The Overseas Nanny Mistake

Contemporary romance with a gothic feel At first glance the setup seems quite ordinary, but the execution is what sets this story apart. The author brilliantly brings a dark, brooding feel to the entire story. The setting, the language barrier, the secrets and mysteries all combine to add gravitas to an otherwise simple single dad/nanny romance. Edward is haunted by his past and can't quite seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel, though he puts on a brave face for his young daughter, Sofia. He's still working through some issues which made it difficult to see his attraction to Ava as anything more than physical, despite the rapid escalation. I just didn't feel their connection as much as I usually do with this author's romances. Ava is a young woman looking to branch out of her dependence on her family and eagerly looks forward to an overseas adventure. She comes off a bit too immature for my tastes, from her fixation on turning authority figures into romantic prospects to her black-and-white reasoning she uses to justify ending the relationship. However, she is sweet with Sofia and clearly an asset to her family. I did enjoy the HEA and the changes Edward made to move past his trauma were inspirational. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.