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Davin's Guard
Dear Author,
In the five years since turning pro, I’ve become the best quarterback in the league, so when I start receiving death threats, my team insists on hiring a bodyguard who’s with me twenty-four seven. They think the threats are racially motivated, but I know better. How can I keep my past and my desires secret, when my protector is so hot? And what happens when the man behind the threats finally makes his move?
Photo Description:
Two naked men kiss on a tan couch. Both are toned and muscular, as is shown by the arm strength holding most of the Caucasian man’s upper body above the cushions while the darker-skinned man holds his lower body up with an arm wrapped around him.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" 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.
In the five years since turning pro, I’ve become the best quarterback in the league, so when I start receiving death threats, my team insists on hiring a bodyguard who’s with me twenty-four seven. They think the threats are racially motivated, but I know better. How can I keep my past and my desires secret, when my protector is so hot? And what happens when the man behind the threats finally makes his move?
Photo Description:
Two naked men kiss on a tan couch. Both are toned and muscular, as is shown by the arm strength holding most of the Caucasian man’s upper body above the cushions while the darker-skinned man holds his lower body up with an arm wrapped around him.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" 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.
14 pages, ebook
First published July 24, 2013
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 4, 2013
The prompt picture?
Memorable and hoT (yes with a capital T) that prompt picture.
"Davin's Guard" is a quick read. It's about a professional American football player being threatened by a crazy stalker. His team hires a professional bodyguard to protect him 24/7 until the stalker is caught. Did I mention the football player is in the closet and practically a butt virgin?
*wiggles eyebrows*
Favorite thing: No stereotypical characters. I'm not a fan of IR done wrong. I have called out a couple of reads when this is done with foolish characters and/or stereotypical names *cough*Tyrone*cough*. Thankfully this author wrote multicultural right and how I like it. Oh and verse! I love versatile pairings!
Didn't care for as much: While I love this theme (bodyguard/client falling for one another), the length works against the story reaching its full potential(the insta-love added to this). The characters were decent but everything felt so rushed. I wished it was longer, give the sense of suspense room to grow naturally. And Davin, he talked a little too much. When he explained what happened with his ex, it was a LOT. Did he even stop for a breath?
Readable? Yep.
Would I read from the author again? Sure.
Thanks to the author for the contribution.
Memorable and hoT (yes with a capital T) that prompt picture.
"Davin's Guard" is a quick read. It's about a professional American football player being threatened by a crazy stalker. His team hires a professional bodyguard to protect him 24/7 until the stalker is caught. Did I mention the football player is in the closet and practically a butt virgin?
*wiggles eyebrows*
Favorite thing: No stereotypical characters. I'm not a fan of IR done wrong. I have called out a couple of reads when this is done with foolish characters and/or stereotypical names *cough*Tyrone*cough*. Thankfully this author wrote multicultural right and how I like it. Oh and verse! I love versatile pairings!
Didn't care for as much: While I love this theme (bodyguard/client falling for one another), the length works against the story reaching its full potential(the insta-love added to this). The characters were decent but everything felt so rushed. I wished it was longer, give the sense of suspense room to grow naturally. And Davin, he talked a little too much. When he explained what happened with his ex, it was a LOT. Did he even stop for a breath?
Readable? Yep.
Would I read from the author again? Sure.
Thanks to the author for the contribution.
December 6, 2015
I enjoyed this short, it's quite sweet. I also liked the photo, it's very nice.
There's no real mystery to the plot; given the length of the story there wasn't any room to prevaricate so it's obvious as to who, and easy to guess at the why. It would be nice to see this as a longer story with a few false leads and some tension thrown in, but for what it is, it's fine. The focus is more on the men than possible danger.
I liked the characters and that they spent time together before getting together; they both liked what they were seeing, but I didn't get that insta-walking-boner vibe. The story did feel rushed; we're more told than shown their time together so when things move forward it does come a bit from out the blue. It's sweet though.
For the length of the story there's plenty here; a little danger, a little romance, a little smexin' overall a light enjoyable read that's free.
There's no real mystery to the plot; given the length of the story there wasn't any room to prevaricate so it's obvious as to who, and easy to guess at the why. It would be nice to see this as a longer story with a few false leads and some tension thrown in, but for what it is, it's fine. The focus is more on the men than possible danger.
I liked the characters and that they spent time together before getting together; they both liked what they were seeing, but I didn't get that insta-walking-boner vibe. The story did feel rushed; we're more told than shown their time together so when things move forward it does come a bit from out the blue. It's sweet though.
For the length of the story there's plenty here; a little danger, a little romance, a little smexin' overall a light enjoyable read that's free.
February 11, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Has No Boundaries Anthology: Volume 2. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
Oh my, that pic... I uh, need to go... do... something. Despite the hot pic, this story wasn't just sex. The sex and plot were evenly distributed and appropriate for the short length. I thought the writing was very natural until we got to the emotional reveal and the sex scene dialogue, then it did fall a little into the cliche of too perfectly worded elaborate sentences. For example, "Lord, Davin, I can't imagine how difficult that all was, and for him to then disappear without a word... no wonder you've been so closed off to other chances" and "All I've wanted since we met is to get my hands on those lovely muscles. I tend to prefer more casual dialogue. But otherwise a very nice little short.
August 1, 2013
2.75*
American football star starts receiving death threats which may be racially motivated so his team hires a bodyguard to protect him. Unfortunately the suspense side takes a back seat to the insta attaction, which is a shame because there's a great idea there that could have been more fleshed out had it been longer, this is pretty short but still an enjoyable enough little interlude. Another nice addition to LHNB.
American football star starts receiving death threats which may be racially motivated so his team hires a bodyguard to protect him. Unfortunately the suspense side takes a back seat to the insta attaction, which is a shame because there's a great idea there that could have been more fleshed out had it been longer, this is pretty short but still an enjoyable enough little interlude. Another nice addition to LHNB.
February 11, 2014
3.5
A great little sports freebie. I think if we'd gotten a bit more about who Jamie was (his details are a bit sketchy) this would have jumped in the ratings for me. Great writing though. I enjoyed this one.
A great little sports freebie. I think if we'd gotten a bit more about who Jamie was (his details are a bit sketchy) this would have jumped in the ratings for me. Great writing though. I enjoyed this one.
July 24, 2013
3.5 stars. A little quick, but didn't really feel like it was missing anything.
November 22, 2013
Interesting concept, but not so great on the follow through. Honestly this story suffered most from being just a little rushed. This feels like the brush strokes of an outline that gives us the bare bones of the story without going into too much detail.
Davin is the hot shot quarterback keeping his team at the top of the NFL. Now a stalker targeting him for reasons unknown threatens all of that. The team decides to hire him a bodyguard for 24/7 protection until the stalker is caught. Little do they know that putting “drop dead sexy” in charge of his detail is going to be a problem in and of itself.
Jamie may not be sure of his protectee’s sexuality, but he certainly knows he likes what he sees. What he wouldn’t give to be able to strip off Davin’s clothes and see those rippling muscles bared for his viewing, and touching, pleasure. But, first and foremost he has a job to do, and as he becomes closer to Davin that job has never been more vital.
First of all I’m a die-hard football fan (Go Hawks!), so any story with a football backdrop gets happy Shelby points from me. *grin* Ok, so I like the whole bodyguard/client theme. It has such great drama automatically built in. The length here really works against this story though. We really don’t get much development at all and while I think I’d like both these characters if given time to really see them fall for each other, here I was left feeling kind of meh.
Oh yeah, then there was my one little “what the hell?” moment. What starting quarterback, and elite starting qb at that, is going to live in an apartment?!?!?!? I’m sorry, you make how many millions of dollars and you have to share walls with people. Yeah, I struggled to buy into that one.
The bad guy here was a little obvious, but there’s a nice twist on it not being the first and foremost obvious choice. The reasoning behind his stalking was sound and I understood what tipped him over the edge.
I think there was certainly potential with this authors writing though and I would be curious to see what more they have to offer in a longer novel.
Davin is the hot shot quarterback keeping his team at the top of the NFL. Now a stalker targeting him for reasons unknown threatens all of that. The team decides to hire him a bodyguard for 24/7 protection until the stalker is caught. Little do they know that putting “drop dead sexy” in charge of his detail is going to be a problem in and of itself.
Jamie may not be sure of his protectee’s sexuality, but he certainly knows he likes what he sees. What he wouldn’t give to be able to strip off Davin’s clothes and see those rippling muscles bared for his viewing, and touching, pleasure. But, first and foremost he has a job to do, and as he becomes closer to Davin that job has never been more vital.
First of all I’m a die-hard football fan (Go Hawks!), so any story with a football backdrop gets happy Shelby points from me. *grin* Ok, so I like the whole bodyguard/client theme. It has such great drama automatically built in. The length here really works against this story though. We really don’t get much development at all and while I think I’d like both these characters if given time to really see them fall for each other, here I was left feeling kind of meh.
Oh yeah, then there was my one little “what the hell?” moment. What starting quarterback, and elite starting qb at that, is going to live in an apartment?!?!?!? I’m sorry, you make how many millions of dollars and you have to share walls with people. Yeah, I struggled to buy into that one.
The bad guy here was a little obvious, but there’s a nice twist on it not being the first and foremost obvious choice. The reasoning behind his stalking was sound and I understood what tipped him over the edge.
I think there was certainly potential with this authors writing though and I would be curious to see what more they have to offer in a longer novel.
July 26, 2013
This story was written for the M/M Romance Group's Love Has No Boundaries prompt event. The picture prompt is stated as:
Two naked men kiss on a tan couch. Both are toned and muscular, as is shown by the arm strength holding most of the Caucasian man’s upper body above the cushions while the darker-skinned man holds his lower body up with an arm wrapped around him.
Two naked men kiss on a tan couch. Both are toned and muscular, as is shown by the arm strength holding most of the Caucasian man’s upper body above the cushions while the darker-skinned man holds his lower body up with an arm wrapped around him.
July 27, 2013
LHNB Story released 24.7.13
Just making 3 stars
This is the story of closeted pro-athlete, Davin, and the body guard, Jamie, appointed to look after him after death threats are received. There is an instant attraction between the two men, which they act upon. The story focus was the two men's feelings for each other, the stalker and ultimate attempt on Davin's life seemed somewhat incidental.
Just making 3 stars
This is the story of closeted pro-athlete, Davin, and the body guard, Jamie, appointed to look after him after death threats are received. There is an instant attraction between the two men, which they act upon. The story focus was the two men's feelings for each other, the stalker and ultimate attempt on Davin's life seemed somewhat incidental.
April 18, 2015
I really enjoyed this story and the romance. I would love to read more about these two. Nice interpretation of the photo and the story letter. Thank you Mandy Beyers for donating your story, your time and your talent.
July 28, 2013
This was okay but that's about all it was for me, unfortunately. I certainly appreciate the authors effort but I had some issues with false assumptions and such that were really a big foundation for the story.
July 27, 2013
So sweet! <3
Thank you!
Thank you!
Read
December 30, 2021DNF and bailed in the first chapter. I couldn’t get past that a top NFL quarterback does not have a high powered sports agent who would be concerned about threats to their client and that client going into hiding, of sorts. Also, the QB lives in a regular apartment complex? Nope, they would have an access controlled huge apartment or house and some sort of an entourage. I stopped reading after they grabbed a handful of bills while exiting the apartment. A multimillionaire sports figure looking at and paying their own bills, and a paper bill mailed to their personal address? Cheesy writing. I won’t mention the threatening letters that were being handled by everyone.
February 24, 2018
3 Stars :)
August 15, 2019
I really liked the idea behind this Story. However, the execution was very much scrambled and rushed, the pace too fast.
June 7, 2021
I thought the death threat was handled pretty casually until 3 or 4 threats had been received. Too casually
December 4, 2022
3+ Stars
January 22, 2016
This is a free story written as part of the Romance without boundaries event. This is where writers of M/m romance were asked to select a photo and writing prompt supplied by a fan of the genre and write an original tale.
I have read many m/m stories now that one of the MC's as being a football player and therefore unable to be seen as gay. This one has a little quirk in it in as far as he now has to live with a sexy bodyguard who will shadow him 24/7. It doesn't take a genius to work out that things will hot up between the two.
There is drama in the form of the crazed stalker who is after said footballer and a big dramatic scene at the game.
I liked that this was short tale. It is told with great pace and I did not feel short changed. A great way to spend a boring afternoon.
I have read many m/m stories now that one of the MC's as being a football player and therefore unable to be seen as gay. This one has a little quirk in it in as far as he now has to live with a sexy bodyguard who will shadow him 24/7. It doesn't take a genius to work out that things will hot up between the two.
There is drama in the form of the crazed stalker who is after said footballer and a big dramatic scene at the game.
I liked that this was short tale. It is told with great pace and I did not feel short changed. A great way to spend a boring afternoon.
February 22, 2020
Short, sweet, sexy read, just what you want from the DRitC events!
Davin has a stalker who is getting worse, so his pro football team get him a bodyguard - and he's in heaven! But can Jamie and Davin survive the stalker.
22.2.2020 reread : quick coffee break reread. Pacy and the action is quick to move on as befitting a v short story. Got all the main points - meet, hidden attraction, action!, resolution of maniac stalker issue and a hfn.
Davin has a stalker who is getting worse, so his pro football team get him a bodyguard - and he's in heaven! But can Jamie and Davin survive the stalker.
22.2.2020 reread : quick coffee break reread. Pacy and the action is quick to move on as befitting a v short story. Got all the main points - meet, hidden attraction, action!, resolution of maniac stalker issue and a hfn.
December 1, 2013
Another LHNB story with sports theme. Sigh! Davin plays professional American football and he has a creepy stalker so he needs a bodyguard. Enter Jamie. Hot, gay Jamie... Since this story is super-short there's not much time for the plot to devellop, and I guess that's what made it both predictable and ”WTF?” at the same time.
August 6, 2013
Super short story, but still managed to tell a complete story. I agree that the mystery wasn't very mysterious, but I think Ms. Beyers did an admirable job given the length of the piece.
I also agree that I'd love to read more of these two!
I also agree that I'd love to read more of these two!
November 7, 2013
Nice short about an athlete, his bodyguard, and a stalker. Wait, that's came out wrong...
Thanks for your story.
[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation.]
Thanks for your story.
[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation.]
July 24, 2013
2.5 stars
Nice story, but seemed a little rushed.
Nice story, but seemed a little rushed.
September 30, 2014
While I appreciate the effort that goes into writing a story, sadly this one did not work for me. Too much telling and not enough showing left me feeling unattached to the MCs.
July 25, 2013
Glad that he was able to finally find someone who cares again. I had a feeling all along who the stalker was. I just wish this story had been a little longer.
July 27, 2013
I really enjoyed this! I liked the characters and the action towards the end. Thank you for a great story!
August 15, 2013
Good premise but I felt there was issues with delivery.
August 25, 2016
LHNB- 5,416
Way too short, but good. Would of liked to see more of them!
Way too short, but good. Would of liked to see more of them!
September 10, 2013
This was ok. I didn't feel any kind of connection to the characters and the sex was boring. Blah!
September 21, 2013
2,5*
Good build up but then extremely rushed climax and finish.
Good build up but then extremely rushed climax and finish.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews