Title: Alessandro and the Cheery Nanny

Author: Amy Andrews (website)

But is she Australian?: Yep, lives in Brisbane

Line: Mills&Boon Medical

Sub-series?: part of Amy’s 2-part Italian-doctors-to-fathers mini-series

Release date: September 2010

Still available: Yes, eformat

Book setting: Brisbane

Okay, got a synopsis? Our cheery nanny is Nat, part-time nurse, part-time child care worker. During one of her child care stints, she meets Julian, a solemn and withdrawn 4-year-old (ignore the cover - there are no babies in this story). Being the soft-hearted woman she is, Nat immediately tries to make life better for the little tyke. In the process she meets his dad, Alessandro, and discovers that Alessandro’s wife (Julian’s mother) passed away 9 months before. Also Alessandro is the new doctor at Nat’s nursing workplace. And he’s really hot. Time passes, Julian bonds with Nat and eventually, through a number of helpful coincidences, Nat moves into the Lombardi household to act as Julian’s nanny. And it’s just not that long before she ends up in Alessandro’s bed. ‘Course our Nat isn’t dumb, and she’s well aware that getting emotionally involved with a grieving widow is a one-way ticket to heartbreak. So it’s all in fun. Consenting adults. You know, no strings attached. None. Whatsoever.Nooo emotions at all.

What makes it worth reading? Nat. She’s a fantastic character, fully three-dimensional and fully likeable. Also Julian. You all know that kids can be way heaps annoying in romance novels, but Julian is age appropriate, without being diabetes-inducing, and his relationship with his father and Nat is really endearing.

Any quibbles? Look, I’m not a big fan of the ‘I don’t deserve love’ guilt reason for pushing away relationships. I think this may have been a stronger story if Alessandro came to Brisbane to start over and wanted to focus solely on re-building his relationship with his son.

Recommended? Yes - for Nat. Cause she’s a frickin’ awesome character. Also as a great example of how to use kids in a romance.

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