Needing Daddy is the second book in Vanessa Brooks’ Claimed by Daddy series. Well, it’s not a series as such. It’s two concurrent stories about the same woman in two different parallel universes.
In Claimed by Daddy, Penny Forrester finds herself unexpectedly flung into a world where she is married to David, a sexy American Daddy Dom who she has no recollection of ever meeting before.
In my five star review of the first book back in June, I wrote “I really hope that Vanessa Brooks writes a companion book to this one telling the story of the Other Penny.” And, happily, this is that book.
The Penny of this book, (Penny 2 for ease of reference) definitely has a worse deal than Penny 1. While it must be pretty unnerving to find yourself thrust into an alternative reality, having a sexy dominant alpha male waiting for you when you get there, definitely eases things a long a bit.
This Penny however, has to contend with not only the headfuckness of multiple dimensions and accepting that the seemingly impossible has happened, she has to do it without the one person she would normally lean on.
Penny 1 said at the end of the last book, “I honestly believe that she would try to find you.” And that is exactly what Penny 2 does. She knows that David is out there somewhere and that the two of them are soul mates. It’s just that David doesn’t know it yet.
It’s a difficult situation to negotiate and, frankly, Penny handles it really, really badly. She entangles herself in a knotty web of fibs, manipulation and nonsense as she single-mindedly pursues her man.
It works for a bit because David and Penny are genuinely made for one another, no matter which universe they inhabit. David knows he wants to be a Daddy Dom to a bratty adorable little and Penny ticks all his boxes.
The age play elements in this story are absolutely enchanting. Penny and David are so much fun when they are together. Whether they’re shopping at Build a Bear, visiting the Tower of London or adopting a puppy, the loveliness of these two characters shines from the page.
And when Penny is in grown-up mode, they have some pretty amazing grown-up fun time too. The sex in this book is scorching hot and wonderfully romantic. You get a two-for-one deal actually, because while Penny is busy pursuing her man, her sister is rekindling her sex life with her own husband, discovering a world of Daddy Dom kink, that Penny can all too easily relate to.
But there’s still all the tangly web of deceit and nonsense stuff and it’s impossible for Penny to open up to a genuine and honest relationship with David with all of that going on. When it inevitably comes crashing down around her ears, it’s impossible to see how Penny and David’s relationship can withstand it.
Needing Daddy is every bit as good as Claimed by Daddy. Both versions of Penny and David are wonderful. Penny may be a little girl when she is in age play mode, but she is also an intelligent and resourceful woman. It must be devastating to have your entire life ripped away in the blink of an eye and yet Penny is the perfect heroine to ensure that – whatever it takes and however it happens – she has the determination to ensure her happily ever after.
Looks good. Can’t wait to read.