Title: The Nanny’s Secret Baby

Author: Lee Tobin McClain

Series: Redemption Ranch book 4

Chapters:

Pages: 224

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 3

Publisher: Loved Inspired

The Nanny’s Secret Baby by Lee Tobin McClain is the fourth book in the Redemption Ranch series. This is a sweet Christian romance about second chances and God’s timing. Just like other books from the Love Inspired line your guaranteed a happy ending. But that doesn’t mean that the story is predicable.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I'm finding a fondness for Harlequin's Love Inspired books. This book was definitely a wonderful read.

I felt deeply for Arianna and the way she felt judged as the troubled sister. How she made decisions for the best of everyone else yet nobody sees that but rather than that most see her as shallow and flighty.

What hurt me especially for Arianna was that her own sister had treated her so badly and spread such vitriol about her, including accusing her husband of having an affair with her just for him being friendly to his sister-in-law. Despite the fact that she gave up her own son for her sister to adopt and raise as the sister couldn't have children of her own.

Jack alternated in angering me and making me want to hug him. His guilt over his wife's death combined with his interest in Arianna made my heart hurt. As did watching him struggle and wonder about how to raise his autistic son in a world that could be so judgemental. Yet the way he lashed out at and judged Arianna at times angered me.

Watching the truth unfold sent me on a roller coaster of emotions. I also want to read the stories of others in the town. This was a town of stories that made me want much, much more.

The Nanny's Secret Baby is a sweet inspirational romance with themes of forgiveness and starting over. Widower Jack has just received some difficult news about his adopted toddler son--he is autistic. At least now the reason why his son thrives with routines is clear; unfortunately, finding someone who understands who can watch him while Jack tends to his busy veterinary practice is proving difficult. His sister-in-law Arianna is out of work and back in town to start over--asking her to temporarily be Sammy's nanny seems like the perfect solution. Or is it?

Jack and Arianna had a sweet romance, though at times it felt a bit doomed. At first Arianna struggled with her secret--she knew Jack should know, but didn't know how to tell him without ruining their fragile bond. She was right to worry--Jack does not take it well when he does find out, and for a short while there it seemed as if their HEA was out of reach. It's hard to argue that Arianna kept her big secret from Jack a bit longer than she should have, except for two factors: her own sister's insistence that she do so, and the legal strings surrounding the closed adoption Chloe (Arianna's sister and Jack's wife) had insisted on. I couldn't help but feel that Chloe deserved more of the blame here than she was getting--yes, she has passed on, but a lot of both Arianna and Jack's issues with Sammy and with their relationship stemmed from her actions when she was alive.

Fortunately, Jack and Arianna do manage to move past their problems and find their way to an HEA. The ending is absolutely adorable, and made up for much of the aggravation I felt earlier while reading.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars / B-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via NetGalley and I am voluntarily reviewing it.

First I would like to mention that I absolutely LOVE the cover. I mean I could just pick up that little cowboy and his bear and hug him to pieces!!

This story was a wonderful tale. Jack and his late wife adopted Sammy in a closed adoption. Unbeknownst to Jack, Sammy is his sister-in-law's baby. Arianna has a child out of wedlock and she knows that adoption would be the best thing for her child. Even if giving him up breaks her heart, she wants the best for her baby. Her sister Chloe, unfortunately, can't have children and convinces Arianna to let her and her Jack adopt him but on the condition that Jack doesn't know who the birth mother is.

The road to a HEA is a difficult one here. It is strife with guilt and a sense of betrayal. How these two grow close and to each other and overcome obstacles, is a true gift to behold. This is a sweet, clean romance that is faith-filled. I adored reading this story and getting into contact with the characters' frame of mind with the dual POV that it is written in. To me, it draws me closer to the characters, plot and humanizes the characters.

If you love a faith-filled sweet, clean romance, then read this one. I haven't read the prior stories in this series and can see where prior characters are making appearances by reading their synopsis. I highly recommend this story to anyone.

I had a bit of trouble with the H in this one.
Jack comes off as a bit judgmental right out the gate
He had an inkling his little partner was autistic but now that the diagnosis is confirmed he decides to hire a nanny to ensure little Sammy gets a head start ensuring the best for his future
Arianna Sammy's aunt ( as for as Jack is concerned) offers to help but Jack is not to keen on the idea of someone so vibrant and full of life caring for his little guy- How can someone so full of life stay organized? How could she possibly care for little Sammy properly? - and cue me not so happy with Jack

Arianna has her secrets but she also had her reasons. I enjoyed the strength she showed and that she took the time to evaluate how her decisions would affect everyone, not just her.
As Jack spends time with her and begins to see past the label he originally placed on her he finds his original judgment may have been a bit harsh.
This is an inspirational story about acceptance, forgiveness, and family.
#TheNannysSecretBaby #NetGalley

What a loving and inspirational story this book was as the author took us on a journey of heartache, grief, secrets, loss, forgiveness, regrets and compassion. This is book four in the Redemption Ranch series of books to which I have not read any before this one, also the author is new to me. I found their storytelling to be great as it had me happily reading every page to learn more about these wonderful characters. A very sweet and moving Christain romance with many lessons to think about.

Arianna has been faced with a dilemma that will affect more than just herself but this must be a secret she never tells. She has offered her help to her late sister's husband to look after her nephew who has just recently been diagnosed will autism at eighteen-month-old. She has worked with many children with autism so she would help Sammy with is therapeutic support staff, but there is also another reason she is the best person for the job.

Widower Jack DeMoise is struggling to find the care he needs for is adopted Autistic son since his diagnoses and the loss of his wife. So when is wifes sister applies for the job of nanny Jack does not grab the chance straight away. But after finding no one suited to help Sammy he lets is ex-sister-in-law have the temporary job for the summer. He may have fixed his nanny problem but this will only bring him other problems in his life.

I felt that the author has accurately described an autism child and behaviour in this story. A story I thoroughly enjoyed reading and I am honestly and voluntary reviewing from the ARC that I received from NetGalley and the publishers.

This is a delightful story where love, shocking secrets and romance have key roles to play. Jack DeMoise is a widower with an adopted young son but knows nothing about the child's parents. His wife really didn't want her sister, Arianna, to have much contact with the child so he's wary about involving her with the child's care but he needs help, his son responds well to her and she's willing. Little did he realise that his adoptive son is actually her child, his wife never told him. Should Arianna tell him the truth? At the moment she has the opportunity to really get to know her son and to look after him but the growing attraction between her and Jack is also there. Would revealing her secret actually force them apart or draw them closer?


This is a story where other people's secrets and problems cause untold worry and difficulties. The dilemmas faced by both Jack and Arianna are well portrayed and potentially heartbreaking. Can love help them resolve the problems or will they be driven apart by revelations? I enjoyed reading this story and found the characters easy to relate to. It is a heartwarming story and great read.


I requested and was gifted a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.

When Ariana Shrader learns that her widowed brother-in-law is looking for a nanny for his son, Sam, she jumps at the chance. The catch is, Jack DeMoise thinks he knows all about her. He thinks she's flighty and unreliable, two traits his son doesn't need in a nanny. What he doesn't know is that Sam is the baby Ariana gave up to her sister for adoption, and she will do anything to be allowed to spend time with her son.

Sam's autism has driven off every available nanny candidate in the county so Jack agrees to let Ariana care for him - temporarily - until he can find someone more qualified. He has no idea that Ariana has spent the intervening years educating herself on ways to help Sam. She's an art therapist, but she's also the best he's seen around kids. As Sam starts to come out of his shell thanks to Ariana's methods, Jack begins to see a different woman than the one portrayed by both his wife and her parents.

As Jack and Ariana work together to bring calm and joy to Sam's life, what happens when their hearts get involved? Can Ariana ever tell Jack her biggest secret without losing him forever?

I loved this story. Jack and Ariana are such a sweet couple, and their mutual devotion to Sam's well-being plucks every heartstring. I definitely recommend this one!

Enjoyed this story about second chances. Lee knows how to create a story that holds your interest.

