Astrid believes she’ll never be free of her abusive husband–until she walks in on his murder. His killer is unable to take her life but refuses to set her free. Will she come to enjoy her new cage and the man with the keys to it?NOTE: This is a novella of approx. 21,000 words. It will take 1-2 hours for the average reader depending upon reading speed.
Trust Game
By kittythomas
The perfect quick dark read! Kitty totally nailed it with this sexy novella about a hit man and the woman he kidnaps. Just the right amount of kinky and twisty, with a great ending. Highly recommend!
Mind-Freaking-Blown, guaranteed!!
First thoughts that came to mind after I turned the last page, “breathtaking, outstanding, intense, memorable and I want more”. This exciting story is filled with danger, intrigue, steamy scenes, passion, and darkness!
I bet this book has gone beyond anyone’s expectations. Author Kitty Thomas has outdone herself with this dark masterpiece. The story is beautifully well-written, intricately plotted, fascinating and with characters so real and unforgettable, they practically jump of the pages. Mind Freaking Blown guaranteed.
Angel and Astrid’s journey was a dark, wild ride, one I wouldn’t mind continuing to enjoy!!
Do yourself a favor and grab your copy today!!
Okay we all know I am a huge Kitty Thomas fan. She always seems to deliver a dark and tantalizing story. Well Trust Game is just that type of story. Not sure know Kitty Thomas can write a story that leaves you completely sated yet yearning for more. This novella delivers a powerful yet short and fast story with unforgettable characters. The story develops from an unemotional and non-touchable hitman who eventually evolves.
This short story is about a professional job with an unexpected twist. See even the best laid plans down to the last minute can be altered. Being attracted and afraid of the man who holds me captive is easy. Leaving him may get dangerous if I dare to try. Can I do what needs to be done to save myself from this Twisted Fate or will I spend my eternity locked inside a beautiful cage? I don’t give spoilers so I recommend you grab a copy of Trust Game and read Angel and Astrid’s story. You won’t be disappointed.
Short,dark and very tasty,i enjoyed this little gem a lot!
I’m só glad Kitty decided to give us Trust Game as a treat,it was perfect!
Astrid awakens something in Angel when he sees her.
Having just killed her husband,he knows it’s not a great first impression,but he knows he wants that beauty. Catching her is easy,but how to convince her he won’t hurt,or kill,her?
So,he gives her a chance to play a game to show her she can trust him. To show her he’s not like the man he just killed.
Loved this dark little beauty!
“Trust Game” is Kitty Thomas at her finest. I loved everything about this story. I felt instantly connected to the characters and felt the turmoil Astrid experienced throughout her journey. Angel is the perfect antihero. The ending… My gawd. I don’t want to give any spoilers so you’ll just have to read it to find out. Can’t wait for Miss Thomas’s next release!
Have you ever wanted what you knew you should not want? Have you ever wanted something that you could not deny yourself? “So what difference does it make if you enjoy the fall?” I can tell you after reading this what I want…..I want more! An Angel who makes no apologies for being exactly who he is and taking exactly what he wants. I wish it was me he wanted!
I was going to give this four stars because I wanted this story to be longer than it was. Then I thought so because the story is written so well I loved it I am going to down grade a five star review to a four? That sounds crazy! Five stars it is.
I’ve been a longtime fan of Ms. Thomas and while her novels are spectacular sometimes you want a quickie to lose yourself in. Powerfully intense, Trust Game scratched that itch I didn’t know I had.
Angel is a hired killer and during one of his jobs, the wife walks in. She’s not part of the bargain. Unwilling to kill her he takes her with him…only now he’s unwilling to set her free. Astrid walks in during her husband’s murder. For one glorious second she is finally free of his abusive, that is until the murderer takes her and refuses to let her go. Terrified for her life, she once again finds herself trapped in a man’s cage. Yet, she is strangely attracted to this man, this killer. What will he do to her? What does he want from her? Better yet…what does she want for herself?
A victim of an abusive situation and a witness to a murder, Trust Game feels like a combination of TM and MC smooshed together. A seasoned Thomas fan will know what I mean. So hard to wrap around my mind that Angel is a killer when he is so, not caring, not loving, but something hard to put into words. How Astrid starts isn’t necessarily how she ends. Saying she was accepting or resigned to her situation would be a lie. I think I’m looking for the word liberated. But of what? Both Astrid and Angel and their thoughts are something as a reader you will need to define for yourself.
If you’ve never read Kitty before then Trust Game is a good introduction to her style. If you’re a seasoned reader, like me, then you’re going to enjoy this little morsel. And I really did enjoy it so much so I let myself get too compliant. I’m usually know better than to let my guard down, because inevitably there will be a moment when I feel the happiness rushing in and suddenly, in one sentence, Ms. Thomas will find a way to have my jaw on the floor. Hope you enjoy that moment as much as I did.
Stars – 4.5
What happens when you walk in on your husband being killed by a hit man?
You trust him of course!!!
Trust Game by Kitty Thomas is her newest novella and is a dark romance with a serious twist!
Angel is a professional hitman that somehow has maintained a level of integrity and Astrid has to decide who is worse, the man who killed her husband or her husband himself. Can Astrid learn to trust a killer or should she chance running the first moment she gets?
