Combine the fact that these romance manga are such ridiculously fun palate cleansers and Lynn Graham novel work quite successfully in manga format forCombine the fact that these romance manga are such ridiculously fun palate cleansers and Lynn Graham novel work quite successfully in manga format for me, I was so happy when I got this from the library.
The plot is typical mad-cap blackmail with an idiot European hero (there must be something the diet which makes these men act so idiotically. It almost makes you understand Brexit.) The heroine is a typical sweet, naive heroine who thankfully finds her missing backbone somewhere in the second half. When she dumped wine on our hero’s head I was grinning - three stars for that alone.
There are cute baby twins and gems such as follows:
“I am not the kind of man who would force a woman to sleep on the sofa after a long flight” (but he is the sort who will blackmail her with jail to sleep with her ...more
Dragon age by far is my favourite video game extended franchise. I love the lore and the extended story as the world is very well developed and allowsDragon age by far is my favourite video game extended franchise. I love the lore and the extended story as the world is very well developed and allows for some exciting and fun side adventures. This comic is one such adventure. Bloody and brutal it follows a paid of mage killers as they join the Inquisition. I wish the book was a little longer as none of the stories get a proper conclusion(I wonder if that is by intent).
Still I enjoyed reading this - it was fun to be back in the world and made me want to play the game again. For that I give it three stars. ...more
More drama and kissing than typical Betty Neels but very sweet. The heroine is from the country but here the focus is more on changing the hero andMore drama and kissing than typical Betty Neels but very sweet. The heroine is from the country but here the focus is more on changing the hero and not here. There is more romance here in that the declaration of love comes 2/3rd into the manga which was nice. It made clearer as to why the doctor-hero loved the heroine and why the country-life with its simplicity and love attracted him.
The character design of the hero was different - more lanky than usual - which was a change. It made this one stand out more from other HQ mangas. Recommended for Harlequin fans. ...more
Another sweet Betty Neels manga adaptation. If you like the tropes that Ms. Neel employs then this one will work for you - the plain, hardworkingAnother sweet Betty Neels manga adaptation. If you like the tropes that Ms. Neel employs then this one will work for you - the plain, hardworking heroine, the surgeon doctor etc. I will say that these adaptations work better for me as they are shorter and sweeter as a result.
The heroine here is working as a maid in her own home which she lost and it was nice to see her interactions with the hero who is writing a book or something. They get snowed in (with a chaperone - don't worry) with allows for this forced-proximity interaction which I enjoy. It brings an authenticity to the romance as otherwise the couple have limited changes to spend together.
I notice this is why in Ms. Neels novels the timeframe actually is spread about longer than other romance which are over a summer etc. Her stories need that time to build a timeline in the readers mind.
Overall, a lovely read - like the cup of tea that all the characters in these novels consume....more
This was not as funny as the other book in the series that I read, The Billionaire's Trophy. There was a little too much miscommunication here and theThis was not as funny as the other book in the series that I read, The Billionaire's Trophy. There was a little too much miscommunication here and the hero was often mean. I did like the fact that he had glasses but I didn’t really like him.
Topsy, our heroine, was better but she came across as a bit juvenile. I think this was because of cameos from her sisters and their husbands which was distracting. Some of the drawings of her made her seem like a teen which was awkward. All in all - an average read. Not too bad so if you can get your hands on it from library - give it a shot....more
This was definitely more OTT and funnier than I remember the actual HQ novel to be. The second panel has our heroine dosing off and drooling which wasThis was definitely more OTT and funnier than I remember the actual HQ novel to be. The second panel has our heroine dosing off and drooling which was funny and cute. The adaptation didn't actually feel like a Lynn Graham novel which is probably a good thing as she has a tendency to have overbearing heroes which don't often work in this shorter cuter format.
The plot deals with a misunderstanding and a Cinderella transformation which is always fun. The hero is on the clueless spectrum and not an ass-hat which are all positives.
Great job by the illustrator here so I'm giving it four stars with the extra one star for the drooling heroine and the annoyed hero who doesn't know how to deal with her....more
These historical romance manga can be a bit of a hit and miss given that some of the translations don't work well. This one though is a hit (even ifThese historical romance manga can be a bit of a hit and miss given that some of the translations don't work well. This one though is a hit (even if the way the Earl is addressed is not correct). A Christmas story, this one falls in that sweet spot where our gentle heroine thaws out the not-so-haughty Earl, also neatly tying into the season.
The story was actually quite nicely plotted and, a brief cameo aside from venal relatives, was quite tightly focused on our couple which was pleasant. The art is period appropriate and quite fun.
I'd recommend this for anyone looking for an early Christmas story (and why not since stores are already selling Christmas decorations - in Oct!) and doesn't mind sweet fluff....more
This was an odd duck of a collection. This is a collection of stories by different artists exploring the past of the pantheon. This has nothing to doThis was an odd duck of a collection. This is a collection of stories by different artists exploring the past of the pantheon. This has nothing to do with the main story line so it could be skipped but some of the stories are great. Being a collection the stories do flip flop and not all of them landed for me. The last section of “funny” stories was the worst. Skip that and read the rest - I found it more entertaining than the main plot which is losing my interest.
My favourite was the Frankenstein riff - great art and poignant story. ...more
The art is lovely but I've lost interest in this series. Some of the panels were great so I can see this beings more of a treat in physical form. IThe art is lovely but I've lost interest in this series. Some of the panels were great so I can see this beings more of a treat in physical form. I read it on Hoopla which was likely the wrong choice.
I was mostly confused in the plot and the grand explanation to the central mystery. Would should have been an awe inspiring and poignant comes across as bland. I didn't care why the gods reappear or why they need to die etc. All the mysterious talk from Persephone veers into pretensions rather than deep musings.
I will read the last book as I want to know how the series is wrapped up but probably not soon as I am burnt out on this. ...more
I completely forgotten about this series until it made an re-appearance on Thoughts on Tomes channel.
Despite having read the Volume 4 back in NovI completely forgotten about this series until it made an re-appearance on Thoughts on Tomes channel.
Despite having read the Volume 4 back in Nov 2018 (see: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) I was surprised at how much I followed in this volume. This could be a negative in that the previous volumes didn’t have much of a plot but I liked that simplicity here. The art remains excellent and the main draw of the novel. The plot is still “mysterious” to nearly incomprehension but I enjoyed most of it. I still don’t love any of the characters which remain superficial and hedonistic. However, since I sort of think that is the point it didn’t annoy me. I am not sure the novel’s construct will every engender strong emotions from me but this is purely preference.
In the end, I am going with three starts for the art and the fact that the ending left me with enough interest to continue the series. (Given my TBR I am not sure that is a good thing!)...more
“Believing Sophie is only with his brother for his money and title, he decides to trap to reveal her true motive!” - well this doesn’t really happen.“Believing Sophie is only with his brother for his money and title, he decides to trap to reveal her true motive!” - well this doesn’t really happen.
Nonetheless, this was a pleasant read which was a little more mad-cap romcom fun than the blurb or the cover promise, which is probably why I enjoyed this. I was expecting a serious, perhaps a little OTT story about the hero being an alpha-ass to the heroine but this was quite cute instead.
Take the beginning - the blurb implies Kit, our hero, is giving Sophie contemptuous looks for no reason. The actual manga has ‘reasons’ which made me giggle - and actually Kit is quite nice. Weirded out by Sophie - but quite nice (he pays for her ticket).
I’ve enjoyed the art by this illustrator before. Generally, I like the character to be on the exaggerated expressive side as it allows for more feeling and context in such a short format. This manga did that well.
There are some extra plot points in the end which make this a little more serious in tone that the first half suggests. This was a bit of a misstep in my opinion as the end got cluttered. Still I liked the hero and heroine so I give the adaptation part a pass - sometimes the short manga format can’t fit in the whole plot of the original novel but the adapters have to try I feel.
All in all a credible 4 stars.
PS. It was interesting to see a gay BFF for the heroine in the book - it’s not particularly common and the gay couple don’t usually get so much screen time. This made it obvious that this was a newer HQ book being adapted (written in 2011). So that is progress I guess (even if the manga played the couple for laughs a little bit too much).
Sometimes these HQ manga make me giggle inadvertently. In the first couple of pages, our movie star hero has had an accident and when he isSometimes these HQ manga make me giggle inadvertently. In the first couple of pages, our movie star hero has had an accident and when he is convalescing in the hospital after almost losing his life his manager (?) lays this one out on him:
“You got entangled in blind love and you got badly hurt!” And it it delivered as a shout with the dude looking like he is going to have a coronary.
Either way - after a few panels of exposition masquerading as dialogue the manga did settle into telling a competent story. Both leads were pretty decent people - which I appreciate. This was a forced proximity trope with the couple snowed in which works for good fun. (Though I wonder if the sharing body heat trope actually helps. Based on an, admittedly brief, google search this seems to be an actual thing so I am giving this manga a pass for using it).
The artwork is pretty cut - the heroine is a buxom lady and the plot gives the H a lot of opportunity to ogle her, which made me giggle.
I am not about the title though - except for like 2 pages there was no misunderstanding of how the heroine was the hero’s brother’s fiance. This was likely more of more of a plot point in the actual HQ novel but the adaptation cleverly de-emphasized that. While that left the title a bit confusing in context of the manga I thought it made the manga work quite successfully without unnecessary angst.
I liked it over all and would recommend this one for the art and lack of OTT drama. ...more
A fairly average plot with a made-up small kingdom where the princess has to get married for dynastic reasons (which are not explained) and ends upA fairly average plot with a made-up small kingdom where the princess has to get married for dynastic reasons (which are not explained) and ends up falling in love with her bodyguard. He was probably the more interesting character, with a tragic story which was actually given space in manga. Plus he looked pretty nice in his suit.
Unfortunately, the heroine was annoying - she is 21 and it shows - veering between manic pixie and tragic little rich girl - both tropes which don't come across well. While quite common in manga she comes across as very young and her excitement is portrayed as childish more than funny.
Some of the panels are nice but I was mostly irked because of the heroine. As a result, I gave this 2 stars - it was ok....more
This was an odd duck of a adaptation. Parts of it didn't make sense and the tone swung between comedy (with the heroine having a penchant for hittingThis was an odd duck of a adaptation. Parts of it didn't make sense and the tone swung between comedy (with the heroine having a penchant for hitting the hero - which I approved of) and high tragedy. The tragedy portions worked quite well actually with the detailed artwork, comedy or exposition portions not so much.
I would recommend caution with this one however, as the plot is based on an 80s HQ book so some of the actions are quite OTT. In the end I give this a confused 3 stars - 2 stars for the plot and 1 for the lovely character design and artwork....more
A funny and sweet Christmas story (yes it's July but who cares), this manga revolved around two best friends who get married to fulfil their ownA funny and sweet Christmas story (yes it's July but who cares), this manga revolved around two best friends who get married to fulfil their own agenda. She wants a baby and he wants an inheritance. Despite the premise there was limited angst in this one and the leads came across as real people with families, backstories and a relationship.
And that was the problem party which kept this from 5 stars for me. I believe the lead relationships as best friend - even as soulmate who would be there for the other. The romance part was a little less believe - it got a short shrift in the story with all the appearances from the hero/s mom. I liked the mom but I was more interested in her romance than the h/H's.
Still highly recommended overall! Very well done - 4.5 stars....more
A blackmail marriage trope saved by a strong ending.
The manga deals with the breakdown of Autumn and Yorke's marriage about two/three years before theA blackmail marriage trope saved by a strong ending.
The manga deals with the breakdown of Autumn and Yorke's marriage about two/three years before the manga takes place. Autumn was 19 when she and Yorke married but she left him as he didn't love here and the hot sexytimes were not enough for her (she is a weird 19 year old). Anyway, he makes an appearance back in her life and blackmails her into living with him again for 4 months before he will grant here a divorce (remember kids this was written in the 1980s where divorce laws required time and mutual consent of both spouses).
Being a Penny Jordan romance adaptation, the lead couple have combustible chemistry and the hero is all broody and the heroine is suspicious of every woman he talks to. This formula works better in the manga as all his interactions do come across as shady.
It's all resolved in the end when the hero declares his love and the heroine tells him that she has been in love with him all this time.
The art is pretty good in this one and the ending where the hero run after the heroine (literally in this case) is pretty cute. I liked the hero's vulnerability and even though the ending was quick I enjoyed this. ...more
I enjoyed the manga for its art and it’s different plot. It was quite nice to see the heroine as a forensic accountant though she may have been finedI enjoyed the manga for its art and it’s different plot. It was quite nice to see the heroine as a forensic accountant though she may have been fined IRL for her conduct. Ah well, at least in HQlandia the hero is never guilty to it all works out. Trust me this is not a spoiler but an immutable fact of the (alternative) universe.
The art was actually quite pretty and I enjoyed the whole Cinderella transformation whenever our heroine took her glasses off and let down her hair. It doesn’t work for me but it makes for fun comics. The manga manages to infuse this transformation with this OTT importance and shock that it always tickles my fancy.
I rate this a 3 star as I enjoyed the manga. However it misses the excellent territory due to a confused ending and the fact that the author decided to make up a Native American Tribe. It get it as otherwise she wouldn’t have been able to talk about the issues with the treatment of indigenous Americans but it felt a bit trite.
Ps. I didn’t cut marks for this but the paper accounting trail and the lack of effort the forensic investigation took was annoying. The firm should have sent a team in instead of one woman. Ah well ...more
This was a good tale which got a little messy in the end. The story was surprisingly moving dealing with a heroine who was recovering from an injury.This was a good tale which got a little messy in the end. The story was surprisingly moving dealing with a heroine who was recovering from an injury. The art brought across that loss but hope for a new lease on life quite effectively. As a result the manga got high points from me. The ending is rushed but that is part for the course for these manga. The art is strong here and the story has more weight than normal. This one is recommended! ...more
Pretty solid manga with some nice artwork which was marred by a rushed ending. This manga deals our heroine losing her estranged sister and lookingPretty solid manga with some nice artwork which was marred by a rushed ending. This manga deals our heroine losing her estranged sister and looking after the baby with her ex. The child caring was prominent and the baby was really cute so I rated this highly.
The artwork is nice and the story doesn’t suffer from adaptation issues. The two brothers in the story are drawn quite differently with the beta male having a less “beautiful” look which I found funny. Still that effort to visually show something I am sure the text highlighted (I.e our hero was so much better looking and dynamic) was appreciated.
The ending was rushed - no spoilers - but another 5 pages would have helped as I got a bit of whiplash. Still I was into the manga so this one is recommended. ...more
This manga had a more confusing plot than I expected. The art was ok but nothing much to recommend this book. I've already forgotten this one which isThis manga had a more confusing plot than I expected. The art was ok but nothing much to recommend this book. I've already forgotten this one which is a sign of how average it was. I didn't hate it but didn't really like it either. ...more
This one was hampered by some odd translation to an otherwise competent adaptation. The artwork was nice but reading "your highness" for the Duke wasThis one was hampered by some odd translation to an otherwise competent adaptation. The artwork was nice but reading "your highness" for the Duke was annoying and took me out of the story. Plus, there external machinations were a bit much and distracted from the romance. ...more
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