Torn

by Shawn Bailey

Club host, Sam Mason, and his lover, Tony, get into a screaming match in the French Quarter. Tony wants Sam to prostitute himself to earn money to support Tony's drug habit. In a drastic effort to free himself of Tony, Sam propositions a man on the street and offers him the best blowjob he's ever had it he takes him somewhere. The man takes one look at him and agrees.

Attorney Justin Quick can't believe his luck when a green-eyed cutie approaches him with the best offer he's had in years. Ethically he's sworn to get the young man out of danger, but the man in him knows it's an offer he'd be foolish to refuse.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Menage, Contemporary, Abuse, Novella

87 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2013

About the author

Shawn Bailey hails from New Orleans, LA, where she works as a programmer and help desk administrator. Shawn loves mangas and anime. Her current hobbies are watching Japanese and Korean dramas, when she has the spare time. She’s also trying to learn to speak and read both Japanese and Korean. She’s also into Korean pop music and can often be found with her MP3 player attached to her head. Shawn is single and enjoying the heck out it.

Reviews

[Nic]

This story started well. So much potential in a tale of a young man escaping his abusive boyfriend and finding happiness with a caring, well-off attorney. However, the story didn't fully hit the mark and didn't live up to my expectations.

The characters were great. The bad guys (Tony and Mike) were bad and the good guys (Caleb, Frank and Vick) were all good! The New Orleans setting was interesting and the pace kept things moving along. Justin made a great hero and Sam was wonderful. Sam, although abandoned by his mother and working as a host in a club, is obviously a nice guy - he must be a nice guy because he didn't even want to use the hotel hairdryer in case he woke guests in neighbouring rooms! :)

I felt the book was let down by some aspects that seemed a bit irrelevant to the overall story. I didn't fully understand why Justin's parents needed to be included, other than maybe as an obvious sign that Justin was bringing Sam into his life. I also thought Justin's proposal for Caleb to join him and Sam in a relationship was unnecessary.

Overall, not bad but not the wonderful fairy tale I was looking forward to.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Cinderfella stumbles upon Prince Charming on the streets of New Orleans.

Sweet, lovable and saying anything negative about Justin and Sam and their friends is like admitting you like to drown puppies. This is a feel good story with interesting characters and delicious sexcapades. Yummy, literally...as in whipped cream and cherry flavored lube. All this saccharine goodness means that there is one problem, or not depending how you like it--No conflict. Any conflict that tries to rear its ugly head is swept aside quickly and deftly, so much so that you forget it was ever there.

I recommend this story to readers who need a palate cleanser and want a walk on the lighter side.


~~A copy was provided to me for a No Glitter Blown review~~
Reviewed for Hearts On Fire Reviews

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Mason works as a host in a club and lives with his lover Tony. When he gets into a fight with Tony on the streets of the French Quarter when Sam refuses to prostitute himself, Sam walks up to the first man he sees and offers him the best blow job ever. Good thing for Sam that the man is Justin Quick. Justin is an attorney and knows accepting Sam’s offer will allow him to get him off the street and into safety. He also knows he may never let him go.

An attorney and a club host were quite a different match up. Sam was sure he could never be good enough for him but Justin knew a good thing when he saw it. Unfortunately, danger is never far behind and Justin will have to work hard if he wants Sam to survive. Torn has a few surprises in store for us. There is quite a bit of excitement, heat and danger thrown together, making the reading captivating.

[Da'ad · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was... Not bad exactly, but kind of pointless, random and boring aplenty. I thought it world be a menage in the end but no (and that's fine, I prefer duos). Sappy sap, love happens far too quickly and suddenly and the love that's been there nearly all along is brushed aside. Did the author even plan any of this or was she winging it? It sure felt like the latter, and not in a good way.

[Ericka Walden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5**
Hmmmmm.... Didn't or couldn't get into this one. Felt like a back story was missing. (??) Characters didn't seem to connect at all... With each other or within the story.

[jules0623 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The cover is the best thing about this book, I'm afraid.

[Becky Condit · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Torn” introduces readers to two young men trying to help each other survive life in a rough New Orleans neighborhood. Sam and Caleb have grown up together and been the sole constant source of love and support each has. While Caleb may be in love with Sam, Sam feels that it is much more than brotherly affection but not a true romantic love on his part. The two work together at a club where Sam is a host and Caleb is a bartender. They share a common goal – to save enough money to open a restaurant of their own. But until that happens, they have to make it through each day. Each has found a man to take care of him, Tony for Sam and Mike for Caleb. For each couple, the best days of their relationship are already behind them. Both Tony and Mike have turned to drugs and other men and it all becomes too much for Sam and Caleb to tolerate. A public confrontation with Tony on the streets of the French Quarter forces Sam to make a sudden and desperate move to end their relationship and save himself. A dark, handsome stranger named Justin comes to Sam’s rescue but at a price that Sam is at first hesitant but soon happy to pay. It isn’t long before Justin saves Caleb as well. More drama ensues and when the dust settles, Sam and Caleb find themselves happy in new relationships with good men and taking positive steps to insure that their dream of co-owning a restaurant becomes a reality.

All of the characters are likeable enough although if Justin was a better man he would have helped Sam without collecting the service he offered while in a panic. The storyline is interesting but the idea that Sam and Caleb need someone to protect and provide for them feels wrong. And the pace that events occur is much too fast. It’s easy enough to imagine that Sam would jump at a chance to accept the life handed to him on a silver platter by the handsome, wealthy, successful lawyer. But it doesn’t seem reasonable that such an experienced, savvy man would take Sam in, fall for him and plan a future after one night together. Things fall into place for everyone rather quickly and it all was just a little too perfect. Reading this story did leave me with one question that puzzles me: How does one dance erotically while standing on a bed without making a mattress shake? That’s something to think about.

Roux's 3 sweet pea review appears at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....

[Ro Dubose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Mason needs an immediate escape plan, hopefully before his drug addict boyfriend, Tony, turns brutal. As it happens, Sam notices a man watching him. Attorney Justin Quick is more than willing to help Sam out of the chaos; with luck, Justin may be able to convince Sam to spend the night.


Torn is a realistic well-paced action love story. The characters are complicated as well as engaging. Sam, along with his best friend Caleb, lived on the streets during their latter teenage years. Both are hard working independent men with dreams of owning a restaurant. Sam and Caleb worked at the same club; however, they did not live together. Sam lived with Tony and Caleb lived with his boyfriend. Justin is an honorable wealthy man. Justin chose to work because he enjoys it, not because he needs the money. At their first meeting, Justin was sexually attracted to Sam. Discovering that Sam was an excellent cook, Justin vowed to do everything within his power to help Sam achieve his dreams.


Shawn Bailey has created a fantastic saga filled with emotional drama. Sam and Caleb were abused by their former boyfriends, Caleb has issues from the past that were never dealt with and Justin is somewhat confused regarding his status in Sam’s life. The intimacy scenes are incredibly sensual. I thoroughly enjoyed this happy ever after romance.

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Mason is fed up with his abusive boyfriend Tony but has nowhere to go. He sees a stranger watching them argue and propositions him the best blowjob in his life in exchange for getting him away from Tony. Justin can’t believe his eyes or ears or luck when Sam propositions him He takes him away and falls for Sam quickly, but he finds out quickly that Sam’s best friend Caleb loves Sam and wants them to pursue their old dreams.
This story is so sweet it’s almost too sweet. It has several twists and turns that makes it hard to put down. Who wouldn’t want to be swept off their feet with a man like Justin or fall for a man so sweet as Sam and then there is Caleb too. Yeah so many hotties to fall in love with here. I highly recommend this!
Recommendations: If you like hosts, bartenders, sexy lawyers, sexy body guards and a very sweet love story of a man that falls for another and would do whatever he had to to keep him. *sigh* then this is for you. Also if you like a good story, hot mansex and a little bit of meange it’s here too.

[Susan65 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed this story, for the most part. I completely loved the way Sam propositioned Justin and how they connected all Pretty Woman style. I also thought the relationship between Sam and Caleb was written really well and I understood their connection; their friendship was deep. It felt real and it made sense. Tony and Mike were just complete jerks and deserved what they got.

What I had a difficult time with was Justin and his attraction to Caleb that went absolutely nowhere, besides potentially ruining what was brewing between him and Sam. Knowing that Sam really didn’t want to move in that direction made it seem almost like a porn plot was thrown in for effect. I would have liked this story so much more if that had never happened.

This story is short and the pace is fast, so there is no long and drawn out angst or miscommunication. The bad guys are really bad, the good guys are really good, and besides the Caleb interlude, I really liked the relationship between Justin and Sam.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam is in trouble and pressured by Tony to support him in not so good ways. As a way of saving himself he offers to service Justin just to get out of there. I like the fact that although Justin agrees to take him up on his offer he doesn't take advantage. I thought the story was headed one way and was pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you just want to read a sweet little romance. There is not a huge angst-fest and things go really well for the main character right away. The background was accurate and interesting and the sex was creative and hot. It's not War and Peace and it's not porn...It's a sweet little romance with a HEA. I really liked it.

[Arzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 tars

[Cee Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, witty and different... Glad everyone got their HEA

[Morgana · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

[Sabi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story