Cigarette Kisses

I have to admit that I was drawn to the art first. But after reading this yaoi, I was pleasantly surprised at the outcome. I won't give away the plot too much, but its a good triangle that made me guess a few times and I was actually happy with how it worked out. The characters seemed realistic and the situations were really challenges that would make them all or some of them grow up and out as people. I really liked it. That, and the art was really good. Hope this review helped.

Deux Press made a brilliant move in saving this title from the new defunct Boysenberry. This is my most favorite Yamato Nase's licensed work to date. The art is gorgeous as always & I love the story too. The beginning chapters were pretty angsty - I was really mad at the both the main seme & the uke for not being truthful about their feelings to each other that caused the seme to get married to someone else. But as the story unfold, I begin to understand why. I love the way sensei weave her stories & the interactions among her characters. I am not disappointed in the ending too. Overall - a good addition to any yaoi fangirl's collection who prefer suits to school uniforms after a while.

When I read the summary of this book I really, really wanted to hate the best friend seme, like alot. I went into the book thinking "ooh, that jerk went and married some chick and left his best friend with all these unresolved feelings, I don't want him to get the uke, definitely not." When the friend seme kept trying to talk to the uke all I could think was "Can't you see how much pain this is causing him?" When the other seme came into the picture, I was like "Yeah! Go you! Pursue your life long love!" I had alot of preconceived yaoi plots in my head... The story was excellent. I absolutely couldn't dislike any of the characters, I really felt for all of them. They each carried their own burdens; trying to protect a precious friendship, escaping forbidden feelings, doing anything for your loved one even if it means sacrificing your own feelings, fighting the sexual tension and all the while trying to act normal in the company smoking room... Good stuff.

This is Nase Yamato's 3rd release in the US and has a serious and mature story line. I enjoy this love triangle one shot and find all 3 guys appealing even if each has his own flaws. I like the company setting too. The guys forced to feed their cigarette addiction in the smoking room is an all too familiar scene in the white collar world and so is one testy remark. Who would have thought 3 guys smoking away could be so sexy! Yusuke, Soji and Masahito are close friends during high school and as usual I just love all her cute chibis in the flashbacks. But it is more than friendship as both Soji and Masahito find themselves falling for Yusuke even as Yusuke only has eyes for Soji from high school to college years to their first job in Soji's family company. But these feelings are never revealed and took a setback when Soji married at the tender age of 22. 3 years later, all these long buried but never forgotten emotions resurfaced and these 3 close friends are now forced to confront their unresolved feelings. The plot flows smoothly with its drama, angst filled moments and emotional twists and turns. As in some of her stories, her uke is pretty strong willed here. One seme does come across weaker in character while the other is more aggressive in his pursuit of his childhood love. I am not going to reveal who gets the uke but the journey there is one enjoyable read with its emotional ups and downs. A little non-con here but absolutely necessary to the plot. The ending is satisfying and the last bonus chapter is cute even as I feel sorry for the seme who lost out. Very glad that Deux has picked this one up and of course I love Nase Yamato's lovely artwork with her gorgeous guys.