She needed a nanny.I needed a lead actress.Somehow I became The Manny.Secrets and lies are a killer way to start any partnership—especially a horizontal one.Now, I’m a glass half full kinda of guy, so, after the ‘you’re fired’ speech was directed at me, I figure now’s the time to be the screenwriter I came to sunny California to be. Unfortunately, there are about as many people trying to sell a … Unfortunately, there are about as many people trying to sell a script in L.A. as there are vegans in the pacific northwest.
But lucky for me, a few weeks ago my agent found an investor for my script. Hooray, all my problems are solved! NOT.
Because the investor will only agree to fund my film if I use one specific actress. And that one specific actress? Well of course, it just has to be the same actress I screwed over only months before. But she doesn’t need to know about that one tiny detail, does she? All that matters is getting her to agree to do the film and I’ll do whatever it takes. We can leave the past, in the past, right?
I thought my charm would win her over. Never would I have been prepared for the terms she laid out on the table.
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The Manny!
Funny, Sexy and full of surprises. Vance and Layla have a rough start , he wants her as the lead in his movie and she needs a nanny to do her job. Vance has absolutely no experience with small children but to get what he needs he must learn! They have a slow smoldering build up and I am a huge fan of that! I so enjoyed their story!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Oh let me tell you something about that Manny Vance!!! First off I need a Manny and my kids are grown!!! If you keep up with my reviews at all you know that I love Piper Rayne!!! So far everything that they have written has been absolutely amazing and this book is no different. Once you start reading this book will pull you in with its charm. And once you start reading you want stop. They can pull you into their worlds so easily it’s like one minute it’s morning and you started reading and the next it’s afternoon and you are done with the book but haven’t done anything else. I also love how they tie their other books/series in. And in this book even though you get the drama and the hot as sin sexy times that will leave you all hot and bothered and needing a shower!!! And Vance,Leo and Jagger’s bro times together which I love!!! You also have more time with kids in this book and I love the dynamic. And men with babies I mean come on ladies that just hot as all get out especially if they have no idea or if they truly enjoy it!! So yes I loved loved this book!!! I swear these books just keep getting better and better but I still can’t choose which man I love most so I choose all of them!!! I highly highly recommend this book!!!
**Piper + Rayne = Amazing Authors**
I have loved every series this amazing duo has written and this new series is no exception! The Manny has it all romance, humor and off the charts chemistry between Vance and Layla… who were a prefect match. But the kiddos Payne and Via stole the show with the energy and laughs you get from them. After this read you’ll want your own Manny!!
Enjoyed this lighthearted tale. Really, have enjoyed all of the Piper Rayne stories.
Great cast of characters, even bringing in a bit of Charlie & Garrett from Sexy Beast. This one tells the story of Vance’s journey to a HEA. Met him (mostly) in Sexy Beast, and knew there would have to be a new trilogy with him and his friends in LA. Lots of great dialogue and banter between several characters. Vance trying to navigate first time childcare was lots of fun. The Diaper Genie scene made me laugh until tears.
Layla and Vance were believable. Both had issues, concerns, and hangups. Both had to decide when and how to let go of the past in order to embrace a new future. Payne was quite the scene stealer. Loved the friendship between Leo, Jagger, and Vance.
Definitely appreciate minimal editing issues. Looking forward to Leo and Jagger’s stories.
This was a great story! I liked it a lot. There wasn’t anything that bothered me or stood out negatively. It was a light-hearted, funny and entertaining read. I guess I just wasn’t quite as emotionally invested to love it, which doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a good story though. Quite the opposite actually. Because a story that achieved to completely capture my attention so that I couldn’t put the book down and finished it in two days, and where I have nothing to criticize about, must be a definite try. I guess it’s still a question of taste but if you know the authors previous works or like similar books then I’m sure you will enjoy this book at least as much as I did.
As you can probably guess, the main characters had to work through some bumps along the road but there wasn’t anything overly dramatic involved.
I liked Layla and her kids as well as Vance a lot. They had great characteristics and fit perfectly together. Both were looking for their place in this fast paced and superficial world called Hollywood/LA.
The Story:
Vance was at a low when he was fired and had to escape this crazy world even when it was only for a short while. Now being back he knew that he couldn’t pick up where he left off and with the help of his friends, he sets out to turn his script into a movie.
Now there comes the problem, because although he found an investor, there’s one condition to it. Layla needs to be the lead actress but he screwed her over in the past and has to face the consequences when he won’t able to get her on board, especially when she finds out who he is exactly and what he did. So he just doesn’t tell her. Problem solved? No, because feelings get in the way and his guilty conscience eats at him every day he’s getting closer with Layla and her kids.
Thoughts:
I’ve read the Modern Love Series by Piper Rayne and loved it so much, I was really curious how this new series was going to turn out and I’m happy to tell you that I was pleasantly surprised at how attached I got with the male characters Vance, Leo and Jagger. I can’t wait to read the coming books in this series.
Vance was more a quiet kind of guy. He was a very loving man, obviously good looking, but it was all really low key and never went overboard or out of control with his emotions or actions. He had his faults, but hey, he’s only human.
Layla was a great mother juggling her career and two little kids alone in a world of glitz and glamour, which also meant to be cautious about deceiver, liar and back-stabber as well as paparazzi and reporters, because her soon to be ex-husband didn’t step up to his responsibilities.
I had lots of fun reading this book, especially the diaper changing scene. The funny banters and hilarious moments with Vance and Layla’s kids had me laughing a lot. If you like easy, sweet reads with lots of funny moments and lovely characters then this is a book you should definitely check out.
I am loving Piper Rayne writing, I have not read a bad one from them yet.
Vance incidentally becomes a manny and who doesn’t swoon over a guy who loves children or is at least is willing to look after them.
Layla an actress he needs to be in his film via the request of his investor needs help with her son.
This is a sweet romantic story and I couldn’t swoon more over Vance.
NO SPOILERS!
The Manny was an incredibly unique, sweet, sexy, humorous, and highly entertaining standalone romantic comedy, and I absolutely loved it! The storyline and characters that Piper Rayne created were amazing, and I loved the entire concept. I haven’t read many Hollywood-style romances, but The Manny has been one of the best – if not the best – I’ve ever read. The Manny has been my favorite novel from Piper Rayne so far, and I absolutely loved everything from beginning to end!
Vance and Layla were amazing and I loved them and their story so much. I loved their personalities and red-hot chemistry together, and how their relationship progressed throughout. I also loved reading the book from both Vance and Layla’s POV, and I immensely enjoyed all of their banter and interactions with each other. The concept of their story was so unique and unlike anything I had read before. There were plenty of hysterical and laugh-out-loud moments that had me smiling and cracking up, and I absolutely adored Layla’s kids, Payne and Via. They were so adorable and I loved their addition to the story. I also enjoyed Vance’s best friends, Leo and Jagger, and I’m definitely looking forward to reading their stories in the rest of the Dirty Truth series. The Manny completely exceeded my expectations and so much more, and I absolutely loved everything about it from start to finish. The conclusion to Vance and Layla’s story was perfect and made me extremely happy.
The Manny was a unique, sweet, sexy, humorous, and highly addicting and entertaining standalone romantic comedy, and an excellent start to the Dirty Truth series. The amazing and talented author duo that is Piper Rayne did a phenomenal job with this book, and I was very pleased with the outcome to Vance and Layla’s story. The Manny was truly amazing and hands down my favorite rom com from Piper Rayne to date, with Sexy Beast not far behind. I have honestly enjoyed every single story I’ve read from this author duo so far, and I am so excited to read more from them, especially the rest of the Dirty Truth series!
Another stellar start to a fun series! This story is between Vance, who you met in Sexy Beast, and Layla. This is a funny, sweet read with a lot of heart. I liked the reference to their first series! It happens quick and you may miss it, but re-read if you have to! Cannot wait for Jagger and Leo’s stories coming next!
4.5*
I just want to start by saying I love how Piper Rayne has built an entire fictional world out of the 3 series they’ve written/are writing so far. I’ve really enjoyed how they’ve taken characters and crossed them over into new series, without making you feel like you’re really missing anything if you haven’t read the previous series. And I think it’s great how we get peeks of characters from the earlier books- it’s always nice to catch up with old “friends”!
With that said, Vance was originally introduced in his sister Charlotte’s book, Sexy Beast. The glimpse we got of him led me to believe there was more to his story than what he was presenting to everyone- and sure enough, there was! But it wasn’t anything nefarious or wicked, he had just hit a bump in the road in his career.
The Manny is a really sweet, lighthearted romance with just a touch of angst to keep things interesting. Vance and Layla strike a bargain that is beneficial to them both, and from there things get interesting. It was so fun to watch Vance find his groove as the “manny”! He had his work cut out for him at first, but boy did he embrace the challenge after his initial hesitancy. The relationship he developed with the kids ended up being quite precious.
And when it came to his relationship with Layla, let’s just say things get a little hot in the kitchen!
But when you’re keeping a secret from someone and you don’t come clean right away, be prepared for some heartache. Although I knew what was coming, and I was on edge waiting for the shoe to drop, how it came about was a bit of a surprise. I felt sad for Vance, but I loved how he worked to make things right. I think he and Layla, and the kids, were just perfect together and I was rooting for them all. The epilogue was beyond sweet!
And let’s just touch on the friendship between Vance, Leo, and Jagger, shall we? I just love a good bromance and the one these 3 shared was just awesome. I love how they have each other’s backs, and I can’t wait for Jagger and Leo’s stories
I’m excited anytime I hear Piper Rayne is releasing a new series! The Dirty Truth series is on its way and starts off with The Manny.
Vance (brother of Charlie in Sexy Beast) and Layla are both part of the Hollywood scene. Vance needs a star for his movie and the person funding the project only wants Layla. Vance is instantly smitten with Layla and when she needs help with her two small children, he steps in immediately. Let the fun begin!!
Vance would love to be the leading man in Layla’s life…but yet he played the villain in her past..she just doesn’t know it. Yet.
The Manny was a quick, fun, sexy read with a lot of sweet and just a pinch of drama! Layla and Vance had immediate chemistry and a slow burn that made this book HOT. However, Layla’s kids, Payne and Via absolutely stole the show!! Vance’s friends Leo and Jagger are the funniest thing ever and I look forward to the meeting them in the next two books in the series!
The Manny is the beginning of another wonderful series from Piper Rayne. It wonderful how they have managed to weave characters from their other stories into the new ones. It allows us, the readers, to remember the wonderful memories of previous stories.
Vance and Layla have a history, but it only clear to one of them. As they work through what exactly their relationship is going to be, they discover that they are exactly what the other needs.
Some of the best scenes in the book belong to Payne. Piper and Rayne must have a lively home with their kids, because they have written the kids in this book to perfection.
This was a really, really enjoyable read. The storyline was entertaining, the characters so true to life that they could walk right off the page and the writing was marvelous.