Daddy Protector

Night Ops Daddies #1

by Zack Wish

Bound by secrecy, the Night Ops Daddies operate in the darkness of the night.

Together, they are an elite team who protect their clientele at any cost. Danger is never far away, and their enemies are many. But a single boy might just change everything…

Richie
He is my father’s best friend. And according to my father, I have to do everything he tells me to.
It’s just not happening though. So what if I’m more trouble than ever before? I’m never taking instructions from him.
Cole Dunst might be gruff, dangerous, and some big-shot scary bodyguard. But he’s never met a boy like me before. I’ll run rings round him.
And anyway, once this is over – I’m out of Cole’s life forever.
But when I feel his heavy hands on me, everything changes…

Cole
Mitch and I go way back. We’ve got secrets together that will to the grave.
But for him to ask me to look after his son, Richie? He’s trouble, a total brat, a 23-year-old boy who never learns his lesson.
But I’m different to the other protectors. The Night Ops Daddies do things differently. Very differently.
The boy will obey me… or feel my discipline. Over and over, if that’s what it takes.
I’ll guard Richie with my life.
And I will make him mine.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, BDSM

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

For a steamy free story sign up to my Newsletter here-

bit.ly/3KME5ra

I love to write sweet, sexy M/M Age Play Romance. Amazing characters, great settings, and exciting plots make my heart race! When I'm not crafting kinky tales in my rustic shack, I love to hit the gym, cuddle up with my cats, Mustache and Dojo, and cook deliciously large portions of yummy food!

Make me happy by chatting to me about coffee, cats, and Happy Ever Afters...

Follow me on Facebook here - https://www.facebook.com/ZackWishAuthor

Follow me on BookBub here -
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/zack-...

Follow me on Amazon here -
https://amazon.com/author/zackwish

Reviews

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2 stars ⭐️

If Richie isn’t careful, he’s going to see precisely what a Night Ops Guard Daddy is capable of if it means guaranteeing a successful mission…

I was in the mood for some hot Daddy action, so a Dad’s best friend/bodyguard romance felt like the perfect choice. Too bad this was absolutely boring.

I’m not supposed to feel this way—excited, safe, seen under Cole’s rules—but I do.

Honestly, I was very close to DNF-ing at 60% (and I should’ve), because literally nothing had even happened yet. Up until then, it was just them fighting their attraction, Richie being obnoxiously bratty and Cole spanking him. They finally get together, drama ensues, they resolve the point of the plot (Richie being in danger) in two secs, happy ever after. The whole ‘he’s my best friend’s son’ conflict took up most of the book, only to not even be an issue in the end.

There’s no way I should be having any of these kinds of feelings. But I am.

Both the characters and the writing were flat and boring (how many times was it necessary to tell me Richie is the son of a Night Ops guard?? ‘I cAn TaKe cArE oF mYsElF!’ Once, one time was enough), the spice wasn’t even that sexy and this whole book was just not worth the read.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Age gap (circa 20 years?)
- DDlb dynamic
- Top/bottom
- Spanking
- Impact play
- Brief hand necklace
- Mild violence

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 44%.

I was sucked into reading this by the first line of the blurb, which -- well, I'll let you enjoy it:

"Bound by secrecy, the Night Ops Daddies operate in the darkness of night."

Perfection! Literal perfection!

Unfortunately, also wholly misleading. You see, I was operating under the assumption that the phrase "Night Ops Daddies" meant there was, in fact, a crack squad of elite Seal Team 6 Daddies roaming around spanking the bad guys into submission. Will they shoot you, or just give you a gruff scolding? First they hound you, then they pound you!

But leave these wishful imaginings aside, because: LIES!! All lies!! There are no "Night Ops Daddies." There is "Night Ops Guard" (a phrase which appears at least once every page, because god forbid we forget that Cole is/ Richie was raised by a NIGHTS OP GUARD, did you hear me, NIGHT OPS GUARD), but that's just generic Jack Reacher-clone shit. Cole is a Daddy, but not a Night Ops Daddy. I cannot stress enough the importance of this distinction.

Stripped of the novelty value of Night Ops Daddies (operating in the darkness of night), there's no getting around that this book is bad, y'all. Atrocious, sloppy writing made even more interminable by the endless repetition of very simple concepts, which I'm generously interpreting as a means to drag out the page count. Not just Night Ops Guard (NIGHT OPS GUARD!), but the whole "I must resist because he's my father's friend"/ "I must resist because NIGHT OPS GUARD bro code" conflict is, dare I say, rather simple to grasp, yet extensively rehashed in every chapter. I could feel myself getting dumber by the page.

