Eben is reluctantly in the mob. He promised his dying mother he would always protect his brother Nick Flannery, who is one of the toughest gangsters in the city. When Nick buys a male prostitute from Hong Kong, Eben picks him up from the airport. Eben has always been gay but is hiding it because he knows telling his brother would be dangerous.

Song Xiu has been forced into prostitution, but he’s a survivor who will do what it takes to live. Eben instantly finds himself wanting the sexy man, and Xiu knows a relationship will endanger them both but he can’t help but fall for the sexy and sensitive Eben.   

When Eben wants to leave the mob and take Xiu with him, Nicky will do anything to keep his brother in the mob…even if he has to kill him. Will Eben and Xiu survive and find a peace that neither of them has ever known? And will they be able to stay together?   

Broken by Jessica Freely is really an amazing story. I found this book to be gritty, a bit raunchy, and not for everyone. There is graphic violence and there are some scenes of questionable consent as well. I found all of the scenes tied the characters together and helped me understand them more and more.   

Eben is a soft spoken man with a heart of gold. He protects those around him from harm and does what he is told to by his brother. What I liked the most about him was that the violence and bloodshed around him didn’t change him from being a good person; he still does what he thinks is right, even if it is hard. 

Xiu is a man with few choices. He has survived being a male prostitute the best way he knows how but he is a mess - a beautiful mess that Eben falls in love with. I think Eben really saves Xiu as much as Xiu saves Eben.  They were able to save each other’s souls. I found this love story to be different, surprising, and very cleverly written and I was amazed at how much I loved this story and didn’t want it to end.