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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: A Fragile Spell by T.M. Kirk (Excerpt)
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MANGA: Shitateya to Bocchan
Shitateya to Bocchan – Ohshima Kamome
Since he was a child, Takamiya has had a one-sided love for Katayama, the owner of a small tailor-made clothing store. With the age difference between them, Takamiya does not expect his feelings to be reciprocated, but he decides to make a declaration of his love anyway… and is bluntly rejected by Katayama! But Takamiya does not intend to give up. With his stubbornness, will he succeed in melting the heart of the reluctant tailor?
Ecstatic to find another manga about a tailor!
Tailor and Scion is a poignant age gap romance between Takamiya, a college student, and Katayama, the reserved tailor he adored since childhood.
Takamiya first fell for Katayama as a boy accompanying his father to the shop. Now an adult and determined to be seen as such, he confesses his feelings—only to be bluntly rejected. But Takamiya is nothing if not persistent, and slowly, ever so slowly, Katayama begins to tolerate, then rely on, his presence.
Whether Katamiya will ever lower his walls completely is another matter. And to make thing more complicated is an invitation from a fellow tailor, offering Katayama a chance to work abroad—an opportunity Takamiya refuses to hinder, even if it breaks his heart.
Our boy is a ray of sunshine with unputdownable determination to make the love of his life happy. Seriously, Katayama is spoiled rotten. Takamiya does everything from shower him with gifts, to cooking for him, to nursing him when he’s sick.
Katayama cuts an elegant figure in his shirts and waistcoats, always perfectly groomed—until he isn’t. Those rare moments of dishevelment are the tells, the cracks in his composure that reveal how deeply Takamiya affects him. As the older, unflappable one, he often appears cold, and it took a while before I was convinced he has feelings for Takamiya.
This is slow burn at its most potent! This manga gradually squeezed my heart tighter and tighter. The sheer amount of pining is almost overwhelming as Takamiya contents himself with whatever crumbs of affection Katayama deigns to throw his way.
I almost thought Takamiya deserved better but the mangaka works subtle magic. No L-words were exchanged but in Katayama’s nuanced reactions, his half-said truths, and fleeting softness we glimpse the melting of ice. Then he would go say something swoony and completely slay Takamiya!
Overall, crushes your heart first then stitches it back in place with the most exquisite care!
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REVIEW: The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder
Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Pair – Jax Calder
What happens when you find yourself stranded in the wilderness with your political enemy?
Getting stranded in the freezing wilderness with my archenemy wasn’t on today’s to-do list. But somehow, that’s where I’ve ended up.
Harry Matheson, my political rival, has always been smarmy, arrogant, and entitled. It figures that even this plane crash has barely ruffled his well-coiffed hair.
It’s all fine, though, because our pilot has gone to call for help and rescue should be imminent.
Fast forward a few frigid hours…
Umm…maybe it’s not so fine, because it appears our pilot is part of an international terrorist group intent on kidnapping us.
Now Harry and I have to flee through the wilderness—together.
Unfortunately, being adept at political debates and parliamentary procedures doesn’t exactly prepare you for the basics of finding food, keeping warm, and evading the local wildlife while playing high-stakes hide-and-seek with armed terrorists.
The only way Harry and I have any hope of surviving is to stick together.
The problem is, the line separating hate and love has begun to blur, and the last thing I need is to fall for my enemy.
The Unlikely Pair is an enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a romp through the political wilderness where hearts, quite literally, go off the beaten path.
The Unlikely Pair is a fantastic follow‑up to Jax Calder’s contemporary romance series Unlikely Dilemmas. It stars bitter political rivals Toby Webley of the Labour Party and Harry Matheson of the Conservative Party.
Toby, best friend to former Prime Minister–turned–Prince Consort Oliver Hartwell (The Unlikely Heir), ends up on a flight to Norway with Harry for a climate convention. When the plane crashes, the two find themselves stranded in the Finnish wilderness.
Forced to rely on each other to survive brutal temperatures and dense forest, they take shelter in an isolated cabin and learn everything from fishing to chopping wood to setting snares. With only one bed, sharing body heat becomes a necessity then a pleasure— even if their political views remain irreconcilable.
I love my enemies‑to‑lovers romances intense, and this one is chef’s kiss! The tension sizzles, the snark is razor‑sharp, and the banter is hilarious. The cherry on top of this delightful treat is the decade-long secret pining simmering beneath all that mutual loathing.
The forced proximity is a fabulous, shifting from survival cuddles to casual cuddles as they go from barely civil to domestic. I’m not a fan of wilderness‑survival scenes, so those parts dragged a bit for me, but Toby and Harry’s chemistry kept things exciting. They were a joy to read!
Making a politician — especially a Tory — a likable romantic lead is no small feat, but Jax Calder pulls it off. Harry shines here in ways that contrast beautifully with his portrayal in the first book, revealing layers Toby, and me, can’t help but find appealing.
Their evolution from enemies to lovers is handled with such natural, deft progression that I was completely sold. The author pulled out all the stops in the climactic Parliament scene, and my heart just burst with happiness! The epilogue is ridiculously cute!
One niggle, though, the part of the group responsible for the plane crash was basically handwaved away. Maybe it’s a set up to Book 3, but I thought they would have been more concerned about it.
The Unlikely Pair is a feel-good story of politics, survival, and slow-burn romance where opposing views and mutual attraction make for compelling bedfellows. Overall, most likely to win your vote!
Rating:
4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step awaySoundtrack: Strange Bedfellows
Artist: Michael Sarcona
Album: VerityP.S.
Unlikely Dilemmas books can be read as standalones but the Prince of Wales is inviting you to tea.
Witness Callum charm the prime minister and the rest of Britain in The Unlikely Heir.
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THE UNLIKELY PAIR: Amazon UK | Audiobook
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SOUNDTRACK: Strange Bedfellows by Michael Sarcona
Soundtrack to Unlikely Dilemmas: The Unlikely Pair by Jax Calder
Strange Bedfellows by Michael Sarcona for a book about forced proximity, opposing views, and mutual attraction.
strange bedfellows
odd man out
I’m taking a walk
to the edge of my mind
and checking you outlet’s go
same old story
back to ancient times
allegiance is a matter
of opinion sometimes
and you got to
make up your mind -
strange bedfellows
odd man out
I’m taking a walk
to the edge of my mind
and checking you outlet’s go
same old story
back to ancient times
allegiance is a matter
of opinion sometimes
and you got to
make up your mindcome on
yeahtune to in
to the situation
sign on the dotted line
and if I have given(?)
you some hesitation(?)
come on to our sidecome on
yeahstrange bedfellow
***not the official lyrics, this is my own transcription, apologies for any misheard lyrics
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MOVIE FEATURE: Todos Los Incendios (All The Fires)
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COVER REVEAL: The Ultimate Save by Felice Stevens
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Two for Boarding by S.B. Barnes (Excerpt)
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NEW RELEASE BLITZ: Demonium Rex AKA Buttercup by Stephanie Burke (Excerpt)
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FLICKer: Ramen Boys
Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.
Kevin, a hopeful romantic, finally takes a chance to connect with James, the lifeguard he’s admired from afar, leading to an extremely expected first kiss and a summer of love and laughter.
