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Fence #6 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
After an unexpected defeat, tensions run high among the fencers of Kings Row.
Coach’s genius move at handling crushed egos.
“You can’t call me zero anymore.”
Good job, Nicholas!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: Better Now
Artist: Collective Soul
Album: Youth(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38892114-fence-6)
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Fence #5 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
Seiji’s calm is badly rattled over a lost match and his mysterious past begins to come out.
In this fight, I’m team Seiji but I must admit Aidan made the
devioussmart moves. Damn him and his mind games!P.S.
Seiji’s mysterious past?!! OH, YES!Rating
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: Under Easy
Artist: The Posies
Album: Failure(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38312083-fence-5)
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Introducing Mr. Winterbourne – Joanna Chambers
Lysander Winterbourne appears to lead a charmed life. Handsome, amiable, and a renowned sportsman, he is the darling of London society. As far as Adam Freeman is concerned though, Lysander is just another spoiled aristocrat.
A wealthy mill owner, Adam has no time for the frivolous world of the ton, but when his younger brother becomes engaged to Althea Winterbourne, he reluctantly agrees to be introduced to society–with the Winterbourne clan’s golden boy as his guide.
Resigning himself to a few days of boredom, Adam is surprised to learn that there is much more to Lysander than his perfect surface. But will Adam have the courage to introduce Lysander Winterbourne to his own secret self?
I rarely buy into one-day love affairs but I’m sold on Lysander and Adam’s men-about-Town romance. Joanna Chamber’s novellete is short but fully-fleshed out. It introduces Lysander Winterbourne of the illustrious Winterbourne family, a typical upper class clan that’s high on the instep but short on the money. Lysander’s sister Althea is set to marry Simon Freeman, a man of commerce who has political ambitions. Lysander was
askedcommanded to squire around Adam, the older Freeman brother and the one who holds the purse strings. Even though both found each other attractive, it was good that Joanna Chambers did not exaggerate the insta-lust levels as some authors are wont to do but instead kept it palpable but gentlemanly.This!
Freeman lifted his half-full glass and drained it. He set it down with a decisive click, took a deep breath and said firmly, “I am not looking for a wife, Winterbourne.”
Just that.
A dozen questions teemed in Lysander’s mind. What did Freeman mean? Merely that he was a confirmed bachelor? Or was there something more to his confession? Could it be that Freeman was like Lysander? That he was more interested in his own sex than the fairer variety? Lysander’s heart began to race at the thought, and his mouth grew dry. He thought of Freeman lunging at him with his blade, his muscular body taut and lean, expression concentrated, and …Lysander wanted him.
The wanting was like hunger, a yearning that went beyond mere desire, toppling over into pure need.
And it was that, finally, that made Lysander speak, that made him put caution to one side and utter the truth, or one truth anyway.
“I am not looking for a wife either.”That and the dance. And bonding over fencing.
The story is nice, enjoyable pretty straight forward and while not exactly the kind that will blow your mind, it’s enough to tide you over until the next good book. In fact, it felt like a beginning a series. If JC makes a series out of this I would be glad to read the rest of it.
Rating:
3.5 Stars – that place between like and loveSoundtrack: Go Places
Artist: The New Pornographers
Album: Challengers(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39706695-introducing-mr-winterbourne)
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Fence #4 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
Nicholas begins to overthink everything as he struggles to prove he deserves his place at Kings Row.
Poor Nicolas!
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: To Darkness
Artist: Mumford & Songs, Laura Marling & Dharohar Project
Album:(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38090191-fence-4)
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Fence #3 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
As Nicholas works to become a better fencer, Seiji takes an unexpected interest in his journey.
Getting really good and getting really queer. Hints of Nicolas’ parentage, OTPs and cannons, crash course on fencing and of course, cliffhangers.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bitsSoundtrack: Competition
Artist: Matt Pond PA
Album: Measure(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37554812-fence-3)
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Fence #2 – C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
As Seiji and Nicholas struggle with their living arrangement, the competition heats up.
I’m feeling the heat! Lovely meeting the rest of this wonderfully diverse gang.
Rating:
4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Soundtrack: Campus
Artist: Vampire Weekend
Album: Vampire Weekend(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36501268-fence-2)
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Fence #1 –
C.S. Pacat & Johanna the Mad
Sixteen-year-old Nicholas Cox is an outsider to the competitive fencing world. Filled with raw talent but lacking proper training, he signs up for a competition that puts him head-to-head with fencing prodigy Seiji Katayama…and on the road to the elite all-boys school Kings Row. A chance at a real team and a place to belong awaits him—if he can make the cut!
Nothing we haven’t seen before in sports anime but I’m curious to see where C.S. Pacat will take this comics. Can’t wait for #2!
Rating:
3 Stars – not exactly setting my world on fire but I liked it
Soundtrack: Falling
Artist: Haim
Album: Days are Gone(source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36064768-fence)
