Nanny Negotiations

The Brotherhood: Legacy #1

by Merry Farmer

Will a bi-reawakening be what this single father needs to heal his wounded heart? Looks like a job for nanny….

When Heath Manfred is left in a lurch after an acrimonious divorce, he turns to the Brotherhood for help with finding a nanny for his three-year-old daughter. But the last thing he expects is for the nanny who shows up to interview for the job to be a hunky man. Correction, the last thing he expects is for Aubrey to assume the nanny position is live-in…and for him to go along with that and have Aubrey move in.

Maybe Heath’s attraction to men wasn’t just part of his wild university days after all…

With few other options in life due to a shameful event in his past, Aubrey is overjoyed to move in with Heath and his daughter. He adores Eugenie…and he adores Heath as well. It’s against the nanny code to fall in love with your employer, but Aubrey is helpless when faced with Heath’s grumpy ways and the smoldering attraction between them.

But when Heath’s ex shows up again to cause trouble, Heath’s and Aubrey’s budding love will be put to the test. Can the Brotherhood help them weather the storm, or are the two men too different to form a lasting relationship in the face of struggle?

Nanny Negotiations is the first book in The Brotherhood: Legacy series…which tells modern-day stories of the men of The Brotherhood. It involves a grumpy/sunshine relationship that includes class differences, a bi-reawakening, unexpected living arrangements, a really great dad, a really horrible ex, love saving the day, and, of course, the nearly two-hundred-year-old organization known as The Brotherhood. You can read more about the origins and Victorian doings of The Brotherhood in The Origins and The Brotherhood series.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Contemporary Romance, Bisexual, Gay

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 8, 2023

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Merry Farmer lives in suburban Philadelphia with her two cats, Justine and Peter. She has been writing since she was ten years old and realized she didn't have to wait for the teacher to assign a creative writing project to write something. It was the best day of her life. Her books have reached the top of Amazon's charts, and have been named finalists for several prestigious awards, including the RONE Award for indie romance.

Reviews

[~Nicole~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything by this author before but I gotta say that this was not good. Not good at all. Everything was ridiculous,caricaturesque and cartoon-like. The ex wife was so OTT and absurd I can’t even while Aubrey (the nanny) flirted with his “straight” employer and made idiotic jokes from the first moment (who does that??) and Heath had 2 bfs in college, a gay brother,gay friends and accepting parents and he was still affirming that he was straight and then he was terrified to let ppl know he was bi 🙄.
The scene in the kitchen with the nanny and the ex-wife fighting over the child while the child was screaming like a banshee was straight out of a parody movie. The dialogues were silly, The Brotherhood was a joke and everything was ridiculous. Also, everything happened fast and mostly off-page and they got together out of the blue.
But hey, you know what I loved about this book? Aubrey’s parents!! They were a hoot and they were awesome!
The kid was ok too, she acted according her age and that’s a rarity in these books.
2 stars because I was curious enough to finish it.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heath Manfred has just gone through an acrimonious divorce & needs a nanny for his three-year-old daughter Eugenie. But the last thing he expects is for the nanny who shows up to interview for the job to be a hunky man who assumes the nanny position is live-in and for him to go along with that and have Aubrey Keller move in. Aubrey is overjoyed to move in with Heath and his daughter. But when Heath’s ex shows up again to cause trouble, Heath’s and Aubrey’s budding love will be put to the test.
The first book in the series & what a series starter! The Chameleon Club is still going string as is The Brotherhood & it was great to read that they still band together to help when help is needed. I loved both grumpy Heath & sunshine Aubrey, their attraction sizzled & I loved their journey to a HEA. The star of the book for me was Eugenie, a delightful three year old who had everyone, apart from one, wrapped round her finger. We meet Heath’s brother Oakley & a few other members of The Brotherhood & I look forward to getting to know them better

[Sandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing read.

From the super crazy ex-wife without a single redeeming quality, to the nanny who from the get-go flirts with his supposedly straight employer, to said employer who despite having had short-term boyfriends in college, a gay brother and membership in a brotherhood for gay men and women, is still terrified of coming out as bi and mostly living at that river in Egypt. Until a couple of chapters later, when they're going at it with the 3 year old daughter napping just a room away. Insta-love and all. Ridiculous plotline with some really icky stuff going down with the crazed ex-wife... nah, fam, I'm out.

One good thing I can say about this book is that the child acted like a child. The rest of the cast were caricatures at best, acting either like utter nincompoops or single-faceted cardboard cutouts, with possibly an exception for Aubrey's parents. I liked them.

YMMV.

[Cindaren]

Dnf'd at "I hate Georgette Heyer." Merry Farmer is always hit or miss for me and I was already getting bored so this just put me off the whole thing.

[Dayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun, dramatic, and caught my attention quickly.

NANNY NEGOTIATIONS was a surprising read because while it was entertaining af, it also read like a Harlequin novel. It was quick on the romance, deliciously spicy with drama, and an adorable toddler to off-set the tension between the characters and the antagonist.

I loved the idea of this single dad returning back to a gentlemen's club after a nasty divorce. And that club? It's exclusively for queer people. This club was like a safety net as the single dad MC meets and hires a new male nanny and then, of course, falls for said nanny.

While the romance between the two MCs was a little insta-lusty for me, I still liked seeing this cold and jaded man bluster his way through a conversation with the nanny because he's nervous af. I will say, though, with the size of this book and how quickly paced the story was, insta-lust to love made sense.

The drama was telenovela-worthy. It was ridiculous but I couldn't look away from the book. You know those really bad ads for those reel short videos? The acting is questionable and the climax of the story is over-the-top? Yeah, this is like the novelization of that, but more entertaining than cringe.

Anyway, I enjoyed this for what it was. I'd recommend it if you're looking for a romance book with the nanny trope, especially if that nanny is a man and the parent is also a man.

Happy reading!

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heath and Aubrey ❤️

3.5 Stars ⭐️

Sweet, sexy and modern take on the Brotherhood. Characters were well written and the relationship development was really sweet especially with the addition of Eugenie, she was adorable. The story wasn't without drama and angst but in the end this little family unit was adorable. Side characters were equally as good and I am interested in what comes next.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heath & Aubrey

These two are exactly what the other needs right from the start. Unfortunately, there are obstacles in their way. I did enjoy reading their story as Heath and Aubrey's story developed and I look forward to Oakley's story next.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars for this sweet and nearly perfect romance.

I loved Heath and Aubrey ... and also how their relationship developed and how they worked together.
It is really sweet, and they are awesome communicators.

My only .... very small hiccup .... is that the time frame for this story is very short.
I normally would expect developments as such over a few more months at least.

Nevertheless, it was very well done, and this author is high on my list for romances

[Wren Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this

[Chené Van der Merwe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's more enjoyable than a good nanny-boss story - a MM nanny-boss story!

I enjoyed this book so much, with an interesting plot, a down on his luck nanny and a desperate single father with a bit of baggage.

The romantic plot was really enjoyable, following Heath who swears it was just a phase in college and sunshiny Aubrey that just needs someone to take a chance on him.

Honestly all in all a really enjoyable book.

[Hannah Boyd · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️

It was just really boring throughout for me and odd dynamic between Heath and Aubrey,idk how to explain it

Steam- 2.75/5 verse

[Theodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like the story timelasping over Aubrey's first couple of weeks. That's prime time to establish the MCs' dynamic so having it be relegated to a handful of chapters was so immensely disappointing and felt lazy.

Aubrey explicitly expressing attraction towards Heath was a bit weird imo. Like half the enjoyment of a nanny romance had to come from the tension of being in close proximity to someone you're attracted to yet trying to keep things professional. Since Aubrey seemed so open with his emotions and being as forward was asking Heath about his sexual preferences, that tension wasn't there.

We had like one sweet moment between them when Aubrey took care of Heath while he was sick then BOOM, the chapter starts with Aubrey stating he was falling for his boss. I needed a hell of a lot more than ONE moment of connection before the concept of love was anywhere close to being justified.

The story was ok until the third act breakup where Gemma started sending child porn to incriminate Aubrey and Heath decided to confront Aubrey about his criminal record while Gemma was in the room. Like wtf? What the hell was she even in the freaking house? Then Heath has the audacity to act freaking sad that Aubrey left when he was the one who started going in on Aubrey for his past? The scene was almost nonsensical.

And of course to match the absolute insanity of Gemma sending CP to Aubrey, it wasn't a surprise to find out that Heath's queer rich people club apparently has connections to the authorities to deus ex machina the absurd conflict away by "talking to the people at the top" and "handling everything for you one way or another." 😒 How nice to have someone else take care of everything for you.

Aubrey's little moment with his parents wasn't any better. Then telling him that they did much worse stuff than what Aubrey had done should not have made him feel better. "Oh! You two had a threesome with a police officer! I guess that means Heath finding out about all the questionable things I'd done in my past suddenly didn't matter anymore because you two were soo much worse!" is not a real lesson or message. That's like telling someone to be happy because someone else is living in poverty. Those things give perspective, but they don't change reality. Aubrey's problem should've been being upset at Heath's reaction to Gemma's instigation + Aubrey's past. Aubrey getting perspective that he hasn't done anything truly bad had no bearing on Heath's view of things, so it didn't make sense for him to suddenly go "I need to be with Heath!" after his parents started downplaying his emotions. If Aubrey's problems stemmed Finn the shame he felt over his past, then it'd be appropriate for his parents to tell him there was nothing to be ashamed about, but his conflict was and should've been Heath's reaction to things.

I guess as a consequence of how utterly OTT the third act breakup was, Aubrey and Heath's respective come to jesus moments were also similarly eye rolling.

THEN just when I thought that the story's characters couldn't be stupider or that Gemma couldn't have been any more cartoon villian esque, Heath's mother decides to let Gemma take his kid. What the fuck was even her plan? How did earning the ire of the guy she was trying to convince into giving her a paycheck make sense?

Heath proposing after like 5 months wasn't even surprising at that point.

TL;DR: OTT (and not in a fun, zany way) and the characters are written to support craziness. Heath was ok until he randomly decided to let his stupid ex-wife get the better of him knowing that she was trying to do it and how he got someone to solve the problem. Aubrey was a little inappropriate at how quickly he came onto his boss + the mismatched solution to his part in the conflict. Gemma was a literal saturday morning cartoon villain and it was not great reading a character so obviously one dimensional. Side characters ranged from too involved in the MCs' love life (both Aubrey and Heath's friends and their interest in whether or not they were boning) to straight up mental (Heath's mother giving Gemma her kid after she knew what Gemma had been up to). I finished only to see what the conclusion to the clown fiesta was and I got what I signed up for.

[Penumbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanny Negotiations is the first book in ‘The Brotherhood: Legacy’ series. It stars Heath Manfred, an aristocrat and businessman in the entertainment industry, and Aubrey, a nanny. This is told in third person from Heath and Aubrey’s povs.

3.5 stars

First the cover. I think it’s Heath, and the cover model fits. If you look at Book Two which is Heath’s brother, Oakley, the two men look like they could be related so the covers work. Unless it’s the same model and the graphic maker is skilled in making changes so they look like different men, haha.

When I started this series, I read Book Two first and continued through to the series end. Book One is the last book in the series that I read. It’s probably best to read the books in order because Heath and Aubrey do appear in some of the other books. Despite this story having some conflict, I’d say it’s mostly fluffy, and that’s because of Aubrey and his lack of boundaries which I’ll mention later. There is conflict with Heath’s ex-wife, Gemma, who wants to get back with Heath and sets out to destroy Aubrey’s reputation.

Heath is bi, but he’s having a difficult time admitting it to himself. He had a relationship with a man in college but was hurt, so he turned his attention to a woman, got married, and had a child, Eugenie. His ex-wife had an affair and humiliated Heath making him more insecure and unwilling to trust any relationship. He pours his love into Eugenie. Heath is a sensitive man. He has frequent thoughts of how Aubrey doesn’t have any trouble expressing his feelings and being who he truly is. Whereas Heath seems to be saddled with the idea that he must behave a certain way which he got from his parents, and especially his ex-wife, Gemma. Heath is conflicted when Aubrey shows up as the nanny because he expected a female. Heath is attracted to him, and Aubrey is openly flirting with Heath.

Aubrey, as I mentioned, has no boundaries. Being the employee, there should be a distinct difference in their status, but all Aubrey can think is that he wants to get into Heath’s pants as soon as he meets Heath, and Aubrey sets out to flirt and get past all Heath’s ‘no’s. If a man did this to a female nanny, that would be considered sexual harassment, but somehow Aubrey doing it to his employer is passed off as cute and okay in this book. A lot of the book revolved around this dynamic and I didn’t think it was appropriate. Aubrey was too aggressive. He was also outgoing, had eccentric parents, and basically didn’t have any hangups. He tackled life head first and whatever happened, happened.

The author did a good job with the side characters. I like Eugenie, she acted like a child and didn’t take over the story. Oakley, Heath’s older brother is shown along with other Brotherhood members. It’s a bit sad to see Oakley healthy and fit when I’ve read Book Two and know all the pain and heartache he’s going to go through at the New Year, where is when this book ends. Aubrey’s parents are funny and open-minded and Aubrey’s relationship with them is hilarious. Gemma, the ex-wife, is a fashion model and a conniving witch. What I didn’t like is that she was an overdone cartoon villain. This author tends to write cartoony villains which, in my opinion, distract from the story. I would have liked it more if Gemma was colder and more controlled, which for me would have been more realistic.

Overall, I liked the plot of this book. I like Heath, he was a conflicted man, and I like Eugenie. I didn’t care for Aubrey, because he was pushy and didn’t respect boundaries. Gemma was too much of a cartoon character. I want to give this book 3.5 stars, but I liked the plot, just not some of the characters which took away from the story for me, so I’ll raise this up to 4 Stars. I want to add that all the stories in this series are different, some better than others. Definitely read Book Two starring Heath’s brother, Oakley, which has a lot more conflict and angst. I think it’s the best book in this series.

[Slwd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heath and Aubrey’s story

“Nanny Negotiations” is another book in The Brotherhood universe. This is Book 1 in the Legacy series, stories encompassing members of the Brotherhood in current times. The Brotherhood has evolved with the times, extending memberships to lesbians since the 1970’s. After Heath Manfred’s difficult public divorce from super model Gemma Stone, he needed a nanny for his three year old daughter, Eugenie. Aubrey Kelly is hired and moves in to take care of both the child and the man. Heath is a very interesting character. He is from the noble class, his elder brother having the title of Earl, he is obviously extremely rich, he is a businessman in the entertainment industry. I liked the fact that the current television series Heath is trying to get made is called “After the War”, another one of Merry Farmer’s m/m romance series about the lives and loves of former members of the English navy after the end of the war against Napoleon. Heath is a member of the Brotherhood, classifying himself as “bi”. He is an attentive and loving father, whereas his ex-wife never wanted a child, but does use Eugenie to get her way. Aubrey Kelly is the man hired to be Eugenie’s nanny. He comes with excellent recommendations and an early childhood care certificate. He is alsopenly gay. Aubrey’s character is nurturing, he is an excellent caregiver not only for Eugenie but Heath as well. I really liked these two characters and how well they complemented one another. There was a simmering attraction that bounced from page to page and when they finally did kiss, wow! Of course their romance isn’t a smooth road. First of all, Heath was conflicted, it took him awhile to sort through his emotions to figure out what he wanted. Secondly, was Heath’s ex-wife. Gemma tried to worm her way back into Heath’s life. She continued to refer to him as her husband, she wanted to use him for his access to the upcoming tv series, she threatened and cajoled to get what she wanted then she switched gears and tried to be sickly sweet. She really showed her true colors when she tried to ruin Heath and Aubrey’s relationship by dredging up Aubrey’s past discretions. She tried to destroy Aubrey, setting him up so he’d go to jail. There was nothing likable about her character, she was just a horrible person. It was good to see Brotherhood members and The Chameleon Club prominently throughout the story. Various Brotherhood members stepped up to help Heath and Aubrey when they needed it. The story moved right along and didn’t lag. The sex was open door and scorching and fit in well with the story. Great beginning to the new series set in the 21st century. Merry Farmer has successfully added to the Brotherhood universe with interesting characters and a great plot. Definitely recommended.

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lull in my current ARCs list so why not try to read some of my backlogged TBRs. Here's Merry Farmer's "Nanny Negotiations." It's the first novel in her series The Brotherhood: Legacy.

["Will a bi-reawakening be what this single father needs to heal his wounded heart? Looks like a job for nanny….

When Heath Manfred is left in a lurch after an acrimonious divorce, he turns to the Brotherhood for help with finding a nanny for his three-year-old daughter. But the last thing he expects is for the nanny who shows up to interview for the job to be a hunky man. Correction, the last thing he expects is for Aubrey to assume the nanny position is live-in…and for him to go along with that and have Aubrey move in.

Maybe Heath’s attraction to men wasn’t just part of his wild university days after all…

With few other options in life due to a shameful event in his past, Aubrey is overjoyed to move in with Heath and his daughter. He adores Eugenie…and he adores Heath as well. It’s against the nanny code to fall in love with your employer, but Aubrey is helpless when faced with Heath’s grumpy ways and the smoldering attraction between them.

But when Heath’s ex shows up again to cause trouble, Heath’s and Aubrey’s budding love will be put to the test. Can the Brotherhood help them weather the storm, or are the two men too different to form a lasting relationship in the face of struggle?"]

Heath, oh Heath. Trying to deny your feelings for Aubrey. Especially after that..whole thing at the picnic. Silly, man.

I loved how hard and how fast the two of them fell. It was all head over heals and not looking back. They supported each other, cared for each other, made a place for each other. It was beautiful. As was sweet little Eugenie.

Of course, Heath's ex was anything but sweet. She made me cry for what she was doing to our men in this novel (a few times--me crying--but also her being a b*tch). Luckily, they had friends and family and The Brotherhood to support them through it.

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[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything happened at breakneck speed

I'm new to Merry Farmer's books (although I have read two of her MM Farmer titles) and was intrigued by the idea of the Brotherhood. Heath and Aubrey's story was good but it all happened far too quickly to be believable in their circumstances. Heath was bi but had convinced himself that it was just college experimentation, and Aubrey was gay.
From the moment they met, Aubrey was flirting with Heath and teasing him and Heath was acting like a blushing schoolgirl. It didn't make much sense to be coming on to your prospective employer like that, especially as Aubrey was essentially homeless unless he found a live-in nanny job, and Heath's reactions weren't realistic, given what we know of him so far.
Aubrey's nanny friends were great, and the three of them were the most realistic part of the book. Their friendship seemed solid and believable.
Everything with Heath's ex-wife was straight out of a pantomime, with the audience booing and hissing every time she appeared. And Heath's actions were not that of a rational man and concerned dad where Gemma was concerned. She may not win any mother of the year awards but what man would not change the locks and security codes to their house once the divorce was finalised, the house was solely his, and he had full custody of their child? Not to mention that the ex didn't want their daughter and was batshit crazy to boot, and she let herself into his house not once but THREE times in this book, purely to cause trouble?
I did like Heath and Aubrey as a couple but as I said, everything happened at breakneck speed and it would have been more realistic if the story took place over a longer timescale. Aubrey's parents were a particular highlight, as were Heath's brother, Oakley, and his friends Gerry and Casper.
I'm looking forward to Oakley's book next.

[Jonny_Jinx · Rating 1 out of 5]

I rarely, if ever, say this about a book that I have read, but this short book is a waste of my time. Thank goodness that I'm a speed reader, and I downloaded it either free or for less than $2. I also received Book #6 (Star Stakes) in a similar fashion and will give that a speed-read next. If it is as bad as this one, I may have to DNF for the first time in a very long time...

It is well-written (with a couple of grammatical errors), so one star for writing in decent English and a half-star (rounded up) for good grammar in general.

The storyline is in a shallow arc and completely OTT. The MMCs fall in love within a very short period (a few weeks), one of whom was bi at university but "basically straight" since then, and marrying a beautiful shrew who only wanted him to further her acting career. They had a daughter but divorced after some five years, leaving the father with sole custody of said three year-old.The other MMC is a professional "manny" (not a term used in this novel).

The ex-husband is a film producer, and his company has just had an interesting but niche market project, "green-lit" and the ex-wife is back and all over her ex and daughter, trying to fake-charm the ex, until she realises that he and the Manny are an item. She tried digging up dirt, but stooping to have her brother overload the Manny's phone with pedophilic photos is not something that should see the light of day in a "sweet Rom-Com" or any other type of novel except perhaps for a nitty gritty, noir police procedural.

There were no dedicated sensitivity warnings for red flags, and thankfully, that was almost at the end of the story because it made me want to throw up.

Seriously, who puts that content into a supposed Rom-Com in the first place, as if it were funny, AND no Trigger Warnings.

I have just decided to round down to one star.

You've been warned - read at your own risk.

[Anne Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews, and this is me leaving my honest review.
Heath is a good man and has just gone through a divorce, leaving him with full custody of his beautiful little girl who is three. So he needs a nanny. He has a business meeting in a club that he hasn’t been to for many a year. The chameleon club. You see Heath has always known he was bisexual and They call the members, the brotherhood and everyone helped everyone. So when he said he needed a nanny before he knew it he had agreed to interview a nanny called Aubrey.
Aubrey is a lovely man who is a little nervous as he knows he is interviewing with Heath who works in Hollywood. But it was obvious that he was not expecting a man. But the interview went well until he found out it was not a living position. And he couldn’t take the job without it being that, thankfully Heath agreed to a trial period of a living position. Aubrey was over the moon.
I’ve got to say I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book in a brand-new series by Merry Farmer. I really like the main characters. Heath is an amazing man who has gone through hell with his ex wife who basically just used him to get her career off the ground. She’s a model and wants to get into films. She’s basically a user. But the love he has for his little girl is just beautiful. And then we have Aubrey. Aubrey is an amazing nanny. And he will do anything to keep Heath happy. You see both of these men are attracted to each other and they try to ignore it but there is no ignoring the connection they feel for one another. But when the ex comes back causing trouble will they stick together or will everything go wrong?? It’s a really good read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Nanny Negotiations by Merry Farmer was like meeting up with an old friend. I’m a fan of her writing across the genres she writes. The Brotherhood was the first MM series I ever read. I was excited when she wrote The Brotherhood: Origins, and I was thrilled when I heard she was bringing The Brotherhood into the present day. That being said, she was skillful in how she referenced details from the prior series. Nanny Negotiations is able to be read without needing to read the other series in advance.

Heath and Aubrey captured my heart. I enjoy stories where falling in love happens when it’s least expected. Heath just came out of a terrible heterosexual marriage, and he and his daughter Eugenie are in need of some TLC. He wasn’t looking for relationship. I appreciated how Merry deftly handled Heath’s bisexuality, especially when his ex wife tried to use it against him and Aubrey. Gemma is truly awful to Aubrey, and this is when the Chameleon Club and The Brotherhood shine.

This book showcases Merry’s talent for educating us through her engaging storytelling along with her sense of humor. An example the humor I found is Aubrey’s nickname for Eugenie: Princess. Might it be a tongue in cheek reference to a current member of the British Royal Family? I hope we get to read Casper, The Brotherhood’s historian’s, happily ever after.

Next up: Heath’s brother Oakley’s story. I can’t wait!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah (a.mood.readers.bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Brotherhood comes to the 21st century

“I’d forgotten how much I liked being with someone whom I like and who respects me” - Heath

Heath has just finalized his divorce and is now a single dad quickly in need of a nanny for his daughter Eugenie. In walks Aubrey who is surprisingly not only an attractive man but expecting a live-in position. Heath’s belief that his past bisexual experiences were just a faze quickly crumble has he falls for Aubrey. Then just as their new relationship is starting it is quickly tested…

“He would have to do whatever he could to keep Heath and nurture this amazing thing growing between them” - Aubrey

The sunshine of Aubrey was a great balance to the grumpy of Heath. My heart hurt for Heath and how little love or care he received from not only his ex-wife but also his family (his family did redeem themselves some by the end). He was so touched my the smallest amount of support from Aubrey. And even with the struggles and disappointments in his past Aubrey was able to remain so positive, loving and funny. Their relationship developed very quickly and while they had a few bumps along the way, mostly from Health’s horrendous ex-wife, they were overcome them just as fast (with a little help from the Brotherhood).

“‘And he was so good with Eugenie that I couldn’t let him slip away.’
‘He’s hot, isn’t he,’ Gerry asked, a smirk in his voice”.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

I honestly don't know how to rate this story. On the one hand, it's heartwarming and sweet, but the very things that make it so are also the things that grate on my nerves. Heath Manfred needs a nanny and in his typical rigid style assumes Aubrey Kelly is female. Having a male nanny shakes Heath to his core, wounded as he still is by his ex-wife's betrayal. How can he seek comfort so soon, and from another man, no less? Aubrey, out, proud, and comfortable in his own skin, is just who he needs to free him from the stranglehold of his fears. Allowing himself to accept his bisexuality is only the first step in Heath's return to living fully. He still has to deal with his ex, who adds drama to what would otherwise have been a pretty tame story.

Not that her drama is especially engaging. It's laughable, in fact. She's idiotic, frankly, which adds to the problems I have with this story. Heath is too much like an indecisive and sometimes whiny (if only in his head) teenager, which is NOT in any way attractive. And Aubrey can be a bit precious at times, as well, though he seems to be the more mature of the two. Maybe that has something to do with their class differences. Aubrey has had to be grown-up and self-sufficient without the advantages of money and status to ease his way. I also wasn't a fan of the lackluster editing job. which sometimes messed with the writer's meaning. I'd rather err on the side of caution and allow other readers to decide if this story is just okay, or just shy of it.

[Dekaydreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, just not quite satisfying, and after the second time Gemma entered Heath's house without him having changed the locks, I was almost ready to throw my tablet at the wall. After the fourth and fifth times, I was ready to throw Heath off a cliff, and reading his maundering, self-pitying thoughts made my head want to explode. And to top it all off, Gemma gets off with no heftier punishment than "Oh, my goodness, I'll just have to avoid England for a bit while I languish in Paris. The agony." I will give kudos to Ms. Farmer for creating an antagonist so incredibly horrid, but the least she could have done is lit a little of a bonfire under her---just enough to toast a bit. The fact that her brother is going to burn is merely secondary. He deserves it, but with her personality, that's going to be absolutely no skin off her nose.

I give it three stars, barely. Not a horrible story, just one that fell short in a number of ways. I did love Aubrey's character; if not for his lightness and fun, I would have abandoned this tale unfinished.
I can deal with a main character whose insecurities are the result of something truly damaging, or at least they don't swallow up any meaningful amount of the story line if they're simply the result of British "stiff upper lip" aristocracy training. Heath's lack of taking what should be easy steps to protect his home from an ex with zero boundaries, then sniveling into his tea (and still not taking those easy steps)... Just, No. How can you cheer for a character you can't respect?

[Manon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a. start of a new series connected to the Victorian Brotherhood books.

It starts like a typical single dad needs nanny book and while well written I was missing the Brotherhood connections which drew me to the series originally.

Heath is now the single dad of an adorable toddler. I really like his relationship with Eugenie and how he tries to ensure she has a loving parent relationship. Something which seems to be thoroughly missing from his upper class upbringing.

Aubrey is the nanny which needs not only the job but also a new home. I really like him, he is unapologetic enthusiastic, loves his job and I would have loved to have him for my child.

It comes as it must, close proxemity and attraction and Aubrey's discovery that it's not just the toddler who needs a carer and you have the typical romance.

I like the drama which now envolds when Heath's Ex comes back into the picture as we finally have the Brotherhood stepping in.

Both MCs are well written, there is chemistry and while I found the rich single dad and nanny a bit too stereotype, they definitely work well together. I would have loved to see a "the parents meet each other" though.

I am looking forward to the next book, I hope we see more of the Brotherhood legacy appearing from start as the characters who appeared so far are intriging and I would love to see more of them.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a contemporary story involving The Brotherhood. Heath Mansfield, who is recently divorced from his model wife, has stepped foot in the Chameleon Club since his university days. Once he met and married his wife, he thought that time in his life when he was attracted to men was over. However, his business associate is still a member and wants to meet there since Health never canceled his membership. Heath admits to needing a nanny for his daughter, Eugenie, who he has sole custody for and his friend gives him the name of a reputable agency. After perusing the resumes, he decides to interview Aubrey for the position. He is surprised to learn that Aubrey is a man but decides to hire him anyway. Eugenie and Heath soon come to depend on Aubrey and his optimistic and calming presence. Health and Aubrey become true friends when Aubrey takes care of Heath when he is ill...Heath soon finds himself attracted to Aubrey but does not want it to seem he is trying to pressure Aubrey into a relationship. Aubrey admits his attraction to Heath and they begin a relationship. However, their relationship is tested when Heath's ex-wife returns and tries to get Heath back and ruin Aubrey's career and reputation. The Chameleon Club Brotherhood helps to sort out the mess. Heath an dAubrey are a great couple who make mistakes along the way but in the end keep believing in each other.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brotherhood's Strong Support . . .

Heath Manfred and Aubrey Kelly are both looking for a new beginning. Heath’s ex-wife, a high-profile model, had selfishly married him only for what he could do for her advancement. Now that she is gone, Heath needs help taking care of his 3-year-old daughter, Eugenie. A contact recommended Aubrey who came for an interview. Although Heath was not expecting a male with that name, Aubrey qualified in all of his requirements for a nanny and Eugenie liked him, so he agreed to hire him. Aubrey had wanted to move out of his parents’ home and thought that this job would be live-in. Since Heath had the room available to accommodate him, he agreed to that.

The two of them were comfortable with the situation which was working well for them. Their initial attraction eventually became stronger. And, of course, his evil ex-wife, Gemma, sees a way she can steal an opportunity for herself and shows up to make trouble. Aside from her threats aimed at both of them, she used a dummy account to load Aubrey’s phone and email up with illegal images, thinking it would get him arrested for pornography and locked up. Would she be able to destroy what the two of them have together? Would she break up the family they had become? Or can the Brotherhood step in and assist in getting them justice?

