Day LeClaire; art by Akemi Maki Jinxed

Jinxed

Day LeClaire; art by Akemi Maki

Harlequin Pink, Sep 2006, $7.99

ISBN: 0373180012

Industrial Toy Company President Steve Sinclair is upset with the unsafe practices of his R&D section. He informs his R&D Director Kit Mallory this will change or else. When an incident occurs involving his mother he accuses her of sabotage. She is hurt because she cares about the firm and loves her job.

The next day he apologizes as his mother said she caused the problem and that he realizes Kit is valuable to the company. He persuades her to let him accompany her when she visits her family. They kiss and soon become engaged as both confess their love for one another. However, he demands she quit working especially after a child is born while she feels she can do both. His childhood with a workaholic mother leaves no room for compromise; Kit breaks off from Steve and quits the company.

This is a cute tale that targets twelve to thirteen years old girls as Manga art is combined with a fun wholesome romance with the subtle message to treat people as individuals and not stereotypes though recognizing that the childhood experiences shapes the adult. The art and text of this graphic book is excellent though readers will have to adjust to the right to left story line even with an instruction page included. As with NO COMPETITION, a paradigm is needed to accept manga in romance instead of the usual fantasy. JINXED is a fun, amusing, well written and well drawn tale.

Harriet Klausner