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Daddy Issues #3
Charmed and Alarmed
I dedicated my entire life to ballet, and what did it get me? A limp, an intact v-card, and zero job prospects.
Squatting in my sister’s apartment, watching game shows and feeling sorry for myself seems like an ideal way to pass the time until I figure out what to do next.
Unfortunately, my father doesn’t agree. Thanks to him, I’ll now be spending my days stapling pieces of paper together at his architecture firm, under the watchful eye of his business partner.
Holden Ellinger is the last person I want seeing me at my lowest. The man might be obscenely attractive, but he’s also a conceited playboy with too much money and a pathological fear of commitment.
The one silver lining in this situation? My new boss really, really wants me and, as it turns out, I really, really like being a tease.
Squatting in my sister’s apartment, watching game shows and feeling sorry for myself seems like an ideal way to pass the time until I figure out what to do next.
Unfortunately, my father doesn’t agree. Thanks to him, I’ll now be spending my days stapling pieces of paper together at his architecture firm, under the watchful eye of his business partner.
Holden Ellinger is the last person I want seeing me at my lowest. The man might be obscenely attractive, but he’s also a conceited playboy with too much money and a pathological fear of commitment.
The one silver lining in this situation? My new boss really, really wants me and, as it turns out, I really, really like being a tease.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 6, 2025
169 people are currently reading
1819 people want to read
About the author
Cleo White
18 books1,153 followersCleo White's affinity for all things dramatic and hopelessly romantic began the day she was born, which happened to be in the middle of a record-breaking snowstorm on Valentine’s Day. Her love of literature came soon after, and she spent the better part of her childhood with both a book and a notebook full of unfinished stories in hand. Later in life, she found a love of writing spicy books with complicated characters and dysfunctional family drama. Cleo currently lives in Vermont with her husband and two daughters. When not writing, she can be found hiking, gardening, painting, and consuming excessive quantities of caffeine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 692 reviews
May 11, 2025
If you love spicy age gape daddy romances, you're going to LOVE this series. This one is a dad's best friend romance. He's also her boss!? Lenora was a ballerina and had a career ending injury, and she's not doing well. Her dad gets her a job at his office working as a secretary for his best friend. The one who recently realized how extremely attracted to her he is. Cue spicy forbidden office romance! I loved the dynamic between Lenora and Holden in here, and how Holden used to be a playboy but he falls sooooo hard for Lenora. Their moments were so sweet together and I ate their story up!
May 10, 2025
Charmed and Alarmed by Cleo White
4,5/5⭐
3/5🌶️
I can’t believe we’ve reached the last book in this amazing series! I’m going to miss these characters. This series has been one of my all-time favorites, and this finale is perfect. I’ve been curious about Leni since the last book, and of course, Cleo didn’t disappoint! This book is light, quick, and spicy, but it’s also super fun, heartwarming, and swoony. I loved every moment I spent reading it!
After an injury ends Leni’s dream of being a ballerina, she feels completely lost and shuts herself off from the world. She loses her spark and keeps to herself, rarely leaving her apartment. But all that changes when her dad, Bram, encourages her to work in his company alongside Holden. He’s always seen Leni as off-limits since she’s his best friend's/business partner’s daughter. But when they meet on New Year’s Eve, their chemistry is undeniable! When she turns him down, he respects it, but once they’re working together, things heat up fast, and they can’t stay away from each other.
I loved how totally into Leni Holden was! He’s a playboy and never wanted to settle down, but after that night months ago, he can’t seem to shake her from his thoughts. Once he realizes he’s falling for her, he fully embraces it and does everything he can to make her fall for him, too. He lifts her spirits, helps her find her joy again, and truly makes her happy.
Watching the growth of Leni and Holden’s relationship was just beautiful. Leni, who felt lost after her injury, gradually finds her spark and purpose again thanks to Holden’s support. It’s heartwarming to see her begin to trust him and open her heart, leading to her happiness with him. It was a treat to catch up with one of my favorite couples from Cleo’s previous book!
Overall, this series is fantastic, and I can’t recommend it enough! If you enjoy quick, light, and spicy reads with an age gap and forbidden romance, you should dive into all three books in the series!
4,5/5⭐
3/5🌶️
I can’t believe we’ve reached the last book in this amazing series! I’m going to miss these characters. This series has been one of my all-time favorites, and this finale is perfect. I’ve been curious about Leni since the last book, and of course, Cleo didn’t disappoint! This book is light, quick, and spicy, but it’s also super fun, heartwarming, and swoony. I loved every moment I spent reading it!
After an injury ends Leni’s dream of being a ballerina, she feels completely lost and shuts herself off from the world. She loses her spark and keeps to herself, rarely leaving her apartment. But all that changes when her dad, Bram, encourages her to work in his company alongside Holden. He’s always seen Leni as off-limits since she’s his best friend's/business partner’s daughter. But when they meet on New Year’s Eve, their chemistry is undeniable! When she turns him down, he respects it, but once they’re working together, things heat up fast, and they can’t stay away from each other.
I loved how totally into Leni Holden was! He’s a playboy and never wanted to settle down, but after that night months ago, he can’t seem to shake her from his thoughts. Once he realizes he’s falling for her, he fully embraces it and does everything he can to make her fall for him, too. He lifts her spirits, helps her find her joy again, and truly makes her happy.
Watching the growth of Leni and Holden’s relationship was just beautiful. Leni, who felt lost after her injury, gradually finds her spark and purpose again thanks to Holden’s support. It’s heartwarming to see her begin to trust him and open her heart, leading to her happiness with him. It was a treat to catch up with one of my favorite couples from Cleo’s previous book!
Overall, this series is fantastic, and I can’t recommend it enough! If you enjoy quick, light, and spicy reads with an age gap and forbidden romance, you should dive into all three books in the series!
April 23, 2025
This was a fun, quick taboo workplace romance story. I’ve recently found myself loving age gaps and the premise of this one was great.
Shorter stories can be tricky to get the chemistry right and for the relationship to feel like it develops at a natural pace, and this one felt off to me.
What to expect:
💗 workplace / office romance
💗 age gap (he’s 40, she’s 22)
💗 he’s her dad’s business partner
💗 pierced MMC
💗 architect x admin assistant
Shorter stories can be tricky to get the chemistry right and for the relationship to feel like it develops at a natural pace, and this one felt off to me.
What to expect:
💗 workplace / office romance
💗 age gap (he’s 40, she’s 22)
💗 he’s her dad’s business partner
💗 pierced MMC
💗 architect x admin assistant
May 1, 2025
4.75⭐️
After dedicating her entire life to ballet, only for it to come crashing down after a career-ending injury, Lenora Vogel has no idea what her next step is. Wallowing in self-pity and feeling utterly unprepared for life in general, she wants nothing to do with the job she's got at E&V, courtesy of her father Bram. The only plus side turns out to be her ending up working under (pun intended) her father's business partner, Holden Ellinger. Flirting with Holden and having his attention on her is what seems to finally get her excited for the first time in months. Holden knows there are a thousand reasons why he shouldn't pursue anything with his partner's 22-year-old daughter, but the more time he spends with Lenora, the more insignificant the reasons start to feel. Being the charming playboy who has always avoided commitments, his feelings for Lenora feel entirely foreign.
