Review: Everything East of the Sumida River by Kaneyoshi Shikaku & Heiko Shihenki

Reviewed by SinChan
Everything East of the Sumida River by Kaneyoshi Shikaku & Heiko Shihenki
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 344pgs
5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Japanese businessman Takamatsu Masamune takes great pride in the empire he built from nothing. His shady past and connections to the underworld prove he has no problems getting his hands dirty, but his fondness for beautiful things gets him into trouble.

Captivating Naoya Tashimo performs as a traditional dancer in sordid underground clubs. While he loves to dance, other men viewing him as an erotic object has left him numb. Caught in a summer storm, Naoya seeks shelter inside a local import shop where company owner Takamatsu and his PA, Koji, are attending to some business. Immediately smitten, Takamatsu woos Naoya and wants to give him the world.

When they learn each other’s secrets, it tests the tenuous trust they’ve built. Takamatsu wants to own Naoya for himself. Having dealt with greedy, possessive men, Naoya turns his back on all that Takamatsu offers. In exchange to truly have what he wants, can Takamatsu give up everything he built?

Review
Takamatsu is a rich businessman with an import/export empire in Tokyo after traveling the Western world. When a rare beauty, Denka, walks into his store, Takamatsu is immediately taken with him. Denka's traditionalist family pressures him with dancing and entertaining guests until he threatens to break. Takamatsu tries to win Denka over and give him hope to live freely out of his mother's influence. However, negotiations with Denka’s mother for Denka’s freedom stall when they threaten his business empire.

Denka is a geisha and all his services are managed by his mother. Patrons can buy him for an evening and his earnings go to his mother. He's tired of false words and selling illusions, but his mother cares too much about money and power to let him go. When his mother pressures him to con Takamatsu into buying him an expensive kimono, that kimono becomes a symbol of trust in Takamatsu for Denka. I really enjoy the struggle of how Denka copes as a geisha living around drunken patrons and trying to live as a normal teenager. His relationship with Takamatsu is like a patron-geisha relationship that deepens into something Takamatsu would risk everything for. They don't say "I love you" but it's clear their feelings run deep.

I'm super envious of Takamatsu for having a PA like Koji. Koji almost seem superhuman when he caters to Takamatsu's whims and completes his duty to perfection. However, his services seem to come at a price and it's interesting to see the dynamic between Takamatsu and Koji when Takamatsu is not the "master." I like how each characters have their eccentricities. Takamatsu seems like a gentleman and doesn't take advantage of Denka but he has his own secrets too.

This novel is a build up of several intricate layers of plots and written with a very Japanese feel to the story. It's fitting for the story with its atypical contemporary romance and political/economical intrigue. The novel has beautiful language and descriptions of clothing that are almost too poetic for the novel. The story line moves subtly and may seem confusing, since the dynamics between key political players aren't clear and a lot of business dealing happens behind the scenes. Even now, I still don't quite understand what happened beyond the romance. However, as a romance novel, this is a great work that offers a very different vibe from other contemporary romance novels.

5 Pants Off

Review: After the First Taste of Love by Talon Rihai & Salome Wilde

After The First Taste of Love by Talon Rihai & Salome Wilde
Storm Moon Press
Novella: 120pgs
3.75 Pants Off

Blurb:
In high school, Nick Torres and Angelo del Valle were inseparable, outsiders who found strength in friendship. The bond between the gay, mixed-race teens turned isolation into brotherhood. Overachieving loner Angelo became "big bro," looking out for cocky, mischievous "little bro" Nick. But everything changed when Nick fell in love and moved away. Angelo tried to be happy for his dear friend, seeking solace in his college studies and a lonely string of one night stands.

Then, one late night two years later, Angelo's phone rings. Nick is back in town, and he needs his big bro's help. Nick's dream life has become a nightmare, and he's come to the one person he could always trust for shelter. But when Nick looks to Angelo for more than brotherly affection, Angelo is left to wonder if Nick's feelings are genuine or an effect of his trauma. And if those feelings are genuine, Angelo must then decide if his own feelings for Nick have grown into something deeper as well.

