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A marriage built on lies and a Daddy who always gets what he wants…
Love has never interested Vance Ashford. Romance is a distraction he never allowed himself to indulge. He never planned to marry—until his father made it the price of his inheritance. Now he has until his fortieth birthday or he’ll lose control of the family’s billion-dollar empire.
Failure isn’t an option… but Sophia Bennett is.
Brilliant, ambitious, and on the verge of becoming the Ashford Group’s youngest Vice President, she is the last woman who would ever agree to be Vance’s wife. So he doesn’t give her the choice. With one signature, he takes her freedom and her future—binding her life to his.
Living under his rule, smiling for Chicago’s cameras, and playing the role of the city’s newest power couple, Sophia searches for a way to escape the man who trapped her.
Only, Vance Ashford doesn’t care if she hates him—he has no intention of ever letting her go.
If Sophia is going to wear his ring and carry his name, he’s going to make sure she’s his wife in every sense of the word.
She’s going to make him a Daddy… in more ways than one.
Love has never interested Vance Ashford. Romance is a distraction he never allowed himself to indulge. He never planned to marry—until his father made it the price of his inheritance. Now he has until his fortieth birthday or he’ll lose control of the family’s billion-dollar empire.
Failure isn’t an option… but Sophia Bennett is.
Brilliant, ambitious, and on the verge of becoming the Ashford Group’s youngest Vice President, she is the last woman who would ever agree to be Vance’s wife. So he doesn’t give her the choice. With one signature, he takes her freedom and her future—binding her life to his.
Living under his rule, smiling for Chicago’s cameras, and playing the role of the city’s newest power couple, Sophia searches for a way to escape the man who trapped her.
Only, Vance Ashford doesn’t care if she hates him—he has no intention of ever letting her go.
If Sophia is going to wear his ring and carry his name, he’s going to make sure she’s his wife in every sense of the word.
She’s going to make him a Daddy… in more ways than one.
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2026
About the author
J.L. Quick
39 books404 followersJ.L. Quick is an author of spicy, dark, contemporary (18+) romance novels and novellas. Utilizing a mixture of her life experiences and Master's degree in Psychology, she creates deep, rich characters who battle their demons while finding savage and brutal love. In her free time, she enjoys reading, food festivals, visiting distilleries, and cult-classic movies. J.L. Quick resides in the Mid-Atlantic with her husband and the pack of pitties.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
2.75 stars???
I have loved the three other J.L. Quick books I have read. "Vance" is my least favorite. It felt very, *very* repetitive; the plot felt very, *very* thin, just a few words to justify the spice, which is mooooooore than excessive. I can now firmly say I am off the "daddy" train after reading this book. If I never hear the word "daddy" ever again in my entire life, I would be just fine!!! If my calculations are correct, the word "daddy" is said around 90 (!!!) times in a s3xual context in this book!!! I knew there was a daddy k1nk thanks to the trope list, but my sister in christ!!! That's too much daddy-ing!!! Sophia (FMC) was being groomed by Vance's (MMC) father, Roman, to become a big-wig in the Ashford Group. She moved back to Chicago to take care of her little sister, Kiki, when their parents died several years ago, leaving her New York dreams behind. Sophia agrees to a deal (read: blackmail!!!) with the devil, Vance, to become his "wife" (read: property!!!) so he, his brothers, and his mother can inherit everything Roman left them in his will. Vance blackmails her and her sister, so Sophia only agrees to this contract so Kiki can stay in college and live the worry-free life Sophia never got to. Some people will say this makes Sophia strong, but I found her to be incredibly weak! Vance is an uber-possessive alpha with a br33ding k1nk who cannot wait to impregnate his new trophy. Sophia is the only person who has ever ~*dared~* to push back against Vance in the boardroom; will she be able to do the same in the bedroom, too, or will she be forced to take a knee for him, literally and figuratively? I am on the fence about this book. Like I said, it feels like a lot of simple groundwork laying to justify 8 billion spicy scenes between Vance and Sophia, but there is absolutely no yearning or pining or wanting there whatsoever! I am not a prude, and I love my fair share of spice, but there is way too freaking much of it in this book. I didn't feel any chemistry between Vance and Sophia, even when he begins to soften towards her a little at the end of the book. This is obviously because they had a contentious relationship before he ~*claimed her~* as his bride, so there are not many feelings there other than resentment from the get-go. I just wanted to shake Sophia and tell her she deserved better. I get itttttttt, rich morally gray alpha male who can take care of my sister and I can learn to love himmmmmmmm, yaaaaaaaaaaay, ICK NO NO NO ICK ICK ICK. I didn't like it! I was uncomfy while reading this, and it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable! Vance had the b4lls to say, "I didn't just pick you from a list; it was always you," pardon????????? Am I reading the same book!??!? You literally did just pick her?!??! There might not have been a list, but would you have picked her if your inheritance wasn't threatened?! I'm guessing nO!!! I am sure this book will have plenty of fans, but I am not one of them! I have enjoyed possessive alpha make morally gray books in the past, but something about Vance and Sophia's dynamic rubbed me the wrong way! Plus, again, TOO MUCH DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do think that the set-up for the other books in the series is good, and the other Ashford brothers' books might be a good time, but "Vance" was a no-go for me.
Thank you to J.L. Quick and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
I have loved the three other J.L. Quick books I have read. "Vance" is my least favorite. It felt very, *very* repetitive; the plot felt very, *very* thin, just a few words to justify the spice, which is mooooooore than excessive. I can now firmly say I am off the "daddy" train after reading this book. If I never hear the word "daddy" ever again in my entire life, I would be just fine!!! If my calculations are correct, the word "daddy" is said around 90 (!!!) times in a s3xual context in this book!!! I knew there was a daddy k1nk thanks to the trope list, but my sister in christ!!! That's too much daddy-ing!!! Sophia (FMC) was being groomed by Vance's (MMC) father, Roman, to become a big-wig in the Ashford Group. She moved back to Chicago to take care of her little sister, Kiki, when their parents died several years ago, leaving her New York dreams behind. Sophia agrees to a deal (read: blackmail!!!) with the devil, Vance, to become his "wife" (read: property!!!) so he, his brothers, and his mother can inherit everything Roman left them in his will. Vance blackmails her and her sister, so Sophia only agrees to this contract so Kiki can stay in college and live the worry-free life Sophia never got to. Some people will say this makes Sophia strong, but I found her to be incredibly weak! Vance is an uber-possessive alpha with a br33ding k1nk who cannot wait to impregnate his new trophy. Sophia is the only person who has ever ~*dared~* to push back against Vance in the boardroom; will she be able to do the same in the bedroom, too, or will she be forced to take a knee for him, literally and figuratively? I am on the fence about this book. Like I said, it feels like a lot of simple groundwork laying to justify 8 billion spicy scenes between Vance and Sophia, but there is absolutely no yearning or pining or wanting there whatsoever! I am not a prude, and I love my fair share of spice, but there is way too freaking much of it in this book. I didn't feel any chemistry between Vance and Sophia, even when he begins to soften towards her a little at the end of the book. This is obviously because they had a contentious relationship before he ~*claimed her~* as his bride, so there are not many feelings there other than resentment from the get-go. I just wanted to shake Sophia and tell her she deserved better. I get itttttttt, rich morally gray alpha male who can take care of my sister and I can learn to love himmmmmmmm, yaaaaaaaaaaay, ICK NO NO NO ICK ICK ICK. I didn't like it! I was uncomfy while reading this, and it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable! Vance had the b4lls to say, "I didn't just pick you from a list; it was always you," pardon????????? Am I reading the same book!??!? You literally did just pick her?!??! There might not have been a list, but would you have picked her if your inheritance wasn't threatened?! I'm guessing nO!!! I am sure this book will have plenty of fans, but I am not one of them! I have enjoyed possessive alpha make morally gray books in the past, but something about Vance and Sophia's dynamic rubbed me the wrong way! Plus, again, TOO MUCH DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do think that the set-up for the other books in the series is good, and the other Ashford brothers' books might be a good time, but "Vance" was a no-go for me.
Thank you to J.L. Quick and Luna Literary for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
October 18, 2026
I have loved every JL Quick book I have read so far… except for this one. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. I was ready to DNF by 40% but kept pushing through, biggest reason I really disliked Vance’s character. I know eventually he had to soften up, but the ick stayed. The story felt choppy to me also. I really wanted to like this, but you win some, you loose some.
Thank you Luna Literacy for the ARC for an honest review.
Thank you Luna Literacy for the ARC for an honest review.
October 27, 2026
This author is fast becoming a favorite author! She writes great characters that quickly become addictive, in the best way!
Our hero is not a soft or gentle man, his upbringing and life style have hardened him so when his father dies and leaves outrageous conditions he needs to meet to claim his inheritance, he finds the best candidate and moves in like a hostile takeover.
♡♡♡
The tension between him and Sophia is present from the first page and their sharp tongued barbs and verbal battles were *chef's kiss* There is nothing borderline enemies with these two. These two know they are just contractual, there is no soft feelings between these two. This happens over time, with forced proximity and little glimpses of the real Vance and Sophia.
Their journey is hard fought but I loved watching Vance fall hard for Sophia. When I say the wait is worth it, I am not lying. Seriously, there were times I really disliked Vance but just like Sophia, I was holding out hope that he would show his true colors and I was not disappointed. I might have enjoyed that 3rd act break up a little too much but the reunion was EVERYTHING!!!
Vance is the first book in the new series, Daddies of Ashford, and it definitely starts off with a bang. We have a close knit family of five brothers that are all powerful, cold and dangerous. I'm dying to see what is in store for all these men, especially Xander (the silent broody one) and Kaden (the most arrogant) because when these men fall, they fall epically and I love watching hard men melt for their women!
♡♡♡
Favorite Bits:
🖤 Seeing Vance become a united front with Sophia at his side.
🖤 Their reunion!
🖤 The epilogue was 100% worth it all!
SAFETY INFO:
Our hero is not a soft or gentle man, his upbringing and life style have hardened him so when his father dies and leaves outrageous conditions he needs to meet to claim his inheritance, he finds the best candidate and moves in like a hostile takeover.
♡♡♡
Hate is much cleaner than love. It's more predictable. Love makes people stupid. Hate keeps them sharp and focused on their enemy.♡♡♡
The tension between him and Sophia is present from the first page and their sharp tongued barbs and verbal battles were *chef's kiss* There is nothing borderline enemies with these two. These two know they are just contractual, there is no soft feelings between these two. This happens over time, with forced proximity and little glimpses of the real Vance and Sophia.
Their journey is hard fought but I loved watching Vance fall hard for Sophia. When I say the wait is worth it, I am not lying. Seriously, there were times I really disliked Vance but just like Sophia, I was holding out hope that he would show his true colors and I was not disappointed. I might have enjoyed that 3rd act break up a little too much but the reunion was EVERYTHING!!!
Vance is the first book in the new series, Daddies of Ashford, and it definitely starts off with a bang. We have a close knit family of five brothers that are all powerful, cold and dangerous. I'm dying to see what is in store for all these men, especially Xander (the silent broody one) and Kaden (the most arrogant) because when these men fall, they fall epically and I love watching hard men melt for their women!
♡♡♡
This is a family business, and my sons will run it together or not at all.♡♡♡
Favorite Bits:
🖤 Seeing Vance become a united front with Sophia at his side.
🖤 Their reunion!
🖤 The epilogue was 100% worth it all!
SAFETY INFO:
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Thank you JL Quick and Luna Literacy for this ARC.
Heeelllllllloooooo DADDY. This is full blown daddy kink and I was here for it.
The last thing Vance thought his dad would do in this life was screw him over again. Finding out that he had to be married by the time he turned 40 was not part of his plans, especially since his 40th birthday was only a week away. Sophia had caught his attention when she started working at his family’s company three years ago. She was intelligent and refused to back down to him. She was the perfect choice to be his wife, and he made sure she would say yes.
Sophia had been trying to keep things together since she gained guardianship of her sister after their parents passed away. Leaving NYC to move back to Chicago was not ideal, but she did it anyway. She worked hard at her company while scraping by to keep her sister’s college dreams alive. However, Vance had other plans. Sophia never expected to be blackmailed by Vance into a marriage.
This one heck of a ride. Vance was a lot: cold, emotionless, calculated, walls up. There are times were you want to shake and go what's the deal bud. Sophia went threw a lot in this book but she did not back down. The spice in this book was HOT. Daddy kink was unlocked like no other. I did enjoy this book and looking forward to how the other brothers stories will play out.
Heeelllllllloooooo DADDY. This is full blown daddy kink and I was here for it.
The last thing Vance thought his dad would do in this life was screw him over again. Finding out that he had to be married by the time he turned 40 was not part of his plans, especially since his 40th birthday was only a week away. Sophia had caught his attention when she started working at his family’s company three years ago. She was intelligent and refused to back down to him. She was the perfect choice to be his wife, and he made sure she would say yes.
Sophia had been trying to keep things together since she gained guardianship of her sister after their parents passed away. Leaving NYC to move back to Chicago was not ideal, but she did it anyway. She worked hard at her company while scraping by to keep her sister’s college dreams alive. However, Vance had other plans. Sophia never expected to be blackmailed by Vance into a marriage.
This one heck of a ride. Vance was a lot: cold, emotionless, calculated, walls up. There are times were you want to shake and go what's the deal bud. Sophia went threw a lot in this book but she did not back down. The spice in this book was HOT. Daddy kink was unlocked like no other. I did enjoy this book and looking forward to how the other brothers stories will play out.
Did Not Finish
October 19, 2026I am so disappointed with this book. I typically enjoy J.L. Quick’s books and cannot believe how much I hated these two characters! I almost never DNF a book, but at 40% I couldn't force myself to read another word.
I have nothing positive to say about the vile Vance. He was callous, he didn't feel anything for her and treated her as such, practically told her he would force her to have sex with her and then did.
I cannot even remember her name, she was so weak and pathetic. When I read an FMC I want her to be strong and independent and she was absolutely not either of these things. When he forced her to have sex, she did what she was told and seemed to enjoy it but saying she hated him. I can't imagine any woman who couldn't lay there like a sack of potatoes staring at the wall and have zero enjoyment.
If the author was looking for the reader to be outrageously angry at her characters then it was a 5 star, I am hoping her next book causes less hate and is more in keeping with their previous books.
I have nothing positive to say about the vile Vance. He was callous, he didn't feel anything for her and treated her as such, practically told her he would force her to have sex with her and then did.
I cannot even remember her name, she was so weak and pathetic. When I read an FMC I want her to be strong and independent and she was absolutely not either of these things. When he forced her to have sex, she did what she was told and seemed to enjoy it but saying she hated him. I can't imagine any woman who couldn't lay there like a sack of potatoes staring at the wall and have zero enjoyment.
If the author was looking for the reader to be outrageously angry at her characters then it was a 5 star, I am hoping her next book causes less hate and is more in keeping with their previous books.
October 26, 2026
Um, so like Vance ticked all the boxes for me!! It was so freaking good and spicy and an excellent way to start this new series!! I did not want to put it down at all. I felt like it moved at a really good pace and was really easy to follow along in this new world. There is some OWD, which is not normally my fave but as we know where the MMC head is at the whole time, it's not as angsty as you would expect with that trope. I am very excited to see where JL takes us with this new series.
Vance, our MMC, is very morally red with some red flags to boot, but! He's so hot, and there were so many swoony moments with him we are just ignoring all the red and making it look pink. He's very much an arse to Sophia in the beginning, but he more than makes up for it. The spice in this was off the charts. I loved it. I really loved his relationship with his brothers, I feel like we are going to see how amazing their bond is as the series goes on.
Sophia, our FMC, was put in a really hard place and was forced into marriage, but she slowly fell in love, there was some very sweet moments between them. Sophia is very strong-willed and will stick up for herself, but she is also very protective. I am glad she got her HEA. She's one character that definitely deserved it!
I am so looking forward to the next books in this series!
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 🔥
Vance, our MMC, is very morally red with some red flags to boot, but! He's so hot, and there were so many swoony moments with him we are just ignoring all the red and making it look pink. He's very much an arse to Sophia in the beginning, but he more than makes up for it. The spice in this was off the charts. I loved it. I really loved his relationship with his brothers, I feel like we are going to see how amazing their bond is as the series goes on.
Sophia, our FMC, was put in a really hard place and was forced into marriage, but she slowly fell in love, there was some very sweet moments between them. Sophia is very strong-willed and will stick up for herself, but she is also very protective. I am glad she got her HEA. She's one character that definitely deserved it!
I am so looking forward to the next books in this series!
4.5 ⭐️
4.5 🔥
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
I usually write my thoughts and my reviews because they’re usually squeezed out of me after going through war with the characters and after tears and snot and angst etc. But in this case there’s nothing to say but that I’ll return to this book when I need “stimulation” and if my sex life ever depletes. Coz this was fucking hot.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review ❤️🔥
Oh my god, I absolutely DEVOURED this book! Vance had me completely obsessed from the very beginning, and honestly, MOVE OVER because there’s a new daddy in town!
And the spice GOOD LORD! This man’s filthy mouth had me blushing, and let’s just say he definitely knew what he was doing in the bedroom! 🥵
I really loved the storyline and thought the pacing was perfect. It kept me hooked the entire way through, and I especially loved watching Sophie slowly break down those walls Vance had built around his heart. These two were so good together!
Such a fun, spicy read, and I honestly cannot wait for more from this series! I’m already dying to know whose story we’re getting next! ❤️🔥
Thank you so much to JL and Luna for an ARC copy of this book. I greatly appreciate it! ❤️
Oh my god, I absolutely DEVOURED this book! Vance had me completely obsessed from the very beginning, and honestly, MOVE OVER because there’s a new daddy in town!
And the spice GOOD LORD! This man’s filthy mouth had me blushing, and let’s just say he definitely knew what he was doing in the bedroom! 🥵
I really loved the storyline and thought the pacing was perfect. It kept me hooked the entire way through, and I especially loved watching Sophie slowly break down those walls Vance had built around his heart. These two were so good together!
Such a fun, spicy read, and I honestly cannot wait for more from this series! I’m already dying to know whose story we’re getting next! ❤️🔥
Thank you so much to JL and Luna for an ARC copy of this book. I greatly appreciate it! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely devored this book..
Vance had me in a chokehold from the moment I picked it up until the very end
Move over there is a new daddy in town
This book was hot and had me blushing with with his filthy mouth and phew he definitely knew his way round the bedroom
I loved the plot and the pace of the book was really good
I loved how Sophie managed to break down the walls surrounding his heart.
Can't wait for more. I wonder who will be next.
Vance had me in a chokehold from the moment I picked it up until the very end
Move over there is a new daddy in town
This book was hot and had me blushing with with his filthy mouth and phew he definitely knew his way round the bedroom
I loved the plot and the pace of the book was really good
I loved how Sophie managed to break down the walls surrounding his heart.
Can't wait for more. I wonder who will be next.
October 23, 2026
OMG VANCE ASHFORD!!! 🥵🔥🥵
J.L. Quick what have you done to me because I absolutely DEVOURED this book!! I knew I was going to love a possessive, controlling, morally grey Daddy but HOLY HELL VANCE!!! 🥵🥵
This man doesn’t ask, he TAKES!! He wants Sophia as his wife and that’s exactly what he’s going to get, whether she likes it or not!! The audacity of this man had me screaming but also kicking my feet because OMG!! 😂🔥
And Sophia!! I absolutely loved her!! She’s smart, ambitious, stubborn and definitely not about to make life easy for the arrogant billionaire who thinks he can control everything!! Their chemistry was INSANE!! The tension, the power struggles, the possessiveness, the Daddy vibes and the SPICE!!! 🥵🔥🔥
Vance is the definition of a walking red flag and apparently I’m colourblind because I was eating up every single second of it!! 😂😍 The whole forced marriage, billionaire Daddy, touch-her-and-die energy had me absolutely HOOKED!!
I love a man who is completely obsessed with his woman, especially when he’s used to getting everything his way and suddenly has a woman who challenges him at every turn!! Vance and Sophia were EVERYTHING!!
This was dark, deliciously filthy, addictive and exactly the kind of unhinged romance I LOVE!! I couldn’t put it down and I definitely wasn’t ready for it to end!!
J.L. Quick you have me HOOKED on these Ashford men already!! GIVE ME MORE!!! 😍🔥
Review of advance copy received from Author
****ARC READER REVIEW****
I picked this up thinking I was getting a simple marriage-of-convenience romance and instead got launched headfirst into absolute chaos.
Vance is the king of emotional constipation. This man has more walls than a medieval castle and spends half the book making me want to shake him by the shoulders and yell, "USE YOUR WORDS." Sophia, meanwhile, is out here carrying the weight of the world on her back and refuses to let anyone walk over her. We love a resilient queen.
The tension? Unhinged. The marriage setup? Messy. The family drama? A whole dumpster fire. I was stressed, entertained, frustrated, and fully invested all at the same time.
Vance's brothers better have their stories lined up because after this trainwreck of emotions, I need to know what kind of chaos they're bringing next.
I picked this up thinking I was getting a simple marriage-of-convenience romance and instead got launched headfirst into absolute chaos.
Vance is the king of emotional constipation. This man has more walls than a medieval castle and spends half the book making me want to shake him by the shoulders and yell, "USE YOUR WORDS." Sophia, meanwhile, is out here carrying the weight of the world on her back and refuses to let anyone walk over her. We love a resilient queen.
The tension? Unhinged. The marriage setup? Messy. The family drama? A whole dumpster fire. I was stressed, entertained, frustrated, and fully invested all at the same time.
Vance's brothers better have their stories lined up because after this trainwreck of emotions, I need to know what kind of chaos they're bringing next.
October 28, 2026
Vance and Sophia work together. Sophia is not like all the other women that Vance has dated or been around. Sophia does not take Vance's back talk. She stands up to him. Things do not get better when these two are forced to get married.
"The monsters win. The monsters always win."
As soon as I met Sophia, I loved her. The way that she stood on her own two feet and called Vance out, had me cheering for her. She is one fierce FMC. That is why it could not be just any ordinary man that would be able to control Sophia.
"This kiss is deep and passionate, stealing whatever complaint was forming on my lips."
I am definitely getting into the "Daddy" mini trope. So, this new series from author, J.L. is a delight. It is full of "Daddy" references. The snarky words between Sophia and Vance was just the lead up to all of the spicy. It was hot. Um, the NSFW artwork...yes!!! Looking forward to continuing this series.
"The monsters win. The monsters always win."
As soon as I met Sophia, I loved her. The way that she stood on her own two feet and called Vance out, had me cheering for her. She is one fierce FMC. That is why it could not be just any ordinary man that would be able to control Sophia.
"This kiss is deep and passionate, stealing whatever complaint was forming on my lips."
I am definitely getting into the "Daddy" mini trope. So, this new series from author, J.L. is a delight. It is full of "Daddy" references. The snarky words between Sophia and Vance was just the lead up to all of the spicy. It was hot. Um, the NSFW artwork...yes!!! Looking forward to continuing this series.
October 23, 2026
*I received a copy of this book as an ARC. This review and thoughts are mine alone.*
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you want SPICE? You read a J.L. Quick book.
My god this was hot.
The heat between these two, not only in the bedroom but in their verbal sparring had me clutching my metaphorical pearls.
Vance is truly a darker romance, so PLEASE real all of the triggers. But if you’re able to read, i highly recommend!
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
If you want SPICE? You read a J.L. Quick book.
My god this was hot.
The heat between these two, not only in the bedroom but in their verbal sparring had me clutching my metaphorical pearls.
Vance is truly a darker romance, so PLEASE real all of the triggers. But if you’re able to read, i highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
These Ashford brothers are no joke!
Now, now, was Vance Ashford a MAJOR ass? Yeah...but he was obsessed, so...He needed to learn by doing. He couldn't get over how Sophia made him feel, and he used any way he could to get her in the position he wanted. But in doing so, he found that she turned into his weakness. She made him realize that his heart was, in fact, still beating. That was the best 'what have I done' moment ever. It did make up for the way he was pretty much forcing her into things at the beginning.
And Sophia? We love an ethical baddie, selfless but with a backbone. She was cornered and even then wouldn't let herself be disrespected by the Ashfords. She knew her body was all in with Vance's way, but she didn't have to let him take her heart; she made him earn it. And when he fucked up, she made him grovel. One hell of a woman. Her relationship with her sister was super sweet, and I liked how much of a ride-or-die the sister turned out to be.
I know the other brothers need the same push to fall in love, and I will be front row to seeing them fold for their women. Senior Ashford was an asshole to the highest degree, but he knew how to stir the pot!
Thank you so much, Luna and J.L. Quick, for this early copy!
Now, now, was Vance Ashford a MAJOR ass? Yeah...but he was obsessed, so...He needed to learn by doing. He couldn't get over how Sophia made him feel, and he used any way he could to get her in the position he wanted. But in doing so, he found that she turned into his weakness. She made him realize that his heart was, in fact, still beating. That was the best 'what have I done' moment ever. It did make up for the way he was pretty much forcing her into things at the beginning.
And Sophia? We love an ethical baddie, selfless but with a backbone. She was cornered and even then wouldn't let herself be disrespected by the Ashfords. She knew her body was all in with Vance's way, but she didn't have to let him take her heart; she made him earn it. And when he fucked up, she made him grovel. One hell of a woman. Her relationship with her sister was super sweet, and I liked how much of a ride-or-die the sister turned out to be.
I know the other brothers need the same push to fall in love, and I will be front row to seeing them fold for their women. Senior Ashford was an asshole to the highest degree, but he knew how to stir the pot!
Thank you so much, Luna and J.L. Quick, for this early copy!
October 10, 2026
ARC Review 🌶️🔥 | A Deliciously Dangerous Ride!
Holy hell! What a delicious ride! No pun intended. 😏🔥 What started as blackmail quickly turned into a full-course meal of fine, savory deliciousness, and BABY, I devoured every last bite! This story was on point from beginning to end, flowing like sweet honey and keeping me hooked the entire way through!
Of course, we have our hot, dangerous billionaire with a possessive streak a mile wide: Vance Ashford. Yes, please! 🥵🔥 This man is stern, commanding, and absolutely not someone you want to get on the wrong side of. No one dares to challenge him… except HER. And that’s exactly how we like it!
Sophia is SERVING! 👑🔥 Gorgeous? Check. Highly intelligent? Check. A woman who refuses to back down or let anyone dictate her worth? DOUBLE CHECK! Hell yes, QUEEN! Her backstory adds so much depth to her character, giving us a better understanding of the strong, determined, take-no-shit woman she is. I loved that she could stand her ground and hold her own against a man like Vance. Their dynamic? EVERYTHING!
When the unexpected happens, time becomes precious, and difficult decisions have to be made, there’s no room for hesitation. Deals must be struck, and taking no for an answer simply isn’t an option. Enter an offer that can’t be refused… 👀 But neither Vance nor Sophia could have anticipated what would unfold between them, and WHEW! Did things get interesting!
The tension? DELICIOUS. The unspoken yearning? DEVASTATING. The spice? GOOD LORD! 🥵🌶️ And the plot, pacing, chemistry, and delivery? Chef’s kiss! 🤌🏽 Everything came together so beautifully, and this story delivered on every level and THEN SOME. I was invested, entertained, and thoroughly FED!
And can we talk about those side characters?! 👀 Because I DEFINITELY feel something brewing, and now I’m sitting here on the edge of my seat, watching, waiting, and mentally preparing for whatever J. L. Quick has cooking next!
Speaking of which… J. L. QUICK, I NEED YOU TO LIVE UP TO THAT NAME AND DELIVER EXPEDITIOUSLY! 😂🙌🏽 I am NOT prepared to patiently wait when there are more Ashfords out there whose stories I desperately need!
If you love a possessive billionaire, a strong heroine who refuses to be intimidated, delicious tension, plenty of spice, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages, THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR RADAR!
⭐️Final verdict: I came for the blackmail, stayed for the chemistry, and left desperately hungry for MORE!
J. L. Quick, respectfully… GIVE ME THE REST OF THE ASHFORDS! 😩🔥❤️
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Easily a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!!
Holy hell! What a delicious ride! No pun intended. 😏🔥 What started as blackmail quickly turned into a full-course meal of fine, savory deliciousness, and BABY, I devoured every last bite! This story was on point from beginning to end, flowing like sweet honey and keeping me hooked the entire way through!
Of course, we have our hot, dangerous billionaire with a possessive streak a mile wide: Vance Ashford. Yes, please! 🥵🔥 This man is stern, commanding, and absolutely not someone you want to get on the wrong side of. No one dares to challenge him… except HER. And that’s exactly how we like it!
Sophia is SERVING! 👑🔥 Gorgeous? Check. Highly intelligent? Check. A woman who refuses to back down or let anyone dictate her worth? DOUBLE CHECK! Hell yes, QUEEN! Her backstory adds so much depth to her character, giving us a better understanding of the strong, determined, take-no-shit woman she is. I loved that she could stand her ground and hold her own against a man like Vance. Their dynamic? EVERYTHING!
When the unexpected happens, time becomes precious, and difficult decisions have to be made, there’s no room for hesitation. Deals must be struck, and taking no for an answer simply isn’t an option. Enter an offer that can’t be refused… 👀 But neither Vance nor Sophia could have anticipated what would unfold between them, and WHEW! Did things get interesting!
The tension? DELICIOUS. The unspoken yearning? DEVASTATING. The spice? GOOD LORD! 🥵🌶️ And the plot, pacing, chemistry, and delivery? Chef’s kiss! 🤌🏽 Everything came together so beautifully, and this story delivered on every level and THEN SOME. I was invested, entertained, and thoroughly FED!
And can we talk about those side characters?! 👀 Because I DEFINITELY feel something brewing, and now I’m sitting here on the edge of my seat, watching, waiting, and mentally preparing for whatever J. L. Quick has cooking next!
Speaking of which… J. L. QUICK, I NEED YOU TO LIVE UP TO THAT NAME AND DELIVER EXPEDITIOUSLY! 😂🙌🏽 I am NOT prepared to patiently wait when there are more Ashfords out there whose stories I desperately need!
If you love a possessive billionaire, a strong heroine who refuses to be intimidated, delicious tension, plenty of spice, and a storyline that keeps you turning the pages, THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR RADAR!
⭐️Final verdict: I came for the blackmail, stayed for the chemistry, and left desperately hungry for MORE!
J. L. Quick, respectfully… GIVE ME THE REST OF THE ASHFORDS! 😩🔥❤️
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Easily a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!!
October 24, 2026
Even though this contained 2 of my most triggering triggers, I legit couldn’t stop clicking my clicker to turn the page. 😂 There’s something about a woman like Sophia bringing a man like Vance down to his knees.
h “I stay awake, staring into the darkness, covering his hand with mine as I pray that tomorrow this will make me worthy of his love”
ahhh, my freaking heart. Soph was a mfn lovergirl to her coreeeee. Bc me?!?!?! He’s going to love me OR ☠️🤣 jk…(not really) but fr my eyes watered bc my girl was so serious 😢
Anywhooooo…
Nitpicky Notes —
•H should’ve diverted his d@mn eyes faster during ch32.
•she should’ve put his a$s on a leash and made him crawl around begging for her forgiveness.
•the OWD🥴 (which is another thing I despise bc I’m a wee-lotta-bit sensitive) but it was stomach-able for me (barely).
🩷’d:
•KiKi - whatta riderrrr, she never gave up her sisters location♥️ #girlcode101
•diner scene >>> I respect any man who doesn’t just say bs to placate or lie straight to a women’s face when he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings
•Xander, can his book be next please?!?! Them quiets are my kryptonite.
•Beckett+Baldwin grew on me but they are too old to be SO freaking childish.
•epilogue + bonus epilogue 🥹
Triggers + Things:
— Dual POV
— Death of loved ones
— Blackmail
— Forced Marriage
— Age gap: h (33) H (39)
— No v!rgins, both experienced.
— all the way🥵 @ 24% (ch11 of 44) • (dub-con, daddy kink, breeding kink, spanking, impact play w/ belt, face slapping, forced exhibitionism + 🐓warming.)
— OWD: H’s assistant turned ex-assistant flirts, touches his shoulder, runs her finger down H’s arm, and flashes her hoochie coochie at H all in front of h // same OW is apart of the climax
— OMD: h runs into her ex @ a gala and dances with him, and the H almost pops a blood vessel. // during the climax her ex kisses her but she pushes him away… eventually. 😂
Note:
Alsoooo I really don’t like 3rd act breakups and/or separations (unless they are a blip) BUT my girl needed to leave him bc he needed to KNOW submissive as she may be — some things will NEVEREVEREVER be tolerated so don’t even think about trying it.
— separation + 3rd act break up: h leaves H for 3 weeks thinking he’s cheated on her (ch33-41)
— No: notable push/pull, sharing or cheating
— HEA: Happily married with a little girl & pregnant.🩷
h “I stay awake, staring into the darkness, covering his hand with mine as I pray that tomorrow this will make me worthy of his love”
ahhh, my freaking heart. Soph was a mfn lovergirl to her coreeeee. Bc me?!?!?! He’s going to love me OR ☠️🤣 jk…(not really) but fr my eyes watered bc my girl was so serious 😢
Anywhooooo…
Nitpicky Notes —
•H should’ve diverted his d@mn eyes faster during ch32.
•she should’ve put his a$s on a leash and made him crawl around begging for her forgiveness.
•the OWD🥴 (which is another thing I despise bc I’m a wee-lotta-bit sensitive) but it was stomach-able for me (barely).
🩷’d:
•KiKi - whatta riderrrr, she never gave up her sisters location♥️ #girlcode101
•diner scene >>> I respect any man who doesn’t just say bs to placate or lie straight to a women’s face when he doesn’t reciprocate her feelings
•Xander, can his book be next please?!?! Them quiets are my kryptonite.
•Beckett+Baldwin grew on me but they are too old to be SO freaking childish.
•epilogue + bonus epilogue 🥹
Triggers + Things:
— Dual POV
— Death of loved ones
— Blackmail
— Forced Marriage
— Age gap: h (33) H (39)
— No v!rgins, both experienced.
— all the way🥵 @ 24% (ch11 of 44) • (dub-con, daddy kink, breeding kink, spanking, impact play w/ belt, face slapping, forced exhibitionism + 🐓warming.)
— OWD: H’s assistant turned ex-assistant flirts, touches his shoulder, runs her finger down H’s arm, and flashes her hoochie coochie at H all in front of h // same OW is apart of the climax
— OMD: h runs into her ex @ a gala and dances with him, and the H almost pops a blood vessel. // during the climax her ex kisses her but she pushes him away… eventually. 😂
Note:
Alsoooo I really don’t like 3rd act breakups and/or separations (unless they are a blip) BUT my girl needed to leave him bc he needed to KNOW submissive as she may be — some things will NEVEREVEREVER be tolerated so don’t even think about trying it.
— separation + 3rd act break up: h leaves H for 3 weeks thinking he’s cheated on her (ch33-41)
— No: notable push/pull, sharing or cheating
— HEA: Happily married with a little girl & pregnant.🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2026
⭐⭐⭐✨
Okay, so J.L. Quick knows how to write a spicy romance, and I usually love everything she puts out, but this one was a little harder for me to love. 🥵
Let's start with Vance. Good Lord, that man was a walking attitude problem! 😂 I can handle an arrogant, possessive, morally questionable MMC, especially when we're talking marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and daddy kink. Those are absolutely my kind of tropes! But Vance was just plain nasty for so much of the book, and there were times when I struggled to understand what Sophia even saw in him.
Sophia, on the other hand, was sharp, and I enjoyed her. The chemistry and spice were definitely there, and the steamy scenes delivered. But for me, all that heat wasn't enough to make up for Vance's behavior. His issues might explain some of his attitude, but I needed to see more growth and a whole lot more effort from him before I could really get behind their relationship. His redemption came too late for me to build that connection with him, and that's a big deal because I need to actually CARE about my book characters!
And can we PLEASE talk about how many times the word **"DADDY"** was used in this book?! 🤣 I'm not even kidding. I don't think I've ever seen that word repeated so many times in a single book before! We GET IT, he's Daddy! 😂🔥 At some point, I couldn't help but notice just how often it appeared, and it honestly became a little distracting.
And Vance's brothers? Oh, they're a whole other problem. This family has enough attitude and arrogance to last a lifetime! Someone needs to knock these men down a few pegs because WOW. 😂
Despite all that, I still enjoy J.L. Quick's writing, and you already know I'm not giving up on this series. Will I read the next book? Obviously! Don't ask ridiculous questions. 🤣❤️ I love this author's style, and I'm still hoping one of these brothers will surprise me and finally give us a man worth swooning over without wanting to throw the book at him first!
**The spice was there, but the character development needed more work for me.** I'm still invested enough to keep reading, and I'm crossing my fingers that the next brother gives me everything I've been missing!
Okay, so J.L. Quick knows how to write a spicy romance, and I usually love everything she puts out, but this one was a little harder for me to love. 🥵
Let's start with Vance. Good Lord, that man was a walking attitude problem! 😂 I can handle an arrogant, possessive, morally questionable MMC, especially when we're talking marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, and daddy kink. Those are absolutely my kind of tropes! But Vance was just plain nasty for so much of the book, and there were times when I struggled to understand what Sophia even saw in him.
Sophia, on the other hand, was sharp, and I enjoyed her. The chemistry and spice were definitely there, and the steamy scenes delivered. But for me, all that heat wasn't enough to make up for Vance's behavior. His issues might explain some of his attitude, but I needed to see more growth and a whole lot more effort from him before I could really get behind their relationship. His redemption came too late for me to build that connection with him, and that's a big deal because I need to actually CARE about my book characters!
And can we PLEASE talk about how many times the word **"DADDY"** was used in this book?! 🤣 I'm not even kidding. I don't think I've ever seen that word repeated so many times in a single book before! We GET IT, he's Daddy! 😂🔥 At some point, I couldn't help but notice just how often it appeared, and it honestly became a little distracting.
And Vance's brothers? Oh, they're a whole other problem. This family has enough attitude and arrogance to last a lifetime! Someone needs to knock these men down a few pegs because WOW. 😂
Despite all that, I still enjoy J.L. Quick's writing, and you already know I'm not giving up on this series. Will I read the next book? Obviously! Don't ask ridiculous questions. 🤣❤️ I love this author's style, and I'm still hoping one of these brothers will surprise me and finally give us a man worth swooning over without wanting to throw the book at him first!
**The spice was there, but the character development needed more work for me.** I'm still invested enough to keep reading, and I'm crossing my fingers that the next brother gives me everything I've been missing!
October 25, 2026
I’ve loved every book I’ve read by this author, but unfortunately I just didn’t vibe with this one.
The first 70% just felt like domestic abuse with a spice chaser which I found really uncomfortable. I’m a dark romance lover so definitely not new to questionable MMCs, but having DV experience, this stepped too far over the line for me. The type of dynamic being depicted, in my opinion, needs to be shown to be consented to. Their whole relationship was built on coercion which I had a really hard time with.
I found myself skimming, which is something I never do, because it got really repetitive. Daddy kink might not be my favourite, but I generally enjoy reading it, but the frequency it was used in this one just got to be too much. Even the spice ended up feeling like filler. Like without it, there wouldn’t have been a story at all.
Overall it felt like the plot was lacking.
Man needs to get married, blackmails and threatens colleague into marrying him so she has no choice, treats her awfully and is extremely controlling, she somehow falls for him anyway, he suddenly becomes a better man right at the end? Beyond that, there really wasn’t an overarching plot which is really surprising as it’s something I normally enjoy with this authors books.
I hated Vance. Viscerally. Even when he “softened” it felt self serving and was only in response to losing control.
Sophia started so strong, she spoke her mind and held her ground, but with Vance’s threats and punishments, she made herself so small. It was only after he extinguished her fire and she became a lesser version of herself that he made any effort at all. I hated watching it unfold honestly.
I’m absolutely sure there will be people who love this one, it just wasn’t for me.
But I’ll definitely be lining up to read the next one and hoping it’ll be a better fit.
If you enjoy daddy kink, controlling MMC’s, lots of spice and a quick read, this might be a good fit.
The first 70% just felt like domestic abuse with a spice chaser which I found really uncomfortable. I’m a dark romance lover so definitely not new to questionable MMCs, but having DV experience, this stepped too far over the line for me. The type of dynamic being depicted, in my opinion, needs to be shown to be consented to. Their whole relationship was built on coercion which I had a really hard time with.
I found myself skimming, which is something I never do, because it got really repetitive. Daddy kink might not be my favourite, but I generally enjoy reading it, but the frequency it was used in this one just got to be too much. Even the spice ended up feeling like filler. Like without it, there wouldn’t have been a story at all.
Overall it felt like the plot was lacking.
Man needs to get married, blackmails and threatens colleague into marrying him so she has no choice, treats her awfully and is extremely controlling, she somehow falls for him anyway, he suddenly becomes a better man right at the end? Beyond that, there really wasn’t an overarching plot which is really surprising as it’s something I normally enjoy with this authors books.
I hated Vance. Viscerally. Even when he “softened” it felt self serving and was only in response to losing control.
Sophia started so strong, she spoke her mind and held her ground, but with Vance’s threats and punishments, she made herself so small. It was only after he extinguished her fire and she became a lesser version of herself that he made any effort at all. I hated watching it unfold honestly.
I’m absolutely sure there will be people who love this one, it just wasn’t for me.
But I’ll definitely be lining up to read the next one and hoping it’ll be a better fit.
If you enjoy daddy kink, controlling MMC’s, lots of spice and a quick read, this might be a good fit.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💜 ARC REVIEW 💜
Vance by JL Quick
Vance & Sophia
He Calls Her Sweetheart
💜 RELEASING: October 23th 💜
My Rating: 5☆
Dark Daddies of Ashford Book One
Dark Billionaire Romance
Workplace Romance
Boss & Employee
Forced Marriage
Enemies to Lovers
My Wife
Daddy Kink
Breeding Kink W/Pregnancy
My Spicy Rating: 4.25🌶 (I love my quarter ratings.)
