Kitty Thomas's Blog, page 13

Featured Book: The Proposal

Over the next few weeks, through December, the featured book is mostly going to be books of mine with either a holiday theme or key holiday scenes. This week’s book is THE PROPOSAL. It’s an MMMF, Captive Heroine, Dark, Kinky, with Holiday Scenes as key parts of the story. So now is a great time to read this one.

If you aren’t subscribed to my blog, you can do it at the bottom of this post or on the righthand side of your screen. (If on the desktop. I’m not sure how it’s organized on mobile) If you aren’t subscribed to my newsletter you can do that at the very bottom of the page. There is some content overlap between my newsletter and blog, but there are also things I post on one but not on the other.

Think of the next few weeks as like a Dark Hallmark Movie countdown. This one is also available in Audio at Audible and iTunes. I’ve also got a teaser scene to share with you…

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(c) Copyright, 2020, Kitty Thomas. All rights reserved.

The sales clerk is ringing up her purchase when I make my move. I have a navy silk tie in my hand from the men’s section. I just grabbed the first thing I saw so I could get in line behind her.

I drop my tie on top of her things and pass my black card to the clerk.

“Please, allow me,” I say. I’m not sure how I hope she’ll react. A rejection of my offer could just mean she wants me to insist, like women who try to go for the check at dinner but really want you to stop them. Or maybe she’ll say no flat out. Or maybe she’ll say yes with greedy little dollar signs behind her eyes. A foolish part of me hopes she won’t do the latter.

She turns to me and smiles. It’s a genuine, electrifying and open smile that lights up the entire space. And God help me, but she’s already got me. For a moment it’s easy to forget she’s the mark in a game she doesn’t even know she’s playing.

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” She steps gracefully aside so I can sign the receipt.

Huh. She knows I can afford it. I did just flash my black card, and this girl is savvy. She knows about black cards. But even though I’ve been watching her, I didn’t expect this reaction. She seems completely unfazed by this gesture but at the same time appreciative of it. She’s not ashamed. Not indignant. It’s as though I merely opened a door for her. She isn’t shocked by this kind of treatment. She’s not impressed or overly charmed. But… she’s not entitled either. She’s not a brat.

I can’t put words to how this simple exchange makes me feel.

I sign and wait as the clerk puts our things in two separate bags. Livia looks a bit overburdened by bags already. She’s been shopping in the other stores nearby as well. This gives me my next opportunity.

“Let me help you out with your bags,” I offer.

She takes a good long look at me. I’m not sure if she’s assessing my danger or my dating potential.

In case it’s the former I say, “It’s broad daylight. I promise I’m not a serial killer.”

She smiles and hands over her bags while picking up my small bag containing the tie. “Okay. I’ll carry yours if you carry mine. And I know you’re not a serial killer. They don’t give out black cards to serial killers.”

I laugh. She’s probably right about that. I like this girl. It’s been a long time since I’ve really liked a woman. Not just been attracted. Not just wanted to sleep with, but genuinely liked. And suddenly I’m a teenager worried I’ll mess up and the pretty girl at school will turn me down. I’m not sure what to do with this sudden burst of whatever thing it is she’s making me feel. It’s so foreign, so long forgotten, and suddenly I have zero doubts about this.

There’s no guilt. No hesitation. I want this girl. I want this image, this idea, this plan that Soren and Griffin laid out for me. I want us. The four of us. She has no idea the precarious line she walks. I’m determined not to f*ck this up.

Even though I’m carrying all the bags, I open the door and let her walk out first, knowing each gallant gesture disarms her and gets me closer to yes. Though to be honest she doesn’t seem to have a big guard or giant walls around her, which is pretty unusual these days. Part of me is charmed by it and another part of me wants to shake her and ask does she not know the thoughts that go through men’s minds? Does she not know the wolves who would eat her alive? Part of me wants to punish her and another part wants to protect her—from men like me and Griffin and Soren.

Grab it here:

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THE PROPOSAL:

I got in over my head.

I bit off more than I could chew.

And now my fate is sealed to the most ruthless man I know.

Two hundred and fifty guests. They think they know what’s happening today. But they don’t have a clue.

My wedding day. But it’s so much more than that.

NOTE: This is a standalone contemporary dark romance with NO cliffhanger!

What Readers are Saying

This was incredible, I read it in one sitting!” -Charlie, Goodreads.

Every time a new Kitty Thomas book comes our I think she cannot top the last story and once again I am wrong!” – Kelly, Goodreads.

This story is next level.” – Basic, Goodreads.

This book is also structured differently and is a slower burn which, surprisingly, worked exceptionally well. Once we do get to the steamy scenes, they are fire! The chemistry between these characters is explosive! All of this steamy twisted goodness is wrapped up in a satisfying HEA complete with some surprises I didn’t see coming. The Proposal is a must read for all fans of Kitty Thomas and a good place to start for those who are unfamiliar with this author’s work.” – Darkreads, Goodreads.

I don’t even know where to begin with how much I loved this book! It is told in different timelines, with different characters POV, but it flowed so smoothly. The story pieced together exactly as it should have, more of an abstract painting than a recreation of a scene. The story did what it wanted, went where it wanted, and explained itself as it needed, and we were left with a piece of art that I could totally immerse myself into. And holy goddesses was it hot, like take a few breaks from reading hot, and tuck away that scene for later hot. It was also smart, in a realistic, determined, turning my fantasy into reality while not fully understanding the consequences way. There were so many emotions in this book, I felt so many emotions while reading this book, and you really need to read to understand it all.” – Dar, Goodreads.

This book has a different rhythm than I am used to from this author. It was a rhythm I can absolutely march to, as well as dance to and you know …do a lot of things to. If you like men who are alpha….buckle up baby you are in for a triple treat. If you like a book that is so hot you wake up your partner to ‘discuss’ it….then this book is for you. I highlighted a few lines and paragraphs. Words so delicious I needed to be able to come back and savor them again.” – Ginger, Goodreads.

