A warm welcome to new guestreviewer Jenna 🙂
Reviewed by Jenna
TITLE: Yakuza Pride
SERIES: The Way of the Yakuza #1
AUTHOR: H.J. Brues
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 350 Pages
BLURB:
When yakuza underboss Shigure Matsunaga meets Kenneth Harris at a boring social event, he’s surprised to find himself attracted to the blond gaijin with the mismatched eyes. Shigure is even more pleased when he discovers Ken not only speaks Japanese fluently, but is fluent in Japan’s ways, even the more violent of the martial arts. Ken’s expertise at kendo is not his most striking quality—it’s the passion beneath his quiet, almost fragile exterior that ignites Shigure’s lust, and the two come together as explosively as they spar. Shigure is a dangerous man in a dangerous position. He’s been trying to keep the peace with the Daito-kai—Shigure’s hated rivals—but the danger on the streets is escalating, threatening those Shigure most wants to protect. He may claim to love his gaijin, but before he can keep Ken safe, Shigure will have to overcome hostility from his people, a hidden enemy, and, the most insidious opponent of all, his own hard-won pride.
REVIEW:
An unbelievably hot and moving love story between a Japanese Mafia boss and a young American artist.
This book is a new favorite for me. Although I was initially distracted by the Japanese terms and cultural landscape, I was swiftly drawn in by the extreme sexual tension between Kenshin and Shigure. Kenshin is a young American artist who grew up in Japan, speaks the language, and knows Japanese culture enough to accept his lowly foreigner status, whereas Shigure is a respected and feared Japanese Mafia boss “Yakuza” who worked his way up from the bottom rungs of Japanese society.
When the two meet at a party, Kenshin is immediately drawn to Shigure’s masculine strength and air of danger, and Shigure is taken by Kenshin’s beauty and the fearless way Kenshin speaks to him. Their instant attraction is so combustible that they cannot wait to touch one another. Despite their sexually charged first encounter, Kenshin quickly learns that the path to dating a Yakuza is riddled with social difficulties and cultural roadblocks. In addition to Kenshin’s best friend and Shigure’s crew objecting to their relationship, Shigure holds back his love; fighting his desire for Kenshin in order to preserve his honor. Though Shigure’s feelings for Kenshin pour forth in private, Shigure has a reputation to uphold and cannot be seen treating Kenshin as an equal in public. While Shigure and Kenshin are struggling to work out their differences, Shigure’s life as a crime boss catches up to them, threatening more than their love.
Despite all the obstacles and the tension between the two lovers, the sex scenes are so charged with raw emotion that I literally lost my breath when reading them. This is the type of book that you can’t just read once. I look forward to reading the next book in this series as well as more from this author.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
Great review, I was initially concerned about the Japanese complexities within their culture, but you laid those concerns to rest. Was a bit confused over the time-line? I’m assuming it’s modern day? Added it to my list.
I am so thrilled you loved this book! It’s very difficult to read, knowing how huge the gap is between US and Japanese cultures and how slim chances are for the two men to become a couple and live openly and without fear. I remember thinking “this is never gonna work” or “this is not going to end good”. But…. 😀
I am almost scared to start book 2, because, honestly, how do you top book !? 🙂