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Broken
Standalone Novel. Intended for adults 18+ due to explicit sexual content and language.
She’s a good girl. He’s an ex-convict.
Being the only child of a prominent heart surgeon and socialite in Chicago, Riley was raised with high expectations. She kept her nose in the books, followed the rules and did as she was told. Now, she’s eighteen and heading off to college, finally breaking free from her parent’s control.
After finding a roommate online and settling into her new apartment, Riley begins to explore her new life. A life that doesn’t involve strict curfews and organic chicken, but one filled with sugared cereals, rated R movies, red solo cups….and possibly a kinky ex-convict.
Joe is the obnoxious, tattooed drunk that lives next door. After spending six years behind bars, he is out on parole and struggling to put his dark past behind him. He numbs his pain with alcohol and satisfies his sex addiction with nameless women.
While battling to put one shameful night with the bad boy behind her, Riley is soon faced with a dilemma. She has been evicted. Is she desperate enough to accept the neighbor’s offer for a place to stay?
Although intimidated by his dark past and reckless lifestyle, Riley’s intrigued and strangely drawn to him. Joe is amused by her naivety and likes to tease, but he hasn’t forgotten the small taste of the good girl he had the night she stumbled into his room. He wants more.
Will Riley embrace her inner naughtiness and be the one to piece the ex-convict back together or will Joe’s dark secrets be too much for her to bear, leaving him forever broken?
She’s a good girl. He’s an ex-convict.
Being the only child of a prominent heart surgeon and socialite in Chicago, Riley was raised with high expectations. She kept her nose in the books, followed the rules and did as she was told. Now, she’s eighteen and heading off to college, finally breaking free from her parent’s control.
After finding a roommate online and settling into her new apartment, Riley begins to explore her new life. A life that doesn’t involve strict curfews and organic chicken, but one filled with sugared cereals, rated R movies, red solo cups….and possibly a kinky ex-convict.
Joe is the obnoxious, tattooed drunk that lives next door. After spending six years behind bars, he is out on parole and struggling to put his dark past behind him. He numbs his pain with alcohol and satisfies his sex addiction with nameless women.
While battling to put one shameful night with the bad boy behind her, Riley is soon faced with a dilemma. She has been evicted. Is she desperate enough to accept the neighbor’s offer for a place to stay?
Although intimidated by his dark past and reckless lifestyle, Riley’s intrigued and strangely drawn to him. Joe is amused by her naivety and likes to tease, but he hasn’t forgotten the small taste of the good girl he had the night she stumbled into his room. He wants more.
Will Riley embrace her inner naughtiness and be the one to piece the ex-convict back together or will Joe’s dark secrets be too much for her to bear, leaving him forever broken?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2014
17 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Ross
4 books55 followersI love romance! I've read hundreds of romance novels. I discovered quickly that I have a passion for writing romance, as well as reading them.
I recently self-published Wanted and Hidden through Kindle Direct Publishing.
I want to know what my readers think, so please leave reviews!
I recently self-published Wanted and Hidden through Kindle Direct Publishing.
I want to know what my readers think, so please leave reviews!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 23, 2018
4.5 stars
One of those occasions when the writing wasn't the best ever (my half off), but the premise, story as a whole and characters totally captivated me.
Couldn't put it down, so finished this standalone in one very late night, bleary eyed session!
Filthy hot as well as heartbreakingly sad, mixed with so many heartwarming moments and a terrific HEA - this authors becoming autoread for me!
One of those occasions when the writing wasn't the best ever (my half off), but the premise, story as a whole and characters totally captivated me.
Couldn't put it down, so finished this standalone in one very late night, bleary eyed session!
Filthy hot as well as heartbreakingly sad, mixed with so many heartwarming moments and a terrific HEA - this authors becoming autoread for me!
May 17, 2015
OK, this was so totally different from what I expected. Thought it would be dark, but it was actually a pretty sweet story AND I could not seem to put it down. I loved Joe and Riley. Joe, Riley's neighbor lets her stay in his apartment rent-free after her roommate scams her. As Joe starts to tease Riley mercilessly, she loses her terror of him and begins to enjoy him as a person. Highly, highly recommend.
September 30, 2016
I loved the story and the relationship development between H and h. I would have 5 starred this book if not for the three instances in the story where the author messed up the time line. For that I'm subtracting 1 star.
January 8, 2015
Fun, Sweet, Cute.
I read a lot of darker books, this one was refreshing. The story of Riley and Joe is sweet, funny at times and hot at others. I enjoyed reading this book. It made me smile and laugh out loud.
I read a lot of darker books, this one was refreshing. The story of Riley and Joe is sweet, funny at times and hot at others. I enjoyed reading this book. It made me smile and laugh out loud.
October 1, 2016
awesome read. author writing a little on the amateur side.
October 23, 2017
A fantastic read! I loved the growth of the characters and their relationship.
July 20, 2024
Could not complete.
December 13, 2014
This is the story of Riley and Joe. Riley is 18 and has just moved out of her upper middle class parent’s home to go to college. She anticipates leading a less sheltered life full of girlfriend bonding and perhaps having her first real boyfriend. Events however, do not occur in that particular order. When she sees Joe in her apartment building for the first time, his tattoos, piercings, penchant for booze, and constant slew of girls hanging around him unsettles her, however, against her better instincts, she is eventually drawn to one of his parties. Riley has a mortifying experience at the party and on top of that, she is soon taken for everything she has by someone who she thought she could trust. When she is at her lowest point and has nothing, not even a home, she receives help from an unlikely source, Joe, an ex-convict, who is the antithesis of your everyday hero and who has a past that leaves him a ticking time bomb. When Riley’s pent up emotions and Joe’s explosive past come together, the story of their tumultuous and very sensual relationship will keep the reader turning the pages until the very end. This novel has everything; suspense, romance, deception, and of course lots of sensual encounters. It is fast paced and gripping, with a few surprises thrown in. I highly recommend this book, you won’t be disappointed.
February 15, 2015
I just couldn't get into this book.
College freshman Riley finds herself in trouble when her apartment roommate makes off with her rent money and valuables, leaving Riley evicted with no place to go, so she reluctantly accepts Joe's offer to stay at his neighboring apartment temporarily. But she's got a little history with Joe -- she's been listening to him having wild and crazy sex through their common wall for months, and has seen first-hand what happens at his parties! As she and Joe cautiously start to become friends, they find that their initial attraction is still going strong, and soon they're falling hard for each other. Riley doesn't care that Joe's an ex-con -- he's kind and caring, and oh-so-hot.
I had a difficult time with both Riley and Joe (aka Jonah). Joe's carrying loads of family Baggage, is self-medicating with alcohol and sex, and appears to have anger management problems as well. Riley's been so sheltered and cossetted by her wealthy parents that she's unbelievably naive and gullible -- No written lease agreement? Cash for the rent?
They're both so impulse-driven that they make lousy decisions. There's a sense that they both 'grow up' while Joe's in prison the second time, but by then the story's mostly over, and they live HEA. Which is a great idea, but so unlikely.
College freshman Riley finds herself in trouble when her apartment roommate makes off with her rent money and valuables, leaving Riley evicted with no place to go, so she reluctantly accepts Joe's offer to stay at his neighboring apartment temporarily. But she's got a little history with Joe -- she's been listening to him having wild and crazy sex through their common wall for months, and has seen first-hand what happens at his parties! As she and Joe cautiously start to become friends, they find that their initial attraction is still going strong, and soon they're falling hard for each other. Riley doesn't care that Joe's an ex-con -- he's kind and caring, and oh-so-hot.
I had a difficult time with both Riley and Joe (aka Jonah). Joe's carrying loads of family Baggage, is self-medicating with alcohol and sex, and appears to have anger management problems as well. Riley's been so sheltered and cossetted by her wealthy parents that she's unbelievably naive and gullible -- No written lease agreement? Cash for the rent?
They're both so impulse-driven that they make lousy decisions. There's a sense that they both 'grow up' while Joe's in prison the second time, but by then the story's mostly over, and they live HEA. Which is a great idea, but so unlikely.
December 13, 2014
3.5 stars
This was a pretty good book. I liked Joe and Riley's characters. I liked the interactions between the two. Though Riley was only 18, she didn't come off as immature. She just seemed like she wanted to go her own way after being controlled most of her life. She made some poor decisions, but she learned from her mistakes. Joe was a good, complicated character. He whored around and drank to hide from his demons, but he was a pretty good guy underneath. I liked how he was so sweet to Riley, how he did thinks that he knew she would like. How once they slept together, no other girl would do, how he admitted his feelings.
There were some things I didn't really like about this book. There is some m/f/f action, a bj that ends with vomiting, and multiple times Riley witnesses Joe having sex with other women. I HATE that in books, but the author somewhat redeemed themself. This author has a way of not making me pissed about the H being with other women during a story. I guess by making them totally sweet, and kind, and protective, and totally hot in bed. Which brings me to the fact that this story had a really good heat factor.
