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Genjin/Holmes Mysteries #1
His Beautiful Samurai
Publisher’s His Beautiful Samurai has been extensively revised for release with Ai Press. It is a VASTLY different story from the 2006 edition from Torquere Press. Sex and murder don’t mix but Detective Toshiro Genjin and psychic John Holmes do… John Holmes comes to Tokyo to help stop a killer. Through the use of his psychic abilities, he can help find out things that no one else sees. Toshi is a policeman who reluctantly accepts John's help, but from their first touch, John knows he wants more than that. He wants all Toshi can give him, and the heat between them surprises, and delights him. The modern killer, a historical murder of two samurai, and Toshi's need to honor other commitments combine to make the blooming love between John and Toshi difficult. And dangerous. The more deeply they delve into the past, the more unsure the future looks. Could the heat between them be the only thing that can solve the mystery, despite all of the difficulties that stand in their way? Can they find a way to keep what is most precious to them? Haunting and powerful, His Beautiful Samurai is a murder mystery, a romance, and a study in the supernatural. Get your hands on it today! Chapter One Tokyo, Japan, Present day Toshi stared down at the fresh corpses. Around him, the flashbulbs of the crime scene photographers went off like tiny fireworks. Shimatta! He’d failed again and now stood, helpless, staring at the victims’ grisly fate. His hands already encased in latex gloves, he pressed his palms together, steepled in front of him, and bowed his respect to the dead. As did his partner, Natsuka Yamamoto, beside him. The victims of this third killing in nearly six months, their naked, stiffening bodies still intertwined, had been skewered. The weapon, as with the other victims, a samurai’s katana, long sword. His stomach churned, as it never failed to do when he found the Ronin Killer’s victims. Natsuka delicately covered the victims with a white cloth then approached Toshi, shaking his head sadly. The katana tented the cloth in the most macabre way. “You ready for them to go?” Toshi sighed. Forensics had already done the preliminary, time and cause of death. As if they didn’t already know the cause. His hand went into the inner pocket of his jacket, rummaging for the cigarettes he’d made the mistake of trying to quit the week before. Then stopped. No smoking on a crime scene. He’d have to wait. “Go ahead,” he murmured to his partner. Natsuka nodded and went to give the order. With his mind ticking off the ways he’d failed to prevent yet another killing, Toshi surveyed the room while the Identification Division people finished up. He began to look around. Though he wasn’t sure why. Not one crime scene had turned up any useful leads. All they had so far in all this time was that the form of the murders was identical and that the victims were either married people having an illicit affair or a couple together whose relationship was rocky. Natsuka had a theory that the killer’s motive was at least in part a sick desire to keep them together. As good a motive as any. But that still didn’t explain the fact that each time they got a trace on a suspect, that same suspect ended up dead two days later back in their own home, dead from a fatal coronary and the word “Naomasa” carved into the deceased’s forehead. Autopsies showed that the wounds were self-inflicted moments before death. Men and women, both in service jobs, both solitary types. Profiling had gotten them that far. And only that far. Where were they getting the damned swords? The murder weapons turned out to be original swords smithed by one Koto Naomasa, one of the great sword smiths of nineteenth century Japan.
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Sedonia Guillone
69 books162 followersSedonia Guillone wanted to be an author since the age of six when she first volunteered in the school library and the librarian had to put a limit on how many times she checked out her favorite books. Then at sixteen, a short story she wrote won honorable mention in a contest by the League of American Pen Women and there was no stopping her. Since then, her first M/M mystery/suspense, His Beautiful Samurai, was nominated for a Gaylactic Spectrum Award and has been required reading in a college gay and lesbian literature course. Her M/M romance, Men of Tokyo: Sudden Bliss won a Rainbow Awards honorable mention in the Conteporary category and her historical romance, Lady of Two Lairds was a finalist for The Romance Studio's Cupid and Psyche Awards and A Passionate Plume Ink Chapter of Romance Writers of America. When she's not writing, she's baking something, talking baby talk to her two cats, Iroh and Zuko and hiking in the woods of Maine with her partner.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 18, 2015
***My review is for the updated version.***
Just gotta say, I think this is a very cool cover.
His Beautiful Samurai was a different experience from the norm for me. I do most of my reading at night in the bed, but with this one I keep getting creepy feelings and wanting the lights on. Haha. It's not actually scary or horror, but it does deal with angry sprits and myths. It is filled with Japanese culture which is also not a common part of the what I usually review.
This is the story of secret love, unrequited love and obsession. It begins in the 1800's between two Samurai in Japan. The tragedy and consequences surrounding these two reverberates throughout history into modern times.
Toshi is a detective facing the killing of lovers in the throws of passion with no leads. John is a psychic that often works with police forces on unsolved cases. These two find themselves involved in the investigation and each other on both a business and personal level.
You kind of have an idea what is going on behind the scenes, but the book is a mystery. I enjoyed the flipping from past to present times and the connections. I appreciate how it takes a different path from many of my current reads.
