yaro suddenly needs Daisy to appease a rival gang. Yaro shouldn’t care about Daisy so much, and he definitely shouldn’t let him get so close to him. But Daisy’s becoming a bright flash in Yaro’s dark existence, and hurting Daisy? Out of the question.
"Brace yourself because this is going to sound corny." He took my hand and placed it over his heart. "Your place is right here where I am. How can you ever look out of place?"
Yaro is a cold tyrant. He’s the head of the Russian mafia, and anyone that crosses him has guaranteed their last breath on Earth. Eighteen years ago, Yaro endured the ultimate betrayal that’s shaped who he is today. Despite growing up on an abandoned estate with “caretakers,” Daisy is a ray of sunshine who chooses to see the best in the people around him. After Yaro almost runs him down in the city streets and they spend an afternoon together in a hotel room, Yaro suddenly needs Daisy to appease a rival gang. Yaro shouldn’t care about Daisy so much, and he definitely shouldn’t let him get so close to him. But Daisy’s becoming a bright flash in Yaro’s dark existence, and hurting Daisy? Out of the question.
"Brace yourself because this is going to sound corny." He took my hand and placed it over his heart. "Your place is right here where I am. How can you ever look out of place?"
The blurb for this book really drew me in, and it ended up being a short, easy read with the right amount of angst, violence, and possessiveness! Yaro and Daisy have quite the unconventional relationship, and had Yaro not been crossed the way he was eighteen years prior, their lives would’ve both looked a lot different. With other books that contain main characters that are sheltered or have unimaginable childhood trauma, I was quite worried at how the author would portray this in the story. I was relieved that, despite Yaro’s general moral grayness, this aspect was still handled appropriately.
I’ve read my share of mafia romances with ruthless leaders, and I think Yaro might be one of the hardest and coldest. When him and those around him describe him as a tyrant, it’s 100 percent accurate. His and Daisy’s character development in this book was probably my favourite part of it. Daisy was so pure and innocent, yet eager to learn and mature despite everything he’d endured. Yaro was so cold, heartless, and untrusting. Watching his soft spot for Daisy grow was everything I’m looking for in a romance novel.
I think this story could have been just a touch longer, because it did feel like we barrelled towards the ending quite quickly (and I wouldn’t be opposed to more spice). That being said, I still enjoyed these characters and was very pleased with the happily ever after they received. The ending of the story (as well as the angst and action that got us there) had me on the edge of my seat!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book via Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 19, 2023
Loved loved loved this
So, you have one morally gray Daddy & an innocent boy. That prolouge will get you in the feels every time.
Yaro has been betrayed in the worst way & as a result, he refuses to form any attachments, especially anything to do with love. He'd rather be known as the cold hearted tyrant.
18 years after the prolouge, Yaro & Daisy meet. I wasn't sure if I'd like Daisy, seeing how he was raised by his caretakers, but the boy grew on me. Especially after Yaro finds him a teacher.
Yaro has some issues, anger and possessiveness, that's on a whole other level. But I enjoyed it, because I like them a little crazy, not sure what that says about me, but I'm all aboard on the crazy train.
I loved seeing Yaro fight his feelings. And he does so by becoming terrified of his tiny ward, and literally hiding from his boy. It was beautiful how Daisy loves & stands up for his Daddy. Even at Yaro's worst, Daisy can't help but love & see his Daddy for thr man he is, not the rumors that surrounds him. Yaro has literally no idea how to handle that.
I devoured this book, and I want more. Especially with Andrei. Give that man a metal for dealing with Yaro's BS. And I would love to see Daisy's teacher's story. I love when you can fall in love with not only the main characters, but some of the side characters as well.
Overall, definitely recommend, just be sure to check the warnings in the front of the book. It may not seem 'dark' to me, but there's some scenes that might not be for everyone.
So, you have one morally gray Daddy & an innocent boy. That prolouge will get you in the feels every time.
Yaro has been betrayed in the worst way & as a result, he refuses to form any attachments, especially anything to do with love. He'd rather be known as the cold hearted tyrant.
18 years after the prolouge, Yaro & Daisy meet. I wasn't sure if I'd like Daisy, seeing how he was raised by his caretakers, but the boy grew on me. Especially after Yaro finds him a teacher.
Yaro has some issues, anger and possessiveness, that's on a whole other level. But I enjoyed it, because I like them a little crazy, not sure what that says about me, but I'm all aboard on the crazy train.
I loved seeing Yaro fight his feelings. And he does so by becoming terrified of his tiny ward, and literally hiding from his boy. It was beautiful how Daisy loves & stands up for his Daddy. Even at Yaro's worst, Daisy can't help but love & see his Daddy for thr man he is, not the rumors that surrounds him. Yaro has literally no idea how to handle that.
I devoured this book, and I want more. Especially with Andrei. Give that man a metal for dealing with Yaro's BS. And I would love to see Daisy's teacher's story. I love when you can fall in love with not only the main characters, but some of the side characters as well.
Overall, definitely recommend, just be sure to check the warnings in the front of the book. It may not seem 'dark' to me, but there's some scenes that might not be for everyone.
February 26, 2025
Gianni Holmes is one of my favorite authors—so naturally I had a feeling that I was gonna like this one too. And I did. I couldn't put the book down and finished it until 3 in the morning. Who needs sleep anyway? 🙂↔️
I could feel and relate to the pain and trauma Yaro and Daisy have.
Although I was the one who’d been cheated on and lied to, somehow, I’d still ended up as the villain in their eyes. But when I’d been born into a life of villainy, they could hardly expect me to behave differently. –Yaro
"My life has been so pitiful, Yaro. If I don’t see the good in things, I would have quit a long time ago.” –Daisy
I enjoyed Yaro's inner monologs. I always love when the author shows the insecurity of the supposedly strong/top/dominant/"villain" MC. I find that beautiful and makes a book a thousand times better. 🖤✨️
The obsessive possessive love that Yaro has for Daisy is delicious to read. It's just *chef's kiss*
I spun around, stricken to see Yaro still aiming his gun at Andrei. “Touch him again, and the next bullet goes through your heart.” –Yaro
This is the "darkest" Gianni Holmes's book that I've read, and eventhough I enjoyed it, I wish to see more sweet peaceful moments between Yaro and Daisy. Like maybe another epilog dedicated solely for that, cuz my poor babies deserve it. And me, I deserve it too. 😌
Tropes:
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Grumpy sunshine
🖤 Daddy kink
🖤 Touch him you'll die
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
I could feel and relate to the pain and trauma Yaro and Daisy have.
Although I was the one who’d been cheated on and lied to, somehow, I’d still ended up as the villain in their eyes. But when I’d been born into a life of villainy, they could hardly expect me to behave differently. –Yaro
"My life has been so pitiful, Yaro. If I don’t see the good in things, I would have quit a long time ago.” –Daisy
I enjoyed Yaro's inner monologs. I always love when the author shows the insecurity of the supposedly strong/top/dominant/"villain" MC. I find that beautiful and makes a book a thousand times better. 🖤✨️
The obsessive possessive love that Yaro has for Daisy is delicious to read. It's just *chef's kiss*
I spun around, stricken to see Yaro still aiming his gun at Andrei. “Touch him again, and the next bullet goes through your heart.” –Yaro
This is the "darkest" Gianni Holmes's book that I've read, and eventhough I enjoyed it, I wish to see more sweet peaceful moments between Yaro and Daisy. Like maybe another epilog dedicated solely for that, cuz my poor babies deserve it. And me, I deserve it too. 😌
Tropes:
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Grumpy sunshine
🖤 Daddy kink
🖤 Touch him you'll die
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
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