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Tennessee Tulanes #4
Simon Says Mommy
Dr. Ethan Tulane is juggling more than even his type A personality can handle. Between his new job as chief of surgery and learning to be a dad to Simon, his adopted son, Ethan is desperate. Enter Megan Rose, the temporary nanny. Simon bonds instantly with her, which makes Ethan heave a sigh of relief--even as he notices she's very good-looking.
It's not long before they're exploring those sparks between them. Megan might be the one woman he could have forever with. Too bad there's something she's not sharing--something that could send her to the door before he can talk commitment. Ethan can't let that happen, so it's time for the big guns--letting Simon persuade her!
It's not long before they're exploring those sparks between them. Megan might be the one woman he could have forever with. Too bad there's something she's not sharing--something that could send her to the door before he can talk commitment. Ethan can't let that happen, so it's time for the big guns--letting Simon persuade her!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
466 people are currently reading
341 people want to read
About the author
Kay Stockham
32 books71 followersKay Lyons Stockham is an award-winning author of 25+ books published by Harlequin Enterprises, Berkley Publishing and Kindred Spirits Publishing. She has also been a Book Buyers Best, HOLT Medallion and RITA Award finalist with a million books in print.
For more information on Kay's work, please visit her website at http://www.kaystockham.com or find her at one of the following:
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For more information on Kay's work, please visit her website at http://www.kaystockham.com or find her at one of the following:
Kay Lyons Stockham, Author (FB)
@KayStockham (Twitter)
Kay Stockham (Authorgraph)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 12, 2012
We finally get Ethan's book, the eldest Tulane, the surgeon who after being passed up for promotion went to work for Doctor's Without Borders and returned changed and injured with a five year old traumatized boy Simon.
To be honest I found Ethan to be lack-luster, he didn't seem to have much personality. The heroine Megan has suffered a lot in life and is Jen's older sister(His Son's Teacher), she comes to Jen at the end of her rope to apologize and find a safe roof but instead Ethan takes her in.
Jen was such a good character in her book but I hated her here, she was so mean, I get it you didn't get along as sisters, Meg was spoiled and pretty but your sister was ill, living in her car and telling you she had been beaten and you behave badly?Family should matter.
Meg had always been jealous of Jen who had been allowed to do whatever she wanted instead of being told you're only pretty and pushed into activities or used as a cover for her father's infidelities and as far as the boyfriend grabbing went Meg had suffered more than enough, the only reason she did it was to save Jen and she ended up being raped and pregnant and married to a guy who loved to abuse her.
Ethan recognizes the signs of being abused but allows Meg her space while hiring her as Simon's nanny since he seems to open up to her. Meg makes Ethan see his faults when it comes to Simon.
It took Meg's ex to make Jen believe in her sister and I hated that.
To be honest I found Ethan to be lack-luster, he didn't seem to have much personality. The heroine Megan has suffered a lot in life and is Jen's older sister(His Son's Teacher), she comes to Jen at the end of her rope to apologize and find a safe roof but instead Ethan takes her in.
Jen was such a good character in her book but I hated her here, she was so mean, I get it you didn't get along as sisters, Meg was spoiled and pretty but your sister was ill, living in her car and telling you she had been beaten and you behave badly?Family should matter.
Meg had always been jealous of Jen who had been allowed to do whatever she wanted instead of being told you're only pretty and pushed into activities or used as a cover for her father's infidelities and as far as the boyfriend grabbing went Meg had suffered more than enough, the only reason she did it was to save Jen and she ended up being raped and pregnant and married to a guy who loved to abuse her.
Ethan recognizes the signs of being abused but allows Meg her space while hiring her as Simon's nanny since he seems to open up to her. Meg makes Ethan see his faults when it comes to Simon.
It took Meg's ex to make Jen believe in her sister and I hated that.
January 21, 2011
I'll be completely frank. If it weren't for the fact that I wanted to find out why Simon was having trouble adjusting and why Megan had done in the past what she had done, this would have been a Did-Not-Finish book for me. I knew it by the first fifth of this book. The sad part is that I had wanted to read Ethan's book after reading Jennifer and Nick's book in His Son's Teacher. Too bad Jennifer seemed to be completely out of character in Simon Says Mommy and destroyed whatever desire I had left in wanting to enjoy this book.
