NEW RELEASE


Nanny Confidential - Philippa Christian (2014)

Lindsay is an Australian nanny who now lives in Hollywood. Her latest charges are the six daughters of film director Cameron Appleby and his high-maintenance wife Alysha. Actually she's never once seen Cameron in the flesh because he's always away on location. As an "elite VIP nanny", Lindsay needs to be discreet about what goes on behind the gates of a celebrity's home, as she tries to provide a stable, nurturing hand for children whose parents are too often preoccupied with their own stardom. But there are numerous perks to the job - such as a massive salary, travel by private jet, a wardrobe full of designer clothes. As Lindsay herself says: she works like a slave but lives like a queen. When the doors of the Appleby mansion are thrown open to a reality TV crew, Lindsay's job becomes even harder to handle. A lot of the story is told in retrospect by Lindsay explaining what life is like for an elite nanny - I would have preferred to have seen a lot more live action. It's a short read with plenty of outrageous scenarios that will appeal to readers of gossip magazines. It comes across at times more memoir than fiction (the author has worked as a nanny to the rich and famous).



Philippa Christian's debut novel, Nanny Confidential, offers a glimpse into the life of the rich and famous from a nanny who has seen it all. The summary says: "When Lindsay Starwood moved from her tiny home town to the bright lights of Melbourne, she had no idea that her after-school babysitting job would turn into a career. Her boss was Steven Stavros, the nineties boy-band heartthrob more famous of late for his extramarital activities than his hit records. However, word soon got out about the Australian nanny who was great with kids, cool in a crisis and capable of keeping the secrets of the rich and famous tightly under wraps. But being a celebrity nanny isn't the Mary Poppins fantasy you might imagine. When Lindsay finds herself caring for the six (yes, six!) daughters of fame-hungry reality television star Alysha Appleby, her patience is pushed to the limit. Will dashing pro-golfer Tommy Grant restore Lindsay's faith that wealth can go hand in hand with kindness? Or will she have to choose between the children she loves and her own happiness?" Christian has worked as a nanny both in Australia and overseas.

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