Max's Bumble

Daddy P.I. Casefiles #3

by E.J. Frost

A band of murderous mercenaries.
A Little in danger.
And a Primal Daddy to the rescue.

Max Bateman has been betrayed too many times. After escaping a group of black-hat hackers who have painted his hands with innocent blood, Max finds refuge in New York with his best friend, Logan. He begins to build a new family, and to explore the strange cravings that meeting Logan's Little, Emily, and her friend Cynnie, stir in him.

Cynthia Kimura is drowning. Crushed by the expectations of her overbearing family, she finds freedom as a Little, and in Max's primal dominance. But the world is not a safe place for Littles and Cynnie is a Little in great danger.

When the hackers blackmail Max into one last job, can Primal Daddy save the day?

Publisher's note: this is a stand-alone novel within the world of Daddy P.I.

Genres: Contemporary, BDSM

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 25, 2022

About the author

I’m EJ and I’m on a mission to set your imagination (and other things) on fire.

Let’s face it, reality is … not great right now. In my stories, love conquers all, my heroes always save the day, and consent is super-sexy. My characters aren’t just names on the page. They’re the friends you wish you had, the lovers you dream about, and the villains you love to hate.

I’m a literary chameleon. One day I’m crafting suspenseful mysteries that will keep you turning pages all night. The next, I’m whisking you away to otherworldly realms where magic is real and every girl gets her dragon. No matter where the story takes us, a happy ending, and a healthy dose of steam, is always guaranteed.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re my kind of reader. Want an all-access pass to my chaotic worlds? Join me on Patreon. You’ll get exclusive stories, character deep-dives, monthly lives with me, and maybe, just maybe a say in whose story gets written next!

Life’s too short to read boring books. Let’s make it steamy, shall we?








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The prequel to my kinky mystery series, Daddy P.I., features an unforgettable first date. You'll also get my non-spammy newsletter with giveaways, release news, sneak peaks and updates!

I'm also a rabid reader. I love books by Candace Blevins, Cherise Sinclair, Renee Rose, Maren Smith, Raisa Greywood, Sorcha Black, Sophie Kisker, L.V. Lane, Nicolina Martin, Alison Aimes, T. L. Hodel, Sam Mariano, C.M. Stunich, Siobhan Davies, J. Bree, Sophie Lark, etc. Think I'll love a book you've just read? Recommend it to me! I'm always looking for my next 5 star read.

Reviews

[Cécile Smits · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing Daddy P.I. 3.0 is coming,knowing i’m going to see everyone again,and after the wonderful Blunts Tales,i just hád to go back.
To see where they all were,to feel that goodness,that love they all have for eachother.
The lenghts they go through to make sure the people they love are in a safe and good place.
And i loved it as much as the first time!


The world of Daddy P.I. Is a special one,and i love being there.
So,when EJ Frost mentioned Max,Logan’s best friend,was getting his story,i couldn’t wait to hear it.
Getting the ARC was súch a treat,and i enjoyed every second of it!!

Seeing what Logan had with his little Emily made Max want the same…
A little to cherish,to spoil and ,if necessary, punish.
But could he be a good Daddy to the little he was looking for?
And would he find the little girl he was looking for?
Going to playgroup with Logan and Emily on Sunday sounded like a good start….right?
He didn’t expect to find her on the first time,but there she was. Cynnie.
From the moment he saw her,he knew….she was his little.
But would she feel the same?

Cynnie loved playgroup,it was her time,her opportunity to be who she was.
Meeting Max was a treat,and she enjoyed playing with him.
Could he be the Daddy she’d been looking for?
No,not Daddy….because the ones she’d “been with” before weren’t Daddies,not really…
So,could he be her Oppa even if he was new at being one?
He saw the little girl she was,being with him was easy,and she felt safe….

Max knew he needed help at finding his way to become the Oppa his Bumble baby deserved.
And he was wise enough to ask for it with not only Logan,but other Daddies,too.
Sure,he made mistakes,but he made up for them.
And his Bumble baby thrived in his care,even if she struggled at home.
But he’d do his best to make her see the beautiful girl she was!

If only there wasn’t trouble on the horizon…..
Not only from his own past,but from Logan’s too.
How to deal with it,to make sure his “brother” got what he deserved?
And to make sure his “family” was safe from the threats his own past made?

Even with everything he had going on,Max took his time to connect to Cynnie.
To build their bond,by talking,or playing,even by using an app he’d made especially for her.
And Cynnie supported him whenever he needed it,however he needed it.

These two were so beautiful together!
And their journey was such a joy to follow!
I hope to hear more from them….a lot more!!

[Louise H's Book Thoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read all the previous books in the Daddy PI series my hopes going into this one was that it would hold the same depth and passion as they have. I was expecting a story that felt as though I was a fly on the wall, watching a real-life situation. Did I get those things? Yes, I did, but not necessarily in the way I had pictured!


E.J. Frost's world-building is exemplary. At first glance she is just holding up a mirror that reflects the every day, albeit one with a slight rose-tinted hue. In truth, what you get is an incredibly detailed portrait with such attention to the tiniest of detail you can focus right into the heart of it. Whilst Max and Cinnie appear in other Daddy PI books this does read standalone. Reading DPI #1&2 first might enhance your enjoyment of this as well as allow you to understand why Max's trip to the UK was so important to both him and Logan.


I was utterly astounded at how the author "repeated" events/scenes from previous books but in such a way that everything felt new. We weren't just getting a slightly different perspective of an event, we had a different set of reasonings, different consequences and detailing that wasn't available before. There is plenty of new material too as the focus of this book is very much on Max and his relationship with Cinnie.


For those of you wondering if this is pretty much a repeat of Logan and Emily's story the answer is a resounding NO! Oppa and his Bumble have a hugely different dynamic, even though he is a Daddy and she is a little. First and foremost they are a deeply committed-to-one-another couple. Theirs is a relationship that felt much more about fulfilling the other's needs and much less about domination and submission.


Max is very much a Daddy caregiver rather than a Daddy Dom, Cinnie is a little who can be grown-up when it's necessary but mainly needs the unconditional love and support of a Daddy. That connection on a much deeper level meant that the sex scenes never felt uncomfortable, after all these were two consenting adults whose personalities and needs just happen to make them a little different to the expected norm.


Praise must also be given to the author for being brave enough to write a hero as a total newbie to "the scene". In addition, further respect is given not only because Max was allowed to make mistakes but also swallowed his manly pride and sought help from more experienced Daddies. One thing you will never be able to criticise her for is having conflict caused by a lack of communication. The characters might not talk things through immediately but they will do it sooner rather than later.


Both characters were, to my mind, incredibly easy to relate to, immensely likeable and ultimately very believable. I was surprised to discover the book was only narrated, in first-person, from Max's point of view. It became clear towards the end why the author chose this route, and I was pleased that the reason hadn't been used to generate angst, but I still missed having Cinnie's POV. Entirely from a personal perspective I would have at least appreciated a chapter or two, once we knew the why she'd been silent until that point, from her. To make things up to me the author can write De Leon and Lindy's story! 😉😂😂

[E.J. Frost]

[Chalice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The couple: Max and Cynnie

Romance trope: DD/lg
Series: Daddy PI Casefiles
Length: 470 pages

Plot: Max has been looking for the type of relationship his friends Logan and Emily have: not just the Daddy/little girl dynamic, but also a strong relationship where they mean everything to each other. His life isn't empty; he just wants it to mean more. He somewhat reluctantly goes to a playgroup that Emily invites him to, but once there, he meets Cynnie, a sweet, beautiful, absolutely delightful Little who seems to find him interesting as well. As they get to know each other, Max finds that discovering who Cynnie really is and what she means to him will be the most rewarding thing he's ever done.

Commentary: I absolutely love this series, and this latest book was no exception. Some thoughts:

1. I've been hard on Logan in the past (with good reason!), but I feel like, for the first time, he's really starting to get it. He's not a perfect man, we all know that, but I get the feeling that before this point in time, he kind of thought he was the perfect Dom. He had so much training and experience that he was a little full of himself. And then he messed up, and he's seeing how much his mess up really cost him. No, Emmy didn't leave him - that's not who she is. She trusts him, but her actions told Logan that maybe she trusts him a little less. Yes, she agreed to her punishment (I'm still a little sick over that scene), but she did that because she loves and believes in him, and I think that's a little different than trust. Logan said things that he hadn't before, and that started to redeem him in my eyes.

It’s more than Emily’s life I hold in my hands. It’s her soul. I’ve never been entrusted with someone’s soul before. I can’t let her down.”

You need space to make mistakes. And to forgive yourself for them. I’m not very good at that, I’ll admit.” Logan drops his stretch to rub his hands over his face again. “Emmy and I are okay now, but we’ve had a really rough couple of days. I’m still beating myself up about it. I left Emily with Miranda for an hour. I came back before they expected me to and they were going at it. Mir said some unforgivable things to Emily and instead of walking away like she knows she’s supposed to, Emmy stood up for herself. I don’t blame her for that, but I hate that she had to.”

“I know.” Logan sighs. “I’m trying to process it, but I can’t get past the fact that I invited Miranda here. I left them alone together. I opened the door to this.”

“Not Emmy. She wants to be little twenty-four-seven and I promised her I’d make that happen. I put the rules she broke in place to make it safe for her to always be little, and then I let a threat into her safe space. I failed her, Max. There’s no other way to see it.”

2. Max is so adorably nerdy. I mean, obviously, he looks good (going from the description), but sometimes he says things that are so dorky (in a sweet way):

I will go to your house and force-feed your grandmother string cheese until she has to roll down the street like a Jigglypuff.

And the fact that he created an entire app to help facilitate his relationship with Cynnie - giving her digital rewards (and upping his "Daddyness," as he calls it) is just beyond - I want that app!

3. And Cynnie - so sweet, so adorable, so broken. Her family is the worst. I can't believe they have been so awful to her for so long. Not paying her!!!! Arranging a marriage! Her brother treating her like that! The only bright spot was her stepmother, and I thought it was sweet the way they both were thinking they should have reached out to the other, as though they were dancing around each other's feelings. Step-relationships can be so fraught with tension and misunderstandings and tentativeness.

And Cynnie when she's in Little space:

“You dizn’t sound mad. Sounded like you wanted to eat me.” I did. I do. I absolutely want to devour this bundle of enthusiasm sitting across from me. “I’m sorry,” I say. She shakes her head in a cloud of long, dark hair. “Don’t ‘pologize. That’z so hot.”

OMG, so cute. I love it when she says "I sting you!" It's just so freakin' cute!!

I loved this book for a lot of reasons. While Logan and Emily have been our main couple, I like seeing the people around them move into happy relationships (Aggie and Warrin, Mac and Brenna, Max and Cynnie). It speaks to a circle of friends that are there for each other; they've built a family for themselves. I also like the fact that while Max and Cynnie both have a sense of brokenness about them, they can find shelter in each other. Neither of them ever stopped looking for a real love.

I also like the fact that there are some time overlaps between the books, and I have to say that I normally HATE that. I hate when I read a series, and there are repeats of scenes, just from a different character's perspective. I guess I feel a little cheated when it's the same thing as it was before. Here, I didn't feel that. I felt like I really was getting a different perspective, like I was hearing a conversation that a different character was having but in the same space, something new but still related to another scene I had already read.

I also loved that Max was open to learning about all the different ways people had of expressing a DD/lg relationship, even when things felt strange or wrong or too out there. He was good about asking for clarification and help, and sometimes just sitting with that discomfort until he could make sense of it.

Anyways, as always, this was a perfect entry into this world, and I can't wait to see what happens next for all of these characters!

Previous book in the series: Daddy P.I. 2.0
Next book in the series: Missing Ink

[Mawgan Dipple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed all this series. It has opened me up to a different way of life, I knew little about and whole new way of thinking.
Max's Bumble takes place within the running timeline of the Daddy P.I. series and if you haven't read them first, then you must. They will help piece together all the other characters and give you a sense of complete family.
This series just draws you in. If you are interested in the kink lifestyle or only wanting to expand your mind with kinky fantasies, this series will shed light on many and help you and the characters explore a side of themselves with ease.
Max's character was so nurturing towards anyone he came across, even when it wasn't in his best interest.
Cynnie was a sweet Little, I loved her Little and her mannerisms when she went in to that headspace. Although their relationship seemed to move at a quick pace, it worked for them.
I loved the playgroup scene, Max trying to navigate around the Littles and how the other Daddies coached him and gave guidance. I also loved that Max bought Cynnie the buzzies plate set for their first date and how she reacted to them.
This book had calming vibes for me. Even with the Blackhat's and Max scared for his loved ones. Max is a caregiver, showing and sharing that love was a wonderful thing to read. Cynnie was sweet and I loved that she had a naughty side to her.
De Leon's character, I warmed to quite quickly and hope to see more of him in the future. I love Warrin from the Hero Daddies Anthology and need more of him too. Excellent read, never any disappointment when I get my hands on this author's work. Eager for more.

[Tia Fanning · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great edition to the series

I enjoyed this latest offering from Author EJ Frost. This story has a different feel from the other books in the series. It seemed to focus less on the relationship between the hero/heroine (imho) and instead took the reader on a fascinating journey of the life of Max, with us following him as he moved into the lifestyle while moving out of his old life as a hacker for a dangerous organization—all with the help of good friends that we readers all know and love from the Daddy-P.I. world. I loved seeing his arc/evolution into Daddy-Domhood and interactions with other beloved characters. Check it out!

[Sally Hopper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Max and Cynnie, I cannot believe E.J did it again, I found I was sucked in to this story, the same as all the others in this series, Max might be new to the Daddy scene, but he was everything Cynnie wanted and needed. I found the story was exciting, and very heartfelt, especially the way it talks about his Uncle Max. I love the way Max is not afraid to show his emotions and feelings,and I got so choked up a few times when he and Logan said they loved each other, that to me shows a side I love in a real man. I found that when I got to the end of the book I could have read more on their dynamics, and the future problems with Cynnie's family, but I don't feel cheated in any way as the story wrapped up beautifully. I personally think DeLeon needs his own book and am now heading to find Mac and DurtyGirls book, which I cannot believe I didn't notice coming out. I was given an Arc for this book and feel very honored by this. I would definitely recommend this series, even if you are unsure of the DdLg dynamic, as it was E>J>Frost that turned me on to this genre, and I have never looked back.

[Sydney Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better and Better

This series gets better and better. I am so in love with Max and his bumble. Such an amazing story with a great suspenseful backdrop and some really interesting relationship dynamics between the entire family. So happy they will return a three point now and even happier that there is a three point now. If you haven’t read the series go get it.

[MichelleG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Daddy PI universe, Max has been in the background in prior books and takes center stage here in spectacular fashion. Despite his difficult beginning, he has a huge heart that he keeps protected, but when he loves someone, he loves big. He isn't afraid to shoulder and take on his friends' burdens or make truly heartbreaking decisions. Despite having a satisfying life, he knows he is missing something, and when he sees Logan's and Emmy's relationship, he knows exactly what that is.

When he FINALLY consents to attend a playgroup with Logan and Emily, he meets Cynnie and there is an instant connection. I loved Cynnie as a heroine and as a partner for Max. She has grown up in the very restrictive, controlling circle prescribed by her family. Despite that, she still finds ways to express her Little/Fair Kei side. Her relationship with Max allows her to really flourish in those aspects, and the two develop a dynamic that is uniquely theirs, incorporating primal play with DD/lg. I loved how Max was willing to ask, learn and explore so many aspects of this kink as he was completely new to it. He was unabashedly trying to be the best Daddy he could be for Cynnie, and she brought so much peace and joy to him. I loved how the two connect in their kink and also in their mainstream life.

There is a lot going on in the story that involve an ongoing characters from the Daddy PI books and also a suspense plot involving Max's life outside of friend circle. It made for an interesting read without sacrificing the developing relationship between Max and Cynnie. I was satisfied (well mostly) with where and how the book ended because I know that the threads will be picked up in upcoming books, but I will freely admit that I really want to see more of these two.

[Lois Karasek · Rating 5 out of 5]

To begin, I have read every one of the Daddy P.I. books so far, beginning with .5, which was an excellent precursor to the series. Max has been quietly working in the background until now. I have read all the earlier reviews of this book, and there's hardly anything I can say that hasn't been said already. While I, too, was initially confused over the book's title until well into the story when Cynnie was finally introduced (Max's "Bumble Baby"), I LOVED the relationship that developed (quickly!) between them. In contrast to Logan and Mac, Max is a sweet Daddy (my opinions of Logan and Mac are somewhat less flattering), and Cynnie is his perfect Little. She's a firecracker and just about wears out his "bottle rocket."

E.J. incorporates strong, unique characters into equally unique relationships and throws in suspense and mystery in the bargain. Each successive story, from .5 through Max's Bumble and including a couple of off-shoots, continues to build the strength of this "family" of kink. You should really begin at the beginning to appreciate the entire package. Be prepared to be educated, laugh, cry and absolutely fall in love with every character in the series...especially, in my case, Max and his Bumble.

I received a free copy of this book and am leaving a true, honest and voluntary review.

[Bianca Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been waiting for Max’s story for a while and it did not disappoint. Max is sweet, caring, and very protective over everyone he loves; i.e. the perfect daddy. Cynnie is smart enough to keep up with Max and very sweet but feisty as well. Together this two are simply adorable and I love them as much as the other couples in this series, maybe more.

They’re relationship is not easy and has a few bumps in the road created by both of them. Max was trained to believe that men don’t talk about their feelings, emotions, or wants. Cynnie turns to being little when she is stressed or when she feels people are upset with her so she isn’t the best at communicating. The lack of communication by both creates a few bumbles.

Max is a hacker with a very desired skill set that another group of hackers wants so when he refuses to work with them they become a little pushy but Max has Cynnie to look out for as well as his friends. Of course Emily and Logan make an appearance as does Manny, Brenna, and Mac, if you’ve read the other books in this series then you already know them. Some new characters are introduced as well and I’m hoping they’re going to stick around for the next book. Absolutely loved this addition to one of my favorite series!

[Dove King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, man. This was... everything!
I loved, loved, LOVED, Max and Cynnie together. Right from the moment they laid eyes on each other, that was it. One of the things I love most about a character is growth and discovery, and Max has that in SPADES.
Max knows he wants what Logan and Emily have, but he's not sure how to get it.
Cynnie wants to be free to be the person she is in side, the person who makes her happy, but she's afraid of losing her family in the process.
This book had tons of great DD/lg scenes, laugh out loud moments, and a TWIST that I did not see coming!
EJ Frost always delivers on the mystery portion of her stories, and this was no different!
I cannot wait to get back into this world with Daddy P.I. 3.0, but it looks like there are some really great side stories developing, and you know I'll be first in line....
Oh, and Michelle G.... I call De Leon RIGHT NOW! I licked him, so he's mine!!!

[Patty Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a great while an author comes along that just constantly strokes all the right areas for you. Frost has been my latest. There's something about this series that takes a mismatched group of people and make them click for me. There's always drama, intrigue, and much HEA. I'm constantly introduced to new life style choices and kinks I'd usually turn my nose up to, but all that's opened is my mind. I'm happy to see Max finally find himself and love in this series. Cinnie is pure joy. I want the world for her and I know Max will give it to her. I also can't wait for her latest characters to fall in love. Now hurry with more stories Frost before I'z sting you!

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think I could love any of EJ Frost's characters more than Emily and Logan, but Max and Cynnie just nudged them aside and said 'make room'. This story has so much - love and family and suspense and betrayal! I would have really liked to know if Fred texts Max a thumbs up or a thumbs down. One of my (many) favorite lines is from Ken, Cynnie's father: "Cynnie is the flower of our family. A rare orchid." And one of my favorite parts is when Max contacts DeLeon near the end of the book.

[Julie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great

This is a great long detailed read with lots of interesting interaction from all the main characters. It's written well and long read.
Julie with Summer Reading Challenge.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Daddy/little story that is part of the Daddy P. I. Series and it is #4 in the series. I recommend reading the other books in the series first as most of the secondary characters are from the previous three books and this story will be easier to follow if you read the other books first.

Max is the main male character in this story and he is a hacker, but his hat is more grey than black, however there is a group of black hat hackers that are wanting him to work for them and they do not want to take no for an answer. At the same time he is best friends with Logan and he is working on doing a favour for Logan that is fairly involved. Since he is really good friends with Logan or course he knows Emily and he knows that Logan is Emily's Daddy and so Max gets invited to a little's play party, where he meets his little. Cynnie is the Bumble in the story, Max calls her his Bumble because she loves bees and Bumble is short for Bumble Bee. I thought Max giving Cynnie this nickname was simply adorable. I thought it was very cute that Max calls her his Bumble and he also tells her that she is his Queen Bee. There is quite a bit of subtle humour in the story and sometimes it would make me chuckle.

Max treats his Bumble really well and they have a great relationship, and the way their relationship progresses in the story is great. However Cynnie is a little with some secrets that she keeps from Max until nearly the last as she is concerned that she won't be accepted, but it does work out. There are plenty of spicy scenes to enjoy and there is a terriic HEA at the end.

Now I am looking forward to Daddy P. I. 3.0

[Frances Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🤍🤍🤍🤍🖤
M/F
Sub Genres: Caregiver/ Protector/ Mystery/ BDSM
POV: 1st Person (Max)
Stand Alone: while this book is written to be able to be read as a stand alone and the couple receives their HEA it is MUCH better enjoyed if the series is read in order. Start with Daddy PI 0.5 Negotiation.

I am officially in love with this WHOLE world of characters. I stand by my previous review in the fact that I will probably keep one of my many CRs as a book in this series constantly for a long time to come (if not forever) there is just so MUCH to love in this series!

Now let me take a moment to gush about how absolutely adorable Max is…. He melts me with his sweet cinnamon roll self. Except for maybe Logan and Emmy I don’t think I have ever seen two characters better suited to each other!

EJ Frost captured my heart with these characters in the Daddy PI world and I don’t see it changing even after I left Emmy and Logan’s story and moved to other characters (I am super excited about getting another Emmy and Logan installment though…. So. Flipping. Excited!)

On to Missing Ink!!!!!

Happy Reading my Friends!

[Rachel Blomberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max gets his own baby girl

I love Max and Cynnie story. This book plays along with the first two books in the series. Past characters are in this one along with its own set of drama and hurdles to get over especially since Max has never been a Daddy before but sees what his best friend sees and how he gets what was missing in his life. Cynnie has her own drama with the way her family treats her and needs a strong man to help her with the stress.

[⭐︎ hayley ⭐︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max's Bumble is another slam dunk for the Daddy PI universe. Even 4 books (and 2 novellas) in, I can't believe someone thought to (and does so successfully) combine mystery and suspense with warm-hearted romance and kink.

Max and his Bumble Baby have the most delicious dynamic right from the beginning. Max is a cinnamon roll if ever there was one. And Cynnie is a tender, playful little with a hidden fierceness. They are beyond disarming together. I could read another 400 pages of them just growling back and forth at each other and volleying their sweet banter - honestly.

One thing I so respect about the Daddy PI universe is that no two Dom/mes or subs are the same. A lot of fictional kinksters end up blending together, but there's no right or wrong way to partake, and Dom/mes and subs are as varied in how they express their desires as they would be in any other aspect of their lives.

Max and Logan are perfect examples of this. They participate in the same kink, yet they play in vastly different ways. Max even mentions several times that Logan might disapprove of the choice he's making, but he doesn't care because it feels right to him. Some powerful wisdom, that is! Wouldn't it be so easy for him, as new Dom, to want to emulate the person who drew him to the lifestyle? Max never attempts to. He follows his gut, even when it leads him astray.

I can't not mention De Leon in this review. It's been perfectly teed up, but I have to say it anyway. Are you listening EJ? WE NEED A DE LEON BOOK. Please. Pretty please? I have so many questions about the darkest character you've introduced in the series yet, and I want to know how he'd be as a daddy. His interest in it fascinates me. I suspect this man badly needs a hug. I also suspect he might be into some devious shit, and I like that very much - hahaha!

A couple spoilery bits (read at your own risk. I'll keep names out of it anyway.):

- I loved that Max slowly came around to De Leon and ended up calling him for advice at the end. We love character growth in this house!
- The twist at the end was great. And Max's response was even better.

I have one critique, and it's super duper mild. But because I am who I am, I'm going to talk through it now. Just know I literally didn't care about this when I was reading. It didn't make the story any less enjoyable, and it doesn't make my rating of the book any lower.

- I had some trouble believing that Max (a deeply protective, conscientious daddy) would pull back on his plans to burn the hacker/stalker simply because he found out he knew him. This guy scared the shit out of his little in a train station, apparently having staged a snatch and grab. Had she not been as savvy as she is, they would have succeeded. Surely he knows that... I would think he'd be even angrier at the deception and that his "friend" would dare do something so reckless with his girl. It's an enormous betrayal of trust.

He says something like "Now that I know he's not an evil mastermind, I know he never would have hurt Cynnie" Ok but how do you know that? He was lying about his identity to you for months, so clearly you don't know him as well as you think. Plus, he's hurt innocents before.

All that said, I can appreciate that he's using the recording to protect himself (and Cynnie) in the future.

Cynnie's response to his unveiling the hacker's identity was so true to character, and I'd have had no trouble at all with him following her lead on that because that seems like the sort of thing Max would do. He's not a proud man, and I know his Bumble's opinions and thoughts and input matter to him deeply.

So very sad to leave this world behind again for a while. Daddy PI 3.0 can't come soon enough! <3

[Selena Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

whyyyy is it over??!

Get back here Ej so i’z canz sting you! Gimme the next book and noone gets hurt! De Leon come get some love from me. Come collar me, I’ll take the belt or cane you choose🥹🥹🥹🥹 wow what a ride! I’ve been reading this all day! I had to savor it and if you follow the book of face you’ll see all my love reactions until tonight. I couldn’t keep reacting because one of my hands were busy playing with my own humble🤭🤭🤭🤭anywho! I really wanna see zaddy max take it in the rear. Maybe lindy can have some of that sweet sweet shared loving. If you’re reading this expecting spoilers well your about to be super disappointed. Can I complain about the ending? Why would you do that to me? Just like gimme me four hundred more pages and I’ll call it even, ok? Now I shall have to wait for more. Daddy pi 3.0 better be out tomorrow or else I’ll sting you Ej! I truly will! Bzz bzzz bzz! *pops onto amazon to look for a bumble bee outfit so I can meet Ej frost in the Uk looking the prt*
Read the book. You won’t regret it.
1) you’ll learn something new
And
2) I said so…so that’s basically enough
#stalkerauthorstalkingauthors #goodnightsweetmaxilldreamofyou

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been too long since I’ve heard from my people!!!!!

I love all things Logan and Emily, and have a serious love for Mac and Dirty Gurl. But Max has brought a whole new character to the family. His care and treatment of Cynnie is so amazing, that you can’t look at the others the same. He also brings a new light to Logan’s experiences with Emily. I have a whole new understanding of the making of a daddy and the thought processes they have to go through and the feelings they get after their decisions. Still hate Miranda, and so glad of the outcome with the baby. Definitely look forward to getting to know De Leon and Lindy better. Really hope we get Warrin and Aggie’s story, as well. Love the series and this is just one more reason to read it again!!!

[Holly Grays · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see bee's in a different light

It's finally here and it's a home run. Max, is incredible. I loved him from the start. Cynnie, stole my heart.

When I read a book by E. J. Frost I always feel like I'm right there. Like it's playing right in front of my eyes.

If your new to bdsm, I highly recommend this Series. You will get a very good understanding about everything that is going on.

5 star read.

[Ashley Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story introduced my favorite couple besides Emmy and Logan. Max goes through so much personal growth to become the Daddy he was supposed to be! I love the connection that Cynnie and him share. I love her love of bees. I love that he isn't afraid to ask for help and that he supports Logan through all the trials he faces in the book. I hope he joins blunts! I love me some Daddy Max!

[E. Leta Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read

I love all the Daddy P.I. books and this in no exception. It combines great characters and a really engaging story line into a fabulous tale. It's also interesting to get a different perspective on some of the things that happened in the other books. I look forward to meeting these characters again.

[Stephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hate waiting

But I know it will be worth the wait. I really did love this story and I'm happy we get a second part but i really really really hope we get a De Leon book because he was my favorite

[Lee Hamm]

I have seen so many teasers and things for this book! I am ready to read it! I am working my way through the series and loving it so far!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say up front that I have read all the books in this series except Daddy PI 2. And now I must go back and read it as well. That's how much I've enjoyed this series. Another thing to be upfront about is that I don't completely understand the Daddy/little relationship even after reading so many of their stories. But because EJ Frost is such a great storyteller and she paints a wonderful picture of the dynamic between a D/l relationship it's enough for me to thoroughly enjoy these stories. Especially enlightening to me were the differences in each D/l relationship. I honestly had never thought about that before, but I'm learning!

I really like that Max was fairly new to the D/l scene. It made for a lovely story that I could understand. I liked him a lot. He has a big heart and was very open to everyone helping him whenever he had any questions or problems. I like that in a man. He was also very caring and had no problem showing it. Cynnie was very sweet and likable but I think I knew early on that she had secrets. And oh what secrets they are. I kept waiting for them to pop up, and they finally did. She and Max's relationship came together rather quickly, but to me, it was very believable. They each seemed so darn perfect for each other and it made for a wonderful romance between them. I can't help but wonder if that is all we'll know about Cynnie's relationship with her family though.

And trust EJ to add a mystery to the story. A few, actually. There is Max's past and Logan's also. And you have Cynnie's secrets. It all fits nicely in the story. I also love when we have other people from previous books make appearances. I loved Brenna and Mac very much and was happy to see them show up. But now we need a story where we get to know more about De Leon, as just about every review has mentioned. But as far as I'm concerned, Lindy I can do without. I tend to hold grudges so it's really hard for me to forgive him for what he did. But I really liked the way De Leon and Max's relationship changed. The last phone call between them has me so curious. It will be very interesting to see where EJ goes from here.

I enjoyed this book as much as the other ones from the series and will wait patiently for the next one!

[Kate Holbrook]

Alright, so I am not giving a rating on this one because I do not feel like it's fair to the author. I have marked this as DNF at the 50% mark. I've learned some things about myself reading this book, as far as kinks and preferences go, and that's super awesome.

What wasn't awesome for me was how quickly the steam came on, when I really thought this would be a learning curve for both our main characters, especially Max - and we just kind of dove right in to the smut pretty damn early on. While I understand insta love or insta lust, jumping in bed at 20% doesn't do it for me. There isn't enough of that feeling and chemistry to flush out to make me FEEL what they're feeling.

And while I understand and respect age play and age regression, this went back a litttttle too young for me. Again, personal preference.

It was well written, and while it was suggested to read the other books it was still listed as a standalone in the series. The side characters were plenty some and I felt a little lost with them sometimes.

[Carole-Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max Bateman is BFF to Logan & Emily, also a hacker, but Logan's IT-to-go guy.
Max wants to learn how to be a Daddy, so he goes to a brunch with the local DD/Lg group & meets Cynnie, who has a bumble-bee stuffie :)
It's good that Max wants to learn how to be a Daddy, & part of the story is his discovering all the nuances of being a good Daddy. He's also working against certain "Blackhats" (aka Dark Web manipulators).
Nice :) story - so OK: I have a few LOL's:
Love that E.J. is a Brit & it's smashing how she 'disparages' Brits in parts of this story - cf: ch 24 :) ;
Also: that Max rarely wears 'underwear' so when Cynnie pulls down his pants, he's ready & able!!;
And: that Max recognises that Lindy (a professor) is actually running the whole scam Max is investigating;
AND: when Max realises Cynnie's family are VERY 'expectant' of their relationship!!
Lovely, fun story!

[Shavonne Belford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family, A Hive

Max has felt for a long time that something was missing in his life seeing his best friend Logan with his little Emily stirs something in Max filling the missing part of his life with guidance and support Max gets the chance to meet a girl whose littleness calls to his growing daddy and while they stumble and trip at first and people from Max not so good hacker days threaten him Max learns many lessons about chosen families and what it truly means to be a daddy