• manga,  Uncategorized

    MANGA: Just When I Thought I Came Here to Die

    Just When I Thought I Came Here to Die – Matsukura Yuuko

    When our protagonist came to an abandoned house to commit suicide, the house owner may have something to say about that.

    OMG!!! This is a riot!

    So a young man was just fired from work and was dumped by his girlfriend on the same day. He tried to kill himself but was stopped by a sudden appearance of a mysterious masked man. Said masked man then proceeded to feed and house said young man. Stockholm Syndrome a.k.a. feels ensued…

    So imagine Jason Voorhees was gay and fell in love with a guy who was about to kill himself. The manga breezed through suicide, murder, Stockholm Syndrome, psychological trauma, blood and other heavy topics in such a ridiculous, tongue-in-cheek way.

    You couldn’t help but root for our dysfunctional couple as they navigate through unmasking (yeah, the guy’s face was nasty but our boy quickly got over it), the dark past and the taking it to the next level moment, where our boy tried to get his monster boyfriend in the mood with some kinky nurse cosplay to hilarious results.

    This silly little one-shot is comedy gold!

  • book,  Uncategorized

    REVIEW: Hitman Vs Hitman by Cari Z & L.A. Witt

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    Hitman Vs Hitman – Cari Z & L.A. Witt

    Ricardo Torralba and August Morrison don’t agree on much besides the fact that they hate each other. According to Ricardo, August is a spoiled brat who really needs to knock off the sass once in a while. August insists that Ricardo needs a sense of humor, a good lay, or a well-placed bullet. Maybe all three.

    Fortunately, the assassin’s profession is a solitary one, and they can go about their lives without getting in each other’s way.

    Usually.

    When a contracted hit turns out to be a setup for both of them, they narrowly escape with their lives. Now, even if they don’t like it (spoiler: they don’t), August and Ricardo have to work together if they want a shot at survival.

    In between firefights and questionable interrogation methods as they hunt down their would-be killer, the cranky assassins discover that under all that mutual loathing is a spark of chemistry they can’t ignore. They want to ignore it, they probably should ignore it, but August can’t help flirting to annoy Ricardo, and Ricardo can think of at least one way to shut him up for a while.

    But they need to focus, damn it, and figure out who’s gunning for them and why.

    Assuming they don’t kill each other first.

    Hitman vs Hitman is a standalone gay romantic suspense featuring two men who’d rather chew glass than fall for each other, a whole lot of inappropriate comments, and some buttons that will need resewing.


    L.A. Witt and Cari Z had wowed me with their awesomely co-written series, Bad Behavior. Their latest book, Hitman Vs Hitman is a fun, explosive romp oozing with USTs between two hired guns who were contracted to take on an assignment that was set up to get them both killed.

    Hitmen all over the world are ranked in a website called Rate My Hit. It’s where clients post reviews worded as satirical comments.

    The #1 hitman according to the website is Ricardo Torralba. He’s a born planner who has a trunk full of props and costumes that lets him slip through security. He’s of Spanish descent but he can change his accent when undercover. He’s a grumpy, taciturn fellow with a drawer filled with burner phones.

    And #2 on the chart is August Morrison, an unlikely person for such occupation. He is publicly known as the son of a billionaire. His mansion is built like Bruce Wayne’s. He loves clothes. Wears designer suits to his assignments. And jeeesus, when is he going to shut up?!

    This book moved fast, much like the way Ricardo and August were constantly on the run from whoever had them in their crosshairs. They paused long enough to come up with a plan to turn things around. Along the way, their combustible combination finally combusted and they discovered, that despite their very obvious differences, they’re really good together in more ways than they expected.

    The chemistry is off the charts! The sexual tension adding piquancy to the already strained interactions of two men on edge. I love the way these two threw off fireworks while constantly bickering. And that they took time before jumping each other’s bones.

    I do think the way their backstories were presented could have been stronger. While we get a good picture of Ricardo’s and August’s personalities, I felt their pasts could have been explored further. We learn more about August and his quirks. Also him with his famous billionaire face, going about his secret missions sans disguise and not recognized is stretching it.

    Majority of the book is spent uncovering the identity of the person who set them up. The mystery wasn’t hardcore mindboggling and you can kind of expect who the bad guy was. Still, it was an intriguing enough plotline.

    We get an HFN that left some things open in case the authors decide to give us a sequel. I wish they would because that conclusion certainly felt like the start of events that will shake up the charts. I liked that Ricardo and August did not retire as is usually the case when assassins are given their happy endings.

    Overall, Hitman Vs Hitman is light, humorous, suspenseful with OTT stunts and a lot of ridiculousness, mostly from August. It might not be a bullseye but it still hit its target.

    Rating:
    3.5 Stars – that place between like and love

    Soundtrack: Bullet
    Artist: Riot Child
    Album: Made For Another Time


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  • song,  Uncategorized

    SOUNDTRACK: Bullet by Riot Child

    Soundtrack to Hitman Vs Hitman by L.A. Witt & Cari Z

    A song about bullets for our hitmen on the run, with lines that go “I, I never ask why the wicked live and the good ones die / Time, time ran out of time, we all kill to survive“. I found a couple of pop songs with more accurate lyrics but their softer melodies don’t fit the mood of this high-octane book. Riot Child’s rockin’ tune captured the book’s energy better.

  • quote,  Uncategorized

    It’s a fine line between courage and fear
    You can’t see the ghosts, but you know that they’re here
    Blame it on the sinners, blame it on saints
    Blame it on the pills, you‘re pouring down the drain
    Blame it on the truth, lights you tracked away
    Blame it on the pressure, but all we want is pain
    Didn’t see you coming, didn’t see the signs
    Didn’t see tomorrow stare right in my eyes

    I, I never ask why the wicked live and the good ones die
    Time, time ran out of time, we all kill to survive
    I would take a bullet for you, my heart is made of stone
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    My heart is made of stone
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet

    Blame the politicians, the corporations too
    Blame it on the immigrants, cuz they dont look like you
    Blame it on the money, blame it on the fame
    Blame it on the love and fools that play that game
    Blame it on your mother, cuz daddy walked away
    You can keep on running, but you can’t them make ‘em stay
    Blame it on the drummer, said one, two, three
    Marching down the hallway, coming after me

    I, I never ask why the wicked live and the good ones die
    Time, time ran out of time, we all kill to survive
    I would take a bullet for you, my heart is made of stone
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    My heart is made of stone
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    I would take a bullet for you
    Bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet, bullet
    My heart is made of stone

    I, I never ask why the wicked live and the good ones die
    Time, time we’re out of time, we all kill to survive