2.5 stars.

This book was ok - the writing was good, but I felt like the story and characters were flat. It didn't stand out from the other books in this genre.

Also I was disappointed that we cut off at kissing - then 'the deed' was done 'off screen' and we read about the aftermath - I do enjoy some good smut in my books, so this was a big no-no in my mind.

Certainly not a bad book, just an average one.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The Nanny Arrangement. As much as I love the friends-to-lovers trope, there are a whole lot of other factors in this story that generally drive me crazy, and certainly did this time. And I liked the damn thing anyway!

The Nanny Arrangement is right on the cusp between New Adult and Contemporary Romance. The protagonists are both 20-somethings, and are still figuring out what they want out of life. They also fumble quite a bit along their way.

This is really Hannah’s story. She has come back from a year-long stay in Paris as an au pair to initiate Operation Find My Happy. It’s not that Hannah doesn’t know where her happy is, it’s that she isn’t sure she can manage to grab it. Because Hannah has been in love with Deacon Lattrell for ten years now, and he doesn’t seem to see her as anything more than a friend. Admittedly his best friend in the whole universe, but still, firmly and seemingly irrevocably, stuck in the dreaded friend zone.

But as much as Hannah loves being Deke’s friend, as well as the surrogate mother to his young son Max, Hannah just plain loves Deke, and always has. But Hannah has always hidden herself away in baggy clothes and in the fringes of any group, and it is possible that Deke simply hasn’t seen her as she really is. And that he never got past spending high school defending Hannah from all the schoolyard cruelty inflicted on her as a red-headed girl with a stutter who wore slightly old-fashioned clothes. She was the class freak, and Deke was her lone defender.

There’s plenty of love there, but it isn’t exactly the kind of love that Hannah wants or needs. Running away to Paris didn’t cure her of her embarrassingly unrequited love for Deke, so putting herself out there and making him see her may not work either, but she has to try before she has a chance at moving on.

That’s where the fun begins. Deke is the latest member of the country rock group Blue. The band has been established for years, but they needed a new fiddle-player and Deke has turned out to be it. But Deke doesn’t travel without little Max, and that’s where Hannah steps in. The band needs a live-in nanny on tour, not just for Max but also for the lead singer’s little girl Stella. So just as Deke is on a trial contract as their fiddler for the length of their US tour, Hannah is on a trial contract as their nanny.

In the enforced intimacy of a small group on tour in not-nearly-big-enough buses, Hannah has the chance to open Deke’s eyes. It’s not her fault that as soon as he opens them, the idiot slams them shut again. He wants only the absolute best for Hannah, and he’s sure that’s not him. Not that he’s actually asked her what she wants. Of course not.

He’s an idiot, but while plumbing the vast depths of his idiocy he finally gets smart enough to put on some really excellent grovel to get back the girl he’s always loved.

Escape Rating B+: Throw the tropes New Adult Romance, Rock Star Romance, Friends-to-Lovers, I’m Not Worthy, and Misunderstandammit into a blender, mix with Operation Find My Happy, and come up with a story that in spite of its flaws still makes the reader finish with a big smile.

I say this because I find that I’m hit or miss with New Adult, and very much down on both I’m Not Worthy and the Misunderstandammit. Combining the trope where the hero kicks the heroine to the curb because he’s certain she’s too good for him, and mixing it with the trope where so many of their issues could be solved if they just talked with each other instead of past each other once in awhile does not make for this reader’s favorite frustration.

What redeemed a whole lot of these two issues was that, unusual for romance, Deke put on very good grovel to make up for his errors. Not that Hannah wasn’t going to take him back anyway, but not just Deke but all the guys in the story were conscious that Deke had screwed up big time and needed to make up for it even bigger time.

It was great not to see the guy get a hall pass on this.

But it was Hannah’s Operation Find My Happy that made the story for me. She’s not sure how to get what she wants, and she’s certainly not sure that she’ll get what she wants, but she has internalized the mantra about only getting a different result by taking a different action. Along with the realization that the whole unrequited longing thing just wasn’t working for her. She needed to get on or get over, and she hadn’t found a way to get over so it was time to get on with pursuing what she wanted, even if she lost.