I really liked Lenora's character. There were a lot of changes she'd gone through both in her personal and professional life, resulting in her feeling lost. Her career ending just as it was taking off and watching both her sister and her best friend reaching new goals professionally while also being in committed and fulfilling relationships made her feel like she didn't belong. I loved her journey of slowly accepting her new reality and eventually starting fresh. That and her finally opening herself up to the possibility of love.
Holden Ellinger was everything I was expecting him to be and more. Though he seemed to come off as unbothered and easygoing, there were vulnerabilities that he didn't let anyone see. He did have conflicting thoughts regarding his feelings for Lenora, but he was so gone for her and knew there was no point in fighting it. Although I thought that him having a history with Bram and Lenora's mom would be an issue at the beginning. However, that whole plot didn't make things weird because Holden and Lenora didn't let it be a thing.
I just loved Holden and Leni together, and I couldn't get enough of them. The banter, the teasing, the flirting, the dirty talking, and everything else in between was uh-mazing. Lenora was just the right match for Holden, and every interaction only cemented that further. The way she reduced him to a sputtering mess was absolutely hilarious. Holden's reactions to Leni's proposition had me cackling because that was just so unexpected. Lenora knew exactly what she was doing, and I was here for it.
The relationship between Holden and Leni felt so natural and effortless. Though it started off as an insta-lust kind of situation, I'm glad that they didn't immediately act on it. The way Holden and Lenora just got each other felt right, and it was so sweet to witness these two slowly letting each other in. I loved the way they just got each other like no one else did. Holden was perfect in every sense, and the way he adored and took care of Lenora made me fall hard for him. Being with Holden brought out her softer side, where she could just let down her guard. I honestly didn't want this book to end.
The spice???? Oh. My. God!!!! I loved every goddamn second of it. The way Lenora teased Holden. The way Holden tried his best to hold back. The moment he snapped. HOLY FUCK!!! The way this man took control but was also sooo gentle??? The way he so thoroughly worshipped her and owned her at the same time?? DAMNN!! AND HE'S PIERCED??? STOPP!!!! I also loved Lenora's confidence. Although she was a virgin and knew Holden was experienced, when they were together, she was so confident in voicing exactly what she was feeling and what she needed.
Thank you to Cleo White for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After dedicating her entire life to ballet, only for it to come crashing down after a career-ending injury, Lenora Vogel has no idea what her next step is. Wallowing in self-pity and feeling utterly unprepared for life in general, she wants nothing to do with the job she's got at E&V, courtesy of her father Bram. The only plus side turns out to be her ending up working under (pun intended) her father's business partner, Holden Ellinger. Flirting with Holden and having his attention on her is what seems to finally get her excited for the first time in months. Holden knows there are a thousand reasons why he shouldn't pursue anything with his partner's 22-year-old daughter, but the more time he spends with Lenora, the more insignificant the reasons start to feel. Being the charming playboy who has always avoided commitments, his feelings for Lenora feel entirely foreign.
I really liked Lenora's character. There were a lot of changes she'd gone through both in her personal and professional life, resulting in her feeling lost. Her career ending just as it was taking off and watching both her sister and her best friend reaching new goals professionally while also being in committed and fulfilling relationships made her feel like she didn't belong. I loved her journey of slowly accepting her new reality and eventually starting fresh. That and her finally opening herself up to the possibility of love.
Holden Ellinger was everything I was expecting him to be and more. Though he seemed to come off as unbothered and easygoing, there were vulnerabilities that he didn't let anyone see. He did have conflicting thoughts regarding his feelings for Lenora, but he was so gone for her and knew there was no point in fighting it. Although I thought that him having a history with Bram and Lenora's mom would be an issue at the beginning. However, that whole plot didn't make things weird because Holden and Lenora didn't let it be a thing.
I just loved Holden and Leni together, and I couldn't get enough of them. The banter, the teasing, the flirting, the dirty talking, and everything else in between was uh-mazing. Lenora was just the right match for Holden, and every interaction only cemented that further. The way she reduced him to a sputtering mess was absolutely hilarious. Holden's reactions to Leni's proposition had me cackling because that was just so unexpected. Lenora knew exactly what she was doing, and I was here for it.
The relationship between Holden and Leni felt so natural and effortless. Though it started off as an insta-lust kind of situation, I'm glad that they didn't immediately act on it. The way Holden and Lenora just got each other felt right, and it was so sweet to witness these two slowly letting each other in. I loved the way they just got each other like no one else did. Holden was perfect in every sense, and the way he adored and took care of Lenora made me fall hard for him. Being with Holden brought out her softer side, where she could just let down her guard. I honestly didn't want this book to end.
The spice???? Oh. My. God!!!! I loved every goddamn second of it. The way Lenora teased Holden. The way Holden tried his best to hold back. The moment he snapped. HOLY FUCK!!! The way this man took control but was also sooo gentle??? The way he so thoroughly worshipped her and owned her at the same time?? DAMNN!! AND HE'S PIERCED??? STOPP!!!! I also loved Lenora's confidence. Although she was a virgin and knew Holden was experienced, when they were together, she was so confident in voicing exactly what she was feeling and what she needed.
Thank you to Cleo White for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 16, 2025
* 4⭐️5🌶️
* A STEAMY forbidden age gap, dad’s best friend, workplace romance, he’s pierced x3
* Holden is 40 and Lenora is 22.
* After an injury leaves leni depressed and wallowing her dad gives her a job at his architect firm - the only problem besides it being boring as hell? She’s on Holden team and after their encounter six months ago she isn’t sure how copasetic it’s going to be in the office.
* Holden is pierced. X3. I mean WTF!! The idea seems so taboo and how is that possible? How can something be pierced at the bottom? I can’t even wrap my shelter naive mind around it. Ouchie.
* What I enjoyed is though this is a quick steamy book it does bring back the first two books characters and I loved it. You could read this as a standalone though.
* Seeing Leni grow and change and to see a couple who didn’t want to have children was surprisingly refreshing to me. The 2 year later epilogue was perfection!
* A STEAMY forbidden age gap, dad’s best friend, workplace romance, he’s pierced x3
* Holden is 40 and Lenora is 22.
* After an injury leaves leni depressed and wallowing her dad gives her a job at his architect firm - the only problem besides it being boring as hell? She’s on Holden team and after their encounter six months ago she isn’t sure how copasetic it’s going to be in the office.
* Holden is pierced. X3. I mean WTF!! The idea seems so taboo and how is that possible? How can something be pierced at the bottom? I can’t even wrap my shelter naive mind around it. Ouchie.
