Bossed by the Grumpy Pixie

Monsters of Saltford Bay #7

by Mary Auclair

A single mom does not fall for the nanny. Especially when she's a business owner, and a pixie running on spite, chocolate, and weaponized caffeine. I don't have time for feelings. I barely have time for sleep.
After one too many childcare disasters, I'm officially out of options. Enter Noah Mercer with his movie star looks.

Noah is tall, patient, and annoyingly perfect for the job. He moves into my tiny basement apartment, charms both my kids in a single afternoon, and has my entire disaster of a life running smooth within a week. He handles my snark without flinching, my chaos without complaining, and my daughter's teenage meltdowns like he was born for it.

He's also so unfairly gorgeous that it's driving me to distraction. And by the way his gaze lingers when he thinks I'm not looking, I'm pretty sure the feeling is mutual.

Which would be amazing… if I weren't his boss.

A freshly divorced pixie does not hook up with the manny. Not when when falling for him could wreck the only stable thing in her kids' lives.

But the longer he stays, the harder it gets to remember the rules.

No staring. No fantasizing. Definitely no falling in love.


Welcome to Saltford Bay, where monsters are real, neighbors are nosy, and true love comes with claws. Perfect for fans of Emily Antoinette, That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown.

Each book in the Monsters of Saltford Bay series can be read as a standalone. This cozy and steamy small town romance story is low angst, funny and full of sexy, grumpy monsters with tusks and hearts of gold. Intended for mature readers.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Amazon, Monsters

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 13, 2026

About the author

Mary grew up in the quiet peace of a small rural village in the heart of Quebec, Canada.

She spent her childhood chasing butterflies and catching frogs, playing in the mud and generally being as unladylike as she could. Her love of science led her to complete a mechanical engineering degree at the Ecole Polytechnique of Montreal, where she met the love of her life.
​
Years later, as she enjoyed the role of full time mom to her two wonderful children, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer. 
​
She now write as much as her busy schedule allows to bring to life her inner world, filled with exotic planets, mysterious creatures and off course, hot, alpha heroes and the women who melt their hearts.

When she's not writing, she can be found in the garden, walking her dogs or playing with fire in her kitchen as a part time hit-or-miss chef.

Reviews

[Justin]

My wife and I love to read trashy romance novels together. So seeing this free online we figured it would be another thing we could laugh through for a few nights. As the saying goes never judge a book by its cover and this book is one of those. This book is excellent with characters are all very well written and completely believable. They have flaws and struggles, and insecurities that make them relatable and believable. The plot is incredibly mature and deals with realistic issues written so well I almost feel it was based on someone's real world relationship. The writing style is efficient and fluid. Every page matters but is written with a degree of skill that nothing feels rushed. This being an adult book we can answer that one question everyone wants to know before starting, is it sexy? Yes! There are a few scenes and they are also written with the same care that was put into everything else. It's not perfect the fantasy setting is so underutilized it might as well not even exist, and there are some scenes where the drama or fantasy gets a little over the top and breaks my sense of immersion. Those are just my opinions and besides my personal bias I think this book is pretty close to perfect.

[KoshaReadz]

📖 Bossed by the Grumpy Pixie by Mary Auclair

Sometimes you just need a book that doesn’t make you work too hard—and this was exactly that kind of read for me. ❤️

Bossed by the Grumpy Pixie was such an easy, flowy and effortless read. I finished it in just four days, and honestly, it was the perfect kind of cute romance to pick up when you want something light, fun and feel-good.

The story revolves around a single pixie mom of two who falls for her male nanny (or should I say manny? 😄). And the attraction between them? Immediate and undeniable. From the very first time they meet, there’s clearly something there, and watching that attraction turn into something more was really sweet.

I particularly enjoyed the pixie + human pairing—it gave the romance a fun little fantasy twist without making the story feel complicated. The characters, the romance, the kids and the whole setup made this a really cozy read.

I actually came across this book through one of those weekly recommendation emails from BookBub, and I’m glad I gave it a chance. I read it on my Kindle, and it turned out to be one of those books that you can just pick up and keep reading without realizing how much time has passed.

Was it a deeply complex or life-changing romance? No. 😄
Was it cute, uncomplicated, romantic and ridiculously easy to read? Absolutely.

Sometimes that's exactly what you need. 💙

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

A perfect pick if you're looking for a quick, light fantasy romance with a single mom, a swoony manny and instant chemistry.

[Anastey]

Thank you BookSprout and Mary Auclair for sending me this advance review copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was so perfect in every way!

It's been a while since I've found a book that accurately describes what it is like to be a single mom, and the various ways it destroys your mental and physical health. Add in getting cheated on, your kids being abandoned by their father, verbal abuse by him too, and Rika goes through a crazy amount of struggling. It also goes into the ways the kids deal with the life changes, especially as a teen. It's very intense at times.

Thankfully it's not for forever, and things do get so much better when Noah comes into the picture. He is the sweetest, gentlest soul ever and I love him to bits. There is a good amount of tension, along with some gloriously cozy moments too as Rika works through her trauma and abandonment issues. Seeing Noah and the kids together will warm your soul, and it's so adorably sweet.

If you want something cozy, but with a bit of drama and healing too, this one is so dang good!

[Morally_Gray_Nola]

Really glad I picked this book up. Really enjoyed it from page one to the end. Noah and RIka are both so well-fleshed and incredibly likable—you can’t help but root for these two from their very first ‘gawkward’ 😉 meeting. The internal, and external, banter had my other half asking many times for me to read to him what had me laughing out loud. Just be sure to have a few tissues available—I am no softy, but an unfeeling parent and an eejit that thinks hurting someone to push them towards ‘their dream’, well, one gets me in the feels, and the other frustrates me to tears. This is an entertaining read.

*** Recommended ***

MMC:
✨Noah
FMC:
✨Rika
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨HEA
Series:
✨Book 7 of Monsters of Saltford Bay
Epilogue:
🌗yes
Tropes:
👉small town fantasy romance
👉cozy workplace romance
👉grumpy fmc/sunshine mmc
👉single mother x manny
👉romantic comedy
Triggers:
💥18+
💥sex
💥profanity
💥terrible parenting - fmc’s ex
Burn Speed:
✨medium
Spice Level:
✨🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨MF

[A L]

What an absolutely beautiful love story. It’s so much more angsty and pained than I’m used to from Mary Auclair, but it feels like a perfect step up from her usually more cozy romances. Everything works. You feel the pain and anguish this gorgeous little single parent family have gone and still goes through as well as the healing true love bring them. It’s an amazing journey to be a part of and I loved this book so much. Noah is pure gold. The heart of this man is indescribable , surpassing the mark of so many other great book boyfriends before him. To see him getting his HEA brings on the tears. So pure, so beautiful.

The flow of the book is mesmerising and Mary’s storytelling abilities are on par!

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

[Selina]

This is such an adorable "monster romance"
Newly single mom and Pixie Rika is in a bind. Her ex is a jerk and leaves her for her best friend leaving behind their two children. Kids of course who are acting out, especially her 13 year old daughter.
Under a lot of pressure, her mom brings to her a "manny" Noah. Who is debating using his teaching degree for actual teaching instead of mannying. Hes good at it which makes things hard.
You feel for Rika and Noah is a bit one dimensional of a crocheter. Just too good all the time. But the reality of being a sudden single mom, with kids going through a lot, Keeping food on the table and working. Coupled with kids and a hell of a self esteem issue from her ex. Sure it makes total sense. Noah is perfect for her and they work out so sweetly!
HEA and a good read.

[Meredith (SweetReadsandTreats)]

This was a super cute single mom x nanny romance that is cozy, steamy, and sweet. Noah has been a nanny for years and suddenly needs to figure out what to do when his current family moves away. Returning to Saltford Bay, Noah plans to clean out his grandfathers house and figure out what to do next. When Rika's divorce leaves her scrambling to work full time and care for two angry and heartbroken kids, her mother suggests Noah nanny for them. Their chemistry is instant and he immediately falls for this family in crisis.

