A review by mx_manda
Dirty Daddies: 2020 Anniversary Anthology by Aubrey Cara, M.A. Innes, Renee Rose, Laylah Roberts, Eden Bradley, Vanessa Vale, Brianna Hale, Allysa Hart, Adaline Raine, Maren Smith, Stella Moore, Nicolina Martin, Felicity Brandon, Kara Kelley, Rayanna Jamison, Emily Tilton, P.D. Carter, Golden Angel, Allie Belle, Pepper North, Lesley Clark, Meredith O' Reilly, R.J. Gray, J.M. Dabney, Delta James, Maggie Ryan

3.0

Another anthology. Lesson obviously wasn't learned, but reading this one was a more positive than negative experience.




Let's get a move on these individually in order presented in the book, then rate the collection as a whole. And y'all, this one is a beast to work through if you're determined to read them all.

Daddy's Little Bride- Laylah Roberts : 3.5⭐︎
SpoilerThis first story is cute. Age play is involved (including butt stuff) and an illness vs. wedding plot. It's fine. Nothing spectacular, pretty generic from what I've seen of the genre so far, but it wasn't a chore to read either.


The Signing- Maggie Ryan : 4⭐︎
SpoilerCute and sweet second chance romance. Daddy kink, no age play elements in this one. Story of a lawyer-turned-author with a rather unbelievable conflict, but whatever. It worked.


Mastering Little Molly- Allie Belle : 1.5⭐︎
SpoilerOof. This one felt icky and very non-con, which totally doesn't fly in a d/s story for me. Was made worse by last minute, "but secretly she really wanted it," justifications. And the whole concept of this "university" made me head tilt. Along with the 1940s' ideas about marijuana. Say what now?



Something About Loren- M. A. Innes : 4.5⭐︎
Spoiler The real stars of this anthology are the m/m stories. They were all consistently high quality and lacking the ick that is really common in het d/s stories.

This one was really cute and sweet, a getting into age play story, by the same author of My Cameron, another story I really enjoyed. Loren is a game developer who focuses on childrens' games, and he also loves to collect and play with toys. His boyfriend, Gordon, has been acting really weird lately, and he's not sure what's up. The truth surprises him more than his suspicions.


Trust Daddy- Pepper North : 2⭐︎
SpoilerI think I have to accept that Pepper North isn't for me. This one felt too rushed and bordered into ick territory for me. DD/LG stories too often give off the feeling of "great! we met each other and are meant to be....let's see how many things I can stick up yo' butt." More erotic, less romance. I did enjoy that the LG is an older woman and her daddy is in his 30s.

I'm really not feeling copaganda these days either, so that definitely influenced my feelings about it.


Daddy's Baby Girl- Meredith O'Reilly : 1.5⭐︎
SpoilerClunky prose, grammar issues, and not sure we had to work a DD/LG story into an alien abduction. Not a lot of thought was given to the logistics of an 8'2" protagonist with a 5'5" woman. Super contemporary language and human references used for the "aliens" and their society. Did not enjoy this one. Felt a lot like, "I have these 9 ideas and want to use them all at once rather than choose and edit." Diapers and forced age play. Baby development that didn't make a lot of sense, like how can she swallow but not speak. Magic, apparently. Terrible villain that didn't have a lot of thought put into that scenario or why he would have been sided with, given what's known about his species and humans.

I dunno. She tried, I guess. And I've found a new not-for-me author.


Daddy's Office Temp-tation- Aubrey Cara : 2⭐︎
SpoilerToo non-con, sex negative, and humiliation kink for my tastes. Totally not for me. Daddy kink, no age play.


Sugar Princess- Nicolina Martin : 4.5⭐︎
SpoilerDaddy kink, no age play. I *swear* I've read the first chapter of this story before. It kept screaming at me that I know it. Princess themed bookstore and cafe. Bratva. Daddy dom.


Reed- Rayanna Jamison and Allysa Hart : 3.5⭐︎
SpoilerDaddy kink with focus on punishment, no age play. Cute enough, and relationship started before they realized their power imbalance. College professor and student. Seems to be part of a series, but stands alone just fine. Most of this one was spent with Reed's putting things on pause after finding out she's his student. There was some concern about the ethics of the relationship, even if it does ultimately move forward.


Best Seller- Delta James : 3⭐︎
SpoilerSurprising, this was almost a 4 star for me; I actually really enjoyed the storyline/premise. This is likely the only time this will happen with her work for me, a rating above 2 stars.

However.

Knocked back down for DJ's usual non-con BS which doesn't jive with me, and the weird tilting at straw feminists. She obviously doesn't earnestly talk to many, or she'd know a lot of us are way into kink: there's nothing sexier than a progressive dom.


Claiming Whisper- J.M. Dabney : 4⭐︎
Spoiler The most unique offering in this collection, and an interesting read.

FtM Little in his 30s with almost-50 Bear Daddy. Lots of body positivity in this one and funny hippie sex therapist mother and military father. (You'd be shocked how many kinksters there are in the military, and not the ways authors like to write about.) Was very clear about transitions between Little Time and adult sexy times. Daddy kink + age play.


Her Navy Seal- RJ Gray : 2⭐︎
SpoilerMilitary fap material. Second chance "romance." Reductionist worldview even after acknowledging some societal privileges. Daddy kink, no age play.

Not my cuppa.


Protecting Lu- Kara Kelley : 3⭐︎
SpoilerOK. This one is actually pretty cute, despite a couple ableist and fatphobic jokes right in the opening pages as an attempt to be...cutesy. Light Daddy kink with some spanking. Nothing too heavy here. CW: attempted child sexual assault and attempted forced prostitution.


Planet of the Daddies- Emily Tilton : DNFed, HARD
SpoilerChronological age of heroine doesn't matter if her stage of physical and mental development are being described like a 12-14 year old (and I have a 12 year old currently going through puberty, which made this one all the worse for me). "Her breasts are just budding but she's WINK WINK 18 WINK WINK." Hard. Pass. GROSS.



Daddy's Little Mermaid- Allysa Hart : 1.5⭐︎
SpoilerTried too hard to be cute and instead created super uncomfortable boundary and consent problems. Could be an interesting story if developed more in depth with more thought to it beyond, "Little Mermaid but with super naive Girl and Daddy Dom who isn't bothered enough by the ethics of what's going on here." Which Daddy absolutely needs to be thinking about, since he's Daddy.

Daddy kink with age play elements, but not actual age play.


Chef Daddy- Golden Angel : 4.5⭐︎
SpoilerEasily identifiable Paul Hollywood daddy kink fantasy, and I'm pretty here for it. Age play elements like coloring and stuffed toys, but no real age play involved. Some daddy kink and BDSM elements, including paddles and anal.



Fairly enjoyable story about a pastry chef who is spiraling into uncontrollable negativity that will destroy her life if it goes unchecked any longer. Chef Daddy BF steps up.


Kitten- Eden Bradley : 4⭐︎
SpoilerAge play, kitten play, and a lot of negotiations and discussion about obligations and behavior in a d/s relationship, including why submission is gifted and not forced or taken.