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Erotic Gym #3
Taking Mac
The only thing Mac wants is money. Also dignity. Respect. And maybe companionship.
He’s in trouble.
Mac can no longer deny how much he needs The Gym—and not just for the money. He’s growing ever closer to his roommate, he’s intrigued by his friends, and he’s fixated on his boss in a way that makes him super uncomfortable.
Now that he’s taking clients, he finds even some of them tug at the heartstrings he would have sworn he didn’t have.
It’s supposed to be just a job, but it’s turning into something that feels a hell of a lot more like a family. And not the dysfunctional kind Mac had as a kid, but the kind that supports each other and wants everyone to be happy.
And the worst part of it all? He wants this tentative sense of belonging more than he ever could have imagined.
He’s in trouble.
Mac can no longer deny how much he needs The Gym—and not just for the money. He’s growing ever closer to his roommate, he’s intrigued by his friends, and he’s fixated on his boss in a way that makes him super uncomfortable.
Now that he’s taking clients, he finds even some of them tug at the heartstrings he would have sworn he didn’t have.
It’s supposed to be just a job, but it’s turning into something that feels a hell of a lot more like a family. And not the dysfunctional kind Mac had as a kid, but the kind that supports each other and wants everyone to be happy.
And the worst part of it all? He wants this tentative sense of belonging more than he ever could have imagined.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
7 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Kris Ripper
89 books405 followersKris Ripper lives in the great state of California and zir pronouns are ze/zir. Kris shares a converted garage with a kid, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 2, 2019
What a spectacular series! Now I feel like I'm finally able to read Lupe and Coach's story, which the author sends out for free when you sign up for zir newsletter...
What a transformation Mac makes over the course of this series, it's incredible. And the best part is that he's still a work in progress and nothing is wrapped up neatly or is in any way final at the end. It's a gorgeous story about Mac and Jem and I love how deep we get into Jem's head in this one.
If I was into such a thing as a "book boyfriend" I guess I'd have to give it up to Coach, holy crap he's hot.
What a transformation Mac makes over the course of this series, it's incredible. And the best part is that he's still a work in progress and nothing is wrapped up neatly or is in any way final at the end. It's a gorgeous story about Mac and Jem and I love how deep we get into Jem's head in this one.
If I was into such a thing as a "book boyfriend" I guess I'd have to give it up to Coach, holy crap he's hot.
November 16, 2017
Can’t wait for the next one
I just discovered this series today, and tore through the first three books and am eagerly anticipating the next. It’s DIFFERENT - not your usual romance for SURE - but it’s more than just erotica. It has complex characters and depth of emotion that sucked me in. I enjoyed getting a different POV for some of the chapters.
I’m not quite sure what the long term plan is for Mac and the people he’s with, but I look forward to finding out!
I just discovered this series today, and tore through the first three books and am eagerly anticipating the next. It’s DIFFERENT - not your usual romance for SURE - but it’s more than just erotica. It has complex characters and depth of emotion that sucked me in. I enjoyed getting a different POV for some of the chapters.
I’m not quite sure what the long term plan is for Mac and the people he’s with, but I look forward to finding out!
November 20, 2017
Review in 10 words or less: Loved it, Get it, Read it. Oh look, still 4 words left. Best Book in Trilogy. There it is, in a nutshell. If you want more keep reading. Otherwise, skip the rest of this review. It's just more of my opinions on how & where I'd like book #4 to go. t
And just to be sure, by Get it, I mean ALL THREE BOOKS. It will be the best decision you'll ever make. Did I say BUY IT? Cause I really mean BUY IT. Trust me, "Mikey Likes It, and he hates everything." Stolen straight from the *OLD* Life Cereal Commercials. "He likes it, He really likes it.
Ok, I really liked Training Mac (Erotic Gym, #1) & Teasing Mac (Erotic Gym, #2), but Taking Mac (Erotic Gym, #3) to me is the Crown Jewel of the Trilogy. This book just totally pulls all three together into one cohesive story and really set off my intimacy kink. (Yes, Will Derrie, I blame YOU!) Kris has done another Outstanding Job of knitting up loose ends and rather than going with the ever popular Cliff Hanger ending. She gave the boys hope for their own HEA without having to go in and decide it for them. It's more of an open-ended HEA. An interesting take on it which now that I've had several hours to think about it, I think I really like.
You have to understand, I absolutely, positively love Kris Ripper's books. In a quick tally from my Kindle I have ~33 books + 13 Novellas, + I can't count that high # of "DVD Extras" that are free on her web page, FB, & Patreon. Maybe I shouldn't admit that... at least out loud anyway. :/ So, I've really gotten to know Zer writing over the years. No, I'm not a freaky stalker fan that has huge files on all the books with continuity & other details all listed for each series, I'm just a Happy Fan who reads for the pure enjoyment of reading. Don't ask me to pick apart a book, from anyone, because that's not how I read. (Ok, it's how I read tax law, thus why the escape to something/anything else!) I can't list all the books off the top of my head, or all the characters. I can't tell you which movie or tv episode that quote just came from. But, what I can tell you is which characters are the ones I've made mine. And, I can tell you why. Mostly, it's when a writer, or group of writers can make that character so real & so emotionally vested in not just themselves, but the other people in their lives as well.
This, this whole package point of view, is what draws me in & keeps me coming back for more. Not all authors can do it. That doesn't mean they aren't good writers. Just that they haven't found a way to go that last little bit. That, takes skill. And a certain not so small amount of courage to put real emotional investment of part of them into their characters. That courage may never get them to the Top of the NY Times Bestseller list, but it darn sure ought to.
And just to be sure, by Get it, I mean ALL THREE BOOKS. It will be the best decision you'll ever make. Did I say BUY IT? Cause I really mean BUY IT. Trust me, "Mikey Likes It, and he hates everything." Stolen straight from the *OLD* Life Cereal Commercials. "He likes it, He really likes it.
Ok, I really liked Training Mac (Erotic Gym, #1) & Teasing Mac (Erotic Gym, #2), but Taking Mac (Erotic Gym, #3) to me is the Crown Jewel of the Trilogy. This book just totally pulls all three together into one cohesive story and really set off my intimacy kink. (Yes, Will Derrie, I blame YOU!) Kris has done another Outstanding Job of knitting up loose ends and rather than going with the ever popular Cliff Hanger ending. She gave the boys hope for their own HEA without having to go in and decide it for them. It's more of an open-ended HEA. An interesting take on it which now that I've had several hours to think about it, I think I really like.
You have to understand, I absolutely, positively love Kris Ripper's books. In a quick tally from my Kindle I have ~33 books + 13 Novellas, + I can't count that high # of "DVD Extras" that are free on her web page, FB, & Patreon. Maybe I shouldn't admit that... at least out loud anyway. :/ So, I've really gotten to know Zer writing over the years. No, I'm not a freaky stalker fan that has huge files on all the books with continuity & other details all listed for each series, I'm just a Happy Fan who reads for the pure enjoyment of reading. Don't ask me to pick apart a book, from anyone, because that's not how I read. (Ok, it's how I read tax law, thus why the escape to something/anything else!) I can't list all the books off the top of my head, or all the characters. I can't tell you which movie or tv episode that quote just came from. But, what I can tell you is which characters are the ones I've made mine. And, I can tell you why. Mostly, it's when a writer, or group of writers can make that character so real & so emotionally vested in not just themselves, but the other people in their lives as well.
This, this whole package point of view, is what draws me in & keeps me coming back for more. Not all authors can do it. That doesn't mean they aren't good writers. Just that they haven't found a way to go that last little bit. That, takes skill. And a certain not so small amount of courage to put real emotional investment of part of them into their characters. That courage may never get them to the Top of the NY Times Bestseller list, but it darn sure ought to.
June 6, 2022
This made me both happy and sad. Happy, because I've really enjoyed these novellas. Sad, because it's over.
Mac is desperate for money, so when he finds out about a "sex gym" he jumps at the opportunity to make real cash, even if he's uncomfortable with what he'll have to do to earn it. The novellas cover the weeks of his training, mostly Mac learning to be comfortable having sex with men. But he also spends that time falling in love with Coach, one of the owners of the gym. And you get the impression that Coach falls in love with him at a certain level, too. But he falls in love with a lot of the employees who come through the gym, knowing, even encouraging them, to move on and leave him behind.
I wish there was more to this series. First of all, because I like the characters and would like to see more of them. But I also think the ending would have worked better for me if Mac had more time to develop and grow.
Mac is desperate for money, so when he finds out about a "sex gym" he jumps at the opportunity to make real cash, even if he's uncomfortable with what he'll have to do to earn it. The novellas cover the weeks of his training, mostly Mac learning to be comfortable having sex with men. But he also spends that time falling in love with Coach, one of the owners of the gym. And you get the impression that Coach falls in love with him at a certain level, too. But he falls in love with a lot of the employees who come through the gym, knowing, even encouraging them, to move on and leave him behind.
I wish there was more to this series. First of all, because I like the characters and would like to see more of them. But I also think the ending would have worked better for me if Mac had more time to develop and grow.
March 11, 2021
Yes, I did read the three books in this series in the span of 24 hours. Yes, I am now feeling completely bereft because I want more. Yes, I will probably just go ahead and read them all again now. A premise that very much did not seem like it would be my thing written in a way that made it extremely my thing. More, please.
February 24, 2022
I binge-read this trilogy in an afternoon/evening. I was expecting fun sexy times. What I got was character development, non-toxic masculinity, a lovely look at nontraditional relationships, and sexy times with an emotional edge.
Mac is an accidental hero, and I loved him, but the true stars of this series are his amazing found family.
Mac is an accidental hero, and I loved him, but the true stars of this series are his amazing found family.
August 20, 2024
This book surprised me in a number of ways. Firstly, dual POV! Out of nowhere! I loved having Jem's thoughts laid out so clearly. I really thought it was shaping up to be a polyam romance after that, but nope, the story just kinda... stopped. Which is fine. The story we got was very enjoyable. I just wanted more! Lol
January 10, 2018
This is my least favorite in the series. It dragged and I thought a lot of it was repeating themes ideas situations that were in the first two books. That said: I loved the first two books. I'm now reading the first in the Catalyst series. Big fan of Ripper's now.
November 23, 2017
Loved, I hope there will be more!
Mac emerging despite himself is indeed entertaining enough to carry a series, weird setting and all. Glad I came across these.
Mac emerging despite himself is indeed entertaining enough to carry a series, weird setting and all. Glad I came across these.
December 4, 2017
I want more of this series. The characters are so intriguing!
January 30, 2018
Another great episode.. can’t wait for the next one 🤞
February 13, 2018
This is a fun group of personalities that I really enjoy reading. Can’t ever picture myself in their place, but enjoy reading! 😂
April 8, 2019
Excellent conclusion to the series, chock full of feels. That last scene ... omg.
June 16, 2019
Continuing right from book 2, even more vignette-y. Enjoyable, but I was wishing for more feelings and more Coach!
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June 23, 2019This reminded me a lot of SMU. Which, you know, isn't that surprising.
November 11, 2019
More please?
This was just as intriguing as the first 2 books in the series but felt like it ended when there should’ve been more. Not intended to be read as a stand-alone.
This was just as intriguing as the first 2 books in the series but felt like it ended when there should’ve been more. Not intended to be read as a stand-alone.
July 29, 2020
My favorite quite upset it's over
March 7, 2020
I think what bothered me about this book is that it just ends.
November 21, 2017
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this series that I kinda picked up on a whim but it wasn't something so deliberate, delicate, enlightening and sweet, frankly. What a lovely surprise! The exploration of both kink without things being overtly capital "K" kinky and the nature of fluid relationships was handled incredibly well. So nuanced and open. Might come back and elaborate further but yeah... really liked this series of novellas. Off to get more of Ripper's work.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews