Chapters and Cravings

I swear, I was about seventy percent through Dirty Daddies before the spice finally showed up—and by that point, I’d gone through every stage of anticipation, impatience, and dramatic sighing you can imagine. I do love a slow burn when it keeps me hooked, but this one really tested my patience. I was practically pleading with my Kindle for something to happen.

The first time I read it on Kindle, I was all in for the promise: two older men, a tangled-up dynamic, and that delicious hope that it would all click into place. But listening to the audiobook later? Suddenly, the slow pacing and some of the character choices were impossible to ignore. Jack and Michael still had their moments (I’m a sucker for their scenes), but overall, my feelings got a bit muddled.

Carrie really put me through my paces in the first half—I kept wanting to reach into the book and give her a slap pep talk. She did grow on me later, and once the chemistry finally kicked in, I was rooting for them. There were moments I genuinely loved, but also a few frustrations that stuck around even after the big payoff. In the end, it’s a solid three stars from me: some great highs, but a bumpy road getting there.

Dirty Daddies is one of those books that throws you straight into the deep end with complicated men, a heroine who made me want to shake her (lovingly), and a relationship that takes its sweet time to get anywhere close to settled. Honestly, I stuck around mostly for Jack and Michael—those two had me hooked, even when I was side-eyeing every decision they made. But when the chemistry finally kicked in? Absolutely worth the wait. And I have to admit, by the end, Carrie had grown on me enough that I was actually rooting for her.

But oh, the pacing. I spent the first half feeling like I was wading through chaos, waiting for things to click, and then suddenly everything ramped up and I was scrambling to keep up. It left me a bit off-balance, and the audiobook didn’t quite sweep me away like I’d hoped. Still, the payoff was solid enough that I’d happily hand this one to anyone who loves a messy, slow-burn romance. Three stars from me—sometimes a little uneven, but definitely memorable.

Carrie Wells turns eighteen and suddenly, the foster system is done with her. No safety net, no backup plan—just a whole lot of anger and not much else. She bolts from her last placement with about as much preparation as I have for Monday mornings (read: none). Michael, who’s met her through his work with teens, notices when she vanishes and, bless him, actually goes out looking.

Letting her crash at his place? Not exactly in the job description, but Michael can’t just leave her out there. So he brings her to his best mate Jack’s house (while Jack’s conveniently out of town). Of course, Jack comes home, and—because life loves a twist—he starts catching feelings too.

What happens next? Well, it’s a slow-burn tangle of shifting loyalties and messy feelings. Carrie’s stubborn streak runs headlong into the guys’ need for order, and suddenly nobody’s sure where trust ends and something more begins. If you love a romance that’s a little off the beaten path and full of emotional sparks, this one’s got you covered.

🔁 The Audiobook Reread Changed the Experience

The first time I picked this up on my Kindle, I was completely swept along by the promise of the story. You know that feeling when you’re just desperate to see how a relationship will unfold? That was me, absolutely hooked on the dynamic and racing ahead to find out what would happen next. Honestly, that anticipation made the whole thing fly by—much more than when I came back for a reread.

Listening to the audiobook was a whole different experience. Suddenly, I was hyper-aware of the pacing and every little character decision. It’s funny how knowing what’s coming changes everything—those slow bits I’d breezed past before? This time, they felt like waiting for water to boil. I kept checking in, wondering when the relationship would finally get to the good stuff I was craving.

So, this reread turned out to be a bit more complicated than I’d bargained for. I can absolutely see what pulled me in the first time, but now I’m also much more aware of the bits that made me want to throw my Kindle across the room (in the nicest possible way). It’s a mix of appreciation and frustration over here, so this review is going to need space for both feelings—because that’s just honest, right?

😤 Carrie Tested Every Bit of My Patience

Honestly, Carrie and I did not get off to a great start. Every time she made another wild decision or stirred up chaos, I found myself sighing and wanting to put the book down for a breather. There were whole chapters where I just felt worn out, like I was watching a friend make the same mistake again and again and not being able to do a thing about it.

I get why she acts the way she does—she’s prickly and defensive, and you can tell she’s carrying a lot of old baggage. Her messiness makes sense for the story, and I wasn’t expecting her to be all sunshine and easy smiles. Still, I found myself getting frustrated with her more than I expected, especially in those early chapters.

The bratty energy? It totally fits the vibe between her and the love interests, so I get it. But I spent so long feeling worn out by her antics that by the time I finally started to warm up to her, I was desperate for something to change.

🖤 Jack and Michael Kept Me Invested

Honestly, Jack and Michael completely stole the show for me. There was something so steady and reassuring about the way they anchored the story, especially whenever Carrie started to unravel (which, let’s be real, was often). I loved how their calm, patient energy balanced out all the chaos and made the whole dynamic feel grounded. The contrast between them and Carrie just worked.

When things finally clicked between them, the chemistry just made sense. Suddenly I remembered exactly why I’d been so curious about this relationship from the start. The three of them had this intense, spark-filled energy, and those later chapters finally gave me the connection I’d been hoping for all along.

Honestly, their dynamic was what kept me turning the pages, even when the story started to drag a bit. I kept wishing the book would lean harder into what was working, because the potential between them was right there, practically waving at me. Jack and Michael were the reason I stuck with it, even when the pacing tried my patience.

⏳ Seventy Per Cent Is a Commitment

Honestly, the spice didn’t really show up until I was about seventy percent through the book. That’s a long time to wait, especially when the whole point of the story is that central dynamic. By then, I was practically tapping my foot, waiting for things to finally heat up.

When it finally happened, the payoff was good—I won’t lie. But the pacing was all over the place. First, there’s this slow, slightly chaotic build-up, and then suddenly everything ramps up at once. It felt like I was reading two different books glued together, and as much as I enjoyed the second half, it couldn’t quite erase how impatient I’d felt earlier.

I just wanted things to move along a bit more smoothly. If we’d had more time with the relationship actually working, I think I’d have enjoyed it even more. As it was, I liked the payoff, but I couldn’t help wishing the whole journey had felt a bit more natural.

🌱 Carrie’s Growth Deserved Some Credit

Somewhere in those last chapters, Carrie finally started to shift. She softened up, grew a bit, and actually seemed to figure herself out—which, honestly, made me warm to her after a whole book of me muttering at her choices. By the end, I was unexpectedly proud of her. Who knew?

That change made a real difference for me. It gave the story a bit of heart beyond just the swoony bits, and I didn’t have to stay stuck in my original grumpy feelings about her. I’m genuinely glad the author let her grow.

So, that’s why this one landed at three stars for me. There was plenty to enjoy—especially the way the guys bounced off her—and by the end, I actually liked her a lot more than I expected. It was a solid read, even if I’ve had more fun with other Jade West books.

🌪️ Carrie — A Difficult Start With Meaningful Growth

Carrie was going through it, and honestly, I felt for her—but wow, she was not the easiest person to hang out with on the page. All that chaos and those snap decisions had me sighing into my tea more than once. I could see why she was struggling, but I’ll admit, I was struggling right along with her to stay invested.

But then—bless her—Carrie started to figure herself out. Watching her grow made me rethink all those earlier eye rolls, and by the end, I actually liked the person she’d become. That transformation was easily one of my favourite parts of the whole book.

🖤 Michael — Care Entangled With Control

Michael is honestly the reason I kept holding my breath through half the book. He’s always been there for Carrie in that steady, supportive way, so when things start to shift into something more personal, you can practically feel the awkwardness and excitement fighting it out. Every time he tries to help her, it’s like the whole balance between them wobbles—and I was absolutely here for the drama.

Honestly, Michael’s calm, quietly-in-charge energy was exactly what kept me turning the pages. I loved how he grounded every scene with Carrie—someone has to keep things from spiralling, right? And then there’s his whole dynamic with Jack, which just made everything even juicier. I’ll admit it: the men completely stole the show for me.

🗝️ Jack — An Important Part of the Chemistry

Jack coming back into the mix is just what this already tangled situation with Michael needed—because obviously, things weren’t complicated enough. I have a soft spot for their friendship, and honestly, it’s that three-person dynamic that first made me want to dive into this story in the first place.

Jack really worked for me in this trio—he’s got that calm, take-charge vibe that balances out Carrie’s wild side perfectly. Honestly, what stood out most was just how well the guys played off each other. When their relationship finally clicked, it made the whole thing feel so much more real and satisfying.

🌶️ The Spice

This one definitely gets four chillies from me. When the spice finally shows up, it’s full-on, explicit and exactly what I’ve come to expect from Jade West. We’re talking dominance, submission, degradation kink—the whole lot. If that’s your thing, you’ll be right at home, but if not, maybe have a peek at your own comfort levels before diving in.

Honestly, my only gripe was the wait. I kept checking my progress and thinking, is it time yet? The real heat doesn’t kick in until about 70% through, which felt like ages when I was itching for the good stuff. When it finally happened, I was all in—but I would have loved a bit more spice sprinkled throughout, instead of saving it all for the end.

Frequency: Most of the payoff comes late, following a lengthy build.

Detail: Explicit, on-page sexual content.

Kink level: BDSM / D/s, degradation and daddy kink.

Overall spice rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Narrators: Stacey Holmes, Joel Leslie & Smutty McDiarmid.
Narration Style: Alternating POV narration with three narrators. Each narrator reads their character’s chapters, including the dialogue for everyone else in those chapters.

The performances were fine overall, but I didn’t find the audiobook fully immersive. My main difficulty was with the English accents, which sounded a little put-on and unnatural to me. I kept noticing the delivery when I wanted to be absorbed in the characters and their situation.

The narration format didn’t help either. I much prefer duet narration, where each character keeps the same narrator throughout, regardless of whose chapter we’re in. Having the character voices change with the POV made it harder for me to settle into the story. I want to recognise who’s speaking without having to adjust to a different version of their voice every time we switch perspectives!

That distraction mattered because I was already finding parts of the story slow. Listening made me more aware of the pacing and character choices, and the voices didn’t consistently help me settle back into the narrative. My first Kindle read had carried me along more easily.

This was a personal response to how the performances sounded to me. I wouldn’t describe the audiobook as badly performed, but it didn’t add the extra connection I had hoped for on the reread. The delivery became part of what I was evaluating, alongside the story itself.

My verdict: Worth considering if the dynamic appeals and you’re happy to give it plenty of time. Jack and Michael, Carrie’s eventual growth and the later chemistry were the reasons it worked as much as it did for me.