Reviewed by Vicki
SERIES: The Mannies #1, Dreamspun Desires Book 25
AUTHOR: Amy Lane
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 228 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 1st, 2017
BLURB:
Growing up and falling in love…
Sometimes family is a blessing and a curse. When Tino Robbins is roped into helping his sister deliver premade 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 live his promising tomorrow?
REVIEW:
Tino and Channing couldn’t be more different. Tino is from a middle class, working family, he’s worked hard for his education, has just a summer of working an easy job, then will be ready to get out and really start to work hard. That is pretty much how he’s been raised, coming from a family of busy working parents. So when Tino’s sister asks for help, he steps up and agrees to deliver some meals to a rich neighborhood, as part of her plan to take over the universe one dinner box at a time. Tino goes to make a delivery, only to get drawn in to some drama….
Channing Lowell has moved in to his sister’s house to care for her kid. Her fairly spoiled, kinda bratty kid. He’s a businessman, happy to be an uncle, but suddenly finds himself a dad. He and his sister come from money, and both were successful on their own, so they are used to a certain standard of life. Nice houses, nice cars, secure neighborhood, housekeepers, nannies and such. Channing is frustrated with his sisters housekeeper, his nephew, and the whole mess. Imagine his surprise when a sweet young thing shows up at his doorstep with food! And a willingness to help.
Channing winds up offering Tino a job, as the manny for his nephew for the summer, in exchange he’ll pay off Tino’s student loans, house him, feed him, pay him, and let him drive really nice cars. Tino thinks it’s too good to be true, but after some consideration, and seeing Channing help one of Tino’s friends, he agrees. He packs up, and moves! Of course good things happen to everyone, and….
I’ve had mixed feelings about these Dreamspun Desires stories. They are formulaic, but they are meant to be that way. They are fluffy, but they are meant to be that way. They are predictable, but they are meant to be that way. They are meant to be sweet, fluffy, romances, and that is what this one is. It’s written by Amy Lane, so it’s well written fluff! Tino is young, sweet, innocent, gentle, and caring. Channing is big and beautiful, successful, generous, gentle, and caring. Tino is a virgin, Channing is not! This leads to some sexy times eventually, and it’s all very sweet. Sammy was just starting to get on my nerves, then I was ok with him. Tino’s family was cool, there is a little drama with his sister that kept the family interesting. There was also some drama with Channing’s housekeeper, that also kept my interest going. I liked Tino’s couple of friends, and I liked the way they all interacted at different points.
This was an enjoyable book to read right before Christmas, when I was kinda over the Christmas stories. This is not a Christmas story by any means, but it still gave me some warm fuzzy feelings of happiness. It’s fluffy Amy, which I do like, and I do recommend that fans of sweet romance’s read it, as well as fans of Amy’s lighter books. If you are looking for her dark and angsty books, this is not the book for you! But seriously, it’s a sweet book!
BUY LINKS: