Picnics in Hyde Park by Nikki Moore (Romance, 9/10E)

 

August 2015, Harper Impulse, 288 pages, Paperback, Review copy from NetGalley

Content: some moderate romance scenes, embarrassment, humour, tissues needed

Summary from Harper Impulse

he last story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore! The perfect novel for reading in the sunshine … and falling in love with London.
A summer to remember…or forget?
When Zoe Harper returns to the UK after five long years in New York, the last thing she expects is to find her younger sister Melody jobless, homeless, broke and dumped. Unfortunately, life has a way of delivering the unexpected. She should know that, given her ex-fiancé Greg’s faithless behaviour.
Filled with rage and determined to get revenge on the infamous Reilly brothers for her sister’s heartbreak, as well as get some answers, Zoe hatches plan Nannygate. Unfortunately that means moving in with the gorgeous but uncaring music producer Matt Reilly to be nanny to his two adorable, complicated children. But something isn’t adding up, and over the course of the hot London summer, she starts to think that perhaps Matt isn’t so bad after all.
Let down by his last nanny and weighed down with guilt about his wife’s death three years before, wealthy but camera-shy Matt has spent a long time pushing people away, including his own kids. His stunning new nanny challenges him every single day in completely different ways, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing?
But what happens when you open your heart, and someone isn’t who you thought they were? And can it really be true love when it’s on the rebound, and starts off with a plan for revenge?
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The last story in the fun & flirty #LoveLondon series from exciting new chick lit author Nikki Moore! The perfect novel for reading in the sunshine … and falling in love with London.

A summer to remember…or forget?

When Zoe Harper returns to the UK after five long years in New York, the last thing she expects is to find her younger sister Melody jobless, homeless, broke and dumped. Unfortunately, life has a way of delivering the unexpected. She should know that, given her ex-fiancé Greg’s faithless behaviour.

Filled with rage and determined to get revenge on the infamous Reilly brothers for her sister’s heartbreak, as well as get some answers, Zoe hatches plan Nannygate. Unfortunately that means moving in with the gorgeous but uncaring music producer Matt Reilly to be nanny to his two adorable, complicated children. But something isn’t adding up, and over the course of the hot London summer, she starts to think that perhaps Matt isn’t so bad after all.

Let down by his last nanny and weighed down with guilt about his wife’s death three years before, wealthy but camera-shy Matt has spent a long time pushing people away, including his own kids. His stunning new nanny challenges him every single day in completely different ways, but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing?

But what happens when you open your heart, and someone isn’t who you thought they were? And can it really be true love when it’s on the rebound, and starts off with a plan for revenge? 

Nayu's thoughts 

It's possible that ordinarily I wouldn't read a book where a character is focused on revenge, as it's not a good reason to do things or something I encourage. However, I was entirely intrigued by what it takes to be a nanny, which is why I wanted to read about Zoe. She is protective of her sister, perhaps a bit too much at times, and her determination to find out the truth about Melody being fired leads her to take a few risks which she ordinarily wouldn't take. After all, Matt's children are the innocents in her original plan. 

To an extent I admired Zoe's loyalty, she had the courage to dig around a situation which was chock full of surprising revelations that are hinted at but take a good while to be revealed. Her reasons for being there weren't just but she makes a hugely positive impact on Matt and his children, for the better. I admit the way she earns the trust of both the children and Matt is sweet to watch, and made me tear up in places. Losing their mother was devastating and initially changed the children's lives for the worse because their dad was unable to cope healthily with his grief. Zoe changes all of that bit by bit, leading to a high action ending which turns everything on its head and had me surprised. I'd never have guessed the truth of the matter. Definitely one to reread, and I must hunt out the previous books in the series as I haven't read them!

Find out more on Nikki's website. 

Available at most bookstores including NRC affiliate Foyles

Suggested read

For a revenge free tale involving children and romance check out The Gift by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Amish fiction, Romance, Christian fiction, 10E/10E)