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Tender Mercies

by Kitty Thomas (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 1,594 ratings · 205 reviews

"Grace. That word that finally meant something again. Mercy. Favor. Good will."

Fed up with play kink, Grace Warner moves to an island that embraces erotic slavery to be with a man she met online. Within hours of her arrival, everything is ripped from her, and she quickly learns play is preferable to the realities of actual enslavement.Asher Collins has spent the past year...more

Hardcover, 220 pages

Published May 15th 2011 by Burlesque Press (first published May 6th 2011)

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Jun 11, 2011 I ♥ Bookie Nookie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-bdsm, sub-theme-domination-submission, sub-theme-master-slave, zz-reviewed, 2011-read-in, character-super-alpha, tone-dark-or-not-fluffy, sub-theme-human-trafficking, theme-held-captive, zz-blog-list

So, who wants to live in a D/s relationship 24/7 raise your hand. Now keep your hand raised if you are willing to give up your life in modern society to live on an island full of rich, dominant men AND give up all your rights as a human being according to modern laws? Are you willing to do that for a man you have only chatted with on the phone, internet and webcam?

Well, that is exactly what Grace Warner thinks she wants. Now, I have to give it to her, it took her a year to make the decision to...more So, who wants to live in a D/s relationship 24/7 raise your hand. Now keep your hand raised if you are willing to give up your life in modern society to live on an island full of rich, dominant men AND give up all your rights as a human being according to modern laws? Are you willing to do that for a man you have only chatted with on the phone, internet and webcam?

Well, that is exactly what Grace Warner thinks she wants. Now, I have to give it to her, it took her a year to make the decision to begin this real life relationship with a man she barely knows. She enters her new life with full knowledgeable of what she was in for...sort of. How well can you really get to know someone over the phone or Internet? You only get what they want u to see, but I guess that is true of getting to know someone in person too.

The second she arrives on the island, she experiences a whirl wind of emotions...and worst of all, she realizes she has been duped. The realization comes after she relinquishes her rights as a person. I felt so sorry for her. She was sold the promise of one life and got something totally different. Having given up her rights, there is nothing she can do about it except settle in for an eternally miserable existence and that is exactly what she does. Then, one glorious day, her monstrous master finally tires of her and sells her to Asher Collins, a master rumored to be a killer...surely he is more sadistic, right? This is the aspect of the sale that is most appealing to Master and he relishes in the possibility of breaking her even further and the cherry on top is that he will make a nice chunk of change from the sale. As is typical, she expects the worst, but again, things don't go exactly how she plans which is when the story really starts to heat up.

When Grace's life on the island began, I wasn't sure I was going to be up for finishing the book because the sadistic asshole of a master she began with turned my stomach. The book ended with a big twist in the story and tied up just perfectly! I thought it was a fantastic read, I really enjoyed it!

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews

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11 likes · like · see review

Jan 08, 2013 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, dark-and-disturbing, love-it-read-it-begin-again, favorites

This book is beyond the “safe, sane and consensual” aspect of BDSM be warned it’s dark, gritty, disturbing and disgusting.

"...So tell me, pet...who am I to you?"
The devil

This is my third book from this Author and I was quite expecting the raw brutally the master was giving to his slave what I didn't expect was there's a good Dom to come out..I was What the.. where did Asher Collins came from? Why is he so sweet, kind and gentle and caring arghhh.
You’ll gonna love Asher!!:) He’s a sweet and cari...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 02, 2012 Glass rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: way-too-hot, love-the-cover, kinky, dark-erotica, mind-fuck

Oh, my!!! Girls, guess what I'm reading next? My boyfriend is going to be so happy!;)

After reading it...

I love Kitty Thomas - that woman has some twisted mind - but this book was full of hard limits for me. I'm not the biggest fan of 24/7 D/s relationships but I still enjoy reading about it. Tender Mercies has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen and I have to admit that was the first thing that got my attention. Girl who willingly goes to the place where she'll be stripped of all her...more

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2012 Breann ♡♥Believes In Love♥♡ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, dark, master-slave

Grace decided that the regular BDSM clubs and kink wasn't for her. She felt that it was just playacting and wanted to experience the "real thing". She decides to move to an island where master/slave relationships are legal. The slave is treated as property and the only right they have is to not be murdered by their master. What? No takers?

When she arrives, the man who is her master is not the person she had been chatting with online. Shocker, I know. He is evil. I mean E.V.I.L. She is eventually...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 25, 2011 Mrs.Kittie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: prof-writer-edit-research

Category: ?? BDSM Romance would be my guess.

So, a young woman with the intellectual capacity of a dull 9 year old goes to an island voluntarily where she actually gets to be property. There is little indication that she has really explored the 24/7 lifestyle or that she really understands D/s protocols or that she actually has a genuine interest in being a submissive (given how she treated a completely reasonable dominant she meets at a club in the US). Well predictably her kinky fantasy about h...more Category: ?? BDSM Romance would be my guess.

So, a young woman with the intellectual capacity of a dull 9 year old goes to an island voluntarily where she actually gets to be property. There is little indication that she has really explored the 24/7 lifestyle or that she really understands D/s protocols or that she actually has a genuine interest in being a submissive (given how she treated a completely reasonable dominant she meets at a club in the US). Well predictably her kinky fantasy about how a slave should be treated meets real slavery where people can do anything they like to you on a magical island where slavery is legal. The only rule on this island is that you can’t be killed. Seems dumb to even go that far, there are lots of countries where a woman can actually be owned and killed… why only go half-way? Turns out (view spoiler)

The writing was okay, nothing special. It did seem to be heavily process oriented ie. Grace spent a lot of time in her head and we get exhaustive descriptions of her thought process at the cost of action and everything else. It was a minor issue, nothing compared to the setup of the story. Getting behind a romance requires that the reader truly connect with the characters and I just couldn’t connect with either of them. They were too dumb to live.
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7 likes · like · see review

Dec 05, 2012 Merve Özcan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, erotica, more-than-one-narrrator, romance

http://kitabisevda.blogspot.com/2012/...

Gerçekten ilginç bir kitaptı.İçinde bol bol cinsellik, erotik anlar ve çoğunlukla sadist şeyler vardı. Bu hayat tarzını anlıyorum diye yalan söylemeyeceğim.
Anlatımı güzeldi ve kitap akıcıydı. Yalnız Grace'in yeni Efendisine geldiğinde güvenme aşamasının biraz hızlı olduğuna inanıyorum. Bdsm İçermesine rağmen güzel bir kurgusu vardı. Kedi takıntısı ise komiğime gitti.
Bu tür içinde okunmaya değer bir kitap olduğunu düşünüyorum.
Aniden ortaya çıkan James...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Sara (is in love with boys who love boys) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, bdsm, disclaimer, favorites, intense, taboo

"Take the risk or stay where you are. Make a choice now Grace."

Those words haunt me. Grace was looking for something that she couldn't get in her every day life, something that a secluded island with special rules and lack of boundaries could give her. The choice she makes seals her fate.

"He'd broken her of the habit of seeing herself as a person in the first two weeks."

This was my second book my Kitty Thomas and I fell in love with it. So different from Comfort Food as this is a story and yo...more "Take the risk or stay where you are. Make a choice now Grace."

Those words haunt me. Grace was looking for something that she couldn't get in her every day life, something that a secluded island with special rules and lack of boundaries could give her. The choice she makes seals her fate.

"He'd broken her of the habit of seeing herself as a person in the first two weeks."

This was my second book my Kitty Thomas and I fell in love with it. So different from Comfort Food as this is a story and you get that feeling from the start. Oh the start! Can I say I opened this to just get a peek and was in tears from the prologue. I fell in love with Asher Collins right then and there. He does not disappoint. He is not a romantic hero by any means yet he does have his own morals.

"The entire point of owning a slave, as opposed to a piece of furniture, was that they were a human being with thoughts and feelings and wants and needs. At least in his way of thinking."

This book pushes boundaries but I have come to expect that in only two reads from the author. She drags you to the edge, pushes you off then right before you smack into the pavement yanks you back up. The challenge to see things from a different perspective is always there; you may not agree but to "not understand what it meant or why it was okay for a man to treat a woman that way when the whole world said otherwise," is just one reason this story drew me in. This world seems full of violence and hate yet this quote repeats in my head when I think that way; "You could never truly own something that hated you."

Tender Mercies is not a romance novel. It is a book about sexual slavery. Though the slavery is consensual to a point, it is not romantic, pretty or something that is easy to handle. That being said it is again a beautifully written dark tale on a very taboo subject.

Once again, this book comes with a DISCLAIMER and it is there to serve a purpose. Read it and be self aware of the contents. (less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2011 Diana Leigh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Unfulfilled by the BDSM scene and play kink, Grace moves to the island of Eleu, a place where true erotic slavery is legal. Slaves on Eleu give up all their rights, and the Masters are free to do as they wish, bar killing their slaves. Grace had been communicating with Lucas, a Master on the island, via the Internet for a year when she finally decides to go. However, her dream that they'd live "kinkily ever after" was shattered once she arrived. Lucas was not a Master, but an evil monster. After...more Unfulfilled by the BDSM scene and play kink, Grace moves to the island of Eleu, a place where true erotic slavery is legal. Slaves on Eleu give up all their rights, and the Masters are free to do as they wish, bar killing their slaves. Grace had been communicating with Lucas, a Master on the island, via the Internet for a year when she finally decides to go. However, her dream that they'd live "kinkily ever after" was shattered once she arrived. Lucas was not a Master, but an evil monster. After eight months of being tortured, starved and raped in Lucas' dungeon, a completely broken Grace is sold to Asher Collins. While Grace is left scarred on the inside and out, Asher carries his own heavy emotional burden. He holds himself responsible for the death of his beloved slave Darcy. He sees rescuing Grace from Lucas as a chance for atonement, but their road to healing will not be an easy one.

Kitty Thomas is known for her gripping dark erotica, and TENDER MERCIES is no exception. She has a knack for writing total power exchange Master/slave relationships that feel very real. You won't find any play kink on the pages of Thomas' books. Like in her previous work, the non-consent theme is prevalent, but different in this story. Grace willing goes to the island and forfeits her rights, though she had no idea that she'd be brutalized by a monster.

I was impressed with the emotional depth of the characters. The point of view shifts between Grace and Asher, so we can experience both of their thoughts and feelings. Grace was very fragile and broken from her ordeal, but I could see that spark of inner strength. She was a survivor. Grace was strong enough to take a chance at the life she desired by moving to Eleu in the first place. Then she was able to survive eight months of hell with Lucas until her true Master could claim her. Speaking of Asher...I couldn't resist falling in love with him. He was a firm but loving Master. He took care of what was his. His Grace. Combine that with the fact that he was battling his own inner demons, and that made him irresistible to me.

TENDER MERCIES is an extraordinary love story, disturbing at times but too gripping to resist. Of course, this is erotic fiction, and there are plenty of kinky sex scenes between Asher and Grace to arouse. Thomas' erotica is always scorching hot and superbly written. Being that this book is about actual slavery with non-consensual elements, it will not be right for everyone. If you're looking for a unique, well crafted story of love and redemption, I would highly recommend TENDER MERCIES.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2011 Vivian Archer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica-contemp

3.5

Alright, we have some real bdsm in this one. It goes way beyond playful to permanently scarring, not with the hero of course. Not for the faint-hearted, though not as horrifying as I expected having read some of the other reviews. The psychological transformation of the heroine is what makes this worth reading. The actual story because the of the setting almost seems surreal, like a twisted fairytale which reminded me of The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty.

2 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2012 Booklover, Indianapolis rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1-and-2-star-books, owww-but-it-hurts-so-good, own-in-e-format, read-in-2011, wanted-to-read-but-disappointed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. (2011) Sorry - I don't get all the praise. I found this book to be...well, boring, actually (and a quick read - I think it took me about 2.5 hours to finish!). A lot was alluded to but not much happened - the book was short on detail. I would have liked to know more specifics about what Lucas did to Grace. And while I'm not usually a fanatic about detail - I usually like character/dialogue driven books, I wanted to know more about the island - how big? Were there female mistresses? Homosexual co...more (2011) Sorry - I don't get all the praise. I found this book to be...well, boring, actually (and a quick read - I think it took me about 2.5 hours to finish!). A lot was alluded to but not much happened - the book was short on detail. I would have liked to know more specifics about what Lucas did to Grace. And while I'm not usually a fanatic about detail - I usually like character/dialogue driven books, I wanted to know more about the island - how big? Were there female mistresses? Homosexual couples? If there was psychological testing done before M/s were allowed to live there, then how was it Grace was able to be there w/in a day of agreeing to go? Was Lucas living w/o a slave on the island the entire year he "courted" Grace? Why were there supposedly so many other "bad" masters on the island like Lucas? There just seemed to be so many inconsistencies in the book. I thought the sex was kind of dull as were the dungeon scenes. If all masters are allowed to do anything short of killing their slaves...were they allowed to mutilate? Blind? Partially dismember? Refuse care so wounds festered? Why was there a police force and jail on site (short of murder, what crimes were there, and who ran the place?) - and a hospital? I mean, again, how big was this place? Did the masters really want to live there forever - how did they run their businesses or see their families? There is no out-clause for the slaves - so if you happen to have a good master, you are still doing this when you are in your 60's when you need hip and knee replacement surgery for the abuse done to your body? What happens when Master tires of you and no one wants to buy you - are you shipped back home (and your family/friends back home - are they filing missing persons reports? Are there so many people who are willing to cut off all contact w/family and friends for life?) And finally - the ending was so silly - really, he killed him and they all chopped up the body w/no thought about it and that was that? Island was a cool concept, poor execution (no pun intended!). Was outrageously bored w/Comfort Food as well - too much psycho babble in both, boring sex,and really, nothing much really happens in either - don't think KT is the author for me. (less)

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May 16, 2011 Monique rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is Kitty Thomas’ third novel and probably the most emotional. I cried, worried, felt anger and disgust, worried some more, felt despair then hopefulness and finally I was awestruck at this author’s ingenious story-telling ability.

This is a story which depicts scenes of abuse, slavery, and dubious consent. The prologue is a tear-jerker. If you make it past the disclaimer, sit back & buckle up. You’re about to take a plane ride to Eleu, also known as the Island of Kink.

Grace Warner is a...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Candice rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, cream-of-the-crop

PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER! It's there for a reason!

Grace is tired of all the play kink. She wants a real life 24/7 M/s relationship. She opens up to her friend, Lainey, and she find out there's this secret hidden island where you can have this. You literally sign over your rights as a human being and become personal property. I mean, what human doesn't want rights? Gee... anyway, she starts talking to a guy from the island named Lucas. He's perfect and EXACTLY what Grace wants. Telling her all...more PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER! It's there for a reason!

