Yay! Sammy's out!
So, Stand by Your Manny is out tomorrow (today!) and I'm sort of excited! (Exhausted, because Crocus JUST came out, but excited!)
Anyway, Stand by Your Manny is the third book of the Mannies series, and although Cooper is mentioned in book two, this book was well and truly completely Sammy Lowell's.
For those of you who've read the series, in the first book, The Virgin Manny, Sammy is the child who needs a day care provider. He's a handful then-- by turns sweet and prickly and mourning the loss of his mother, he nevertheless captures Tino's heart and makes Tino's decision to stay with Sammy's Uncle Channing oh so much easier.
As we saw in Manny Get Your Guy, Sammy has grown up. He has adopted siblings and he's devoted to them. In Manny Get Your Guy, he was just about to start his senior year, and for Sammy, that's when life throws him a curve ball, because that's when his anemia kicks into gear.
Now yes--I did research into this. Sammy's condition--aplastic anemia--is not often life threatening. Usually it only needs a blood transfusion from a matching donor. But Sammy's mother has passed, his father is out of the picture (and it's hinted that this is a very good thing) and Channing isn't a match. Sammy's role models are Channing and Tino-- they're like the Batman and Robin of the business world. Smart, busy, superdads, super uncles, super siblings --they're unstoppable. Sammy has a lot to live up to and a body that keeps yanking on his chain, saying, "Nope, Sam, can't do that. Gotta stop and rest there. Gotta get a transfusion. Can't keep going without taking care of yourself!" and he's PISSED OFF.
But because he's had Channing and Tino in his life, and Nica and Jacob's family too, he's pissed off in a very nice way.
When Cooper comes to Channing and Tino's life--just in time to be their live in Manny and give Sammy some much needed time to his own pursuits--Cooper is the blessing Sammy never knew he needed. Cooper doesn't see Sammy's health condition--he sees Sammy, and that's a big deal to Channing Lowell's kid. All Sammy's ever wanted to be is as awesome as his role models--and here's someone who thinks he's better.
It makes for a very sweet book.
But Sammy and Cooper are young, and shy, and vulnerable, and this wasn't a Johnnies book. Not a lot of hot thrusting young guy action here--a lot more getting to know you, getting to love you sweetness.
Some books are like that. Some couples are like that. I'm so glad I got to write Sammy's story this way.
So, Sammy's story is the third in the series, and there's going to be one more. Everybody remember that kid Nica was pregnant with at the end of The Virgin Manny? The kid that got Taylor in the eyepatch with the spoonful of lasagna? Yeah.
That kid.
He grows up to be just as much a handful as an adult as he was as a kid.
These books have been fun to write, and sweet, and this family makes me happy. If you like fluff and families and kids everywhere, this could possibly be the Amy Lane series you love most.
I know I'm excited about it!
Oh!
Today, release day, both Kim Fielding and I have 1/3 off the DSP website-- this might be your day to get the first three books at a VERY good price!
Stand by Your Manny--
The Mannies
Learning to trust and falling in love...
Sammy Lowell has his hands full juggling his music, college, some pesky health problems, and making the uncles who raised him proud. He needs help fulfilling his after-school duties with his siblings. Nobody can be in two places at once—not even Sammy! An injury puts Cooper Hoskins in a tough spot—if he can’t work, the foster sister he’s raising can’t eat. But years in the foster system have left Cooper short on trust, and opening up to accept help isn’t easy. Luckily, family intervenes—Cooper needs a job so he can care for Felicity, and Sammy needs someone who can see past his illness to the wonderful things he has planned for his life. Each heals the damaged places in the other’s heart. But falling in love is a big responsibility for young men deep in family already. Can the two of them get past their fear of the immediate future to see forever with each other?
The Virgin Manny
Growing up and falling in love...
Sometimes family is a blessing and a curse. When Tino Robbins is roped into helping his sister deliver her premade Italian dinners when he should be studying for finals, he’s pretty sure it’s the latter! But one delivery might change everything.
Channing Lowell’s charmed life changes when his sister dies and leaves him her seven-year-old son. He’s committed to doing what’s best for Sammy… but he’s going to need a lot of help. When Tino lands on his porch, Channing is determined to recruit him to Team Sammy.
Tino plans to make his education count—even if that means avoiding a relationship—but as he falls harder and harder for his boss, he starts to wonder: Does he have to leave his newly forged
family behind in order to live his promising tomorrow?
Manny Get Your Guy
The Mannies
Tino Robbins’s sister, Nica, and her husband, Jacob, are expecting their fifth child. Fortunately, Nica’s best friend, Taylor Cochran, is back in town, released from PT and in need of a job.
After years in the service and recovering from grave injury, Taylor has grown a lot from the callow troublemaker he’d been in high school. Now he’s hoping for a fresh start with Nica and her family.
Jacob’s cousin Brandon lives above the garage and thinks “Taylor the manny” is a bad idea. Taylor might be great at protecting civilians from a zombie apocalypse, but is he any good with kids?
Turns out Taylor’s a natural. As he tries to fit in, using common sense and dry wit, Brandon realizes that Taylor doesn’t just love their family—he’s desperate to be part of it. And just like that, Brandon wants Taylor to be part of his future.
A Fool and His Manny
Seeing the truth and falling in love...
Coming in July!
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