Monday, October 14, 2019

Hanami

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. V. C. Buckley will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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“I am no princess… I am Yakuza,”

SAKURA SHINTANI is the heir to the Dragon Clan—Japan’s most notorious crime dynasty. But can she keep this fact a secret from the annoying brats of Oniyuri Academy?

She must try to master her demons while trying not to hurt anyone. But having the face of an angel puts her on everyone’s radar… including the arrogant heir to Asia’s most powerful tycoon, KENJIN KIYOHARA. He senses the danger, but Sakura is too interesting to be left alone.

My Review


This was an interesting read but I must admit I had trouble getting into the story at first. Part of the reason for my feeling may be because I was uncomfortable about the character Sakura. It seemed she was so cold, so distant from others, as if she felt she was a step above others or at least that’s how she came across to me. Then we have Jin who thinks every girl should be falling at his feet. These are both characters that in real life I detest so I didn’t know how I felt about the story. Except for what almost seems like a bit of fantasy, this romance struck me as if it were of Victorian times when fathers and royal families wanted only specific and fitting mates for their children. While, of course, Sakura’s parents were gone, it still seemed she was of this breeding. The idea of making matches is not unusual in any culture. I think as I said, I just got started off on the wrong foot because of the characters. I might add that any type of writing that can cause you to feel aversion or any other strong emotion can also be described as strong writing. I did enjoy the Japanese setting woven into what was really a love story. It made it have a different flavor and made for good reading. 

read an excerpt...
He snatched her backpack and swung it around his shoulder.

“Hey!” she protested, lunging for it.

Jin stepped aside, evading her grasp. He smiled to himself, taking long strides toward his car. He could hear her feet going after him.

Mr. Fujimaru was already by the car, holding the door open. His guards stood waiting like goons by the sidewalk.

“Look,” she said, grabbing his elbow before he could duck into his car, “I don’t care if you rescued me. I am not going with you! I don’t even know you!”

Her words cut right through him.

She lunged for her bag again, but Jin threw it into the farthest corner of the back seat.

He looked at her tilting his head down, their height difference apparent. He thought about what she said.

She doesn’t know me? His forehead creased. Was he really that invisible to her? He felt like someone had just slapped him across the face. He took one long look at her before ducking into his car.

He was confused. Any girl would jump at the chance to be with him—she should have been honored and groveling at his feet for rescuing her! What was wrong with her?

He felt her slide into the seat next to him, her knees slightly touching the side of his thigh. But before he could think, she reached across him, leaning her upper body against his lap to grab her bag. Jin froze.

She straightened back up, clutching her bag to her chest. Her eyes met his with a piercing glare, and a wave of heat suddenly swept over him.

Jin looked away, landing his gaze on her reflection on the car door window. Even with an angry face, she still looked so beautiful.

Jin smiled, tilting his head to the side to get a better look. I should stop this, he told himself, but it was too late. She was too interesting to be left alone.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:


V.C. Buckley was born in an isolated government facility and shipped off to an Island in Southeast Asia where she grew up braving tropical thunderstorms and warding off evil villains. At sixteen she was discovered by an agent and jetted off all over the world. Her stories come from gritty moments of her childhood to the glitz of her travels. She now lives in Manila with her husband, two kids and an herb garden that has hijacked her balcony.


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