* What I enjoyed is though this is a quick steamy book it does bring back the first two books characters and I loved it. You could read this as a standalone though.
* Seeing Leni grow and change and to see a couple who didn’t want to have children was surprisingly refreshing to me. The 2 year later epilogue was perfection!
May 6, 2025
ALPHA READ - ARC REREAD
The final installment of the absolute masterpiece of the Daddy Issues series is here and boy did we go out with a BANG 💥 Happy release day to Leni + Holden!!! 🖤
Lenora Vogel has a chance encounter with her dad’s best friend and business partner on New Year’s Eve. After a missed encounter, she suffers a tragic injury and her dancing career is over. Crawling out of the pit of depression she’s been in, her dad convinces her to come work for him but under his business partner, Holden. Once Holden and Leni are in each other’s proximity again Holden realizes his obsession with his best friend’s daughter has not lessened and neither has Leni’s attraction to the older, seemingly unattainable man.
These two were absolutely the spiciest spice while also being some of the sweetest of the series. I loved how Leni let her walls down for Holden and allowed him to take care of her, while Holden who once thought he would never commit became the definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” The trials and tribulations that these two faced only made them stronger and honestly I have the BIGGEST girl crush on Leni. Her fire and spite make her such a fun FMC to read. And Holden? DADDDYYYYYYYYYY 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After alpha reading this phenomenal novella imagine my horror when I realized I forgot to sign up for the eARC version. Thankfully the absolute angel that is Cleo, gifted me a physical ARC copy so I was able to reread before release day 🖤 Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this journey and I absolutely cannot wait to see what your delicious mind thinks up next!
The final installment of the absolute masterpiece of the Daddy Issues series is here and boy did we go out with a BANG 💥 Happy release day to Leni + Holden!!! 🖤
Lenora Vogel has a chance encounter with her dad’s best friend and business partner on New Year’s Eve. After a missed encounter, she suffers a tragic injury and her dancing career is over. Crawling out of the pit of depression she’s been in, her dad convinces her to come work for him but under his business partner, Holden. Once Holden and Leni are in each other’s proximity again Holden realizes his obsession with his best friend’s daughter has not lessened and neither has Leni’s attraction to the older, seemingly unattainable man.
These two were absolutely the spiciest spice while also being some of the sweetest of the series. I loved how Leni let her walls down for Holden and allowed him to take care of her, while Holden who once thought he would never commit became the definition of “if he wanted to, he would.” The trials and tribulations that these two faced only made them stronger and honestly I have the BIGGEST girl crush on Leni. Her fire and spite make her such a fun FMC to read. And Holden? DADDDYYYYYYYYYY 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
After alpha reading this phenomenal novella imagine my horror when I realized I forgot to sign up for the eARC version. Thankfully the absolute angel that is Cleo, gifted me a physical ARC copy so I was able to reread before release day 🖤 Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this journey and I absolutely cannot wait to see what your delicious mind thinks up next!
April 27, 2025
"I’m not filled with anger or regret anymore. I’m not yearning for a future that will never be, I’m excited for one that’s unfolding right in front of me."
The matureness of these characters spoke to my soullll. I'm not even joking when I say this was my dream dynamic 😭 no third-act break up and constant, open communication??? Sign me up EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Eventhough I didn't really relate to Len's character (as the eldest daughter I feel like Honor was me in writing form), I could relate a LOT to her situation.
It was so satisfying to read about her relationship with Holden. He's one of the few blonde H's I'll vouch for 💀. I wasn't too big on his history with the h's parents and Sophie, but I loved reading about his thought process about falling in love.
Although I didn't read the first book in the series, this last addition had to be my favourite by a LONG shot. One of the main highlights for me was seeing Ellis, Jo, and Zoe again (I'm forever chasing the high I got from that book, nothing will beat them 😕).
I also really enjoyed watching the romance unfold and how natural it felt for the MC's relationship to play out. The communication gave me life. I definitely would've loved to have read more to see certain dynamics play, but all in all I really enjoyed this one.
I can't wait to see what CW comes up with next, and am looking forward to seeing some new characters!
*Lots of love and thanks to Cleo White for the ARC*
May 13, 2025
An age gap, dads bsf, forbidden office romance
❤️🍒😈🌶️🙂↕️ (yeah, the spice was hot)
Holden - The notorious bachelor, commitment-phobe, ultra player …finally gets his ‘romance’ story.
*H doesn’t entertain any OW once setting eyes on h as an adult (hard to explain.. you’ll see)
Lenora (Leni) - Pessimistic (former) ballerina adjusting to life after a career ending injury.
Ngl, I was scarrrred starting this based on Holdon in the other books. But I worried too soon, Holden was like a puppy chasing after her🤭….
My only qualm was he was almost too sweet. Don’t get it twisted I love an H head over heels but (for me) the development of initial attraction -> his mushy internally monologued musings was a stretch. I needed a bit more grit, tension, drama or something! The jump from lust-to-love felt a tad unjustifiable for me.
Though, I enjoyed this nonetheless!! It was sweet, spicy, and had a lil swoon💓. I also liked seeing the other characters & this was a nice wrap up to the series. Bonus pts bc the spice was giving🔥.
SIDE NOTE- the amount of times I searched “Cleo White” in my kindle looking for this/new releases was committable 🤧 (I’m a fiend for her age gap books)
TROPES & SUCH
-age gap (h 22, H 40)
-dads best friend/bus partner
-boss x assistant
-virgin h
-some forced proximity
-sneaking around 😈
-office/workplace
-no cheating, no opd
-Hea
❤️🍒😈🌶️🙂↕️ (yeah, the spice was hot)
Holden - The notorious bachelor, commitment-phobe, ultra player …finally gets his ‘romance’ story.
*H doesn’t entertain any OW once setting eyes on h as an adult (hard to explain.. you’ll see)
Lenora (Leni) - Pessimistic (former) ballerina adjusting to life after a career ending injury.
Ngl, I was scarrrred starting this based on Holdon in the other books. But I worried too soon, Holden was like a puppy chasing after her🤭….
My only qualm was he was almost too sweet. Don’t get it twisted I love an H head over heels but (for me) the development of initial attraction -> his mushy internally monologued musings was a stretch. I needed a bit more grit, tension, drama or something! The jump from lust-to-love felt a tad unjustifiable for me.
Though, I enjoyed this nonetheless!! It was sweet, spicy, and had a lil swoon💓. I also liked seeing the other characters & this was a nice wrap up to the series. Bonus pts bc the spice was giving🔥.
SIDE NOTE- the amount of times I searched “Cleo White” in my kindle looking for this/new releases was committable 🤧 (I’m a fiend for her age gap books)
TROPES & SUCH
-age gap (h 22, H 40)
-dads best friend/bus partner
-boss x assistant
-virgin h
-some forced proximity
-sneaking around 😈
-office/workplace
-no cheating, no opd
-Hea
did-not-finish
May 10, 2025DNF @ 50%
I liked the beginning and the premise (dad’s business partner, she’s begrudgingly working for him after an injury means ballet is no longer an option) but I wasn’t vibing with the writing style. I think the characters spent a lot of time in their heads, and maybe that wasn’t what I was in the mood for?
