GRIND
Gymbros #3
K.M. Neuhold
Hockey star Diego Ferguson says he knows about the grind, but he’s about to learn that his new personal trainer, Callan, gives the word a whole new meaning.
Everyone in Chicago has been following the news about Diego's injury and the last season spent on the bench. It doesn’t hurt that he's got a major sexy brood going on in every picture I see of him these days.
The last place I expected him to show up was Sweat. But he's looking for a personal trainer to help him get fully back in shape before the season, and I'm just the guy for the job.
It figures that he's straight, but that doesn’t mean I can't enjoy the view while I help get his fine backside ready to get back out on the ice. He's also desperate for some bro time in between workouts, and I'm more than qualified to be the guy for that job too.
Maybe he's not as straight as he claims. Maybe he just needs a little fun to get his confidence back up after last season. Maybe I'll let myself indulge in a harmless fling with a cocky, bi-curious hockey player as a little treat. I work hard after all, and I deserve a little fun too.
We both know it can't last, but puck it, a summer fling is always a good time.
graphics from author's FB page
Diego Ferguson is a defenseman for the Chicago Huskies who has been off for hip surgery and a bit lost. His longtime girlfriend left him, and he is worried about getting back on the ice and about teammate dynamics. He's broody, kind of depressed, and in limbo.
When one of his teammates refers him to a trainer at an outside gym, he had no idea it was just a joke, and he sent him to a very gay friendly gym. But there he stumbles upon Callan again. They had previously met one night in a bar and enjoyed a bit of bro-like teasing.
When one of his teammates refers him to a trainer at an outside gym, he had no idea it was just a joke, and he sent him to a very gay friendly gym. But there he stumbles upon Callan again. They had previously met one night in a bar and enjoyed a bit of bro-like teasing.
Callan is a personal trainer. He is friendly, fun, competitive, and motivating, and is just who Diego needs to kick him into the training zone.
They start to train, hang out, and crush a bit. It is confusing for Diego who has always identified as straight. And Callan has a history of falling for closeted athletes who never want a real relationship with him. But Diego's getting more curious and tired of overthinking, and Callan can't resist letting him explore. As they cruise into a fling and situationship, the reality about a set timeline and the start of a new season is looming over them.
I loved these two together. They have such fun banter, competitive spirits, passion, and motivate and inspire each other. Diego feels seen and understood by Callan, but also cannot cause any kind of drama coming back to his team. And Callan knows he is probably heading for a fall, but cannot help himself. The bi-awakening component was done well and Diego's hockey career added complexity to the situation.
It brings back the guys from previous books and teases Fender's story. This series is fun and steamy, and I love the dynamics of the gym crew.
I'm starting to think hooking up with my gym bro roommate might be kind of gay…
The thing about guys is that we communicate on a physical, primal level. A hearty slap on the backside just means “good game, bro”. Some good old fashioned roughhousing just means we’re comfortable with each other. Some late night stress relief? Just dudes being dudes…
Right?
If I were gay, I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about what his lips taste like. I'd want to spend all my time with him and miss him when he's not around. I would find his god awful cooking skills a little charming.
But none of that is true… almost none of it.
We’re just friends. Just roommates. Just a couple of guys doing what guys do.
Of course I love him like a bro, but I'm not falling in love with my roommate, no matter how cool and funny and jacked he is.
Nope, not gonna happen…
Jacked is a low angst, double bi-awakening, idiots to lovers with a pair of meat head roommates stumbling their way through falling in love with each other without even realizing it. Lots of wholesome masculinity, an Only One Sleeping Bag moment, and ‘Bro’ as a term of endearment.
Kim's review
I’m just a nerd, standing in front of a bench press, asking it not to humiliate me in front of my gym crush
I’ve never walked into a gym on purpose in my life, and I’m not sure which part is more shocking, the massive beefcake who immediately challenges me to arm wrestle or the fact that I kind of want to come back.
I spent years of my life refusing to lift anything heavier than a textbook, and it shows. I never expected that coming to the gym and bulking up would give me more gender euphoria than all the T shots in the world.
The crush I’m developing on my Golden Retriever of a personal trainer, Butch, though? Yeah, I should have seen that one coming.
Butch is a guy’s guy. Jockstraps, armpit licking, Sweat enthusiast… what could he possibly find exciting about a scrawny, book-ish nerd like me?
I’m just going to try not to drool on him too hard while he helps me get pumped. And I’m for sure not going to do anything stupid like falling in love with him…
Author K.M.Neuhold is a complete romance junkie, a total sap in every way. She started her journey as an author in new adult, MF romance, but after a chance reading of an MM book she was completely hooked on everything about lovely- and sometimes damaged- men finding their Happily Ever After together. She has a strong passion for writing characters with a lot of heart and soul, and a bit of humor as well. And she fully admits that her OCD tendencies of making sure every side character has a full backstory will likely always lead to every book having a spin-off or series. When she’s not writing she’s a lion tamer, an astronaut, and a superhero…just kidding, she’s likely watching Netflix and snuggling with her husky while her amazing husband brings her coffee.










