Romance Book Review!! ~ Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy by Lily Love

Title: Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy
Collection: Rules for Dating a Single Dad
Author: Lily Love
Release: June 1, 2025
Top Genres: Sweet romance, Small Town Romance, Closed Door Romance
Tropes: Small Town, Billionaire, Single Dad, Nanny, He Falls First, Instalove, Forced Proximity, Grumpy/Sunshine

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222133189-rule-1-never-call-him-grumpy
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/rule-1-never-call-him-grumpy-a-clean-rules-for-dating-a-single-dad-romance-by-lily-love

Blurb:

I’ve been called a lot of things in my life—gruff, intense, overprotective—but grumpy? That’s a new one.

After losing my wife, I left the noise of professional hockey and billion-dollar boardrooms behind, trading city chaos for small-town peace in Passion Pointe, Tennessee. I’ve got one mission: raise my son right and keep our world calm, quiet, and free from emotional chaos.

Then Linda Carter shows up, all curves, sass, and bright opinions wrapped in a nanny application.

She’s completely wrong for the job… and somehow, exactly what my son needs.

What I didn’t expect? That I’d need her just as much.

One smile from her turns my world upside down. One laugh makes the walls I’ve built start to crack. And the way she looks at me? It’s dangerous.

But she’s got rules, and so do I.

Rule #1: Don’t get attached.

Rule #2: Don’t mix business with pleasure.

Rule #3: Definitely don’t fall for the nanny.

Too late.

Because the more time I spend with Linda, the more I realize this fiery, big-hearted woman isn’t just helping us heal—she might be the piece we didn’t know we were missing.

And if breaking every rule is what it takes to make her ours?

Well then…

They can call me grumpy all they want.

“Rule #1: Never Call Him Grumpy” is a heartwarming closed-door hockey romance featuring a protective billionaire single dad, a sassy curvy nanny who refuses to be intimidated, and the small town that might just help them heal. Perfect for readers who love emotional stories with all the feels but none of the steam. A Sweet, Closed-Door Hockey Single Dad Romcom – Mistakes & Promises Book 2.5 & Rules For Dating A Single Dad #1

Each story in ‘Rules For Dating A Single Dad’ series celebrates the unique journey of finding love as a single father, showing that sometimes the most rewarding relationships are built on a foundation of Lego bricks and soccer practice sidelines.

I really enjoyed the story of Linda, the nanny in her bright and colorful dresses, and Darian the former hockey player turned tech billionaire with the adorable dinosaur-lovin’ little boy.

I didn’t find Darian all that grumpy but he was a little bit gruff and I understood why. He was protective and gun-shy about opening up his heart and his life to anyone who could hurt him or his son, but Linda was an unstoppable force with her eternal sunshine, hopeful nature and obvious love for her charge…and his son.

The story was good and engaging but I just wished there was more in the romance department other than quiet longing. Lily Love did a good job at giving us their inner thoughts and the way they worked as a team, but there needed to be a bit more romance.

Buy Links (Kindle Unlimited):

Amazon Universal: https://mybook.to/NCHGrumpy_RfDaSD_LL
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/43PKkVR
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DPCR53B4
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DPCR53B4
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0DPCR53B4

Promo/Teaser Graphics:

Author Bio:

Lily Love is the Clean Romance pseudonym of USA Today Bestselling Author Deidre – Ann Anderson. She is a simple lady who loves Romance where sweet meets funny.

Lily Love lives in Canada with her husband in their own little love fortress. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, designing random covers, playing video games or watching a good Hallmark movie. She enjoys reading just about anything with romance, or suspense, and having a chat with friends and family.

LilyLoveWrites.com/Subscribe