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Single Dad Next Door

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Jaxon Hall ha abbandonato la sua vita spericolata il giorno in cui è diventato papà; non c’è emozione più grande di quella che gli scatena la vista del sorriso della sua bambina. Adesso deve solo riuscire a convincere i suoi suoceri che è un adulto responsabile, pienamente capace di crescere la sua piccola che ha perso la madre.
Ogni ragazza della confraternita a cui appartiene Rachel desidera il sexy meccanico della porta accanto, lei compresa, ma un uomo è l’ultima cosa di cui ha bisogno, specialmente un papà single tatuato con la reputazione di essere un vero duro. Un tipo del genere attira attenzioni e una donna che si nasconde da un ex violento ha bisogno di mantenere un profilo basso. Ma quando la sua auto si rompe e lui arriva in suo soccorso, il motore non è l’unica cosa a riaccendersi.
Le donne non sono nella lista dei no, grazie di Jaxon, solo che non gli rimangono energie sufficienti anche solo per pensare di cercarne una… fino a quando la sua vicina si ritrova senza soldi e si offre come domestica e babysitter per coprire il costo delle riparazioni alla propria auto. È l’accordo perfetto fino a quando, uno, i suoi suoceri scambiano Rachel per la sua attuale fidanzata, e due, lei si trasferisce a casa sua. L’accordo prevede niente contatti fisici e un rapporto strettamente professionale, ma averla vicina è una tortura continua che ben presto gli ricorda che lui è ancora un uomo, e trovandosi finalmente con più tempo per se stesso, trova sempre più difficile tenere le mani a posto.

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2018

362 people are currently reading
519 people want to read

About the author

Cathryn Fox

254 books1,377 followers
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn lives in beautiful Nova Scotia with her husband, who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found Skyping with her son living in Seattle (could he have moved any farther away?) shopping with her daughter in the city, watching a big action flick with her husband, or hanging out and laughing with friends.

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5 stars
290 (30%)
4 stars
338 (35%)
3 stars
251 (26%)
2 stars
54 (5%)
1 star
13 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for Lea ★.
160 reviews12 followers
Read
August 21, 2025
first thoughts after read: if i got payed every time this girl said "OhmiGod" id be able to buy myself real life aaron warner 💖

page 68: im not worrying my last two braincells with binge reading this

page 30: why are we both trauma-dumping on people we just met? like some of this things are better kept to ourselves and shared LATER when we at least know the persons last name ✋

page 10: oh please for the love of God don't talk about your single dad neighbors sex life 🤨 man probably has more problems and doesn't need some girls talking about how they want him to spank them..

PRE-READ:
other people have food cravings, but I HAVE booo cravings (or plots myb). i was CRAVING single dad romance book with nanny as fmc and i found this book! originally i thought of another book but it sounded way to toxic lol and im reading this then 💕
prediction: 3.5 ⭐
Profile Image for Alison.
1,507 reviews107 followers
November 13, 2022
Read 2: Was looking for a single dad book and pulled this one out of the re-read pile. It’s still really good. Maybe I’d bring it down to a 4.5 but absolutely worth the read. The steamy scenes are so well done without being over the top and I just really like Jaxon. Putting it back on the re-read shelf.

Loved this book! Not only was it super sweet but it was steam AF too. Jaxson and Cassie were adorable and I actually really liked Rachel. It was a good interesting read that definitely held my attention and gave me all the feels.
1,018 reviews3 followers
June 10, 2018
I really did enjoy this book. I could not give it 4 stars though because the proofreader in me couldn't handle the errors in the book. There were too many typos for me to get past and really love this book.
Profile Image for Tara.
79 reviews1 follower
March 10, 2024
Spicy!!!!!!! 🤭🥰
Profile Image for 🦉Maggie Whitworth.
3,254 reviews113 followers
June 19, 2019
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
Great read, steamy, interesting , well written, and great characters .
Profile Image for Rellim.
1,676 reviews43 followers
Read
July 11, 2023
DNF @ 20%

Meh… this might just be me, but it feels like there’s just too much focus on sex and not enough real plot. I usually love single dad, especially one with nanny vibes. But I’m bored waiting for something substantial to happen instead of constant internal thoughts by both Jaxson & Rachel about how hot the other is.

Narration:
This is my first time listening to both Thurlow Holmes and Dash Coleman. Both are a good fit for characters in their 20s. I enjoyed listening to them.
Profile Image for Lovingbooks1.
1,187 reviews24 followers
May 8, 2018
*A copy of this book was gifted to me from the author and freely give my honest review*

Rachel is running from her ex and Jaxon has a runaway ex, and in between it all there’s his sweet little daughter Cassie.
I loved this story and this is why:

* Hot bad boy gentlemen Jaxon is a great book boyfriend 😍 Rachel is sweet until you cross her, then be aware (the principal office)
* Great storyline with enough dialogues to make the story flow easy.
* Hot love scenes that’s written in a tasteful way without losing any hotness 🔥
* No unnecessary descriptions of surroundings
* The characters descriptions is good, they feel familiar halfway through the book.
* There’s not a overwhelming amount of feelings in this book but there’s enough so that there’s one point in the book where I had to dry my eyes.

I recommend it if you like a easy flowing read with hotness and a good storyline.
Profile Image for Shelby (BookLoversHaveMoreFun).
1,351 reviews42 followers
August 11, 2019
I was in the mood for a book with a single parent in it. Instead of looking too much, I chose this one in my library based on the title.

It was an okay read. I almost didn't finish it a couple of times. In the beginning it was all about sex sex SEX, and I wanted more story. The best part of the book and the only reason I finished it was the cute little girl.
Profile Image for Lia Angelidou.
265 reviews23 followers
October 1, 2021
I kept changing the rating from two stars to three and then back to two stars again. I certainly liked it but nothing happened. There was a slight misunderstanding throughout the book but... Eh! I enjoyed what I read but I don't know, I think I wanted something... more to the plot. Not sure.
Profile Image for Dianne.
852 reviews
October 31, 2018
This book was good, however in my opinion it would have been much better with fewer sex scenes. For me they ruined a really good story.
Profile Image for Bojana's Library ❤.
182 reviews6 followers
Read
January 21, 2024
DNF at 49%
Unfortunately, this just didn't do it for me...
The instant attraction wasn't that convincing, but fine. Being attracted to someone doesn't need to be a long process (tho it would be so cool if they were enemies).
There was no plot other than the foreshadowing of their past coming to bite the MMCs in their ass. Or if you consider full-on smut as plot, then yeah, there was some and more.
I love love LOVE single-parent trope, but this book treated the daughter as a background character, not a secondary one... And I feel disappointed, she appeared in like 2 scenes during this 49%. The kid in this trope serves the purpose of bringing the characters together, they bring the emotional connection up a notch, but this didn't do that at all.
Overall, I just got bored waiting for something dramatic to happen to shake up the story. Again, I won't add a rating to a book I didn't finish.
Profile Image for Brenda Pearson.
Author 6 books17 followers
July 29, 2019
HOT.HOT HOT... let me say this book was awesome, emotional, sexy, caring, and damn right good to read. Who would have thought a sexy car mechanics would live beside a fraternity all-girls place. Jaxon Morgan that is who, with his 5-year-old daughter. Jaxon wasn't looking for any relationship, but when a sweet girl next door car didn't start, he couldn't resist. Yes, he was older but he knew Rachel wasn't like the others. You will all fall in love with this book from the 1st chapter you read, and the sex scene will make your heart pump.
Profile Image for Carol Hepstall.
551 reviews5 followers
October 27, 2018
Awesome

Totally loved Rachel and Jaxson’ story. Awesome love story. I was captivated from the very beginning and couldn’t put it down until the last word. A book you don’t want to pass up, if you love a great love story. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a great read
Profile Image for Stephanie.
248 reviews4 followers
May 27, 2023
Not bad, not entirely good either.

4 stars because it is what it is: a quick, easy read..
Profile Image for Giovanna.
1,081 reviews32 followers
February 21, 2022
RECENSIONE: http://loscrignodelleletture.blogspot...

Sono qui per parlarvi di Single dad next door di Cathryn Fox, un contemporary romance che vede come protagonista un padre single, Jaxon, e una giovane studentessa che scappa dal suo passato, Rachel.

Jaxon e Rachel sono vicini di casa, le loro finestre si affacciano l’una su quella dell’altra e per loro è inevitabile che lo sguardo cada proprio nella stanza che hanno di fronte.

Jaxon, un meccanico sexy e tatuato, inevitabilmente attira l’attenzione e quando una mattina la macchina di Rachel decide di non partire, ecco che arriva lui in suo aiuto. Si offre di ripararle la macchina e Rachel, essendo a corto di soldi, si offre come aiutante in casa facendo pulizie e in più, farà da babysitter a sua figlia. Esatto, perché Jaxon, oltre che ad essere sexy da morire, è anche un padre single.

Sin da subito i due si guardano con fare lascivo, entrambi sono di bell’aspetto e l’attrazione tra i due è sin da subito innegabile. C’è da dire però che nessuno dei due è in cerca di una relazione, anzi, è proprio ciò che vogliono evitare.

Jaxon viene da una relazione tossica, la madre di sua figlia è scappata dopo aver dato da luce alla bambina. Si è ritrovato da solo e invischiarsi con qualcuno, in un momento così difficile, non è affatto una scelta giusta. Rachel, così come Jaxon, è fuggita da una relazione altrettanto tossica. Vive con la costante paura di ritrovarsi davanti al suo cammino l’uomo che le ha recato del male. Riuscire però a resistere l’uno all’altro si sta dimostrando sempre più difficile.

"Volevo un altro giorno con mia madre per il mio compleanno, ma segretamente desideravo qualcos'altro". Jaxon guarda da me, alla sua figlia piuttosto tranquilla, e di nuovo a me. "Qualsiasi cosa. Dimmi una cosa e sarà tua".

Single dad next door è un romanzo scorrevole che, una volta iniziato, divorerete in poco tempo, così come ho fatto io. Sfortunatamente però, la storia non è riuscita a prendermi del tutto. Era come se mancasse qualcosa.

Il passato dei protagonisti avrebbe dovuto scombussolarmi, farmi attorcigliare le budella. E invece, non mi ha trasmesso nulla di tutto ciò. È stato il tutto piuttosto piatto, anonimo.

Dopo un inizio coinvolgente, troviamo solo sesso, sesso e sesso. Nient’altro. Da una storia del genere ci si aspetta un po’ di più. La caratterizzazione dei protagonisti è lineare con la storia, non mi sarei aspettata di più. Non sono maturati, ma non mi aspettavo diversamente.

Le storie che vedono un padre single mi piacciono, soprattutto se condite da qualche dramma, ma Single dad next door non è questo
Profile Image for Laurie Gyd.
1,968 reviews9 followers
April 2, 2020
Sweet family romance

“I did want another day with my mother for my birthday, but I secretly wished for something else.” Jaxon looks from me, to his rather quiet daughter, back to me. “Anything. You name it, it’s yours.”
Profile Image for Maria (semi hiatus).
547 reviews116 followers
July 18, 2021
This book was confusing. It’s like the author couldn’t make up her mind where to go with this book or forgot she already went a certain way. We have a hero who hadn’t thought about sex since he split with his ex. But later on in the book he mentioned not being with anyone since his ex, well not anyone he was serious about anyway. Okay was he celibate of wasn’t he? She also couldn’t make up the name of his ex, was it Sara or Sarah, that switched every other sentence.

For the majority of the book it felt like the heroine was second best. This hero was still hung up ons his ex IMO, it’s clear they had a physical attraction the moment they met, their relationship was perfect, until she became a drug addict and left her family. The relationship between both MC’s was mainly sexual, it was hard to see her as his equal love interest. It seemed to me that she would be shoved aside once his ex Sara or Sarah came back clean and ready to be with her family again. Especially when later on it’s revealed she wasn’t just his ex but his ex-wife.

In the last 30 pages it finally felt like the heroine meant more to him than his ex. Yet Sara or Sarah never came back clean, so we just have to assume a HEA was never in it for him and his ex and daughter as a happy family. Then we have a ridiculous 180 in the end that ruined the book for me and completed this train wreck. The only character I really liked was his daughter Cassie.

Safe read. No real OW/OM drama (if you count out him being hung up on the ex), no cheating or sex with OP. There were way too many sex scenes in this book. Like I said, their relationship was mainly sexual. I would’ve liked to see more depth and build up in their relationship.

Would not recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3 reviews
April 11, 2023
Gave the book 4 stars. Why because it delivered on what it was. A smutty book with very little plot. Don’t overthink this book you’ll save yourself from disappointment. Also I listened to this on audio form.


The plot of the story is thin and at times predictable; by the end it turns into an overly cheese lifetime movie ending.

The over use of trouble past and on the run to describe this girl was dry an unimaginative. Even the dialogue between the characters was clunky at times.
However they did have chemistry and that’s the point of smut, make sure these characters actually like each other.
Being In either POV mind was showing how little writing effort went in to building these characters identities.


What did surprise me was the commentary from the college friends and how saucy she made the additional female characters. Honestly made me laugh at the raunchy stuff women said about the male lead.

Though slurp-a-licious should never ever ever be used again to describe any male.

Rating
Plot 2: ⭐️⭐️
Smut 4:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character 2.5 ⭐️⭐️
Ending 2: ⭐️⭐️

I read only for the smut and that’s that.😇
Profile Image for Stephanie L.
305 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2018
I love Jaxon and Rachel’s story! Little Cassie is a doll. I loved her part in the story.
Although this has the typical formula of bad boy single dad, younger girl in trouble, it is still a story that will grab you and not let go. Its an enjoyable read , and one that I will pull up again on my kindle when I need a hot🔥 sexy read. 💕
Profile Image for Jackie Orlowski.
29 reviews6 followers
November 17, 2018
The typos in this book are awful, I couldn't take it seriously. There were at least 20 between spelling, grammar, and punctuation. And I am NOT an English major, so I'm sure there are more. I gave it an extra star because the last 10% included actual romance. Considering it's a new adult romance novel, I anticipated more of that.
Profile Image for Tim Covell.
Author 3 books9 followers
August 9, 2019
More erotica than romance, thanks to frequent steamy scenes that start early and escalate, and the suspension of disbelief required for some of the plot points. However, there are enough complications and simmering subplots to keep it interesting between sex scenes, and romance builds towards the end.
Profile Image for Darcie.
1,060 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2018
Such a sweet story

I loved the story of Rachel, Jaxon and sweet little Cassie. There were some typos however in the book that made it difficult to read at times and thus messed with my flow.
Profile Image for Blog Coccole tra i Libri .
1,452 reviews98 followers
February 4, 2022
Jaxon e Rachel, due mondi opposti, due persone completamente diverse, ma legate da un passato doloroso che li ha resi quello che sono oggi….

Rachel è scappata dal suo passato, non si fida più degli uomini e per lei l’amore è solo un ricordo lontano.

Jaxon è un ragazzo che ne ha vissute tante, la sua vita non è mai stata idilliaca, ma nonostante questo è un padre amorevole e affronta la vita giorno per giorno.

Vivono uno accanto all’altro….

Un incontro che cambierà per sempre le loro vite e un patto da rispettare faranno sfondo a questa bellissima storia.

Devo dire che, essendo la prima volta che leggo un romanzo di questa autrice, mi ha soddisfatto molto, sia nel modo in cui è capace di coinvolgere il lettore e sia nel modo in cui è riuscita a suscitare delle grandi emozioni.

La storia è ben strutturata, ogni personaggio è delineato da una caratteristica particolare e devo dire che non mancano le sorprese.

Oltre a questo troviamo all’interno anche molta passione (devo dire che in alcune scene, mi sono dovuta sventolare con la mano 🤣).

Sono molto gli argomenti che tratta l’autrice e devo dire che uno in particolare mi ha colpito molto, ma non posso dirvelo perché farei spoiler e non voglio….

Posso però dirvi che una volta finita la lettura, avrete molto da riflettere….

Comunque nel complesso è una storia tutta da leggere che vi darà molte emozioni ❤️

Il mio voto è cinque coccole.

La vostra Arianna.
Profile Image for Bette Stanek.
2,147 reviews3 followers
March 24, 2022
I’m a sucker for single-parent stories. There’s just something about a cute little kid who steals the show from all the adults. Gotta love it! Jaxon is a single dad, not by his choice. His ex, Cassie’s mother, left them when she ran away with her drug dealer. Thank goodness he hadn’t married her. He’s been a single dad almost all of Cassie’s life. Did I mention that Jaxon was once a bad boy? And that his ex’s parents blame him for their daughter running away? They are also trying to get custody of Cassie. Jaxon is just trying to build his business and keep his head down while raising Cassie.

Rachel is finishing her senior year at Penn State and has moved in with a bunch of freshman sorority girls to make ends meet. She stretches every dollar she has and then some. She’s trying to get into law school and has no time for partying which is the only thing her roomies seem to want to do. They are constantly sneaking into her room to check out the hot dad next door. From her window, you can see everything going on next door and they are keeping tabs. When Rachel’s car breaks down she and Jaxon come to an agreement. She’ll clean his house and babysit Cassie until Jaxon finishes her car. What could possibly go wrong?

Single Dad Next Door isn’t anything out of the ordinary but it is entertaining.
Profile Image for Jess L..
Author 5 books277 followers
January 25, 2022
Non avete idea di quanto fossi contenta quando ho saputo che sarebbe arrivato un nuovo libro di Cathryn Fox e se devo dirla tutta… la trama mi ispirava un sacco, eppure Single dad next door l’ho trovato completamente diverso da quello che mi aspettavo. La storia è molto leggera, molto hot ma altrettanto dolce. Credo che l’autrice abbia voluto portare un po’ di leggerezza con il libro di Jackson e Rachel, ma se devo essere sincera non ho capito il perché. Ha intavolato discorsi forti, importanti, eppure tutto ciò è sempre in secondo piano e quello che predomina non è la paura di Rachel – che è più che legittima, ma di cui mi aspettavo molto di più, perché fondamentalmente non succede niente – oppure il rapporto tra la piccola Cassie e la sua mamma… insomma, c’era molto potenziale, ma quello che risalta è solo il rapporto che si instaura molto velocemente tra i protagonisti, ovvero sulla loro attrazione e su quello che iniziano a provare. Non so, mi aspettavo di più, è sicuramente stata una lettura piacevole e veloce, ma conoscendo la penna dell’autrice so che poteva uscire una storia con i controfiocchi.
Profile Image for Jayne Wheatley.
642 reviews12 followers
June 14, 2022
Loved this story from the start, Jaxon and Rachel are awesome together. And so so hot!!
Jason is single dad mechanic and Rachel is the girl next door in school to become a lawyer.
When her car breaks down the two meet in the driveway and strike a deal, housework for car repairs.
The dirty talk is real and hot. Warning your kindle may have steam coming out the sex scenes get so steamy.
Both Jaxson and Rachel have scars from previous relationships, Rachel has run from her abusive ex and Jaxsons ex left him for drugs, so both are wary and agree to sex only no more… However being together was so natural for them, they just naturally fit together and his daughter Cassie his was adorable and loved Rachel.
I just wish there was an epilogue that was like a couple years in the future.
This was almost a 5* read for me I just missed Jaxson’s ex in laws apologising for how they behaved, an explanation about his deadbeat drug addicted ex and their family issues.
And how Rachel, Jaxon and Cassie made family life together.
Profile Image for Cassy.
1,463 reviews57 followers
August 19, 2024
So sometimes the dialogue on this one was a bit cringy. And some of the things that would happen seem also a little far fetched.

I also have a hard time believing that this guy, who has spent a few years protecting his daughter and caring for her and being super careful about who he brings around, would so easily agree to allow someone he’s never actually met babysit her.

That being said… the dirty mouth on this man was absolutely spectacular. I loved the spice in this book.

I thought they handled the DV pretty well also. It didn’t even take her actually seeing her ex to cause her to flee, just the threat that he might have found her made her go. I have to imagine it’s a lot like that for DV survivors.

I thought the climax was well handled too. Even though she fled, without a word, it was done in such a way that I could easily see Jackson forgiving Rachel when he realized what had actually happened (also, fuck his in laws. They suck. And I’m not sure I’d ever let them near my kid again after that.)

So 3 ⭐️ because frankly, as long as I enjoyed the book, automatic three stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Alyson Buxey.
613 reviews2 followers
October 28, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I read this because I needed a guaranteed HEA, and the other books I’m part way through were definitely not going to deliver that. There are crappy things in the world but love conquers all and does it quickly in a book is a great antidote. A single dad is rarely a miss but the college student quasi nanny is something I usually avoid, kudos to the author however as this didn’t have the uncomfortable power balance that so commonly plagues many books within the trope. I appreciated how Jaxon and Rachel both needed to learn how to trust and Cassie his daughter is written perfectly. There was an element of let me teach you about pleasure that seems to feature in any book with a woman in college but I picked the book up so I can’t complain. The thing I need most is a satisfying ending, I’ve read some good books recently but unfortunately that was the one thing they lacked, so it was probably risking to read a new author but I lucked out because the ending was spot on. I should get back to the other books but I think I just might pop to the next one in the series 😉
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews

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