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Davey's Rules #4

Rules to Obey

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Davey’s Rule #83: Daddy will encourage his boy to be the best he can be and be supportive of his boy’s career choices.

Marcus Alves has waited most of his adult life to find the perfect match. A sweetheart who will love cuddles, need a Daddy to help him thrive, and most importantly… be the type of boy that might want to use the binky that Marcus keeps hidden in his pocket. Now in his forties, he’s refusing to give up on his dream—or the unused playroom that’s waiting for someone to enjoy.

Jeff Robustelli has had a rough life. Growing up in a commune with absent parents was hard for a rule-following straitlaced guy with a genius IQ. When the uncle who saved him died, Jeff did what he does best—buried his head in the sand and pretended life wasn’t changing. Working in a Daddy club has shown him what he really wants, but Jeff is too afraid to take a chance on something new.

When Jeff has a sudden need for a fake fiancé, he strikes a deal with the older man who always seems to be there when his world is crumbling and makes him feel safe. In exchange, he agrees to a fake Daddy/boy experiment designed to let him try out being little without any pressure.

While Marcus and Jeff navigate their “deal” and the unexpected new feelings that begin to emerge, Marcus also must help the younger man through a series of life changes that put him on the road to being the adult he’s been too afraid to be. When everything in Jeff’s life is in turmoil, Marcus is his one stability. But can Jeff trust his own heart when nothing else in his life is making sense anymore?

This is the fifth book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Grab your fan and tissues because this series comes with both a high heat advisory and all the squishy feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2019

240 people are currently reading
181 people want to read

About the author

Susan Hawke

35 books367 followers
Susan Hawke is more widely known for her mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy.

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5 stars
450 (49%)
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308 (33%)
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124 (13%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
Profile Image for Erth.
4,594 reviews
August 10, 2020
My heart truly ached for Jeff. He has been through so much at such a young age. As for Marcus his patience and understanding, along with his compassion is beautiful. I couldn't put this book down.
Profile Image for Kaity.
1,980 reviews24 followers
February 24, 2023
Reread/Relisten: February 2023

same as before.. but i think i am going to take a pause with the series, haha

3-3.5 stars: August 2022

Hmm.. not as good as the others but not bad, there was a weirdness with the cult situation.. not really needed, but overall a good daddy/little book (still up in the air if that type of kink is my thing to read about lol)

Now on to Sam and Raphael’s book then Sam and Daveys book!! 🙌🏼
Profile Image for Susan.
2,349 reviews456 followers
January 1, 2020
This is not a bad book at all. Unfortunately I couldn't get past 60% when the story started to really concentrate on the stuff that didn't make sense at all.

Jeff told Marcus that Jeff's uncle rescued Jeff from his parents and their cult when he was 18. Now that I get. What I don't get is that the uncle made a deal with the parents that he would pay the cult a thousand dollars a month until Jeff turned 25 or when he got married, so that they would leave Jeff alone.

description

Why????? Just why???? This cult was not the maffia, nor could they really do anything to Jeff once he got out. Sure, they could try to kidnap him, but there's always the police. And why on earth until he turned 25 or got married??

I liked the cuteness of the age play in this, but I can't suspend my disbelief for the rest of the story.
Profile Image for Cadiva.
3,993 reviews435 followers
December 26, 2019
These books are just so ridiculously sweet but filled with enough spice and humour to stop them becoming cloying.

This one also managed to make me get a bit teary because it was packed with so much emotion.

I never thought age play would be a kink that appealed to me, but this series absolutely works perfectly and I love the support and caring which comes into the relationship between a Daddy and his Little.

Another fabulous addition to the series.
Profile Image for W.
1,391 reviews138 followers
January 18, 2020
So Sweet and Gooey That Might Cause A Diabetic Coma

Audio and Ebook Review

Rules of Obey is an Age gap, Age play, Daddy Kink , Slow burn, Sexy and Sweet, MM , Rom-Com with a HEA . Book 5 in the interconnected Davey's Rules Series , but it can be read as standalone.

It's an Ok read/listen ; a bit slow in pace and steam , for me. It's also über sweet , overly quirky, at times to the point of 'being extra' . Got some angst and a fair amount drama . Jeff and Marcus are a cute couple and their kinks compliment each other , perfectly. I like their story but it bored me a bit. There wasn't much romance ; was even surprised when MCs declared they loved each other.

