Chocolate Surprise
Story and Art: Lily Hoshino
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
Copy supplied by Publisher
ISBN-10: 1934496642
ISBN-13: 978-1934496640

Review by Kris

Kakiuchi is the hottest guy in class and has devised a game where there is a bag of chocolates (some spiked with an aphrodisiac), a group of girls, and the possibility of sleeping with Kakiuchi. The rules are whichever girl picks the spiked chocolate gets to sleep with Kakiuchi. One day Ogasawara, a guy, is invited to join in on the fun but they amend the rule that if Ogasawara chooses the spiked chocolate he can choose whichever girl he wants to (at least that’s playing the Mix Chocolate game.) When it turns out that Ogasawara picks the chocolate, he allows Kakiuchi to help him out. Is this the beginning of love?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Chocolate Suprise”

Future Lovers vol. 2
Story and Art: Saika Kunieda
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496626
ISBN-13: 978-1934496626

Review by Kris

Since we last left Kento Kumagaya and Akira Kazuki the two had been dating for almost a year. In this volume the two continue their relationship but instead of the emphasis being on the joy of falling in love it focuses on their continuing relationship and the struggles they face. We have the opportunity to meet Akira’s mom and the man who inspired Akira to become an art teacher, Kento’s more serious side shows up in a few stories, and there are a couple more light-hearted stories that tackle some serious issues.

Akira’s mom doesn’t know he’s gay (or so we assume) so when the two are introduced Akira introduces them as colleagues. Kento is none too pleased to find out that Akira hasn’t shared this info with him. Akira knows all kinds of things about Kento but Kento knows so little about Akira. Can Kento catch a glimpse of the real Akira behind the mask?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Future Lovers vol. 2″

Naughty But Nice
Story and Art: Naduki Koujima
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496588
ISBN-13: 978-1934496589

Review by Kris

Mr. Wakasa is Kakeru Kiba’s homeroom teacher. Everyone loves Mr. Wakasa, he’s handsome and kind. But Kakeru is a bit of a klutz. Because of this weakness of his he learns that Wakasa is not the kind teacher he sees at school but is actually a bit of a jerk. What happened was Kakeru was out running errands for his mom when he saw someone that looked like his teacher being threatened by thugs. But this man was drunk and rather rude, so how could it be Wakasa? Just as the thugs go to punch out Wakasa Kakeru ends up distracting everyone, slips on a can, and pushes Wakasa into a river. Oops!
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Naughty but Nice”

Live for Love
Story by Itsuki Sato
Art by Jun Mayama
Published by Juné Manga
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-035-8

Review by April Kimm

Jun Mayama is the mangaka of “Love Pheromone,” “Kono Akuma Me!,” “Furueru Hana,” “Kuchibiru Kara Knife,” “Karei ni Shite Rifujin,” “Sexy Effect 96,” “Love Sexual,” and “Stop! In the Name of Love.” “Live for Love” is a yaoi manga with five chapters of the one continuous story.
» Continue reading “Yaoi review: Live for Love”

Idol Pleasures
By Fuhri Misasagi
Published by Deux
ISBN-13: 978-1934496671

Review by April Kimm

Fuhri Misasagi is the mangaka of “Curse Project,” “Kichiku Megane,” “Oyaji Kairou e Youkoso,” “The Next Door I Moved To,” “Beasts,” “Kimi ga Nokoshita Kimochi,” “Kimi to Kare to Watashi,” “Kimi wo Dakishimeru Ryouude,” “Kimi to Ayumu Nichijou,” “Yajuu Shugi,” “Ameiro no Ibasho,” “Cross Light,” “Gobousei no Saku Kisetsu,” “AB Motion,” and “Love Miracle.” “Idol Pleasures” is a manga with five chapters and an afterword by the author. It’s shonen-ai with implied soft yaoi.
» Continue reading “Yaoi review: Idol Pleasures”

Naughty but Nice
By Naduki Koujima
Published by Deux
ISBN-13: 978-1934496589

Review by April Kimm

Naduki Koujima is the mangaka of this manga’s sequels “Spicy but Sweet” and “Kinky but Kind” both also licensed by Deux, the “Selfish Love” series licensed by Be Beautiful, the “Great Place High School” series licensed by June Manga, the “Our Kingdom” series licensed by June Manga, “Otona to Kodomo no Kyoukaisen,” “Suki to Kirai no Kyoukaisen,” “Sunao ni Nare!,” “Shiawase no Level,” “Brother Complex,” “Fuuki no Okite,” “Otona no Oso Kodomo no Honki,” “Mamoru-san no Yuutsu,” “Shinshikyoutei wo Musubou!,” “Boys Life,” “Shounika Byoutou wa Osawagi,” “Amaimono ni wa Goyoujin!,” one of the authors of “J-Boy by Biblos” licensed by June Manga, and the illustrator of the novel “Little Darling” licensed by June Manga. “Naughty but Nice” is composed of three chapters of the main story and two chapters of “Bouquet of Love,” an unrelated two-shot. The three chapters of the main story and the first chapter of the two-shot are shonen-ai, and the second chapter of the two-shot is light yaoi.
» Continue reading “Yaoi review: Naughty but Nice”

Love Round!!
Story and Art: Hinako Takanaga
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496553
ISBN-13: 978-1934496558

Review by Kris

Kaoru Komatsuna is very sensitive. He has a feminine name and has soft feminine features. Everyone knows that this is a hot button issue with him and not to approach it. Well, all but one person. Junya Kubo happened to pick up Komatsuna’s student notebook and made the mistake of commenting on his name. Next thing Kubo knows is that some adorable shrimp knocked him out, which is a shocking thing in and of itself. Why, you ask? Well Kubo is a boxer who is in training to become a pro.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Love Round!!”

Take Me To Heaven
Story and Art: Nase Yamato
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496510
ISBN-13: 978-1934496510

Review by Kris

Fumiya has a special gift; he sees dead people and one of his ghosts that he can see must have been a math teacher because he can’t seem to get his homework done without the ghost interfering. This is how Take Me to Heaven starts. When Fumiya was a kid they moved into a house next to a Buddhist temple and his bedroom happens to be right next to the graveyard. Thanks to that he’s now become sensitive to ghosts. Shogo is the only son of the priest and ever since Fumiya was little, offered his services – for a price. The two have always had this very weird friendship. Fumiya always turns to Shogo when he’s being bothered by a ghost and Shogo in turn teases and bullies Fumiya, but still seems to calm Fumiya anyway. Now in high school, the students in the Occult Research Club scout out Fumiya and Shogo to join. Fumiya is not really keen on the idea but Shogo joins and convinces Fumiya to do the same.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Take Me to Heaven”

I Shall Never Return vol. 5
Story and Art: Kazuna Uchida
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496480
ISBN-13: 978-1934496480

Review by Kris

We find out what happens with Ken, Ritsuro, Moeko, and Kazuyoshi in this final volume of I Shall Never Return. I’m going to apologize for divulging any spoilers from here because volume 5 wraps everything up.

Ken is currently taking photographs with his stepfather J in India while Ritsuro is still in Osaka preparing for his college entrance exams. Ken and J were able to walk away from the auto accident with a few bruises and scrapes but nothing too serious. Ken wants to get J to a hospital to get him checked out because he’s having dizzy spells but J really wants Ken to see the Himalayas. Kazuyoshi still isn’t speaking to Ritsuro because he’s still heart broken. But there are some storm clouds blowing in because of Ken and Kazuyoshi’s past. Because of this past and the thugs they used to hang out with Ritsuro gets caught up in the middle of it. Thankfully the cops show up but also because of this incident Ritsuro’s parents find out about the nature of Ken and Ritsuro’s relationship.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: I Shall Never Return vol. 5″

Oh My God! Volume 2
Story and art by Natsuho Shino
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  1934496448
ISBN-13:  9781934496442

Review by Jilly Gee

I’m beginning to have doubts that any couple at all will come out of this series in the end, let alone Jade and Yuto.  Nothing has changed between them from the first volume to the end of this one, no closer to each other than they were before.  Individually, however, they have come to realize some things.  More than just the clingy puppy from the previous volume, Jade purposely tries to get Yuto to handle some things on his own, to test his theory that the boy does indeed have powers himself and maybe even to boost Yuto’s defenses.  Yuto, however, is a bit slower to catch on; while he did realize rather quickly how to purify the ball, he still wonders why it is that he is able to do so.  They had both better speed up their grand revelations a bit, seeing as how the mysterious enemy has realized that something is out there disrupting their plans and the minions have started menacingly throwing their muscle around.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Oh My God! vol. 2″

Mister Mistress, vol. 2
Story and art by Rize Shinba
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  193449643x
ISBN-13:  9781934496435

