Manga Review: Missions of Love, Volume 8, by Ema Toyama

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

Release Date: July 2014

Volumes: 17+

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells.

Volume: 1. 7. 9.

Goodreads.

RightStuf Synopsis:

Shigure's plan to get close to Yukina by helping her overcome her weakness gets off to a good start, but runs into trouble when Yukina meets into an old acquaintance - the preschool teacher who traumatized her in the first place. Can Shigure keep Yukina's old wounds from reopening?
Story and art by Ema Toyama.

Review:

All of the previous relationships are continuing to build. Akira and Mami are still unknowingly forming a budding romance, and I’m in total favor of them. Mami and Yukina are also forming a real friendship, including when Yukina forcefully goes to Mami for advice. Yukina and Shigure are still steamily building a relationship, with lots of kissing and holding (but not including lip-on-lip kissing), as well as Shigure pushing Yukina to try not wearing her glasses.

And then we meet a new character, someone from Yukina’s past, who unintentionally scarred her. He’s also causing some new feelings for Yukina, that she doesn’t quite know how to handle. The guy is similar to Shigure in a bad way, and I don’t really like him. He’s up to some bad things.

I love the smutty part of this series, but the humor works great, too. I’m hugely attached to the characters. There are problems a’ comin’, and I’m excited.

Novel Review: Flat-Out Sexy (Fast Track, #1) by Erin McCarthy

Rating (Out of 5): ~2-2.5

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Berkley Sensation (Penguin)

Release Date: 2008

Spoilers?: Not really.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Independent single mother Tamara Briggs wanted to find a new, sexy, no-strings-attached man--just not one as young as NASCAR driver Elec Monroe. But he sure does get her heart racing. And after she’s tricked into a blind date with him, Tamara gives in to her passion. Things screech to a halt, though, when he asks to meet her children. Whatever happened to wham-bam-thank-you ma’am? Suddenly Tamara has to decide how much risk she’s willing to take to experience the power of true love.

The Cover:

I don't particularly like this cover. The position is a little off, it doesn't really stand out or look any better than most other adult romance covers. I guess the font and the fact he's leaning on a car (he is, right?) fits the book. I don't know, I'm just not a big fan of it.

Quotes:

• "...he had never seen any point in yelling about something that could just as easily be fixed by talking about it.” (Mass Market Paperback, pg. 82)
• "It had been something she’d taken for granted in her marriage, the soft and random brushes, the right to invade someone else’s personal space, and the ease of having a man’s strong hand on her waist.” (Pg. 112-113)

Review:

I was really hoping to like this, and all of the other McCarthy books I’ve read so far have been really good, but this one had one somewhat big problem with it.

I liked Tamara, and I liked Elec. They were both hot and sweet together, and I liked their chemistry. They were fun together, and I liked seeing them get closer. I also really liked seeing Elec get to know Tamara’s kids, those scenes were just plain heartwarming. I liked Elec’s family, and Tamara’s parents-in-law. It started out really good, and the ending was nice. It was a little slow at points, but overall not too bad. I would have liked some more conclusion for the mess with the girl blackmailing Elec, and his [omitted cause spoilers] problem, but oh well. I did really like, too, that Elec had a problem like that, if only for the fact that that’s barely ever mentioned in books.

But I did have one problem with it. There was a really bad amount of slut-shaming. At first I didn’t think it was going to be a thing, but then it kept showing up. And it flat-out made me uncomfortable. There was one scene in particular where a friend of theirs brought a ‘bimbo’ to a group dinner, and the girl was portrayed as extremely dumb and like she was simply there for her good looks and that she was a gold digger. And she was supposed to be an example of the driver’s groupies. It was uncomfortable to read, it wasn't needed, and it really pissed me off.

And not only that, but Elec and Tamara slut shamed other groupie girls, the girls who Elec used to be with and who wanted him now. While at the same time, they acknowledged that if Tamara did those things for Elec (like send nude photos), it would be totally fine. Like that isn’t hypocritical. It just pissed me off, it really wasn’t needed, and they didn’t learn anything from it. It made me knock off a bit from the rating.

