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A review by always_a_happy_ending
His Pretty Little Burden by Nicci Harris
5.0
I've been waiting for this book to hit my Kindle. The teasers have been super steamy and warning of triggers and kink. The book ended up surprising me. While I would heed the trigger warnings (it is a little on the age gap daddy kink side and it does deal with non-con and abuse and surviving) this isn't as extreme as I was expecting. I thought this would be heavy on the kink but instead its quite a detailed story of two people meeting the deepest needs of one another.
Clay is the Don of the District Casa Nostra. He has taken on additional responsibilities to shelter his siblings and their families from the risks of organised crime. He is somewhat detached and has very functional relationships. He is controlled and transactional in his dealings with business and people. Fawn is the daughter of another Casa Nostra boss. She is vulnerable and naive. Far too trusting and in need of love and protection. Her vulnerability captures Clay's attention. And what starts as a power play to help gain revenge ends up being an all consuming romance. Fawn's naivete is the perfect fit with Clay's dominance and control. She is more than a transaction. She becomes his everything.
I thought I would struggle with Clay being functionally married. But there is a skill in the author's development of the character relationships as you realise the many levels of political alliance and sexism that underpin the Casa Nostra. Fawn is accepted by everyone and there are hints of the power she holds within her and what is to come.
My only complaint is it was over too soon. And my heart sunk as soon as it ended as I didn't realize it was a duet. There just wasn't enough of these two. They were only just beginning to really shine. I cannot wait to read the second part of their story and see Fawn come into her own.
Edited to add info on audiobook:
Holy hotness. This audio is pure perfection. If you’re a fan of Clay and Fawn already then the audio is a must listen. Shane East as Clay is *chefs kiss* delicious. And Sofia Lette as Fawn captures the innocence and naivete (and hints of growing power) of the character beautifully. You fall for her and her hopefulness right alongside Clay. If you’re new to the story, this is so well performed. The narrators capture the power dynamic between the two perfectly. And I loved that the conversational parts of the story are narrated dually rather than one narrator taking on both parts.
Clay is the Don of the District Casa Nostra. He has taken on additional responsibilities to shelter his siblings and their families from the risks of organised crime. He is somewhat detached and has very functional relationships. He is controlled and transactional in his dealings with business and people. Fawn is the daughter of another Casa Nostra boss. She is vulnerable and naive. Far too trusting and in need of love and protection. Her vulnerability captures Clay's attention. And what starts as a power play to help gain revenge ends up being an all consuming romance. Fawn's naivete is the perfect fit with Clay's dominance and control. She is more than a transaction. She becomes his everything.
I thought I would struggle with Clay being functionally married. But there is a skill in the author's development of the character relationships as you realise the many levels of political alliance and sexism that underpin the Casa Nostra. Fawn is accepted by everyone and there are hints of the power she holds within her and what is to come.
My only complaint is it was over too soon. And my heart sunk as soon as it ended as I didn't realize it was a duet. There just wasn't enough of these two. They were only just beginning to really shine. I cannot wait to read the second part of their story and see Fawn come into her own.
Edited to add info on audiobook:
Holy hotness. This audio is pure perfection. If you’re a fan of Clay and Fawn already then the audio is a must listen. Shane East as Clay is *chefs kiss* delicious. And Sofia Lette as Fawn captures the innocence and naivete (and hints of growing power) of the character beautifully. You fall for her and her hopefulness right alongside Clay. If you’re new to the story, this is so well performed. The narrators capture the power dynamic between the two perfectly. And I loved that the conversational parts of the story are narrated dually rather than one narrator taking on both parts.