How to Catch a Cheetah

Wildcat Hills Pride #0.5

by Liza Kay

Dear Author,
The ostrich is a shifter; the cheetah can be as well, if you desire. And this scene should appear in the story at some point. Have fun with it! I want to laugh.
Anything else you want to do with it is fine by me.

Photo Description:
In the picture we see a cheetah in full run, chasing an ostrich through a steppe-like landscape. The ostrich’s wings are spread, his feathers ruffled, as he tries to escape the faster, but physically weaker, cat. Above those two, we see the line SHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT.

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.

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Humor, Contemporary

143 pages, ebook

First published June 17, 2015

About the author

Well, aside from writing, I enjoy crawling through the garden to snap some pics of plants, bugs, frogs and whatever else I can find. No spiders though! Icky! :D
And I like to treat my family to some baking experiments.

Reviews

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

~2.5~

There are things I enjoyed about this story: the sex was quite hawt, and the pairing of an ostrich and cheetah, quite clever. We have the prompt to thank for the last one.

I liked that even though Dji and Kei are mates, they don't immediately fall in love. They fall in instant lust, yes, but Dji is a standoffish, bitchy drifter, and Kei is a prickly little kitty.

The constant snarking and bantering got a little old, though. The MCs seemed kind of immature, and I just wanted them to get along for once. The lack of communication at the end had me rolling my eyes.

There was also a fairly big focus on the secondary characters, particularly Alan and Thorny; it felt like the author was setting the stage for a follow-up story with those two as MCs. This was distracting.

But there's mpreg. :)

I wanted to know what the offspring of a cheetah and ostrich look like, damn it, but the story ends before the eggs hatch.

Bottom line: snarky, easy read.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well done story from the Love Is An Open Road event from the M/M Romance group, this rather long novella pairs a freedom-loving Ostrich shifter with a Cheetah shifter who lives in a mixed cat pride with his foster father (a lion), a panther and a Red Persian cat.

With lots of snarky banter, the relationship between Djimon (birdy) and Kei (kitty-cat) starts off with a chase, a run, and then domestic bliss, and ends on a surprising note. The author didn't fail to include some issues, mainly their lack of honest communication and the problems that causes, and their failure to tell each other how they feel until they both need that wake-up call. Seems like birds aren't all that much smarter than cats.

It was super fun to read, even though there were a couple of things that niggled at me, specifically when it came to Kei, who often comes across as a spoiled brat, but who then redeemed himself in the end.

If you like snarky banter, a nicely formed supporting cast, and shifters to boot, this is worth checking out. And FREE, in case you missed that. :)

[Meep · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to the author for participating and offering this freebie, regardless of rating that's appreciated.


First the maths - I enjoyed the first 20% it was quirky and promised to be a light fun romp, unfortunately by 30% I was skimming and it was real push to read anything past 80% - I'd had enough. That said it's light, silly fare you'll either love or roll your eyes at. I imagine it'll appeal to fans of Jay Walking but it's not one for me.

Ostrich and Cheetah shifter mates was an entertaining idea (care of the prompt) and it did start off funny and engaging, the kitty purrs were endearing. But it became all 'kitty' and 'birdy' and far too much 'my mate' with Cheetah-Kei seeming to get younger with every turn of the page.

The story is MPREG and while egg-laying is a new spin on it, the way the telling was dealt with spoke of the immaturity of the characters, it ruined any chance I could like it Ostritch-Dji actually talks to the pride leader instead of his (baby's father) mate. It struck me as speaking to the only available adult - an image strengthened by how Kei does react when told..

There's a LOT of focus on side-characters, this is obviously going to become a series. The cat-pack were there to witness and heckle everything adding their own dramas which obliterated any chance for feels. A longer story would have given the story-lines an even chance. It's definitely a story for fans of snarky banter.

What started good became a scratch on a blackboard for me, which isn't to say others wont love it.

[M'rella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to say I loved the general story line, it was funny and adorable and light. The unusual pairing made it an interesting read. However, I am not big on prolonged sex and/or mpreg. So sorry, but two stars down for that, and it's me, not the book.

You can find all the pics in the original thread, but to make it easier I collected the three extras here

All Safe For Work! :D



Dji (provided by Adara)


Kei


The baby (provided by Jeanne)




Found another ostrich pic. Those guys GET AROUND! LOL

[Jeanne 'Divinae' · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story! A shifter story that isn’t your normal wolf one. No! We have a cheetah and an ostrich! I really liked all the characters, even all the side characters, which made up of the cheetah’s pride. Djimon(Dji for short) is a lonely ostrich shifter living in the wild plains of… Nebraska. He refused his family by making a harem of ostrich hens. He was gay and wanted to be left alone. He secretly wanted to find his mate but who would put up with him. He usually travels around and works odd-end construction jobs to make a living.

Then one day, he is just basking in the nice weather, eating some grass when his ostrich catches an eye of a predator! What could it be but a cheetah. In Nebraska. It gives chase. Instead of fighting it. He takes off running.

Well the cheetah pounces him but instead of eating him. he purrs and rubs all over him. Oh crap he has found his mate! So… instead of embracing it. He runs away! Only to regret it a few days later.

Kei is beyond happy! He has found his mate! A super sexy tall, big, built African man. He oozes with sexiness. But he is rejected! But he is trying to think of a way to find him and ‘drag’ him back home. He lives with a mixed pride. Adopted by the Alpha after he lost his father, several years prior.

Then they finally are together and it’s great! Dji attempts to woo him but it just fantastic sex all the time. It isn’t perfect. They both have flaws, and they bicker but they are just new in the relationship and getting to know each other. Then just when things are going well, Dji starts to act weird. As a male ostrich, he has failed to mention a special… trait… about him and he fears Kei will hate him and leave him.

The mpreg part isn’t like normal. Dji gets pregnant with eggs!

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. The sex was HOT! And there was lots of it, so YAY! I enjoyed flamboyant little Kei and broody Dji and the image of these two together would be gorgeous.

The only reason this is a 4 and not 5 is not a whole lot happens, its mainly a story about these two getting to know each other, having sex and falling in love and that worked really well for me while reading it along side some other books, but I don't think I could have read it in one sitting.

Oh and Mpreg viriginty taken! So another YAY!!

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really really enjoyed this one!
At first I was a little thrown off by Dji's attitude and hurtful actions, but once they reunited and got together(which was almost immediate) it started to really work for me.

I absolutely loved that Kei didn't take any shit from Dji, and that he didn't give in and immediately accept an apology. Kei not only made Dji apologize but he also voiced how hurt he was and what those hurtful actions caused; I love it when a couple fully communicates in books because to me it's just like in life, how can you and your partner grow or change if the reason you are being stunted is never addressed or resolved? So that was a really fabulous point for the author to put in. What really annoyed me was that Dji didn't go to Kei first not only about the pregnancy, but also about the fact that he could get pregnant. That just rang as immature and irresponsible to me, but I can almost forgive/forget it because of the anxiety and true fear that you could feel when Dji thought Kei wouldn't want to be with him any more because of his ability to get pregnant or because of the fact that he was pregnant. I sort of liked this vulnerable side to the confident and self assured ostrich.

A sequel any sequel or companion novel needs to come out because I am dying to see where the author takes these characters, especially Thony and Alan.

[Adara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm biased because this story was written based on my request, and it hit every mark I wanted and then some. =)

I had such a blast reading this story. I really wanted something humorous, and the photo this was based on screamed humorous shifter story, so that's what I asked for. I received it in spades. Liza did such a fabulous job of bringing Djimon, the ostrich, and Kei, the cheetah, to life. The characters truly entertained.

This is not an angsty story. There's a touch of angst where Djimon doesn't tell Kei the whole truth about himself, but this is a light-hearted, fun story of the "odd couple" of shifters who are fated mates. (Did I mention I love fated mates stories?)

I am very much looking forward to Alan and Thony's story as well, and hoping it will have the same touch of humor to it.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5, but I know it'll have rereadability for me, so I'm rounding up. =)

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was enjoyable and interesting to read. It was more like a novel than a short story in its length and comprehensiveness. There was plenty of conflict here, which was always resolved. There was also humor, cuteness, and sex.
Other people mentioned that the two protagonists do not always act in a logical or mature fashion. There are obviously no human/animal shifters in real life, so who's to say how imaginary ones act? Their behavior seemed to be exaggerated for the sake of the plot and for comedy. Would we complain that TV's Lucy Ricardo is childish?
The story is about an ostrich and cheetah shifter living in Nebraska who discover they are mates. They do not always get along or act in the most reasonable fashion. The couple live with other cat shifters, who also provide some drama.
It ends with two unresolved issues, and the author promises a sequel. I look forward to reading that.
Apart from the spelling errors that I saw and pointed out, there were a number places where I questioned the author's choice of words. I did not flag them as they were more style choices than errors. For example, "atelier" for studio (no one I know actually uses that word). Also the use of "puerperal" for childbirth. I can't imagine anyplace other than the Latin-speaking Roman Empire or a medical journal where that would be normal. Other less obvious examples were several oddly-phrased passages throughout the story.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

We have an Ostrich shifter out for a run suddenly being chased by a Cheetah (both are in Nebraska!). Instinctively Djimon (the ostrich) knows Kei (the cheetah) is his mate, but he can’t help but being both scared and frustrated and a bit embarrassed at being caught by the much smaller shifter. So… their first meeting doesn’t go well and everyone leaves hurt and confused.

Fortunately, the mating bond is strong enough to break the thick walls of pride down enough to allow Dji to return to Kei’s home and beg for another chance.

The rest of the story is these two, very different men, learning how to blend their lives and become mates.

**
What I liked about this story is the snarky humor and the quick wit demonstrated by the author. Dji and Kei aren’t always super nice to each other but it’s fun and funny. In the end it turns very, very loving.

The smexy times are good and the unique take on the shifter world is clever.

I think the author could have used a bit more time editing this down to an even shorter story – giving it more of a punch – rather than repeatedly showing us the two men fighting and making up.

All in all it was a great first story (at least for me) by this author and I really enjoyed it.

3.5 of 5 stars

[Didi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Overall, this entry was a romp. Although, while I enjoyed reading the not-really-courtship of these unusual shifters couple hurled into a very permanent relationship, the amusement waned after sometime.

Yes, this was very humorous tale. The pairing was different: tall muscular afro black man and lithe wee Japanese American in human forms; eight feet tall ostrich and small cheetah in animal forms. There was that pheromones, mating scents and all. The sex between fuck and run Dji and virginal Kei were hot and messy. And therein laid the problem.

The more I read the more I felt the characters here acted like a bunch of frat boys. Granted, that made the story unique compared to other shifters story, but the absurd foolishness soon exhausted me. Also, personally, the hormonal M-preg phase and the labour scene were a bit too much for my brain to take.

I usually whined on a story being too short, but for this one - I rather felt it was too long (yes, reader ALWAYS wanted more!!!). That said, I appreciate the idea! :)

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was light and funny. Dji and Kei are definitely not insta-love and I appreciated that. I wish Dji had talked to Kei instead of hiding things, but that didn't detract from the whole idea. Birdy and Kitty and eggies. The whole clan is sort of immature, with an Alpha who can handle them. I want to know what happened with Thony.

[Pamela Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah! Mpreg. My guilty pleasure.

The story is a bit awkward with the overuse of similes, too many details and prolonged descriptions (and sex scenes that go on forever. Seriously. Forever!)

That being said, I really enjoyed this story. It was cute, silly and fun. An unusual shifter pairing with characters that are right up my alley. I absolutely adored Kei.

[Наталья · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[M.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
~M

[Felicia (Ferishia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I'd like to thank the author for taking the time to write for the "Love is an Open road". I love having the opportunity to read and find new authors to add to my reading list.

A few things I like about this story. I loved that it's an interracial relationship. I haven't read that many in the m/m category, so I'm always glad to read them. This is also an odd pairing of shifters, a cheetah and an ostrich. While it's not the most unusual pairing I've read, I always enjoy reading pairing of animals that don't normally associate with each other to see how the author utilizes their animal instincts in their relationship. I enjoyed both Kei and Dji, although at times you want to roll your eyes at them. Also, just so you know, it's an m-preg. Now I don't willing read them, but if the story happens to have it, I'll go with it. It was definitely the most unexpected thing about the story.

I loved all of the supporting characters, and the first thing I hoped for is that the author gives the other characters their own story, especially since she kinda hints at that at the end. A very cute story, and I'll be checking for those other stories!

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love shifter stories. I love the mate-mine-growl. And this book satisfied my needs.

It's easy to like these contrary MCs and to see how they make it work despite all the odds. It's also funny.

So when you like a light-hearted, fluffy, cute and funny story with some really hot sex scenes and the typical mate-mine-insta-love, this is the story to read.

Now, all I want is to see are Dji's and Kei's kids and maybe a HEA for Xander...??

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderfully entertaining story about an ostrich shifter (Dji) and a cheetah shifter (Kei) who were perfect together despite their outward appearance.

I loved the humor the author instilled, her lighthearted look at the world of shifters, and the way she managed the mpreg. Just delightful.

And thank you so much Liza Kay for providing all of this to us for free as part of the Love is an Open Road event. Super job!

[BWT]

Though I definitely enjoyed the unusual pairing of an ostrich and cheetah, and their hot hot sexy times, the story didn't really capture and hold my attention. I had to force myself several times to go back to it and finish.

I found the mpreg angle really interesting, but would have liked more about it, especially how the hell a cat could impregnate a bird.

[CJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read mpreg. I have a thing against mpreg. But I LOVED the prompt for this one so I put aside my mpreg issues to read it. The beginning of this book was so much fun. It was a quirky little story that lost it's humour as it went along, but it was enjoyable enough. However, I still don't do mpreg books.

[F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A great story to read when sick at home (nasty cold). Laughed out loud several times, between coughing fits and felt better for it. Can't wait for Thony and Alan's story and to see how the eggs get on. It will be interesting to see how Dji and Kei manage as parents of three!!

5 marvellous stars

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was pretty cute and I liked the unusual pairing. There was way more sex than plot though, and I would have liked to see them actually have a conversation that lasted more than a couple of sentences. This was also my first mpreg story. Definitely not my thing, but I can see why other people would enjoy it.

[Lira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Fluff, fluff, fluff...and mpreg! An easy read, but it's the best book when something bad happen in RL..

I'm already waiting Alan and Thony story...and the kids!!!! (NOT only the eggs...)

[Ananko-san · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice little read for in between. The characters were sweet and I enjoyed reading through their story.
I really liked the pairing between an leopard and an ostrich. Especially the cuddling scene in their animal form was great. Probably my favorite scene in the book.

[Ashley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely cute story. Kei and Dji have a adorable story with just enough angst. Would love to see a follow up to these two's story.

[Vera Miko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story soooo much :-)

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this funny shifter story. Nice interpretation of the photo and the story letter. Thank you Liza Kay for donating your story, your time and your talent.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Elsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cheetah and an Ostrich as a fated mates! And did you know Ostrich can get pregnant in male male relationships! Cute story!

[J.T. Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute, loved this prompt.