Their romance is sweet and will pull at your heartstrings. Noah is also unexpectedly a dirty talker which I am always here for. This series is so much fun and I really enjoyed this next release. I loved that the heroine was the "monster" and that the hero fell first. The ending was everything I wanted for their story and the grand gesture scene was fabulous.

[Roxie's Reviews]

"The story is Funny, Exciting, and Unique"
This very unique story is so much fun to read! You will love the characters.
After Rika's husband leaves her for her best friend. Rika's becomes a single mom. So she had depend on Nannies to care for her children. Problem is her teenage daughter keeps chasing them off! So she turns to her mom for help. Her mom runs a yoga studio. Luckily for Rika's her moms new employee is a former male nanny.
Noah studied to be a teacher, but till he could find a teaching job. Noah took jobs as a nanny. But when his last employers moved over seas and let him go. So Noah moved back to his childhood town. Where he takes a job st a yoga studio till he gets a teaching job he applied for.
Is Fate bringing Rika's , and Noah together?
You will love this five star plus paranormal romance.

[Leda]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I grabbed it as a free download from Amazon, thinking it could be a goofy, zany read to enjoy with my husband, but the story grabbed both of us from the very first pages: the character development was so solid and the story launched so quickly that by the end of the first chapter, I wanted to hug two of the characters and strangle a third.

The pacing was nice: there was minimal fluff, but I still felt like I was getting a good chance to settle in and get to know the world and the characters. The story itself was well planned, realistic, and relatable. I was committed to giving my standard 4 stars for a nice read that didn’t necessarily blow me away, but then it did The Thing: it made me cry. And that bumped my rating right up to 5 stars.

I’m very impressed by this author and will definitely be looking into the rest of the books in this series.

[Mackenzie Gaventa]

I really liked this book. It felt different than the other books in the series. There was a more mature theme that someone later in life could relate too. Dealing with divorce, teenage angst, and dating again with a family. Noah is the MMC every woman wishes she could have in real life. He might be one of my all time favorite book boyfriends. I laughed a lot and I cried a few times reading this, especially at the end with its HEA. The great thing about this series is you can literally start anywhere and you do not have to read the books in order. So if you like the summary on this book more than the others you can start here and read it as a stand alone. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jendy Reads]

I have loved this whole series by Mary Auclair and this one is another great one. It's a bit different in that the fmc is a pixie and the mmc is human. Actually, Noah might not be human, because he is perfect! He loves kids, he cooks, he cleans, he's patient, and he's gorgeous. The story really tugged at my heart-strings both with what the kids went through and what Rika went through. I think the responses of these characters were completely realistic too, as much as I wanted to yell at them. It does end in a HEA so you know they figure it out, thankfully. Another great story in Saltford Bay!

[Kaitlynn Genevieve]

*ARC Review*

I have read every Saltford Bay book, from the inception of the series. If you haven’t read a single one, this one would be a fantastic starting point. Rika and Noah were immediately loveable, the chemistry between them was undeniable and the kids were adorable. Rika had a little more of a tragic “backstory” than some of our other Saltford Bay friends, but it was well represented and a definitely important part of the story.

Definitely a sweet read with a little bit of spice to deepen the connection. 10/10 would recommend.

[Kate]

Rika’s husband has left she and her children amidst pain and hurt. Rika needs to find another nanny since her children had driven the latest one away. Noah has arrived in town to live in his grandfather’s house since the family he had been nanny for had moved out of the country and they didn’t need him any more. He finds a part time job with Rika’s mother who then finds Rika a new nanny temporarily until the end of the school year. The story goes from here.
This is a fun story with some unexpected twists that kept me reading until the end when I didn’t want it to end. A great romance!.

