Nanny for the Enemy: An off limits, grumpy/sunshine romance

by Nicola Hayes

He’s a billionaire NFL legend and my new boss. I’m the sunshine - sassy nanny hired to help his quiet, troubled daughter smile again.

Jaxon Reed is a grumpy, emotionally constipated control freak with a billion-dollar scowl.

Sadie? Instant love. Jaxon? Instant rage.

I break every rule he gives me.

And he breaks every stare with an intense glare that’ll set your panties on fire.

But I’m not falling for that…

Only when he starts showing up—at storytime, in my space, watching me with that unreadable expression—I stop pretending I don’t notice.

Then Sadie gets sick, and I stay to help.

Somewhere between midnight cuddles and morning coffee, everything shifts.

He opens up. I let him in.

And when he finally kisses me, I don’t want it to end.

I fall—hard.

Then I hear him say in a team press conference….

“She’s no one. Just the nanny.”

That's when I realise I was never his choice. Just his secret.

Now I risk losing everything…not just my job, I’m risking my heart.

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2025

Reviews

[Egu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
SPICE LEVEL:🌶🌶
POV: multiple his/hers
TROPE: boss, enemies to lovers, single dad, grumpy/sunshine, close proximity
ENDING: no cliffhangers

MY THOUGHTS 💭:
I really, really liked this book! As always, my first and most important criteria are met: it was exceptionally well-written and edited. Seriously, that's a huge win right there.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and getting to dive deep into their inner worlds. The author did an amazing job of establishing a palpable tension and attraction between them, which just made the whole reading experience so much better. And the best part? It was a great book without any unnecessary drama. Sometimes you just want a good story without all the extra fuss, and this delivered!

DO I RECOMMEND ☕️ : Yes

[Lyn Brownlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taking a chance on love
Hurting from a previous relationship breakdown NHL star Jaxon is trying to navigate life as a single dad to 7 year old Sadie as best he can.
Along comes the bright and bubbly Emma, his last hope as a nanny as he keeps firing all that have come before her.
Emma and Sadie adore each other and over time Jaxon starts seeing how amazing she is, not only with his daughter but how perfect she is for him.
With pasts hurts he just can’t manage to fully commit so he keeps pushing her away.
Can he let Emma in and love again?
I loved this story, the main characters and the gorgeous little girl that just wants to be loved.
It was a quick read, steamy on occasions that I really did enjoy.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Nanny for the Enemy” by Nicola Hayes is a grumpy-sunshine romance that hits all the right notes. Jaxon, a brooding NFL legend and single dad, meets his match in Emma—the sassy, sunshine nanny hired to help his withdrawn daughter, Sadie. Emma breaks every rule, and Jaxon’s walls slowly crumble… until he publicly calls her “just the nanny.” Oof. I loved the chemistry between the leads, the heartfelt bond between Emma and Sadie, and the blend of steamy moments with emotional depth. It’s a fast-paced, feel-good read with a familiar but satisfying storyline. Perfect for fans of nanny romances, single dads, and swoony slow burns. 4 stars! A quick, spicy, and heartwarming escape.

[Julie Juhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nanny for the Enemy by Nicola Hayes is the second book in the series. I enjoyed reading Emma and Jaxon's story. Their story is well written with a great storyline. They had undeniable chemistry, and passion. I loved Nick's little girl Sadie too. This was a great first read from the author and I look forward to reading more of her work.

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