I also loved the way that both the friendships among the women and the friendships among the men developed organically over the story. Expanding their respective circles was something that both Deke and Hannah desperately needed to do, even if neither of them saw it.

And we do see where Deke and Hannah came from, and just how and why they ended up in the pickle that they are in. And we’re thrilled when Hannah’s courage and Deke’s excellent grovel finally locate Hannah’s (and Deke’s and Max’s) happy.

Although this is the second book in the Country Blues series it can totally be read as a standlone, and I truly believe people would want to read this book because it's amazing!! A wonderful best friends to lovers romance.

I truly both of the main characters!! Hannah and Deacon had been childhood best friends, although neither one of them ever wanted to risk to cross that line, Hannah had been too shy, Deacon didn't want to ruin their friendship and he also had issues with his past. But that's all in the past; after a trip to Paris, Hannah decided to go after what she wants, or in this case after the one she wants; and so she takes a job as a nanny to Deacon's son, but that means joining the band on tour, since he's part of a famous country group. So of course, things are going to change.

I found the relationship between Hannah and Deacon to be really sweet and endearing, they honestly care about each other, like beyond wanting to be together they want the other to be happy and the whole book I was just rooting for them to be together. I also adored Deacon's relationship with his son, I mean you have a nice, caring guy also being a great ´parent? I'm sold! And Hannah was too very likable, she's sweet, still a bit shy but determined. I admit I would have loved to read more flashback scenes of Deacon and Hannah in the past, because while you know they were childhood friends, you don't really get to read much of it.

So you have well written and believable characters, a captivating story, romance, what more do you need? Great book by Rachel Harris.

the latest book in the country blues series, the nanny arrangement, follows newest member deacon latrell and his best friend, hannah fisher. since they first met, years ago when deacon was new in town and hannah summed up the courage to say hello to him in spite of her stutter, they've been connected at the hip. and while hannah values his friendship, she is also in love with him and always has been.

the problem is that deacon doesn't see her as a woman, or at least she thinks that is the problem. it's a little more complicated though. deacon sees her as a woman all right, he just believes that he has no business lusting after his best friend. his experience with love is that people leave. and he never wants hannah to not be a part of his life.

and he's thrilled when for his first tour with the band, he'll have hannah with him. she's agreed to join the tour as a nanny, watching his young son max, and the lead singer's daughter. they'll be sharing a tour bus, and at first deacon doesn't think anything of the forced proximity. but as the sexual tension rachets up between them, it's finally time for them to talk about things openly.

the truth is, they both want the same things. they want to spend a life with each other. they want to raise his son together. all deacon needs to do is believe that he is worthy of the love hannah has for him. all hannah has to do is tell him unequivocally that she loves him. this is a sweet, emotional story, and the character's rich history adds to the depth of feeling in their romance.

Friends to lovers has always been one of my favorite tropes and when I saw that Rachel Harris had a new book coming out I jumped at the chance to read it.

Hannah and Deacon have been best friends for 10 years. Hannah has always loved Deacon as more than a friend, but never revealed her feelings.
After returning from a year in Paris to heal some wounds from a broken heart and work as an Au pair, she vows to change things in her life, including getting Deacon to see her as more than just a friend and start "Operation Find My Happy" She takes a job as a nanny for Deacon's son who she adores, while the band he's in is on tour. His son's mom (and ex-friend of Hannah's) ran off right after the baby was born a few years prior. Traveling with them on the tour bus, it's the perfect opportunity to see if there could be more between them.
Hannah is a strong, sweet and honest person and has always been there for him. Deacon has always cherished their friendship and can't imagine his life without her in it. Can she show him they could be so much more than just friends? Will he take the chance?

I loved their story. Sweet, swoony and just the right amount of angst. I even got a little emotional at the end.

While there are characters from past books [Accidentally Married on Purpose (Love and Games #3) / You're Still the One (Country Blues #1)], this can be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend this and the other books! Love these characters!

**Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing an ARC through Net Galley for an honest review**

Very sweet book. Both of the main characters, Deacon and Hannah, were very likable people. I even enjoyed the other characters a lot as well. The story of boy bands do not usually interest me since most of the time they are about young and very rough, dirty guys, with a lot of foul language. But this book wasn't like that. Very little foul language in this book. All of the intimate scenes were hot but left a lot to the imagination, which I like in a book. This was my first book by Rachel Harris, but I will be sure and check out more of her books in the near future.

Hannah has been in love with her friend Deacon since they met as teenagers but fears he never saw her as a romantic option. Determined to change that, she returns from a year abroad with some frilly French underwear and a plan to seduce him while serving as a nanny on tour with the band he just joined. We switch perspectives but never really get into Deacon's head despite the makings of a fascinating character: alcoholic mother, abandoned by the mother of his child as soon as she could leave the hospital, pathological belief that he's not good enough... but we really just see him wrestle with his growing attraction for his friend.
This book was a light, breezy read but I found myself growing frustrated with the couple because despite a decade of friendship they were determined not to talk to each other. When combined with their sincere beliefs that they each knew what was better for the other - despite never honestly discussing their feelings - this story basically consisted of two perfectly nice people who needed to have their heads knocked together.
Deacon even turns controlling and officious toward the end, deciding hurting Hannah is what she needs and I nearly hurled my e-reader across the room because a hero who undermines the agency of the heroine is not my cup of tea. Obviously, everything works out in the end, but nothing about this book makes me want to read others in the series or come back to this well. I'd call it frustrating and forgettable.

Another good read from author Rachel Harris. A friends to lover's story which pulls at the heartstrings and entertains from one page to the next.
Review copy received from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley

Ranked 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Hannah was a shy, quiet, withdrawn child. The bullies & mean girls at school loved tormenting her because of her stutter & home made clothes. She felt so alone until he moved in next door. She finally got the nerve up to go introduce herself to him & a friendship was formed. Deacon protected her throughout school but never realized her feelings were so deep. Deacon ended up with one of her supposed friends & Hannah took off to Paris to grieve. Now she's back, Deacon is single with a young son & a touring contract with a top band. Hannah agrees to be the nanny for Deacon's son & another band member's daughter. She's determined to make Deacon see that her feelings are not just friendship. Can she make him see her in a different light? Will she back out on the conversation again?

Deacon doesn't want to lose Hannah again. It about killed him when she was in Paris & he couldn't see & talk to her everyday. Her friendship & her family met more to him than anything & he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it. So why is he having these different feelings? Why is he looking at Hannah differently?

This writer does a good job setting the scene & feeling of the story in the beginning & growing it from there. Though this is book 2, it can be read as a stand alone. Some characters flow between the books but the storyline for the specific story begins & ends in the book. I was able to form a connection with the characters although it took a little longer than usual. Personally, I would have liked a few more flashbacks to scenes from them growing up & how he became her hero instead of just alluding to it. This was a sweet entertaining friends to lovers story.

The Nanny Arrangement by Rachel Harris is Book 2 of the Country Blues Series and is of the best-friends-to-lovers and single dads troupe. While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

This is a sweet and sexy read that incorporates a good mixing of chemistry, characters, and a titter of drama. There are some areas that need some tightening up and more explanation of how we progressed to this moment as those times it was unclear and no explanation was given as to how we went from there to here.

Please note that an ARC was generously provided in exchange for an honest review of which this is both honest and completely voluntary.

Hannah has been best friends with Deacon for years, ever since she befriended him and he became her protector. Now she's been asked to be the nanny for Deacon's son, while he's embarking on a tour with a famous country band. Hannah has loved him for years, and she's determined to make him see her as more than a best friend. Do her tactics work? Does Deacon's upbringing (absent dad, alcoholic mother) prevent him from being able to maintain a relationship?

I loved the interaction that Hannah had with Deacon, as well as his band-mates wives and girlfriends. First book I've read by Harris, and I enjoyed it so much that I need to go back and read You're Still The One, the first book in the series.

I don't know, it was well written, but it just didn't quite do it for me. He was just too down on himself. I like more of an alpha male , not a sad sack. Both of them were downers really. Cute story, but I just didn't like either of them.

My thoughts:

I'm a sucker for the best friends to lovers story. The love between Deacon and Hannah is obvious from the very beginning of the book, but Deacon doesn't notice Hannah in that way. Or does he? I loved Deacon's slow realization that he feels more than just platonic love for Hannah.

I loved the connection between Deacon and Hannah. Their friendship that had evolved through their teenage years to their mid-twenties.

The secondary characters, including Deacon's sweet son Max, are an important part of the story. Deacon is worried about being a good father to Max and a good member of his new band. He knows that Hannah is necessary to both working out. His son is in love with her and his band mates and their wives instantly bring her into the group. Deacon is afraid that if he crosses a line with Hannah, that is getting harder and harder not to cross, then everything in his world could go to hell.

The Nanny Arrangement is the perfect book to read while sitting out by the pool.

Rating:

the book girl gives The Nanny Arrangement a 5/5

Sugar sweet and cute are the keywords in The Nanny Arrangement. If you like books with girlie-crushes-on-the-bad-boy-next-door you are in for a treat! Rachel Harris' second book in the Country Blues series takes you to Hannah Fisher and her neighbour bad boy Deke - Deacon - Latrell.

Hannah is a shy girl, being bullied in her school years for stuttering, having red hair and wear-me-down clothes. Deke was the famous bad boy, being the Knight in Shining Armor for Hannah, by beating the bullies into pulp. So, an unlikely friendship grew. But, whereas Hannah developed a "Lois-is-swooning-over-Superman-crush", Deke seemed to consider her only as his best friend and sister. Even when Deke's girlfriend takes off, after leaving him their son and Hannah steps in to help him out, he still doesn't treat her as anything else than his BFF.

So Hannah takes of to Paris, to rethink her life. She comes up with Operation Find My Happy and she is determined to persuade Deke to see her not only as a good friend, but as HIS girlfriend. And what better way to convince him while being stuck together on the tourbus? But Hannah didn't take into account the other team members and their very nosy girlfriends, who are also travelling on the bus. Can she (and her girl posse) convince Deacon that he is worthy of her love? Or will they crash and burn?

A great read. You can easily read this book, without reading the first part of this series. Four out of five stars from me. With a special thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for providing the ARC.

LOVED it!! This is an absolutely fantastic friends to lovers story that had my emotions all over the place. Deacon Latrell and Hannah Fisher have been friends since childhood. Two misfits that worked perfectly together. Deacon had a tough family life and was considered a bad boy. Hannah had a loving family but was shy and held back because of a stutter. Now all grown up these two have remained close but not as close as Hannah would like them to be. Will Deacon ever see her as more than the shy girl next door?? Now he has the opportunity to go on tour and he wants Hannah to go along as a nanny for his son. Could this be Hannah's chance to show Deacon how good they can be together?

A fantastic read that I highly recommend to everyone.

Great addition to the Country Blues series! I adore Deacon & Hannah and the rest of the Blue 'family'. The ending made me tear up, it was so sweet.

I'm already highly anticipating the 3rd book in the series!

The Nanny Arrangement is a sweet, fun and flirty romance about unrequited love and second chances. Throw in a precocious two year old toddler and two matchmaking friends, and this story is beyond adorable.

I loved both Deacon and Hannah. Hannah because she is so incredibly sweet, giving and kind, but also because she is brave. She recognised what she wanted out of her life, and what she wanted was Deacon. She made a plan to go after her dreams despite her fears and the fact that everything could blow up in her face. It takes guts when you've been bullied your whole life and when you're shy to be able to do what Hannah did and I applaud her for it.

As for Deacon, poor misguided Deacon. He carried so much guilt around and so much fear of not ever being good enough or worthy of love. But on top of that, he's a great guy, who defended Hannah from bullies right through high school and was her personal "Superman". He's also hardworking and an overachiever, so fearful of rejection and failing that he put in the extra mile in order to excel, which he does. When he finally realises he's worthy of love and he loves Hannah, it was lovely to see. I was so happy for him for finally realising his own worth.

Another thing I loved in this story was the pop culture references. I even got the obscure Friends reference to the lobster because I'm in the process of rewatching all the Friends episodes and we recently watched that particular episode. Those references tickled me pink.

This was a total feel good story. It ticks all my boxes for something sweet, cute, heartwarming and lovely, and it was exactly what I needed. I'm thinking I might go back at some point and read Charlie and Arabella's story.

This was a very appealing and likeable story about two people that were in love with each other but hesitant about risking their friendship for the unknown. Tired of waiting, Hannah pushes herself to take the leap out of the friend zone but is Deacon along for the jump? This was such a delightful story of friends taking a chance on love and redefining their relationship. This is the second book in the series and stands strong on its own but I found myself going back to book one to read more from this incredible author.

Hannah is known as shy and soft-spoken but underneath she has a strong core and is an extremely hard working. When she gets the chance to win her best friends heart, once and for all, she takes it…it comes in the position of nanny on a rock and roll tour bus.

Deacon has been half in love with Hannah from day one but she is his best friend and he doesn’t want to mess up a good thing. But how is he going to resist her when she blows his mind with just her smile.

This is a case of serious lack of communication, which makes for some excellent reading.

Utterly sweet and endearing love story. He was her superhero, she saved his life and together they've always ever been best friends.

Can you say SWOON with a capital S! Harris writes humanized, lovable characters that touch a place deep in your heart.

I received this ARC copy of The Nanny Arrangement from Entangled Publishing, LLC. This is my honest and voluntary review. The Nanny Arrangement is set for publication May 22, 2017.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Rachel Harris
Print Length: 233 pages
Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
Publication Date: May 22, 2017
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B071NKWD4K

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This book is technically book two of the Country Blues series, but you do not have to read You're Still The One (or Accidentally Married On Purpose where we meet Tyler and Sherry) to enjoy this book, although you should because they're great books. This one completely stands alone and does not end on a cliffhanger. Any sex that happens is behind closed doors, but there is cursing, including two f-bombs (which don't offend me at all but felt really out of place in this story).

This book is seriously adorable. I was intrigued by the tiny snippet of Deacon and Hannah in You're Still The One, but I had no idea just how much I would enjoy this book. Their relationship is so sweet from the very start that I couldn't help but root for these two to figure out what we all knew – that they were totally meant to be. I do wish there had been more of Hannah and Deacon together, but thankfully Sherry and Ella were characters I am familiar with so their time spent together was nostalgic for me rather than seeming completely out of left field. I will admit that there were moments that I wasn't sure if Hannah would get it together, that she would never actually realize that she was worth more than she believed, but I was very pleased with how it all played out. Although Deacon screws up occasionally, the way that he loves and dotes on his son is so incredibly special. As much as I loved his bond with Hannah, his relationship with his son was even better. There is nothing as sexy as a man who loves his children.

One thing that Rachel Harris does so wonderfully is to infuse her books with both subtle and laugh-out-loud humor. I also found myself not only laughing out loud, but also smiling and chuckling at subtle phrasings or things that were happening. That happened so often that I lost count - I LOVE a book that makes me laugh, and Ms. Harris' books never fail to do that.

If you're looking for a sweet friends-to-lovers book that will make you swoon, make you laugh, break your heart a little and then put it back together, and make you smile, you should definitely give this book (and You're Still The One, and the Love and Games series) a read. I have really loved the last few books and cannot wait for Miles and Nate's stories.

I was very generously granted an ARC of this book by the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because I very much enjoyed this story.