[Georgie]

Really loving this series - and I enjoyed that this book has the MMC as the human, it made for a fun change. I read this in one sitting and loved it. The chemistry was engaging, and the plot was interesting. As someone who's not a fan of kids in books, the children were written so well, with compassion and understanding that I rarely see in romances. My one issue was the 3rd act drama, it felt slightly unnecessary to me, but I was grateful it didn't feel out of left field, only a bit frustrating!

[Holly]

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

This was a cute cozy romance but after reading a few other Saltford Bay books…I expect nothing less😂

I like the way the characters fit together & just work together along with the jokes between them & how they’re just what the other needs.

Will absolutely read more of these, they’re cute, quick, spicy & humorous in one🧡

[Debdutch]

“Bossed by the Grumpy Pixie” by Mary Auclair

-An emotional and heartfelt paranormal romance about a struggling single mother pixie finding unexpected love and support. I received a free copy and am voluntarily sharing my honest thoughts.

Noah is a wonderfully gentle hero whose bond with Rika and her children brings warmth, healing, and many cozy moments. Angsty yet hopeful, this touching Saltford Bay story blends family and recovery. This great read has a beautiful happy ending.

[Carol-Ann]

Rika needs help to keep her family running smoothly after her husband abandons them. Enter Noah, the new Manny. Not only is he competent, but he is scorching hot!!!

Unfortunately, he is her employee and her ex husband made her feel diminished. Noah has his own issues to work through.

I love watching them fall in love and grow as characters. This book is definitely worth the read!

[Robin Ann]

Found Boss, Found Family and Found Forever Love

I think this was the best "Salford Bay" book yet. I have enjoyed all the books in this series and loved all the monster romances so far. The plotline was romantic and predictable, yet enjoyable reading. He found a family he desired and she found she was worth all the happiness she experienced as they found their HEA.

[Anna Cole]

3.5 stars for me. I didn’t really connect with this world or the characters as much as I wanted to. However, this was a funny, hectic, and chaotic read, full of heart, healing, and steam. The writing was easy to read, the humour was well timed, and readers who love contemporary rom-coms and are looking to dip their toes into fantasy may find this a perfect entry-level read.

[M.W. Jooste]

A crazy monster ronance

This story takes one to an ordinairy place where unique people live alongside humans.
The story of the pixy, Rika, and her two children, Zoe and Matthew, after their life fall apart due to a divorce. When Noah, the human nanny, steps into their life, every thing suddenly change.
This is a story worth reading.

[Angela]

Is it possible Noah is the perfect man? Not only does he cook, but also cleans. He listens and speaks to kids on a level they understand. His patience and kindness are felt emotionally and he is dependable for more than just being a "manny." What a charmer of a story.

[Debbie Benson]

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I really liked Rika and Noah. I liked the accurate depiction of Rika's situation and how Noah is the perfect help. I'm glad she accepts that she returns Noah's love and their relationship.

[Alaska love]

Good read💍

Noah is a nanny. Yep he has worked with this current family for eight years and now it's time to move on. Rika has gone through divorce and her ex is moving out. Her kids are traumatized to say the least. Soon Noah is nanny again. Weird wonderful moments! Enjoy

[Bonne Sharp]

Sweet and Heartwarming!!

A very nice read! Easy to connect with the characters and a smooth flow style of writing. Great first time reading from this author and I plan to read more.

[DMA]

This was an adorably cute read. Noah and Rita's journey is not without its bumps along the way but it is totally sweet and loving.

[Ashley Arimborgo]

wow

I should not have cried during this. Not once, let alone 3 times. But I did.

Ok fine, it was 4 times. My favorite of the series by far! ❤️

[Dakota]

I really liked this book everyone deserves to love n she got her a good man in the end

[sandra]

good story!!!

I can’t even begin to give justice to this review. It was an awesome book I read in one sitting!!!

[Darrell Nuner]

Outstanding book!

The characters and story line hooks you right away! I read this from the beginning to the enc!
You will not go wrong with this book!

[Jacqueline H Jordan]

Brilliant

Another great story in a very good series. Each character has his or her original story. Need the next one now xxxxx