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Book Review: Love Mode, Vol 6 by Yuki Shimizu

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Love Mode, Vol 6       

Author: Yuki Shimizu

Publisher: Blu

American release date:  August 14, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga/200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Kiichi takes Naoya shopping and insists on buying him lots of clothes, despite his protestations. He even insists that Naoya needs a ring, considering his newfound relationship with Reiji and takes him to a jewelry store. He was just kidding, though, and buys a watch instead. They are unaware that trouble lurks nearby. As they are leaving the store, two armed men force them back in and demand money and jewels! And they are going to take Naoya as a hostage. Kiichi refuses to let that happen, so that’s how he ends up in the back seat of the getaway car along with Naoya.

Haruomi, who was only gone for a moment, returns to discover what has happened and immediately phones Reiji, who is visibly upset at the news. He tells his subordinates to contact the phone company so they can trace Kiichi’s cell phone, no matter what it takes.  Meanwhile, the robber realizes the story about them is on the news as they listen to the radio. But what do they care, as they intend to kill the hostages anyway. Kiichi tells Naoya to open the door so they can escape, but when he does, he pushes the younger man out, into the river, to keep him safe. The robbers hurt him for his trouble, while Naoya finds a pay phone (good luck doing that now lol) and phones Reiji. Now it’s time to rescue the doctor!

Seiichi works at B&B, Reiji’s male escort service. He’s been assigned to a new client. But, to his dismay, when he arrives at the client’s home, he finds what appears to be a little kid. However, looks can be deceiving.  The client’s name is Tomoki, and Seiichi is his first.  When Seiichi sees Tomoki taking pills, he gets upset and makes him throw them away. They have a lot of sex over the next couple of weeks. But when something happens, and Seiichi learns the truth about Tomoki, his world will never be the same again.

I love how Reiji is learning to care about someone other than himself, though I did miss seeing Izumi and Takamiya in this volume and hope they will be back soon. Kiichi and Haruomi have grown much closer too. The story of Seiichi and Tomoki made me cry.  The biggest complain I have with some yaoi is the tendency to either make one of the guys looks like a kid or like a girl. I would rather see two men who look like men.

Good volume, looking forward to the next one.

Book Review: Love Mode, Vol 5 by Yuki Shimizu

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Love Mode, Vol 5     

Author: Yuki Shimizu

Publisher: Blu

American release date:  May 8, 2007

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

After moving in with Reiji, Naoya’s life has changed for the better, including a new school. On the first day of school, Reiji and his brother Kiichi pick up Naoya to celebrate. As usual, Reiji seems irritated by the close relationship between Kiichi and Naoya, and his brother accuses him of being jealous. Naoya keeps his part-time job, intending to reimburse Reiji for at least some of the money the man has spent on him.

The relationship between Naoya and Reiji is beginning to subtly shift, with each man thinking of the other a lot, even if neither one admits to it. However, forces are at work that threaten to tear them apart. On his way to school, Naoya is stopped by a man who asks if he is Shirakawa Naoya. Upon learning that he is, the man says he has orders to bring him to the mansion where his grandfather awaits. Grandfather? Seriously? Meanwhile, Reiji learns that one of his clients is being blackmailed.

Naoya opts to live with his grandfather, but for altruistic reasons, believing himself to be a burden to Reiji. Reiji accepts his decision, although he leaves him with something to remember him by before he goes. Life with his grandfather isn’t always easy either. All of Naoya’s stuff is disposed of, anything which connected him to his former life, including the keys to Reiji’s apartment, which is thrown out into the enormous garden. Try though he might, Naoya can’t locate them. On top of that, young Wataru, who was supposed to be the heir to Naoya’s grandfather, is angry at Naoya’s arrival and jealous that he has been supplanted in his adopted father’s affections.

Reiji pretends to be unaffected by Naoya’s absence, but even Kiichi can see the truth about Reji’s feelings for Naoya. He and Naoya reconcile, but an unexpected crisis threatens to tear them apart permanently.

This volume of Love Mode brings the love story of Naoya and Reiji to a dramatic climax – literally and figuratively. Naoya does a lot of maturing, and learns to be his own man and make his own decisions. The scene we’ve all been waiting for between Naoya and Reiji finally happens, so yay for that! There’s a lot of drama between Naoya and Wataru, who not surpriisingly feels abandoned in favor of the “true” heir. Reiji is forced to examine his own feelings for once and not hide everything away beneath his oh so cool exterior. Things should be smoother from here on out.

Another great volume, look forward to the next!

Book Review: Love Mode, Vol 4 by Yuzi Shimuzu

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Love Mode, Vol 4       

Author: Yuki Shimizu

Publisher: Blu

American release date:  October 31, 2006

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Naoya’s life is finally becoming more settled. He is back in school, working part-time, and living with Reiji, who is determined to teach the young man basic civilities. Reiji’s doctor brother, Kiichi, organizes a dinner with Naoya’s guardian, Kajiwara. The idea is to show him how well Naoya is doing, and to persuade him to allow Naoya to remain in Reiji’s household. A chance meeting with the man who took over Naoya’s father’s company, Aizawa, leads to hard feelings when the man displays his true colors in front of a businessman he is trying to impress. Unfortunately for Aizawa, the man is a friend of Reiji and Kiichi and is appalled with Aizawa, saying he will not do business with him. Afterward, in private, a shocking revelation is made.

Naoya has a bad dream that night, one he’s had before, about the accident that took the lives of his family. Reiji comforts him. After work the next day, Naoya runs into Kajiwara, who invites him back to his home. Naoya wants to know why he is against his staying with Aoe, and Kajiwara reveals all. Afterward, Reiji find Naoya in a horrible state, and cares for him. Together, Reiji and Kiichi confront Kajiwara and finally lay certain demons to rest.

Bonus story: Takamiya is not shy about telling Izumi that he loves him, but so far, Izumi has never reciprocated those words. Takamiya proposes they get together in two days and have a date playing billiards. Why that paticular day? It’s a special anniversary for them! Thanks to a chance encounter, they end up spending time with Reiji and Naoya, like a double date! Izumi is incredulous that anyone could live with grumpy old Reiji, but Naoya defends him as a good man. Meanwhile, Takamiya is needling Reiji for bringing home a stray when he supposedly hates cats. Izumi, tired of Reiji’s patronizing attitude, begs Takamiya to play a game of pool with him and clean his clock for him. He promises that if he does that, Takamiya can have anything he wants from Izumi. Yes, anything! Challenge on!

In a second bonus story, a young man is living with a foster family for certain reasons, and he realizes he cares about his foster brother a little too much. A sinister man seems to be stalking him, but can he save him?

Naoya’s past is out in the open now, and the truth has finally been revealed. Now he can let go of the ghosts that haunted him and move on with his life, whatever that may bring.  Will his relationship with Reiji heat up? Does he want it to? Only time will tell. I enjoyed the bonus story very much. I think Izumi and Takamiya are a cute couple! The second bonus story was more bittersweet than sweet. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!