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The Way of the Yakuza #2
Yakuza Courage
Ex-Navy SEAL Brendan O’Farrihy enrolls in kendo classes to investigate a Honolulu dojo acting as a front for a yakuza syndicate. Or at least that’s what Brendan’s client, Senator Harris, believes. Through his kendo instructor, the cocky, short-fused, gorgeous Kinosuke Yonekawa, Brendan learns the criminals who are supposedly using the senator’s son, Kenneth, to expand their activities into the US, seem to have severed any yakuza connections. The jaded, soul-scarred former soldier is captivated by the loyalty these gangsters show each other and the way they protect Ken like a tight military unit. Brendan wonders why the senator lied to him, and what the yakuza are shielding Ken from.
When Ken disappears, Brendan suspects foul play and decides to help the man he is falling for, Kinosuke, and his friends, find Ken. But when Kinosuke discovers Brendan has been on the senator’s payroll, all bets are off.
When Ken disappears, Brendan suspects foul play and decides to help the man he is falling for, Kinosuke, and his friends, find Ken. But when Kinosuke discovers Brendan has been on the senator’s payroll, all bets are off.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2014
13 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
H.J. Brues
7 books94 followersH.J. Brues lives in Spain, enjoying the hot weather, the brisk language, the warm-hearted people, and the thousands of books of the library she works in. She has a degree in medieval history and loves castles, knights in shining armor, and barbarian warriors with no armor at all. She practiced fencing till her knees started complaining, took archery till her elbow almost fell off, and then, wisely, switched to the less martial of the martial arts, tai chi.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 12, 2015
Things I liked and things I didn't in this one. But in the end I had a smile on my face so it was a good experience.
The scene jumping and scenes being recounted instead of shown were not my favorite. There were scenes which I would have definitely liked to have seen, whilst other scenes could have been more compact. Moreover the two main characters were a bit side lined by the story itself. I could have stood more time with them as I continue to like how Brues writes characters, their thinking and their point of view. It is her forte in these books in my opinion. She even introduced new characters who I would like to know more of. Thumbs up for Otter and Burka.
2.5 stars
BR with RA link here. Thanks RA, great company.
November 17, 2015
2.5 stars; to round up or down... a dilemma...
(Note: If you have not read Book 1, this review will contain spoilers)
I was so anticipating Yakuza Courage. I remember really enjoying the first book, Yakuza Pride. It got five stars from me two years ago when I read it. I guess time does make a difference because I’m not feeling the love so much with this sequel. And it takes a long-ass review to work out why.
I really liked the set-up, yes I did…
The author, once again, shapes the story with an interesting look at island culture, this time Hawaii. Book one ended with Shigure Matsunaga (leader of the powerful yakuza family, the Shinagawa-gumi), walking off into the sunset with his gaijin lover, Ken Harris, and followed by his loyal clan members: Kinosuke, Shinya, Tachibana, and teenager, Kotaro. The Shinagawa gang left Japan and yakuza life behind for a new start in the US.
Now they live together in a converted warehouse where they also operate a dojo, teaching kendo and aikido. One of them, Tachibana, has even married an island girl. So we get some martial arts training and the challenges of fitting in this strange new paradise. And Ken getting used to his role as bankroller for this new life. That certainly causes some tension between him and Shigure.
Enter the bigger conflict. Ken’s evil father, Senator Harris, continues his interference in Ken’s life and sends an ex-Navy SEAL, Brendan O’Farrihy, to gather intel on Ken and Shigure. Things get murky when Brendan begins to empathize with his marks. He was the CO of his own close group of SEAL operatives so he understands the tough training and loyalty of Shigure’s men. In fact, when Brendan calls on his SEAL friends for help (another boatload of characters to keep track of), it’s interesting to see how the two groups interact.
To complicate things, Brendan quickly becomes smitten with the beautiful Kinosuke. His attention wavers in that direction, and Kinosuke returns the same attraction. So the romantic aspect shifts from Ken and Shigure to this new couple thus setting up for even more confusion and mixed signals.
Things come to a head when the cute Kotaro gets into some teenaged shenanigans and makes some trouble for the group. I have to add that I like Kotaro-- when we get his POV, full of sulky insecurity, we get a feel not only for his being the youngest, most inexperienced one in the group, and how that chafes, but also for some issues with fitting into a new culture.
So, what didn’t work…
The writing just doesn’t do it for me. All the good stuff mentioned is delivered with so much telling, so much interminable sketching out and explaining of actions and feelings that the story gets seriously bogged down with it. It lumbers along. Even when the shit hits the fan and the Senator moves in to interfere, once more, with Ken and his ex-yakuza, the action and the tension is diluted by too much freaking blather.
Another issue has to do with the three alternating POVs; we mostly see things through Brendan, Kinosuke and Kotaro’s eyes. The problem is that Kinosuke and Kotaro’s voices are so similar, both full of sulky, sullen sarcasm, which works for the teenaged Kotaro but not so much for the older, more experienced Kinosuke. I found this very distracting. More distinction between them, and an older, more fitting voice for Kinosuke would have helped me take him more seriously.
It’s been some years since I read book one; I don’t remember having the same issues there. I know that I really connected with the sheer joy of reading about a culture not often delved into in MM romance, and I dug that fiery passion between Ken and Shigure. But here, they are relegated to the sidelines. This is really supposed to be Brendan and Kinosuke’s story. Yet their romance is mostly about longing looks, misunderstandings and huffy spats that keep them apart for big chunks of the story as they become embroiled in thwarting the Senator’s evil tricks.
So, there’s some stuff to like but it’s thwarted by the delivery. There are a boatload of characters to keep track of (I didn’t even mention Brendan’s SEAL pals). Even Brendan and Kinosuke’s romance seems two-dimensional and limp. Not what you’d want in a M/M romance.
Bah, I was hoping for so much more.
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August 2, 2014
It kills me to say this didn't really work for me. Too many characters and storylines happening and I ended up skimming huge chunks of it. I read Yakuza Pride right before it and it suffered in comparison. Although I finished this one it was a near miss, I'll try again in a few weeks and come at it from a fresh angle.
June 14, 2017
2.5 Stars
Kenshin, Matsugura and company have peacefully been ensconced in Hawaii carving out a new existence and trying to fit in. But adapting to a new lifestyle and country isn't so easy. Though Ken's powerful Senator father is still looming in the background, the last thing they expect is for him to make such a blatant move on quieting his son's existence to keep scandal at bay.
Brendan is hired to gather intel on the guys, so to insinuate himself into his target's lives, he signs up for kendo lessons. What he doesn't expect is to find himself insanely attracted to his younger teacher Kinosuke. An explosive connection happens as they verbally and physically spar. Each find in the other what they feel is missing in their lives. Brendan finally feels worthy; Kinosuke finally feels respected.
The truth is revealed when beloved Kenshin mysteriously disappears and it soon points to his diabolical senator father as the culprit. Desperate to make things right, Brendan enlists his former ex-military crew to rescue Ken and they all must work together to save him and ensure everyone's future safety.
This sequel definitely wasn't as hearts and romance, nor scary life threatening craziness as the first (which I'm ok with because I barely survived Ken's 1st abduction). There's so much hostility and reluctant attraction (albeit hot reluctant attraction) between the two MC's that marks it as starkly different from Yakuza Pride. Plenty of obstacles stand between these two - culture clash, miscommunication, wrong assumptions, personal baggage and doubts - with plenty of frustrating male posturing. When they do get together and when they do let their guard down, that's when this book shines.
So basically this felt like a military romance instead of the grand flowery romance the first book was. Because of that difference, I'm not surprised that many didn't like the sequel. On it's own I thought it was a decent story with a satisfying conclusion, where the bad guys are thwarted and the good guys come out on top to get their HEA. But overall this did not have the emotional impact as the first and that left me wanting just a bit….
Thanks so much Sofia for reading with me!!
Kenshin, Matsugura and company have peacefully been ensconced in Hawaii carving out a new existence and trying to fit in. But adapting to a new lifestyle and country isn't so easy. Though Ken's powerful Senator father is still looming in the background, the last thing they expect is for him to make such a blatant move on quieting his son's existence to keep scandal at bay.
Brendan is hired to gather intel on the guys, so to insinuate himself into his target's lives, he signs up for kendo lessons. What he doesn't expect is to find himself insanely attracted to his younger teacher Kinosuke. An explosive connection happens as they verbally and physically spar. Each find in the other what they feel is missing in their lives. Brendan finally feels worthy; Kinosuke finally feels respected.
The truth is revealed when beloved Kenshin mysteriously disappears and it soon points to his diabolical senator father as the culprit. Desperate to make things right, Brendan enlists his former ex-military crew to rescue Ken and they all must work together to save him and ensure everyone's future safety.
This sequel definitely wasn't as hearts and romance, nor scary life threatening craziness as the first (which I'm ok with because I barely survived Ken's 1st abduction). There's so much hostility and reluctant attraction (albeit hot reluctant attraction) between the two MC's that marks it as starkly different from Yakuza Pride. Plenty of obstacles stand between these two - culture clash, miscommunication, wrong assumptions, personal baggage and doubts - with plenty of frustrating male posturing. When they do get together and when they do let their guard down, that's when this book shines.
So basically this felt like a military romance instead of the grand flowery romance the first book was. Because of that difference, I'm not surprised that many didn't like the sequel. On it's own I thought it was a decent story with a satisfying conclusion, where the bad guys are thwarted and the good guys come out on top to get their HEA. But overall this did not have the emotional impact as the first and that left me wanting just a bit….
Thanks so much Sofia for reading with me!!
Want to read
August 2, 2014
What an excellent early birthday gift!!!
October 27, 2014
A must read follow up book to Yakuza Pride. Ms. Brues stuns the reader again with a masterful story.
In this second book, it's a flip of cultural clash. This is not a standalone book and must be read after the first one. Shigure moves his entire Yakuza group with him to Hawaii. This is to protect Kenneth from his own father. Hawaii is a place filled with Asian Pacific Islanders. This should be an easy place for the Kenneth and Shigure to settle in. Not so.
Ms. Brues does another excellent job is showing the differences between two cultures. Japanese and American culture are so far apart it is hard to find mutual ground. This is abundantly clear as Shigure's adopted Yakuza family fails to integrate into Hawaiian society. For those who have not grown up in a world where respect and "face" is integral to a person's self-worth, this story will be hard to understand. For someone who grew up in this culture, this story will hurt to read. The growing pains Kinosuke Yonekawa suffers is painfully accurate. Kinosuke is one of Shigure's trusted lieutenants. Now without the Yakuza name, he is back to nothing. For those whom power and respect comes through fear, this downfall is hard to swallow.
The relationship complications in this story are worse because of so many missteps between the two main characters. Brendan is a former Navy SEAL who is so white bread he probably only knows two food groups--meat and potatoes. Falling for Kinosuke, a person he is investigating for Kenneth's father, the Senator, is the last thing he ever expected. Unlike Kenneth who understood the Japanese culture, Brendan is bumbling into it completely blind. His manners and actions show him to be a heavy handed thug crashing through delicately strong Japanese etiquette. It makes me wince because Brendan isn't doing it out of ill will. He just doesn't know any better. Unfortunately, Kinosuke, who may be an excellent martial arts teacher, sucks as a cultural attaché.
This story is less dark than the first yet it still carries the underlying tone of inhumanity. Kenneth's family is a despicable example of what most people hate about politicians. Ms. Brues creates characters who are flawed yet redeemable. Yet for Kenneth's family, there is nothing but flaws. They are evil to the core with the word villain stamped on their forehead. It's rather interesting how badly she paints them.
What I enjoyed most about this story is once again the relationships. The growth from both Kinosuke and Brendan is reassuring. It is because it shows how two different people who judge each other unfairly can come to a middle ground and see each other's point of view. In addition, it shows the bonds of family does not need to be just blood ones. Brotherhood through a chosen family can be just as strong, if not stronger than blood families. The parallels and contrasts between Brendan's former SEAL team mates and Kinosuke's Yakuza members is fascinating.
This story is highly recommended to m/m readers who want to read about cultural clashes which bring forth acceptance.
June 17, 2018
Didn't like this one as much as book 1. Some parts were a little too long and got a little boring.
January 2, 2022
I stopped reading at the 60% mark and just skipped to the end. This one was such a tedious read and had none of the romance and sizzling tension of the first book.
August 30, 2014
First things first. Let’s just be honest: Shigure and Kenshin aren’t easily bet. They are one of a kind. As is their story.
My feelings about this story are a mess. It was disappointing and frustrating but also really good in a way that got me hooked anyway. I loved it and I hated it. And I want more.
It was nothing like the first book. There wasn’t the high tension between the MCs right from the beginning with regular clashes of wills (and bodies). There was nothing of the trademark kinky hotness that was Shigure/Kenshin. And the action wasn’t as engaging.
One very obvious reason for this probably is the fact that despite this being a long book the MCs – Kinosuke and Brendan - didn’t actually have much page time together. It felt like ages before they even met, then their time together made for some great reading, but it was way too short and then some outdrawn and way too detailed scheming/action thing started and completely took over their story. They were still in there, mind you, and sometimes even interacting a little bit and thinking about each other. But that was barely enough to satisfy any reader looking for a love story. Worst thing was that the happy end fell short because it was rushed and inconsistent.
So…
Having the bad things out of the way, I want to mention the things I liked very much. These things were the smooth and engaging writing that I came to love in the first book, the author’s ability to create compelling and complex characters, a good dose of humour that worked well for me, and the strong sense of family and friendship as overall theme of the book. Add to that some intrigue and mission planning spiced up with a bit of the “Maneki Neko. Exfiltrating now. Move it. Out.” kind of action and I was still a happy camper despite my frustrations.
Quite honestly, I didn’t want this story to end. I wanted to read on about all the characters in the book. I loved how two different set of characters came to form a solid unit with special ties to each other. I loved the side stories although they took away from the love story, too. I loved Kinosuke and Brendan. Both adorable in their own way, with issues I dearly wished had been explored (more). Brendan was my favourite of the two although in the beginning I didn’t expect me to like him. The author managed to make me love him, though.
Damn! Why giving me such great characters to love and cheer for and then letting me down and throwing only a few morsels of romance my way?!
There you have it. My frustration and anger about this story is so strong because I loved the characters and the general set-up of the story so fricking much. It could have been so awesome if the love story weren’t such a let-down.
*deep breath*
Whatever. I’m so not sure how to rate this book. I wanted to read a love story with a punch and I got anything but. Then again, I enjoyed the story much more than many a full-blown romance badly written that you can find at any corner these days.
So I settle with a 3.5 stars for now, rounding up to 4 stars doesn’t feel right, though.
March 1, 2016
I really wanted to love this book. I loved book one so much. This book however did not live up to my expecations. The first 30% was pretty good but then it was all down hill from there. By 70% I couldn't stand it anymore and just started skimming. There was a ridiculous amount of detail on their mission and very little romance or relationship stuff after 30%. As I looked back I realized even that had been minimal. We only saw the two MC's in a few scenes together. Much of their time together took place off page. By the end I was not feeling their connection at all & I didn't understand their time apart. Overall this was REALLY disappointing for me.
August 5, 2014
Around 60 % I lost track and patience. Too detailed, too confusing...so skipping was it.
Totally lacked the nail-biting suspense and e-reader-melting hotness of book one.
Totally lacked the nail-biting suspense and e-reader-melting hotness of book one.
September 18, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
4.5 stars
Three years ago, I discovered this book called Yakuza Pride. I say a lot that I love this and that but when I say that I love the yakuza, I mean that they are one of my favorite things to read about. The culture is so rich and they’re so intense with their honor and loyalty that I’m always drawn to those type of stories. So when I read Yakuza Pride, it instantly became a favorite. In fact, I’ve read it at least a dozen times since then AND bought the paperback. I BEGGED the author to write a sequel because Kinosuke deserved his own story. Imagine my surprised AND DELIGHT when I got an email from the author saying my wish came true! I was ECSTATIC and sooooooo happy! And determined to read that baby as soon as possible because I just KNEW I’d love it. And, what do you know? I was right ;)
Yakuza Courage is Kinosuke’s story about how he’s coping with the move from Japan to Hawaii. His whole life has been uplifted and now he’s finding it hard to find his place in the foreign country, even if he is working with his yakuza family at the dojo. Add to that, his “little brother”, Kotaro, is acting up and he has no idea what to do or how to handle the little brat. When Brendan comes to the dojo under the disguise of wanting lessons, he gets under Kinosuke’s skin so much that Kinosuke’s attitude and actions start hurting others. But when he accepts his feelings for Brendan, Kinosuke thinks he’s finally found something that’s “his”… until he realizes that Brendan being around is no coincidence and the betrayal bites deep. But when Ken goes missing, Kinosuke must decide whether contacting the very person who hurt him could be the key to finding the man he owes his life to.
My recap is a little different than the blurb because I wanted to give a little more foundation for what the story is about. It’s taken from three POVs – Kinosuke’s, Brendan’s and Kotaro’s. It follows along as these three navigate their lives. While Kotaro is younger and dealing with issues like school, bullying and fitting in, Kinosuke is have those same issues but more adult-related. He just can’t find his place and it’s driving him nuts. Neither of them have a ‘purpose’ anymore, like they did when they were in Japan and that throws them for a loop and causes them to act vastly different than they normally would. Brendan, actually, has a similar issue in that since he’s been out of the military, he’s found it hard to find a home, a job that he enjoys and a partner to spend it with. They all have their quirks and the three POVs merged very well together by being able to cover all the areas of the mystery, suspense and their lives.
As characters, I adored them just as much as I did in Yakuza Pride. Kotaro is still the bratty little brother who just wants to please, although now he has a hint of defiance in him. Kinosuke is still the smart-mouthed, stubborn and short-tempered man he was, except now he’s also a mix of cocky and insecure. Brendan is different. He’s a hardened soldier who’s pretty cold but he’s also smug and cocky. At the same time, Kinosuke and Brendan connect on the same level. They understand each other and there’s a chemistry between them. I loved that Kinosuke struggled with his feelings for Brendan and couldn’t really understand Brendan. I also loved that once he accepted it, he jumped in with both feet. However, these men are both stubborn and sometimes they just don’t know how to express their emotions, which would put Kinosuke in a situation where he doubted or questioned Brendan’s words and actions. It was sad but I felt like it fit the story and ultimately the characters and made me just want to squeeze them both!
I LOVED this book but I did have two minors issues. One, I was very confused when it came to the point where the yakuza and SEALs were working together to find Ken and what exactly they were doing. It took me a while to connect the dots and figure out why they were posing as businessman, which leaves me to my second issue. There were a few instances where gaps in time were skipped over between one chapter and the next. Unfortunately, I felt like these lapses were important for the story and so when the new chapter picked up, it always took me a while to figure out how much time had gone by, what had transpired during that time and what exactly is happening now. Three specifics situations standout in my mind (right after Kinosuke insults Ken(for the second time) in front of the boss, when Brendan decides to get his team involved and when Brendan goes back to the mainland).
Even with those issues, though, I ADORED this story. It’s been years since I read Yakuza Pride and I can honestly say, that I am completely satisfied with the sequel. Sure, there wasn’t as much romance between Kinosuke and Brendan but I felt like their love was more real because they weren’t basing their emotions just off lust. They had time to learn each other, see each other in action, etc. Then there was the fact that this one has a whole HOST of characters (sometimes a bit too much and my advice is to not try hard to remember all the names) but they were still amusing, especially Brendan’s team (loved Otter!).
This is a story that has a bit of everything in it and really had me engrossed while reading. HOWEVER, I really hope the author decides to write more in this series because I honestly think there’s more potential especially because now Kotaro and Bobcat need a story! Not to mention that little teaser about Shinya at the end so now he needs a story! LOL
4.5 stars
Three years ago, I discovered this book called Yakuza Pride. I say a lot that I love this and that but when I say that I love the yakuza, I mean that they are one of my favorite things to read about. The culture is so rich and they’re so intense with their honor and loyalty that I’m always drawn to those type of stories. So when I read Yakuza Pride, it instantly became a favorite. In fact, I’ve read it at least a dozen times since then AND bought the paperback. I BEGGED the author to write a sequel because Kinosuke deserved his own story. Imagine my surprised AND DELIGHT when I got an email from the author saying my wish came true! I was ECSTATIC and sooooooo happy! And determined to read that baby as soon as possible because I just KNEW I’d love it. And, what do you know? I was right ;)
Yakuza Courage is Kinosuke’s story about how he’s coping with the move from Japan to Hawaii. His whole life has been uplifted and now he’s finding it hard to find his place in the foreign country, even if he is working with his yakuza family at the dojo. Add to that, his “little brother”, Kotaro, is acting up and he has no idea what to do or how to handle the little brat. When Brendan comes to the dojo under the disguise of wanting lessons, he gets under Kinosuke’s skin so much that Kinosuke’s attitude and actions start hurting others. But when he accepts his feelings for Brendan, Kinosuke thinks he’s finally found something that’s “his”… until he realizes that Brendan being around is no coincidence and the betrayal bites deep. But when Ken goes missing, Kinosuke must decide whether contacting the very person who hurt him could be the key to finding the man he owes his life to.
My recap is a little different than the blurb because I wanted to give a little more foundation for what the story is about. It’s taken from three POVs – Kinosuke’s, Brendan’s and Kotaro’s. It follows along as these three navigate their lives. While Kotaro is younger and dealing with issues like school, bullying and fitting in, Kinosuke is have those same issues but more adult-related. He just can’t find his place and it’s driving him nuts. Neither of them have a ‘purpose’ anymore, like they did when they were in Japan and that throws them for a loop and causes them to act vastly different than they normally would. Brendan, actually, has a similar issue in that since he’s been out of the military, he’s found it hard to find a home, a job that he enjoys and a partner to spend it with. They all have their quirks and the three POVs merged very well together by being able to cover all the areas of the mystery, suspense and their lives.
As characters, I adored them just as much as I did in Yakuza Pride. Kotaro is still the bratty little brother who just wants to please, although now he has a hint of defiance in him. Kinosuke is still the smart-mouthed, stubborn and short-tempered man he was, except now he’s also a mix of cocky and insecure. Brendan is different. He’s a hardened soldier who’s pretty cold but he’s also smug and cocky. At the same time, Kinosuke and Brendan connect on the same level. They understand each other and there’s a chemistry between them. I loved that Kinosuke struggled with his feelings for Brendan and couldn’t really understand Brendan. I also loved that once he accepted it, he jumped in with both feet. However, these men are both stubborn and sometimes they just don’t know how to express their emotions, which would put Kinosuke in a situation where he doubted or questioned Brendan’s words and actions. It was sad but I felt like it fit the story and ultimately the characters and made me just want to squeeze them both!
