I didn't expect to fall for my billionaire mob boss landlord.
Vicious. Cruel. Fierce. That's what they say about Luca, the man who owns my apartment building, behind his back. He never extends rent and he demands payment... up front. When my mother gambles our rent money away, she asks me to do her a favor. Luca has a weakness for men like me, and if I play my cards right, he won't kick us to the streets. Only there's one slight problem. As soon as Luca lays eyes on me... and as soon as I touch my lips to his... there's no way he'll let me go.
Debt is part of the Ruthless Daddies multi-author collab and a complete standalone. Expect to find a vicious Daddy with a sweet side, a boy who likes to cuddle, extra steam and naughty times, and a super sweet, guaranteed HEA. Want more deliciously morally gray Daddies and boys? Grab the whole series!
In all my time on Goodreads, I've only ever given a one star rating once. This is my second, and I hate doing it. I recognize the vulnerability and effort authors put into their work and try so hard to always find something positive. However, in this case, I just can't. Maybe I should have made this a DNF, but I also rarely do that, and honestly, at some point this became so absurd that I just had to see how it would end.
I'm going to start by saying I absolutely do not believe in kink-shaming. There have been many kinks I'm not personally into that I've become familiar with, and gained an understanding for, through books. I've also read many daddy kink books, including ones with ageplay, and have always found the representation respectful. This book showed me I do have to draw a personal line though. For me, anything more than a passing mention of diapers is too much, especially when the Little is being encouraged to use it on page. It's too much for me. Combined with Cove's usage of terms like "cummies" and "spermies" during sex, and how angry he got when someone suggested his stuffed rabbit wasn't alive, and it was too infantilizing for me. I also didn't like how the author portrayed Cove's regression as a pure trauma response; Cove repeatedly says he is into this because of his poor relationship with his own father. I'm sure for some Littles this is true, but I also think it can feed into negative stereotypes regarding the kink.
My issues with this extend beyond the execution of the kink, though. Cove's characterization was inconsistent. He was almost always in Little space, but would sometimes emerge from it to scold Salvatore for his harsh treatment of others and it was jarring. None of the times he stood up to Salvatore felt authentic. Salvatore insisted these moments of conviction were evidence of their deep connection, but aside from one scene where they discuss their past trauma, their discussions were bizarre. There was even a weird conversation where Salvatore called Lana Del Ray's songs music for sluts (?!) and Cove defends her by saying she's done so much for the daddy kink movement (?!), and then he proceeds to unironically discuss whether Billie Eilish is a knockoff of Del Ray (?!).
Unlike Cove, Salvatore's characterization was consistent, as in consistently an asshole. I don't even mind hardened love interests, but going around calling yourself a badass motherfucker, who again, unironically, claims he gets bored enough to hire people to shoot at (I'm dying over here), and wants to go around crushing skulls is ridiculous. This isn't how you develop a character's personality. But it doesn't seem like there was much development anyway, despite Salvatore's claim of the opposite. He says Cove softened him and made him better, but at the end, even though he decided to start funding charity events, he's still calling the people he helps "pesky disenfranchised youth." And in a moment lacking any self-awareness, says he hates that the other billionaires in LA don't want to help people and in fact, he would like to "grab a motherfucking machete and chop off their heads."
As for the plot, I don't have much to say, aside from how when the villains were revealed, it was in the most hilarious way possible. Literally, one villain takes off a ski mask and gasp!, bet you didn't guess that. And if that's not enough, then another villain also removes their ski mask, and even bigger gasp! I just couldn't take any part of that seriously.
This is probably the longest review I've ever written, and honestly could probably write so much more. To say I was disappointed is a massive understatement.
