Monday, September 30, 2013

Manga Review: Kitchen Princess Omnibus 4 (Paperback)



I've finished "Kitchen Princess Omnibus Vol. 4" by Miyuki Kobayashi.
FINAL CHOICES

Najika faces enormous challenges to her cooking skills as she engages in a cook-off to save her orphanage. And in a final test of her culinary artistry, she heads to Paris for a major cooking competition. Meanwhile, Najika finally discovers the identity of her Flan Prince! What will become of her feelings for Daichi and Seiya? It all gets settled in this final volume!

This omnibus contains volumes 8, 9, and 10 of Kitchen Princess, and special extras after the story!

FINAL VOLUME!

Product Details
Series: Kitchen Princess Omnibus (Book 4)
Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: Kodansha Comics (June 18, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1612620655
ISBN-13: 978-1612620657


My Review:

Vol 8. - HIGH TEA SHOWDOWN

Najika’s world is falling apart. Lavender House, the orphanage where she grew up, is being shut down, and there’s only one way she can save it. When Najika is challenged to a High Tea cook-off against Seiya, her nemesis, the scheming director of Seika Academy makes Najika an offer: lose the contest on purpose, and he’ll save Lavender House from ruin. Will Najika throw the fight – or will her true self shine through?

Vol. 9 - A Prince Revealed

Najika finally discovers the true identity of her Flan Prince! But will that change her feelings for Daichi and Seiya? Who will be Najika’s true love? And what terrible secret has Daichi himself just stumbled upon?

Includes special extras – plus recipes – after the story!

Vol 10 -  HAPPILY EVER AFTER?

Najika heads to Paris for a major cooking competition, while things with Daichi fall apart and personal tragedy strikes again. Will Seiya pick up the pieces? And will Najika stay true to Daichi?

This is the final volume of Kitchen Princess.

Includes special extras – plus recipes – after the story!


Vol. 8 was very emotion because Najika has a difficult choice to make because she finds out that Lavender House is being closed down.  The Director orders Najika to lose to Seiya in exchange for the deal for Lavender House to not go through.

I really felt for Najika because she really cares for her foster mom and foster siblings and she doesn't feel right about not doing her best.

4/5

Weekly Book Reads (Sept 30)



 Weekly Book Reads


Weekly Book Reads is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews:

Post the books read last week and books you plan on finishing this week.

Read Last Week:

1.  Deadline - Sandra Brown
2.  Styxx - Sherrilyn Kenyon
3.  Kitchen Princess Omnibus Vol. 4 - Natsumi Ando

Weekly Book Reading:

1.  Unseen - Karin Slaughter
2.  The Last Kiss Goodbye - Karen Robards

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Library Haul 2013 (Sept 29 - Oct 5)




Library Haul


Here's the list of books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga I picked up this week at the library:

Hardcover:

1.  Possession - J.R. Ward
2.  Unseen - Karin Slaughter
3.  The Last Kiss Goodbye - Karen Robards

Softcover:

1.  When Darkness Falls - Heather Graham
2.  Twice Tempted - Jeanne Frost
3.  Dire Desires - Stephanie Tyler
4.  As Twilight Falls - Amanda Ashley
5.  The First Prophet - Kay Hooper
6.  Something Wicked - Lisa Jackson
7.  Edge of Sanity - Shannon K. Butcher
8.  The Long Way Home - Mariah Stewart
9.  When Summer Comes - Brenda Novak

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Bunny Express Saturday 2013 (Sept 28)


Bunny Express Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received this in the mail this week.

For Review:

Manhwa:

 








Very! Very! Sweet, Vol. 4 Paperback

Tsuyoshi and Be-Ri's charade has Grandfather convinced, but it's just a bit too convincing for Erica and Mu-Hyuk. Forming a coalition of their own, the pair is determined to prevent Tsuyoshi and Be-Ri from becoming anything more than business partners. Meanwhile, Gyu-Ri and San-Ne are on the rocks as Gyu-Ri's unfaithfulness becomes increasingly apparent. Be-Ri watches their relationship crumble before her eyes, her heart filled with concern for the suffering San-Ne. It could be an opportunity to make her move, but as much as she cares for him, does she really want her true feelings out in the open at a time like this?










Very! Very! Sweet, Vol. 5 Paperback

Heartbroken and mortified at San-Ne's discovery of her secret affections, Be-Ri launches headfirst into a relationship with Mu-Hyuk. She's still not overly fond of him, at least not in a romantic way, but she's willing to give it a try, if only to forget about San-Ne. But Tsuyoshi isn't pleased about the new arrangement. For one thing, Mu-Hyuk is so overprotective that Tsuyoshi hardly ever gets to hang out with Be-Ri at school. For another, much to his own surprise, Tsuyoshi is unhappy at seeing Be-Ri with another guy. True, they were only "fake dating" for the sake of his grandfather, but now the old man isn't the only one thinking they should give it another go.

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Follow My Blog Friday #165



If you are new to the FF fun, Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers. Feature & Follow Friday is now hosted by TWO hosts, myself of course and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

Now to make this FF interesting we do a FEATURE blogger. If you are interested in becoming a Feature click on the drop down link above FEATURES and Features and Follow Friday and get on the waiting list!  It is also required, that if you participate you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee and Alison Can Read) and the two Feature blogs.

This Meme is hosted by Rachel from Parajunkee's View and Alison from Alison Can Read on Fridays.

To join the fun and make now book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:

1.  (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee and Alison Can Read}

2.  (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers

3.  Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.

4.  Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.

5.  If you are using WordPress or another CMS that doesn’t have GFC (Google Friends Connect) state in your posts how you would like to be followed

6.  Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”

7.  If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love and the followers.

8.  If you’re new to the follow Friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

Our Feature is Musings of A Blogder





When did you start blogging?

Gah! This question. I feel like this is one of the hardest things to answer. Technically, I started blogging in November but I had no clue on what to do. All I knew was that I wanted to review books but I only really dod blromos and book blitzes. Iin April I changed my blog name and link so it sounded better. I actually changed my blog design and deleted all spam posts in July also making a schedule on what I was actually going to do with my blog. So Erm. I guess I started blogging in July?

What is your favorite part of book blogging?

Definitely the people. I made my twitter account in January but only started using it in June and have about 14000 tweets because I’m super cray like that. I love talking to people – especially authors. They’re all so nice and I love my friends. Who else would actually tolerate me and my spazziness.

What type of books do you mainly blog about?

YA. I barely ever do NA and if it’s A, it HAS to have crossover appeal.


What is your favorite book(s)?

Psh. Too many to count. I started reading YA in January so I barely have read anything. If you want to know my faves without me listing, click here.

What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

Can I say I’ve made friends? No? Okay. Well to get kinda personal, I started reading in general because I was bullied at school and reading kind of comforted me. Blogging is an extension of that.

In reading, you learn about a MC and their battles while in blogging, you’ve got a community learning about the same MC but have other people to talk to. It makes you feel less alone and I think that I’ve become a better and happier person overall.

Nova Lee @ Musings of a Blogder

Our Feature - Words and Tea Bottles

1. When did you start blogging?

I started Words and Tea Bottles in January of 2013, but I’ve had blogs before. They were mostly personal ones, or ones specifically for a novel I was writing at the time. The earliest one I can remember was from 2004 over on LiveJournal.

2. What is your favorite part of book blogging?

I have to say it’s getting to know about books I might not have heard of otherwise. I use NetGalley a lot and follow plenty of people who do blog tours and cover reveals for books coming out. This also accounts for self-published books, since you wouldn’t normally see one on the ‘coming soon’ poster or flyer in a book store.

3. What type of books do you mainly blog about?

Young adult. It’s mostly what I read and what I write; I hardly ever dabble into “adult” fiction.

4. What are your favorite books?

Ella Enchanted. I’ve loved that book since I was in junior high, although I was pretty disappointed with how the movie compared.

5. What has been the best thing that has happened to you because of book blogging?

Definitely getting to connect with authors; I’ve gotten friendly with a few who’ve directly requested a review from me, and it’s always nice to be on the short list when they’re getting ready to release something new!

Q: Reading Nook Tour: Give us a tour of your favorite reading spots.



















Thursday, September 26, 2013

Carla Neggers Declan's Cross Blog Tour with Q/A and Review



I am so excited to have Carla Neggers here at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews with a Q/A and Review.

Thanks Carla and Veronica at Meryl L. Media Relations Inc. for allowing me to join your Declan Cross Blog Tour!

Please take it away, Carla!

1.  You started writing at age 11 up in a sugar maple tree. Your blog, Out on a Limb, honors these humble, idyllic beginnings. What kind of books did you write up in the tree? Is that tree still standing?


My favorite sugar maple is still on our family tree farm on the western edge of the Quabbin reservoir! I haven’t climbed it since college, though. It’s a beautiful tree in autumn especially. I wrote tales of romance and suspense up there. The first one I finished is called The Bronze Buddha. An archaeology student making ends meet cleaning motel rooms (my first job, not incidentally!) discovers a dead body in a room she is set to clean. Off we go from there.

2. What enticed you to switch over from contemporary romance to romantic suspense?

I’m all about getting the story that’s in my head onto the page. My Sharpe & Donovan novels are about two FBI agents who grew up within a few miles of each other on the southern Maine coast but in very different worlds. Their relationship and their work are at the heart of SAINT’S GATE, HERON’S COVE and now DECLAN’S CROSS.

3.  Why did you choose law enforcement as the career path for your heroes and heroines? (for Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan?)

Well, not all my heroes and heroines are in law enforcement, but many are. Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan are FBI agents. She’s an art crimes expert and he’s a deep-cover operative. Their work in law enforcement both enhances and complicates their relationship with each other as well as with their families, friends and colleagues. It’s all great fodder for stories! As Colin and Emma note in DECLAN’S CROSS, he has demons and she has secrets.

4.  What are you working on next?

I’m deep into HARBOR ISLAND, my next Sharpe and Donovan novel! Emma and Colin are back in Boston when Emma is lured to the body of a model for a well-known Irish artist.








About the Author

Carla Neggers is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 novels, with translations in 24 languages. Born and raised on the western edge of the beautiful Quabbin Reservoir in rural Massachusetts, Carla grew up with tales of her father’s life as a Dutch sailor and her mother’s childhood in northwest Florida.

At a young age, Carla began penning her own stories on a branch high up in her favorite sugar maple. Now she enjoys spending time at the family homestead (now a tree farm) with her six brothers and sisters and their families. When she’s not writing, Carla loves to travel, hike, kayak, garden, and, of course, dive into a good book. She lives with her family in Vermont, near Quechee Gorge.









An escape to an idyllic Irish seaside village is about to turn deadly in this riveting new novel by master of romantic suspense Carla Neggers

For marine biologist Julianne Maroney, two weeks in tiny Declan's Cross on the south Irish coast is a chance to heal her broken heart. She doesn't expect to attract the attention of FBI agents Emma Sharpe and Colin Donovan — especially since a Donovan is the reason for her broken heart.

Emma and Colin are in Ireland for their own personal retreat. Colin knows he's a reminder of everything Julianne wants to escape, but something about her trip raises his suspicion. Emma, an art crimes expert, is also on edge. Of all the Irish villages Julianne could choose…why Declan's Cross?

Ten years ago, a thief slipped into a mansion in Declan's Cross. Emma's grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated, but the art stolen that night has never been recovered and the elusive thief never caught.

From the moment Julianne sets foot on Irish soil, everything goes wrong. The well-connected American diver who invited her to Ireland has disappeared. And now Emma and Colin are in Declan's Cross asking questions.

As a dark conspiracy unfolds amid the breathtaking scenery of Declan's Cross, the race is on to stop a ruthless killer and the stakes have never been more personal for Emma and Colin.

My Review:

Storyline:  This is the continuation of the complicated relationship between FBI agents Colin Donovan and Emma Sharpe. Colin has flown to Ireland to heal from a undercover sting that went horribly wrong and Emma has come to be with Colin. They find out a friend Julianne a marine biologist has also arrived to meet Lindsay who works at a marine station and to run away from her hurtful breakup with Colin's younger brother Andy.

Julianne discovers Lindsay's body which results in secrets being uncovered. Emma has connection to the town because her grandfather was investigating a case where two paintings were stolen ten years ago.

Sean Murphy a Garda is also there to help but he was romantically involved with Kitty the owner of the hotel where the paintings were stolen.

Characters:   There was great character development in this book with interesting and surprising cameos from Wendell Sharpe and Lucas (Emma's grandfather and brother).

Romance:  There are three relationships with two of them being broken and trying to deal with the aftermath. 

I'm glad all thee couples were able to work through their problems and talk about their fears to finally be able to commit to each other.

Villain(s):  The villains were very intriguing because they aren't what they seem on the surface and have no problem double-crossing each other.

4/5

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Wednesday Wish List




Please list the books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga from your wishlist that you are hoping to add to your shelves in a comment, thanks.

Books, Manga, Manhwa, Shonen-Ai and Yaoi I'm Waiting For:











Lover At Last: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Mass Market Paperback

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has found an identity as a brutal fighter in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another.

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: it seems Qhuinn has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young. It’s hard for Blay to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. And Qhuinn needs to come to terms with some dark things before he can move forward.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions, but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn learns the true meaning of courage, and two hearts meant to be together finally become one.










Possession: A Novel of the Fallen Angels Hardcover


#1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward explores what really happens when good and evil toy with humanity in her new novel of the Fallen Angels, as the salvation of a doomed soul depends once again on a crossroads.

When Cait Douglass resolves to get over her broken heart, throw off her inhibitions, and start really living, she’s unprepared for the two sensual men who cross her path. Torn between them, she doesn’t know which to choose--or what kind of dire consequences could follow.

Jim Heron, fallen angel and reluctant savior, is ahead in the war, but he puts everything at risk when he seeks to make a deal with the devil--literally. As yet another soul is unwittingly caught in the battle between him and the demon Devina, his fixation on an innocent trapped in Hell threatens to sidetrack him from his sacred duty.

Can good still prevail if true love makes a savior weak? And will a woman’s future be the key, or the curse, for all of humanity? Only time, and hearts, will tell.










Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles) Hardcover

In this seductive follow-up to Poison Princess, #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole takes us deeper into the dark world of the Arcana Chronicles.

Shocking secrets

Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who’ve been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It’s kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

Unexpected allies

With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.

Gut-wrenching treachery

When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can’t remember — but Death can’t forget.









Autumn Bones: Agent of Hel Hardcover

New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Carey returns to the curious Midwest tourist community where normal and paranormal worlds co-exist — however tenuously — under the watchful eye of a female hellspawn.