I liked the beginning and the premise (dad’s business partner, she’s begrudgingly working for him after an injury means ballet is no longer an option) but I wasn’t vibing with the writing style. I think the characters spent a lot of time in their heads, and maybe that wasn’t what I was in the mood for?
May 13, 2025
4.75 ⭐️ rounded up!
“she makes me feel whole.”
this was SO GOOD! i really liked the other two books in the daddy issues series, but this one takes the cake.
lenora and holden were just too good together. their back and forth teasing at the beginning had me kicking my feet and giggling like an idiot (seriously). the spice? phew…the spice was everything i needed and more. this book was also so funny in some parts that i had to stop reading and take a second to collect myself (hello, “so, do you want to have anal?” line). i love this series and these couples so bad. i can’t wait to see what’s next!
thank you so much to cleo for the e-arc!
♥︎ age gap
♥︎ he falls first
♥︎ hurt / comfort
♥︎ workplace romance
♥︎ dad’s business partner
“she makes me feel whole.”
this was SO GOOD! i really liked the other two books in the daddy issues series, but this one takes the cake.
lenora and holden were just too good together. their back and forth teasing at the beginning had me kicking my feet and giggling like an idiot (seriously). the spice? phew…the spice was everything i needed and more. this book was also so funny in some parts that i had to stop reading and take a second to collect myself (hello, “so, do you want to have anal?” line). i love this series and these couples so bad. i can’t wait to see what’s next!
thank you so much to cleo for the e-arc!
♥︎ age gap
♥︎ he falls first
♥︎ hurt / comfort
♥︎ workplace romance
♥︎ dad’s business partner
May 6, 2025
Such a great series! I was super excited for Leni's story and it was so nice reading about how she and Holden realised they both wanted more 🥹 I'm usually not one for reformed playboys but this one managed to win me over 🤭
Only criticism I have is that while I felt Leni's thoughts about her injury were very realistic, the medical aspects of it throughout the book were...not. It didn't impede my reading too much, just small moments that had me going 🤔
Nevertheless, noone writes Daddys like Cleo does and I'm already to excited to see what's next in store! 😍
I received a free early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Only criticism I have is that while I felt Leni's thoughts about her injury were very realistic, the medical aspects of it throughout the book were...not. It didn't impede my reading too much, just small moments that had me going 🤔
Nevertheless, noone writes Daddys like Cleo does and I'm already to excited to see what's next in store! 😍
I received a free early copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2025
Fun read!
Taboo workplace romance with fun side characters.
Taboo workplace romance with fun side characters.
May 6, 2025
Cleo White has done it again! "Charmed and Alarmed" is the third and final installment in the Daddy Issues series, and it was a fantastic end for these characters.
I loved how Leni really just hated everything at the beginning of the book. It was so reasonable for a young woman who had given literally EVERYTHING to ballet to feel so shafted by the world upon her injury. I loved watching her black cat energy evolve into, well still black cat energy, but have a happy little halo of light around it when this golden retriever book boyfriend stepped in and stepped up.
I loved that Holden was not all that he appeared. He was a reformed playboy for sure (which, holy heck, that’s one of my favorite tropes!), but he also had so much going on in his personal life with his own family. I loved that he was the shining ray of light for a lot of the people in his life, but he had a lot more to him than that. His shiny personality was a choice for sure, and I loved getting to know him better.
I loved that Holden truly wanted to take care of Leni. From thinking about her leg to cutting her hair because she wanted it shorter last minute, he would do anything and everything to make her happy. I loved this!
Something I will never tire of in Cleo’s book is how well she writes age gap. It was made very clear from the start and throughout the book just how much of the control Leni held. Even though she was younger, Holden’s best friend and business partner’s daughter, and Holden’s employee, at no point did I feel like Holden was in control outside the bedroom haha. Also, there were no glimpses at her when she was younger nor did there feel like there was even a connection between the two of them in a normal sense when she was younger, which definitely was great for the age gap/fathers business partner trope to not feel weird as well.
I loved the return of Ellis, Jo, and Zoe from Second Edition! Did I expect they would return as a connection to Holden? Nope! But I loved it!
Lastly, I loved how these MCs had no interest in having children down the line and the Epilogue in the future stuck to that. We rarely see an epilogue that doesn’t involve children in the future, but I’m glad that that representation was present.
Thank you to Cleo White for the gifted physical copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
I loved how Leni really just hated everything at the beginning of the book. It was so reasonable for a young woman who had given literally EVERYTHING to ballet to feel so shafted by the world upon her injury. I loved watching her black cat energy evolve into, well still black cat energy, but have a happy little halo of light around it when this golden retriever book boyfriend stepped in and stepped up.
I loved that Holden was not all that he appeared. He was a reformed playboy for sure (which, holy heck, that’s one of my favorite tropes!), but he also had so much going on in his personal life with his own family. I loved that he was the shining ray of light for a lot of the people in his life, but he had a lot more to him than that. His shiny personality was a choice for sure, and I loved getting to know him better.
I loved that Holden truly wanted to take care of Leni. From thinking about her leg to cutting her hair because she wanted it shorter last minute, he would do anything and everything to make her happy. I loved this!
Something I will never tire of in Cleo’s book is how well she writes age gap. It was made very clear from the start and throughout the book just how much of the control Leni held. Even though she was younger, Holden’s best friend and business partner’s daughter, and Holden’s employee, at no point did I feel like Holden was in control outside the bedroom haha. Also, there were no glimpses at her when she was younger nor did there feel like there was even a connection between the two of them in a normal sense when she was younger, which definitely was great for the age gap/fathers business partner trope to not feel weird as well.
I loved the return of Ellis, Jo, and Zoe from Second Edition! Did I expect they would return as a connection to Holden? Nope! But I loved it!
Lastly, I loved how these MCs had no interest in having children down the line and the Epilogue in the future stuck to that. We rarely see an epilogue that doesn’t involve children in the future, but I’m glad that that representation was present.
Thank you to Cleo White for the gifted physical copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.
May 11, 2025
holden might just be my fav mmc of the whole daddy issues series!!
i honestly didn’t think anyone could top bram for me, but at the very least they’re tied.
the sweet and spicy stories that cleo is able to pack in less than 200 pages are incredible to me! i love these fun little books for exactly what they are and the joy they elicit in me. this whole series is incredible palate cleanser material between heavier reads as they are so quick and fun and any turmoil is resolved so quickly you barely have time to sweat it out.
i have read almost (barring ONE) book that cleo white has written and by FAR my favorite thing she does is interconnect them!! i love a little easter egg!! if you read second edition expect to see a couple friendly faces!!
i honestly didn’t think anyone could top bram for me, but at the very least they’re tied.
the sweet and spicy stories that cleo is able to pack in less than 200 pages are incredible to me! i love these fun little books for exactly what they are and the joy they elicit in me. this whole series is incredible palate cleanser material between heavier reads as they are so quick and fun and any turmoil is resolved so quickly you barely have time to sweat it out.
i have read almost (barring ONE) book that cleo white has written and by FAR my favorite thing she does is interconnect them!! i love a little easter egg!! if you read second edition expect to see a couple friendly faces!!
