The Devil Inside

The Kuroda Yakuza #1

by Mia Amano

Adele Sullivan doesn't mind her job as a waitress at the Fat Dragon sushi bar. It pays the bills while she tries to make a name for herself as an artist. Of course, it helps that there's a ridiculously handsome Japanese accountant who comes in once a week to do the books. Adele's had her eye on him for some time.

Kaito Araki is a mystery to Adele. He's polite, reserved, and doesn't seem to be interested in her at all. Until one night, when she witnesses an act of unexpected violence, revealing a darker side to the man. It seems Kaito isn't who he pretends to be. Who is this complicated man, really?

Adele finds herself thrust into LA's seedy underworld, where hostesses, pimps and gangsters swim like sharks beneath the glittering surface, and the yakuza are trying to expand their territory.

She's still not sure where Kaito fits into it all. What she can't ignore, however, is the growing attraction between them. Is getting to know Kaito really a good idea, or is she going to end up burnt?

Adele had better hope her instincts are right on this one.

This book is recommended for readers aged 18 and over. It contains violence, swearing and steamy sex scenes.

Genres: M F Romance, Romance, Dark Romance, Crime, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

167 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2015

About the author

I write mafia romance, mostly about the yakuza, with a few odd little books (fantasy, sci fi) thrown in here and there. Because of the world they inhabit, my characters aren't always perfect. They can be nice, but they can also be nasty. And because of language, violence and sex, my books are recommended for mature audiences!

Still interested? Then read on. xx


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mia-Amano-12...

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mia-Amano/e/B01...

Reviews

[Emilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Grisette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

I love Asian heroes, for obvious reasons, and therefore I am always on the lookout for good Yakuza-theme romance books, as rare as they are. This book was hence a given read for me.

What is remarkable about this novella is the distinct tone of the book. The mob business was addressed in a realistic way with almost a disabused tone. The book read like a noir film, in the European style. The sedate but unnerving ambience of the book reminded me a lot of this French movie, where the characters have their gritty life woes, secrets and yet all yearn and still hope for a better, free life. This book is a romance but not written in the usual fictive way. There is a sense of grim realism, esp. in the H, Kaito's POV scenes. The book's plot unveils itself in a langourous pace which is both irritating and yet fitting to its noir atmosphere. Note that although there is mob business a bit graphically written (only some), this is not a dark book.

I had a bit of difficulty settling in because I did not click immediately with the h, Adele's character, esp. in the first chapters. She reacted in a certain way, and then in the next moment, she would act/ think in a contrasting way. She confused me a bit. I felt that the author had more drive to write Kaito's scenes than Adele's. I loved Kaito's POV and the original take on the Yakuza business; his feelings and angst came across quite well.

Although the book ended a bit abruptly, almost feeling like a prequel to a bigger book, I liked the way the plot was developped in the ending chapters. I know that there is a second book and none after that. I will certainly read the second book. I wonder if the characters' current HFN will end into an HEA, or at least enough of an HEA given the reality of their now merged world.

Note: this book requires some good editing. It was distracting esp. when the name of the Italian family got mixed up in several places.

P.S.: I totally get the book title. For me, 'Devil' refers to his inner demons (like all of us have) and not Evil-really-Evil. Anti-hero rather than villain.

[Laz the Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is somewhat similar to the Italian and Russian mafia stories, but it revolves around the Japanese yakuza. Since it is novella length, it's not as deep as some of the others that I've enjoyed, but the H and h were strong and worked well together. There was a lot of detail on the machinations of his and her lives, more detail than in the sex scenes, which were short but intense.

The ending more of To Be Continued than a cliff hanger.

I'll be reading the next one.

[Jada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. The Yakuza mob was a very fasinating subject. However, the ending is abrupt with a cliff hanger. The problem: this book and the second book are no longer being published. When you click on the GoodReads Get Copy/Amazon link, you get the Amazon search page; titles of the same name. Neither the author or the books can be found on Barnes and Noble or Amazon websites.

A poster request regarding the whereabouts of the second book are going unanswered on the author's page here at good reads.

Finding the second book took some lurking/requesting on questionable sites. I would not recommend the steps I took. But to keep from yanking out my weave I had to find the second book. Curiousity killed the cat but my grandmother always said satifaction brought HER back. Which reminds me I should probably do a virus scan/clean up on my laptop now.

Makes me question if this book should have been written (writing on the Yakuza is perhaps taboo?). Story/plot too close to home? Well...I hope the writer is well. This book was well written. The characters were mysterious and engaging. The writer is very talented. I'm just starting book 2 and I already want more.

[Stephanie E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story...

Good story...good chemistry with main characters. A lot was left open though. Hopefully there is another installment. Sort of a cliffhanger ending.

[Coribooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly really enjoyed this book though found the last chapter really rushed

[DebraLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with original characters and storyline -I really enjoyed it

[koi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! It's dark and beautiful. And a word to describe be this is ethereal. It's just amazing!!! I need a second one!!! The real ending to their story!!!

[Adrian]

This was so good, I couldn hardly put it down, there were times when Adele annoyed the piss out of me, I wished she was a bit of a bitch lol.

[Kimi Wedd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kaito was a complex character and a really wish this novel was longer to see more of him unfold. This felt like a teaser but even being a bit of a short read it was pretty good.

[Yassmin · Rating 2 out of 5]

What i liked in this novella is the asian hero. You don't find a lot of novels talking about an asian man in a sensual context. This role is usually for the white or latin. But it falls in stereotype of the Japanese character is always a yakuza. The novella is similar to alot of mafia novels. No new..

[Saucy Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please make a sequel.