Review:
Angelo gets a phone call from the best friend he lost 2 years previous, all in the name of Love. Him and Nick go way back, they were each other rock during the tough times and laughed together during the good; they were brothers. Now the sudden call Angelo gets to come pick Nick up at a Greyhound station, Angelo knows something is wrong. It's confirmed when he sees Nick for the first time after so long, he's not the same vibrant man that left him 2 years ago. There's only one explanation for the pain all over Nicks face, and the Skittishness in his body, the signs of abuse are as clear as day.

Angelo always knew that Nick's boyfriend Barrett was bad news, but it's too late for "I told you so''. Angelo wants to know everything that has happened to Nick, the bruises tell a rough tale but Angelo wants answers but he doesn’t voice them. He's just glad to have Nick back and he plans to keep him this time. The men fall back into their easy friendship, and its as if they never parted but suddenly that friendship is turning into more, and the men wonder was this attraction/love always there or did it tae Nick leaving for them to realize it.

For the first 10% of this book I was in tears, so caught up I was in Nick's pain and the abuse he suffered for so long it really brought up personal memories. I believe the authors captured that timidity in Nick, his fear, and still providing him with lots of personality. I am just no too happy about the physical/intimate relationship the men start (it felt too rushed). Better pacing would have made me like their coming together more, though it’s obvious that they always belonged together.

I also liked that Angelo never pressed with "why didn't you just leave and come to me or your family". It's almost never that easy, and with abuse, the emotional part of it can be devastating. Nick is a product of that, and Angelo spends his time trying to build him up. I am just so in love with the diversity in this book, talk about a cultural experience. Both MCs are of mixed race and man...that’s just a beautiful thing.

Overall, I liked it but the middle dragged on. The first 20% of the book was excellent and the rest was alright, I understand the need to set a lighter tone but I feel many issues were avoided. I feel like Nick didn't talk enough and so assumptions were made, all pretty much avoidable. Regardless, I liked the guys and really enjoyed reading this book.

Should You Read It? I really think you should; there is a lot to like in this one. The multiculturalism is a plus, and there is some mention of yaoi (my bias). I am looking forward to more from the authors, and that cover is another win from SMP.

Review: The Last Concubine by Catt Ford

The Last Concubine by Catt Ford
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 220pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
When Princess Lan’xiu’s brother delivers her under duress into General Hüi-Wei’s harem as a political offering, her only question is how soon her secret will be discovered. She is under no illusions: when the general discovers she is actually a he, death is his only future—though he doesn’t plan to make it easy. Lan’xiu has dressed as a woman all his life, but he is no damsel in distress. He can swing a sword with the best of them.

General Hüi-Wei has everything a man could want: power, wealth, success on the battlefield, and a harem of concubines. At first, he regards Lan’xiu with suspicion, but he finds himself strangely drawn to her. When he discovers the beautiful young woman is actually a man, his first reaction is to draw his sword. Rather than waste such beauty, he decides to enjoy the spirited Lan’xiu’s submission—and ignites a passion and desire deeper than anything he’s felt with other wives. But court intrigue, political ambitions, and the general's doubts may be too much for their love to overcome.

A Timeless Dreams title: While reaction to same-sex relationships throughout time and across cultures has not always been positive, these stories celebrate M/M love in a manner that may address, minimize, or ignore historical stigma.

Review:
For those of you know who know me, knows that I love multiculturalism in books and I love Asians. This book had it in awesomeness, and I loved every freaking minute of reading it. However, not perfect I still loved it. This was my very first time reading Catt Ford, and it will not be my last. I enjoyed the writing, the flow, but most of all enjoyed the characters.

Princess Lan’Xiu has just been delivered to General Hui-Wei as a gift from her brother. The sentiment might seem kind enough but her brother is vile, and he has just guaranteed her death. Because though she might be beauty personified, Lan has a secret, and that secret could cost her, her life. Lan is a man but has lived his entire life as a woman. A plan once meant to protect her will now lead to her demise when the general comes to bed her.

