A review by katskinner
The (Alien) Nanny for Christmas by Amanda Milo

5.0

Sometimes the answer to your dreams is just beyond the reach of your home. Gwen just had to open her front door… Mitteeku had to leave his galaxy (okay it’s a bit further than his home).

THE BLURB

Gwen’s in a bit of a pickle. Her babysitter just cancelled on her and if she doesn’t find one immediately, she’s going to lose her job. And things will just go downhill from there, like how will she pay rent? The last thing she needs, or expects, is for an alien to be standing on her doorstep.

Mitteeku is awed by so much of Earth. Even a little butterfly is so beautiful. He’s surprised when he comes face to face with a human woman… only to see her crying. He wants her to stop. He wants to make her happy. But how far will he go to help her achieve her dreams?

TONE OF THE BOOK

The (Alien) Nanny for Christmas is a lighthearted novella filled with fun and humour.

SENSITIVE TOPICS

The (Alien) Nanny for Christmas is aimed at mature readers. There are numerous sexual scenes.

SERIES SYNOPSIS

The (Alien) Nanny for Christmas is the 5.5th book out of the Stolen By An Alien series, falling between the fifth and sixth books respectively. It’s not a major book, but can be imagined more like one of those holiday themed specials that TV shows produce. Essentially it’s a standalone novel. The first novel in the series is aptly named Stolen By An Alien.

At 123 pages long The (Alien) Nanny For Christmas is more of a novella than a novel. A typical full-featured romance is 300 pages long. It is indeed shorter, but covers a lot of time and fun-filled events.

Each novel in the series focuses on a different couple. It does not feature or mention any of the characters from previous novels. You can learn more about the series on the Stolen By An Alien Series Review page.

REVIEW

Interestingly, The (Alien) Nanny for Christmas doesn’t just cover Christmas. The story passes across nearly a half-year of life on Earth; including halloween, thanksgiving and Christmas. It fits very neatly into that holiday-themed special that TV shows often produce; giving a glimpse into the world in a purely fun manner that breaks away from the world plot.

I loved the character development within this novel. It highlighted the slow and subtly distinct manner in which the characters transformed as they got to know each other and grow as both a couple and individuals. And it is subtle; you’ll think as a reader that there isn’t that much character development at all, but when you compare Gwen from the beginning and end of the novel you’ll realise just how much she’s changed.

“Why do humans refer to nannying as baby sitting? The entire term sounds like gross grounds for mistreatment.” The thick ridges above his eyes nearly meet. “How did it even originate? Does sitting refer to the literal act as some sort of punishment?”

I love the interaction and miscommunication between humans and aliens. It’s so strange, and refreshing to have everyday phrases and cultural behaviours looked at under the microscope, and often explored quite literally. Amanda Milo definitely has a way with humour that will leave you chuckling.

FINAL WORD

I enjoyed this novel a lot. It was a welcome change in the series focused on Earth rather than another planet, yet kept the light-hearted and fun approach to cultural miscommunication.