NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST • A gangster hiding from his past. A single mom fighting for her future. Can she show this bad boy the man he’s meant to be? “A powerful, honest look at love as both a motivation and a risk.”—The Washington Post “Heartrending, raw and beautiful.”—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past … After blog
My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past is written on the walls: ESHB. Short for East Side Hollenbeck, my father’s gang—my gang. Hell, it’s a family tradition, one that sent both my brothers away. They used to call me “Ghost” because I haunted people’s dreams. Now I’ve got nothing going for me except a hipster gringo mentoring me in a new career. An ex-con making craft beer? No mames.
Still, people in this neighborhood look out for one another. That’s how I became Vanessa Velasco’s unwelcome tenant. Chiquita pero picosa. She’s little, but with curves so sweet they’re dangerous. I remember Vanessa from the old days, the straight-A student with big plans. Plans that were derailed by another kid stupid enough to think he was bulletproof. Now Vanessa knows better than to believe in empty promises. There’s fire in her . . . and if I touch her, I might get burned.
I’m trying everything I can to go straight. But when East Side Hollenbeck comes calling, I might have to risk it all to find out if there’s a future for Vanessa and me. Because she’s the only one who can quench my thirst for something real.
The Rosas brothers will return in Trashed!
Praise for Thirsty
“Thirsty held me captivated from its first page to its last with its heartrending, raw and beautiful story. . . . Mia Hopkins sublimely blends blunt realism with romantic fantasy and sharp-eyed social observation and delivers a happy-ever-after that is much more than a neat conclusion to a love story. . . . A singular reading experience.”—USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog
“Thirsty is a brilliant read. There are good writers, and then there are writers that just leave you in awe. And Mia Hopkins has definitely left me in awe after reading this novel.”—Hypable
This standalone novel includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
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This is my first book by Mia Hopkins and I’m now a fan. I love Chinita and her evil wiener dog. Sal is an ex con with gang ties and Vanessa is his soul mate. I love how the book is told in Sal’s point of view. You get a a great feel for who he really is. This book is a great read.
Favorite quote: Vanessa to Sal ~ “It’s like you woke me up after I’d been asleep for five years. Every part of me, awake and alive. But now, without you, I’m twice as lonely as I was before. As if being happy for a short time only magnified my loneliness instead of weakening it.”
3.5 Stars
Sal has been out of prison for six months and is trying to go straight, when he gets kicked off his friends sofa one of the neighborhood grandmothers take him in. There is quickly falls in love with Vanessa, the granddaughter. Vanessa is tough. She’s a single mom trying to make a better life for herself and her daughter. I really loved her strength. Sal is a good guy, he’s trying his hardest to make enough money for a new place and wants out of the gang life but doesn’t think that is possible.
Thirsty has its draws as well as its drawbacks. The tempo of the book was fast in some places and slow in others. It did take a little away from the story. I liked the gang storyline, it’s new to me as I haven’t read many of them. I fell in love with Sal and Vanessa, it was easy to do. Both have overcome a lot in their life and both still fight for where they want to go. Thirsty will suck you into the world of gangs and give you a peek at those few soldiers who change and want more, something better for themselves and those they love.
Alan was my favorite though. The way he took Sal in and helped him. He saw something in Sal that was more than a gang member and more than someone who just spent 5 years in prison. Alan gave Sal hope and purpose.
Thirsty by Mia Hopkins
Eastside Brewery #1
Join a gang and you commit for life – Salvador “Sal” Rosas knows this when he gets out of jail. To his homies he is Ghost for a number of reasons. When he gets out of jail after five years he spends six months working hard and strictly keeps the rules of his parole. He knows the gang can call him back at any moment but he hopes against hope that they won’t.
Vanessa Velasco is the woman Ghost used to dream about when in high school then later when in prison. He has wanted her for a long time so when the opportunity arises to live in her garage…he snaps it up. Vanessa is a contradiction in some ways…bright girl that fell for a bad boy, got pregnant, was widowed, became a bookkeeper and is studying to be a CPA. She wants nothing to do with gang members but is attracted to Sal.
Sal is offered opportunities that might lead him away from the gang…maybe. He might end up with Vanessa…if he plays his cards right. He might make something of himself…eventually. But, can he? He has brothers getting out of prison to worry about and plan for but…can he steer them away from the gang his family has been immersed in for decades? Perhaps more will be learned as future books are written.
This is a book about family, values, commitments, change, becoming the person you are meant to be, growth, community and being true to self. It is a book of gangs, is violent, is steamy and it is intriguing.
Did I enjoy it? Yes
Will I read more books in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Loveswept and Barclay Publicity for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Thirsty is my first Mia Hopkins book. I found I liked the “real” bad boy hero. Ghost is a mess though. His life is upside down since being released from prison. He’s trying to get by…and live the dream. Vanessa is a dream he’s had for a long time. But his life and hers are not on the same path.
Thirsty has a real edge to it. It’s got a gritty feel to it. It’s a got a blend of English and Spanish but I love the reality that they bust into Spanglish too. No worries though, it’s translated or easy to figure out for those that would be lost. But I could really go for some puerquitos and beer right about now.
Salvador “Ghost” Rosas is trying hard to turn his life around, he’s been given a second chance of sorts, and is ready to leave gang life behind, but it’s not ready to let go of him! When his former boss calls and tells him it’s time to get back to doing what he is good at and expected of him all he wants is to be left alone to explore his new life. And that’s not the only thing he is trying to avoid, there’s a certain sexy landlord wanting his time and attention too, question is can he keep them both at bay?
Vanessa Velasco knows what it is like to be burned by love, she found it once, but sadly it was taken away from her and she found herself a single mother in the end. Now she lives a very guarded life, not only because of her broken heart, but also because of living in a gang riddled neighborhood, the same one that took the life of the man she loved. So, learning that her new tenant is mixed up with the gang leaves her more than a little hesitant about letting him get too close to her and her family, but he surprises her and shows her that he is trying to let that side of his life go, and has hopes of becoming a better man. And before long she finds herself looking at him in a new light…
Thirsty is pleasurable and wickedly erotic tale that is sure to command your attention, squeeze your heart, and spawn a few blushes!! This is a first time read for me and I’m happy to report that it left me with good vibes, the writing style was easy to follow, the characters were well drawn, and the story line was plausible, and stirred up a good case of the feels… overall I’d say it left a good first impression! I enjoyed getting a glimpse into these characters troubled lives, they both had a tough road ahead of them, and it was quite a treat to watch them maneuver through things and watch their relationship progress and flourish into something so beautiful. Highly recommend you take a chance on this one, it’s a second chance story that is sure to inspire and warm your heart!
I requested an advanced copy of this title through NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed