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Agile Moves
Dear Author,
I’ve always been the good kid, did everything I was supposed to. I never partied and I always earned perfect grades. Then I went to college straight out of high school and earned my degree. I always do whatever is asked of me, I take care of everyone now, including my parents. I’m twenty-five and I’m so busy taking care of everybody else’s lives I have no time for one of my own. My social life consists of my rescue beagle and two cats, but one night a friend from work made me go with him to a party where I meet Kyle. He’s covered in tattoos and piercings, and he’s the bad boy of my every fantasy, the type of guy I’m absolutely not supposed to want. Or at least that’s the way he appears. And he seems to be looking at me just as much too. Please tell me how we got to this point, how I was able to see this sight in front of me, and how he made me fall in love with him.
Photo Description:
A man naps on his back on a daybed, a floral sheet pulled up to mid-chest. His right arm is curled around a white bull terrier, whose head and paw rest over the large winged tattoo on the man’s chest. A smartphone is clutched in the man’s right hand. His ears, nipples and right nostril are pierced. Tattoos can be seen on his upper chest, shoulder, and all down his left arm.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
I’ve always been the good kid, did everything I was supposed to. I never partied and I always earned perfect grades. Then I went to college straight out of high school and earned my degree. I always do whatever is asked of me, I take care of everyone now, including my parents. I’m twenty-five and I’m so busy taking care of everybody else’s lives I have no time for one of my own. My social life consists of my rescue beagle and two cats, but one night a friend from work made me go with him to a party where I meet Kyle. He’s covered in tattoos and piercings, and he’s the bad boy of my every fantasy, the type of guy I’m absolutely not supposed to want. Or at least that’s the way he appears. And he seems to be looking at me just as much too. Please tell me how we got to this point, how I was able to see this sight in front of me, and how he made me fall in love with him.
Photo Description:
A man naps on his back on a daybed, a floral sheet pulled up to mid-chest. His right arm is curled around a white bull terrier, whose head and paw rest over the large winged tattoo on the man’s chest. A smartphone is clutched in the man’s right hand. His ears, nipples and right nostril are pierced. Tattoos can be seen on his upper chest, shoulder, and all down his left arm.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
121 pages, ebook
First published July 19, 2014
55 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Shelby
3 books4 followersI have degrees in science and law and have worked in both fields. Someday I might work in a field that combines the two.
I currently live in the southwestern United States. I have an extensive herb garden, but have had bad luck with vegetables.
I don't watch crime dramas on TV, since I live them every day at work. My husband watches all the violent shows, and they keep him amused in the evenings while I write or read.
We are owned by two cats.
I currently live in the southwestern United States. I have an extensive herb garden, but have had bad luck with vegetables.
I don't watch crime dramas on TV, since I live them every day at work. My husband watches all the violent shows, and they keep him amused in the evenings while I write or read.
We are owned by two cats.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 20, 2014
The sleeper awakens.
Really nice, steady organic growth of Dan's character and his relationship with Kyle. I liked the story, the dogs and the pace--but, I have a really hard time enjoying characters that allow themselves to be doormats. I just want to shake them and scream, "You want something you have to grab it because the world isn't waiting to give you anything." That and his fucktard family, selfish assholes--every fucking one of them--doesn't deserve him. So I ended up really cranky because while they finally stepped up it was like, really... TEN FUCKING YEARS and now you get a clue. So for someone less enraged by that aspect they will find it a sweet and lovely story.
Really nice, steady organic growth of Dan's character and his relationship with Kyle. I liked the story, the dogs and the pace--but, I have a really hard time enjoying characters that allow themselves to be doormats. I just want to shake them and scream, "You want something you have to grab it because the world isn't waiting to give you anything." That and his fucktard family, selfish assholes--every fucking one of them--doesn't deserve him. So I ended up really cranky because while they finally stepped up it was like, really... TEN FUCKING YEARS and now you get a clue. So for someone less enraged by that aspect they will find it a sweet and lovely story.
July 24, 2014
Three ounces of story in a ten pound bag.
The story: shy, closeted accountant with dog meets and falls for tattooed bad boy with dog.
The book: plants, animals and birds native to the Sonoran Desert; ponderous back story; completely inauthentic language for two men in their twenties; and, at the 60% mark, no believable chemistry whatsoever between the MCs, and no personality either except for Dan's martyr complex.
The story: shy, closeted accountant with dog meets and falls for tattooed bad boy with dog.
The book: plants, animals and birds native to the Sonoran Desert; ponderous back story; completely inauthentic language for two men in their twenties; and, at the 60% mark, no believable chemistry whatsoever between the MCs, and no personality either except for Dan's martyr complex.
June 26, 2015
It has dogs and cats and a nice guy covered in tattoos, all very nice.
I felt I was hearing a touch too much about dog-training, Kyle's house lay-out and such, not that it's not interesting but.. and I think the responsible dog-owner approach (though commendable) took away some of the 'cute doggy' vibe I was expecting; there was dog sitting, walking, training, cuddling but no great sense of canine personality. For me the last ten percent felt like a long summing up to reach the conclusion, there's a tendency to tell what they did/are doing rather than show, but this is a first book and comfortable reading with a steady pace.
The characters are likable; Dan coming to see what his life has become and how he's been drowning in family for years and Kyle his catalyst. I don't know that we needed such tragic back-stories. Dan's family is too broken and reliant, he's too self-sacrificing and I wanted to shake him/them. Then Kyle who seems well-adjusted tells his story and there's more angst .
Points for including the most bizzario character (not main) death!
It's a nice comfortable story and I liked it, but it didn't wow me.
I felt I was hearing a touch too much about dog-training, Kyle's house lay-out and such, not that it's not interesting but.. and I think the responsible dog-owner approach (though commendable) took away some of the 'cute doggy' vibe I was expecting; there was dog sitting, walking, training, cuddling but no great sense of canine personality. For me the last ten percent felt like a long summing up to reach the conclusion, there's a tendency to tell what they did/are doing rather than show, but this is a first book and comfortable reading with a steady pace.
The characters are likable; Dan coming to see what his life has become and how he's been drowning in family for years and Kyle his catalyst. I don't know that we needed such tragic back-stories. Dan's family is too broken and reliant, he's too self-sacrificing and I wanted to shake him/them. Then Kyle who seems well-adjusted tells his story and there's more angst .
Points for including the most bizzario character (not main) death!
It's a nice comfortable story and I liked it, but it didn't wow me.
July 29, 2014
3.5 stars
Dan is lonely; he sacrifices much of himself helping family and putting others first, as well as suffering in his self imposed closet. He's taken for granted and had allowed himself to be heavily relied upon, soon resenting himself and others for him having put himself in that position. He's stuck, and it isn't until his friend decides to give him a jump start in life that things begin to change. Enter Kyle, the tattooed and pierced assistant professor and agility trainer. By simply showing interest and being patient, Kyle helps Dan to live for himself again.
There were times that Dan shared too much information when being asked a question and there were times when there was more telling than showing in the writing. There were also some editing issues and sometimes the detail of descriptions became too much (info dumping).
The content warning stated sweet/no sex but I feel that this was a disservice - when Dan and Kyle finally did get together it was off page and I was disappointed. I wanted to see Dan come alive with Kyle, to have a meaningful sexual connection where all of his other past connections were fleeting. I wanted that butterfly metaphor to be reflected in their coming together. (It could be that I like smut too...)
I really enjoyed the thought that the author put into Kyle's tattoos. Each had a meaningful story behind them and the transformation metaphor was well executed throughout the story.
A sweet coming out story, with cute pets and a wonderful, tattooed man.
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
Dan is lonely; he sacrifices much of himself helping family and putting others first, as well as suffering in his self imposed closet. He's taken for granted and had allowed himself to be heavily relied upon, soon resenting himself and others for him having put himself in that position. He's stuck, and it isn't until his friend decides to give him a jump start in life that things begin to change. Enter Kyle, the tattooed and pierced assistant professor and agility trainer. By simply showing interest and being patient, Kyle helps Dan to live for himself again.
There were times that Dan shared too much information when being asked a question and there were times when there was more telling than showing in the writing. There were also some editing issues and sometimes the detail of descriptions became too much (info dumping).
The content warning stated sweet/no sex but I feel that this was a disservice - when Dan and Kyle finally did get together it was off page and I was disappointed. I wanted to see Dan come alive with Kyle, to have a meaningful sexual connection where all of his other past connections were fleeting. I wanted that butterfly metaphor to be reflected in their coming together. (It could be that I like smut too...)
I really enjoyed the thought that the author put into Kyle's tattoos. Each had a meaningful story behind them and the transformation metaphor was well executed throughout the story.
A sweet coming out story, with cute pets and a wonderful, tattooed man.
My thanks to the author for their time and participation in the loves landscapes event.
July 19, 2014
Sweet and lovely. Agility training, so interesting! I could totally see where Dan was stuck, the good boy who doesn't necessarily want to be but can't figure out how to get around it And Kyle, just yum
February 19, 2021
This story had a strange mix of too much detail and unnecessary information followed by stretches of excessive summarizing. I liked it overall, but it did have that outline feeling to it at times. There're flashbacks in the first chapter only. I don't mind flashbacks but I know others do. There's also a chunk of a chapter dedicated to Kyle's backstory too but he's telling us the story rather than seeing it in flashback.
Dan's a good guy. He's been hiding himself in the closet because his family needed him after his older brother ran away to the military life and his parents were injured in a car accident just before the start of his last year of college. He's been helping them with their medical needs and helping with his younger brother and sister, putting his own life on the back burner. Enter Kyle, a tatted up man with an adorable bull terrier. What's not to love?
I liked how this took Kyle and Dan slowly from being friends and eventually lovers over the course of a few months. Sex is all off page, so don't expect smexy times. Instead, this looks at Dan's life and how he came to be in this rut and how he's getting himself out of it. Kyle and Dan have good chemistry and Kyle provided an anchor for Dan when he needed it most.
Dan's a good guy. He's been hiding himself in the closet because his family needed him after his older brother ran away to the military life and his parents were injured in a car accident just before the start of his last year of college. He's been helping them with their medical needs and helping with his younger brother and sister, putting his own life on the back burner. Enter Kyle, a tatted up man with an adorable bull terrier. What's not to love?
I liked how this took Kyle and Dan slowly from being friends and eventually lovers over the course of a few months. Sex is all off page, so don't expect smexy times. Instead, this looks at Dan's life and how he came to be in this rut and how he's getting himself out of it. Kyle and Dan have good chemistry and Kyle provided an anchor for Dan when he needed it most.
lhnb
July 26, 2014I don't know how to rate this, so I won't. I do think it was a nice story. I just don't know how I feel about it.
Definitely give it a go if you like guys with pets.
Definitely give it a go if you like guys with pets.
July 27, 2014
4.5 stars
Contemporary novella length story
Dan, an accountant in a law firm, has sacrificed just about everything for other people, in particular his very catholic family, as a result his life is his job, looking after his parents, his two cats and his beagle. Pushed into going to a bbq by a work colleague he meets Kyle, who has multiple tattoos and piercings, something Dan would never consider. Kyle is a college tutor and part time dog trainer, and runs agility with his own bull terrier. What starts of as a friendship between two unlikely men slowly, very slowly, builds into a relationship. Only Dan is not out, and before he takes things further decides he wants to come out to his family.
Throughout the story canine agility is quite a big thing, including the chapter titles being various stages of a competitive course. Dog ownership in fiction is something that can, when portrayed badly, have me fighting not to throw my kindle across the room so I was very pleased to find a book that did a very good job with this and gave an accurate representation of one of the canine sports (yep, I've owned two that dogs ran in agility - not handled by me I'd add, and I've shown and judged in conformation for years). So for me this was a really nice and enjoyable read.
Contemporary novella length story
Dan, an accountant in a law firm, has sacrificed just about everything for other people, in particular his very catholic family, as a result his life is his job, looking after his parents, his two cats and his beagle. Pushed into going to a bbq by a work colleague he meets Kyle, who has multiple tattoos and piercings, something Dan would never consider. Kyle is a college tutor and part time dog trainer, and runs agility with his own bull terrier. What starts of as a friendship between two unlikely men slowly, very slowly, builds into a relationship. Only Dan is not out, and before he takes things further decides he wants to come out to his family.
Throughout the story canine agility is quite a big thing, including the chapter titles being various stages of a competitive course. Dog ownership in fiction is something that can, when portrayed badly, have me fighting not to throw my kindle across the room so I was very pleased to find a book that did a very good job with this and gave an accurate representation of one of the canine sports (yep, I've owned two that dogs ran in agility - not handled by me I'd add, and I've shown and judged in conformation for years). So for me this was a really nice and enjoyable read.
Want to read
July 22, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
Ohmygod fucking dream Man! Dog included.
September 6, 2014
This just wasn't my cuppa tea. I have nothing but admiration for the participants of the Love's Landscape event. I thought the author did an incredible job with editing and readability. My attention was lost in the details that didn't necessarily add to the plot, develop MC's or move the story along.
July 19, 2014
Takes the prize for weirdest way to kill a character.
April 29, 2024
I love the cover!
This is severely underrated as a story. The story is well done even though there’s no conflict between the MCs; at least there is with Dan’s relationship with his family. I don’t want the two to fight but I like something getting on the way of perfect happiness. They waited way too long to get together though. Not normal for gay men or really any people their age nowadays. This is why I’m not fond of contemporaries but I mean,…dogs! I liked both characters a lot.
In the beginning there was y elling and telling and more telling. Action in flashbacks doesn’t count as “showing” this early in the book. Something needs to happen and the flashbacks interspersed. The descriptions were nice but way too involved. I didn’t need to know everything in a large buffet or what all was thrown into an entree. Much of the descriptions were about food, too. But the writing was excellent. I think the author is very good with words. I think all the telling came from the very short time frame in which the author had to write this story. I think she did very well considering.
The dog and cat descriptions were perfect as were the training and all the agility stuff. Very well done, although it’s hard to picture a beagle doing agility! I like the fact that they said crate training is very useful but the dog shouldn’t be left alone in one all day. I also like that they let the dogs on the couch. Whether you want to allow your dog on your furniture is up to you and no one else as long as the dog is trained not to go on furniture at someone else’s house if you choose to take them elsewhere.
I didn’t like that all the out gay guys said something along the lines of how they didn’t advertise being gay but they didn’t hide it. That’s not completely out to me. Put a freaking pride flag on your bulletin board and work and be done with it. People advertise their heterosexuality all the time with photos of their spouses and girlfriends and boyfriends.
Where this went wrong for me was near the end when Dan inappropriately reacted to something he told someone. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions and not blame others. I understand in the moment being nonplussed but get over it.
Still, this was an excellent story given the time restraints.
This is severely underrated as a story. The story is well done even though there’s no conflict between the MCs; at least there is with Dan’s relationship with his family. I don’t want the two to fight but I like something getting on the way of perfect happiness. They waited way too long to get together though. Not normal for gay men or really any people their age nowadays. This is why I’m not fond of contemporaries but I mean,…dogs! I liked both characters a lot.
In the beginning there was y elling and telling and more telling. Action in flashbacks doesn’t count as “showing” this early in the book. Something needs to happen and the flashbacks interspersed. The descriptions were nice but way too involved. I didn’t need to know everything in a large buffet or what all was thrown into an entree. Much of the descriptions were about food, too. But the writing was excellent. I think the author is very good with words. I think all the telling came from the very short time frame in which the author had to write this story. I think she did very well considering.
The dog and cat descriptions were perfect as were the training and all the agility stuff. Very well done, although it’s hard to picture a beagle doing agility! I like the fact that they said crate training is very useful but the dog shouldn’t be left alone in one all day. I also like that they let the dogs on the couch. Whether you want to allow your dog on your furniture is up to you and no one else as long as the dog is trained not to go on furniture at someone else’s house if you choose to take them elsewhere.
I didn’t like that all the out gay guys said something along the lines of how they didn’t advertise being gay but they didn’t hide it. That’s not completely out to me. Put a freaking pride flag on your bulletin board and work and be done with it. People advertise their heterosexuality all the time with photos of their spouses and girlfriends and boyfriends.
Where this went wrong for me was near the end when Dan inappropriately reacted to something he told someone. He needs to take responsibility for his own actions and not blame others. I understand in the moment being nonplussed but get over it.
Still, this was an excellent story given the time restraints.
July 19, 2014
What a great story. A naturally progressing contemporary piece with realistic characters, I was sucked in and enjoyed Agile Moves quite a bit. A lot of the time 'coming out' stories bore me, but not this time. I had a few quibbles with a little info dumping in the setting a few times, but overall I felt a great connection with Dan and Kyle and cheered for their happy ending. If you're on the fence with the story--give it a try! You won't be sorry.
September 2, 2014
This was one of those slow burn books. It's nice, every once in a while, not to have characters see each other across a crowded room and, within minutes, their screwing their brains out. LOL I like the way the friendship was developed. The back stories were interesting. Award for most unique death of character that I've read in a long time.
If you like pets and slow burning romances, I recommend this book.
If you like pets and slow burning romances, I recommend this book.
August 3, 2014
This story was ordinary, but well written. The main storyline was mostly about Dan getting out to his family, about being Gay and getting on with his life. Overall nothing special but enjoyable enough.
April 2, 2016
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
July 19, 2014
4.5 stars
mm-stand-alone
May 27, 2016Genre: contemporary
Tags: men with pets, men who cook, accountant, agility dogs, tattoos, coming out, hurt/comfort, sweet/no sex
Tags: men with pets, men who cook, accountant, agility dogs, tattoos, coming out, hurt/comfort, sweet/no sex
September 30, 2014
3.75 Stars
event-stories-unread
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
July 28, 2014
I found the dialogue a bit mechanical but you can't help but want Dan to find his HEA.
August 3, 2014
3,5 stars, fun read
August 3, 2014
That was enjoyable reading material. JC Shelby done great work with story plot. What I did miss is little bit more of intimate moments between main characters.
August 21, 2014
Review to come
March 24, 2015
I couldn't feel anything for the characters. There was no chemistry for me. I liked the plot but I guess the writing style just didn't work for me.
January 7, 2015
more!!!
January 24, 2016
i am BORED to death.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews