Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: The Care of Broken Things: A MMM prison Romance of Survival and Redemption
SERIES: Breaking Free
AUTHOR: October Arden
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 320 pages
RELEASE DATE: August 1, 2025
BLURB:
Samuel has spent years building walls.
Not the prison’s concrete ones, but the kind that keep lives from bleeding into each other. As the prison’s self-appointed librarian, he’s carved out a fragile peace where silence is his shield. The inmates call him The Ice Queen—a title he wears like armor. After a lifetime of being preyed upon, he knows better than to let anyone close.
Then Eli arrives like sunlight through bulletproof glass.
A wrongfully convicted pediatrician, and unbearably kind, Eli is everything Samuel knows to avoid, so when he steps in to protect the man, it’s supposed to be a one-time act of mercy.
But Eli’s husband has another plan.
Nathaniel—who looks at Samuel like he’s something more than a convict—makes a request that shatters
“Be his prison husband. Love him where I can’t.”
It’s a lie that should be easy. Samuel’s an expert at deception. But the longer he plays the role, the more the lines Eli’s warmth seeping into his frozen bones, Nathaniel’s quiet strength, the whispered secrets of Eli’s daughter who trusts only him.
Now the man who built his life on solitude hoards these moments like contraband.
Some loves rewrite your sentence.
A polyamorous prison romance about broken rules and the families we carve from our own ribs.
Perfect for fans of Captive Prince, Wolfsong, and The Foxhole Court.
If you’ve ever felt too broken to be loved—this is for you.
REVIEW:
Whew! OK – well that was unexpected. This appears to be the second book from this author and color me intrigued. I have been kind of immersing myself in lighter fare given the state of the world and needing a break from the dumpster fire of the 24 hour news cycle. But something about this blurb led me to take a chance. I’m really glad I did.
Samuel has been in prison for quite some time. He’s made a place for himself there, protected himself. Given his past, he’s not trusting and he’s built walls around his heart and mind.
Eli couldn’t be more different than Samuel. He’s a doctor. He’s a husband. He’s a father. He’s been set up. He is in no way prepared for prison life. He’s a good guy in a terrible situation. Samuel steps in and protects Eli. He’s not prepared for what Eli’s husband Nathaniel asks. He’s not prepared to actually care for Eli.
As Eli and Samuel’s relationship evolves, there are of course challenges. Then there is Samuel’s relationship with Nathaniel. Even their daughter Hailey provides a bright spot in what is a pretty dark chapter in their lives. Ultimately though, the story of these three men is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.
This story has a some twists and turns to it. It’s not an easy read. The characters are not cookie-cutter, that’s for sure. They’ve been through some stuff! They are realistically portrayed as flawed humans who have made mistakes and who are dealing with the hands they’ve been dealt. Eli becomes the vehicle whereby Samuel has his eyes opened to the possibility of love and hope and a different existence. I thought the individual relationships were well written and crucial for any polyamorous story. There isn’t a lot of spice in this story, but I don’t think that is really necessary here. The secondary characters are also well done – particularly Jenny and Hailey – and the other prisoners as well. I’m looking forward to the next book. And it’s out tomorrow! Highly recommended for fans of angsty emotional unconventional stories.
RATING: 
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