Lorcan's Desire [A Whispering Pines Ranch Novel, #1] (review)

Lorcan's Desire by S.J.D. Peterson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This series has a great start; with a set of strong characters and an emotionally packed storyline. While I was surprised at what happens w/the MCs, I think it actually works out well. It wasn't an HEA and maybe not even HFN b/c I think Lorcan's and Quinn's feelings were not tied in a perfect bow; even though the choices, Lorcan's anyway, were settled, his feelings for Quinn weren't.



Lorcan's a great character, he's unpretentious and open with his emotions. Quinn on the other hand, knows who he is but prefers to hide it to keep his town's acceptance and approval, it's the hardest battle he fights within himself. He realizes too late that his decision will be the cause of pain and heartbreak, not just for himself but Lorcan as well. Jess by far, is my favorite character (along with Conner, he's just so wonderfully awesome!). I love the way he loves, and how easy going and truly kind he is-he just makes me want to cuddle him. His openness and devotion to Lorcan was just beautiful.



For me this was a story of Lorcan's discovery and learning; he discovers the truth about himself, but he also learns that loving someone sometimes isn't about what your heart wants, but what it needs. Now I can't wait to read what lessons are in store for Quinn.



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Wes & Toren (review)

Wes and Toren by J.M. Colail

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The first thing that came to mind as I read this book was the Only the Ring Finger Knows novels. The author's writing style reminded me so much of mangaka Satoru Kannagi and her way with words, it brought back a beautiful memory-Only the Ring Finger Knows (graphic manga) was the first boys love novel I ever read and the impact of Yuichi's and Wataru's sweet relationship is how I became a Huge Yaoi fan; from there I delved deeper until finally I started reading m/m and gay fiction, and so now here I am.



Synopsis:

Wes, the popular bad boy, and Toren, the shy introvert, are two young men hiding their sexuality; until they meet each other. Working on a project together gives them the opportunity to get to know each other and Toren works hard at hiding his attraction to Wes, who doesn't fall for it-the more courageous of them both, Wes is willing to keep quiet about their relationship. Toren is afraid of being ridiculed at school but that's not his only fear, he is also scared of his family's reaction-due to a past event that hurt his family and his relationship with his father, Toren is especially fearful of his mother's reaction.



This is a sweet and poignant story that shows the purity of first love, and the hardships that come with it. Toren matures and grows strong in his love for Wes; and Wes through his love for Toren finds the strength to move on without his parent's support and acceptance.





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That Was Good (review)

That Was Good by CJ Michalski

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


****That Was Good! & More, Please! & I'd Love Some...: Hiroto is a convenience store clerk. On one particular afternoon while having his lunch break at the park, a little boy (Mamoru) approaches him; as he shares his home made lunch with Mamoru, the child's father shows up calling after him. It turns out that Suguru-an international pilot, surprised by Mamoru's obvious enjoyment of Hiroto's meal, is in need of a live-in housekeeper and asks Hiroto if he'll take the job. Suguru soon finds himself fantasizing about Hiroto, while Mamoru warns Hiroto not to fall in love with his father as that was the reason the previous housekeepers had to leave! But feelings are revealed after a situation places Suguru's life in danger.



In More, Please! & I'd Love Some...Hiroto, Mamoru, and Suguru are happy living together when a surpise visit by Suguru's brother pulls their peaceful life into emotional chaos. Hiroto-afraid that his relationship with Suguru will end if others were to find out-asks Suguru to pretend he's just the help; Suguru, doesn't intend to hide it but he fears Hiroto might leave b/c he's never made their relationship official. After a terrible misunderstanding, Shuu-Suguru's brother-fires Hiroto. With no place to go, Hiroto ends up 'living' at a net cafe trying desperately to find work; but with no home address, his situation is grim. Meanwhile, Shuu is trying to take over Mamoru's care, but Mamoru is heartbroken over Hiroto's departure and won't eat. In a desperate effort to find Hiroto, Mamoru runs away from home; this gives Suguru the chance to set everything right.



I had been on the lookout for this particular manga ever since I read That Was Good! online, it was a treat to find out that there was the additional stories More, Please! & I'd Love Some...While I really love this story about Hiroto and Suguru, it's Mamoru who stands out for me. Mamoru is an extremely adorable character, and his love for Hiroto...and his food, is really cute. When he cried over Hiroto, it about made me cry. I'm glad that I can finally add this title to my collection!



***I Love That Part of You & Do You Love This Part of Me! Youhei is the most popular boy in school, there is no end to the girls who line up to have sex with him. But when he bumps into Takumi and sees him without his glasses, it's a case of love at first sight for Youhei. Yet his declaration of love is rejected because Takumi is an otaku who's only interested in 2-D Love. Youhei now has to become part of the world of otaku if he wants to win his Takumi's heart, using any means necessary-even cosplaying as Vampire Knight, Takumi's all time favorite character and his ideal man.



***Even If I Must Sacrifice Myself...Riku's twin sister Miku plans to elope with a man who is arranged to be married to someone else solely for the benefit of his family's company. In a case of mistaken identity, Kazuya-Shinji's older brother-takes Riku when he steps out of his sister's apartment. Riku pretends to be Miku in order to give his sister and Shinji enough time to run away. He only has to keep up the charade until after Shinji's engagement party-the morning Miku and Shinji will run away together; but as that day approaches, he wonders what will happen now that his fallen in love with Kazuya.



****You Love Sausage, Right? A funny short with Mamoru, Hiroto, and Suguru about Suguru's & Hiroto's *eating sausage* in bed. ;)



Although these shorts are basically 'love at first sight' stories, they were enjoyable and a fun way to pass the time. I like Michalski's work, but her penchant for drawing boyish (almost shota-ish) faces in her ukes sometimes makes me uncomfortable-but I was happy this wasn't the case with Hiroto and Riku, with Takumi maybe just hitting the mark.





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Reads of the Week 5/29/11-6/4/11

Dreamlands [Dreamlands #1] (review)

Dreamlands by Felicitas Ivey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The author's writing style was so fluid that I was midway through the book before I realized it. She gives you a look into the beauty and violence of ancient Japan in the setting of this story, the Dreamlands.

Keno is a bright young man that due to a careless mistake is kept captive in a covert government agency that deals with the monsters and we're not talking about werewolves and vampires here, but oni (demons). Badly mistreated he finds a freedom of sorts when he ends up in the Dreamlands where he meets Samojirou-an oni. Their relationship grows slowly but steadily and is threatened when Keno's captors find their way into the Dreamlands intent on its destruction.



There is mentions of violence and abuse but although there is mild petting there is no actual intercourse between the main characters which, for me at least, enriches their relationship making it a real love story. It brings to the forefront that sometimes true evil wears a human face and that just because it looks like a monster doesn't mean it has the heart of one.







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The Desert Prince (review)

The Desert Prince by Shushushu Sakurai

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


****The Desert Prince: Zaeek, also referred to as The Desert Prince has always felt disillusioned with life; that there's something missing. Pressured to marry, he escapes to the desert where after a mishap with his camel, he meets Haruto. Haruto is an archeology student on a search for 'The Desert Rose'. He comes upon Zaeek, offering him water and bread. Zaeek moved by Haruto's kindness decides to make him his bride. Haruto manages to escape, but his supposed happiness is temporary...because his prince has traveled a long way to get back his bride to be.



Okay, this is my favorite merely because I'm a sucker for Sheikh stories. I liked that Zaeek is so over the top, going to extremes to prove his love for Haruto. Haruto is just overwhelmed; trying to deal with Zaeek's overzealous and fiery overtures, but he's a sweet and down to earth kind of guy.



****Spoiled Hero, Shining Knife & Howling Crook, Cherry Blossom Blizzard: These 2 shorts are a combination of old fashioned Yakuza traditions with a modern gangster flair. The sex scenes are very hot and raunchy, with a sexy guy wearing a fundoshi as a bonus (slurp).



Nuinosuke is a 19yr. old who is to become the successor of the Ootsuka Clan and Ryuhei is the temporary leader and Nuino's current guardian. Ryuhei is doggedly tenacious in his protection of Nuino; there is no limit to what lengths he'll go to, to keep him safe. Nuino believes he'll get some freedom-and out of Ryuhei's watchful eye-now that he's going to be attending school. But a rival clan has his eye on Ryuhei, so now Nuino has to show Ryuhei where he really belongs.



***Hold My Soul: This is a tender story about a man trying to repay a kindness. Shoichi is a 27yr. old freelance systems engineer. He gets a surprise when a salesman-Tanaka-tries to sell him a roll away bed. After hearing the exhorbitant price, he agrees to pay it-if Tanaka takes care of the household chores, then sewing his shirts, preparing his meals and satisfying his sexual needs. Soichi starts wondering why Tanaka would go along with it, even go so far as not to take the payment for the items that he continues to bring to Shoichi's apartment. Tanaka suddenly disappears after Shoichi saves him from a dangerous situation at work. Now Shoichi's memory of a childhood friend is the key to realizing who Tanaka is.



***Mister Y's Lover: This story is really nice and sort of comical in a cute sort of way. It's a May-Dec. romance involving Takahiro, an older man in a relationship with Jesse, a young foreigner, who tutored Takahiro. The first story is a flashback of how they met; while the second is about their anniversary and Takahiro's reticence in giving himself fully to Jesse.



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Love Syndrome (review)

Love Syndrome by Yura Miyazawa

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The overall collection of stories were both fun and sweet; all pure fluff with no major angst or drama. I really loved the illustrations; my favorite was It Always Starts Suddenly.



****It Always Starts Suddenly: Serizawa and Shinoda have been friends since childhood. So when Serizawa's apt. gets flooded, he asks Shinoda if he can stay at his place for awhile. Shinoda agrees...naming 3 conditions; no going into his study, no answering the phone, and greet him with a good morning kiss! Serizawa agrees, but each time they are disrupted just when he's about to go through with it. Serizawa finally realizes the motive behind Shinoda's strange request when the time comes for him to go back to his apt.



***Be Happy: Suzumu is a high school student, he moves into the dorms where Rinri-his roommate, is already settled in. Rinri is a guy who appears unable to take care of himself, so Suzumu-elder brother to 5 sister-starts looking after him. His feelings begin to change and fearing that Rinri might be too innocent to understand those feelings; he starts pulling away, not realizing that Rinri has felt the same way all along.



***Shackled by a Promise, Part I & II: Ritsu and Kazuma have been friends for a long time, but Kazuma has been in love with Ritsu for 10yrs. Each time he tries to confess, he's held back by a promise they both made when they were children. Yet he realizes that he might be running out of time, when he finds out Ritsu made a bet with a friend...for who might be the first to find a girlfriend during vacation.



***Unchanging Emotions, Unchanging Wishes: Chihiro and Yukito are stepbrothers, separated when their parents divorced. Years later, Yukito returns to live with Chihiro and his father. But Chihiro doesn't know how to hide the fact that he has more than 'brotherly' feelings towards Yukito.



****Endless Loop, an It Always Starts Suddenly Extra: Shinoda has convinced Serizawa to move in with him.



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