Broken by Nicola Haken: Review and Giveaway

 

When Theodore Davenport decides to switch his mundane job for a career, he walks into Holden House Publishing with enthusiasm and determination to succeed. As he settles into his new role, makes new friends, and dreams of making it to the top, everything is going to plan.

Until he meets James Holden, CEO of Holden House.

James Holden hasn’t been able to stop thinking about his encounter with the timid man he met in a club bathroom last week, and when he discovers the one haunting his dreams is an employee, he can’t seem to stop himself from pursuing him.

Just a little fun – that’s what James tells himself. He can’t afford to care for someone who can never reciprocate, not once they find out who he really is. James believes nobody deserves the burden of being attached to him. He’s a complicated man. Damaged. Difficult. Demanding.

Broken.

Is Theodore strong enough to confront James’ demons? More importantly, is James?

(M/M romance. Not suitable for readers under 18 years of age due to language and sexual content. ***Please note*** This book contains scenes of self harm, mental illness and suicidal ideation which may be uncomfortable for some readers.)

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I have read a few of Nicola Haken’s books, so I am familiar with her writing, but that in no way prepared me for Broken.

James Holden, CEO of Holden House is a difficult and demanding, but most of all he is broken. After a bathroom hook-up in a bar with Theodore Davenport he can’t seem to get him out of his mind. James can’t afford the distraction, work at his publishing house is busier that ever and personally he can’t let himself get involved with someone who will just leave when they find out how broken he is. When he discovers Theodore is new employee to Holden House he keeps finding reasons spend time with him telling himself it’s not serious, just a bit of fun.

Theodore wants his success at Holden House to be of his own merit, not because he is sleeping with the boss. Add to that, he doesn’t usually have sex while not in a relationship. When all James has to offer is sex Theodore needs to make him see that they could be so much more. Once James comes clean about himself Theodore needs to decide if he can be strong enough for the both of them.

In the aftermath of James’ downward spiral Theodore realizes just how strong a love like theirs really is and just how far he will go to make James see it.

Where do I even begin, this book is amazing. I am in awe, Nicola made me feel every emotion Theodore and James felt. When James was at his lowest, I sobbed. When Theodore was trying to be strong for them both I felt his resolve. I cheered when they were happy and cried more happy tears that I care to admit to.

This is not a fluffy, cute romance. This a realistic, this could happen to you story and I loved every second of it. This story gives hope to people struggling with mental illness and the people that love them.

I read this book a few days and I can’t get it out of my head. This quote keeps running through my head.

“When you’re living with mental illness, there is no happily ever after, like the kind we write about every day. Instead, we look forward to future days spent basking in the most dazzling light, followed by ones drowning in the deepest depths of darkness. There is only one constant, one guarantee, no matter which day we face. Love. A love so powerful it will carry us through. We will survive. Together.”

For me, this may be the greatest love story I have read. It’s gritty and raw and real.

**Comment on this post, and you could win a copy of Broken, from TCO.