Lynne Connolly‘s review of The Nanny Solution by Teresa Hill
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Special Edition 1 Feb 09
Another misleading title – there isn’t a nanny in this book, neither is the heroine ever employed on nanny duties. There isn’t even a baby, although there is a five year old (the heroine isn’t her nanny, nurse, or governess). The “nanny” title refers to a dog, which I thought was devious, to say the least, an effort to get a buzzword into a title that actually failed for me.
I don’t usually venture into Special Edition territory, but I’m glad I did with this one. The first thing this story had in its favour was that the heroine, Audrey, was 39. Not an innocent virgin ingénue. Fantastic. And she behaved like she had a few years’ experience, too.
After sorting her life out, which included attending AA, Audrey takes a job at the house of Simon Collier, to train a dog and redesign the yard of the owner. Although the house is in the same area as the one she used to live in before her meltdown, it’s in millionaire’s row, and Simon is much wealthier than her sleaze of an ex. The ex has custody of their child, teenager Andie, and this is Audrey’s main reason for taking the job. She doesn’t want to force herself on her daughter, and she knows she’s screwed up, but she wants to give Andie and her a chance.
I liked Audrey. She knows she’s made mistakes, and while she gives the reason for them, she doesn’t use them as excuses, or whine. Good for her. She’s in the process of rebuilding her life. If her daughter doesn’t want to know, although she’ll be hurt, Audrey is prepared to accept it.
Simon is a bit less well realised than Audrey, but enough to make him understandable and likeable. He’s a businessman who works hard but has perspective on his life, and knows his daughter, five year old Peyton, is more important than his work. He’s not so self-centred that he thinks his staff can’t operate without him.
There isn’t much sex in this book, but there doesn’t have to be, it’s not necessary. What there is steams up the bathroom and the lead-up is natural and believable.
Other Special Editions that I’ve read have played on the cutesy, but the cutest character in this book is the dog, and it’s a real dog, a Border Collie, the type that can outrun a marathon runner.
There was a lack of tension sometimes, and the story meandered a little in the middle, but I read through and worked towards the happy ending.
So for a well written, enjoyable read, I’d give this one a B.
Grade: B
Blurb:
“Sit. Stay. Roll over. Good boy. Well, these commands worked for the puppy. Unfortunately, Audrey Graham’s new boss was not so easily tamed. After a difficult year, she needed to get back on track, and accepting a job as “dog nanny” for millionaire businessman Simon Collier was the first step. But Simon, like the incorrigible puppy he’d bought for his young daughter, had a mind of his own. He was gorgeous, sexy and got what he wanted — and he wanted Audrey.
Simon couldn’t stand to see Audrey hurt. He would help her, and then he would have her. And he would show her that not all men were dogs..”
No excerpt available.
