Broken Lives Series by Marita A. Hansen

For me, the name Dante conjured up two images. The first was the epic depictions of Hell from Dante’s Inferno, with people burning for their sins. The second image was a sexual depiction. I don’t know where it came from, but as far back as I can remember, I had always associated the name Dante with a beautiful and sexy man. I'd imagined a dark-haired, dark-eyed, gorgeous lothario, the type who could capture a woman’s heart with just one look... moreFor me, the name Dante conjured up two images. The first was the epic depictions of Hell from Dante’s Inferno, with people burning for their sins. The second image was a sexual depiction. I don’t know where it came from, but as far back as I can remember, I had always associated the name Dante with a beautiful and sexy man. I'd imagined a dark-haired, dark-eyed, gorgeous lothario, the type who could capture a woman’s heart with just one look. Dante was the Fabio of my generation, the heartthrob that got women’s hearts beating fast, made us want this man to rip our clothes off and to throw us onto the bed.Little did I know that the Dante that walked into my life was very different from the one I’d imagined. Oh, he was dark-haired, dark-eyed, gorgeous, even a lothario ... just ... he wasn’t a man. Instead, he was someone who was going to send me to the Hell his namesake had written about.And I was his teacher.Tags: Taboo, Literary Fiction, Teacher/Student Relationship, English Teacher, Male Student, Mental Health Issues, Abuse, Poetry, Gangs, High School.The BROKEN LIVES series will be broken up into two sets (duets). Each set (duet) has a self-contained, standalone story. Broken English (part 1) and Shattered Poetry (Part 2) are the first set, finishing the high school stage of Clara’s and Dante’s lives. The next set, books 3 and 4, is a new story, taking their relationship to another level. less

Nothing good could come from falling for Dante. He was the forbidden fruit I should never have tasted, the apple of his gangbanging father’s eye. If the law didn’t get to me first, I would suffer worse by his father’s hand. So, I tried to push Dante away, tried so hard not to give in to the beautiful temptation sitting in the back row of my classroom. Because I knew if I gave in to him, he could ruin my life, shattering everything that I held dear: my marriage, my career, my freedom... moreNothing good could come from falling for Dante. He was the forbidden fruit I should never have tasted, the apple of his gangbanging father’s eye. If the law didn’t get to me first, I would suffer worse by his father’s hand. So, I tried to push Dante away, tried so hard not to give in to the beautiful temptation sitting in the back row of my classroom. Because I knew if I gave in to him, he could ruin my life, shattering everything that I held dear: my marriage, my career, my freedom. But I couldn’t resist him. And now I was going to suffer the consequences.Tags: Taboo, Literary Fiction, Teacher/Student Relationship, English Teacher, Male Student, Mental Health Issues, Abuse, Poetry, Gangs, High School.The BROKEN LIVES series will be broken up into two sets (duets). Each set (duet) has a self-contained, standalone story. Broken English (part 1) and Shattered Poetry (Part 2) are the first set, finishing the high school stage of Clara’s and Dante’s lives. The next set, books 3 and 4, is a new story, taking their relationship to another level. less

What was happening couldn’t be real. I couldn’t be on the run from the police and gang members. I was, or had been, a strait-laced high school teacher. Nor could I be sitting next to one of my students, a boy from my English class. And he definitely couldn’t be the love of my life, since I was married. But it was all very real. I was in love with Dante Rata, a teenage gang member from the wrong side of town. I’d ruined my marriage for him. Destroyed my career for him... moreWhat was happening couldn’t be real. I couldn’t be on the run from the police and gang members. I was, or had been, a strait-laced high school teacher. Nor could I be sitting next to one of my students, a boy from my English class. And he definitely couldn’t be the love of my life, since I was married. But it was all very real. I was in love with Dante Rata, a teenage gang member from the wrong side of town. I’d ruined my marriage for him. Destroyed my career for him. Left my safe middle-class world behind, risking my freedom, and even my life, just to be with him. And despite all of that, I was living my happily-ever... For now. Because when the after part came, I would lose everything. Including Dante. less

Dante walked back into my life like he’d never left it. But he had. Nine long years had passed since I’d been thrown into prison for loving Dante Rata. Nine torturous years where he’d forgotten all about me, about us, the car accident robbing me of his love. Though, his dark eyes told me he wanted to remember—and in ways I wasn’t sure I could handle. He was no longer the boy I fell in love with. He was a man... moreDante walked back into my life like he’d never left it. But he had. Nine long years had passed since I’d been thrown into prison for loving Dante Rata. Nine torturous years where he’d forgotten all about me, about us, the car accident robbing me of his love. Though, his dark eyes told me he wanted to remember—and in ways I wasn’t sure I could handle. He was no longer the boy I fell in love with. He was a man. Tall, imposing, tattooed, and so damn hot he left me a quivering mess every time I saw him. And I wanted him with every fibre of my soul, a soul he’d shattered so long ago. But would he be able to piece it back together again, or leave me broken, wishing I’d never met him? less