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MANGA: Tsurumaki-sensei no Sakka Seikatsu
Tsurumaki-sensei no Sakka Seikatsu – Tacocasi
Daigo Maki has suffered more losses than an average person. He avoids building close relationships because it seems as though everybody close to him has died. Most recently, Daigo has lost his employer. Now, with no job and no friends to call on for help, Daigo is stumped… until a young-looking man asks if he wants a job on the spot. The conditions are suspiciously good: immediate start, short-term, able to work from home… What exactly is Daigo going to have to do!? Work for the devil or something!?
Just look at how perfect that ridiculously kawaii cover is!
Tsurumaki-sensei’s Life As A Writer flips the ghostwriter trope on its head. Instead of ghosts, a demon is doing the writing.
Maki, unlucky in life and currently jobless, is suddenly offered work by a mysterious stranger. He signs a contract on the spot, only to discover he’s bound to a demon.
That demon, Ichi, is a celebrated author writing under the name Tsurumaki. He needs Maki to act as his human stand-in, facing editors and the public. As Ichi’s first human servant, Maki also handles household chores, living with Ichi and his manservant, Susutake, who is in ferret form in the human world.
Soon, they learn of a generations-long curse on Maki, the reason why he is unlucky. To break it, he must give up his life to a dark entity. Ichi isn’t giving up his beloved human without a fight.
As Maki settles into his role, he slowly falls for Ichi. The romance is that deceptively subtle style that always hit hard, revealed through Maki’s quiet pride as the first human bound to Ichi or him wondering about Ichi’s relationship with a human writing mentor a century ago.
Though centuries old, Ichi often seems naive. He was even tricked by a predatory old man until Maki intervenes. When the story shifts to Ichi’s perspective, we glimpse his bittersweet past and learn why he chose Maki. Ichi may appear clueless, but in the end, he saves Maki. Watching their bond grow was pure slow-burn magic!
Nara is Ichi’s more worldly little brother. His dynamic with Susutake was a delightful bonus. I want their story!
This manga has everything we love from Tacocasi-sensei. There are the adorable characters, supernatural twists, and a sweet romance that is both laid-back and emotional. Overall, it’s an absolutely endearing tale about find a life worth living!
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REVIEW: The Hazard and The Hitman by Cambria Hebert
The Protectors: The Hazard and The Hitman – Cambria Hebert
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and being in the hospital with stitches in my head and no way out makes me pretty desperate. So I log in to a dating app, searching for a guy willing to pretend to be my boyfriend so I can bust out of this overpriced nightmare.
But what do I get?
Accused of being a prostitute. Talk about a waste of phone minutes.
With plan A a no-go, I move on to plan B. Escape. Except, on my way to freedom, I’m nearly pummeled by a man wearing all black and with the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.
When he pretends to be my boyfriend, I’m shook. And even more shook when I discover this is the rude guy from the app.
Turns out he’s not only rude but bossy, irritable, and he keeps calling me a walking hazard. I go along with the lie anyway, thinking I can ditch him as soon as I’m free.
Except that doesn’t happen.
I end up back at his place, eating soup and trying hard not to catch feelings.
Then my apartment is broken into, and I’m running for my life, confused, injured, and with nowhere else to go. Kieran vows to keep me safe, something he seems more than capable of… Which is kinda odd for a real estate agent, right?
As the threat to my life intensifies, I start to wonder if I’ll make it to my next birthday and, more importantly, if trusting Kieran is the deadliest hazard of all.
The Hazard and The Hitman kicks off The Protectors, a hitman romance series by Cambria Hebert
The hazard, Hazier is a lonely orphan juggling four jobs. After a car accident lands him in the hospital, he can’t afford the bills and needs a companion to be discharged. Desperate, he messages a random guy on a dating app to pose as his boyfriend.
The hitman is Kieran. Intrigued by the odd request from a cute stranger, he shows up, quickly realizes Hazier is telling the truth, and steps into the role of protective boyfriend—going so far as to pay the hospital bill.