If you are looking for erotica, this is not the story for you. If you are up for some M/M lovin' with cops, detectives, psychics, ghosts, mythology, Eastern society etc, I suggest this story. I plan to read more from this author soon.
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
Just gotta say, I think this is a very cool cover.
His Beautiful Samurai was a different experience from the norm for me. I do most of my reading at night in the bed, but with this one I keep getting creepy feelings and wanting the lights on. Haha. It's not actually scary or horror, but it does deal with angry sprits and myths. It is filled with Japanese culture which is also not a common part of the what I usually review.
This is the story of secret love, unrequited love and obsession. It begins in the 1800's between two Samurai in Japan. The tragedy and consequences surrounding these two reverberates throughout history into modern times.
Toshi is a detective facing the killing of lovers in the throws of passion with no leads. John is a psychic that often works with police forces on unsolved cases. These two find themselves involved in the investigation and each other on both a business and personal level.
Before he realized what he was doing, he reached out and touched John's cheek.
John's breath caught softly and then the blue of his eyes began to shift and darken in the lamplight. Toshi leaned down again. John's lips were slightly parted, soft, masculine, inviting.
You kind of have an idea what is going on behind the scenes, but the book is a mystery. I enjoyed the flipping from past to present times and the connections. I appreciate how it takes a different path from many of my current reads.
If you are looking for erotica, this is not the story for you. If you are up for some M/M lovin' with cops, detectives, psychics, ghosts, mythology, Eastern society etc, I suggest this story. I plan to read more from this author soon.
***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***
FULL REVIEW CAN BE FOUND AT http://fangirlmomentsandmytwocents.bl...
June 28, 2010
As one who doesn't enjoy paranormals and who particularly dislikes ghost stories, I was dismayed (to put it politely) when my police procedural/murder mystery turned into an implausible ghost story!
I also dislike flashbacks and tend to stay away from books that have a lot of them. I only tolerate them in prologues or just one but not several. This book has them from start to finish.
Like Katikat, I was puzzled by why a common Japanese word like 'arigato' (thank you) was incorrectly given as 'aurigato'. In English, one vowel sound doesn't make much difference (usually) such as the way an American would pronounce the word 'semi' (sem MEE by a Brit but sem MY by an American). In Asian languages, and especially the Oriental ones, a vowel change can turn one word into a completely different one and in many cases, a different dialect altogether! Thankfully, as far as I know, this did not happen with the mangled arigato but authors do need to be careful when using Oriental languages in their stories.
I grew up in a household where demon possession was real and I had to perform rites and rituals and exorcisms. I've experienced more paranormal manifestations than most members here on GR simply because I live in a part of the world where the paranormal is commonplace, regular and expected. Having said that, as one who has lived with paranormal manifestations in my family for over twenty years and still see it in other households, it's difficult for me to read a novel with that as the main theme. It's like having an FBI agent watch an FBI-based TV drama - you know what happens - lots of sniggering and eye-rolling.
Unlike Katikat, however, I did not think it incongruous to have a ghostly setting in Japan. That country (and Korea) has produced (according to my sons) the best ghost movies ever so yeah, a Tokyo setting for this ghost story is fine. My whining and ranting is purely because it's my fault for thinking the paranormal element was referring to John Holmes' psychic abilities and for thinking I was buying a police procedural, a murder suspense story. If I'd known the killer is a ghost (here goes the eye-roll again, sorry) then I wouldn't have read this, no matter how much I enjoyed Acts of Passion. I'm kicking myself for ignoring that review which said the killer is a ghost. I don't know why I ignored it. Maybe I didn't believe the reviewer? In my mind, who would screw up a nice police procedural with a ghost as the perp?
I would have given this just one star but I'm giving it 2. One for each of the ghosts - yes, there's two of 'em! Toshi and John make a sweet, angst-free couple...and completely overshadowed by Akira and Kenji, the two ancient star-crossed samurai lovers who feature in the flashbacks. Those two ought to have returned as reincarnations in Toshi and John.
I also dislike flashbacks and tend to stay away from books that have a lot of them. I only tolerate them in prologues or just one but not several. This book has them from start to finish.
Like Katikat, I was puzzled by why a common Japanese word like 'arigato' (thank you) was incorrectly given as 'aurigato'. In English, one vowel sound doesn't make much difference (usually) such as the way an American would pronounce the word 'semi' (sem MEE by a Brit but sem MY by an American). In Asian languages, and especially the Oriental ones, a vowel change can turn one word into a completely different one and in many cases, a different dialect altogether! Thankfully, as far as I know, this did not happen with the mangled arigato but authors do need to be careful when using Oriental languages in their stories.
I grew up in a household where demon possession was real and I had to perform rites and rituals and exorcisms. I've experienced more paranormal manifestations than most members here on GR simply because I live in a part of the world where the paranormal is commonplace, regular and expected. Having said that, as one who has lived with paranormal manifestations in my family for over twenty years and still see it in other households, it's difficult for me to read a novel with that as the main theme. It's like having an FBI agent watch an FBI-based TV drama - you know what happens - lots of sniggering and eye-rolling.