Grace is tired of all the play kink. She wants a real life 24/7 M/s relationship. She opens up to her friend, Lainey, and she find out there's this secret hidden island where you can have this. You literally sign over your rights as a human being and become personal property. I mean, what human doesn't want rights? Gee... anyway, she starts talking to a guy from the island named Lucas. He's perfect and EXACTLY what Grace wants. Telling her all about how life will be as his slave. She talks to him for a year via email, instant messaging, phone, webcam. They know each other well, but Lucas says he won't wait around forever. She needs to make up her mind if she wants to come to the island or not. Once you are on the island, you can't leave (unless your Master frees you). It's a HUGE decision. In the end, she ends up on the plane to go.

Life with Lucas as her master was supposed to be perfection. Boy, was she WRONG! She was abused so badly it made my stomach turn. Literally.

Then came, Asher Collins. Grace's savior. To be honest, I wasn't all that pleased with Asher in the beginning. Sure he was gentle, but I thought he should have taken more time to introduce her and explain things. Talk to her, get to know her? Maybe talk about life with Lucas? I didn't really like the throwing her in the halfway point closer to the deep end, he did. Grace was so skittish and afraid of EVERYTHING with every right to be with what she suffered from life with Lucas. I thought Asher should have been more gentle with her, but that's just my opinion and you know what they say about those...

Eventually, I did come around to him, so no worries there. It just took a minute or five to warm up to him.

(view spoiler)

The ending...PERFECTION!

Kitty Thomas, you are my new hero! Hands down, Tender Mercies will be in my Top Books of 2013! (less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 17, 2011 Becky Sharpie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book so much. It really moved me very deeply. If you're looking for some quick and dirty wank fodder (not that there's anything wrong with that!) then this isn't the book for you. But if you're looking for an exploration of the psychology of dominance and submission, you'll probably love this book as much as I did.

A few things that really resonated with me:

- Many have scoffed at the main character, Grace, for being an "idiot." And certainly, she made some staggeringly bad choices....more I loved this book so much. It really moved me very deeply. If you're looking for some quick and dirty wank fodder (not that there's anything wrong with that!) then this isn't the book for you. But if you're looking for an exploration of the psychology of dominance and submission, you'll probably love this book as much as I did.

A few things that really resonated with me:

- Many have scoffed at the main character, Grace, for being an "idiot." And certainly, she made some staggeringly bad choices. But I saw it as an allegory. Anyone who's spent any time in the online or offline BDSM community will know subs (and doms) that wanted domination or submission so badly that they did foolish things or suspended their better judgment to get it. And many, many subs fear that their kinks will get them taken advantage of. This book takes these phenomena and explores them at their most extreme.

- I loved how the author showed the two characters struggling with what they wanted, fearing it made them "wrong" and yet knowing that they needed it on a basic level to be happy. Again, something that anyone who's struggled with their own BDSM or D/s leanings will understand.

- I was so glad that the brutal rape and torture scenes with Grace's first master were kept to a minimum and were not written as sexy and erotic.

- I have to say, Thomas may have written the perfect Dom/Master in Asher. Oh my. I also thought the author did a good job of balancing his desire to protect and take care of her with his need to satisfy his physical desires as well.

A few quibbles:

- I wish we'd gotten to see a bit more of what Grace was like before the island. Once she came to Asher, she was perfectly submissive, etc. but that was because she'd been broken. That did bother me a bit.

- The ending was wrapped up a bit too neatly. I kind of wish we'd gotten to see Grace struggle on her own a bit, because I do feel that submission is more powerful when given totally freely, and I'm not certain that it was here, because she came to Asher so broken.(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 28, 2011 Lady Raven RAVE! rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotica-bdsm, erotica-xtreme, erotica-taboo, erotica-disturbing, erotica-sold-slavery

www.romancenoveljunkies.com

Very interesting read as well as intense. Now and then, I dabble into a light BDSM read but this was hardcore. I have never read anything by this author but decided to see what this read was about.

Grace wanted to experience erotic slavery. She'd heard of a secret island called Eleu where men take women as slaves, once on the island you give up your rights and citizenship to follow their rules. For a year, Grace has been corresponding with Lucas online. Lucas was trying...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2011 ♆ BookAddict ~ La Crimson Femme rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to ♆ BookAddict by: Kitty Thomas

Shelves: bdsm, intense, slavery, rape, z-nlg, lcf

Want to be a submissive 24/7? How about being a slave, pampered on an island careered to men of wealth who own women as slaves? This isn't the first book I've read with this concept. This is probably the first one where it's so realistically done in a plausible contemporary setting.

Grace is a girl who enjoys being owned. She wanted the reality of slavery. Personally, I think Grace is an idiot. Her only friend, Lainey, tried her best to help Grace go in with her eyes wide up. What does Grace do?...more

10 likes · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Reena Jacobs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Reena by: Kitty Thomas

Shelves: 2011-reads, reviewed, indie

This one has left me in quite a reflective state. Expect my review May 30, 2011 on my blog: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2011/05/n...

Not too long ago Kitty Thomas offered me a copy of Tender Mercies in exchange for a review. I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive after reading Guilty Pleasures. Not a bad piece for those into no-games true BDSM, but it wasn’t quite the thing for this vanilla gal. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVED Comfort Food. So my thoughts of Tender Mercies

Prologues se...more This one has left me in quite a reflective state. Expect my review May 30, 2011 on my blog: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2011/05/n...

Not too long ago Kitty Thomas offered me a copy of Tender Mercies in exchange for a review. I have to admit, I was a little apprehensive after reading Guilty Pleasures. Not a bad piece for those into no-games true BDSM, but it wasn’t quite the thing for this vanilla gal. On the other hand, I absolutely LOVED Comfort Food. So my thoughts of Tender Mercies

Prologues seem to be going out of style these days. I mentioned a while back, quite a few folks skip prologues, like my daughter (to my surprise). Tender Mercies started off with a prologue, but unlike my daughter, I’m too afraid I’ll miss something to skip one. So into the prologue I delved into it. When I reached the end, my thoughts were, wow! that was good! It added wonderful insight into Asher’s personality and gave me an immediate connection. For those who skip prologues, I encourage you to give this one a shot. It left me quite satisfied.

So we get to the meat to the story. Riding along with Grace through the first few chapters was quite scary. Her desires to enter the BSDM world superseded rational thought. Yet in a way, I could relate to her desire to give up control but being too strong-willed and defiant do so in the normal world. Still, I couldn’t imagine taking the leap of faith she did. Don’t do it! I screamed at her. Of course she didn’t listen and paid the consequences for her choices. Such horrible consequences. I felt awful about the ordeals Grace faced… almost to the point I wanted to cry for her at times.

Then we have Asher. The introduction of Asher’s point of view is quite different from the prior works of Ms. Thomas. Whereas before, the males were secondary (though still important) characters in the story, this time around, we really get into the male mind. It was nice having an understanding of where he was coming from with the BDSM thing… a side I didn’t really get with the first two stories.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this work. I could totally see an island like the one in the story existing. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if one did. It had the Anne Rice Exit to Eden kind of thing going. I didn’t fall in love with Tender Mercies like I did Comfort Food (keep in mind, only 3 works hit my all time favorites last year, Comfort Food being one of them), but Tender Mercies was well up there on the likeability scale. If you liked Comfort Food–the idea of a tortured woman finding herself–Tender Mercies might be right up your alley.(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 18, 2011 Rossy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Rossy by: auto-buy author

Shelves: spank-me-baby, smuttastic, kindle-to-loan, challenge-cover-to-cover-2011, challenge-taboo, angst-drama, review-queued, taboo

I can't rate this book right now, i'll reflect on it for a bit first. I didn't dislike the book though, just sort of have mixed feelings about the heroine's decisions and the consequences to them.

This one should come with a big warning though, because it's different from her other books. There is a lot of physical/sexual abuse on screen, so be sure that you're able to handle it before reading it. Normally that doesn't get to me, but this time it just triggered some really sensitive points.

Review...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5 stars really, rounding up.

"You could never truly own something that hated you."

The first third of the book was HARD to get through, and even when it was through, that early damage hung over the rest of the book. It was meant to though, and that made it work very well as a psychological thriller/romance. The themes of fantasy vs. reality were fascinating in this, as well as trust, recovery, and atonement.

The time spent in Grace's head became a bit tedious after a while, and I would have love...more

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May 02, 2013 Robyn Roze rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: relationship-dark

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, I'm giving this book 3 stars primarily because I've read so many first person POV stories lately that I was thrilled to finally read a third person narrative POV--my favorite style.

Anyway, a lot of this book was hard to read--as the author warns right up front. Lucas, rape, brutal whippings ... and the dog. Wow--did not see that coming--did not need that image in my head. But I kept reading because I did enjoy the authors writing style even though at times I grew weary of knowing everythin...more Okay, I'm giving this book 3 stars primarily because I've read so many first person POV stories lately that I was thrilled to finally read a third person narrative POV--my favorite style.

Anyway, a lot of this book was hard to read--as the author warns right up front. Lucas, rape, brutal whippings ... and the dog. Wow--did not see that coming--did not need that image in my head. But I kept reading because I did enjoy the authors writing style even though at times I grew weary of knowing everything Grace was thinking--it became repetitive at points.

Through Asher's POV the author did a good job of making me not totally cringe--he was definitely better than Lucas, no doubt. But the whole kitten thing--cat ears, plug with a furry cat tail, lapping milk from a bowl, branding ... let's just say I definitely found my limits while reading this book. I kept reminding myself that Grace actually wanted this kind of lifestyle, and she was happy, and to each her own, live and let live. However, it was still hard to take.

The whole thing with Darcy ... really? Asher's just going to let his friend take the whole fall? What kind of man, or woman, participates in an act that results in someone's death (someone he allegedly loves)and then he helps hide and bury her body? Thinking to himself much later in the story that he should've incinerated her body so that her remains never would've been found! Wow. Anytime I thought I might have a modicum of semi-warm feelings toward Asher, as he related to Grace, I reminded myself of Darcy's plight and it was like a bucket of cold water.

Then, finally, the murder of Lucas by Asher and the agreed upon cover up with his staff. I'm sure if I was a completely moral person I'd have a problem with that, but I didn't. His character totally deserved it. And we already know Asher will never say a word ... he already has experience covering up one killing, accidental or not.

Anyway, kudos to the author for not playing it safe. She wrote the story that she wanted to tell and that is commendable. (less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Kat Witmer rated it 1 of 5 stars

**Some mild Spoilers included in this review**

I did not care for this book at all. I went into it with an open mind, I knew it was a dark erotica and I knew there would be a lot of BSDM, D/s, fetish play and 24/7. With all that in mind I have to say that this book just depressed the hell out of me. What poor Grace went through was absolutely horrific. Both the main protagonist were deeply scarred and broken. I was happy when Asher bought her from Lucas, but then things just got weird. Although A...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

On first inspection of the synopsis the premise for this book to me felt unbelievable but Kitty Thomas's writing skill had me soon under her spell. The fluidity of the written language on her pages surrendered my initial reserve. The author explains this heart wrenching story of men controlling women with intense emotion and you feel yourself at times disgusted and tearful but unable to relinquish her hold. Kitty Thomas has taken a taboo subject and made it readable even when its hard to take. G...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

Adult review for taboo erotic content.

Moving this review over from my other account because I want to start merging some authors onto the same account instead of having them listed in separate places. There are a couple of mild spoilers ahead discussing character behavior, but there are no big plot reveals.

Original read/review early 2012. I knew what I was getting into when I started this book. I'd read and loved Thomas' book Comfort Food, so the subject matter was not a deterrent.

Believe it or...more Adult review for taboo erotic content.

Moving this review over from my other account because I want to start merging some authors onto the same account instead of having them listed in separate places. There are a couple of mild spoilers ahead discussing character behavior, but there are no big plot reveals.

Original read/review early 2012. I knew what I was getting into when I started this book. I'd read and loved Thomas' book Comfort Food, so the subject matter was not a deterrent.

Believe it or not, this book disturbed me more than Comfort Food did. I'm not really sure how this happened. I think what I realized is that the cruel master scenario made more sense to me than the kind master scenario.

It was almost as if I wanted the second master to either be harder or softer. If he had been harder, I would have accepted that he was wired to be in control. If he had shown a little bit more flexibility in Grace's life outside of the bedroom, I would have accepted that he was a sexy dominant with some give. Unfortunately, I had a hard time growing to like him because I felt like he was trying to prove to himself that he was in control, even when he didn't always need to be. If you're wired to be a hardass, great. If you're not wired that way, don't force it. I felt like he forced himself to do things to Grace that he didn't always want to do.

The situation with Darcy should have taught him that he was okay to ease up on the reigns at times. The lesson he learned from that wasn't much more than thinking he needed to get control earlier on and keep control. But I ask the question - or what? What exactly was Grace going to do? Once she learned to trust Asher, she wasn't going to be rebellious. She wanted to be a submissive. So, him deciding that he would choose to punish her if she accidentally broke something seemed overkill at that point, especially when he didn't like doing it to begin with. Again, I think I would have had an easier time with this if it was in his nature to want to hand out punishments. It just bugged me that he was forcing himself to do this because it fit his pre-conceived notions of what his role was as a dom.

The story would have worked better (in this instance) if he was a dom in the bedroom and a partner in real life. Yes, I know...it works against the whole island concept. But, why couldn't he have been a break from the island norm? This could have been shown through his loss of Darcy and how the healing changed him.

This book has scenes of forced sexual play, hints at animal participation, etc. You will want to know this before picking up the book because this author writes taboo subject matter. I don't feel the need to spoiler tag the above because it's something a person should know if they plan on reading anything from this author.(less)

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Nov 12, 2012 Becca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, erotic

The premise for this story is fascinating. What happens when a 24/7 power exchange isn't enough? What happens when your fantasies turn not just to reality, but into a nightmare? What happens when you get exactly what you wished for, then wished you hadn't? I'd call this book one heck of a cautionary tale, yet with a very satisfying conclusion.

I don't have the right shelves for this book. It isn't a capture fantasy, Grace willingly takes herself to an island and gives up all her legal rights. Yet...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Kimi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bdsm, bdsm-captive, spank-me, oh-so-naughty, captive, stand-alone, favorite-stand-alone

This book was awesome. I'm really beginning to appreciate Kitty Thomas although I'm a bit that I'm reading her books so much. She talks about things that others don't dare to discuss in books. She crosses the line but it's a good line. Not exactly good but realistic... This is some individuals thing.

I liked the way the characters developed. I felt that Grace was extremely stupid and naive to agree to this island agreement with someone whom she'd never met. I couldn't believe she really went thro...more

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Jul 21, 2012 Katinki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: just-no, made-me-throw-my-kindle

Just... not my thing at all.

Recognizing the purpose of this kind of book, I won't go into the various plot holes, logical fallacies, etc.

But since psychology and torture/abuse/rape/etc victim behavior and whatnot *is* addressed in the book in a rather big way (and is as such, fair game for comment), I will say that it's ALL wrong. And that's kind of a big deal to me.

Also, I have to say that the male "protagonist's" (I put that in quotes for a reason) behavior is, frankly, deplorable, regardle...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Cecile rated it 5 of 5 stars

For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

I was given this book for an honest review and my honest...more For those of you that know me... and those that don't this is my little statement about short books.... I do not judge short stories on the rush of their relationships, because they are just that - short stories. So, yes the relationships always could have been drawn out more, yea it seems like they fall in love to fast and of course the story could have been made longer... but it is a short story. So with that said.... here is my review...

I was given this book for an honest review and my honest thoughts, so here goes...

For those of you that know me, know that I read things that might make some of you uncomfortable. But also, those of you that know me... know that I read Kitty's last book and really loved it. I just want you to remember the type of book Comfort Food was.... it was a very dark book.... Well.... This is no different... Just a different story.

But I want warn you that there is a part in the book (quick however... but still in there) that left me feeling kinda yucky. But like I said... it was quick enough to just read through and not give to much thought too... but you know it happens none of the less.

The book is under 100 pages, but life Comfort Food, this one will make you think. Think what, I have no clue because everyone will have a different take on the book. It will make you think things that never would have been entertained in your mind - good or bad..

Grace is a woman with a huge side of kink. Kink is a good thing, especially when you embrace it. Some would like to think that having kink makes you "not right." But they are just jealous because they afraid of it. Grace embraces it. Some would say that she is stupid for wanting to move to and island where she could become a submissive and live in the lifestyle 24/7. The reason they would think she is stupid is because you - the person going to the island - has to give up all their rights as whatever citizenship you have to go there. Yes, you become their slave, their property.

Lucas is the man responsible for bringing Grace to the island. He talked to her for a whole year before getting her to agree fully to coming to the island. He was the normal sweet talker kinda man. He was good looking - him and Grace - had did the webcam thing. He answered all her questions, checked out all the background checks she ran on him. She did everything to feel secure in going to the island. He had Grace right where he wanted her... Coming to the island to be his slave.

This story had me feeling - WTH? But as I kept reading, I found the story wrapping around me and Grace getting under my skin. I knew where she was coming from. She knew that once broken the way she was, she could not go back to the life of the real world. But this story had me seeing a woman who went from broken to having backbone to save her life. Ms. Thomas pulled every dark emotion from me and had me thinking of evything I could possibly think of when it comes to truly the BDSM world. There are the vanailla people, the play people, even the fake-it people. But there are the people that really live the lifestyle out to the fullest. Ms. Kitty just shows us again or should I say that she pushes us again outside out comfort zone. She will push and pull you until you are not sure what side of the fence you are on when it comes to how far would you go??

I dare you to read this... It is a lot different than Comfort Foods, but I want to say that it is equally as dark. Just on a different level.

Ms. Kitty, you did it again.... Showed me another side of the coin. I commend you for pushing those boundaries that no one else pushes.

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Aug 11, 2011 BITE ME rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kitty-thomas-wicked-erotica, favorite-erotica

GRACE IS A VERY KINKY WOMEN SHE WANTS A 24/7 MASTER BECOSE SHE'S TIERED OF PLAY KINK SHE'S LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE SHE HAPPENS TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ISLAND WHERE EROTIC SLAVERY IS WELCOME'D THIS INTRIGUES HER SHE DOSE RESEARCH ONLINE FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THIS ISLAND SHE HAPPENS TO COME A CROS A MAN IN THIS ISLAND WHO TELL'S HER EVERY THING SHE WANT'S TO HEAR HE ALSO TELLS HER THAT IF SHE PLANDS ON COMING TO THE ISLAND SHE WILL BE HIS SLAVE APON NOWING ALL THIS AND HIM GIVING HER AN ULTIMATUM...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Maxie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 02, 2011 Among The Muses rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, bdsm, dark-erotica, erotica, review-request, very-well-written, psychological-read

Just when I think an author can't possibly top their last published work, I'm left corrected. Kitty Thomas hooked me with her very first book I picked up: Comfort Food, left my jaw hanging open in fabulous astonishment in a second: Guilty Pleasures, and now leaves me silently awed in the brilliance of her talent with Tender Mercies!

Before I go any further, I must state that Kitty Thomas' work is not for everyone -- and that's okay. Not only does Kitty take readers to the precipice of comfort in...more Just when I think an author can't possibly top their last published work, I'm left corrected. Kitty Thomas hooked me with her very first book I picked up: Comfort Food, left my jaw hanging open in fabulous astonishment in a second: Guilty Pleasures, and now leaves me silently awed in the brilliance of her talent with Tender Mercies!

Before I go any further, I must state that Kitty Thomas' work is not for everyone -- and that's okay. Not only does Kitty take readers to the precipice of comfort in dark erotic romance content, she also makes her readers *think* as she traverses the psyche of her characters -- she's a master of creating highly dynamic three-dimensional characters battling personal and societal issues in a BDSM context. And in her newest release, Tender Mercies, she continues her trend of masterfully weaving heart tugging emotions between purposefully and carefully crafted plot, characters, and setting.

Tender Mercies is a love story -- albeit unconventional or typical in most erotic fiction -- that demonstrates actual slavery (given willingly to a fault) and contains non-consensual sex. This is about needs and desires of people living in a 24/7 Master/slave relationship. It is also a story about the differences between a *true* master and one who is not, and the fallout of what can take place with a misjudged decision. But that's not to say that there isn't moments of passionate and tender love and lovin' -- both Kitty does just as well! :)

Grace Warner; a beautiful name that will soon be discarded and forgotten. Grace is the kind of woman who *needs* to live in a 24/7 slave relationship, but views many of the ones erected around her as 'not real'. After a year of contemplating the pros and cons of given up her personal and governmental rights to a master she met online, Grace sets off for a highly private and secretive island where she will truly be a slave to Master Lucas in every sense of the word. But, hidden behind the lens of a webcam and keyboard for the year of propositioning, Grace finds immediately upon her arrival to the island that Master has deceived her of who he truly is. Subjected to brutally abusive and horrific confines and situations that destroy her will, her physical body, and her mentality, Grace (her name that is no longer able to be used or thought of) becomes a scarred shell of what she used to be.

Not too far from where Grace lives hidden away in her Master's dungeon, another master, Asher Collins, is battling his own personal hell from the death of his slave whom he really cared for. At a showing, Asher looks upon Grace with a feeling of desire to make her his. He notices her abuse and is appalled. Hoping to save Grace and atone for his previous mistakes with his last slave, he purchases Grace for his own. But will either of them be able to break free from the psychological pain of their pasts? And what happens if they should? Surely others won't want to see them happy will they??

From beginning to end, readers can not help but be sucked into this story and become emotionally vested in the characters. The antagonist is a true antagonist and the protagonists are nothing short of fantastic! Readers get to see into the minds and inner workings of both Grace and Asher as they learn to work together to move past their previous pains and emotional turmoil and become a the ideal Master/slave couple. I loved Grace and Asher both. Grace is stronger than she even perceives her self. And Asher ... hmmm.. you can't help but fall for the broken Master. Readers are privy to just how much the two of them need each other to heal and move forward. Kitty does a fabulous job at demonstrating the emotions that develop between the firm, yet patient and loving master in Asher and the strong and devoted slave in Grace.

Like I have previously mentioned, Kitty Thomas knows how to take readers right to the precipice of their comfort levels, yet allows them to stay vested in a story that embarks on emotional journeys of characters that have unique needs and desires. But, unless you are up for everything I've described above, this story may not be for you. For those of you who are, this is a high recommendation from me.

Tender Mercies is the type of psychological dark erotica, BDSM book that will leave readers who enjoy this type of literary fiction in awe at the brilliance of Kitty Thomas' writing and concepts. I said it after her last book and I'll say it again -- I don't know how she'll top this! :)

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May 16, 2011 Autumn Jones Lake rated it 5 of 5 stars

Comfort Food was one of the first books I read when I started reading bdsm themed erotica. I love Kitty’s work and followed the progress of Tender Mercies intending to snap it up as soon as it was available.

There are parts of the book that are difficult to read, but overall it’s a beautiful love story with very deep characters.

I’m fascinated by total power exchange and Kitty Thomas writes some of the most realistic Master/slave relationships. There a bit of non-con in Tender Mercies, so if you’...more

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About Kitty Thomas

Kitty Thomas writes dark literary erotica that explores power dynamics and sexuality. This work is fiction and meant for an adult audience. The author does not endorse or condone any of the behavior carried out by characters in her stories.

Her work is not “erotic romance”. Often on some level it is about love and/or obsession. Often the couple in some way ends up “together”, but the work should no...more

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Quotes from Tender Mercies

“You may get me to say the word, but know this, you will never truly own me. That right belongs to my real master. You may take his symbol off my hip, but there will always be a scar that reminds us both what was there. And you might take his collar off my throat, but you'll never erase his name from my soul.” — 5 people liked it

“She thought she was wrong? He was the one who got a hard-on every time she looked up at him with those desperate, brown eyes. Everything in his brain screamed: Prey. Take. Use. He wasn't exactly proud of it, but there it was.” — 2 people liked it

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