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Breaking the Devil

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LGBT Contemporary Western

Mack and Justin grew up together and were best friends for years, until one day that friendship turned into something hotter and more powerful than either man had ever experienced before. A passionate coupling that branded each man forever, or so Mack thought, until the dreaded day after. That’s when Justin told Mack the whole thing didn’t mean anything to him, and walked away from Mack’s promises of forever.

Mack has never been able to get past that one traumatic event in his life. A dozen years have passed without a word from Justin. But when that red-haired devil reappears, Mack finds out that he can’t resist giving in to his body’s needs—no matter what his head tells him.

Two alpha males who have been denied what they want most—each other—for so many years, come together in an explosion of heat and passion that overrides everything else in their lives. Now, if only Mack and Justin can keep their hands, and other body parts, off each other long enough to talk, they might be able to find out the truth behind what happened twelve years ago.

Publisher's This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2009

3 people are currently reading
153 people want to read

About the author

Bailey Bradford

191 books552 followers
A few things about me...

I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.

And it's really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I'll just let y'all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there's something specific you'd like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio:D

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5 stars
43 (13%)
4 stars
98 (30%)
3 stars
119 (36%)
2 stars
55 (16%)
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11 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Emerald Jaguar.
10 reviews5 followers
September 28, 2009
Bottom line up front:
What. The. Fuck. My hands were inching towards the spork from page one. I mean...jayzus!!

The rest:
Twelve years ago, Justin left Mack after one night of smexing. Mack hasn't seen hide nor hair of the guy since. Oddly, he's still pretty upset about it all over a decade later, too.

So please to be explaining why, when Justin literally pops up out of nowhere, did the two spend the first third of the book banging like bunnies? No 'Hi, how are you", for "Where the frick have you been?". Nope. Just fingers and tongues sliding up rosy assholes before the bigger stuff got tossed in for fun.

I say again...wtf?

When the two finally stop shooting off every few seconds- and boy, did these guys have a two minute recovery time- and finally got around to talking, Mack abruptly turns into a sniveling, whimpering, snot-slinging little girl. A squeaky one at that. Kid you not, the guy actually referred to himself as a squeaky little girl. Twice.

I say again...wtf?

And to top off the tears and superfluous banging, the author clean ran out of words for the squeaky little girl to shriek and instead had Mack howl "jayzus!" no less than twenty-one times in only sixty-six pages.

This book hit the wall hard. I've not read any stories by this author before, and have absolutely no intention of doing so again in the near future.
Profile Image for Kassa.
1,117 reviews112 followers
October 2, 2009
This short novella has lots of sex, sex, and more sex. Oh there is a thin plot somewhere between the lube, spit, sex, blowjobs, and tears but it’s rather weak and almost non-existent. There is however, lots of sweaty, rough, cowboy sex. Now, I’m always up for a good porn without plot staring cowboys (ok I have a weakness for hot cowboy on cowboy action), but unfortunately there are several editing errors and writing quirks that ultimately took away my enjoyment of this ranch porn. So if you can overlook some of the problems I mention and you are looking for a complete sex based piece of fluff – this might fulfill that craving.

The blurb summarizes the so-called plot more than the actual story does. The book opens with Mack moping about his long lost love, Justin. Lo and behold though Justin happens to be right there and the two engage in some sweaty hand jobs right out there on the ranch in broad daylight within minutes of their first hellos in twelve years. Thank god no one is actually working to see their bit of exhibitionism. The two then stumble into the ranch house and proceed to have more sex while a word or two is exchanged about the prolonged absence. Repeat this several times, throw in an unnecessary and predictable villain, and that is the book.

The characters are very weak and not explored at all. There is very little depth or interest to either as they have sex for the majority of their interaction and yet the sex scenes do not advance the characters at all. The two act as though no time has past and Julian especially is overbearing and possessive, as if Mack had no right to ever even look at another man in the years they were apart. Additionally neither Mack nor Julian actually questions their future, their past, or how the two immediately started having sex without addressing the problem of their long separation and the changes in their lives. Fortunately for Julian, Mack has been suspended in time for twelve years, waiting for Julian to return. Once Julian is back, Mack waffles between anger at the long separation and just being happy Julian is back in his bed.

Neither man really exists outside of the sexual component of the book. Julian never seems to work on his ranch but instead just happens to always pop up on Mack’s ranch at the exact moment Mack is having an argument or well, Julian never seems to leave Mack’s ranch to run his own. Furthermore there is the evil, predictable plot to keep the two young men apart that forces Julian to break Mack’s heart against his will. Of course there is a villain close to home and one Julian can vanquish to save Mack’s tender feelings. Unfortunately this plot point felt so weak and tired, over used, unoriginal and just boring that even the numerous sex scenes couldn’t save this at that point.

The prose is basic without a lot of complexity or nuance, which fits well with the repeated and numerous sex scenes. Unfortunately there are several quirks to the writing that threw me off and made the story difficult to enjoy and get into – beyond the obvious problems with the weak plot and wooden characters. Mack says “Jayzus” over twenty times in the short novella. Perhaps this is meant to be an affectation but the repeated use of the single word became incredibly annoying instead of charming. Some of the descriptions were unattractive such as the use of “shit-eating grin” close to a scene when one man is rimming the other. The reminder is just, not good. Additionally the writing tended to have rhetorical questions within the story, which could have been stronger if the writing addressed the questions. There are numerous editing errors with internal thoughts not italicized, misspelled words, and similar smaller mistakes.

Although I didn’t realize the book is meant as pure titillation, I was willing be carried along for the ride of hot sex. Unfortunately it didn’t deliver for many reasons but other readers may actually quite enjoy the sex scenes and not be bothered by the problems and quirks I’ve mentioned. As a classic PWP (porn without plot), I can easily see how the erotica will appeal to some readers and only wish I could have enjoyed the offering as well. Sadly, I wanted a brain scrub.

http://kassa-rvws.livejournal.com/597...
Profile Image for Karen K.
426 reviews13 followers
February 24, 2011
**probably a 2.5**
I wanted to like this story because I love other books by the same author but it just didn't work for me as much as I'd have liked. I didn't like Justin at all in the beginning and felt like he really took advantage of Mack especially since there had been no contact between them for 12 years. I understand why that was, or at least why he left in the beginning, but not one letter when he carried a torch all those years? Seems weird to me, and also the fact that Mack never had sex with anyone else during those 12 years seems a little far-fetched. The foreman's sudden reaction to Mack in the end threw me off a bit too. I hope I never have to read the word "Jayzus" again - at least so many times in one place.

I'll still happily read Bailey's other books, though, this one just didn't do it for me.
Profile Image for Susan65.
1,649 reviews53 followers
June 13, 2013
3.5 stars

Mack and Justin were best friends since they were kids, but after one afternoon of passion, Justin takes off and Mack doesn’t hear from him for over 12 years. Justin comes sauntering back, without explanation, and expects Mack to pick back up where they left off. Mack, of course, was completely heartbroken when Justin left, so he struggles heavily with still wanting and loving Justin, and distrusting him.

Loved the premise but the execution was a little dry. I definitely prefer more dialogue to inner monologue, and unfortunately this one was page after page of inner thoughts and turmoil and very little actual speaking between Justin and Mack. As a matter of fact, they didn’t say more than ten words to each other before they had sex…twice.

No matter how “hot” you found someone, or how much you loved them in the past, I found it very hard to believe that Mack would allow Justin to come sauntering back into his life without at least a little bit of an explanation for why he'd ripped his heart out.

Fortunately we get the answers, but they aren’t until the very end and by then I’d spent a good bit of time skimming the excessive sex scenes just to find out the truth.

A little more actual dialogue and lot less inner musing would have increased my enjoyment of this story tremendously.


See review at: heartsonfirereviews.com
Profile Image for blub.
2,040 reviews
May 17, 2013
Save your money and just buy another book from Bailey Bradford like one of the books from the Southwestern Shifters series (my recs would be Relentless, Rendered or Resilience). The blurb is pretty much what the book is all about, mixed in with a lot of sex between Mack and Justin.

I was five chapters away from finishing the book before I just couldn't take it anymore and gave up. Maybe one day I'll come back to it but I just don't have it in me to force myself to read anymore. I hated both the MC's. Mack for not having a back bone and just letting Justin come back into his life and having sex with him right off the bat after he stomped all over his heart. Justin was just so cocky and possessive, he knew he could have Mack and did whenever he wanted. Even after the big revelation on why Justin had to leave, my feeling for them didn't change and I found myself wishing the story would just end. I couldn't find it in myself to be interested enough to find out what Leo was up to either because of how easily Mack and Justin just made up.
Profile Image for Karina.
189 reviews14 followers
April 1, 2011
This is the problem I'm having. Even though bailey bradford isn't one of my favorites, I still like her for relentless and rescued because those are goods books and because I guess I over expected every book or hers to keep up that sort of quality. This book should be bombed and I was tempted to chuck my ipod across the room when reading it.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE CLICHED PLOTLINES LIKE THESE.

Two men in love. After twelve years they meet and have sex with a lousy half explanation as to why before more sex again. I could never understand how an author could have a character having an emotional with tears moment and jumping on his lover the next moment. Then how the HECK does the MC be so forgiving??
He keeps regretting having sex but still does it and only talks about not forgiving justin...LIKE WTF!!!??

I was close to the end and I could finish even the sex parts because the lack of plot pissed me off so much. black holes as deep as space. Deeply Deeply disappointed with this one.
Profile Image for Meg Kinch.
174 reviews
May 17, 2011
While the premise of the story was good, I felt that it fell a little flat. I liked it okay, it just wasn't my favorite and I've read worse. And yes, I know this is an erotic romance, but I believe there can be too much sex in a book, especially when the basic story gets lost in the constant getting it on, so to speak. With the exception of a couple of pages, this book was basically 68 paged of pure sex, kissing, fondling, horniness and it was a bit too much. Also, the repeated, and I mean repeated incessantly, use of the word "Jayzus". There are 21 instances where it is used. That's excessive even for a 200 page book, which this definitely wasn't. *sigh* This could have been so much better.
Profile Image for Finnegan.
1,246 reviews60 followers
December 27, 2015
The whole plot could be covered by maybe 5 pages. Mack and Justin had sex when they were young, Justin left without reason, Mack was broken up about it, and it is all he is thinking about, even after 12 years. Then Justin came back. And then some bits with an . The rest is just sex. And not in a good way.
Profile Image for Cynthia Osborne.
382 reviews5 followers
September 26, 2011
What a heart warming story that Bailey has giving us. I love how the story progressed and how Mack and Justin handled a hard and lonely life but made their way back to one another.
Profile Image for Elisa Rolle.
Author 107 books237 followers
Read
January 1, 2010
I was expecting to read a romance, maybe even a bit on the sad tone like Brokeback Mountain, and instead I read an erotic romp. Mack and Justin, the two heroes seem almost like they are training to auction for a x-rated movie, and their recovery time is unbelievable.

Joke aside, there is a lot, lot of sex here, and if you like two men who can being emotional without being weak, who are able to cry while at the same time having hot and wild sex, Breaking the Devil is exactly what you are searching.

Mack and Justin were best buddy friend when they were teenagers; there was something between them, but they didn’t have the courage to acknowledge what it was. Then one blissful afternoon the passion was too much and they did break free of any boundaries. They were young and passionate and they vowed to love each other, only to find the day after Justin breaking Mack’s heart and going away.

Twelve years later Mack is still mourning his lost lover, and when Justin comes back in Mack’s life like he hadn’t even gone away, Mack’s mind and heart would like to kick him off, but Mack’s body has other idea, it welcomes Justin with all its passion and asks for more. The first encounter, with a triple performance from both men, led to another and to another one. There is even one moment when Justin would like to explain his reason to Mack, and maybe Mack would like to listen, but again, the bodies seem to overcome the minds, and with the voice Mack is saying that he is willing to listen, but with the hands he is already undressing Justin.

Between a sex scene and the other, the reader has the chance to understand that Justin and Mack love each other, that they are more or less on the same level, no one is really the top or the bottom, that maybe Mack is easier on explaining his feelings, and that Justin is easier to heat up like a firecracker, but in the end, both of them are romantic at heart. I even like Justin’s jealousy, quite unacceptable from a man who was away for 12 years, but it gave a romance taste to the very much erotic story.

There is a story there, with some points that I wouldn’t have minded to see developed, like, what Justin did in the past 12 years? Yes, we know that he enlisted in the Marines, but what was of his personal life? Problem is that this is a novella, and we catch up with Mack and Justin right in the moment they meet again after 12 years, and Mack is quite horny, so they haven’t much time to tell us their life, there are more important things to do. Maybe if we come back in a month or so, they will resurface to breath.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002XDR28U/?...
Profile Image for Hendy Hendrawan.
16 reviews
May 5, 2015
This short book is about...

SEX.. MUSC COWBOYS.. HOT BARE SEX.. POUNDING.. SLAM.. MOAN.. and SPURT...

Yeah, it sounds like a porn book where the story didn't matters as long as there's guaranteed steamy sex. But, it's the first time ever I don't really care if the story is shallow or Mack such a man-slut because he somehow forget that justin have had left him years ago leaving him broken and let him touch him the second he got back! As long as it rough steamy sex that they're doing.. I have no complaints. LMAO!
Profile Image for Eyre.
517 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2013
This one is really a 2.5 star read. It had lots of promise--the reunion of two men who had been torn apart years ago. One thought the other had used and abandoned him cruelly; the other thought he was saving his lover's life. There was the potential for a truly emotional read, but the reconciliation seemed too fast and too soon. I'm not going to write off this author, though, because the story does show that there is lots of potential there.
Profile Image for Shannon.
2,163 reviews47 followers
September 19, 2016
Wow, with a cover like this you'd think the book would be about horses. Yeah, not so much. The very beginning and the very ending talked about a horse....briefly. The rest of the book was either sex or their thoughts. There was a little bit of talking to each other, I guess. Basically, we had Justin who broken Mack's heart 12 years ago come back home and within a day or two they were all good. Yep, that's it!
Profile Image for Nikyta.
1,459 reviews263 followers
November 25, 2010
I absolutely love this cover but I just didn't like the book. The blurb describes the book exactly and it sounds great. But there was just way too much sex for me.. Definitely one of those more sex than plot books. However, I did like the writing style and I'll definitely read more of this author but I just couldn't get past the smexing page after page. :-(
Profile Image for melek.
1,191 reviews10 followers
October 22, 2014
mack and justin best friends since childhood. But one day justin just left without any explanation . But words that mack cudnt forget, and left him heartbroken...12 years later justins back and wants mack back but can mack forgive and forget and wil justin give him a reason why he left all those years ago..
Profile Image for Da'ad.
1,920 reviews61 followers
July 31, 2013
A book of great hot smut. Ridiculous plot and relationship. Ugh! They barely say two words to each other after that terrible last time 12 years ago and they're humping into tomorrow. No one is that freaking easy! Especially after that much heartbreak. Jeez. But I did enjoy the smut, if not the nonexistent chemistry.
Profile Image for Donna.
3,342 reviews42 followers
March 25, 2014
Well...I was glad they finally got back to the "horse issue" before the story ended!!!! lol Quick read...reconciliation was a little rushed after 12 years of separation...but then again...we are talking about men here...need I say more!!!!
Profile Image for Nicole.
175 reviews8 followers
April 20, 2011
Not my favourite Bailey Bradford, but a nice read all the same. Justin kind of annoyed me in the first portion of the book, but he grew on me once they had "the talk".
Author 3 books39 followers
June 22, 2011
Very disapppointing after reading the excellent 'Something Shattered' - the plot was weak and annoyed me with the many holes in it.
Profile Image for Jennie.
209 reviews9 followers
July 31, 2013
Jayzus! I really enjoyed this story, and I happen to like the sweet loving, hot and heavy sexy time in it especially when it's a short story. This was a perfect read for me. <3
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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