Who is Shayla Hacker?
Written by Evan Kilgore
Published by Bleak House Books
ISBN: 9781932557306

Review by Lauren Lapinski

How far would you be willing to go to find someone you may or may not remember from your past? Would you be willing to go so far that the search turns into an obsession with law enforcement at almost every turn you make, accusing you of crimes you didn’t commit? This seems to be the case with the characters in Who is Shayla Hacker?; five different characters, five different points of view and one question plaguing them all throughout the story. The writing style itself flowed very well and made for an easy read, but some of the things the main characters did seemed somewhat unrealistic to the point where I wanted to smack a few of them upside the head and ask what the hell were they thinking.
» Continue reading “Book review: Who is Shayla Hacker?”

Work’s a Bitch and then You Make It Work: 6 Steps to Go From Pissed Off to Powerful
Written by Andrea Kay
Published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
ISBN10: 1584797088
ISBN13: 9781584797081

Review by Linda Yau

What a mouthful of a title, readers of this review, and this is a self-help book. So do take a look at this book if this book can answer your current situation. The stimulus package promises plenty of jobs, so do not lose hope if this book is currently not for you at the moment.
» Continue reading “Book Review: Work’s a Bitch and then You Make It Work”

Love Code
Story and Art: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-598-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-598-8

Review by Kris

Koji Mizuhara, the hottest thing in Japan right now, and Kyo Ayukawa, a rising star, have been dating for a while now. The two are hot and heavy but most still don’t know about their relationship. Mizuhara seems to have a dark past that not many know about and one of Ayukawa’s co-workers seems to know more than most. But this co-worker has a chip on his shoulder and seems to be harboring some jealousy toward Mizuhara. Plus there is a history with Saiki (the co-worker) and Mizuhara.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Love Code”

Double Trouble
Story and Art: Takashi Kanzaki
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-585-2
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-585-8

Review by Kris

Kou Sawara has a massive crush on his new stepbrother. He’d never had a mother’s attention and Naruki Sawara is quite domesticated. Luckily he is able to escape to his dorm at school. But he’s in for a surprise; Naruki has followed him to school! Naruki is only a year older than Kou and he adores his new brother. Of course Kou struggles with his own urges to jump Naruki but he takes it upon himself to protect his brother from other perverts at Seiran (their high school). Kou’s roommate, Yoshino, offers up his hypnotism abilities to make it so Naruki can protect himself. But Yoshino has an ulterior motive. He’s in love with Kou and wants to help him realize that Kou is really the uke instead of the seme that he thinks he is. Once the hypnotism is complete the if the sweet Naruki gets turned on he turns into super aggressive ’seme-Naruki’. It seems that Naruki is also attracted to Kou but is only able to do anything about it while he’s in seme-Naruki mode. With Kou now being in the uke position Yoshino is determined to win over Kou.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Double Trouble”

The Dawn of Love
Story and Art by Kazuho Hirokawa
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-583-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-583-4

Review by Linda Yau

Masahiro Matsunaga is a confident law student who is openly gay, and one day he is suddenly attracted by his classmate Takane Takekawa. Masahiro vows to sleep with him once, but upon finding out that Takane was a very willing partner, and they sleep together. Masahiro discovers that once was not enough, and becomes obsessed to committing with Takane in a monogamous relationship. The problem with Takane is the fact that he is willing to treat Masahiro as a sex friend, but it would take more to convince him to let go of his five other relationships. Even more importantly Takane’s one older lover, who he is reluctant to end with. Now how will Mashairo deal with his fickle lover?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: The Dawn of Love”

The Elegance of the Hedgehog
Written by Muriel Barbery
Published by Europa editions
ISBN10: 1933372605
ISBN13: 9781933372600

Review by Linda Yau

It took me a while to get through this book, but I have finally made through it, and what a reading time that it was. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is an unlikely story of friendship between social classes. Set in Paris, Renée is a widowed concierge of an apartment building. Her employers are all families of bourgeois backgrounds, and she makes her observations of them on a first person narrative. Renée seemingly gets by in life by deceiving nearly everyone of her intelligence and appreciation of knowledge.
» Continue reading “Book Review: The Elegance of the Hedgehog”

The Manzai Comics vol.1
Story by: Atsuko Asano
Art by: Hizuru Imai
Published by Aurora Publishing
ISBN-10: 1934496502
ISBN-13: 978-1934496503

Review by Kris

Manzai: Japanese stand-up comedy style. It is usually performed as a duo with one straight man and one funnyman (basically Japanese Abbott and Costello type routines).

Takashi Akimoto wants to make it as a manzai performer but he can’t seem to find the right partner. That’s the case until new student Ayumu Seta transfers to his school. Ayumu has had a rather traumatic past and wants to put that all behind him and be a normal middle school student. He hopes that will be the case until Takashi approaches him and asks, “Please go out with me.” Being a bit weirded out Seta thinks that Takashi is gay, but Takashi only wants Ayumu to perform manzai. Ayumu eventually agrees, reluctantly. What Ayumu can’t figure out is why Takashi insists that he is the one to perform. Takashi wants to convince Ayumu that being normal is overrated and that Ayumu is special. When the school festival approaches Takashi and Ayumu have the opportunity to perform. Will it work out?
» Continue reading “Manga Review: The Manzai Comics vol. 1″

Where Has Love Gone?
Story and Art: Ryoku Tsunoda
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-021-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-021-1

Review by Kris

Motoi Takayama is a successful salesman at a pharmaceutical company. He admires his co-worker Ryouichi Ishikawa for his perfection in all aspects. He’s talented at his job, he’s hardworking, and gorgeous. Takayama is gay and he can’t help but catch himself staring at the handsome man from time to time. No one knows Takayama is gay and he wants to keep it that way. That all changes one night when a chance encounter with none other than Ishikawa witnesses a make-out scene between Takayama and a man. Takayama is worried about the fallout of this discovery and figures he’s as good as fired. Thankfully Ishikawa feels that whatever happened outside of work should stay there unless it is going to affect your performance. As the day progresses, however, things turn all topsy-turvy. Takayama has an excellent day of sales while Ishikawa has a terrible day. He tries to blow off some steam with a lady in the office but she runs off in huff. Since Takayama is the only one left Ishikawa forces himself on Takayama. He doesn’t seem to see a problem with it because Takayama’s gay, so he likes it right?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Where Has Love Gone?”

Tricky Prince
Story and Art: Yukari Hashida
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-607-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-607-7

Review by Kris

Eugene is an impoverished student at university. Because he’s poor and only getting by because of his scholarship all he does is study. At his university there is a very high profile student there. It happens to be the prince of the country, Willis. Eugene doesn’t have time to worry and speculate what the prince is up to, unlike many of those that live in his dorm enjoy doing. When the dorm Christmas party arrives Eugene is holed up studying when his roommate and other dorm residents ambush him and dress him in drag for the party. Since Eugene is nearsighted (his fellow residents hid his glasses) he stumbles right into the Prince Willis. Since Eugene has no idea who he’s addressing, he pulls no punches in his comments. Willis thinks that Eugene is dressed this way for a gag and immediately is drawn to him. It turns out that there was a paparazzo following Willis and took a picture of these two in an embrace.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Tricky Prince”

VIZ Media announced on Sunday that they will publish a new original manga series from Rumiko Takahashi, author of INUYASHA. The following is from the VIZ press release:

This is the first new original manga series from Takahashi sensei since her epic INUYASHA series ended in 2008. Shogakukan’s popular WEEKLY SHONEN SUNDAY manga magazine, which has featured Takahashi’s work since the early 1980’s, will be debuting the new series and VIZ Media will be publishing the manga series later in 2009!
» Continue reading “VIZ Announces New Original Manga Series From Rumiko Takahashi”

Passion: Forbidden Lovers
Story: Shinobu Gotoh
Art: Shoko Takaku
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-13: 9781569705742
ISBN-10: 1569705747

Review by I-hsiu Lin

The forbidden relationship between teacher and student. High school student, Hikaru Umino is in love with his teacher, Kuniaski Shima. In a desperate attempt to confess his feelings, Hikaru ends up raping his teacher. Although reprimanding, Shima allows Hikaru to ‘atone’ for his wrongdoing by becoming his lover. It’s only pretend. Shima quips, “We could play like we’re lovers…I’ll go out with you only until you graduate.” Hikaru begins playing the game with time limits and rules.

But his feelings have no limits.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Novel Review: Passion: Forbidden Lovers”

Hero Heel vol. 3
Story and Art: Makoto Tateno
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-728-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-728-9

Review by Kris

We’ve reached the explosive final installment in the Hero Heel trilogy. I will provide links to my reviews and other J LHLS reviews for the first two volumes at the end of the post.

Trans-Dimensional Warriors Airguard is headed towards the series end. That fact is starting to sink in and everyone is working very hard to put in their best performances. The romances between Minami and Katagiri and Takagi and Sawada seem to be going on, full steam ahead. But things are just bubbling under the surface. Sawada doesn’t seem to be satisfied with sleeping with Takagi so he has a parade of partners going in and out of his apartment. Minami is confused because of Sawada’s bizarre behavior towards him. Katagiri and Takagi are caught in the middle of this stormy relationship.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Hero Heel vol. 3″

Blue Sheep Reverie vol. 1
Story and Art: Makoto Tateno
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-606-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-606-0

Review by Kris

Kai has traveled to this city with no name for one reason, to find the murderer of his lover Maria and exact revenge. Maria wore a distinct ring and when the murderer fled the scene he was wearing her ring. While watching the television he saw a man wearing Maria’s ring. That man was Lahti Bara, a one-man killing machine in the nameless town. Kai will get a job working under Lahti and take his chance at revenge. But Lahti isn’t nicknamed “Steel Lahti” for nothing. He is the public face of the gang Sarte. He is quick thinking, light on his feet, and has a knack for fighting. Kai figures that being one of his posse will be the quickest way to get his vengeance.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Blue Sheep Reverie vol. 1″

Sea View
Story and Art: Ayumi Kano
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-584-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-584-1

Review by Kris

Kei Tsuwabuki grew up admiring his grandfather. After the two were separated they exchanged letters. But then the letters stopped which encouraged Kei to travel to the island that he inhabits. He decides to attend the college that his grandfather taught at for many years, hoping to unearth clues of his whereabouts. When he arrives at the college he meets school eccentric Michiru Bangi. He is a very talented architect in the making and knew Kei’s grandfather. Kei and Michiru became friends due to this commonality and Michiru reminded Kei of his grandfather.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Sea View”

Hymie and the Angel
Written by Norman Beim
Published by Newconcept Press
ISBN10: 0931231094
ISBN13: 9780931231094

Review by Linda Yau

What would happen if you learned that you had four months to live. Would you accept this impending death sentence or curse your ill luck? Now what would happen if you had a personal angel, and there was a loophole to escape Death’s clutches? This is the situation for tavern owner, Hymie who learns of his death sentence. He has the fortune to befriend a disgraced angel named Adam. Adam bargains with Death for him the opportunity for Hymie to find someone else to take his place. If he finds someone to take his place, then he wouldn’t need to die. What would happen when Hymie questions who exactly would be willing to sacrifice their life to save him?
» Continue reading “Book Review: Hymie and the Angel”

The Devil’s Fire
by Sara Bell.
First Torquere Press Printing: January 2008

Review by Ida Vega-Landow

(This is another little goodie from Torquere Press that I left sitting on my hard drive since last year. You know you’re getting behind in your reviews when you finally get around to reading something almost a full year since it was released! Oh well, at least it’ll be fresh to both me and my readers.)

My first impression of this story is that the author, Sara Bell, must be as big a fan of historic romances as I am. It certainly has all the elements of a historic romance, set in an imaginary country during the Middle Ages; a handsome hero, a cursed prince, a villainous villain, noble kings and craven cowards, conspiracies, betrayals, true love and lust, everything except Rodents of Enormous Size. There are even lovely ladies in it, though they only play supporting roles.
» Continue reading “eBook review: The Devil’s Fire”

Loveholic vol. 2
Story and Art: Toko Kawai
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-846-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-846-0

Review by Kris

The road of love is never smooth and now that Kentaro Nishioka (a photographer) and Daisuke Matsukawa (an ad man) have kicked their relationship up a notch they are going to find that out very quickly. Nishioka and a kohai (someone who is a junior in school or work) have the opportunity to pitch an ad campaign to a well-known jewelry company. But Nishioka and Fujii (the kohai) are in for a surprise when Daisuke is at a meeting representing his company. The gloves are off and Dai-chan (that’s what Nishioka calls Daisuke) is ready to do all he can to get the job. He’s jealous of Fujii. It seems that Dai-chan wants to be the only one to work so closely with Nishioka and no one else.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Loveholic vol. 2″

Vampire’s Portrait vol 1
Story and Art by Hiroki Kusumoto
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN10: 1569705909
ISBN13: 9781569705902

Review by Linda Yau

Lou is a portrait street artist who one winter afternoon catches the eye of Sein, a mysterious gentleman. Sein commissions Lou to pain for him a portrait of his true face. What Lou doesn’t realize, until after a particularly violent session of where Sein destroys several of his canvases, is that his new patron is a vampire.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Vampire’s Portrait vol 1″