What Caz Read

Sunshine is the second book in the Aster Springs series by Samantha Leigh and is small-town opposites attract romance.

Dylan is a single dad who reluctantly hires Poppy, his sister Daisy’s BFF, to be a nanny for his daughter Izzy when he realises he has too much on his plate and needs some help.

Dylan is such a great Dad. He juggles managing the restaurant on the Silver Leaf ranch and the pressure of parenting alone, albeit it with some help from his family, and always puts his daughter Izzy first. Dylan is such a present, protective, loving Dad and I love his nickname for his daughter.

Poppy works part time for her mother in her local bar after recently returning to her hometown, Aster Springs, broken hearted. Poppy has had a secret crush on Dylan since she was a teenager, but she could never tell anyone, least of all Dylan, because of a pact she made with Daisy when they were in high school.

Poppy is so loveable. She had a difficult childhood and has been let down by the people who should love her the most but despite that she hasn’t given up on her happy ever after, and all she wants is to be loved and feel like she belongs. Poppy’s relationship with Izzy was so sweet and Izzy was adorable, she’s such a character!

As Dylan and Poppy have known each other forever I could feel the tension between them as their relationship changed and grew. There was angst, pining, plenty of spice and of course, romance. While this was a heartwarming read the story also touched on some heavier themes, which added depth to the story. I really appreciated how the parent/stepparent relationship was handled as it is frequently portrayed in media as being fraught when the reality is often the opposite, as was the case with the parental figures in my life.

I also have to mention how much I love the whole Davenport clan, they really showed up for Poppy in Sunshine and I look forward to reading more of their stories in future books.

– small town
– best friend’s brother
– Single dad x nanny
– opposites attract
– secret romance
– found family

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Publisher: Samantha Leigh
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 9781805494546

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Here’s the synopsis

He’s the protective single dad with too much on his plate. She’s the wild ray of sunshine with a secret crush. He needs a nanny. She needs a job. Sneaking around was never on the menu.

Dylan Davenport has always been the responsible one, but he’s bitten off more than he can chew. Looking out for his sisters. Running the family ranch. Managing his restaurant as head chef. And raising his six-year-old daughter on his own.

Poppy Golightly was eighteen years old when she left Aster Springs to get over her crush on her best friend’s brother. Now she’s back with a broken heart, an empty bank account, and an eternal optimism that her true love is out there somewhere.

When his sister convinces him to hire Poppy as his nanny, Dylan’s perfect control starts to slip. Poppy is fun and messy and spontaneous—all the things he isn’t. She’s also grown up and gorgeous. Magnificent with his daughter. Soft and warm and luminous.

Dylan knows his sister would never approve of him dating her best friend and he’s only ever done the right thing—until now. Soon heated gazes lead to forbidden tastes that turn into so much more.

Dylan is Poppy’s fairytale come true, but he can’t risk falling for another woman who’ll leave him and his daughter behind. Yet when the truth about their relationship is accidentally revealed, Dylan discovers just how hard he’ll fight to give Poppy her own happily ever after.