All that said -- as a dutiful ARC reader, I had initially planned to hang on until the first sex scene to see if it was, you know, hot, but 44% in -- yes, that's right, there was still no sex scene at 44%, because of the sheer power of NIGHT OPS BRO CODE -- there is a flashback in Cole's POV where he's recalling raiding a rebel camp in "the Congo" (is this 1953? Are we all Belgian colonialists now? I digress) and the rebel terrorist leader dude is actually called Kabila HAHAHAHAHA kill me. Now, I'm not judging anyone who didn't know that there was a father-son duo of Kabilas who were consecutively president of DRC for over 20 years. For most people not living on the African continent (and probably a lot who are), this is kind of niche info! I am, however, very much judging an author who needed to come up with a name for his evil African terrorist and (I'm guessing) just googled "congolese name" and pasted in the first result. Come on!!!!! There is lazy (relatable), and then there is lazy (insulting). This was lazy (insulting). At that point, I could feel my brain trying to escape my body, and I knew I had to call it. And I didn't even get a sex scene!!! That's an hour and twelve minutes of my life I'll never get back!

tl;dr: shoulda stuck with the blurb. Ah, well. Win some, lose some. Also: I blame you, ancientreader!

I got an ARC from GRR

[Catarina Águas · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

It wasn't bad but it was so repetitive. It said the same things over and over again, once or twice is enough.
I don't like age play very much so that part is my fault for reading the book and knowing what I was getting.
Cole was a protector and he tried to resist his pull to Richie as much as he could but there was no use.
Richie was a brat and he knew he wanted Cole so he was not giving up.
They were good together and I liked them

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy and am voluntarily reviewing it. New series alert! Cole is a Night Ops Guard. While working he had a good friend, Hunter Selleck, that got him out of many sticky situations. When Hunter needed a favor, he knew he could count on Cole to do what needed to be done. Hunter had since moved on to the private sector. Someone was after him and his son, Ritchie. Ritchie was put in Cole's care to protect. Ritchie is the cutest Little. Cole took his "babysitting" job seriously. Even if that meant putting Ritchie into timeout. This book gives readers all the Little/Daddy energy they could want.

Being on the run under Cole's care does not stop Ritchie from wanting to help. When Cole won't listen, Ritchie starts looking for a way out. This lands him in even more trouble. Until finally, Cole and Ritchie give into the Little/Daddy tension. Whew, this book gets hot. Cole and Ritchie make a cute couple. Now it is time to stop the threat once and for all and bring Hunter home. Cole enlists the help of other Night Ops Guards, Henry and Kash. Will Cole be able to keep Ritchie safe when feelings get involved? Is keeping Ritchie on the sidelines the best strategy in this situation? If they do make it out, how is Cole going to tell Hunter how he feels about Ritchie? First things, first. This book is an adventure. Ritchie and Cole on the run. Cole trying to make Ritchie as comfortable as possible given the situation they are in. It was so cute seeing their relationship develop. Ritchie filled my Little cup to the brim with all his antics. Cole will definitely have his hands full with that one. Now, on to the rest of the Night Ops Daddies.

[Kyrsau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole and Richie were entertaining. They're thrown together because Richie's father asked Cole to do him a favor - protect his son while he's dealing with a threat. And so, they end up stuck in a remote safehouse cabin together. It's all very spy novel toward the end, with some action scenes and a nicely tied ribbon at the end for the newly established couple.

This is a light Dd/lb dynamic in my book, mostly focusing on some boundary setting and discipline for Richie's relatively bratty behavior. If you're in it mostly for the vibes, you'll have fun, but don't expect any Abdl or age regression from these two.

Thank you to the author and the team at @gay.romance.reviews for the ARC!

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

Despite wanting to, I just didn’t click with this book. The concept was great and the blurb interesting, but I just couldn’t get invested in the characters. It wasn’t their Daddy/Little relationship because I’ve read those before and really enjoyed them. The thrilling hit and chase was there. The trap at the end too. It could have been brilliant.

But I think (for me) their relationship doesn’t feel very believable. I don’t feel any connection between these two other than one is a Daddy and the other is a Little. It just feels like this is a bullet point version of the story. It hops from one thing to another without any context or depth. There is a lot of repetition and it all feels a little too easy for them.

I hope it does well but I just didn’t connect enough with the characters to enjoy it enough, sorry.
………………………………………………………….
I received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest review.

[Tammy Trueheart · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book as an Arc from Gay romance Reviews


This book just fell flat from what it could have been..

The constant repeat of who Richie was reminding us he was a son of a Night Op was just too much.

The flash backs just took from the story and seemed like just fillers to me.

The spice was lacking and the DDlb was a bit over the top in some cases it just didn’t hit as it could have..

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daddy Protector is the first book in the Night Ops Daddies series. This is the DD/LB story. This is the story of Cole and Richie. Cole is part of the Night Ops Guards and is asked by a friend to protect his son Richie. Richie is a brat that has never found his daddy. I loved all the characters in this book. The story was a bit slow at the beginning with both MC's fighting their attraction but it got was worth the wait. I really enjoyed the story. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book.
received a free review copy

[Julie Underhill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daddy Protector by Zack Wish is the first book in his Night Ops Daddies series. It is the story of a very protective soldier Daddy who finds a sassy Boy who needs to be saved and they find love along the way. Cole Dunst was a former SEAL but is now part of the Night Ops Guards who serve the richest, most powerful people in whatever they need done. He is also a Daddy. He is between jobs when his very good friend and former Night Ops Guard partner, Hunter, comes to him to call in a favor to keep his son, Richie, safe from a dangerous threat he got into. Richie means everything to him so he wants the best and that is Cole. He agrees to a job that could last a week to a month and finds a safe house to take Richie to. Richie Selleck is 23, has a degree in computer science, and works for his father in his security firm. He’s smart, funny, and talented but also a pain in the behind, especially since he finds ways to get what he wants, when he wants it. He is also a Little and wants a Daddy but hasn’t found one who is intense and naturally dominant to handle him. Cole comes to him and tells him he has 10 minutes to get ready to leave for the safe house. Richie doesn’t want to comply but something in his tone has him following directions as he gathers Fizz, his favorite panda stuffie, and everything else he may need. They travel together and once they are settled in, Richie wants to know what happened, especially since it involved his father, and Cole tells him it’s a need to know situation, which doesn’t make him very happy. He attempts an escape but Cole finds him, and he continues to throw fits when things don’t go his way which leads to some spankings and corner time. He’s attracted to Cole’s authority and control and feels safe and seen under his rules. His father had taught him surveillance and to trust his gut and his gut is saying that Cole could be more than a bodyguard. The more Cole sees Richie in his Little side and how he reacts to his rules and attention the more he is feeling the Daddy/Little bond. But he fights it because he was taught that Night Ops Guards don’t get emotionally involved with clients, and that is hard not to do with Richie. Meanwhile Richie has come to think of Cole as his Daddy because he trusts and wants him. They go to a diner in town where they meet Henry and Kash, 2 other Night Ops Guards, and get some more information but when they kiss, Cole says it’s a mistake which hurts and confuses Richie. Cole has many memories of being on missions with Hunter and what he has learned on them and knows he has to step up to be the leader, protector, and Daddy that Richie needs. Then they get a message to evacuate and the threat that is after them is there and they make a harrowing escape to a motel room 1 ½ hours away where they finally have a steamy love scene. But Richie finds the file that explains who is after them and his trust of Cole is broken because he feels like everything they have done together is a lie. When he sneaks out again, Cole comes after him and tells him to come back because he loves him and wants to work everything out together as partners. Richie says he loves him too, because he sees him as a man as well as a Little. Together with several other Night Ops Guards they set a trap to catch the man who is after them and in a tense stand off they succeed. Now the only thing in their way to being together is Hunter’s approval which they get so they are able to settle into their new life together. I enjoyed this story. Richie is such a brat at the beginning and tries to do the opposite of whatever Cole wants him to do. But Cole’s Daddy tendencies don’t let him get away with anything. In fact, they bring them closer together. There are a lot of flashbacks to missions as Cole tries to figure out who is causing the trouble as well as clues to how to handle Richie. Once they are in sync, they have many sweet scenes of playing together as well as showing their feelings in a physical way. There are some scary moments for them both but they are able to find ways to get away. Hunter and the other Night Ops Guards also play a part in this story as does Fizz, the stuffie. I recommend this book, especially if you like Daddy/Little stories about a military Daddy and a Little who needs his protection and love as they face some threats to well-being and their happiness together and are able to get through them to find love.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DADDY PROTECTOR is the first book in the Night Ops Daddies series, and trust me, there's not a snowball's chance in hell you will forget the name of the series.