I LOVED this book but I did have two minors issues. One, I was very confused when it came to the point where the yakuza and SEALs were working together to find Ken and what exactly they were doing. It took me a while to connect the dots and figure out why they were posing as businessman, which leaves me to my second issue. There were a few instances where gaps in time were skipped over between one chapter and the next. Unfortunately, I felt like these lapses were important for the story and so when the new chapter picked up, it always took me a while to figure out how much time had gone by, what had transpired during that time and what exactly is happening now. Three specifics situations standout in my mind (right after Kinosuke insults Ken(for the second time) in front of the boss, when Brendan decides to get his team involved and when Brendan goes back to the mainland).
Even with those issues, though, I ADORED this story. It’s been years since I read Yakuza Pride and I can honestly say, that I am completely satisfied with the sequel. Sure, there wasn’t as much romance between Kinosuke and Brendan but I felt like their love was more real because they weren’t basing their emotions just off lust. They had time to learn each other, see each other in action, etc. Then there was the fact that this one has a whole HOST of characters (sometimes a bit too much and my advice is to not try hard to remember all the names) but they were still amusing, especially Brendan’s team (loved Otter!).
This is a story that has a bit of everything in it and really had me engrossed while reading. HOWEVER, I really hope the author decides to write more in this series because I honestly think there’s more potential especially because now Kotaro and Bobcat need a story! Not to mention that little teaser about Shinya at the end so now he needs a story! LOL
November 26, 2021
This was book 2 in the
"The Way of the Yakuza"
series. Ex-Navy SEAL Brendan O’Farrihy enrolls in kendo classes to investigate a Honolulu dojo acting as a front for a yakuza syndicate. Or at least that’s what Brendan’s client, Senator Harris, believes. Through his kendo instructor, the cocky, short-fused, gorgeous Kinosuke Yonekawa, Brendan learns the criminals who are supposedly using the senator’s son, Kenneth, to expand their activities into the US, seem to have severed any yakuza connections. This book had a lot going on in it plus a lot of character's in it. Kinosuke is coping with the moving from Japan to Hawaii, his whole life has been upended and he's finding it hard to find his place in the foreign country even when he is working with his yakuza family at the dojo his little brother Kotaro, is acting up and he has no idea what to do or how to handle the him. These two don't get off to the best start Brendan irritates him because he has feelings for him Kinosuke thinks he's finally found something that's his until he realizes that Brendan being around is no coincidence and the betrayal bites deep. But when Ken goes missing, Kinosuke must decide whether contacting the very person who hurt him could be the key to finding the man he owes his life to. This was a good read. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
July 26, 2017
Decent read, but just didn't grab me as much as the first book did. Still, it was great to see all the characters again.
July 8, 2015
4.5 Heart Review by Jenna
Yakuza Courage is the second installment in “The Way of the Yakuza” series. In addition to being a beautiful and erotic romance, this book was packed with action and intrigue. The story begins shortly after Ken, Shigure, and their yakuza crew set up in Hawaii where they begin their new lives working as martial arts instructors. Though the yakuza crew gave up their ties to all illegal activities when they left Japan, their arrival in the U.S. gets the attention of a government entity. An Ex-SEAL, Brendon, possess as a martial arts student in order to investigate the crew, but on his first day undercover, he falls for his Japanese instructor, Kinosuke. Despite their cultural differences and Kinosuke’s issues with anger and shame, their relationship moves quickly. However, nothing is easy for the two. When Brendon’s seemingly routine investigation is twisted into a political plot, their relationship becomes mangled to the point that it appears they will never be able to repair it.
As the plot thickens, the Ex-military crew and the yakuzas are drawn into political conspiracies, dodging bullets along the way until they ultimately turn the tables on those conspiring against them. Since Yakuza Courage focuses mostly on Kinosuke and Brendon, I really missed seeing Ken and Shigure. However, there were enough glimpses of them to make me feel nostalgia for Yakuza Pride. Even though I wasn’t initially sold on Kinosuke, the relationship between him and Brendon was very hot and by the end, I was dying for them to come back together. In addition to the romance, the culture shock aspect was very real and believable. In the first book Ken was looked down on for being a foreigner. So I loved seeing how the Japanese characters strove to find a place in their new home in the U.S. This aspect was especially interesting since the yakuza were now the foreigners and had to come to terms with the shame of their perceived drop in status.
Overall, this book was very awesome and I look forward to reading book three. I highly recommend Yakuza Courage to anyone who loves M/M romance mixed with action and adventure.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Yakuza Courage is the second installment in “The Way of the Yakuza” series. In addition to being a beautiful and erotic romance, this book was packed with action and intrigue. The story begins shortly after Ken, Shigure, and their yakuza crew set up in Hawaii where they begin their new lives working as martial arts instructors. Though the yakuza crew gave up their ties to all illegal activities when they left Japan, their arrival in the U.S. gets the attention of a government entity. An Ex-SEAL, Brendon, possess as a martial arts student in order to investigate the crew, but on his first day undercover, he falls for his Japanese instructor, Kinosuke. Despite their cultural differences and Kinosuke’s issues with anger and shame, their relationship moves quickly. However, nothing is easy for the two. When Brendon’s seemingly routine investigation is twisted into a political plot, their relationship becomes mangled to the point that it appears they will never be able to repair it.
As the plot thickens, the Ex-military crew and the yakuzas are drawn into political conspiracies, dodging bullets along the way until they ultimately turn the tables on those conspiring against them. Since Yakuza Courage focuses mostly on Kinosuke and Brendon, I really missed seeing Ken and Shigure. However, there were enough glimpses of them to make me feel nostalgia for Yakuza Pride. Even though I wasn’t initially sold on Kinosuke, the relationship between him and Brendon was very hot and by the end, I was dying for them to come back together. In addition to the romance, the culture shock aspect was very real and believable. In the first book Ken was looked down on for being a foreigner. So I loved seeing how the Japanese characters strove to find a place in their new home in the U.S. This aspect was especially interesting since the yakuza were now the foreigners and had to come to terms with the shame of their perceived drop in status.
Overall, this book was very awesome and I look forward to reading book three. I highly recommend Yakuza Courage to anyone who loves M/M romance mixed with action and adventure.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
August 3, 2014
I enjoyed this book for the most part. I loved the two main characters and liked their story. I liked the location.
Two things stopped it from 5 stars.
1. Too many POVSs, I just wanted Brendan and Kinosuke; and too many random characters.
2. A significant portion of the second half was taken up with a rescue mission, this could have been considerably cut.
Both of these issues meant less time was spent with the MCs, there were some issues I felt were eluded to, that were not fully explored.
Two things stopped it from 5 stars.
1. Too many POVSs, I just wanted Brendan and Kinosuke; and too many random characters.
2. A significant portion of the second half was taken up with a rescue mission, this could have been considerably cut.
Both of these issues meant less time was spent with the MCs, there were some issues I felt were eluded to, that were not fully explored.
April 27, 2017
유 Brendan O’Farrihy
유 Kinosuke Yonekawa
Read 20 Aug 2014
Well, that was a bit of a disappointment. I really liked the first book, but this was a bit of a let down. It was quite long and the middle of the book was a bit boring ~ ★★
유 Kinosuke Yonekawa
Read 20 Aug 2014
Well, that was a bit of a disappointment. I really liked the first book, but this was a bit of a let down. It was quite long and the middle of the book was a bit boring ~ ★★
November 14, 2014
Kuso, this book was awesome! What’s even more awesome is that I learned to swear in yet another language and I know it’s going to stick with me forever. Silliness aside, Yakuza Courage is a mix of everything I love in a book… funny, smart-assed characters? Check! Proud and honest Yakuza? Hot and troubled navy SEALS? A good plot? Check, check and check! This was the second book in The Way of the Yakuza series and it picks up no long after the end of the first book. I strongly recommend to start with book one if you want to completely understand the plot in Yakuza Courage. The guys are all in the US now and working hard to become legal residents. I loved all of them in the first book and I really enjoyed learning more about them. This is told from three points of view throughout the book and it alternates between Kinosuke, Brendan and Kotaro; let me tell you their unique ways of thinking and of perceiving the mix of cultures in Hawaii is extremely funny and interesting.
Kinosuke Yonekawa and the rest of his friends and ex members of the Yakuza family have recently moved to the US of A and are working at the dojo owned by Kenshin-san. This book is not as dark as the first one but it doesn’t lack in action. In fact this book was so action packed it constantly kept me on my toes. The author does an incredible job at showing the differences between the American and Japanese cultures. It’s very difficult for the guys to integrate into the American society and their struggles are real and, for people like me who had to go through it all, sometimes very hard to read. Kinosuke, as an ex-Yakuza, has a very hard time figuring out who he is now. All he’s known since he was young was how to be a Yakuza, and now that he gave that up, he feels that without the Yakuza name he is nothing. He lacks self confidence and at times it was very hard for me to read the way he perceives himself; I just wanted to give him a hug…
“Fuck if he knew why he was so stupid, but he’d never been bright to begin with, and nobody said that moving from Japan to Hawaii was supposed to make you smarter. He wasn’t intelligent like the boss—or even Kitahara—he wasn’t as tough as Shinya, or as good a marksman as Tachibana. He was just a wild card, more or less like Kotaro, very good to be used as a gofer if he got step-by-step instructions and, in his case, very convenient for a holiday fling, easy to leave behind before moving on to more serious engagements in the mainland. “
Kotaro is the youngster, the little “brother”, whom Shigure has been raising since he was a child. All Kotaro has ever wanted was to be old enough to become one of the much respected Yakuza, so now that this is no longer an option, he feels lost. He tried hard to integrate and belong with the rest of the teenagers at the school in Hawaii he now attends, but he is treated badly. He joins the bullies, becomes part of their group, and does anything he needs to in order to feel like he belongs. Kinosuke is frustrated with him because Kotaro ignores his responsibilities at the dojo and often leaves to do one thing he truly enjoys: surfing. But hanging out with the bad boys means he needs to prove he’s one of them and Kotaro soon learns that every action has consequences and that he can involuntarily hurt those he loves the most.
Brendan is an ex-navy SEAL who is hired by Senator Harris to gather as much information as possible on the Yakuza family. He enrolls in kendo classes in order to investigate the dojo and his sensei is none other than the beautiful Kinosuke. The chemistry between those two is off the charts and I really enjoyed the progress of their relationship. The cultural differences between the two make things complicated and it’s a real delight to watch them learn more about each other. The elegance and finesse of the Japanese culture made Brendan seem like an elephant crashing his way through the new territory. The relationship that forms between these two is short lived because the truth always finds a way to come out. When Brendan’s real motivations for getting close to Kinosuke in the beginning are found out, Brendan finds that he has a lot of groveling to do if he wants to win Kinosuke back.
When Kenshin-san is kidnapped, the Yakuza and the SEALS must learn to work together and most of all, respect and trust each other, if they want to be successful. The constant banter between the characters is hilarious and their sarcasm is spot on. I especially liked how hard Kinosuke fought his attraction towards Brendan, it made me laugh the way he was trying to convince himself and others that there’s nothing about Brendan he likes.
His eyes felt about to pop out of their sockets. “But, Boss, he’s not even handsome. He’s just this pasty-faced, freckled redhead!”
“You don’t like his blue eyes?”
“Green. They’re green.” Kinosuke understood his mistake as soon as he closed his big mouth—he didn’t need Matsunaga’s knowing smile to confirm it.
“So you’ve noticed the color of his eyes,” the bastard said. “And his freckles.”
“I teach him every Wednesday and Friday, I can’t help seeing his fucking face.”
The only complaints I have is that maybe the book was a bit too long. If it was 50 pages less it would have been truly perfect. Also, the way the transition was made between scenes wasn’t ideal. One moment they’re trying to escape and fight for their lives, the next it’s all over and they’re in the hospital. Ummm, no, that’s not good enough. I want to read the whole thing; I don’t want to imagine how it happened.
I recommend this to every reader that enjoys an action packed book, cultural clashes between amazing characters and banter and sarcasm throughout the book that will entertain and amuse you until the end.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Kinosuke Yonekawa and the rest of his friends and ex members of the Yakuza family have recently moved to the US of A and are working at the dojo owned by Kenshin-san. This book is not as dark as the first one but it doesn’t lack in action. In fact this book was so action packed it constantly kept me on my toes. The author does an incredible job at showing the differences between the American and Japanese cultures. It’s very difficult for the guys to integrate into the American society and their struggles are real and, for people like me who had to go through it all, sometimes very hard to read. Kinosuke, as an ex-Yakuza, has a very hard time figuring out who he is now. All he’s known since he was young was how to be a Yakuza, and now that he gave that up, he feels that without the Yakuza name he is nothing. He lacks self confidence and at times it was very hard for me to read the way he perceives himself; I just wanted to give him a hug…
“Fuck if he knew why he was so stupid, but he’d never been bright to begin with, and nobody said that moving from Japan to Hawaii was supposed to make you smarter. He wasn’t intelligent like the boss—or even Kitahara—he wasn’t as tough as Shinya, or as good a marksman as Tachibana. He was just a wild card, more or less like Kotaro, very good to be used as a gofer if he got step-by-step instructions and, in his case, very convenient for a holiday fling, easy to leave behind before moving on to more serious engagements in the mainland. “
Kotaro is the youngster, the little “brother”, whom Shigure has been raising since he was a child. All Kotaro has ever wanted was to be old enough to become one of the much respected Yakuza, so now that this is no longer an option, he feels lost. He tried hard to integrate and belong with the rest of the teenagers at the school in Hawaii he now attends, but he is treated badly. He joins the bullies, becomes part of their group, and does anything he needs to in order to feel like he belongs. Kinosuke is frustrated with him because Kotaro ignores his responsibilities at the dojo and often leaves to do one thing he truly enjoys: surfing. But hanging out with the bad boys means he needs to prove he’s one of them and Kotaro soon learns that every action has consequences and that he can involuntarily hurt those he loves the most.
Brendan is an ex-navy SEAL who is hired by Senator Harris to gather as much information as possible on the Yakuza family. He enrolls in kendo classes in order to investigate the dojo and his sensei is none other than the beautiful Kinosuke. The chemistry between those two is off the charts and I really enjoyed the progress of their relationship. The cultural differences between the two make things complicated and it’s a real delight to watch them learn more about each other. The elegance and finesse of the Japanese culture made Brendan seem like an elephant crashing his way through the new territory. The relationship that forms between these two is short lived because the truth always finds a way to come out. When Brendan’s real motivations for getting close to Kinosuke in the beginning are found out, Brendan finds that he has a lot of groveling to do if he wants to win Kinosuke back.
When Kenshin-san is kidnapped, the Yakuza and the SEALS must learn to work together and most of all, respect and trust each other, if they want to be successful. The constant banter between the characters is hilarious and their sarcasm is spot on. I especially liked how hard Kinosuke fought his attraction towards Brendan, it made me laugh the way he was trying to convince himself and others that there’s nothing about Brendan he likes.
His eyes felt about to pop out of their sockets. “But, Boss, he’s not even handsome. He’s just this pasty-faced, freckled redhead!”
“You don’t like his blue eyes?”
“Green. They’re green.” Kinosuke understood his mistake as soon as he closed his big mouth—he didn’t need Matsunaga’s knowing smile to confirm it.
“So you’ve noticed the color of his eyes,” the bastard said. “And his freckles.”
“I teach him every Wednesday and Friday, I can’t help seeing his fucking face.”
