He’s so hot.But off limits.Younger than me.Yet still so mature.Worst of all…he’s my daughter’s new nanny.I don’t mix business with pleasure.Or at least, I’ve never been tempted to until him.Unexpected is a fresh take on the single-parent/nanny romance with a guaranteed HEA. Standalone. No cheating. No cliffhangers.
Unexpected: A nanny/single parent romance (Love in LA Book 1)
By jennahartley
This is a first read by this author.
I have to say age gaps are not something I tend to read often but this one being a reverse age gap kinda caught my eye. Not too often do you see reverse age gaps. It wasn’t too big of a gap either.
Having Alexis being the strong independent worker that she was, was nice to see her trying to get outta that mind set. I totally got why she worked so hard to make a good living for her daughter. She wanted to be sure she had what she never grew up without. But like I said, I loved seeing her break that little by little.
I adored Preston and how he took to Sophia right away. Everything he has went through in his life and to see how he was now as a person was so refreshing to read.
Overall this book was very well written and a great story.
4⃣.5⃣ Stars
recommendation
I really enjoyed this twist on the usually falling for the nanny story from new author Jenna Hartley. I look forward to reading much more from her. Alexis likes her life just as it is. She is successful in her career, has a beautiful precocious daughter and friends. Who needs a man when the last man in her life let her down. Preston is thinking about his future after coming close to losing whatever future he might have. While he COULD be a beautiful model or stripper, he chooses to work with children and being a nanny is right up his alley. He SHOULD NOT fall for his boss. These two will have hills to climb and lines to cross if they are to even come close to making it. Enjoyable and heartwarming…and yes…sexy as well.
Preston is a 26 year old university student who works as a nanny to help pay his bills. After his current employer no longer needs his services he is placed with a new family. He is kind, nurturing, sweet, sensitive and super sexy.
Alexis is a 35 year old single mother to daughter Sophia, aged 6, she is super hard working, career focused, guarded at times, pragmatic and is a good mother, she is also warm, caring and compassionate
Preston and Alexis had an instant attraction towards each other and it didn’t take long for them to act on it, their relationship was full of ups and downs and watching them try and deal with the stigma that is put upon age gap and forbidden romance relationships was a big part of the story and written so well. There were times my heart broke for them and also times their actions frustrated me but I loved how we got to see their relationship grow and change as their characters did. This was a beautiful story about what it means to be family and how to not let what people think bother you.
I found once I started it I could not put it down. I also loved all the side characters and can’t wait for more stories in this series.
This author is new to me and i thank goodness that social media posts about amazing authors such as Jenna Hartley. I was totally swept away by this story and love every single aspect of it. Unexpected was EVERYTHING I love in a romance and more. It dealt with a lot of different issues and the characters faced many hurdles together. I loved the way they intricately threaded themselves together and the secondary characters were a saucy mix that only added depth and excitement to the story. The emotions were literally oozing off the pages and I became captivated with everything that made up this stunning read. I can always tell when an author goes and adds heart, soul, blood sweat and tears to their stories, setting them worlds apart from the average romance author. Jenna Hartley is one of these exceptional authors. I am so glad I found this amazing story and cannot wait to read more from this author. 5 amazingly incredible stars.
Title: Unexpected by Jenna Hartleyu2063
My Rating: /5u2063
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Gahhhhh I loved this book so much! Forbidden romances aren’t typically my thing; but when written well is amazing. As is the case with this book. It has it all: complexity, steam, angst and great secondary characters that’ll have you in stitches. I have read age-gap tropes before but this one was no comparison. This was my first time reading a reverse age gap romance and was pleasantly surprised.
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Alexis is the main character and struggles dating Preston who’s employed at her work and is exceptionally young. She can’t seem to wrap her brain around their attraction and puts up a fight. A fight she loses the more Preston’s around. u2063
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Alexis can’t resist Preston’s sweet caring ways and how he loves his daughter.u2063
u2063He’s literally the type of guy who do anything for anyone. Liable to make any woman swoon.u2063
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Though loving and caring he does have flaws which made this story so realistic.u2063
u2063I fell in love with Preston and Alexis and so will you! I highly recommend reading!u2063
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*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
When I saw the cover of this book my first thought was “oh my, give me all the smut!” I mean, this cover is HOT! But boy I misjudged this book by its cover. Preston and Alexis’s story was so different from the typical romance book. I loved that Alexis was a strong female that ruled her own world. She took charge and got things done. But that didn’t mean that Preston was a freeloader or needed rescuing. He brought a whole different set of assets to the table. I was pleasantly surprised when this story not only delivered on some pretty sexy scenes but also revealed insecurities and broken pieces from both parties. I throughly enjoyed the journey to Preston and Alexis’s happily ever after even if it wasn’t easy, it was so good.
This book!!! I felt it in my heart! Slight age gap with the female being older and the Male being a nanny. Preston hasn’t had an easy adult life. Alexis is a strong independent single mom who wants to make sure her daughter has all the best. So that means she works alot. With her ex-husband never around for their daughter she needs a nanny. He bails on Sophia and the only person an agency has is a man with great reviews. Preston has had a crush on Alexis since he first saw her and now that he’s watching her daughter sparks fly. A beautifully told story with a HEA
I recieved an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Unexpected was exactly that! It was an unexpected refreshing read and I loved this story! … There’s an age gap, older woman who is a single mom looking for a nanny for her daughter. Enter Preston a very hot, very attentive, very intelligent, younger man. Everything about their relationship is unexpected. Both Alexis and Preston try to resist temptation and fight feelings they’re having for one another. What they find in eachother is something neither was really looking for but something so big and beautiful and amazing! … This book will make you swoon! It’s got the right amount of steam and feels and was an absolute treat to read!
I love Alexis! If you are a working mother, you need to read this book. I could relate to her on so many levels. .
Alexis, 35, is a successful working mom, who’s constantly juggling to keep the façade of her perfect life afloat, but what she needs (what EVERY working mom needs when they get home) is a little tenderness. .
Preston, 26, is a college student who is wise beyond his years and his harrowing backstory shows the reader why. Instead of stripping or tending bar to make ends meet, he’s a nanny. He’s absolutely perfect: supportive, a clear communicator, not afraid to show affection and SUPER HOT. Smoking . . . with those muscles that make that V-shape trailing down . . . errr . . . you get it. His demeanor and his consistency make him even hotter. Reliability is kinda a big deal when you’re a mama who’s always hustling to take care of business.
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Their lives collide when Alexis is in need of a nanny on short notice and the slow burn notches up from there, but Alexis can’t escape that nagging feeling of what others may think of her in a world full of double standards. On top of that, will she ever be able to trust a man again after her ex-husband continues to burn her? .
This is a reverse age-gap romance, a forbidden love romance and stock full of HEA.
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#newrelease #reverseagegap #jennahartley #forbiddenlove #hea #review
Just like the title this book was Unexpected in the best way possible. I loved that it was a different take on the single parent/nanny romance, plus throw in a reverse age gap. I was completely sucked in from the beginning.
Alexis and Preston had INSTANT chemistry, but there was the whole, he is my daughter’s nanny, he is young debated that Alexis experienced and I was sitting there yelling at my kindle telling her to just go for it! I loved that Preston wasn’t immature and I easily would forget that he was younger. Alexis is hardworking and she wants the best for her baby girl, which after learning her background makes so much sense and explains a lot about her.
Sophia, Hunter and Lauren were all amazing secondary characters and I hope there is more of them in the future, and of course more of Alexis and Preston.
If single parent/nanny and/or reverse age gap romances are your jam, then I HIGHLY recommend you read Unexpected!
Alexis 35 she divorced Cal, he is a musician, you know the type that can’t put family first. Always on the road. The music is the number one priority, completely free-spirited. Alexis is the main bread-winner even when Cal was around, she busted her butt to be where she is today a Real Estate agent and mother to her wonderful daughter Sophia. Sophia is six-years-old and smart as a whip.
Preston is a 26, he is a child care provider, NOT a “manny” he’s a college student and needs to pay his steep tuition. Being a nanny was the easiest and fastest way to get money to pay for his bills. He loves and thrives at his job, he cares for the kids he provides for.
Life gets a bit crazy for Alexis when her daughter’s nanny goes home to visit her mother and Alexis’s ex falls through on his plans of taking care of Sophia for the summer. Alexis is panicked trying to figure out what she can do to make sure her child is well cared for while she’s working hard to close deals on houses for very rich clients. her friend recommends a company for Nannies and she calls them to see if they have any last-minute openings. She’s in luck!
Preston loses his job with his current family due to their financial issues he’s scared he won’t get a job in time, but his Company contacted him about a new client and went for an interview, low and behold he meets Alexis and Sophia. Preston and Sophia hit it off instantly and the chemistry between Preston and Alexis is flammable. Age is just a number right??
Can insecurities and a secret keep these two from forming a relationship? You need to pick up this extra hot book by Jenna, you won’t be disappointed! Jenna Hartley
Jenna Hartley delivers a delightful novel with Unexpected. I’ve never read a reverse-age-gap romance before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Hartley perfectly captures the double standards that women in society face when it comes to dating a younger man. Older men don’t even think twice about dating a younger woman, in fact it is considered the norm. Alexis, the main character in Unexpected, initially struggles with the idea of not only dating a younger man but also one that is in her employ. I absolutely loved Alexis. No matter what she did she never felt like she was getting ahead in life. Her self imposed struggles with not being “enough”, in terms of job, man, motherhood, etc, were incredibly relatable. She really was her own worst critic, which we as women tend to do a lot unfortunately. Now for Preston, he was sweet and caring. Not just for her, but also for her daughter and others as well. I rooted for him the entire time and silently yelled at Alexis “let him love you, you are worthy of it!” I think that is a reminder we could all use in life. To receive love with an open heart and realize that you are WORTH IT.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“Unexpected” is a reverse age gap, forbidden romance book and.I.absolutely.loved.it. Not only because I am a huge fan of both these tropes, but because this book was so much more than that. Preston is a survivor. He has overcome so much in his young life that he no longer takes anything for granted. He is sexy as sin and smart to boot, but more than that, he loves children, which is why he works as a nanny. Alexis is a highly successful businesswoman, she is sexy, and confident (or so she appears). A single mom, who works way to much and finds herself desperate for help when her ex decides he can’t take their daughter for the summer. Enter Preston, who wins over both Alexis and her daughter. The sparks fly as these two try to fight the chemistry that is between them. Unfortunately for them and fortunately for us they can’t and man do they light up the page. Despite the odds and all the issues supposedly important enough to keep them apart, these two find their way to a much deserved happily ever after. TBR this book right away and enjoy. One last thing, Jenna Hartley, I have one question for you? What three things are you grateful for today? Now, before you answer that, let me tell you what I’m grateful for:
Books (because they are life)
Reading (all the books)
Authors like you (that make 1 and 2 possible).
Unexpected, book one of Love in LA, is incredible. Talk about a slow burn. Alexis is a single mom, who works her butt off and hires, Preston, a nanny to help take care of her daughter during the summer. Sparks start flying from the moment these two met and it doesn’t stop there. Their connection is so in tense you can feel it yourself as you’re reading. I book can easily be read in a day or two, it is so hard to put down. There were ups and down throughout the book, some that I wasn’t expecting at all. Jenna does an outstanding job creating characters that you are able to connect with and a story line that is easy to follow along.
Holy macaroni! This is a slow burn that will have your heart pumping and your skin sizzling with the connection Alexis and Preston have! Un-put-down-able is what this beauty is! Their push pull relationship will have you gritting you’re teeth and yelling at your phone… This book has so many ups and downs… Secrets and past experiences… Throw in a psycho ex and you have something so Unexpected you don’t know how to cope!! A must read y’all!
Preston and Alexis had a wonderful story and I could not put it down. Sophia was adorable, and for her to be the reason they fell in love can really show that age and love shows no bounds. Just perfect.
It was an amazing reading. It’s an age gap, boss-employee, single parent and opposite attract romance.
The story wraps you and makes you keep reading. I loved how the author makes some part of the story light, but there were heavy moments too.
“I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.”
**3.5**
Alexis is trying to run a multi-million dollar company all while trying to be a loving single mom to Sophia. When her ex-husband bails on his plans to take/care for their daughter over the summer, Alexis is scrambling to find someone to help care for her daughter over the summer. Enter Preston stage left, Preston was just recently let go from his nanny assignment and both Alexis and Preston find themselves relying on each other to get through the summer. Neither one of them expected for love to come into play.
Preston is all kinds of goals. The way he is with Sophia is all kinds of amazing and show stopping. I absolutely adored their relationship and how amazing he was with her. Then the way he was with Alexis on top of all that made him downright delicious. But sadly I had some serious issues with Alexis. I got this overwhelming feeling that all she cared about was money and status. Her daughter always came second fiddle and that bothered me a bit. It was hammered over and over again how much she worked and it seemed like there was no time for her daughter. That makes me sad so I wasn’t totally endeared towards her and the explanation for why she was like this was very basic and quickly just thrown in with the hopes that you could relate to why she was this way – spoiler it was a miss for me. I didn’t like Alexis at all but I respect that may be a me issue but I enjoyed this book and I would recommend.
4 stars
Badass Single Mom & Her Nanny: An Age Gap I Want More
*self-purchased on Amazon. No need of sugar daddies called promo teams*
“Boy, look at you, lookin’ at me
I know you don’t understand
You could be a bad m***********
But that don’t make you a man
Now you’re just another one of my problems
Because you got out of hand
We won’t survive
We’re sinkin’ into the sand.”
High By The Beach – Lana Del Rey
What’s this book about? (I’m trying to give as little spoilers as possible)
This is the first full-length story in the LOVE IN LA series. Alexis Black is a lot of things. Single mom. A hardworking and mature woman. She needs a new nanny pronto and when Preston Hawthorne walks through her door, she knows that she’s found a match. Neither can deny their chemistry, yet a badass single parent knows better than to mix business with pleasure.
This is my third Jenna Hartley read. ANOTHER STRIKING COVER! I read this after reading Irresistible & Unexpected. Totally the wrong order, but it’s manageable. The storylines are intertwined subtly enough, so that they can be read as standalones as well. For me, the story started out with a bang. I’m a sucker for older women and a younger man (AGE GAP EVERYWHERE, I’M AN ADDICT). I LOVED MOMMA BEAR ALEXIS. I didn’t love some of her choices concerning boy toy Preston. She opened her mouth one too many times about his private business in front of people she shouldn’t have. As much as I have a weak spot for single parents/mommas, I cannot forgive her for some of her actions. When she was a little strict and too busy with her work, I actually empathized with her. I understood her because I was raised by a single mom that had to deal with a weird ex-husband. Women like that have to take control; people will think they’re cold and bitchy. That was very realistic to me. I enjoyed reading that a lot.
Preston was incredibly precious. When I met him in Irresistible, I was already impressed. He is a sweetheart, a hot one at that. I felt like he was mistreated here, A LOT. But I have to add that single parents must be cut some slack. However, Preston and his backstory… Man, he didn’t deserve some of the things he got served with. I LOVED PRESTON!
HUNTER WAS HILARIOUS HERE. The subtle cougar hints/foreshadowing in the conversations between Preston and Hunter were glorious.
The steam chemistry between Preston and Alexis was undeniable (my fav steam was Irresistible, Unexpected and then Unexpected). Alexis’ daughter was a cute lil thing, adding sweetness to all of her scenes with the adult characters. The side characters were incredible and as valuable as they were in the other books as well.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves an age gap, daddy-worthy male leads and strong, hardworking and rich leading ladies that are also mommies.
A sweet story layered with lots of steamy sex! Four satisfied stars.
If you enjoy a sweet confection of a story layered with lots of steamy sex and topped with a delicious Happily Ever After, you’ll enjoy this book. I did, although I tend to prefer a plot with a bit more angst, drama, suspense and conflict–more meat on the bones. But that’s a personal preference, not a criticism of this book or the author.
Okay. Here’s the plot. (Some spoilers ahead!) Beautiful Alexis (35) is a single mom with a demanding career as one of L. A.’s top real estate agents, and she needs a live-in nanny for her daughter Sophia (6) for the summer. Enter gorgeous Preston (26), a cancer survivor and college student who needs money for rent and tuition. He gets the job and moves into the pool house on Alexis’s opulent property. While Sophia bonds with her new nanny, lust quickly ignites between Alexis and Preston, leading to lots of steamy sex whenever Sophia isn’t around.
Preston’s lust soon turns into love, and he craves a permanent relationship. But Alexis hesitates. She’s nine years older than Preston! What will her friends and clients think if they see her with a younger man? Will they call her a cougar? (I think most people couldn’t care less, so what’s the big deal?) Anyway, while she stews about this little problem, her ex-husband shows up and creates a scene at Sophia’s birthday party, which leads to a big misunderstanding and Preston’s loss of a job.
Will Alexis learn the truth and take him back? Will she get over her obsession with her career and her fear of what people might think? Will she give her heart to Preston and create a family with him? I’m not saying. Read this sweet and sexy story to find out. You won’t be disappointed.
The author writes beautifully, and I commend her team for excellent editing and proofreading–increasingly rare these days. I found just one error (on page 193, if you’re curious). Kudos also for limited use of profanity, especially the f-word. Will I read another book by this author? Sure, whenever I need a break from angst and suspense and crave something sweet (and sexy!). Lauren’s story might do the trick. Four satisfied stars overall.