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Dear Author,
He holds me as though I am precious. As though he can protect me.
He’s wrong on both counts. The only thing I understand is survival.
Please help me to find happiness.
Photo Description:
Two men embrace against a chain-link fence. The taller man, his back to us, wears a black tank top and a heavy necklace. His head is shaved and a light stubble dusts his jawline. He cradles his partner’s head gently as he embraces him, pinning him to the fence. The second man looks into our eyes, his gaze full of secret knowledge, as he brings his strong, work-roughened hand up to rest upon his partner’s shoulder.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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.
He holds me as though I am precious. As though he can protect me.
He’s wrong on both counts. The only thing I understand is survival.
Please help me to find happiness.
Photo Description:
Two men embrace against a chain-link fence. The taller man, his back to us, wears a black tank top and a heavy necklace. His head is shaved and a light stubble dusts his jawline. He cradles his partner’s head gently as he embraces him, pinning him to the fence. The second man looks into our eyes, his gaze full of secret knowledge, as he brings his strong, work-roughened hand up to rest upon his partner’s shoulder.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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.
65 pages, ebook
First published September 4, 2015
65 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 6, 2015
Looking for gritty and visceral narration?
The first person point of view is stunning here, as events unfold it just drags you along. Shane is a young man on edges of society in more ways than one. Torments, trials, and tribulations... Shane pushes on with an unbreakable will to live.
So yeah, the romance in this story is unconventional and not the primary focus of the story. It's also definitely not a rainbows and kittens' story. There is violence, graphic and harsh. NO hiding here. But... if you're looking for a compelling tale with paranormal elements then this is will suit. I was lucky enough to beta read this story, so I'm not entirely unbiased.
Favorite passage:
The first person point of view is stunning here, as events unfold it just drags you along. Shane is a young man on edges of society in more ways than one. Torments, trials, and tribulations... Shane pushes on with an unbreakable will to live.
So yeah, the romance in this story is unconventional and not the primary focus of the story. It's also definitely not a rainbows and kittens' story. There is violence, graphic and harsh. NO hiding here. But... if you're looking for a compelling tale with paranormal elements then this is will suit. I was lucky enough to beta read this story, so I'm not entirely unbiased.
Favorite passage:
My eyes opened at that. “You’re quite young for being such a bloodthirsty little sucker.”
“Young in years, old in pain.”
September 6, 2015
Somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars
This is harsh.
Read those tags if you don't believe me.
Shane has had a pretty rotten life, but the past year living on the streets had been even rougher. He's made a family with another homeless teenager, and together they try to stay off a certain mobster's radar, while trying to survive day to day.
Liam, a major crime police officer, doesn't see the "too skinny for his worn out clothes" street kid when he looks at Shane. He sees someone who has had a hard life yet remains strong and someone who needs protecting and to be cherished, as well.
But there's something about Shane that no one, even himself, understands. It's the imprints he sees on others, and the altering of those imprints, that can leave death and destruction in its wake.
It's the very thing that will save them, and bind them all together.
This ends... on a hopeful(ish) note. But after all these characters have been through, fluffy pink bows are not in their future. Healing, family, and a chance of something better? Absolutely.
Shane's voice was what really stood out here. I think the author did an incredible job bringing him to life. I really liked the author's writing style.
It's gritty, it's dark, it has a surprisingly sweet moment or two, and it's unique.
It's also really good.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
This is harsh.
Read those tags if you don't believe me.
Shane has had a pretty rotten life, but the past year living on the streets had been even rougher. He's made a family with another homeless teenager, and together they try to stay off a certain mobster's radar, while trying to survive day to day.
Liam, a major crime police officer, doesn't see the "too skinny for his worn out clothes" street kid when he looks at Shane. He sees someone who has had a hard life yet remains strong and someone who needs protecting and to be cherished, as well.
But there's something about Shane that no one, even himself, understands. It's the imprints he sees on others, and the altering of those imprints, that can leave death and destruction in its wake.
It's the very thing that will save them, and bind them all together.
This ends... on a hopeful(ish) note. But after all these characters have been through, fluffy pink bows are not in their future. Healing, family, and a chance of something better? Absolutely.
Shane's voice was what really stood out here. I think the author did an incredible job bringing him to life. I really liked the author's writing style.
It's gritty, it's dark, it has a surprisingly sweet moment or two, and it's unique.
It's also really good.
My thanks to the author for their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
Read
September 4, 2015I beta read this book! I love the MCs voice. This is Devon's first solo story, and I know y'all are a tiny bit over the event by now but please give this a try when you're looking for a dritc story for your entertainment.
September 8, 2015
I really loved this! It's a gritty story of life on the streets. It's got a bit of supernatural suspense and an actual plot. I love noir feel of the city, and the slow build romance, and most of all the authorial voice. The writing style of this piece is just beautiful, full of depth and resonance. The main character Shane is brimming with uniqueness and dimension. It was Shane's voice that pulled me through the darker parts of the story and kept me mesmerized as things spiraled onward toward the conclusion.
Full disclosure, I'm goodread friends with the author and I beta read an earlier draft, which I was totally blown away by. I expected to like this story because Devon and I share a lot of the same reading tastes, but I really didn't expect to be so amazed by the stylistic polish and assurance of what I'm pretty sure is a first solo story.
Full disclosure, I'm goodread friends with the author and I beta read an earlier draft, which I was totally blown away by. I expected to like this story because Devon and I share a lot of the same reading tastes, but I really didn't expect to be so amazed by the stylistic polish and assurance of what I'm pretty sure is a first solo story.
my-stories
September 5, 2015Yay!!! It's out! I'm thrilled! I won't rate as I wrote this ;) This was my first solo piece, and a labor of love (as well as blood, sweat and tears). Just wanted to extend another thanks to everyone who helped- and isn't the cover that Natasha did just lovely?
