She’s thousands of miles from home and intent on proving her independence… fast learner and besides, she needs the money.
Hotshot businessman Tom Braydon is juggling huge responsibilities. After the death of his brother, Tom took in his orphaned nieces and managed his brother’s cattle station, while simultaneously running his own thriving business in Sydney. Tom desperately needs Alice’s help, even though she has zero experience looking after children or living in the outback. He has plenty on his plate, he doesn’t need the distraction of a romance.
But while Alice and Tom strive to ignore the chemistry sizzling between them and focus on their separate goals, love clearly has other plans.
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The fourth book in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong is Barbara Hannay’s A Nanny Called Alice. Anytime the story is based in Wirralong, you know it’s going to be a heartfelt and fun read. This story easily achieves that benchmark. Tom Braydon is a successful engineer in Sydney, but the tragic death of his brother and sister-in-law, force him to return to his homeplace of Wirralong to care for his young nieces, Freda and Ivy. All three are emotionally scarred, and trying to adapt to the new reality.
Alice Trembath, from upstate New York, has decided that she must live her life, and stop molding her life to accommodate all of her friends and family. She travels to Australia, attempting to “live” some of the stories that she heard from her grandfather. She is immediately mugged and left penniless on the side of a road in the Australian outback. Happening by, Tom and the girls rescue her… taking her to the police. She accepts a temporary job as the girls’ nanny… after all, she’s destitute in a foreign country.
Feelings occur, Alice and Tom, Alice and the girls, Alice and Wirralong… it’s a beautiful story. The author gives us lovable characters, but also remarkable settings and scenes. Little girls dressing up. A stray cat having kittens. Smores over a campfire. There is a tenderness to her words that touch your heart. This story is incredible to read, a treasure to cherish.
ARC – Book Review/Book Recommendation of
A Nanny Called Alice (#4 of The Outback Return to Wirralong)
RELEASE DATE – 3 September 2020
Ebook – Genre – Contemporary Romance
It didn’t start off very well for Alice, a punctured tyre, a hijacking of her car from strangers that were meant to help, walking solo in the Australian heat and then a stranger in a car, stopping and yelling out if she is ok. Who was yelling out at Alice? His name, Tom Braydon.
Tom Braydon could do without this, but something stopped him, something about a girl on a hot dusty road, what…. with no water and looking like she was about to drop.
Alice accepted the ride, still being cautious, but surely with 2 kiddies in the back (nieces apparently) she’ll be alright, and then there was the paperwork to consider, plus the looming doom of telling her parents that her big OE from America to Australia had flopped and then a “I told your so” attitude would be flung to her at no end.
After details were noted at the police station, the Sergeant police officer suggested to both Alice and Tom, a solution to a problem. Tom needed a Nanny, Alice needed a job. How is this going to turn out for them both? Alice is empathetic towards Ivy and Freda, but will they accept her? What is Alice going to tell her parents? and will Tom and Alice make a good pair?
Firstly, I want to sincerely thank Barbara Hannay, who contact me via Facebook to review an ebook ARC of A Nanny Called Alice.
This is #4 of the series of The Outback Brides return to Wirralong. These books can be read as stand alones.
I was immediately drawn in with the first paragraph of this book and I knew then, that it was going to be hard to put down and that there was going to be quite an adventure invested in Alice.
Ivy and Freda, I would say would be typical of the age group of how they would react when their parents die. Barbara Hannay did a tremendous job on showing what this age group goes through, through times of grief. I absolutely enjoyed the antics these two troublesome girls got up to and throughly enjoyed the haphazards that occurred (although in reality it would have been a nightmare!)
Barbara Hannay’s writing skills and her minute details always makes me feel that the situation in the book is very real, every grumpy face (Toms nieces) Ivy and Freda wore, I felt it, the sad looks in their eyes, I felt it, the situation had been tragic. Those poor kiddies had a terrible time of it before Alice came on the scene, gosh did I feel for those two poor souls.
Barbara Hannay chooses her words very thoughtfully, with creative flair, and giving you a small taste here, for eg – “A glance out the window showed the police car’s headlights glowing lemon through the violet-hued dusk.”