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Thanks for reading!

Kitty ^.^

The post Featured Book: The Proposal appeared first on Kitty Thomas.

Thursday TikTok Roundup

Be sure to grab a copy of my latest if you haven’t already: Links Here

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! If you’ve seen a great TikTok of one of my books or if you made one yourself, please send me the link either via one of my social medias or on my website contact form (via the Licensing link)

Thank you so much to the BookTokkers!

Today’s TikTok Roundup:

Big Sky: (I want to do a cover rebrand on this one so much):

@btbarbie93 I’m starting on a KThomas binge..this was awesome #darkreads #kittythomas #darkanddisturbingbooks #bookrecs #darkromance #captiveromance #darkromancereader ♬ again – favsoundds

I’m not especially promoting Big Sky, it’s just what keeps showing up… and I LOVE this BookTok… Nothing is better than a reader excited to receive book mail from me:

@audreyrushbooks One of my top five books ever. So glad I have a signed copy now. She’s a one-click author for me! #kittythomas #kittythomasbooks #darkromancebooktok #darkromance #k1nkybookworm #Inverted ♬ original sound – Audrey Rush

A book you haven’t seen on TikTok… this one’s fun… plus it caused me to add Cold Queen by K. Webster to my TBR:

@maramy15 So many books! #booktok #darkread #horror #romance #kittythomas #timmiller #lucychristopher @cararomanauthor @authorkwebster @ikillsthingsinbooks ♬ A book you have not seen – KE knows books!

That’s it for this week! Thanks, BookTokkers!

The post Thursday TikTok Roundup appeared first on Kitty Thomas.

Featured Book: The Game Maker

Your next dark romance read!

This one is a very dark one that has some Comfort Food vibes. Here’s a teaser scene:

Excerpt from The Game Maker (c) Copyright 2020. Kitty Thomas. All rights reserved.

My head is pounding when I regain consciousness. I can’t bring myself to open my eyes. I’m lying on a hard surface, which seems weird to me. At first I think I’m lying on the ground outside where I passed out, but there are no city noises. Instead, I hear classical music being piped in from a speaker above me.

And I smell… roses. One of those highly fragrant varieties. I must be at Andrew’s place. But why the fuck did he leave me on the ground? It’s at this point that I realize I’m naked. Also, Andrew doesn’t listen to classical music.

Instinctively, I want to bolt upright and cover myself, but I don’t have that kind of reaction time. And it’s a real struggle to open my eyes. When I do, I’m momentarily grateful to be in a dimly lit room.

“A-Andrew?” I croak out. I want to scream at him for dumping me on the ground in his apartment, but I can barely choke his name out. I wait for my eyes to adjust. Everything around me is dark gray, and there’s no furniture in this room.

Cell, my mind hisses at me. I am in a cell.

I push myself off the ground into a sitting position and wait for my vision to go back to normal so I can get a sense of where I am. Did Andrew put me in here? He’s a bigger bastard than I thought. This is when I finally realize I’m not alone.

There’s a large, dark figure sitting on the ground against the far wall.

“Andrew, you piece of shit. What are you doing?”

I probably shouldn’t speak to the person who rescued me from homelessness this way, but I don’t care. He needs to grow the fuck up. I expect him to yell at me or threaten to kick me out, but what I hear instead chills me.

“Who’s Andrew?”

This is definitely not Andrew’s voice. No accent. Plus it’s deeper and more frightening. Suddenly the adrenaline hits me, and I have a sudden burst of speed. I back as far from him as I can until I meet the opposite wall. I shield my breasts from his gaze and shift to a sitting position where he can’t see other private parts—even though I know he’s already seen everything. And possibly done more. I was unconscious after all.

As my vision clears further, it seems that the light in the room gets a little brighter. He’s wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, no shoes. His dark hair looks a bit disheveled. He’s very attractive. Heart-stoppingly beautiful, actually. It’s the kind of unearthly beauty that makes me feel relieved for a moment because I know I’m still passed out. This is a weird dream. I just know it is.

It’s not a dream, whispers the same evil internal voice that decided to tell me I was in a cell.

It takes several minutes before my mind is willing to accept what has happened. I don’t know if someone put something in my drink or if I was just that drunk. I don’t know how long this man stalked me before he took me, but I know I’m looking at the man who kidnapped me.

And now the tears come. It takes every ounce of willpower not to break down into hysterical sobs. This reaction is making a lie out of everything I thought I knew about myself. The strength and control I thought I had in my life. Even up to very recently, I thought I was handling things.

But this is the last straw. It’s the last tiny push I needed to find myself in a free fall.

Another dark thought pushes its way into my mind. No one is going to be looking for me. Does the man who took me know that? Andrew sure as shit won’t look or file a police report.

My landlady might not realize why I didn’t pack my things up first, but as nice as Carolyn is, she’ll just be glad she doesn’t have to have me forcibly removed. She isn’t going to report my disappearance to the police. What disappearance? I’ve been evicted. I’m not supposed to be there.

There is no reality now but me and my captor. I’m trying desperately not to think about the reasons this man took me. To rape me? To kill me? To torture me? He sure as shit isn’t going to let me go when he’s done with whatever’s on his nefarious agenda. I know you can’t appeal to a sociopath, and nobody normal does something like this.

Still, I can’t help begging. “P-please don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t,” he says.

Huh?

“You can let me go,” I say. “I won’t say anything.”

“I can’t let you go. I didn’t put you in here.”

“What?” For a moment, my confusion overtakes my fear. What does he mean he didn’t put me in here? Of course he did. Who the fuck can he blame? The invisible demon perched on his shoulder?

He shakes his head slowly. “I’m in the same boat as you, sweetheart.”

I glance back and forth between us. He has clothes on, and they don’t look like he’s worn them for days. Meanwhile, I’m naked. We are not in the same boat.

“I don’t believe you,” I say. “You’re playing with me somehow.”

“Praise the dark and dirty Goddess that is Kitty Thomas, the master of all the sexual and mental kinkery.” Basic, Goodreads

Grab it now!

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Thanks for reading!

The post Featured Book: The Game Maker appeared first on Kitty Thomas.

Thursday TikTok Roundup

Grab my latest release, Valkyrie:

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I’m told by a reader that this is one of my hottest books. Since there are only two overt kink-type scenes in the “whips and chains” way, I wasn’t thinking of it like that, but there is a lot of hotness in this one. The heroine is pleasured by several male characters. But it’s not all just sex. SO much about this book you’ll love! It’s the absolute best thing I’ve ever written, so give it a try!

I don’t know if I’m going to do this weekly or not, maybe… but I LOVE when readers make TikToks about my books. LOVE it. One reason is that I think right now BookTok is where it’s really at with reader word-of-mouth. It is a powerful powerful way for readers to showcase their love for books.

And two, I just really love to see what readers make.

So I’m going to do a “TikTok round up” and showcase a few TikToks I’ve seen about my books recently:

This one is for Comfort Food, my debut novel, and this is a GREAT way of describing this book:

@fightingwithlindsay #darkromance #darkbook #psychologicalthriller #powerexchange #k1nkybooks #smut #antiromance #kittythomas #kittythomasbooks ♬ unholy_loveless x nightlife – nightlife

This one is from a reader who mentions both Big Sky and The Pleasure House series. I always love it when a reader loves Big Sky because it’s definitely a love it or hate it book of mine.

@btbarbie93 #darkromance #darkromancereads #kittythomas #daisyjane #reverseagegapromance #bookrecs #spicybooks #smuttok #smut #darkromamcereader ♬ Lo-Fi analog beat – Gloveity

And finally, a TikTok for my latest, Valkyrie:

@allmybookboyfriends #valkyrie by #kittythomas #pnr #pnrbooks #pnrromance #vikingromance #fantasyromance ♬ Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) – Loveless

If you’ve made or seen a TikTok for one of my books, send it to me (you can send me a link on one of my social medias or using the “licensing” link at the top of the page you can just use that contact form) and I may feature it in a future round up!

Thanks so much to my BookTok Readers for sharing my work!

The post Thursday TikTok Roundup appeared first on Kitty Thomas.

VALKYRIE Release Week Giveaway! $100 Amazon Gift Card and 5 Surprise Signed Books!

VALKYRIE is now available for your binge reading pleasure. I can say without any exaggeration that this is the BEST thing I’ve ever freaking written. Ever. You will LOVE this book.

This is the love story of Odin and Freyja from Norse Mythology. You’ve never seen these gods like this! I’ve said while I was writing this that this was Odin and Freyja’s love story… the greatest love story nobody’s ever heard. And now you can hear it! (or read it!)

Enemies-To-Lovers:
Forced Proximity:
Fated Mates:
Snarky Banter:
Strong Heroine (but not annoying!):
Alpha Growly Hero:
Epic Love:
Steamy Sex:
All. The. Feels.:

BUY LINKS:

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VALKYRIE BLURB:

ODIN:

On the day I met the witch, she prophesied my death.

She said it was fate and couldn’t be changed.

I’ve gathered my warriors. I’ve laid my traps. I’ve moved my pieces across the board.

She is the piece that unlocks everything, I know she is.

And she’s wrong. Everything can be changed.

FREYJA:

A powerful god seeks to destroy my people unless I go live with him.

“You don’t have to marry him. You don’t even have to sleep with him. He just needs a witch.”

I’ve been told this multiple times, but I don’t trust this man.

He’s keeping something very important from me… and he’s such a charmer.

I may allow him into my bed, but I can never let him into my heart.

Note: This is a standalone with a complete ending and an HEA.

GIVEAWAY! (Open Internationally) You can enter in as many ways as you like below, a winner will be randomly selected by rafflecopter! In the blog comments below let me know if you plan to read VALKYRIE, and if you’ve already read it, what’s your favorite part!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*NOTE: Prize void if not claimed within 30 days of contest ending.*

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WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT VALKYRIE:

Freyja and Odin are so complex. Freyja is a goddess, a Queen, a powerful witch and so much more. She rules firmly and fairly. But there is a depth to her that I’m not even sure she was completely aware of. Odin, on the other hand, is a god, a king and a warrior. And he is running out of time.” – K. M. Ernst, Amazon

Odin and Freyja are just the perfect couple.” -Denise DelFranco, Goodreads

If anyone could pull this off, could do Odin and Freya’s story justice, it’s Kitty.” -Cecile Smith, Goodreads

There is just something so engaging when a story, based on characters you know, is done so right! This is one of those stories, because while we ‘know’ Freyja and Odin, we don’t know them like this. These two have sizzling chemistry and explosive passion, and both those things make for some interesting encounters. They also connect on a cerebral level, they are both of the same ilk, and that causes some great clashes and some greater understanding.” – Dar, Goodreads

Valkyrie is Odin and Freyja’s story. Their attraction is so magnetic and electrically charged!” -Tanya Rae, Goodreads

…Freyja is not her typical heroine either. This is a strong heroine, an experienced woman who knows her worth and her strength. She’s powerful in her own right and can fight her own battles. To be honest, these types of heroines can be hit or miss for me, but I fell in love with Freyja. She is one of the more entertaining heroines I’ve read lately and I really enjoyed being in her head. Now Odin is on a completely different level. He’s a charmer and neither Freyja nor I seemed able to resist him for long. The level of heat between these too was outstanding. They were exceptionally well matched in every way. In addition to this enemies to lovers romance, there’s an intricate plot full of twists, turns, betrayals and redemption.” -Darkreads, Goodread

“It was never supposed to be this way. I never intended to love her. She was only a means to an end.”

When Odin finds himself facing the unbreakable prophecy of Ragnarok, he will stop at nothing to trick Freyja into helping him thwart fate. But while he’s seducing her into bed, she’s finding her way into his heart.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of VALKYRIE:

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Thank you so much for reading and supporting my work!

Kitty ^.^

The post VALKYRIE Release Week Giveaway! $100 Amazon Gift Card and 5 Surprise Signed Books! appeared first on Kitty Thomas.

VALKYRIE is LIVE… and first Two Chapters Free!

VALKYRIE is FINALLY live! I’m SO excited to share this book with you. This is Odin and Freyja’s love story… the greatest love story you’ve never heard… well, until now! This is the best thing I’ve EVER written and you are going to LOVE it… run, don’t walk to grab this!

You can read the first two chapters free at the bottom of this post!

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ODIN:

On the day I met the witch, she prophesied my death.

She said it was fate and couldn’t be changed.

I’ve gathered my warriors. I’ve laid my traps. I’ve moved my pieces across the board.

She is the piece that unlocks everything, I know she is.

And she’s wrong. Everything can be changed.

FREYJA:

A powerful god seeks to destroy my people unless I go live with him.

“You don’t have to marry him. You don’t even have to sleep with him. He just needs a witch.”

I’ve been told this multiple times, but I don’t trust this man.

He’s keeping something very important from me… and he’s such a charmer.

I may allow him into my bed, but I can never let him into my heart.

NOTE: This is a standalone with a guaranteed HEA. No cliffhangers. Full ending.

What Readers Are Saying…

Freyja and Odin are so complex. Freyja is a goddess, a Queen, a powerful witch and so much more. She rules firmly and fairly. But there is a depth to her that I’m not even sure she was completely aware of. Odin, on the other hand, is a god, a king and a warrior. And he is running out of time.” – K. M. Ernst, Amazon

Odin and Freyja are just the perfect couple.” -Denise DelFranco, Goodreads

If anyone could pull this off, could do Odin and Freya’s story justice, it’s Kitty.” -Cecile Smith, Goodreads

There is just something so engaging when a story, based on characters you know, is done so right! This is one of those stories, because while we ‘know’ Freyja and Odin, we don’t know them like this. These two have sizzling chemistry and explosive passion, and both those things make for some interesting encounters. They also connect on a cerebral level, they are both of the same ilk, and that causes some great clashes and some greater understanding.” – Dar, Goodreads

Valkyrie is Odin and Freyja’s story. Their attraction is so magnetic and electrically charged!” -Tanya Rae, Goodreads

…Freyja is not her typical heroine either. This is a strong heroine, an experienced woman who knows her worth and her strength. She’s powerful in her own right and can fight her own battles. To be honest, these types of heroines can be hit or miss for me, but I fell in love with Freyja. She is one of the more entertaining heroines I’ve read lately and I really enjoyed being in her head. Now Odin is on a completely different level. He’s a charmer and neither Freyja nor I seemed able to resist him for long. The level of heat between these too was outstanding. They were exceptionally well matched in every way. In addition to this enemies to lovers romance, there’s an intricate plot full of twists, turns, betrayals and redemption.” -Darkreads, Goodread

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FIRST TWO CHAPTERS of VALKYRIE FREE!

Valkyrie (c) Copyright 2022. Kitty Thomas. All rights reserved.

Chapter One
Freyja

A very long time ago in a realm next door to this one…

It’s day 333 of my captivity. I, Freyja, Queen of the Vanir, have been kept like an animal in this giant’s dark dungeon, kept even from the sunlight until I agree to be his. He’s a good and noble and decent man, you see—or so he wants me to believe. He regales me daily with his good deeds and the reasons why I will be lucky to be his bride.

He’s assured me that he won’t rape me—further proof of his wonderfulness. Such a high bar of honor he aspires to. He wants me to agree to be his queen, to bear his children, and gods forbid the consequence if I should bear him a son. He would turn that child against my people and launch a war against us, and I would be helpless to do anything to stop him.

He feeds me bread and water and keeps me in the dank empty darkness of this pit of a cell, kept far away from the conveniences of life… sunlight, fresh air, electricity, running water. Each day it’s the same question as this sick motherfucker mocks my free will.

There’s a drag in his step as he approaches and unlocks the door. I move back as far as I can from him. He’s far too large for me to overpower, so I wait and grit my teeth as I listen to what, to him, must pass as wooing.

“Today, my dear queen? Will you succumb to me, today? I can give you everything. Wealth beyond your wildest dreams. Beautiful jewels. You like jewels. I know you do. I know your greedy desires for riches. Deny your people and rule with me.”

His breath could remove the paint from a barn.

I can practically hear the quiet part out loud. I know he wanted to end that sentence with “you little slut.” He wouldn’t be the first god or giant who’d determined if I sleep with so many, then surely I must owe him access as well. The nerve on this guy. Sexual attraction and intimacy is all about fairness after all—I’m certain I read that somewhere in the user’s manual for life.

He says almost the same thing to me without deviation every day, as though he’s casting a spell upon me, attempting to break my will. The only consolation I have is that he has no actual magic of his own. Not real magic. The wards that guard and hide this place from detection are put in place and held there by his sister, Hyndla. I suspect if it weren’t for her magic, he’d have no power at all.

She is yet another of his captives, though with a greater illusion of freedom. It’s the same illusion I’ll be granted if I submit to him. Wearing fine clothes. Moving freely about the kingdom in her gilded cage. Eating only the best food. Sleeping in the most luxurious warm bed of fine silks.

She should be ruling this people. She was the first born after all. But it passed over her to her worthless brother instead. The only reason he hasn’t already outright killed her is so he can use her magic, but he’s heavily guarded and never allows himself to be alone with her. He’s smart enough for that at least—not quite the same level of stupid and oafish as most of his kind. He knows what would happen if he let her within chanting distance of him, and I wouldn’t blame her. It would definitely solve my problem.

I wonder if he plans to just keep me alive long enough to get his coveted heir produced by the Queen of the Vanir—his precious fuck trophy. What a prize to gloat over. He’d probably put my head on a pike as soon as he got what he wanted. As soon as the baby’s cry echoed my final scream of childbirth it would be off with my head.

Or maybe he’d keep me long enough to produce a backup heir. Lucky me.

“No,” I say to him, flatly. It’s my answer every day, and I will die before I submit to this piece of garbage. I won’t give him a single thing willingly. He’ll have to be the monster he is.

Saying this No each day is the singular power I possess and only because he’s allowed it which enrages me further—that I have no true agency here—just another illusion. I exist and live only as he desires, and at some point he may just end this farce of my free choice altogether. I’m sure he never thought it would take this long.

He could force me to say the vow and be his Queen. He could throw me down and impregnate me with his foul seed, and there wouldn’t be anything I could do to stop him. But he enjoys giving me the lie of power as the gatekeeper to sex and marriage. How magnanimous of him.

He removes a black velvet box from his vest and holds it out to me. “A courtship gift… my dove… my goddess…”

I want to claw this beast’s eyes out with my bare hands. I take a slow, measured breath. Soon, Freyja.

I take the bribe from his outstretched hand and open it to reveal yet another garishly horrific piece of jewelry. The stone is too large, as always.

“A rare ruby necklace, befitting my queen. Put it on.”

I feel as though I will spontaneously combust on the spot—as though flame could actually arise off my skin. I wish. I wish I could turn into living flame and burn this fuckhead to ash right in front of me.

But instead I do as he says, grit my teeth, and put it on.

His gaze roves over me, going far outside the scope of the necklace. “Lovely. Are you sure you won’t reconsider my offer? We could move you to better accommodations today. My servants will give you a fragrant hot bath in jasmine and roses. You’d like that.”

Gross. To prepare me for him to fuck? No, thanks. I’ve already been notified that the babymaking agenda is of paramount importance and that he’ll marry me once we get started on that—can’t waste fifteen minutes for a ceremony after all.

I’ll pass. I’ll just have to keep using the bucket to bathe. But of course I can’t say this out loud. I feel the edges of his pretend patience fraying.

He knows my reputation and love for fine things. He knows the abundance and luxury I’m used to. He thinks I’m such a spoiled brat that he can deprive me of the lifestyle to which I’ve become accustomed and break me. I will never break. He’ll have to force me.

I just stare blankly back at him.

He shrugs and goes to bring my food in—enough bread and water for the day and a little bit of meat. I get lamb once a week. I’m sure he’d prefer to keep me on the bread and water prisoner diet, but he doesn’t want me too weak to breed. To him I’m livestock that must be kept minimally fed and watered so a pregnancy will take when I finally decide I want to sleep in a bed like a real person.

He leaves my food on the ground and locks the door on his way out. I can’t let myself relax until the shuffling drag of his step disappears into the faint distance. I rip the necklace off and fling it to the far corner to land in a pile with the three hundred and thirty-two other useless baubles he’s bestowed upon me in my time here.

I’ve been marking the days of my captivity on the wall with a huge diamond from the first necklace he brought. I take the diamond now to scratch out the new line. I nearly fall into a trance staring at all these marks. I don’t know how long I stand here and stare at this fucking waste of time and life—the life he’s stealing from me.

I know my brother is looking for me. Freyr would never give up the search, but I also know how impossible his odds are, how well shielded with magic this place is.

Hours pass, and once again I hear footsteps, lighter and quicker this time—his sister. Hyndla unlocks the door and comes in, placing a plate with roasted duck and vegetables, and a goblet of water on the ground in front of me.

“Thank you.”

“Be sure to drink all the water. It’s been charged,” she says.

She charms all the food before she brings it. Every month, she charges the water she brings me each night in the light of the moon, from waxing to full—all of it meant to give me strength and power each night as she teaches me her magic so I can free myself and make her queen.

With pleasure.

I’ve learned to meditate, to chant, to shift and move energy. I’ve learned to see the future, and I’m learning—at least the technique—of weaving new threads to change it when possible.

My time in the bowels of the giant’s castle may be unpleasant, but it’s also a cocoon from which I’ve been prepared to emerge with new wings and new powers. The quiet and privacy of my captivity has served as a school for me to learn the magic I never would have known had I not met Hyndla.

We both know how many days I’ve been here. We calculated it long ago. Hyndla says only the norns—they who control fate—could have given us this opportunity. Three hundred and thirty-three is a number of great power, and tonight is the full moon. The odds of this convergence are so unbelievably small. Synchronicity. A sign.

I will kill my captor tonight with the power of the magic I’ve learned under the giantess’s tutelage, and I will walk out of this place, free.

“Are you ready?” she asks after our final session with the spells.

“Yes.”

“I’ll give word to the guards that you are ready to be his.”

I make a face at this, but I know these are the words that will get me within striking distance.

Chapter Two
Freyja

I take a deep breath as the guards open the doors for me, ushering me into the giant’s chambers. They give us privacy, and the king and I are alone. The smug bastard lounges with just a sheet covering his already prominent erection.

The room is filled with lit candles. Rose petals lead from the door to the bed. There’s mead and cakes on a nearby table. The full moon shines in through the window. I can’t believe he thinks he can switch from keeping me in a dungeon for nearly a year to standard romantic overtures.

