#complete for now
Novella: Scandalous Passions
Scotland, 1504. Lady Janet Fraser didn’t earn her reputation as Scotland’s most notorious sinner by following the rules. A former mistress of King James IV, she’s content to live her life from pleasure to pleasure. Even if those pleasures—and people—are forbidden. People like Sir Lachlan Ross, given the moniker The Highland Beast, a man as intimidating in battle as he is in size. A beast she discovers secretly wishes to be tamed and submit to her dominance. Or like her new ward, Lady Marjorie Hepburn, a convent-raised virgin with a desire to be taught all the sensual secrets of the marriage bed. Things that Janet is fully willing to teach her, again and again. There’s much for her to learn. And forbidden pleasures like the three of them together in one bed. But Lachlan and Marjorie both have ties to the king. As wicked lusts are indulged and affection unexpectedly grows into love, breaking the rules this time could mean all of their undoing…
Title: Scandalous Passions
Author: Nicola Davidson
Format: Digital/Audiobook
Steam Level: Steamy
Series: Complete (?)
Link:https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0879GQ3NS/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_EGZCT5EE9GSP73FMJ1HE
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
This novella is the first entry in the Highland Ménage series and, so far, the only one that’s F/F/M. The relationship between Janet and Marjorie is hot and sweet, and when Lachlan is added it doesn’t feel like he takes away from them. This is ménage series so Lachlan does have a relationship and sex with Janet and Marjorie both singularly and together. What I love about this novella is that there is no one relationship more important than the other, they only work as a thruple and not one-on-one. The sex is explicit, on page, and extremely hot. I just zoomed through this story and immediately bought book two (it’s a F/M/M relationship so I won’t be reviewing it here.) There is a little bit of violence and blood but it’s not gory, it felt appropriate for this setting. I loved all three characters and the villains who try to keep them apart are fun root against. I liked how it is stressed that communication is important and vital for them. It’s always important in every relationship and it’s nice to see that reflected here. The guy on the cover doesn’t look like how he’s described in the book and neither do the woman but that’s the problem with stock pictures, it doesn’t take away how hot and fun this story though. Overall, I really enjoyed this and a great introduction to a ménage story if you have not tried one.
If you are looking at romance books, you’re bound to come across the shorthand F/F/M or F/M/F and the like. This is to show who has sex/in love with who. A F/F/M story means both the female characters have a relationship together and with the male character. A F/M/F story means the female characters don’t have a relationship together but do with the male character. A M/M/F story means the two male characters have a relationship (people will say ‘the swords cross’) and with the female character. That middle symbol indicates who has a relationship with who in a ménage relationship.
The reason I say complete for now, is that if a romance book isn’t a stand alone, it usually has three books but I don’t see anything on the author’s website about another book.
Website:http://www.nicola-davidson.com
Manga: Éclair Orange: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
Love is complicated in all its forms, but the feelings of girls especially so…Return again to tales from maidens’ hearts with this fifth installment of Éclair! Continue the journey of young and arduous love with authors like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl), Yuriko Hara (Cocoon Entwined), and Kabocha (Kemono Friends á la carte).
Title: Éclair Orange: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
Editor: ASCII Media Works
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Digital/Print
Steam Level: Not Steamy
Status: Complete
Book:https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Orange-Manga
Recommended
This is book 5 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.
There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume one series continue by Canno.
This volume also has a “Parental Advisory Warning Explicit Content” label and it actually makes sense this time. There are illusions to sex and one entry you see boobs head on and another time just from the side.
Last one in the series (printed in 2020 and I haven’t seen anything yet about another volume) and this one is just as good as the others. There’s a good mix of unrequited love and unhappy endings and happy endings in this one, more so than the others. It also has sci-fi and adults and high school students and age gaps. One story, Song of a Heat Haze by Kumiko Takeba, was the saddest I’ve read in this series and actually cried. It was so good and so sad. The last story, Karen-chan Master by Auri Hirao, was super weird and an odd one to end the series on. The one before it would have been better I think since it had the feel of the all books as a whole. Overall, this anthology series is great and worth picking up every book. As with anything like this, there are stories I loved, others that tore my heart out, and others that I was meh about but none that I hated. It’s a good collection.
Favorite story: 52-Hertz Whale by Yuriko Hara
Manga: Éclair Rouge: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
The emotions of girls burn bright, but love can be especially intense…Éclair is back in this fourth installment with an exciting new collection of impassioned romances. With chapters from returning artists like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl) and Kabocha (Kemono Friends à la Carte), plus fresh additions like Akiko Morishima (The Conditions of Paradise), this volume is sure to thrill.
Title: Éclair Rouge: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
Editor: ASCII Media Works
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Digital/Print
Steam Level: Not Steamy
Status: Complete
Book:https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Rouge-Manga
Recommended
This is book 4 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.
There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume three different series continue, one by Kazuno Yuikawa (that ends here), another by Canno (which goes until volume five,) and one by Kagekichi Tadano (that ends here.)
This volume also has a “Parental Advisory Warning Explicit Content” label but there really isn’t anything that explicit. There is a mention of sex and nipples though nothing is shown. Perfectly safe to read in public.
One again, the volume is as much of an emotional roller coaster as the others. There’s pining, heartbreak, happy endings, and potential of happiness. I enjoy that these books range from adult to high school, sci-fi to normal life, and established relationships to just starting out. There really is something for everyone here. I also like the diverse art styles and lots of fantastic creators (it’s a great way to expose yourself to new creators.) The series of Kazuno Yuikawa that ends here, ends in a way that I did not expect but felt very satisfying (even with it not being a happy ending.) The one by Kagekichi Tadano is really good but I’m greedy and do wish there was more. While unhappy endings and unrequited love endings hurt my heart, I can handle them even if they make me very sad (I always have something happy on tap for these times) but there is one in this collection by Shuninta Amano (Me, My Girlfriend, and My Friend), that I did not like and still annoyed with. Overall, still a great addition to this series as a whole and a great read.
Favorite story: The Legend, the Newbie, & Me by Taki Kitao
Manga: Éclair Bleue: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
The girls’ love anthology returns with another collection of stories to warm your heart! This third installment revisits old favorites and entices with brand-new tales of love. Explore maidenly hearts with new chapters from authors like Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl), Nakatani Nio (Bloom into You), and Fly (Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park!).
Title: Éclair Bleue: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
Editor: ASCII Media Works
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Digital/Print
Steam Level: Steamy
Status: Complete
Book:https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Bleue-Manga
Recommended
This is book 3 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.
There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume three different series continue, one by Kazuno Yuikawa (that ends in volume four), another by Canno (which goes until volume five,) and one by Kagekichi Tadano (that end in volume four.)
This volume felt a lot less sad than the previous two but it still has a few of very sad entries. Or maybe I’m getting used to the sad? Again, this has a mix of teen and adult stories, and the Advisory is just for boobs and suggestive themes. I didn’t think it was too much but, then again, my lewdness meter is set a bit high. The art is great and in this volume I could spot different artist’s styles, which I am, admittedly, bad at doing. These stories in these anthologies have been interesting and lots of fun to read. I’m not someone who seeks out sad stories but even those have been enjoyable in their own way. Heads up, there is an unrequited love story about a romance between half-sisters, if that bothers you skip the story Damages Sisters by Shuninta Amano.
Favorite story: The Joy of Big Boobs: More, more, booboies!!!! By Tamamushi Oku
Manga: Éclair Blanche: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
The girls’ love anthology is back and bursting with stories to enchant and delight. Featuring works from favorites such as Canno (Kiss and White Lily for My Dearest Girl), Hiroichi (Highschool DxD: Asia & Koneko’s Secret Contract!?), and Fly (Kemono Friends: Welcome to Japari Park), this new addition to the Éclair lineup will sweep you off your feet!
Title: Éclair Blanche: A Girls’ Love Anthology That Resonates in Your Heart
Editor: ASCII Media Works
Publisher: Yen Press
Format: Digital/Print
Steam Level: Not Steamy
Status: Complete
Book:https://www.rightstufanime.com/Eclair-Blanche-Manga
Recommended
This is book 2 in this anthology series. So far, (2021) there are only 5 books.
I enjoyed the first book in this anthology series from ASCII Media Works so I picked up this with continued great expectations.
There was some controversy about later collections where stories were pulled from the English version for content. I know one of those stories was an age gap love story between an elementary school kid and a college student. I love age gap stories and enjoy some pretty taboo stories, but even that is a bit much for me. I’m glad they took it out. In this volume two different series continue, one by Kazuno Yuikawa (that ends in volume four) and another by Canno (which goes until volume five.)
What is with all these sad endings? My only consolation is that I didn’t read a 180+ page manga to just cry at the end. These sad ones did leave me sad and the happy ones had me happy so I guess they did what they were supposed to do. I enjoyed each story so much, it was hard to chose just one favorite. This is the first volume with a Parental Advisory Warning on it. For this volume it’s just for sex (not explicitly shown) and seeing boobs. While I get why the Advisory is on there but I wish there a milder version of it, I read this at home because I thought it might have an actual sex scene I didn’t think I should read it outside. I would have been fine. I do enjoy the variety of stories here. Yes, it is mostly high school girls but there are adult stories too. A little something for everyone and at a high quality.
Favorite story: The Princess and the Knight for Two Days a Week by Taki Kitao