The only complaints I have is that maybe the book was a bit too long. If it was 50 pages less it would have been truly perfect. Also, the way the transition was made between scenes wasn’t ideal. One moment they’re trying to escape and fight for their lives, the next it’s all over and they’re in the hospital. Ummm, no, that’s not good enough. I want to read the whole thing; I don’t want to imagine how it happened.
I recommend this to every reader that enjoys an action packed book, cultural clashes between amazing characters and banter and sarcasm throughout the book that will entertain and amuse you until the end.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
August 10, 2014
4.5 stars
It's been a couple of years since I read the prequel to Yakuza Courage, Yakuza Pride, which I loved so much that when I saw this one was about to get published I pre-ordered it. As soon as it was published I downloaded it and started reading chapter one. That's about as far as I got on the first attempt.
First chapter is loaded with names and events that I had no reference to and it simply become too much information too soon. I put it on my bedside table for a couple of days, then decided to give it another try. I'm so glad I did,because with chapter two I was back with the former Yakuza members I remembered from the first novel. From then on I was hooked and I didn't stop reading until this morning when I finished the last line.
In hindsight it's good it has been a couple of years since Yakuza Pride. Yakuza Courage is pretty much a stand alone novel, though with same/connecting characters. The main characters here are not the same as in the first book, which is expected if you have read the blurb. As with the first novel this has several point of view characters - three to be exact (four if you count one very brief scene at the very beginning of the novel).
We get the story from Brendan, the former SEAL, now PI-kind of guy that has some issues with finding his worth outside of the military world. Then we have Kinosuke, one of the former yakuza members who also had a part in the first story. He too has problems with finding his way in the new world he has come to and struggles with finding his self-worth when he's no longer a yakuza member but a mere immigrant in a land that may not want him. Finally we get the story from Kotaro, another of the characters from book one. This is one of my favorite POV's. Kotaro is funny and a bit clueless; his function is at parts to act as the ignorant "Dr. Watson" so that the reader can get an explanation at what is going on without it becoming to transparent it's one of those "as you know, Bob"-moments.
All three POV:s are necessary for the major turn of events, the culmination of the story, the freeing of Kenshin-san, who has once again been kidnapped. The three POV:s increases the tension here and it allows the reader to get insight in all sides of the event. I guess Ms. Brues must have had a blast while planning and plotting the story, so that it all worked out in the end.
Apart from Brendan, Kinosuke and Kotaro we have more than a handful of other characters. This was what annoyed me initially, but as I kept reading (not caring whether I actually remembered or understood who everyone was ... and it got clear along the way) it became apparent that characters wasn't added just for the fun of it, but each and everyone had an important role to play.
The multiple POV:s and the wide scope of supporting characters as well as the prime focus on the action events instead of the romance means that this is not a first choice if you are longing for "just" a romance. But if like me, you are longing for something more, something a bit broader in scope, something less romantic and more suspenseful - then this may be the book for you.
How I come to like - or dislike - a book depends, have I realized - depends much on my own mood. If I'm in the mood for sappy romance (and believe me, I am a lot of times) then a multi-character action novel is not what I want, but when I have read numerous such stories I occasionally need something else. And right now this was it for me.
It is also one of the longest M/M novels I have read on my ereader, if not the longest. My ereader said 473 pages, so yeah, there are parts of this story that probably could have been slimmed down. But all in all this was almost a five star reading for me.
It's been a couple of years since I read the prequel to Yakuza Courage, Yakuza Pride, which I loved so much that when I saw this one was about to get published I pre-ordered it. As soon as it was published I downloaded it and started reading chapter one. That's about as far as I got on the first attempt.
First chapter is loaded with names and events that I had no reference to and it simply become too much information too soon. I put it on my bedside table for a couple of days, then decided to give it another try. I'm so glad I did,because with chapter two I was back with the former Yakuza members I remembered from the first novel. From then on I was hooked and I didn't stop reading until this morning when I finished the last line.
In hindsight it's good it has been a couple of years since Yakuza Pride. Yakuza Courage is pretty much a stand alone novel, though with same/connecting characters. The main characters here are not the same as in the first book, which is expected if you have read the blurb. As with the first novel this has several point of view characters - three to be exact (four if you count one very brief scene at the very beginning of the novel).
We get the story from Brendan, the former SEAL, now PI-kind of guy that has some issues with finding his worth outside of the military world. Then we have Kinosuke, one of the former yakuza members who also had a part in the first story. He too has problems with finding his way in the new world he has come to and struggles with finding his self-worth when he's no longer a yakuza member but a mere immigrant in a land that may not want him. Finally we get the story from Kotaro, another of the characters from book one. This is one of my favorite POV's. Kotaro is funny and a bit clueless; his function is at parts to act as the ignorant "Dr. Watson" so that the reader can get an explanation at what is going on without it becoming to transparent it's one of those "as you know, Bob"-moments.
All three POV:s are necessary for the major turn of events, the culmination of the story, the freeing of Kenshin-san, who has once again been kidnapped. The three POV:s increases the tension here and it allows the reader to get insight in all sides of the event. I guess Ms. Brues must have had a blast while planning and plotting the story, so that it all worked out in the end.
Apart from Brendan, Kinosuke and Kotaro we have more than a handful of other characters. This was what annoyed me initially, but as I kept reading (not caring whether I actually remembered or understood who everyone was ... and it got clear along the way) it became apparent that characters wasn't added just for the fun of it, but each and everyone had an important role to play.
The multiple POV:s and the wide scope of supporting characters as well as the prime focus on the action events instead of the romance means that this is not a first choice if you are longing for "just" a romance. But if like me, you are longing for something more, something a bit broader in scope, something less romantic and more suspenseful - then this may be the book for you.
How I come to like - or dislike - a book depends, have I realized - depends much on my own mood. If I'm in the mood for sappy romance (and believe me, I am a lot of times) then a multi-character action novel is not what I want, but when I have read numerous such stories I occasionally need something else. And right now this was it for me.
It is also one of the longest M/M novels I have read on my ereader, if not the longest. My ereader said 473 pages, so yeah, there are parts of this story that probably could have been slimmed down. But all in all this was almost a five star reading for me.
September 15, 2014
4.5 Stars
Before I started Yakuza Courage, I ended up re-reading Yakuza Pride just to refresh my memory of some of the characters involved in this story. Let me just start by telling you that these two books are not a light and fluffy read.
Brendan has been hired by Senator Harris to spy on the dojo that Kinosuke “Ken “ Yonekawa owns, to find out just what Ken’s connection is with the so-called employees he’s hired to run the place. With help from of a former Navy SEAL, Big B, the two men manage to infiltrate the dojo and wire it for surveillance. It is at this time that Brendan joins the dojo to learn Kendo. One of the cute parts of this surveillance was when Brendan and Big B start listening in on the Yakuza and discover that neither one of them knows how to speak Japanese. Ooops!
Kinosuke is feeling out of touch since leaving the Yakuza to join his boss and lover in Honolulu. Needless to say, Ken’s a bit short tempered and feeling resentful of being relegated to playing babysitter to Kotaro, the boss’s adopted son. So when a new, smart ass gaijin joins the dojo and asks Kinosuke to be his sensei…well, it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly. Or for them to act on the mutual attraction they have for each other, which leaves Kotaro feeling displaced and Kinosuke short tempered with him. The teenager, now feeling lonely and wanting to fit in somewhere, starts to hang out with the wrong crowd and is caught on surveillance selling drugs.
And it was at this point that Yakuza Courage just took off!
Oh my god, H.J. Brues did it again, surprising me with betrayal, plot twists and so many suspenseful moments that I had trouble slowing my mind down because I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I ended up having to re-read some scenes because in my devouring of the book, I found myself missing key things leading up to the next scene. I had to tell myself to slow down a couple of times because I just couldn’t handle the suspense.
As much as I enjoyed reading Yakuza Courage, though, there were a couple of situations that I found hard to believe, and I wish there had been more interaction in the developing romance between Brendan and Kinosuke, like there was between Shigure and Kenneth. If anything, I also want to find out more about Kotaro and his new guardian angel. I’m hoping to see another story in the making with that possibility.
So I’m giving Yakuza Courage a 4.5 Star rating and would gladly give both Yakuza stories a listen if/when they come out in audio. Who knows, getting a second version and the right narrator for Yakuza Courage might change my rating to 5 Stars, but either way, I absolutely love this series!
Before I started Yakuza Courage, I ended up re-reading Yakuza Pride just to refresh my memory of some of the characters involved in this story. Let me just start by telling you that these two books are not a light and fluffy read.
Brendan has been hired by Senator Harris to spy on the dojo that Kinosuke “Ken “ Yonekawa owns, to find out just what Ken’s connection is with the so-called employees he’s hired to run the place. With help from of a former Navy SEAL, Big B, the two men manage to infiltrate the dojo and wire it for surveillance. It is at this time that Brendan joins the dojo to learn Kendo. One of the cute parts of this surveillance was when Brendan and Big B start listening in on the Yakuza and discover that neither one of them knows how to speak Japanese. Ooops!
Kinosuke is feeling out of touch since leaving the Yakuza to join his boss and lover in Honolulu. Needless to say, Ken’s a bit short tempered and feeling resentful of being relegated to playing babysitter to Kotaro, the boss’s adopted son. So when a new, smart ass gaijin joins the dojo and asks Kinosuke to be his sensei…well, it doesn’t take long for the sparks to fly. Or for them to act on the mutual attraction they have for each other, which leaves Kotaro feeling displaced and Kinosuke short tempered with him. The teenager, now feeling lonely and wanting to fit in somewhere, starts to hang out with the wrong crowd and is caught on surveillance selling drugs.
And it was at this point that Yakuza Courage just took off!
Oh my god, H.J. Brues did it again, surprising me with betrayal, plot twists and so many suspenseful moments that I had trouble slowing my mind down because I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I ended up having to re-read some scenes because in my devouring of the book, I found myself missing key things leading up to the next scene. I had to tell myself to slow down a couple of times because I just couldn’t handle the suspense.
As much as I enjoyed reading Yakuza Courage, though, there were a couple of situations that I found hard to believe, and I wish there had been more interaction in the developing romance between Brendan and Kinosuke, like there was between Shigure and Kenneth. If anything, I also want to find out more about Kotaro and his new guardian angel. I’m hoping to see another story in the making with that possibility.
So I’m giving Yakuza Courage a 4.5 Star rating and would gladly give both Yakuza stories a listen if/when they come out in audio. Who knows, getting a second version and the right narrator for Yakuza Courage might change my rating to 5 Stars, but either way, I absolutely love this series!
August 25, 2014
My favorite books are the ones that grab me from the first chapter and tenaciously hold on so that I can’t put the book down until I’m done. This book did that, and more.
The story picks up a while after Ken, Shigure, Shinya, Kotoro, Kinosuke and Tachibana have settled in to their new home and business in Hawaii. They now run a dojo, a martial arts training center, and have converted an old warehouse complex to a series of buildings in which they live and work.
Brendan, ex-Navy SEAL, and now security consultant, is hired by Senator Harris, Ken’s father, who states that Ken is still with these men against his will, and that they are setting up a new branch of the yakuza in Hawaii. In the course of the investigation, Brendan not only finds out that is not true, but he falls hard for the sensai of the class he is taking, Kinosuke.
The two become intimate in a push and pull stubborn alpha male relationship and are starting to grow closer until Kinosuke learns that Ken has disappeared, and finds out, at the same time, that Brendan has been investigating them. This revelation breaks them up and forces Kinosuke into an untenable position with Shinagura (Shigure). Left alone and broken-hearted, Brendan is betrayed by someone else close to him, causing him to reevaluate his actions toward Kinosuke from a different perspective.
This story moves along at a very fast pace, with one incredible catastrophe or revelation after another happening to all of the various characters in the story, both primary and secondary. It’s intriguing, complex, and emotional. And the team effort put forth by Brendan’s SEAL buddies along with the yakuza group as they attempt to free Kenishan-san (Ken) from his treacherous father’s clutches is a very complex and well-orchestrated operation. And the side benefit? Brendan and Kinosuke are working for the same team, toward the same goal, and have multiple opportunities to see each other in a new light and for Kinosuke to possibly find the courage to forgive Brendan for being human.
The final actions taken to assure that Ken will be safe in the future, and to help Brendan come to terms with a serious conflict related to his last active duty as a SEAL team commander, are amazingly well-planned and highly imaginative.
I can’t recommend this story strongly enough. It is truly amazing. Although it can be read as a standalone, it would be best to read Yakuza Pride first. Both books are outstanding and unforgettable.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
The story picks up a while after Ken, Shigure, Shinya, Kotoro, Kinosuke and Tachibana have settled in to their new home and business in Hawaii. They now run a dojo, a martial arts training center, and have converted an old warehouse complex to a series of buildings in which they live and work.
Brendan, ex-Navy SEAL, and now security consultant, is hired by Senator Harris, Ken’s father, who states that Ken is still with these men against his will, and that they are setting up a new branch of the yakuza in Hawaii. In the course of the investigation, Brendan not only finds out that is not true, but he falls hard for the sensai of the class he is taking, Kinosuke.
The two become intimate in a push and pull stubborn alpha male relationship and are starting to grow closer until Kinosuke learns that Ken has disappeared, and finds out, at the same time, that Brendan has been investigating them. This revelation breaks them up and forces Kinosuke into an untenable position with Shinagura (Shigure). Left alone and broken-hearted, Brendan is betrayed by someone else close to him, causing him to reevaluate his actions toward Kinosuke from a different perspective.
This story moves along at a very fast pace, with one incredible catastrophe or revelation after another happening to all of the various characters in the story, both primary and secondary. It’s intriguing, complex, and emotional. And the team effort put forth by Brendan’s SEAL buddies along with the yakuza group as they attempt to free Kenishan-san (Ken) from his treacherous father’s clutches is a very complex and well-orchestrated operation. And the side benefit? Brendan and Kinosuke are working for the same team, toward the same goal, and have multiple opportunities to see each other in a new light and for Kinosuke to possibly find the courage to forgive Brendan for being human.
The final actions taken to assure that Ken will be safe in the future, and to help Brendan come to terms with a serious conflict related to his last active duty as a SEAL team commander, are amazingly well-planned and highly imaginative.
I can’t recommend this story strongly enough. It is truly amazing. Although it can be read as a standalone, it would be best to read Yakuza Pride first. Both books are outstanding and unforgettable.
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
September 23, 2014
3.5 Stars
This one was bogged down and slow at times. Also, I had a difficult time keeping track of the plethora of characters. What I did like: H.J. Brues really captured local life here in the islands, including the Pidgen English used by some of the locals. (No small feat!)
Bottom line: I love this series but this one was a bit long-winded for my tastes.
This one was bogged down and slow at times. Also, I had a difficult time keeping track of the plethora of characters. What I did like: H.J. Brues really captured local life here in the islands, including the Pidgen English used by some of the locals. (No small feat!)
Bottom line: I love this series but this one was a bit long-winded for my tastes.
February 19, 2015
Lost the plot at about 60%. Too many characters introduced about then. Brendon was a superior asshole, and not even in the good way. BUT the groundwork laid for Book Three (If I'm correct in my assumption) has me hooked.
Want to read
July 3, 2014WHAT?! IS THIS REAL?
YES.
YES.
Want to read
July 8, 2014Wow, I'll have to reread the first book now.
July 16, 2019
I really liked some parts but this dragged way too much without need.
August 8, 2014
messy and all over the place. i was confused80% of it
June 2, 2018
Kinosuke was annoying. I really don't get what Brendan saw in him apart from pretty face (and tatoo). I liked the story since it was well written but I think my favourite couples were Kenshin with his wakagashira and Twins.
I even liked the Brendan's partner, the lawyer, who wasn't a perfect match and I woudn't want them to stay together but as a friend and an ally he was great.
I even liked the Brendan's partner, the lawyer, who wasn't a perfect match and I woudn't want them to stay together but as a friend and an ally he was great.
January 5, 2016
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Yakuza Courage is the second installment in “The Way of the Yakuza” series. In addition to being a beautiful and erotic romance, this book was packed with action and intrigue. The story begins shortly after Ken, Shigure, and their yakuza crew set up in Hawaii where they begin their new lives working as martial arts instructors. Though the yakuza crew gave up their ties to all illegal activities when they left Japan, their arrival in the U.S. gets the attention of a government entity. An Ex-SEAL, Brendon, possess as a martial arts student in order to investigate the crew, but on his first day undercover, he falls for his Japanese instructor, Kinosuke. Despite their cultural differences and Kinosuke’s issues with anger and shame, their relationship moves quickly. However, nothing is easy for the two. When Brendon’s seemingly routine investigation is twisted into a political plot, their relationship becomes mangled to the point that it appears they will never be able to repair it.
As the plot thickens, the Ex-military crew and the yakuzas are drawn into political conspiracies, dodging bullets along the way until they ultimately turn the tables on those conspiring against them. Since Yakuza Courage focuses mostly on Kinosuke and Brendon, I really missed seeing Ken and Shigure. However, there were enough glimpses of them to make me feel nostalgia for Yakuza Pride. Even though I wasn’t initially sold on Kinosuke, the relationship between him and Brendon was very hot and by the end, I was dying for them to come back together. In addition to the romance, the culture shock aspect was very real and believable. In the first book Ken was looked down on for being a foreigner. So I loved seeing how the Japanese characters strove to find a place in their new home in the U.S. This aspect was especially interesting since the yakuza were now the foreigners and had to come to terms with the shame of their perceived drop in status.
Overall, this book was very awesome and I look forward to reading book three. I highly recommend Yakuza Courage to anyone who loves M/M romance mixed with action and adventure.
Yakuza Courage is the second installment in “The Way of the Yakuza” series. In addition to being a beautiful and erotic romance, this book was packed with action and intrigue. The story begins shortly after Ken, Shigure, and their yakuza crew set up in Hawaii where they begin their new lives working as martial arts instructors. Though the yakuza crew gave up their ties to all illegal activities when they left Japan, their arrival in the U.S. gets the attention of a government entity. An Ex-SEAL, Brendon, possess as a martial arts student in order to investigate the crew, but on his first day undercover, he falls for his Japanese instructor, Kinosuke. Despite their cultural differences and Kinosuke’s issues with anger and shame, their relationship moves quickly. However, nothing is easy for the two. When Brendon’s seemingly routine investigation is twisted into a political plot, their relationship becomes mangled to the point that it appears they will never be able to repair it.
As the plot thickens, the Ex-military crew and the yakuzas are drawn into political conspiracies, dodging bullets along the way until they ultimately turn the tables on those conspiring against them. Since Yakuza Courage focuses mostly on Kinosuke and Brendon, I really missed seeing Ken and Shigure. However, there were enough glimpses of them to make me feel nostalgia for Yakuza Pride. Even though I wasn’t initially sold on Kinosuke, the relationship between him and Brendon was very hot and by the end, I was dying for them to come back together. In addition to the romance, the culture shock aspect was very real and believable. In the first book Ken was looked down on for being a foreigner. So I loved seeing how the Japanese characters strove to find a place in their new home in the U.S. This aspect was especially interesting since the yakuza were now the foreigners and had to come to terms with the shame of their perceived drop in status.
Overall, this book was very awesome and I look forward to reading book three. I highly recommend Yakuza Courage to anyone who loves M/M romance mixed with action and adventure.
August 7, 2014
3.5 stars round up.
I have heard from Ms. Brues that she had started writing the sequel to Yakuza Pride a few years ago. She said that she is a pretty slow writer so she wasn't sure when it will be ready. Imagine my surprise when I actually saw this book, seemingly popping out of the blues.
I did like reading the this book, but I do not really care for either of the MCs here. Sure they had a very rough pasts but they seems to either dealing with their issues by avoidance or acting out. Though I would admit that it was logical for their characters, I am not too fond of whining men. And that is my another issue, the long overly descriptive narrations. For me, it break the tensions and pacing, especially when the character were in a dangerous situation or when they were supposed to take action right after or even between dialogue. I am not sure if it was Ms. Brues' own writing style or the style she choose to do for this series. But the results was that her men seems to *check out* from immediate situations a lot, which didn't works for me. I am also not a fan of chapter long sex scenes. Often times there will be time skip and change of locations at the beginnings of new chapters. The change of locations were fine as the characters will soon let us know where they were. But the time skips were often vague or not there. Overall, it made me feels confuse and unable to make heads or tails sometimes. I didn't like that Ken was *missing*, again. Although, it did made sense, I didn't like it.
I wonder if this could be counted as GFY story... There was not any hints of Kinosuke being interested in men before. So that put a damper on my suspended disbelief.
Regardless, I felt that Ms. Brues had done extensive research for her new characters and new locations. They felt as rich as the way Ms. Brues wrote about Tokyo in
.
I was also a bit disappointed that Ken and Shigure did not have their own narrations. I realized now that there were less than a handful scenes of them actually being seen together or even talking on page...
Despite a lot of negatives points for me, I did like reading it. The ending was more open to more sequels. I hope Ms. Brues could come up with plot that didn't involve Kenshin missing again. I enjoyed seeing/reading him.
I have heard from Ms. Brues that she had started writing the sequel to Yakuza Pride a few years ago. She said that she is a pretty slow writer so she wasn't sure when it will be ready. Imagine my surprise when I actually saw this book, seemingly popping out of the blues.
I did like reading the this book, but I do not really care for either of the MCs here. Sure they had a very rough pasts but they seems to either dealing with their issues by avoidance or acting out. Though I would admit that it was logical for their characters, I am not too fond of whining men. And that is my another issue, the long overly descriptive narrations. For me, it break the tensions and pacing, especially when the character were in a dangerous situation or when they were supposed to take action right after or even between dialogue. I am not sure if it was Ms. Brues' own writing style or the style she choose to do for this series. But the results was that her men seems to *check out* from immediate situations a lot, which didn't works for me. I am also not a fan of chapter long sex scenes. Often times there will be time skip and change of locations at the beginnings of new chapters. The change of locations were fine as the characters will soon let us know where they were. But the time skips were often vague or not there. Overall, it made me feels confuse and unable to make heads or tails sometimes. I didn't like that Ken was *missing*, again. Although, it did made sense, I didn't like it.
I wonder if this could be counted as GFY story... There was not any hints of Kinosuke being interested in men before. So that put a damper on my suspended disbelief.
Regardless, I felt that Ms. Brues had done extensive research for her new characters and new locations. They felt as rich as the way Ms. Brues wrote about Tokyo in
. I was also a bit disappointed that Ken and Shigure did not have their own narrations. I realized now that there were less than a handful scenes of them actually being seen together or even talking on page...
Despite a lot of negatives points for me, I did like reading it. The ending was more open to more sequels. I hope Ms. Brues could come up with plot that didn't involve Kenshin missing again. I enjoyed seeing/reading him.
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