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The Brothers #2
Aiden to Haru
Haru has finally revealed his forbidden feelings to his older stepbrother Aiden, which, to his amazement, is reciprocated. Now the couple has been dating for six months, and after a grueling exam period, the two, along with their brothers, head over to Japan for a much needed, long overdue winter vacation.
Just when Haru is beginning to enjoy the trip and his blossoming relationship with Aiden, the appearance of Aiden’s old flame threatens to destroy Haru’s newfound happiness. Adding to the already unpleasant situation is the emergence of changes in two of his other stepbrothers’ behavior toward him, which confuses Haru, stirring up a different sort of emotions within him that are hard to explain.
Haru’s story is a yaoi harem romance. The uke (Haru) will gain his men (semes) one at a time as his story progresses.
Just when Haru is beginning to enjoy the trip and his blossoming relationship with Aiden, the appearance of Aiden’s old flame threatens to destroy Haru’s newfound happiness. Adding to the already unpleasant situation is the emergence of changes in two of his other stepbrothers’ behavior toward him, which confuses Haru, stirring up a different sort of emotions within him that are hard to explain.
Haru’s story is a yaoi harem romance. The uke (Haru) will gain his men (semes) one at a time as his story progresses.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2019
27 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Alexia Praks
53 books636 followersAlexia is a self-proclaimed hermit, puppers-loving girl who likes to write anything romance—be it contemporary, historical, fantasy, paranormal, or a combination of any of these. Currently residing in Aotearoa (land of the long white cloud), she spends seventy percent of her time watching anime and reading comics and the other thirty percent daydreaming about food and procrastinating. Whatever’s left she actually uses to write books that may or may not bring her a few precious gold coins to support her lifestyle.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 24, 2022
I will stop my reading of the series here. While I liked the idea of a male/male harem style I just didn't find the characters, plot or romance compelling at all. Even if the narration was very good it still made me cringe and uncomfortable at times while listening. It's a shame as I had hoped for a cute/sexy short audiobooks series to binge at times. I will keep looking though
February 12, 2021
I do like to say (and believe) mood influences reading experience but not sure it was ever this strong. Or maybe it was the book...?
Either way, I expected more of the cute and dirty "Japanese" feel romance and what I got was about a whole heap of issues instead. Everyone acting like Haru is practically a girl (but I already wrote on that heteronormative shoving and confusion in that recent review so let's say it really, really applies here as well) not to mention pushy characters who forced and teased him until I wanted to scream at him to grow a spine. I don't need to feel like my main protagonist is literary some shrinking, ups, Shrine, maiden who gets to blush and protest in bed, because the bed partner is an insensitive asshole... I mean, passionate guy.
I didn't feel it, I didn't like it, I was dissatisfied with the very plain writing (like some bad porn where the most brilliant line you hear is "harder") and generally the jealousy angle (both of them, actually) and just the whole uncle plot...
The only nice point was that legend but if this series is supposed to be based on that legend??? Snort, people. The legend sounds cool, this series is not. Sorry(?)
Can't say I recommend (and I am not sure if I would ever touch again the first book in case it was actually some fluke).
Either way, I expected more of the cute and dirty "Japanese" feel romance and what I got was about a whole heap of issues instead. Everyone acting like Haru is practically a girl (but I already wrote on that heteronormative shoving and confusion in that recent review so let's say it really, really applies here as well) not to mention pushy characters who forced and teased him until I wanted to scream at him to grow a spine. I don't need to feel like my main protagonist is literary some shrinking, ups, Shrine, maiden who gets to blush and protest in bed, because the bed partner is an insensitive asshole... I mean, passionate guy.
I didn't feel it, I didn't like it, I was dissatisfied with the very plain writing (like some bad porn where the most brilliant line you hear is "harder") and generally the jealousy angle (both of them, actually) and just the whole uncle plot...
The only nice point was that legend but if this series is supposed to be based on that legend??? Snort, people. The legend sounds cool, this series is not. Sorry(?)
Can't say I recommend (and I am not sure if I would ever touch again the first book in case it was actually some fluke).
August 2, 2020
Good read.
Less angsty than the previous book. I didn't find the pinning here like before.
I somehow skipped the sexy scenes because they always caught me while eating or with kids. Lol
I probably come back to that for sure.
Less angsty than the previous book. I didn't find the pinning here like before.
I somehow skipped the sexy scenes because they always caught me while eating or with kids. Lol
I probably come back to that for sure.
May 16, 2021
Wow, there are so many things wrong with this. So many that I took away a star from just feeling uncomfortable. These men are way too pushy with Haru.
Haru is petite and has fainted in the past before from malnutrition, Aiden knows this yet keeps having crazy sex with Haru, hardly letting him gain his energy
"Yeah, Aiden knew that Haru had a weak body, since he had been young due to malnutrition. So why had he insistently driven Haru to exhaustion by making love to the boy so frequently?" (Page 10)
Yeeaahhh, that's not okay. In the last chapter Haru tells Aiden to slow down but he doesn't and stays at that speed, is that dubious consent? I don't know because I don't read that but it felt weird so, minus one star for that scene. And this whole "Shrine Maiden" thing is more annoying than sexy.
Haru is petite and has fainted in the past before from malnutrition, Aiden knows this yet keeps having crazy sex with Haru, hardly letting him gain his energy
"Yeah, Aiden knew that Haru had a weak body, since he had been young due to malnutrition. So why had he insistently driven Haru to exhaustion by making love to the boy so frequently?" (Page 10)
Yeeaahhh, that's not okay. In the last chapter Haru tells Aiden to slow down but he doesn't and stays at that speed, is that dubious consent? I don't know because I don't read that but it felt weird so, minus one star for that scene. And this whole "Shrine Maiden" thing is more annoying than sexy.
June 19, 2021
Wasn't intending to read this series after book 1, but this one may have redeemed the series.
December 11, 2023
2.5 stars. I hoped to have more of a relationship pov from Haru and Aiden and in the first part of the book it goes well, but then it gets weird and derails. it's not too bad once you get past that point, but for me, it did feel a bit.... meh. like this should have been kept to a stand alone, not a series. and a full sized book with more depth into the relationship. So this is where I end. To be able to look back at 2 enjoyable reads, and move on to something else. Making it 3 stars in the end, because I did enjoy the majority of the story, just for Aiden and Haru (even though Haru's personality at times really irritated me as well.)
April 25, 2024
Great story
The warmth and closeness of this family is incredible. The development of each character with the legend talked about in the story brings a depth of Japanese mythology not common in many stores but definitely welcomed. Looking forward to the next book.
The warmth and closeness of this family is incredible. The development of each character with the legend talked about in the story brings a depth of Japanese mythology not common in many stores but definitely welcomed. Looking forward to the next book.
September 8, 2024
Better than the first book. More depth to the story and brings in some Japanese lore. Writing was also a bit better than book one.
November 23, 2024
Second experience with yaoi and am very much enjoying the Shrine Maiden aspect. Looking forward to seeing what happens with that!
March 27, 2020
I wasn't sure if I would buy this book because the first one had me on the fence, and I realised why as I started reading again. The writing style is a bit to get used to, and the wording.
But this one had me hooked, I love the idea of a Shrine Maiden and Haru's effect on the people around him. I liked the hints throughout the book about the changes that is to come, which you got a sense of in the first book but not as certain.
Possessive and clingy is my thing and we get that here with everyone around Haru, I look forward to reading more about the brothers.
But this one had me hooked, I love the idea of a Shrine Maiden and Haru's effect on the people around him. I liked the hints throughout the book about the changes that is to come, which you got a sense of in the first book but not as certain.
Possessive and clingy is my thing and we get that here with everyone around Haru, I look forward to reading more about the brothers.
May 15, 2020
Much better than book 1!
I was very impressed with this one. The story flowed better, I liked how the characters were fleshed out. I especially loved Isaac. He’s just a fun guy.
Lost one star since, even on the smexy scenes, they kept referring to Haru as “the boy”. Haru is a young adult in college. I realize they have known him since childhood, but it would be great if they not refer to him as a child so often.
I was very impressed with this one. The story flowed better, I liked how the characters were fleshed out. I especially loved Isaac. He’s just a fun guy.
Lost one star since, even on the smexy scenes, they kept referring to Haru as “the boy”. Haru is a young adult in college. I realize they have known him since childhood, but it would be great if they not refer to him as a child so often.
April 7, 2021
Tangled Webs
This book would have been worth reading for the glimpses of Japan alone but there's a lot going on in addition to that. The Shrine Maiden legend is explored in more detail and someone's patience is running out.
This book would have been worth reading for the glimpses of Japan alone but there's a lot going on in addition to that. The Shrine Maiden legend is explored in more detail and someone's patience is running out.
April 10, 2020
Cannot wait till the next one! I loved both books! Easy read, compelling story, and I loved the sub plot of the "Shrine Maiden". Great read!
April 13, 2020
3 1/2 stars
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July 9, 2020can't wait for the next
January 29, 2022
Omg yessss I can't wait to read the next one
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews