Guardian Daddy, the 13th book in the MC Daddies series by Laylah Roberts, is an engaging and skillfully written story. The book centers on Ethan, a stern and protective Daddy Dom who has been feeling lonely lately. He has watched his friends find their perfect little and was starting to doubt if he would ever find love. Ethan gets pleasure from taking care of others, but he's been criticized before for being too overbearing with this need. Cate, the main female character, has autism and struggles with deep insecurities stemming from childhood abuse by her aunt, uncle, and cousin who raised and and her brother after their parents died.
I really enjoyed this book. Cate's autism was portrayed with care and realism, making it a natural part of her character rather than just a detail added for the sake of diversity. Ethan’s acceptance and understanding of Cate, along with the way he embraced all the ways she learned to function and cope, was heartwarming. He never made her feel weird or out of place. Their relationship was beautifully written, showing how they brought out the best in each other.
The story also included a mystery involving a stalker targeting Cate’s twin brother, Rhodes, who is a Hollywood star. The mystery was seamlessly woven into the plot, complementing the main focus on the romance without feeling like an afterthought. I also loved revisiting characters from previous books in the series. If you’re new to the series, you’ll still be able to follow along easily, but for longtime readers, these appearances are a delightful bonus.
Laylah Roberts’ writing continues to improve, and as long as she keeps writing, I’ll keep reading.