May 6, 2025
I call dibs. Holden is mine and will forever be mine.
I am absolutely obsessed with Holden and Leni. Leni really knew how to push Holden's buttons, and he knew how to push right back.
After a life changing injury, Leni can no longer be a professional ballerina and she feels lost. Her dad sets her up with his company as a admin assistant for his business partner Holden. It's been a while since they have had scene each other, and honestly that night is all Holden can think about when he lays eyes on Leni again.
Their back and forth banter and tension made this book so damn appetizing. Holden and Leni knew things could go south if they got caught, but their relationship became the most important thing to their of them. THIS MAN'S MOUTH YALL, I will never ever get enough of it.
I am so sad to see this series end, but this couple was the perfect way to wrap it up!
I am absolutely obsessed with Holden and Leni. Leni really knew how to push Holden's buttons, and he knew how to push right back.
After a life changing injury, Leni can no longer be a professional ballerina and she feels lost. Her dad sets her up with his company as a admin assistant for his business partner Holden. It's been a while since they have had scene each other, and honestly that night is all Holden can think about when he lays eyes on Leni again.
Their back and forth banter and tension made this book so damn appetizing. Holden and Leni knew things could go south if they got caught, but their relationship became the most important thing to their of them. THIS MAN'S MOUTH YALL, I will never ever get enough of it.
I am so sad to see this series end, but this couple was the perfect way to wrap it up!
May 12, 2025
Leni & Holden my heart was in giddy & happy mood the banter the way he just didn't treat her like everyone was especially like her father was .I love that Bram loves her but that isn't what she needed or wanted .
Holden challenge her in different ways just as much she challenged him and experienced things they both were new to.
I must say chapter 12 I was screaming if you know you know
one of my favorite quotes from Holden and Leni is
“I know you’re capable, Lenora. Let me take care of you, anyway"
“If you’re lying to me, I’m going to pull down your shirt and give you a double titty twister right in the middle of the office.”
🤣🤣
Holden challenge her in different ways just as much she challenged him and experienced things they both were new to.
I must say chapter 12 I was screaming if you know you know
one of my favorite quotes from Holden and Leni is
“I know you’re capable, Lenora. Let me take care of you, anyway"
“If you’re lying to me, I’m going to pull down your shirt and give you a double titty twister right in the middle of the office.”
🤣🤣
May 17, 2025
Ah, at last we have come to the end of the Daddy Issues series and once again Cleo has knocked it out of the park. If it is a steamy age gap romance written by Cleo consider it devoured. While her heart set on being a professional ballet dancer the last place Lenora expected to work was her dad’s architecture firm working on his best friend's team after suffering a career ending injury. While Lenora hated the idea of working at the firm she tried making the most of it flirting with her boss and dad’s business partner Holden Elligner. While this book was not my favorite of the series it still checked all the boxes that made it a worthwhile read. Holden and Lenora’s romance is the perfect amount of sweet & spice making for a perfect ending to the series.
Thank you Cleo and Luna Literary for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you Cleo and Luna Literary for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
May 13, 2025
“ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ꜰᴋɴɢ ʀɪᴅɪᴄᴜʟᴏᴜꜱ. ɪ’ᴍ ᴀ ɢʀᴏᴡɴ ᴍᴀɴ, ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴋɴᴇᴇꜱ ʙʏ ᴍʏ ʙᴜꜱɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱ 22 ʏᴇᴀʀ ᴏʟᴅ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ɪ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ ꜱʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ…ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴀʟʟ ʙʀᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴡ. ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ɢᴏᴅᴅᴀᴍɴ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ꜰᴋ ʜᴇʀ. ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ.”
Don’t let this beautiful cover you…this novella is HOT!!🔥 Cleo Evans ever fails to impress…and I have to say, Holden and Lenora are ABSOLUTELY my favorite couple of the Daddy Issues series. Now…this is the 3rd book in the series and while you DON’T have to read the others to understand this one, the characters are definitely intertwined in all the books and there’s a little sneak peak into Holdens bed activities that are important to this story and add to the whole taboo nature of it 🤭🤭🤭
Lenora had been a ballet dancer her whole life. But a tragic injury takes her dream and career from her. Leaving her feeling hopeless as to what her next move is and what her life will be now. Watching her sisters excel in their own careers and relationships only makes her feel worse about herself. Her dad sets her up to be the assistant to his partner at his architecture firm….definitely not what she was hoping for her future. But when she sees him and remembers the tension filled moment the shared 6 months ago…she thinks this arrangement may not be so bad after all.
Holden…the man you are. This man definitely has a reputation of thinking with his 🍆 first and brain later 😂 he’s sweet and can sometimes come off as not having a care in the world. But he hides his emotions and feelings. The one thing he can’t hide though? The way Lenora makes him feel things he’s never felt before. And when she suddenly becomes his assistant, he’s struggling with keeping things professional and wanting to bend his partners daughter over his desk 🤭
This was definitely a slow burn in the BEST WAY. I know I know…it’s a novella and how can we pack it all in….never doubt Cleo…she knows exactly how to write a slow burn that will have you panting on the floor for more. I loved seeing how Lenora pushed ALL of Holdens buttons. She knew exactly what she was doing…teasing and flirting…driving him crazy. And Holden ATE IT UP. This man was obsessed and on his knees. And when he finally SNAPPED?? 🥵🥵🥵 I was not prepared.
Holden was IN CONTROL…but also was so tender and gentle with her. But there was never any confusion that he was the one in charge. And Lenora? She may have been a virgin but she was not at all shy to say what she needed and wanted. And Holden was more than happy to comply. Also…Holden is pierced. That’s…you guys know how I feel about this. Yes. A million times YES!
The best part of their whole relationship was the communication. Lenora may have been 18 years younger than Holden but she knew what she wanted. And so did he. They were a perfect match in every way. Holden loved her FIERCELY. He didn’t care about anything but her and would sacrifice everything and everyone for her. He helped her find herself again. Showing her that when one dream dies, another comes to life. And for him..she was his dream. And he wanted to give her a life of love and happiness. And Lenora showed him that he was capable of being a man in love. A man who could absolutely do relationships. He just needed the right woman. And that was her🩷
Thank you Cleo White & Luna Literary for this ARC copy and the chance to read and review this book💕
🩰Workplace Romance
❤️🔥Dad’s Business Partner
🩰Age Gap (18 yrs)
❤️🔥Hurt/Comfort
🩰Former Ballerina FMC
❤️🔥Reformed Playboy MMC
🩰Forbidden Romance
❤️🔥Taboo
🩰She’s His New Assistant
❤️🔥Pierced MMC
🩰Virgin FMC
❤️🔥Novella
🩰Slow Burn
❤️🔥Insta-Lust
🩰Childless by Choice
❤️🔥He Falls First
🩰Mental Health Rep
❤️🔥”Teach Me”
🩰Sneaking Around
❤️🔥Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🩰No 3rd Act Breakup
❤️🔥Dual POV
🩰HEA
Don’t let this beautiful cover you…this novella is HOT!!🔥 Cleo Evans ever fails to impress…and I have to say, Holden and Lenora are ABSOLUTELY my favorite couple of the Daddy Issues series. Now…this is the 3rd book in the series and while you DON’T have to read the others to understand this one, the characters are definitely intertwined in all the books and there’s a little sneak peak into Holdens bed activities that are important to this story and add to the whole taboo nature of it 🤭🤭🤭
Lenora had been a ballet dancer her whole life. But a tragic injury takes her dream and career from her. Leaving her feeling hopeless as to what her next move is and what her life will be now. Watching her sisters excel in their own careers and relationships only makes her feel worse about herself. Her dad sets her up to be the assistant to his partner at his architecture firm….definitely not what she was hoping for her future. But when she sees him and remembers the tension filled moment the shared 6 months ago…she thinks this arrangement may not be so bad after all.
Holden…the man you are. This man definitely has a reputation of thinking with his 🍆 first and brain later 😂 he’s sweet and can sometimes come off as not having a care in the world. But he hides his emotions and feelings. The one thing he can’t hide though? The way Lenora makes him feel things he’s never felt before. And when she suddenly becomes his assistant, he’s struggling with keeping things professional and wanting to bend his partners daughter over his desk 🤭
This was definitely a slow burn in the BEST WAY. I know I know…it’s a novella and how can we pack it all in….never doubt Cleo…she knows exactly how to write a slow burn that will have you panting on the floor for more. I loved seeing how Lenora pushed ALL of Holdens buttons. She knew exactly what she was doing…teasing and flirting…driving him crazy. And Holden ATE IT UP. This man was obsessed and on his knees. And when he finally SNAPPED?? 🥵🥵🥵 I was not prepared.
Holden was IN CONTROL…but also was so tender and gentle with her. But there was never any confusion that he was the one in charge. And Lenora? She may have been a virgin but she was not at all shy to say what she needed and wanted. And Holden was more than happy to comply. Also…Holden is pierced. That’s…you guys know how I feel about this. Yes. A million times YES!
The best part of their whole relationship was the communication. Lenora may have been 18 years younger than Holden but she knew what she wanted. And so did he. They were a perfect match in every way. Holden loved her FIERCELY. He didn’t care about anything but her and would sacrifice everything and everyone for her. He helped her find herself again. Showing her that when one dream dies, another comes to life. And for him..she was his dream. And he wanted to give her a life of love and happiness. And Lenora showed him that he was capable of being a man in love. A man who could absolutely do relationships. He just needed the right woman. And that was her🩷
Thank you Cleo White & Luna Literary for this ARC copy and the chance to read and review this book💕
🩰Workplace Romance
❤️🔥Dad’s Business Partner
🩰Age Gap (18 yrs)
❤️🔥Hurt/Comfort
🩰Former Ballerina FMC
❤️🔥Reformed Playboy MMC
🩰Forbidden Romance
❤️🔥Taboo
🩰She’s His New Assistant
❤️🔥Pierced MMC
🩰Virgin FMC
❤️🔥Novella
🩰Slow Burn
❤️🔥Insta-Lust
🩰Childless by Choice
❤️🔥He Falls First
🩰Mental Health Rep
❤️🔥”Teach Me”
🩰Sneaking Around
❤️🔥Black Cat x Golden Retriever
🩰No 3rd Act Breakup
❤️🔥Dual POV
🩰HEA
April 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Daddy Issues. Issues? Nah. No issues here. With any of these ladies and their beautiful, fun, hilarious older daddies. We love them, we support them, and we NEEDED them. Daddy Holden? On another level.
This guy. We’ve seen him. We know him as Brams business partner, coworker, best friend, and sometimes “partner” when it came to a night of fun. Holden doesn’t do relationships. He’s cool with being the carefree playboy. He doesn’t have time to settle down. Until it comes to Leni.
Leni is his best friends daughter. She’s been through a lot, she’s down on her luck and feeling downright crappy about her new reality. So, of course her dad gets her a job as Holdens right hand woman. Because why the heck not?
Holden is absolutely downright obsessed with Leni. He doesn’t understand it?! She’s too young for him, and he knows she’s a virgin. Nothing can happen. Ever. 🙂↕️
These two barely even tried to fight it. I mean, the banter? Hilarious. The flirting? Top tier. Leni is an absolute genius in a pencil skirt. And poor Holden didn’t stand a chance.
These two were surprisingly so sweet. So fun, and you could tell they really loved and cared about one another. They just couldn’t avoid the inevitable. They were meant to be.
I loved catching up with the other girls, seeing them again and Sophie with her nice boobies and her hilarious wit had me dying 😂 I love her so much. I’m sad to be done with this group, but what a good time it was. 💕🥹
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Daddy Issues. Issues? Nah. No issues here. With any of these ladies and their beautiful, fun, hilarious older daddies. We love them, we support them, and we NEEDED them. Daddy Holden? On another level.
This guy. We’ve seen him. We know him as Brams business partner, coworker, best friend, and sometimes “partner” when it came to a night of fun. Holden doesn’t do relationships. He’s cool with being the carefree playboy. He doesn’t have time to settle down. Until it comes to Leni.
Leni is his best friends daughter. She’s been through a lot, she’s down on her luck and feeling downright crappy about her new reality. So, of course her dad gets her a job as Holdens right hand woman. Because why the heck not?
Holden is absolutely downright obsessed with Leni. He doesn’t understand it?! She’s too young for him, and he knows she’s a virgin. Nothing can happen. Ever. 🙂↕️
These two barely even tried to fight it. I mean, the banter? Hilarious. The flirting? Top tier. Leni is an absolute genius in a pencil skirt. And poor Holden didn’t stand a chance.
These two were surprisingly so sweet. So fun, and you could tell they really loved and cared about one another. They just couldn’t avoid the inevitable. They were meant to be.
I loved catching up with the other girls, seeing them again and Sophie with her nice boobies and her hilarious wit had me dying 😂 I love her so much. I’m sad to be done with this group, but what a good time it was. 💕🥹
May 7, 2025
Spice: 3
Tropes:
He Falls First
age gap
workplace romance
black cat fmc
reformed playboy mmc
Dual POV
Charmed and Alarmed in the third installment in the Daddy Issues novellas by Cleo White. And to round out our trio of women- we get Lenora's story! In book 2, we left off with Leni tearing her tendon and ending her ballerina career. We pick up with Leni moping around the apartment and her father has had enough. He decides she needs a job, to get out of the house, and sets her up as an Admin Assistant to his business partner, Holden. Only...... Leni and Holden may have had a sexually charged encounter right before her accident and this may, or may not be a good idea.
