An unproven alliance. A broken promise. A mafia boss must shed blood to secure peace…

Nao Murata is on the verge of brokering peace between his syndicate and the Mafufugumi mob. To seal the deal, he’ll need to pick up Russian prostitutes to appease his newest ally. When the exchange goes sour, both sides draw blades and Nao has no choice but to care for a blood-soaked enemy. If the man doesn’t make it through the night, Nao and his crew will pay with their lives.

Outnumbered and stranded in enemy territory, Nao is forced to fight his way out before the Mafufugumi Godfather takes the deal off the table. As his wounded enemy’s heartbeat slows, Nao must act fast or condemn his syndicate to a brutal war.

Purchase: Amazon.com

Goodreads: The Deafening Silence (The Yakuza Path #4) by Amy Tasukada 

Review

Rating: 5 stars

*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*

When Nao leaves Kyoto to do a deal that will hopefully bring peace between his syndicate and the Mafufugumi, a last minute change in terms jeopardises everything. Now he and his companions are trapped with the enemy and if the wounded man does not make it through the night then there will further bloodshed.

This series just keeps getting better and better. In The Deafening Silence we get to switch between Nao and Aki’s POV which gives so much insight into how they feel about each other and the rapidly escalating situation. Nao’s position as godfather is not secure by any means and Aki does whatever he can to support him. In this novel you really see how Aki is developing his skills as well as how unwavering his loyalty to Nao is. Despite there being another potential love interest for him, he cannot shake his feelings for his boss. Nao is still battling his own feelings for Aki and at one moment his jealousy gets the better of him. They make it up, but it is another opportunity missed between them to say how they really feel.

As with the other instalments of the series there is plenty of action and you never know where the next fight is coming from or who will survive. The twists and turns are a part of what I love most about this series, together with the developing relationship between the two leads of course!

The Deafening Silence did not disappoint, and I cannot wait to read Book 5!

Captain Mike Kelley does not ignore his intuition, so when sexy bartender Will Hayes captures his heart, Mike embarks on a mission to win him over to a Domestic Discipline relationship. Will accepts with one caveat: Mike must promise not to renew his army contract.

Mike agrees, until the army invokes the stop-loss military policy to involuntarily extend his commission and send him back overseas, rendering him powerless and threatening everything he and Will have built. Will, left alone to cope with a new café, must rely on the support of old friends who may no longer be trustworthy.

A horrific terrorist attack on Mike’s outpost changes everything, leaving them both at a loss.

Mike awakens in a hospital with a devastating injury and no recollection of the attack. As the only survivor, his memory may be the key to national security. Mike struggles to cope with his injury and Will struggles with his new role in Mike’s life.

For Mike and Will, “No Flag” meant “come home alive.” Will has Mike back rather than a folded flag, but in the aftermath of war, can they rebuild the life they had before?

Purchase Link: Amazon.com

Goodreads: No Flag (After Everything #1) by Liz Borino 

Review

Rating: 4 stars

*I received this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*

When Will Hayes enters into a DD relationship with Captain Mike Kelley he has only one condition; that Mike does not return to the army when his current term comes to an end. Mike agrees but he could not have predicted being forced into another year’s deployment in Afghanistan. Being parted so soon after marriages takes its toll on both of them and when Mike’s base is attacked, the two of them are reunited to face Mike’s life changing injury together. Mike had promised Will ‘no flag’ but despite keeping this the army might just tear them apart after all.

I really enjoyed reading No Flag. I had not read a DD novel before, so I was unsure if I was going to like this aspect of the relationship. Whilst I don’t understand the want for it, I found that it did not prevent a loving relationship between the two men. I loved Will and Mike’s commitment to each other and how they faced each challenge together, either from Mike’s injuries or Will’s jealous friend who takes it upon herself to try and destroy their marriage.

Mike’s OCD and then PTSD had clearly been researched and was well-written, and Will’s handling of this made me love this couple more. Even in the most difficult moments they came through for the other. I would definitely be interested in reading further books in the series.