Fathered by an incubus, raised by a mortal mother, and liaison to the Pemkowet Police Department, Daisy Johanssen pulled the community together after a summer tragedy befell the resort town she calls home. Things are back to normal — as normal as it gets for a town famous for its supernatural tourism, and presided over by the reclusive Norse goddess Hel.

Not only has Daisy now gained respect as Hel’s enforcer, she’s dating Sinclair Palmer, a nice, seemingly normal human guy. Not too shabby for the daughter of a demon. Unfortunately, Sinclair has a secret. And it’s a big one.

He’s descended from Obeah sorcerers and they want him back. If he doesn’t return to Jamaica to take up his rightful role in the family, they’ll unleash spirit magic that could have dire consequences for the town. It’s Daisy’s job to stop it, and she’s going to need a lot of help. But time is running out, the dead are growing restless, and one mistake could cost Daisy everything.




 




Lucia in Love Hardcover 

If Lucia Lorenzo hadn't been so exhausted, she would have realized that the person already occupying the bed wasn't her cousin Dina but someone decidedly masculine: Ryan Dandridge, the man she had been trying, unsuccessfully, to forget.

Little did she realize when she woke up next to Ryan that her troubles were just beginning. For one thing, her entire wacky family was on hand, and nothing was ever easy when they were around. For another, someone seemed to be stalking her -- with dangerous intentions. In fact, the more she thought about it, having Ryan re-enter her life might very well be the best thing that could have happened!











Gilt Trip (A Scrapbooking Mystery) Hardcover

Louisiana businessman Jerry Earl Leland served only a fraction of his five-year sentence for white-collar crime, thanks to some political connections and a few greased palms. But he won’t have long to enjoy his freedom.

After Jerry Earl’s early release, his wife, Margo — a much-married Garden District doyenne — throws an extravagant Get Out of Jail Free Party, complete with a Zydeco band, champagne ice luge, and waiters in ties and tails. The guest list includes many prominent New Orleans socialites, as well as scrapbook shop owner Carmela Bertrand and her best friend, Ava Gruiex. But sometime during the swirl of partying and drinking, Jerry Earl is brutally murdered — then stuffed inside a clothes dryer.

Carmela has earned a reputation around town for solving murders, and when the grieving widow turns to her for help, she can’t say no. But Jerry Earl took a lot of people to the cleaners with his underhanded business tactics, so Carmela’s going to be hard-pressed to identify which of his enemies was steamed enough to kill him. As she sorts through Jerry Earl’s dirty laundry, she needs to collar the killer before another victim is set to tumble dry.

Scrapbooking Tips and Recipes Included!

Manga:


 







Black Bird, Vol. 17 Paperback

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.









Devil and Her Love Song, Vol. 11 (A Devil and Her Love Song) Paperback

A moving coming-of-age story that showcases a fierce, dynamic heroine who speaks her mind.

Meet Maria Kawai—she’s gorgeous and whip-smart, a girl who seems to have it all. But when she unleashes her sharp tongue, it’s no wonder some consider her to be the very devil! Maria’s difficult ways even get her kicked out of an elite school, but this particular fall may actually turn out to be her saving grace...

Maria finally gets to be with her beloved Shin, but her mysterious inabiilty to speak continues to haunt her. Because the cause may be related to her past, she decides to go to Yokosuka, the town she grew up in. What life-changing surprises await her there?

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











Sakura Hime: The Legend of Princess Sakura , Vol. 11 Paperback

A supernatural fantasy from the bestselling creator of Full Moon and The Gentlemen’s Alliance

Sakura is the granddaughter of a mysterious moon princess who slew demons with her Blood Cherry Blossom sword. All her life Sakura has been forbidden to look at the full moon without knowing why. Then one night, unhappy over her impending marriage, Sakura gazes up at the moon, only to see a demon attacking her...

Kohaku follows Hayate into the woods and finds him there with Rurijo. Enju also witnesses the clandestine meeting and confronts Rurijo about her betrayal. Rurijo, now abandoned by Enju, vows to kill Princess Sakura...

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










Dawn of the Arcana, Vol. 11 Paperback

A New York Times’ bestseller with gorgeous, eye-catching art and a romantic storyline that’s addicting to read.

Princess Nakaba of Senan is forced to marry Prince Caesar of the enemy country Belquat, tantamount to becoming a hostage. While Caesar is pleasing to the eye, he is also selfish and possessive, telling Nakaba outright: “You are my property.” With only her attendant Loki at her side, Nakaba must find a way to cope with her hostile surroundings, her fake marriage...and a mysterious power!

Princess Nakaba of Senan and Prince Caesar of Belquat only married each other for the sake of peace between their two warring countries, yet the two find themselves drawn to each other. As political forces threaten to tear their world apart, and with Caesar’s departure to Belquat, the couple separates. Now Nakaba must navigate the treacherous court of Senan by herself, including deciding how to handle her new husband, Prince Adel! Will Nakaba be able to use her Arcana of Time power to take control of Senan?

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









Happy Marriage?!, Vol. 2 Paperback

A working-girl romance

In order to help her father, Chiwa Takanashi agrees to an arranged marriage with the company president, Hokuto Mamiya — a man she doesn’t know — at the request of Hokuto’s grandfather. Chiwa believes the arrangement isn’t binding, but her new partner seems to think otherwise. Can two strangers living together find their way to a happy marriage?!

Chiwa Takanashi has married a total stranger — company president Hokuto Mamiya — to get her father out of debt. Hokuto has pledged fidelity to her, but then the tabloids break the news of him dating a famous actress. Though Hokuto has denied having an affair, Chiwa starts confiding her worries to Yu Yagami, a handsome new company recruit. Is the contract they signed the only thing holding their marriage together?

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences.











Voice Over!: Seiyu Academy, Vol. 1 Paperback

A new series by the author of the best-selling S•A!

Hime Kino’s dream is to one day do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely?Blazer anime, and getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy’s voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime’s gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. Hime will not let that stand unchallenged. She’ll show everyone that she is too a voice acting princess, whether they like it or not!!

To make matters worse, Sakura’s grouchy son, Senri, is in Hime’s class, and he seems determined to stomp on her dreams. He even has the nerve to call Lovely? Blazer stupid! But Hime won’t be deterred by naysayers, her new nickname (“Gorilla Princess”), or even getting demoted to the Stragglers group. She’s ready to shine, and nothing is going to stand in her way!

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




Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Manga Review: Happy Marriage, Vol. 1 (Paperback)



I've finished reading "Happy Marriage Vol. 1" by Maki Enjoji.

In order to help her father, Chiwa Takanashi agrees to an arranged marriage with the company president, Hokuto Mamiya — a man she doesn’t know — at the request of Hokuto’s grandfather.

Chiwa believes the arrangement isn’t binding, but her new partner seems to think otherwise. Can two strangers living together find their way to a happy marriage?

Reads R to L (Japanese Style) for mature audiences. 

Product Details
Series: Happy Marriage (Book 1)
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (August 6, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142155934X
ISBN-13: 978-1421559346


About the Author

Maki Enjoji was born on December 8 in Tokyo. She made her debut with Fu Junai (Wicked Pure Love). She currently works with Petit Comics. Happy Marrige?! is her fourth series.

My Review:

Finally a more mature shojo manga with adult characters and not in high school. 

Chiwa Takanashi has agreed to marry Hokuto Mamiya the president of the company she works for at the request of his grandfather to help her father.  Her father is in debt because he trusts the wrong people and he is bilked out of his money.  She is currently working part-time as a hostess but is fired when she throws Hokuto's drink in his face.

She learns her father has an agreement with the local Yakuza and she agrees to do anything for them.  She wants to save the family home and the leader agrees only if she is willing to sell her body, etc.  Hokuto happens to arrive at that moment and promises to help her out if she agrees to remain married to him.

I was laughing at the situations these two likeable characters found themselves in.  It's hilarious when they have misunderstandings and then they fight. 

4/5

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me this manga to review, greatly appreciated!

New Releases 2013 (Sept 24)



 







New Releases






The Night Is Forever (Krewe of Hunters) Mass Market Paperback

A Ghost Rider in the Sky?

What happened here, on a historic ranch outside Nashville, during the Civil War? And what's happening now?


Olivia Gordon works at the Horse Farm, a facility that assists patients with mental and physical recovery; her specialty is animal therapy. She's always loved her job, always felt safe until now.

People are dying, starting with the facility's founder, whose body is discovered in a ravine on the property — site of a massacre in 1862. And before every death, Liv sees a horse and rider, wearing a soldier's garb, in the night sky.  Warning? Omen? Or clue?

Liv calls in her cousin Malachi and his Krewe, an FBI unit of paranormal investigators, to discover the truth. New Krewe member Dustin Blake knows they need Liv's involvement in the case, yet he's worried about her safety. Because he and Liv quickly become more than colleagues and he doesn't want to lose her to the endless night.








The Stranger You Know (Forensic Instincts) Hardcover

It begins with a chilling phone call to Casey Woods. And ends with another girl dead.

College-age girls with long red hair. Brutally murdered, they're posed like victims in a film noir. Each crime scene is eerily similar to the twisted fantasy of a serial offender now serving thirty years to life — a criminal brought to justice with the help of Forensic Instincts.

Call. Kill. Repeat. But the similarities are more than one psychopath's desire to outdo another. As more red-haired victims are added to the body count, it becomes clear that each one has been chosen because of a unique connection to Casey — a connection that grows closer and closer to her.

Now the Forensic Instincts team must race to uncover the identity of a serial killer before his ever-tightening circle of death closes in on Casey as the ultimate target. As the stalker methodically moves in on his prey, his actions make one thing clear: he knows everything about Casey. And Casey realizes that this psychopathic won't stop until he makes sure she's dead.








The Good Sister Mass Market Paperback

In New York Times bestselling authorWendy Corsi Staub's electrifying new thriller,a mother races to save her daughter beforeher darkest nightmare comes true.

Sacred Sisters Catholic girls' school has hardly changed since Jen Archer was a student. Jen hoped her older daughter would thrive here. Instead, shy, studious Carley becomes the target of vicious bullies. But the real danger at Sacred Sisters goes much deeper.

The only person Carley can talk to is "Angel," a kindred spirit she met online. Carley tells Angel everything — about her younger sister, about school, about the sudden death of her former best friend. Angel is her lifeline. And Angel is closer than she knows.

When another schoolgirl is found dead, Jen's unease grows. There are too many coincidences, too many links to her past. Every instinct tells her that Carley is the next target. For someone is intent on punishing the guilty, teaching the ultimate lesson in how to fear and how to die.









Fatal Strike Paperback

Lara Kirk lives in a shadowy world where reality and fantasy are one. Her captors have poisoned her body with concoctions that enhance psychic abilities - and they seem to be working. To escape, Lara has formed a deep attachment with a man whose virile, sensual presence in her mind is her only comfort. She's not even sure if he's real - until the six-foot-five-inch powerhouse bursts in to rescue her.

Once freed, Lara has no choice but to trust Miles with her life as they run from enemies too twisted to imagine. But they're also fighting a dangerous attraction that could kill - or save - them both. Either way, it's going to be a hell of a ride.


 







Going Once (Forces of Nature) Mass Market Paperback

From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala comes a story of reignited passion set amidst a town reeling from disaster and the long shadow of a killer.

As raging floodwaters engulf her Louisiana hometown Nola Landry is stranded on high ground, the unwitting witness to the brutal murder of three fellow survivors. Finally rescued in the aftermath of the storm, no one is willing to believe a story as horrific as hers — until three FBI agents arrive on the scene one of whom Nola knows very well.

Tate Benton has been tracking the so-called Stormchaser serial killer for months, never expecting the trail might lead him home, or to the woman he cannot forget. Home is now a ravaged town full of memories — of love, of disappointment, of past mistakes. The investigation brings Nola back into his life. Long-buried feelings resurface, and the former lovers try to pick up the pieces in the wake of the disaster.

Amid the relief effort the killer lingers, determined to silence Nola forever. In the Stormchaser's twisted mind the pain is far from over and hers is just beginning.











Getting Rowdy (Hqn) Mass Market Paperback

An alpha hero's attraction to the one woman he can't have could draw him into a killer's snare in the sizzling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster .

Charismatic bar owner Rowdy Yates isn't the kind of man women say no to. So when he approaches waitress Avery Mullins, he fully expects to get her number. However, the elusive beauty has her reasons for keeping her distance — including a past that might come back to haunt them both.

Avery spends her nights working for tips and trying to forget the secret Rowdy is determined to unearth. But when history threatens to repeat itself, Avery grows to rely on Rowdy's protective presence. As the sparks between them ignite, she will be forced to choose between the security she's finally found and the passion she's always wanted.












Captain's Paradise: A Novel Mass Market Paperback

In this alluring novel of romantic suspense from New York Times bestselling author Kay Hooper, two lost souls face their demons—and forge a connection as profound as the ocean is deep.

When Robin Stuart is pulled, drenched and shivering, from the stormy seas, she can only cling desperately to the arms that surround her. But she has reason to suspect that she’s traded one terror for another. Robin has been too close to danger not to recognize it again: in the eyes of the rugged, fearless man who saved her life.

Michael Siran is an expert at playing dangerous games. But from the moment the terrified beauty with the piercing gaze sets foot on his ship, he’s touched by a true sense of purpose. Throwing caution to the wind, Robin insists on remaining by his side — even though she is asking the world of a man who trusts no one. As they share a passion born in turmoil and fueled by peril, Michael is determined to give her everything — if he can only make her understand that even heroes are human, and that her courage runs as deep as his love.











One Lucky Vampire: An Argeneau Novel Mass Market Paperback

No one does wickedly funny and irresistibly steamy like New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands — especially in this red-hot romance between a reluctant vampire and the beauty who needs his help.

Luck be a vampire tonight


When Nicole Phillips agreed to hire a housekeeper, she pictured someone a little frumpy and almost certainly female. Instead, she gets gorgeous, unmistakably male Jake Colson. The man is proving indispensable in the kitchen — and everywhere else. Except Jake might not be a mortal man at all.

and every night

Who wouldn't want to be a tall, dark, powerful vampire? Jake, for one. He's barely had time to adjust to his newstate before he's roped into a family favor. Still, secretly playing bodyguard to sweet, sexy Nicole is turning out to be the wildest ride of his life. First, he'll put a stop to whoever's targeting her. Then he'll prove that this kind of love, and luck, happens only once in an eternity.












Through the Zombie Glass (The White Rabbit Chronicles) Hardcover

Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Sadly, they've got mine.

Alice Bell has lost so much. Family. Friends. A home. She thought she had nothing else to give. She was wrong.


After a new zombie attack, strange things begin to happen to her. Mirrors come to life, and the whispers of the dead assault her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things.

She's never needed her team of zombie slayers more, but ultra bad-boy Cole Holland, the leader and her boyfriend, suddenly withdraws from her from everyone. Now, with her best friend Kat at her side, Ali must kill the zombies, uncover Cole's secret and learn to fight the darkness.

But the clock is ticking and if she fails at a single task, they're all doomed.

THE WHITE RABBIT CHRONICLES

I've lost so much.

A dear friend.

My new home.

My purpose. My pride.

And it's my fault. I can blame no one else.

I and I alone let the darkness in.











Bound by Night (The Moonbound Clan Vampires) Mass Market Paperback

Larissa Ione’s bestselling Demonica series has captivated fans with its sensual blend of dark passion and demonic fury. Now she takes you to another intoxicating world— where a dangerous clan of wild vampires rules the night.

A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD


Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories — along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most.

A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE

A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation — a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch or bury him forever.










Chasing the Shadows: Nikki and Michael Book 3 Mass Market Paperback

A QUESTION OF LUST

Nikki James is in San Francisco at the request of her partner and best friend, Jake. The wife of an old friend is missing, and Jake intends to find her — whatever the cost. The authorities believe the kidnappings to be the work of a sick mind, but Nikki knows that the truth is something much worse — especially since she seems to have an unexpected psychic link to the killer. But as always, she is more than willing to risk her own life to save another’s.

For Michael Kelly, Nikki’s bravado is a source of endless terror. He wants nothing more than to make Nikki a permanent part of his life, but he knows that her quest is sure to get her killed. As they chase through the sewers and tunnels of San Francisco and the body count begins to rise, Michael badgers her to stay off the case, but Nikki has no intention of complying. She wants him to realize that she’s either a full partner in his life or she’s out. But nothing prepares her for the price she has to pay for her stubbornness — the life of someone she loves.

Includes an excerpt of the next novel in Keri Arthur’s Nikki and Michael series, Kiss the Night Goodbye









Shadow's Curse Mass Market Paperback

Can the magic of desire defeat the powers of darkness?

Forced by her half brother to use her dark gift of necromancy for profit, lovely Callista Hawthorne is determined to flee to her one chance for safety, her aunt in Scotland. With no hope of success unless she finds help on the long road north, she offers cursed shapechanger David St. Leger an irresistible bargain.

David — one of the mysterious Imnada — stalks the night streets of Regency London as a large black wolf. Renounced by his own kind, he spends his desperate rage on thieves and murderers. While Callista’s proposal will allow him to escape the terrible enchantment binding him, agreeing to her terms will force him into the treacherous world of the half-Fey Other, his clan’s ancient foes.

Drawn together by danger, David and Callista find passion in each other’s arms. But can they forswear the centuries of enmity separating their two races, and find a love they dare not even imagine?

Manga:









The Betrayal Knows My Name, Vol. 6 Paperback

When Shuusei and Tooko drop off the radar while on a special mission to Kyoto, concern for their safety reaches a fever pitch at Twilight Hall. While preparing to rush to their rescue, Yuki and company are relieved to hear word that Tooko has been found. Still, with no word from Shuusei, a party heads to Kyoto to locate their ally. But while they're away, the suspicious deaths around the city are confirmed to be the work of the Duras. Will the remaining Zweilt be able to confront the enemy and save the innocent with their forces so severely depleted?!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Weekly Book Reads (Sept 23)



 Weekly Book Reads


Weekly Book Reads is a weekly Monday Meme that is hosted by Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews:

Post the books read last week and books you plan on finishing this week.

Read Last Week:

1.  Leopard's Prey - Christine Feehan
2.  Declan's Cross - Carla Neggers
3.  A Custom-Fit Crime - Melissa Bourbon
4.  Happy Marriage Vol. 1 - Maki Enjoji

Weekly Book Reading:

1.  Deadline - Sandra Brown
2.  Styxx - Sherrilyn Kenyon
3.  Kitchen Princess Omnibus Vol. 4 - Natsumi Ando
4.  The Betrayal Knows My Name Vol. 6 - Hotaru Odagiri

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Library Haul 2013 (Sept 22 - 28)




Library Haul


Here's the list of books/manga/manhwa/yaoi manga I picked up this week at the library:

Hardcover:

1.  Treme: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of New Orleans - Lolis Eric Elie

Softcover:

1.  DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Egypt
2.  DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Caribbean

Manga:

1.  Kitchen Princess Omnibus Vol. 4 - Miyuki Kobayashi

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Bunny Express Saturday 2013 (Sept 21)


Bunny Express Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received this in the mail this week.

For Review:










Gone (Michael Bennett) Hardcover

A crime lord has declared war on America. Only Detective Michael Bennett knows why.


Manuel Perrine doesn't fear anyone or anything. A charismatic and ruthless leader, Perrine slaughters rivals as effortlessly as he wears his trademark white linen suit. Detective Michael Bennett once managed to put Perrine behind bars, the only official in the US ever to accomplish that. But now Perrine is out, and he has sworn to find and kill Bennett and everyone dear to him.

Detective Bennett, along with his ten adopted children, their nanny, and his grandfather, are hidden safely on a rural California farm, with guards courtesy of the FBI's witness protection program. Perrine begins to embark on an escalating series of assassinations across the country, killings whose brazenness and audacity bring into question the possibility of safety and law in the US. The FBI has no choice but to ask Detective Bennett to risk it all in Perrine's war on America.

With explosive action and fierce villainy that rivals James Bond movies at their best, GONE is the next astounding novel by James Patterson.









Something Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery Hardcover


Gloria French was a jolly widow with dyed blonde hair, a raucous laugh and rosy cheeks. When she first moved from London to the charming Cotswolds hills, she was heartily welcomed. She seemed a do-gooder par excellence, raising funds for the church and caring for the elderly. But she had a nasty habit of borrowing things and not giving them back, just small things, a teapot here, a set of silverware there. So it's quite the shock when she is found dead, murdered by a poisoned bottle of elderberry wine. Afraid the murder will be a blight on the small town, Parish councillor, Jerry Tarrant, hires private detective Agatha Raisin to track down the murderer. But the village is secretive and the residents resent Agatha's investigation. Of course that doesn't stop the ever-persistent Agatha from investigating and sticking her nose where no one wants it — especially as the suspect list grows. And, as if it isn't enough that Agatha's ex has reentered the picture, the murderer is now targeting Agatha!










Always on My Mind (A Lucky Harbor Novel) Mass Market Paperback

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING

After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle.

No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?









The Blooding of Jack Absolute: A Novel Paperback

London, 1759: Life is easy for Jack Absolute, a dashing young man, loved by the ladies and envied by his schoolmates. With a place secured in college at Cambridge and a baronetcy at hand, his future seems bright. But one night of revelry destroys Jack's fortune instantly, and he is forced to seek a new fate in the dangerous New World during the ruthless French and Indian War. There, amid hostile Indians, fierce colonial rivalries, and the brutal wilds of North America, he struggles for something far more vital than riches: his survival. But to survive, Jack must be blooded for life. He must learn to kill.

The gripping prequel in C.C. Humphreys's riveting historical series, The Blooding of Jack Absolute tracks the stunning transformation of a young dreamer into a daring, larger-than-life hero.

Manga:










The Betrayal Knows My Name, Vol. 6 Paperback

When Shuusei and Tooko drop off the radar while on a special mission to Kyoto, concern for their safety reaches a fever pitch at Twilight Hall. While preparing to rush to their rescue, Yuki and company are relieved to hear word that Tooko has been found. Still, with no word from Shuusei, a party heads to Kyoto to locate their ally. But while they're away, the suspicious deaths around the city are confirmed to be the work of the Duras. Will the remaining Zweilt be able to confront the enemy and save the innocent with their forces so severely depleted?!











Are You Alice?, Vol. 2 Paperback

The Duke -- a warped mass that collects the scraps of Wonderland--goes berserk in the town square, not far from where Alice and Hatter have traveled on an errand. In his frenzied state, the Duke wants nothing more than to have Alice all to himself. But when an overconfident Alice decides to ignore Hatter's commands and give the Duke what he wants, little does Alice expect to wind up in the belly of the beast!

Manhwa:







Very! Very! Sweet, Vol. 3 (v. 3) Paperback

Thanks in no small part to Be-Ri, Tsuyoshi is just getting settled in his new life in Korea. But now that Erica's on the scene, Tsuyoshi's decision to use Korea as a "fresh start" is becoming more and more difficult, especially when she announces she'll be joining his class at school. For Be-Ri, the only thing worse than watching Erica's shameless affection from the back seat of a car is having to watch it every day from her new seat behind Erica and Tsuyoshi. But what's this? Is Erica crying? Seems there's trouble in paradise, but Be-Ri's got troubles of her own when Mu-Hyuk's surprise kiss turns her insides to knots.









Very! Very! Sweet, Vol. 6 Paperback

Per his grandfather's instructions, Tsuyoshi has secured a Korean girlfriend but he's got the wrong girl! The old man will settle for nothing short of Be-Ri, but even a cushy cat tower can't woo her back to Tsuyoshi's side.  What about a genuine confession? With the painful realization that Tsuyoshi's affections will never favor her again, Erica decides to give up the chase. Now there's no reason for her to remain in Korea, is there? Unless she's already set her sights on a new quarry!









Goong, Vol. 13: The Royal Palace Paperback

As Prince Shin and Chae-Kyung carry on separate lives away from each other in the aftermath of their divorce, the schemes and manipulation continue behind their backs! When the pair meet by chance at an orphanage, the fireworks go off just as the political factions (to say nothing of the conniving Yul) intended. Chae-Kyung's outright rejection of Shin leads the Crown Prince to go running into the arms of his ex-girlfriend, Hyo-Rin -- and propose to her a second time?

Thanks Hachette Book Group Canada/Yen Press and Sourcebooks and St. Martin's Press!
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