Yo Babies!
How the heck is everyone? Did you have a nice week last week? Mine was pretty good. I was under the weather on Thurs, Fri and most of Saturday so that sucked but I’m all better now.
My dad had to go to the Cardiologist last week because he wasn’t feeling well. He ended up having 4 angioplasty with stent procedures. He had 5 blockages in his heart but they were all in the same artery ( they didn’t do the 5th because it was very old and not a problem). It was very scary but he came through with flying colors and he is already up and around. For a 75 year old man he has more energy than I do! 🙂
I want to put an apology out there to a fellow blogger. She was nice enough to give me a blog award and email me to let me know. I went to the site but didn’t have time to comment. Uh, I accidentally deleted the email when I got a little delete happy and I can’t remember the site, the blogger’s name or the name of the award. I suck! So thank you so much to whoever it was that gave it to me – it really is appreciated! And if anyone knows who this is (it happened about a week ago) please let me know.
Have you all heard about Boobquake? Unfreakinbelievable. Unfortunately I just heard about it this morning so didn’t get a chance to dress provocatively (not that my work would have allowed it) but it just cracks me up anyway. Check it out.
Ok – On to what I read this past week:
First up was One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland. This is one I read for The Book Binge and you can read my review here. This was another time travel novel . 3.75 out of 5
Next up was Leave Me Breathless by HelenKay Dimon. HelenKay was nice enough to give me a signed copy when I met her in February and the book somehow made it on to may “already been read” shelf. When I was looking for a book to lend to my mom I found it and was horrified that I hadn’t read it yet. Sorry HelenKay! That being said…I think this has to be my favorite of her books that I’ve read so far. The story followed a judge who was being stalked and his female bodyguard. They eventually gave into their lust for each other despite her bosses protestations. Her boss was the judges brother and he himself was in love with yet another judge. The problem here was that both brothers were completely emotionally unavailable and it made for some good reading. You can read Lori’s review – which pretty much covers my thoughts to a T. 4 out of 5
My Tracy’s TBR Challenge read/DIK Challenge read/FTSP read for the week was Ride the Fire by Pamela Clare. I’ll be posting my review of this one on Thursday.
I’m in an m/m group on Goodreads and every month they have a pick it challenge. So that means that someone got to pick a book for me and I got to pick a book for someone else. The person who got to pick for me chose Tempestuous by Morgan Hawke. This was a fantasy yaoi novel where Rusty was almost killed when he was a senior in high school. A kitsune saved his life. After the incident Rusty made a fox mask and put all of his energy into the mask. Because of this he’s practically dying. Shiro, the kitsune who saved him finally finds Rusty many years later and claims him and takes him to where the Shiro lives, in an alternate universe. It was a good story, but not great for me. I didn’t particularly care for either of the men so it made it difficult to love it. The story, though it had some things not all tied up was ok. 3 out of 5
Witch Vamp Were? by Anne Douglas was another of my FTSP reads. A continuation of of the Huntingdawn pack series this books covered the story of Shaun, Rob and Jak. Shaun is bound and determined to find out if more paranormals live than just were-beings. She quickly gets to know her grandmother many times over – cuz she’s a ghost and Jak who is a vamp and friend of Huntingdawn pack alpha, Rob. But both men soon discover that Shaun is mate to both of them and the three of them are the next portion to the prophecy that was discovered in Accidentally Were?. This was a cute book but I felt my self slightly dissatisfied at the end. Yes, all 3 of the main characters were living together at the end of the book and had all agreed to be mates but there was no talk of love. Yes, it’s an erotic book but I still was wishing for their HEA. The story also left things blatantly wide open for the next book in the series which kind of rubbed me the wrong way. But the menage sex was very hot as were Rob and Jak. There was a m/m fantasy that Shaun has which I expected to come to life with Rob and Jak but it never went there. Bummer. lol 3.5 out of 5
This brought me to Saturday where I decided to catch up on my manga reading for the yaoi swap so I could get all the books out to the other people patiently waiting for them. I ended up have a yaoi marathon and about O.D.’d on boy love…
First was the Steal Moon books (vols. 1 & 2) which were sci-fi novels. Street fighter Nozomi loses a fight to Coyote and agrees to be his servant. Coyote sells him to “Digital Angels” where anyone can see them on the internet. Only this is just a cover for Coyote and his cohort Hermes are trying to get computers activated with Nozomi’s DNA. Second book was better than the first. Sci-fi’s not really my thing but the story was pretty good along with the graphics. Volume 1 – 3.5 out of 5…volume 2 3.75 out of 5
Next up was Blue Sheep Reverie volumes 1 & 2 by the same author as Steal Moon, Makoto Tateno. This was the story of Kai who was in love with a woman, Maria, but she was murdered. He didn’t see the murderer but she had a ring that looked like a blue sheep’s eye. He sees the same ring on the head of the Sarte group, Lahti, via television and decides to get into the group to kill the man who he thinks killed his woman. But things are not what they seem and Lahti and Kai end up together. This had good graphics like the Steal Moon books but the story felt unfinished. I liked the first one much better than the first. These two character also show up in Steal Moon. Volume 1 4 out of 5…volume 3.75 out of 5
Next was Desire by Maki Kazumi. This was about a total playboy, Ryoji, who gets turned on by his best friend Toru. Toru is in love with Ryoji but not about to spew his feelings for fear of rejection. Ryoji gets Toru to agree to have sex with him to see how it is. Huge misunderstanding between the two but Ryoji comes through for his friend in the end. I didn’t love the story. I thought Ryoji was a jerk and Toru could have done better for himself. And why, in so many yaoi novels or mangas, does the uke hate sex and they’re constantly telling the seme to stop which the seme doesn’t do? But yet the uke keeps having sex with the seme even though it hurts and they hate it? I just don’t get why that’s a near constant in these books. 3 out of 5
Next was Ichigenme: The First Class is Civil Law volumes 1 & 2 by Fumi Yoshinaga. I really liked these books. They told the story of rich, gay Tohdou and Tamiya who become friends during a seminar at law school. Tamiya does not like women but says he’s not gay. Tohdou loves Tamiya and is determined to be with him. It’s a very sweet story and I enjoyed it and the graphics a lot. 4 out of 5 for both volumes.Some of my reviews for The Book Binge posted this week. (the link to the Kurland title that posted is above)
Hide Out by Katie Allen (using this review as part of my m/m challenge as well)
Happy Reading!
Wow, you did Manga binge.
But yet the uke keeps having sex with the seme even though it hurts and they hate it?
I agree, I find that whole trope of either a) you love the person so much you put up with painful sex to be with them or b) you lie about liking it for some unknown reason, annoying. I prefer it when at least eventually they both seem to love it and prefer when it happens right off the bat. LOL
Totally with Tam on that trope. UGH.
I didn't like Tempestuous that much, although I did really like Torrid by Morgan Hawke, which has a similar yaoi style to it.
Oh! I am glad you are feeling better and your dad is doing well!
Tam – I'm so glad I'm not the only one. It's crazy.
Chris – I'll have to try one of her other titles – probably Torrid now that you've mentioned it – thanks. 🙂
And thanks for the well wishes from my dad. 🙂
Okay I can't comment on your reading b/c quite frankly it puts me to shame!
I am glad however, that your father is doing well. My mom had MAJOR heart surgery a year ago Feb. When she went back for a check up they told her it look as if her heart had never suffered from anything!!!! So I understand the scare and relief!
Hope you have another fantastic week!
Hope you father is doing better!!! Sounds pretty scary!! My sister was just in the hospital for a month and so I totally understand!
Glad to hear both you and your Dad is doing better.
You sure did get a lot of reading done. I've only read Tempestuous and it was ok.
I am glad to hear that all is well finally with both you and your dad honey!!! My prayers and thoughts still go out to you and your dad!
Wow, those are some books you got there honey!
Hugs to you!!
I have Tempestuous in my TBR pile. I really liked Torrid by the same author.
Yeah, the whole 'hurting sex' thing in yaoi, does nothing for me, either.
Ichigenme sounds very cool. I like Yaoi, I do!!
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I hope both you & your Dad are feeling better Tracy!
I ended up have a yaoi marathon and about O.D.'d on boy love…
It is possible to OD on boy love? And I'm glad you like the Ichigenme books. It was so nice to finally contribute some books to the swap!
Sarai – That's what I like to hear! I did work in a Cardiac Rehab unit in the early 90's so I'm familiar with the procedures so I wasn't completely freaked out but it's still nerve wracking to have one of your parents going through it. I'm happy to hear your mom is A-ok!
LoR – Thanks! It is hard to have a family member not well. Hopefully your sister is better.
Lily – Thank you. Yeah, Tempestuous was just kind of odd and now that I think about it I know exactly when I got completely turned off. It was when Shiro mentioned that eventually they would add a woman to the pair. Nope, shouldn't have gone there! lol Even though it didn't happen in the book it soured it for me somewhat.
Cecile – Thank you for your prayers! He's much better now. 🙂
Jenre – And the hurting sex is in almost all of them. Really? Does it happen that often?
Sarah – I really liked Ichigenme. Yes, the uke was denying that he was gay but it just was done well.
Orannia – Thank you!
No, I don't really think I could have od'd. I probably could have read more since I was on a roll! lol
The Ichigenme was a great choice – thanks for adding it to the swap!
Glad your dad is doing well 🙂
Wow, great list. I agree with Tam's comment as well.
I just finished reading my first yaoi series called Love Boy and enjoyed it. Looking into some others. Found some great sites that have scanned versions so do not have to track them down at the library. They have the Ichigenme one, so I am off to check it out. great reviews.
oh lordy – overload on Yaoi..
I am scribbling in my little black book as fast as I can write..
I read leave me breathless and loved it – Loved Mark and Emma story more to be honest..
E.H>
Kris – Lover Boy, I'll have to check that out.
EH – Now I have to go find Mark and Emma's story! lol Thanks, I think. 🙂