Amita4ever's manga / #Growing up(313)

I'd have rated it a star higher if they hadn't climbed in bed. I loved the initial introduction where they explain their relationship - brother and sister with different dad AND a different mom... in other words, step sibs. It was funny and showed how close they were. I gave me higher hopes for this tale, but sadly it finally had to go down the common path. I did, however, enjoy the art.

SPOILER INCLUDED: Cute, but also a little sad. Even though the female lead can read others emotions, and we get to see her mature and grow, the male lead remains a mystery. His vehement protest that’s he’s not kind and a couple other hints suggest the author fleshed out his character to a greater degree than we’d yet seen and it left me hoping we’d get to know him better by the end of the series too, but it ends with his accidental confession and we never really get to understand him. It’s more like he’s supporting cast: the love interest, rather than the co-star. I suppose there’s a limit to what can be crammed into a fixed page count, but I think a little more about him could have been worked in.

3 stories x 2 chaps@ (4*)- Sweet young love stories by one of my favorite artists.

I’m not sure just how to describe this book. The story goes from -1 star to... I’d go 4 stars in the space of the three years the girl ran away, but I’m not sure it’s worth the average. It starts with him infatuated, overbearing, insensitive, almost oblivious (I say almost, because he does occasionally notice his little wife is unhappy, but just can’t pick up on the fact she’s all but cringing every time she says she’s fine), and dismissive when she finally does voice an opinion. Some would blame her because she never asserted herself, and they wouldn’t be wrong, but there are certainly extenuating circumstances here... he moves from one overwhelming authority position - her all powerful boss (with the ability to hire, fire and wreck careers) to all powerful husband. With her background and his attitude, she really doesn’t have the wherewithal to stand up for herself. Honestly, running away and becoming a mother was the best thing she could have ever done. Running away gave her time to grow up and gain life experience, and becoming a mother fostered internal strength. It gave him time to reflect and when they got back together, he was ready to be a model husband... listening, supportive, courteous, encouraging, a great father figure... to both of them. That’s something else I just couldn’t get past. It was a huge age gap, and that part never settled for me even though both characters grew well into their husband/wife roles by the end of the book. The differences - beginning to end (as well as the ages) - were just to big for me to appreciate.

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.

Sigh. I really wanted to like this one more. The FL starts at a point of weakness and blooms under the loving attention of a man who sees her for who she is when no one else can. It was a wonderful, naturally progressing relationship that I enjoyed... right up until it went 'au natural'. But the biggest disappointment on top of that is we never get to hear him propose. Instead, she effectively invites him to be her bed warmer. Commitment is implied, but only implied. There is never any proof or mentions of vows, and that rather spoiled the whole thing for me. Bad enough they jumped in for some BBV (Bed Before Vows- RL statistics show that harmful to long term marriage), but to not even get to KNOW they marry? Sad ending IMO.

Treasure is a term used in this story, and I rather think it also applies to the story itself. We have quite the unconventional FL, and an, initially, desperate ML, but it leads to a lasting relationship, and it's an enjoyable read. Circumstances put them together, and it is a contract marriage of convienence so there is no time for prenuptial fooling around, but it doesn’t happen after the vows either. They grow their relationship the old fashion way by finding commonalities and discovering what they appreciate about one another, going (and growing) through a few trials, and finally learning the importance of communication (verbal and non-verbal). That, IMO, is a far more romantic way to find love (and its more likely to last according to RL statistics). I liked this story enough to buy an official copy and might consider a hardcopy if I can find it.

An enjoyable story. I did get frustrated with our couple, both getting hung up on him being her 'guardian', even though he wasn't yet, and there really wasn't a good reason for it beyond not wanting to admit their attraction. The ML was also a little too dictatorial to convince me he was trying to improve his relationship with the FL. He came off as more antagonistic, and I could only shake my head when after his dictatorial commands and disparaging comments he lamented she wasn't the bright, spunky girl he remembered. Seriously? Are you really that oblivious to your own actions? He improved as the story moved along, but I don't blame the FL for being frequently irritated with him. Another thing that confused me a bit were the first assassination attempts. They were exceptionally close to home, in broad daylight, and the guilty party wasn't exactly the sort to blend in with the staff, especially in a household where everybody would know everybody else, but that was an after-the-fact logic hiccup because it didn't crop up until we see the villain. Despite these complaints, I still enjoyed the story and might even consider buying an official copy... if I find it on sale cheap.