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Braeburn Cliffs #3
The Grump I Got Stuck With
One rule in the castle: stay out of the west wing.
In my defence, breaking in through the doggy door wasn't Plan A.
But my car was in a ditch, the doorbell was disconnected, and hypothermia was making compelling arguments. So. Needs must.
What I wasn't prepared for: Alistair. Specifically, how gorgeous he is. Romance-novel-cover gorgeous.
Then he opens his mouth. Somewhere between accusing me of being a journalist and threatening to personally escort me back into Snowmageddon, I start weighing whether freezing to death might be the more pleasant option. The Tartan Tyrant is rich, rude, and deeply committed to making sure I know I'm an inconvenience.
But survival beats pride. He lets me stay until the roads clear. One rule: stay out of the west wing.
Naturally, that's exactly where my dog goes the second my back is turned. Which is how I find out what he's really hiding.
Her name is Kenna. She's six, she's sunshine in pigtails, and she is nothing like her father. She falls in love with Princess. Then me. In that order. Which is how I end up with a job offer instead of a restraining order.
I crossed an ocean looking for a place I belonged. I did not expect to find it in a freezing castle with a man the entire country has decided to hate — a man who lost everything to the last woman he trusted, and has been building walls ever since.
He's thawing. Not much. Just enough to be dangerous.
Book 3 of the Braeburn Cliffs series, and a complete standalone. A steamy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ single-dad romance with a snowbound Highland castle, a grumpy billionaire in disgrace, a sunshine heroine who's done shrinking herself, an age gap, forced proximity, a small town that closes ranks, one very loud Yorkshire terrier, and a hard-won HEA.
In my defence, breaking in through the doggy door wasn't Plan A.
But my car was in a ditch, the doorbell was disconnected, and hypothermia was making compelling arguments. So. Needs must.
What I wasn't prepared for: Alistair. Specifically, how gorgeous he is. Romance-novel-cover gorgeous.
Then he opens his mouth. Somewhere between accusing me of being a journalist and threatening to personally escort me back into Snowmageddon, I start weighing whether freezing to death might be the more pleasant option. The Tartan Tyrant is rich, rude, and deeply committed to making sure I know I'm an inconvenience.
But survival beats pride. He lets me stay until the roads clear. One rule: stay out of the west wing.
Naturally, that's exactly where my dog goes the second my back is turned. Which is how I find out what he's really hiding.
Her name is Kenna. She's six, she's sunshine in pigtails, and she is nothing like her father. She falls in love with Princess. Then me. In that order. Which is how I end up with a job offer instead of a restraining order.
I crossed an ocean looking for a place I belonged. I did not expect to find it in a freezing castle with a man the entire country has decided to hate — a man who lost everything to the last woman he trusted, and has been building walls ever since.
He's thawing. Not much. Just enough to be dangerous.
Book 3 of the Braeburn Cliffs series, and a complete standalone. A steamy 🌶️🌶️🌶️ single-dad romance with a snowbound Highland castle, a grumpy billionaire in disgrace, a sunshine heroine who's done shrinking herself, an age gap, forced proximity, a small town that closes ranks, one very loud Yorkshire terrier, and a hard-won HEA.
- GenresRomanceGrumpy Sunshine
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2026
About the author
Leslie North
715 books1,561 followersNew to Leslie? Readers suggest starting with 'The Bossy One' (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6BP3BBF) —Imagine a sunny Minnesotan Mary Poppins, employed by a grumpy Irish billionaire. The story is a blend of humor, revenge, passion, heartbreak, hope, and witty banter. As one reader put it, ‘This story had me squealing at the romantic moments and silly moments.’
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books
Leslie North is the USA Today Bestselling pseudonym for a critically-acclaimed author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance. The anonymity allows her to fully express her creativity, especially in the romantic and fun sexy scenes!
In fact, she confesses to loving her fictional persona, Leslie North, more than her everyday self! Her bestselling books are known for their strong characters, particularly women who aren’t afraid to challenge an alpha bosshole. And the humor? So infectious, you’ll be laughing out loud in public!
Leslie’s love for romance began when she picked up a worn-out romance book from her local library. She started writing soon after, and as they say, the rest was history. She now resides in a cozy cottage on the British coast, enjoying long walks with her two Dalmatians, George and Fergie.
She LOVES reader feedback, and if you have any comments, don’t hesitate to contact her!
I'm Social Too:
Website: www.leslienorthbooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leslienorthbooks
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@leslienorthcomments
Instagram:www.instagram.com/leslienorth_books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
September 30, 2026
3.5 Stars
One Liner: It was fun enough
Madison wasn’t planning on breaking into a castle, but she has no choice when her car breaks down, the doorbell doesn’t work, and she’s on the verge of hypothermia. The castle owner, Alistair, is not happy to see someone sneak inside through the dog door. But he allows her to stay until the roads clear of the snow.
Madison is warned to stay away from the west wing. Naturally, her dog picks it as its destination for exploration, and soon Madison comes face-to-face with a lovely four-year-old girl who immediately likes the dog and her. Alistair offers Madison a job, though he doesn’t want to risk himself or his daughter after what happened before.
Maybe this is what all three of them needed.
The story comes in Madison and Alistair’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
I see the author’s books quite often on my feed and thought I should try one of her books. Since this was available on NG, I grabbed a copy.
Though GR says the page count is over 400, it doesn’t actually feel that way, which is good. The pacing is faster in the beginning, though it slows a little in the middle.
Who doesn’t like an adorable kid and a tiny dog (a Yorkie)? The kid is a darling: cheerful, active, and a bundle of energy. The dog is no different. Honestly, if anyone in my building had a dog that barked as much, I’d have staged a protest right outside their door. That’s a lot of excitement to handle.
The main characters are fine. The MMC too, despite his grumpiness. He has his reasons, which are quite valid. Moreover, he is always patient and loving towards his child, and he clearly loves her. The FMC is also like an excited puppy at times, but not always, thankfully. She also has personal issues she needs to work with.
The book does work as a standalone. I didn’t read the previous two, but meeting those characters didn’t make me feel like I was missing any major plot elements.
My biggest issue is with the voice. Dual POVs work great, true. But the voices need to be distinct. Even with the names mentioned, I was constantly confused about whose POV it was. This rather reduced my enjoyment.
The romance (spice 2.5ish) is pretty sweet until the guy goes a bit crazy, resulting in a third-act breakup. I was expecting it, but even I didn’t guess he would go that ballistic. Did he redeem himself? Maybe. He tried and made a couple of grand gestures. At least his attempts were genuine.
There are two epilogues, one from each POV, and with different time leaps. I did like that certain characters don’t have a sudden change of heart. That’s good.
To summarize, The Grump I Got Stuck With is a decent read with some banter, laughter, romance, and a dose of drama. That little girl is the best part of the book, hands down.
Thank you, NetGalley and Relay Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheGrumpIGotStuckWith
One Liner: It was fun enough
Madison wasn’t planning on breaking into a castle, but she has no choice when her car breaks down, the doorbell doesn’t work, and she’s on the verge of hypothermia. The castle owner, Alistair, is not happy to see someone sneak inside through the dog door. But he allows her to stay until the roads clear of the snow.
Madison is warned to stay away from the west wing. Naturally, her dog picks it as its destination for exploration, and soon Madison comes face-to-face with a lovely four-year-old girl who immediately likes the dog and her. Alistair offers Madison a job, though he doesn’t want to risk himself or his daughter after what happened before.
Maybe this is what all three of them needed.
The story comes in Madison and Alistair’s first-person POVs.
My Thoughts
I see the author’s books quite often on my feed and thought I should try one of her books. Since this was available on NG, I grabbed a copy.
Though GR says the page count is over 400, it doesn’t actually feel that way, which is good. The pacing is faster in the beginning, though it slows a little in the middle.
Who doesn’t like an adorable kid and a tiny dog (a Yorkie)? The kid is a darling: cheerful, active, and a bundle of energy. The dog is no different. Honestly, if anyone in my building had a dog that barked as much, I’d have staged a protest right outside their door. That’s a lot of excitement to handle.
The main characters are fine. The MMC too, despite his grumpiness. He has his reasons, which are quite valid. Moreover, he is always patient and loving towards his child, and he clearly loves her. The FMC is also like an excited puppy at times, but not always, thankfully. She also has personal issues she needs to work with.
The book does work as a standalone. I didn’t read the previous two, but meeting those characters didn’t make me feel like I was missing any major plot elements.
My biggest issue is with the voice. Dual POVs work great, true. But the voices need to be distinct. Even with the names mentioned, I was constantly confused about whose POV it was. This rather reduced my enjoyment.
The romance (spice 2.5ish) is pretty sweet until the guy goes a bit crazy, resulting in a third-act breakup. I was expecting it, but even I didn’t guess he would go that ballistic. Did he redeem himself? Maybe. He tried and made a couple of grand gestures. At least his attempts were genuine.
There are two epilogues, one from each POV, and with different time leaps. I did like that certain characters don’t have a sudden change of heart. That’s good.
To summarize, The Grump I Got Stuck With is a decent read with some banter, laughter, romance, and a dose of drama. That little girl is the best part of the book, hands down.
Thank you, NetGalley and Relay Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheGrumpIGotStuckWith
September 30, 2026
The Grump, the Doggie Door, and the Perfect Slow Burn ❄️🐾
Everything in this story falls together so seamlessly, making it a beautifully written, heartwarming romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I was so excited to continue this series and dive into Alistair’s story, and it did not disappoint. Alistair is a grumpy single father doing his absolute best to navigate life after a highly public breakup with his daughter's mother, who embezzled money from his company. Then there's Madison, who is on a mission to find information about her biological mother after recently discovering she was adopted. Their paths cross in the most hilarious and memorable way when Madison gets stuck in a snowstorm and ends up crawling through a doggie door at a remote location to find shelter. The beginning gives off Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes, with Alistair's grumpy warnings to stay out of the West Wing.
The dynamic between Madison, Kenna, and Madison's adorable little dog, Princess, is beautifully executed and serves as the heart of the book. Kenna instantly falls in love with the pup, and Madison fits so naturally into Kenna's world that you can practically feel the love radiating off the pages. Watching the compassion and affection grow between Alistair and Madison makes for a perfect, satisfying slow burn. Their relationship is packed with incredible wit, sarcasm, and sharp banter that kept me thoroughly engaged.
Set in a charming small-town, the pacing of the plot is spot-on. I especially loved the third-act tension; when Alistair royally messes up with Madison, he doesn't hesitate to put in the real work to win her back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy. This review reflects my honest and independent opinion.
Everything in this story falls together so seamlessly, making it a beautifully written, heartwarming romance that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I was so excited to continue this series and dive into Alistair’s story, and it did not disappoint. Alistair is a grumpy single father doing his absolute best to navigate life after a highly public breakup with his daughter's mother, who embezzled money from his company. Then there's Madison, who is on a mission to find information about her biological mother after recently discovering she was adopted. Their paths cross in the most hilarious and memorable way when Madison gets stuck in a snowstorm and ends up crawling through a doggie door at a remote location to find shelter. The beginning gives off Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes, with Alistair's grumpy warnings to stay out of the West Wing.
The dynamic between Madison, Kenna, and Madison's adorable little dog, Princess, is beautifully executed and serves as the heart of the book. Kenna instantly falls in love with the pup, and Madison fits so naturally into Kenna's world that you can practically feel the love radiating off the pages. Watching the compassion and affection grow between Alistair and Madison makes for a perfect, satisfying slow burn. Their relationship is packed with incredible wit, sarcasm, and sharp banter that kept me thoroughly engaged.
Set in a charming small-town, the pacing of the plot is spot-on. I especially loved the third-act tension; when Alistair royally messes up with Madison, he doesn't hesitate to put in the real work to win her back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy. This review reflects my honest and independent opinion.
July 31, 2026
❄️ Forced proximity
📸Third act break up
❄️1st person dual POV
📸🌶️🌶️
❄️Single dad and nanny
📸Interconnected standalone
❄️HEA
In the third book of the series we finally get Alastair’s story. He is hiding from the Paparazzi after a rough trial case involving the mother of his 4 year old daughter who abandoned them and stole millions from his company. This can be read as a standalone but I do love the prior characters popping in adding extra depth to the story. This was a very quick read that was easy to digest and hard to put down.
After a quirky meet cute between Madison and Alistair she is asked to be his nanny on a temporary basis and then the feelings bloom between them and a bond forms with his daughter, upping the stakes. I personally wanted more tension before they got together. There is a little build up but, considering a child is involved, I wanted more caution before entering a relationship.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, Scottish romance who likes their hearts toyed with and then put back together with a clean HEA!
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
📸Third act break up
❄️1st person dual POV
📸🌶️🌶️
❄️Single dad and nanny
📸Interconnected standalone
❄️HEA
In the third book of the series we finally get Alastair’s story. He is hiding from the Paparazzi after a rough trial case involving the mother of his 4 year old daughter who abandoned them and stole millions from his company. This can be read as a standalone but I do love the prior characters popping in adding extra depth to the story. This was a very quick read that was easy to digest and hard to put down.
After a quirky meet cute between Madison and Alistair she is asked to be his nanny on a temporary basis and then the feelings bloom between them and a bond forms with his daughter, upping the stakes. I personally wanted more tension before they got together. There is a little build up but, considering a child is involved, I wanted more caution before entering a relationship.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy, Scottish romance who likes their hearts toyed with and then put back together with a clean HEA!
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Read
September 1, 2026⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Snowed In With a Grumpy Scottish Billionaire? Yes, Please! ❄️🏰❤️
The Grump I Got Stuck With was such a fun grumpy/sunshine romance! A remote Scottish castle, a blizzard, an accidental nanny, an adorable little girl, and a brooding billionaire who would really prefer everyone leave him alone—I was hooked from the doggy-door entrance. 😂
Madison sneaking into Alistair’s castle through the doggy door because she’s stranded in a blizzard might be one of my favorite meet-cutes! Unfortunately, Alistair is less than thrilled to discover a strange woman in his home. He’s gorgeous, grumpy, rude, and quickly earns his nickname of the Tartan Tyrant.
Then Princess, Madison’s dog, ignores the one rule Madison was given and wanders into the forbidden west wing. That’s where Madison discovers Alistair’s six-year-old daughter, Kenna. ❤️ I absolutely loved the relationship between Madison and Kenna—and the fact that Kenna falls for Princess first and Madison second made it even sweeter.
Of course, Madison becoming Kenna’s temporary nanny means she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Forced proximity with a gorgeous Scottish billionaire in a Highland castle? Such a hardship. 😂❤️🔥
I really enjoyed watching Alistair slowly thaw. Underneath all that grumpiness is a protective father with plenty of reasons for keeping his walls up, and Madison’s sunshine personality is exactly what both he and Kenna need. The Beauty and the Beast feel made their romance even more fun.
And honestly, give me a grumpy Scottish billionaire, an isolated castle, a snowstorm, an adorable child, a dog named Princess, and forced proximity, and I’m happy!
Funny, romantic, cozy, and wonderfully swoony—an easy 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❄️🏰❤️.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Grump I Got Stuck With was such a fun grumpy/sunshine romance! A remote Scottish castle, a blizzard, an accidental nanny, an adorable little girl, and a brooding billionaire who would really prefer everyone leave him alone—I was hooked from the doggy-door entrance. 😂
Madison sneaking into Alistair’s castle through the doggy door because she’s stranded in a blizzard might be one of my favorite meet-cutes! Unfortunately, Alistair is less than thrilled to discover a strange woman in his home. He’s gorgeous, grumpy, rude, and quickly earns his nickname of the Tartan Tyrant.
Then Princess, Madison’s dog, ignores the one rule Madison was given and wanders into the forbidden west wing. That’s where Madison discovers Alistair’s six-year-old daughter, Kenna. ❤️ I absolutely loved the relationship between Madison and Kenna—and the fact that Kenna falls for Princess first and Madison second made it even sweeter.
Of course, Madison becoming Kenna’s temporary nanny means she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Forced proximity with a gorgeous Scottish billionaire in a Highland castle? Such a hardship. 😂❤️🔥
I really enjoyed watching Alistair slowly thaw. Underneath all that grumpiness is a protective father with plenty of reasons for keeping his walls up, and Madison’s sunshine personality is exactly what both he and Kenna need. The Beauty and the Beast feel made their romance even more fun.
And honestly, give me a grumpy Scottish billionaire, an isolated castle, a snowstorm, an adorable child, a dog named Princess, and forced proximity, and I’m happy!
Funny, romantic, cozy, and wonderfully swoony—an easy 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐❄️🏰❤️.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 5, 2026
I just finished the book this morning, wrapping up the final installment of the trilogy.
I’ve been battling a bit of a reading slump lately, which made the narrative feel somewhat heavy to get through. Because of that disconnect, I struggled to fully lock into the plot's momentum or form a strong bond with the main characters.
The story revolves around the tension of forced proximity when Madison gets snowed in with Alistair, a demanding and guarded businessman. The narrative focuses on breaking down Alistair’s stoic, corporate exterior—contrasting his rigid work mentality with his deep tenderness as a single dad to his young daughter, Kenna, alongside the everyday chaos of Madison’s dog, Princess. The plot centers heavily on this domestic shift: turning cold cohabitation into shared meals, quiet vulnerability, and gradual trust.
Even though the execution didn't completely click for me this time, the ending tied up loose ends nicely and gave the trilogy a satisfying closure. If you enjoy snowed-in businessman romances with soft single-dad moments, it's worth picking up!
A massive thank you to Leslie North and Ilaria for granting me this wonderful opportunity. It has been an absolute pleasure working with both of you on this release, and I truly wish you all the absolute best with the launch and beyond!
I’ve been battling a bit of a reading slump lately, which made the narrative feel somewhat heavy to get through. Because of that disconnect, I struggled to fully lock into the plot's momentum or form a strong bond with the main characters.
The story revolves around the tension of forced proximity when Madison gets snowed in with Alistair, a demanding and guarded businessman. The narrative focuses on breaking down Alistair’s stoic, corporate exterior—contrasting his rigid work mentality with his deep tenderness as a single dad to his young daughter, Kenna, alongside the everyday chaos of Madison’s dog, Princess. The plot centers heavily on this domestic shift: turning cold cohabitation into shared meals, quiet vulnerability, and gradual trust.
Even though the execution didn't completely click for me this time, the ending tied up loose ends nicely and gave the trilogy a satisfying closure. If you enjoy snowed-in businessman romances with soft single-dad moments, it's worth picking up!
A massive thank you to Leslie North and Ilaria for granting me this wonderful opportunity. It has been an absolute pleasure working with both of you on this release, and I truly wish you all the absolute best with the launch and beyond!
September 20, 2026
Unfortunately I could not finish this one :/ The title and cover are cute and the synposis sounded fun but I had a very hard time relating to the characters. Madison's character felt very immature and I couldn't quite believe the connection between her and Alistair. Alistair is more than just grumpy, he's borderline rude. Kenna and Princess the pup are adorable and have a cute relationship, but not enough to make up for the rest.
Thank you to the arthur, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the copy. All opinions are my own!
Thank you to the arthur, Relay Publishing and NetGalley for the copy. All opinions are my own!
October 1, 2026
I received an e-copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I picked this one up because the synopsis sounded super and original. While I was waiting to see if I would get approval, I found the first book of the Braeburn cliff series and was immediately worried I made a mistake requesting this book based on the first. Fortunately, this one was a bit better than the first, though Alistair is also a walking red flag, not just Weston. Maybe it's because I'm heading for middle aged, but I do not like romances where the man is an authoritarian and sees fit just to caste a woman aside because she refuses to submit to his idea of what is right.
Unpopular opinion time.
Madison squeezes through the doggy door, with her yorkie, of Alistair’s castle/mansion home after she slides into a ditch near his home and is unable to free her van. Her excuse for doing this is that no one answered her knocking at the main door and she didn’t want to freeze to death. Fair. Alistair’s reaction is also fair considering the paparazzi were after him for an extended period of time, due to the actions of his ex and he moved to castle-middle-of-nowhere Scotland to get away from it all. Eventually he lets her stay but tells her to stay away for the west wing of the house.
Of course, the first thing that happens when she is left alone is her dog taking off into the west wing where she discovers Alistair’s daughter Kenna. Cue more bickering/fighting between Alistair and Madison. As an apology, Madison decides to cook in a stranger’s kitchen without permission…? So, at first I was like “okay Madison is the A-hole in this relationship to be, cool. Refreshing even. NOPE! Cue Alistair deciding she would make a great Nanny and TELLING HER, not asking her, that she will be his kid’s nanny because he couldn’t be bothered to continue the search for a decent nanny that would want to live in nowhere Scotland after using one agency to try and find one. Sigh.
At least this walking red flag behavior isn’t accompanied by yelling, forcing entry into a residence, etc like his friend’s story. So, in that regard he’s better than his friend, but in what world is it okay to tell someone they are going to work for you, especially when they didn’t apply for a job. That said Madison’s and Kenna’s relationship is probably the best part of the whole book. That little girl is the best character in the whole book!
Madison is so sweet and caring with Kenna while Kenna is basically what everyone aspires to have as a kid. It’s baffling how well Madison does with her considering her own adoptive parents are not great, continuing to try and pigeonhole their daughter into what they want her to be. Fortunately, they don’t have a lot of page time and Madison seems to be mostly ignoring them.
Once the book gets going their whole relationship becomes a lot more palatable and believable, though their relationship seems to develop rather quickly on page. It all falls apart in the third act,. With the paparazzi tracking down his new location he goes full ‘alpha a-hole’ and even his a-hole friends tell him to get a hold of them when he’s done playing unreasonable dictator because there is no being around him. Alistair completely dismisses Madison’s feelings and opinions, a gigantic red flag, and terminates their relationship and tries to tell her that she’ll move if he says she’ll move. Madison does the right thing by putting distance between them and not immediately giving in to his cr*p apology, which I do believe was slightly illegal to do.
She says that throwing money at the problem isn’t the solution, but when he makes ANOTHER decision about her future, with no input from her, and throws a sh*t ton of money in to make it happen, suddenly it’s a grand romantic gesture? Baffling. You’ve known the man for how long and he did some really f’ed up things to you, hasn’t done any real work on himself and that’s your answer??? Not only that but Nope. Hard nope.
Another thing I was disappointed in was the lack of Scotland charm in this book. London got more page time then the Scottish Highlands, which the first book did have. Other than the accents, Alistair’s castle could have been located anywhere due to the lack of time put into describing the location beyond the bedroom, office, playroom and kitchen.
While I’m glad things worked out in the end, I guess, I had a hard time getting into, believing, and enjoying this book. It doesn't take me a month to read one book usually.
Tropes:
Light alpha/controlling MMC vibes
Boss-employee relationship
Somewhat forced proximity
Third act break up
Daddy and the nanny
I picked this one up because the synopsis sounded super and original. While I was waiting to see if I would get approval, I found the first book of the Braeburn cliff series and was immediately worried I made a mistake requesting this book based on the first. Fortunately, this one was a bit better than the first, though Alistair is also a walking red flag, not just Weston. Maybe it's because I'm heading for middle aged, but I do not like romances where the man is an authoritarian and sees fit just to caste a woman aside because she refuses to submit to his idea of what is right.
Unpopular opinion time.
Madison squeezes through the doggy door, with her yorkie, of Alistair’s castle/mansion home after she slides into a ditch near his home and is unable to free her van. Her excuse for doing this is that no one answered her knocking at the main door and she didn’t want to freeze to death. Fair. Alistair’s reaction is also fair considering the paparazzi were after him for an extended period of time, due to the actions of his ex and he moved to castle-middle-of-nowhere Scotland to get away from it all. Eventually he lets her stay but tells her to stay away for the west wing of the house.
Of course, the first thing that happens when she is left alone is her dog taking off into the west wing where she discovers Alistair’s daughter Kenna. Cue more bickering/fighting between Alistair and Madison. As an apology, Madison decides to cook in a stranger’s kitchen without permission…? So, at first I was like “okay Madison is the A-hole in this relationship to be, cool. Refreshing even. NOPE! Cue Alistair deciding she would make a great Nanny and TELLING HER, not asking her, that she will be his kid’s nanny because he couldn’t be bothered to continue the search for a decent nanny that would want to live in nowhere Scotland after using one agency to try and find one. Sigh.
At least this walking red flag behavior isn’t accompanied by yelling, forcing entry into a residence, etc like his friend’s story. So, in that regard he’s better than his friend, but in what world is it okay to tell someone they are going to work for you, especially when they didn’t apply for a job. That said Madison’s and Kenna’s relationship is probably the best part of the whole book. That little girl is the best character in the whole book!
Madison is so sweet and caring with Kenna while Kenna is basically what everyone aspires to have as a kid. It’s baffling how well Madison does with her considering her own adoptive parents are not great, continuing to try and pigeonhole their daughter into what they want her to be. Fortunately, they don’t have a lot of page time and Madison seems to be mostly ignoring them.
Once the book gets going their whole relationship becomes a lot more palatable and believable, though their relationship seems to develop rather quickly on page. It all falls apart in the third act,. With the paparazzi tracking down his new location he goes full ‘alpha a-hole’ and even his a-hole friends tell him to get a hold of them when he’s done playing unreasonable dictator because there is no being around him. Alistair completely dismisses Madison’s feelings and opinions, a gigantic red flag, and terminates their relationship and tries to tell her that she’ll move if he says she’ll move. Madison does the right thing by putting distance between them and not immediately giving in to his cr*p apology, which I do believe was slightly illegal to do.
She says that throwing money at the problem isn’t the solution, but when he makes ANOTHER decision about her future, with no input from her, and throws a sh*t ton of money in to make it happen, suddenly it’s a grand romantic gesture? Baffling. You’ve known the man for how long and he did some really f’ed up things to you, hasn’t done any real work on himself and that’s your answer??? Not only that but Nope. Hard nope.
Another thing I was disappointed in was the lack of Scotland charm in this book. London got more page time then the Scottish Highlands, which the first book did have. Other than the accents, Alistair’s castle could have been located anywhere due to the lack of time put into describing the location beyond the bedroom, office, playroom and kitchen.
While I’m glad things worked out in the end, I guess, I had a hard time getting into, believing, and enjoying this book. It doesn't take me a month to read one book usually.
Tropes:
Light alpha/controlling MMC vibes
Boss-employee relationship
Somewhat forced proximity
Third act break up
Daddy and the nanny
September 16, 2026
She's always been the giver in relationships: has she finally found someone who'll be a giver to her?
Madison has been in Scotland for three months trying to make a connection with the land of her birth and perhaps learn more about her biological mother. She doesn't feel any more at home in Scotland as she did growing up in Connecticut. Nineteen years ago, she met her best friend, Emily. After ten years of lessons, dance finally clicked for Em, and she knew she belonged on the stage as a ballerina. That's what Madison wants, a place where she feels like she belongs.
She's not accustomed to Scottish roads, especially during blizzards. Her travel apt, Voyages, which she normally loves, seems to have run amok. She ended up on some back road during a snowstorm and ran off the road on Christmas Eve. She and her small dog, Princess, who she had found abandoned on the side of a road, came upon a huge home, a castle in fact. They came through the doggy door in the kitchen after no one answered her ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door for ten minutes.
Lord Crankypants, as she named him, had been in the back part of the house and didn't hear her knocking way back there. After being hounded by the press, he had also disconnected the doorbell. He's certain she's one of those vile reporters or a scavenger there to pick at his bones some more. But Madison has no idea who he even is.
He begrudgingly allows her and Princess to stay the night after he can't get a tow truck to come out into the horrid weather. However, he warns her to stay away from the west wing.
As she's searching for a bathroom, Princess gets away from her and naturally heads for the west wing. Madison finally finds her in a child's bedroom, Kenna's bedroom, Grumpy's daughter. She's instantly in love with Princess and is certain she's one of her Christmas gifts.
Madison's parents are both law professors who waited until she was twenty-five to tell her she was adopted. She works as a paralegal, a job she hates but her parents approve of. Her last boyfriend cheated on her and married someone else. However, his marriage didn't work, and it ended. Both he and her parents think this is a good time for her to return to her paralegal job and marry him. Not about to happen!
Alistair had built up a very successful company, but Jessica, his ex-girlfriend, embezzled a huge amount of money. He was so besotted with her that he missed what she was doing. His board blamed it all on him and forced him out of his own company. He sued and won, so they had to pay him a huge golden parachute. That didn't remove the hit his heart took or his reputation.
He relocated to Braeburn to be nearer to his friends, Weston and Locke. The couples often watch Kenna when he has meetings. He had hired a nanny, but she abhorred living in the middle of nowhere. Weston and his wife, Lena, often watch Kenna. His foster daughter Aisling is missing Kenna now that they can't be together on Christmas. Weston reminds Alistair that he and his wife, Lena, are going to Texas. Locke's wife, Isla, is in her third trimester, and even he's not crass enough to ask her to babysit. Madison had claimed to be an award-winning babysitter—does he dare hire her, and would she even consider taking the job? Kenna is already in love with Princess and seems to like Madison...
The media has found out about Madison. They're hounding Alistair for new information about her. Trying to avoid another media circus, he replies with something that cuts Madison to the core and confirms again that love isn't for her when he screams, "She's just the nanny!"
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Madison has been in Scotland for three months trying to make a connection with the land of her birth and perhaps learn more about her biological mother. She doesn't feel any more at home in Scotland as she did growing up in Connecticut. Nineteen years ago, she met her best friend, Emily. After ten years of lessons, dance finally clicked for Em, and she knew she belonged on the stage as a ballerina. That's what Madison wants, a place where she feels like she belongs.
She's not accustomed to Scottish roads, especially during blizzards. Her travel apt, Voyages, which she normally loves, seems to have run amok. She ended up on some back road during a snowstorm and ran off the road on Christmas Eve. She and her small dog, Princess, who she had found abandoned on the side of a road, came upon a huge home, a castle in fact. They came through the doggy door in the kitchen after no one answered her ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door for ten minutes.
Lord Crankypants, as she named him, had been in the back part of the house and didn't hear her knocking way back there. After being hounded by the press, he had also disconnected the doorbell. He's certain she's one of those vile reporters or a scavenger there to pick at his bones some more. But Madison has no idea who he even is.
He begrudgingly allows her and Princess to stay the night after he can't get a tow truck to come out into the horrid weather. However, he warns her to stay away from the west wing.
As she's searching for a bathroom, Princess gets away from her and naturally heads for the west wing. Madison finally finds her in a child's bedroom, Kenna's bedroom, Grumpy's daughter. She's instantly in love with Princess and is certain she's one of her Christmas gifts.
Madison's parents are both law professors who waited until she was twenty-five to tell her she was adopted. She works as a paralegal, a job she hates but her parents approve of. Her last boyfriend cheated on her and married someone else. However, his marriage didn't work, and it ended. Both he and her parents think this is a good time for her to return to her paralegal job and marry him. Not about to happen!
Alistair had built up a very successful company, but Jessica, his ex-girlfriend, embezzled a huge amount of money. He was so besotted with her that he missed what she was doing. His board blamed it all on him and forced him out of his own company. He sued and won, so they had to pay him a huge golden parachute. That didn't remove the hit his heart took or his reputation.
He relocated to Braeburn to be nearer to his friends, Weston and Locke. The couples often watch Kenna when he has meetings. He had hired a nanny, but she abhorred living in the middle of nowhere. Weston and his wife, Lena, often watch Kenna. His foster daughter Aisling is missing Kenna now that they can't be together on Christmas. Weston reminds Alistair that he and his wife, Lena, are going to Texas. Locke's wife, Isla, is in her third trimester, and even he's not crass enough to ask her to babysit. Madison had claimed to be an award-winning babysitter—does he dare hire her, and would she even consider taking the job? Kenna is already in love with Princess and seems to like Madison...
The media has found out about Madison. They're hounding Alistair for new information about her. Trying to avoid another media circus, he replies with something that cuts Madison to the core and confirms again that love isn't for her when he screams, "She's just the nanny!"
I received an ARC of this book from the author via Booksprout. I am voluntarily leaving this review.
September 24, 2026
Alistair had bought an estate near Weston & Lena. Kenna, his daughter, was with him and there was a snowstorm that Christmas Eve and they were unable to go to where they were supposed to- Weston & Lena’s. A woman and her yorkie, squeeze in thru the doggie door of Alistair’s. Her car had broken down and she didn’t want them to freeze to death. Alistair is so paranoid from his situation that he accuses her of a lot of things before he allows her to stay, since he thinks she is a journalist. I love Madison’s snark. When she calls her bestie, Emily back in New England, the convo is hilarious and fun.
Madison is in Scotland because she is trying to find information and a connection to her biological mother, in the land of her birth until she was 3 months old. Her parents hadn’t told her she was adopted until recently when she was 25. They called the whole thing a temper tantrum on her part. I was quite miffed at this. They are so logical that they can’t understand her emotions. The things that happen after this at Alistair’s is hilarious. Madison’s dog, Princess is very yappy, and Kenna ends up falling for the little dog and Madison right away. Madison handles her so well. Alistair’s reactions to everything is soooo off the wall, and yet understandable due to everything that happened to him.
I still was very worried for him and Kenna from the ramifications of all of that. Kenna is so young. Alfie, Alistair’s admin assistant, mis wonderful and although he works remotely a lot for Alistair, since they are so far away from each other, he does a good job. Plus, he is hilarious. I found him adorable and loveable. I also found that he is amazing when dealing with everything that is thrown at him. Because of the storm, Madison is stuck there with Alistair for a while and they begin to run out of supplies. Locke shows up with some and that convo is awesome and hilarious. Weston and Locke are really good friends with Alistair, pretty much brothers more than friends. That doesn’t stop them from teasing the ever heck out of Alistair tho. That was fun to read. I found myself giggling a lot. Alistair can’t stand Princess, and that dog does her best to drive him nuts. I found myself muttering in shock at a lot of reactions and what Alistair says. He made me upset a few times and I wanted to thwack him a few times. I loved the mention of cranberry sauce/jelly. I love that stuff. No one else likes it. I can eat a whole can by myself.
I also had fun reading about the jewelry making stuff too, as that was one of my fave past-times growing up, now I make good stuff for gifts and sometimes sell it. My fave part is watching someone wearing something I made right away. I also learned a long time ago, that while giving a child a bath, or a dog, you are better off wearing a swimsuit. lol. Because you are going to end up drenched anyhow. Easy to clean up while wearing a swimsuit.
I love how much Princess and Kenna get along and that Weston, Locke, Aisling, and the wives get along so well with Madison. Pure love and hilarity ensue, as well as mischief and mayhem. I love how Madison helps Leah. I adored watching Alistair with Kenna. They are so sweet and cute and loving together. So much love. Beautiful. It reminded me of stuff growing up with my parents and grandparents of both sides. There is so much going on in this book, with many revelations, some good some which upset me. Learning about how Alistair became paranoid in depth… made me punch the pillow a lot and curse. I loved the ending. It was perfect. I hope there are more books set in Braeburn. We gotta see more about the kids and the crazy animals.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madison is in Scotland because she is trying to find information and a connection to her biological mother, in the land of her birth until she was 3 months old. Her parents hadn’t told her she was adopted until recently when she was 25. They called the whole thing a temper tantrum on her part. I was quite miffed at this. They are so logical that they can’t understand her emotions. The things that happen after this at Alistair’s is hilarious. Madison’s dog, Princess is very yappy, and Kenna ends up falling for the little dog and Madison right away. Madison handles her so well. Alistair’s reactions to everything is soooo off the wall, and yet understandable due to everything that happened to him.
I still was very worried for him and Kenna from the ramifications of all of that. Kenna is so young. Alfie, Alistair’s admin assistant, mis wonderful and although he works remotely a lot for Alistair, since they are so far away from each other, he does a good job. Plus, he is hilarious. I found him adorable and loveable. I also found that he is amazing when dealing with everything that is thrown at him. Because of the storm, Madison is stuck there with Alistair for a while and they begin to run out of supplies. Locke shows up with some and that convo is awesome and hilarious. Weston and Locke are really good friends with Alistair, pretty much brothers more than friends. That doesn’t stop them from teasing the ever heck out of Alistair tho. That was fun to read. I found myself giggling a lot. Alistair can’t stand Princess, and that dog does her best to drive him nuts. I found myself muttering in shock at a lot of reactions and what Alistair says. He made me upset a few times and I wanted to thwack him a few times. I loved the mention of cranberry sauce/jelly. I love that stuff. No one else likes it. I can eat a whole can by myself.
I also had fun reading about the jewelry making stuff too, as that was one of my fave past-times growing up, now I make good stuff for gifts and sometimes sell it. My fave part is watching someone wearing something I made right away. I also learned a long time ago, that while giving a child a bath, or a dog, you are better off wearing a swimsuit. lol. Because you are going to end up drenched anyhow. Easy to clean up while wearing a swimsuit.
I love how much Princess and Kenna get along and that Weston, Locke, Aisling, and the wives get along so well with Madison. Pure love and hilarity ensue, as well as mischief and mayhem. I love how Madison helps Leah. I adored watching Alistair with Kenna. They are so sweet and cute and loving together. So much love. Beautiful. It reminded me of stuff growing up with my parents and grandparents of both sides. There is so much going on in this book, with many revelations, some good some which upset me. Learning about how Alistair became paranoid in depth… made me punch the pillow a lot and curse. I loved the ending. It was perfect. I hope there are more books set in Braeburn. We gotta see more about the kids and the crazy animals.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2026
Back in the Scottish Highlands with Leslie’s latest book—and this time, we have a billionaire who’s colder than the blizzard battering the walls of his castle. Well…at first, anyway. I absolutely loved Alistair and Madison’s meet-cute, although I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Princess, who literally opened the door for their romance. The doggie door, that is! It’s Christmas Eve, there’s a snowstorm raging outside, and the last thing Alistair Dunhope expects to hear is a dog barking in his castle, much less a woman’s voice following close behind. After a very public and bitter court battle involving his lying ex and his company, Alistair is understandably a little people-shy. So, when he finds Madison lurking in his home, his first assumption is that she’s a member of the press. Even after Madison convinces him she isn’t there to expose him, Alistair doesn’t exactly roll out the welcome mat. Still, with a blizzard outside, he reluctantly agrees to let her stay until the storm passes. Madison is—or should I say, was—on a road trip to discover more about her birth mother and hopefully find people who knew her. But with her van now sitting in a ditch, she’s suddenly not quite sure what she’s going to do next. Then, thanks once again to that rascally puppy, Princess, Madison accidentally discovers what Alistair has been hiding, which has the two coming to an arrangement that benefits them both. Alistair needs a nanny, while Madison needs somewhere to stay and a job that will help pay to get her van fixed. Leslie has a wonderful knack for making the children and animals in her books the absolute stars, and Alistair’s four-year-old daughter, Kenna, is certainly no exception. Kenna is the complete opposite of her father: bubbly, open, and warm; like sunshine in a bottle. She quickly falls in love with both Princess and Madison (in that order!), and honestly, it’s impossible not to love Kenna right back. What made this relationship work so beautifully was Madison herself. Her kindness and humor quickly make her and Kenna the bestest of friends, and amazingly, those same qualities seem to work their magic on Alistair too. That being said, Madison is definitely no pushover. She isn’t afraid to stand up to Alistair, especially when he’s being a dick! Of course, the chemistry between them is impossible to miss, but what I loved even more was watching Madison slowly peel back Alistair’s grumpy, guarded layers. Plus, seeing how Alistair softened around Kenna helped Madison realize that perhaps he wasn’t quite the ogre she’d first believed him to be. The moments when the whole little “family” was together (naturally including Princess, though I don’t think Alistair was a fan) were easily the highlight of the book for me. I especially loved watching Alistair and Madison bond over their shared love for Kenna. Unfortunately (at least from my perspective) Leslie’s books inevitably come with that dreaded third-act breakup, and honestly? I wanted to strangle Alistair at that point! 😂 But I’ll admit, the happy ending was all the sweeter because of it. So, with plenty of laughs, a little angst, lots of sweet moments, an adorable little girl, and one mischievous puppy who clearly deserves some credit for bringing everyone together, don’t miss this delightful grumpy/sunshine romance. It’s guaranteed to leave you smiling!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 9, 2026
ARC reading — 3.75 ⭐
EN
This is the third book in the Braeburn Cliffs series. I haven’t read the previous two, and although it isn’t essential to understand the story, you should bear in mind that you’ll end up getting spoilers for the others, mainly because they basically give you a summary of what happens in them. So if you intend to read the whole series, I’d recommend starting with the first book.
I really liked the couple. With a rather unusual first encounter and a constant push and pull that’s tremendously entertaining, they guide you towards a relationship that slowly develops in a rather random setting. A businessman embroiled in a scandal who’s hiding out in a Scottish castle with his four-year-old daughter, and a woman who’s trying to trace her biological family’s roots and, in the process, find herself.
I was expecting a bit more from the Scottish setting. To be honest, one of the reasons I wanted to read this book was the dashing Scotsman on the cover, decked out in his kilt and all, but apart from living in a castle, mentioning haggis and a few other local spots, the setting could just as easily have been anywhere else.
What can I say? I’ve got a soft spot for grumpy single parents. It’s been a dynamic, entertaining story, and at times you just want to shout at the pages to get them to work things out. She’s not prepared to let anyone take it for granted again that her feelings and choices are less important. And he’ll have to learn not to push away the people who love him.
This author can easily hold her own against much bigger names right now—I'd definitely read her again.
ES
Se trata del 3 libro dentro de la serie Braeburn Cliffs. Yo no he leído los dos anteriores y, aunque no es necesario para entender la historia, hay que tener en cuenta que te vas a spoilear los otros, básicamente porque te hacen un resumen de lo que ocurre. Así que si tienes intención de leer toda la serie, te recomiendo empezar por el principio.
La pareja me ha gustado mucho. Con un primer encuentro un tanto peculiar, y un tira y afloja constante que resulta tremendamente entretenido, te van guiando hacia una relación que cuece poco a poco en un contexto bastante aleatorio. Un empresario envuelto en un escándalo que se esconde en un castillo escocés con su pequeña de cuatro años y una chica que busca encontrar las raíces de su familia biológica y, de paso, a ella misma.
Esperaba un poco más de la ambientación escocesa. Si soy sincera, uno de los motivos que me llevó a querer leer este libro fue el pedazo de escocés de la portada, ataviado con su kilt y todo, pero más allá de vivir en un castillo, mencionar el haggis y algún que otro sitio de por allí, el escenario bien podría haber estado localizado en cualquier otro sitio.
¿Qué puedo decir? Tengo una debilidad por los padres solteros gruñones. Ha sido una historia dinámica, entretenida y que por momentos te dan ganas de gritarles a las páginas para que se reconcilien. Ella no está dispuesta a que nadie vuelva a dar por hecho que sus sentimientos y elecciones son algo secundario. Y él tendrá que aprender a no alejar a la gente que lo quiere.
Esta autora no tiene nada que envidiarle a otras con mucho más reconocimiento actuales, no descarto para nada volver a leerla.
September 13, 2026
Thank-you to NetGalley and Relay Publishing for my ARC copy!
3.5 ⭐️
Overall, this was a fun book. It was original and had some pretty great characters.
I thought the overall plot and course this book took was fun. It was original and creative. The way we started out with Madison crawling in through the doggie door was hilarious! The grumpy sunshine trope was also great and the trope was also completely developed.
I liked the idea behind this being a sort of Beauty and the Beast retelling, but that is one area that this book fell very flat for me. It had a couple of the smaller details of Beauty and the Beast, but I am missing the core behind the story. I missed the main aspect of a curse that was bestowed that must be broken. I think the author intended for the Jessica stuff to be the curse, but it just didn’t really fit in my opinion. Also, there were no roses incorporated into this book at all and that is a huge Beauty and the Beast aspect that I was missing. Also, I think that the travel app was supposed to be the enchanted mirror aspect, but again, it didn’t really fit.
I enjoyed the characters. I thought they were fun; especially Kenna. I don’t usually like kids in books, but I absolutely loved Kenna. She was just the cutest, happiest, sparky, upbeat girl and she really added to the story and was a great driving factor for Alistair.
I thought Alistair had excellent character growth over the course of the book. He really blossomed from the hardened grump he started out as to a guy who is friendlier and who learns from his mistakes.
Madison is a fun, great personality character, but I didn’t feel the character growth. Sure, in the end she stood up for herself, but she didn’t really change and grow like Alistair. Also, I was waiting for a confrontation with her parents that I never got.
Princess, was a fun concept to the book, but I am bummed that the author made Princess a happy dog that barked all the time. I hate dogs that bark all the time.
The writing style was a little bit slow for me to get acquainted with. It started out kind of hollow; like yelling through a tin can. Over the course of the book it did open up and became deeper. It did flow nicely and had a logical progression of events.
Where the writing really fell flat for me was the Scottish accent portrayal. There were some things that the author wrote with a Scottish accent portrayed like it should be, and then the rest of the book the author forgot about it and wrote the American way. I was hoping for more of the way Dianna Gabaldon writes a Scottish accent. Either that, or don’t write any Scottish accent at all. Let us just assume based off the fact that the book is set in Scotland. The mish mash of the American way of writing it and the Scottish way of writing it made it fall flat for me.
Overall, I did have a very fun time with this book. I read it in one sitting. It kept me captivated and I couldn’t put it down. It was fun and it was a creative, original story!
3.5 ⭐️
Overall, this was a fun book. It was original and had some pretty great characters.
I thought the overall plot and course this book took was fun. It was original and creative. The way we started out with Madison crawling in through the doggie door was hilarious! The grumpy sunshine trope was also great and the trope was also completely developed.
I liked the idea behind this being a sort of Beauty and the Beast retelling, but that is one area that this book fell very flat for me. It had a couple of the smaller details of Beauty and the Beast, but I am missing the core behind the story. I missed the main aspect of a curse that was bestowed that must be broken. I think the author intended for the Jessica stuff to be the curse, but it just didn’t really fit in my opinion. Also, there were no roses incorporated into this book at all and that is a huge Beauty and the Beast aspect that I was missing. Also, I think that the travel app was supposed to be the enchanted mirror aspect, but again, it didn’t really fit.
I enjoyed the characters. I thought they were fun; especially Kenna. I don’t usually like kids in books, but I absolutely loved Kenna. She was just the cutest, happiest, sparky, upbeat girl and she really added to the story and was a great driving factor for Alistair.
I thought Alistair had excellent character growth over the course of the book. He really blossomed from the hardened grump he started out as to a guy who is friendlier and who learns from his mistakes.
Madison is a fun, great personality character, but I didn’t feel the character growth. Sure, in the end she stood up for herself, but she didn’t really change and grow like Alistair. Also, I was waiting for a confrontation with her parents that I never got.
Princess, was a fun concept to the book, but I am bummed that the author made Princess a happy dog that barked all the time. I hate dogs that bark all the time.
The writing style was a little bit slow for me to get acquainted with. It started out kind of hollow; like yelling through a tin can. Over the course of the book it did open up and became deeper. It did flow nicely and had a logical progression of events.
Where the writing really fell flat for me was the Scottish accent portrayal. There were some things that the author wrote with a Scottish accent portrayed like it should be, and then the rest of the book the author forgot about it and wrote the American way. I was hoping for more of the way Dianna Gabaldon writes a Scottish accent. Either that, or don’t write any Scottish accent at all. Let us just assume based off the fact that the book is set in Scotland. The mish mash of the American way of writing it and the Scottish way of writing it made it fall flat for me.
Overall, I did have a very fun time with this book. I read it in one sitting. It kept me captivated and I couldn’t put it down. It was fun and it was a creative, original story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is book 3 in the Braeburn Cliffs series, and if you have read the previous book , Alistair and his daughter -Kenna- were introduced in previous books.
This book is filled with humor, steam, understanding, acceptance , and heart.
Alistair is dealing with being a single father, a crazy ex wife, and the weight of loneliness. They now live in the castle trying to keep his daughter safe. That all changes when Madison sneaks into the castle, his family and heart.
Madison is trying to find a connection to her roots, as an adopted child she wants to find if her roots can show her more of what she can achieve in the future. But when a snowstorm catches her, she crawls through the doggy door with her little dog into the castle, and this is were the story starts.
The struggles each one of the characters are facing makes them so relatable and compelling. They have a connection though they are complete opposites. His little one is adorable and is the one that breaches the distance to Madison, especially when she becomes her nanny.
Alistair though has been burnt really bad in the past and though Madison awakens sentiments he had forgotten, he finds it hard to open up completely.
Be ready to laugh out loud, swoon, and sigh at and with this love story!!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is filled with humor, steam, understanding, acceptance , and heart.
Alistair is dealing with being a single father, a crazy ex wife, and the weight of loneliness. They now live in the castle trying to keep his daughter safe. That all changes when Madison sneaks into the castle, his family and heart.
Madison is trying to find a connection to her roots, as an adopted child she wants to find if her roots can show her more of what she can achieve in the future. But when a snowstorm catches her, she crawls through the doggy door with her little dog into the castle, and this is were the story starts.
The struggles each one of the characters are facing makes them so relatable and compelling. They have a connection though they are complete opposites. His little one is adorable and is the one that breaches the distance to Madison, especially when she becomes her nanny.
Alistair though has been burnt really bad in the past and though Madison awakens sentiments he had forgotten, he finds it hard to open up completely.
Be ready to laugh out loud, swoon, and sigh at and with this love story!!.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 1, 2026
Alistair and Madison . . .
Alistair Shaw finished up his work and closed the curtains to drown out the wind outside. Weston, one of his oldest friends, called to wish him a Merry Christmas Eve. He said his wife Lena was suggesting putting off the Christmas celebration for a few days until they could dig out from the snowstorm. Alistair heard a noise and said goodbye so he could go check up on what that was. He checked on Kenna and she was asleep. But the high-pitched yipping barks that followed were real! The house had a dog door he never sealed since Kenna liked going in and out that way. Hearing an American voice say “Princess, get back here!” was not expected. He lives over a mile away from neighbors. The paparazzi used to stalk him back in London. Won't their harassment ever end? She mumbled to herself about staying here, but no way would he allow that. It turns out her car slammed into a ditch, and she had no other choice in this weather. He was still assuming she was a journalist and was not very welcoming. His ex had embezzled millions from his company and he was the one his Board members dragged through a trial. It still apparently hadn't died down. And the woman looked totally confused! She introduced herself as Madison and is asking for shelter until the weather clears. But he said NO. So she asked for a ride back to civilization... and that didn't work either. So she asked if he would call a tow truck since her phone has no signal. But Lyle McGregor replied that was impossible until he can get through the snow. With no other way to get rid of the woman, he gave her one non-negotiable rule in the castle: stay out of the west wing. Of course her dog heads directly to the west wing. She discovers a young girl around 6 years old, Kenna. She is sweet and falls in love with Madison's dog, Princess.
Madison is a sweet and kind person, but she also has strength and confidence to stand up for herself. Seeing Alistair's obvious love for his daughter, however, made all the difference in Madison's dealing with him. Will she be able to knock down the walls he has built to keep everyone away? Can Madison's kind nature remove his mistrust of all women after his wife had betrayed him? Will she give up on him and leave? Or is he ready to finally realize that he can trust her and give her a chance as they begin to accept their love and become a family?
Alistair Shaw finished up his work and closed the curtains to drown out the wind outside. Weston, one of his oldest friends, called to wish him a Merry Christmas Eve. He said his wife Lena was suggesting putting off the Christmas celebration for a few days until they could dig out from the snowstorm. Alistair heard a noise and said goodbye so he could go check up on what that was. He checked on Kenna and she was asleep. But the high-pitched yipping barks that followed were real! The house had a dog door he never sealed since Kenna liked going in and out that way. Hearing an American voice say “Princess, get back here!” was not expected. He lives over a mile away from neighbors. The paparazzi used to stalk him back in London. Won't their harassment ever end? She mumbled to herself about staying here, but no way would he allow that. It turns out her car slammed into a ditch, and she had no other choice in this weather. He was still assuming she was a journalist and was not very welcoming. His ex had embezzled millions from his company and he was the one his Board members dragged through a trial. It still apparently hadn't died down. And the woman looked totally confused! She introduced herself as Madison and is asking for shelter until the weather clears. But he said NO. So she asked for a ride back to civilization... and that didn't work either. So she asked if he would call a tow truck since her phone has no signal. But Lyle McGregor replied that was impossible until he can get through the snow. With no other way to get rid of the woman, he gave her one non-negotiable rule in the castle: stay out of the west wing. Of course her dog heads directly to the west wing. She discovers a young girl around 6 years old, Kenna. She is sweet and falls in love with Madison's dog, Princess.
Madison is a sweet and kind person, but she also has strength and confidence to stand up for herself. Seeing Alistair's obvious love for his daughter, however, made all the difference in Madison's dealing with him. Will she be able to knock down the walls he has built to keep everyone away? Can Madison's kind nature remove his mistrust of all women after his wife had betrayed him? Will she give up on him and leave? Or is he ready to finally realize that he can trust her and give her a chance as they begin to accept their love and become a family?
October 2, 2026
2.5⭐
2🌶️
Leslie brings us the third and final installment to the Braeburn Cliffs series and it was also the one I was looking most forwards to. We have had glimpses of Alistair and his little girl, Kenna from the previous books and I was automatically intrigued with his story.
Alistair escapes to Braeburn with Kenna, to get away from the relentless hounding from the media. His ex stole millions from the company he owns and people want answers. Living in a secluded and remote castle (Dunthorpe) means he can keep his daughter safe. Except for one night when he discovers a yappy dog, Princess and her owner attempting to climb through the dog to retrieve her back.
Madison is trying to discover the place where her birth mum called home and when her van ends up in a ditch during a snow storm, Princess has other ideas. She ends up at a castle, with a grumpy owner to match. Alistair is reluctant on letting her stay, but with the roads blocked and nowhere else for her to go, he finally agrees one one condition - only if she stays away from the west wing.
Lo and behold, Princess manages to sneak out the guest room and ends up at the West wing, where they also Kenna. She automatically takes a liking to Princess and Madison and with no potential nannies to fill in the post, Alistair proposes a deal with Madison. If she agrees to help with Kenna, he is provide her a place to stay whilst her van gets fixed, besides being paid for it too.
This is always meant to be a temporary pit stop for Madison, but is she willing to stay for the little girl who stole her heart and the man who refuses to see what they could be?
I honestly wanted to DNF this book several times. I couldn't connect with Alistair in this book. I felt that he was just so rude and brash to Madison from the moment he set eyes on her, even going as far as accusing her of being a journalist with a motive to get closer to him and Kenna. Madison was nothing but apologetic, which I didn't think she deserved to be faced with Alistair's wrath. He was repeatedly rude to her until he needed her help to look after Kenna and somehow we get a different Alistair? 👀 Oh, and he also never once apologised for his actions which I found shocking.
The connection between Alistair and Madison was also lacking. I don't know how they went from disliking each other to somehow falling for the other is such a short space of time. We don't get to see these feelings build and it felt like we were somehow forced to accept as a couple.
Alistair was insufferable in my opinion, and I think Madison should had made him grovel so much more for the way he treated her, or his loved ones who just wanted to help him. I don't even think he deserved Madison but hey ho!
In saying this, this book will undoubtedly be a gem for others but personally for me, it sadly missed the mark 🥹
2🌶️
Leslie brings us the third and final installment to the Braeburn Cliffs series and it was also the one I was looking most forwards to. We have had glimpses of Alistair and his little girl, Kenna from the previous books and I was automatically intrigued with his story.
Alistair escapes to Braeburn with Kenna, to get away from the relentless hounding from the media. His ex stole millions from the company he owns and people want answers. Living in a secluded and remote castle (Dunthorpe) means he can keep his daughter safe. Except for one night when he discovers a yappy dog, Princess and her owner attempting to climb through the dog to retrieve her back.
Madison is trying to discover the place where her birth mum called home and when her van ends up in a ditch during a snow storm, Princess has other ideas. She ends up at a castle, with a grumpy owner to match. Alistair is reluctant on letting her stay, but with the roads blocked and nowhere else for her to go, he finally agrees one one condition - only if she stays away from the west wing.
Lo and behold, Princess manages to sneak out the guest room and ends up at the West wing, where they also Kenna. She automatically takes a liking to Princess and Madison and with no potential nannies to fill in the post, Alistair proposes a deal with Madison. If she agrees to help with Kenna, he is provide her a place to stay whilst her van gets fixed, besides being paid for it too.
This is always meant to be a temporary pit stop for Madison, but is she willing to stay for the little girl who stole her heart and the man who refuses to see what they could be?
I honestly wanted to DNF this book several times. I couldn't connect with Alistair in this book. I felt that he was just so rude and brash to Madison from the moment he set eyes on her, even going as far as accusing her of being a journalist with a motive to get closer to him and Kenna. Madison was nothing but apologetic, which I didn't think she deserved to be faced with Alistair's wrath. He was repeatedly rude to her until he needed her help to look after Kenna and somehow we get a different Alistair? 👀 Oh, and he also never once apologised for his actions which I found shocking.
The connection between Alistair and Madison was also lacking. I don't know how they went from disliking each other to somehow falling for the other is such a short space of time. We don't get to see these feelings build and it felt like we were somehow forced to accept as a couple.
Alistair was insufferable in my opinion, and I think Madison should had made him grovel so much more for the way he treated her, or his loved ones who just wanted to help him. I don't even think he deserved Madison but hey ho!
In saying this, this book will undoubtedly be a gem for others but personally for me, it sadly missed the mark 🥹
September 5, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Any book set in Scotland is a dream for me. Scotland has such a soft spot in my heart, so I was already predisposed to love this one. But even better, a snowbound Highland castle? Sign me up!
In the first chapters, I didn't love Madison as a character, and I didn't understand some of her decisions. But then we delve a bit deeper into her backstory and the way she interacts with people, and I grew really fond of her, as well as of Alistair! I knew this was book three in the series (which also works as a complete standalone), and I hadn't read the other two, but I could tell some of the mentioned characters had been the leads in books one and two. After finishing this one, guess what I'll be doing next? Going to immerse myself in the rest of the series, because I had SUCH a great time with this!
Alistair is such a wonderful father, and Kenna is just delightful, such a sweet kid! My heart broke for Alistair several times throughout this. You can really see the trauma he's been through, how hard he tries to be a good father and to care for Kenna above everything else. Such a well-written character, through his flaws and strengths. Same can be said for Madison, really.
The spicy scenes, unfortunately, weren't super great. I wish they were better written, but I'm sure there are others who'll enjoy them more than I did. Just my personal preference!
Pacing was just right in my opinion, nothing felt overly rushed or slow. I loved seeing Madison get closer to Kenna, and watching Kenna grow.
If you're a sucker for grumpy single dads, forced proximity, and a Highland village where everyone knows everyone, pick this one up! It's got heart, it's got heat (even if the spice wasn't quite my favorite), and it's got a family being built in the messiest, sweetest way possible. And now that I've had a taste of the Braeburn Cliffs world, I'm absolutely going back to start from book one. Highly recommend if you love found family threaded through your romance.
#TheGrumpIGotStuckWith #NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Any book set in Scotland is a dream for me. Scotland has such a soft spot in my heart, so I was already predisposed to love this one. But even better, a snowbound Highland castle? Sign me up!
In the first chapters, I didn't love Madison as a character, and I didn't understand some of her decisions. But then we delve a bit deeper into her backstory and the way she interacts with people, and I grew really fond of her, as well as of Alistair! I knew this was book three in the series (which also works as a complete standalone), and I hadn't read the other two, but I could tell some of the mentioned characters had been the leads in books one and two. After finishing this one, guess what I'll be doing next? Going to immerse myself in the rest of the series, because I had SUCH a great time with this!
Alistair is such a wonderful father, and Kenna is just delightful, such a sweet kid! My heart broke for Alistair several times throughout this. You can really see the trauma he's been through, how hard he tries to be a good father and to care for Kenna above everything else. Such a well-written character, through his flaws and strengths. Same can be said for Madison, really.
The spicy scenes, unfortunately, weren't super great. I wish they were better written, but I'm sure there are others who'll enjoy them more than I did. Just my personal preference!
Pacing was just right in my opinion, nothing felt overly rushed or slow. I loved seeing Madison get closer to Kenna, and watching Kenna grow.
If you're a sucker for grumpy single dads, forced proximity, and a Highland village where everyone knows everyone, pick this one up! It's got heart, it's got heat (even if the spice wasn't quite my favorite), and it's got a family being built in the messiest, sweetest way possible. And now that I've had a taste of the Braeburn Cliffs world, I'm absolutely going back to start from book one. Highly recommend if you love found family threaded through your romance.
#TheGrumpIGotStuckWith #NetGalley
Review of advance copy
This entertaining, grumpy/sunshine single dad romance was a joy to read. Alistair and Madison’s first encounter is hilarious and immediately makes it impossible not to want to find out what happens next. These two are at odds at first, but his sweet little daughter Kenna draws them together. Kenna and Madison instantly connect and Alistair
will do anything to make his little girl happy, though Madison’s dog Princess is trying his last nerve. With Madison stranded and waiting on car repairs, he asks her to be his daughter’s nanny for a week or so, then for a bit longer until he can find a permanent one. He never expected to act on his attraction to her or to fall for her, especially after his ex tried to destroy him and his company, then abandoned their daughter.
Madison is in Scotland to find a connection to her deceased birth mother. She only recently found out she was adopted and is questioning so much about her life, including the career she doesn’t enjoy and her role in her family. She has always felt disconnected to her parents and has tried so hard to win their approval. Now she is doing something for herself, whether her parents approve or not. When her grumpy host asks her to be a nanny to his adorable little girl, she agrees, already feeling very attached to her. She never expected the sparks between her and Alistair to combust or to fall for him. There is a softer, more approachable side to him, and another very sensual and irresistible side that Madison wants to get to know better. Unfortunately, his past is intruding and resurrecting his fears about keeping his daughter, and now her, safe. Alistair becomes more demanding and controlling, reminding Madison of her parents, and sparking her need to distance herself. Both are questioning their feelings for the other as their relationship deteriorates. Thankfully, they have good friends that are willing to listen, advise and nudge them in the right direction….toward each other.
This sweet and spicy romance has my full recommendation.
will do anything to make his little girl happy, though Madison’s dog Princess is trying his last nerve. With Madison stranded and waiting on car repairs, he asks her to be his daughter’s nanny for a week or so, then for a bit longer until he can find a permanent one. He never expected to act on his attraction to her or to fall for her, especially after his ex tried to destroy him and his company, then abandoned their daughter.
Madison is in Scotland to find a connection to her deceased birth mother. She only recently found out she was adopted and is questioning so much about her life, including the career she doesn’t enjoy and her role in her family. She has always felt disconnected to her parents and has tried so hard to win their approval. Now she is doing something for herself, whether her parents approve or not. When her grumpy host asks her to be a nanny to his adorable little girl, she agrees, already feeling very attached to her. She never expected the sparks between her and Alistair to combust or to fall for him. There is a softer, more approachable side to him, and another very sensual and irresistible side that Madison wants to get to know better. Unfortunately, his past is intruding and resurrecting his fears about keeping his daughter, and now her, safe. Alistair becomes more demanding and controlling, reminding Madison of her parents, and sparking her need to distance herself. Both are questioning their feelings for the other as their relationship deteriorates. Thankfully, they have good friends that are willing to listen, advise and nudge them in the right direction….toward each other.
This sweet and spicy romance has my full recommendation.
September 5, 2026
Lord-crankypants and doggie door invader... Madison heads to Scotland in search of a connection to her birth mom, on a journey to finds herself and her roots in hopes of finding a place she feels at home, a place she belongs. She finds herself stranded with Princess and breaking into a castle through doggy door, only to discover the most handsome crankiest jerk, called him "lord shut-in keeper of creepy castle". I laughed so hard at that scene. Her optimistic, fearless, artistic, creative peppy nature captivated Alistair moment she shimmied in with her yappy tiny dog. Alistair's world had been turned upside down, he'd been exploited, accused, sued, and kicked out of a company he started, Voyages. Alistair must repair his broken life after Jessica destroyed it, but it's hard when world is against you, paps keep hounding and printing false stories while following your every move all while trying to raise and protect a young daughter against the vultures, frenzy and lies against you. Out of desperation, peace of mind Alistair makes a bold move to leave London and heads to Dunlop in Scotland, buying a castle in middle of nowhere he becomes a recluse. Last thing Alistair wanted was another intruding reporter out to make money on his behalf, yet this intruder didn't quite act like a reporter and seemed more interested in his refrigerator and warm place. I loved reading Alistair and Madison journey, their banter with Hanna was adorable. Hanna and Princes are the cutest. Alistair is such a sweet, loving father, absolutely adorable with Hanna and then with Brodie. Their friends are incredible and I love reading about Locke and Isla with their baby Andy and about Weston, Lena and Aisling. Braeburn seems like an amazing place to raise a family, with incredible town folk, and scenic places. Men in kilts are sexy, but nothing is cuter than imaging toddler in kilt. This is a great story about finding home, finding love, finding a place you feel you belong and embracing a whole new life. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC I received.
Review of advance copy received from Author
You’ll go from laughing to fanning yourself to wanting to “Gibb-Slap” someone!
Having met Alistair and his daughter, Kenna in the prior books in this series, you’re hoping for all good things with his relocation to a remote castle after being cleared of his ex, Jessica stealing funds from his company. I feel for Madison as she discovers that she was adopted after her birth mother passes, and sets off to her mother’s homeland to see if she can connect with a past she never knew as she struggles to fit in with her parents and career. That lasts until Madison is stranded in a snow storm and enters through the doggy door of a castle with her small, but loud dog, Princess, where Alistair discovers her. To say things start on the wrong foot wouldn’t be a misnomer. With specific instructions to avoid the east wing when Alistair shows her to her room for the night, it’s almost like you know fate will play a hand in their story. Princess does what Princess does best and gets into trouble by discovering Kenna’s bedroom. Let’s just say it changes the tides with how Alistair and Madison continue as he offers her a temporary nanny position while he tries to find a new one. Yet when his ex is caught, it brings the press back into his life and he attempts to lock down Kenna in the castle. Madison breaks through Alistair’s rules when she describes the effects on Kenna, and this is where things start to change. Alistair overreacts when the press hounds him outside the jail where Jessica just unloaded a whole new can of worms, and Madison decides their moment in time is done. While Alistair deals with the mess of his life, a decision to support a new startup may be a little misguided. Madison is crushed when she tries one of her birth mother’s passions and it does not go well. So when Madison makes the decision to continue on her travels, Alistair is faced with a future of loneliness unless he can find a way back to Madison. It's time to go big, or go home time!
Having met Alistair and his daughter, Kenna in the prior books in this series, you’re hoping for all good things with his relocation to a remote castle after being cleared of his ex, Jessica stealing funds from his company. I feel for Madison as she discovers that she was adopted after her birth mother passes, and sets off to her mother’s homeland to see if she can connect with a past she never knew as she struggles to fit in with her parents and career. That lasts until Madison is stranded in a snow storm and enters through the doggy door of a castle with her small, but loud dog, Princess, where Alistair discovers her. To say things start on the wrong foot wouldn’t be a misnomer. With specific instructions to avoid the east wing when Alistair shows her to her room for the night, it’s almost like you know fate will play a hand in their story. Princess does what Princess does best and gets into trouble by discovering Kenna’s bedroom. Let’s just say it changes the tides with how Alistair and Madison continue as he offers her a temporary nanny position while he tries to find a new one. Yet when his ex is caught, it brings the press back into his life and he attempts to lock down Kenna in the castle. Madison breaks through Alistair’s rules when she describes the effects on Kenna, and this is where things start to change. Alistair overreacts when the press hounds him outside the jail where Jessica just unloaded a whole new can of worms, and Madison decides their moment in time is done. While Alistair deals with the mess of his life, a decision to support a new startup may be a little misguided. Madison is crushed when she tries one of her birth mother’s passions and it does not go well. So when Madison makes the decision to continue on her travels, Alistair is faced with a future of loneliness unless he can find a way back to Madison. It's time to go big, or go home time!
September 7, 2026
The Grump I Got Stuck With by Leslie North
3.5/4 out of 5 stars
NetGalley
Thank you, Leslie and NetGalley, for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my honest opinion 💚
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to climb through a doggy door for warmth only for the owner to catch you and be a total grump? Well, here’s one way to answer that question 😉
The Grump I Got Stuck With is Alistair’s story after he was included in a trial case and aggressive paparazzi. To protect himself and his 4 year old daughter when her mother scammed him and abandoned the family, he found his way to a remote Scotland castle. Enter Madison who is on a journey to find herself and connect, only to get hit with a storm. She does what any of us would after getting no answer while having a pup of her own and climbs in through the only entry for safety. The welcome isn’t pleasant, but with time, they strike a deal.
I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this story, especially the moments with the daughter, Kenna. It’s adorable, sweet, and what any parent would want for their child rather than them being stuck to a screen. Plus, Princess (the pup) made some of those moments even better and hilarious 😂
The romance though was okay. They definitely had a connection and are made for each other but he is so so so so grumpy and does not like to listen to others input (which I can kinda get because of his daughter). I’ll add another thing below but marking it as the spoiler section!
*** SPOILERS ***
The part that threw me so much was how quick she forgave him and how quick she said yes to marrying him. I would have liked more time between those moments to feel more positive and maybe a little more time between the engagement and the baby at the end.
Overall, it’s not a bad book. It has sweet moments, sections where you WILL want to 🤛 Alistair, and others where you’ll say f*ck yeah. So I say read if it interests you 💚
3.5/4 out of 5 stars
NetGalley
Thank you, Leslie and NetGalley, for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my honest opinion 💚
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to climb through a doggy door for warmth only for the owner to catch you and be a total grump? Well, here’s one way to answer that question 😉
The Grump I Got Stuck With is Alistair’s story after he was included in a trial case and aggressive paparazzi. To protect himself and his 4 year old daughter when her mother scammed him and abandoned the family, he found his way to a remote Scotland castle. Enter Madison who is on a journey to find herself and connect, only to get hit with a storm. She does what any of us would after getting no answer while having a pup of her own and climbs in through the only entry for safety. The welcome isn’t pleasant, but with time, they strike a deal.
I enjoyed a lot of aspects of this story, especially the moments with the daughter, Kenna. It’s adorable, sweet, and what any parent would want for their child rather than them being stuck to a screen. Plus, Princess (the pup) made some of those moments even better and hilarious 😂
The romance though was okay. They definitely had a connection and are made for each other but he is so so so so grumpy and does not like to listen to others input (which I can kinda get because of his daughter). I’ll add another thing below but marking it as the spoiler section!
*** SPOILERS ***
The part that threw me so much was how quick she forgave him and how quick she said yes to marrying him. I would have liked more time between those moments to feel more positive and maybe a little more time between the engagement and the baby at the end.
Overall, it’s not a bad book. It has sweet moments, sections where you WILL want to 🤛 Alistair, and others where you’ll say f*ck yeah. So I say read if it interests you 💚
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Alistair may be my favorite of the three Braeburn Billionaires!
Needing to get out of the blizzard, Madison climbed through the doggie door in the castle near where her van crashed, only to meet the disappointing and handsome face of Alistair, who thinks she's a journalist. Instead, she gets hired on to be his daughter Kenna's nanny once his two other options fall through and he sees how good Madison is with her. It was only supposed to be a month, which was extended to two. Slowly, Alistair thaws towards Madison, especially after an outing in London. Just as things seem to be going well for everyone, Alistair's ex is found, and this drags him back into the media circus that was his life before he escaped to Braeburn. So what happens when he says Madison is just the nanny and he doesn't listen to her?
Alistair and Madison get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
This was adorable, and my heart went out to Kenna and all that she's gone through in her short life. To have her life and her support system ripped from her, then to not be able to understand why her father is demanding total lockdown is terrible. I do love that Alistair was just as clueless in love as his friends and that his first attempt at winning her back was just as terrible as his friends' attempts were. I do have to wonder if he would have had better luck asking his assistant, as his assistant was pretty confident. And I do have to wonder if the outcome that came by the store opening was the one Madison was hoping for when they celebrated their engagement, or if that was just a happy surprise.
I received an advance review copy from the author via Booksprout, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Needing to get out of the blizzard, Madison climbed through the doggie door in the castle near where her van crashed, only to meet the disappointing and handsome face of Alistair, who thinks she's a journalist. Instead, she gets hired on to be his daughter Kenna's nanny once his two other options fall through and he sees how good Madison is with her. It was only supposed to be a month, which was extended to two. Slowly, Alistair thaws towards Madison, especially after an outing in London. Just as things seem to be going well for everyone, Alistair's ex is found, and this drags him back into the media circus that was his life before he escaped to Braeburn. So what happens when he says Madison is just the nanny and he doesn't listen to her?
Alistair and Madison get their happy ending in this standalone book in a series.
This was adorable, and my heart went out to Kenna and all that she's gone through in her short life. To have her life and her support system ripped from her, then to not be able to understand why her father is demanding total lockdown is terrible. I do love that Alistair was just as clueless in love as his friends and that his first attempt at winning her back was just as terrible as his friends' attempts were. I do have to wonder if he would have had better luck asking his assistant, as his assistant was pretty confident. And I do have to wonder if the outcome that came by the store opening was the one Madison was hoping for when they celebrated their engagement, or if that was just a happy surprise.
I received an advance review copy from the author via Booksprout, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2026
Loved Madison,Alistair and Kenna.
Alistair has hidden himsrlf and his daughter in an old castle in the Scottish Highland's away from everyone,except his closest friends.After his ex destroyed his reputation and he lost his company,he doesn't trust anyone.
When Madison wriggles through his doggy door,with her puppy princess,in a snow storm,he accuses her of being a journalist.
Madison had to wriggle through the doggy door as no one answered the door and she did not want to freeze to death in the snowstorm.She was not expecting a handsome grump at the other end.Alistair lets her stay the night,but warns her to not to go anywhere near the west wing.Princess decides thats where she is going to run off and explore.They find Kenna,Alistair's daughter.Who is delighted to see them both and falls in love with them.Alistair is not happy.
Alistair needs a naany desperately for Kenna,but he is not having much luck.When he sees Kenna getting on with Madison and how Madison is with het,he asks her to become his temporary nanny.Madison refuses,then changes her mind.
The reason she is in Scotland is to find out where she truly belomgs and she cannot let Alistair or Kenna distract her from her goal,even though she is falling for them.Alistair and Kenna also fall in love with Madison.
When Alistair's past catches up with him it all ends in heartbreak.They manage to sort it all out and it all ends well.
Loved their sweet happily ever after.
Kenna is absolutely adorable and Princess is so cute.
There is lots of laughter,emotions,great friendships,found family,sizzling chemistry,swoony moments,cosy village vibes,romance and a happily ever after.
Another great romance by Leslie North.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Alistair has hidden himsrlf and his daughter in an old castle in the Scottish Highland's away from everyone,except his closest friends.After his ex destroyed his reputation and he lost his company,he doesn't trust anyone.
When Madison wriggles through his doggy door,with her puppy princess,in a snow storm,he accuses her of being a journalist.
Madison had to wriggle through the doggy door as no one answered the door and she did not want to freeze to death in the snowstorm.She was not expecting a handsome grump at the other end.Alistair lets her stay the night,but warns her to not to go anywhere near the west wing.Princess decides thats where she is going to run off and explore.They find Kenna,Alistair's daughter.Who is delighted to see them both and falls in love with them.Alistair is not happy.
Alistair needs a naany desperately for Kenna,but he is not having much luck.When he sees Kenna getting on with Madison and how Madison is with het,he asks her to become his temporary nanny.Madison refuses,then changes her mind.
The reason she is in Scotland is to find out where she truly belomgs and she cannot let Alistair or Kenna distract her from her goal,even though she is falling for them.Alistair and Kenna also fall in love with Madison.
When Alistair's past catches up with him it all ends in heartbreak.They manage to sort it all out and it all ends well.
Loved their sweet happily ever after.
Kenna is absolutely adorable and Princess is so cute.
There is lots of laughter,emotions,great friendships,found family,sizzling chemistry,swoony moments,cosy village vibes,romance and a happily ever after.
Another great romance by Leslie North.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 17, 2026
This is 3rd book of the series, but you don't really need to read the first 2 to know what's going on here. But it's more fun if you did. This is Alistar's book, and he's the single dad that just gone thru a bunch of lawsuits very publicly, which we learned that from the prior book. Here we learned why and how it all went down. At the same time, American girl, Madison was sneaking into his house via the doggie door, and of course, craziness ensues.
As usual, the author write these independent, awesome boss bitch who can take care of themselves, and have a backbone and not be walked all over just because the guy is handsome, powerful and rich. Regular human decencies, courtesies, and just over all respects is needed in order to make things work.
I like the pacing in the book. And as usual, for me, if you put a kid in there, I'm going to love it. And Kenna is a little mini-boss in the making. I did feel bad how all the events led her to the castle with no friends, but so grateful Madison is just what the doctors order and keep this little girl happy and continue to have fun. And again, at the height of their conflict, so proud of Madison for being so level headed. Did not get overly emotional. And the first sign of him coming back to her, she again weigh out the pros and cons and protect herself first and foremost and then make the decision from there. So proud of her. I love these books! And of course, they get their HEA. I love that Madison appreciates what Alistar's wealth can provide her, but she still wants the most plain, doesn't want to impose and genuinely love being there. She's just all around a good egg.
Thank you NetGalley & Relay Publishing for the ARC.
As usual, the author write these independent, awesome boss bitch who can take care of themselves, and have a backbone and not be walked all over just because the guy is handsome, powerful and rich. Regular human decencies, courtesies, and just over all respects is needed in order to make things work.
I like the pacing in the book. And as usual, for me, if you put a kid in there, I'm going to love it. And Kenna is a little mini-boss in the making. I did feel bad how all the events led her to the castle with no friends, but so grateful Madison is just what the doctors order and keep this little girl happy and continue to have fun. And again, at the height of their conflict, so proud of Madison for being so level headed. Did not get overly emotional. And the first sign of him coming back to her, she again weigh out the pros and cons and protect herself first and foremost and then make the decision from there. So proud of her. I love these books! And of course, they get their HEA. I love that Madison appreciates what Alistar's wealth can provide her, but she still wants the most plain, doesn't want to impose and genuinely love being there. She's just all around a good egg.
Thank you NetGalley & Relay Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy
The Grump I Got Stuck With is exactly the kind of romance that makes you smile without even realizing it. From the very first chapter, the chemistry between the characters sparks in that addictive, slow‑burn way that keeps you turning pages. Leslie North knows how to write a grumpy hero who isn’t just rude for the sake of it — he’s layered, guarded, and surprisingly vulnerable once the sunshine heroine starts cracking through those walls.
What I loved most is how natural their dynamic feels. The banter is sharp and genuinely funny, the tension builds at just the right pace, and the emotional moments land with real warmth. You can feel the shift as the grump softens, not because he’s forced to, but because the heroine brings out parts of him he’s kept hidden. Their connection feels earned, and that makes the payoff so satisfying.
The billionaire backdrop adds fun escapism without overshadowing the heart of the story. The settings are vivid, the side characters add charm, and the plot moves quickly without ever feeling rushed. It’s the kind of romance you can sink into in one sitting — comforting, engaging, and full of those little moments that make you grin.
If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, billionaire romances, or stories where emotional growth is just as enjoyable as the swoon, this book delivers all of it with ease. It’s sweet, steamy in all the right places, and packed with the kind of charm that keeps you coming back to Leslie North’s books.
A delightful, feel‑good read — highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a review voluntarily.
What I loved most is how natural their dynamic feels. The banter is sharp and genuinely funny, the tension builds at just the right pace, and the emotional moments land with real warmth. You can feel the shift as the grump softens, not because he’s forced to, but because the heroine brings out parts of him he’s kept hidden. Their connection feels earned, and that makes the payoff so satisfying.
The billionaire backdrop adds fun escapism without overshadowing the heart of the story. The settings are vivid, the side characters add charm, and the plot moves quickly without ever feeling rushed. It’s the kind of romance you can sink into in one sitting — comforting, engaging, and full of those little moments that make you grin.
If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, billionaire romances, or stories where emotional growth is just as enjoyable as the swoon, this book delivers all of it with ease. It’s sweet, steamy in all the right places, and packed with the kind of charm that keeps you coming back to Leslie North’s books.
A delightful, feel‑good read — highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Perfection! I loved it
I have loved every one of the stories in the Braeburn Cliffs series, where three best friends come back to the a little Scottish town that they spent time at when young.
This is Alistair’s story.
We met and got to know a bit about Alistair in the two previous stories, how he was betrayed by the mother of his child in the worst possible way.
Being hounded by the press, fighting to prove his innocence and most importantly protecting his daughter, Kenna.
Starting over in a castle he purchased in the outskirts of Braeburn, he works remotely wanting peace after all the turmoil, hiding away with Kenna.
Madison literally breaks into the castle with her little dog Princess after destroying her car in a snow storm.
That’s when all the fun starts.
Alistair’s quiet life is interrupted.
He doesn’t want a visitor, especially an uninvited beautiful woman and her noisy dog who ends up stuck at the castle with them over Christmas.
He is the grump to her sunshine and his daughter adores both the dog and Madison.
I loved everything about this story from -
Their unusual meeting
His grumpiness
Her sparkle
How sweet she was with his daughter
The fun times
Them falling for each other
The sad moments
The emotional moments
The steamy scenes
Such a gorgeous story with the inclusion of Alistair’s best friends, partners and family plus the townsfolk of Braeburn making it extra special.
I absolutely loved it.
Thank you Leslie North and Booksprout for the opportunity to read this gifted copy, of which all opinions are my own.
I have loved every one of the stories in the Braeburn Cliffs series, where three best friends come back to the a little Scottish town that they spent time at when young.
This is Alistair’s story.
We met and got to know a bit about Alistair in the two previous stories, how he was betrayed by the mother of his child in the worst possible way.
Being hounded by the press, fighting to prove his innocence and most importantly protecting his daughter, Kenna.
Starting over in a castle he purchased in the outskirts of Braeburn, he works remotely wanting peace after all the turmoil, hiding away with Kenna.
Madison literally breaks into the castle with her little dog Princess after destroying her car in a snow storm.
That’s when all the fun starts.
Alistair’s quiet life is interrupted.
He doesn’t want a visitor, especially an uninvited beautiful woman and her noisy dog who ends up stuck at the castle with them over Christmas.
He is the grump to her sunshine and his daughter adores both the dog and Madison.
I loved everything about this story from -
Their unusual meeting
His grumpiness
Her sparkle
How sweet she was with his daughter
The fun times
Them falling for each other
The sad moments
The emotional moments
The steamy scenes
Such a gorgeous story with the inclusion of Alistair’s best friends, partners and family plus the townsfolk of Braeburn making it extra special.
I absolutely loved it.
Thank you Leslie North and Booksprout for the opportunity to read this gifted copy, of which all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely loved "The Grump I Got Stuck With!" Leslie North delivered everything I enjoy in a romance—great chemistry, witty banter, heartfelt family moments, and a grumpy hero who completely stole my heart.
Madison is such a fun, relatable heroine. She finds herself in an impossible situation, but her kindness, humor, and determination shine through from the very beginning. I loved how she challenged Alistair's grumpy, guarded personality without ever losing herself. Their chemistry was undeniable, and watching their relationship slowly develop was both heartwarming and entertaining.
Alistair is the perfect grumpy Scottish billionaire, but it's the softer moments with Madison and his daughter, Kenna, that truly made me fall for him. Kenna and Princess were wonderful additions to the story and brought so much warmth, laughter, and emotion.
The Scottish Highlands and the cozy castle setting created the perfect backdrop for this charming romance. I laughed, smiled, and didn't want the story to end.
I loved this book just as much as the rest of the Braeburn Cliffs series. Every installment has been engaging, romantic, and full of memorable characters. If you love grumpy/sunshine romances, slow-burn chemistry, adorable family moments, and beautiful Scottish settings, this series is a must-read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Madison is such a fun, relatable heroine. She finds herself in an impossible situation, but her kindness, humor, and determination shine through from the very beginning. I loved how she challenged Alistair's grumpy, guarded personality without ever losing herself. Their chemistry was undeniable, and watching their relationship slowly develop was both heartwarming and entertaining.
Alistair is the perfect grumpy Scottish billionaire, but it's the softer moments with Madison and his daughter, Kenna, that truly made me fall for him. Kenna and Princess were wonderful additions to the story and brought so much warmth, laughter, and emotion.
The Scottish Highlands and the cozy castle setting created the perfect backdrop for this charming romance. I laughed, smiled, and didn't want the story to end.
I loved this book just as much as the rest of the Braeburn Cliffs series. Every installment has been engaging, romantic, and full of memorable characters. If you love grumpy/sunshine romances, slow-burn chemistry, adorable family moments, and beautiful Scottish settings, this series is a must-read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Madison is traveling around Scotland in her van with her small puppy Princess on the search for insight or contacts who knew her birth mother that she only found out about after her passing. Alistair is literally trying to shrink his world as small as possible and left London after a huge scandal with his embezzling and lying ex, the company he founded, the board and the courts. He has an adorable 4 year old, Kenna, who he is protecting as best he can but in general is shutting her into the house like Rapunzel to keep her protected. Madison literally crawls into his dog door during a huge storm and they have a contentious start... for a long time. Madison is searching Scotland to find meaning in her life and see if finding out more about her mom will help her feel settled. Alistair is trying to find a place that is peaceful where he can safely raise Kenna. He needs an emergency nanny and she needs temporary employment while her van gets fixed, which works since they both adore Kenna and her bubbly personality. Will these two black cats do anything past bickering?
This is book 3 in the series set in Braeburn Cliffs. There is enough context that you do not need to have read the other books to know what is going on. However, it is a more fulfilling reading experience knowing the stories of the two other couples. I am sad to see the series end but there is an HEA for them as a whole.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book 3 in the series set in Braeburn Cliffs. There is enough context that you do not need to have read the other books to know what is going on. However, it is a more fulfilling reading experience knowing the stories of the two other couples. I am sad to see the series end but there is an HEA for them as a whole.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Review of advance copy
Funny and sweet billionaire romance.
Madison is traveling through Scotland to find out more about where she came from, but an unexpected snowstorm leaves her stranded with her vehicle in a ditch. The closest shelter is a Scottish castle, she knocks on the door, but when no one answers she finds a doggy door and crawls inside only to discover that the castle is not unoccupied after all. Alistair is furious that a woman is crawling through the doggy door, which he meant to lock up, and even less pleased about the yappy little dog with her. But with a snowstorm raging outside and no way to get the woman and her dog into the village he agrees to let Madison sleep in a guest room for the night. For Alistair finding a nanny for his daughter Kenna is proving more difficult than he imagined, but when he sees how fond of the little dog and of Madison that Kenna has become while they were snowed in, he offers her the nanny job.
These are complex, realistic, and very well written characters that made me laugh at times and also tugged at my heartstrings. Steamy, sometimes finny, and touching romance with some surprise twists in the plot but with a very satisfying happily ever after that I highly recommend to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
Madison is traveling through Scotland to find out more about where she came from, but an unexpected snowstorm leaves her stranded with her vehicle in a ditch. The closest shelter is a Scottish castle, she knocks on the door, but when no one answers she finds a doggy door and crawls inside only to discover that the castle is not unoccupied after all. Alistair is furious that a woman is crawling through the doggy door, which he meant to lock up, and even less pleased about the yappy little dog with her. But with a snowstorm raging outside and no way to get the woman and her dog into the village he agrees to let Madison sleep in a guest room for the night. For Alistair finding a nanny for his daughter Kenna is proving more difficult than he imagined, but when he sees how fond of the little dog and of Madison that Kenna has become while they were snowed in, he offers her the nanny job.
These are complex, realistic, and very well written characters that made me laugh at times and also tugged at my heartstrings. Steamy, sometimes finny, and touching romance with some surprise twists in the plot but with a very satisfying happily ever after that I highly recommend to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
September 4, 2026
From the other books, I never thought Alistair would be my favorite character out of this series, so that was a little surprising for me. He is such a devoted dad and will do whatever to protect his daughter but ends up being a softie with a big heart.
The beginning of this book had me hooked, imagining Madison and her dog sneaking through a dog door at a castle and then running into the workaholic ogre Alistair. Throw in the enthusiasm that Princess the dog has and you can tell Alistair doesn't want anything to do with the dog or Madison. However, like I mentioned before, he will do anything for his daughter, and when she falls in love with Princess and Madison, it seems like he is going to have to figure out how to keep them around.
Leslie continues to write these fun free‑spirited FMCs who meet these grumpy men and somehow get past all the walls they’ve built. Madison fits that pattern as well as the other books. She comes off to Alistair as a little chaotic at first, but the more time he sees her with his daughter and her dog, she ends up bringing out a softer side of him that we haven’t really seen from the other guys. Watching him slowly shift from annoyed to actually caring was why he became my favorite.
Each book in this series gets better, and Leslie has become one of my new favorite authors to read.
Thank you Leslie and BookSprout for the Advanced Copy.
The beginning of this book had me hooked, imagining Madison and her dog sneaking through a dog door at a castle and then running into the workaholic ogre Alistair. Throw in the enthusiasm that Princess the dog has and you can tell Alistair doesn't want anything to do with the dog or Madison. However, like I mentioned before, he will do anything for his daughter, and when she falls in love with Princess and Madison, it seems like he is going to have to figure out how to keep them around.
Leslie continues to write these fun free‑spirited FMCs who meet these grumpy men and somehow get past all the walls they’ve built. Madison fits that pattern as well as the other books. She comes off to Alistair as a little chaotic at first, but the more time he sees her with his daughter and her dog, she ends up bringing out a softer side of him that we haven’t really seen from the other guys. Watching him slowly shift from annoyed to actually caring was why he became my favorite.
Each book in this series gets better, and Leslie has become one of my new favorite authors to read.
Thank you Leslie and BookSprout for the Advanced Copy.
September 6, 2026
4.5 stars
Great reverse retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favourite classics.
The humour shines all over the book - her endless creativity for nicknaming him is one of the highlights.
Alistair Shaw is in Scotland running away from the press.
It is Christmas Eve when he hears an uninvited guest with her dog in his kitchen asking for shelter from the storm.
Madison’s van died in a ditch and Alistair’s house was the closest.
She has been adopted and raised in the US, and has decided to go to go to Scotland to find her roots.
The weather is of course not conducive to staying outside and surviving the night.
He is grumpy. She is sassy, sarcastic and sunshine.
She also has an allergy to follow directions and rules - she is a force of nature.
He cannot believe she does not recognize him and she is not a reporter in disguise.
Together, they are explosive.
He is all calm and collected, she is chaos impersonated.
She gets along with Kenna perfectly and that’s the piece they were missing.
Loved discovering the mystery of Alistair and the reasons why he is hiding from the world.
The twist - dropped my heart a little, glad they could work it out.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Great reverse retelling of Beauty and the Beast, one of my favourite classics.
The humour shines all over the book - her endless creativity for nicknaming him is one of the highlights.
Alistair Shaw is in Scotland running away from the press.
It is Christmas Eve when he hears an uninvited guest with her dog in his kitchen asking for shelter from the storm.
Madison’s van died in a ditch and Alistair’s house was the closest.
She has been adopted and raised in the US, and has decided to go to go to Scotland to find her roots.
The weather is of course not conducive to staying outside and surviving the night.
He is grumpy. She is sassy, sarcastic and sunshine.
She also has an allergy to follow directions and rules - she is a force of nature.
He cannot believe she does not recognize him and she is not a reporter in disguise.
Together, they are explosive.
He is all calm and collected, she is chaos impersonated.
She gets along with Kenna perfectly and that’s the piece they were missing.
Loved discovering the mystery of Alistair and the reasons why he is hiding from the world.
The twist - dropped my heart a little, glad they could work it out.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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