The romance in this book is true to Barbara Hannay’s style, realistic, with ups and downs like all relationships are, but always with a happy ending. I have to admit, and people who know me well know that I don’t cry over books, but near the ending my eyes did swell up and leave a watery rim around the edge of my eyes.
If you haven’t read any of Barbara Hannay’s books, this is a good one to start with, her romantic touch is warm and enveloping and I would say it’s like cuddling up in a polar fleece blanket on a cold winters day.
This certainly is a gripping story.
Recommendation
A Nanny Called Alice, comes highly recommended by me and will suit anyone who loves a warm happy feel good book, who likes a romance in their books to be more of a hug instead of a lust and this is also good story to read to see how grief effects younger children and how they cope with it, and for anyone who likes happy endings.
‘A Nanny Called Alice‘ is the fourth and final story in the ‘Outback Brides Return to Wirralong‘ series… well, at least for now. This series seems to keep coming back in one form or another, so hopefully, we’ll get another return visit to Wirralong one day in the future. I hope so, for I’ve always loved visiting in this small, quirky town in the Australian outback.
Alice is an American who has managed to get away from her controlling parents and go on the trip of a lifetime to Australia… but it’s not going so well right now as she’s experienced the unkindness of strangers when pretending to help with a flat tire her car is stolen along with all of her possessions leaving her to walk along the road to find shelter in the heat without water. Strangely enough, it’s the kindness, the true kind, of another stranger that will not only get Alice to safety but change the direction of her life, perhaps forever.
‘A Nanny Called Alice‘ packs an intense emotional punch as we not only watch Alice and Tom slowly fall in love but watch two young girls deal with the deaths of their parents, trying to figure out how to function without them as they are now with an uncle they barely know. They’re kids, they’re acting out, dealing with death in the only ways they know how at that age. Tom is a successful businessman who is now also running his deceased brother’s cattle station, along with the care of his nieces. He has his hands full, in some ways is quite out of his league, certainly out of his comfort zone, and needs help desperately for the sake of those nieces he loves but doesn’t know how to help.
I loved watching the relationships grow, heal, transform over time as Alice and Tom, along with Ivy and Freda form their own, unique family. This is a story that brought laughter, grief, tears, and pure joy all in varying levels throughout this romance. Alice comes into her own here with Tom and the girls, she’s found her place right here with this newly formed family. I loved the everyday events that we get to share, just people living their lives, trying to deal with a new reality in their own unique ways.
If you love an emotion-packed romance with believable characters and a story that you won’t want to end… then you’ll love ‘A Nanny Called Alice‘.
I received an e-ARC of this novel from Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
American Alice Trembath is on a long holiday in Australia when her car breaks down out in the outback. When the couple who stops to “help”her turn out to not be good Samaritans, Alice is left alone and injured on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
Alice is rescued by a handsome but harried looking man with two small girls in the back of his ute. Tom Braydon has a ton of responsibilities including trying to run his successful engineering company back in Sydney remotely, managing the station his late brother and wife ran and taking care of his young nieces who are struggling with the deaths of their parents without the aid of a nanny. But he is a good man and he stops to help Alice and brings her to safety in Wirralong.
Alice ends up accepting a temporary position with Tom as his nanny while she waits to get all of her paperwork sorted out. Tom’s nieces aren’t too sure about her but they both grow to love her as she works with them with dealing with their grief and acceptance of their new reality. But the more time Alice and Tom spend together, the more the sparks of interest fly. But can these two be willing to let down their guards and let their hearts rule at the end of the day? Well given that the cover shows a woman in a wedding dress and veil, you can guess the ending of this story. But it is the journey that makes this fairly quick and escape.
I was provided with a copy of this novel by the publisher in advance in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I enjoyed revisiting Wirralong.
This is my first book by Barbara Hannay.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Outback Brides Return to Wirralong
Standalone
HEA
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from Tule Publishing.
Alice and Tom’ s story in A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay, book four in the Outback Brides Return series is a tale filled with emotions, responsibilities, family, the need to be independent, and love. After getting mugged and car jacked in the Australian outback while on vacation, Alice Trembath has two choices; call her parents and prove them right or take a job as a nanny on a nearby cattle station. Needing to prove her independence she takes the position, even though she is not qualified. Quickly she becomes enmeshed in the lives and healing of Tom Braydon’s two orphaned nieces as well as accepted by the people of Wirralong, the nearby town. Being the younger son, Tom established his own business in Sydney, but with the death of his brother Tom is not only running his business, but took in his orphaned nieces and managing his brother’s cattle station. Tom badly needs Alice’s help, hoping she can adjust to taking care of young children and living in the outback. With his juggling so many demands Tom does not need the distraction of a romance; yet fate has other plans. Alice and Tom, despite trying to ignore the magnetism and sizzling chemistry between them, find love and two little orphaned girls making other plans for them. Sometimes the best plans are to follow your heart.
Ms Hannay wrote a wonderful and sweet story that is definitely not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sizzling chemistry, adventures, and charming characters giving Alice and Tom, and 2 little girls, a chance to discover they are perfect for each other. I highly recommend A Nanny Called Alice to other readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I received this arc from Tule Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This was the final book in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong. I loved this series and this was a terrific story. The main characters in this book were new to the series. There were however appearances by characters we met in prior books such as Cameron and Lacey. We meet Alice, an American who is traveling alone in the Australian Outback as her friend cancelled on her. She gets a flat tire and a middle aged couple stops on the premise to help her. Instead she was knocked out and her car and all her possessions were taken. She wakes up hurt and realizes she has no money, phone, passport or car. So she forces herself to start walking, hopefully toward Wirralong. Suddenly a car stops and a man offers her a ride. Alice is scared after her last dangerous encounter. The man introduces himself as Tom from Wirralong who is driving home with his two nieces.
Tom contacts both the doctor and the police to alert them as to what happened to Alice. After she is checked out and released, she realizes she has no where to go and no possessions. The policeman, Cameron suggests that Tom gives her a place to stay and have her help watch his nieces. He speaks to Alice and shares his suggestion. He explains that Tom’s brother and his wife were killed in an accident leaving Tom as the guardian of his 2 nieces. He also has his own business in Sydney and is trying to run his brother’s cattle property. Alice agrees to the nanny position and moves in to their home.
The girls miss their parents and it is initially difficult for Alice. She has no clothing or personal items and is unfamiliar with the Australian culture. She works hard to build a relationship with the girls, knowing it is only temporary. Alice and Tom notice they have some chemistry. He doesn’t want to push for her to stay and she doesn’t know how he feels. She is really happy there in Wirralong, meeting the people and joining their activities.
There is a lot of angst and suspense as the reader tries to guess what will happen to Tom and Alice given the circumstances. I loved the book and the ending and hope there will be another Outback Brides series in the future.
I love this series maybe it because I am Australian and it is so nice to gt books set in m ore own backyard for a change Maybe it is because they are so timeless and well written whatever the reason I always love them and this one s no exception
Alice Trembath wants her independence and she has finally escaped her controlling parents in the US and is on a trip of a lifetime to Australia but things go very wrong when on a outback road she gets a flat tyre and the ones that stop to help than steal her car and all her possessions Now she is walking down the side of a outback road and someone is yelling at her from another car. Tom Braydon’s life is quickly crashing around him he has recently become the guardian of his nieces after his brother died he is trying to run his own successful Sydney business and now he has to run his brothers station as well. Then to make matters worse he finds a woman at the side of the road, but could she be the answer to his prayers she may not know a lot about children but he needs a nanny and she needs work so they could be the answer to one another’s prayers but things get complicated when they start to develop feelings for one another after all he doesn’t have time for what is already on hos plate let alone adding romance can they find a HEA you will have to read to see
A Nanny Called Alice begins in what was an adventure gone totally wrong. I could see this being a drama that could become negative but that is not the case. While some terrible things have happened to the characters the author keeps a light positive outlook within the story. Barbara Hannay give us the fourth book in the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong Series, with a look at the small town through the eyes of an American stranded on vacation in the area. Alice Trembath winds up in Wirralong much long then she expected as she in traveling through Australia.
It is a heartwarming story with grief, survivor’s guilt, positive thinking and seeing that independence can include love too. The characters are genuine while I am not sure that Alice would be offered a nanny job in real life. The town is more positive in this story then in some of the other where the gossip and unkind actions are highlighted. Instead here we find much more kindness. A touching romance especially the conclusion.
An ARC of the book was given to me by Tule Publishing which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another wonder heart warming addition to the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong. Alice is on the trip of her life alone in Australia when she has car trouble, a couple comes to the rescue only to leave her mugged and no car. Local, Tom comes to her rescue and takes her into Wirralong. Tom is caring for his deceased brother’s two little girls and needs help. The perfect opportunity to hire Alice to help him.
So enjoyed this story full of emotion, yes, I did shed a tear or two. Loved the chemistry between Alice and Tom. The descriptive writing makes you feel like you are in the Outback. I highly recommend this story along with the other books in this series.
A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay
She’s thousands of miles from home and intent on proving her independence…
When Alice Trembath is mugged in the stark Australian outback, she has two choices: return to the US with an “I told you so” from her conservative parents and join the family business, or take a job as a nanny on a nearby cattle station. Despite being wildly unqualified, she accepts the position. She’s a fast learner and besides, she needs the money.
Hotshot businessman Tom Braydon is juggling huge responsibilities. After the death of his brother, Tom took in his orphaned nieces and managed his brother’s cattle station, while simultaneously running his own thriving business in Sydney. Tom desperately needs Alice’s help, even though she has zero experience looking after children or living in the outback. He has plenty on his plate, he doesn’t need the distraction of a romance.
But while Alice and Tom strive to ignore the chemistry sizzling between them and focus on their separate goals, love clearly has other plans.
This is Alice Trembath and Tom Braydon’s story.
When Alice woke, she was lying on the ground, staring up at trees and sky. So strange. She was used to living in the countryside, but she couldn’t remember ever having woken without finding some kind of roof above her. Even more confusing was the brightness of the sky—the vivid blue of sunny climes. And the trees were wrong, not the dark leafy branches of her home in Gracebrook in Upstate New York, but khaki, and with drooping leaves that were more like—
Alice bolted upright, wincing as a sharp pain shot down the side of her head. She was sitting in dirt. Twigs and dried leaves clung to her long, curly hair, to the backs of her arms, to her jeans. And as she looked around her, taking in more details, she knew for certain—she was a very long way from home.
Slowly, somewhat dazedly, as if waking from a crazy dream, she could sense her memories returning, but it was like reeling in a struggling fish, as if she might lose those memories at any moment.
Tom Braydon frowned as he watched the girl continue down the road as if she either hadn’t heard him, or was determined to ignore him. He was inclined to shrug her off, climb back in his car and continue on his way. He had more than enough on his plate, had a thousand and one tasks to get through today. The last thing he needed was the distraction of a female lost on the highway. But she was wandering alone in the middle of nowhere and something about her bothered him.
Tom couldn’t quite pinpoint what nagged him exactly. Yeah, she was eye-catching. Her slim and pretty figure looked great in her skinny jeans and yellow T-shirt. Her tawny hair was fetching the way it caught the sunlight as it tumbled about her shoulders. But she was also a long way from anywhere, which raised more than a few questions, and there was something about the way she walked that didn’t seem quite right.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but every few steps or so she seemed to stagger a little, like she was drunk, or drugged. …
A Nanny Called Alice by Barbara Hannay is a 4 star book.
“I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.”
Barbara’s Books with Tule:
Outback Brides of Wirralong: Jenna
Outback Brides of Wirralong
A Nanny Called Alice
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong
Outback Brides Return to Wirralong
Book 1
Matilda Next Door
by Kelly Hunter
Book 2
Maeve’s Baby
by Fiona McArthur
Book 3
Serenity’s Song
by Cathryn Hein
Book 4
A Nanny Called Alice
by Barbara Hannay
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A really bad day turns into a very interesting proposal that helps an American tourist gather her wits and finds a new perspective on life.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is book four of the Outback Brides Return to Wirralong and I was given an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my review.
Great quick read with a great story line and lots of heart warming moments with two little girls who have lost their parents. And then there is the chemistry between Alice and Tom it’s sizzle adds plenty of spice to the story.
I recommend it as a great relaxing read.