Battered & Broken

Lactin Brotherhood: Broken Boys #3

by Alex Blaine

Cedric never planned to survive that night, and he certainly never planned on his neighbor showing up in the aftermath.

Ozzie has watched Cedric from a careful distance for months, wishing he'd done something sooner. He can't change what happened when Cedric was at his lowest moment, but he can show up every day until Cedric remembers what it feels like to be safe.

Neither of them is looking for romance, but neither of them can stop it.

Battered and Broken is a spinoff of The Lactin Brotherhood world and has darker edges but the same loving relationships full of strong yet vulnerable men who naturally lactate and the boys who love them. This M/M romance has heavy themes including domestic abuse and finding one’s way out of the darkness to a light never known before.

Trigger Warning: This book deals with domestic abuse.

Genres: M M Romance, Novella

72 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2026

Reviews

[Brittany (Brit.tea.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who has been through domestic violence, this book brought back so many raw emotions for me.

𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒕.

I'm glad Ozzie was there to pick up the pieces for Cedric because sometimes that's all we need is someone to say it's going to be okay. 💜

[❀ Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of this little bite sized read with loads of hurt/comfort and sweetness with an instant connection that worked really well given the length. Ollie and Cedric fit together seamlessly. No angst between the two sweeties but we do get a little bit of danger from an abusive ex that's handled quickly , I felt it was the perfect amount of drama to bring a little excitement and keep me interested 🥰

♥︎Hurt/Comfort 🫂
♥︎Lactation. Allergy healing magic milk. 😂
♥︎Pure fluff goodness. 💕
♥︎Instant connection.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cedric doesn’t expect to survive his lowest moment — or for Ozzie to appear right after. Ozzie has quietly cared from afar for months, and now he shows up every day to help Cedric feel safe again. Neither man is seeking romance, but their growing connection becomes impossible to ignore.

What struck me most was how clearly Cedric needed someone to show him he was worth more — that he didn’t have to accept pain, fear, or the bare minimum from anyone. The story handled that journey with real tenderness as Ozzie’s steady support helped Cedric work through the attack and everything that followed. There were emotions and feelings throughout, all easy to understand and connect with, especially as Cedric slowly rebuilt his sense of safety and self‑worth. Their growing bond felt grounded in care, patience, and the quiet bravery of showing up for someone who needs it. This was an MM story with mature content and with male lactation.

[Ashley Matics · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and to the point! Lovely book, would definitely recommend!

[GonFreaks425 · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 LOVED THIS BOOK