Manhwa Review: My Boyfriend is a Vampire, vol. 1-2 [Paperback]

I've finished "My Boyfriend is a Vampire" Ominus Vols. 1 - 2" by Han Yu-Rang.
Product Description

Vampires like you’ve never seen before in this 320 page genderbender shoujo comedy.

My Boyfriend is a Vampire is an all new shoujo comedy series in the vein of Vampire Knight, presented in two-volumes-in-one omnibus format. Seven Seas will release the entire angsty series across seven low-priced omnibus editions.

Being beautiful is never easy, especially if you’re an eighteen year old boy like Ryu who is constantly mistaken for a girl because of his delicate good looks. Ryu is, in fact, anything but delicate. He is the ringleader of a group of tough kids in an all boy’s school, and he’s quick to beat the living daylights out of anyone who even hints that he resembles a girl.

If that wasn’t hard enough for a regular teenage guy to cope with, his life is about to take a shocking turn for the worse. When Ryu stumbles upon strange happenings in the forest, he gets sucked into a world of vampire intrigue and sinister romance that he never knew existed. And he learns that there are worse things than being turned into a vampire: being turned into a girl?!

About the Author

Han Yu-Rang, the author/artist of My Boyfriend is a Vampire, is a prolific Korean comics creator whose works focus on shoujo themes.

Product Details
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Seven Seas; First Edition edition (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1935934112
ISBN-13: 978-1935934110

My Review:


In Vol. 1 when we first met Ryu we see him staggering and stumbling around dripping blood when he finally collapses.  People are staring at him when finally a group of friends check on him and realize he is dead with no heartbeat.  They call the police and when they arrive Ryu suddenly rises up and runs home.  He takes a shower when he realizes he has turned into a girl and freaks out.

In Vol. 2 we find out what happened to Ryu and the circumstances that lead up to that night (he was bitten by a vampire).  We learn a little backstory when Ryu was young and he used to be beaten up by bullies because they thought he was a girl.  He was rescued Sang Yang who paid for his tae-kwon do classes to teach him to protect himself.  In the present day we find out that Ryu is the chief of the local gang and that is how he meet Rei Parks his first in command.  Rei tells him there is a serial killer killing teen age girls near a popular hangout and other gang members are being beaten up.

His friend Sang ask Ryu to pretend to be his girlfriend to help him get rid of a persistent suitor.  She wants to proof that Ryu and Sang are together or else she will steal him away.  This part was very funny because Ryu put on a wig and even kissed Sang because he was all worked up.

We are also introduced to important vampire characters and a legend about a vampire and a human women.

I was laughing every time Ryu got hit on and his reaction to the situations (he loves to beat up people who mistake him for a girl and he would start stripping by taking off his T-shirt to prove he's a guy).

I highly recommend this gender bending comedy manhwa if you like vampires with personalities and try to kill each other.

4/5

Thanks Seven Seas for sending me this manhwa to review, greatly appreciated!

Library Haul 2011 (Oct 23 - 29)

Here's the book list I picked up from the library this week:

Softcover:

1. Heart of Evil - Heather Graham
2. Sacred Evil - Heather Graham
3. Kill Me Again - Maggie Shayne
4. In Seconds - Brenda Novak
5. Home at Last Chance - Hope Ramsay
6. Love Me Forever - Rosemary Laurey

Manga:

1. Alice in the Country of Hearts Vol. 4 - QuinRose

What books or manga did you pick up from the library this week?

RS Review: Night After Night [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Night After Night" the 2nd book in her Reliance Group series by Janelle Denison.

Product Description

USA Today bestselling author Janelle Denison turns up the heat in her latest novel about the men of The Reliance Group, who mix business and pleasure with reckless abandon . . .

WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS . . .

The son of a con-artist, Sean O'Brien learned the hard way that living by your own rules comes with a price.  After a brief time behind bars, Sean is now ready to live an honest life, and pay for his past mistakes.  But even his gorgeous face and seductive charms can't make up for his prison record . . . until a member of The Reliance Group sees Sean's potential for good and gives him a job at the Onyx Casino.

WILL KEEP THEM COMING BACK FOR MORE . . .

Zoe Russo has met all types of men on the Vegas strip.  But when Sean pays a visit to her casino boutique, she knows she's in luck.  They share an immediate, irresistible attraction, and for the first time in her life she's found a man she thinks she can trust.  But when Zoe stumbles onto the truth about Sean and his reasons for persuing her, she can't help but question his feelings for her.  Is he for real, or has she been a fool for love?  Until now, nothing has prepared her for the thrill, and risk, of gambling on love.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312372280
ISBN-13: 978-0312372286

My Review:

Sean O'Brien works for the Reliance Group as a bartender in a Casino.  Caleb Roux assigns Sean the job of investigating Grant Russo who bilked millions of money from investors in a money scam including Sean's father.  His father is in jail serving a 12 yr. sentence resembling the Ponzi scheme.

Sean comes up with idea the easiest way to their target is to seduce his daughter Zoe to extract information. There is an instant attraction between the two when they first lay eyes on each other and soon Sean feels guilty about his deception.  He's fallen for Zoe but will she trust him once she finds out the truth?

When she learns about Sean's deception she agrees to help the Reliance Group to prove her father's innocence and to go on her way and have nothing more to do with Sean.  During their adventure Zoe falls in love with Sean.

This second book in the Reliance Group series is very fast paced and high octave action with two very likeable main characters.  The love scenes are very steamy.

5/5

Other Books in Series:

1. Into the Night
2. Through the Night (Mar 27, 2012)

Thanks St. Martin's Press for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

In the Mail Saturday 2011 (Oct 22)

In the Mail Saturday is hosted every Saturday at Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews.

I received this in the mail this week.

Manga:

AI Ore! Love Me!, Vol. 3 [Paperback]

Product Description
Reads R to L (Japanese Style). 

Mizuki is the female "prince" of her all-girls school and the lead guitarist in an all-girl rock band. Akira is the male "princess" of his all-boys school and wants to join her band. Love may be on his mind, but romance is difficult when everyone keeps mistaking Mizuki for a boy and Akira for a girl!

Blaue Rosen is bumped from a gig because Yuya wants his own band to perform instead. Mizuki and her bandmates protest, and Yuya decides he’ll let the all-girl band play — but only if he gets a date with Akira!

Product Details
Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (November 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1421538407
ISBN-13: 978-1421538402

Thanks Simon and Schuster Canada!


What did you get in your mail this week?

ARC Review: The Goblin King [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "The Goblin King" by Shona Husk.

Product Description

Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

About the Author

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Drawing on history, myth, and imagination, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold – sometimes literally.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402259859
ISBN-13: 978-1402259852

My Review:

Roan is cursed to lived in the Shadowlands and known as the Goblin King.  He has a human heart and cursed to love everything gold.  He's slowly losing his sanity to become one of the goblins he hates with a passion!  When he meets Eliza he feels something he's not used to and will she be his salvation?

Eliza is in a terrible situation and she calls on the Goblin King to help her get out of it.  He takes her to the Shadowlands and plans on keeping her and making her his Queen.  Will she accept?  When she was a teenager he came to her rescue.

This book is a dark and sinister adult telling of a bleak and dismal place which I really enjoyed reading about.  The author did a good job of creating and describing a place no one would want to live in.

Dai was an interesting character with his sarcastic wit and we have something in common our love of books.

4/5

Thanks Sourcebooks for sending me this ARC to review, greatly appreciated!

Book Blogger Hop #21

This Meme is hosted by Jennifer from Crazy for Books on Fridays. 

RULES:

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

1.  Before you add your link, you must post about the Hop on your blog and link directly back to THIS POST (not just my domain, but the direct post for the Hop).  The linky is going to review the link that you enter in your submission, looking for a link to this post on your blog.  If it doesn’t find one, your link will not be approved.  This is called back linking and I had to institute it because people were taking advantage of the Hop and getting some free advertising without promoting the Hop themselves.  You can read more about this here.

2. While you are creating your post, answer the following question (there’s a new prompt each week)!

“What is your favorite type of candy?”

My favorite candies are Mr. Big, Oh Henry, Kit Kat, Crispy Crunch, Caramel, M and M's and Smarties. 

3. Now it’s time to enter your blog link into the linky below (after the list of instructions!).

Follow My Blog Friday #70

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 > 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 Can Read on Fridays.

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

1. Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {Parajunkee.com} {Alisoncanread.com}and any one else you want to follow on the list.

2. Follow our Featured Bloggers - Book Savy Babe and The Bursting Bookshelf.

3. Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing.

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

5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can

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

7. If your new to the Follow Friday Hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!

The Friday Follow Feature is ...

Book Savvy Babe

 

I am Heather, I am a 28 year old mom. I have 2 small boys, aged 6 and 3, and they keep me busy. While I always loved reading, I started really reading a lot a few years ago when I was stuck at home with the babies. After joining online book clubs and meeting other book lovers, I started blogging too. I live in Southern California, near a bunch of wineries, so I love wine tasting! Reading a good book and enjoying a glass of vino is my favorite thing.I read a variety of genres, but most of the time, I prefer paranormal books. My current favorite book is Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning. I am trying to read the Midnight Breed series by Lara Adrian right now, in between review books. I never imagined how much fun book blogging could be, and in the last 6 months that I have been blogging, I have grown to love it!

 

The Bursting Bookshelf

I am a bookaholic whose friends got tired of hearing about my latest read. I decided to make a book blog to get my bookish opinions out there for other book lovers to read and the ball just got rolling from there. I mainly read YA fiction, and my favorite books are by far the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games series. Currently I am hooked to dystopian books and I try and read as many of them as possible.

Q.What superhero is your alter-ego?

I have never been much into superheroes but I admire Bella from J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series.

18 and Over Book Blogger #11

18 and Over Book Blogger Follow is a weekly feature that begins on Fridays and runs through the weekend hosted by Crystal from Reading Between the Wines and Kelly at Secrets of a Book Lover.

The 18 Over Book Blogger Follow is a Friday blog hop with the objective to find and visit other book blogs that share the same interest as you, namely books geared towards the 18 and over crowd, and make new friends!

How to join in:

You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 &  Over adult reads should be your majority.

Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.

Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.

List and answer the ‘Question of the Week.’

Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post

Visit the other blogs on the list. If you like what you see make sure to leave a comment and follow so the blog owner knows you stopped by and can return the favor. Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. It’s always nice to spread the 18 and Over Book Blog love!

Question of the Week:

What authors do you stalk regularly?


I stalk a lot of authors both in paranormal and mystery/thriller and romantic suspense genres!


Carla Neggers, Catherine Coulter, Charlaine Harris, Gena Showalter, Iris Johansen, Jacquelyn Frank, Jeaniene Frost, John Sandford, J.R. Ward, Kelley Armstrong, Kerrelyn Sparks, Kim Harrison, Lara Adrian, Laurell K. Hamilton, Linda Howard, Lisa Jackson, Sherrilyn Kenyon, etc.

RS Review: Stay Hungry [Mass Market Paperback)

I've finished "Stay Hungry" the 3rd book in her Bounty Hunter series by Lorie O'Clare.

Product Description

One of the best manhunters in the business, Jake King usually chases fugitives on the run. But now he’s been hired to protect a beautiful private eye who’s flirting with danger. Her name is Angela, and the last thing she wants is hired muscle getting in the way of her investigation. But this time she’s so deep undercover, she could use all the muscle she can get her hands on …

Jake agrees to play by Angela’s rules — and lay low while she gets close to one of the deadliest crime lords to have entered the States. But the closer Angela gets to her target, the closer she feels to Jake. As her bodyguard, he has more than just a professional interest in her body — and he’ll do anything to keep her safe.

But Angela is playing a dangerous game with a criminal mastermind who can make any woman his slave. And she could be next …

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition edition (October 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312372183
ISBN-13: 978-0312372187

My Review

After retiring from LAPD, Greg King opened up King Fugitive Apprehension with his wife and his two sons Marc and Jake.

James Huxtable who is a Chicago based private investigator arrives in Los Angeles to hire KFA to protect his undercover partner who happens to be his daughter Angela from Mario Mandela a vile game player and the slave juice drug. Jake met Angela in Mexico on a previous case (see Get Lucky) and he agrees to protect Angela.  Undercover as Angela Torres she's playing a very dangerous game with Mandela who wants to make her his slave.

This book continues the storyline of The Game and slave juice with tons of action, two very interesting main characters with family helping them along the way and a dangerous and scary villain.

4/5

Other Books in Series:


1. Play Dirty
2. Get Lucky

Thanks St. Martin's Press for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

ARC Review: Unleashed (Amoveo Legacy) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Unleashed the 1st book in her Amoveo Legacy series by Sara Humphreys.

Product Description

What if you suddenly discovered your own powers were beyond anything you'd ever imagined ...

Samantha Logan's childhood home had always been a haven, but everything changed while she was away.

She has a gorgeous new neighbor, Malcolm, who introduces her to the amazing world of the dream-walking, shapeshifting Amoveo clans ... but what leaves her reeling with disbelief is when he tells her she's one of them

And shock turns to terror as Samantha falls prey to the deadly enemy determined to destroy the Amoveo, and the only chance she has to come into her true powers is to trust in Malcolm to show her the way ...

About the Author

Unleashed is Sara's first published novel and the first book in The Amoveo Legend series. Sara is a graduate of Marist College, with a B.A. in English Literature & Theater. Her initial path after college was a professional actress. Some of her television credits include, A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns, and Rescue Me. For the past several years Sara has been a professional public speaker and speaker trainer. Her career began with Monster's Making It Count programs, speaking in high schools and colleges around the United States to thousands of students. For the past several years, Sara has worked with the College of Westchester in New York as the director of high school and community relations.

Sara has been a lover of both paranormal and romance novels for years. Her science fiction/fantasy/romance obsession began years ago with the TV series Star Trek and an enormous crush on Captain Kirk. That sci-fi obsession soon evolved into the love of vampires, ghosts, werewolves, and of course, shapeshifters. Sara is married to her college sweetheart, Will. They live in Bronxville, New York, with their four boys, two dopey dogs, and an extremely loud bird. Life is busy, but never dull.

Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (October 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402258437
ISBN-13: 978-1402258435

My Review:

When Samantha fails as an artist in New York she decides to move back home and live with her Nonie.  Her ex-boyfriend Roger accosts her and then something happens and he runs screaming.

When she arrives home she notices Malcolm her dreamy next door neighbor.  Soon he is explaining to her about her heritage that she is part Amoveo a race of shapeshifters.  She's the last of the Wolf clan and she can turn into a black wolf.  She's also his mate!  She doesn't believe him at first but as she witnesses strange happens she starts to believe.

Malcolm is the last of the Eagle clan and he has waited for Samantha to come back home.  He has always known she was his fated Mate since they have connected in their dreams.  He needs to bond with her because without his mate he is slowly losing his powers.

We also learn of the Caedo family who have hunted the Amoveo since the end of time and were the ones who killed Samantha's parents in cold blood.

I really liked how Malcolm was patient with Samantha to accept her heritage and as his mate.  Glad he didn't force the issue and he took her feelings in consideration.

Loved learning about the Amoveo legend and I can't wait till Untouched comes out next year!

4/5

Other Books in Series:


1. Untouched (April 1, 2012)

Thanks Sourcebooks for sending this ARC to me for review, greatly appreciated!