-
MANGA: Nora
Nora – Ayu Yamane
Sabatora has been down on his luck. Needing money, Sabatora takes a break from college to work. His life changes, though, when Tsuchiya shows up like a knight in shining armor to take him out for food whenever he’s hungry. Despite (or because of) Tsuchiya’s kindness, Sabatora’s pride is hurt whenever Tsuchiya treats him and buys him gifts. How will each of them adjust as they realize their feelings are neither that of a stray cat and its owner or even just friends, but more romantic?
The Stray‘s distinct artwork might put some people off. To me, it looked like the characters were drawn in a more Western-style comics.
This is the story of Sabatora, a college dropout currently working as a construction worker, dealing with conflicting feelings about relying on the older, wealthier Tsuchiya, his pride as an independent man, and his growing feelings for him.
His plight is mirrored in the group of strays his elderly landlord routinely feeds. What does a stray cat lose if adopted and what does he gain?
The plot is a laid-back slice of life, where the two men frequently meet to eat together, and Tsuchiya notices something Sabatora needs, like a new pair of shoes, and then goes out of this way to provide it. Sabatora reciprocates by cooking for Tsuchiya so they can be on equal footing.
Each chapter unravels a certain change, a bit of progress in the two men’s relationship until Sabatora comes to terms with his feelings and realizes what he gains by accepting Tsuchiya, a family.
Regardless of how you feel about the art, this is one of the most wholesome and cutest stories out there! And if you are a cat person, this one is pure catnip!
If you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SERIES REVIEW: Mafia Bound Books 1 & 2 by K.M. Neuhold
Mafia Bound: Deadly Little Sparrow – K.M. Neuhold
Is there such thing as love at first bar fight?
I may be small and pretty, but what I lack in intimidation factor, I make up for in violence.I made a vow five years ago that the motorcycle club responsible for my brother’s death would pay the price, and I’m finally ready to collect. May God have mercy on the men who hurt my brother, because I don’t plan to.
Accidentally breaking the nose of the deadliest man in the city wasn’t my best move. Xaviaro Saviano, trigger man for the Moretti Crime Family… and now my own personal stalker. But if I have to go through him to deliver well-deserved justice, so be it.
As strange as it sounds, Xaviaro seems to want to help me more than he wants to hurt me. I can’t shake the man no matter what I do. Threatening him feels like foreplay, tying him up only turns him on… I could play nice, but that’s never been my strong suit.
I’d be lying if I said he wasn’t starting to grow on me, especially when he calls me his Deadly Little Sparrow from his knees. I’ve never met a man who could handle me, let alone one who can’t stop begging me for more.
Can love and revenge live in the same heart? I guess there’s only one way to find out…
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Submit
Artist: Brek Milo
Album: Submit
Mafia Bound: Beautifully Savage Butterfly by K.M. Neuhold
Being savage in the ring is one thing. The way Elio Moretti craves my violence outside the ring is another.
I feel like I’ve been fighting my whole life, and tapping out has never been an option.
I can live with owing money to the Morettis. I can even live with the constant guilt that my brother is the one paralyzed in a hospital bed while I live his dream. What I can’t live with is Elio Moretti, second in command to the infamous crime family, showing up to all my fights, sitting in the front row, watching me like he can’t look away, and barging into the locker room to patch up my wounds and invade my space.
The Morettis are monsters. Vicious, brutal sociopaths. So, why is Elio so eager to get on his knees for me?
He’s as desperate to give up control as I am to take it, but is giving in to these primal urges enough of a reason to sell my soul?
He claims there are worse people in this city than his family, and the deeper I get dragged into his world, the more true that’s starting to seem. Can I really fall in love with a Mafia underboss? Is it even possible to walk away?
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Blow
Artist: Ghinsu
Album: Blow
Mafia Bound by K.M. Neuhold is a dark, gritty mafia romance series that dares to put mafiosos on their knees.
Deadly Little Sparrow opens the series with a revenge story and an unlikely romance between the avenger and the hitman stalking him. Sparrow, real name unknown, is out to exact vengeance against members of the motorcycle club who abused and murdered his brother.
Xaviaro Saviano, the most notorious hitman of the Moretti Family, spotted him at a bar and, after getting off the wrong foot, began stalking the smaller man. Partly as part of Moretti business crossing with the targeted MC, partly due to his strange but undeniably strong attraction to the deadly little Sparrow.
The plot didn’t delve deeply into the characters’ backstories. There is just enough barebones information to give credence to how Sparrow went from a former billionaire’s son to a highly skilled killer able to take down dangerous men twice his size.
Xaviaro was already established as not only the top hitman but also Enzo Moretti’s best friend and one of the Moretti boss’s inner circle. The thing to know about Xaviaro, he’s feared on the streets, submissive in the sheets. And he was quick to recognize the dominance of the smaller man. Sparrow took unholy glee in topping from the bottom.
The story did its best to be consistently intense. There’s a lot of focus on the kink and while the dynamics were enjoyable, there were moments that I tuned out because they were too blah.
Beautifully Savage Butterfly is Elio Moretti, underboss to the Family, obsessing over undefeated MMA fighter, Orion Barros. Orion couldn’t understand why one of the top Morettis kept coming to his locker room after his fights until Elio showed how willing he was to get down on his knees for him.
The MMA fighter is working overtime to pay Moretti debts and earn money to keep his paraplegic brother, Jack, in a good nursing home. When things took a turn for the worse, Orion had no choice but to make a deal with Elio, something he promised his brother he would never do.
I feel this was better executed than the first story. The backstories were more complete and the various threads were concluded more convincingly, even Jack was given his little HFN. The boss/brat dynamics wasn’t my favorite but Elio and Orion’s chemistry was sizzling!
This was also pretty intense and atmospheric throughout. You could almost smell the blood and sweat, and images of dimly lit alleys and shaky camera shots come to mind.
Another compelling part was the Morettis and Orion working together to stop a child trafficking ring. This was resolved in a suspenseful rescue mission while leaving an opening for future installments.
Mafia Bound is a mixed bag for now, but it’s mostly good. The Morettis as MCs are something I’m really excited about. They are a head-turning bunch, and here are the rest to watch out for:
Salvatore – I bet he’s next. He was tasked to look after the sassy night club dancer/hacker Dante and they played a significant part in the child trafficking investigation
Alessio – guy’s flirty with Dante but it’s mostly harmless. Not much is known about him yet other than he’s part of the inner circle and is a cousin
Enzo – ooh, this one I’m looking forward to the most. The big boss occasionally shows his softer side. There’s a mention of a rival Irish gang leader so hmm….
P.S.
Mafia Bound is best read in order. You can read Deadly Little Sparrow and Beautifully Savage Butterfly as standalones but the Morettis are worth knowing from the beginning.
If you like my content, please consider using my Amazon affiliate links below to buy your copy of Mafia Bound. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no additional cost to you.
DEADLY LITTLE SPARROW: Kindle I Audiobook
BEAUTIFULLY SAVAGE BUTTERFLY: Kindle I AudiobookIf you like my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi or PayPal. Your donations will help keep this website going. Thank you so much!
-
SOUNDTRACK: Submit by Brek Milo & Blow by Ghinsu
Soundtrack to Mafia Bound: Deadly Little Sparrow by K.M. Neuhold
Submit by Brek Milo for a song about an irresistible, deadly, and hella dominant little sparrow.
there’s something going on here
I cant resist
you got those ways about you
I will submitI wasn’t expecting
for you to just let me in
any games that you wanna play baby
any way you wanna winSoundtrack to Mafia Bound: Beautifully Savage Butterfly by K.M. Neuhold
Blow by Ghinsu for a book about two men living hard, fighting hard, and falling hard for each other.
You are sent to take
Every time I fall
Every piece of me
YeahYou are my faith
You are my faith
Every sign you’ve made
To tell me who I am…
Feel you
Feel me
One life
One shot
One love -
I wasn’t expecting
to be knockin’ at your door
but here I am there you are
can you open up some moreyou sexy baby
I don’t know how
but you sexy baby
may be show me nowthere’s something going on here
I cant resist
you got those ways about you
I will submitI wasn’t expecting
for you to just let me in
any games that you wanna play baby
any way you wanna winyou quit(?) it baby
the baddest girl in town
so you quit(?) it baby
maybe I’ll stick aroundthere’s something going on here
I cant resist
you got those ways about you
I will submitthere’s something going on here
I cant resist
you got those ways about you
I will submitthere’s something going on here
I cant resist
you got those ways about you
I will submit***not the official lyrics, this is my own transcription
You are sent to take
Every time I fall
Every piece of me
YeahYou are my faith
You are my faith
Every sign you’ve made
To tell me who I amSometimes you’re the crowd
Screaming too loud
Telling me what I’m notWhen tugging me all the time
I know you’re out there
Every sun that breaks
Is a ticket to the showDid you ever know
There’s a light inside your bones
The dream that you can’t hide
That teases you every nightAnd you don’t understand
Glaring at the light
Sitting like a dog
In your ordinary lifeWhy you’re so paralyzed
Why don’t you spit it out
Coming on your face
Oh yeahFeel you
Feel me
One life
One shot
One love
Now you’re a mannequinCandy
Cane gun
Micro
Brain waves
Remote
Controled white manHigh speed
Defcon
Mental
Gang bang
Black out
You’re not a dragster manWould you tell me who you are right now
Don’t tell me you don’t know
‘Cause I knowEvery piece of you that breaks
Everytime you lie
Every time you say you’re fine
I guess
It’s time for you to get use to youDon’t tell me you don’t know
‘Cause I know
‘Cause I knowPlease take me somewhere we can hide (Feel you, feel me)
Somewhere we can dance the boogie (One life, one shot)
Please bring me something (One love)
Please give me something (Now you’re a mannequin)Please take me somewhere we can hide (Feel you, feel me)
Somewhere we can dance the boogie (One life, one shot)
Please bring me something (One love)
Please give me something (Now you’re a mannequin)Please take me somewhere we can hide (Candy, cane gun)
Somewhere we can dance the boogie (Micro, brain waves)
Please bring me something (Remote)
Please give me something (Controled white men)Please take me somewhere we can hide (High speed, defcon)
Somewhere we can dance the boogie (Mental, gang bang)
Please bring me something (Black out)
Please give me something (You’re not a dragster man) -
MOVIE FEATURE: Ganymede
-
NEW RELEASE: Midnight on the Midway by Morgan Brice (Excerpt & Giveaway)