3.5 stars, rounded down

This story was quite promising. I was immediately drawn in by the conductor/musician aspect, and it didn't disappoint. In fact, I think the beautiful descriptions of the music and how Laszlo and Isabeau played together were stellar.

What fell short for me was the slightly underdeveloped characters. I wasn't fully convinced of their feelings toward one another except for when they were playing together, and this type of age gap & guardian/ward romance really needs that passionate emotional connection to be believable for me. Otherwise, I start to feel like it's icky. And I started to feel a bit icky about Laszlo having sexual feelings for a girl he took in when she was 8.. (not that he started having those feelings WHEN she was 8, but ya know).
Overall, I liked this book, but it could have been better.

 
 
~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
So wow...this book turned out to be significantly better and had way more depth than I thought it would. I've never read anything by this author before, and honestly, the blurb made me think this was going to be one of those insta love, daddy kink type of books (nothing wrong with those). What I actually got was a bloody fantastic, beautifully written, and complex love story. I can't think of a single negative thing to say about it. As I said, the writing was amazing. The pace was perfect. The plot was engaging. Angsty. Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Sexy. The classical music angle was just so well done. Last, it was all wrapped up in a very sweet, and perfect way.


~HERO~
LASZLO...Laszlo was a great hero. He was complex. He was frustrating at times. He was sweet. He was sexy. He was domineering. He was kind. He was stubborn. The author did a fantastic job creating a complex character that as a reader you couldn't help but fall in love with.


~HEROINE~
ISABEAU...I enjoyed Isabeau's character just as much as I did Laszlo's. Again the author did a great job of creating a multi-layered character in Isabeau. My heart broke for her on several occasions. You could figuratively feel her pain rising from the pages. Her love for Laszlo. Her pain at being rejected. But she was also a very strong character. She was sweet. Wise beyond her years. She knew what she wanted and needed. I loved her.


 

~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
This book was pretty light on secondary characters. We see Isabeau's father a tiny bit. He BFF makes a couple brief appearances, along with some members of the orchestra. Mainly the book focuses the majority of its time on the two main characters.


~HEAT LEVEL~
LOW...for the first 70%. MEDIUM TO HIGH for the last 30%. This turned out to be (surprisingly to me) a slow burn type of romance. I was expecting for us to dive head first in the kink very early on. That isn't what happens though. This couple dances around each other for 70% of the book. But when they finally get to doing the deed, we get some deliciously kinky sex scenes. Isabeau and Laszlo were smokin' hot together and had amazing on page chemistry. Obviously (if you read the blurb) there is "daddy kink" and BDSM elements. Spanking. Belting. Choking. I guess if I HAD to think of something I would have liked different about the book, I would have loved to have seen more sex scenes between those two. 


~ANGST LEVEL - SEXUAL HISTORIES~
HIGH...this one was fairly angsty, but the angst came from the two main characters and their feelings for each other, and not outside sources. There was no OW drama or OM drama. Isabeau wasn't a virgin, but she had only had sex once (and it wasn't good

~IN THE END~
-- I loved it!
-- Was it perfect? Pretty much.
-- Will I read this author again? For sure!
-- Would I recommend it? Completely!

5 ⭐


- Please check trigger warnings
- Mature language, addiction, graphic sexual scenes, BDSM (bondage, punishment, power play)
- age gap romance
- DD/LG without age regression

Yes maestro, yes sir, yes daddy.

I rarely give books 5 stars, but this was so worth it. Had me screaming into my pillows, sobbing too. (Laszlo's letter to Laurent?! PLEASEEE *ugly cry*) Heads up, Isabeau was once Laszlo's ward.

Where do I begin? First and foremost I absolutely loved the orchestra and musical setting of the entire story, it presented a certain flair. I also really loved the Asian country rep here, was pretty cool. I loved that it wasn't an insta love story and took time to develop.

Isabeau. She was poised, respectful, and such a talented cellist. I admired her determination and strength. I admired that despite the fallout, she mustered up enough courage to meet Laszlo for the sake of her career. Generally, I adored her. She pulled her life together, she survived while her father was down in the dumps. She's equally just as strong as her counterpart, if not more.

Laszlo. *faints* This man was indescribable. I just know that he's a man with the utmost poise and class, he's the best (once the youngest) conductor to exist, he's intelligent. What I loved was that he was never forceful (we stan a king who prioritizes consent), he was never toxic. He looked out for Isabeau, always wanted the best for her, her career, and her happiness. He's also very kind, very easy-going which makes him a great mentor. I like characters that embody power and that was exactly what Laszlo was. Despite this, he never had a power trip, he reeled it in, controlled it Also, the man's mouth could be sent to hell :)))

I loved Laszlo and Isabeau together, there were the really intimately wholesome moments, where they would play together or even when he would subtly smile at her during rehearsals. WHEN HE CALLS HER SWEETHEART *melts* I loved those just as much as I loved the belts and bites. ;) I devoured the absolute hell out of this. I would say personally that the entire maestro/protege theme reeled me in, it's new and felt like a breath of fresh air.

It took me almost two months to read this book but i finally just finished the last 70% that I had and I really enjoyed it. there are some problematic themes so be careful going into this book. I liked the musical aspect I thought that was fun and different but a lots of parts bored me. It was SUPER steamy and hot. Idk overall it was just really mediocre.

mild spice but cute

“Just look at you. Stretched so tight around my fingers and unable to move. Say, thank you, daddy.”
“Thank you, daddy.”
“You’re welcome, you little slut.”

The Protégé is the perfect mix of soft and kinky. The first 60% we see how Isabeau and Laszlo meet, how she comes to be his ward, how Laszlo nurtures and teaches Isabeau, and eventually how it all ultimately leads to white hot passion.

I loved everything about this book. I connected with Isabeau on a deep level and I developed quite the crush on Daddy Laszlo. Once he flipped that switch and he let himself go, dear lord. That man is a dirty talker extraordinaire!

“My benevolence is given when I choose. I control when you get to come and when you don’t. Even if I give you that satisfaction, this is never over. My control. My praise. My punishment. My comfort. I bestow them, and always on my terms, little girl.”

Above all of that, the music tied this book together with such a lovely bow. I highly suggest you listen to the songs that are mentioned in the book as you read. It’s beautiful and it made me cry a few times.

Brianna Hale writes with such passion and emotion. Her characters felt real, and the chemistry she is able to portray is stunning.

Overall rating 5 stars
Steaminess 5 stars

Ddlg. Not as good as Hale's Little Dancer.