"Broken Man" by Lydia Michaels is a raw and compelling story that delves into the depths of human resilience and the power of love to heal. This is a m/m romance that beautifully tells the story of coming to terms with who you are and what you have experienced

Michaels' writing pulls no punches, painting a vivid picture of a protagonist grappling with his demons. The characters feel real and flawed, their struggles and triumphs drawing you in from the very first page.

What sets "Broken Man" apart is its unflinching portrayal of trauma and the journey to recovery. Michaels handles these heavy topics with sensitivity and compassion, offering hope amidst the darkness.

But it's not all doom and gloom—there's a tender romance at the heart of the story that adds depth and warmth. The chemistry between the main characters is palpable, and their journey towards healing is both heart-wrenching and heartwarming.

While the pacing is generally solid, there were moments when the plot felt a bit predictable, and I found myself wishing for more surprises to keep me on my toes.

Overall, "Broken Man" is a powerful read that will linger in your thoughts long after you've turned the final page. With its richly drawn characters, poignant storytelling, and heartfelt romance, it's a book that's well worth your time.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

I hadn't read any of the other books in this series, but I will definitely be adding them to my collection because this story was phenomenal! Both characters were interesting, and I can't wait to read more! I adore family saga's, and this one is one of the best ones I've started in a while.

tristan and luke i LOVE YOU. to make such a complex character feel so much shame about what we as readers love him for and to hate himself for what tristan loves him for is just askjhfjdhask *chefs kiss*
this is the first book of hers ive read (none other in the series- i feel like u can start from here if you want with little to no confusion) but i will DEFINITELY by picking up the other books.
this book does not get NEARLY enough recognition. im so sad to see how little reviews and rating there are for this but they're all SO HIGH, including mine! hate the hype? never like the books booktok pushes on u? dont follow the herd, pick up a beloved book by a smaller author. u will not regret it.
thank u netgalley for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

oooo the spice. I don't think ive ever read a spicy lgbtq+ book and this one was a great start. it keep me interested they whole way through . it was a little slow in the beginning but it quickly picked up and I couldn't put it down.

**I was provided an electronic copy of this novel post-publication from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Actual rating: 3.5

Please seek content warnings for this work.

Lydia Michaels presents the fifth installment in the McCullough Mountain series, Broken Man. Readers follow Luke McCullough whose professional football dreams were cut short by injury. When he returns home, he meets Tristan. Tristan followed Luke's cousin home from college after graduation, unsafe in his hometown after his father learning that Tristan is gay. Luke has never been interested in men, but he is absolutely interested in Tristan. While fifth in the series, this book is able to be read as a standalone without any issue.

I have mixed feelings about this work, largely due to the ending. Michaels' character work is strong and the difficulties that Tristan and Luke face are reasonable and well-written. For me, a lot of their growth both separately and as a pair seemed natural and realistically messy.

However, I believe the final conflict's violence was gratuitous and served no purpose to their narrative. It did not further develop their relationship beyond the potential bond-building that overcoming any hardship produces. Beyond that, this violence was so late in the story that Tristan and Luke were already pretty solid in their feelings for one another, qualms and disagreements aside. In addition, by incorporating this scene so very near the end, readers barely have time to emotionally recover from it whereas had it been earlier, there would have been a gradual build for recovery rather than a simple moving on. As such, I strongly feel it would have been better to leave this out.

Overall, I did still enjoy my time with this work and would not hesitate to pick up other works by this author.

4.5 stars Wow, I’m blown away by the ending of this book. Beautifully written! Luke has always thought of himself as a straight man, but when Tristan enters his life, he begins to realize what love really feels like. Luke has felt empty and unsatisfied since an injury that ended his football career. He has carried anger and bitterness about what could have been but Tristan makes him feel alive again. The beginning is hot and steamy but the middle slows down a bit as a number of years are covered in their relationship. But that ending, I have so much love for the whole McCullough family! The narration in the audiobook is great. David Allen Vargo is the voice of many characters and covers a wide range of accents and timbres.

This entire series is so good!!

I've been waiting for Tristan & Luke's story! Did not disappoint. I enjoyed listening to their love story and fears of being outed, and not understood. Think the storyline was well written and touched a very important subject tactfully

i quite liked the beginning but then it all kinda went downhill. to be honest, by the end of it i was barely tolerating the characters. it was just okay.

This was the last book I had to read in the McCullough Mountain series and y’all. It. Is. So. Good. Watching their relationship through the eyes of the other characters the first few books was both heartwarming (in the sense that everyone knew and still loved them) but heartbreaking knowing that they didn’t feel like they could be themselves. Finally being able to read their story leaving me feeling the same way in reverse. They deserve everything!!!! That’s all. Everyone should read all of these books.

I have loved Each and every book in this series and this one is no different. You fall in love with the characters and their individual stories. Plus is always some sort of even or drama that adds that extra bit to the story and makes it even better. A great binge read if I do say so myself.

This is a tough read. On one hand, it's likely a realistic view into what some people, especially those raised in relatively religious families, have to deal with when they realize that they are gay. On another hand, this is a romance and I hate when I intensely dislike a character for most of the book, which I did with Luke. This book spans years and for years, Tristan and Luke were unable to be themselves and it was heartbreaking. The worst part is how Luke acted to keep up his front. Other authors have written about similar dynamics where their main characters have had to hide their preferences but the ones I've read never had the main character act in such revolting ways. As I said, it is likely a more realistic take so I give props to the author for not shying away from this difficult topic. However, as I'm a character driven reader, this dislike really affected the overall perception of the book for me.

That said, this was a well written, story with strong characters (part of a series following a family) and I really thought that the integration of the past and present was done so well. (because it spanned years, we got to see the start and resolution of some of the other characters love lives). 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book.

This book was a bit okay. It explores lgbt themes in a bit of an overdone way, but thats okay. Some parts of the story gave a little bit of out of touch vibes. How many more stories that focus on gay white male oppression do we need?

I loved the first quarter of this book and then it just slid downhill. There was too much angst and back and forth and some bizarre themes. Also I just did not understand the timeline at all. When was this set? It felt very modern but at the same time a lot of the laws etc were very outdated. So IDK.

I liked Luke a little more than I did Tristan (by the end I was barely tolerating Tristan), but Luke still had a lot of characteristics that whilst understandable got trite after the first 100 pages. Tristan was just, what? What on earth was that convoluted storyline with Luke's sister that kept popping up? It just really soured the entire book for me honestly. As did the constant circling of the same points.

This one just wasn't for me despite my being optimistic at the beginning.

4 stars

Not what I expected!!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and from this book but I quote enjoyed this story! It’s not my usual low-angst romance that I read with more real world implications of being a part of the lgbtq community in a small town and it was sad because it is sad and heartbreaking. Seeing what these characters go through is heartbreaking and reading this book opens your eyes to situations that truly exist.

Check tws!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the earc in return for an honest review

It felt like there was just too much going on in this book. I felt it was mostly wrapped up at the 50% mark, then a whole new host of plot points were added in. Clunky and not worth finishing.

Oh man, this book ripped my heart out way more than I was expecting. You have two men who feel immensely at odds with not only themselves, but also the way they feel for each other. Living in a place where their love isn't always accepted, and at times around people who make it even harder to live with. Be sure to go into this book knowing it's not sunshine and rainbows, and some heavy, heavy topics are an important part of the narrative. Always check your CW/TW.

Luke and Tristan's story was a loooong road (it spans almost 6 years), and certainly held many challenges. As a cis-white-hetero female, I have absolutely no personal experience in what a situation like that might be like. However, their story certainly held kernels of details I have heard people recount anecdotally, and it's heartbreaking. They came together because regardless of gender, they found love with each other, but there were so many external pressures being pushed onto them that I wasn't surprised when they finally cracked. Even Tristan, who was so sure of himself from the first time we met him, started to waver in his identity. I think this story is best read somewhat "blindly" (as in, I'm not about to outline some key conflicts) because it allows you to really feel things in the moment. I also think if some things are explained out of context, it would make things seem more juvenile then they actually were.

The part that really got to me was the final chapters. I honestly wanted to cry. My heart broke for both the characters, and to then go through what they did was even worse. To even think that this is something that may happen in real life is devastating. Every person should have the right to love.

Overall, I really do appreciate that I gave this book a go. Thank you to Netgalley and Valentine PR for the opportunity to do so. All opinions are solely my own, and freely given.

This story has so many layers, and every single one will pull on your heartstrings. Luke is struggling with his identity in nearly every way. Struggling over the loss of his career, and trying to figure out who he is now. Tristan is deeply wounded by his family's betrayal and abuse. Tristan is searching for a place to belong and a family to be part of. I love Tristan and Luke's fast friendship, and more. The chemistry between these two is palpable and their connection overtakes everything else. I felt so deeply for Tristan and Luke during the course of their relationship. Luke struggling to understand and even accept and love himself. And Tristan struggling with his own worth.

This story spans many years and shows so much growth and depth with these two men and their families. I loved watching them grow and felt every growing pain along the way. This story will stay with me for years to come.

Looking for some fluffy, froufrou romcom? Let me stop you right there because this book is definitely not that. It is all grit, intensity, and hard work. To be honest, I was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to get into this book, but boy was I wrong. Luke and Tristan have my heart. Every obstacle with a hard fought win, twist and turn, and their unshakable love was beautiful to witness and I’m grateful for the ride. Read this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn't like the characters, Luke was way too mean and Tristan's whole thing with the sister was too much. My biggest peeve is- is this a reprint? There is no timeline or anything and the whole book focuses on how gay marriage is illegal and will never be legal. Huh?

This is an intense story of love, fear and family. It's sweet and sad and funny. Tristan and Luke have their issues, but they also have an amazing love. They handle as best they can every problem that comes along, which makes them stronger as a couple, but also have doubts about the future. Not just their future, but the future of the whole gay community.
It's a really good read.