I wasn't sure about Holden at first. I can't lie. Why? Because I remember the Holden from book 1 LOL. I was concerned about him being the MMC to Lenora but he definitely grew on me. What I liked about Leni and Holden as a couple was they had fun together. Right off the bat, you could see how they made each other feel and they weren't worried about what others thought-- well except Leni's dad of course. They just wanted to be together.
It was another spicey, cute/fun novella by the QUEEN of age gaps and Daddy Issues. AND I absolutely loved that we got to see Jo and Ellis from Second Edition in this story! That was a fun surprise! Definitely enjoyed.
Tropes:
He Falls First
age gap
workplace romance
black cat fmc
reformed playboy mmc
Dual POV
Charmed and Alarmed in the third installment in the Daddy Issues novellas by Cleo White. And to round out our trio of women- we get Lenora's story! In book 2, we left off with Leni tearing her tendon and ending her ballerina career. We pick up with Leni moping around the apartment and her father has had enough. He decides she needs a job, to get out of the house, and sets her up as an Admin Assistant to his business partner, Holden. Only...... Leni and Holden may have had a sexually charged encounter right before her accident and this may, or may not be a good idea.
I wasn't sure about Holden at first. I can't lie. Why? Because I remember the Holden from book 1 LOL. I was concerned about him being the MMC to Lenora but he definitely grew on me. What I liked about Leni and Holden as a couple was they had fun together. Right off the bat, you could see how they made each other feel and they weren't worried about what others thought-- well except Leni's dad of course. They just wanted to be together.
It was another spicey, cute/fun novella by the QUEEN of age gaps and Daddy Issues. AND I absolutely loved that we got to see Jo and Ellis from Second Edition in this story! That was a fun surprise! Definitely enjoyed.
April 24, 2025
Cleo could’ve written this as a 1000 page tome and I would’ve been gleefully flipping each page while kicking my little leggies. This book is AMAZING. It’s Cleo White on top form, writing a low angst, high heat, age gap, dad’s best friend and business partner, I’d-do-anything-for-you-including-lose-my-best-friend novella.
Ultimately, Leni has Holden in a chokehold. He’s 40, he’s lived a lifetime of unattached sex from kinky to vanilla, but bumping into Leni at a club on New Years Eve leads him to celibacy and a big, huge, unignorable Leni shaped crush. This man is gooooooone for her. I love a pining man, and his insatiable need to help Leni be happy after an injury takes her away from her dream ballet career made me go down bad for this man.
I couldn’t help but laugh when Leni was at lunch with Sophie and Honor, and was considering if falling for a much older man was contagious 😂 and I really REALLY loved that Holden and Leni communicated at every step. No miscommunication, no third act breakup. And when her dad did find out? Oof, Holden not backing down? I’ll say it again: down bad for this man.
This really is Cleo White at her very best. It’s definitely not a standalone, but my goodness, every book’s fantastic and short, and you have no excuse to not read them!!
Thank you Cleo White for the ARC. This review is entirely my own.
Ultimately, Leni has Holden in a chokehold. He’s 40, he’s lived a lifetime of unattached sex from kinky to vanilla, but bumping into Leni at a club on New Years Eve leads him to celibacy and a big, huge, unignorable Leni shaped crush. This man is gooooooone for her. I love a pining man, and his insatiable need to help Leni be happy after an injury takes her away from her dream ballet career made me go down bad for this man.
I couldn’t help but laugh when Leni was at lunch with Sophie and Honor, and was considering if falling for a much older man was contagious 😂 and I really REALLY loved that Holden and Leni communicated at every step. No miscommunication, no third act breakup. And when her dad did find out? Oof, Holden not backing down? I’ll say it again: down bad for this man.
This really is Cleo White at her very best. It’s definitely not a standalone, but my goodness, every book’s fantastic and short, and you have no excuse to not read them!!
Thank you Cleo White for the ARC. This review is entirely my own.
August 17, 2025
This author is great at writing fun, forbidden, age gap romances! Lenora is struggling after an injury leads to the end of her ballerina career. To get her out of the house, Leni’s dad hires her as an admin assistant for his business partner/best friend, Holden. Leni is the epitome of off-limits, but Holden sees right through Leni’s grumpiness and refuses to let their chemistry go to waste.
Holden and Leni had an abundance of sexual attraction between them, but they also created an emotional bond that the author did a great job of developing within a novella. The bond just heightened the steam between them and I couldn’t put this down!
Highly recommend this series. All 3 novellas were fun and easy reads, and the author’s writing is addictive!
What to Expect: age gap, forbidden (dad’s best friend), workplace, hurt/comfort, he falls first, reformed playboy, novella
Holden and Leni had an abundance of sexual attraction between them, but they also created an emotional bond that the author did a great job of developing within a novella. The bond just heightened the steam between them and I couldn’t put this down!
Highly recommend this series. All 3 novellas were fun and easy reads, and the author’s writing is addictive!
What to Expect: age gap, forbidden (dad’s best friend), workplace, hurt/comfort, he falls first, reformed playboy, novella
May 4, 2025
I loved this book so, so much! I have been anxiously awaiting Holden and Lenora’s story since book 1 and this did not disappoint!
🩷Workplace romance
🩷Age gap
🩷Business partners daughter
🩷Boss x employee
Lenora has always had a small crush on her father’s business partner, but Holden has never seen her as anything more than that. Until one NYE changes how he sees her. And six months later she comes to work for them and she is assigned as his assistant.
How will he possibly be able to keep his distance when all he wants is the one person he shouldn’t?
The chemistry was off the charts for these two! I loved how their relationship came to be. You can just feel how attracted to one another they are.
I love how Holden brought Lenora back to life after her life was altered. That was my favorite part of this book!
🩷Workplace romance
🩷Age gap
🩷Business partners daughter
🩷Boss x employee
Lenora has always had a small crush on her father’s business partner, but Holden has never seen her as anything more than that. Until one NYE changes how he sees her. And six months later she comes to work for them and she is assigned as his assistant.
How will he possibly be able to keep his distance when all he wants is the one person he shouldn’t?
The chemistry was off the charts for these two! I loved how their relationship came to be. You can just feel how attracted to one another they are.
I love how Holden brought Lenora back to life after her life was altered. That was my favorite part of this book!
May 4, 2025
I just simply enjoyed this read, as I do with most of Cleo’s books. They’re usually short but with hot scenes, heart-warming scenes, and generally a pleasing writing style to read.
I enjoyed the dynamic between Holden and Leni. Leni’s naughty sassy girl smirks and quips made me laugh and I liked the complexity of her character as someone who had been through a loss and isn’t completely cheery. I absolutely adored how much Holden really saw her and wanted to pull her back into living life after her devastating injury and how all-in he was. Their dynamic both relationship-wise and bedroom-wise just really worked for me.
I’ve enjoyed this series but I think this book was my fave one, it just felt like it had a little more meat to the relationship side of things outside of the sexual attraction and that was nice.
Overall, this was a good, quick read! I can recommend this.
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
I enjoyed the dynamic between Holden and Leni. Leni’s naughty sassy girl smirks and quips made me laugh and I liked the complexity of her character as someone who had been through a loss and isn’t completely cheery. I absolutely adored how much Holden really saw her and wanted to pull her back into living life after her devastating injury and how all-in he was. Their dynamic both relationship-wise and bedroom-wise just really worked for me.
I’ve enjoyed this series but I think this book was my fave one, it just felt like it had a little more meat to the relationship side of things outside of the sexual attraction and that was nice.
Overall, this was a good, quick read! I can recommend this.
4/5 ⭐️
I received an advance copy of the book and have left my honest, influence-free review
April 23, 2025
ARC REVIEW
As someone who usually isn't a fan of large age gaps, I really really enjoyed this! Personal preference, but i could have read 100 more pages easily. I wanted more to their story!
Once Holden laid eyes on Leni, he was done for. He was so cute with her, and I actually loved them together. Leni didn't let anything stand in her way for what she wanted and what she wanted was Holden.
I didn't read the other 2 books before this, and I do think you probably should since it may help with some plot holes I encountered.
As someone who usually isn't a fan of large age gaps, I really really enjoyed this! Personal preference, but i could have read 100 more pages easily. I wanted more to their story!
Once Holden laid eyes on Leni, he was done for. He was so cute with her, and I actually loved them together. Leni didn't let anything stand in her way for what she wanted and what she wanted was Holden.
I didn't read the other 2 books before this, and I do think you probably should since it may help with some plot holes I encountered.
May 17, 2025
Another quick & fun novella that I devoured in one day! I have loved Holden since book 1 & I was so excited for his story.
Leni is starting at her father’s firm working under Holden—her father’s best friend…and she is not thrilled. She’s recovering from an injury that took her away from her ballet career & she’s not taking it well at all.
The banter between these two was so fun. The tension was hot & I loved them together as a couple. I love it when the FMC finally softens up and lowers her guard & she let Holden be her anchor. I also love a reformed playboy, which he was at his core until Leni took up all the space in his head.
Thank you Cleo White & Luna Literary for this ARC🤍
Leni is starting at her father’s firm working under Holden—her father’s best friend…and she is not thrilled. She’s recovering from an injury that took her away from her ballet career & she’s not taking it well at all.
The banter between these two was so fun. The tension was hot & I loved them together as a couple. I love it when the FMC finally softens up and lowers her guard & she let Holden be her anchor. I also love a reformed playboy, which he was at his core until Leni took up all the space in his head.
Thank you Cleo White & Luna Literary for this ARC🤍
May 7, 2025
First of all I’ve now realised Cleo White’s books are crazy addicting and I consumed this in 4 hours straight whatever magic is woven into each chapter is crazy good! This was my favourite out of the series! Something about both Leni and Holden having trauma and a bit of darker past made their story more beautiful, this wasn’t Instant love, it was knowing each other deeply without even needing to try. And anytime there is a male main character with piercings I’m a goner. A big 5 stars slow claps all round! 🥰
May 7, 2025
What to expect:
🩰 He Falls First
📐 Age Gap
🩰 Hurt/Comfort
📐 No 3rd Act Breakup
🩰 Dad’s Business Partner
📐 Workplace Romance
🩰 Reformed Playboy MMC
📐 Black Cat/Golden Retriever
I’ve been waiting for Holden’s story ever since we first met him in Chilled and Thrilled, and let me tell you, he was so worth the wait!
Leni is hands down my favorite FMC in this series. I absolutely loved everything about her character! She’s a stubborn, smart cookie who’s thrown into a tough, life changing situation, but with Holden by her side, she finds a way to cope with her new reality and she is able to rediscover herself.
I’ve got to admit though, at one point I was ready to dive into the book and pull a full-on Nelson, with a pointed finger and “HA-HA” screamed right in Bram’s face. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bram… but Holden? Holden is my guy, you feel me? In the end, though, all’s well that ends well, and who knows? I might’ve shed a tear or two while reading the epilogue.
On a more serious note, Charmed and Alarmed was such a nice read. Like all of Cleo White’s books, I could’ve happily devoured a thousand more pages. So, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, forbidden, age gap, workplace romance, this one’s totally for you. These two together? Chef’s kiss. The banter? Top tier. The chemistry? Absolute fireworks. What more could you ask for?
P.S. For those who loved Second Edition, you might want to check this one out! 👀
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🩰 He Falls First
📐 Age Gap
🩰 Hurt/Comfort
📐 No 3rd Act Breakup
🩰 Dad’s Business Partner
📐 Workplace Romance
🩰 Reformed Playboy MMC
📐 Black Cat/Golden Retriever
I’ve been waiting for Holden’s story ever since we first met him in Chilled and Thrilled, and let me tell you, he was so worth the wait!
Leni is hands down my favorite FMC in this series. I absolutely loved everything about her character! She’s a stubborn, smart cookie who’s thrown into a tough, life changing situation, but with Holden by her side, she finds a way to cope with her new reality and she is able to rediscover herself.
I’ve got to admit though, at one point I was ready to dive into the book and pull a full-on Nelson, with a pointed finger and “HA-HA” screamed right in Bram’s face. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bram… but Holden? Holden is my guy, you feel me? In the end, though, all’s well that ends well, and who knows? I might’ve shed a tear or two while reading the epilogue.
On a more serious note, Charmed and Alarmed was such a nice read. Like all of Cleo White’s books, I could’ve happily devoured a thousand more pages. So, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced, forbidden, age gap, workplace romance, this one’s totally for you. These two together? Chef’s kiss. The banter? Top tier. The chemistry? Absolute fireworks. What more could you ask for?
P.S. For those who loved Second Edition, you might want to check this one out! 👀
Thank you to the author for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2025
Ahhh Cleo this was the perfecting ending to the daddy issues series. I loved this series so so much.
Leni and Holden.. hot damn. This book was just so well done. I loved it so much!
If you haven't read any of these, you are missing out. Each book is short but sweet with a heeping side of spice!
thank you so much Cleo White and Luna Literary Management for the ARC.
Leni and Holden.. hot damn. This book was just so well done. I loved it so much!
If you haven't read any of these, you are missing out. Each book is short but sweet with a heeping side of spice!
thank you so much Cleo White and Luna Literary Management for the ARC.
May 30, 2025
Cleo does it again! A nice, spicy and still sweet ending to the daddy issues series. This story follows Lenore, the third in the friend group, and the one, who in my opinion, gets the best man out of the trio…and one of the smuttiest stories. Highly recommend, for a short and sweet story filled with romance.
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