Michael Dean narration was effervescent , animated , a bit OTT at times but then, the story itself is extravagant. Let's call it Baroque ... yep, that's it !

Anyways, it's my opinion . I know many have enjoyed this book a lot ; so , it might be me, not the book situation.

I received an AXC audio code through LesCourt , read Ebook with KU , this is my unbiased review.

Overall: 3 stars
performance : 3 stars
story : 2.5 stars
Reviewed: 01-16-20

Rules to Obey /Davey's Rules, Book 5
By: Susan Hawke
Narrated by: Michael Dean
Profile Image for True Loveislovereview.
2,850 reviews1 follower
January 18, 2020
What is more beautiful than when someone can be themselves, like totally, wholeheartedly, always and being accepted for what you feel and want and need. It’s so special!

Marcus never gave up hope of finding his own boy, his own little. He is prepared and so ready for it. Only he never found him, yet. Until Jeff stumbles into his life.
Jeff’s life is difficult. He never had real caring parents, he was raised in a cult where his father was in charge and his mother was numbed by drugs. They wanted Jeff to marry the old goddess of the sect and he never knew why. Luckily, he was saved by his uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle died.

There are a few nasty events in this story. Without spoiling I can say one is about Jeff, how he can set himself free from his parents’ cult. He needs a fake fiancé. Marcus will help him.

A bunch of awesome friends and colleagues pass by with fun and serious matters.
The heart of this and every other books of this series is Davey; he documents all the rules every good Daddy should follow. There are some awful low and sparkling highlights.

A sweet and enjoyable story with very lovable characters. Jeff’s high IQ was nicely woven into his personality.
I know there are more and more stories with Daddies and littles, I have to confess this was my first. The dynamic between Daddy and little was fascinating. I was happily surprised by the whole scenery and how they interact, I didn’t have a clue how this would work in detail, I loved it. The way this story was told was quite fabulously.

Profile Image for Trio.
3,609 reviews206 followers
January 24, 2020
What an absolutely beautiful story. I challenge any fans of this series not to cry (just a bit) during this one. Susi Hawke doesn’t pull her punches in the feels department, and while they’re mostly happy tears, Rules to Obey is a tear jerker.

Jeff is completely adorable as Jeffy, and seeing how happy he makes Marcus *gah* I was enchanted. These two are perfect together (as all the couples in this series are) but hey, it’s a Susi Hawke romance, so it’s no wonder I’m 100% satisfied.

… We’re all on tenterhooks waiting for Davey to find his man, and I’m getting suspicious (though I’m not going to ruin anything for folks following this series), but dang, I can’t wait for the next book!

Just a note about the audio version, I truly don’t think anyone besides Michael Dean who could perform this series. His voices for these guys are just perfection, and the way he delivers the lines are so sweet and romantic, my heart literally melts. Mr. Dean totally gets what Susi Hawke is going for here, and I can’t imagine listening to anyone else performing them for me.

*blessings to Susan in hospital - we're all here for you!*
an audiobook copy of Rules to Obey was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
Profile Image for Becca.
3,211 reviews47 followers
January 7, 2020
Ok, I’m convinced. I need a Daddy so I can be a little. Hell, I’m over 75% there lol. I love cartoons and playing with toys and blocks and coloring. I love swinging. I’d love someone to take the responsibility off my shoulders for a bit at a time so I could get a break. I just draw the line at diapers or pullups. Not that I’m judging AT ALL for anyone who does do that. If that’s your thing and you’re a happy person doing so, then by all means, you do you and screw anyone who says it’s not ok to enjoy your kink. Heck, I’m even like Jeff and LOVE Transformers. Although, I do have to say I love the movies. I know Michael Bay kind of does the same ole alot but movie #2 is my favorite of all time. And Optimus and Bee are my favorite characters. Lol. I just need the Daddy now lol.
I love Jeff. I really do. I know he’s been really scared to be intimate after what happened to him but he’s trying to keep going. But what I love the most is Marcus and how patient he is with Jeff. He had a feeling Jeff was going to back out on their date that he won at the auction, and he gave Jeff options that had Jeff feeling more at ease. What happened on their date, made things even better. Jeff learned he could be who he needed to be at times. Which was a little. It didn’t mean he couldn’t be adult Jeff when he needed to be or whatever, but Marcus being his Daddy, gave him the option to be himself or Jeffy. Wherever his mindset was. And because of it, Jeff was blossoming in ways no one ever thought they’d see. And everyone was so proud. But just when things were going good, the past had to come and threw Jeff off his game. In two different ways. And now Jeff has to make a decision. Stand with Marcus and know his back will always be had, or go back to being the old Jeff and letting people walk all over him?
I was so proud of Jeff in this book. He has done so well and come so far. Especially by the end. You have to read to find out. But the transformation is unbelievable. It’s so beautiful as well. He finally found a space where he could let go and explore the sides of himself he always wanted to but couldn’t because he never had that safe space before. And because of Marcus and him being oh so patient, Jeff got to be all he ever wanted to be and so much more. Marcus didn’t laugh at him or make him feel bad because of things he wanted. He supported and encouraged it and fulfilled a need of him own to take care of a boy, his boy, like he’s always wanted to himself. You couldn’t have picked two more perfect people to be together.
I really did love this story. After all the hell Jeff has been through, and that was before this story, I was so happy to see someone who truly appreciated what Jeff needed and took care of him.

http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Profile Image for Jamie Lee Zonneveld.
1,681 reviews52 followers
August 9, 2020
Rules to Obey is the fifth book in the Davey's Rules serie by Susan Hawke. This is the second book I've read and I'm really liking this series. I loved Marcus and Jeff. They fit together so perfectly.
Profile Image for Gabbi Grey.
Author 79 books265 followers
January 22, 2020
Daddy Marcus and Little Jeff (an audio review)

Rule #52 – If a boy is a little, Daddy never forgets a boy’s stuffie while traveling.

This is the fifth book in the Davey’s Rules series and I have to say it’s on par with the others. Which is to say I loved it. Jeff was introduced previously in the series and my heart went out to him. His uncle Raphael owned the club Daddy’s Lap along with his partner Sammy. The Raphael died way too young, leaving Sammy alone with two young children. Jeff was living with them and so was happy to step into a helper role, even as his heart broke. Raphael saved him from a horrible home situation and showed him a whole new world of freedom. Losing his uncle devastated him.

There’s a lot to unpack with Jeff. He was raised in a cult with an authoritarian father and a drugged mother. He was whip smart but his father was hell-bent on him marrying an elderly woman in their ‘church’.

Marcus is a daddy. He’s prepared a room just for the perfect boy who he has yet to meet. While having lunch with Davey, the ultimate boy, Davey offers this advice with regard to Jeff:

Here’s my tip. Take the lead and go full Daddy with him. He needs that. And for the love of Gaga, do not ask the boy to make a decision because you’ll be waiting for hours while he weighs the pros and cons.

At that point Marcus isn’t even sure Jeff will want to be his little boy, but they have set up a date because of a charity auction. Before that happens, Marcus witnesses Jeff have a breakdown of sorts and he realizes Jeff’s in a lot of pain. Jeff’s father has reappeared with more demands Jeff marry. Although the old woman has died, she apparently has offspring that will be suitable. Forget that Jeff is young and, uh, gay. In order to thwart his father’s plans, Jeff needs to get married. Enter the fake marriage trope – one of my favorites.

The relationship between Marcus and Jeff was clearly special from the start. Marcus always carries a binkie around and when he spots Jeff sucking his thumb, he hands it over. Jeff is reticent about the whole little boy thing, but he knows he can’t take much more stress. Having someone to shoulder the burdens? Well, kind of like heaven.

This book is a great addition to the series and I’m (somewhat) patiently waiting for Davey’s book. I also wouldn’t mind if Sammy eventually found someone, but that’s just greediness on my part. The story is narrated by the great Michael Dean (formerly Michael Pauley), who does great justice to this series. His transition from regular voice to little boy voice is brilliant and I just keep being more and more impressed. Great book and a wonderful telling of it.
Profile Image for Saimi Vasquez.
1,951 reviews94 followers
December 1, 2021
Jeff solo quiere vivir su vida tranquilo, ayudar a su tio Sammy con sus primos, tener un trabajo y poder tomar un par de dias libres para ir a la Transformers Con. Pero su vida tranquila comienza a temblar, cuando le piden ser testido en un juicio contra Andrew (el Daddy que intento violarlo en el bano), se entera que su tio le esta pagando a su padre para mantenerlo alejado y ademas Daddy Marcus quiere tener una cita con el, y no sabe como enfrentar ese lado de si mismo que tanto quiere un Daddy.
Marcus tiene anos esperando a su Boy perfecto, para eso ha construido un cuarto de juegos con sus propias manos, esta casi seguro que ese Boy seria Jeff, pero ahora solo espera que el sea lo suficientemente valiente para liberar ese lado suyo y permitirse una vida plena. Y cuando se acerca el dia para su cita, descubre que Jeff es su Boy perfecto, sino que tambien este necesita un Daddy con desesperacion y el esta decidido a serlo para el.
Entre locas maquinaciones del padre de Jeff, nuevos cambios en su trabajo y acomodarse a la -liberacion que implica ser un boy-little, Jeff y Marcus aceptaran que solo uno puede ayudar al otro y que la relacion entre ellos es mas profunda de lo que esperaban.

Es un libro bastante sencillo, dulce, lleno de enredos y entretenido. Quizas lo que mas me gusto fue la relacion Davey-Jeff, y todo el rollo de ir descubriendo realmente las personalidades de algunos de los personajes que hasta ahora habian quedado olvidados. Sin embargo, extrane mucho las noches en el Club, las conversaciones entre los Daddy (porque este libro solo describe los problemas del Boy, y no nos dan mayor informacion del Daddy), las descripciones de su trabajo, sus problemas, sus dudas.
En fin, hasta ahora la serie ha estado volviendose un poco monotona, quiero ver con que van a salir para terminarla (ya que solo quedan 1 historia corta, 1 libro y 1 libro de epilogos).
Profile Image for Mari  Cardenas.
2,288 reviews28 followers
January 18, 2020
4.25 Stars!

This is book 5 in the Davey's Rules series and for maximum enjoyment, I suggest reading the first books before this one.

I haven't read all that many DD/lb books, but the one thing that seems to be prevalent in them is the sweetness and protectiveness in the relationship and Rules to Obey wasn't the exception. Daddy Marcus was perfect for his Jeff/Jeffy, he was gentle and supportive in both roles, as Daddy and boyfriend, allowing Jeff to bloom in both his personal and professional lives. And it was a delight to see Jeff gain more confidence as he finally found his place in Marcus's life.

While the whole thing with Jeff's parents was a bit OTT, the rest was just as fun and delightful as the rest of the series has been. I'm very intrigued about Sam and Davey's friendship, so I can't wait for Davey's book to see if I was reading the clues right or not. Very recommendable!

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Michael Pauley did a great job as always with the audiobook. There are a lot of characters and he has a distinctive voice for everyone, which I imagine is not easy to do. I actually enjoyed the audiobook a bit more than the e-book because of his voice, so if you have to choose one over the other, the audiobook is definitely my recommendation.
Profile Image for Tam.
Author 21 books104 followers
January 26, 2020
Okay, the problem is bloody Kindle Unlimited keeps recommending the same types of books. Sigh. So Daddy wins a date with super nervous (see other review) waiter at the Daddy/little club. Before long we find out Jeff is a genius who was basically held captive in a commune by his parents. It's just Jeff and his Daddy figuring things out. Jeff takes to being a little pretty damn fast, he gets a job with another rocket scientist/little, they move in together, he figures out why his parents wanted him to marry some old woman when he was 18 and escaped. I was kind of curious about the mystery of why his parents wanted him married off and I liked Jeff's other family but ... I need a break. (but of course I read more after. Sigh)

The one thing that annoyed me, is the guy running the daddy/little club (young and kind of hyper) arranged for the uncle, him and the uncle's two young kids to go to the same location as Jeff for his honeymoon. (Hawaii) His uncle says the tickets were non-refundable but ... they are flying first class. Um. There is no such thing as a non-refundable first class ticket. When you pay $6K for a ticket you can change it as many times as you want. So that annoyed me. But it was okay.
Profile Image for Kirstin.
2,088 reviews19 followers
January 18, 2020
4.5 Stars

This is the second book I've read in this series and I loved this one as well. Susan Hawke has a way of making her characters so completely different, yet still meant to be. This story is a perfect example.

Jeff is young and naive, having lived on a commune his entire life. He needs time and space to process things and wouldn't mind a little help.

Marcus has been setting up his life, waiting to find someone to take care of. When he met Jeff a year ago, he wasn't sure they were right for each other. But a lot can change in a year.

The main conflict between Jeff and his family was frustrating at times, because it wasn't fully explained until the end, but overall, this was a very sweet story of two men put into a fake proposal situation and finding that it didn't need to stay that way.

I would recommend giving this a listen. Like I said, I really enjoyed it and hope to hear more from this author and this series.
Profile Image for Samantha Tucker.
273 reviews11 followers
December 17, 2019
I love Jeffy!

I really enjoyed this continuation of Davey's Rules. Not only was this book full of adorable little kink, it also had a really great plot. I like a book that has some meat to it and not just the same predictable plot lines. Susan really delivered on this one. The characters were easily relatable, especially Jeff, who is basically my spirit animal. I also really enjoyed seeing all the characters from previous books piled into this story. I can't wait for Davey's book because he's bound to get into some interesting situations. I definitely recommend this book though, as well as the others.
1,544 reviews11 followers
December 24, 2019
The fifth book in the Dave's Rules series is super cute, but has a really good plot, too. The steamy parts are pretty slow burn, given Jeff's inexperience and background.
Poor Jeff has it coming at him from all sides between his past, his family and it's no wonder he wants to regress and be little as much as possible. Fortunately for him Daddy Marcus has a seemingly infinite well of patience where his Jeffy is concerned and he's just the right Daddy to help both Jeff and Jeffy thrive!
Profile Image for Nanna Mørk-Sander.
710 reviews43 followers
May 10, 2020
I liked Jeff a lot. And I like that even though it's an age play relationship, it doesn't move at a neck breaking speed as is often the case. There is time to build a foundation between the MCs so that even the rushed wedding made sense for the MCs.
Profile Image for DeeNeez.
1,999 reviews13 followers
May 27, 2020
I’ve been wanting the story for Marcus ever since he slipped the binky to Jeff at Raphael’s funeral. Marcus is so patient with Jeff, and we see Jeff’s character grow as he faces down his past. These two are perfect for each other!
Profile Image for JD Crittendon.
1,170 reviews11 followers
December 29, 2021
Transformers, MIT & Perseverance!

I loved this sweet, ‘embracing a hidden kink’ tale between “Daddy” Marcus and adorable “Little” Jeff. This was an interesting and dynamic storyline. I liked the dichotomy of Jeff’s character both brilliant and a “little”; also that Marcus was so considerate and patient with Jeff. I thought the unique
dysfunctional family element added some dramatic spice to the story. This is my second favorite in the series.
Profile Image for Brianne McCallum.
1,124 reviews4 followers
January 1, 2020
Warning this book is about little's.

I like Jeff as a little and Marcus as a Daddy but the premise for this one is strange. Jeff's uncle rescued him from his psycho parents prior to 18 and he paid them to back off. Most people would of just called the cops and told them what the parents had done but I can see how this solution would be quick and easy without the drama. However one would think that the uncle would stop paying when Jeff was an adult and there'd be nothing they could do about it. But we are to believe that the only way out of payment is for Jeff to be 25 or married. 🙄🙄🙄 I'll give this 3.5 just because in the end this is explained a little bit better. It's still extremely far fetched but slightly less than how it sounds throughout the majority of the book. That aside I like these two as a couple. They are sweet together so it makes the plot problem easier to digest. The only thing that drove me nuts was Marcus constantly calling Jeff Stringbean. Like seriously that's the best name u got smh.

There is talk of Jeff's past sexual assault attack and his parents horrible tactics and the mother is a total drug attack. So these may be sore subjects to some readers.

Anyone looking for a steamy read will be disappointed. Theres isn't much due to Jeff getting over his trauma and the story features mostly on him being a little.

Overall this book was a crazy read but still sweet and I found it to be ok. 3 5 stars.
Profile Image for Diane Dannenfeldt.
4,017 reviews78 followers
June 23, 2021
I'm so glad that Jeff has found his HEA!!! He so needed to after all he has gone through. We get closure with Andrew and Jeff's parents. I knew Andrew was a POS when he almost raped Jeff, but what he has done was even worse. We have Jeff really stepping up and wanting to do what was right on that front. We also find that Jeff really is a genius and his relationship with Mikey so worked. Jeff has been afraid to embrace his Little side, but with the help of Daddy Marcus, he does and it was a joy to watch. We also meet Jeff's parents and find out what his father has been doing all this time & all the reasoning behind it. Even though these one was a little deeper because of the couple of issues happening, I loved it. I love the Little's and so totally get why they would want to check out for awhile and just be free of all burdens and adulting.

Audio ARC provided by LesCourt Services in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provied by LesCourt Services in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Karolina Cebula.
432 reviews5 followers
December 26, 2019
"Rules to Obey" is the fifth part of "Davey's Rules" series by Susan Hawke, but also its first installment I had the opportunity to read. While reaching for this novel I was fully aware of Daddy/boy motif we find here, however, the author surprised me with the said boy, as he turned out to be a Little. "Rules to Obey" is therefore the first book I've read in which this particular theme appears. I admit that at the beginning I didn't quite know what to think about it, but I quickly got used to this subject of the novel. At some point, "Rules to Obey" forced me to ask myself a few questions when I realized that my own weaknesses and needs, such as, for example, seeking a break from reality in children's books, are quite similar to Jeff's. Thus, the motif, which at first seemed a bit odd to me, suddenly became extremely interesting.

In "Rules to Obey" I also liked a theme of a genius, who has a problem finding balance in adult life. Let's be honest, today many people, myself included, have a similar problem. You don't need to have a genius IQ to encounter difficulties associated with being an adult and dealing with the problems, ups and downs of such a life. Thus, "Rules to Obey" shows us that this problem can affect everyone, our very intelligent protagonist, as well as all of us. In this case I think it's important to add that although Jeff had a rather unpleasant childhood, the author doesn't put much emphasis on this topic and she doesn't use is as some kind of excuse for Jeff's need to be a little. Susan Hawke makes Jeff's past a significant part of the story, but not the reason behind his kink.

An interesting aspect of "Rules to Obey" is also the fact that the relationship between the two main characters undoubtedly develops very quickly, which both they and their loved ones are fully aware of. However, what is important, to some extent they all rationalize this relationship pace and therefore support it. As a reader, I can't even complain about the pace in which love between Jeff and Marcus develops. The characters answer all my questions before I even ask them, thoroughly justify their actions and choices, and most importantly, they are happy and accepted by their loved ones, so it is impossible to deny them anything. That's why we can say that in this novel "fast" doesn't mean "too fast".

In conclusion, "Rules to Obey" is a really interesting, eye-opening novel full of captivating magic that you can't resist. It is a book worth recommending and it undoubtedly encourages us to reach for the whole "Davey's Rules" series.

___________________

„Rules to Obey” jest piątą częścią serii „Davey's Rules” autorstwa Susan Hawke, ale jednocześnie pierwszym jej tomem jaki miałam okazję przeczytać. O ile sięgając po tę powieść byłam w pełni świadoma występującego tu motywu seksualnej gry Tata/chłopiec, o tyle autorka zaskoczyła mnie wspomnianym chłopcem, jako że okazał się on maluszkiem. „Rules to Obey” jest więc pierwszą czytaną przeze mnie książką, w której pojawia się ten konkretny motyw. Przyznaję, że na początku nie do końca wiedziałam, co o tym myśleć, jednak szybko oswoiłam się z taką tematyką powieści. W pewnym momencie „Rules to Obey” zmusiło mnie nawet do zadania sobie kilku pytań, kiedy uświadomiłam sobie, że moje własne słabości i potrzeby, np. poszukiwanie odskoczni od rzeczywistości w książkach dla dzieci, nie odbiegają tak bardzo od potrzeb Jeffa. Tym samym motyw, który na samym początku wydał mi się trochę dziwny nagle stał się niezwykle interesujący.

W „Rules to Obey” bardzo spodobał mi się także motyw geniusza, który ma problem z odnalezieniem równowagi w dorosłym życiu. Bądźmy szczerzy, w dzisiejszych czasach wiele osób boryka się z podobnym problemem, a wspomnę, że wliczam w to siebie. Nie trzeba ponadprzeciętnego IQ aby napotkać trudności związane z wejściem w rolę dorosłego i uniesieniem na swoich barkach problemów, wzlotów i upadków takiego życia. Tym samym, „Rules to Obey” pokazuje nam, że wspomniany problem może dotykać każdego, naszego bardzo inteligentnego bohatera, jak i nas samych. Istotne wydaje mi się w tym wypadku to, że chociaż Jeff miał raczej niezbyt udane dzieciństwo, to jednak autorka nie kładzie na nie większego nacisku, nie szuka w nim uzasadnienia dla potrzeby Jeffa bycia małym. Susan Hawke czyni przeszłość chłopaka istotnym dodatkiem do fabuły, ale nie formą usprawiedliwienia jego słabostek.

Ciekawym aspektem „Rules to Obey” jest także fakt, iż związek między dwójką głównych bohaterów rozwija się niewątpliwie bardzo szybko, czego w pełni świadomi są zarówno oni sami, jak i ich bliscy. Co jednak istotne, wszyscy oni w pewnym stopniu racjonalnie i sensownie usprawiedliwiają takie tempo związku, a co za tym idzie, popierają go. Jako czytelnik nie mogę więc mieć najmniejszych nawet zastrzeżeń do tempa rozwijającej się między Jeffem i Marcusem miłości. Bohaterowie odpowiadają na wszystkie moje pytania zanim w ogóle je postawię, uzasadniają swoje działania i wybory w sposób wyczerpujący, a co najważniejsze, są szczęśliwi i akceptowani przez bliskich, więc nie sposób odmówić im czegokolwiek. Można więc powiedzieć, że w tej powieści „szybko” wcale nie oznacza „za szybko”.

Podsumowując, „Rules to Obey” to naprawdę interesująca, otwierająca oczy powieść, która posiada nieodpartą magię, której nie można się oprzeć. To godna polecenia książka oraz niewątpliwa zachęta do sięgnięcia po całą serię „Davey's Rules”.
Profile Image for Kate.
2,568 reviews6 followers
January 28, 2022
**********Contains Spoilers**********

I enjoyed this book but it wasn’t my favourite. Marcus has been waiting to find his boy for what seems like forever. He’s been keeping himself busy owning his own business making hand made furniture suitable for the k*nk community. He’s noticed Jeff while he’s working as a busboy at his uncles’ k*nk club but they’ve never really spoken much. He wins a date with Jeff at the charity auction and I loved that he knew that Jeff seemed nervous about their date but he put the ball in Jeff’s court to see if he really doesn’t want to go on the date they can cancel and Jeff tells him that he’ll let him know once he’s thought about it because of his past he’s scared to trust. Marcus has noticed that Jeff is most likely a little. Jeff finds out not long after his uncle Raphael died that he has been paying the cult that Jeff grew up in since he was rescued at 18 years old that he has a breakdown and Marcus finds him outside the club and helps calm him down and Jeff tells him what he’s so upset about.

Jeff realises that he feels safe with Marcus so agrees to their date. I loved that Marcus allowed Jeff a safe space to explore his little side and never pushed him in being little for longer than he wanted and when they decided to become D*ddy and boy that he took their s*xual relationship at Jeff’s speed. I liked Jeff/Jeffy and Michael/Mikey’s friendship in both while they’re working together when their big or playing together when they’re little. All I can say is Jeff deserved way better parents than he got especially his dad was a complete a*sehole and I really don’t like that he got away with everything he did. I’m glad that Jeff had his uncle Raphael and his uncle Sammy even if he only saw Raphael on his birthday and Christmas and Sammy on Christmas as they weren’t permitted to on the cult’s land otherwise. I thought Jeff and Marcus needed each other and were well suited. Marcus loved spoiling Jeffy with all the Transformers stuff a boy could ever need or want. I’m looking forward to reading Raphael and Sammy’s story next. I’d definitely recommend this book, series and author to everyone.
Profile Image for Jenny Wood.
Author 26 books309 followers
March 18, 2020
I was so excited for this one, I've been hoping for Jeffy's story since we were introduced to him.... I just knew that he was going to make the perfect little...
In this one, Jeff goes through a lot. In previous stories, we see the whole thing with Andrew happened and then he lost his uncle, which still breaks my heart when I think about it.. I dunno if I'll ever be able to read the Sammy and Raphael short story, knowing what happens to them, and in this one we get to know more about his background with the cult that he was raised in and his father.... which I'll also admit, that I hated. If anyone reads any of my reviews, ever... you'll know that I despise when a bad guy gets away with being a bad guy.... and Jeff's dad was terrible. Not only that, I mean, he didn't just treat Jeff like dirt and manipulate him and stuff, he actually broke laws and stole millions of dollars..... and we're just not going to get closure from that? I can't handle that! I'm not emotionally stable enough to not get invested!

Anyway.... Marcus has been waiting forever for his very own little, and he has hope that his will come one day... getting to know Jeff and suspecting Jeff is a little, he silently waits to see.
I did love how slow these two took it, especially because Jeff has had so much going on and he finds change hard anyway... plus he's never been a little before, so he just wasn't sure.

Marcus is patient with him, he's helpful and sweet and slowly, Jeff learns that even though he's a miniature Sheldon Cooper, he can still be a little. I can't say I was too pumped with he and Michaels jobs, cuz it just didn't feel realistic, but.. they were cute and I'm glad they were friends, so whatevs.

If you strip away all the baggage and side storylines and just focus on the Jeffy and Marcus story though, it's just incredibly sweet and I loved it. It's probably just me, I'm not a fan of angst and crazy plot lines... overall though, it was very cute.
I can't wait to see what happens between Davey and Sammy and the kids !
Profile Image for Love Obsessed.
13 reviews
January 4, 2022
* Witten by Susan Hawke - another favourite author of mine
* Sass
* Daddy/boy relationship
* Characters you fall in love with
* Addictive and hard to put down

I loved this book as much as I loved Rules for Santa, there is something that is really appealing about a really strong man loving and taking care of a younger, more vulnerable man.

As per all the books in this series, we start with Davey’s POV, which I totally love :)

Marcus is a strong man who knows what he wants and is willing to wait for it. Running a business, hanging out at Daddy’s Lap and just patiently waiting till his perfect boy comes along.

Jeff has been through so much in his short life, is a genius and just needs someone to help him cope and to love him.

When Jeff finds out that his Uncle (who rescued him at age 18) has been paying his parents cult $1000 a month so that they would not come after Jeff, he creates a plan to put a stop to this.

What starts as needing a fake Fiancé and Marcus willing to put himself forward for the role, soon turns into it being real.

Marcus has finally found the ‘special boy’ he has always wanted and Jeff has found a man that not only loves him but someone who will accept his need to be a ‘little’ on occasion.

The drama and suspense of this book was awesome, totally different from the other books in the series, but this made it appealing and held me captive.

Although I have never really understood why an adult would want to be a little, after reading about Mikey and Jeff I can totally see the appeal and understand why they would want it to happen.

This series is really addictive series. This is about the third time I have read it and I highly recommend it.

Once again, Michael Dean’s narration of this book was amazing.
Profile Image for ButtonsMom2003.
3,767 reviews41 followers
January 15, 2020
Marcus and Jeff are great and I love Davey, too.

This is the second book that I've read in the Davey's Rules series and I ended up liking it a lot. I was a little concerned because near the beginning there was a mention of a changing table and diapers. If ABDL is your kink I respect that but it just isn't for me so I was relieved when the book didn't go there at all.

Jeff is a super smart guy who finds that being a little allows him to get out of his head and relax but he's been afraid to embrace that. Marcus longs to be a Daddy to some special boy and he thinks that Jeff is the one for him. When the two agree to a trial run it goes even better than either of them expected.

This was an easy to read story with mostly low angst and a beautiful HEA. Jeff had to deal with a lot of bad stuff growing up but Marcus is ready to take care of him now. Marcus has to teach Jeff that he can trust him to take care of him. It doesn't take long for Jeff to realize that Marcus is the one for him but he has to deal with some bad stuff regarding his father and Marcus is by his side the whole time.

While I enjoyed Marcus and Jeff a lot, I have to say that my favorite part of this book is probably Davey; I just love his character. I know who I want him to end up with and I really hope it happens soon.

A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Profile Image for Claudia.
219 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2020
3.5 stars and it was a hard one to rate, I sat on it for a couple days trying to decide. I think a lot of people who like tender romances will really enjoy this. For me, I YOLO’d because it was in my Discover section on Kindle and I was looking for something new, and sadly, it wasn’t really my kind of flavour.

The story follows Jeff, an intelligent man with an astronomical IQ who is coming to terms with wanting to be a Little and living a normal life after being raised in a cult (of sorts). Marcus is the much older Daddy who has apparently been waiting forever for a boy; his house is essentially an empty dollhouse waiting for that final piece (Jeff).

There’s a combination of tropes that I like, age gap, fake dating, daddy kink, found family. What didn’t do it for me though was the fact that I couldn’t stand the surrounding characters. I didn’t mind Jeff or Marcus, they were okay in a very vanilla, sweet and tender way. The rest felt almost comical in their exuberance, especially Davey. He irritated me to no end and I just didn’t get him.

Overall, it’s a very gentle, nice read. Like a glass of warm milk and a cookie. If you want something sweet and quick, you’ll definitely enjoy this. I just found myself left a little wanting , probably because I prefer more rough around the edges romances and it just wasn’t for me.
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