I understand that Jennifer and Megan had a lot of baggage from an unconventional childhood that involved sibling rivalry and poor parental support and role model, but I did not think that it warranted such obstinate hostility that Jennifer evinced throughout most of the book. I started off feeling dismayed by her evident animosity and refusal to try to accept the peace offering from Megan. What we were told about their childhood did not adequately explain the reason for Jennifer's insistence that Megan cannot be trusted, is bad news, and that everyone she loved would be better off without Megan around. That is why, my dismay quickly turned into active dislike, which is a shame because I didn't think she was such a terrible heroine in His Son's Teacher. To add insult to injury, it was her first interaction with Ethan in His Son's Teacher that had made me want to read Ethan's book. I'm feeling a bit bitter and disappointed about it now.
It didn't help matters when her reaction to being told that her ex-boyfriend (and Megan's ex-husband) had hit her sister, after shock, was, "So what? You still stole my boyfriend." Likely she doubted the veracity of this claim but as mentioned before, the author failed to provide a satisfactory reason for Jennifer's insistence that her older sister is a lying, manipulative witch, I had trouble accepting that Jennifer had a good reason to continue doubting and being upset (even if she happened to be in a particularly emotional condition).
Yes, it's true. A secondary character destroyed the book for me.
Not only was I upset about Jennifer's hostility towards Megan, I started getting really ticked off with the whole "we-are-family;we-protect-our-own" mentality of the Tulanes. Yes, Nick, I'm looking at you. Loyalty and protection of family is great, but either there is an excess of that going around in the connected romance books, or I've just been reading too many of them. Granted, Nick wasn't too happy about being in the doghouse with Jennifer upset but as much as I was starting to dislike Jennifer, his "talk" with Megan just added fuel to the fire.
I thought that the author did quite well portraying Megan as the victim of domestic violence. It took Megan a while to trust Ethan, even after living with him and experiencing gentleness from him. I thought it was rather believable, especially when we see that Megan having panic attacks or difficulty trusting Ethan despite his gentleness. As we learn, Megan has not had a good history of trustworthy men.
I thought it was sweet that Megan saw herself reflected in Simon. They were both victims of violence and struggling to put themselves back together. Simon didn't speak much but I let it pass with the excuse that he was a traumatized and confused 5-year-old.
As for Ethan? Although he remained nice, he kind of fizzled for me.
I did not particularly care for how the book ended. It was all too pat and nice. The irony was fine but it was just too much for me.
This is my third Kay Stockham book, and my ratings have gone from average, to okay, to the lowest of all. I am not entirely certain I want to continue reading her. Apparently, her books just aren't for me.
PS: As an aside, my sister, who really wanted to read the rest of the Tulane books, is reading this now and she commented in surprise, "I don't remember Jennifer being this mean."
I understand that Jennifer and Megan had a lot of baggage from an unconventional childhood that involved sibling rivalry and poor parental support and role model, but I did not think that it warranted such obstinate hostility that Jennifer evinced throughout most of the book. I started off feeling dismayed by her evident animosity and refusal to try to accept the peace offering from Megan. What we were told about their childhood did not adequately explain the reason for Jennifer's insistence that Megan cannot be trusted, is bad news, and that everyone she loved would be better off without Megan around. That is why, my dismay quickly turned into active dislike, which is a shame because I didn't think she was such a terrible heroine in His Son's Teacher. To add insult to injury, it was her first interaction with Ethan in His Son's Teacher that had made me want to read Ethan's book. I'm feeling a bit bitter and disappointed about it now.
It didn't help matters when her reaction to being told that her ex-boyfriend (and Megan's ex-husband) had hit her sister, after shock, was, "So what? You still stole my boyfriend." Likely she doubted the veracity of this claim but as mentioned before, the author failed to provide a satisfactory reason for Jennifer's insistence that her older sister is a lying, manipulative witch, I had trouble accepting that Jennifer had a good reason to continue doubting and being upset (even if she happened to be in a particularly emotional condition).
