I adored Mr. Smithfield by Louise Bay, this age-gap romance between a wealthy British single father and his best friend’s soon to be sister in law who also happens to be his temporary nanny was endearing and sexy. ~ Slick – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Synopsis:
I’m a single father, a lawyer and some say the most serious man in London. I’m completely focused on raising my four-year-old daughter.
Since my wife walked out three years ago, the only woman who has ever caught my eye is the strictly off-limits sister-in-law of my best friend, Autumn Lumen.
But temptation is easy to resist because Autumn is only visiting London from Oregon.
Until she moves to London. The nanny quits. And she’s the only woman for the job.
I adored Mr. Smithfield by Louise Bay, this age-gap romance between a wealthy British single father and his best friend’s soon to be sister in law who also happens to be his temporary nanny was endearing and sexy.
Gabriel’s wife left him and his infant daughter three years ago, just up and walked out without a word. It’s taken him awhile to move past it and everything he’s done since has been for his precious and precocious daughter, Bethany. He doesn’t date at all, he has no intentions of letting another woman into his life or his daughter’s life and he’s okay with that. He has a demanding job as an attorney that he really doesn’t need due to a sizeable inheritance but he wants to be a good role model for his daughter and show her that hard work pays off. Because of his long hours and Bethany’s age, he’s always employed a nanny and when his last one quit he needed someone quickly and his best friend’s soon to be sister in law was in London and without employ so he hired her temporarily until her internship started in the fall which would allow him to find a permanent replacement. He just didn’t expect the sizzling attraction to her from the start.
When Autumn gets the chance to earn some money for her August trip around Europe by being a nanny to an adorable 4 year old she grabs the chance. It doesn’t hurt that her boss is hot as sin to look at unfortunately he’s also broody, standoffish, and secretive when he disappears into the room he keeps locked at all times. After Bethany insists she spend the day with them both on one of her days off, she begins to see Gabriel in a new light and the flame of attraction grows.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story but I felt like I missed something and going back and checking me reading list I realized I missed reading the book before it, Mr. Knightsbridge, which was Autumn’s sisters story and where I’m assuming she and Gabriel first met. This book picks up after Autumn was hired and after she and Gabriel first met and so they are already kind of settled in a bit of a routine. It was obvious that Autumn was attracted to Gabriel and it became obvious that Gabriel was fighting his attraction, but what I loved was that there was a mutual respect for one another from the start. Apparently Autumn’s childhood was not great and she and her sister pretty much raised themselves although their parents are still in the picture, despite that Autumn has a sunny disposition and always tries to find the good in any situation or any person. Gabriel is not like that at all, he’s a bit jaded and even more so since his wife up and left. I enjoyed watching Autumn break down Gabriel’s walls and get him to open up a bit and seeing Autumn not afraid to break down and feel safe enough with Gabriel to let him see her vulnerable.
As they moved into a secret sexual relationship, their connection got even stronger and it was easy to see they were well suited. I appreciated that they discussed when to let her sister and friend’s know they were together and the fact that around Bethany they kept it casual as to not disrupt her life.
I personally could have done without the part of Gabriel’s ex returning as I felt Autumn’s departure for travel and job uncertainly was enough of a conflict, but I pushed through those chapters knowing that Ms. Bay would give Gabriel and Autumn the happily ever after they deserved.
I always enjoy books by Louise Bay and Mr. Smithfield was no different; engaging characters, smoldering sex scenes, and a happily ever after, what more could you want?
4 stars
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AMAZON
