Theo Coleman wants nothing more than someone to love him. But at only twenty-three, life’s taught him he doesn’t deserve it and he’s had more than his fair share of being abandoned and tossed aside. When a run-in with an ex gets out of control, Theo finds himself face to face with a dominant older man who seems determined to save Theo from himself.
Officer Dan Jenkins has tried to leave the life he craves behind. No more clubs, no more kink and no more boys. When he intervenes in an argument outside a nightclub, he meets a boy that re-awakens that desire within him. All Dan wants is to care for someone, adore them and give them what they need. And Dan is convinced that Theo needs a Daddy.
When a chance encounter leads Theo to Dan, both men know they want to take a chance on each other. But when Dan discloses his kinky secret, Theo’s not sure whether he’s ready to play. Suddenly everything seems like a game, one where Theo doesn’t know the rules but he desperately wants to win the prize. Because Theo’s tired of losing and this time he wants to win. Can he put his past behind him to win Dan’s heart?
Theo’s Game is the first book in the Dark Reserves series. It’s a sweet and fluffy, Daddy kink MM romance featuring one sexy police office, his feisty boy, rainbow sprinkles and handcuffs.
I persisted because I paid for the book but I had zero connection with both characters. Dan was the Daddy, but was way too needy for me ! He kept repeating things / questions which was downright annoying...Theo was the bratty sub who didn’t really act like one at times and really just needed a good shake. Sadly this was not for me - just felt it was all over the place.
This was just ok for me. I really liked Theo! Dan on the other hand I had major problems with. He was too needy, a bit whiny, and far too controlling. He pulled a Tamlin on me and for that I can never forgive him. Plus the conflict they had was over a misunderstanding and I don’t like conflicts over misunderstandings usually.
Theo is a brat, in trouble and a bit lost. When officer Dan puts him, outside a club, against the wall Theo surrenders at once. That got Dan’s attention.
Theo has no experience how to be a boy to Daddy but Dan knows just how to teach him. Some nice spiced sex scenes, a feisty boy and a filthy mouthed Daddy. Theo has some real issues and being with Dan is the best that ever happened to him... he is so happy.... until something happens and he is not... my heart hurt.
A wonderful written story. I loved the personalities, I loved the bubble they were in... sometimes it was heartbreaking but mostly is was sexy, funny and sweet. I think the author did a good job writing this story! It was appealing, captivating and engaging.
Theo is a 23 year old college student in a master's program. He's had a pretty crappy track run with relationships, has troubles with anxiety, organization, and decision-making, and is also a bit of a brat. I really enjoyed Theo, no matter how emotional or rash he was in the things he did - and this kid definitely needs a daddy.
Dan is a police officer, I believe 11 or 12 years older than Theo, and first meets Theo when he's at a club confronting his ex-boyfriend. Dan's strength and stern manner, (and also shoving Theo up against a wall), get his attention and spark that attraction between the two of them. I do wish that we had a bit more backstory on Dan. It also didn't really sit well with me that Dan couldn't be adult enough to be okay with Theo taking care of him, rather than the other way around, and it seemed weird to have punishments come so much later. (Also, what movie theater is showing a movie after midnight?)
This is the first time I have read this author, and overall I enjoyed this story and will definitely be on the lookout for the next book in the series. I really liked Theo's friend and look forward to more stories in this series.
I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good May/December romance just as much as the next person, as well as a good BDSM/Daddy book.... but this one.....this one fell short with me. Unfortunately, I found myself growing uninterested and not invested in the character's based on the personality's portrayed on the written page. Sadly, this one was a DNF
DNF’d at 32%. The writing seemed a bit unrealistic and overly formal at times. I was unable to form any sort of connection to these characters and couldn’t see any real chemistry between them. After 7 days of trying to read this and only get a third of the book read, when I can read a book of this length in a few hours, I’ve decided to move on. If you’re into Daddy Kink, I would still give it a shot, it may work for you. It just didn’t work for me.
A book about kinks that was dull. No life. The characters of Fan and Theo had such promise, but it was unfulfilled promise. At the halfway mark I realized I was bored by them. I was also disappointed about that fact. It is a shame because technically it was a well written book. There are too many stories out there to continue reading one that has no spark. This book was not dark. It was not kinky. It was dull.
Sweet, kinky and humorous!! I love C.S. Joyce’s writing style. Her style is effortless and her characters scream to be loved! Theo jumps off the page and is so loveable and sassy right from the start. Even his meet-cute with sexy officer Dan is hot, hot, hot!
I’m relatively new to daddy kink and found this story really enjoyable. It’s a great introduction if you’re new to the kink and want a taste. I look forward to seeing where Carrie is going to take Theo and Dan next. Carrie is a self-proclaimed kinky as hell person, so I look forward to her stories getting kinkier!
I loved Theo’s sassiness and Dan’s protectiveness and desire to care, I even liked his stubborn streak. Theo is unsure if he needs a Daddy but finds he wants Dan and needs to see where they could go. Dan had given up on being a Daddy until a drunken confrontation changed his mind. I loved the banter between these two characters and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. I look forward to what’s next for Dan and Theo and was pleased with the happy for now ending.
This was my last book of 2018 and it was a certain winner!! As a debut story for C.S. Joyce, I think she’s done an amazing job. The story is a heartfelt and hot daddy-kink love story with so much heart and humour I got all the feels! Definitely looking forward to Book 2!!!
On the whole, this was a sweet story and an easy, fluent read. This book’s a bit of a tease though, promising slightly more smutty goodness than it actually delivers.
Theo is a very well-written, lovable character, anxious and insecure, and looking for someone to love and keep him for the long haul. He’s very giving and caring, a bit bratty, but not too much so and very determined to be a good boy for Dan. He’s endearing, if a bit helpless at times.
Dan starts of great, very much the protector, but he makes mistakes along the line that make him a bit harder to like in the long run. Ostensibly he’s a caretaker, but from his actions I can’t help but feel as if he gets off more on the power he holds over Theo. Dan has known some heartbreak in the past too, so while it’s very important for him to be seen as strong and he’s definitely looking for something with long-term potential, he still struggles to open himself up to Theo and make himself vulnerable. As for the kinkier aspect of their relationship, I’d have preferred a bit more communication, clear ground rules & consequences, and of course safe words.
Both Dan and Theo are blessed with some great friends. I liked the secondary characters and I am curious to see what this author will bring us next.
I found this to be a sweet and sexy read! It was sweetly kinky! I really enjoyed the emotional support that Dan provided for Theo in his capacity as his Daddy. I felt the book had all the feels and I’m looking forward to seeing where this series leads.
this is amazing and so much fun. the emotions were real and raw. i felt with the characters.. their sadness an love.. their anger and happiness. it was amazing. the writing was beautiful also.
An altercation outside of a club brings Theo face to face with a hard wall of hotness and a taste of something he never thought he'd need. Dan is intrigued by what he finds in the young man he restrained, but his past and Theo's innocence might keep him from giving Theo everything he needs.
From the very beginning we can see the potential between both Theo and Dan. It's an encounter that's both hot and chaotic so it left me feeling a little confused as to where the book was going. The butterfly thoughts in Theo's mind, the interaction between him and his ex, the interference from Dan, the implication of Dan's partner, the ending of that moment...I wasn't sure what to make of it and I felt unsettled.
I can't exactly say that the book gets better. While there are a lot of moments where we come to know both men as individuals and I can see quite a bit of potential, I wasn't exactly pleased with the little depth we got from them together. The steam was definitely steamy, the emotions were all plain to see and vulnerability reined, but marrying the two just didn't come together.
For a book that heavily hints that Daddy kink will play a central role for both men, this book is surprisingly light on all that makes Daddy kink so effective for someone like Theo. There isn't nearly enough in the way of communication of rules, expectations, consequences, consent, and safety. Follow-through is also seriously lacking. Because there wasn't enough of a foundation built between the two of them when Theo spirals out of control the way Dan handles the situation seems utterly inadequate. I was severely disappointed in how this pivotal aspect of their relationship was portrayed.
So I have to say that this story was quite average for me. It was neither great nor awful, but the potential and moments of caring and honesty kept me from writing it off. There were glimpses of what could have been really good, so while I wasn't won over, there were some nice things here that a lot of other people will appreciate.
Theo's Game is C.S. Joyce's debut novella and as such, it was an enjoyable read... for the most part.
Theo was adorable and so very much in need of someone that would help him settle and focus, while allowing his bratty, sassy self to flourish. He was definitely my favorite part of the book.
Now, while I didn't exactly hate Dan, there were some things about him that bothered me. Their relationship started out great, they had great chemistry and the first two/three encounters were both hot and promising. However, once Dan started out with his rules and being so set in keeping things fun and light, instead of reassuring Theo that he was more than a casual hookup until it blew up on his face, he kind of lost me. Add to that, that he felt so threatened when Theo tried to take control the few times he tried and I was all what the hell is Theo doing with Dan? I get that Dan was out of sorts while recuperating, but being so ugh about Theo taking care of him, feeling like he wasn't a Daddy any longer or whatever, felt so immature and frankly, coupled with how blah his apology was, it kind of was the last nail in his coffin for me.
While not my favorite book, it was still entertaining, and I'm intrigued enough about Hunter, Dan's friend, to pick up the next book in the series.
*** Copy provided to me through LesCourt Author Services for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I really wanted to like this one, but it fell short for me.
The main thing I disliked was the way it was written. It's very choppy and instead of feeling like a story that flows naturally, it feels more like a bunch of scenes just thrown together. The big misunderstanding at the end felt so contrived. There really was no need for it, and it made both of the characters look bad. Dan for being such a jerk, and Theo for not even giving Dan a chance to explain himself and talk it out like adults. It just really rubbed me the wrong way and it was so unnecessary. And the final thing I disliked was the lack of steam in this book. For a book about daddy kink, it just wasn't very kinky. Perhaps the author didn't want sex scenes to dominate the story, which is fine, but what we got was... meh. Bland, quickly done and often fade to black.
I also didn't really buy Dan and Theo's relationship. I liked them well enough (for the most part) as characters and they were cute together, but there was just something missing. There was no natural chemistry between them, no spark that jumped off the page and made me really believe that these two were crazy for each other. Nothing to really invest me in their relationship.
Overall, it's not a terrible book, but there were just too many things that left me wanting. Better kink scenes, better character creation and development, and better plotting and this could be really good.
I really wnjoy the Daddy/boy genre but this book was lacking for me. I think it might have been because I found Dan to be an arse and Theo deserved so much better.
Spoilers**** So many examples of not enjoying Dan's character He always seemed to change the subject or walk away from Theo. Even when he was trying to be sweet, he didn't seem to have the patience for it. Like for 2 times he let Theo be in charge for all of 1min the first time, and the second he got quite annoyed Theo was teasing him the 2nd. When Dan got stabbed and didn't me tion anything about Theo to his partner just made a joke about lasagna. Nor did he really comfort him when he did come up to the room or make sure Theo had access to him. But I think my biggest arse moment with Dan is when Theo over heard him, one he could do against his doctors orders to play video ganes but not go track down Theo sooner. And then when he does it more comes down to missing having sex with him. And Theo forgave him way too easily.
I didn't really care for Mikey either, always joking about Dan and Theo, when Theo was already nervous about never having this type of Daddy/boy relationship. And when Dan finally tracks Theo down after breaking his heart, Mikey just lets him right at him. Atkeast call him a dick and threaten him if he ever breaks your best friends heart again.
Overall, besides Theo I didn't enjoy any of the characters in this book.
I loved this story so much. Theo had me sniffling early on and it happened more times throughout the story. Theo has been left and hurt more times than should happen to a person. He is working hard on his Masters thesis while also working part time. He gets distracted at times and needs help with staying on task. He has a run in with his ex that go well. Can steps him to calm him down. Both are intrigued by the other.
Dan wants a Boy to call his own and he thinks that Theo could be it. He needs to approach the subject carefully since Theo isn't aware of his kink.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and lived the characters immensely. I like the way they present themselves and how well Dan broached the subject of his relationship needs and desires. They have one moment that could have really ended things, but Dan stays strong as Daddy and refuses to be ignored.
I can't wait to see what is next I this series and from this author.
I received an ARC of this book from LesCourt Author Services. This is my honest opinion and review. I also bought my own copy since it is a good read.
I was so looking forward to reading this book as it has two of my favorite tropes, Daddy kink and an age gap, unfortunately it is only an okay read for me. I love Theo and with his need for direction and stability someone like Dan should be exactly what he needs. Dan is interesting but with the lack of any information about his past it is difficult for me to understand him. They should be perfect together but I wish that Dan had done a better job of introducing Theo to Daddy kink and it felt like he needed a lot more guidance than Dan gave him. The lack of maturity shown by both of them seemed out of place considering their ages and personalities. The British phrasing is a bit disconcerting as well and I spent more than half of the book trying to figure out which country they are in. The storyline is great and I like the secondary characters a lot but it didn't quite come together as a cohesive story for me. I would like to read more books by this author as there are several elements in this book that I really enjoyed.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
A quick, easy Daddy romance that is a good start to what could develop into a great series. Our two MC's, Dan and Theo, meet and takes steps to start a relationship that will include Dan being Theo's Daddy, a completely new experience for Theo. Whilst the two get to know each other and decide about moving forward, it's interesting reading the dynamics between the two and how easily each man falls into their role when around the other. I liked the way the story flowed and the friends that both men had, a good support especially for Theo. I didn't personally feel that invested/connected to the characters but I enjoyed reading the story overall. It doesn't delve deeply into the bdsm world, just sticking with Dan's Daddy persona and Theo's need for one. I'd urge everyone to give the story a chance and am interested in seeing how the series moves forward with book two. I received an ARC and am happily giving a review
This book was a very well written debut from an author I'm definitely going to follow. I loved the idea of Dan introducing Theo to a Daddy/boy relationship. I wanted him to help get Theo's life on track while letting him feel loved and needed. I absolutely adored Theo, as well as his friends, who cared about him so much. My problem was Dan. I just couldn't make myself like him for a big part of the book, and I didn't think he appreciated Theo for the sweetheart that he was. I enjoyed their loving times together, but I didn't think there were enough of those to overshadow the times Dan seemed overly harsh or selfish. Still, the story was a good one, and the writing was terrific. I have hopes that we'll see more of Theo and Dan as the series continues, and maybe I'll find more to like about Theo's Daddy. I look forward to that.
Eh. Is it cliche to say, it’s not you, it’s me? Because I thought I’d be okay with a cop romance, but turns out I’m not. I love romantic suspense detective romances but just plain cop in the year 2019? Not so much. This book is super ambiguous about location but from an American perspective, this book makes me uncomfortable and comes across as super...white. Only a well-off white kid would go and try to provoke and flirt with a cop without expecting any consequences.
I did look up the author and the author might be Irish? So, if the book is set in Ireland, that might change up the whole cop dynamic, but without any research into the author and with an unknown setting, the whole premise of Theo and Dan’s relationship just weirds me out from the beginning just because Dan is a cop.
Loved officer dan! Something about a man in uniform and he is also a Dom. Loved how he just took to Theo and they slowly got to know one another. I loved the story about how they were both obviously healing from being hurt in the past. Dans trust was shattered by his last boy and Theo has had a perpetual string of abandonment and broken trust. How they slowly built their dynamic was cool and the steam was awesome. Loved Mikey and gabe. They have a more fleshed out story and allowed for plot movement. Loved the scenes between dan and his partner. That banter was organic and so perfectly executed for pairs that work so closely. Loved the story. Can’t wait for hunters book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Theo and Dan were just gorgeous together. I did have moments when I wanted to hit Dan when he was having his “I’m no in charge moment” but I did give him the benefit of the doubt and his heart was in the right place. Theo was sweet and sensitive which grabbed me from the beginning. Can’t wait to see what happens in Hunter’s Story because he intrigued me from the introduction I had in this book, and I hope we get to see more of Theo, Dan, Mickey and Gabe in the coming books from this series - that would be cool because they were all loveable characters. Great job!! Definitely worth the read!
Great start to a new series. I loved everything about Theo and Dan's story, each had their own strengths which mixed well together and I couldn't put it down. Theo is adorable, sweet and sassy. His journey was a discovery to see what he could be and what it means to be happy and safe. Dan is a sexy cop that hit all my right buttons in his role. I loved their chemistry and it played well as the story progressed. I can't for more in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an 'Advance Author’s Copy' of this book.
During a bad time in Theo's life he actually met the man of his dreams but didnt know it yet. Dan thought he was out the lifestyle but his chance meeting with Theo bought those Daddy instincts out of him. He found a boy who needed his guidance but will Theo go for it. Theo felt that Dan was to good to be true because everybody always leaves him and this type of relationship brought on strong feelings he wasnt use to. But he was willing to give it a try even though he was scared and insecure. Sometimes you just have to take a chance on new things.
I love Daddy kink but unfortunately this was not a good one. The characters stayed two dimensional for me. We didn’t get to know them very well. Dan (the Daddy) let Theo figure things out by himself, something a good Daddy would never do. Most sex happened off page and the sex that we got wasn’t very good (and that is supposed to be the best part of Daddy kink). Also not enough use of Theo’s love for sexy manties. The drama that was created at the end was a misunderstanding that could have been avoided.
So, word substitution drives me crazy. I should say that this was a very sweet Daddy/boy story, very expressive hurt/comfort and I enjoyed that. So for that alone and limited typos I would say that if you don’t mind ‘it ‘ then read away! Now, for the ‘it’ ... if you aren’t an American or you don’t live in America please make sure that someone who beta reads for you does. Because then you don’t have people like me giving your 4.5 star book 3.5 (my rating). I lower my rating with a heavy heart! Lift-elevator, I think that one bugged me the most and there’s a bunch others. *heavy sigh*
I'll admit it - I'm a complete sucker for a good Daddy/boy story. Something about the dynamic and the caring just makes me all swoony. Theo needs a daddy to help him navigate through life. He struggles with anxiety and self doubt and can't seem to manage himself. Dan is a police officer who needs a boy to satisfy his inner Daddy. Together they are exactly what the other needs. I really loved the characters and the relationship that Theo and Dan develop. I've read this book several times and I enjoy it each and every time. I definitely recommend this book!
These two are great together, it seems from the beginning that they are perfect for each other. Theo and Dan have an inadvertent encounter one night when Theo is having a bad night and they by chance meet again a few months later and things go from there.
I liked both Theo and Dan. I loved how Dan was determined to stay true to himself even though he knew it would hurt to give up Theo. Theo definitely did some blossoming under the direction of a Daddy and having someone that was willing to be there for him no matter what helped him so much. I did like to see Dan grovel when he made a mistake but they only grew stronger from there.
I received an ARC of this book and am giving an honest review.
I loved Theo & Dan’s meet-cute which set up the story nicely to show how sassy yet submissive Theo is. A kink read on the lighter, fluffier side but still deals with some serious issues. A story of Theo’s journey exploring the world of daddy kink with Dan who would love to be Theo’s daddy. To care for him. To protect him. To be everything Theo has ever wanted but never knew.
If you like a bit of kink in your reads, I’d definitely recommend this book. Can’t wait for the second in the series to be released!