Published under Aurora’s LuvLuv imprint, Love for Dessert is a compilation of six stories, each of which culminates in a steamy situation. The stories range widely in terms of quality, though nearly all start out decently enough. Some even try to incorporate plot elements other than sex, like parental relationship problems or learning not to change oneself just to suit a guy. … [Read more...] about Love for Dessert by Hana Aoi: C+
A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George: C+
From the back cover: Award-winning author Elizabeth George gives us an early glimpse into the lives of Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James, and Lady Helen Clyde in a superlative mystery that is also a fascinating inquiry into the crimes of the heart. Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton, has brought to Howenstow, his family home, the … [Read more...] about A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George: C+
Ghost Hunt 9 by Fuyumi Ono and Shiho Inada: B
From the back cover: The ghost hunters' new case has turned deadly. Naru, the leader of Shibuya Psychic Research, is under a dark spell. When Naru awakens, he foolishly decides to take on an evil spirit alone. Now he faces a life-or-death struggle! Review: Thankfully, this volume was an improvement over the last one, and has convinced me that I can buy the volumes I'm … [Read more...] about Ghost Hunt 9 by Fuyumi Ono and Shiho Inada: B
The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton and Jun Asuga: C
When first I spotted this slim volume in the manga section of a chain bookstore in town, I assumed it was an OEL media tie-in from TOKYOPOP, like Legends of the Dark Crystal or Return to Labyrinth. Closer inspection, however, reveals that it actually is Japanese, published by Kodansha in 2004. I’m a little surprised to see that Disney Press did not flip the art or translate … [Read more...] about The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton and Jun Asuga: C
A Definitive Guide to Ghost Hunt
When Mai Takiyama breaks an expensive camera belonging to ghost hunter Kazuya Shibuya, he tells her she can work off the debt by acting as his assistant. Thus, Mai is introduced to a world of spirits, curses, and exorcisms as well as Kazuya’s arsenal of gadgetry used to scientifically measure paranormal activity. To start with, most of the spirit activity the Shibuya Psychic … [Read more...] about A Definitive Guide to Ghost Hunt