Lan is taken to General’s Harem, where she would now be the seventh wife aka his last concubine. Hui only accepted Lan because he knows her brother is up to something, and he is wanting to get to bottom of whatever plan they have cooking. Though, from the first moment he saw the princess he has been filled with want. When he finally decides to bed her, Hui is faced with the surprise of a hard dick instead of women parts.

It’s not very hard to guess what happens next, but I was very much disappointed with it all. I wanted more anger from Hui. So he didn’t want to kill him, but he could have broken some furniture or set fire to the house with a lantern. I just wanted an authentic upset, for a warrior I could not accept him being deceived to go so smoothly. I also did not enjoy the quick jump into “You’re mine, and I’m yours”. Don’t get me wrong, love the possessive stuff but the pacing for this one was off and happened way too soon.

The story then moves to how life for Lan is, living in a harem, and the constant scrutiny from servants. Moreover, he is moving to an established home filled with other wives. The wives accept Lan with open arms except for one who brings the crazy. Seriously, she really brings the crazy but Lan is a princess you do not trifle with. I enjoyed all the characters; they are so colourful that there is a favourite to be found among all. I loved Lan and his eunuch they brought the funny. I loved Hui and Lan together they brought the sexy. I also enjoyed the wives; they had a friendship and lived like a family.

I loved the look at old China, the Qing Dynast. I could clearly see all the jewels, the descriptions of the cheongsams and hanfus, and I had no trouble picturing the beauty of the women. I am also wondering how nobody noticed the lack of breasts in Lan, I get the women aren't especially large but no breast in a cheongsam is kinda noticeable, and there was no talk of stuffing (just saying).

Overall, I really enjoyed the story even with all the faults. It was entertaining where it needed to be and I really enjoyed the ending. I liked the contrast between beauty and strength, and I could go into some gender stuff but that would be another few pages. Some readers may have a problem with Lan being referred to as female most of the time, but it didn’t bother me, I was always reminded he was male. So yes, I loved the book and recommend it to those looking to read something historical and sexy as feck.

SideNote- When a books has fancy names it should come with a glossary for pronunciation. Otherwise, I am calling them all kinds of fancy shit :D

4.5 Pants Off

Dirty Kiss by Rhys Ford

Dirty Kiss (A Cole McGinnis Mystery #1) by Rhys Ford
Dreamspinner Press

Novel: 230pgs

Rating: 4.5/5

Blurb:
Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, ex-cop and PI, is trying to get over the shooting death of his lover when a supposedly routine investigation lands in his lap. Investigating the apparent suicide of a prominent Korean businessman’s son proves to be anything but ordinary, especially when it introduces Cole to the dead man’s handsome cousin, Kim Jae-Min.

Jae-Min’s cousin had a dirty little secret, the kind that Cole has been familiar with all his life and that Jae-Min is still hiding from his family. The investigation leads Cole from tasteful mansions to seedy lover’s trysts to Dirty Kiss, the place where the rich and discreet go to indulge in desires their traditional-minded families would rather know nothing about.

It also leads Cole McGinnis into Jae-Min’s arms, and that could be a problem. Jae-Min’s cousin’s death is looking less and less like a suicide, and Jae-Min is looking more and more like a target. Cole has already lost one lover to violence—he’s not about to lose Jae-Min too.

Review:
Cole McGinnis was once a cop but tragedy led him to leave his the force and become a Private Investigator. He’s mostly alone after losing his lover/partner, and gets his fun catching cheating spouses and lesbian grannies. When Cole’s brother approaches him to do some investigating into a suicide, his whole world goes from boring to life threatening when he meets Jae-Min the cousin of the man who committed suicide. Cole’s life is about to go bat shit crazy.

Seems the suicide might have been murder, and everywhere Cole goes people start to die. He’s getting half-truths from Jae-Min and nothing seems to be adding up. The only thing that is fact is that someone wants to keep him from finding the truth, and someone is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way. Thus begins a somewhat volatile and somewhat lukewarm (On Jae’s part) relationship between Jae-Min and Cole.

Alright, I really did enjoy reading this book and it comes as no surprise that I totally loved Cole being half Japanese and Jae-Min Korean. Seriously, a hook-up like this is what my dreams are made of. There was also a solid story filled with enough twist and turns to grab the reader’s attention. The variation of characters is what makes this book so much for fun me, it had a mix of everything like a one of those crime dramas all mashed into one.

I loved Cole’s voice, though at times, his internal rambling was just too insane in the membrane, but he is memorable and adorable. Jae-Min, love how he’s all-pretty but I don’t really know him. He was just ‘there’ for me though totally hot as hell. I find that these two always seem to find the time for loving when they were both injured. Jae-Min gunshot wound to the head, Cole almost being blown up but all that didn’t slow these men down. They are made of serious strong stuff!

Overall, I love it! Lots of cultural and controversial stuff here about being gay in an Asian family. They really are family orientated, and the expectation can be daunting. It must be tough never to truly be yourself, and I think Dirty Kiss offered a good representation of that. I look forward to seeing Cole and Jae-Min again because the situation felt very HFN (happy for now). I feel there is more to be offered up about these men and I look forward to it. Saranghae Dirty Kiss!

4 1/2 Pants Off

The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel (St. Nacho's, #4) by Z.A Maxfield
Loose-Id

Novel

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Blurb:
Daniel Livingston is finally free. He’s come clean about his passionless marriage and moved to St. Nacho’s where he can spend time with his brother. Now he’s ready explore the endless sexual buffet being hot and rich and single has to offer.

The problem is a firefighter named Cameron Rooney who haunts his every waking thought and half his dreams. No doubt about it. Cam is going to require a level of honesty Dan has never before considered, and in order to achieve that, he will have to turn his life inside out. Coming clean to his ex-wife will cost him money, doing right by St. Nacho’s will anger his business partner, and exploring a painful family secret will hurt the one person Dan has sworn to protect.

Cam’s faith in Dan is tested and Dan’s belief in himself is nearly non-existent. In the end, forging a new path could cost him everything or net him the most important score of his life in The Book Of Daniel. 

Review:
This was one of my least favourite ZAM book ever, and it’s a part of one my fave series. This book had two of my favourite characters from the previous book, like two complete idiots. They were indecisive, contradictory, and spoiled children. I could not wrap my mind around it, and when they both acted like douches to each other, with a few words all would go back to normal.

If you have no clue about the St Nachos series, I absolutely recommend that you get to know this little town. The characters are quirky, and the food sounds awesmazing (I was constantly hungry reading this book). This series is the epitome of what ZAM does best. Though I did have my issues with this story in particular, the series is not to be missed. Cam and Daniel had me a drooling from the previous book, and I was impatiently waiting for their story. I knew it was gonna be hot, and about a man healing and finding love. We got all that, but we also got shallow Cam and Daniel with their multiple personalities.

Daniel the product of a bad home life has built his way up to owning his own company and having money. He lives to protect his little brother, but over the years, he has forgotten about others in order to make a disastrous marriage work. The marriage is over and Daniel has decided to be true to himself and come out to the world. Now he’s man whoring himself around town, and he’s hardly a good person. He lies, and is unable to find happiness in anything. A car wreck has left him without the use of one of his hands, and his pity party is strong. In comes Cam the hot fire fighter with the heart of gold, who can do and say no wrong (gimme a break). Their relationship was never the best, but a friendly relationship begins that leads to more.

The inconsistencies in this book is strong, I just do not understand what happened to my Cam and Daniel. At times, I really liked them, and at most, I wanted to slap them in the head. Daniel facing his issues was a good thing, but everyone around him kept making him the bad person, as if he was this horrible person. Honestly, I have yet to see this horrible person, sketchy and unsure yes, but horrible? Not even, close. His life has shaped him and he has every right to be wary. He is not a perfect person, and I sorta hated how they expected so much from him.

