Hardwood: Four Bears Construction, Book 3
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(as of Aug 12, 2025 17:25:04 UTC – Details)
I’ve spent 44 years of my life telling the world I’m a carpet man. Is it too late to admit to myself and everyone else that deep down I’m really all about the hardwood?
It took me over 35 years to admit to myself that I’m gay, another seven to find the courage to say it out loud to anyone else, and exactly 30 seconds to develop a massive crush on my daughter’s music teacher. It’s really not my fault. Have you even seen those cute bowties he wears?
After everything it’s taken to get here, am I going to work up the nerve to come out to my ex-wife and my best friends?
Am I ready to shake up my comfortable, simple life and take a chance on Watson? Or, am I going to throw a wrench in my own chance for happily ever after?
Hardwood is a steamy, seriously with so much delicious tension, single-dad, gay awakening, low angst story, which happens to be the third in the Four Bears Construction Series. It can be listened to as a stand-alone. There are no shifters in this series, only the other kind of bears.
Customers say
Customers find this book endearing and romantic, with a wonderful angsty story that makes them laugh with its shenanigans. The characters are well-developed, with one customer noting the cast of hilarious Four Bears Construction characters keeps readers laughing, and the pacing is strong with Everett and Watson being perfect together. Customers describe the book as steamy and easy to read, though opinions on the emotional content are mixed, with some appreciating the realistic feelings while others find it too angsty.
D J –
FYI: You come out of the closet when your are ready!
I started reading this series and then got side tracked into other reading. But I am very glad that I finally returned to the series (Four Bears Construction). This story was a fun read and I enjoyed the ups and downs of Everett and Watson’s romantic story. It particularly hit home due to the simple fact that I was married to a woman and have two wonderful adult sons from that marriage. Unfortunately for me I was outed to my then wife, which had a whole lot of different ramifications than Everett’s with his former wife. Neuhold really did a great job expressing all of the emotional ins and outs that Everett goes through in coming out. I felt that it was very realistic feelings, which made the story that much more real for me and perhaps thousands of other men who have been or are married and need to come out to the world. Thank You K. M. for this fun and forthright story. The characters are great and believable!Reasons I enjoyed this book: Romantic /Whimsical /Funny /Entertaining /Easy-to-read /Great world building /Wonderful characters /Steamy /Happily Ever After /Realistic
Michael Holland –
Another Sweet Installment of the Series
Everett is supposedly the only one of the four partners in Four Bears Construction who is straight. After all, he was married and has a daughter he shares custody with his ex-wife. Only âEvâ has a secret: he’s gay. He tried to deny it for years, and he still hasn’t come out to his friends or his ex-wife, but now he’s finally getting out there dating, and getting serious with Watson, who just happens to be his daughter’s music teacher. But balancing things with Watson with the demands of parenting, as well as trying to find the âright timeâ to come out proves very difficult. Meanwhile, Watson has to wonder if there’s really a chance for a lasting relationship with Ev, for whom everything is new.This third book of the Four Bears Construction series follows a now predictable story arc: Two men not really expecting to get into a relationship, who find a connection, which gets complicated. That said, this is definitely a unique story that stands up well with the others. Like all of the books in the series, you could read this as a stand-alone, but you’ll be missing out on the background on the other partners in the company.We’ve already met Everett as one of the partners of Four Bears Construction, but he’s has probably played less of a role in the previous stories that the other three men. Ev seems like a really nice guy, but that proves to be his biggest problem. While we can sympathize with his desire not to hurt his ex-wife’s feelings, his constant prevarication about coming out to her, and his friends, becomes increasing exasperating. In the end, his whole hesitation about coming out proves to be the major driver of the drama in the story.Watson is also a nice guy, and perhaps too nice as well. He’s probably a little too understanding of Everett’s dilemma, which contributes to the tension that ultimately develops over where their relationship is headed. Still, Watson does seem very sweet, and you’ll be rooting for these two to somehow make it work.There are some quite humorous moments along the way. As usual, many of these involve the partners in Four Bears Construction as they banter with each other, but there are also a few funny situations that result from Ev and Watson trying to keep their relationship on the down-low.One of the highlights of this series is the rich set of characters that is built up around the pair that is the focus of each story. That’s part of why you should read the books in order.
Deirdre –
Stuck in the Closet
This series just keeps getting better. Each book is different but the cast of hilarious Four Bears Construction characters keeps the reader laughing and wanting the new couple to finally achieve their HEA. K.M. Neuhold’s style is infectious. Her 300+ page books truly don’t seem that long because the stories are so easy to read as well as being compelling. I’m almost finished with Book Four and I’m trying to slow down since there are only only a total of seven books in this series.Everett’s and Watson’s story show the phenomenon of the older man who felt attractions to men but wanted to lead a so called “normal” life until it became too unbearable. But how do you reveal even to your closest friends, family, and ex-wife that you have been buried so deeply in the closet that even stepping a toe out is psychologically crippling. All I have to say is Watson was an extremely patient saint to give Ev the time, encouragement, and endured hurt feelings to make Ev’s snail pace journey his own without exerting too much pressure on Ev.I also loved that a young child was involved in the story as well as an ex-wife. It increased the drama and angst. Another highly recommended KM. Neuhold book.
Lori R. Dunn –
Love, love, love
Finally Ev is here. Love this whole story. From the super closeted Everett, who has known he was gay for years but never came out or acted on it, not to his friends or family and not to his Ex wife and barely to himself. We meet Watson, a super out, kinda nerdy sweet music teacher. Also happens to be Everetts 8 year old daughters teacher. The two meet, become friends and possibly something more. But can Watson live with being in Evs closet?This is a fun, snarky and emotional read. I love how we get a year’s in the future epilogue and can’t wait for the next story in this fun series.5/5 stars
JudyAnnLovesBooks –
I love me a good MM Romance and Hardwood is that and more. K.M. Neuhold is a new to me author, but now that Iâve gotten a taste for her books, I am hooked – My TBR pile runneth over and Iâm not even a little bit sorry.Watson and Ev are adorable. I couldnât possibly love them more. Watson is a bow tie wearing, music teacher, openly gay, a shameless flirt and a musical junkie. Everett is 44, divorced and a single dad. Having never come out, but needing to do so desperately, he meets and falls for his daughterâs teacher.My heart went out to Everett and watching him deal with his fears was a crazy ride. There were moments I wanted to throttle him and times when I wanted to reach into my kindle and give him a hug.Hardwood is a quick, easy and uber sexy read, TBR and enjoy!
Mónica SamWorld –
This was sweet, cute and easy to read. It’s the third book in the series and I enjoyed it although I didn’t get to fully understand why Everett hadn’t come out to everyone just yet. I mean, he gave his reasons but they didn’t convince me completely.Anyway, there were a few funny moments and the other MC, Watson, was great. Cheerful, lively and one of those good people that try to see the positive side of everything.It was a good book, but I enjoyed the previous ones more.
K.H. –
This was the absolute sweetest story! Following the believed straight member of Four Bears Construction, we follow him as he struggles with his sexuality in the wake of having met man that he actually wants to pursue. The complications and fear of coming out at his age, with his family and his past make it a difficult journey but so very worth it!Everett is thought to be straight by everyone who knows him. After all, he married a woman he loved, had a daughter, and was heartbroken when they divorced after his wife cheated. However that is the outside perspective. Getting to know Everett you quickly learn how he loved his wife but not romantically, which made her cheating an absolute relief to him. What broke his heart was how much the affair hurt her and how their relationship was hurting her. Everett doesn’t want to hurt the people in his life and he believes coming out now would do that. His best friends have always been open about their sexuality and have never made it wrong for him, so he feels bad for hiding such a big part of himself. He is especially worried about telling his ex-wife as he worries how she will feel about the years they spent together and what she went through.Watson has never really had a time in his life when he hasn’t been out. Seeing a man nervous to enter his favourite bar, Watson gives him a boost and encourages him. When the man finally makes it in Watson flirts and invites him over with friends, where he learns about Everett and his closeted situation. Watson is very attracted to the man but jumping back into the closet isn’t the best feeling. Not to mention that the newly minted gay man probably wants to get out there with plenty of people, not just the first man he meets. Watson keeps falling in a bit further and then building up walls, wanting to support but also afraid of losing his heart to a man that will inevitably break it.This was a bumpy journey for both men. It brings up fears and self confidence issues (in both men!) as well as the roadbumps of just trying to start a relationship. There was some slow burn as the two resist each other (each for a different reason) and plenty of heated times when they do meet at the middle. It was a journey well worth the read!Now Ollie desperately needs a story! That poor guy has gone through enough torture in this series and I can’t wait to see him happy!
M. –
Ein zuckersüÃer dritter Teil mit zwei sympathischen Protagonisten und einem seeeehr romantischen Happy End!!! ð¥¹â¤ï¸ð¥°Die Geschichte von Watson und Averett war super fesselnd. Ich musste hin und wieder ganz schön mit den beiden mitleiden ð . Watson, der wirklich oft zurückgewiesen wurde und Averett, der sich lange nicht überwinden konnte sich zu outen. Aber zum Glück haben sich Watsons Geduld und Verständnis sowie Averetts Mut am Ende ausgezahlt! Ihr Happy End war zuckersüÃ! ð¥°ð¥° Kann es kaum erwarten, den nächsten Teil zu lesen!!! ð¤
Lizzie –
This series is very well written – funny, sweet, and we’ll characterised. Everett wasn’t as interesting a character to me as the other protagonists, but that may have just been personal preferences. This series and the Love Logic series are definitely worth picking up.