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When the person you desire is so close, and yet so far.

SAWYER

I've been in love with my best friend and roommate since the first day of boarding school over a decade ago. But Preston has always been oblivious, obsessed with his PhD research, and more importantly, straight.

When the new, sexy grad student walks into my gym, I have to wonder... is it time for me to move on?

PRESTON

Some guy is trying to steal my best friend. I won't let him. Sawyer's mine.

Maybe I haven't appreciated Sawyer enough over the years, but that's going to change now. I'll do whatever it takes to keep him by my side. Even if it means kissing him.

Stacked is a best friends-to-lovers, bi-awakening, nerd/jock, MM romance between possessive, protective, and co-dependent roommates. Expect the most tender caretaking, slipping into each other's beds in the middle of the night, and adorable clinginess. It is the second book in the Mars Fitness series and can be read as a standalone.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Mars Fitness series!
For book one, Ripped, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
Buy Links

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Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“Who the hell are you?”

Mom and I spin around at the new voice.

In the doorway is another boy, shorter than me and scrawny. The school uniform he’s wearing is wrinkled, one pant leg is caught in a sock, and the tie is loose and off-center. He’s got a mop of black hair and thick black-framed glasses, but what really catches my attention are his eyes.

They’re blue. Like the ocean. Like the sky. And they’re zeroed in on me with such intensity that my lungs stop working. My brain stops working. The only response I’ve got is whoa and cool.

Beside me, Mom clears her throat and steps forward. She puts on her mom voice when she speaks. “This is Sawyer and I’m his mom, Ms. Paige. He’s moving into this room today. And you are?”

The mom voice works because the boy shrinks back and clutches the textbook he’s holding closer to his chest. “Preston Boyer,” he says, eyeing Mom warily.

“So nice to meet you, Preston.” Then she hooks her thumb over to my side of the room. “Would all this be yours?”

Preston’s eyes dart from Mom to the bed, piled high with clothes, to me. There’s a little furrow in his brow like he’s trying to think of a response and drawing a blank. Like maybe all this stuff isn’t actually his.

Then he blurts out, “You’re not my roommate.”

Mom’s in front of me, so I can’t see her face, but I know exactly what it looks like. Her eyebrows are halfway up her forehead and her lips are pursed into her “What did you just say?” expression.

Oh shit. Preston’s in trouble.

“As a matter of fact, he is. Sawyer’s enrolling as a student at Westbourne and he’s been assigned to this double room. So your choices are to become friends and get along or find another room to sleep in. Either way, you need to move your things. Now.”

With each word coming out of Mom’s mouth, Preston shrinks into himself even further. I kind of feel bad for him, even if he’s being a jerk. Getting on Mom’s bad side is never a good idea.

“Hey, Pres. What’s taking so long?” A pretty blond girl wearing a cheerleading uniform materializes behind Preston. It takes a second for her to notice me and Mom in the room. “Oh! Hi! You must be Sawyer.”

She squeezes past Preston and approaches Mom with a big smile plastered on her face. The girl is brave. “I’m Madison. Preston’s girlfriend.” She extends a hand for Mom to shake, then does the same with me.

“Mads!” Preston hisses like Madison is consorting with the enemy. “What are you doing?”

Madison glances back at him. “I’m welcoming them. Come on, Pres, don’t be a jerk. You knew you were getting a roommate.”

“No, I didn’t!” Preston shuffles into the room, staying behind Madison like she can protect him from Mom. Madison looks like she can hold her own, but no one can stand in Mom’s way if she’s determined.

“Yes, you did.” She rolls her eyes and turns to the mess on Preston’s desk. “The Residence Office sent you a letter, remember?”

She shuffles through his things, tossing them around as Preston’s expression grows pained. He’s probably one of those people who has some weird ass filing system that only makes sense to them.

“Here it is!” Triumphantly, Madison holds a crumpled piece of paper high in the air. It’s the same thick cream-colored stuff that my acceptance letter was printed on. “Sawyer Paige. Moving in September twentieth. Please clear away any personal items that have been stored on the other side of the room.”

As one, we all stare at the personal items that have definitely not been cleared away.

Silence stretches for long moments before Madison breaks it. “No worries! I can help! It shouldn’t take too long.” She marches over with a big grin and grabs a stack of books off the desk.

“No! Wait!” Preston drops the textbook he’s holding and reaches for the ones in Madison’s hands. “You can’t just move stuff around! I have a system!”

Ha. Called it. This guy is strange. Living with him is going to be a drag, but at least I don’t have to worry about being the token loner.

“Fine, here, I’ll hand you the stuff and you put it wherever you want, okay?” Madison takes him by the shoulders and spins him around so he’s facing his side of the room again. “Just keep it all over there.”

Did she say she was his girlfriend? How the hell did a confident, pretty cheerleader end up with this disaster of a guy? I exchange a look with Mom, who has to be thinking exactly the same thing.

Then she sighs and pats me on the shoulder. “Looks like you’re all going to get along just fine.”

It’s going to be a long year.

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆☆
Preston and Sawyer have been best friends since high school. They are now adults and roommates. Sawyer has been in love with Preston since the day he met him. Preston is clueless but very codependent on Sawyer. Sawyer is a jock; Preston is your typical academic type.

Sawyer is such a sweetheart, I loved him instantly. Preston is so involved with his dissertation that he forgets to eat, sleep, or basically anything else at times. If it wasn't for Sawyer and Madison, he'd be lost. Their friendship is close… I mean super close.

One day Fritz walks into Sawyer’s work and he is gobsmacked. Sawyer didn't realize it until almost the end of the book, but the reason he was drawn to Fritz was he is similar to Preston in looks and even their academics.

This was a sweet book, light on the angst and a good happily ever after.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

Stacked is the second book in the Mars Fitness series. It can be read as a standalone without issue.

Preston and Sawyer have been best friends since Sawyer's first day at boarding school. Now, years later, they live together while Preston is getting his Masters and Sawyer takes classes and works at the gym. Sawyer has been in love with Preston for years, but Preston has a singular focus for his work. Sawyer takes care of Preston when he forgets to eat, sleep, or just take a break from his research. Preston is dependent on Sawyer – he'd forget everything if Sawyer wasn't there to keep him on track.

Sawyer meets Fitz at the gym. He's a new member and he and Sawyer have instant chemistry. Sawyer is tired of waiting for Preston to realize what's in front of him and starts dating Fitz. Fitz is also working under Preston, which Preston is not happy about. When he suddenly realizes Sawyer is spending time with Fitz, he is jealous but can't figure out what that feeling is.

Eventually Sawyer and Preston get their stuff together and become a couple. I really like Sawyer and Preston, but the addition of Fitz (which is a big part of the beginning of the book) didn't add to the story for me. I needed to finish but I spent a lot of time putting this one down and picking it back up. I was cheering for Sawyer and Preston, but it was just too much for them to get there for me.

I am interested in seeing what's next for this gym!

 

 

 

LINDEN BELL writes contemporary MM romances that heat you up and make you smile.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stacked (Mars Fitness #2) by Linden Bell to read and review.