Breaking Contact

by Maia Dylan

Anton Bateman made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the man he loved—faking his own death to shield Blake Graham from a lethal betrayal. Now, three years later, the shadows he tried to outrun have caught up with him. The cartel he helped dismantle is rising again, and they’ve stolen something even more the children Blake was sworn to protect.

Blake thought Anton was dead. Finding out he’s alive—and at the helm of a covert fortress built by mercenaries—isn’t even the biggest shock. As bullets fly and secrets unravel, the past they buried ignites into something explosive, tender, and terrifyingly real.

With two vulnerable children caught in the crossfire, a team of elite soldiers with ghosts of their own, and enemies closing in from all sides, Anton and Blake must navigate a world built on lies to find something true. Love. Family. A second chance.

But surviving the truth may be more dangerous than dying with the lie.

Breaking Contact is a high-octane, heart-rending military romance full of sharp banter, deep scars, and a love worth fighting for—again.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Mother, Wife, Author, and all around crazy...

I write the kind of books that I love to read. Love stories between strong men and their independent soulmates. Usually, their path to Happily Ever After is a bumpy one, but there is always a Happy Ever After.

​In the world's I create there is someone (or two, or three) for everyone! Love comes in many forms and I believe it is all beautiful and should be celebrated!

I live, love and write in New Zealand, married to my husband of eleven years with two beautiful children who I truly believe were sent as a blessing, but sometimes to try my patience, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Reviews

[antonia🫧 · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed the action part of the book, but i felt like we were missing information.

we should have gotten more of a prologue and some more epilogue and some more in between.

van did not have to go and die & fuck the ezra plotline, it almost made me cry.

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Far be it for me to yuck anyone's yum, but this entire novella felt undercooked.

For a book that contained:

- an opening scene involving a character being tortured (and subsequently rescued)
- the death of a comrade in arms leading to an entire overhaul of several people's lives and careers
- a lover faking his own death and then revealing himself to be alive three years later
- the tragic death of a character's best friends and the instant family that comes with becoming guardian to their two kids
- said kids being kidnapped by a shadowy Russian cartel
- etc.

The entire thing felt extremely low stakes.

I think a lot of why I felt this way had to do with dropping characters into really high drama circumstances before I cared about them and/or what happened to them. Like, you want to kill off Anton's teammate that I know literally nothing about? Okay. Go ahead.

But it was also because the author wrote all of those bananas plot points with the same gravitas that I would give to writing my grocery list. There was no tension in this book; every problem was presented to the reader in one sentence and then resolved in the next paragraph or two without any real hurdles to success.

Even the bad guys were so generic - without names or true nefarious purpose - that I was never sure why these mercenaries that were supposed to be such badasses seemed so afraid of them. I didn't buy for a second that this shadowy group of Bratva would believe that two kids that Anton's secret husband would MAYBE get to adopt one day - and that Anton had clearly never met nor cared about - would be the pressure point to bring him to his knees. Like, I can't suspend my disbelief far enough to pretend that makes sense to the Bratva's way of thinking.

Honestly, as I was reading this novella, the writing reminded me of the creative writing I did when I was 13 or 14. But, where underdeveloped characters and trite action movie dialogue are fine for a teenager writing on Writing.com for people to read for free, seeing the same quality of writing in a published work - even one published by a small indie publisher - feels disappointing to me. Readers deserve more.

I have been DYING for a new MM military or mercenary series to sink my teeth into, but this was just not it.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anton had faked his death and left the love of his life thinking he was dead. However, when the fight to save children brings Blake face to face with the truth will he be able to forgive Anton. This book is on the darker side. The hurt and damage is written so well on every page. This action packed book will break your heart and have you hoping these two can find their way through the lies and betrayal to get another chance at the love that they still have for each other. Don’t miss out on this great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excitingly dangerous! Anton, did a foolish thing for a good reason. Blake, thought Anton died and was shocked to see he didn't. With the reason for Anton's action in danger, the ante for all decisions is changed. Intriguing adventure mystery that escalates into more danger for all. We get to go along the roller coaster adventure to see if Anton and Blake can put things to right. Nicely done. * received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I really enjoyed this book it is well written and on the darker side second chance romance novella. Blake and Anton’s story started with a faked death but then circumstances bring them together again and we get a fast paced and action packed story that is worth reading.

[Kurtins R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense. This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely be back for more.
Anton Bateman faked his death to protect his husband, but said husband is now in more danger than ever. Cue the action, intensity and a darker kind of second chance romance with lot of little lead in's to the next books.
Really enjoyed this!

[Tina Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve ready by this author. It was a quick read novella but so worth it. Anton and Blake’s story is fast paced and romantic rolled into one. Great book and definitely recommend.

[stardragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will totally squeeze your heartstrings. Anton faked his death to protect Blake. Then circumstances bring them face to face. This is fast paced, action packed, romantic, overcoming heartache, second chance story you don’t want to miss.

[Akasha721 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an action book with some romance thrown in. Bateman and Blake have a love story that goes years back and they finally get back together. Some of the players are from other books but this gelds great.

I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.