*Claps hands excitedly.*
Anyhow, this is my space- feel free to ask questions if you like and I hope you like the story!
*Claps hands excitedly.*
Anyhow, this is my space- feel free to ask questions if you like and I hope you like the story!
Read
September 6, 2015Wow, okay, I was not prepared by how unexpectedly dark and violent this was. Not exactly what I was in the mood for. I was looking more for a hurt/comfort type of fic. I did enjoy the MC's voice. And the writing was pretty great.
October 6, 2015
Wow Shane had a really hard life. Thankfully he found Andy on the streets and she became a surrogate sister of sorts. And then he found Liam, oh Liam who is such an amazing character. He took over caring for Shane and they were wonderful together.
October 11, 2015
Maybe 2 and a half stars. It's bleak, slow, and strange. A teen first explains his paranormal ability, then it's a long spell of scrambling for food as an unskilled, homeless youth in Los Angeles. I skimmed a lot of that. He is befriended by a younger girl with a dog and has a guardian angel in the form of a cop. There are a few confrontations with bad guys, then a flight, and the story ends. It's not even a happy for now, it's a still alive for now.
Besides the hopeless nature of the story, there's quite a bit of very graphic violence.
I feel dirty after reading this.
Ok, the writing was good, and the story was kind of original and creative. I just had the feeling while reading that I wanted to get to the end so it would be over. The world of the story was too depressing for me.
Besides the hopeless nature of the story, there's quite a bit of very graphic violence.
I feel dirty after reading this.
Ok, the writing was good, and the story was kind of original and creative. I just had the feeling while reading that I wanted to get to the end so it would be over. The world of the story was too depressing for me.
April 26, 2016
That was some good shit.
Everyone's corrupt, morals are skewy, interesting imagery, and cool writing to match. Like, what more can a girl ask for?
Everyone's corrupt, morals are skewy, interesting imagery, and cool writing to match. Like, what more can a girl ask for?
September 7, 2015
This story for me was a little bit hard to follow at times. But overall it was a decent story. We have Shane who was brought up in a loveless household(foster care). But at least he was given food and roof over his head as he worked went to high school. On his eighteenth birthday is kicked out.
He was stuck living on the streets and it isn’t an easy life. He is violated and goes hungry. But as he is struggling to survive he meets another street child. She ends up being a ‘younger sister’ to him. She has had a bad life to, but is strong willed and together they start surviving together day to day with their dog, Dog.
Liam is a cop, a good one. He isn’t corrupt like many of the others. He became attached to a Shane. Liam helps Shane out and as the story progresses Liam’s involvement becomes more personal. Shane worries about Liam finding out about certain things he has had to endure. Shane has the ability to protect himself but it is at a cost(of others) and despite being in a shitty situation, he tries not to use it unless he absolutely has too.
The story is a HFN. Life isn’t great for any of them, but hopefully their future is looking brighter. I’d would have loved for an epilogue.
He was stuck living on the streets and it isn’t an easy life. He is violated and goes hungry. But as he is struggling to survive he meets another street child. She ends up being a ‘younger sister’ to him. She has had a bad life to, but is strong willed and together they start surviving together day to day with their dog, Dog.
Liam is a cop, a good one. He isn’t corrupt like many of the others. He became attached to a Shane. Liam helps Shane out and as the story progresses Liam’s involvement becomes more personal. Shane worries about Liam finding out about certain things he has had to endure. Shane has the ability to protect himself but it is at a cost(of others) and despite being in a shitty situation, he tries not to use it unless he absolutely has too.
The story is a HFN. Life isn’t great for any of them, but hopefully their future is looking brighter. I’d would have loved for an epilogue.
April 1, 2016
That was fairly intense. Not what I expected given the prompt but it did the prompt justice. I loved the characters, the story, the ending, the whole concept. Likeable characters but I would have liked to know the characters better; I wanted to hear Andy's and Liam's history. The story could have benefitted from more detail surrounding the nature of Shane's power. An interesting and worthwhile read.
Want to read
October 6, 2015
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Is An Open Road event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
September 16, 2015
Could not finish
April 22, 2024
Pretty hard HFN.
First person POV.
Age gap.
Cop and street kid.
🌶️ 1/5 on spice.
Shane has a weird ability. He sees some people imprints. Maybe like an aura. He befriends another street kid, a girl named Andy. And Shane also has a cop looking out for him, Liam.
Liam is a good man and Shane knows it. We didn't get to much romance out of the two but Liam helps Shane get Andy back.
Hard HFN. Kind of hinted maybe they would be ok... Maybe.
First person POV.
Age gap.
Cop and street kid.
🌶️ 1/5 on spice.
Shane has a weird ability. He sees some people imprints. Maybe like an aura. He befriends another street kid, a girl named Andy. And Shane also has a cop looking out for him, Liam.
Liam is a good man and Shane knows it. We didn't get to much romance out of the two but Liam helps Shane get Andy back.
Hard HFN. Kind of hinted maybe they would be ok... Maybe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2018
Well it was short and quick. Sometimes it’s hard to really get a feel for a story or the characters when it’s short. To me this was one of those stories.
I can’t say I didn’t like it, because I did. It’s more that the story didn’t feel fleshed out enough, which left me feeling like there were pieces missing.
I can’t say I didn’t like it, because I did. It’s more that the story didn’t feel fleshed out enough, which left me feeling like there were pieces missing.
July 29, 2025
3.75 stars
Definite Carrie-style vengeance. Yes, it ends with a just barely HFN, but I feel ok with leaving them all at this spot.
Definite Carrie-style vengeance. Yes, it ends with a just barely HFN, but I feel ok with leaving them all at this spot.
October 21, 2016
3.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews