Broken

by A.J. Hardcourt

A fatal car accident leaves one young man dead…and another suffering.

Officer Steve Pax learns the family of the deceased refuses to give information to the man waiting for word on their son’s condition—shut out because they are unwilling to accept Mario was gay.

Finn won’t leave the hospital until he knows if Mario will survive. Steve is torn between duty and his personal feelings. But Finn deserves to know his friend and former lover is dead.

Steve discovers there is more to Finn than a hot rocker exterior. He carries guilt over Mario’s substance abuse and his role in Mario’s death. Steve wants to help. But he’s crushing on the kid and is considering acting on his sexual attraction. Moreover, he's the last person who should be offering comfort. Can Steve show Finn he wasn’t responsible or will he leave Finn broken?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, LGBT, M M Contemporary, Erotica

31 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2010

Reviews

[Betryal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve turns out to being the first officer on the scene of an accident causing death with the vic in question having been under the influence of drugs and alcohol and it’s his duty to break it to the family at the hospital. It’s at the hospital in which Steve comes across Finn who is the ex to the perished victim of said accident. Steve takes Finn to a diner to get a bite to it, but it’s done to get Finn out of the hospital and away from the homophobic family who never approved of the victim being gay. Right from the onset both men feel the lust, need and chemistry that’s building between them and in they end the leave the diner to pursue it. I clearly sense that there’s more than just a budding relationship that was building with these two characters and I wished I could read more on them. I liked the way they interacted with each other and this story has more than enough great potential to being more than just a sip.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the characters, but it was way too short. I don't mind short stories per se, but as one of the reviewers said this one looks more like a prologue to an actual story, because it ends just when the real story should follow.

[Smith Barney]

'Broken' attempt at a story.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, in all honesty the only reason I bought this book was because of its cover. I couldn't stop staring at it, I had to have it, that's all there was to it. So I download the book, and after staring at the cover for an unhealthy amount of time, I started reading it--because that's what books are for, right? Well, in the blink of an eye I had read the entire book, all fifteen pages. Just what are the parameters of a short story?

Regardless of how short the book is, it carries a big wallop of a story. Ethics, professionalism, sexual boundaries, and lust, are all confronted and challenged. Mr. / Ms. (I don't know which) Hardcourt has a very clear and tight writing style, one that's easy to read.

I give Broken three stars.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit worried while reading, thinking that the cop, Steve, was going to do something stupid and act on his attraction. But he behaved as he said he would and let Finn make the first move. I liked Finn much more than Steve. Was an okay story, but I wish I liked Steve more.

[Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man I hate short stories - NORMALLY!

Broken is a short story that is well written.

My beef with shorts is that they don't really allow character building and story development but when I take that away Broken is a quick REALLY well thought out short..

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish this was longer. This was like chapter one of what would be a REALLY interesting book. Finn and Steve would be very interesting to read in a longer actual book, not a little short story.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had the makings to become a great novella or novel. However, right when it started getting interesting, it was over. This was way too short!

[Lucia]

Good but super short.

[Sue bowdley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just way too short...it had potential to be a great story but it was too short to really do much of anything x

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

The silly cop sayings while trying to have sex did it in for me. Cheesy and not good.....Onto the next book.