A sweet story of love, redemption, forgiveness, and trust. All the characters in this book had compelling storylines. I felt compassion for Arianna. She never felt loved and accepted as she was growing up, always compared to her “perfect” sister, Chloe, who wasn’t so perfect after all. Arianna made major mistakes, but after she renewed her relationship with God, tried to do all she could to help others. There’s some complicated issues that give this story some twists and turns. I enjoyed reading Arianna and Jack’s story. I also liked the compassionate way that the author dealt with three year old Sammy’s autism. This is another good book by this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Hidden emotions, life-changing secrets, regrets of the past, and one little boy in the middle of the mayhem - an emotional read that brought a range of feels to the top and had me reacting from smiles and sighs to tears and even with displeased annoyment.
I loved little Sammy. He was such a joyful boy, facing his challenges, and trying his utmost to communicate and show his love to his guardians.
Arianna Shrader was misjudged and mistreated by those who were supposed to have her back and guard her against the hurdles of the world. She was easy to relate to and I admired her determination and giving spirit. She knew that some of her choices in the past caused pain to others, she owned up to them, and often put other's needs in front of her own.
At first glance, Jack DeMoise seemed like a good, kind, generous, considerate man. I liked him, I understood why Arianna would fall for him. I liked his honesty, him standing up for Arianna and for the possible relationship they could have - until he didn't.
Jack and Arianna had a connection, they had a lot in common, they shared the interests, they shared the faith in God, and they both loved Sammy. The attraction was palpable, even though they were slow to act on it. What happens when Arianna's secret is revealed, was a tough setback to me. Jack takes the betrayal, that wasn't necessarily Arianna's, to the next level, and his behavior becomes something that is hard to look over or get redemption from. I struggled with this, and how it affected others around Jack, mostly to Sammy but also to Arianna.
In a way one could say it is what it is - even Christian people can be hateful and mean, even people of faith make mistakes and judges others unfairly. And that is all true. Yet despite the sweet romance, the growth in faith Arianna experience, the adorable Sammy, the hope-filled ranch, and Jack standing up to his father when needed, the way Jack continued to react after the secret is revealed - that was a bit harsh towards Arianna. And the reason why I will give this book
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Arianna has given up her child to adoption but what her brother-in-law, Jack, doesn't know was that it was set up that her sister would adopt the child. Jack is a veterinarian who is pretty busy and needs a nanny and Arianna offers to help. As they get closer eventually she'll have to break the news to Jack that she is in fact the child's biological mother.

This was a pretty good contemporary book. I enjoyed reading it. It's a clean romance with a with of Christian religion talk in it. I liked the characters and kept wondering when the shoe would drop about Arianna's secret. Whether or not it would be forced out of her or if she'd have the courage to reveal the secret shes holding onto. I kept wondering how other would take the relationship that was blooming between the two. This was a pretty good contemporary romance and I really enjoyed it.

Arianna Schrader takes a job as a nanny for her late sister's veterinarian husband, Jack, caring for her nephew Sammy. She savors the chance to get to know the son that she gave up for adoption. Arianna works to connect with Sammy, and as she spends more and more time with the small family, she wonders if her secret could bring them together or tear them apart?



Arianna and her sister weren't close, pitted against each other by their mother as children, there was always a constant rivalry. As a result it pushed Chloe to anxiety, pushing for perfection, while Arianna is more of a free spirit. Arianna is an art therapist, she loves vibrant color, but behind her outward confidence she still has insecurities about her body. I admired Arianna and her determination to help Sammy, as well as her patience with him when things were difficult.



Jack is a good man, who wants what is best for his son. He likes things to be orderly and expected, while Arianna goes with the flow. He likes to be in control, and finds Arianna to be an unwelcome whirlwind at first. He has a strong faith and is a great father.



There are many challenges to overcome for Arianna, Jack, and Sammy. Sammy is a sweet child. There is a lot going on in this book, from the relationships, faith, and secrets that are revealed. Arianna is a strong heroine, she loves Sammy and wants to have a relationship with him and is passionate about helping him grow and learn. A heartwarming story of family.



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Arianna and Jack have more in common than Jack bargained for. Not only is Arianna his sister in law, she is the mother of Sammy, his adopted son. Secrets have a way of coming out but in this book, secrets can be forgiven. This is a wholesome, goodhearted book for many ages. It is clean and a wonderful romance.

The Nanny's Secret Baby: A Fresh-Start Family Romance (ebook) by Lee Tobin McClain ...this is my first book by Lee Tobin McClain...I'm giving this book 4 stars...I enjoyed Arianna and Jack's story ..but there was a little to much angst for me...I cried ugly tears and some happy ones at the end..Their story of love, betrayal, forgiveness and finding their way to a very HEA ( all this and Sammy touched my heart...)

Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Haunting Page-turner Informative Entertaining Great world building Happily Ever After Wonderful characters Romantic Tear-jerker Easy-to-read