I was hoping this would be better, but the slut-shaming really hit me the wrong way. I hope that whatever I pick up of McCarthy’s next is better.

Manga Review: Black Bird, Volume 17, by Kanoko Sakurakouji

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Release Date: October, 2013

Volumes: 18

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Book Depository. Powells. RightStuf.

Volume: 16. 18.

Goodreads Synopsis:

A mythical, paranormal romance that has sold through over 280,000 copies in the U.S.There is a world of myth and magic that intersects ours, and only a special few can see it. Misao Harada is one such person, and she wants nothing to do with magical realms. She just wants to have a normal high school life and maybe get a boyfriend. But she is the bride of demon prophecy, and her blood grants incredible powers, her flesh immortality. Now the demon realm is fighting over the right to her hand...or her life!

Despite knowing that it spells her doom, Misao is determined to bear her child. But her insistence on enjoying her last days to the fullest only fuels Kyo’s determination to save her. Kyo is so desperate for answers that he’s even willing to listen to his father’s wild ideas, although though they might put Misao as far beyond his reach as death would…

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for teen plus audiences.

Review:

There’s only one volume left! The big conclusion is coming! And I’m so excited!

I am really looking forward to seeing how this series ends. I have my thoughts on the ending, and I’m sure it’s going to be a happy one, but I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all goes down, how it all happens. I’m fully invested, I suppose.

Kyo and Misao are doing coupley things, having small fights, and that’s nice to see. It’s good that they’re still getting along, that they’re still having those moments and those sweet kisses and all that. But then Kyo gets all desperate and it turns him into a jerk, wanting to do something to Misao even though she disagrees, because he’s so desperate to save her. I feel for him, but he needs to listen to her more.

I don’t really know how it’s all going to conclude, honestly. Because there’s still a big cure to find, and only one volume left to do it. It’s so hard to see Kyo so upset and hurt and Misao hurting because she’s set on what she wants to do but doesn’t want to hurt Kyo. It’s all so sad, really. 

It’s still a while before the last volume is out, and I’m looking forward to it.

Manga Review: Happy Marriage?!, Volume 2, by Maki Enjoji

Rating (Out of 5): ~4

Publisher: Shojo Beat (VIZ Media)

Publish Date: October, 2013

Volumes: 10

Spoilers?: No.

Buy it here: Amazon. Barnes and Noble. Powells. RightStuf!

Volume 1. Next Volume.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Men - they're the root of Takanashi Chiwa's problems, which is why she never had the time nor the opportunity to have a boyfriend in her entire life. A full-time office lady and a part-time hostess, she works night and day to pay off her dad's debt from his failed business. One night at her part-time job, a high-class customer has her fired. Then the next day, she's called in to see the president - whom she had never even seen before in the office - only to find out she's to marry him! But what kind of guy is Mamiya Hokuto anyway? Will he become one of Chiwa's problems, or will he save her from them? And will this marriage even last?!

Review

I am really, really enjoying this series. I’m so glad VIZ licensed it.

Chiwa has encounters with two new men in this volume. First, a man in the office, who acts nice and supportive and talks to her about stuff, but then hits on her. In the end, though, she ends up talking to him about her problems, and he’s sometimes a little helpful, but other times, not. Then she runs into an old friend from college, who she likes, but Hokuto interrupts that as soon as he finds out.

Chiwa also starts worrying about her relationship with Hokuto when she hears him talking to a friend, thinking that he doesn’t want their marriage. And he’s trying to be helpful and supportive, but he doesn’t really know how to do that with her.

I love seeing Chiwa and Hokuto get closer, them interact and fight and make up and make out. They’re fun. Chiwa freaks out a lot, including when he kisses her, but she does like him. And he’s a little hard around the edges, not easy to talk to, but he does like her. They’re figuring out who the other person is, how to live together and be married to each other. And I am loving it. 

This series is just so much fun. I really enjoy the humor, and the art is very pretty. I am definitely excited for the next book.