Unlike Katikat, however, I did not think it incongruous to have a ghostly setting in Japan. That country (and Korea) has produced (according to my sons) the best ghost movies ever so yeah, a Tokyo setting for this ghost story is fine. My whining and ranting is purely because it's my fault for thinking the paranormal element was referring to John Holmes' psychic abilities and for thinking I was buying a police procedural, a murder suspense story. If I'd known the killer is a ghost (here goes the eye-roll again, sorry) then I wouldn't have read this, no matter how much I enjoyed Acts of Passion. I'm kicking myself for ignoring that review which said the killer is a ghost. I don't know why I ignored it. Maybe I didn't believe the reviewer? In my mind, who would screw up a nice police procedural with a ghost as the perp?
I would have given this just one star but I'm giving it 2. One for each of the ghosts - yes, there's two of 'em! Toshi and John make a sweet, angst-free couple...and completely overshadowed by Akira and Kenji, the two ancient star-crossed samurai lovers who feature in the flashbacks. Those two ought to have returned as reincarnations in Toshi and John.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2013
A review for Hearts on Fire Reviews
This is a quick and easy read but not without its problems.
In the prelude we meet Akira and Kenji, two samurai’s who are in love but Akira’s sense of duty is forcing them to part but before that can happen someone makes sure these two can never be together again. I found myself really wanting their story to continue and it does just not in the way I was hoping.
The story moves to present time where we meet the MCs. John is a man with psychic abilities who helps the police when they struggle to solve a case and Toshi is a Tokyo detective with a case that needs John’s special abilities. There is an instant attraction between them and I definitely felt their connection but my heart broke for Toshi who like Akira must marry to please his father.
John goes to Tokyo to help Toshi with a serial killer case that turns out to be something very unusual. With John having psychic abilities it came as no surprise to me that the story takes a turn into the paranormal. I know some will say even a story about a psychic is bordering on the paranormal and it is but this moves beyond that and by the end I was really wishing it hadn’t of gone there. The story ends so abruptly I don’t have a feeling of closure, it’s not a cliffhanger but neither is it the end. I’m not sure if I can call the ending a HEA or a HFN?! This is the first in a series and there is a short teaser at the end of what’s to come in the second book it appears if I want closure reading the second book is going to be a must. Thankfully I became somewhat attached to John and Toshi that I do want to find out what else these two are up to and where their love is going to take them.
December 5, 2007
To be honest, I have no idea what to think about this book. It was well written with no grammar or spelling mistakes and the mystery was interesting. But...!
There are three things that make me feel quite meh! about the book:
a) Everybody is way too gentle and kind and beautiful and understanding. It's too over the top and unrealistic. There is no real conflict. All the emotions are described, not felt. The author doesn't make you feel for the characters.
b) Everybody immediately accepts that the crime was committed by a ghost and nobody questions it. If it was set in a world where ghosts and other supernatural beings are known and accepted, I would have understood that but as it is, it just doesn't make sense.
c) The author tries to write Japanese but some of the words are messed up. I studied Japanese for 3 years and I'm still no expert but even I do know that it's "arigato" and not "aurigato". It reminds me a lot of fanfiction written in anime fandoms where the authors try to show their intelligence by filling the story with Japanese words they don't understand.
Overall, not bad but in the end result, nothing special either.
There are three things that make me feel quite meh! about the book:
a) Everybody is way too gentle and kind and beautiful and understanding. It's too over the top and unrealistic. There is no real conflict. All the emotions are described, not felt. The author doesn't make you feel for the characters.
b) Everybody immediately accepts that the crime was committed by a ghost and nobody questions it. If it was set in a world where ghosts and other supernatural beings are known and accepted, I would have understood that but as it is, it just doesn't make sense.
c) The author tries to write Japanese but some of the words are messed up. I studied Japanese for 3 years and I'm still no expert but even I do know that it's "arigato" and not "aurigato". It reminds me a lot of fanfiction written in anime fandoms where the authors try to show their intelligence by filling the story with Japanese words they don't understand.
Overall, not bad but in the end result, nothing special either.
September 7, 2013
This novel about a serial killer terrorizing an old neighborhood in Tokyo begins in the Edo period of Japanese history with the intensely felt though thoroughly doomed love affair between two Samurai and its tragic, brutal outcome. Suddenly, the reader is in present day Tokyo where a killer has been killing couples in doomed affairs the exact same grisly way with a katana that could have only come from a swordmaaster from that distant era! There are clues from oldest part of that cosmopolitan city that point to a modern day killer with a macabre flair for the distant past. However, one by one their most promising suspects are cleared even as the victims pile up. The press is having a field day with this Ronin Killer. Even lead Detective Toshiro Genjin is beginning to believe that the killer is unstoppable. Adding to the insults from the press, his Captain accepts the assistance of psychic, John Holmes to help solve the case. Toshi knows that there is much more to John Holmes' talent than a parlor trick. From the first touch, both men know that there is something that will not be denied that will further complicate the case, endanger their careers and put their lives at grave risk.
Sedonia Guillone creates an absolute marvel of suspense and terror mixed with heart pounding romance and toe curling eroticism in His Beautiful Samurai. Through well drawn out and full realized characters, she draws the readers into the lives and loves of people from vastly different times and walks of life. All of them ring very true and all of them are compelling. The lives of the Shogun's Samurai from Japan's Edo period are as believable as that of the modern Tokyo police detective. This is very important, because when the more fantastic elements of the case are brought forth via John Holmes, they are also believable. The murderer could be a jilted lover with some knowledge of ancient Japan and access to some really nasty artifacts or in could be something far more frightening. It all works.
And let's not forget the romance between Toshi and John. It is so moving and tender while being white hot at the same time leaves this reader a breathless, heart pounding puddle of goo. These guys are so incredibly strong and stalwart while being remarkably vulnerable. They are swoon worthy with the first touch. The careful construction of these worlds and characters allows the reader to just get absorbed in the place and time and let the story take them over. It was so hard to leave that world for even a moment that I devoured the book in one sitting. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Ratings:
Characters: 10/10
Each and everyone from Toshi and John to the most minor characters are very well drawn and absolutely believable.
Plot: 10/10
The series of killings from past to present is well thought out. The plot twists work very well in this carefully constructed universe. Nothing seemed arbitrary.
Sex: 10/10
White hot and tender and emotionally moving and completely character driven. There is no 'insert random sex scene for every X number of pages.' It's all organic to the story and the characters.
Overall: 10/10
To Read Excerpts or Purchase go to - http://ai-press.net/2013/05/14/his-be...
Sedonia Guillone creates an absolute marvel of suspense and terror mixed with heart pounding romance and toe curling eroticism in His Beautiful Samurai. Through well drawn out and full realized characters, she draws the readers into the lives and loves of people from vastly different times and walks of life. All of them ring very true and all of them are compelling. The lives of the Shogun's Samurai from Japan's Edo period are as believable as that of the modern Tokyo police detective. This is very important, because when the more fantastic elements of the case are brought forth via John Holmes, they are also believable. The murderer could be a jilted lover with some knowledge of ancient Japan and access to some really nasty artifacts or in could be something far more frightening. It all works.
And let's not forget the romance between Toshi and John. It is so moving and tender while being white hot at the same time leaves this reader a breathless, heart pounding puddle of goo. These guys are so incredibly strong and stalwart while being remarkably vulnerable. They are swoon worthy with the first touch. The careful construction of these worlds and characters allows the reader to just get absorbed in the place and time and let the story take them over. It was so hard to leave that world for even a moment that I devoured the book in one sitting. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Ratings:
Characters: 10/10
Each and everyone from Toshi and John to the most minor characters are very well drawn and absolutely believable.
Plot: 10/10
The series of killings from past to present is well thought out. The plot twists work very well in this carefully constructed universe. Nothing seemed arbitrary.
Sex: 10/10
White hot and tender and emotionally moving and completely character driven. There is no 'insert random sex scene for every X number of pages.' It's all organic to the story and the characters.
Overall: 10/10
To Read Excerpts or Purchase go to - http://ai-press.net/2013/05/14/his-be...
August 13, 2016
I was recommended this novel through one of the group book challenges I participated in, and I saw that it was pretty much a ton of my favourite genres rolled into a book. So I thought, ‘Awesome! I’ll probably get this done before supper.’ I was so wrong. Unfortunately, I had so many facepalm and eyeroll moments that it took me a week to finish reading a novel that I would have normally taken only half a day finishing. The story was predictable, unrealistically simplistic, the love reminded me of crack Twilight fanfiction (well, actually a lot of the novel reminded me of that), and I was a little irked by some of the Japanese details since I love the Japanese culture (I mean, ‘aurigato’, really?).
His Beautiful Samurai is about the somehow-but-never-explained-very-powerful psychic John Holmes and Inspector Toshiro Genjin, who is trying to solve a mysterious serial murder case where couples are found impaled by a samurai sword. Thus, the murderer is called the ‘Ronin’ killer, meaning a rogue samurai.
The novel really stays true to its title in that there are numerous flowery descriptions of how beautiful the main characters are. While reading the novel it felt like the characters were describing how beautiful each other was every second page (it wasn’t that frequently, but it sure felt like I was constantly having descriptions shoved down my unwilling throat). I usually don’t mind insta-love if the novel is written well, but this beat cliché out of the ballpark.
Angsting was also quite prevalent. There are quite a few times where the main characters are so woefully fatigued, stressed, and depressed by the whole unsolved murdering spree that they seem to be on the end of their leash. John also makes talking about how weird he is his personal motto. I can’t remember how many times he angsted about how weird and creepy he was and how accepting Toshi was of him and his powers. It was as if they’d never had or seen anything worse happen in their lives, especially with Toshi’s background as a cop and John’s background as a former military operative (now with PTSD, which the author made sure to make us remember) who had already gone through many unsolved (probably murder) cases using his special abilities.
All in all, if you’re looking for a brainless read, feel free to give His Beautiful Samurai a try.
Narration (★★)
○ Third person narrators
○ Mainly from Toshi and John’s POV
○ The writing itself wasn’t absolutely terrible, but there were just too many unnecessary flowery descriptions
Characters (★)
○ Weak, angsty, 2-dimensional beauty kings
○ Secondary characters were also 2-dimensional and with one-minded personalities
○ Minor characters were also flat, all-accepting, and as unimportant as dust on the road
Setting (★)
○ 2d Japan that didn’t really feel like Japan with at least some inaccuracies that even I could recognize with my limited Japanese knowledge
Plot (★)
○ Simple and predictable
Overall (★★)
○ I was tempted to give it 1 star, but a part of one of the sex scenes was sorta hot so I gave it two.
His Beautiful Samurai is about the somehow-but-never-explained-very-powerful psychic John Holmes and Inspector Toshiro Genjin, who is trying to solve a mysterious serial murder case where couples are found impaled by a samurai sword. Thus, the murderer is called the ‘Ronin’ killer, meaning a rogue samurai.
The novel really stays true to its title in that there are numerous flowery descriptions of how beautiful the main characters are. While reading the novel it felt like the characters were describing how beautiful each other was every second page (it wasn’t that frequently, but it sure felt like I was constantly having descriptions shoved down my unwilling throat). I usually don’t mind insta-love if the novel is written well, but this beat cliché out of the ballpark.
Angsting was also quite prevalent. There are quite a few times where the main characters are so woefully fatigued, stressed, and depressed by the whole unsolved murdering spree that they seem to be on the end of their leash. John also makes talking about how weird he is his personal motto. I can’t remember how many times he angsted about how weird and creepy he was and how accepting Toshi was of him and his powers. It was as if they’d never had or seen anything worse happen in their lives, especially with Toshi’s background as a cop and John’s background as a former military operative (now with PTSD, which the author made sure to make us remember) who had already gone through many unsolved (probably murder) cases using his special abilities.
All in all, if you’re looking for a brainless read, feel free to give His Beautiful Samurai a try.
Narration (★★)
○ Third person narrators
○ Mainly from Toshi and John’s POV
○ The writing itself wasn’t absolutely terrible, but there were just too many unnecessary flowery descriptions
Characters (★)
○ Weak, angsty, 2-dimensional beauty kings
○ Secondary characters were also 2-dimensional and with one-minded personalities
○ Minor characters were also flat, all-accepting, and as unimportant as dust on the road
Setting (★)
○ 2d Japan that didn’t really feel like Japan with at least some inaccuracies that even I could recognize with my limited Japanese knowledge
Plot (★)
○ Simple and predictable
Overall (★★)
○ I was tempted to give it 1 star, but a part of one of the sex scenes was sorta hot so I gave it two.
August 12, 2016
As a new fan of her White Tigers series...I was tempted to read more of Ms. Guillone's Asian-themed stories and I started with His Beautiful Samurai.
Set in Japan? Check.
Has two hot men who can't keep their hands off each other? Check.
There's murder mystery to be solved? Bonus!
In short, I was delighted with His Beautiful Samurai. Of course, there were other contributing factors..
...and the sex was more steamy than I expected, and blended neatly into the plot. An unlikely pair - a Japanese cop and an American psychic - team up to solve a set of bizarre serial murders in Tokyo, and still manage to fall in love while overcoming their cultural differences.
I've said it before - I love Ms. Guillone's characters: well-written, believable MCs who evoke sympathy without going overboard (One does not need to be bawling about a character's horrific past in order to justify the HEA/HFN.) In His Beautiful Samurai, we meet John Holmes, a US military veteran with a unique calling - who's currently recovering from burnout associated with tirelessly assisting others with his psychic gift. Through an interesting set of coincidences, John is called to Tokyo to help the police with a particularly difficult serial murder case. He discovers that he can better manage the effects from his gift thanks to the unexpected and profuse support from his host, Inspector Toshiro Genjin. When not working on the case, the attraction between John and Toshi becomes more apparent as they get to know each other. I was shamelessly rooting for more cozy interludes, but got hooked on the mystery of the killings ).
The brief exposition on how John got his psychic powers - totally believable, and the subsequent psychic "occurrences" didn't feel campy.
I'd recommend His Beautiful Samurai for readers new to m/m genre, as well as more seasoned m/m readers who appreciate a contemporary m/m romance with 'a little something more'.
Set in Japan? Check.
Has two hot men who can't keep their hands off each other? Check.
There's murder mystery to be solved? Bonus!
In short, I was delighted with His Beautiful Samurai. Of course, there were other contributing factors..
...and the sex was more steamy than I expected, and blended neatly into the plot. An unlikely pair - a Japanese cop and an American psychic - team up to solve a set of bizarre serial murders in Tokyo, and still manage to fall in love while overcoming their cultural differences.
I've said it before - I love Ms. Guillone's characters: well-written, believable MCs who evoke sympathy without going overboard (One does not need to be bawling about a character's horrific past in order to justify the HEA/HFN.) In His Beautiful Samurai, we meet John Holmes, a US military veteran with a unique calling - who's currently recovering from burnout associated with tirelessly assisting others with his psychic gift. Through an interesting set of coincidences, John is called to Tokyo to help the police with a particularly difficult serial murder case. He discovers that he can better manage the effects from his gift thanks to the unexpected and profuse support from his host, Inspector Toshiro Genjin. When not working on the case, the attraction between John and Toshi becomes more apparent as they get to know each other. I was shamelessly rooting for more cozy interludes, but got hooked on the mystery of the killings ).
The brief exposition on how John got his psychic powers - totally believable, and the subsequent psychic "occurrences" didn't feel campy.
I'd recommend His Beautiful Samurai for readers new to m/m genre, as well as more seasoned m/m readers who appreciate a contemporary m/m romance with 'a little something more'.
December 26, 2008
I picked this book fortunately, not owning it but well borrowed it, because I had brain overflow and wanted something easy to read with lot of saucy scenes aka pr0n. It was wrong move. This book is very easy to read, the plot is irrelevant and ridiculous characters happy go lucky emotional freaks with lot of past time traumas aka many time reader is reminded of post traumatic stress of John Holmes that nearly suffers the same one. The general rule of the book is an American gay man with paranormal abilities solves everything from the murders to messed sexual life of his coworker and soon lover Toshi and much more. John Holmes is man of many talents atop with nice body and whiny past of soldier who suffered something in Gulf war oh yes and that triggered his abilities to smoke out the offender. He is the american star which helps police, oh yes no good old detective work just put on Holmes and he will sniff it all. No police needed anyway.
The basic plot is that somebody is murdering lovers during their lovemaking with samurai sword. What a fine thing to do! The Japanese police is cornered the American psychic is called in to solve it out like you know there was a samurai in Edo couple years ago he was pissed his lover was pissed everybody was pissed so he killed his dream man and became sort of ghost and no he decided to pop out from realm of death to mess with modern Tokyo. Toshi is policeman and our who got the splendid idea to have American on the case...and I wonder if he knew that the bed will be also filled with American culture...it is a mystery. Our Toshi simply changed his life give up his family duties and went on it with Holmes. Hm at least some action but rare one.
If you are craving for overall understanding to the point that it is ok to say " hey boss the ghost was murdering all the time, but we kicked his ectoplasm butt for good" . This book is for you. Or reading it on the beach is also fine.
The basic plot is that somebody is murdering lovers during their lovemaking with samurai sword. What a fine thing to do! The Japanese police is cornered the American psychic is called in to solve it out like you know there was a samurai in Edo couple years ago he was pissed his lover was pissed everybody was pissed so he killed his dream man and became sort of ghost and no he decided to pop out from realm of death to mess with modern Tokyo. Toshi is policeman and our who got the splendid idea to have American on the case...and I wonder if he knew that the bed will be also filled with American culture...it is a mystery. Our Toshi simply changed his life give up his family duties and went on it with Holmes. Hm at least some action but rare one.
If you are craving for overall understanding to the point that it is ok to say " hey boss the ghost was murdering all the time, but we kicked his ectoplasm butt for good" . This book is for you. Or reading it on the beach is also fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2014
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John Holmes has psychic abilities and this comes in very handy when he goes to Tokyo to stop a cold blooded killer. Toshi is a detective in the case and he reluctantly accepts John's help. John can feel the heat between himself and Toshi and their connection is so on fire. The killer is on the loose and these two men have to work together to stop him before he strikes again.
I enjoyed this story and loved the historical element that the author included. This was a great M/M Japanese thriller and the romance between these men was sizzling hot. When they touched for the first time I found that so emotionally hot and set the stage for an amazing connection between John and Toshi. I thought the paranormal aspect in the novel was great and very smooth the way the author introduced it into the story. The historical part of the novel set in the 1800's Japan between two Samurais was so brilliantly done and I found myself instantly connected to this part of the story.
The story of a secret and unconditional love was so beautiful and I felt their undeniable connection instantly. The flashbacks in the novel was very easy to follow and not confusing as sometimes that happens in other novels. I loved the story of two men from different backgrounds meet and find love all the while searching for a cold blooded killer. This was very well done and I recommend it!!!
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."
Reviewed by Paul at Gay Media Reviews
John Holmes has psychic abilities and this comes in very handy when he goes to Tokyo to stop a cold blooded killer. Toshi is a detective in the case and he reluctantly accepts John's help. John can feel the heat between himself and Toshi and their connection is so on fire. The killer is on the loose and these two men have to work together to stop him before he strikes again.
