What do you think?
Rate this book
Name in Lights #1
Sleeper
SHANE MILLER SLEEP
Went to bed Late.
How long it took to fall Forever. I have insomnia. Duh.
Number of caffeinated beverages you had Zero. Thanks for advising me to quit!
My stress level is off the charts.
I can’t sleep right on a normal day, and lately my days are filled with the best kind of chaos.
My ex-wife and husband number two are filming in Poland for three months, so I’m turning down movie parts to focus on the most important role of my life— impossibly charming and somewhat capable young single dad.
My son won’t stop asking questions.
My daughter won’t brush her teeth unless I sing her showtunes.
Our regular nanny quit.
The only person I could trust to hire as a temp nanny is my best friend’s sister.
If Mary Poppins and Bill Murray had a baby it would be Willa.
Fresh out of grad school and beautifully weird.
She hates my movies, and my kids adore her.
I couldn’t sleep last night because she wasn’t here.
Turns out I can’t sleep unless she’s in my house now.
Turns out she’s what’s been missing from my life all along.
If my friend had any idea what I want to do to his gorgeous troublemaker of a sister, he would smother me with a pillow.
The chances of us succeeding as a couple are about as good as that little indie movie that I made being a huge hit.
But it’s a chance I’m going to take.
Went to bed Late.
How long it took to fall Forever. I have insomnia. Duh.
Number of caffeinated beverages you had Zero. Thanks for advising me to quit!
My stress level is off the charts.
I can’t sleep right on a normal day, and lately my days are filled with the best kind of chaos.
My ex-wife and husband number two are filming in Poland for three months, so I’m turning down movie parts to focus on the most important role of my life— impossibly charming and somewhat capable young single dad.
My son won’t stop asking questions.
My daughter won’t brush her teeth unless I sing her showtunes.
Our regular nanny quit.
The only person I could trust to hire as a temp nanny is my best friend’s sister.
If Mary Poppins and Bill Murray had a baby it would be Willa.
Fresh out of grad school and beautifully weird.
She hates my movies, and my kids adore her.
I couldn’t sleep last night because she wasn’t here.
Turns out I can’t sleep unless she’s in my house now.
Turns out she’s what’s been missing from my life all along.
If my friend had any idea what I want to do to his gorgeous troublemaker of a sister, he would smother me with a pillow.
The chances of us succeeding as a couple are about as good as that little indie movie that I made being a huge hit.
But it’s a chance I’m going to take.
342 pages, ebook
First published December 12, 2019
2239 people are currently reading
2594 people want to read
About the author
Kayley Loring
41 books1,660 followersAmazon Top 25 and USA Today bestselling author Kayley Loring spent many years as a screenwriter (under a different name) in Los Angeles before moving to the Pacific Northwest to live out her childhood dream of being a Disney heroine who talks and sings to woodland creatures. When not trying to keep animals alive, she’s writing steamy romantic comedy novels, obviously. She’s breathing cleaner air, writing dirtier words, and staring at her computer screen until her eyeballs dry out instead of prancing around Southern California in miniskirts and going to the hair salon. Still waiting for the woodland creatures to clean her house, though.
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
Read or listen to Kayley’s books when you want humor, heat, and heart. You’ll enjoy top-notch banter, strong heroines, lovable characters you’d want to know in real life and you’ll swoon over perfectly imperfect book boyfriends. All Kayley Loring books are steamy open door romance. Be sure to check out her next-level audiobooks!
Learn more at www.kayleyloring.com
Come join Kayley in her Facebook reader group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/kayle...
Follow Kayley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayleyloring/
Listen to Kayley talk to the wildly talented narrators who narrate her audiobooks on the Multiple Eargasms with Kayley Loring podcast!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 668 reviews
June 2, 2021
"It just took Shane about twelve years longer to realize what you knew when you met him."
Look, everything about this book is so wizard . What do you mean you don't know what that means? Well, it means you haven't read it. Spoiler alert: it means this book was out of this world for me. It's not my favorite of Kayley's simply because... A Very Bossy Christmas is proving hard to dethrone.
"And I say this as a professional perfumer—if I could bottle up and sell this man’s scent, women would try to hump everything you sprayed it on. I would be financially secure for life. For life. But I wouldn’t. I’d keep it for myself. Because I want it all over me."
Shane is... I honestly don't even know how to describe him, because he's so damn perfect it's killing me to know that I can only meet him in the pages of this book. Seriously. There's so much to this guy, there's so much passion in him for everything he does. There's so much adorable cheesiness about him. I love the way he is with his kids. I adore his journal entries. And I share the same lack of sleep. Also, his passion seriously extends to the bedroom, and other rooms. Damn.
"She is stunning. She is surprisingly gorgeous in the way that a sunset is gorgeous. You just have to stop what you’re doing to marvel at the natural beauty and remember that it’s not your problems and To-Do lists that define you. It’s the things that take your breath away and give your life back to you by nudging you off track."
I love Willa and the way she sees the world. I love that people think she's so sweet and innocent, but well, she's not. She's so driven and she knows what she wants to do with her life. She's known it for a very long time. I'm so glad she doesn't doubt herself or who she is. My favorite thing about her is that she sees everything in scents. She remembers her grandfather, who passed away, but whose scent is still in her grandmother's house, like he's still alive. Like your memory of someone is awoken by scents. This seems like a romantic notion, but whenever I smell a certain brand of coffee, I remember my grandmother. So yeah, it really is a thing. Willa, you rock.
"I remember everything about that first time I met you. I remember everything about every second I’ve spent with you. I want to spend all the seconds with you."
Willa had the biggest crush on Shane when he starred in a hit TV show as a teenager, along with her brother. She was only 12 at the time, but she did one of those magazine quizzes and she was sure she was meant to be Shane's wife in the future. You know, those quizzes we all took when we were teens. You never know, right?
"This girl. She can explain sunsets to a five-year-old and convey her maturity to a twenty-eight-year-old, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m the one who can’t handle her."
Anyway, the future seemed to be leading them in different directions. Shane got married and had kids. Then he got divorced. Willa was doing her own thing, trying to get her career started as a perfumer, and living in France for a while.
These days, Shane has insomnia. He can't sleep for the life of him. He's exhausted. And he needs help, and a nanny for his kids. What could be better than his best friend's sister coming over to help?
Well...
"12. Loving someone this much is terrifying.
Maybe I’m just a big baby.
Maybe everyone is this scared when they’re in love and nobody tells you.
I don’t know."
These two are incredible together, I can't stress this enough. Their chemistry is off the charts. Shane's small gestures, how cheesy he is with Willa, and how much they want to give each other everything. That little revelation by Shane's mom near the end that got my heart beating out of my chest. All the sighing and small awww moments (that awww was definitely mine!) between them.
The fact that scents and smells permeate this book and the descriptions are so vivid I almost feel like I'm there.
"I don’t know that it would even be possible for me to capture the way I feel right now in a perfume. It’s a remarkable thing, to know that a person is yours but to still long for him. To be married to your first celebrity crush. To choose to love someone with an unguarded heart because he has proven to you, time and again, that he will be the one to protect it."
There's no angst in this book. I had two major feelings when I finished it. First, I don't think I ever felt this single in my life. At the same time, there's this wonderful thing, like I can take on the world, and maybe get what I deserve and my happily ever after (unfortunately, not with Shane, though, 'cause he's taken).
I swooned so hard I may need to get my head out of the clouds now, but it felt just right. Like great books do.
And that's definitely so wizard too!
Look, everything about this book is so wizard . What do you mean you don't know what that means? Well, it means you haven't read it. Spoiler alert: it means this book was out of this world for me. It's not my favorite of Kayley's simply because... A Very Bossy Christmas is proving hard to dethrone.
"And I say this as a professional perfumer—if I could bottle up and sell this man’s scent, women would try to hump everything you sprayed it on. I would be financially secure for life. For life. But I wouldn’t. I’d keep it for myself. Because I want it all over me."
Shane is... I honestly don't even know how to describe him, because he's so damn perfect it's killing me to know that I can only meet him in the pages of this book. Seriously. There's so much to this guy, there's so much passion in him for everything he does. There's so much adorable cheesiness about him. I love the way he is with his kids. I adore his journal entries. And I share the same lack of sleep. Also, his passion seriously extends to the bedroom, and other rooms. Damn.
"She is stunning. She is surprisingly gorgeous in the way that a sunset is gorgeous. You just have to stop what you’re doing to marvel at the natural beauty and remember that it’s not your problems and To-Do lists that define you. It’s the things that take your breath away and give your life back to you by nudging you off track."
I love Willa and the way she sees the world. I love that people think she's so sweet and innocent, but well, she's not. She's so driven and she knows what she wants to do with her life. She's known it for a very long time. I'm so glad she doesn't doubt herself or who she is. My favorite thing about her is that she sees everything in scents. She remembers her grandfather, who passed away, but whose scent is still in her grandmother's house, like he's still alive. Like your memory of someone is awoken by scents. This seems like a romantic notion, but whenever I smell a certain brand of coffee, I remember my grandmother. So yeah, it really is a thing. Willa, you rock.
"I remember everything about that first time I met you. I remember everything about every second I’ve spent with you. I want to spend all the seconds with you."
Willa had the biggest crush on Shane when he starred in a hit TV show as a teenager, along with her brother. She was only 12 at the time, but she did one of those magazine quizzes and she was sure she was meant to be Shane's wife in the future. You know, those quizzes we all took when we were teens. You never know, right?
"This girl. She can explain sunsets to a five-year-old and convey her maturity to a twenty-eight-year-old, and I’m starting to wonder if I’m the one who can’t handle her."
Anyway, the future seemed to be leading them in different directions. Shane got married and had kids. Then he got divorced. Willa was doing her own thing, trying to get her career started as a perfumer, and living in France for a while.
These days, Shane has insomnia. He can't sleep for the life of him. He's exhausted. And he needs help, and a nanny for his kids. What could be better than his best friend's sister coming over to help?
Well...
"12. Loving someone this much is terrifying.
Maybe I’m just a big baby.
Maybe everyone is this scared when they’re in love and nobody tells you.
I don’t know."
These two are incredible together, I can't stress this enough. Their chemistry is off the charts. Shane's small gestures, how cheesy he is with Willa, and how much they want to give each other everything. That little revelation by Shane's mom near the end that got my heart beating out of my chest. All the sighing and small awww moments (that awww was definitely mine!) between them.
The fact that scents and smells permeate this book and the descriptions are so vivid I almost feel like I'm there.
"I don’t know that it would even be possible for me to capture the way I feel right now in a perfume. It’s a remarkable thing, to know that a person is yours but to still long for him. To be married to your first celebrity crush. To choose to love someone with an unguarded heart because he has proven to you, time and again, that he will be the one to protect it."
There's no angst in this book. I had two major feelings when I finished it. First, I don't think I ever felt this single in my life. At the same time, there's this wonderful thing, like I can take on the world, and maybe get what I deserve and my happily ever after (unfortunately, not with Shane, though, 'cause he's taken).
I swooned so hard I may need to get my head out of the clouds now, but it felt just right. Like great books do.
And that's definitely so wizard too!
December 23, 2019
This is a contemporary rom-com type of read and was my first book by this author.
Shane is a movie-star single dad of adorable five-year-old twins.
Willa is his best friends sister a perfumer by trade she also has had a crush on him for years.
So Shane is a bit of an insomniac and his nanny has left to get married on short notice leaving him in a pickle.
Luckily Willa has experience and is in need of a temporary job problem solved.
So this was an amusing easy read told in dual POV.
I liked both the main characters a lot they were both extremely likeable individuals.
The kiddies were a nice addition and Shane was a fabulous dad.
This was also well written and the pages turned easily.
This one gets a thumbs up from my camp it was a lot of fun.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Sleeper.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
February 28, 2021
3,5 stars but not 4.
*********************************************
I am not the right reader for single dad books because they always involve a lot of scenes with the children and I don’t like children in my romance books, children are not romantic. That’s why I normally avoid books in which children play an important role but a friend said this was indeed a sweet book so I decided to deal with the scenes involving children.
- Did I like the kids in this book? Not very.
- Did they spoil the romance in this book? Yes, of course, they did.
- Was I able to deal with their presence all along the book? Hardly.
As I said, I am the wrong reader for books with children.
*********************************************
Willa has always had a big crush on her brother’s best friend, Shane, who is an actor. She met him once when she was 12 and that day made a big impact on her.
Years pass, Shane gets married, Willa has other lovers, etc.
Willa and Shane meet a second time many years later. This time he got divorced and he has two kids and desperately needs a nanny until his ex-wife comes from Europe, where she is making a film. Her brother Nico offers help and says that Willa can be the temporary nanny and there begins a 3-month period during which Willa will live with Shane and his twins.
The attraction is both ways this time but Shane tries to stop himself because she is his best friend’s sister.
“You’re still my kids’ nanny. You’ll always be Nico’s little sister.”
“I know who I am. And I’m a lot more than that. I keep wondering when you’re going to figure that out.”
***
I wore my heartache like an invisible veil.
***
The heat of my body still emits activated molecules of Shane Miller where he touched me, twelve years later.
***
I let go, pull back. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted. If there was ever a girl who I should kiss on the lips and a moment for me to kiss her, it’s this girl right now. But I don’t.
“Good night.”
“Good night,” she says, eyes still closed, standing still. And then she shakes her head and opens her eyes, clears her throat. “Good night.”
And then she’s gone.
I stay exactly where I am until I hear the door close down the hall. I stay where I am, and if that door opens again, nothing is going to stop me from going through it.
But it doesn’t.
And I don’t.
Yes, Shane resists the attraction for a while but then he is also helpless towards Willa and things start to get real. Willa makes things easy for him. I wish she had made him work for it but she didn’t. That’s the part I didn’t like in this book.
*********************************************
Shane is an awesome hero. He is caring, sweet, adorable and funny. He got married to his ex-wife just because she got pregnant. He thought marrying her would be the right thing. But later she cheated on him and found another lover so they got divorced. They try to stay friends for the sake of the children. Shane is also a wonderful father. Very attentive, loving and patient.
Willa is sweet and adorable too but I have a dislike for heroines who are obsessed about the heroes and therefore make everything easy for them, so she is not my type of heroine.
Yes, Willa has been obsessed with the idea of being with Shane for 12 years but when Shane falls for her, he tries to make up for all those lost years and the heartache of Willa. He is really adorable.
I already know that every time with her, it will be perfect, but I could do a million takes and never feel like I got it just right. Because I didn’t get to be her first. Because she wasn’t my first. But if I can be her best and last, I might come close to showing her that it’s the first time that anything I’ve ever done with a woman has ever felt this good and real.
*********************************************
I normally hate "brother’s best friend" books as the brother always has a strong objection to their relationship. They choose that person as a best friend but they never want that person as a brother-in-law. That pisses me a lot. Thank God, it didn’t happen like this in this book.
*********************************************
There is not much angst in the book – only minor problems and a very short separation.
The writing is good with dual point of view.
And it is safe. When they meet the second time, there is no one else for either of them anymore.
(When they met the first time, she was 12, he was 16, so she was a just a child for Shane; and that's why, that first meeting doesn't count for me.)
*********************************************
All in all, it is an enjoyable book with its funny, emotional and hot moments. It is a readable decent book, especially if you love single-dad books. Even though I don't, I still managed to enjoy this book - I might have just read the pages involving children a little too fast... Guilty :)
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
*********************************************
I am not the right reader for single dad books because they always involve a lot of scenes with the children and I don’t like children in my romance books, children are not romantic. That’s why I normally avoid books in which children play an important role but a friend said this was indeed a sweet book so I decided to deal with the scenes involving children.
- Did I like the kids in this book? Not very.
- Did they spoil the romance in this book? Yes, of course, they did.
- Was I able to deal with their presence all along the book? Hardly.
As I said, I am the wrong reader for books with children.
*********************************************
Willa has always had a big crush on her brother’s best friend, Shane, who is an actor. She met him once when she was 12 and that day made a big impact on her.
Years pass, Shane gets married, Willa has other lovers, etc.
Willa and Shane meet a second time many years later. This time he got divorced and he has two kids and desperately needs a nanny until his ex-wife comes from Europe, where she is making a film. Her brother Nico offers help and says that Willa can be the temporary nanny and there begins a 3-month period during which Willa will live with Shane and his twins.
The attraction is both ways this time but Shane tries to stop himself because she is his best friend’s sister.
“You’re still my kids’ nanny. You’ll always be Nico’s little sister.”
“I know who I am. And I’m a lot more than that. I keep wondering when you’re going to figure that out.”
***
I wore my heartache like an invisible veil.
***
The heat of my body still emits activated molecules of Shane Miller where he touched me, twelve years later.
***
I let go, pull back. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted. If there was ever a girl who I should kiss on the lips and a moment for me to kiss her, it’s this girl right now. But I don’t.
“Good night.”
“Good night,” she says, eyes still closed, standing still. And then she shakes her head and opens her eyes, clears her throat. “Good night.”
And then she’s gone.
I stay exactly where I am until I hear the door close down the hall. I stay where I am, and if that door opens again, nothing is going to stop me from going through it.
But it doesn’t.
And I don’t.
Yes, Shane resists the attraction for a while but then he is also helpless towards Willa and things start to get real. Willa makes things easy for him. I wish she had made him work for it but she didn’t. That’s the part I didn’t like in this book.
*********************************************
Shane is an awesome hero. He is caring, sweet, adorable and funny. He got married to his ex-wife just because she got pregnant. He thought marrying her would be the right thing. But later she cheated on him and found another lover so they got divorced. They try to stay friends for the sake of the children. Shane is also a wonderful father. Very attentive, loving and patient.
Willa is sweet and adorable too but I have a dislike for heroines who are obsessed about the heroes and therefore make everything easy for them, so she is not my type of heroine.
Yes, Willa has been obsessed with the idea of being with Shane for 12 years but when Shane falls for her, he tries to make up for all those lost years and the heartache of Willa. He is really adorable.
I already know that every time with her, it will be perfect, but I could do a million takes and never feel like I got it just right. Because I didn’t get to be her first. Because she wasn’t my first. But if I can be her best and last, I might come close to showing her that it’s the first time that anything I’ve ever done with a woman has ever felt this good and real.
*********************************************
I normally hate "brother’s best friend" books as the brother always has a strong objection to their relationship. They choose that person as a best friend but they never want that person as a brother-in-law. That pisses me a lot. Thank God, it didn’t happen like this in this book.
*********************************************
There is not much angst in the book – only minor problems and a very short separation.
The writing is good with dual point of view.
And it is safe. When they meet the second time, there is no one else for either of them anymore.
(When they met the first time, she was 12, he was 16, so she was a just a child for Shane; and that's why, that first meeting doesn't count for me.)
*********************************************
All in all, it is an enjoyable book with its funny, emotional and hot moments. It is a readable decent book, especially if you love single-dad books. Even though I don't, I still managed to enjoy this book - I might have just read the pages involving children a little too fast... Guilty :)
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
March 30, 2020
When I read The Plus Ones, I am blown away with that sassy smart and hilarious banter. And I falls in love with Keaton. So imagine my excitement when I pick Sleeper. I thought I am going to have that hilarious rom com.
Sleeper is not what I expect. Its fall short actually. There is no Keaton hero in Sleeper. Instead Shane is boring. Well he has insomnia and it is still funny listening to his sleeping diary, the joke is far cry from The Plus One. Willa is the funny one. She is nerdy and quickly I discover she is very much bold and fearless. She is also not shy exploring her sexuality. Its just she needs better plot and better hero.
Overall, I do enjoy this book OK. I wish much more from Miss Loring book.
3 stars.
Sleeper is not what I expect. Its fall short actually. There is no Keaton hero in Sleeper. Instead Shane is boring. Well he has insomnia and it is still funny listening to his sleeping diary, the joke is far cry from The Plus One. Willa is the funny one. She is nerdy and quickly I discover she is very much bold and fearless. She is also not shy exploring her sexuality. Its just she needs better plot and better hero.
Overall, I do enjoy this book OK. I wish much more from Miss Loring book.
3 stars.
August 19, 2021
I'm so happy I read this.
This is my first by this author and I totally enjoyed it. It was fun-filled and it also made my heart skip on several occasions.
I'm definitely checking out more books by this author
This is my first by this author and I totally enjoyed it. It was fun-filled and it also made my heart skip on several occasions.
I'm definitely checking out more books by this author
March 30, 2020
Okay! Loved the first quarter of the book! Willa was quirky and said whatever was on her mind and I instantly liked her.
Shane was meeh, the usual hot single dad with kids blablabla
I settled into it quickly and I thought I'd love it but I got bored before I reached halfway.
The ex-wife was weird, I mean you're either nice or you're not there's no inbetween and the daughter was just plain weird.. and she was a snitch too! Snitches get stitches Summer!
Anyway I ended up seriously skimming the book and It was just a waste of time tbh
Shane was meeh, the usual hot single dad with kids blablabla
I settled into it quickly and I thought I'd love it but I got bored before I reached halfway.
The ex-wife was weird, I mean you're either nice or you're not there's no inbetween and the daughter was just plain weird.. and she was a snitch too! Snitches get stitches Summer!
Anyway I ended up seriously skimming the book and It was just a waste of time tbh
January 7, 2022
The Performer and The Perfumer are perfect together...
I had so much fun reading Sleeper and I'm now convinced that Kayley Loring writes for me. Her stories are engaging, the characters lovable and the love story is perfectly paced, believable and HOT!!
Why not 5 stars? Well, unfortunately, I always struggle with actors finding love. I know, everyone deserves love, but, it just always seems like their priorities are skew-whiffed. The hero, Shane, was fantastic and made a huge effort to be present, it just always felt like he was stretched too thin. I know, Judgey McJudgerson, but I'm not sure I could handle being someone's second or third-placed priority.
I will definitely be going on in the series, but like the other series, I'm tempted to try the audiobook version. Either way, I definitely want to meet the woman to stop Nico in his tracks.
I had so much fun reading Sleeper and I'm now convinced that Kayley Loring writes for me. Her stories are engaging, the characters lovable and the love story is perfectly paced, believable and HOT!!
Why not 5 stars? Well, unfortunately, I always struggle with actors finding love. I know, everyone deserves love, but, it just always seems like their priorities are skew-whiffed. The hero, Shane, was fantastic and made a huge effort to be present, it just always felt like he was stretched too thin. I know, Judgey McJudgerson, but I'm not sure I could handle being someone's second or third-placed priority.
I will definitely be going on in the series, but like the other series, I'm tempted to try the audiobook version. Either way, I definitely want to meet the woman to stop Nico in his tracks.
January 22, 2023
This book was so funny. These two meet the first time when she‘s 12 and he’s 16, she has a huge crush on him. Shane’s a big time tv star that works with her brother. Fast forward 12 years, she is back from overseas and ends up being a nanny for his 5 year old twins. And here is where all the fun really starts. Just too funny.
Willa is a quirky, adorably awkward nerdy girl, which I loved her character. Her awkwardness was the funniest and most endearing thing about her. He really got her, in a way that nobody else really could. His Shane Miller Sleep Diary and her Willa Todd Scent Diary, funniest things ever, they cracked me up and had me laughing so hard. This book had me laughing, crying and everything in between. It pulled at my heartstrings that they didn't get together sooner, because they both clearly knew they were soulmates. Such a fun and great storyline. 2 epilogues and an hea. Kayley Loring is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, I would literally read anything she wrote.
Psst...kudos for using the phrase baby batter...lmao.
Willa is a quirky, adorably awkward nerdy girl, which I loved her character. Her awkwardness was the funniest and most endearing thing about her. He really got her, in a way that nobody else really could. His Shane Miller Sleep Diary and her Willa Todd Scent Diary, funniest things ever, they cracked me up and had me laughing so hard. This book had me laughing, crying and everything in between. It pulled at my heartstrings that they didn't get together sooner, because they both clearly knew they were soulmates. Such a fun and great storyline. 2 epilogues and an hea. Kayley Loring is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, I would literally read anything she wrote.
Psst...kudos for using the phrase baby batter...lmao.
August 29, 2020
“𝘞𝘩𝘰’𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶?” 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘹𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘴. “𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘶𝘺.”
•
Oh boy! I just got done laughing my socks off...AGAIN!! After meeting Shane in “Troublemaker” I knew I had to go back and read his story...and guess what?! I am soooooo in love with this guy it’s not even funny...well actually, it is funny, because this book is bloody hilarious! Shane and Willa are absolutely perfect and I couldn’t get enough of them. Kayley Loring is my new rom-com Queen and I’m making it my mission to read ALL. THE. BOOKS!!!
•
Oh boy! I just got done laughing my socks off...AGAIN!! After meeting Shane in “Troublemaker” I knew I had to go back and read his story...and guess what?! I am soooooo in love with this guy it’s not even funny...well actually, it is funny, because this book is bloody hilarious! Shane and Willa are absolutely perfect and I couldn’t get enough of them. Kayley Loring is my new rom-com Queen and I’m making it my mission to read ALL. THE. BOOKS!!!
March 30, 2020
DON'T SLEEP ON THIS BOOK! HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE KAYLEY BOOK TO DATE! Shane Miller will steal your hearts and you're not going to want it back!
Shane and Willa met way back in the day, she had a massive teen hollywood crush on Shane. Shane and Nico(Willa's brother) were Disney child stars in a tv show together. She felt this brief connection they had that day, hoping maybe they could cross paths one day, but realized over the years, chalked it up as just a crush. Until she moves back home to the states and crashing at her brothers place. Shane is up to his eyeballs in domestic life with his twins and his major insomnia, he's exhausted.
He needs help, BAD! Of course, Willa is there to save the day. There starts a beautiful friendship/nannyship/relationship.
I really LOVED this book. Dual POVs, my favorite. I love Shane's POV and inner thoughts, he was just absolutely GONE for his best friends sister. SIGHHHHH!!!! You could feel the chemistry, the tension, the love they build for each other. They are sizzlin HOT!!!!! Adorable twin kiddos, fun friends and brother. I am hoping Kayley writes a story about Nico!!! I would definitely recommend this book, I couldn't put it down.
Shane and Willa met way back in the day, she had a massive teen hollywood crush on Shane. Shane and Nico(Willa's brother) were Disney child stars in a tv show together. She felt this brief connection they had that day, hoping maybe they could cross paths one day, but realized over the years, chalked it up as just a crush. Until she moves back home to the states and crashing at her brothers place. Shane is up to his eyeballs in domestic life with his twins and his major insomnia, he's exhausted.
He needs help, BAD! Of course, Willa is there to save the day. There starts a beautiful friendship/nannyship/relationship.
I really LOVED this book. Dual POVs, my favorite. I love Shane's POV and inner thoughts, he was just absolutely GONE for his best friends sister. SIGHHHHH!!!! You could feel the chemistry, the tension, the love they build for each other. They are sizzlin HOT!!!!! Adorable twin kiddos, fun friends and brother. I am hoping Kayley writes a story about Nico!!! I would definitely recommend this book, I couldn't put it down.
January 1, 2020
4.25 Stars / 4 Steam Fans
Video review available in Week 1 Dec 29 – Jan 4 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk
Video review available in Week 1 Dec 29 – Jan 4 weekly book reviews.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk
December 26, 2019
Such a cute read. I loved the characters, the pace of the story, everything about it. The style of writing was very amusing and the plot was well-developed with no unnecessary drama. Perfect!
I have a hot single dad and little kids who steal your heart, what more can I ask for?
I wouldn't mind reading a bit more of these characters in the future.
I'll definitely check more Kayley's books out.
I have a hot single dad and little kids who steal your heart, what more can I ask for?
I wouldn't mind reading a bit more of these characters in the future.
I'll definitely check more Kayley's books out.
December 28, 2019
Fun to read with a wonderful cast of characters. Great dialogue with lots of laughs.
February 27, 2022
I gave up at 50% bc who cares
March 23, 2025
Loved this sweet and funny story! I love Kayley Loring‘s writing, so I had no doubt I would enjoy this book. Plenty of humor throughout had me smiling often and the cuteness and sweetness filled my heart with all the happiness. Definitely a feel-good story! I listened to the audiobook and the narration was absolutely perfect.
April 20, 2020
4.5 stars
After reading Charmer and realizing there was a book prior to it, I knew I had to check it out. I loved this single dad actor, best friend’s little sister story. The characters weren’t typical, the situation a bit unique, and oh who am I kidding the hero was a good guy hero which is my crack, so yes I loved this one.
Shane Miller was a teenage heart-throb Disney star who has managed to transition to adult movie star even though some of his roles have been a bit questionable. He has two adorable yet precocious 5 year old twins, his ex-wife is in Poland filming a movie, and his nanny got married and up and quit on him. Shane has had insomnia for years and trying to manage his household, kids, and, career he feels like a dead man walking. He needs a nanny stat, one that his ex-wife will approve of via a Skype interview so when his best friend Nico Todd suggests his younger sister, Willa, Shane is all for discussing it with her. Thing is Shane has no idea that he broke Willa’s young heart years ago after a meeting on the set of the show he and Shane starred in together, he made her feel special so when he up and married his co-star in his next show she pushed her crush aside and vowed to never let a man break her heart again.
I loved that Shane and Willa had a bit of a connection from years ago, one that meant a great deal to her but he just remembered as a kind gesture to a somewhat geeky girl. Willa’s all grown up now and Shane can’t believe how beautiful she is and he’s smitten, but he needs a nanny more than he needs to get laid, well maybe more, no definitely more so he puts that one the back burner and brings Willa into his home.
It was interesting to watch how easily Willa slipped into his life and home and the way she effectively dealt with the kids and how they kids took to her right away. The internal dialogs of Willa and Shane both trying to squash their lustful feelings about one another were hilarious. I loved the interactions between all four of them and while Shane’s daughter, Summer was a complete handful, his son, Lucky seemed like a sweet boy. Willa understood both kids pretty well right from the start which of course made Shane fall for her even more.
I won’t say everything between them was perfect, they had some battles to face but their communication skills were excellent and they were able to get past their issues pretty quickly. I appreciated that Shane and his ex-wife Margo put their kids first always, and there wasn’t any pettiness between them. They worked hard at making sure their kids were happy and safe and they had a friendship that was good to see.
Simply put, Sleeper was sweet, hot, funny, and an outstanding romance.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
After reading Charmer and realizing there was a book prior to it, I knew I had to check it out. I loved this single dad actor, best friend’s little sister story. The characters weren’t typical, the situation a bit unique, and oh who am I kidding the hero was a good guy hero which is my crack, so yes I loved this one.
Shane Miller was a teenage heart-throb Disney star who has managed to transition to adult movie star even though some of his roles have been a bit questionable. He has two adorable yet precocious 5 year old twins, his ex-wife is in Poland filming a movie, and his nanny got married and up and quit on him. Shane has had insomnia for years and trying to manage his household, kids, and, career he feels like a dead man walking. He needs a nanny stat, one that his ex-wife will approve of via a Skype interview so when his best friend Nico Todd suggests his younger sister, Willa, Shane is all for discussing it with her. Thing is Shane has no idea that he broke Willa’s young heart years ago after a meeting on the set of the show he and Shane starred in together, he made her feel special so when he up and married his co-star in his next show she pushed her crush aside and vowed to never let a man break her heart again.
I loved that Shane and Willa had a bit of a connection from years ago, one that meant a great deal to her but he just remembered as a kind gesture to a somewhat geeky girl. Willa’s all grown up now and Shane can’t believe how beautiful she is and he’s smitten, but he needs a nanny more than he needs to get laid, well maybe more, no definitely more so he puts that one the back burner and brings Willa into his home.
It was interesting to watch how easily Willa slipped into his life and home and the way she effectively dealt with the kids and how they kids took to her right away. The internal dialogs of Willa and Shane both trying to squash their lustful feelings about one another were hilarious. I loved the interactions between all four of them and while Shane’s daughter, Summer was a complete handful, his son, Lucky seemed like a sweet boy. Willa understood both kids pretty well right from the start which of course made Shane fall for her even more.
I won’t say everything between them was perfect, they had some battles to face but their communication skills were excellent and they were able to get past their issues pretty quickly. I appreciated that Shane and his ex-wife Margo put their kids first always, and there wasn’t any pettiness between them. They worked hard at making sure their kids were happy and safe and they had a friendship that was good to see.
Simply put, Sleeper was sweet, hot, funny, and an outstanding romance.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
December 9, 2019
This was a slow Burn romance full of sarcasm and wit. The single father and the nanny, but they knew each other when they were younger and reconnected.
It was an entertaining story.
It was an entertaining story.
December 9, 2019
I’m going to go on the record and say that this book has made my Top 5 List of 2019. Just yes. This book is everything all wrapped up with a pretty little scented bow.
Shane and Willa are the funniest characters I have read in forever. They are so very different from each other but ever so perfect for one another.
He is an incredibly successful actor, sexy as hell, exhausted single dad. She is a perfumer and is as quirky as she is beautiful. In the 12 years since she met her teenage crush (who also happened to be her brother’s co-star), she has never forgotten him.
In a moment of pure insanity, Shane hires Willa to be his 5 year old twins nanny and she in an equally crazy moment accepts the position.
Their attraction to one another is a proven scientific fact (just ask the perfumer 😉) and they are not able to stop themselves from giving into it. From here on out, the pages of this book are filled with actor hanky panky and nanny nookie and it is equal parts hilarious and hot!
Do yourself a favor and TBR, pre-order, one-click this book ASAP and fall in love (while laughing out loud) with the performer and the perfumer. (I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review).
Shane and Willa are the funniest characters I have read in forever. They are so very different from each other but ever so perfect for one another.
He is an incredibly successful actor, sexy as hell, exhausted single dad. She is a perfumer and is as quirky as she is beautiful. In the 12 years since she met her teenage crush (who also happened to be her brother’s co-star), she has never forgotten him.
In a moment of pure insanity, Shane hires Willa to be his 5 year old twins nanny and she in an equally crazy moment accepts the position.
Their attraction to one another is a proven scientific fact (just ask the perfumer 😉) and they are not able to stop themselves from giving into it. From here on out, the pages of this book are filled with actor hanky panky and nanny nookie and it is equal parts hilarious and hot!
Do yourself a favor and TBR, pre-order, one-click this book ASAP and fall in love (while laughing out loud) with the performer and the perfumer. (I read an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review).
January 7, 2020
* 2.5 stars ?? maybe ?? i can’t figure this book out. it started out amazing — the first book that’s made me actually smile in a while — but after about halfway through the drama just annoyed me. i loved shane & willa so much, but the whole “give up your dream to be with my demonic daughter and my cheating ex-wife and mother of said demonic daughter” ruined everything for me. i literally ended up reading the second half of the book with a frown on my face, because i felt like willa deserved SO much better and most of the other main characters just became so unlikeable and awful. i really thought this was going to be a new favorite, but i genuinely can’t stand unlikeable characters, especially when the love interest expects the protagonist to somehow want to be with these characters that are awful to her. i’m really sad that this disappointed me, but hopefully other people who don’t care about a protagonist’s dreams and feelings as much as i do will love this.
November 20, 2021
a mi sie podobało. to nie jest ciężka książka. to jest lekka książka, lekka komedia. a ja takie lubie, tak jak i ciężkie komedie:D ja po prostu lubie komedie. czyta się lekko, przyjemnie i łatwo. tygrysy lubią to bardzo:D
March 26, 2020
4.5 stars!
OMG, what a gorgeous read! Sweet, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, this trope-packed delight of a read is a movie star, brother’s best friend, single parent, nanny/boss romance that is full of chemistry and fun moments, and I freaking loved it!
Willa fell in love with Shane Miller when she was 12 years old. He was 16 and the star of a tv show that also featured her older brother. They shared one moment that left its mark on the impressionable young pre-teen and ever since then no man ever measured up to her celebrity crush.
Twelve years later and Shane is a divorced dad of 5-year-old twins, and one of the hottest comedy actors around. He’s also suffering from terrible insomnia and trying hard to juggle his career and his kids with his lack of sleep. He needs help… fast. So, when his best friend Nico recommends his younger sister as a nanny, Shane is right on board. He remembers meeting Willa as a kid but they haven’t seen each other in the intervening years, and with one look at her all grown up, he is lust-punched, which makes things kinda awkward now that she’s living under his roof and an instant hit with his kids.
Willa has recently returned from studying perfumery in France and is looking to expand on her passion and build her career. A short-term gig as a nanny seems like a good opportunity to make some money and get herself sorted out, and the fact that she gets to live with the man she’s always obsessed over - who is more gorgeous than ever - is overwhelming in all the ways.
Shane and Willa together are absolutely combustible. Hot and flirty, they banter and tease, and there are steamy stares and all kinds of inappropriate monologuing. I laughed out loud so many times as they flirt, day dream and fantasise about each other, and the sexual tension builds brilliantly. And when they finally decide that they can’t hold off any longer… holy freaking hotness! The sexy time is sizzling, in a reflection of their mad passion for each other, and it sparks a relationship that is sweet and funny with plenty of cheesy, jokey moments – balanced with epic hotness, and I just loved seeing them together!
Adding to the fun are Shane’s two kids, Willa’s older brother and best friend, and her outrageously hilarious grandmother. I love the relationships between the different characters – Shane and Nico are a lot of fun – and I’m looking forward to seeing more of this group with Nico’s story coming up in Charmer.
This book is a giant ball of fun. I laughed, I swooned and though I could have done with a little bit less detail when it comes to Willa and her scents, I fell in mad love with her, and especially Shane. He may be a single dad movie star, but he’s also just a regular guy trying his best, and the way that he and Willa literally throw themselves at each other is so entertaining to watch. They are honest, open and functional with very minimal drama, and this is an easy, angst-free read.
The audiobook is narrated by Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton, and they do a great job with it. They bring these characters to life with humour and charm, and you can’t help but love them. I highly recommend listening to this one!
A fantastic read, I loved it! 4.5 stars.
OMG, what a gorgeous read! Sweet, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, this trope-packed delight of a read is a movie star, brother’s best friend, single parent, nanny/boss romance that is full of chemistry and fun moments, and I freaking loved it!
Willa fell in love with Shane Miller when she was 12 years old. He was 16 and the star of a tv show that also featured her older brother. They shared one moment that left its mark on the impressionable young pre-teen and ever since then no man ever measured up to her celebrity crush.
Twelve years later and Shane is a divorced dad of 5-year-old twins, and one of the hottest comedy actors around. He’s also suffering from terrible insomnia and trying hard to juggle his career and his kids with his lack of sleep. He needs help… fast. So, when his best friend Nico recommends his younger sister as a nanny, Shane is right on board. He remembers meeting Willa as a kid but they haven’t seen each other in the intervening years, and with one look at her all grown up, he is lust-punched, which makes things kinda awkward now that she’s living under his roof and an instant hit with his kids.
Willa has recently returned from studying perfumery in France and is looking to expand on her passion and build her career. A short-term gig as a nanny seems like a good opportunity to make some money and get herself sorted out, and the fact that she gets to live with the man she’s always obsessed over - who is more gorgeous than ever - is overwhelming in all the ways.
Shane and Willa together are absolutely combustible. Hot and flirty, they banter and tease, and there are steamy stares and all kinds of inappropriate monologuing. I laughed out loud so many times as they flirt, day dream and fantasise about each other, and the sexual tension builds brilliantly. And when they finally decide that they can’t hold off any longer… holy freaking hotness! The sexy time is sizzling, in a reflection of their mad passion for each other, and it sparks a relationship that is sweet and funny with plenty of cheesy, jokey moments – balanced with epic hotness, and I just loved seeing them together!
“Who’s got two kids, an erection, and just told your brother he’s falling for you?” He lets his boxer briefs fall to the floor and then points to himself with his thumbs. “This naked guy.”
Adding to the fun are Shane’s two kids, Willa’s older brother and best friend, and her outrageously hilarious grandmother. I love the relationships between the different characters – Shane and Nico are a lot of fun – and I’m looking forward to seeing more of this group with Nico’s story coming up in Charmer.
This book is a giant ball of fun. I laughed, I swooned and though I could have done with a little bit less detail when it comes to Willa and her scents, I fell in mad love with her, and especially Shane. He may be a single dad movie star, but he’s also just a regular guy trying his best, and the way that he and Willa literally throw themselves at each other is so entertaining to watch. They are honest, open and functional with very minimal drama, and this is an easy, angst-free read.
The audiobook is narrated by Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton, and they do a great job with it. They bring these characters to life with humour and charm, and you can’t help but love them. I highly recommend listening to this one!
A fantastic read, I loved it! 4.5 stars.
February 3, 2021
Fajna historia o ciągle zmęczonym aktorze, który musi zajmować samotnie zajmować się swoimi bliźniętami, podczas gdy jego była żona jest poza krajem i o początkującej perfumiarz. Może schemat z nianią i młodszą siostrą przyjaciela jest wszystkim dobrze znany, ale bardzo przyjemnie spędziłam z tą historią czas. Muszę przyznać sporego plusa za niespotykany zawód kobiety - perfumiarz oraz za to, że choć raz była żona nie jest zdemonizowana, a po prostu jest fajną babką i po prostu nie wyszło im w małżeństwie, lecz potrafi się przyjaźnić z byłym mężem i jego nową partnerką, a także im kibicować.
May 4, 2024
🎧🎧AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🎧🎧
4.5 ridiculous good time stars!
I'm pretty new to Kayley's writing but I am loving her style so far because even her conflicts "adult correctly" and I am fucking giddy about all of it! I'm about to throw ALL my money at anything she has had recorded!
4.5 ridiculous good time stars!
I'm pretty new to Kayley's writing but I am loving her style so far because even her conflicts "adult correctly" and I am fucking giddy about all of it! I'm about to throw ALL my money at anything she has had recorded!
May 7, 2024
4.5 Stars. Loved it. Listened on audio.
October 14, 2025
Aptly named as it nearly put me to sleep.
Basically it was underwhelming in pretty much all aspects.
This is a story about Shane and Willa who, despite having known each other briefly as kids, haven't seen each other until we meet them again as adults in present day.
Fine. Sure. That works.
Willa is an unemployed perfumist, fresh off finishing her sciency perfumey degree in France and Shane is a divorced mega star actor who is suffering from insomnia and has five year old twins with his also super famous actress ex-wife.
Shane needs a nanny in order to maintain his sanity and Willa needs a job so she can get out of her also famous and single rockstar brother's bachelor pad. So, said brother, Nico, arranges for these two to meet since he is also Shane's bestie.
Great. Fine.
We soon learn that Willa was not only gaga over Shane when she was a kid but that she has harbored said crush for all these years. And here's where the author begins to lose me. All the inner dialogue about how amazing and how gorgeous and perfect Shane induced major eyerolling. I mean, come on, how old are you?
Then, you throw in the kids and it was hard enough to get into the romantic aspect of this book but kids always make this harder. Now, it can be done but writing kids into a romance is tricky and you have to strike a very dicey balance. Needless to say, the scales were off here.
I'm sorry, but can we stop praising men for managing to provide basic care to their kids? I mean, not unaliving your children should NOT be the gold standard for being a dad. This man didn't do anything a single mom wouldn't do on a daily basis and yet Willa practically created an alter from which to worship him.
When the kids weren't getting in the way of the story progression there wasn't really very much happening and by the end I wondered why these two were so in love with one another. This is yet another indication of how little care was put into creating a solid foundation for these main characters. Even with the kids mucking things up, if the baser story were solid we would have something tangible to hold onto. Except it wasn't and we don't.
In the end, things wrapped up neatly in that HEA way they do except no one really had to work for it so it all felt anticlimactic.
Basically it was underwhelming in pretty much all aspects.
This is a story about Shane and Willa who, despite having known each other briefly as kids, haven't seen each other until we meet them again as adults in present day.
Fine. Sure. That works.
Willa is an unemployed perfumist, fresh off finishing her sciency perfumey degree in France and Shane is a divorced mega star actor who is suffering from insomnia and has five year old twins with his also super famous actress ex-wife.
Shane needs a nanny in order to maintain his sanity and Willa needs a job so she can get out of her also famous and single rockstar brother's bachelor pad. So, said brother, Nico, arranges for these two to meet since he is also Shane's bestie.
Great. Fine.
We soon learn that Willa was not only gaga over Shane when she was a kid but that she has harbored said crush for all these years. And here's where the author begins to lose me. All the inner dialogue about how amazing and how gorgeous and perfect Shane induced major eyerolling. I mean, come on, how old are you?
Then, you throw in the kids and it was hard enough to get into the romantic aspect of this book but kids always make this harder. Now, it can be done but writing kids into a romance is tricky and you have to strike a very dicey balance. Needless to say, the scales were off here.
I'm sorry, but can we stop praising men for managing to provide basic care to their kids? I mean, not unaliving your children should NOT be the gold standard for being a dad. This man didn't do anything a single mom wouldn't do on a daily basis and yet Willa practically created an alter from which to worship him.
When the kids weren't getting in the way of the story progression there wasn't really very much happening and by the end I wondered why these two were so in love with one another. This is yet another indication of how little care was put into creating a solid foundation for these main characters. Even with the kids mucking things up, if the baser story were solid we would have something tangible to hold onto. Except it wasn't and we don't.
In the end, things wrapped up neatly in that HEA way they do except no one really had to work for it so it all felt anticlimactic.
December 7, 2019
Best Kayley Loring book I’ve read? Yeah, it was. This is all about the chemistry, with a light and sexy feel with minimal angst. I fell for our hero, Shane, from the start. He was so adorable, sweet, and loving with an alpha side that came out at just the right times. There’s also something so incredibly sexy about a good dad, and Shane’s kids play a major role in the story, which just amplified all of the cuteness and humor tenfold. I loved it from start to finish.
The story follows Shane, a former child star turned comedy actor who cannot seem to get any sleep. He’s got twin 5-year-olds from his failed marriage to a costar, a nanny who just quit, and an ex-wife who is out of town so she can’t pick up any of the slack. Sleep deprived and exhausted, he hires his best friend’s little sister as a temporary nanny. Shane and Willa only met once during the height of Shane’s teen stardom, and it left Willa with a crush that would just not quit. Now that they’re spending time together, sharing a home, and helping to raise two kids... everything feels way too easy and natural. Shane’s too good of a guy to start something with his best friend’s little sister, and Willa knows better than to open her heart to the guy with the power to crush it.
This just flew by - Loring’s writing gets better with every book, and I loved Shane’s perspective on things. There’s so much humor and a feel good vibe to the whole story. It’s definitely got its share of steamy scenes, but the connection between Shane and Willa is really the star of the show. I also kinda loved all the weird science facts - Willa designs fragrances, so there’s all these little factoids about scent. I pretty much had a smile on my face for the whole book, and I cannot wait to see what Loring comes up with next. I received an ARC via Give Me Books and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sexy, sweet rom com.
The story follows Shane, a former child star turned comedy actor who cannot seem to get any sleep. He’s got twin 5-year-olds from his failed marriage to a costar, a nanny who just quit, and an ex-wife who is out of town so she can’t pick up any of the slack. Sleep deprived and exhausted, he hires his best friend’s little sister as a temporary nanny. Shane and Willa only met once during the height of Shane’s teen stardom, and it left Willa with a crush that would just not quit. Now that they’re spending time together, sharing a home, and helping to raise two kids... everything feels way too easy and natural. Shane’s too good of a guy to start something with his best friend’s little sister, and Willa knows better than to open her heart to the guy with the power to crush it.
This just flew by - Loring’s writing gets better with every book, and I loved Shane’s perspective on things. There’s so much humor and a feel good vibe to the whole story. It’s definitely got its share of steamy scenes, but the connection between Shane and Willa is really the star of the show. I also kinda loved all the weird science facts - Willa designs fragrances, so there’s all these little factoids about scent. I pretty much had a smile on my face for the whole book, and I cannot wait to see what Loring comes up with next. I received an ARC via Give Me Books and am voluntarily leaving a review of this sexy, sweet rom com.
March 27, 2020
Light and at times amusing rom-com. Cliche story of the divorced actor with young kids who falls for the hot nanny. I admit the depiction of the hero, a kind of Zac Efron type figure, and the world he lived in, was done reasonably well, and not OTT. He was very caring and patient with his children too, which was nice.
The romance was insta-lust, but that didn't annoy me as much as usual because the hero was a good friend of the heroine's brother, so they knew each other before. The heroine had been studying and working in Paris for a few years, and was just back, so that worked OK. She'd also met him when he was a hot teen TV star (when she was 12 LOL) and had a major celeb crush on him. It was kinda cute, actually.
There were some very funny moments and lines, if you don't mind a heavy sprinkling of the f-bomb. It was actually pretty well-written, if short, and lighter than I usually read (and more swearing than I'm usually comfortable with).
My main problem with the book was that there was (for me) too much sex. LOL. I know. Too much thinking about it, talking (sometimes crudely) about it, masturbating, explicitly having sex, etc etc. I quite enjoy a decent sex scene or two in my romance reads, in fact I prefer that to a 'clean' read. But this one was just too much for me. Although the relationship became much more clearly about love later in the book, for much of the book it felt like the whole thing was about sex. I guess I wanted more romance.
It was light and entertaining apart from this. A quick and easy read, making good, undemanding escapist reading during the current depressing real world scenario of the pandemic. I would consider reading others by this author. It was also on kindle unlimited, which is another reason I would consider reading more LOL.
The romance was insta-lust, but that didn't annoy me as much as usual because the hero was a good friend of the heroine's brother, so they knew each other before. The heroine had been studying and working in Paris for a few years, and was just back, so that worked OK. She'd also met him when he was a hot teen TV star (when she was 12 LOL) and had a major celeb crush on him. It was kinda cute, actually.
There were some very funny moments and lines, if you don't mind a heavy sprinkling of the f-bomb. It was actually pretty well-written, if short, and lighter than I usually read (and more swearing than I'm usually comfortable with).
My main problem with the book was that there was (for me) too much sex. LOL. I know. Too much thinking about it, talking (sometimes crudely) about it, masturbating, explicitly having sex, etc etc. I quite enjoy a decent sex scene or two in my romance reads, in fact I prefer that to a 'clean' read. But this one was just too much for me. Although the relationship became much more clearly about love later in the book, for much of the book it felt like the whole thing was about sex. I guess I wanted more romance.
It was light and entertaining apart from this. A quick and easy read, making good, undemanding escapist reading during the current depressing real world scenario of the pandemic. I would consider reading others by this author. It was also on kindle unlimited, which is another reason I would consider reading more LOL.
March 24, 2024
This was cute. Kayley writes a great DILF and I love a heroine who has her own passions, in this case being a perfumer. Willa had a monster crush on her brother’s best friend-Disney Channel Star Shane Miller-when she was a kid. After an adorable and awkward first meeting when she was 12, she continues to pine for him into adulthood. Now she’s the temporary nanny to his hilarious and chaotic twins. Sexy hijinks ensue. I was so relieved that Shane's ex wife wasn't a Megabitch. Even with her past infidelity, she was a good friend to Shane and a great mom to her kids. In fact, her response to her kids getting lost while Willa was sexting Shane was VALID. But, she gave Willa some grace AND gave Shane great advice so let's celebrate that! One criticism: Can we end one of these books without marriage and kids occasionally? Everyone's HEA doesn't look like that. Just a thought.
Summer wasn't even that bad lol Based on the reviews I read I was expecting the Bad Seed! She was spoiled, a little precocious but she honestly just wanted her dad to stop making bedroom eyes at her nanny and for her nanny to stop sexting her dad when she was supposed to be watching her! Throwing away her perfumes crossed the line though.....Lucky was the superior twin.
This is a great book if you love: Brother’s Best Friend and Single Dad Romances.
Willa/Shane’s song: Daylight-Taylor Swift
Summer wasn't even that bad lol Based on the reviews I read I was expecting the Bad Seed! She was spoiled, a little precocious but she honestly just wanted her dad to stop making bedroom eyes at her nanny and for her nanny to stop sexting her dad when she was supposed to be watching her! Throwing away her perfumes crossed the line though.....Lucky was the superior twin.
This is a great book if you love: Brother’s Best Friend and Single Dad Romances.
Willa/Shane’s song: Daylight-Taylor Swift
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
Sleeper was an adorably sweet Brothers Best Friends Romantic Comedy that was light on the angst and heavy on the cuteness!
Shane and Willa were an adorable couple that brought out the best in each other, they clearly had a connection from the beginning. There relationship was fast paced because of this connection and a little bit to do with there history as well.
Sleeper was an adorable listen, the kids are a cute addition and the history between Shane and Willa gave it another level of sweetness that was fun but I would've loved more angst. Brothers Best Friend is one of my favourite sub genres and one of the reason's I love it is because of the angst and tension between all characters involved. Sleeper felt like it was missing that part of the romance for me.
The narrators for this audio book were really great to listen too. I looooove listening to Teddy Hamilton, he has such a great voice and captures the emotion of characters so well. Mackenvie Cartwright was a new to me narrator but I really enjoyed her version of Willa! I'll be looking for more of her narrated books in the future.
Narrators: Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton
Overall: 3.5
Performance: 4.5
Story: 3.5
Shane and Willa were an adorable couple that brought out the best in each other, they clearly had a connection from the beginning. There relationship was fast paced because of this connection and a little bit to do with there history as well.
Sleeper was an adorable listen, the kids are a cute addition and the history between Shane and Willa gave it another level of sweetness that was fun but I would've loved more angst. Brothers Best Friend is one of my favourite sub genres and one of the reason's I love it is because of the angst and tension between all characters involved. Sleeper felt like it was missing that part of the romance for me.
The narrators for this audio book were really great to listen too. I looooove listening to Teddy Hamilton, he has such a great voice and captures the emotion of characters so well. Mackenvie Cartwright was a new to me narrator but I really enjoyed her version of Willa! I'll be looking for more of her narrated books in the future.
Narrators: Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton
Overall: 3.5
Performance: 4.5
Story: 3.5
April 5, 2020
It's very rare I find a romance nowadays that doesn't have stupid drama or silly miscommunications or somebody to be the bad guy coming in to stir things up! And though I always hate it when I come to that inevitable part - I always figured it was required. I realised reading this book that it's not actually necessary to a story and I LOVE that it wasnt needed for this one.
I love this book for putting 2 sane and rational (while also weird and funny) people together and making it just WORK. I also applaud Kayley for including an ex wife who was actually a decent human being who I wasnt encouraged to hate!
I just really enjoyed it. It was fun and refreshing and sweet and a little bit silly and just what I didn't know I needed.
**Worth mentioning that I Read Charmer (technically book 2) first and I feel like this helped me love Shane and Willa more somehow.
I love this book for putting 2 sane and rational (while also weird and funny) people together and making it just WORK. I also applaud Kayley for including an ex wife who was actually a decent human being who I wasnt encouraged to hate!
I just really enjoyed it. It was fun and refreshing and sweet and a little bit silly and just what I didn't know I needed.
**Worth mentioning that I Read Charmer (technically book 2) first and I feel like this helped me love Shane and Willa more somehow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 668 reviews