Review by Jilly Gee

While the first book in the series had Rei simultaneously torturing and pleasuring Fujimaru for the seemingly selfish reason of feeding himself the sexual energy he needs as an incubus and Fujimaru loudly proclaiming the injustice of having to do these things with another man, the second book has Fujimaru saddened that he is seemingly just food and nothing more to the incubus, and Rei actually looking at Fujimaru with concern and trying to find out what the boy is feeling.  More is revealed about Rei’s relationship with Fujimaru’s grandfather when Fujimarau, a little jealously, questions Rei about it.  Not only is their relationship getting delved into, so is the fantastical side of the plot as a succubus comes into the picture and reveals more of Rei’s past and threatens his future.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Mister Mistress vol. 2″

Hanky Panky
Story and Art: Koreaki Kamuro
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496251
ISBN-13: 978-1934496251

Review by Linda Yau

Hanky Panky is a collection of one-shots, where each of the stories features characters that develop a crush or act on a pre-existing crush. The cover is pretty attractive, and I heartily recommend picking up this steamy book. In the title story of Hanky Panky, Manaka has a double life by daytime he is a geeky college student, but at night he is Itsuki the sexy hot host club owner. Now what is he to do after his classmate Doi seeks a job at his club, and shows sexual interest in him as Itsuki, but not as Manaka?
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Hanky Panky”

Two of Hearts
Story and Art by Kano Miyamoto
Published by the Deux Press, Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN13: 9781934496367
ISBN10: 1934496367

Review by Linda Yau

Haruya Ito is a writer who has moved away from Tokyo to the countryside. He consistently frustrates Yagisawa, his editor/lover with his existing writer’s block, and the fact that he is satisfied with his country life. One day though, after being advised by Yagisawa to become more motivated – Haruya took a walk along the beach nearby. He sees a young man undressing and this is how he meets Maki Hidaka, a troubled young man. Their relationship develops from that one meeting.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Two of Hearts”

Red Blinds the Foolish
Story and Art: est em
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496286
ISBN-13: 978-1934496282

Review by Kris

Rafita Alonso is the hottest star in bullfighting. He’s well known, young, fearless, and wears a red costume. He’s the talk of the bullfighting world. He soon falls in love with the young butcher who rends the bulls he kills, Mauro. Mauro has a scar on his back in the exact location where matadors stab their bulls to kill them. Also Mauro is color blind, just like a bull. Soon Rafita starts having nightmares where instead of a bull charging at him he’s staring down his lover. Because of these nightmares his bullfighting is suffering and for the first time in his life he’s scared to step into the stadium.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Red Blinds the Foolish”

Good news for Nase Yamato fans:

“Deux Press, the yaoi imprint of Aurora Publishing, has picked up the title Cigarette Kisses by Nase Yamato. Originally, Boysenberry Books, the yaoi imprint of Broccoli Books, was to release this title. However, with Broccoli Books shutting down, the title will be dropped from their list. Lucky for all of the Nase Yamato fans, Deux Press (who is already releasing her Take Me to Heaven in January 2009) was able to acquire the rights to the title, and fans can expect the manga to be released sometime in the second half of 2009. For more information, visit http://www.deux-press.com”

Kiss all the Boys, vol. 3
Story and art by Shiuko Kano
Published by Deux Press
ISBN-10:  1934496456
ISBN-13:  9781934496459

Review by Jilly Gee

The good news is that Tetsuo is no longer impotent.  The bad news is that it’s thanks to his feelings for Tamaki, the same guy his son, Haruka, likes.
 Some more good news is that Tamaki returns Tetsuo’s feelings.  Some more bad news is that Haruka finds all this out in the worst way, by interrupting their spontaneous groping and fondling session in the middle of the living room. » Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Kiss All The Boys vol. 3″

Lovers and Souls
Story and Art: Kano Miyamoto
Published by the Deux Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496405
ISBN-13: 978-1934496404

Review by Kris

One thing I’ve noticed about Kano Miyamoto-sensei is that she has a huge online following. Her fans are also rabid and obsessed. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, believe me there are a few manga-ka that I am rabid and obsessed with. At the back of the manga sensei mentions that Lovers and Souls was her first manga and it kicks off the Rules universe. The first two-thirds of the manga features the story of Shinomiya and Matsuoka. The last third is the completely unrelated story about Kai and Nozaki.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Lovers and Souls”