No Competition (Silhouette Romance)

I enjoyed it. Good story and art, though sometimes the side views looked weird cuz she would have a giant eye. But all in all nice. And it's printed in pink which is a nice change as well.

Carrie Lockett has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful twin, Camille. Every time Carie had a boyfriend, he gravitated to Camille at first site. As a budding artist, Carrie paints a picture of her twin. When the rich, talented, and handsome architect Shane Reynolds buys the painting at a local exhibit, Carrie wonders whether the purchase was inspired by her talent or his fascination with her sister's beauty. When Shane commissions Carrie to do his portrait, will he discover her feelings for him? Even more, can she keep him away from her sister Camille? The surprise ending is classic Macomber and a perfect stroke --- a true delight! In true Manga style, this book is read from right to left not only in the pages but also from panel to panel. At the back (or traditional book front), the publisher has a helpful page instructing the reader how to read Manga and shows a numbered diagram about how to read the panels in the correct order. Even without this guide, the order becomes apparent intuitively within a page or three, but the diagram gives the reader confidence. The artwork is "printed in flirty pink ink" to reinforce the appeal to the female reader. The drawings by Yukino Hara could not be more perfect as illustrations of the emotions and conflicts in Macomber's story. The eyes are expressive and emphasize the inner feelings of the characters. Even the drawings of the secondary characters such as the art gallery owner dazzle the reader. The small panels of such items as a wallet, a telephone and a credit card, heighten the suspense and the side dilemmas that motivate the characters. Yukino Hara uses one type of panel to indicate a passage of time and helps the reader notice the time and location shifts. Her use of modified Japanese characters for exclamations heightens the emotions and the tension. Yukino Hara is a perfect match for Debbie Macomber in this Manga rendition of a fun tale. The publisher recommends this book for ages 12 and up. Personally, I think this book is suitable for girls perhaps a bit younger who may be reaching puberty and wondering about boys. Other than a kiss, there is no explicit sexuality. Above all, this book reinforces positive body images for girls and also an appreciation for the talents of individual over expectations. This book is a must have for adult Debbie Macomber fans.

No Competition is the second Harlequin manga I've read. I'm not an Harlequin reader myself, but I'm a great manga, specially shoujo manga fan. When, the book is nice, you can read and enjoy a simple and sincere love story. The main character is a bit annoying but reliable, you may find many people like her with absolute lack of selfconfidence. Competition between sisters is very common too and the story is well constructed. Her love interest is a nice man, not the egoistic [..] of Holding on to Alex (*I almost gave up Harlequin manga after this one*). The art could be better, but it's not bad at all. Nice reading, not the best but I liked it.

Carrie the artists has always felt like a pale imitation of her twin sister beauty consultant Camille. When she does a portrait of the beautiful Carrie, critics think it is a masterpiece as it hangs in San Francisco's Daupe Gallery. However, no one seems to know that the model is her twin. Architect Shane wants to buy the painting and meet the artist. When they do meet, they begin to date until Carrie falls in love with Shane. However, when she sees him dancing with Camille, she knows another boyfriend has fallen for the beauty of her sibling, but this is the first time her heart has broken. This is a cute tale that targets twelve to thirteen years old girls as Manga art is combined with a fun wholesome romance with a bit of a message to believe in yourself and not waste time being jealous of others. Adults will appreciate both the art and text of this graphic book though we have to adjust to the right to left (probably take 3 or 4 pages) boxes while young adults will smoothly handle the transition. Though a paradigm is needed to accept manga in romance instead of the usual fantasy, NO COMPETITION is a fine well written and well drawn tale. Harriet Klausner