But Kieran soon discovers Hazier is a walking disaster who can’t be left alone and starts calling him Hazard. Worse, there’s a contract on Haz’s life, and Kieran himself was hired to kill him.
The premise is ridiculously cute, but Haz’s dude in distress antics wore thin. His clumsy, too-stupid-to-live moments weren’t endearing and dragged the story down. Also, Kieran and Haz suffered various injuries which seemed to magically vanish whenever sex entered the picture. At one point, Haz even had a head injury, which didn’t stop him from giving Kieran a blowjob.
Fortunately, I loved Kieran’s grumpy, over-protective brand of alphahole energy which carried the book. He fell hard and fast, ready to burn the world for his Hazard. His broody presence and swoony declarations made Haz tolerable.
Side characters Ghost, hitman and Kieran’s best friend, and Rhett, Haz’s neighbor and only friend, also added to the fun. Ghost’s quips are a humorous contrast to Kieran’s grouchiness. I’m thrilled he’s paired with the adorable Rhett.
The plot follows Kieran and Haz as they navigate romance, danger, and Haz’s numerous part-time jobs. Mafioso bad guys and irate bosses made Haz’s life more complicated while Kieran did his damnedest to keep his babydoll safe. Chaotic but entertaining, the story kept me hooked despite my frustration with Haz.
The Hazard and The Hitman is a swoony tale of protection and devotion. Overall, not realistic, but cute enough to enjoy, especially if you love a broody hitman falling hard for his disaster of a boyfriend.
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked itSoundtrack: Hazardous Eyes
Artist: Arca
Album: Hazardous Eyes
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THE HAZARD AND THE HITMAN: Audiobook
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SOUNDTRACK: Hazardous Eyes by Arca
Soundtrack to The Protectors: The Hazard and The Hitman by Cambria Hebert
Hazardous Eyes by Arca for a book about secrets, danger, and a hitman who fell hard the moment he gazed into the big, soulful, mismatched eyes of a walking disaster.
in the shadow
secret spin
every glance
pulled me ineyes of liquid
hidden fear
danger’s call
is crystal clearevery stare
a subtle threat
drawing closer
no regret -
in the shadow
secret spin
every glance
pulled me ineyes of liquid
hidden fear
danger’s call
is crystal clearevery stare
a subtle threat
drawing closer
no regrethazardous eyes
a siren’s call
in their gaze
i start to fallhazardous eyes
where danger lies
in the spell
the truth too nicein the haze
where doubts arise
mysteries dance
in their eyescaught in the web
of whispered lies
in their gaze
the danger liesevery stare
a subtle threat
drawing closer
no regrethazardous eyes
a siren’s call
in their gaze
i start to fallhazardous eyes
where danger lies
in the spell
the truth too nicein the truth
where fears entwine
hazardous charm
so divinehazardous eyes
a siren’s call
in their gaze
i start to fallhazardous eyes
where danger lies
in the spell
the truth too nice***not the official lyrics, this is my own transcription. apologies for any misheard lyrics
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MOVIE FEATURE: Night Stage
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RELEASE BLITZ: The Ultimate Save by Felice Stevens
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FLICKer: (Practically) Gay
Featuring LGBT short films I found around the interwebz a.k.a Youtube. Okay sucky intro, but yeah, that’s it.
After Alex’s boyfriend breaks up with him at a wedding, another couple invites him in for a nightcap in their Airbnb’s hot tub. When he starts to open up to him about his romantic troubles, they console him in more ways than one. Alex reckons with the feelings for women he’s previously ignored out of a belief that living authentically as an out, bisexual male was impractical.
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RECENT RELEASE: And Then He Pressed Play by Robert J. Halliwell (Excerpt + Q&A with Author)
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RELEASE BLITZ: A Puck Between Friends by J.R. Gray
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RELEASE BLITZ: Stick Around by E.M. Lindsey