If you like books that are tooth achingly sweet then you might like this? I honestly felt that this had so much plot & story potential! For a book titled ‘Debt’ we didn’t get too much to do with paying off said debt. Also this is part of the Ruthless Daddies collection and well it wasn’t all that ruthless. There was a lot of over the top talking about use of g*ns and weap*ns but it was all very tame & fluffy. This is the the second of about 4 books I’ve tried to read from this author. I’m absolutely desperate to love these stories bc I love Daddy/boy books, however it just isn’t happening for me. Unfortunately I found myself cringing a lot, some of the language just seemed…too much? And whilst I get that with Littles words can be used to get across when they are in that headspace, this just felt more forced than anything. One thing that I know is just something that niggles at me, instead of using ‘Little Headspace’ or even ‘mindset’, the phrase ‘little mode’ is used. And honestly…what are they transformers?
Salvatore: *continuously drops explicit knowledge of Daddy kink including "We used to watch animated movies at the club with all the boys and girls."
Cove: *every 3 pages* "I wonder if he's heard of Daddy Kink."
Like...what? They're talking the same language. Cove carries a stuffed animal. Salvatore bought him a singing tooth brush. And Cove is still confused whether Salvatore has heard of this kink before.
It got distracting how many freaking times he was wondering that I couldn't help but wonder if the author thought I was as stupid as Cove 🙄
The kink doesn't bother me at all though. I just think this author isn't for me. 2nd book by them that hasn't worked
Edit: it happened again 🤣 Cove is explicitly told Christian is into stuffy kink and then is surprised to hear he's into stuffy kink like 6 pages later.
Lowering my star rating because this goes off the rails into straight up poor writing and plotting towards the end. Seriously. Ridiculous
I liked this book, I really did but the kink isn't for me. It's not the first time I have read from this author so I knew what I was in for but yeah, I read it anyway, guilty as charge. The low ranting isn't because of the kink thought, I am not trying to shame anyone, far from it, everyone has their kink and I more than respect that. My "problem" was that it seemed that everything happened way too fast, the romance, the ending, everything really. We didn't have time to process one thing and then we were immediately pushed into another. And Salvatore was a little to much at times, saying he would kill people in elaborate ways or maim them for things that didn't make sense. I liked Cove and I felt for him with all he went through, that poor boy deserved the freaking world but at the same time he was a little to much and I can't say exactly how, it's just how I fell. Nonethless, I liked them together, they complemented each other. And I will also will continued to read this author despite everything so :)
This author is not for me. I've tried several times to read their work and it's so over the top, I just can't hang with it anymore. I'm done. My goose is officially cooked.
2⭐ because I liked the MMCs, but as the author says herself, this book is "Fuck. Double fuck. Double fuck with a shot of espresso."
I'm not surprised. At all. I've read this author before, her series #Italian Protectors has even more of this good stuff, but when you've read one book, you've read them all, because they all follow the same exact formula.
The boy meets Daddy, Daddy takes him to his house, gives him luxury and a great room, the boy wakes up with his toy and has a fantasy about the Daddy, jerks off into his plush toy and comes down for breakfast. Every.Single. Fucking.Time. The same thing.
Not only that, the author uses the same words and expressions as in other books and sometimes adds to the repertoire, at this point it's quite entertaining and when I have this author's book in my hands, I just know I'm in for a few hours of laughing.
This kinky masterpiece is
🟡 #2 in the Ruthless Daddies series 🔵 Mafia romance 🟢 Daddy / Little kink; age play; diapers 🟠 Age gap - 29 years 🟣 Don't take this book seriously 🔴 The kink representation is not good, but hilarious at the same time 🌶️ Spice was actually quite good
"Some boys think it's a fun game to court an older man's attention. They figure they can get things out of it or act like a little Lana Del Ray wannabe slut."
"Don't mention Queen Lana." My cheeks flush pink. "She introduced me to Daddy kink."
Cove is a 19 year old guy who lives with his mom in the Projects. They ran away from home when he was 14, because his dad was abusive, so now they live with the local junkies, pimps and whores in a building owned by the Mafia, specifically, Salvatore.
Salvatore is 48, he's in the mafia by words only, so don't expect any action here. He's into the Daddy/Little kink, but he's been disappointed in the past, so when he comes to the Projects once a month to evict the people who don't pay rent, he looks up to the 9th floor and sees Cove looking at him, not only that, he also sees Cove's couch and the plushie he keeps there. On the 9th floor.
When Cove eventually gets evicted, he offers himself to Salvatore to pay off his debt, since he's been salivating over the guy for the past 5 years, he has no problem or moral dilemma over it - and Salvatore knows Cove's been watching him, so he doesn't even think, he grabs Cove and takes him to his mansion.
Salvatore is presented as a total predator, although he really wasn't, but the sentences the author uses are completely terrible.
"But it's been a lifetime since I've gotten my dick wet in someone as young as Cove."
"I've fantasized about you every day since you turned 18."
"I mean, come on," Salvatore grumbles as he takes a bite of ice cream, then wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I'm forty-eight. Am I really old enough to be your Dad? I think not."
"You blink and suddenly you're forty-eight and the boys who turn you on are still twenty. None of it makes sense."
Wow, what a wonderful way to make age-gap stories into a cringey predatory flick, this was terrible and it left me with a sour aftertaste. WTH??
I felt like maybe the author had some help with this book, because it was like it was written by her and another person and this other person inserted meaningful sentences and good spice to ease the pain of reading the actual story. Yes, that's exactly what it felt like.
I honestly liked Salvatore, he was a mature, good guy who found his person in Cove. He didn't pressure him, didn't force him into anything and he took really good care of him. If their story would've been told by someone else, I think it would be really, really good.
🌶️ I liked the spice, I liked Salvatore's dirty talk and since I already know what that looks like in other books from this author, I can say with certainty, that it wasn't her doing, I'm almost sure it wasn't. I liked dirty Daddy and him and Cove together. In this book the Little was kinky too, so I would've wanted more of them, definitely.
But the author, again, sadly portrays Salvatore as this ultra predator, who's infatuated with Cove's youth and says ridiculous stuff like this all the time;
"His nineteen-year old ass fits snugly against me."
Come ooooon! It was like someone wrote the great dirty talk and really thought out the sex scenes, but then the author jumps in and tramples everything with her predatory cringey crap.
"I might be a fucking stallion in the sheets, sucking Cove's nineteen-year old cock like a porn star, blowing him until he explodes, but I'm still in my forties."
🔵 Cove was a Little, but unlike with Littles from other books from this author, Cove actually had a brain. He talked to Salvatore, wasn't in his Little headspace all the time and actually had hobbies, other interests, although he had to stuff himself with sugary food all the time too, just like the other Littles did. And if I read about Zebra cakes one more time, I'm gonna lose it.
🟢 There's always an action scene. Always. And it's always ridiculous. So in this book it was Salvatore, the big mafia daddy, running to Cove's father's place with a few russian mobsters and plenty grenades to rescue Cove, but then when he rescued him, he started jerking him off right there in front of everyone. Of course he did.
The mobster aspect was hilarious, at this point I'm almost convinced this is complete satire, because it can't, it just can't be real.
"Most days, I come home and fire my AK-47 at one of the men I pay to run from me in my private shooting range. If my maid is busy, I lock myself in my room and map out a plan to strangle every one of my enemies." ...Riiiight.
"I'd probably go on a fucking rampage and kill everyone of my enemies in LA with by bare fists."
"I wasn't even like my grandfather, who always told me he walked ten miles to class every day and fought off Mafia enemies when he returned home." Yeah, mine also made a sweater along with it.
"I'm not just another billionaire." My breath hitche, cascading out of my lips as I stare into Cove's eyes. "I'm in the fucking Mafia."
"If one fucking person on the street - if one fucking person in the USA - catcalls you, I'll kick their ass six ways to Sunday." You gotta be kidding me.
RATATA.
I am not making this shit up, it's literally in the book, Ratata, it's the shooting scene. And I always attach this gif, because I can't, it's like a bad action flick with bad porn. No, actually it's bad porn with a little bit of action added to it.
The amount of highlights I had for this book is ridiculous, there are so many things that went completely wrong and I have no idea how is this book even a part of this series? Either the author doesn't really get the Daddy/Little kink or this is complete satire, whatever it is, it's not working.
I really think this couple had big potential and whoever worked with this author, should make a bigger impact the next time, because the books are a copy-paste of the same ridiculous ideas over and over again, they have almost nothing to do with the mentioned trope and someone's been paying people to give these books 5*, because they're not good.
*Adding this book to my Out of my comfort zone shelf aswell.
This author continues to get 5 star reviews & I can't understand why. Reading this book for me was like watching a really low grade movie made 40 years ago. Just really bad. Constant over explaining everything or repeating the same things 10 times throughout the book in case you forgot. Also, seriously, a Mafia boss who deals in weapons & drugs & murders people without thought saying that people who deal in weapons & drugs & murder people are the lowest scum, but not including himself? Really! The swearing just seemed over the top as well. I have no issues with swearing in books, but this authors use of swearing, to me, just seemed like she was trying too hard to make Salvatore the bad guy simply by using cuss words that just felt out of place at times. Anyway, this is the third time I've tried this author because the story blurb always sounds great & she gets lots of 5 stars, but obviously the way she writes just isn't my thing. If you decide to read this story, then I hope you enjoy it more than I have.
Salvatore is the single most inept mobster with not a hint of ruthlessnesses
Oh, how unbelievable can this book be? Let me count the ways… 1. We are told that Calabasas is ‘on the other side of the city’ from the Lake Projects building. And yet, it takes only 30 minutes to travel between the two - in LA - I call BS. 2. Why do both Cove and Salvatore have to be interested in age play because of some childhood trauma?! 3. Salvatore actually thinks of himself as a ‘vicious mobster’ and yet, we had less than zero evidence of him being either vicious, or a mobster. 4. Why would Salvatore, being in a mafia Family, turn to the Antonovs - who live in New York - rather than reaching out to his own Family (which is remarkably completely absent from this story)? 5. How does a grenade blow off the roof of a large mansion’s garage? Then, once done, how does that explosion not result in any harm to the people in said garage? 6. Where were the kidnapper and assistant, who had been in the garage just before, when the roof was blown off? 7. Why did those same two people not think about the fact that Salvatore (supposedly) didn’t fly himself in a helicopter, and just leave in ‘hover-mode’? I mean, come on, he OBVIOUSLY didn’t come alone! 8. Is there really not an age play community in LA? The only friends that Cove can make are across the country? 9. During this whole time, Cove really never once wanted to talk to, or contact, in any way, his mother? Was she allowed to just squat in their apartment? 10. Wouldn’t two supposed mobsters, of likely high level within their organizations, going by their vast wealth, at least know of each other? Why didn’t Salem know of Salvatore? Why didn’t Salvatore know, for sure, that Salem worked for another Family? It’s not like the average Joe Schmoe, in the mafia, makes that much money…
Overall, I spent most of this book rolling my eyes. And possibly the worst thing, I found many of the intimate times between the MC’s to be boring. I finished this book, but kept finding myself skimming just to be done.
I love Littles, I love different types of Littles. I love Littles who have different kinks. I didn't mind the stuffy play. But as a mom whose kid loved stuffy's.. I need to know his stuffy cleaning routine. Because how is he gonna jizz on the stuffy, wash it, then it's going to be clean and dry for him to almost immediately snuggle with it to go to sleep? That's literally all I thought about thru most of the book. There's no way. Either there are crusties still on and even seeped inside.. or it's probably moldy inside from being wet. sooo. no I can't. Now if he was to do it on the sweaters.. sure but on the stuffy itself.. no.
Also I love a twist and a reveal I didn't see coming.. but the maid being the bad guy at the end. Like WHAT? I don't understand. I mean sure people can hide their true self.. but wtf? It made no sense. It wasn't a "shocking" "you won't believe who the bad guy is" twist.. it was just confusing and I actually said WTF out loud.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Tropes & tags: daddy/little ABDL emotional support teddy Mafia age gap (29 years) hurt comfort grumpy X sunshine vibes
Heat: medium-high heat Angst: low Vibe: fluff, funny, very naughty and kinky HEA: yupp
Spice & k!nks: stuffy play Daddy/little kink ABDL cum play exhibitionism pacifiers, Strict top/bottom or versatile: strict top bottom
Review & thoughts: I really liked this book. i had such a fun time. The spice was fucking wonderful.
Content warnings: Dubcon: no Noncon: no drug/alcohol/gambling addiction kidnapping violence murder power and financial imbalance abusive father (threatens to sell son into sex slavery)
Little rant (possible spoilers): idk why people didn't like this book. The ratings are awful. it kinda pains me as I enjoyed this book a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
You know those books that are bad right from the start and you know you won't enjoy them but still continue to see how bad they can get? Yeah, this was one of them for me.
This is my first book by Aster Rae and I highly doubt I'll read any other of her books. The writing and dialogue were so cringe-y and somehow got worse when it came to sexual descriptions. I had nothing against the kink in this book, I mean daddy/little is one of my favs to read about, but how it was written here didn't sit right with me at all. If the author did any research, well, it didn't show.
By the time I finished this, I could not believe what I had just read. If you enjoyed this, good for you, but it wasn't for me.
I feel i deserve a medal for finishing this book because WOW! I have never encountered such godawful clasterfuck writing like this one,the mediocrity of it made me wince at every page. If you want a author that can ruin daddy kink or age play for you,try this author she does a great job!!
Debt by Aster Rae is part of the Ruthless Daddies series by multiple authors. This book is about Cove and Salvatore. I liked their story. It was sweet, sexy, fun and well written.
No one does Littles like Aster Rae! This is the story of Cove and Salvatore. Cove is young man living in the projects with his mom, after they had to flee from their previous life. Cove had it rough growing up, and has now had to take on the role of parent to his mom. No matter how much he works, he can barely afford to keep their tiny apartment. When an eviction notice shows on their door, Cove doesn’t know how to save them. He knows he can’t come up with the money, but maybe he can make their evil landlord another offer. Salvatore has been focusing on his business for years, after a traumatic home life and a terrible break up. As much as he wants to be a Daddy, he doesn’t think he’ll find a boy he can trust. Until he goes to evict a tenant, and he sees a beautiful boy who makes him an offer he can’t say no to. Salvatore may be tough in business and with his enemies, but he’s incredibly sweet with Cove. Salvatore gives Cove the love and acceptance he’s always wanted, and Cove makes Salvatore gentler and kinder. There’s also lots of dirty talk and steam 🔥 Another really fun read by Aster Rae!
Thank you so much to Aster for giving me this ARC opportunity!
This is a hard book to review. I liked the MCs and I liked the story itself but, it felt like there were so many contradictions. A sentence would start out with sophisticated syntax and end with childish language.
I love age play and thoroughly enjoy ABDL but when a character is in little space I expect simpler language. While I do understand that Daddies tend to use “baby talk” when speaking to their boy, some of the words used in this book were a bit too much for me (ie. cummies, wee, and thing). I also got tired of Daddy always “growling” when he speaks.
The story itself was pretty good and the drama towards the end was enjoyable but all the language dropped the rating for me.
***** POV… multi first person
Standalone or series… multi author series CAN be read as standalone
Quite literally one of the most badly written book I’ve ever read. The plot is bland and the dialogues so cringe worth I was feeling second hand embarrassment.
So many unrealistic situations. Like they blow 10 grenedas through the garage door but somehow the bad guy doesn’t realise that the daddy is behind him?
The sexual descriptions are just as bad! Who calls c*m “emissions”?
No, just no. And omg the evil character who just starts talking about how many Scottish men she fu*ked when she was a masseuse? It was like watching a low quality movie where the evil character keeps talking and then dies because they talk too much
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Cove and Salvatore have admired each other from afar, but when Cove hits rock bottom he will throw himself upon the mercy of Salvatore without expecting to receive any. They are both full of surprises, though.
This is another fun, sweet story that introduces a dangerous Daddy protecting a darling, naïve Little from the world. Characters from previous stories show up to join this new team, in a John Wick level adventure ending. Be prepared for some twists at the end of this story. I did not see them coming!
Salvatore and Cove's story was so well written and developed. When you read this book you will find a business owner who is fierce and strong.The other a lonely boy looking for his forever daddy. The day Salvatore come to collect rent is the day that forever changes Cove's life. Who new love could be written so strongly with so many feelings.
Es el segundo libro que leo de Aster y seguramente sea el último.
Debo reconocer que desde su debut a este último hay un notorio crecimiento en cuanto su escritura, pero aún le falta. Tiene una manera de escribir que hace la lectura incomoda y plana muy "superficial" que no deja que uno disfrute o conecte con los personajes.
Las 3 estrellas es porque estuvo entretenido y el final me dio mucha risa de lo random que fue.
I'm sorry! I hate giving 1 stars and I actually think this may be my first. I knew going in to this book I wasn't going to love it. I have read some of the authors books before and they just don't do it for me. The way the supposed bad ass mafia men speak is so juvenile its cringey. The story is there but it just hasn't been executed well. If you are waiting for steamy scenes this is missing that too. I feel bad because I know so many people love this author and while I appreciate the daddy/little aspects it just was way too cringy to enjoy at all.
Examples of this are when mc1 bursts in to rescue mc2 and mc2 proceeds to explain the entirety of the conversation he just had with the bad guy in every detail while speaking like a child - you have to read it to get how bad it is but it isn't great.
I am really really sorry again but this was just seriously lacking for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Aster Rae is a master in the art of writing Daddy/boy trope, this book is wonderful as are the others I've read of him, Cove is incredibly sweet and audacious, Salvatore is...hot, grumpy, perfect!!!
Another sweet Mafia daddy story! We get a quick visit to Little Land with three of our sweet Littles from previous books. The added twist in the end was the best. I did not expect it! Great job on another sweet Mafia Daddy book.
Debt starts off with Cove and his mother fleeing from their past lives and being so far behind on rent, that they're facing eviction. Now, Cove has had it ROUGH, which you see more and more as you go through the book. He's been working several jobs under the table to try and afford not only rent, but food. His mother deals with her trauma in an incredibly unhealthy way and gambles all their money away, causing Cove to work harder and harder.
Salvatore owns the projects both Cove and his mother live in and every 4th Saturday, he drives to the apartments and issues eviction notices. He's noticed a young boy watching him from the window for years, but he's also noticed the stuffy the boy holds as well, and it makes him oh so curious... Would the boy be interested in something he's craved for years?
Cove can't come up with the money needed to keep their apartment, so he offers Salvatore another offer, one he can't refuse: his body.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Salvatore and Cove, how Salvatore became the Daddy his Little Boy needed, how he took him away from his toxic life and gave him SO much love. Little Land was probably the best and cutest thing I've ever heard of and I loved the fact that he was able to make friends who are also Littles; It was so heartwarming to see people accept him with arms opened wide and just love him for who he is, especially where this kink may not be accepted so easily (Mafia world). You see him literally just bloom and flourish with his new friends and family, and that is my JAM.
I also really enjoyed that Salvatore took another chance on being a Daddy after his heart was completely and totally shattered by another Boy a few years earlier, and they work so perfectly together!
I totally and fully understand that not everyone will love Daddy/Little play with a hint of ABDL and Stuffy Play added in, so please check out her warnings and see if this book is for you.
Aster Rae is a newer, younger author, whose writing will continue to grow as they find their place in the world and I look forward to seeing their progress in the future. Their writing isn't for everyone and that's okay, you can tell they write what makes them happy and that is what matters. The characters are adorable and I enjoyed the story. I do wish it was a little more Ruthless, I needed more bang and danger but the story was still good. I loved seeing the characters from old books popping up. My only problem with Aster's books are that the mobster is always growling but that's MT only issue. I will continue to read their books to watch the growth and because I truly enjoy the stories when I get past a couple quirks<3