A quick, well written novella that takes the reader on a journey of learning who is worthy of trusting in a very short time period and answers the question if pain can be healing. Lots of dark elements and BDSM. Ending was surprising and an overall fabulous read. Strongly recommend.
Texas Hugs and Happy Reading!
What happens when your husband’s killer decides to keep you when you witness him finishing off your husband. This is the dilemma that faces Astrid when Angel ( i know right ironic) catches her and the little voice in his head talks him into keeping her. With the run of his secluded place, Astrid is conflicted and confused by Angel, but Angel has no such doubt and so begins this short novella by the queen of mind games. This lovely little read takes the reader into a sensual place where Astrid asks only “Will you play a Trust game with me?’
Kitty Thomas has a gift for making the darkest situations somehow appear less dark, and even desired at times. Astrid’s life appears bright, but it’s dark indeed with her husband’s activities. Enter Angel… who offers a dark sort of mercy indeed. He’s not a knight in shining armor, and rescues her from her nightmarish life to enter Angel’s own darkness instead, and yet, he is by far not the monster one might assume.
It’s a thrilling ride of excitement, and also an intriguing trip into the psychology of the two as they work through their own demons and still somehow find some measure of completion together. This was a quick read, but still so deep, and well worth the wait from a talented author.
This was a fascinating story about what could happen to your life in an instant. I was completely absorbed in their story, in the struggle inside herself, Astrid, and the two sides that made up Angel. This was definitely an intriguing story you should most definitely read!
“I could make you want anything. Play a trust game with me. You’ll see.”
Astrid has been locked in an abuse relationship with her murderous human trafficking husband. A delayed flight causes her untimely arrival at home, and interrupting her husband’s killer. Feeling elated that her husband is dead and can no longer harm her, she doesn’t put up a fight when she’s kidnapped. But as time ticks by, Astrid begins to wonder if she’s traded one evil for another…
Angel has never once deviated from one of his contract kills. But when he sets eyes on Astrid, there is something about her that calls out to his dominative nature. Angel steals her away and offers her anything if she gives him everything…
In Kitty Thomas’ novella, Trust Game, Astrid is asked to take a leap of faith…with a killer. Within a few short pages, the author lets us peak into a world of “what if’s” and “would I’s”. If you are new to darker romances, this is a great one to kick start your addiction. Enjoyed and would recommend!
*Received ARC for an honest review*
This is a great novella. Well written, with instantly likable characters and a thought provoking storyline. There is a line in the book which caused me to do a lot of thinking about the whole topic of con, noncom, rape and what constitutes what. That line was “Ambiguous molestation”. What determines force (rape), versus strong desire and an overwhelmingly enticing dominant alpha personality that makes you want to surrender? If you secretly want to give in, is it still rape? The heroine is often examining her own thought process as to why she enjoys what he does. At any rate, this is the kind of sex I love. Strong alpha and submissive female, both with strong desires for each other. Loved the story, and I want more! Kitty, this could easily turn into a full book, and I really want it. Please? You know you want to. 😉
This messed with my head a bit, but in a very good way! Angel is a brooding anti-hero, with a calculating mind, not a heart of gold. Precise, accurate, and focused in all that he does. Disciplined, until he sees her, then he acts out of character. He isn’t all warm and fuzzy all of a sudden, he just doesn’t act as he would normally act. Astrid has had a hellish existence, and the devils she knows she doesn’t want, and at least she feels something for Angel. The depth of her pain and suffering isn’t known to him, but even once it is, he is who he is, and he wants what he wants. In the end, they both realize it was absolutely for the best
This is a quickie, but it still packs quite a punch, and I was enthralled by every word and action in the story!
First of all I would love to say that reading and listening to this book was incredible. This story feels like a prelude to an even bigger story. It’s short, mesmerizing and keeps you guessing til the end. Angel is a mercenary turns savior. It was like as if Astrid missing her flight was set in motion for her to meet Angel. I have say that it’s amazing how Astrid has survived with her husband to now finally feel safe and loved.
*review for audible version*
Its twisted, tempting, and all kinds of delicious. It lights up all your senses and keeps you on your toes. I raced through this one, needy for more. I loved this narrators voice, she’s just so perfect for the role. If you’re a lover of wicked, arousing, and depraved things then this one is for you.
This is an awesome short read by Kitty Thomas, wish it had been a full novel but it still makes an awesome novella. I love Astrid and you can feel for her the whole book, she kind of reminds me of Mina, from Broken Dolls in the Pleasure House series. She is abused and feels hopeless. In a strange turn of events she misses a plane that could have been the end of life but she had no idea what awaited her. She returns home to walk in on the murder of her abuser and is kidnapped by him. Turns out to be the best thing ever happened to her.
Trust Game was my first taste of Kitty Thomas’ writing. It was scrumptious! Angel and Astrid were quite the pair. I really liked Angel and his powerful Alpha self. Almost made me wish I was Astrid. Almost. I found both characters very captivating. The writing flowed well and completely held my attention. It wasn’t as dark or dangerous as I initially thought it may be, but that didn’t bother me. My only complaint would be that the story ended way too soon for me. I wanted so much more! Don’t miss this wonderful novella.
Loses a star because I wish it had been longer, more fleshed out.