Victory lights his eyes as he leans back on plush silk pillows, his hands interlaced behind his head, the picture of satisfaction. His gaze rakes over my body slowly from head to toe, causing my skin to crawl as if already violated. And truly his leer alone is a violation.

“I would have preferred you in white, but I guess none of my servants could bring themselves to pretend you are in any way pure. You’re lucky you come from such a prominent family and have such great beauty. I’ll overlook your whorish ways. I’m sure you’ll learn to conduct yourself in a more appropriate manner going forward once you’re carrying my heir.”

“When we’re married, you mean?”

“We’ll see. You did keep me waiting an unreasonably long time.”

I didn’t think I could feel more rage. It’s not as though I want to marry this brute, but with marriage comes at least a level of status. It seems as though he plans to use me to create an heir, and then just keep me as his concubine—assuming he doesn’t put my head on that pike.

I take a slow breath and offer him a strained smile. Yes, I have a reputation. My people don’t have the prudish ways of this kingdom. The Vanir don’t restrict our lovers and don’t expect or practice strict monogamy. I’ve been known to keep several active lovers at a time.

But he knew that when he took me. If he wanted a virgin kidnapped bride, he should have planned accordingly. No way does my kidnapper get to complain about my sexual appetites.

I stand naked except for the sheer red long-sleeved robe that flows to the ground and apparently isn’t to his taste. This wounds me. Truly.

He’s not done talking.

“I knew you’d come to me eventually, I just didn’t anticipate it so soon after our earlier conversation. And on the full moon, the time of your fertility. I’ll put my seed in you tonight. You’ll be swollen with my child by the harvest. What made you change your mind? Tired of the dungeon? Was it the beauty of my last gift? The hopelessness of your fate? Or maybe you realized you should be grateful to rule this kingdom with me. It’s a step up from the small tribes of the Vanir, wouldn’t you agree? We have far greater technology.”

I prefer being close to nature, but I keep that to myself. The worst part of my captivity has been the inability to lie naked on the bare earth under the moon.

I meet his gaze head on. “You need an heir—a son—growing inside me before the next lunar eclipse, do you not?”

The giant’s eyes widen, surprised I know about this.

“The prophecy,” I continue. “I understand why I’m here, and I’m ready to fulfill my duty. I’m ready to surrender fully to my purpose. I’m here to save the kingdom.”

A slow smile spreads over his face as he beckons me closer. As I walk toward him, I recite the prophecy Hyndla revealed when she came to me on the first full moon of my captivity, a week after my capture. I’ve recited it every day since, until it’s become a rote memory.

“The king shall fall to the blood of the moon and a queen will rise to rule, unless the one of renowned beauty produces a golden-haired heir before the blood of the moon consumes him.”

I’m unsure if I’m supposed to be flattered that I’m considered by him to be the one of renowned beauty. There is talk. I just didn’t realize it had reached the giant races.

Eclipses are far more rare in our realm than in the human world, and when they happen, they can be quite potent and fate changing.

“I had another three moons before the next eclipse. I’m glad I didn’t have to make things worse for you. You understand I cannot allow my witch of a sister to rule. I must keep the crown in my own direct line of descent. There cannot be magic in the direct blood line. It’s against our ways.”

And yet he was happy to use his sister’s magic for his convenience. I guess the rules only apply when he wants them to.

I nod. “I understand my role here, completely.”

His eyes fill with lust when I untie the robe, allowing the fabric to drift to the floor behind me as I move closer. I stand inside the moonlight at the foot of his enormous bed. I place my hand between my legs, causing his erection to grow harder.

“I’m afraid you can’t impregnate me tonight. Because, you see, I am the blood of the moon.”

He recoils—as some men do—when I show him my hand coated with menstrual blood. This is the final piece of my wild power. My blood. Hyndla told me the first full moon when she came to me and realized who I was, that women who bleed on the full moon instead of the dark are born volvas—the strongest type of witch. We are meant to wield great power. Three hundred thirty-three days, the full moon, and… my blood.

The lust leaves his eyes, replaced by anger and the tiniest shade of fear.

“Guards!” he shouts.

“No one will come. No one is brave enough to defy fate and the norns. This was prophesied. Your sister will rise to power tonight.”

He snorts. “What can you do to me? A small, weak woman? I can crush you with my bare hands. If you won’t breed for me, you’ll bleed for me.”

Technically I’m already bleeding for him. He just doesn’t appreciate it.

I raise my hand in a stopping motion. I feel the power rise within me as his ability to speak leaves him. He gasps, trying to make sound come out to no avail. He looks like a fish struggling and flopping around on the deck of a fisherman’s boat.

I begin to chant in the old language of my people, calling into me all the power I’ve prepared myself to hold as Hyndla and I have guarded the secret of my bleed from him all these moons. As my chanting grows louder and stronger he finds himself unable to move, pinned on his back to the bed in the position he no doubt expected to have me in soon.

I crawl onto the bed with him. Anyone watching from the outside might think this a seduction—a lithe nude woman moving to straddle a man surrounded by the romance of the moon, rose petals, and soft candlelight. But I’m not preparing to deliver the little death to him. This is the big one.

I smear the blood across his chest and hold my palm over it as I continue to chant. I hold his terrified gaze for the long minutes it takes until the light goes out, then I take the power of life and death into me.

Something I can’t name, terrifying and wild, rises up inside me. A moment later, I’ve shifted into a huge raven with shimmering purple-black iridescent wings. I have a moment of dizziness as I adjust to this new more compact form, as I stretch my wings and let out an experimental call. Then I fly out the open window to reclaim my life.

I don’t wait to watch the aftermath. I’m not staying for the coronation. I have my own people to return to, and Hyndla understands that. I had a role to perform, and now it’s over, and I carry new gifts with me in exchange for this harsh school of magic.

An hour of flight passes. I see the raging bonfire and smell the smoke well before I can see my people. It’s a feast night, but the merriment has been much subdued in my absence as though a prolonged funeral has been conducted each full moon instead of the orgy we usually have.

This makes me sad.

I spot Freyr sitting on a large log away from everything. My Father is also quite isolated, but standing off from the fire on the other side of the drums. I land next to my brother on the log. He looks over at me, thinking I’m just another raven. And possibly a bad omen. Ravens do tend to show up when things die. And I know exactly the death he thinks I might be portending.

“Go away!” he says, shooing me.

I shift back into my goddess form. “Is that any way to speak to the queen?”

He jumps nearly a foot off the log, and I feel a little bad about it. After all, I’ve been gone for so long. I could have been dead. But Freyr is my twin. He would have known. He would have felt the cord between us sever.

“Gods, Freyja, you nearly gave me a heart attack. How… how did you escape him? You must be freezing.”

I was naked when I shifted into the raven form. And so I’m naked now. Freyr takes the blanket that was wrapped around his shoulders and wraps it around me instead.

“You need shoes. We should get you closer to the fire.”

I sit on the log beside him, pulling my legs up with me, covering them and my feet with the blanket. “I’m fine. I can make my own heat now,” I say, recalling the fire balls I learned to create. I’m pretty sure I can just use them as little heaters. I might never be cold again.

He gives me an odd look but lets it drop. I’m not quite ready to be swarmed by the rest of the Vanir gods. I’ve been so isolated for so long, Freyr is about all I can take right now.

Finally, as if only fully realizing that I’m truly here and not a ghost, he wraps me in a long, tight hug. “I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

“I know.” I try unsuccessfully not to cry. I’ve missed my brother so much. I didn’t realize just how much a part of me he was until he was so far away. I don’t think before this we’ve ever spent more than a few days apart. There has never been a moment when I was not with him.

He pulls back, giving me some space, though I never need space from Freyr.

“How did you… how did you do that? The raven thing?”

“I’ve been learning magic,” I say as though I was off to witch school instead of living captive in a giant’s dungeon for nearly a year.

He lets it drop though. I know he’s not in the space yet to delve into all these details. And he knows I’ll tell him everything. I always tell him everything.

“How have things been in my absence?” I know he’s been ruling without me, and while Freyr is a good sovereign in his own right, he’s used to me being the one who gives the speeches and announces to the rest of the Vanir our next moves.

“It’s been hard.”

“Oh, come on, you know you liked getting to be the boss alone for once.”

He smiles softly because we both know he’d rather have me here than be the sole leader.

“We searched everywhere for you. We never gave up, but we couldn’t find and didn’t have a volva powerful enough to locate the giant’s cloaking wards.”

“You have one now.”

Need more? I can help you with that…

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Thank you so much for reading and supporting my work!

Kitty ^.^

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It has taken me 14 years of publishing to learn Deadlines don’t Motivate me

A couple of days ago I set an “official release date” for Valkyrie, October 19th. I was so excited. I’d done a new work flow and I was SURE that I could do this.

The very next day the writing ground to a halt. I got some words in, but it was a struggle. And I realized just how much pressure I was putting on this book. I love this book. I wish it was published yesterday. I’m so insanely unbelievably excited to share this story with my readers. But… it takes as long as it takes.

Also this is a LONG book for me. It takes a lot of stamina and staying power to write a 100k word book. And I admire the hell out of writers who do that over and over again. My comfort zone is 60-70k for a book. rarely a little more. I’ve never written a book this freaking long in my life.

But I can’t leave out things the book needs. Though if you expect this is some “new thing” where I’m going to be writing 100k word tomes all the time… LOLOLOLOL no. It’s just too big of a project.

A longer book takes longer to write, to reread, to edit. Almost every part of the process is affected by the unwieldy size of it.

I’m an extremely impatient person by nature, which makes one wonder why I would get into an industry like publishing where everything is so fucking slow. Even if you speed things up with self publishing it takes TIME to write a book, edit it, format it, publish it, and promote it. And it takes time… years and many books usually to build a career. It’s really not the kind of career path that would be an obvious match for someone as impatient as me.

I’ve been publishing for fourteen years and deep down I have ALWAYS KNOWN I cannot produce well on a deadline. Like at all. The creative process doesn’t work that way for me. Now I can have internal projections and “how I would like it to go” but announcing a deadline to the outer world that I am somehow obligated to deliver on is a big fat no.

I mean there is no reality in which I’m going to harm my health to give you a book, because it’s in my long term interest and yours as a reader for me to be fit enough to keep writing books, not just this one. There is no reality in which I’m going to rush a book out the door before it’s finished baking to reach some arbitrary deadline. Especially not a book that is so much “the book of my heart” as this one.

I don’t think I’ve ever written a book that means more to me. So I sure as shit am not sending it out with its naked butt flapping in the wind, mooning everybody in the slow lane.

One of the reasons besides sheer impatience that I think I set these deadlines is due to marketing. There is some marketing that requires a little bit of lead time. Like you can’t release a book and five days later have all this marketing set up, so it’s always tricky to know when to start setting this up. You can project a publishing date for the book and then set up marketing around that.

Another option is you can wait until the book is complete and set up marketing and publishing at the same time but accept that some of your major marketing is coming a few weeks after the book goes live which may or may not negatively impact sales velocity.

Or you can write the book, completely finish it, then set up your marketing and HOLD the book and wait to publish it. Even though this is probably the wisest of all options, given my nature, we can see why this is such a challenge. When a book is done I want to share it with you. NOW. I’ve wanted to share it with you since I wrote the first paragraph.

So, here we are. I could still meet that date if the stars align, but I’m not counting on it. I’m hoping by the end of October, but if that doesn’t happen, I have contingency plans. Either way I’ve made a vow to only write 8 minutes a day UNLESS the words are coming at me so fast I have to write them or lose them. I’m not going to sit in front of a screen and push myself and push the book and add to the stress of this entire process.

I think I’ve got about 10k words left, but I’m not sure because it was 12,500 words 5k word ago. It keeps expanding, though the expansion is slowing. Usually when I’m this close to the end I can blitz out the rest in a couple of days, but that’s just not how this particular book is working and if I force it, I risk burnout, which isn’t good for me, you, or the book.

This is an official honest to gods vow which I made to the writing gods and is good through Monday so I can regroup, though likely this is going to be the strategy… 8 minutes or inspiration until the book is done. This will actually turn the tap back on. The reason to do 8 minutes and not take days off is days off build up writer’s block and 8 minutes with no production pressure isn’t stressful. I literally don’t care if I write 10 words. It ticks the box and I engaged with the story for the minimum length of time.

I’ve already done my 8 minutes today (before I got out of bed this morning.) 240 words. It’s small, but an important part of characterization.

I know many authors swear by deadlines. And I know some traditionally published authors have no choice, but I think I’m going to stop doing them altogether. I’ll keep readers updated on general progress but I probably shouldn’t announce a release date until the book is at least written and edited.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

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VALKYRIE COVER REVEAL!

VALKYRIE
Coming Soon!

ODIN:

On the day I met the witch, she prophesied my death.

She said it was fate and couldn’t be changed.

I’ve gathered my warriors. I’ve laid my traps. I’ve moved my pieces across the board.

She is the piece that unlocks everything, I know she is.

And she’s wrong. Everything can be changed.

FREYJA:

A powerful god seeks to destroy my people unless I go live with him.

“You don’t have to marry him. You don’t even have to sleep with him. He just needs a witch.”

I’ve been told this multiple times, but I don’t trust this man.

He’s keeping something very important from me… and he’s such a charmer.

I may allow him into my bed, but I can never let him into my heart.

The Full Wrap Hardcover:

The Paperback:

The Title Page (for inside the print editions):

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Limited Time Signed Book Sale: Store Open!

Limited Time Sale Store Link

I just set up the store for the limited time signed book sale for the holidays! When I did this last year, for some reason I didn’t have a contact form set up. I have no idea why I forgot that!

But I have one now. On the main page on the big image with text there is a contact for help button you can push, or there’s also a link to the contact page that opens in a separate window in the bottom right hand corner on the site. So if you have any problems please don’t hesitate to reach out!

I’m taking orders from now through September 15th, and books will all be shipped out by Halloween at the latest, so you should have them in time for the yuletide! The sale WILL be open internationally (there are shipping details on each book page that explains it.)

Also, at the time of getting this all set up and writing this post I’m still working on getting The Sacrifice up in both hardcover and paper as well as the rebranded Broken Dolls paperback. So if you’re waiting on those, check back later today (8/12/22) and they should be in the store.

I also have old covers of things available if you want them. They’re available for me to print so even though some things may no longer be in a normal retail store, I have access to get them for you.

Thanks so much for reading and supporting my work!

Kitty ^.^

Limited Time Sale Store Link

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Where to follow me and why… Updated Edition

I feel like it’s time for a “Where to follow me and why” Post.

This is going to be a rundown of all the ways I interact with my readers so you find find the platforms best for you and what you can expect: (Keep in mind also, due to the nature of social media you are never GUARANTEED to see all my posts unless you go directly to my page on the account. It may be best to follow me in multiple places for safety if you don’t want to miss new releases.)

The Blog: (To subscribe to the blog, sign up in the gray box in the right hand column —-> Or, there’s another gray box for blog sign-up right underneath each post): Updates that are longer than what can comfortably fit in any social media end up in the blog. Also: New release stuff. Big giveaways (like big surprise book boxes with gift cards.) Cover reveals. Teaser Scenes. (I reply to my comments, personally.) I update periodically. I do newsletter WAY more than blog but some things make more sense as a blog post and I don’t want to bother the newsletter with it. Sometimes, like for Cover Reveal and new releases it goes to both.

My Newsletter: This is probably one of the BEST ways to stay in the know. I send out a newsletter usually around twice a month but sometimes once a week. I send daily during release week for my books and I do a lot of interactive stuff and newsletter exclusive signed book giveaways with my readers. I read all those emails and reply myself. If I ever get “huge” that might be impossible but right now it’s quite manageable. I do cover reveals, sometimes teaser excerpts, sales, and new release stuff here. I also share either what I’m reading or books from author friends. You can subscribe to my newsletter on the main page of my website either via the pop-up, or at the bottom of the page. Note, you WILL get the free book no matter which way you sign up.

Verve Romance: (Instagram: (I try to post here 1-3 times a day, but due to the way they show posts I’ll probably trend toward 1-2 since I don’t want you to end up seeing 3 things from me back-to-back. It looks spammy even though they were posted hours apart.

Twitter: (
BookBub: (Goodreads: (I also run some Goodreads giveaways but I generally announce those in other places. And I’m not sure how/if Goodreads notifies followers. I try to reply to comments people direct at me here.

Facebook Page: (

Facebook Group: (I also have a Facebook Profile but I don’t do “friends” on FB for a lot of reasons. (FB is often too angry. I don’t want my timeline filled up with angry people. And I don’t want to be one of those angry people.)

You can also follow my Amazon page, but I wouldn’t expect to actually stay updated there. Amazon decides if readers get to hear about a new release and they’ve only (to my knowledge) done me the courtesy of actually letting my Amazon followers know about a new release for me, once.) If/when I’m ever a “Big Deal” author, then this will become more reliable, but until then I would not count on this if you want to stay up-to-date on new releases.

Also I’m NOT on Pinterest (I feel like Instagram is enough for now for that kind of platform), and I’m also not on Tiktok or Youtube because I’m not really a “video person”.

I hope this was helpful!

Kitty ^.^

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