BOOK REVIEW⎜Act Your Age by Eve Dangerfield

I can’t believe I’ve read through 141 occurrences of Daddy. Willingly.

The very theme of this book was pushing me way out of my comfort zone but after hearing the praises of a couple of friends I got super curious and had to give it a try. Some mentioned enjoying reading about a kink they were avoiding at all cost! Talk about incentive! This and the blurb just convinced me that maybe I could fancy this book and I like to think I’m an adventurous reader enough to try a challenge!

Everyone is weird, Kate, we’re the perfect kind of weird for each other.

Truth to be told, I was seduced within the very first pages and my known aversion for Daddy/daughter play was relinquished to slight distaste thanks to Eve Dangerfield‘ s focused and skillful handiwork on characterization. To me it read a little like “this is our kink and this is what it means to us”kind of journal.

Getting off on such a massive cultural taboo had always freaked him out. He grew up thinking he was evil on the inside, like Ted Bundy or Ivan Milat.
…He Couldn’t kiss a girl without wanting to pin her down and make her hurt.

I liked the approach she took, making her characters explain and rationalize their attraction to this particular kink. It was refreshing and also reassuring for the neophyte I am, to read about Kate and Ty personal views regarding a concept that has a large spectrum of activities, expectations and originate from diverse influences and upbringing. It gave necessary notions and clues of what this meant to them as individuals. I really appreciated this part, it was clearly asserting their cravings and theirs alone.

As such, I enjoyed the first 40% of the book, the uncertain and undetermined growing relationship between Ty and Kate as they both were trying to define their need for domination and submission. The “get to know you part” is always my favorite in books, discovering the hero and heroine idiosyncrasies was fun and entertaining. Eve Dangerfield sure did a fine job at fleshing out fascinating and genuine characters.

Ty’s irises weren’t the colour of lived-in denim anymore, they were the bright blue of an electrical fire. As their eyes locked she felt a surge arc through her body, excitement so all-encompassing she could barely breathe.

Tyler Hendersen was a delight to read about—at first—, well mannered, distant and cold, the peek into his somber and dirty thoughts was a delicious treat offered by the dual POV narrative. I’m not going to engage in neverending adjectives and superlatives to describe him, the man was just HOT. His dominance oozed from him forcing anyone to take notice of his imposing persona. In his dominant role, he was the epitome of arrogance and conceit.

If I fuck you, you’ll think all your prayers have been answered. I’ll make you see God, Middleton. I’ll make you think I am God.

Kate “Middleton” McGrath was also such a complex character. I loved the contrast offered by her “outside” personality, the image she reflects to the world as a sweet young woman—angelic like— and her inner deviant persona, of a twisted and fearless submissive. She knows what she craves, she just needs to find to perfect man to express herself with. A Daddy, as it is.

Ty Looked at Middleton, and Middleton looked at him. Her smile said butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth but Ty knew better. Satan himself would melt in that mouth.

Now, I can’t review this book without mentioning the sex.
Although the characters played a huge part in my interest for the story, I’ll be honest and say that I couldn’t completely detach myself from some of the very similar role play happening in this book. My personal issues and distorted notions about the Daddy kink most definitely put some hindrance over what should have been playful, hot and sexy sex scenes. Eh. It was to be expected.

Why was she so turned on by her and Ty eroticizing the worst stereotypes about their genders? Man as a perverted predator, woman as passive vessel.

The second part of the book regrettably lost me. All interest I had for Tyler Henderson started to crumble little by little when it appeared his dominant behavior was overshadowed by deep trust issues and what I personally think was a thick layer of douchebaggery. There is only so many times I can forgive a man, even a fictional one!
My interest and curiosity for Kate never wavered though, even after the many disappointments caused by Tythoughtlessness and disregard for her feelings, she was still taking charge of herself and what she thought was best for her. She grew so much from the tentative and careless attempts at finding what she craved to finally learn to expect more for herself.
I wished for Kate to find someone strong enough to support her beautiful trusting soul, but I just couldn’t envision Ty in that role any longer.

They had such a bipolar relationship. Sometimes she felt like he knew her better than anyone. Other times it felt like they were strangers who’d happened to see each other come.

The fact that both had heavy trust issues to overcome was already considerable enough but the constant miscommunication between them—or lack thereof— made my concern for their relationship decline until I really didn’t care anymore. Apart from the many sex scenes involving Daddy/daughter role play there wasn’t an inkling of romance or growing feelings between them. Or at least reciprocated.
It felt to me like all the sex was just there to illustrate the matter at heart and failed to keep me connected.

Granted this book shouldn’t be considered as a romance, it’s erotica, but mined with so much self issues from characters, it wouldn’t be fair categorizing it as erotica alone.

Overall I enjoyed my dip into Act Your Age, I discovered a new author who I think has a very solid and sharp writing style, is killer at creating compelling characters and alluring sex play. I’m glad I’ve read something out of my zone, I’ve learned new things and expanded my horizons.