Abby Williams is twenty-two and a virgin, she also acts like a big kid and loves Ballet. She is busy dancing at a ballet academy. The only time she feels at home is up on the stage, but with the pressures of having to change her home lifestyle, she makes a mistake. Abby is then summoned to the director's office - Rufus Kingsolver. There is something about Abby's innocence that draws Rufus in. This book then moves onto the world of BDSM with a strong focus of Daddy Doms and Submissive Baby Play. I have to admit for me, I find it weird and find Daddy Dom a turn-off for me, but it seemed to work, and I was familiar with the child submissive as I watched a few years ago a documentary about a girl whose kink was dressing like and acting like a baby. If you want a quick smutty BDSM read, then check out Little Dancer by Brianna Hale.

Okay, I admit to a fascination with all-books kinky, and I have an intense curiosity about books with daddy kink in them. Some work well for me while some hit all my squick triggers. Hence, I had to read Brianna Hale’s Little Dancer as soon as I read its description. Fortunately, this one worked well for me. Abby Williams is a young, 20-year old dancer who doesn’t want to have to grow up if it means giving up the girlish trappings of her youth. Rufus Kingsolver is the much older owner of theater where Abby works who feels a deep-seated need to take care of the young dancer. The two develop an intense and kinky relationship that causes some problems when it becomes public.
 
Abby loves to dance; it is almost everything to her. In many ways, she’d like to forget about the rest of her life, especially as things keep changing. For example, Abby’s parents want to redecorate her bedroom to make it more adult. The problem is that Abby takes comfort in her girlish things. However, she doesn’t feel comfortable telling her parents this. After all, they are always after her to grow up and face reality. They don’t think dancing is a viable career and want her to get a real job. Abby is stressed by her parents’ demands which create issues for her at work.
 
Rufus Kingsolver is a tough man who runs his theater with absolute control. He doesn’t like it when his dancers don’t follow the rules. When Abby misses a dance cue, she is summoned to Rufus’ office. This begins a new chapter in their relationship. Rufus senses that Abby needs order and direction in her life - and he wants to give her these things. He straightens out her issue and helps to keep her focused. It take a little bit for Rufus to direct their changing relationship in an intimate direction, but when he does Abby is thrilled. However, she isn’t sure what to make of the fact that Rufus wants her to call him daddy.
 
Things get out of control when the nature of Rufus and Abby’s relationship gets made public and her parents find out. I admit that I found this part of the book somewhat painful to read. There is a scene where Abby has to finally stand up for herself and tell her parents a bit more about the nature of her relationship with Rufus than most people would ever reveal to their parents about their sex lives. It is an intensely raw conversation that made me want to hide under a table. But in all honesty, this conversation was critical for me. Abby needed to show that she could face her problems and be honest with her parents.
 
This is because there is a serious power dynamic and differential between Abby and Rufus - and because Abby is seriously young in both years and maturity. My one concern about their relationship while reading this romance was about Abby’s age. Was Abby actually aware enough of herself and of her relationship with Rufus to fully consent? I was convinced that she was mature enough when she stood up to her parents and explained her relationship with Rufus to them. This was her way of fighting for what she wanted and needed in her life.
 
As for the daddy kink, I think this is very well done. Rufus is strict with Abby and does discipline her. But it fits their dynamic. And when things get complicated for Abby, Rufus refused to tell her what to do. Consent and verbalization are important to him. Admittedly, this book will not be for everyone. The daddy kink will make some very uncomfortable. The book does push boundaries and flirts with the taboo. But the kink is super sexy and very hot.
 
Brianna Hale’s Little Dancer is an erotic romance that handles a taboo kink with great sensitivity. I recommend this one to those looking for books with daddy kink. The story seamlessly combines hot kink and intense emotion with a fantastic older man/younger woman romance.

Twenty-year-old dancer Abby Williams has only ever felt truly herself while she's onstage. It's the one place she gets the firm direction and focused attention she craves to keep her whimsical thoughts in order. Offstage she feels out of place, forced to give up her girlish treasures and bombarded at every turn with adult responsibilities. But one missed dance cue in front of the intimidating theater owner could take all this away.

Summoned to Rufus Kingsolver's office, Abby is terrified the darkly handsome, commanding man is about to end her dream. But Rufus has other ideas. He wants to be her Dom. He wants her to call him Daddy.

Abby is shocked, but the spark of curiosity and taboo desire have her wanting more. Under Rufus's firm hand, they explore the erotic depths of their unconventional, yet beautiful, relationship. Abby is falling deeper in love with Rufus and the Little/Dom lifestyle, but it's not long before she comes face-to-face with her darkest fear—judgment from the outside world.

Daddy knows best, but what if, this once, he can't protect her?




Review:




More heart to this book than I expected when I read the blurb.




What I expected was a purely titillating story, don't get me wrong it does have those moments and taboo subject matter. The depth made it even better for me and helped these characters not become caricatures. I am not well versed in Little/Dom lifestyle, but it seemed spot on and well done. I thought the reactions of Abby's parents was very realistic too. Now, this is a short read and very good if you are looking for a sexy quick read. This is a new Author and for her first book I think she did an excellent job of creating a well rounded romance. I liked this Author and story so much I have already picked up the next book in the series to read for review.




4.5Stars




*I Voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

***4 ‘Kitten’ Stars***

The description was the hook and since I’m that someone who is an outsider looking in on that particular lifestyle, but is absolutely intrigued by it and all its nuances there was simply no way I could pass this book up and I was pleasantly surprised by it. It’s sweet, smexy, a little dark and yet there is a lot of heart woven into it as Abby and Rufus work their through the ups and downs of the Little/Dom lifestyle to find their own happiness.

This review is going to be a little different than my norm because I’m not going to get into my feelings about Rufus and Abby, not because I didn’t like them, I actually found them to be quite likeable in general, but their journey is what fascinated me the most, so why force the issue? From start to finish I was totally fascinated by how their relationship evolved. The beginning had me running through a number of reactions on both sides of the coin, but as I got further into the story I really enjoyed the dynamic between Rufus and Abby. They gave each other exactly what they needed to enjoy the life they were living and it made them both stronger for it. But, as with any relationship, not everything is smooth sailing and that big ‘ole sinkhole in their road is a doozy. Hell, I had guessed at who would be involved just not the how of it and though I was irritated with how the initial fallout what handled, or not handled really, but one of the characters, it made sense. And I did like where Rufus and Abby were at the end of the book.

Is this book for everyone? It could be in all honesty because at it’s heart it is about two people giving each other what they need to be themselves. Is it in the most conventional of ways? No, but neither is it entirely unconventional. The writing was engaging and the solo 1st POV was done well. I liked that the story was simple and concise, no excessive angst going on, and I appreciated how the Dom/sub relationship was explained and shown.

I a very different and emotionally intense take on a Dom/sub relationship. Little Dancer was surprising in its all to different approach on a BDSM relationship that is portrayed in most book. Great story!

When I’m onstage, and all there is, is the music and the sweet burn of exertion and the glare of the hot lights, I’m me.

Abby’s a dancer for a theater company. She likes dressing up and the feeling she gets onstage. Her life is thrown into upheaval when the commanding theater owner calls her into his office. Soon, she's realizing she may have desires for a little/Dom relationship. What does that mean and will her family accept her as she is?

Rufus prides himself on noticing the habits and needs of others. No more so than Abby who requires a commanding presence—a woman to call him daddy. But can Abby accept that part of herself? Or will she give up what she needs?

I’ve never read a story quite like this. Abby is such a vulnerable character, more so because she has a young, almost childlike spirit. It troubles her parents, and it troubles Abby herself. Doing “grown up” things fills her with anxiety, and she relies on fairy tales, dancing and cartoons to bring her safety. That changes when Rufus picks up on this aspect of her personality. Though Abby is confused and frightened of her new blooming desires, neither does she really question them. She’s all in from the start.

I just never grew out of the things that everyone once needed to make them happy.

Rufus doesn’t try to change Abby in the least. He wants Abby to be Abby, and he gives her a safe place with him until she becomes more confident, more courageous in her skin. The relationship rounds out between them and while they grown more firm in themselves, their essential characters don't change.

Yes. But what I want isn’t important. It’s your body and your decision.

That’s the moment Rufus won me over. Some of the things he says are devastating to Abby. Sweet and gently prodding, and Abby finds herself and gets to a place where she doesn't have to be ashamed. They were explosive together. There are scenes of kink, but there was also such care for each other.

This erotica has so much heart. The ending was magnificent and got me misty-eyed, and it was a well-executed book in how it broached the topic of this particular taboo. 4 hot daddy stars!

an interesting read. I liked it.

This was my first book by Brianna Hale and after reading the synopsis I was really looking forward to this taboo book. However, I think it was just over the top and too much for me. Sadly I had to put it down without finishing it.