The Virgin Manny

I love Tino's mother and her wise advice. Tino has goal and working for Channing is a means to achieve it. Channing wants to get things settled with work so he can be there for his nephew. But life happens and goals can change. I loved that Channing wants a life with Tino but not at the expense of his (Tino) own goals. But togther they find a way to have the best of both worlds.

Enjoyable story with humor, love and great main and supporting characters. The only thing I missed was not getting Channing's thoughts since the story is told completely from Tino's point of view.

I am an unrepentant fan of Amy Lane's, as I'm sure I've mentioned before. So when I discovered she was starting a new series (YAY!) and it began with a 'Dreamspun Desire' I wasn't about to miss it. I may not have children and I may not have ever really wanted any, but the instant I read the description I knew I would fall for Sammy. Luckily for me I also fell - hard - for Tino and Channing.

“I promise you, young Mr. Robbins, if you ever come asking me for extracurricular activity, I’m not going to turn you down. But it has to be your choice. Right now I’m just offering a job. A very good job.”

'The Virgin Manny' is the first book I've read in this new House Line by Dreamspinner Press and I wasn't very far into it when I was transported back in time to the old Harlequin books. What a refreshing change to feel the same way I did as a teenager. Tino and Channing threw such sparks off one another that the pages almost heated. Not to mention there was no prevarication to their dialogue, as evidenced by the quote above. Tino was a hormonal mess and Channing was gorgeous and confident. *phew*

It wasn't difficult to feel for Sammy. His mother, who had quit her job as an ER doctor to stay at home and be with him, was killed in a car accident a month ago. His whole world is gone and everything is different. Sammy has no relationship with his father and Channing is trying to keep it that way as his dad is no good overall. It was sad but really lovely to watch Channing and Tino help this little boy with his grief and sadness.

Tino and Channing's love story was perfect. I suppose that's the point of these books that harken back to a time when escaping into a book meant putting down the laundry and the cleaning, and curling up on the couch with a romance that just made you sigh. Reading their story reminded me why I fell in love with romances in the first place.

A refreshing, sweet, and beautiful romance!

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

Reviewed by Erin for Diverse Reader

Seriously people, is there ANY better way to start the new year than with an Amy Lane book? If there is someone needs to let me know what it is, because I really can't think of a thing. And this book? The Virgin Manny? It is everything you need to start your year off in the best possible way. It's sweet and funny and sexy and SO romantic, with a hint of ridiculous and a teeny bit of drama just to keep you on your toes. I LOVED everything about this book. Of course I loved our Manny, Martin (or Tino as he's called), but oh my goodness did I ever just swoon and sigh all over the place for Channing. Talk about a guy that will make your heart pitter patter!

The Virgin Manny is Amy's first Dreamspun Desires book and I'm here to say, and to beg, that it won't be her last. These tropes are quintessential Amy Lane and there's really no one that does them better. An uncle thrust into instant parenthood when his beloved sister dies suddenly, leaving him responsible for one moody and precocious seven-year-old coupled with a guy, who just so happens to be a virgin, who just so happens to need a job, and, well, if you're ever read any of Amy's books I'm sure you can see how this all plays out. And you'd be right. There isn't anything going on in this book that we haven't seen before, but that's what makes it all the more fun! Low angst, high swoonage, with some witty banter and fabulous secondary characters made The Virgin Manny my favorite Dreamspun Desire book so far.

Cute, sweet, and oodles of fun, this book is definitely not to be missed. I sure hope this isn't the last Dreamspun Desires book Amy undertakes! Make sure you do yourselves the ultimate favor and get your new year off to a kick-ass feel good start by reading The Virgin Manny. You won't be sorry!

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

The Virgin Manny is Book 1 in Amy Lane's The Mannies series. Channing is a successful businessman who has just lost his sister and finds himself struggling with the care of his nephew, moving to his sister's house, dealing with her difficult housekeeper, dealing with his business, his grief and trying to take care of his grieving nephew. Then one night amidst all the chaos, he opens the front door to see a young man with a premade dinner. He has no idea what's going on, but his nephew is very unhappy that it's not Box Dinner Girl standing there but her brother.

Tino is close to graduating college and pressured into helping his sister make her box dinner deliveries when she's busy with classes. Though he's also busy, he's willing to help her out, because she's the one in the family that is going to make something of herself. Things have gone smoothly until he gets to the last delivery of the night and isn't able to just hand the dinner over. He finds a hot, older man struggling with a child throwing a tantrum and a housekeeper causing problems. He invites himself to stay for dinner and before the end of the night, finds himself with the job offer to be a manny. This is not a job he has pictured himself performing but Channing makes him an offer that is hard to refuse.

I loved Channing's character! The author didn't write him as the typical businessman who's just looking to pawn his nephew off on someone. Channing was trying to do anything and everything he could to help his nephew but he was struggling. Tino was young and that really was obvious throughout the story, especially when the relationship between Channing and Tino changed to something more. I sometimes didn't understand Tino's thought processes. He really struggled with what he felt his life should be and what it actually was. He had a great support system in his parents and friends. He had pigeon-holed himself with his place in the world, but that was his doing, no one else's. I really loved this line from his mom: "Life is what happens when you're making plans." I think this is applicable in many of our lives!

Overall, this was a sweet story that you should definitely check out!

Rating: 4.5 stars!