This was a pretty good book. I liked Joe and Riley's characters. I liked the interactions between the two. Though Riley was only 18, she didn't come off as immature. She just seemed like she wanted to go her own way after being controlled most of her life. She made some poor decisions, but she learned from her mistakes. Joe was a good, complicated character. He whored around and drank to hide from his demons, but he was a pretty good guy underneath. I liked how he was so sweet to Riley, how he did thinks that he knew she would like. How once they slept together, no other girl would do, how he admitted his feelings.
There were some things I didn't really like about this book. There is some m/f/f action, a bj that ends with vomiting, and multiple times Riley witnesses Joe having sex with other women. I HATE that in books, but the author somewhat redeemed themself. This author has a way of not making me pissed about the H being with other women during a story. I guess by making them totally sweet, and kind, and protective, and totally hot in bed. Which brings me to the fact that this story had a really good heat factor.
December 28, 2025
2019 = DNF
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇹🇴🇷🇾 🅸🆂 -
Riley can't be a pre-med student because she has way too much free time. Her laptop and most of her belongings get stolen, yet nothing is replaced, and she doesn’t call her dad for help. She has almost no money, but still manages to buy a little black dress for her date. Her decisions make no sense!
The writing is okay, but the story lost me at 40%. I need some realism.
🚫 ᑎOT ᖴOᖇ ᗰE.
🇹🇭🇪 🇸🇹🇴🇷🇾 🅸🆂 -
Riley can't be a pre-med student because she has way too much free time. Her laptop and most of her belongings get stolen, yet nothing is replaced, and she doesn’t call her dad for help. She has almost no money, but still manages to buy a little black dress for her date. Her decisions make no sense!
The writing is okay, but the story lost me at 40%. I need some realism.
🚫 ᑎOT ᖴOᖇ ᗰE.
March 15, 2015
Really Surprising...(In a Good Way!)
I have to say that I truly enjoyed reading this work by ML Ross. I loved both characters and thought the author did a great job developing the relationship. I really loved Joe. I thought he would be the usual d-bag male lead that treats the female lead horrible, yet she adores the abuse. Broken avoids this cliche and goes with a plot that I found to be heartfelt. I loved the connection between Riley and Joe. Very enjoyable read. I would recommend the author.
I have to say that I truly enjoyed reading this work by ML Ross. I loved both characters and thought the author did a great job developing the relationship. I really loved Joe. I thought he would be the usual d-bag male lead that treats the female lead horrible, yet she adores the abuse. Broken avoids this cliche and goes with a plot that I found to be heartfelt. I loved the connection between Riley and Joe. Very enjoyable read. I would recommend the author.
January 24, 2016
Great book.
I thought this book had a great story and gave me some things to think about whenever I find myself judging someone just by their appearance without even making an effort to get to know that person. It was well written and kept me interested from the beginning to the end.
I thought this book had a great story and gave me some things to think about whenever I find myself judging someone just by their appearance without even making an effort to get to know that person. It was well written and kept me interested from the beginning to the end.
January 24, 2015
Awesome
Seriously, one of my all time favorite reads. I love that this novel focuses on characters that make each other better regardless of social standards. Poking fun at the vacuous and boorish tendencies of people who value money over people. Inspirational!
Seriously, one of my all time favorite reads. I love that this novel focuses on characters that make each other better regardless of social standards. Poking fun at the vacuous and boorish tendencies of people who value money over people. Inspirational!
December 16, 2014
It was Awesome!!! Loved it. A very well written book. From first page to the last it held my interest. Had to finish it in one go. Made me so happy.
December 17, 2014
Loved it
January 2, 2015
Special story...tormented man, sheltered woman...emotional, sexual...together they were no longer broken...great story!!
January 16, 2015
A interesting story
I love some of this story because it was sweet how they felled for each other. But the way Joe acted kind of turned me off. He was a manhore .
I love some of this story because it was sweet how they felled for each other. But the way Joe acted kind of turned me off. He was a manhore .
April 6, 2015
good
This was good!
I liked it !
and I would recommend to anyone who was looking for a grittier book with some angst!
This was good!
I liked it !
and I would recommend to anyone who was looking for a grittier book with some angst!
June 19, 2015
2.75 stars
February 17, 2016
Good
Another good book by ML Ross I do like reading your books you give me everything love,laughter,tears and a happy ending can't wait to read more books by ml ross
Another good book by ML Ross I do like reading your books you give me everything love,laughter,tears and a happy ending can't wait to read more books by ml ross
April 27, 2016
Wow this is one of those books that makes you read it nonstop because is so good that you can't stop.
June 1, 2016
Loved this book. I am greedily awaiting the next book!
January 10, 2015
I loved it. This is my first book by this author and can't wait to read more!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews