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”

Deadville
Written by Ron Koertge
Published by Candlewick Press
ISBN10: 0763635804
ISBN13: 9780763635800

Review by Linda Yau

Ever since his younger sister died of cancer two years earlier, Ryan has sleepwalked through his life. He hangs out with his slacker-stoner drug dealing friend, Andy, listening to music, and rebels against his yuppie-ish Middle aged parents. Everything changes though when popular High school senior Charlotte Silano has an accident and is in a coma at the hospital.
» Continue reading “Book Review: Deadville”

Black Lagoon: Vol. 1
Art and Story by Rei Hiroe
Published by Viz Media
ISBN10: 142151382x
ISBN13: 9781421513829

Review by Linda Yau

Rokuro Okajima is an ordinary Japanese salaryman, with an ordinary life. He certainly didn’t expect to be held hostage by three mercenaries. Still it was this experience, that led him to joining the ship of Black Lagoon. The purpose of Black Lagoon is to delivery cargo for the Russian mafia group, Hotel Moscow. This had led them to be at odds with the other crime factors in the Southeast Asian seas. Follow the beginning of this exciting series with equally violent gunfights and physical action.
» Continue reading “Manga Review: Black Lagoon Vol. 1″

Stop Bullying Me!
Story and Art: Natsuho Shino
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-591-7
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-591-9

Review by Kris

Teasing the one you like is nothing new, at least if you are in elementary school. Bullying the one you like, that’s a different story. I find the title Stop Bullying Me! to be a little misleading. When I think of bullying I think of overly large boys threatening smaller kids for lunch money and stuff. In this story the “bullying” looks more like teasing to me.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Stop Bullying Me!”

Romantic Illusions
Story and Art by Riichi Hiiro
Published by: Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN10: 1569705771
ISBN13: 9781569705773

Review by Linda Yau

Yu as a shy part time florist has about three issues in his life that he wants to move past. One of them is to not be an eternal masturbator. Two is to handle his growing feelings for Sugo, a regular customer at the flower shop. Three is dealing with Ryo: a avid street-walking playboy, and Kaname: a cool-headed defense attorney. One major problem though, they all share the same body. » Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Romantic Illusions”

Sounds of Love vol. 1
Story and Art: Rin Tanaka
Published by the Luv Luv Press Imprint of Aurora Publishing, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1934496375
ISBN-13: 978-1934496374

Review by Kris

If music be the food of love, play on

We are all familiar with this line from William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (yet how many people do you know keep their Complete Works of William Shakespeare handy? Just me?). In Sounds of Love vol. 1 music and love weave a beautiful symphony. Kazune is the manager of up and coming pianist Kyoichiro Haneda. But Kazune is more than Kyoichiro’s manager; she’s also his girlfriend. Kyoichiro is hotheaded and passionate. When he plays it’s like he’s making love to the audience. Because he puts so much emotion into his playing he is quite frisky after his performances. Kazune is also a pianist but her style is very different from Kyoichiro’s. She seems to put everyone to sleep. It’s because her style is calming and flowing, like water.
» Continue reading “Josei Review: Sounds of Love vol. 1″

Junior Escort
Story and Art: Sakurako Hanafubuki
Published by the Juné Imprint of Digital Manga, Inc.
ISBN-10: 1-56970-597-6
ISBN-13: 978-1-56970-597-1

Review by Kris

Initially, I thought that Junior Escort was just another book of one-shots that Juné is releasing. Yet there will be more Junior Escort titles coming out in the next year. Which stories will be continued? It beats me!

Mizuhara. He’s the hottest face in Japan right now. You see him on ad posters, in television commercials, even acting in television series. Ayukawa works for the same talent agency that Mizuhara does. One night after partying, Ayu (the name he’s known by) is the person chosen to take a hammered Mizuhara home. It seems that Mizuhara has fallen for Ayu. Ayu isn’t too sure about his feelings because he’s been a Mizuhara fanboy. A deal is struck between his boss and himself to continue seeing Mizuhara. If Mizuhara stays happy then there is a possibility for more projects for Ayu. There seems to be danger on the horizon for Ayu
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Junior Escort”

Seize The Night
Written by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks Imprint of Macmillan
ISBN10: 0312992432
ISBN13: 9780312992439

Review by Linda Yau

In a world that reminds me of various vampire series, Seize The Night is book seven in Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. This book features Tabitha Deveraux, a human who lives in New Orleans and owns a sex shop. By night, she is a experienced hunter of vampires and Damions.
» Continue reading “Book Review: Seize The Night”

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 Kris

Here we have yet another one-shot collection. This time it is in a Deux Press release. Koreaki Kamuro-sensei has created Hanky Panky for our enjoyment.

The first tale, Hanky Panky, is about Manaka. Manaka is a college student but he’s living a double life. At night he goes by Itsuki and he and his cousin run a hot host club. To hide his identity he plays up the nerd role during the day. There is one student who treats him with contempt, Masanari Doi. While he and his cousin are interviewing prospective new hosts the last person Itsuki (night name, remember?) wants to see applies for the position. It’s Masanari Doi. Now Itsuki has to worry about keeping his identity hidden from this man who shows interest in him.
» Continue reading “Yaoi Review: Hanky Panky”

The Elephant in the Room: Sharing The Secrets For Pursuing Real Financial Success
Written by Ed Baker
Published by First Command
ISBN10: 0979365414
ISBN13: 9780979365416

Review by Linda Yau

The numbers sound kinda scary, but as the introduction states, 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. With the current economy, this is a book to read if there is concern for the necessity to save.
» Continue reading “Book Review: The Elephant in the Room”

J LHLS Reviews are still here. Well, now it’s an archive site.