You know when a blurb grabs you, like really grabs you, and you can't wait to read the book? That was this one for me. Well, it didn't turn out as I expected...

Okay, first things first. I was confused within the first couple of pages when Cole (Daddy MC) meets up with Hunter and gets arm-twisted into looking after Hunter's son, Richie (Little MC). Hunter? Who's that? The blurb says his name is Mitch! In the same part, I was put off by the author's use of 'real men'. I quote "I might be in my forties now, but a cold beer or several still appeals to me from time to time, that's for sure. And to sink them with some REAL MEN, the kind you find in the Night Ops Guards... well that's just perfection." Alphahole alert coming up!

Which leads me nicely onto the next point - see the bit in the sentence above about the Night Ops Guards? Get used to seeing it. I counted 27 instances of this phrase being used in the first 15%, and I probably missed some, as my eyes were too busy rolling. There is also the repetitive use of 'gruff', 'the son of a Night Ops Guard', and other phrases. Honestly, it just feels trite and flat, used more for word count than something meaningful between the two MCs.

I also didn't feel as though Cole was the best example of a Daddy, so I really hope that if anyone does pick up this book, they will have read other Daddy books first. There is a difference between being firm and being a jerk. Walking into someone's home, who doesn't know you, laying down the law, and telling them to put on "proper clothes" when they were enjoying Little Space, is a jerk of the first degree. There is more I could say, but I think I've said more than enough.

I was really looking forward to this book, reading about a group of military Daddies, saving the world one boy at a time. I was disappointed with what I got, and as such, I won't be recommending this book.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 2, 2025

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 rounded up to 4)

This was a fun, kinky start to the Night Ops Daddies series and a solid intro to the DDlg/DDlb dynamic. It’s not a perfect book, but it was highly enjoyable and easy to read, with just enough danger + spice to keep me flipping pages.

I loved Cole—he’s strong, protective, and takes zero bullshit. Exactly the kind of Daddy you want in this type of story. Richie, on the other hand… whew. 😂 I know he’s supposed to be a bratty Little, but sometimes his attitude really bugged me. For someone who’s meant to be smart, he made a lot of ridiculous comments and kept acting like he wanted to be treated like an adult while simultaneously refusing to let Cole just do his job. Dude… dangerous means dangerous. Sit down and listen to your Daddy.

My biggest complaint was the repetition—it felt like the same points were hammered in over and over every chapter, and it got a little exhausting. That said, the dynamic between Cole and Richie was still entertaining. I loved watching Cole’s walls break down as his protectiveness shifted into something deeper, and Richie realizing he needed that structure and care. It’s instalust, it’s brat-taming, it’s Daddy Dom kink with action-packed mafia/military vibes all rolled into one.

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5 (heavy Daddy Dom discipline, spanking, ABDL, brat-taming kink, explicit DDlg/DDlb scenes)

What to Expect:

👮 Dad’s best friend / bodyguard trope

⏳ Age gap (23 vs older Daddy Dom)

👦 DDlg/DDlb dynamic (bratty Little + firm Daddy)

💥 Action + danger with mafia/military elements

❤️‍🔥 Instalust → protective Daddy romance

🪖 Possessive alpha male vibes

Content Warnings (spoilers):

Violence, danger, threats from past enemies

Spanking, discipline, ABDL elements

Daddy Dom / Little Boy dynamic (age play kink)

Dub-con tone in discipline (not outright noncon)

Gun violence / physical fights

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout, and this is my honest review.

[Marilyn (yuu.nemi_reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

This was my first book with the DDlB (Daddy Dom and Little Boy) dynamic, and if you have no idea what that is, I recommend you search and read about it before proceeding to start this book.

Richie finds himself in a tricky situation regarding his father's previous job, and its implications are dangerous for his safety. He is a Little, and he yearns to have his Daddy since he hasn’t had any luck finding the one for him.

Cole is contacted by Richie’s father, Hunter, to protect and guard Richie while Hunter deals with threats to him and his son. Cole is part of the Night Ops Guards, where he met Hunter and formed a very tight, trusting bond, and he owes a favor to Hunter for saving his life, and with such pleasure he takes the mission to protect Richie. Cole is a Daddy so things take a turn in his life as his new mission begins.

The relationship between Cole and Richie was very interesting because the nature of their current situation makes it hard for them to give themselves over to their true Daddy and Little lifestyle. It starts as a means of guidance and providing support for each other, and as those moments keep happening, it becomes hard to not give their all into their newly formed relationship.

Love that it took a more slow-burn approach so the characters could know each other better and build the necessary trust that involves the DDlB lifestyle.

There was so much repetition over and over in each chapter that it was becoming a little exhausting, and it made it redundant and annoying to read it.

Overall this was a nice start to a series of daddies and their Littles and a great introduction to the DDlB dynamic

[Eileen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

I gather this book series is a re release under a new pen name. I did not read them before so I will be reading this whole series fresh, for me.

Mitch has screwed up and now he has put the life of his son in danger. When he makes the request of his buddy, Cole to take care of his son Cole agrees. Cole does not know the whole story but Mitch is calling in the "favor" so he has no choice. What makes this worse is even though they work as protectors, Cole can not call in any help since Mitch does not know who to trust. Richie works for the organization but he does the computer hacking for the company, and is not a trained professional like Mitch and Cole. Cole goes to get Ritchie and can tell right away what he is in for. Being a Daddy, he can see Ritchie is a little and with that comes all the glory and brattiness. He needs to impress to Richie, he needs to pack up fast and be ready to go in minutes. All brat Richie disagrees. 

Richie knows who Cole is. He knows he has been told to behave but that is not his way. He thinks he can help his father and then he will be free of Cole. However all he seems to do is get caught and disciplined as only a Daddy can discipline a little. Then he needs to still do what Cole asks of him.
What happens when Richie finds out why he needs Cole's help? Will he be blaming the correct person? How long can Cole hold out against Richie's "charm"? Will Cole worry about Mitch's safety? Will he worry about Mitch's feelings of how things are between Richie and himself?

I liked parts of this story and disliked other parts. 4 stars might be generous but I will keep reading the series

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and when I was offered the chance to read the book by GRReviews, because of the blurb that really drew me in, especially that first line. I jumped at the chance to read it and I geared myself up for a thrill ride with a Daddy, his soon to be little, lots of danger, twists and turns ............... but unfortunately for me this book fell short on the action front. I found Ritchie to be slightly too much on the whiney, bratty side. To me if he had communicated with Colt as an adult he would have gotten further but the constant brattiness was for me slowing down the book.

The main issue I had with the book is that for the first half of the book nothing seemed to happen, except Colt would tell Ritchie something that he didn't like, Ritchie would pitch a fit, Colt would calm him down the way Daddies do and then the cycle would repeat again and again.

When the action did pick up it lasted a page or two and then Colt and Ritchie got back on their merry go round, not boring but it slowed down the whole thing. The bad guy was revealed and dispatched within a chapter and sort of anti-climactic, with Ritchie showing that he is smart and can work within the Night Ops Guard team/world and that was the other thing the NightOps Guard was said/ thought every few paragraphs which got monotonous.

I don't regret reading this book, I have however read better stories in the genre. I probably won't ever re-read this book but I am willing to give the next in the series a chance, hopefully I will find this next one more enjoyable.

[Linda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heavy on the DD/lb lifestyle with a good plot
Love the cover. He is Cole, a 44yo Night Ops Guard which is a group of men who do daring and sometimes not quite legal things for paying clients. And, sometimes they are not even particular about who those clients are. The Night Ops Guard get in, get the job done and get out; often leaving casualties behind. Hunter has left the Guard and has gone freelance. He’s in a bit of a situation so he asks his friend and current Guard Cole to help him save his son, Ritchie. Hunter has gotten word through the underground that someone wants to hurt him and Hunter rightly guesses that the best way to do that is to hurt Ritchie. Ritchie is a Little; he is 23yo, plays with stuffies and giggles, all of which brings out the Daddy Dom in Cole. I am sure you can see how this is going to go.

I am giving this book four stars as it was an intriguing storyline, but I am not into full on Daddy Dom/little boy stories. I enjoy a DD/lb LITE but this one is intensely into that genre. It is written well with a good plot and great characters who you get to know but I cannot do this MM genre. Totally my fault for not paying attention to the description or knowing to the extent* these characters played their parts. If you like books which are deep into the DD/lb lifestyle, I highly recommend this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through Gay Romance Reviews.

