Stand by Your Manny

Third book in the Mannies Series and we get to see Sammy grown up. I do think you would have a better concept of this book if you read the others first, only because some of the side characters here are previous leads.

Sammy is in college now, studying music and doing some nanny duties on the side, while still making sure his health issues don't get out of control. The other main character, Cooper, grew up in the foster care system and knows what it’s like to not have a steady family or the support that one needs. I was happy to see Cooper open up and let Sammy help him when it was needed, and I really liked how these two came together as a couple and a team and worked together to give each other the exact support and care they each needed at the right times.

This book was super sweet, fluffy and cute to the point where it had a “younger” feel to it almost like a young adult book would, with no real drama or angst, it is just a feelgood romance type story with some adorable younger men and some cute kids added in.

Audio – Peter Brooke does an alright job with the narration. I was not super impressed, but it was decently good. There were a few times his voice and tone seemed off to me and it felt like he was more reading us the story instead of narrating the storyline for these characters to us. But overall he did put in a good effort and I liked this book so it all worked out.

*** Audiobook copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

This is the mannies book three or Sam and Coopers story. It does stand on its own pretty well but The other characters make very big appearances and you will know them better if you've read their books. But as I said, it has enough backstory you can follow it on its own.
Cooper has been working hard for Brandon in construction but it's not easy for a man his size. One day a mistake lands him in the hospital and in a new job as manny.
Sammy has anemia and forgets to eat a lot during his busy schedule.
My heart goes out to Sammy. He is absolutely adorable. Cooper is too. I love how the two fit together so well. There are also lots of cute kids.

Peter M Brooke does a fairly good job of narrating though at times it felt like he was reading. But he still did justice to this wonderful story.
If you like two sweet young men, and lots of cute kids you will love this!

Reviewed by Erin for Diverse Reader

It's really not any secret that I am a HUGE Amy Lane fangirl. Like the hugest. And it's really not surprising, at all, how much I adore her Mannies series. From the first book, when a young Tino gets tongue tied by the older, sexy Channing, this series has held a special place in my heart. This family, these characters ... there is something so very unique about them all that I love each and every one. Amy will tell you that I've loved Sammy from the very beginning--she has the messages to prove it--and I'm sure she heard my squee of excitement all the way in California when I found out Sammy was getting his own book. Stand by Your Manny was everything I hoped it would be. And lots more.

If you're a fan of the series, you know Sammy started out as a young boy, angry and heartbroken when his mom died. He's grown up now, well, mostly seeing as how he's now in college, but he's still that same sweet, affable kid we've fallen in love with. He wants to be the best big brother he can be, the best nephew, the best musician, pretty much the best everything to everyone he knows and loves. The only problem? His health isn't the best (he suffers from aplastic anemia) and often gets in the way of what he wants to do, no matter how frustrated he gets. It isn't until Cooper Hoskins winds up as the new manny for Sammy's Uncle Channing and Uncle Tino that Sammy starts facing his health problems and what he needs to do to fix them.

Cooper ... this guy! I'm telling you, I'm not sure there's been a sweeter, more tender-hearted character of Amy's and that includes my adorable Sammy. He really just got to me. The way he's drawn to take care of Sammy from the first instant they meet to the way he protects his foster sister is just the sweetest. Yeah, sometimes these two were a teeny bit TOO sweet, but my smiles were huge and the warm, fuzzy feelings they gave me stayed with me the entire book.

No, there's not a lot of steam in Stand by Your Manny--Sammy and Cooper are both virgins after all--but it totally fit the feel of the entire book. As with all the other Manny books, this one focuses on family. Seeing Tino and Channing, and Brandon and Taylor again was such a treat, too. I love this family. So much. The way they rally around each other, the way they always have each other's backs, the way they're into everyone else's business, it's all just the best. Stand by Your Manny is a wonderful tale of young love, first kisses and touches, and shows why there's really no one better at writing families of all kinds than Amy Lane. Be sure to check out this book, y'all and the entire series!

The "brat" from the first Manny story is now the grown-up with his own set of issues. Cooper is small but mighty and been holding himself together his whole life. He's learned to help another but letting others care for him is hard lesson. But when they learn to care for each other that is the best.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
This was a sweet story. I loved Sammy and Cooper and the rest of the family. This story shows us what family is all about and always there for you, even if they aren't your biological family. I loved every character in this book. I felt like I was right there in the story living it as it happened. The love and affection between Sammy and Cooper was so sweet and loving you couldn't help but love them. I loved how caring Cooper was about Sammy's health issues and always looked out for him. Super sweet book that gave me the feels.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This happy, fluffy feel-good romance left me on a massive sugar high. Fifteen years after Tino and Channing’s book, Sammy is all grown up – and falling hard for the new manny. This story sees two more additions to Tino and Channing’s almost nauseatingly happy family as they take in Chase and his foster sister, Felicity.

Chase comes to Tino and Channing exhausted and injured but he slowly finds a place for himself in the family. And he quickly finds himself fighting his attraction to Sammy. Sammy has his own problems, but he thrives under Chase’s care.

At times this story feels more young adult than new adult because Sammy and Chase feel very young. Sammy still lives at home and his health needs make him more dependent than the average college senior. And the fact that we read his father figures’ romance first makes Sammy seem even younger. But these two are wonderful together. Their innocence is very sweet – if not terribly believable – and their connection makes both boys better versions of themselves. There is a little bit of heat in the story but this is definitely a family romance.

Sammy’s illness, Chase’s music, and Chase and Felicity’s pasts add some substance to this story but the power of love prevails and things never get too angsty in this story.

The fairytale themes in these books are alternately comforting and irritating but I am more than happy to spend a few hours believing in wealthy, happy alternative families that are happy to extend privilege while sharing love and sprinkling pixie dust.


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stand by Your Manny (The Mannies #3) by Amy Lane to read and review.