My Rating for Cardio Conditioning: 3.5 Stars
Meet Jerry March. Determined to regulate his blood sugar he joins a gym his co-worker and friend recommends but after overdoing it on the first day there, he lands in the lap of a sexy god of a man named Gianni Lappatura. Jerry and Gianni have issues with their looks and more. It will take a leap of faith from both of them as well as trust in each other to have their happily ever after.
Andrew Grey pens a lovely heartwarming tale of two people who find that to grab a hold of happiness they need to let go of their insecurities and let themselves believe in love again. For beauty is only skin deep and these two will find that imperfections are the most attractive thing around. This is an author who knows how to let his characters shine and the reader falls in love with them, flaws and all. The story moves smoothly, characters are well written and the readers are treated to a story that leaves you breathless.
The characters are front and center in this series and we got to see how some of the past characters are doing as well as more of Lonny's wonderful quips and remarks which leave me giggling each time I spy him on the page of any of the Gym Stories. I got to admit that humor sprinkled throughout the books helps keep the stories from being weighed down and gives it a lightness that balances the serious aspects of the story lines.
Mr. Grey does a great job in showing the many sides of living with a disease that consumes a person, the life style changes you need to make and more. Not doing it is hazardous to your health. The way this author takes those issues and turns them into a believable storyline is amazing. I have some experience in my family with diabetes so the way this author has written a character with this disease was remarkable. Jerry was a pleasant, charming man who felt he was ordinary when in fact he was exceptional in the eyes of Gianni. The connection between these two is simmering and kept me flipping the pages to see what would happen next between these two.
You don’t have to read the other gym stories but
I do recommend you start with book one first. You get the full enjoyment of all
the characters that pop in all the stories. I look forward to seeing where the
author goes in this wonderful series of his in the future.
The Gym Stories in order are:
Book one: Spot Me
Dreamspinner Press
Contemporary M/M
Buy HERE
Available in E-book & in a Print Compilation
Working out is a daily routine for Dan, who meets his friend Lonnie at the gym to lift weights. But breaking a sweat takes on a whole new meaning when Dan sees Gene, a professional bodybuilder, in the mirror. Dan knows it's a lost cause: he's forty and nursing a broken heart, nowhere in the same league as gorgeous Gene.
Book Two: Pump Me Up
Contemporary M/M
Dreamspinner Press
Available in E-book & a Print Compilation
Buy HERE
Taking advantage of a free pass from work, Maddoc decides to try out a fitness center. After meeting up with a friend, Dan, and making dinner plans, Maddoc meets Ivan, a hunky, silver-haired ex-Marine who gives him a ride home. Soon Maddoc finds himself with a new friend, a workout partner, a protector... and maybe something more, as a simmering attraction comes to life between him and Ivan. After moving too fast in previous relationships that fell apart, Maddoc wants to start slow—wants to make sure it can last. Luckily, Ivan is willing to wait.
Book Three: Core Training
Contemporary M/M
Dreamspinner Press
Available in E-book & a Print Compilation
Buy HERE
Hugh Douglas isn’t thrilled about reaching his fortieth birthday. But he gets an unexpected present when a waiter he knows, Max Pierce, flirts hard with him at the gym. They end up going home together and having the hottest sex Hugh can remember… and Max even wants to stick around afterward.
Starting a romance won’t be easy. Hugh can't help but feel his age compared to the much younger Max, even though Max makes Hugh feel rejuvenated. Max is dealing with daily doses of abuse from his alcoholic father, but Hugh can offer support from his own life experience. If they can help each other, it just might be enough to make a life together work.
Starting a romance won’t be easy. Hugh can't help but feel his age compared to the much younger Max, even though Max makes Hugh feel rejuvenated. Max is dealing with daily doses of abuse from his alcoholic father, but Hugh can offer support from his own life experience. If they can help each other, it just might be enough to make a life together work.
Book Four: Crunch Time
Dreamspinner Press
Contemporary M/M
Available in E-book & Print Compilation
Buy HERE
When George Higgins agrees to help a soon-to-be-former professional football player rehearse for a guest appearance on a talk show, he doesn’t expect anything to come of it. To his surprise, Darren White shows up on time and actually makes an effort to learn from George. But Darren has definite problems; he can barely read and sounds awful when he speaks. Luckily, George is a teacher and Darren’s motivated. It’s crunch time: the first rehearsal for Talking Sports is looming, and Darren and George will have to work together if they want Darren’s guest appearance—and their budding relationship—to turn into a full-time gig.
Book Five: Positive Resistance
Dreamspinner Press
Contemporary M/M
Available in E-book & Print Compilation
Buy HERE
Blobby Bobby and Lane the Pain. A thousand years ago, Lane spent his time in high school tormenting Robert Stephen Phillips to the point of tears. Stephen thought he’d left all of that behind, including his extra weight and his horrid nickname, when he came out to his parents. But now Stephen’s been transferred back to his hometown and will once again have to face his disapproving parents and childhood nemesis.
Imagine Stephen’s surprise when Lane turns out to have changed from school bully to persistent, attentive suitor. If Lane the Pain can hear Stephen’s most painful of intimate details and still want to pursue a relationship, is it possible that Stephen can reconnect with the family that turned on him years ago?
Imagine Stephen’s surprise when Lane turns out to have changed from school bully to persistent, attentive suitor. If Lane the Pain can hear Stephen’s most painful of intimate details and still want to pursue a relationship, is it possible that Stephen can reconnect with the family that turned on him years ago?
Book Six: Personal Training
Contemporary M/M
Dreamspinner Press
Available in E-book & Print Compilation
Buy HERE
Determined not to end up like his seventy-year-old diabetic father, Holton knows he needs to make a change. His quest to improve his health drives him to the gym, where he meets Marcus, a trainer with the body of a demigod. For three months Holton works hard, watches what he eats, drops a few pounds—and catches Marcus's eye not only for his slimmer body but for his dedication.
Holton can barely believe it when Marcus asks him out, but he isn’t about to say no. Despite several common interests, though, Marcus and Holton have some roadblocks to overcome. A harrowing event from Holton’s past has made him gun-shy, and Marcus has insecurities of his own. If their relationship is going to work, they’ll have to get past their hang-ups and prove that what really matters is the man inside.
Holton can barely believe it when Marcus asks him out, but he isn’t about to say no. Despite several common interests, though, Marcus and Holton have some roadblocks to overcome. A harrowing event from Holton’s past has made him gun-shy, and Marcus has insecurities of his own. If their relationship is going to work, they’ll have to get past their hang-ups and prove that what really matters is the man inside.
Work Me Out
Print Compilation of the first six gym stories in one print book
Buy at http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=2495
Spot Me: Breaking a sweat takes on a whole new meaning when Dan sees Gene, a professional bodybuilder, in the mirror. Does he allow Gene to elbow his way into his life, or will he give up on the idea of a new relationship before it even starts?
Pump Me Up: Maddoc meets Ivan, a hunky, silver-haired ex-Marine who gives him a ride home from the fitness center, and finds himself with a new friend, a workout partner, a protector... and maybe something more.
Core Training: Hugh Douglas isn’t thrilled about his birthday but gets an unexpected present when the much younger Max Pierce flirts hard with him at the gym. Starting a romance won’t be easy, but they might make a life together work.
Crunch Time: George Higgins agrees to help soon-to-be-former professional football player Darren White when the first rehearsal for Talking Sports is looming, and they’ll have to work together if they want Darren’s guest appearance—and their budding relationship—to turn into a full-time gig.
Positive Resistance: Lane spent high school tormenting Stephen to the point of tears. Imagine Stephen’s surprise when years later Lane turns out to have changed to a persistent, attentive suitor who supports him during a family trial.
Personal Training: Holton’s quest to improve his health drives him to the gym, where he meets Marcus, a trainer with the body of a demigod, who to Holton’s surprise, asks him out. Despite several common interests, they’ll have to prove that what really matters is the man inside.
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