Vance is book one in The Dark Daddies of Ashford series. It will consist of five interconnected dark billionaires standalones.
💜 REVIEW:
This right here is the type of Forced Marriage trope I enjoy. This book gave me exactly what I needed: a man who doesn't believe in love and forces her into marriage by blackmailing her. A man so ruthless, rough, possessive and so obsessed, who doesn't believe in love, falls to his knees, becomes soft just for his FMC and worships her. He definitely made me angry but I knew, I just knew, he would end up on his knees begging her. My favorite part? A jealous MMC. A jealous Vance is everything.
I LOVE J.L Quick's writing. I'm addicted to her books. Her characters. These worlds she creates. She is fantastic. There is want, lust, tension and undeniable chemistry between Vance and Sophia. Her spicy scenes? Hot damn. This book is VERY spicy. Her spicy moments get straight to the point, and I LOVE that so much. She gives exactly the amount I enjoy. I truly enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. It's a must read.
And because I also get attached to side characters, now I need a novella for Connor. Poor guy. He needs A HEA too. 😭
Thank you for letting me ARC read this spicy book. Vance will be available to read on October 23rd. 💜
Vance by JL Quick
Vance & Sophia
He Calls Her Sweetheart
💜 RELEASING: October 23th 💜
My Rating: 5☆
Dark Daddies of Ashford Book One
Dark Billionaire Romance
Workplace Romance
Boss & Employee
Forced Marriage
Enemies to Lovers
My Wife
Daddy Kink
Breeding Kink W/Pregnancy
My Spicy Rating: 4.25🌶 (I love my quarter ratings.)
Vance is book one in The Dark Daddies of Ashford series. It will consist of five interconnected dark billionaires standalones.
💜 REVIEW:
This right here is the type of Forced Marriage trope I enjoy. This book gave me exactly what I needed: a man who doesn't believe in love and forces her into marriage by blackmailing her. A man so ruthless, rough, possessive and so obsessed, who doesn't believe in love, falls to his knees, becomes soft just for his FMC and worships her. He definitely made me angry but I knew, I just knew, he would end up on his knees begging her. My favorite part? A jealous MMC. A jealous Vance is everything.
I LOVE J.L Quick's writing. I'm addicted to her books. Her characters. These worlds she creates. She is fantastic. There is want, lust, tension and undeniable chemistry between Vance and Sophia. Her spicy scenes? Hot damn. This book is VERY spicy. Her spicy moments get straight to the point, and I LOVE that so much. She gives exactly the amount I enjoy. I truly enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. It's a must read.
And because I also get attached to side characters, now I need a novella for Connor. Poor guy. He needs A HEA too. 😭
Thank you for letting me ARC read this spicy book. Vance will be available to read on October 23rd. 💜
Review of advance copy received from Author
Vance
Sophia and Vance
Where do I even begin!!! Oh my…..
These two are just too good together!
I was not expecting what I read it was so much better! I mean ok so was I surprised no I was shook! In that good way!
Sophia is so strong willed and was not afraid to show Vance and his brothers!!!
She stood her ground and I think that is why Vance was so drawn to her!
As for Vance, oh dear!!! That man was too much for his own good! The whole daddy Vance thing um yes please !!!!!
From start to finish these two were magnetic even if they tried to fight that underlying pull you knew it was naturally there! They just didn’t know how to show it without letting them loose their selves in the process! But as always love sneaks in and wins!
A certain secretary did get on my nerves oh how she threw me! But any who, I’m curious what’s going on between Vance’s little brother and a certain college student! Fingers crossed that will be the next book! There is a third act brake up I know not fun but it definitely added depth to the story and the ending! So just bear thru it! It’s worth it!
All I have to say is Roman was a crafty man but thanks to his “rules” we get to see all these brothers stories and I personally can’t wait! This was so steamy, spicy and oh my your gonna need a glass of water next too you that’s for sure! These two were hotter than the Fourth of July!
⭐️/5 stars and more!!!
🌶️/4.5 on the spice level!!! Oh my…….
This is the first book in this series so you can definitely read it as a standalone.
Sophia and Vance
Where do I even begin!!! Oh my…..
These two are just too good together!
I was not expecting what I read it was so much better! I mean ok so was I surprised no I was shook! In that good way!
Sophia is so strong willed and was not afraid to show Vance and his brothers!!!
She stood her ground and I think that is why Vance was so drawn to her!
As for Vance, oh dear!!! That man was too much for his own good! The whole daddy Vance thing um yes please !!!!!
From start to finish these two were magnetic even if they tried to fight that underlying pull you knew it was naturally there! They just didn’t know how to show it without letting them loose their selves in the process! But as always love sneaks in and wins!
A certain secretary did get on my nerves oh how she threw me! But any who, I’m curious what’s going on between Vance’s little brother and a certain college student! Fingers crossed that will be the next book! There is a third act brake up I know not fun but it definitely added depth to the story and the ending! So just bear thru it! It’s worth it!
All I have to say is Roman was a crafty man but thanks to his “rules” we get to see all these brothers stories and I personally can’t wait! This was so steamy, spicy and oh my your gonna need a glass of water next too you that’s for sure! These two were hotter than the Fourth of July!
⭐️/5 stars and more!!!
🌶️/4.5 on the spice level!!! Oh my…….
This is the first book in this series so you can definitely read it as a standalone.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Buckle up, there’s a new Daddy in town! 🔥
This book had me hooked right from the start, and I read it almost in one sitting. Vance is arrogant, cruel, and absolutely brutal when he wants something. Failure simply isn’t an option for him.
But Sophia is one hell of a match for him, and she refuses to back down even an inch. These two battle through the whole book over who will come out on top. And the sparks start flying between them pretty much immediately. This book is seriously spicy, and Daddy’s filthy mouth? Enough to make your ears turn red. 🔥🥵
Slowly, Vance’s cold and seemingly emotionless heart starts to melt for Sophia, and somehow the man I was ready to punch in the face at the beginning had completely won my heart by the end.
And unlike the Delta Daddies series, this one comes with an emotional curveball that hit me hard. I cried with Sophia when she broke down, and then I cried with Vance too because of the very thing that came between them. This one definitely put my emotions through the wringer. Thankfully, everything works out in the end and we get our happy ending. ❤️
The Queen of Daddies, J.L., delivers a great start to this new series, and I’m already really curious about the rest of the brothers. Somehow Xander, even though he stayed more in the background, especially caught my attention. But I love knowing we still have at least four more brothers’ stories coming.
Big recommendation from me! 🖤
This book had me hooked right from the start, and I read it almost in one sitting. Vance is arrogant, cruel, and absolutely brutal when he wants something. Failure simply isn’t an option for him.
But Sophia is one hell of a match for him, and she refuses to back down even an inch. These two battle through the whole book over who will come out on top. And the sparks start flying between them pretty much immediately. This book is seriously spicy, and Daddy’s filthy mouth? Enough to make your ears turn red. 🔥🥵
Slowly, Vance’s cold and seemingly emotionless heart starts to melt for Sophia, and somehow the man I was ready to punch in the face at the beginning had completely won my heart by the end.
And unlike the Delta Daddies series, this one comes with an emotional curveball that hit me hard. I cried with Sophia when she broke down, and then I cried with Vance too because of the very thing that came between them. This one definitely put my emotions through the wringer. Thankfully, everything works out in the end and we get our happy ending. ❤️
The Queen of Daddies, J.L., delivers a great start to this new series, and I’m already really curious about the rest of the brothers. Somehow Xander, even though he stayed more in the background, especially caught my attention. But I love knowing we still have at least four more brothers’ stories coming.
Big recommendation from me! 🖤
Review of advance copy
From the very beginning, you can feel the palpable tension and chemistry between these two. You can see how much they dislike each other, but at the same time, they can't help being drawn to one another.
Vance... damn, this man. He has such a huge ego, and he knows it. He knows there's a power imbalance between them, that he holds all the cards, and that he can manipulate Sophia. That made me want to strangle him, but because he's such a hot daddy, I kept coming back for more. Red-flag men are literally my catnip! But this man... phew! When he finally realised his feelings for Sophia? He was already intense before, but after that realisation? HE GOT EVEN MORE INTENSE! I literally had to take breathing breaks!
Sophia is such a caring older sister, and she'll do everything in her power to protect her little sister. That's why she agrees to become Vance's wife. But what I really appreciate about Sophia is that, despite the difficult situation she's in, she remains smart, strong, and determined. She doesn't simply let Vance walk all over her, and I loved that about her!
I read this in one sitting and stayed up until 2am because I was so invested! If the first book in the series is this good, I seriously can't wait to read the rest!
If you love forced marriage romances with sizzling enemies-to-lovers chemistry, an arrogant, morally grey MMC who is an absolute red flag, and a delicious daddy who knows exactly what he's doing, then this one is for you.
Vance... damn, this man. He has such a huge ego, and he knows it. He knows there's a power imbalance between them, that he holds all the cards, and that he can manipulate Sophia. That made me want to strangle him, but because he's such a hot daddy, I kept coming back for more. Red-flag men are literally my catnip! But this man... phew! When he finally realised his feelings for Sophia? He was already intense before, but after that realisation? HE GOT EVEN MORE INTENSE! I literally had to take breathing breaks!
Sophia is such a caring older sister, and she'll do everything in her power to protect her little sister. That's why she agrees to become Vance's wife. But what I really appreciate about Sophia is that, despite the difficult situation she's in, she remains smart, strong, and determined. She doesn't simply let Vance walk all over her, and I loved that about her!
I read this in one sitting and stayed up until 2am because I was so invested! If the first book in the series is this good, I seriously can't wait to read the rest!
If you love forced marriage romances with sizzling enemies-to-lovers chemistry, an arrogant, morally grey MMC who is an absolute red flag, and a delicious daddy who knows exactly what he's doing, then this one is for you.
October 23, 2026
Dark, possessive, deliciously spicy, and unexpectedly emotional.
Vance was raised to be ruthless. Power, control, and protecting the family empire are all he knows. Love? That was never part of the equation.
Sophia Bennett is intelligent, fiercely independent, and absolutely unwilling to bow down to him. Unfortunately for her, Vance has decided she’s the perfect solution to his inheritance problem.
What starts as a marriage of convenience quickly becomes a battle of wills between two people who refuse to surrender control.
And the chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥
Vance is arrogant, controlling, possessive, and morally questionable in all the ways you’d expect from a dark romance MMC. But what I loved was watching the cracks slowly form in that carefully constructed armor. A man who has spent his entire life believing love is a weakness suddenly finds himself wanting something he doesn’t know how to give or even name.
And Sophia? She doesn’t simply disappear into his world. She challenges him, pushes back, and holds on to the things that matter to her.
This book definitely delivers on the spice, with plenty of dominant, possessive energy, daddy kink, and breeding kink. But underneath all that heat is a story about two people learning that wanting someone and truly loving them aren’t necessarily the same thing.
4.5 stars! A dark, sexy, addictive romance with a ruthless MMC who may have finally met the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees. 🖤
Vance was raised to be ruthless. Power, control, and protecting the family empire are all he knows. Love? That was never part of the equation.
Sophia Bennett is intelligent, fiercely independent, and absolutely unwilling to bow down to him. Unfortunately for her, Vance has decided she’s the perfect solution to his inheritance problem.
What starts as a marriage of convenience quickly becomes a battle of wills between two people who refuse to surrender control.
And the chemistry? 🔥🔥🔥
Vance is arrogant, controlling, possessive, and morally questionable in all the ways you’d expect from a dark romance MMC. But what I loved was watching the cracks slowly form in that carefully constructed armor. A man who has spent his entire life believing love is a weakness suddenly finds himself wanting something he doesn’t know how to give or even name.
And Sophia? She doesn’t simply disappear into his world. She challenges him, pushes back, and holds on to the things that matter to her.
This book definitely delivers on the spice, with plenty of dominant, possessive energy, daddy kink, and breeding kink. But underneath all that heat is a story about two people learning that wanting someone and truly loving them aren’t necessarily the same thing.
4.5 stars! A dark, sexy, addictive romance with a ruthless MMC who may have finally met the one woman capable of bringing him to his knees. 🖤
Review of advance copy
4⭐️
This is my first book by this author and I cannot wait to follow the rest of the brothers. There is nothing better than a man saying he will never fall in love. Then they turn possessive and obsessive over their women.
Sophia Bennett is basically trying to keep everything together. After her parents died she took over being the guardian to her underage sister. She had to leave New York to move back to Chicago for Kiki. She was not expecting to be blackmailed by one of her bosses into marriage.
Vance Ashford is used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He NEVER wanted to get married or have kids. His dad taught the boys that. After his dad dies he has one week before his 40th birthday to find a wife. Who better than the woman him and his brother hates.
There were times I wanted to punch Vance in the face but also felt for Sophia:
“Don’t ask me to be something I’m not, sweetheart. I don’t know how to give you what you want. What you need. This is the best version of me you’re going to get. I hope someday that’s enough."
What to expect:
🖤 Daddy Kink
🔥 Dark-ish Billionaire
🖤 Workplace Romance
🔥 Forced Marriage
🖤 Breeding
🔥 🐓warming
🖤 Somno
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Power imbalance
Thank you J.L. Quick and Luna Literary for the early copy. Above are my honest thoughts.
This is my first book by this author and I cannot wait to follow the rest of the brothers. There is nothing better than a man saying he will never fall in love. Then they turn possessive and obsessive over their women.
Sophia Bennett is basically trying to keep everything together. After her parents died she took over being the guardian to her underage sister. She had to leave New York to move back to Chicago for Kiki. She was not expecting to be blackmailed by one of her bosses into marriage.
Vance Ashford is used to getting what he wants when he wants it. He NEVER wanted to get married or have kids. His dad taught the boys that. After his dad dies he has one week before his 40th birthday to find a wife. Who better than the woman him and his brother hates.
There were times I wanted to punch Vance in the face but also felt for Sophia:
“Don’t ask me to be something I’m not, sweetheart. I don’t know how to give you what you want. What you need. This is the best version of me you’re going to get. I hope someday that’s enough."
What to expect:
🖤 Daddy Kink
🔥 Dark-ish Billionaire
🖤 Workplace Romance
🔥 Forced Marriage
🖤 Breeding
🔥 🐓warming
🖤 Somno
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Power imbalance
Thank you J.L. Quick and Luna Literary for the early copy. Above are my honest thoughts.
November 2, 2026
Another fantastic Daddy book by JL Quick. She is one of my favorite authors for this trope. Not everyone can do a good daddy book justice but she is one of them. I really enjoyed Vance. He was your typical billionaire who has to be forced to finally enjoy the good things in life. He is dead set on making sure the family business continues to thrive. He is willing to do anything to make that happen. In walks Sophia. His dad has hired her to be his protege so to speak. She is very compassionate and is willing to do the hard work with compassion for those around them. They instantly butt heads. Vance is like a bull in a china shop in his approach where as Sophia does everything she can to be compassionate. What neither of them expect is that they will embark on an arrangement for marriage to help save the company. Vance is all in but has to get Sophia on board. I just love how she did not let him walk all over her as a person. She stood her ground and made him see what he had and what he could lose if he did not open up his heart and his life. I love that Vance knew what he wanted from her from the moment things where put into place. He did not hesistate on his actions. He knew she was the perfect woman for him and he was right. I don't think any other woman could have complimented him in the same way. If you like a good daddy book look no further.
November 3, 2026
✨ ARC Review ✨
Ever since I read the dad’s story before starting Vance, I knew this would be the beginning of a GOOD series!!!
Dad Roman declares that his sons have to be married by the age of 40 and have a son by the age of 45. And Vance, being the oldest, has his 40th birthday coming up in just ONE WEEK! WEW. 👀
And then we meet our FMC, Sophia, a hardworking woman who catches Vance’s attention the moment she steps into the company. I’m not surprised that Vance wants her as his wife because her personality balances his so well. Plus, he takes advantage of her unfortunate situation to get what he wants. He is SO RUTHLESSSSS and downright mean with the way he forces Sophia into becoming his wife. 🫣
Vance is just like his father. He has the same temper, is equally ruthless, and is obsessed with what he considers his possession. And in this case, it’s Sophia. Their love story isn’t an instant one, but watching them slowly fall for each other as they live and work together and get to understand each other better? I LOVEEE ITTTT!!! ❤️
The conflict was a little frustrating because I HATE miscommunication and misunderstandings so much. 🫠 But then again, without them, we wouldn’t have those turning points, right? Thankfully, the overall storyline made up for it, so I’ll give this one a pass!
Thank you for the ARC, JL Quick & Luna Literary! 🤍
Ever since I read the dad’s story before starting Vance, I knew this would be the beginning of a GOOD series!!!
Dad Roman declares that his sons have to be married by the age of 40 and have a son by the age of 45. And Vance, being the oldest, has his 40th birthday coming up in just ONE WEEK! WEW. 👀
And then we meet our FMC, Sophia, a hardworking woman who catches Vance’s attention the moment she steps into the company. I’m not surprised that Vance wants her as his wife because her personality balances his so well. Plus, he takes advantage of her unfortunate situation to get what he wants. He is SO RUTHLESSSSS and downright mean with the way he forces Sophia into becoming his wife. 🫣
Vance is just like his father. He has the same temper, is equally ruthless, and is obsessed with what he considers his possession. And in this case, it’s Sophia. Their love story isn’t an instant one, but watching them slowly fall for each other as they live and work together and get to understand each other better? I LOVEEE ITTTT!!! ❤️
The conflict was a little frustrating because I HATE miscommunication and misunderstandings so much. 🫠 But then again, without them, we wouldn’t have those turning points, right? Thankfully, the overall storyline made up for it, so I’ll give this one a pass!
Thank you for the ARC, JL Quick & Luna Literary! 🤍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
💜daddy kink
💜workplace romance
💜forced marriage
💜breeding kink
💜dark billionaire
💜age gap
J.L. Quick has done it again! Vance is everything a dark, broody billionaire should be. Absolutely delicious! Vance is the first book in the new series: Dark Daddies of Ashford. He is oldest of the Ashford brothers, so we can expect even more goodness as this series continues.
Sophia comes off as this powerhouse of a businesswoman in the office(and make no mistake, our girl knows her stuff). But really she’s trying to keep herself and family afloat and is one of my favorite FMCs to date. Vance knows what he wants and what he wants is Sophia. He will stop at nothing to get her. Vance Ashford is man accustomed to getting want he wants and Sophia is no different.
J.L.’s signature spice and banter just made this book even more explosive. Let me say….you’re not ready for the spice but oh you’re going to love it!
I could go on and on but really just run and read this book!
Thank you to J.L.Quick for the honor of Alpha reading and the street team ARC reading Vance.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
💜daddy kink
💜workplace romance
💜forced marriage
💜breeding kink
💜dark billionaire
💜age gap
J.L. Quick has done it again! Vance is everything a dark, broody billionaire should be. Absolutely delicious! Vance is the first book in the new series: Dark Daddies of Ashford. He is oldest of the Ashford brothers, so we can expect even more goodness as this series continues.
Sophia comes off as this powerhouse of a businesswoman in the office(and make no mistake, our girl knows her stuff). But really she’s trying to keep herself and family afloat and is one of my favorite FMCs to date. Vance knows what he wants and what he wants is Sophia. He will stop at nothing to get her. Vance Ashford is man accustomed to getting want he wants and Sophia is no different.
J.L.’s signature spice and banter just made this book even more explosive. Let me say….you’re not ready for the spice but oh you’re going to love it!
I could go on and on but really just run and read this book!
Thank you to J.L.Quick for the honor of Alpha reading and the street team ARC reading Vance.
October 13, 2026
Did I stay up past my bedtime to finish this in one day? Yes, yes I did!
Vance is our possessive MMC billionaire that needs a wife by time he turns 40, for his family to get their inheritance and company according to his father’s will. He doesn’t think he is capable of love.
Sophia hasn’t had it easy, after losing both her parents, she stepped up to be the guardian to her younger sister. She works hard to prove herself at work, but she is constantly butting heads with Vance.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Vance realizes his solution for a wife is right in front of him with Sophia. The two enemies become lovers and the rest is history.
I would’ve loved for Sophia to stand up to Vance a bit more, I know she had it in her to be fierce and challenge him more. I did enjoy the change in Vance and watching their relationship grow.
The tension and spice in the book kept me hooked. So if you are looking for a forced marriage, morally grey MMC, enemies to lovers, daddy kink read I would recommend this. I’m excited to read the rest of this series.
Thank you Luna Literary and J.L. Quick for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Vance is our possessive MMC billionaire that needs a wife by time he turns 40, for his family to get their inheritance and company according to his father’s will. He doesn’t think he is capable of love.
Sophia hasn’t had it easy, after losing both her parents, she stepped up to be the guardian to her younger sister. She works hard to prove herself at work, but she is constantly butting heads with Vance.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Vance realizes his solution for a wife is right in front of him with Sophia. The two enemies become lovers and the rest is history.
I would’ve loved for Sophia to stand up to Vance a bit more, I know she had it in her to be fierce and challenge him more. I did enjoy the change in Vance and watching their relationship grow.
The tension and spice in the book kept me hooked. So if you are looking for a forced marriage, morally grey MMC, enemies to lovers, daddy kink read I would recommend this. I’m excited to read the rest of this series.
Thank you Luna Literary and J.L. Quick for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 20, 2026
ARC Review: 5⭐️
Vance is book 1 in the Dark Daddies of Ashford series featuring Vance Ashford & Sophia Bennett.
After the death of his father, Vance and his brothers are informed they must be married by the age of 40 and produce an heir by 45 in order to inherit the company. The problem with this revaluation? Vance’s 40th birthday is in one week.
Forced to act quick, Vance blackmails Sophia an Ashford group employee and his father’s protege into marrying him. Sophia is left with little choice so she reluctantly agrees to go along with it.
Once they’re married, Vance wastes no time getting down to the heir portion of the trust, attempting to knock Sophia up as soon as possible.
What starts as a loveless marriage starts to take a turn rather quickly. Just when things really take a turn between Vance & Sophia, Sophia is led to believe something that isn’t true and she flees from their apartment.
Vance will tear apart the city looking for her, will he manage to find her and bring her home once he realizes his feelings for Sophia are so much more than he ever wanted ?
This is hands down my new favorite book from JL and I wasn’t ready for it to end! Vance was a complete jerk at the beginning of this one but by the end I was head over heels for him! I think this series is gonna blow our minds as we move through the brother’s stories and I already can’t wait to see who’s next !!
Thank you JL for the ARC!
Vance is book 1 in the Dark Daddies of Ashford series featuring Vance Ashford & Sophia Bennett.
After the death of his father, Vance and his brothers are informed they must be married by the age of 40 and produce an heir by 45 in order to inherit the company. The problem with this revaluation? Vance’s 40th birthday is in one week.
Forced to act quick, Vance blackmails Sophia an Ashford group employee and his father’s protege into marrying him. Sophia is left with little choice so she reluctantly agrees to go along with it.
Once they’re married, Vance wastes no time getting down to the heir portion of the trust, attempting to knock Sophia up as soon as possible.
What starts as a loveless marriage starts to take a turn rather quickly. Just when things really take a turn between Vance & Sophia, Sophia is led to believe something that isn’t true and she flees from their apartment.
Vance will tear apart the city looking for her, will he manage to find her and bring her home once he realizes his feelings for Sophia are so much more than he ever wanted ?
This is hands down my new favorite book from JL and I wasn’t ready for it to end! Vance was a complete jerk at the beginning of this one but by the end I was head over heels for him! I think this series is gonna blow our minds as we move through the brother’s stories and I already can’t wait to see who’s next !!
Thank you JL for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
TL;DR Vance is an unmitigated ass, but J.L. Quick does smoking hot romance so well that I don't care too much.
I LOVE everything Quick writes, except maybe this book. It was spicy in all the right places, the daddy kink was on point, and Sophia was a sharp FMC. Vance was just a jerk, all the time, just because he could be. Daddy issues, which was incidentally Vance's problem, can only carry his crap attitude for so long. I'm on board for a marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, daddy kink. Seriously, those are some of my favorite tropes. I didn't feel like Vance redeemed himself with enough time left for me to actually bond with him. And, yes, I think that it's a bond you form with the characters of a book that makes you care about what happens. Vance's brothers are even worse. They are a family of dicks.
Will read the rest of the series? Don't ask silly questions, of course I will. I still love Quick's characters and writing. I'm holding out hope that one happy brother will drag the rest in line!
I LOVE everything Quick writes, except maybe this book. It was spicy in all the right places, the daddy kink was on point, and Sophia was a sharp FMC. Vance was just a jerk, all the time, just because he could be. Daddy issues, which was incidentally Vance's problem, can only carry his crap attitude for so long. I'm on board for a marriage of convenience, enemies to lovers, daddy kink. Seriously, those are some of my favorite tropes. I didn't feel like Vance redeemed himself with enough time left for me to actually bond with him. And, yes, I think that it's a bond you form with the characters of a book that makes you care about what happens. Vance's brothers are even worse. They are a family of dicks.
Will read the rest of the series? Don't ask silly questions, of course I will. I still love Quick's characters and writing. I'm holding out hope that one happy brother will drag the rest in line!
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