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a bitter divorce, single father Heath Manfred seeks help from the Brotherhood to find a nanny for his young daughter. To his surprise, the candidate is Aubrey — a charming man who assumes the role is live-in, and Heath reluctantly agrees. As Aubrey settles into their home, his warmth and devotion to both Heath and little Eugenie spark unexpected feelings in Heath, hinting that his attraction to men wasn’t just a phase from his university days. Despite Aubrey’s troubled past and the “nanny code” against falling for an employer, the growing bond between them deepens into love. But when Heath’s difficult ex resurfaces, their relationship faces serious challenges. With the Brotherhood’s support, Heath and Aubrey must decide if their differences can withstand the storm.

I enjoyed this story, which celebrated second chances, the rediscovery of identity, and the transformative power of love and family. It suggested that even in the face of past mistakes, social divides, and external conflict, authentic connection can create healing and belonging. Heath embodied the “grumpy” archetype — guarded, wounded, and cautious, and Aubrey brings “sunshine” — warmth, optimism, and joy, even after hardship. Their contrasting personalities explored how opposites can complement each other, creating balance and growth in relationships. This was an MM story with mature content.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

NANNY NEGOTIATIONS is the first book in The Brotherhood: Legacy series and I now want to read ALL of the previous books in the historical series!

This one is set in Contemporary London. Aubrey needs a live-in job. Heath needs a nanny for his daughter, Eugenie, but still wants his time with her. Aubrey manages to convince Heath that a live-in nanny is best and BOOM, we're off.

I loved all three of our main characters. Eugenie, in particular, was so reminiscent of my daughters when they were that age, that I couldn't help but fall in love with her. Aubrey and Heath were brilliant together once they started communicating.

The supporting characters did their jobs amazingly well, and I loved them all. Well, all apart from the ex, of course. She was a piece of work, alright, and I've known a few people who only looked out for themselves.

Steamy in places and yet easygoing, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and have no hesitation in recommending it.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sep 5, 2023

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun start to a new series! Heath is an aristocratic single father, just coming out of a difficult and humiliating divorce, who works in the film production industry. Now, he is in the market for a nanny for his three year-old daughter. When Aubrey shows up at his doorstep, he is at first surprised that the applicant is a man and then by how attractive he finds Aubrey. Heath had engaged in bisexual experiences at university, but in the impending years, he allowed his now ex-wife to convinced him that it had just been a phase.

Aubrey immediately takes to the job and working as a nanny to a most delightful little girl. It doesn't hurt that her father is also gorgeous. After figuring out that Heath isn't as straight as he seemed, Aubrey gets more interested, but leaves it to Heath to make the first move. When that move is made, things take off. Still, there are obstacles with the ex-wife and other drama. Fortunately, the Brotherhood is there to help. Can these two men work through everything to find their forever love? This book has some high tension, supportive friends and family, a ton of passion, and a beautiful love story.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine here as Aubrey swept into Heath’s life and showered him with all the happiness and cheer that he didn’t know he was missing. I loved how Eugenie was such a big, important part of both their lives, and she remained a central character throughout the book.

I’m not generally a huge fan of the evil ex trope, but I thought it made sense in context here (what she wanted out of the relationship, Heath’s original desire to make it work, etc.) She was definitely over the top (and the phone thing was so twisted and creepy), but that seemed very in character. I thought the amount of drama it caused was pretty reasonable—there were strong emotions and a few overreactions, but nothing lasted too long, and nothing too extreme was said.

I appreciated that Health and Aubrey both had lovely, supportive families, and that we got to see the Brotherhood carrying on being supportive in the present day.

Looking forward to Oakley’s book!

I received an ARC from GRR. This is my honest review.

[Babara-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY ENJOYED THIS TROPE!

I loved the aspect of the Brotherhood Legacy how they band together to help each other in dire need and will further more continue with the historical series by this new to me author!

This is the start to the modern Brotherhood Legacy and it was such a pleasure to read about two such beautiful engaging characters Heath Manfred (divorced father) and Aubrey Keller (the nanny) , inside and out who were made for each other!

Their journey to love was wrought with many obstacles which includes a vicious ex wife who would reach many low levels to destroy what they could be… and non supportiveness

I loved their competitiveness and banter and how Eugenie- Aubrey’s princess and Heaths darling always came first!

They will have to learn to trust and support each other no matter what and definitely learn to ask for help from the Chameleon Clubs members who includes Heaths older brother Oakley…

I look forward to Oakley’s story next!

I voluntarily received an ARC from GRR and this is my honest non biased review