*Extent: coloring with glitter, playing chase, giggling while playing and talking to his stuffed animals, saying “pwease” for please. Like that.

[Annette✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3,5 stars ⭐️

Thank you GRR for providing me with an eARC copy. This is my honest review.

This is my first book by Zack Wish. It’s everything you would expect from a Daddy/little book, warm, sweet and with low angst. Prepare for lots of spankings, a bratty Little and a gruff Daddy bodyguard who’s determined to keep his boy save.

Is this story perfect? No. But it was highly enjoyable and easy to read. I loved Cole, he’s strong and takes no bullshit. Archie really made it hard for him, i know he’s a bratty Little but his attitude really bugged me. For someone who’s supposed to be so smart, he made alot of stupid comments. Wanting to be treated like an adult, when he’s anything but with how he acted and reacted to everything. Dude, just let Cole do his darn job 😂 what don’t you understand with dangerous?

The bookstore scene was a bit cringe. Do people really do that in real life? I don’t kink shame at all. But doing it in public just, i dunno. And the sexy thing scene, no condom, no lube. Apparently the guy has a 9 inch dick and he takes it like a champ. Oh well. Good for him hehe!

Furthermore, it was a nice and cozy read. I really loved the pillow fort building, Dragon Daddy and colouring. They are a perfect match and very sweet together. I’m really looking forward to Henry’s book. Our mountain man needs a Little in his life.

TROPES
🧸 Age Gap
🩵 Daddy/Little
🧸 Bodyguard/client
🩵 Dad’s best friend
🧸 Mild k!nk play

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daddy Protector is book one of Zack Wish's Night Ops Daddies series. It's a pretty good start. Cole works for a quasi-government organization that protects those that can pay. Big money. So... mercenary. Even though it's only the "bad guys" who are labeled as such. The quasi-government and gray area thing has been so overdone. Yes, it 's the background upon which the story is based. Yes, it adds a splash of action and danger. But nary a chapter goes by without a reference to "I'm the boss/bodyguard because I've been trained for it" nonsense.
Zack Wish gives us a good Daddy/ Little brat book. And this does raise the star rating from a 3 star to a 3.5 (rounded up) solid rating. Behind the protector and Daddy masks, Cole is a controlling a_ _. But he recognizes and embraces it. Richie is the more interesting of the pair. Who can't love a brat, but he's a bit deeper than that cardboard cut-out role.
I liked the story, it kept my attention. But I'm not sure I'll get through all five books. Protector just (barely) missed the mark for me. It could have been more. This was my first book by this author. It's only fair that I give the series a second chance.
I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I like this new series from Zack, it still has the engaging characters plus lots of action in this one, and it seemed to me to have a bit more substance in the story. When Cole is asked to protect his friend Hunter’s adult son, Cole gladly took the job for his friend. He knew how important his son Richie was to Hunter and he vowed to keep him safe. As an adult, Richie is very intelligent, working with his father in security, but in his Little side, he is bratty and bossy, more often than not, his anger getting a hold of him and leading him to do stupid things. As they move from safe houses to seedy motels to avoid the person after Richie, Cole discovers the strategic side to him as he promises no more secrets from Ritchie and welcomes his help, both as a Little and an adult. The connection developing between them is becoming more than temporary as they embrace their Daddy and Little sides, too, looking forward to more once the threat is neutralized and they can look forward to their forever together.
Great characters, good world building, some light BDSM as discipline, and a couple spicy scenes to keep it interesting. The story held my interest, and I look forward to Henry’s story next.
I received an advance copy of the book and this is my voluntary review.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Night Ops Daddies series and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series after reading this book. This is the story of Cole Dunst and Richie Selleck. Cole is a daddy and a Night Ops Guard. He and his best friend Hunter worked together until Hunter retired. Hunter has been busy running his own security consultant business and working with his son Richie. When danger comes looking for Hunter and his family, he seeks out his best friend to keep his son Richie safe. Initially not happy about a simple babysitting duty, he soon finds out that it is anything but simple. Richie is a little and wants to help his father. Being raised by a Night Ops dad gives him a particular skill set. Cole wants to keep Richie safe and is keeping them isolated. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. There are numerous flashback sequences that explain the relationship between the Night Ops teams. I enjoyed when Richie and Cole worked together rather than against one another to help solve the problem. I enjoyed this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Exploringwithchapters · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a different style of read for me! I chose it for the "Daddy" perspective, but did not realize it was more geared to age play/ Little Space. I always love the opportunity to expand my understanding in areas I have less information, and continued the read- despite not having a lot of other information to base this review on. The author attempted to do something a bit different here, and combined spice with action. I found that to be very interesting. For the most part, I thought it was done well. There were a few bits that were a bit repetitive - "We fully understand that Ritchie is Hunter's son" - but this was the first book in the series, and I believe this in context to lay foundation for other books to follow. This book had just a touch of miscommunication trope, at the end but not enough to discourage reading. This author has quite a few other books published, and I am exited to read more of his work.

If you are a fan of the Daddy/ Little space this may be a read for you. It is a bit of a slow burn, focusing on character development and sprinkles in a bit of action to help build the plot. This is 256 page count book that I would rate as tier 1 spice.

[Shelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. Richie is super smart, works for his father's company and is a Little. Problems come back from Hunter's past that threatens his son, Richie. Cole is a fierce protector and Daddy. When he is tasked with watching out for his former Night Ops partner and friend's son, it gets complicated. This is where is gets fun. Cole is so torn between keeping his growing feelings for Richie under control and keeping him safe, he is afraid he is going to lose the entire war raging around them. Richie just wants to help but no one lets him know exactly what they know about what is happening. Wrong thing to do because this Little knows more than they think. They fall hard and very quickly but high-pressure situations can do that sometimes. Read along and see what has this Little hiding with a fierce Daddy and Night Ops warrior. You will also get to see what happens after the battle is won and his pops, Hunter, finds out about all the close proximity shenanigans.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little, old don't let the age number fool you! Cole, is asked to protect his fellow Night Ops Guard and best friend, Hunter's son Ritchie. Hunter, was in danger and he didn't know from who or from what direction. Ritchie, is a little who works in his Dad's company. He holds his value as an IT guy and a Little as being higher than Hunter's youngest son. Cole, is obligated, dedicated and loyal to Hunter. He owes Hunter his life and intends to protect Ritchie with his life. Ritchie, wants to use his skills and abilities to help his Dad. Their relationship is on a path of conflict on many levels. The unknown can lead to fear, caution and over protectiveness. Ritchie and Cole have to learn to get along on many levels. Zack, does a great job focusing on the mission and how two such different men can work together to come out on the other side safe and successful. Zack, creates great characters with amazing character flaws that enhance the suspense and drama. Good story, nice flow, great supporting characters. Nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC in exchange of this honest review.
3.5⭐
I wish I could say that I loved this book, but while I LIKED it, I wasn't obsessed.
I love me a bodyguard setting, but it just didn't deliver here.
Despite the obvious effort the author put into tying the ddlb and the high-stakes action together, it always felt like they were existing in parallel timelines. Without spoiling anything, following a life-threatening situation with Cole and Richard having a sweet, wholesome daddy-boy time was... a decision. I understand the thought behind it, but it negated all the consequences after all those life-threatening situations. It was nice the characters having a respite, but I wished the scenes would've impacted each other. I wish the characters scened BECAUSE of the stressful situations, not DESPITE of them, if that make sense.
Also, both times Richie ****** because of Cole didn't have any impact on the plot whatsoever 🤨. Like, both scenes were resolved in legit like 2 pages. Wat was the point lmao

With all these being said, yes I'm still reading the second book 😤

[Nina Diab · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The tension crackles, electric, and I know he felt it too— the spark, the pull, the heat that flared between us. I want to step closer, to see what happens if we let this moment stretch, but I hold back, my heart pounding with a mix of longing and fear.
The forest seems to press in, the distant car sounds sharper, a reminder of the danger we’re hiding from, but it’s not the threat that scares me— it’s this, the way Cole’s touch ignites something I can’t name, something I’m not sure I can resist.'

I really enjoyed this book. It was such a fun Daddy/bratty boy romance with father's best friend/best friend's son and age gap tropes. Good world building and wonderful characters. I loved both Cole and Richie. I liked the dynamic between them and the way their relationship developed as Cole had to discipline Richie when he didn't follow orders or acted out while Cole was trying to keep him safe. Richie wanted Cole for his Daddy, but Cole's job is dangerous and he can't let himself get close to Richie.. can he?

A great start to a new series and I can't wait to read more. 4 stars

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole and Richie? I loved these two. Richie’s dad basically begs Cole to protect his son from a threat, and suddenly they’re holed up in a safehouse together. Cue a mix of grumpy soldier vibes, bratty sass, and a whole lot of tension. It honestly felt part romance, part spy thriller and I was hooked.

The Dd/lb dynamic here is light but really fun. Richie pushes buttons, Cole sets boundaries, and the brat/Daddy chemistry was spot on. No age regression, just discipline, care, and plenty of steam once they finally give in.

I’ll admit, it started off a bit slow with them resisting each other, but once they clicked? Totally worth it. Cole’s protective Daddy energy paired with Richie’s cheeky side just worked. And let’s be real, even Richie’s stuffie Fizz deserves a shoutout for being part of the story.

All in all, this was a strong start to the Night Ops Daddies series. If you’re into protective Daddies, bratty but lovable boys, and a little suspense thrown in, this one’s for you. I’m already looking forward to the next book!

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to what seems like an exciting action pack daddy/boy series. Cole the tough no nonsense special ops guy who happens to daddy finds himself as a bodyguard to his best friend's son Richie. Richie is a sweet little but he is also very smart and determined to have his way. Lets just say he gives Cole the business from the start and all his little shenanigans brings out the daddy...protective and caring. Their journey to love was a little rocky...the connection was there but trust was hard built and eventually became solid. There is a little drama on whether the dad/best friend was gonna have an issue with the relationship...throughtout the book I didn't think it would be a deal breaker but the conclusion wasn't so surprising...very nice hard earned HEA. Can't wait to read more in the series...bring in more night ops daddies...LOL!

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly Otto · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Coles former colleague asks to return the favor of saving his life in return putting his life on the line for his son, Richie. Richie is not prepared for the Daddy Dom that is Cole to come in take charge of life in order to protect him from his dads enemies. These two do not have any easy beginning, secrets are needed to protect Richie, but who are these secrets really protecting? When the danger gets closer Cole must learn to not only protect but trust in Richies knowledge, so that they both come out alive. I enjoyed the daddy boy aspect of this story, that was all handled well, what somewhat put me off on how easily Richie forgave his Daddy. Yes it was meant to protect him, and yet with his past i believe that it should have been handled better. Overall, a fun read that held me captivated and would like to read more from this author in he future.

I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received. My review is solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful romantic suspence book with mystery, suspence, danger, action, and spice. Tension radiated off the pages when Cole and Richie first met. Cole was accustomed to order and structure, while Richie was used to giving into impulse when the urge struck. When his life is endangered, those impulses became targets and it was up to Cole to protect and contain. The suspence was riveting and the tension was always there, even when under the surface. Their mutual attraction was not only inconvenient given the situation, it was problematic given Cole's relationship with Richie's father. Would he be able to keep this Little safe from others (and from his own impulses) long enough to eliminate the threat?

I received a gift copy of this book and voluntarily provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Virginia Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a new author for me, and I always go in with an open mind. I’m so glad I did, because they did not disappoint! From the very first page, you can feel the suspense and steam rising off the story.

Cole has buried many secrets to protect his team, but when Hunter pulls the partner card to help, and to protect his son Richie finds himself in a little pickle, Cole shows up. His job is to protect Richie. What he sees, though, is more than just a boy in trouble—he sees someone who needs to be put in his place, and Daddy Cole is more than ready to do it.

Things get tense quickly as danger lurks around every corner, and Cole wants nothing more than to keep Richie out of harm’s way. The chemistry between them simmers until it finally boils over, and we get to see these two click in a way that makes all the danger and heat worth it.

[Aly York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC for my honest opinion. Daddy Protector by Zack Wish was a cute and fabulous read. Richie and Cole’s story is one of father’s best friend watching over his son to keep him safe while falling for him the entire time. They were so cute and adorable to read. Ritchie being a little that never found the right Daddy until he meets Cole. Cole falling so fast for Richie even though he knows he shouldn’t because he is his best friend’s son. Cole is tasked with keeping Richie safe and away from the people coming after his dad. Richie works for his dad and doesn’t like to be left out of the loop. He will cause a muck to get what he needs even if he doesn’t know it at the time. I recommend checking it out.