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Don't You Cry
Kamden Blake has spent nineteen years surviving. Surviving an abusive mother. Surviving the revolving door of violent men she’s brought home. Surviving a childhood where being soft, femme, or different came with bruises instead of love. The only thing he’s ever wanted is to escape—to leave home, become a fashion designer, and finally build a life that’s his own. Instead, he witnesses a murder.
Adrien Delmonte has never failed an assignment. He takes pride in his success rate as a fixer. Until he discovers the witness is Kamden Blake—the son of the best friend who died beside him years ago, leaving Adrien with one final request.
“Take care of my boy.”
Adrien already failed that promise once, and he refuses to fail it again. So instead of killing Kamden, he takes him, hides him away. What starts as a desperate act of survival slowly becomes something far more dangerous—a bond built on comfort, devotion, and the kind of unconditional care neither of them ever believed they deserved.
Because some promises are worth killing for.
Don't You Cry is a dark MM second-chance age play romance featuring a morally gray fixer Daddy, an abused little learning to trust, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective obsession, "touch him and die" energy, and a guaranteed HEA.
Adrien Delmonte has never failed an assignment. He takes pride in his success rate as a fixer. Until he discovers the witness is Kamden Blake—the son of the best friend who died beside him years ago, leaving Adrien with one final request.
“Take care of my boy.”
Adrien already failed that promise once, and he refuses to fail it again. So instead of killing Kamden, he takes him, hides him away. What starts as a desperate act of survival slowly becomes something far more dangerous—a bond built on comfort, devotion, and the kind of unconditional care neither of them ever believed they deserved.
Because some promises are worth killing for.
Don't You Cry is a dark MM second-chance age play romance featuring a morally gray fixer Daddy, an abused little learning to trust, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, protective obsession, "touch him and die" energy, and a guaranteed HEA.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2026
About the author
E. Baileu
17 books204 followersHi!
I’m a new author in the MM romance space. I primarily write dark romance, but like wholesome dark romance? You won’t find any verbal abuse or bullying in my books. I understand some people like that, but some people (me) prefer our morally grey men to dote on us.
My education background is in Criminology and Psychology, but I’ve always had a love for literature. I grew up writing short stories and poetry. As I got older, my creativity seemed to fade away and I became stuck in a monotonous routine. In December 2024, I suddenly decided to write Under Your Care. It felt like I had finally found what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I am so excited to share even more romantic, depraved, and kinky stories with everyone!!
Thank you,
E. (Elizabeth) Baileu
I’m a new author in the MM romance space. I primarily write dark romance, but like wholesome dark romance? You won’t find any verbal abuse or bullying in my books. I understand some people like that, but some people (me) prefer our morally grey men to dote on us.
My education background is in Criminology and Psychology, but I’ve always had a love for literature. I grew up writing short stories and poetry. As I got older, my creativity seemed to fade away and I became stuck in a monotonous routine. In December 2024, I suddenly decided to write Under Your Care. It felt like I had finally found what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I am so excited to share even more romantic, depraved, and kinky stories with everyone!!
Thank you,
E. (Elizabeth) Baileu
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Review of advance copy received from Author
Alexa, play: “My longest yeah boy ever (10 hours)”
Yummmm yum yum yum! 👹
I’m convinced E. Baileu is incapable of writing a book that I do not absolutely eat up. Even if it’s a book that I didn’t like as much as some of their other books or it didn’t resonate with me, I still like all of them! It has something to do with their writing, with the stories that they tell and the connections that they write that just gets me every time.
And this book is absolutely no exception. This is definitely the best book that they’ve written within the Daddy/little dynamic. In fact, I think this book is beginner friendly enough that if someone has never read a book with this specific dynamic, this would be a very safe book to start with. It has a lot of introductions in it and it’s explored very slowly and carefully because Kamden himself knows nothing about the age play, and so I think it really lends itself to warming the reader up to this kink rather than jumping right into it.
And even though I’ve read several books with this dynamic…all of which being written by this author, I really liked how it was approached in this book. It felt accessible and it felt right for where Kamden was.
Speaking of Kamden, I adored him. I thought he was a perfect blend of innocent and scarred without being a complete victim. He had interests and a personality, and I really loved the kindness that was in him without making him a blank slate or someone that could be completely walked over. There was an element of sassiness to him that we got to see, especially toward the end of the book, and some scrappiness, too. I love that he was trying to build a future for himself while being stuck in an impossible situation with his mom and he wasn’t just a helpless victim. I really like that he was trying to do better for himself before he got swept up in Adrien and their relationship.
I just love characters with agency, even if they aren’t a “strong” character. To me, not every strong character needs to be courageous or have a ton of muscles or even incredibly outspoken. There is strength that comes in other ways, like being a genuinely kind person even though life has given you shit. You can be strong in the sense of having hope when life has done nothing but tear it to shreds, and that’s exactly where Kamden’s strength comes from and I really liked/admired it. It endeared me to Kamden a lot, and I rooted for him because he was a genuinely good person that was just trying to live his life in any way that he could.
(And yes, I did tear up at the end. You go, Kammie 🥹)
I also loved Adrien! He’s a lot different than the typical Daddy characters that this author likes to write, and I really appreciated that. He’s still a very stable, consistent person toward his little, and he falls into the typical “violent background, but soft to his boy and filthy rich” category that these characters often fall into. But where he differs is that I don’t believe Adrien is any sort of psychopath like this author writes. Yes, he did kidnap Kamden, and obviously that’s bad. But besides that, he really wasn’t that dark of a captor.
(Or maybe I have Stockholm syndrome, too 🤭)
But honestly, I found him to be very rational, and I really liked reading his second guessing and his guilt in terms of feeling things for his best friend’s son. He questioned himself and he questioned what he was doing and he was feeling guilt and shame and that’s something that the other Daddy characters this author has written before really hadn’t felt and it made Adrien feel a little more human and a little more accessible to me as a reader. It made me relate to him more, even though I have absolutely no plans on ever kidnapping someone, because it was real. He didn’t feel remorse for kidnapping Kamden, because it felt right to him given Kammie’s home life, but there were still things that he was struggling with, and I appreciated that.
I also appreciate that Adrien had a background that we knew about and got to see even in just one chapter. He wasn’t this mysterious rich, violent man. He was a person, and I like that we got to see a more human side of him. And I could really feel the camaraderie and friendship between him and John just within that first chapter. The author did such an amazing job establishing a years long friendship between them in just a few pages of dialogue. Their friendship felt very lived in, and even though I knew something bad was gonna happen, it still really hurt when it did happen in that first chapter. And reading that chapter before anything else really helped humanize Adrien before we meet him in his 40s.
I loved the care that went into their relationship and how reassuring Adrien was. He didn’t ever push Kammie into doing anything that he didn’t want or wasn’t entirely ready for it, and I definitely think Kamden was the most sexually curious/eager of any of the Littles that I’ve read from this author.
And I really liked that element to their relationship. I liked that Kammie wanted Adrien just as much. If I had one thing to complain about in the book, it’s that I just wanted more scenes of them together in domestic bliss. And that’s just because I found them to be really cute and sweet with one another and I loved the scene of Kammie painting Adrien’s nails so much.
I also loved and hated Kammie’s mom. Obviously she was a terrible person and I’m not saying that I loved her as a person. But I adore the fact that E. never shies away from hard subjects and bad, complicated characters. Sherry is not a good person, and she’s an even worse mother, but there were glimpses of humanity, however long lost that humanity was in her, and I really love that we saw that. She is not a cartoony villain. She’s not a caricature. She felt very whole, very complete, and very storied for a background character. I just think it’s a testament to the author to make a villain be so real and raw and interesting while also making them a terrible person. Sherry could’ve ended up reading so bland and so one dimensional and she didn’t and I think that’s such a hard line to straddle, and the author did it seamlessly!
Also: I’ve now read every single book written by this author, and what I can safely say is that their writing style has gotten better with every book. Not only the prose, which I’ve always found to be very gorgeous even in their books that didn’t hit quite as much for me, but the dialogue is good and snappy, the characters get stronger in every book that I read, and the relationships are so much richer and more fulfilling in every book.
Other things I loved (spoiler alert: everything):
This author also has a tendency of writing side characters that I really like, but I feel like will never have a story of their own. Case in point: Ben, from There’s Something in the Water (my beloved), Aarev, from The Judas, and now Mathias from this book. But God help me, I love me a stoic man!!!!! Gosh, I loved Mathias so much. Yum yum yum!!!!
Also: there’s definitely something in my little lizard brain that makes me go feral when I read or consume any sort of media that takes place in or around the Pittsburgh area. Part of it is hometown pride, and part of it is: “I know that place, I’ve been there! I’m in this book now too!!!!” (which is also why I love The Pitt so much. When they mentioned Beaver Falls in that show, I swear I felt like I did a line of coke). Anyway, this entire section is just to say that I was pumped that this book took place in Pittsburgh 🙂↕️
So all of this to say: I’m not always well-versed in what this author writes about, and sometimes the subject matter isn’t something that I’m interested in or even something that I would normally read….but there’s something about this author’s writing and the stories that they tell that just pull me in every time. There’s always a level of care in the books that really shines through. Care for the subject matter, care for the kink/dynamic, care for the characters and their relationship, and it can be felt in every word, in every line, and every page
So at this point, E., here’s my damn card, take my money 💳 can’t wait to see you here for the next book!
Yummmm yum yum yum! 👹
I’m convinced E. Baileu is incapable of writing a book that I do not absolutely eat up. Even if it’s a book that I didn’t like as much as some of their other books or it didn’t resonate with me, I still like all of them! It has something to do with their writing, with the stories that they tell and the connections that they write that just gets me every time.
And this book is absolutely no exception. This is definitely the best book that they’ve written within the Daddy/little dynamic. In fact, I think this book is beginner friendly enough that if someone has never read a book with this specific dynamic, this would be a very safe book to start with. It has a lot of introductions in it and it’s explored very slowly and carefully because Kamden himself knows nothing about the age play, and so I think it really lends itself to warming the reader up to this kink rather than jumping right into it.
And even though I’ve read several books with this dynamic…all of which being written by this author, I really liked how it was approached in this book. It felt accessible and it felt right for where Kamden was.
Speaking of Kamden, I adored him. I thought he was a perfect blend of innocent and scarred without being a complete victim. He had interests and a personality, and I really loved the kindness that was in him without making him a blank slate or someone that could be completely walked over. There was an element of sassiness to him that we got to see, especially toward the end of the book, and some scrappiness, too. I love that he was trying to build a future for himself while being stuck in an impossible situation with his mom and he wasn’t just a helpless victim. I really like that he was trying to do better for himself before he got swept up in Adrien and their relationship.
I just love characters with agency, even if they aren’t a “strong” character. To me, not every strong character needs to be courageous or have a ton of muscles or even incredibly outspoken. There is strength that comes in other ways, like being a genuinely kind person even though life has given you shit. You can be strong in the sense of having hope when life has done nothing but tear it to shreds, and that’s exactly where Kamden’s strength comes from and I really liked/admired it. It endeared me to Kamden a lot, and I rooted for him because he was a genuinely good person that was just trying to live his life in any way that he could.
(And yes, I did tear up at the end. You go, Kammie 🥹)
I also loved Adrien! He’s a lot different than the typical Daddy characters that this author likes to write, and I really appreciated that. He’s still a very stable, consistent person toward his little, and he falls into the typical “violent background, but soft to his boy and filthy rich” category that these characters often fall into. But where he differs is that I don’t believe Adrien is any sort of psychopath like this author writes. Yes, he did kidnap Kamden, and obviously that’s bad. But besides that, he really wasn’t that dark of a captor.
(Or maybe I have Stockholm syndrome, too 🤭)
But honestly, I found him to be very rational, and I really liked reading his second guessing and his guilt in terms of feeling things for his best friend’s son. He questioned himself and he questioned what he was doing and he was feeling guilt and shame and that’s something that the other Daddy characters this author has written before really hadn’t felt and it made Adrien feel a little more human and a little more accessible to me as a reader. It made me relate to him more, even though I have absolutely no plans on ever kidnapping someone, because it was real. He didn’t feel remorse for kidnapping Kamden, because it felt right to him given Kammie’s home life, but there were still things that he was struggling with, and I appreciated that.
I also appreciate that Adrien had a background that we knew about and got to see even in just one chapter. He wasn’t this mysterious rich, violent man. He was a person, and I like that we got to see a more human side of him. And I could really feel the camaraderie and friendship between him and John just within that first chapter. The author did such an amazing job establishing a years long friendship between them in just a few pages of dialogue. Their friendship felt very lived in, and even though I knew something bad was gonna happen, it still really hurt when it did happen in that first chapter. And reading that chapter before anything else really helped humanize Adrien before we meet him in his 40s.
I loved the care that went into their relationship and how reassuring Adrien was. He didn’t ever push Kammie into doing anything that he didn’t want or wasn’t entirely ready for it, and I definitely think Kamden was the most sexually curious/eager of any of the Littles that I’ve read from this author.
And I really liked that element to their relationship. I liked that Kammie wanted Adrien just as much. If I had one thing to complain about in the book, it’s that I just wanted more scenes of them together in domestic bliss. And that’s just because I found them to be really cute and sweet with one another and I loved the scene of Kammie painting Adrien’s nails so much.
I also loved and hated Kammie’s mom. Obviously she was a terrible person and I’m not saying that I loved her as a person. But I adore the fact that E. never shies away from hard subjects and bad, complicated characters. Sherry is not a good person, and she’s an even worse mother, but there were glimpses of humanity, however long lost that humanity was in her, and I really love that we saw that. She is not a cartoony villain. She’s not a caricature. She felt very whole, very complete, and very storied for a background character. I just think it’s a testament to the author to make a villain be so real and raw and interesting while also making them a terrible person. Sherry could’ve ended up reading so bland and so one dimensional and she didn’t and I think that’s such a hard line to straddle, and the author did it seamlessly!
Also: I’ve now read every single book written by this author, and what I can safely say is that their writing style has gotten better with every book. Not only the prose, which I’ve always found to be very gorgeous even in their books that didn’t hit quite as much for me, but the dialogue is good and snappy, the characters get stronger in every book that I read, and the relationships are so much richer and more fulfilling in every book.
Other things I loved (spoiler alert: everything):
This author also has a tendency of writing side characters that I really like, but I feel like will never have a story of their own. Case in point: Ben, from There’s Something in the Water (my beloved), Aarev, from The Judas, and now Mathias from this book. But God help me, I love me a stoic man!!!!! Gosh, I loved Mathias so much. Yum yum yum!!!!
Also: there’s definitely something in my little lizard brain that makes me go feral when I read or consume any sort of media that takes place in or around the Pittsburgh area. Part of it is hometown pride, and part of it is: “I know that place, I’ve been there! I’m in this book now too!!!!” (which is also why I love The Pitt so much. When they mentioned Beaver Falls in that show, I swear I felt like I did a line of coke). Anyway, this entire section is just to say that I was pumped that this book took place in Pittsburgh 🙂↕️
So all of this to say: I’m not always well-versed in what this author writes about, and sometimes the subject matter isn’t something that I’m interested in or even something that I would normally read….but there’s something about this author’s writing and the stories that they tell that just pull me in every time. There’s always a level of care in the books that really shines through. Care for the subject matter, care for the kink/dynamic, care for the characters and their relationship, and it can be felt in every word, in every line, and every page
So at this point, E., here’s my damn card, take my money 💳 can’t wait to see you here for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2026
Every book I read by Baileu becomes my new favorite in a way that is actually hard to understand. These are not my preferred tropes or subgenres, but I read them when Baileu writes them because they do such a good job I rate everything 5 stars.
My heart BROKE for Kamden. Like, I hope Baileu wasn't thinking that I would follow the title's directions because I most certainly cried thank you very much. Since we first see him through John's eyes, it's so so obvious that he has so much love to give and I hurt so much knowing that there was nobody that would receive it and give him the love he deserved back. It's just one thing after another and in very short order I was also rooting for him to get kidnapped because all he needed was someone to take care of him.
And Adrien? The absolute perfect choice. He thinks he's just gonna fulfill an old promise, but it's so obvious to the reader that he has met his boy and there's not letting go of him now. He instantly becomes everything Kammie needs, and while there are still hurts along the way (again, I cried so much), they're love and dynamic is AMAZING and I would've read so much more of them.
My heart BROKE for Kamden. Like, I hope Baileu wasn't thinking that I would follow the title's directions because I most certainly cried thank you very much. Since we first see him through John's eyes, it's so so obvious that he has so much love to give and I hurt so much knowing that there was nobody that would receive it and give him the love he deserved back. It's just one thing after another and in very short order I was also rooting for him to get kidnapped because all he needed was someone to take care of him.
And Adrien? The absolute perfect choice. He thinks he's just gonna fulfill an old promise, but it's so obvious to the reader that he has met his boy and there's not letting go of him now. He instantly becomes everything Kammie needs, and while there are still hurts along the way (again, I cried so much), they're love and dynamic is AMAZING and I would've read so much more of them.
Review of advance copy received from Autor
This book is both beautiful and sad; I definitely cried over Kamden’s story and what his life was like before he met Adrien. Seeing how Adrien, despite being so cold and distant with everyone else, is so tender with Kammie also softened my heart. ❤️
Kamden is sweet, innocent, and tender, unlike Adrien, who is possessive and very protective. Their love story is intense and very possessive. I liked that, even amidst all the danger and chaos surrounding them, they always find sweet ways to show each other how they feel.
I also liked that the book was long, because it gave us enough time to get to know and process each character's story before they finally met up (or met each other for the first time.) ✦
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴!!! 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺.
✦ MM Romance
✦ Age Gap (19–40) ❤️🔥
✦ Forced Proximity
✦ Touch Him and Die
✦ Slow Burn
✦ Kidnapping/Captivity
✦ Dark Protector
✦ Obsessive Love
✦ Daddy/Little
✦ Age Play (ABDL)
✦ Mafia
✦ HEA
Kamden is sweet, innocent, and tender, unlike Adrien, who is possessive and very protective. Their love story is intense and very possessive. I liked that, even amidst all the danger and chaos surrounding them, they always find sweet ways to show each other how they feel.
I also liked that the book was long, because it gave us enough time to get to know and process each character's story before they finally met up (or met each other for the first time.) ✦
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘐’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴!!! 𝘗.𝘚. 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺.
✦ MM Romance
✦ Age Gap (19–40) ❤️🔥
✦ Forced Proximity
✦ Touch Him and Die
✦ Slow Burn
✦ Kidnapping/Captivity
✦ Dark Protector
✦ Obsessive Love
✦ Daddy/Little
✦ Age Play (ABDL)
✦ Mafia
✦ HEA
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC of
Don't You Cry
by E. Baileu in exchange for an honest review.
Don't You Cry by E. Baileu is a dark M/M romance releasing as the second installment in the Bedtime Stories for Broken Boys series. The story follows Kamden Blake, a nineteen-year-old who has spent his entire life surviving abuse, neglect, and a revolving door of violent men brought home by his mother. All Kamden wants is to escape, study fashion design, and build a soft life of his own—until he accidentally witnesses a murder. Enter Adrien Delmonte, a ruthless, top-tier fixer who has never failed an assignment. But when Adrien discovers the witness is Kamden—the son of his best friend who died beside him years ago with a final, unfulfilled plea to "take care of my boy"—Adrien chooses kidnapping over murder. What follows is a dark, fiercely protective bond built on absolute honesty, deep emotional safety, and a rare kind of unconditional care.
Baileu explores profound, harrowing themes with remarkable grace, contrasting the darkest corners of human cruelty with an enduring, tender resilience. Despite enduring unspeakable trauma, Kamden retains his sweetness, softness, and vibrant dreams. Meanwhile, Adrien’s journey from a guilt-ridden fixer to an intensely protective, devoted caregiver anchors the narrative in raw emotional truth.
The book shines in its psychological complexity, exploring intricate power dynamics, age play, and high-heat spice handled with profound respect for the characters' emotional states. The stark juxtaposition between the cruelty of Kamden's biological upbringing and the unexpected grace found within the criminal underworld adds brilliant narrative friction.
Don't You Cry is an unforgettable triumph of dark romance. If you love morally grey fixers, hurt/comfort on a monumental scale, forced proximity, and stories about broken boys finding their safe haven, this is an absolute must-read.
Don't You Cry by E. Baileu is a dark M/M romance releasing as the second installment in the Bedtime Stories for Broken Boys series. The story follows Kamden Blake, a nineteen-year-old who has spent his entire life surviving abuse, neglect, and a revolving door of violent men brought home by his mother. All Kamden wants is to escape, study fashion design, and build a soft life of his own—until he accidentally witnesses a murder. Enter Adrien Delmonte, a ruthless, top-tier fixer who has never failed an assignment. But when Adrien discovers the witness is Kamden—the son of his best friend who died beside him years ago with a final, unfulfilled plea to "take care of my boy"—Adrien chooses kidnapping over murder. What follows is a dark, fiercely protective bond built on absolute honesty, deep emotional safety, and a rare kind of unconditional care.
Baileu explores profound, harrowing themes with remarkable grace, contrasting the darkest corners of human cruelty with an enduring, tender resilience. Despite enduring unspeakable trauma, Kamden retains his sweetness, softness, and vibrant dreams. Meanwhile, Adrien’s journey from a guilt-ridden fixer to an intensely protective, devoted caregiver anchors the narrative in raw emotional truth.
The book shines in its psychological complexity, exploring intricate power dynamics, age play, and high-heat spice handled with profound respect for the characters' emotional states. The stark juxtaposition between the cruelty of Kamden's biological upbringing and the unexpected grace found within the criminal underworld adds brilliant narrative friction.
Don't You Cry is an unforgettable triumph of dark romance. If you love morally grey fixers, hurt/comfort on a monumental scale, forced proximity, and stories about broken boys finding their safe haven, this is an absolute must-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2026
I read Hush, Little Baby, the 1st book in this series, and it was different. A big/little, something I'd never read previously. This is in the same vein, a big/little dynamic. It was also dark.
In Don't You Cry, Kamden has a full and sad backstory that part of this book explores. He also loves dresses, designing them. Drawing his visions. He's also just received a scholarship to go to college for design and has been saving in secret to give himself a chance of somewhere to live, being able to feed himself. To get away from his mother and her current boyfriend. That all explodes on the day that he and Adrien, the other MC, intersect in a pretty... well, interesting way.
Adrien is a fixer for an organised crime family who is sent to kill a loose thread, that thread being Kamden, who witnessed a crime. From the outset Adrien knows he can't kill Kamden.
It's berserk how much I loved this book because I'm not so much a devotee of the big/little dynamic However, drugnapping, forced, FORCED proximity. BIG age gap. Being held captive. The usual darker/morally grey things I'm here for. They're right up my deeply grey little alley. Don't You Cry certainly has all the ingredients for a morally grey/dark romance. It's also pretty freaking unhinged -the premise and build of this pair's 'relationship.' And it all works. Definitely read the TW the author has laid out at the front of the book.
Full blog review at-
In Don't You Cry, Kamden has a full and sad backstory that part of this book explores. He also loves dresses, designing them. Drawing his visions. He's also just received a scholarship to go to college for design and has been saving in secret to give himself a chance of somewhere to live, being able to feed himself. To get away from his mother and her current boyfriend. That all explodes on the day that he and Adrien, the other MC, intersect in a pretty... well, interesting way.
Adrien is a fixer for an organised crime family who is sent to kill a loose thread, that thread being Kamden, who witnessed a crime. From the outset Adrien knows he can't kill Kamden.
It's berserk how much I loved this book because I'm not so much a devotee of the big/little dynamic However, drugnapping, forced, FORCED proximity. BIG age gap. Being held captive. The usual darker/morally grey things I'm here for. They're right up my deeply grey little alley. Don't You Cry certainly has all the ingredients for a morally grey/dark romance. It's also pretty freaking unhinged -the premise and build of this pair's 'relationship.' And it all works. Definitely read the TW the author has laid out at the front of the book.
Full blog review at-
October 24, 2026
If you know anything about me, you'd know that there is nothing I love more than reading about a broken boy who has suffered a lifetime of hurt and his partner that finally gives him a safe place to be and this book was just so perfect in this regards and I could not get enough of it.
This book had such a good mix of dark and eery vibes from the captor/captive relationship and main characters that were insanly obsessed with each other and I had so much fun reading all about it. Adrien is defenitely the nicest and most obsessed with keeping his victim's safe kidnapper I have ever read about and I love him for it. I kept squealing out loud as I read his actions during the book, it was just so lovely to read how obsessed he was.
I just had so much fun reading this one, I was thoroughly entertained the entire way through and I struggled to put this book down, which is quite a praise for me to say at this moment as i’ve been struggling with a nasty reading slump for weeks.
This book had such a good mix of dark and eery vibes from the captor/captive relationship and main characters that were insanly obsessed with each other and I had so much fun reading all about it. Adrien is defenitely the nicest and most obsessed with keeping his victim's safe kidnapper I have ever read about and I love him for it. I kept squealing out loud as I read his actions during the book, it was just so lovely to read how obsessed he was.
I just had so much fun reading this one, I was thoroughly entertained the entire way through and I struggled to put this book down, which is quite a praise for me to say at this moment as i’ve been struggling with a nasty reading slump for weeks.
October 29, 2026
oh my sweet sweet Kammie! 😭 I'm literally so happy that Adrien found him because I just absolutely ADORED their time together. Sue me, but that's my dream relationship dynamic.
Obviously check the trigger warnings, but I'm giving this a five stars 🫶🏼
Obviously check the trigger warnings, but I'm giving this a five stars 🫶🏼
October 21, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m in love with this series.😍
I can’t wait for Mathias and Quillan’s book!
I’m in love with this series.😍
I can’t wait for Mathias and Quillan’s book!
October 28, 2026
🩷🐰You'll always be Daddy's good boy. No matter where we are, I'll keep you safe☠️🖤
"This version of me stands straight. This version doesn't flinch. He's proud. Beautiful. I turn the page over before I can look at him for too long."
"I say sometimes the only way to survive something enormous is to cut it into pieces small enough to swallow."
"The boy might have never seen combat, but damn if he's not a fighter. He might express it in ways his dad and I wouldn't, but he is."
"Princess Kammie. I haven't thought about that name in a while. It lives in the little space inside me where Dad still exists, where I'm small enough to climb into his lap, and he pretends I'm too heavy even though he lifts me easily. Where pink nail polish is just pink nail polish, and where nobody cares that I want things to be pretty. Where nobody hurts me for being born this way."
"What if, I'm never good enough?"
"You're already good enough."
"That's it, sweetheart. Oh baby. You are mine, aren't you? I was trying so hard to ignore it, but that's it, isn't it? You need Daddy to take care of you?"
"I don't feel ten. I don't feel stupid. I don't feel wrong. I just feel--Pretty. Adrien leans down and kisses the top of my hand, careful not to smudge anything. "My princess looks so beautiful."
"This is something purer. Lighter. Like the weight I'm holding is his heart, and he's trusting me not to break it. I don't know what the f*** I did in a previous life to deserve this, but I'm not about to let go. John gave me a f****** gift. A beautiful, wonderful gift."
"I want to say because he's Daddy, because the last time I felt safe was when I was eight years old, when my dad tucked me in and told me monsters aren't real."
"Baby boy, what do I need to do to make you understand? I am never letting you go. No matter where we are, no matter how much time passes, you'll always be mine. You'll always be Daddy's good boy. No matter where we are, I'll keep you safe."
I have been waiting for this book to release and it far exceeded my expectations! This was such an emotional and gut-wrenching story. My soul bled for these two men. The prologue alone had me bawling hard 😭. This author is phenomenal when it comes to unhinged MCs, dark Daddies, and all the trauma that can accompany a character. This author is flawless when dealing with sensitive topics. This author pours so much emotion into all of their words. This is the first series I have seen that is a dark Daddy/little with age play. This was a slow burn, but when the spice hit, it hit hard and was super delicious and intimately beautiful 🔥🔥🔥. This had some amazing troupes like: Dark MM Age Play, Mob Fixer/Witness, Dad's Best Friend, Daddy/Little, Femme MC, Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Hurt/Comfort, Kidnapped, First Times, Touch Him and Die, and Only Soft For Him. I loved Mathias and Quillan! I can't wait for their book to come out next!
This story follows Kamden and Adrien. This first opens many years ago when we see Kamden's dad John and Adrien in the military at war. John dies and his last wish is to have Adrien take care of Kam. Adrien loses his arm and goes home and is a mess. He checks on Kam once, thinks he is okay, then doesn't check until 11 years later when Kam witnesses a murder. Through the years, Kamden is abused horribly by his mother and her string of boyfriends. Kamden is taken on a drug run, which leads him to witness a murder. Adrien is sent to kill Kam by his boss, Mathias. Adrien ends up kidnapping Kam and decides to keep him 🤣. Kam finds out who he is and why he's 11 years too late. So many emotions happen between these two. Grief, hurt, betrayal, pain, confusion, fear, lust, and love. We see their dynamics chance as Adrien helps Kam with his trauma. He helps his boy heal and becomes the Daddy he always dreamed of.
My heart broke for these two. They were both riddled with so much grief, pain, and trauma. Despite how much Kam went through, he was so strong. He was so sweet and precious with a sassy side. His healing journey was a long, rough one but so darkly beautiful to read. Adrien suffered as well and his healing started when he finally allowed himself to keep Kam. Adrien was the perfect Daddy. He was so gentle and patient with his boy. These two had a connection like no other. Their chemistry was chef's kiss. The spice and kink were written beautifully and spicy🔥🔥🔥. I loved all the ABDL and little space scenes in this, too. Some of my favorite scenes between these two were seeing Adrien calm Kam down from his panic attacks. They had so many vulnerable, sweet, and adorable moments. I loved how Adrien created a safe space for Kam to be his true self. Seeing Kam flourish was everything. The nail painting scene 🥹. The vengeance Kam finally got ☠️. All the glitter ✨️ 🤣. When they spoke about John and the stories, that killed me 😭. I loved how they kept his memory alive 😭🥹. I can keep going on and on. Everyone needs to read this book now! 🩷🖤🐰🧸✏️📓☠️🔫💅✨️
"This version of me stands straight. This version doesn't flinch. He's proud. Beautiful. I turn the page over before I can look at him for too long."
"I say sometimes the only way to survive something enormous is to cut it into pieces small enough to swallow."
"The boy might have never seen combat, but damn if he's not a fighter. He might express it in ways his dad and I wouldn't, but he is."
"Princess Kammie. I haven't thought about that name in a while. It lives in the little space inside me where Dad still exists, where I'm small enough to climb into his lap, and he pretends I'm too heavy even though he lifts me easily. Where pink nail polish is just pink nail polish, and where nobody cares that I want things to be pretty. Where nobody hurts me for being born this way."
"What if, I'm never good enough?"
"You're already good enough."
"That's it, sweetheart. Oh baby. You are mine, aren't you? I was trying so hard to ignore it, but that's it, isn't it? You need Daddy to take care of you?"
"I don't feel ten. I don't feel stupid. I don't feel wrong. I just feel--Pretty. Adrien leans down and kisses the top of my hand, careful not to smudge anything. "My princess looks so beautiful."
"This is something purer. Lighter. Like the weight I'm holding is his heart, and he's trusting me not to break it. I don't know what the f*** I did in a previous life to deserve this, but I'm not about to let go. John gave me a f****** gift. A beautiful, wonderful gift."
"I want to say because he's Daddy, because the last time I felt safe was when I was eight years old, when my dad tucked me in and told me monsters aren't real."
"Baby boy, what do I need to do to make you understand? I am never letting you go. No matter where we are, no matter how much time passes, you'll always be mine. You'll always be Daddy's good boy. No matter where we are, I'll keep you safe."
I have been waiting for this book to release and it far exceeded my expectations! This was such an emotional and gut-wrenching story. My soul bled for these two men. The prologue alone had me bawling hard 😭. This author is phenomenal when it comes to unhinged MCs, dark Daddies, and all the trauma that can accompany a character. This author is flawless when dealing with sensitive topics. This author pours so much emotion into all of their words. This is the first series I have seen that is a dark Daddy/little with age play. This was a slow burn, but when the spice hit, it hit hard and was super delicious and intimately beautiful 🔥🔥🔥. This had some amazing troupes like: Dark MM Age Play, Mob Fixer/Witness, Dad's Best Friend, Daddy/Little, Femme MC, Age Gap, Forced Proximity, Hurt/Comfort, Kidnapped, First Times, Touch Him and Die, and Only Soft For Him. I loved Mathias and Quillan! I can't wait for their book to come out next!
This story follows Kamden and Adrien. This first opens many years ago when we see Kamden's dad John and Adrien in the military at war. John dies and his last wish is to have Adrien take care of Kam. Adrien loses his arm and goes home and is a mess. He checks on Kam once, thinks he is okay, then doesn't check until 11 years later when Kam witnesses a murder. Through the years, Kamden is abused horribly by his mother and her string of boyfriends. Kamden is taken on a drug run, which leads him to witness a murder. Adrien is sent to kill Kam by his boss, Mathias. Adrien ends up kidnapping Kam and decides to keep him 🤣. Kam finds out who he is and why he's 11 years too late. So many emotions happen between these two. Grief, hurt, betrayal, pain, confusion, fear, lust, and love. We see their dynamics chance as Adrien helps Kam with his trauma. He helps his boy heal and becomes the Daddy he always dreamed of.
My heart broke for these two. They were both riddled with so much grief, pain, and trauma. Despite how much Kam went through, he was so strong. He was so sweet and precious with a sassy side. His healing journey was a long, rough one but so darkly beautiful to read. Adrien suffered as well and his healing started when he finally allowed himself to keep Kam. Adrien was the perfect Daddy. He was so gentle and patient with his boy. These two had a connection like no other. Their chemistry was chef's kiss. The spice and kink were written beautifully and spicy🔥🔥🔥. I loved all the ABDL and little space scenes in this, too. Some of my favorite scenes between these two were seeing Adrien calm Kam down from his panic attacks. They had so many vulnerable, sweet, and adorable moments. I loved how Adrien created a safe space for Kam to be his true self. Seeing Kam flourish was everything. The nail painting scene 🥹. The vengeance Kam finally got ☠️. All the glitter ✨️ 🤣. When they spoke about John and the stories, that killed me 😭. I loved how they kept his memory alive 😭🥹. I can keep going on and on. Everyone needs to read this book now! 🩷🖤🐰🧸✏️📓☠️🔫💅✨️
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I want to thank author E. Baileu for giving me an ARC to read and for allowing me to share my honest review. ❤️
Don't You Cry is Book 2 in the Bedtime Stories for Broken Boys series.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release date: 20 October 2026
Main Characters: Adrien x Kamden
Tropes: Dark MM Romance, Age Play, Age Gap, Mob Daddy x Abused Little, Forced Proximity, Kidnapping as a Meet Cute, Obsessive Protector, Guaranteed HEA, Touch Him & Die, Daddy Dom, Light ABDL, Femme MC "Princess Kammie", Virgin MC.
What I loved most ♥
♥ What did I do to deserve this little miracle?
♥ My sweet angel
♥ Lace panties
♥ My perfect, pretty princess
♥ Sweetheart
♥ Baby
♥ Good boy
♥ The glitter
♥ Princess
♥ That's my boy
♥ Rabbit and Bear
♥ Adrien's patience
♥ Consent
♥ Kammie's first time was so gentle
My Review:
I freaking loved it so much!
Author E. Baileu has heart and sweetness overload. Kammie must be protected at any cost. And WHO doesn't want a Daddy Dom like Adrien?! Damn. He's all in for Kammie. Kammie gets what Kammie wants. 😂❤️
THE LIST ON ADRIEN'S PHONE. And the glitter comments! Glitter is mentioned 22 times throughout the book. Hehehehe. Poor Daddy. 😂
Okay, on to more serious things.
Our Princess Kammie deserved so much more than what life handed him, and my heart broke for him. I was crying in Chapter One, and I was begging for Kammie's saviour to arrive.
Adrien didn't disappoint. In the end, he was everything Kammie needed and more. Even when he needed to redeem himself, he never lied to Kammie. And in the end, he made up for everything.
The ending was spectacular and so, so sweet. ❤️
THIS. JUST THIS.
“Lunch?” he asks.
“In my bag.”
“Eat it.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Not just the fruit.”
I put on my best offended face. He lifts one brow.
Fine.
“I’ll eat everything.”
“Good.”
“Anything else?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I groan and let my head thump back against the headrest.
“Of course there is.”
He doesn’t even blink.
“If anything makes you uncomfortable—”
“I call you.”
“If somebody follows you—”
“I go somewhere public and call you.”
“If somebody touches you—”
“I tell them to stop, get away, and call you.”
“If you feel sick?”
“Call you.”
“If you’re overwhelmed?”
“Call you.”
“If you need to come home?”
“I call you.”
I MEAN?! 😭❤️ The patience. The care. The way Adrien makes sure Kammie knows he has someone to turn to. My heart!
E. Baileu, you did it again. I can't wait to read more from you!
#mmromance #mmromancebooks #ddlb #darkromance #mmdarkromance
Don't You Cry is Book 2 in the Bedtime Stories for Broken Boys series.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release date: 20 October 2026
Main Characters: Adrien x Kamden
Tropes: Dark MM Romance, Age Play, Age Gap, Mob Daddy x Abused Little, Forced Proximity, Kidnapping as a Meet Cute, Obsessive Protector, Guaranteed HEA, Touch Him & Die, Daddy Dom, Light ABDL, Femme MC "Princess Kammie", Virgin MC.
What I loved most ♥
♥ What did I do to deserve this little miracle?
♥ My sweet angel
♥ Lace panties
♥ My perfect, pretty princess
♥ Sweetheart
♥ Baby
♥ Good boy
♥ The glitter
♥ Princess
♥ That's my boy
♥ Rabbit and Bear
♥ Adrien's patience
♥ Consent
♥ Kammie's first time was so gentle
My Review:
I freaking loved it so much!
Author E. Baileu has heart and sweetness overload. Kammie must be protected at any cost. And WHO doesn't want a Daddy Dom like Adrien?! Damn. He's all in for Kammie. Kammie gets what Kammie wants. 😂❤️
THE LIST ON ADRIEN'S PHONE. And the glitter comments! Glitter is mentioned 22 times throughout the book. Hehehehe. Poor Daddy. 😂
Okay, on to more serious things.
Our Princess Kammie deserved so much more than what life handed him, and my heart broke for him. I was crying in Chapter One, and I was begging for Kammie's saviour to arrive.
Adrien didn't disappoint. In the end, he was everything Kammie needed and more. Even when he needed to redeem himself, he never lied to Kammie. And in the end, he made up for everything.
The ending was spectacular and so, so sweet. ❤️
THIS. JUST THIS.
“Lunch?” he asks.
“In my bag.”
“Eat it.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Not just the fruit.”
I put on my best offended face. He lifts one brow.
Fine.
“I’ll eat everything.”
“Good.”
“Anything else?” I ask.
“Yes.”
I groan and let my head thump back against the headrest.
“Of course there is.”
He doesn’t even blink.
“If anything makes you uncomfortable—”
“I call you.”
“If somebody follows you—”
“I go somewhere public and call you.”
“If somebody touches you—”
“I tell them to stop, get away, and call you.”
“If you feel sick?”
“Call you.”
“If you’re overwhelmed?”
“Call you.”
“If you need to come home?”
“I call you.”
I MEAN?! 😭❤️ The patience. The care. The way Adrien makes sure Kammie knows he has someone to turn to. My heart!
E. Baileu, you did it again. I can't wait to read more from you!
#mmromance #mmromancebooks #ddlb #darkromance #mmdarkromance
October 20, 2026
This is Book 2 in the Bedtime Stories For Broken Boys series. These books are standalones so they do not need to be read in order. They ARE Dark Romance so please check the TWs before heading in! There is a HEA so your good there 🖤
🌶🌶🌶
Adrien lost his best friend in combat. The last thing his best friend asked was for Adrien to protect his son Kamden from his toxic/abusive mother. Adrien lost more than his best friend that day he also lost his arm. After getting home, getting the medical attention he needed, and getting integrated into this new life Adrien did check on Kamden and from afar he looked to be doing good. So he left things as they were.
Flash forward 11 years Adrien now works for the Greco Family as their fixer and when he gets called in to "delete" someone who seen something they shouldn't have the last person he is expecting to see is Kamden. After digging a bit further he finds out that Kamden's life wasn't actually good at all and now he has a chance to fix what he should have 11 years ago, but that means going against the Greco's. Adrien "people steals" Kamden and starts a one man mission to right all the wrongs that happened when he wasn't there in Kamden's life and should have been, but along the way the Greco's realize that their witness is still alive.....
Oh 🥺 these Broken Boys. Your heart just breaks for Kamden and all that he has gone through. Really for the first half of this book it's a giant heart clutch but then Kamden starts to realize that Adrien is actually someone he can count on finally in his life 🥹 I'm all for these morally gray men jumping in and helping their boys because they are going to do WHAT EVER is necessary to make it happen!
"Who the fu€k are you to him?"
"Daddy."
Tropes/Tags
Mob Fixer/Witness
Age Gap-21 yrs
Hurt/Comfort
Forced Proximity
Kidn@pping
Protective MC
Possessive MC
Touch Him and 💀
Dubcon
Slow Burn 🔥
Daddy/Boy-Age Play
Power Imbalance/TPE
Praise/Good Boy
🤏🏻 ABDL
V!rgin MC
All The Firsts
🌶🌶🌶
Adrien lost his best friend in combat. The last thing his best friend asked was for Adrien to protect his son Kamden from his toxic/abusive mother. Adrien lost more than his best friend that day he also lost his arm. After getting home, getting the medical attention he needed, and getting integrated into this new life Adrien did check on Kamden and from afar he looked to be doing good. So he left things as they were.
Flash forward 11 years Adrien now works for the Greco Family as their fixer and when he gets called in to "delete" someone who seen something they shouldn't have the last person he is expecting to see is Kamden. After digging a bit further he finds out that Kamden's life wasn't actually good at all and now he has a chance to fix what he should have 11 years ago, but that means going against the Greco's. Adrien "people steals" Kamden and starts a one man mission to right all the wrongs that happened when he wasn't there in Kamden's life and should have been, but along the way the Greco's realize that their witness is still alive.....
Oh 🥺 these Broken Boys. Your heart just breaks for Kamden and all that he has gone through. Really for the first half of this book it's a giant heart clutch but then Kamden starts to realize that Adrien is actually someone he can count on finally in his life 🥹 I'm all for these morally gray men jumping in and helping their boys because they are going to do WHAT EVER is necessary to make it happen!
"Who the fu€k are you to him?"
"Daddy."
Tropes/Tags
Mob Fixer/Witness
Age Gap-21 yrs
Hurt/Comfort
Forced Proximity
Kidn@pping
Protective MC
Possessive MC
Touch Him and 💀
Dubcon
Slow Burn 🔥
Daddy/Boy-Age Play
Power Imbalance/TPE
Praise/Good Boy
🤏🏻 ABDL
V!rgin MC
All The Firsts
Review of advance copy received from Author
For some reason I assumed this would be a sequel featuring the previous book's side character. I was wrong but I absolutely loved it! There is a huge void in the Daddy/boy romance niche for dark daddies who may or may not kidnap as a love language.
I understand that Adrien's limb loss and recovery was a great way to rationalize why he never really checked in on Kamden's life, but I was absolutly dissapointed in the prosthetic's magical abilities and unrealistic portrayal of limb loss. If Adrien's Captain America Winter Soldier arm is fully capable of doing anything a regular arm can do, including running it's fingers through someones hair gently, grabbing the backs of knees while having sex and overall performing as natually as a normal limb, why even make him lose his arm?
He could have easily had PTSD or any number of injuries that would require discharge from the military. I just wish there was even a hint as why he had such a high tech magic arm. Like, maybe that was why he got into working for a crime family. Because the VA would have absolutly given him a damn hook at most. It really took me out every time there was a scene that mentioned the arm.
EM Lindsay would be a great author to check out if you really want realistic portrayals of prosthetics and limb loss.
Clearly the arm is really the only issue I have here. And I know it's minor, but if an element is added to a chacter and doesnt affect him at all, why add it in the first place? Anyways would still absolutly smash Winter Soldier daddy. 9/10. Still Love this series with all my heart and cannot wait for book 3.
I understand that Adrien's limb loss and recovery was a great way to rationalize why he never really checked in on Kamden's life, but I was absolutly dissapointed in the prosthetic's magical abilities and unrealistic portrayal of limb loss. If Adrien's Captain America Winter Soldier arm is fully capable of doing anything a regular arm can do, including running it's fingers through someones hair gently, grabbing the backs of knees while having sex and overall performing as natually as a normal limb, why even make him lose his arm?
He could have easily had PTSD or any number of injuries that would require discharge from the military. I just wish there was even a hint as why he had such a high tech magic arm. Like, maybe that was why he got into working for a crime family. Because the VA would have absolutly given him a damn hook at most. It really took me out every time there was a scene that mentioned the arm.
EM Lindsay would be a great author to check out if you really want realistic portrayals of prosthetics and limb loss.
Clearly the arm is really the only issue I have here. And I know it's minor, but if an element is added to a chacter and doesnt affect him at all, why add it in the first place? Anyways would still absolutly smash Winter Soldier daddy. 9/10. Still Love this series with all my heart and cannot wait for book 3.
October 22, 2026
I absolutely LOVED this book!
Kamden and Adrien just won me over and I devoured their story once I’d started. I really enjoy the authors writing and the darker side they bring to the story- how the daddies are not perfect, and this was definitely the case for Adrien. I loved that we saw him doubt himself, feeling guilty and worry endlessly- it felt real and authentic. He wasn’t a bad man, he was just a man who did bad things!
Do not get me started on hard men who are only soft for their boy. Swoon worthy. And Adrien did not disappoint. His man was gone for Kammie as soon as he was given the assignment. Was the execution a little unorthodox? Well yes 🤣 but kidnapping Kammie was effective and kept him safe.
Kammie was such a little sweetheart. Reading his back story and the life he had endured with his mum and her boyfriends, I’m not ashamed to say I cried, because what a sweetheart. But I also loved that the author didn’t make Kammie a victim. He had a spark, determination and was trying his best to better himself. He didn’t deserve any of the things that happened to him and that makes the ending of this book all the more perfect.
Now I need to know if we are getting Mathias’ book next because I am a sucker for a stoic man and that man was exquisitely serious!!!
Kamden and Adrien just won me over and I devoured their story once I’d started. I really enjoy the authors writing and the darker side they bring to the story- how the daddies are not perfect, and this was definitely the case for Adrien. I loved that we saw him doubt himself, feeling guilty and worry endlessly- it felt real and authentic. He wasn’t a bad man, he was just a man who did bad things!
Do not get me started on hard men who are only soft for their boy. Swoon worthy. And Adrien did not disappoint. His man was gone for Kammie as soon as he was given the assignment. Was the execution a little unorthodox? Well yes 🤣 but kidnapping Kammie was effective and kept him safe.
Kammie was such a little sweetheart. Reading his back story and the life he had endured with his mum and her boyfriends, I’m not ashamed to say I cried, because what a sweetheart. But I also loved that the author didn’t make Kammie a victim. He had a spark, determination and was trying his best to better himself. He didn’t deserve any of the things that happened to him and that makes the ending of this book all the more perfect.
Now I need to know if we are getting Mathias’ book next because I am a sucker for a stoic man and that man was exquisitely serious!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Don’t You Cry by E. Baileu was exactly the book I needed. Kamden was sweetness personified and I just wanted someone to take care of him. Adrien may have been late, but he stepped up when push came to shove.
I really love how the meet-up happened. The idea that after all these years Adrien has to decide which promise to honor: the one he made to Kamden’s dad or the promise he made to honor his Boss, Mathias. Adrien made a decision and he stuck to it. The way their relationship unfolded was perfect as well. It wasn’t instantaneous and Adrien moved at Kamden’s speed. The development of the Daddy/Little portion worked too. It was introduced and Kamden had the power to decide what he wanted. I like how Adrien was willing to take what Kamden offered. Watching Kamden turn into a sassy Little was so satisfying. This was who he was meant to be.
I am very intrigued by Quillan and Mathias. I know their story will be great as well. I really enjoy this author. E. Baileu writes what I love: Daddy/boy, possessive, obsessive, and questionable morals. I look forward to the next story.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
I really love how the meet-up happened. The idea that after all these years Adrien has to decide which promise to honor: the one he made to Kamden’s dad or the promise he made to honor his Boss, Mathias. Adrien made a decision and he stuck to it. The way their relationship unfolded was perfect as well. It wasn’t instantaneous and Adrien moved at Kamden’s speed. The development of the Daddy/Little portion worked too. It was introduced and Kamden had the power to decide what he wanted. I like how Adrien was willing to take what Kamden offered. Watching Kamden turn into a sassy Little was so satisfying. This was who he was meant to be.
I am very intrigued by Quillan and Mathias. I know their story will be great as well. I really enjoy this author. E. Baileu writes what I love: Daddy/boy, possessive, obsessive, and questionable morals. I look forward to the next story.
I received an ARC from the author for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance copy of this book, and I could not wait to read it! I thought it was absolutely fantastic. It goes into so much more depth than Hush, Little Baby, which I really loved. The progression of Adrien and Kamden’s relationship felt natural and beautifully written, and I loved watching them grow both individually and together throughout the story.
This book was the perfect mix of sweet, steamy, and emotional. I absolutely loved Adrien and his fierce protectiveness, while Kamden was so soft and sweet. Their personalities complemented each other perfectly, and I thought the writing did an excellent job of bringing both characters to life and making you really feel their connection.
The pacing and progression of the story were also so well done. Nothing felt rushed, and I was completely invested in their relationship from beginning to end.
An easy 5/5 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I personally don’t have any triggers, so definitely check the content warnings and proceed with more caution if you do. Otherwise, I genuinely cannot recommend this one enough!
This book was the perfect mix of sweet, steamy, and emotional. I absolutely loved Adrien and his fierce protectiveness, while Kamden was so soft and sweet. Their personalities complemented each other perfectly, and I thought the writing did an excellent job of bringing both characters to life and making you really feel their connection.
The pacing and progression of the story were also so well done. Nothing felt rushed, and I was completely invested in their relationship from beginning to end.
An easy 5/5 stars for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I personally don’t have any triggers, so definitely check the content warnings and proceed with more caution if you do. Otherwise, I genuinely cannot recommend this one enough!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
The waaaaay this prologue just had me crying. Kammie definitely stole my heart. The way his father described him as a child, and the way he had to keep making himself smaller definitely made me feel so many things. Kammie was just existing… until Adrien. Adrien made a promise, granted he was in a messed up situation and told himself so many things to leep him away, I’m just glad he got there when he got there even if that was a little messy. I love how Adrien literally yook the time to talk too and soothe Kammie, yes he was obsessive and possessive because he wanted to keep Kammie safe, but once he crossed that line ooooh it was delicious and I was totally gone for the dynamic between these two. Apparently I’m a sucker for age play when E. Baileu writes it because I ate this up! Some hurt/comfort mixed with a daddy and his bratty boy, well bratty at times… yes please.
The waaaaay this prologue just had me crying. Kammie definitely stole my heart. The way his father described him as a child, and the way he had to keep making himself smaller definitely made me feel so many things. Kammie was just existing… until Adrien. Adrien made a promise, granted he was in a messed up situation and told himself so many things to leep him away, I’m just glad he got there when he got there even if that was a little messy. I love how Adrien literally yook the time to talk too and soothe Kammie, yes he was obsessive and possessive because he wanted to keep Kammie safe, but once he crossed that line ooooh it was delicious and I was totally gone for the dynamic between these two. Apparently I’m a sucker for age play when E. Baileu writes it because I ate this up! Some hurt/comfort mixed with a daddy and his bratty boy, well bratty at times… yes please.
October 20, 2026
A BANGER OF A READ!
I love this series so very much. You can tell in my opinion the author has put so much thought and took the time to put together the words on this story to leave such an impression. I love the way this author writes and creates. Kamden, such a sweet baby angel has had such a bleak life so far, but finds his ray of sunshine through creating fashion and still holds his passion close to his heart. Adrien is a fixer of sorts for his boss, he takes care of the situation. He is realizing and dealing with things, especially the promise he made to his dead friend, but he didn't go through with the promise until many years later. The way these two ate together is really good and I enjoyed them. Really good story.
I love this series so very much. You can tell in my opinion the author has put so much thought and took the time to put together the words on this story to leave such an impression. I love the way this author writes and creates. Kamden, such a sweet baby angel has had such a bleak life so far, but finds his ray of sunshine through creating fashion and still holds his passion close to his heart. Adrien is a fixer of sorts for his boss, he takes care of the situation. He is realizing and dealing with things, especially the promise he made to his dead friend, but he didn't go through with the promise until many years later. The way these two ate together is really good and I enjoyed them. Really good story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another great story by E. Baileu!
Don't You Cry is the story of Kamden, a sweet 19 year old who has spent his life being abused by his mother and her boyfriends, and Adrien, the best friend of Kamden's father (who passed away when he was young). From start to finish the story was poignant, heartbreaking, and oh so well done. I loved the growing connection between the two, and seeing Kammie discover his little side and start to believe that good things can actually happen to him.
Definitely read the trigger/content warnings, but if you're good with them then this is a story you don't want to miss!
Don't You Cry is the story of Kamden, a sweet 19 year old who has spent his life being abused by his mother and her boyfriends, and Adrien, the best friend of Kamden's father (who passed away when he was young). From start to finish the story was poignant, heartbreaking, and oh so well done. I loved the growing connection between the two, and seeing Kammie discover his little side and start to believe that good things can actually happen to him.
Definitely read the trigger/content warnings, but if you're good with them then this is a story you don't want to miss!
October 20, 2026
“This boy is going to ruin me.”
‘Don’t You Cry’ by author E. Baileu is an age gap romance between Adrien, a military veteran turned fixer and Kamden, the broken young man he was meant to protect but is now his target.
This dark romance deals with PTSD and former abuse, so you’ll want to watch your triggers. But there is also healing in soft moments that include glitter, stuffies and fashion dreams.
“I have accepted that glitter is simply part of my life now. If I believed in things like divine punishment, I’d sure as hell think the glitter was mine.”
Thank you to author E. Baileu for the early copy. I really loved this book!
‘Don’t You Cry’ by author E. Baileu is an age gap romance between Adrien, a military veteran turned fixer and Kamden, the broken young man he was meant to protect but is now his target.
This dark romance deals with PTSD and former abuse, so you’ll want to watch your triggers. But there is also healing in soft moments that include glitter, stuffies and fashion dreams.
“I have accepted that glitter is simply part of my life now. If I believed in things like divine punishment, I’d sure as hell think the glitter was mine.”
Thank you to author E. Baileu for the early copy. I really loved this book!
October 20, 2026
ARC REVIEW FOR ‘DONT YOU CRY’ BY E.BAILEU
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CONTAINS SPOILERS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👬🏻 Characters- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Story-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️ Spice- ⭐⭐⭐
🏆 Overall- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kamden & Adrien…such an emotional ride, for both of them.
Kamdens story was all kinds of emotional. Losing his dad when he was 8 and his mum and her boyfriends abusing him in all kinds of ways. Being dragged to a drug deal by his mums boyfriend and witnessing a murder to being kidnapped.
Adrien lost his best friend whilst serving and had his own arm blown off.
He had to watch his best friend die, but before he did, he promised to look after his best friends son….Kamden.
It was 11 years after that he kept his promise, and that was because he was ordered to kill him, kill Kamden.
So instead..he kidnaps him.
Now unfolds a story where these 2 characters find out they need each other.
Adrien is very protective and possessive of Kamden. He wants him for himself, to be his ‘daddy’.
With Adriens help, Kamden goes on a journey of self discovery, and finds out who he really is and what he wants and needs.
He needs Adrien, he needs a daddy and he needs to be loved and looked after.
Adrien and Kamden are perfect together, and the way their relationship grows is beautiful.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from E.Baileu
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CONTAINS SPOILERS
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
👬🏻 Characters- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📖 Story-⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️ Spice- ⭐⭐⭐
🏆 Overall- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kamden & Adrien…such an emotional ride, for both of them.
Kamdens story was all kinds of emotional. Losing his dad when he was 8 and his mum and her boyfriends abusing him in all kinds of ways. Being dragged to a drug deal by his mums boyfriend and witnessing a murder to being kidnapped.
Adrien lost his best friend whilst serving and had his own arm blown off.
He had to watch his best friend die, but before he did, he promised to look after his best friends son….Kamden.
It was 11 years after that he kept his promise, and that was because he was ordered to kill him, kill Kamden.
So instead..he kidnaps him.
Now unfolds a story where these 2 characters find out they need each other.
Adrien is very protective and possessive of Kamden. He wants him for himself, to be his ‘daddy’.
With Adriens help, Kamden goes on a journey of self discovery, and finds out who he really is and what he wants and needs.
He needs Adrien, he needs a daddy and he needs to be loved and looked after.
Adrien and Kamden are perfect together, and the way their relationship grows is beautiful.
I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from E.Baileu
October 22, 2026
This is an emotional journey of trauma recovery, hurt and comfort, forced proximity, and a sweet daddy/little bond. I liked that we got plenty of time to explore both characters and see their bond develop, so nothing felt rushed.
Kammie is sweet and innocent, and calls to Adrien's need to care for someone and provide everything for his boy.
Their relationship is complex as Kammie is his captive and Adrien has to earn his trust as his protector.
I liked that Adrien was patient and empathic, and gave everything to Kammie.
It's a sweet age gap daddy little romance, with dark themes of past trauma, and a kidnapping meet cute.
Kammie is sweet and innocent, and calls to Adrien's need to care for someone and provide everything for his boy.
Their relationship is complex as Kammie is his captive and Adrien has to earn his trust as his protector.
I liked that Adrien was patient and empathic, and gave everything to Kammie.
It's a sweet age gap daddy little romance, with dark themes of past trauma, and a kidnapping meet cute.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Ah, I wasn’t expecting this story to make me emotional, but it did.
Ah, my poor Kamden has had such a rough life after losing his father. His mother has been depriving him from following his dreams and becoming the person he truly wants to be.
Adrien's line of work after the war is what makes him and Kamden meet, and it might not be in the best circumstances, but there is something that only he can provide.
These two are just incredible.
The story takes its time to fully go into detail about how these two characters are facing all the things life has thrown in their paths. So when it’s time for them to meet you have an idea of what their purpose is and how much they fight to be able to obtain it.
Their relationship builds slowly; trust is a key part of it, so when they finally give in, it’s so rewarding.
I enjoy all those sweet and safe moments Kamden was finally able to have with the help of Adrien. They both found their missing piece, and it was beautiful to see.
October 21, 2026
With this book, E. Baileu once again proves why she is one of my favorite authors.
She has crafted a beautiful, emotional, and sensitive story; I shed quite a few tears over it.
It is wonderful how she managed to portray such a cold, aloof person as someone so sensitive and loving.
One main character is so sensitive and sweet, while the other is so protective and possessive. This book is a wonderful blend of suspense, emotion, and intensity. The story’s pacing is excellent. I enjoyed every moment of the book, from the first page to the last word.
She has crafted a beautiful, emotional, and sensitive story; I shed quite a few tears over it.
It is wonderful how she managed to portray such a cold, aloof person as someone so sensitive and loving.
One main character is so sensitive and sweet, while the other is so protective and possessive. This book is a wonderful blend of suspense, emotion, and intensity. The story’s pacing is excellent. I enjoyed every moment of the book, from the first page to the last word.
October 28, 2026
unexpected
I have to be honest and say that I really don’t care or have any interest in the kinks in this book and to me the older MMC is borderline crazy. However, I gave this 5 ⭐ because of the writing itself. Wow! I have read so many books and I am surprised something like this surprised me at all. I am very impressed with the writing. Also the flow of the story, the spice and how the villain played the part, because I expected something really bad to happen but in the end I just wanted to read the “villain”’s story…
I have to be honest and say that I really don’t care or have any interest in the kinks in this book and to me the older MMC is borderline crazy. However, I gave this 5 ⭐ because of the writing itself. Wow! I have read so many books and I am surprised something like this surprised me at all. I am very impressed with the writing. Also the flow of the story, the spice and how the villain played the part, because I expected something really bad to happen but in the end I just wanted to read the “villain”’s story…
Review of advance copy received from Author
Sweet Kamden OH MY BABY. Everything he went through, losing his dad to dealing with his abusive mom made my heart break for him. He was taught to dim himself for others comfortability and I just wanted to climb through my kindle and hold him every time he felt the need to sink into the shadows when he expressed himself and I wanted to be mad at Adrien for being late (IYKYK) but honestly I felt like he showed up when he needed to and it felt right. I loved how he helped Kamden through his trauma without trying to fix him and let him shine bright without apologizing for it. If you’re looking for daddy/boy, swoon, sweet, and will tug on your heart strings. This is perfect!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2026
Emotional and Sweet
Ok, for one, how dare you start with a prologue like that. I was crying from the get go. But I was definitely hooked. I had a day off work and literally read this book in one day. It was such a healing story for both Kamden and Adrian. Hurt/comfort is my jam and you don’t get any more caretaking than from a Daddy Dom. My heart broke for Kamden’s situation but I was so happy to see him come out of his shell under Adrian’s care. Spicy, emotional, and I even found myself laughing out loud. This was a great read!
Ok, for one, how dare you start with a prologue like that. I was crying from the get go. But I was definitely hooked. I had a day off work and literally read this book in one day. It was such a healing story for both Kamden and Adrian. Hurt/comfort is my jam and you don’t get any more caretaking than from a Daddy Dom. My heart broke for Kamden’s situation but I was so happy to see him come out of his shell under Adrian’s care. Spicy, emotional, and I even found myself laughing out loud. This was a great read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review coming soon.
October 7, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author…
Rating: 5 stars✨
I absolutely loved this book! I really love how it was more detailed than the first book. Adrien & Kammie have definitely stolen my heart. ❤️❤️❤️
Rating: 5 stars✨
I absolutely loved this book! I really love how it was more detailed than the first book. Adrien & Kammie have definitely stolen my heart. ❤️❤️❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy received from author.
I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because it was really good, I enjoyed it and could not put it down, but there are some parts that I think could be taken to the next level to make it that much better. I am also pretty picky with books, so don’t let that detour you.
When I saw on instagram the opportunity to have an advanced reader copy for this book, I had never read anything by E. Baileu, so as preparation, I read a couple of their books including Hush, Little Baby (the first book in this series) and There’s Something In The Water.
As an editor, I am quite particular and insistent about style, grammar, and word choice. And I was exceptionally surprised by how much Baileu’s style has grown and evolved since There’s Something In The Water. They are more confident, have amazing flow and diction in their writing, and have obviously spent countless hours building their characters. I enjoyed Don’t You Cry immensely and was fully invested in the characters and the story.
Spoilers ahead.
I loved the build up in the first quarter of the book; letting the reader meet the characters on their own and in their own environments really helps us to understand both Adrien and Kamden and their situations before they meet officially. This is really appreciated because I feel like so many romance authors rush into the romance part of the book leaving the characters to feel like hollowed out shells of people without each other, and that’s not what happened here at all.
The opening starts with Adrien in Iraq with Kamden’s father, John during their last tour as Navy SEALS. Having the relationship between Adrien and John in the first chapter helps to establish how they interacted, and most importantly, John’s love for his son. The camaraderie and stillness in the first couple pages is a great juxtaposition of the explosion at the end of the chapter that takes Adrien’s left arm, and John’s life. I really appreciate the author’s understanding and acknowledgment of war and the bonds it creates between soldiers. I often find authors who glorify war and loss into something either easier to digest, or into something more pleasurable to interact with and that is not what happened here. I felt the stillness, and the anticipation, as well as the loss and surprise of the explosion. It’s really a gift to be able to transport the emotions of your characters into the reader so completely that they feel the loss of a character they’ve only known for 20 minutes like the friend who’s known them for years. Even though it was brutal and tragic, this chapter was necessary to set up the past of both main characters, and was a great lead in to Kamden’s POV of living with his mom and her boyfriend in the present.
I would have liked the second chapter to indicate that we’re back in the present, but it didn’t take long to figure it out; like a couple of paragraphs. The first chapter indicated that it was 11 years in the past so I would’ve liked something to tell me that we were now in present times instead of trying to guess whether I was reading 8 year old Kamden’s POV, or 19 year old Kamden’s POV, but he’s 19 and stays that way for the entirety of the book, safe for some flash backs.
Throughout the next couple chapters, we learn about both Adrien and Kamden’s lives separate from each other; their jobs, relationships, and their personalities. Something that I think not a lot of people appreciate is when authors don’t paint their characters in black and white. So often I see authors whose characters are all good or all bad and it really takes me out of the story because they don’t feel like real people. Kamden and Adrien do feel like real people and it kept me invested throughout reading. Adrien, at first glance, seems like an inherently bad person, a villain in most other stories, however as the book progresses we see the pain of losing a best friend, the cost of serving, and someone who has basically given up on himself outside of work. Seeing the conflict and the remorse he has about his assignment to kill Kamden and his eventual solution keeps the reader engaged. Juxtaposing that; at first glance Kamden seems like an inherently good person, he’s a victim and has survived years without love or care in a hostile environment of rotating suitors in his mother’s house. However, he doesn’t go to the police when he witnesses a murder and stays quiet about the organized crime organization that Adrien is a “fixer” for; he chooses his own happiness over the safety of others and what is ethically “right”. These flaws help the reader to better understand, and maybe even relate to, these characters in a way that feels more personal than most other books in this same genre.
I like that there’s not much wait between the kidnapping and the start of their relationship, I feel as though the routine would have gotten too repetitive and boring. And also it makes some sense because Kamden is starved for attention and affection so his traumatized brain was probably confused when faced with this kind of situation. Which is another thing that I appreciate Baileu for; is that Kamden’s trauma doesn’t go away as soon as he and Adrien get together, and that neither of them are automatically “fixed” because they’re with the other. They grow together, sure, but it’s obvious that they are still individuals with issues and trauma that need to be worked on over longer periods of time than the book offers. And I also like the unhealthy dependence that Kamden has on Adrien, would I encourage this in real life? Absolutely not. But this is fiction and it’s lowkey hot, and because it’s fiction is also the reason I’m not picking at the kidnapping scene where the chloroform works much too quickly compared to real life, because it’s fiction and it was close enough, so who cares?
I would have liked to see a little more of their Daddy/little relationship after they moved into Adrien’s bungalow, like a cute little tea party or a bratting scene that led to a punishment, just to see more of that established relationship that I’m looking for in romance books. That’s one of the reasons the book didn’t get a full 5 stars from me. I liked seeing the progression of Kamden’s little space and their relationship, but I would’ve liked a little more of the established dynamic. The author obviously knows a lot about BDSM and DDLB dynamic relationships and I appreciate their attention to detail when it comes to, not just Kamden and Adrien, but the relationships in their other books as well.
I didn’t think the violence was overly graphic or drawn out like a lot of dark romance is. I find it exhausting trying to read through chapters and chapters of torture and murder and death just to get to the cute bits, and I really like how I still felt like I’d been there to experience the scenes in this book, but they become more like summaries towards the end which I found very refreshing; because if I have to read one more three chapter long torture scene I might just lose my mind.
Overall, I really liked this book and I’m excited to read more of E. Baileu, their past works and whatever they release in the future, and I’m hopeful that I’m privileged enough to get another advanced reader copy from them when the next opportunity rises.
And if you made it this far into the review, good on you, I’m a yapper and I know I just wrote a whole essay on this book and I’ve been typing for close to two hours. Here is your reward for making it all the way through: 👑
I would give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars because it was really good, I enjoyed it and could not put it down, but there are some parts that I think could be taken to the next level to make it that much better. I am also pretty picky with books, so don’t let that detour you.
When I saw on instagram the opportunity to have an advanced reader copy for this book, I had never read anything by E. Baileu, so as preparation, I read a couple of their books including Hush, Little Baby (the first book in this series) and There’s Something In The Water.
As an editor, I am quite particular and insistent about style, grammar, and word choice. And I was exceptionally surprised by how much Baileu’s style has grown and evolved since There’s Something In The Water. They are more confident, have amazing flow and diction in their writing, and have obviously spent countless hours building their characters. I enjoyed Don’t You Cry immensely and was fully invested in the characters and the story.
Spoilers ahead.
I loved the build up in the first quarter of the book; letting the reader meet the characters on their own and in their own environments really helps us to understand both Adrien and Kamden and their situations before they meet officially. This is really appreciated because I feel like so many romance authors rush into the romance part of the book leaving the characters to feel like hollowed out shells of people without each other, and that’s not what happened here at all.
The opening starts with Adrien in Iraq with Kamden’s father, John during their last tour as Navy SEALS. Having the relationship between Adrien and John in the first chapter helps to establish how they interacted, and most importantly, John’s love for his son. The camaraderie and stillness in the first couple pages is a great juxtaposition of the explosion at the end of the chapter that takes Adrien’s left arm, and John’s life. I really appreciate the author’s understanding and acknowledgment of war and the bonds it creates between soldiers. I often find authors who glorify war and loss into something either easier to digest, or into something more pleasurable to interact with and that is not what happened here. I felt the stillness, and the anticipation, as well as the loss and surprise of the explosion. It’s really a gift to be able to transport the emotions of your characters into the reader so completely that they feel the loss of a character they’ve only known for 20 minutes like the friend who’s known them for years. Even though it was brutal and tragic, this chapter was necessary to set up the past of both main characters, and was a great lead in to Kamden’s POV of living with his mom and her boyfriend in the present.
I would have liked the second chapter to indicate that we’re back in the present, but it didn’t take long to figure it out; like a couple of paragraphs. The first chapter indicated that it was 11 years in the past so I would’ve liked something to tell me that we were now in present times instead of trying to guess whether I was reading 8 year old Kamden’s POV, or 19 year old Kamden’s POV, but he’s 19 and stays that way for the entirety of the book, safe for some flash backs.
Throughout the next couple chapters, we learn about both Adrien and Kamden’s lives separate from each other; their jobs, relationships, and their personalities. Something that I think not a lot of people appreciate is when authors don’t paint their characters in black and white. So often I see authors whose characters are all good or all bad and it really takes me out of the story because they don’t feel like real people. Kamden and Adrien do feel like real people and it kept me invested throughout reading. Adrien, at first glance, seems like an inherently bad person, a villain in most other stories, however as the book progresses we see the pain of losing a best friend, the cost of serving, and someone who has basically given up on himself outside of work. Seeing the conflict and the remorse he has about his assignment to kill Kamden and his eventual solution keeps the reader engaged. Juxtaposing that; at first glance Kamden seems like an inherently good person, he’s a victim and has survived years without love or care in a hostile environment of rotating suitors in his mother’s house. However, he doesn’t go to the police when he witnesses a murder and stays quiet about the organized crime organization that Adrien is a “fixer” for; he chooses his own happiness over the safety of others and what is ethically “right”. These flaws help the reader to better understand, and maybe even relate to, these characters in a way that feels more personal than most other books in this same genre.
I like that there’s not much wait between the kidnapping and the start of their relationship, I feel as though the routine would have gotten too repetitive and boring. And also it makes some sense because Kamden is starved for attention and affection so his traumatized brain was probably confused when faced with this kind of situation. Which is another thing that I appreciate Baileu for; is that Kamden’s trauma doesn’t go away as soon as he and Adrien get together, and that neither of them are automatically “fixed” because they’re with the other. They grow together, sure, but it’s obvious that they are still individuals with issues and trauma that need to be worked on over longer periods of time than the book offers. And I also like the unhealthy dependence that Kamden has on Adrien, would I encourage this in real life? Absolutely not. But this is fiction and it’s lowkey hot, and because it’s fiction is also the reason I’m not picking at the kidnapping scene where the chloroform works much too quickly compared to real life, because it’s fiction and it was close enough, so who cares?
I would have liked to see a little more of their Daddy/little relationship after they moved into Adrien’s bungalow, like a cute little tea party or a bratting scene that led to a punishment, just to see more of that established relationship that I’m looking for in romance books. That’s one of the reasons the book didn’t get a full 5 stars from me. I liked seeing the progression of Kamden’s little space and their relationship, but I would’ve liked a little more of the established dynamic. The author obviously knows a lot about BDSM and DDLB dynamic relationships and I appreciate their attention to detail when it comes to, not just Kamden and Adrien, but the relationships in their other books as well.
I didn’t think the violence was overly graphic or drawn out like a lot of dark romance is. I find it exhausting trying to read through chapters and chapters of torture and murder and death just to get to the cute bits, and I really like how I still felt like I’d been there to experience the scenes in this book, but they become more like summaries towards the end which I found very refreshing; because if I have to read one more three chapter long torture scene I might just lose my mind.
Overall, I really liked this book and I’m excited to read more of E. Baileu, their past works and whatever they release in the future, and I’m hopeful that I’m privileged enough to get another advanced reader copy from them when the next opportunity rises.
And if you made it this far into the review, good on you, I’m a yapper and I know I just wrote a whole essay on this book and I’ve been typing for close to two hours. Here is your reward for making it all the way through: 👑
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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