Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / B Review / Review: Moving in Rhythm by Dev Bentham

Review: Moving in Rhythm by Dev Bentham

March 19, 2012 by Mandi 25 Comments

Moving in RhythmMoving in Rhythm by Dev Bentham
Contemporary M/M Romance
March 19, 2012
Carina Press

Reviewed by Mandi

Mark Apolostolos is super smart, in very good shape and knows he is attractive but all he has in his life is his dog. Mark has a crippling shyness disorder, so when he sees someone he is attracted too, he literally can’t speak. He goes into a panic attack and must rush away to compose himself.

Depression settled an arm around his shoulders like the old friend it was. Self-loathing swamped him and he felt trapped. Within his head he could be so articulate. Funny, even. But put him in front of an attractive man and all he could do was mumble and grope. Nice.

He has seen a therapist who recommended medication, but with the awful side effects, Mark doesn’t think it is worth it. Instead, he goes to gay bars, picks up random strangers without speaking to them, and usually gets down on his knees for them in some dark alley. He goes home feeling shamed and lonely, but has a hard time not repeating this cycle.

Things start to change though when his brother he is very close to, gets deployed to Afghanistan leaving behind a very pregnant wife. Since Mark teaches college math online courses, he is able to move in with his Sister in-law to help her through the last few months of her pregnancy. When she asks him to come to her Zumba class with her, he meets the very attractive Zumba instructor, Seth. Seth was a professional dancer before a knee injury prevented him from dancing at an elite level. When Mark sees Seth, a massive panic attack sets in but very, very slowly, Seth helps Mark overcome his panic, one step at a time, and a romance develops.

When this review request came through my email, as soon as I read “crippling shyness” I was sold. There is something so enticing about a big, strong hero that can’t communicate with anyone he finds attractive. And I loved that the author doesn’t make his disability disappear just because he falls in love. He struggles the entire book, even at the end although there is happily ever after, he is nowhere near 100% improved. Improvement does come once Mark starts to accept he is a gay man. He kind of has to come out to himself, and then his brother, and then slowly to others in public. Once Seth realizes Mark isn’t a jerk, just extremely shy, he never pushes him. They both have dogs they are very fond of so they are often at the park at the same time. Once Seth knows of Mark’s condition, he sits across the park so Mark can see him, but they talk on the phone and then the next day, Seth might be one bench closer. They also email each other and get to know each other that way. He never gets frustrated with Mark, and a very sweet romance unfolds. Both heroes are very good-hearted and warm and you just root for them to be together. Even after Mark jumps through the hurdles and ends up physically with Seth, he still struggles.

I do wish we had gotten to know Seth a little more. This is all told in Mark’s point of view and Seth has issues himself. He feels worthless now that he is no longer able to dance. But watching Mark struggle, Seth realizes he can confront his own demons as well.

Moving in Rhythm sweet and romantic and has a different premise with the shyness disorder. I highly recommend it.

Rating: B+

Recent Reviews:
The Book Pushers – A-
Goodreads

Author’s Website

Kindle l Nook l Carina Press

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: B Review, Carina Press, Contemporary Romance, Dev Bentham, M/M Romance

Comments

  1. Brie says

    March 19, 2012 at 8:10 am

    I’m 25% into the book and so far I’m loving it, poor Mark! I really liked the idea of him being so shy, that’s not trait usually found in romance heroes, but I’ll take it. Love vulnerable heroes and love heroes with dogs, and heroes who dance, and heroes with blue eyes, or with eyes in general (although eye patches are sexy also)…. Yep, I’m slightly slutty when it comes to book heroes ;)

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 10:12 am

      I adored Mark. I want MORE shy heroes!!! Please authors!!!!!!

      Yep, I’m slightly slutty when it comes to book heroes

      You do realize you are writing to me? LOLOLOL. Slutty for fictional men is my motto. ;)

      Loading...
      Reply
  2. Patricia Eimer says

    March 19, 2012 at 9:02 am

    Definitely going to have to give this a try. A shy romance hero. I’m loving the very idea of it.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 10:13 am

      It’s so cute and romantic. Hope you enjoy

      Loading...
      Reply
  3. Amy J says

    March 19, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Okay you and FV are killing me here! I already added this one to my wishlist and since both of you recommend this one it is going to be bought first on payday!

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 10:13 am

      Yessss…it is $3.19 at Amazon. That is a good price!

      Loading...
      Reply
  4. Sophia (FV) says

    March 19, 2012 at 10:05 am

    I think you should put Mark and Seth in your blog header.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 10:13 am

      *gasp*

      Now, that would be Smexy.

      Loading...
      Reply
  5. Tori says

    March 19, 2012 at 12:19 pm

    Great review. I have this one waiting. Gosh, I say that alot. lol Sounds so romantic. *happy sigh*

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 4:52 pm

      LOL..books waiting for you are always a good thing

      Loading...
      Reply
  6. Jennifer says

    March 19, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    Like you, I am sold from the moment I read crippingly shyness. Sounds a bit like Marie Sexton’s “Between Sinners and Saints” which I adored. Fabulous review! I’m off to buy this one!

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 4:53 pm

      Oh yes – I love Marie Sexton’s books too :) I hope you enjoy!

      Loading...
      Reply
  7. Kc says

    March 19, 2012 at 2:23 pm

    Oh Em Gee! I need to buy this bk like yesterday.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm

      Get on it KC! ;)

      Loading...
      Reply
  8. Debra says

    March 19, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    A perfect read for a cold wet day. Chores schmores.

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm

      True words!

      Loading...
      Reply
  9. blodeuedd says

    March 19, 2012 at 5:01 pm

    I have to read a bit more MM one day :)

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 20, 2012 at 8:44 am

      I think you do. ;)

      Loading...
      Reply
  10. Jen at Red Hot Books says

    March 20, 2012 at 1:02 am

    I sweet love story. I enjoyed this one too!

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 20, 2012 at 8:44 am

      I can’t wait for more by this author

      Loading...
      Reply
  11. orannia says

    March 20, 2012 at 1:18 am

    As I said on GR, brilliant review Mandi! I love reading about characters with issues they have to work through, especially if there isn’t any quick fix. Out of interest, have you read JB McDonald’s By Degrees?

    Loading...
    Reply
    • Mandi says

      March 20, 2012 at 8:44 am

      Why no I haven’t! *runs off to GR*

      Loading...
      Reply

Leave a Reply to KcCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Olivia Hayle, Hayley Dennings, Laura Greenwood, and more!
    Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Olivia Hayle, Hayley Dennings, Laura Greenwood, and more!
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • New Releases- Week of May 12-16, 2025
    New Releases- Week of May 12-16, 2025
  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
    Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
  • Weekly Wrap-Up
    Weekly Wrap-Up
  • Review: Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
    Review: Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
  • Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Opal Wei, Hannah Bonam-Young, Maisey Yates, and more!
    Smexy Deals- Deals for books by Opal Wei, Hannah Bonam-Young, Maisey Yates, and more!
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

%d