Amita4ever's manga / #BBV Baby :((10)

It was a hard sell to give this 3 stars, but the final page tipped it. You won’t find a more tyrannical, callus ML, but his transformation also felt more realistic as his time with the FL and her child awakened suppressed memories that helped him reconnect with his mom’s love and heal his heart. I also liked that this kid wasn’t instantly, “DADDY!” Made the ML work for it :D And LOVED that we had a way, way-post wedding ending to show a true happy ending.

I'll give it 2.5 stars. I wasn't a fan. The ML is a total ass in the beginning, but he has the decency to realize that midway through the book and is properly repentant and wanting to fix his mistake. Then the plot moves to the 'ignorant assumption and run away without talking' phase. Honesty, the emotions that prompted the reaction were not necessarily unjustified, but isn't it better to confirm life changing assumptions before acting on them? Maybe it was the hormones *rolls eyes*. I liked that the ML was, by her description, looking haggard when he found her. That implies a serious emotional investment which is something I wish we saw more often on the guy side. So all in all, I liked the character growth, but the story revolved so heavily around coerced BBV [Bed Before Vows], that I just couldn't really enjoy it. Great art, though.

ONE SHOT

Call it 1.5 because the art is worth at least 1/2 a star. Beyond the fact its based on a BBV (Bed Before Vows) baby, this story is frustrating because the ML is privileged and arrogant (as many are in the genre) but he applies it with a uniquely broad ignorance that is just irritating. He gets better by the end of the book, but I have a hard time with his (and his family's) "Why didn't you tell me?" accusations considering what was happening when she DID try to tell him. There should have been some recognition of culpability and apologies instead of accusations. And considering how he dumped her, how can he think BLACKMAILING her back into a relationship would be better than apologizing and telling her the truth?!? The whole premise just starts out on a sour note that never really gets turned around. It has chances, but doesn't take them so it just wasn't very satisfying. Additional (SPOILER) comment in topics.

How do I dislike thee! Let me count the ways... We start with a rush relationship complicated by BBV (Bed Before Vows), then a BBV pregnancy, then a rushed marriage, then an arrogant, two-faced family and an overworked young husband, then a father sanctioned attempted double murder that 1/2 succeeded (how do you possibly accept the killing of your own grandchild?!?), and then you have an ignorant, arrogant disbelieving overworked husband (irregardless of his belief, did he not care at all that his child had died?!?) and then she’s left with a lying, manipulative father... and that’s just the backstory. Let’s not forget the rest of the story... blackmail, continued disbelief even in the face of doubts, manipulation, total disregard for personal feelings.... I love reconciliation stories, but this one was a little too much. It was good to see his confession and apology at the end, finding out about all the pressure he was under just almost made it understandable, at least up until the miscarriage, and then all my sympathy for the ML went out the window and he only got worse. I had to wonder how the FL could even stand to be in his presence long enough to hear an apology.

3.5 stars- I liked it better than I wanted to considering it is a BBV baby based story. Part of that was the positive, bubbly FL. Part of it was the ML who started out callous, but was introspective and wise enough to recognized his stupidity and never resorted to threats or cocerion to claim his baby, and part of it was the exceptional art.

I don't usually give BBV (Bed Before Vows) stories 4 stars, but for all the over-the-top wretched backstories of being unloved children harboring the scars of neglect, abuse or both, there was a strong message here. That message being that forgiveness, at its heart, isn't always something you do for the other person, it may very well be something you do for yourself! It's said that harboring hatred and unforgivness is like you drinking rat poison and expecting the rat to die. The fact is, when you let go of your hatred and forgive, whether the the other person/people deserves it or not, whether they accept it or not, you have released YOURSELF to experience happiness with them, or even in SPITE of them. I really find that a powerful and REAL message that can be learned from this fictional BBV story.

I just couldn't get into this one. They got off on the wrong foot, in more ways than one starting with jumping in bed the first time they met, but seriously, what kind of magazines - other than tabloids who publish lies so aren't interested in facts - publishes articles about famous elgible bachalors without a decent picture and without at least trying to get a hold of the subject... for some juicy, personal facts if nothing else. Not impressed. And then the hero was just so contradictory and confusing. Granted he had a rotten childhood, and no confidence on top of that, but if you can show enough affection to make a gal fall in love with you, I don't think you can say, 'I don't know how to show love,'. You might be an amateur and need to build on your skills, but you've shown an inclination, but instead these guys, after being a guy a gal can fall in love with, suddenly say, 'I can't,' and quit what they were ALREADY doing. And in this one, our 'miraculous love recovery' is near instantaneous. I don't know. I just couldn't get into it.

This ML really sat ill with me. He had a chance... at first, all the misunderstandings were justifiable. His poor choice of words, her (justifiable) assumptions as to his meaning, her choice to leave, his frustration realizing he had missed 5 years of his child's life... all extreme, but understandable, and then he blew it. They have their heart to heart. He gets slapped with his own words and realizes just how cruel, callus, and responsible for her all her heartache he was/is being. He holds her regretfully, tenderly, as she melts down... and threatens her with a court battle! It was hard to like him after that, even when his side of the story started being revealed because he just doesn't stop. He just keeps steamrolling over her again and again. You might be afraid of being rejected, but I've never understood how that translates into being cold, arrogant, and domineering and expecting someone to be happy to stay with you. These stories always come down to 'thank goodness the heroine is so forgiving'. I much prefer the 'realizes his faults; sets out - even if awkwardly - to make changes' to 'steamroll, but it works out anyway', but what do I know.

One-shot