Review: Nannyland

Title: Nannyland

Author: Jane Elizabeth Hughes

Publisher: 30 May 2016 by Pocket Star

Pages: 256 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: womens fiction, romance

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

This delightful, romantic debut follows a sophisticated Manhattanite who trades her fast-paced Wall Street life for the English countryside, and unexpectedly becomes a nanny to the children of a widowed British lord. Who is as infuriating as he is intriguing...

Jordy Greene has it all—the high-powered job, the high-octane New York lifestyle, the powerful lover—until she’s suddenly forced to flee the city. Running to avoid false charges of illegal trading and a destructive relationship, Jordy escapes to England. There she finds refuge in a cottage on the estate of the icy Lord John Grey—a descendant of the Nine Day Queen, Lady Jane Grey.

The four rambunctious Grey children are in desperate need of a nanny, and Jordy is in desperate need of a purpose—so they plunge into an investigation of the Tudor queen’s mysterious life and shocking death. Amid flying subpoenas, willful adolescents, outraged aristocrats, and an unexpected attraction to Lord Grey, Jordy struggles to regain control of her life. In the midst of the chaos, can she find the kind of happiness she’d never thought to have?

If The Sound of Music and The Wolf of Wall Street had a child, it would be the captivating Nannyland!

My Thoughts

Nannyland was an entertaining read with diverse characters as the author combines a family story with the quest to discover the truth behind the history of Lady Jane Grey and her nine day reign. At its heart, however, it is chick lit - light, fluffy and not that mentally taxing. That is why I was so pleasantly surprised by the subplot surrounding the discovery of the supposed truth behind Lady Jane Grey. 

"Why would she risk her life to make Elizabeth the queen and not herself?"

The investigation into Queen Jane Grey I found it to be intriguing and well done. I liked how all the pieces of the puzzle were slowly unveiled and bought together - fascinating when compared to the accepted and understood tale of the 'Nine Day Queen'. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but it was food for thought and engaging. 

"Lady Jane Grey was a complicated girl, a product of her time, and her legend has lived longer that five hundred and fifty years! Doesn't that count for something? What matters is that she has meaning, a lot of meaning."

I did, however, struggle with the romance. If you are looking for a sweet escape, this is not the book for you. This is a tale about two people with issues that find a companionship of convenience. No emotional sparks here people - I found it all rather perplexing. Especially after the confrontational/graphic sexual violence suggested with her ex boss/lover. Strange. It was all about convenient sex. I found it very difficult to like the male lead, he ran so hot and cold. It was a little harder to believe they could ever extend beyond the initial 'all about the sex' to something more endearing and enduring. I found their sexual liaison had started too early and therefore their romance never really rang true for me - it was purely physical attraction on both sides:

"No, just suggesting a very pleasant afternoon diversion for two consenting adults." 

So if that is what you are after - a pleasant diversion - then escape to Nannyland. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.