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Johnson and Billy come from different parts of the country, different backgrounds and different places in their lives. Maybe different is exactly what they both need.

Johnson figures it's got to be a sign when cowboy Billy shows up at his garage after hours, just as he's about to go find someone to spend the night with. He's horny enough that a lot of guys would look good, but Billy seems special somehow.

Billy thinks Johnson's the hottest ticket he's seen since he moved to California from Texas, and after a good meal and some good fun, he takes Johnson home. They both find out they're getting more than they bargained for. Can Johnson and Billy figure out why they feel so connected and can they make it last once reality sets back in?

Publisher's Note: This book was previously released by another publisher. It has been revised and re-edited for release with Totally Bound Publishing.

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2011

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77 people want to read

About the author

Sean Michael

653 books1,210 followers
Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

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5 stars
26 (18%)
4 stars
42 (30%)
3 stars
50 (36%)
2 stars
15 (10%)
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5 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Gigi.
2,149 reviews1,068 followers
November 10, 2014
The secret to enjoying this book is knowing what you're gonna get.

What you're gonna get: Sex. And lots of it.

What you're not gonna get: Plot, secondary characters, courting, family, back story, or meaningful conversation.

Decide from there if you want to read this book and you'll be good to go. I was in the mood for some down-and-dirty sex. This book delivered and I was happy as a clam. Score!
Profile Image for Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~.
2,243 reviews259 followers
October 6, 2014
3.5 stars

Bruised unfolds with a series of scenes from daily life between criminal defense lawyer Billy and mechanic Johnson, starting with the day they meet when Billy drops his truck off for repairs with Johnson. From that moment on the two fall quickly in lust and realize that they share a kink that neither man knew they had.

This book contains a lot of sex with a very specific kink, but it is rather light on the BDSM. Underneath that, the main issue in the book is whether Billy can maintain a balance between his relationship and his stressful job. I will admit that for me there was a bit too much sex, but the characters were so sweet and loving that I couldn’t help but like them.

While the book may be all about the sex, there is a relationship that emerges with clear roles. Johnson is not just the dominant partner, but he dotes on Billy and does everything he can to take care of him. I liked that Billy accepted that care without question as he runs himself into the ground for work. There is no game playing between the two men, other than in the bedroom, and they aren’t afraid to discuss what they want and need from the other.

If you are looking for a quick read that is light and easy, no angst, with a loving couple that was made for each other, plenty of sex and a bit of kink, this story fits the bill.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Serena Yates.
Author 104 books771 followers
January 13, 2016
‘Bruised’ is easy to read, entertaining, and very hot. There is no heavy-handed or intense BDSM here, instead this novella offers a series of vignettes taken from the lives of Billy the stressed-out trial lawyer and Johnson the car mechanic. The increasing intimacy between the men is accompanied by a growing realization that Billy’s job is not exactly conducive to a long-term relationship. And the one thing I knew after reading the first few pages was that it wouldn’t be the sex that was going to suffer. These guys are hotter than hot for each other, and determined to keep it that way.

Billy is a trial lawyer, and he believes in giving his absolute best in the courtroom. He hardly has any time to himself, but once he meets Johnson when he needs a mechanic to repair his truck, Billy quickly decides spending time with the hunky mechanic can only be good for him. Billy needs to forget, to focus on things other than his job, and Johnson has figured out just the way to do that.

Johnson sees the hot cowboy walk into his garage one day and figures he wouldn’t mind spending some time with the man. As he discovers how much Billy likes to be marked, bruised to the point where pain and pleasure intersect and become explosive, Johnson is amazed how much he begins to depend on Billy’s presence in his bed. He never pushes, but when Billy begins to realize he doesn’t like his job the way he used to, Johnson is right there to support him.

If you’re looking for an intricate plot or amazing character growth, this is not your book. If, on the other hand, you like lots of between-the-sheets, against-the-wall, and in-the-shower man-on-man action with a little bit of kink thrown in for variety, then this is a book you shouldn’t miss.


NOTE: This book was provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Profile Image for BWT.
2,253 reviews247 followers
September 23, 2015
This book is all:

description

There's not a lot of storyline...it's mostly little pieces of life followed by copious amounts of hot, sweaty, teensy-bit kinky sex.

If that's how "you do"...then enjoy this quick, fun read.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,458 reviews126 followers
April 9, 2019
“Down, Billy . Up-and-coming lawyers do not go to bed with mechanics after beer and chili. Don’t. Just… Well, they might. Possibly. Okay, he would—he was bad that way. He had a lot of his daddy in him.”

Some readers might not enjoy a book that essentially goes from meeting, to dinner, to an entire weekend in bed, to friendship/dating, and then love. I think they’re wonderful because that’s how the greatest romance of my life happened. Therefore, I don’t view them as hokey, or improbable. I adore insta-lust which lights up the pages and incinerates my mind, and that’s exactly what Sean Michael gave me in ‘Bruised’.

Billy is an over-worked young attorney, a transplant from Texas, who often works seventy to eighty hour weeks. The stress is overwhelming, and who knew he’d meet Johnson, an auto-mechanic, who somehow knows how to merge a little pain into excruciating pleasure that helps Billy cope. And, Johnson? Well, he just needed to find his other half, and that’s exactly what happened.

I really enjoyed the way the author showed me little vignettes of the day to day lives of these two men, spliced with some of the hottest, and most erotic, sex I’ve read in awhile. If you’re looking for meaningful, dramatic, or complex, this isn’t the book for you. However, if you’re looking for smoking hot with an enduring love, then this will be right up your alley.
Profile Image for Nic.
Author 44 books369 followers
Read
January 24, 2023
Sometimes I pick up a book because I need a good dose of what I know that book will deliver. In this case it's sex. And let's be clear, with Bruised, it's lots of sex. And then more sex.

So I expected a story that was relatively light on plot with a lot of action between the sheets and that's exactly what I got.

Characters and the kink: Johnson is a mechanic and Billy is a cute cowboy and lawyer. We don't really learn much about these guys - I wanted to know more- other than how well they are matched in bed. Johnson is able to provide Billy with the relief he needs after dealing with his stressful day job. Billy's got a soft heart and doesn't like the thought of the bad guy getting away with their crimes. Billy provides a canvas of white skin, just perfect to be marked up with Johnson's bruises. Johnson has a penchant for bruising with fingers, and biting and sucking up marks.

The names: Too may!These guys had multiple names - Johnson, Bird, Billy, Dallas - and liked to call them out often.

This book is recommended for anyone looking for story with a simple plot, sex in abundance and a bit of kink.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for my honest review
Profile Image for Susan Anne.
843 reviews5 followers
October 3, 2014
Sean Michael seems to have two main modes of writing, serious plot with some sex and serious sex with some plot. Bruised definitely falls into the later category. The title comes from the two MCs in the book, Billy, who likes to receive bruises, and Johnson, who likes to give bruises. They are an unlikely pair, with Johnson being a garage mechanic who meets Billy, a junior attorney, when he brings in his misbehaving truck. The increasing connection between these two is described mostly through the sex scenes, until they are living together and using the L word frequently. In addition to their love story, the novella focuses on Billy’s demanding job and how it impacts the couple. Both Billy and Johnson are likeable characters who seem deserving of finding their other half, although neither of them thinks this way. They do acknowledge how they seem to fit together well and are so well connected. Bruised is a quick, sexy read with a very positive ending.
Profile Image for Mimi.
2,467 reviews
July 15, 2015
Sean Michael is one of my favorite authors and every time I read one of his books I fall more in love with his writing skills. Bruised is a great tale about to guys that have a chance meeting and thing progress from there. They have their ups and (little) downs but all in all this is a great book. The sexy scenes are always hot and steamy. Kink and BDSM are a trade mark for Sean. I recommend this book to all my erotic-romance friends.
Profile Image for Bronwyn Heeley.
Author 41 books87 followers
February 13, 2017
3.5 stars -- looked it up a little and my thought while ready was correct this is a bundle rather then a flat story, it basically reads of sex in two places. Home and the workshop, which was all good, it's why I read Sean's stories but this one also had a....i don't know. You can just read when the story isn't written as one published work but multiple over time
Profile Image for Brandielle.
910 reviews
May 2, 2020
No One:

SM: Hey you think I can write a story all in sex scenes?

Fun for the first bit then actually a bit boring. Although I would consider it a success since I read until the end and cared about the characters and some parts were really hot.

3,185 reviews3 followers
February 17, 2023
Can't believe I am going to say this, but too much sex/not enough story. I skimmed parts.
Profile Image for Love Bytes Reviews.
2,529 reviews38 followers
October 9, 2014
3 star review by Lily

The beginning of the story was great and sweet with the way Billy and Johnson met. Here Johnson was singing off the top of his lungs about some corny song and Billy turns up during that funny scene. It was different and engaging because one was a young lawyer and the other is a mechanic. I actually loved the first few chapters because these two guys were a perfect match for each other. The light BDSM was sweet too, and I love the alpha quality of Johnson. He was fun, caring, romantic and was possessive of his man. Their initial flirtatious conversation was just adorable. However, after a while, I found myself thinking whether these two guys will start talking and doing something else other than having sex. After a while I realized that this story was loaded with countless amount of sex scenes with minimal conversation, suspense or drama. After a while that minimal plot even looked like disappearing and the characters were kind of losing their personalities because all they seem to be doing is having sex…and more sex…and try another position or style of sexual activity. OK, it is sensuous, hot, but still sex.. And sex… And more sensuous sex.

I think if there was a little less sex and more talking, bickering etc, this story would be amazing because I could see there was a lot going on in between sex scenes in very short sentences like Billy was a very busy person who often worked until later hours whereas Johnson was very caring and nurturing. In one scene, they could not even finish their sandwich without having sex in between. I think one can read and appreciate sex scenes for so many times, but after a while they start sounding a little repetitive to the point I felt like flicking those pages, but I dared not to because that meant I may have to keep on flicking.

I found the story easy to read and flowing very nicely so I had a pleasant time reading it. I just wish I knew more of these two absolutely lovable guys.

This story is ideal for those who like reading many steamy scenes with a very easy to follow the plot.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews!
Profile Image for Helena Stone.
Author 35 books129 followers
September 27, 2014
I received my copy from the publisher through Love Romances and More

This is a sex driven story. If you’re not a huge fan of sex in your books, or only tolerate it in small doses, this is probably not the book for you. If, on the other hand, you enjoy hot sex with a light dusting of BDSM, combined with a relationship established on the basis of two men perfectly fulfilling each other’s needs, you’re going to love this book.

If I’m honest, my personal preference lies somewhere between those two extremes which means that while I enjoyed the very hot encounters between Billy and Johnson I would have liked to read a bit more about their relationship beside the physical aspect of it. As it is, the readers only get glimpses of Billy and Johnson’s lives. While the story makes it perfectly clear that Billy’s long hours as a defender mean the two men don’t spend nearly as much time together as they would like, the issue is mentioned and put aside in a sentence or two. Billy and Johnson don’t appear to talk and rarely seem to leave the house other than for work. Issues are dealt with in the bedroom. I really liked what I did see and learn about these two men and felt a bit short changed that I wasn’t given the opportunity to get to know them better.

In fact the reader would be forgiven for thinking both men have super human powers when it comes to erections and orgasms. And, if I’m completely honest I have to say the sex between Billy and Johnson, while hot, became a bit repetitive after a while.

Having said all that I should also point out that this was a very easy and smooth read. While I may have had one or two issues with the story and the way it was told, that didn’t mean I ever even thought about not finishing the book. I enjoyed my time with Johnson and Billy. I just wish they had shown me a bit more of themselves.
Profile Image for Lynnette Hartwig.
419 reviews9 followers
November 17, 2014
I was given this book by the publisher for an honest review.

I’ve read many books by Sean Michael and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them. This book was no different even though I had a hard time beginning the book. It was a typical Sean Michael book. This translates to lots of down and dirty sex. It does not have much of a plot and that’s great if that what you’re in the mood for. Even though Sean Michael does write some very touching love stories this is not one of them. This was clearly a book written for the M/M group that wants to read about sex, sex and more sex.

It was clear that Billy and Johnson would clearly mean a lot to each other. Billy and Johnson meet when Billy’s vehicle breaks down and he goes to Johnson to get it fixed. And that’s when the sex begins. It continues throughout the whole book. It was a light read but very intense as the characters develop. It was very light in the BDSM but it seems to fit with the way the characters came across.

Even though I had a hard time getting into the book I did enjoy it and am giving it a solid 4 stars.
Profile Image for Alex Clarke.
Author 21 books37 followers
February 5, 2015
Another pretty good story by Sean Michael :)

This one has everything I love : two lovely even if slightly broken men, handy man (sort of, Bird is a mechanic) and white collar (Billy is a lawyer), light bdsm sex scenes (as far as manhandling and a little play are bdsm...), and a beautiful love story.

The action lasts months and often skips weeks but it's not a problem. It just goes faster and sometimes, I would have liked it more if it lasted more, just to hold their life in my hands a little longer.

I really liked it. Yes, I know it's only 3 stars but to me, 5 is an unforgettable-read-as-many-times-as-you-can book, 4 is wonderful and 3 is great. So this one is a great one ;)

Enjoy !

Profile Image for Marie.
237 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 out of 5 Stars

What did I like?
I'm from Indiana originally and some of the phrases used in the book reminded me of home. I love it! One of the things I love about M/M is the lack of coyness, their communication was straightforward, no games. I loved the way the author used peeks into their lives to show the relationship was over a long period of time. Their bantering was adorable.

What did I not like?
Normally I'm interested in a more dramatic read. There wasn't a lot of drama or tension past the initial meeting.

Recommendation: If you are interested in a lighthearted, no drama read; this would be a story to read.
Profile Image for Joelle Mendes.
1,486 reviews1 follower
January 6, 2020
Lots and lots of sex

I liked Johnson and Billy and really would have liked to learn more about them but with all the sex in this book, we really didn't get a chance to know them at all. That being said, the sex was good, at least at first. I liked the bruising aspect. I loved how they both got off on it. They were definitively well suited for each other. And despite the fact that the book was mostly sex, I did feel like they really loved each other. I just would have liked more scenes of them with their clothes on.
Profile Image for Debfirpo.
450 reviews3 followers
October 11, 2014
I was given this book from the publisher for an honest review. I've always been a fan of Sean Michael's. When he release's a book, I'm there to grab it up. The title of this book fits perfectly. Billy is a young Junior Lawyer who loves being bruised. Johnson is a Mechanic who loves to paint Billy's body in bruises. this is a mild BDSM love story. Loaded with hot steamy sex between two men who love each other and aren't afraid to show that love. A good fast read.
1,004 reviews36 followers
October 22, 2014
Hot and sexy read says it all! I enjoyed watching Billy and Johnson figure out just what they mean to each other. A chance meeting and the two hit it off right away. The fire ignites quickly between these men and never diminishes. I would have liked a bit more about the men’s personalities but still enjoyed watching their story unfold. The two make a great couple and the love that the two find makes for a nice read.
Profile Image for Amanda.
54 reviews
March 10, 2015
DNF at 51%

Here is the thing about this book. It is literally one sex scene after another. The only scene in the book so far that didn't end in someone coming was the very first one where they meet. It's really weird for me to say because I love a book with a lot of kinky sex, but there was too much sex. I would have liked a little plot and some meaningful conversation. If you're in the mood for sex, it was totally hot, but if you want a little more romance, this is not for you.
Profile Image for Tristan.
918 reviews20 followers
June 9, 2015
3/5

Smutt. smutt. smutt. Enough saying.

Yep, this is a compacted PWP. Compacted with nothing but hotness.
Quietly and subtly, there is a plot that ran underneath all of the smex. It push the story forward, but don't do much more than that. The kink was a good break to keep the books from being too repetitive. It was push limit to the point that make it exciting, but not to the level of sickening.

While the smex were fun and all, it does get tiring sometime.
Profile Image for Liza.
1,517 reviews18 followers
December 28, 2024
This was classic Sean Michael. Wall-to-wall sex and with a little kink thrown in. But in between bouts of how man-loving, we get the growing relationship of Billy and Johnson, two men who meet by chance, spend a weekend together, and find they love the way Johnson's bruises look on Billy's skin. I loved how the story was essentially slices of life in between some of the hottest sex I have ever read. This was a great book to read on a Saturday night, just relaxing at home.
Profile Image for Becky Condit.
2,377 reviews66 followers
July 24, 2011
Sex, sex and more sex. A little bit of plot. Make that hot sex, steaming sex adn more sizzlingg sex all of the m/m variety. The two men sample a teensy bit of BDSM by enjoying tying one of them to the headboard with silk ties and holding onto each other tight enough to leave bruises. Recommended for m/m and Sean Michael fans.
Profile Image for YvetteRene.
89 reviews8 followers
October 23, 2014
I love Sean Michael's books. This one was good, but not my favorite. The one thing that was great about it, was the chemistry between the main characters. It was off the charts. For that alone, the book is a decent read. There was nothing too heavy or any earth shattering secrets here. Just a lot of kinky goodness. ❤️
Profile Image for Katy Beth Mckee.
4,722 reviews66 followers
April 4, 2015
I didn't enjoy this one as much. While there is a bit of their relationship it seems to be so much more about the sex. And while I enjoy a great bedroom scene or even a garage scene I really want and need to feel the relationship. We have hints but it seems there wasn't enough for me to truly care about the characters.
Profile Image for Sue bowdley.
1,449 reviews
January 21, 2015
Oh I do love my Sean Michael books...This one was about Johnson and Billy and the love of bruising.....Typical Sean book....sex sex and more sex but I loved it x
Profile Image for Saxon Hawke.
Author 2 books10 followers
January 14, 2015
Hot as always but just a bit too repetitive. Loved the boys
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