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Nanny in the Middle: a sapphic why choose romance
Stuck in the middle of three head-strong women, will Greer come out unscathed?
Greer Lockheart is a nanny to her core. When she takes on a new job of working for three families at once, she’s not sure she can see her way through the chaos. As the days tick by and she falls more in love with each kid in her care, she can’t help but also fall more in lust with their mothers. But these women are complicated. And Greer keeps running face first into their pasts, especially Ivy’s ex. Who seems bent on taking the family down, beginning with the weakest link, Greer.
Nathalie Coeur, Lachlan Norris, and Ivy Villegas have been friends for a long time. Working together is second nature to them, but that doesn’t mean their life is without problems. With Ivy’s soon-to-be ex-wife making threats and breathing down their necks, they close ranks to fight for justice, just hoping they’ll come out unscathed on the other side.
They protect their kids first and each other second. But what happens when their rank breaks because they can’t keep their hands off the nanny?
Will their family falter?
Or will they have one, or two, more to add to their numbers?
Paving the way in a polyamorous relationship isn’t easy, but with these four, they might have found the key to lasting love and support.
Join these four women in this why choose sapphic romance with three single parents just wanting to do what's best for their families.
Greer Lockheart is a nanny to her core. When she takes on a new job of working for three families at once, she’s not sure she can see her way through the chaos. As the days tick by and she falls more in love with each kid in her care, she can’t help but also fall more in lust with their mothers. But these women are complicated. And Greer keeps running face first into their pasts, especially Ivy’s ex. Who seems bent on taking the family down, beginning with the weakest link, Greer.
Nathalie Coeur, Lachlan Norris, and Ivy Villegas have been friends for a long time. Working together is second nature to them, but that doesn’t mean their life is without problems. With Ivy’s soon-to-be ex-wife making threats and breathing down their necks, they close ranks to fight for justice, just hoping they’ll come out unscathed on the other side.
They protect their kids first and each other second. But what happens when their rank breaks because they can’t keep their hands off the nanny?
Will their family falter?
Or will they have one, or two, more to add to their numbers?
Paving the way in a polyamorous relationship isn’t easy, but with these four, they might have found the key to lasting love and support.
Join these four women in this why choose sapphic romance with three single parents just wanting to do what's best for their families.
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2025
187 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Adrian J. Smith
77 books420 followersAdrian J. Smith has been publishing since 2013 but has been writing nearly her entire life. With a focus on women loving women fiction, AJ jumps genres from action-packed police procedurals to the seedier life of vampires and witches to sweet romances with a May-December twist. She loves writing and reading about women in the midst of the ordinariness of life. Two of her novels, For by Grace and Memoir in the Making, received honorable mentions with the Rainbow Awards.
AJ currently lives in Cheyenne, WY, although she moves often and has lived all over the United States. She loves to travel to different countries and places. She currently plays the roles of author, wife, and mother to two rambunctious kids, occasional handy-woman. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog.
AJ currently lives in Cheyenne, WY, although she moves often and has lived all over the United States. She loves to travel to different countries and places. She currently plays the roles of author, wife, and mother to two rambunctious kids, occasional handy-woman. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or her blog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
April 9, 2025
This was a great novel. It was well written and had a lot of content packed into these pages. It was an ambitions novel, which was both a good and a bad thing. I liked how it was definitely something different from what I usually read, as I haven’t seen anything at all like this plotline before (Nanny and the mom? Sure! Nanny and three moms? New to me!). I would recommend this novel for sure. It wasn’t my favorite (which is a HIGH bar) but it was incredibly original and that is always something special.
I liked the characters in this novel a lot. They were all very well developed and unique, which was impressive considering some authors who only have two protagonists drop the ball on this point. I loved seeing all of the different interpersonal dynamics between the protagonists; it was honestly like getting multiple romance novels for the price of one! There was also considerable plotline outside of the romance which is always something I appreciate in a novel and adds a layer of depth and realism.
There weren’t any specific or unsurmountable problems with this novel, but it may have been more ambitious than its ability to deliver. The romance was good, but with so many characters it felt like there were a lot of places where it was underdeveloped or otherwise rushed. There were some pairings that didn’t get very much page time, and the result was that it felt like something was missing in this novel. I think there were also pacing issues; the first 2/3 of the novel flowed very well however the last sections felt a bit rushed and like they were skipping details or even scenes that should have been present. We didn’t get to see the characters together very much (like, together-together), which I always greatly appreciate. I think that if there had been more scenes of the characters together (doing whatever, particularly non-spicy things) it would have gone a long way and been incredibly enjoyable.
The plotlines with Penny and Baylor also felt a little unresolved or anti-climactic in the last parts of the novel. Penny’s plotline was so huge throughout the novel but seemed to just fizzle out at the end in a way that felt disproportionately small. Baylor’s subplot seemed to just disappear all together and left me with unanswered questions. Again, these were not huge issues, but definitely contributed to this being 4-stars instead of 5.
Lastly, what on earth was up with Abagail and her entire subplot??? There were two chapters in this novel that left me exceptionally confused, and I did not understand why they were there. My only guess is that it was setting up the next novel, but I think it was to the detriment of this one.
I liked the characters in this novel a lot. They were all very well developed and unique, which was impressive considering some authors who only have two protagonists drop the ball on this point. I loved seeing all of the different interpersonal dynamics between the protagonists; it was honestly like getting multiple romance novels for the price of one! There was also considerable plotline outside of the romance which is always something I appreciate in a novel and adds a layer of depth and realism.
There weren’t any specific or unsurmountable problems with this novel, but it may have been more ambitious than its ability to deliver. The romance was good, but with so many characters it felt like there were a lot of places where it was underdeveloped or otherwise rushed. There were some pairings that didn’t get very much page time, and the result was that it felt like something was missing in this novel. I think there were also pacing issues; the first 2/3 of the novel flowed very well however the last sections felt a bit rushed and like they were skipping details or even scenes that should have been present. We didn’t get to see the characters together very much (like, together-together), which I always greatly appreciate. I think that if there had been more scenes of the characters together (doing whatever, particularly non-spicy things) it would have gone a long way and been incredibly enjoyable.
The plotlines with Penny and Baylor also felt a little unresolved or anti-climactic in the last parts of the novel. Penny’s plotline was so huge throughout the novel but seemed to just fizzle out at the end in a way that felt disproportionately small. Baylor’s subplot seemed to just disappear all together and left me with unanswered questions. Again, these were not huge issues, but definitely contributed to this being 4-stars instead of 5.
Lastly, what on earth was up with Abagail and her entire subplot??? There were two chapters in this novel that left me exceptionally confused, and I did not understand why they were there. My only guess is that it was setting up the next novel, but I think it was to the detriment of this one.
April 7, 2025
I really enjoyed this book.
Writing a polyamorous romance is challenging enough, but doing so with four complex characters, plus a lot of side characters to keep track of, is especially impressive. For that alone, the author deserves respect.
Greer, Ivy, Lachlan, and Nathalie are wonderful characters on their own, and their friendship evolving into something more is best described as passionate. Their dynamic worked well in many ways, especially their sexual chemistry, but a part of me wasn’t fully convinced by the emotional depth. That said, I’m not here to debunk the book. It’s very solid, hence my four star rating. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
It took me a while to pinpoint what it was, but I think for this book to have been a perfect five stars, it would have needed more domestic moments between the four women and the kids, really leaning into their new family/lovers dynamic to make it feel tangible. On the other hand, deeper drama around Penny or Baylor (who were annoyingly present early on but then faded into the background) could have added more emotional weight.
Overall, I do recommend this book. It’s sweet and spicy, with adorable children, hot moms, and enough drama to keep you on your toes.
Writing a polyamorous romance is challenging enough, but doing so with four complex characters, plus a lot of side characters to keep track of, is especially impressive. For that alone, the author deserves respect.
Greer, Ivy, Lachlan, and Nathalie are wonderful characters on their own, and their friendship evolving into something more is best described as passionate. Their dynamic worked well in many ways, especially their sexual chemistry, but a part of me wasn’t fully convinced by the emotional depth. That said, I’m not here to debunk the book. It’s very solid, hence my four star rating. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something was missing.
It took me a while to pinpoint what it was, but I think for this book to have been a perfect five stars, it would have needed more domestic moments between the four women and the kids, really leaning into their new family/lovers dynamic to make it feel tangible. On the other hand, deeper drama around Penny or Baylor (who were annoyingly present early on but then faded into the background) could have added more emotional weight.
Overall, I do recommend this book. It’s sweet and spicy, with adorable children, hot moms, and enough drama to keep you on your toes.
February 26, 2025
Darn, these women are incredibly lustful, haha! That was my initial thought while reading the book, to be honest. But I suppose when you have four people in a relationship, there would be a lot of sex in the book. It was excessive, but sometimes I would be reading and not even fully comprehend how we arrived at this point. Overall, I think the book was good. However, I believe the polyamorous relationships are not my cup of tea, book-wise. I’m not sure if I can fully embrace them, but I was surprised by how well I managed to follow all the characters and the intricate plot. I wish there had been more Lachlan, my favorite character of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2025
Greer is the new live-in nanny for three women and their children. An avowed lesbian, Greer couldn’t see herself in a monogamous relationship, having been a part of poly relationships before, and understanding the advantages and the risks. She loves her job, growing to love the children, and eventually to feel something for their mothers.
Nathalie is a tense woman, uptight maybe, but she has had many problems in her life and her health. She doesn’t want emotional relationships, just wanting to find the most willing man or woman for casual sex.
Lachlan is the mother of young twins, and since their birth she has had problems with her body image, one of the reasons her marriage failed. She is a loving and gentle person, the glue in the friend relationship between the three mothers.
Ivy was the fun-loving one of the three, but since her marriage to Penny failed, and due to the ongoing bitter custody battle for their two sons, she has become withdrawn and unsure of herself.
The three women owned a medical practice, but because of Ivy’s wife Penny interfering, Ivy has sold out of the practice, leaving Nathalie and Lachlan as partners. Just to make things more complicated, Lachlan’s ex husband Baylor is one of the practice doctors.
The three women live in adjacent houses, with Nathalie in the middle, and nanny Greer living with her. They have a very open door policy, coming and going between each other’s houses frequently.
This is quite a heavy, intense book, longer than a usual sapphic novel. It also has many wonderful steamy scenes, but they also show a very deep love and emotional connection.
An unconventional story that is complicated with many confrontations, angst aplenty.
So many nuances of meaning, things half-stated, attacks coming against their family from all sides, often all at once.
Because of the fact there are four women to learn about, plus the five children, the beginning is difficult to comprehend. Once we learn the names and situations, this story flows well.
I liked the positive portrayal of polyamory, the developing love between the women; long term friends becoming more, Lachlan exploring her sexuality and the new family transplant Greer.
This is not a story that concentrates on any one woman throughout, but two do take greater screen time; Greer because she is the new addition, and the one we see most of, and Nathalie because she is maybe the most insecure, often throwing her toys out of the pram. Lachlan is usually in the background, but is also the bedrock of the relationship, both in the homes and also in the business. We see quite a lot of Ivy, but unfortunately most of that is negativity with her wife Penny, a nasty evil woman, out to destroy everything because she can no longer control Ivy.
I really loved reading this. It is so different from usual sapphic stories, but in a good way. It was a page-turner for me, taking over all my time, and being a long book, it took lots of time.
Nathalie is a tense woman, uptight maybe, but she has had many problems in her life and her health. She doesn’t want emotional relationships, just wanting to find the most willing man or woman for casual sex.
Lachlan is the mother of young twins, and since their birth she has had problems with her body image, one of the reasons her marriage failed. She is a loving and gentle person, the glue in the friend relationship between the three mothers.
Ivy was the fun-loving one of the three, but since her marriage to Penny failed, and due to the ongoing bitter custody battle for their two sons, she has become withdrawn and unsure of herself.
The three women owned a medical practice, but because of Ivy’s wife Penny interfering, Ivy has sold out of the practice, leaving Nathalie and Lachlan as partners. Just to make things more complicated, Lachlan’s ex husband Baylor is one of the practice doctors.
The three women live in adjacent houses, with Nathalie in the middle, and nanny Greer living with her. They have a very open door policy, coming and going between each other’s houses frequently.
This is quite a heavy, intense book, longer than a usual sapphic novel. It also has many wonderful steamy scenes, but they also show a very deep love and emotional connection.
An unconventional story that is complicated with many confrontations, angst aplenty.
So many nuances of meaning, things half-stated, attacks coming against their family from all sides, often all at once.
Because of the fact there are four women to learn about, plus the five children, the beginning is difficult to comprehend. Once we learn the names and situations, this story flows well.
I liked the positive portrayal of polyamory, the developing love between the women; long term friends becoming more, Lachlan exploring her sexuality and the new family transplant Greer.
This is not a story that concentrates on any one woman throughout, but two do take greater screen time; Greer because she is the new addition, and the one we see most of, and Nathalie because she is maybe the most insecure, often throwing her toys out of the pram. Lachlan is usually in the background, but is also the bedrock of the relationship, both in the homes and also in the business. We see quite a lot of Ivy, but unfortunately most of that is negativity with her wife Penny, a nasty evil woman, out to destroy everything because she can no longer control Ivy.
I really loved reading this. It is so different from usual sapphic stories, but in a good way. It was a page-turner for me, taking over all my time, and being a long book, it took lots of time.
April 15, 2025
I’d heard a lot about Nanny in the Middle before I’d even picked up the book. Mainly about how incredibly hot it was, and I went in with some lofty expectations. I was not left disappointed!
Greer’s work situation is a little complicated – three women have hired her to care for all their children, and she loves it. Lachlan, Ivy, and Nathalie are best friends. They all live next door to each other, and their lives are so interwoven, they considered each other family.
As Greer grows to love the kids, her relationships with Lachlan, Ivy, and Nathalie morph into something more. While juggling the kids, ex’s and each other’s expectations, all four women realise that it’s only together that they can be whole.
Four women and four points of view. Adrian J. Smith has seamlessly created an array of characters, all with distinct personalities and traits, and then made them perfect for each other. Greer is assertive and confident, yet second-guesses her worthiness for love. Lachlan is cautious but eager to learn who it is she wants to be. Ivy is exhausted, and tired of fighting, but with the help of her friends, finds out she has the power to take what is hers, while Nathalie is the ice queen who thinks she needs to keep her heart guarded, only to realise she can give love, and be loved as easily as the rest of them.
Nanny in the Middle is written beautifully. Smith uses humour, affection, and hard truths to illuminate both the fragility and strengths at the heart of a polyamorous relationship.
Greer’s work situation is a little complicated – three women have hired her to care for all their children, and she loves it. Lachlan, Ivy, and Nathalie are best friends. They all live next door to each other, and their lives are so interwoven, they considered each other family.
As Greer grows to love the kids, her relationships with Lachlan, Ivy, and Nathalie morph into something more. While juggling the kids, ex’s and each other’s expectations, all four women realise that it’s only together that they can be whole.
Four women and four points of view. Adrian J. Smith has seamlessly created an array of characters, all with distinct personalities and traits, and then made them perfect for each other. Greer is assertive and confident, yet second-guesses her worthiness for love. Lachlan is cautious but eager to learn who it is she wants to be. Ivy is exhausted, and tired of fighting, but with the help of her friends, finds out she has the power to take what is hers, while Nathalie is the ice queen who thinks she needs to keep her heart guarded, only to realise she can give love, and be loved as easily as the rest of them.
Nanny in the Middle is written beautifully. Smith uses humour, affection, and hard truths to illuminate both the fragility and strengths at the heart of a polyamorous relationship.
February 18, 2025
Finished the book today and just want to say it’s chefs kiss! This book was everything I wanted and needed in a poly relationship theme. It had the perfect amount of build up throughout the story between the tension, banter, drama, and the love they all shared together was on point. I can’t even begin to say how well written the spice was between the main characters as well. The dynamics between them one on one and between all four as a group was detailed expertly during the spicy scenes. Definitely gave off a more realistic vibe and didn’t feel like I was reading an entirely made up story, it felt like a situation that could and would actually happen to a person. I loved the pace that the shared connection grew as well between all of them with the trust and bonding they accumulated to become a family unit. This book is probably my all time favorite poly book now after reading it
July 18, 2025
Another first for me!! A poly relationship!
I was hesitant to read this book, because I think of myself as monogamous. And like I don't really read straight romances I thought: "Why read something that I can't relate to?" Buuuuut, this book just makes it sound so natural. Four women just loving each other and co-existing in their own little family. Honestly sounds like a dream (if you don't think about all the drama that follows... I don't think I'd be strong enough for something like this).
Greer brought them together and opened their eyes to the love that was there all along. Despite her not being there form the start (college). Ivy, Lachlan and Nathalie included her instantly and made her feel like she was part of the family.
The spicy scenes were suuuper hot!! I would have loved to see Ivy and Nathalie together alone more, just to see how Nathalie would handle Ivy being all playful.
From all the characters, my absolute fav was Nathalie, hands down.
I was hesitant to read this book, because I think of myself as monogamous. And like I don't really read straight romances I thought: "Why read something that I can't relate to?" Buuuuut, this book just makes it sound so natural. Four women just loving each other and co-existing in their own little family. Honestly sounds like a dream (if you don't think about all the drama that follows... I don't think I'd be strong enough for something like this).
Greer brought them together and opened their eyes to the love that was there all along. Despite her not being there form the start (college). Ivy, Lachlan and Nathalie included her instantly and made her feel like she was part of the family.
The spicy scenes were suuuper hot!! I would have loved to see Ivy and Nathalie together alone more, just to see how Nathalie would handle Ivy being all playful.
From all the characters, my absolute fav was Nathalie, hands down.
April 19, 2025
Disappointing follow up to the first book in the series (which I loved, btw). Would have loved to see how a relationship like this was navigated but it was very surface level. So much should have been explored but either happened off page or was ignored entirely by the author. And the final nail in the coffin - I couldn’t get past how unpleasant Nathalie was. I wanted to skip every chapter she was featured in.
Speaking of unpleasant - this is the second book in this series where Abagail was problematic as hell. No way am I signing on for the third book which is her story.
Speaking of unpleasant - this is the second book in this series where Abagail was problematic as hell. No way am I signing on for the third book which is her story.
August 23, 2025
A book about a polycule. That sounded interesting. After all, I knew nothing about it. How would it all work? I was very curious.
The first few chapters were a bit rough to read. This was mainly because all the characters were being introduced. And there were quite a few. But once I knew the names a little, it flowed smoothly.
This was really something different. Not your average WLW novel, but girl falls in love with three women (and their children). Not only was it sweet love, but definitely lust as well. There were some very spicy scenes in this book!
Around halfway through the book, I really thought I'd give a 5-star rating, but the last part of the book appealed less to me.
There was quite a bit of drama towards the end. Sometimes it was a bit far-fetched for my taste. That's why my rating dropped a bit.
This was the first book by Adrian J. Smith that I read. I liked it so much that it definitely won't be the last.
4+⭐️
The first few chapters were a bit rough to read. This was mainly because all the characters were being introduced. And there were quite a few. But once I knew the names a little, it flowed smoothly.
This was really something different. Not your average WLW novel, but girl falls in love with three women (and their children). Not only was it sweet love, but definitely lust as well. There were some very spicy scenes in this book!
Around halfway through the book, I really thought I'd give a 5-star rating, but the last part of the book appealed less to me.
There was quite a bit of drama towards the end. Sometimes it was a bit far-fetched for my taste. That's why my rating dropped a bit.
This was the first book by Adrian J. Smith that I read. I liked it so much that it definitely won't be the last.
4+⭐️
May 13, 2025
Wow
Now that was diversity. The range between the characters was just stunning. And how it actually did work out is mesmerising. The emotions and communication skills, yes. And the children, I love them. Evil exes be crazy. Really good and engaging work.
Now that was diversity. The range between the characters was just stunning. And how it actually did work out is mesmerising. The emotions and communication skills, yes. And the children, I love them. Evil exes be crazy. Really good and engaging work.
April 3, 2025
This is the sapphic poly wonderfulness my little lesbian heart has been searching for!!!
The differing dynamics between the relationships, both in and out of the bedroom, or living room, or kitchen, really delved deep into who these women were and how they individually and collectively brought their own strengths to their blossoming romance. It also showed the vulnerability and flaws of them all, and how, when they were at their best, they had the potential to be an amazing family, but it also shows some of the fragility of poly relationships as well, especially the increased need for open, honest communication amongst all participants.
The second in the Love in Massachusetts series by Adrian J Smith, Nanny in the Middle, continues the excellence she delivered in Promises We Meant to Keep. While each book in the series can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend you read Promises first as it introduces us to Greer, our central character, as well as several others there.
In Nanny in the Middle, Greer is a nanny straight through to her bones. Well, not straight, she's very gay, but she's the most dedicated nanny one could ask for. Fresh off her most recent assignment she, thanks to her best friend's connections, is able to find a position as a nanny for three strong-willed, intelligent, professional women.
Nathalie, Lachlan, and Ivy are three best friends who have been inseparable for years. So much so, that when they were able, they bought houses next to each other, so they could raise their children together. They made sure to keep them even after Lachlan's divorce from her husband, and if Ivy can ever seem to get divorced from her abusive, narcissistic, hopefully soon-to-be ex-wife.
Greer finds she loves their five children after just a few weeks with the families, but all too soon, she finds that she's having a difficult time trying to resist her attraction to these three mothers. Unfortunately, each of these women also comes with her own share of history and potential drama, aside from the fact that Greer really shouldn't be even thinking about a romantic relationship with any of her three bosses.
All too soon, however, the attraction becomes too much for them, and relationships develop. Separately, at first, and eventually everything comes out into the open, causing potential catastrophe. Greer seems to be a glutton for chaos, are five kids and three mothers going to be too much for her to handle, or can families come in this shape too?
The differing dynamics between the relationships, both in and out of the bedroom, or living room, or kitchen, really delved deep into who these women were and how they individually and collectively brought their own strengths to their blossoming romance. It also showed the vulnerability and flaws of them all, and how, when they were at their best, they had the potential to be an amazing family, but it also shows some of the fragility of poly relationships as well, especially the increased need for open, honest communication amongst all participants.
The second in the Love in Massachusetts series by Adrian J Smith, Nanny in the Middle, continues the excellence she delivered in Promises We Meant to Keep. While each book in the series can be read as a standalone, I would definitely recommend you read Promises first as it introduces us to Greer, our central character, as well as several others there.
In Nanny in the Middle, Greer is a nanny straight through to her bones. Well, not straight, she's very gay, but she's the most dedicated nanny one could ask for. Fresh off her most recent assignment she, thanks to her best friend's connections, is able to find a position as a nanny for three strong-willed, intelligent, professional women.
Nathalie, Lachlan, and Ivy are three best friends who have been inseparable for years. So much so, that when they were able, they bought houses next to each other, so they could raise their children together. They made sure to keep them even after Lachlan's divorce from her husband, and if Ivy can ever seem to get divorced from her abusive, narcissistic, hopefully soon-to-be ex-wife.
Greer finds she loves their five children after just a few weeks with the families, but all too soon, she finds that she's having a difficult time trying to resist her attraction to these three mothers. Unfortunately, each of these women also comes with her own share of history and potential drama, aside from the fact that Greer really shouldn't be even thinking about a romantic relationship with any of her three bosses.
All too soon, however, the attraction becomes too much for them, and relationships develop. Separately, at first, and eventually everything comes out into the open, causing potential catastrophe. Greer seems to be a glutton for chaos, are five kids and three mothers going to be too much for her to handle, or can families come in this shape too?
November 9, 2025
Love the sapphic polyam dynamic! Three single mothers and their nanny. The characters were great about balancing each other out and pushing for communication when it was needed. High marks for consent and caring in the love scenes. I wanted a bit more drama from the exes because it really ramped up the angst in the beginning, then dropped off at the end rather anticlimactically, but the relationship building both as a group and with each individual pairing was moving and believable.
March 16, 2025
This is really the first book I've read involving a polycule or polyamorous relationships. I'm not at all surprised I enjoyed this story as much as I did. In the beginning I never thought I'd be able to keep track of the four women involved, but that didn't turn out to be an issue at all. The chapters are each written from the point of view of one of the main characters which lets us see their viewpoint of what's occurring with them all and gives a glimpse of how they're dealing with everything emotionally. As with all of Adrian J. Smith's books, the characters are intricately developed with distinct personalities. They each have unresolved issues to overcome but work together in an attempt to heal and learn to lean on one another. There's something for everyone here...age gap, workplace, divorce, toaster oven, ice queen, poly, bi, pan, found family.
This is the second book in the Love in Massachusetts series and this series has become one of my favorites. Characters from Promises We Meant to Keep make an appearance here, but it's not really required reading before this one. If you want the additional background information for those characters, I highly recommend you read it as well.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book in the Love in Massachusetts series and this series has become one of my favorites. Characters from Promises We Meant to Keep make an appearance here, but it's not really required reading before this one. If you want the additional background information for those characters, I highly recommend you read it as well.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 29, 2025
2/5 - sapphic, poly, contemporary, mcs-have-kids. Eh, a bit disappointing for me in the end. I actually quite liked Ivy and Lachlan (Greer was alright), but Nathalie kept frustrating me. My enjoyment gradually decreased as the book went on, particularly due to the drama with Nathalie. Regardless, there was still some good spice and some good softer moments (particularly with Ivy). Last note: (without going into spoiler territory) I was disappointed in how the polycule ended—I felt like Greer was not really on equal footing in the relationship, but maybe that’s just me.
February 21, 2025
I’m a huge fan of Adrian J. Smith’s work and this book absolutely confirms why. This story about a beautiful poly family is incredibly well written leaving no stone unturned. The character development is so strong they become a part of your life. It brings you on their journey of trials and triumphs. Real life issues and circumstances that we all relate to and that truly take a village to overcome. It leaves you a bit empty and sad when the story ends because you miss them.
I love the emotional depth of not only each character but the bonds/connection amongst them. They’re all so breathtakingly woven together with an innate understanding of each others’ individual needs, wants, and insecurities. The spicy scenes are absolute fire!! The variety of nurtured intimacy, exploratory, and explosive moments are plentiful, compassionate, and mouthwatering.
This book, in my opinion, is Adrian’s best work to date. I’ve grown attached to these characters and feel a mutual understanding of their love and devotion to each other. I feel as if this story has helped me to grow as a person, partner, and human being.
Amazing 5 star read!! Highly recommend. 🙌🏻🤗🏳️🌈
I love the emotional depth of not only each character but the bonds/connection amongst them. They’re all so breathtakingly woven together with an innate understanding of each others’ individual needs, wants, and insecurities. The spicy scenes are absolute fire!! The variety of nurtured intimacy, exploratory, and explosive moments are plentiful, compassionate, and mouthwatering.
This book, in my opinion, is Adrian’s best work to date. I’ve grown attached to these characters and feel a mutual understanding of their love and devotion to each other. I feel as if this story has helped me to grow as a person, partner, and human being.
Amazing 5 star read!! Highly recommend. 🙌🏻🤗🏳️🌈
April 6, 2025
4.5 STARS
There's sharing a nanny, and then there's sharing THE nanny…
Taking on three close-knit families to nanny for has been hectic to say the least, but Greer Lockhart has managed to take it in her stride, navigating the complexities of dealing with two divorced parents and ever-changing routines. There's single mum and fertility doctor Nathalie Coeur, who struggles to trust new people; amicably divorced Lachlan Norris, who's always been the straightest of the trio; and mid-divorce Ivy Villegas, who's ex Penny is drawing out their divorce as she tries to break everything that Ivy holds dear. But if that wasn't enough drama, Greer goes and develops a little crush on each of her three bosses. It's not something she'd ever act on - they're her bosses after all - but flirty interactions result in Greer finding herself in situations she could only ever let herself dream of. Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy, and their children, have always been like a little family unit, and now that Greer is in their lives, they realise that there's always been a missing piece to fully tie them together. They just need to make Greer see that she's more than just the nanny, and that they'll fight to keep her in their lives against the external forces trying to rip them apart.
I saw the title and cover, and that was all it took to send this book straight to the top of my TBR when it came out! I literally didn't read the synopsis until I had started the book and needed to get my head around who all these characters are. Adrian took some of my favourite tropes - sapphic, age gap, boss/nanny, why choose - and threw them in the blender to deliver ALL the sweet and spicy goodness.
There is such a fun and interesting dynamic between all four characters, and it was super enjoyable getting an insight into each of their personalities, both through their own perspectives and through the eyes of the other characters. Greer, Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy are all such strong women, but all with their own insecurities that they manage to face and work to overcome as a result of opening up to the idea of their polycule and giving into their attraction to the other three women. And when it comes to Lachlan in particular, who had always thought of herself as straight until recently, her coming out experience was a beautiful aspect of the overall story.
Oh and the spice spiced like it had never spiced before (okay, that's being a bit dramatic, but it was damn good spice). From solo scenes all the way through to all women being involved, there was a healthy serving of spiciness from all four perspectives, and all brought a different vibe to the scenes, mixing things up each time.
With four main characters, all of whom get their own perspective, it can be hard to give everyone their own time to develop and shine, but Adrian is able balance all four characters, ensuring they not only get their fair share of chapters from their perspective, but also that, on the page, they get their own individual time to develop their relationships with primarily Greer and then with the others. As the glue that brings everyone together, Greer is certainly the more central main character of the four, but we still get to experience a lot of emotional depth and insight into all four characters.
I'll admit, it took me a little bit to get my head around the connections between all the characters and the secondary characters. Of course, being a why choose romance means there are naturally more main characters to follow, but there's names being thrown around of kids and exes and co-workers and best friends right from the get-go, so between getting to know the main characters, there's a lot of connecting characters to try and put in order - it's clearly a sign that I need to read more why choose novels!
I certainly need to go back and read the first book in this series (it may have helped me get a feel for everything had I read it first, but oh well), and the teaser for the next book has me keen to grab that as soon as it's released! Adrian is definitely going to be a sapphic author that I keep on my radar!
Sapphic romance girlies need to get around this one, especially if you want to up the ante with the why choose trope, which isn't one you see often enough when it comes to purely sapphic romances.
There's sharing a nanny, and then there's sharing THE nanny…
Taking on three close-knit families to nanny for has been hectic to say the least, but Greer Lockhart has managed to take it in her stride, navigating the complexities of dealing with two divorced parents and ever-changing routines. There's single mum and fertility doctor Nathalie Coeur, who struggles to trust new people; amicably divorced Lachlan Norris, who's always been the straightest of the trio; and mid-divorce Ivy Villegas, who's ex Penny is drawing out their divorce as she tries to break everything that Ivy holds dear. But if that wasn't enough drama, Greer goes and develops a little crush on each of her three bosses. It's not something she'd ever act on - they're her bosses after all - but flirty interactions result in Greer finding herself in situations she could only ever let herself dream of. Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy, and their children, have always been like a little family unit, and now that Greer is in their lives, they realise that there's always been a missing piece to fully tie them together. They just need to make Greer see that she's more than just the nanny, and that they'll fight to keep her in their lives against the external forces trying to rip them apart.
I saw the title and cover, and that was all it took to send this book straight to the top of my TBR when it came out! I literally didn't read the synopsis until I had started the book and needed to get my head around who all these characters are. Adrian took some of my favourite tropes - sapphic, age gap, boss/nanny, why choose - and threw them in the blender to deliver ALL the sweet and spicy goodness.
There is such a fun and interesting dynamic between all four characters, and it was super enjoyable getting an insight into each of their personalities, both through their own perspectives and through the eyes of the other characters. Greer, Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy are all such strong women, but all with their own insecurities that they manage to face and work to overcome as a result of opening up to the idea of their polycule and giving into their attraction to the other three women. And when it comes to Lachlan in particular, who had always thought of herself as straight until recently, her coming out experience was a beautiful aspect of the overall story.
Oh and the spice spiced like it had never spiced before (okay, that's being a bit dramatic, but it was damn good spice). From solo scenes all the way through to all women being involved, there was a healthy serving of spiciness from all four perspectives, and all brought a different vibe to the scenes, mixing things up each time.
With four main characters, all of whom get their own perspective, it can be hard to give everyone their own time to develop and shine, but Adrian is able balance all four characters, ensuring they not only get their fair share of chapters from their perspective, but also that, on the page, they get their own individual time to develop their relationships with primarily Greer and then with the others. As the glue that brings everyone together, Greer is certainly the more central main character of the four, but we still get to experience a lot of emotional depth and insight into all four characters.
I'll admit, it took me a little bit to get my head around the connections between all the characters and the secondary characters. Of course, being a why choose romance means there are naturally more main characters to follow, but there's names being thrown around of kids and exes and co-workers and best friends right from the get-go, so between getting to know the main characters, there's a lot of connecting characters to try and put in order - it's clearly a sign that I need to read more why choose novels!
I certainly need to go back and read the first book in this series (it may have helped me get a feel for everything had I read it first, but oh well), and the teaser for the next book has me keen to grab that as soon as it's released! Adrian is definitely going to be a sapphic author that I keep on my radar!
Sapphic romance girlies need to get around this one, especially if you want to up the ante with the why choose trope, which isn't one you see often enough when it comes to purely sapphic romances.
February 21, 2025
Plenty of love, drama and sexytimes in this polycule lesfic romance
This is the first polycule romance I've read. Before diving into the book I wondered how hard it was going be to keep track of who's who particularly when all of them are in a scene together. Turns out it wasn't hard at all. The first couple of chapters introduced the majority of the characters, - the mothers, their kids, their exes, Greer the nanny - their professions and how their lives intersect (at work, in the neighborhood). A mass introduction of characters can be confusing and overwhelming but it's done well here so you can focus on the story and not wonder who's who all the time. High praise to author Adrian J Smith for that and for making it clear which character is 'she' or 'her' in every scene so skillfully.
Chapters are numbered but also list a main character's name though they're not told from that character's point of view; rather they are the one in the primary spotlight for the chapter. There's some humor but lots of drama and some angst (though low on the scale). The romance between all four mains and the pairings within it highlights the differences between them all but outside of that in their moments of emotional intimacy each of them know who to go to in order to have their needs met. The heat and spice of the sex scenes varies depending on who's involved; locations also vary and the mothers are all fortunate to have children who apparently are heavy sleepers. There are hot scenes in this book that are likely to get bookmarked by some readers for a return visit and private re-read in the future.
The book is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone; it picks up several months after the first book ends. Those who have read book one, Promises We Meant to Keep, will recognize Kam and Abagail from that story where they have more scenes on the page.
The story explores numerous themes including physical, sexual and emotional intimacy; what makes a family; divorce and ex spouse shenanigans; body positivity; family dynamics; and sexual awakening among others. My only minor issue in the story was blanket consent being given ahead of one steamy scene where no prior conversation around limits, hard no's etc had taken place; the characters do however address it compassionately in the moment. With four main characters, they're each distinct individually and in the way they relate to each of the other mains and their children. I had expected on some level a more complicated story with double the usual number of mains but while there is loads of drama in their lives, they also have an abundance of love for each other and their kids which comes across on the page.
If you're new to polycule lesfic romance or just want something outside the norm to read give this book a shot, and if you prefer to read series in full pick up this one and Promises We Meant to Keep. Plan to read book two away from prying eyes and for audiobook listeners I'd advise not listening to this one in the car or while operating any machinery or in the presence of children due to the many explicit scenes throughout the book.
This is the first polycule romance I've read. Before diving into the book I wondered how hard it was going be to keep track of who's who particularly when all of them are in a scene together. Turns out it wasn't hard at all. The first couple of chapters introduced the majority of the characters, - the mothers, their kids, their exes, Greer the nanny - their professions and how their lives intersect (at work, in the neighborhood). A mass introduction of characters can be confusing and overwhelming but it's done well here so you can focus on the story and not wonder who's who all the time. High praise to author Adrian J Smith for that and for making it clear which character is 'she' or 'her' in every scene so skillfully.
Chapters are numbered but also list a main character's name though they're not told from that character's point of view; rather they are the one in the primary spotlight for the chapter. There's some humor but lots of drama and some angst (though low on the scale). The romance between all four mains and the pairings within it highlights the differences between them all but outside of that in their moments of emotional intimacy each of them know who to go to in order to have their needs met. The heat and spice of the sex scenes varies depending on who's involved; locations also vary and the mothers are all fortunate to have children who apparently are heavy sleepers. There are hot scenes in this book that are likely to get bookmarked by some readers for a return visit and private re-read in the future.
The book is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone; it picks up several months after the first book ends. Those who have read book one, Promises We Meant to Keep, will recognize Kam and Abagail from that story where they have more scenes on the page.
The story explores numerous themes including physical, sexual and emotional intimacy; what makes a family; divorce and ex spouse shenanigans; body positivity; family dynamics; and sexual awakening among others. My only minor issue in the story was blanket consent being given ahead of one steamy scene where no prior conversation around limits, hard no's etc had taken place; the characters do however address it compassionately in the moment. With four main characters, they're each distinct individually and in the way they relate to each of the other mains and their children. I had expected on some level a more complicated story with double the usual number of mains but while there is loads of drama in their lives, they also have an abundance of love for each other and their kids which comes across on the page.
If you're new to polycule lesfic romance or just want something outside the norm to read give this book a shot, and if you prefer to read series in full pick up this one and Promises We Meant to Keep. Plan to read book two away from prying eyes and for audiobook listeners I'd advise not listening to this one in the car or while operating any machinery or in the presence of children due to the many explicit scenes throughout the book.
February 21, 2025
This sapphic why choose poly romance was absolutely perfect! Three single best friends living next door to each other have created the perfect little family for themselves. Nathalie is an icy and powerful doctor who doesn’t do relationships but chose to have a child and create the family she wants. She is pansexual and enjoys dating and hook-ups. Lachlan is also a doctor who shares a practice with Nathalie. She is a warm and sweet divorcee with a pair of twins. She has always considered herself to be straight but begins questioning that. Ivy is a fun and spicy lesbian with two kids and dealing with a contentious divorce from her nasty ex. The divorce still hasn’t been finalized after more than two years and Ivy hasn’t been intimate with anyone else since her ex. The three women unite together and function as a family but it has been platonically until the new nanny enters their lives. Greer is a wonderfully loving nanny and she brings the other three women closer together. She makes their lives easier.
Greer is upfront about being a poly lesbian but she is currently single. She has dreamed of having a closed polycule family some day and she just might have found it with these women. She holds herself back at first because these women are her bosses. But when one of them kisses her it sets off a spark that soon becomes a blazing inferno. Before long all four women are opening themselves up to being more than just platonic friends. The love has always been there but Greer helps them open up sexually and to see they have more than friendship between them. She is the middle stuff that holds them together and makes them better.
The book has a lot of drama with Ivy’s nasty ex and the ensuing divorce and custody battle. This drama kept me on the edge of my seat and I really felt for the characters.
Surprisingly, the drama with a four women polycule wasn’t that dramatic. Sure they had their issues but everything was handled beautifully. I loved seeing positive poly representation! The spicy scenes were so well done and believable. I loved the one on one moments, the threesomes, and the foursomes. Oh my! This book did not let up on the spice. We need more poly sapphic why choose romances and I’m so happy Adrian gave us Nanny In The Middle.
Greer is upfront about being a poly lesbian but she is currently single. She has dreamed of having a closed polycule family some day and she just might have found it with these women. She holds herself back at first because these women are her bosses. But when one of them kisses her it sets off a spark that soon becomes a blazing inferno. Before long all four women are opening themselves up to being more than just platonic friends. The love has always been there but Greer helps them open up sexually and to see they have more than friendship between them. She is the middle stuff that holds them together and makes them better.
The book has a lot of drama with Ivy’s nasty ex and the ensuing divorce and custody battle. This drama kept me on the edge of my seat and I really felt for the characters.
Surprisingly, the drama with a four women polycule wasn’t that dramatic. Sure they had their issues but everything was handled beautifully. I loved seeing positive poly representation! The spicy scenes were so well done and believable. I loved the one on one moments, the threesomes, and the foursomes. Oh my! This book did not let up on the spice. We need more poly sapphic why choose romances and I’m so happy Adrian gave us Nanny In The Middle.
April 7, 2025
I'm absolutely amazed by how remarkable Nanny in the Middle is. The story centers around four main characters, each thoughtfully developed with their own unique strengths and struggles. Every woman is vividly portrayed and consistently recognizable throughout the book. Their personalities blend seamlessly, creating a unified dynamic, with Greer's presence serving as the driving force for the transformation of their relationship.
This book beautifully underscores the importance of family and the profound bond that has formed between Nathalie, Ivy, Lachlan, and their children. With Greer at the heart of it all, the women begin to understand that their connection runs far deeper than friendship. Their dynamic feels genuine, and the conversations around divorce, work, and love are incredibly relatable. Nathalie’s cool demeanor is perfectly complemented by Lachlan’s warmth, Ivy’s boldness, and Greer’s calming presence. I was truly amazed by how seamlessly they all fit together—like pieces of a perfectly completed puzzle. The children bring a sense of innocence and wonder, especially during the story’s more challenging moments.
I’d be totally remiss not to mention how steamy this book is—every intimate scene is perfectly timed and fits so naturally into the story. These moments aren’t just hot (though they definitely are); they also really help show how deep the connection runs between two, three, and eventually all four women. You can tell a lot of care went into showing how meaningful their intimacy is, and it seriously adds so much to the story.
All in all, Nanny in the Middle is a beautiful, steamy, and seriously heartfelt story about love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, and everything in between. The characters feel real, their relationships are deep and layered, and the emotions hit in all the right ways. It made me laugh, swoon, and even get a little teary at times. This book is definitely going to stick with me—I loved every minute of it.
This book beautifully underscores the importance of family and the profound bond that has formed between Nathalie, Ivy, Lachlan, and their children. With Greer at the heart of it all, the women begin to understand that their connection runs far deeper than friendship. Their dynamic feels genuine, and the conversations around divorce, work, and love are incredibly relatable. Nathalie’s cool demeanor is perfectly complemented by Lachlan’s warmth, Ivy’s boldness, and Greer’s calming presence. I was truly amazed by how seamlessly they all fit together—like pieces of a perfectly completed puzzle. The children bring a sense of innocence and wonder, especially during the story’s more challenging moments.
I’d be totally remiss not to mention how steamy this book is—every intimate scene is perfectly timed and fits so naturally into the story. These moments aren’t just hot (though they definitely are); they also really help show how deep the connection runs between two, three, and eventually all four women. You can tell a lot of care went into showing how meaningful their intimacy is, and it seriously adds so much to the story.
All in all, Nanny in the Middle is a beautiful, steamy, and seriously heartfelt story about love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, and everything in between. The characters feel real, their relationships are deep and layered, and the emotions hit in all the right ways. It made me laugh, swoon, and even get a little teary at times. This book is definitely going to stick with me—I loved every minute of it.
April 30, 2025
Everything I needed and wanted, dirty and deep.
I loved literally everything about this book. I have not one single criticism. Oh, I could probably summon a few minor nitpicky things, but honestly, everything about this story was so satisfying that I can't be bothered. As someone who has taken part in community child rearing, coparenting with friends and lovers and some folks between, and poly relationships, this book spoke to me in a really intense way. I often read why choose novels looking for the feeling I got reading this one, but they usually fall short. They're often written in a way that makes it seem like full on fantasy, like it couldn't work that way in real life, and too often even the ones with sapphic relationships in them are written for hetero women, featuring one submissive damsels in distrss and a bunch of dominant dudes who spend the whole time flexing moodily, and one dominant power femme lesbian who is barely in it, and there's all these entirely unrealistic 24/7 power dynamics. Like, of course those doesn't feel realistic, people are more complex than that, and what toppy power femme lesbian is in a polycule with a bunch of dudes, just hoping they'll lure in a hot bi girl eventually? Not to knock those books, they're totally fine, and theres nothing wrong with total fantasy type relationships, but they aren't marketed towards sapphic readers, or towards people who are actually poly.
This novel wasn't just smut, (though the spicy scenes are many and start early on), it's about found family, and building community, and hard-passing on societal expectations in favor of being true to that family's desires, needs, and nature.
I wouldn't hate a series of books of just these women. But I'll settle for one about the hot rich HR-boss cougar who is apparently her manic-pixie-dream ex-neice-in-law's sugar mama. This author balances dirty and deep so well, I'm honestly curious how that will work out.
I loved literally everything about this book. I have not one single criticism. Oh, I could probably summon a few minor nitpicky things, but honestly, everything about this story was so satisfying that I can't be bothered. As someone who has taken part in community child rearing, coparenting with friends and lovers and some folks between, and poly relationships, this book spoke to me in a really intense way. I often read why choose novels looking for the feeling I got reading this one, but they usually fall short. They're often written in a way that makes it seem like full on fantasy, like it couldn't work that way in real life, and too often even the ones with sapphic relationships in them are written for hetero women, featuring one submissive damsels in distrss and a bunch of dominant dudes who spend the whole time flexing moodily, and one dominant power femme lesbian who is barely in it, and there's all these entirely unrealistic 24/7 power dynamics. Like, of course those doesn't feel realistic, people are more complex than that, and what toppy power femme lesbian is in a polycule with a bunch of dudes, just hoping they'll lure in a hot bi girl eventually? Not to knock those books, they're totally fine, and theres nothing wrong with total fantasy type relationships, but they aren't marketed towards sapphic readers, or towards people who are actually poly.
This novel wasn't just smut, (though the spicy scenes are many and start early on), it's about found family, and building community, and hard-passing on societal expectations in favor of being true to that family's desires, needs, and nature.
I wouldn't hate a series of books of just these women. But I'll settle for one about the hot rich HR-boss cougar who is apparently her manic-pixie-dream ex-neice-in-law's sugar mama. This author balances dirty and deep so well, I'm honestly curious how that will work out.
March 8, 2025
The story centers on Greer Lockheart, a professional nanny.
And she's found an amazing gig. Nathalie Coeur, Lachlan Norris, and Ivy Villegas have been best friends since college. Lachlan divorced her husband and has two children. Ivy has two children with her soon-to-be ex-wife, Penny, who is a vicious nasty woman and abusive in multiple ways. And Nathalie has had one child on her own via IVF. They intentionally moved into houses next to each other, and they have always sought one nanny who could handle all their kids.
They find that nanny in Greer. But Greer grows attached to these families and realizes what the three women have not yet realized about themselves - that they are already a single family unit. They fight for and on behalf of each other, defend each other, comfort each other, and they treat all their kids as if they were siblings.
When Penny comes after Ivy in divorce proceedings, a moment comes when Greer is comforting Ivy and it becomes more. Then the same happens with Lachlan. And eventually with Nathalie. Slowly, they come to realize that Greer is right - they are a family, but Greer, who wishes she were part of this family, doesn't see herself as part of it.
And once the three women realize they are a family, they realize the glue that brought everything into focus is Greer, so they set about convincing Greer that she is part of the family.
This is a fun, complicated polyamorous relationship novel, and there's the threat to the entire family of Penny and her abusive behaviors, spying on people, threatening them, screaming at her and Ivy's kids. And there's also Lachlan's ex-husband, Baylor, who keeps demanding to be brought in as a partner in Lachlan's and Nathalie's medical practice.
This is a fun, very spicy novel, with bits of angst thrown in here and there but it's a HEA so read on through!
And she's found an amazing gig. Nathalie Coeur, Lachlan Norris, and Ivy Villegas have been best friends since college. Lachlan divorced her husband and has two children. Ivy has two children with her soon-to-be ex-wife, Penny, who is a vicious nasty woman and abusive in multiple ways. And Nathalie has had one child on her own via IVF. They intentionally moved into houses next to each other, and they have always sought one nanny who could handle all their kids.
They find that nanny in Greer. But Greer grows attached to these families and realizes what the three women have not yet realized about themselves - that they are already a single family unit. They fight for and on behalf of each other, defend each other, comfort each other, and they treat all their kids as if they were siblings.
When Penny comes after Ivy in divorce proceedings, a moment comes when Greer is comforting Ivy and it becomes more. Then the same happens with Lachlan. And eventually with Nathalie. Slowly, they come to realize that Greer is right - they are a family, but Greer, who wishes she were part of this family, doesn't see herself as part of it.
And once the three women realize they are a family, they realize the glue that brought everything into focus is Greer, so they set about convincing Greer that she is part of the family.
This is a fun, complicated polyamorous relationship novel, and there's the threat to the entire family of Penny and her abusive behaviors, spying on people, threatening them, screaming at her and Ivy's kids. And there's also Lachlan's ex-husband, Baylor, who keeps demanding to be brought in as a partner in Lachlan's and Nathalie's medical practice.
This is a fun, very spicy novel, with bits of angst thrown in here and there but it's a HEA so read on through!
October 16, 2025
well that was horny as hell
very high spice level for this one. which makes sense, you're here to read about a nanny having sex with mothers one might like to fuck so absolutely fill the book with a lot of that. the author does a very good juggling the interconnected romances into a pretty tight ~450 pages, along with a demon ex-wife and foreshadowing what's shaping up to be another spicy book between Abagail and Nicola. and in the end we do get four clearly separate leads with fun, distinct dynamics between all of them, which again is very impressive considering some romance novels don't manage that with two leads
I did wonder what worked for me with this book so much that didn't work for me with Promises We Meant To Keep. and the spice is certainly part of it, but also I think I was just particularly uncomfortable with Elia's arc. turns out 'Ivy's ex-wife is the biggest piece of shit in the world' is much more palatable romance fare. and it felt a bit less sensationalised here as well, the arc leads up to a custody trial which was probably not the most realistic resolution given the actual crimes that occurred but it's not like a decades long conspiracy over a breakup
and also I might have been mixed up on the ages last book? last book I thought Kam was in her late 30s, but Greer seems to be in her late 20s early 30s here? it's likely not as important as I'm making it out to be. Greer does read a bit young here with parental angst, study issues, and being a live in nanny, but also that's the entire point of the dynamic. and there's a lovely give and take between her and the respected mothers where she brings them together and they build her up. it's really quite lovely
I am expecting the next book to be less touchy feely but it does seem like it's going to be hot
very high spice level for this one. which makes sense, you're here to read about a nanny having sex with mothers one might like to fuck so absolutely fill the book with a lot of that. the author does a very good juggling the interconnected romances into a pretty tight ~450 pages, along with a demon ex-wife and foreshadowing what's shaping up to be another spicy book between Abagail and Nicola. and in the end we do get four clearly separate leads with fun, distinct dynamics between all of them, which again is very impressive considering some romance novels don't manage that with two leads
I did wonder what worked for me with this book so much that didn't work for me with Promises We Meant To Keep. and the spice is certainly part of it, but also I think I was just particularly uncomfortable with Elia's arc. turns out 'Ivy's ex-wife is the biggest piece of shit in the world' is much more palatable romance fare. and it felt a bit less sensationalised here as well, the arc leads up to a custody trial which was probably not the most realistic resolution given the actual crimes that occurred but it's not like a decades long conspiracy over a breakup
and also I might have been mixed up on the ages last book? last book I thought Kam was in her late 30s, but Greer seems to be in her late 20s early 30s here? it's likely not as important as I'm making it out to be. Greer does read a bit young here with parental angst, study issues, and being a live in nanny, but also that's the entire point of the dynamic. and there's a lovely give and take between her and the respected mothers where she brings them together and they build her up. it's really quite lovely
I am expecting the next book to be less touchy feely but it does seem like it's going to be hot
April 17, 2025
I wanted to like this one more than I did. I really did. There aren't enough sapphic polyamory romances out there. Unfortunately this one leaned into a lot of harmful stereotypes and didn't really give an authentic poly feel to me. There was a distinct lack of emotional intimacy between all the women. Smith seemed to replace almost all of it with physical intimacy instead, like sex is the same thing as emotional connection. There are an obscene amount of spicy scenes in this book. At times they stretch multiple chapters and POVs, which unless it's erotica seems excessive. I have never skimmed so much of a book after getting burned out on spicy scenes halfway through. And that was one of the major poly problems I had as well. There is the stereotype that all poly people are into orgies and just have sex all the time...and this book leans into that a lot. Where were the moments of negotiating boundaries between individuals? They're all different and give each other different things, but that never really gets explored. And good grief, where was the juggling schedules and calendars to fit in dates and things like that. Poly relationships need date nights between individuals as much as any other relationship, but this book treats them all like a collective that has to do everything together all the time. I worry that this book gives people a very skewed and inaccurate portrayal of what polyamory actually is, and there is already enough judgement about that relationship dynamic as is.
October 21, 2025
Definitely enjoyed parts of the book. It’s filled with content that we see all the time and hardly ever see mixed into one book. Polycule relationship between 4 characters, This is the new and interesting element. Then we have the more commonly seen themes/tropes like age-gap, ice queen (or maybe just particularly high trust walls better describes Nathalie), the Nanny falling for the mother but then in this case there more moms to choose from, and ex-partners that have caused serious emotional damage which is worked on throughout.
The reason it hits 3* is just because it feels incredibly difficult to get the build-up I usually need to fall in love with characters when there’s so many involved. The core family unit is already 9, then there’s Baylor, Kam and Elia, who each get enough mentions to entice me into what their stories might be about but there’s not enough time to dig into them or their stories are just unfinished. Then throw in the weirdest side plot of whatever is going on with Abigail and Nicole (this might be another book sequel ? Genuinely don’t know). Not to mention how much time we have to give to Penny as the main destroyer causing all the problems for the core unit.
I would have preferred if Nathalie was the primary for Greer and there was still emotional and sexual relationships with Lachlan and Ivy, but it seems the real intent was to have almost equal footing in every possible connection and a fully realised non-monogamous family.
Tricky one this…
The reason it hits 3* is just because it feels incredibly difficult to get the build-up I usually need to fall in love with characters when there’s so many involved. The core family unit is already 9, then there’s Baylor, Kam and Elia, who each get enough mentions to entice me into what their stories might be about but there’s not enough time to dig into them or their stories are just unfinished. Then throw in the weirdest side plot of whatever is going on with Abigail and Nicole (this might be another book sequel ? Genuinely don’t know). Not to mention how much time we have to give to Penny as the main destroyer causing all the problems for the core unit.
I would have preferred if Nathalie was the primary for Greer and there was still emotional and sexual relationships with Lachlan and Ivy, but it seems the real intent was to have almost equal footing in every possible connection and a fully realised non-monogamous family.
Tricky one this…
April 6, 2025
Not It
Full transparency, I came to this book with bias. I’m not so much into the polyamorous, open relationship thing. That being said, I have read this author before, and truly dug what she said about us needing to be more open and accepting in the LGBTQ+ community, facts! This just didn’t do it for me though and it wasn’t the four way sex either, though I found that to not be the turn on I thought it would. It was really Greer’s lack of depth, the plot line holes you could drive a truck through and the overall one dimensional characters. We know little about Greer other than she had a messed up family, she likes nannying, and she’s in school. I then had to believe she had the charisma to bag three bad bitches, who were all well accomplished and had children. It was a stretch and that’s putting it mildly. Then there was Penny, angry bitch; why though,we truly don’t know for much of the book; yet a huge part of the story arc is around her villainy. Which leads me to the contrived tension between Nathalie and Greer, what was that and how did it resolve itself so quickly? This author has talent, I get the foray into this particular topic, it’s the execution that lacks finesse. This was not it for me, but I gave it a try, learned a couple of things, not a total loss.
Full transparency, I came to this book with bias. I’m not so much into the polyamorous, open relationship thing. That being said, I have read this author before, and truly dug what she said about us needing to be more open and accepting in the LGBTQ+ community, facts! This just didn’t do it for me though and it wasn’t the four way sex either, though I found that to not be the turn on I thought it would. It was really Greer’s lack of depth, the plot line holes you could drive a truck through and the overall one dimensional characters. We know little about Greer other than she had a messed up family, she likes nannying, and she’s in school. I then had to believe she had the charisma to bag three bad bitches, who were all well accomplished and had children. It was a stretch and that’s putting it mildly. Then there was Penny, angry bitch; why though,we truly don’t know for much of the book; yet a huge part of the story arc is around her villainy. Which leads me to the contrived tension between Nathalie and Greer, what was that and how did it resolve itself so quickly? This author has talent, I get the foray into this particular topic, it’s the execution that lacks finesse. This was not it for me, but I gave it a try, learned a couple of things, not a total loss.
March 8, 2025
I had this amazing opportunity to be a ARC reader. I have read many of Adrian’s books so I was excited and also a bit nervous, but I knew this book would be amazing like the others she has written. When I started this book I wasn’t sure what to think about it. I didn’t know much about poly relationships.
Throughout the book I enjoying learning about each character and how they developed. I really liked witnessing how they all worked together to achieve the lives they each wanted and dreamed of.
The dynamics between these four women is incredible. Each of them brings a unique element to the relationship. It shows you that each person has qualities to share and can overcome struggles through communication and with the love and support of others. They learned how to trust each other with parts of them they were scared to show others as well as overcome their insecurities. Once I started the book it was hard to put down. This book was written so well I felt as if I was a part of it. I felt each of the characters’ emotions, positive or negative. I also enjoyed the spicy aspect of the writing which I believe was balanced and fun.
I would highly recommend this book whether you’ve read any of Adrian’s other books or you are just discovering her.
Throughout the book I enjoying learning about each character and how they developed. I really liked witnessing how they all worked together to achieve the lives they each wanted and dreamed of.
The dynamics between these four women is incredible. Each of them brings a unique element to the relationship. It shows you that each person has qualities to share and can overcome struggles through communication and with the love and support of others. They learned how to trust each other with parts of them they were scared to show others as well as overcome their insecurities. Once I started the book it was hard to put down. This book was written so well I felt as if I was a part of it. I felt each of the characters’ emotions, positive or negative. I also enjoyed the spicy aspect of the writing which I believe was balanced and fun.
I would highly recommend this book whether you’ve read any of Adrian’s other books or you are just discovering her.
April 4, 2025
5 stars for the story, 4 for the execution. I thought the big picture was excellent — four very different characters who came to compliment each other, some decent external drama such that they could be very supportive in their relationships (no big breakups or etc.) yet there was still tension in the story and hooks pulling me forward… I’d be happy for more books to look like this.
On the execution, though, I’ve just got a variety of small things. Greer and Nathalie had some great tension building up… and then out of the blue Greer ends up with two other characters first, which I thought kinda came out of left field and spoiled the great build-up. Later, there’s a huge build-up about something Greer is required to do, over many chapters… and then the actual thing happens basically offscreen and amounts to nothing. Without going into any more detail, I thought Abagail and the kids could have been used better. Nothing huge, just… all together it feels like the difference between four stars and five to me.
Of course, it was still a good read and I’m intrigued by the others in this world. :)
On the execution, though, I’ve just got a variety of small things. Greer and Nathalie had some great tension building up… and then out of the blue Greer ends up with two other characters first, which I thought kinda came out of left field and spoiled the great build-up. Later, there’s a huge build-up about something Greer is required to do, over many chapters… and then the actual thing happens basically offscreen and amounts to nothing. Without going into any more detail, I thought Abagail and the kids could have been used better. Nothing huge, just… all together it feels like the difference between four stars and five to me.
Of course, it was still a good read and I’m intrigued by the others in this world. :)
March 21, 2025
This was my first time reading a polyamourous romance book and I must say I did enjoy it. I wasn't entirely sure I would although the biggest challenge I thought I would have is remembering all the names and who is who. Turns out I didn't need to worry about that. The author took plenty of time introducing the characters and their links to one another.
It was very intriguing to read the sequence of events unfolding for our MC's and how they all reacted differently to it. The main theme was that they all have their different characteristics and they blend perfectly together. Each has their strenght and flaws and I loved reading how they were there for one another and knew what or who that person needed in times of crisis.
Needles to mention all the hot scenes as there were plenty of them which kind of makes sense as there are 4 people in this romance. They were hot and cute and although I'm not into all the 'good girl''s thrown around it did not bother me.
An ARC was provided to me by the author in return of an honest review.
It was very intriguing to read the sequence of events unfolding for our MC's and how they all reacted differently to it. The main theme was that they all have their different characteristics and they blend perfectly together. Each has their strenght and flaws and I loved reading how they were there for one another and knew what or who that person needed in times of crisis.
Needles to mention all the hot scenes as there were plenty of them which kind of makes sense as there are 4 people in this romance. They were hot and cute and although I'm not into all the 'good girl''s thrown around it did not bother me.
An ARC was provided to me by the author in return of an honest review.
April 1, 2025
Best poly romance I have read and the first where four people are involved with each other.
The focus character (I don't want to say main cause they are all main) is Greer the aforementioned Nanny and her relationships with Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy all of whom are single mothers with young kids. It is as you can imagine quite an endeavor for two people to work together seamlessly in romantic relationship let alone four who got kids to take care of nevertheless Smith makes it work! I believe the pacing was one the reasons that made it work so well because I have read even monogamous romances where the conflict was easily resolved because the book wasn't longer but not here. The characters had well written conversations about their problems and how to hash them out followed by scenes that showed how they were going to make it work.
As for the spicy scenes if you have read Adrian J. Smith before you know they are chef's kiss if not just know consent is sexy and exhibition can be fun with those you love.
The focus character (I don't want to say main cause they are all main) is Greer the aforementioned Nanny and her relationships with Nathalie, Lachlan and Ivy all of whom are single mothers with young kids. It is as you can imagine quite an endeavor for two people to work together seamlessly in romantic relationship let alone four who got kids to take care of nevertheless Smith makes it work! I believe the pacing was one the reasons that made it work so well because I have read even monogamous romances where the conflict was easily resolved because the book wasn't longer but not here. The characters had well written conversations about their problems and how to hash them out followed by scenes that showed how they were going to make it work.
As for the spicy scenes if you have read Adrian J. Smith before you know they are chef's kiss if not just know consent is sexy and exhibition can be fun with those you love.
March 6, 2025
This was a really interesting story about 4 women—3 longtime friends and their new nanny—who enter into a polyamorous relationship with each other. While it offers plenty of spice, I found that I also really enjoyed getting to know each character, as they all were well-developed and added something different to the group dynamic. Additionally, Ivy's ex, Penny, is a nasty piece of work and has dragged out their divorce for years, trying to make Ivy's life as miserable as possible. Penny's behavior felt all too real, especially when it comes to their children and using them as pawns in order to hurt Ivy. I was definitely cheering Ivy and her found family on in their efforts to be free of Penny once and for all. There are other subplots that were excellent as well, but I don't want to spoil any of the story, so I will end with saying that if you want a heartwarming story that also offers plenty of spice, then check this book out.
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