The sex between Daniel and Cam is desert storm hot, but the relationship part is a great big pot of 'you have got to be fecking kidding me'. They both have no idea what they want. One minute its not working but the next love is blooming like roses in a freaking garden. I yelled a few times 'just make up your mind already', and just when you think all is well, either Cam or Dan pulls a douche bag move. I had high hopes for them, though not completely disappointed I am also less then impressed.

Overall, I really enjoyed going back to St.Nacho’s and hearing about everyone from previous books. I liked many elements of the story (laughed my ass off a few times), but disappointed in the characters. Even though I got my HEA, I am still waiting for Daniel to bolt. In the upside, this might be the dirtiest ZA book ever; I was like “WHAT”, some very unexpected hotness. My final thoughts are that this series is not to be missed, and though it seems as if I am just hating, I honestly liked the book just wondering what the hell happened to the characters.

3 1/2 Pants Off

Go Ahead Take Those Pants Off

Sudden Bliss

Men of Tokyo: Sudden Bliss by Sedonia Guillone
Total-E-Bound

Novel

3.5 out of 5

Blurb:
Desperately in need of a vacation, Koji spends the most deliciously erotic week of his life at the White Tiger, a luxurious love-hotel for gay men. Naoto, his personal attendant, is everything Koji has ever fantasised about: muscular, long-haired, ruggedly handsome, gentle yet commanding. Naoto is a White Tiger, after all, trained in the erotic arts, knowlegeable in every way to bring a man to bliss.

Naoto’s appreciative eye sees the honourable and sexy man Koji-san is under the work-driven shell. Little by little, his massages and more coax the real man, the passionate, artistic, sex-loving Koji, to the surface. Yet, the more time Naoto spends with Koji, the more he finds his own soul craving a partner again, the one thing he thought he’d never find after his lover was killed three years ago. He’s not sure he’s ready to get that close again. And even if he were ready, it doesn’t mean that Koji wants the same thing. In fact, Koji once mentioned that he was supposed to get married. Yet, when an agonising secret from Naoto’s past is revealed to him, Naoto wants only to turn to Koji.

When Naoto comes to him for help, Koji is suddenly faced with a harrowing decision: remain in his work-driven, soul-killing world or follow the path his body and heart have really chosen for him? And he must choose – for in a world where passion and spirit find union, there is no in between.


Review:
This was another book shelved as 'Can't wait to read and lose my pants'. This book had me at Men of Tokyo. I was like "what! Japanese men in a whole series" I had to begin, thus it seems that every book in my lose pants shelf is cursed, because I hardly lose my pants at all.

Koji is a workaholic, stressed beyond measure and is slowly making his way into a deep depression. Work is his solitude and keeps his mind off his less than spectacular life. He is slowly deteriorating and everyone is taking notice. When his boss demands he take a vacation, Koji gets seriously close to having a nervous breakdown, and to avoid embarrassment he leaves his place of work gracefully. Convincing his boss that he will take a vacation but it will be the hotel of his choice, and what a choice it is.

The White Tiger is notorious for its service and the pleasure you will receive from its staff. Koji is feeling like a fish out of water, and his attendant is all his fantasies personified. Naoto is to take care of Koji, the fragile looking man looks lost and in need of some serious TLC (tender loving care). It’s up to Naoto to soothe Koji and unleash the sexy and beautiful man that he is on the inside. It was supposed to be a week of rest for Koji, and just a job for Naoto but both men get more than they bargained for.

I must say I really liked the book even though I was slightly disappointed. It has the sweet sexiness that I really enjoyed, but there was just one scene that threw me out of the book completely, definately my “WTF” moment. I liked Koji and Naoto together they both have a very sad history, but I could not love them. After a very captivating beginning, the book sorta fizzled for me later on. I think it was just longer than it needed to be.

Overall, I nice read and will continue the series cus I am a sucker for all things Japanese. The other characters are intriguing enough for me to continue. Moreover, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to the erotic arts that is White Tiger.

3 1/2 Pants Off