I don’t even want to tell you how long I’ve had Livia Grant’s latest release, Expecting It All, sitting in my Kindle, waiting for me to read and review it. Worst of all, I asked her if I could review it. I should probably be ashamed of myself. That’s what happens when you read the Masturbation Monday posts every week. You come across excerpts of books that make you desperate to read the book. Expecting It All was one of those.
Expecting It All by Livia Grant
Have you ever wondered what happens to the relationship when age-play couples decide to have children? Derek and Rachel Parker have been married for five years, and while Rachel adores her ‘Daddy’, and being his little girl, she longs to have a baby of her own.
When she finally becomes pregnant, Rachel is overjoyed, but all too soon she begins to realize that a baby changes everything. How can she still be her ‘Daddy’s little girl’ when she becomes a mother herself? None of the pregnancy advice books say anything about maintaining a healthy age-play/BDSM relationship in the face of real parenthood.
Derek, too, finds himself tormented by sudden fears and doubts. He loves caring for Rachel as a BDSM ‘Daddy’, but this will be different. He’s going to be a real father to a real infant; wholly dependent on him for round-the-clock care and nurturing. Can he do it?
Review for Expecting It All
Expecting It All is part of Livia Grant’s Passion Series. Part of what she gets so right is that this is a standalone, so you can read it apart from the series and not be completely confused. Score!
The other part that she gets so right? As an expectant father, Derek isn’t always in control and doesn’t always know what he’s doing. At the same time Rachel is in touch with her babygirl side, no matter how pregnant she gets, and knows exactly what she needs. And she’s not afraid to become assertive to get what she wants. I think we should probably classify “realistic D/s in erotica” as one of my kinks, y’all. I love, love, love these two characters.
Are they perfect? Of course not.
But that’s the point.
I can’t imagine going from a childless D/s couple to being parents. And the internal freak-outs both Derek and Rachel had rang very true. That being said, I know exactly what it’s like to be a mom and a 24/7 submissive and the things Rachel figured out for herself were very realistic.
Oh, but don’t worry, the kink and sex were hot. And I say that as someone who doesn’t get into age play at all. I definitely encountered a couple of kinks that weren’t my own within the pages, but that didn’t phase me in the least. The overall story was so enjoyable that those moments were a minor blip.
Should you read it?
If you love a good, realistic D/s couple, yes.
If the Daddy Dom/little does something for you, absolutely. (And you don’t have to admit that you like it. No one else knows what’s on your e-reader, y’all.)
If you just love BDSM erotic romance, this will do!
If you love hot Doms with the deep voice, The Look, and a sweet, soft side, you definitely need to read this one.
Let’s put it this way…I finished the book, turned to John Brownstone, and said, “You have got to read this one. She nails the Daddy/babygirl dynamic.”
‘Nuff said.
Great review. Livia is an awesome writer. It’s nice to see her work get recognition.
Thank you! I was excited when she joined in for Masturbation Monday but the book was even better. Glad I could help spread the word about her. 🙂