Reviewed by Cindy
TITLE: Secrets and Sake
SERIES: A Paranormal Yakuza Duet Book 1
AUTHOR: C.J. Ravenna
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 296 Pages
RELEASE DATE: August 24, 2024
BLURB:
Jinta
He’s a yakuza with secrets. I’m the reporter determined to bring them to light.
When people start going missing, I sense a story that could make my whole career. I even have the perfect suspect: Raiden Noboru, enforcer for the most powerful yakuza organization in Japan.
The plan is simple: go undercover as “Hiro” the photographer, cozy up to Raiden, and discover all he knows about the disappearances.
Problem is? Raiden isn’t the monster I thought he was. The beast beneath his skin is fiercely protective of what’s his, but he worships my body and soul, showing me a tender side of himself he hides from the rest of the world.
But I’ve got a story to tell. All I have to do… is betray the man I’m falling for.
Raiden
I stopped believing in fated mates long ago. Love only ends in heartbreak.
Ever since I was a boy, my only purpose has been to serve the Namikawa-kai.
Until him. The minute I see Hiro smile like a sunbeam and catch his cherry blossom scent, I’ve got to have him. What I thought would be a casual fling becomes so much more. Hiro is mine. Mine to care for, mine to protect. No one else can have him.
Before I realize it, I’m beginning to dream of a life outside the yakuza, a life with Hiro. Too bad that’s all it’ll ever be. A dream. I’ll never make someone as innocent as Hiro happy. I’m a criminal, and I’m no good for him…
…But I can’t stay away from him.
Secrets & Sake is book 1 in A Paranormal Yakuza Duet. It features insta-love, fated mates and wolf shifters, a sunshine undercover reporter and the grumpy yakuza soft only for him, loads of possessive touch-him-and-die vibes, plenty of searingly hot spice, and a Happy-For-Now conclusion.
REVIEW:
Jinta (or Hiro as he’s known to Raiden) is determined to prove to his family that he can make it without them. He’s tired of playing second fiddle to his brother in almost everything so he moved away and is trying to figure his life out in a big city.
Raiden is doing what he has to do to survive. It’s not like he has a choice in the matter anyway. But Hiro? He makes Raiden crave having those choices. And he’s not sure he can just let Hiro walk away.
The premise of this book is very interesting. Raiden is a man who has never been free and he’s never really pushed for it until he meets Hiro. The instant connection between the two of them is so freaking hot, but it’s also sweet and tender as well. Both of them are determined to make the people that they are beholden to proud of them and hopefully make their lives better but, even though it takes a little time, maybe they are figuring out that they only thing they need is each other.
Hiro’s parents definitely leave something to be desired. I don’t want to give too much away, but trust me, his family doesn’t deserve his devotion.
But then again, neither does Raiden’s.
I loved watching these two men figure out that maybe there’s something more to them. Something that only the other man can see. It was interesting to see them figure out what was going on and figuring out that there is more to life than keeping other people happy.
I am working on reading the second book in the series and I’m very excited to see how their story really comes to an end. This book ends on a HFN but I’m hopeful for the second book.
I find the Yakuza an interesting subject and while most of this is fictionalized, I do believe that there is some truth to the dynamics.
RATING: 
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