I enjoyed this story and loved the historical element that the author included. This was a great M/M Japanese thriller and the romance between these men was sizzling hot. When they touched for the first time I found that so emotionally hot and set the stage for an amazing connection between John and Toshi. I thought the paranormal aspect in the novel was great and very smooth the way the author introduced it into the story. The historical part of the novel set in the 1800's Japan between two Samurais was so brilliantly done and I found myself instantly connected to this part of the story.
The story of a secret and unconditional love was so beautiful and I felt their undeniable connection instantly. The flashbacks in the novel was very easy to follow and not confusing as sometimes that happens in other novels. I loved the story of two men from different backgrounds meet and find love all the while searching for a cold blooded killer. This was very well done and I recommend it!!!
"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."
Reviewed by Paul at Gay Media Reviews
November 9, 2010
I love this book. Sedonia Guillone's writing wraps your head around the Japanese world effortlessly, embracing all the senses. It's obvious she loves her characters, John and Toshi and I am glad I have more of their story to enjoy in the second book. I want to see these guys happy!
I liked the paranormal aspects and the historical angle to this one intrigued me.
This an author whose sex scenes are both tender and erotic and whose cultural observations leave their mark.
I liked the paranormal aspects and the historical angle to this one intrigued me.
This an author whose sex scenes are both tender and erotic and whose cultural observations leave their mark.
April 2, 2018
This is a great series of 2 books about the same MC's, John and Toshi - I just love them - so sexy and smart and just soooo!!!
These 2 books leads into a whole other series "White Tiger" which take place in the hotel that is featured in the 2nd book of this series. Each of those books center on 2 new MC's.
These 2 books leads into a whole other series "White Tiger" which take place in the hotel that is featured in the 2nd book of this series. Each of those books center on 2 new MC's.
June 6, 2017
This book was bad. Very Very Very Very bad. Like...clear the author has no actual knowledge of Japan outside of anime whatsoever. I'm so just...ugh. I can't even review this properly. Ugh.
November 17, 2020
It was an okay read. I never thought it will be feature a spirit who can possesed human to do the killing and all the paranormal things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 13, 2014
Original Blog Tour: Blog Tour, eARC Review, Excerpt & #Giveaway: His Beautiful Samurai by Sedonia Guillone
This is a truly intriguing read. Suspense-filled, paranormal, reincarnation, urban legends, you name it, this one has it. And it's based in Japan so there are samurais and swords. What more could I ask for?
John had taken a leave to save his sanity. Surviving the war he got his injuries and PTSD from, he work to a world he found scary and strange. Suddenly, he was a psychic and he could not filter the images out, hence the solitary life. When the serial killings in Japan hit international news, he new that his time was up. He was going to be needed to solve a crime that spelled supernatural.
Toshi may be a homicide detective but he comes from a diplomatic family and thus had an education in the US and could speak the language. This is really the reason why his captain sought his services to aid the psychic they desperately called to help solve their case. It only took one touch and both men knew that each was someone different.
John always sought the solitude from the images that attacked his senses so it was quite natural for him to seek Toshi's touch. The man's touch was different for it blocked him from the turmoils of the spirits around him. Together, the peel the layers of the case that had befuddled the authorities. As the two men work side by side, they realize that maybe, after all is said and done, they could have a chance? But first, they needed to solve the case and save the next targets: Toshi's fiance.
Wow. All I can say is, this is one read I fell in love with. Highly visual, scary at times, heartbreaking in the scenes involving the two samurai lovers, this is a read that I could not put down. This may not be horror, but it is quite violent in a samurai way.
This is a truly intriguing read. Suspense-filled, paranormal, reincarnation, urban legends, you name it, this one has it. And it's based in Japan so there are samurais and swords. What more could I ask for?
John had taken a leave to save his sanity. Surviving the war he got his injuries and PTSD from, he work to a world he found scary and strange. Suddenly, he was a psychic and he could not filter the images out, hence the solitary life. When the serial killings in Japan hit international news, he new that his time was up. He was going to be needed to solve a crime that spelled supernatural.
Toshi may be a homicide detective but he comes from a diplomatic family and thus had an education in the US and could speak the language. This is really the reason why his captain sought his services to aid the psychic they desperately called to help solve their case. It only took one touch and both men knew that each was someone different.
John always sought the solitude from the images that attacked his senses so it was quite natural for him to seek Toshi's touch. The man's touch was different for it blocked him from the turmoils of the spirits around him. Together, the peel the layers of the case that had befuddled the authorities. As the two men work side by side, they realize that maybe, after all is said and done, they could have a chance? But first, they needed to solve the case and save the next targets: Toshi's fiance.
Wow. All I can say is, this is one read I fell in love with. Highly visual, scary at times, heartbreaking in the scenes involving the two samurai lovers, this is a read that I could not put down. This may not be horror, but it is quite violent in a samurai way.
Read
March 24, 2009Toshi is a japanes detective who has to deal with some unsolved cases of murder: couples who are slaughtered during the lovemaking with a samurai's sword. No clues that lead to the murderer, no one.
John is an empathic american cop who is sent on Tokyo to help Toshi. And for Toshi is speaking english and has lived in America for some years during college, is asked to host John.
Toshi is handsome and a very closed person. During is american years he has loved a man, Michael, but when his family has asked him to return to Japan, he has accepted and now he has also agreed to marry the woman his family has choosen for him. Even if he can't love her, even if she loves another man.
John is a 37 years old veteran, tired of the madness of the world, but still eager for the human touch even if he can't touch nobody: when he touch someone, he is overwhelmed by the thought and feelings of the other person, and it is very stressful. But when he touch Toshi, he only feel warn and the feeling to be his. And the need to be with him. The touch of Toshi is like a shell from the outside world.
More they dig on the case, and more they understand that something not human is involved with the cases, and that their love is not unrelated to it.
A very interesting suspence romance novel, where the romance maybe sometimes steal the scene to the suspence, but it is not a negative thing, cause Toshi and John are two wonderful characters, very balanced: no one is more stronger or weaker to the other.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934166839/?...
John is an empathic american cop who is sent on Tokyo to help Toshi. And for Toshi is speaking english and has lived in America for some years during college, is asked to host John.
Toshi is handsome and a very closed person. During is american years he has loved a man, Michael, but when his family has asked him to return to Japan, he has accepted and now he has also agreed to marry the woman his family has choosen for him. Even if he can't love her, even if she loves another man.
John is a 37 years old veteran, tired of the madness of the world, but still eager for the human touch even if he can't touch nobody: when he touch someone, he is overwhelmed by the thought and feelings of the other person, and it is very stressful. But when he touch Toshi, he only feel warn and the feeling to be his. And the need to be with him. The touch of Toshi is like a shell from the outside world.
More they dig on the case, and more they understand that something not human is involved with the cases, and that their love is not unrelated to it.
A very interesting suspence romance novel, where the romance maybe sometimes steal the scene to the suspence, but it is not a negative thing, cause Toshi and John are two wonderful characters, very balanced: no one is more stronger or weaker to the other.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1934166839/?...
December 19, 2014
His Beautiful Samurai was a pleasure to read for me. I have grown up with samurai boos, have always loved it, and the way the author entwined the old with the new in this interesting mix of mystery, paranormal and romance was brilliant. John and Toshi seem an unlikely couple, the Japanese detective and the American psychic, also vet, sounds a bit impossible, right? Yet when they meed and start to work together, everything makes sense.
The series of murders they investigate have plagued Tokyo for quite a while, and the decision to ask a psychic to join the team ends up being the best decision ever. Ancient samurai swords used as murder weapons, couples killed in the throes of passion, no connections, no real evidence, and suspicious deaths of those who appear they have committed the murders, does that not make you want to find out what’s going on?
The book is never boring and the present and past teach the same lesson, sometimes, love is worth fighting for, no matter how wrong or impossible, because living after you let go of it would be even harder. You will keep guessing who’s done it and why, and the blasts from the past are more often confusing than revealing, but in the end they all come together to weave an unusual and entertaining story.
The series of murders they investigate have plagued Tokyo for quite a while, and the decision to ask a psychic to join the team ends up being the best decision ever. Ancient samurai swords used as murder weapons, couples killed in the throes of passion, no connections, no real evidence, and suspicious deaths of those who appear they have committed the murders, does that not make you want to find out what’s going on?
The book is never boring and the present and past teach the same lesson, sometimes, love is worth fighting for, no matter how wrong or impossible, because living after you let go of it would be even harder. You will keep guessing who’s done it and why, and the blasts from the past are more often confusing than revealing, but in the end they all come together to weave an unusual and entertaining story.
September 6, 2013
I wanted to like this book more than I did in the end. Just as there is a talent to foreshadowing, there is a talent to writing about one character's initial and/or developing attraction to another. Marie Sexton, Jordan Castillo Price, and Abigail Roux are all skilled at this. Ms. Guillone, while a pretty good writer, is not. Rather than weaving characters' interest in one another into the story, it was delivered via large, garish signs waving in the air (or whacking one in the head). This became tedious rather quickly.
March 23, 2011
3.5 stars.
This story sucked me. I finished it in one sitting and was glad that I did. I liked how the author handled the supernatural elements. Placing the story in Japan made sense to me after I remembered that Japanese culture was/is more open to belief in spirits.
This story sucked me. I finished it in one sitting and was glad that I did. I liked how the author handled the supernatural elements. Placing the story in Japan made sense to me after I remembered that Japanese culture was/is more open to belief in spirits.
April 12, 2015
A paranormal mystery of an American psychic and a Japanese homicide detective hunting down a serial killer. This book had a lot of great elements, intense suspense, reincarnation, karma, and romance. Loved it.
August 16, 2008
His Beautiful Samurai by Sedonia Guillone (2008)
September 10, 2016
3.5 stars
December 21, 2014
Love this book. It has action and romance. It is very intense and has passion. I recommend it
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews