Sometimes heartache is a blessing in disguise.
I thought my life was perfect, and then I walked in on my boyfriend sleeping with my best friend.
The only person I can turn to now is Donnie, the silver-fox spin instructor who lets me crash at his place. Donnie’s a lot older and he’s still grieving his late husband. My dreams of being a filmmaker have disintegrated along with my relationship.
The worst of life has brought us together. Do we dare create something beautiful out of it?
Ripped is an age gap, nerd/jock, hurt/comfort MM romance between roommates who cuddle while watching classic movies. Expect steamy shower rooms, teary confessions, disapproving family, and brand new beginnings. It is the first book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.
CW: grief and loss of a spouse, description of fatal car accident, description of homophobic family, cheating secondary characters. Happily ever after guaranteed.
Title: Ripped
Authors: Linden Bell
Length: 60k
Series: Mars Fitness, Book 1
Genre: Contemporary
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“I cannot believe you’ve never seen The Count of Monte Cristo! Hello, Jim Caviezel? Guy Pearce? Baby Henry Cavill? With sideburns! In cravats!”
Donnie stares at me like I’m speaking a different language. “I don’t know. Maybe? If I have seen it, I don’t remember it. Must not have been memorable.”
“Oh my god, sacrilege! This is an emergency. We need to remedy this.”
We’ve finished our dinner of beef and broccoli on cauliflower rice, which—again—isn’t bad, but isn’t rice. Now we’re in the middle of cleaning up and Donnie drops this bombshell on me. It isn’t his first. He’s never seen Casablanca or Citizen Kane or Dr. Strangelove either. Never mind Psycho or Carrie or The Exorcist. I’m sleeping under the same roof as a film virgin and I have my work cut out for me.
“It’s not that I don’t like movies. They just… don’t make an impression, I guess.”
I take the plate Donnie hands me and run the microfiber cloth over it until it’s dry. “Okay, name one movie that’s made an impression.”
Donnie narrows his eyes as he thinks. “Titanic?”
“Oh my god!” I set the plate down carefully and snap the towel at Donnie.
He screeches and darts away, laughing. He looks amazing like that with his hazel eyes dancing and the laugh lines around his mouth and eyes out in full force. It’s been like this for most of dinner. Jokes and teasing and easy conversation that flows like we’ve known each other forever.
It’s comfortable. Not like old sneakers comfortable, where you should’ve replaced them ages ago, but couldn’t be bothered. More like finding that perfect pair of jeans that you buy in every available color.
Being with Donnie feels so normal it’s kinda freaky. We really have very little in common. He’s all into healthy eating and staying active. He knows a lot about how the body works. None of that is surprising because obvs, he’s Donnie, The Spin Instructor. But he also reads like, five books a week and listens to all kinds of weird music.
Movies and TV, though? Not so much. Not huge into Broadway either—musicals or plays. He almost never eats out and there are like, no snacks in the house. At least, nothing I would consider a snack. Granola is not a snack. At most, it’s breakfast. I need chips.
Donnie and I stand off in the kitchen. Him with wet and soapy fingers. Me with my towel-snapping skills. We stalk around each other in circles, each waiting for the other to strike first.
“Connor,” Donnie warns. There’s a twinkle in his eyes that urges me on.
“Donnie.” I mimic his tone, holding my towel in attack mode.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
I take a step toward Donnie, and he takes a step back. I take another step forward, and he bumps into the wall. He’s trapped and I smile like Jack Nicholson coming through the door in The Shining.
As far as I can tell, this is a new author. Unless it’s a pen name of another. But still, first title under their name. And while new authors tend to make me hesitate, I liked the sound of the blurb.
And…I liked it!
Ok, it was far from perfect, but a perfect book is nearly impossible to me. But if this truly is a first time author, well done. I think I only rolled my eyes once (tickle fight? really?) and moved on.
Although we know Connor is mid 20’s, I don’t know if we ever got Donnie’s age. I’m guessing he is a good 20 years older. Donnie is still mourning the death of his husband almost 4 years prior, but he is drawn to Connor. And having Connor living in his guest room is very tempting.
Donnie and Connor just mesh their lives together so seamlessly. It almost seemed like they had known each other for years before sliding into a romantic relationship.
Oh wait, I rolled my eyes again. I just remembered. Still, only twice.
Ultimately, they helped heal each other. Connor helped Donnie heal from his husband’s death and Donnie helped Connor heal from the betrayal of his boy friend and best friend. He even helps Connor’s mother understand a bit of adult Connor. Even though it’s really Connor’s brother who needs a slap.
The happily ever after wrapped up so well, and we get a very short glimpse of the next couple in the series. Which I will definitely want to read.
4 pieces of eye candy