Yes, it's true. A secondary character destroyed the book for me.
Not only was I upset about Jennifer's hostility towards Megan, I started getting really ticked off with the whole "we-are-family;we-protect-our-own" mentality of the Tulanes. Yes, Nick, I'm looking at you. Loyalty and protection of family is great, but either there is an excess of that going around in the connected romance books, or I've just been reading too many of them. Granted, Nick wasn't too happy about being in the doghouse with Jennifer upset but as much as I was starting to dislike Jennifer, his "talk" with Megan just added fuel to the fire.
I thought that the author did quite well portraying Megan as the victim of domestic violence. It took Megan a while to trust Ethan, even after living with him and experiencing gentleness from him. I thought it was rather believable, especially when we see that Megan having panic attacks or difficulty trusting Ethan despite his gentleness. As we learn, Megan has not had a good history of trustworthy men.
I thought it was sweet that Megan saw herself reflected in Simon. They were both victims of violence and struggling to put themselves back together. Simon didn't speak much but I let it pass with the excuse that he was a traumatized and confused 5-year-old.
As for Ethan? Although he remained nice, he kind of fizzled for me.
I did not particularly care for how the book ended. It was all too pat and nice. The irony was fine but it was just too much for me.
This is my third Kay Stockham book, and my ratings have gone from average, to okay, to the lowest of all. I am not entirely certain I want to continue reading her. Apparently, her books just aren't for me.
PS: As an aside, my sister, who really wanted to read the rest of the Tulane books, is reading this now and she commented in surprise, "I don't remember Jennifer being this mean."
June 24, 2021
Why did you go and ruin it.
I think I've read all the Tulane books now, and not one of them deserves a three star--decent--rating. This book started off good with realistic characters then the climax happened. And I'd have rather you beat her to death rather than to feed your reader a drinking made me do it line of bs. Abusive people don't magically change. I've known a whole host of them. And the one thing universally true is they are awful people both sober and not. You've got to look for it but once you know what to look for its easy to spot. Denigration words that make the recipient feel an inch tall. The whole attitude to their chosen victims. They make their victims think they deserve the abuse. The abuser can appear to be a nice guy/woman to outsiders but it's only to gaslight their victims. And only idiots believe their paper thin facades. The easiest way to see behind the curtain is wait until they are angry. See an abuser doesn't have the self control of a non abuser. They will get violent when they get angry. From slapping to throwing things to spewing hate filled garbage, it is a disproportionate violently angry response. Even slight annoyances are met with the threat of violence if the abuser feels comfortable enough in his surroundings. If s/he annoys the abuser in public there is a look and behavior to let the victim know that further abuse is on the way. And I even know a guy who used to be physically abusive and now isn't. He still calls his woman stupid and ugly. "Jokingly" And for you to feed me this line of Hallmark horse feathers is an insult to my intelligence. It's an insult to women who have been abused and deliberately creates misinformation. Honey, it ain't the drugs/alcohol it's the fact that this person is a giant pustule on the hind end of humanity. It isn't only men I've seen women be abusers too. And the truth is abusers like the power and see nothing wrong with treating their victims as less than. Please for the love of all that is holy. Do some RESEARCH before doing this again. And on a deeply personal level, I still hate Jenn. She exemplifies everything wrong with our gender.
I think I've read all the Tulane books now, and not one of them deserves a three star--decent--rating. This book started off good with realistic characters then the climax happened. And I'd have rather you beat her to death rather than to feed your reader a drinking made me do it line of bs. Abusive people don't magically change. I've known a whole host of them. And the one thing universally true is they are awful people both sober and not. You've got to look for it but once you know what to look for its easy to spot. Denigration words that make the recipient feel an inch tall. The whole attitude to their chosen victims. They make their victims think they deserve the abuse. The abuser can appear to be a nice guy/woman to outsiders but it's only to gaslight their victims. And only idiots believe their paper thin facades. The easiest way to see behind the curtain is wait until they are angry. See an abuser doesn't have the self control of a non abuser. They will get violent when they get angry. From slapping to throwing things to spewing hate filled garbage, it is a disproportionate violently angry response. Even slight annoyances are met with the threat of violence if the abuser feels comfortable enough in his surroundings. If s/he annoys the abuser in public there is a look and behavior to let the victim know that further abuse is on the way. And I even know a guy who used to be physically abusive and now isn't. He still calls his woman stupid and ugly. "Jokingly" And for you to feed me this line of Hallmark horse feathers is an insult to my intelligence. It's an insult to women who have been abused and deliberately creates misinformation. Honey, it ain't the drugs/alcohol it's the fact that this person is a giant pustule on the hind end of humanity. It isn't only men I've seen women be abusers too. And the truth is abusers like the power and see nothing wrong with treating their victims as less than. Please for the love of all that is holy. Do some RESEARCH before doing this again. And on a deeply personal level, I still hate Jenn. She exemplifies everything wrong with our gender.
July 7, 2021
My first read by this author. I struggled to get into it. I can understand differences between siblings, but, only insecure and hardassed siblings turn sick ones away and that's at the start of the book. Ethan has issues; he cleans house at 3 a.m., works late most days and can't even tell that he is serving burnt food and then tries to insist his son eats it. Both he and Jenn (his sister in-law) are in professions where they can make a difference but neither seem prone to do that and the way they speak to and treat Simon had me feeling they do what they do out of a sense of obligation. Megan is ill, on the run from an abusive relationship and an ex-husband who threatened her before going to prison. She has many a nightmare and can speak French fluently which allows her to connect with Simon and have an understanding what he is feeling. She does well as Simon's nanny. It's a bland story and the characters are a little insipid. I am really surprised that Ethan and Megan really connected physically and emotionally enough to fall in love to have their happy ever after.
July 29, 2020
I came across this book accidentally, so I haven't read the previous books in this series. I didn't really have any trouble understanding the story, so not reading the previous series was fine with me.
I quite like this book and love the part when Megan and Simon bonded. Megan's and Ethan's relationship was pretty good too, Ethan didn't turn Megan away because his sister-in-law didn't like her.
When I realised that there's another book besides from this, I intended to read them after I finish this one even though the other books came out before. But I changed my mind because I kinda hate Jenn in this series. That made me reluctant to read the other books. I wasn't really satisfied with the way Megan and Jenn reconciled, Jenn has to wait until Megan's ex told the truth and she chose to not believe Megan's word before being confronted by Megan's ex.
I quite like this book and love the part when Megan and Simon bonded. Megan's and Ethan's relationship was pretty good too, Ethan didn't turn Megan away because his sister-in-law didn't like her.
When I realised that there's another book besides from this, I intended to read them after I finish this one even though the other books came out before. But I changed my mind because I kinda hate Jenn in this series. That made me reluctant to read the other books. I wasn't really satisfied with the way Megan and Jenn reconciled, Jenn has to wait until Megan's ex told the truth and she chose to not believe Megan's word before being confronted by Megan's ex.
August 26, 2011
I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. Large personality changes from one book to the other in this series. This book would have probably been better had I not read His Son's Teacher first. Jennifer changed completely and became very whiny, controlling, and unforgiving. Really destroyed my liking of her and almost stopped His Son's Teacher from being one of my top favorite books. I am just going to pretend that this book didn't exist.
The main romance is good but it took a backseat to my frustration and that is the reason I rate this two stars.
The main romance is good but it took a backseat to my frustration and that is the reason I rate this two stars.
June 27, 2021
I really enjoyed the story of Megan and Ethan. Right from the beginning you know that Megan is a character you can relate to. She made mistakes as a kid, a lot of mistakes.
A lot.
But she's there to make amends and nothing goes according to plan. Story of our lives, right? Well that's just how The Nanny's Secret begins.
Megan is damaged but too strong to admit it and Ethan, well he's a surgeon and a natural caregiver, whether he wants to own up to it or not. He steps in when he probably shouldn't have and that's what gets our story going.
This story was fun and sexy, sweet and a little heartbreaking, everything a good romance ought to be. I plowed through the story in one day, mostly with a smile on my face. Maybe a glint or two of tears, but I had a good time reading The Nanny's Secret and you probably will too!
A lot.
But she's there to make amends and nothing goes according to plan. Story of our lives, right? Well that's just how The Nanny's Secret begins.
Megan is damaged but too strong to admit it and Ethan, well he's a surgeon and a natural caregiver, whether he wants to own up to it or not. He steps in when he probably shouldn't have and that's what gets our story going.
This story was fun and sexy, sweet and a little heartbreaking, everything a good romance ought to be. I plowed through the story in one day, mostly with a smile on my face. Maybe a glint or two of tears, but I had a good time reading The Nanny's Secret and you probably will too!
June 16, 2021
“The Nanny’s Secret(Taming The Tulanes Book 4)”
When Megan turned up at her sister’s house sick,she truly thought her sister would take her in,so she was shocked when she was turned away.Luckily,her sister’s brother in law saw her and brought her home with him,being a doctor he couldn’t just leave her in her car.She made it to the couch,where she collapsed,and that’s where his adopted son found her.He thought she was a dream come true,as she spoke French,and he was from Niger,where the language was French as well.This is just the beginning! It goes on from there,getting better all the time.
I really hope you take the time to read this,there is so much more to this book,all of it good!
When Megan turned up at her sister’s house sick,she truly thought her sister would take her in,so she was shocked when she was turned away.Luckily,her sister’s brother in law saw her and brought her home with him,being a doctor he couldn’t just leave her in her car.She made it to the couch,where she collapsed,and that’s where his adopted son found her.He thought she was a dream come true,as she spoke French,and he was from Niger,where the language was French as well.This is just the beginning! It goes on from there,getting better all the time.
I really hope you take the time to read this,there is so much more to this book,all of it good!
June 24, 2021
Loved
I am not good at writing reviews so I have to absolutely LOVE a book in order to review it. I have to deem it worthy of more than the 5 star maximum. This book is one of those. I loved Meghan from the very first introduction. I loved Simon as well. I felt their emotions so immensely. They were real to me. I laughed with them and cried with them. I felt their fear and their anger. I wasn't sure about Ethan in the beginning. I liked him but, didn't know if I would love him. The more I got to know him, the more I understood him. I fell in love with him also. I felt all of his emotions just as much as Meghan's and Simon's.
I am not good at writing reviews so I have to absolutely LOVE a book in order to review it. I have to deem it worthy of more than the 5 star maximum. This book is one of those. I loved Meghan from the very first introduction. I loved Simon as well. I felt their emotions so immensely. They were real to me. I laughed with them and cried with them. I felt their fear and their anger. I wasn't sure about Ethan in the beginning. I liked him but, didn't know if I would love him. The more I got to know him, the more I understood him. I fell in love with him also. I felt all of his emotions just as much as Meghan's and Simon's.
Read
October 28, 2022Quick read with a lot of triggers including DV, rape, alcoholism, parental grooming, and body shaming. Meagan runs to her estranged sister, Jenn, hoping for a chance to make things right between them. There are a LOT of relationship conflicts between the sisters, and a lot of family baggage. Some of the resolutions were a bit hard to believe, but there's an HFN. Standalone, but part of a series, and there were a lot of names I couldn't connect (assuming they're in books 1-3).
October 13, 2021
Wonderful story!
I couldn’t put this novel down. Had to finish reading it before I went to bed.
This is the best Tulane’s story yet.
It made me laugh, cry and pulled on my heart strings.
Reminds me that life isn’t perfect yet you struggle to fight what you believe in and protect the ones you love!
I couldn’t put this novel down. Had to finish reading it before I went to bed.
This is the best Tulane’s story yet.
It made me laugh, cry and pulled on my heart strings.
Reminds me that life isn’t perfect yet you struggle to fight what you believe in and protect the ones you love!
June 17, 2024
Dit was voor mij de eerste van deze serie. Ik vond het een goed geschreven verhaal. Over haar en de jongen en hun trauma’s was goed geschreven. Jenn ken ik niet uit eerdere boeken dus voor mij die niet wist wat er eerder was gebeurd was dat niet storend. Gewoon een goed boek voor even tussendoor heb het in een ruk uitgelezen
December 11, 2020
Absolutely amazing read
I loved everything about this book. I love the family dynamics of the Tulane family. Their ability to see good in others and to accept people as they are is beautiful.
I loved everything about this book. I love the family dynamics of the Tulane family. Their ability to see good in others and to accept people as they are is beautiful.
February 5, 2021
Finally!
Thank you for telling us that the ex girlfriend an best friend had gotten married. I figured you write s stand alone some there was so much conflict between father and eventual husband
Thank you for telling us that the ex girlfriend an best friend had gotten married. I figured you write s stand alone some there was so much conflict between father and eventual husband
June 18, 2021
Rear enjoyed the story.
It is amazingly sad when siblings have been pushed apart b their own parents. And because f it bad things happen. But once you make up your life will become balanced again.
It is amazingly sad when siblings have been pushed apart b their own parents. And because f it bad things happen. But once you make up your life will become balanced again.
June 19, 2021
Good read
This book grab me right from the start and kept me in rest until the very last page. Great characters and or storyline that went well together. Looking forward to more from this author soon
This book grab me right from the start and kept me in rest until the very last page. Great characters and or storyline that went well together. Looking forward to more from this author soon
July 2, 2021
Expertly written!
Just superb writing! This story reaches out and grabs you, the maturing of the characters is SO well done! You will enjoy this series if it is anything like this book! Going to go look at Book One now! #BeEncouragedTAL
Just superb writing! This story reaches out and grabs you, the maturing of the characters is SO well done! You will enjoy this series if it is anything like this book! Going to go look at Book One now! #BeEncouragedTAL
July 20, 2021
Its 2 pm i cant just sleep without finishing it...by the time at page 221 i am literally sobbing! Yeah, its that good!👍
The most splendid read ever. I am a fan from hereon. Really good work..cant wait to read more of her works.
The most splendid read ever. I am a fan from hereon. Really good work..cant wait to read more of her works.
October 28, 2021
Nanny needs rescuing
I enjoyed reading this book, it brought a tear or two to my eyes. I enjoyed the depth of the characters, their strength.
I would love to join this family.
It did drag a bit here and there.
Overall a good read
I enjoyed reading this book, it brought a tear or two to my eyes. I enjoyed the depth of the characters, their strength.
I would love to join this family.
It did drag a bit here and there.
Overall a good read
April 6, 2021
The entire series is predictable but sweet. Sometimes you just have to read 'feel good' books.
June 14, 2021
Awesome
My goodness, they get better and better, love the family. The story line was good, I read it straight thru without putting it down.
My goodness, they get better and better, love the family. The story line was good, I read it straight thru without putting it down.
June 16, 2021
Kay Stockham Kay Lyons wrote a good book and it was interesting to say the least. Suspenseful! Will read more of her books.
June 19, 2021
Another well written and wonderful story. Maybe Jenn could have shown more remorse over her treatment of Megan, but all in all it was a great story.
June 23, 2021
Gripping
Lyons creates one heck of a roller coaster! Heartbreak, passion, real characters and a good old fashion love story. Read in one go. Lyons does not disappoint!
Lyons creates one heck of a roller coaster! Heartbreak, passion, real characters and a good old fashion love story. Read in one go. Lyons does not disappoint!
September 23, 2021
Likeable characters and an interesting story. There was a lot to unpack.
Read
October 16, 2021DNF
January 29, 2022
Good
A little dark with Meghan's past, but and interesting story. I skipped books 2 and 3 but still enjoyed this story
A little dark with Meghan's past, but and interesting story. I skipped books 2 and 3 but still enjoyed this story
March 17, 2022
Love!
Absolutely living thus authors books at the moment. This one was amazing! Simon totally pulls at your heart strings. Meg and Ethan work perfectly
Absolutely living thus authors books at the moment. This one was amazing! Simon totally pulls at your heart strings. Meg and Ethan work perfectly
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews