The New Normal

Mannies Incorporated #9

by Sean Michael

Fresh out of the hospital, wounded soldier Bradley Martin is suddenly a father of three when the mother of his young daughter, and her own set of twins, passes away. He’s overwhelmed and grateful that Mannies Incorporated have found a male nanny for him to help, not only with the kids, but with some of his needs as well. Recovering and learning to walk again is hard enough without the three children that have landed full time in his life.

David “Duffy” Dufferin has been a manny since graduating from college, and he loves his job. He gets to be a part of so many families, and he loves helping raise all the children he works with. He’s thrilled to be starting a new assignment with a brand-new family.

Both Duffy and Brad are shocked and delighted to discover that they not only know each other, they were friends with benefits before their lives took them in different directions. Life is never going to be the same for either man, but together, they just might find that their new normal includes a happy ending for all.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Disability, Second Chance, Contemporary, LGBT

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2020

About the author

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Reviews

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Duffy and Brad had been lovers many years ago but life had taken them in different directions – Brad to the Army and Duffy through college. Duffy loves his work as a manny – getting to help the kids one-on-one and helping to raise them and is surprised when chance leads him to going for a new Mannie’s Inc job and finding Brad, his six year old daughter Tori and infant twins to be his new clients. Seriously injured in an IED blast almost a year ago, Brad was still recovering and after the death of Tori and the twins’ mother struggling to find his feet and set up a new home for the three children was overwhelming to say the least. Can Brad, Duffy and the kids find a new normal?

I really enjoyed this contemporary story. While I’m a big fan of Sean Michael’s work this is the first Mannies Inc story that I’ve read and I really enjoyed it. Brad and Duffy were interesting and strong characters who I almost instantly connected and empathized with. Brad is trying his best in a stressful and unusual situation and Duffy is eager to help but has certainly been thrown into the deep end. Watching the two men try and find stable and common ground, along with their bubbling chemistry, was delicious and wonderful. I also adored Tori who was cute and a definite character without being too stereotypical as a young child. I loved how she seemed to fit roughly in with her age and she certainly had flaws and wonderful aspects to her character which made her feel really realistic and enjoyable to me.

I was also really pleased Brad’s parents were caring and supportive. This story focused the tension and conflict mainly around the complicated situation Brad and Duffy find themselves in along with the stress of having an instant-family which I felt was great and even though most of the plot was simply the new family trying to find their rhythm and day-to-day schedule I thought this was ample conflict and more would have been unnecessary.

Readers who enjoy a slow-burn to their romance should find this story really suits their needs. While there are a few smoking hot sex scenes between the two men I loved how the pace moved naturally and slowly, almost sweet in many places since a hot and sexy romance wasn’t on either Brad or Duffy’s agenda. The relationship was based on the new family, supporting and helping the children and each other and so this gave the whole story an air of sweetness and a true family dynamic which I absolutely loved.

I feel this story should appeal to a wide range of readers and left me feeling happy and good. A great read.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mannies Incorporated has come to the rescue of many a desperate father, new or more experienced, and has unwittingly turned into a matchmaker of considerable significance. Granted, we only get to read the stories where the match is successful, but this being book number nine in the series, they do look like they know what they’re doing. ‘The New Normal’ is a slight variation on the theme in that Brad and Duffy met before and were friends with benefits at the time. Since their parting was amicable, nothing stands in the way of a deepening of their feelings – on the contrary, I think it makes things just a little more interesting.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Vicki Tubridy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Another incredible Mannies inc book. I cannot get enough of them so I hope they never ever end. I’d love to see a book where they all meet up at a reunion story. Everyone needs to read this book.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series because it is full of great kids! Of course, there are wonderful guys and sometimes (like this time) amazing grandparents (at least on ONE side), and who can say no to a book with a 5-year-old and baby twins? Not me!!! *grin*

I especially like the fact that this author writes age accurate children for the most part. This, I think is one of the main reasons this series works so well for me. Although, I will have to say that there were a couple of issues that I felt needed more page time... what kind of accident did Tori's mom have? There was a Jeep mentioned and that was the end of it. And, a bit more information about the twins' bio dad would have been great. Not to mention the whole "Mark" issue. Maybe it is just me, but I always get annoyed about loose threads that I know will never get tied up... grrr

So, if you are laying in bed sick (or not) and want a nice family-feel book to read, this should work well for you... I know it did for me!

[Key · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
It was a cute story, like all the others in the Mannies Inc series.
Daffy and Brad made a cute couple and fit together from day one.
However, all the baby talk all the time was too much, I get it, the kids are part of the story as well, and it's cute if they have some lines as well, but dear Hades, there was a lot of Da and DaEee and all the other baby/ toddler nonsense, I kept rolling my eyes all the time.
I like sweet stories, and loving and devoted parents, and committed and loving partners as much as any of us reading the MM Romance genre do, but sometimes there's books that puts us in risk of diabetes and teeth rot from the sweetness overload 😅

[Kristi Jung · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disabled Veteran and the Manny

M/M romance. Veteran. Disability. Male nanny (Mannies). 3 children under 5.

This is a easy read, a romance between a Veteran and a Manny who dated and broke up when they were teenagers then found one another in present time. No cheating, no fighting.. just smooth relationship that develops around 30% and gets stronger as the book progresses. While its good, there are a few plot holes that made it lose a star.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The situation that Brad finds himself in could be very awkward and difficult to manage. He is also coping with so much. Thus enters Duffy who is the perfect match to Brad's needs. I love the way the children are a integral part of the story. The romance is important but so is the building of a family. I really enjoyed this sweet story.

[Damian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the new normal?

Brad is a war veteran who was injured in the war and not only is he suffering from PTSD but is also recovering from injuries from an IED. He also has three children from a friend that was in family way. Duff didn't know that Brad was his ex from years ago but it made being their manny better and maybe something else.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Duffy arrives at his new nanny job, he is surprised to find his new employer is a former college lover. Duffy finds working with this new family is extremely satisfying and he relishes his deepening relationship with Brad.

[Barbara J. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole Mannies Incorporated series so far is fantastic

The whole series has been absolutely amazing. The characters are incredible. They make all the sadness much better
To handle for the families.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The New Normal

2.5⭐️ I normally quite enjoy the Mannies Incorporated books. This one was a let down. It was so wordy without saying anything. Nothing happened, it was all food and no plot. Disappointed.

[Anera Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

The mannies books are always good. Mild angst, cute kids, overwhelmed parents. No big surprises but happy and comforting. Just like real life.

[Scooby2]

DNF-everyone is too perfect, may try again later...

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this Manny series.

[Kobie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always love these books, though this one's steam factor seemed low. 3.5 and there were a few loose ends that felt unexplored.

[Anna Vermey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice read

Always a joy to read a new Mannies book. These stories are wonderful. They are always a nice light read. Recommended!

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable characters and a heartwarming story. Kind of a comfort food read.

[L.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐
Cute story but wayyyyy too much telling. The dialogue did absolutely no favours either.