#contemporary thriller romance

[thelilysparks]

TEEN KILLERS AT LARGE NOW AVAILABLE ON NETGALLEY!!!

[archergrid]

BE GAY DO CRIME

archergrid.substack.com NEW CHAPTER EVERY WEDNESDAY 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Butch/femme 💰 Steal from the rich 👾 Hacker main character 🌹 Butch-fatale love interest 🌶️ Spicy love scenes When her former boss is acquitted of the crime she gave up everything to expose, a hypervigilant hacker masterminds a heist to get her revenge. But when a sexy yet reckless ex-yakuza joins the crew, the hacker’s meticulous plan begins to unravel. "Six of Crows" meets "Mr. Robot" in this snappy sapphic heist full of colorful criminals ripping off a megalomaniacal tech CEO in the South American port city of Valparaíso.

[wimbledon2008]

okay i know youre probably really busy so please dont feel obligated in any way to respond but ive seen a couple of your book recs and i was wondering if you could compile them in one post/add any other recs you have? also please give petrie a hug on my behalf ❤️

the only thing i'm busy with is consuming the entire western canon of m/m romance so it'd be my honor to provide you with some recs! of my 23/24 reads, here are my favorites, in no particular order:

whistling in the dark, invitation to the dance, and downtime by tamara allen

seven summer nights by harper fox

magician by k.l. noone

the will darling adventures by k.j. charles (read k.j. charles's entire oeuvre tbh)

we could be so good and two rogues make a right by cat sebastian

something wild and wonderful by anita kelly

the place between and cattle stop by kit oliver

box 1663 by alex sorel

the murder between us and the grave between us by tal bauer

salt magic, skin magic by lee welch

the uses of illicit art by wendy palmer

heated rivalry and the long game by rachel reid (would also recommend role model as the events of the book overlap with tlg)

the spear cuts through water by simon jimenez

death and the devil series by l.j. hayward

farview by kim fielding

happy reading! ❤️

[magical-mistakes-vm]

20

Chapter 19

Reality is setting in for Mahala

“Vollrath, what is really going on here? With you? With us? With all of you?” Mahala’s voice seemed small and frail. She was terrified suddenly of him, of them, of everything. Nothing seemed to be making any sense, and she so desperately wanted it to. While she had slightly lied that she didn’t trust or forgive Baldur or Elmar, the only one she trusted implicitly was Vollrath. She couldn’t even have explained why she did, but she knew without a doubt that he would never hurt her.

He sighed heavily, not even really knowing where to start without making her fear worse. Vollrath wanted to reassure her, to make her feel safe with him, but nothing he was going to say would do that. “My darling little witch, there is something wrong in the Coven. We don’t know what it is, but Baldur, Elmar, and I need to make a plan forward after what happened today to you from one of our own. Balor is the last person I would have expected to walk in here and be an ally, but he is. He is my brother and while we do not always get along, I do trust him to keep you safe. I would not let you go otherwise.” He gently kissed her forehead. “The prophecy, the one you’ve heard at least twice now, he knows it as well as I do but there are parts of it that we’re forgetting. So, what it means right now? I can’t say, I’m not hiding that from you.” He gently held her face in his hands as he spoke, his eyes never straying from hers. It was as if he was trying to memorize her in case this was the last time he saw her, a thing he did not truly want to imagine. “What started last night between you and me, we felt it from when we first touched. I’ve never had that with anyone. Already you are so special to me, and it scares me that someone could hurt you because of me. I don’t understand it all either, but we’re all going to figure it out together. Tonight though, tonight I need you to trust me, and trust Balor. Please.”

“Why would someone want to hurt me?” She was keeping her questions simple. It was her hope that she’d at least understand the answers then. Most of what Vollrath had just said was putting things she’d already heard in order to make sense of them.

“You are very, very, powerful, Mahala. They might want to keep me, or the Coven, from having access to your power. Then there is the fact that it is now known that you are special to me. There are many that know of the prophecy of our family, it would not take much for those that do, to figure out exactly who you are from that. I wish I could say that it protects you, but it makes you a target just as much as it offers protection.” Vollrath closed his eyes and brought his forehead to hers. An ache was starting in his chest, one he didn’t like. It was the reason he never let people close, it hurt. The thought of pushing her away already had that ache getting worse. He wouldn’t ever be able to do it, and he knew it.

“Who is going to protect you?” Vollrath’s eyes snapped open to meet hers again and she saw the worry in his. The beautiful hazel she was coming to adore shifting almost every second to a slightly different color with his warring emotions and thoughts. She had to wonder if he knew how open he was to someone who knew how to read them.

“I’m pretty good at protecting myself, Mahala. I also have Bal and El here with me. You’ve got my brother. Not an equal split, but I need both of them here with me, or I’d send Baldur with you. That and the humor in the two of them tripping over one another’s name.” Now one corner of his mouth ticked up in amusement. “Trust me, if they keep getting along, it may be the most amusing thing about this situation.” He tipped his head to kiss the end of her nose, then pulled her in tight against him and kissed the top of her head. The last thing he wanted to do was let her go and send her off with Balor; but the longer he waited, the later it would be when he made it back to the two of them.

Reblog banner - @cafekitsune

[taliabhattwrites]

Pre-Order Incentive for 'Dulhaniyaa'!

Many of you have been very kind to me and I've sailed past 100 preorders on my debut romance novel, which I'm overjoyed and grateful for.

I don't believe I'm actually going to hit this benchmark, but just for fun, here's something that I think people might enjoy as well: my next project, titled Jeevansaathi, a crime thriller story of romance, reincarnation and revenge!

If I somehow manage to hit 150 preorders on Dulhaniyaa, I'll upload the prologue of Jeevansaathi for download (:

[gregor-samsung]

怪物 (Kaibutsu) [Monster] (Kore-eda Hirokazu, 2023)

[the-andromeda-effect]

21

“Well,I…I don’t know.  I just know that no matter what I tried, I was never enough for Mi-” Suddenly Caliban’s hand was over her mouth, cutting her off as she felt herself fully pulled back against him.  Her eyes closed, her breathing stilled, and she waited for the pain.  Pain always came after the wrong things were said.  Hopefully Caliban would not be as brutal as Mircea had been.  She still ached from being dragged by Kondrat and the abuse in that basement.

Caliban had to stop her from finishing her sentence, he hated hearing that name in her voice, but especially with how broken her voice sounded at the moment.  There was such a strong undercurrent of pain and fear that was always carried along with it, but added to that now were her nerves regarding their conversation. While she had not meant to, the almost comparison with her ex was not something that Caliban felt like dealing with at the moment either. 

As soon as he’d done it, he was kicking himself for his impetuous action of grabbing her as he had. He knew how Mircea had beat her, and his grabbing her had probably put the fear of such action in her once more.  Caliban was fighting grinding his teeth at his own stupidity while he tried to calm himself enough to talk without making it worse.  There was little doubt he’d just scared her to her core, something he never wanted to do.  Adira was so different from any woman he’d previously known, and he was going to have to be more careful in many ways to keep from causing her more pain in the future.  He’d never previously wanted a serious relationship, they were liabilities in his life.  He had never felt that he’d missed anything by not having them; something he was reconsidering after one evening of engaging in enjoyable conversation followed by the night of having her in his arms.  This was going to be the first, and he was getting a crash course in it.  One thing he did know was that he was not going to allow Adira to walk around with constant fear in her head, and feeling that she was on eggshells.  She’d already done that for too long.

“Adira, sweetheart, please breathe.  You’re not in trouble.  I’m sorry for scaring you.”  His voice came out soft and reassuring, a gentle kiss placed against her temple when he realized he wasn’t feeling the rise and fall of her normal breathing; and he hated himself even more for being the cause of it.  Second day as a married man and already he was screwing it up, he was going to have to learn a lot faster from here on out.    

Slowly Adira nodded and began to force herself to breathe slowly.  Caliban was holding her firmly, but not painfully, so she relaxed into his strength, trying to trust his word that she was not in trouble.  After a few seconds, his hand came away from her mouth to gently cup the side of her face and softly guide her to look up at him over her shoulder.  It took all of her will for her eyes to meet his.  The look in Caliban’s eyes when she did was one of regret for his actions, and concern for her, something that warmed her to her very core.  Still, she didn’t understand it.

“The past is over, and I don’t want that name to even go through your head any longer.  He can’t hurt you anymore, and you are safe from that kind of life.  You’re my wife now, and we’re going to work on things in this partnership together.  Consider it a fresh start.”  His fingers caressed the side of her face. “So erase those doubts, and I’ll erase mine that I won’t be good enough for you. Deal?”

It had never entered Adira’s mind that he would have any kind of doubts.  Caliban seemed so assured about everything, whereas she was a mess at the moment, or all the time if you asked Mircea.  Could it be that he had doubts?  Truly?  Or was he just saying that to make her feel better about her own?  Would he do something like that?

Adira remained silent and still for so long that Caliba wasn’t sure that she was going to answer.  He knew he had frightened her with his response, a response he was still mentally kicking himself for, but he had hoped that he had cleared up that and put her mind at ease.  That it was taking her a while to answer was making him doubt that.  Then, slowly she turned in his arms to look up into his eyes.  The expression on her face was hard to read; all he could do was wait for her to say something.

“What doubts could you possibly have?”  Adira’s brows drew together.  She truly was having a hard time understanding how he couldn’t understand that he was already more than she could have ever expected or asked for.  He had not only rescued her from her kidnappers and Mircea, but he had chosen not to kill her, something he had been hired and fully paid to do.

“Sweetheart, you deserve someone that is going to treat you the way that you’ve always deserved.  I am not always the easiest to get along with, and have, what some would call, a bit of a problem with my temper.  So, I cannot guarantee that I will be the best husband to you.  That doesn’t mean I won’t try to be as supportive, understanding, and protective as I can.  I just may fail on some aspects, and you have been failed enough.”  His expression was soft as he cupped the side of her face with one hand, his thumb softly caressing her cheek.  She truly was something special he could already tell.  He had never believed in love at first sight.  He wouldn’t say that he did now.  However, he might say that he now believed in connection at first sight.  How far that connection would take them, he couldn’t say, but he was looking forward to finding out.

“I don’t ask that you be perfect, Cal.”  It was the first time she’d shortened his name, but for some reason it felt right to do at this time.  “I’m not perfect either. We can be imperfect together, and still make things work, as long as we’re willing to listen and work with one another. Isn’t that what makes a strong partnership after all?  So, you have your deal.”  She smiled softly up at him.

Caliban lowered his forehead to hers, a much better angle to gaze into her eyes that seemed to speak as loud as her voice did at times.  Many people over the years had shortened his name, but there was something about the way that it sounded rolling off of her tongue that he found he liked more than any other.  Add that to the growing list of things that he found unique and pleasantly surprising about the woman before him.  He could not have anticipated how the decision in the basement could have led to the conversation they were having now, or the way it was making him feel, but he was  becoming more grateful as each hour passed that he had followed his gut.

“I will do my best to always listen to your cares and concerns, and to make sure that I share mine with you.  Hopefully then you won’t deal with my temper, and whatever it is that has the doubts swimming in that beautiful mind of yours will also be alleviated.”  His nose gently ran along hers as a smile formed on his lips as well.  Adira was unlike the women he had been entangled with in the past, and maybe that was what drew him to her so much now.  

“Double deal.” Adira tipped her head to brush her lips over his.  If he was saying and doing all of these little things to make her fall for him, he was doing it all perfectly.  She could only pray that she was not making a mistake and believing in him. 

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🕶 I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War

❓ What was the last debut novel you read (and did you enjoy it)?

🕶 When freelance journalist Khin Haymar is assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, Hollywood’s hottest movie, she's determined to succeed. Tyler has returned home to Myanmar to shoot his latest film, and if Khin’s able to get an exclusive, there may well be a permanent position waiting for her at Vogue Singapore.

🕶 Tyler has a very private life and doesn’t show any sign of letting down his walls for Khin. But then one night on set, a man follows Khin into the park. When he threatens her, Tyler steps in and things escalate fast. Khin knows they can’t go to the police, even if this was self-defense, and even if this stranger seems to have targeted her specifically.

🕶 As Khin and Tyler work together to hide their secret and find out more about her attacker, they grow closer and Tyler finally starts opening up. But now the idea of writing the article gives Khin an uncomfortable morality-related guilt. Before long, everything hangs in the balance. Will they get away with murder? Can Khin get the exposé she needs for her dream job? And is she willing to risk Tyler’s trust in the process?

✨ The Vibes 🕶 Debut Novel 🕶 Journalist/Celebrity 🕶 Suspense Thriller Rom-Com 🕶 True Crime 🕶 Witty Banter 🕶 He Falls First

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: The Last Days of Holly Hayes

Author: Sandra J. Paul

Series or standalone: standalone

Publication year: 2024

Genres: fiction, romance, thriller, mystery, contemporary

Blurb: When college students Holly and Dylan fall in love, life is wonderful for awhile. There's just one big problem: Holly has no idea that Dylan's parents are Doomsday preppers, and that he's been living a life drenched in fear. Months later, Dylan realises he can no longer hide the truth from Holly, and so he takes her to his small Montana hometown for a hiking trip...but the worst case scenario unfolds. Dylan is warned that the world is about to end. The problem: Holly still has no clue about who and what Dylan is. Panicking, Dylan forces Holly to seek shelter high up in the mountains. He locks her in against her will, determined to save her life...but is there really an end-of-the-world disaster going on, or is this just another false alarm?

[wanderrealms]

Listening to writers across (so very many) genres can result in mental whiplash, but it's also fun.

[eloreenmoon]

Skeletons in the Closet (Shadowy Solutions Book 1) by Nicky James #Audiobook #MMRomance #Contemporary #Review #LGBT #Suspense

Erryn reviews ‘Skeletons in the Closet (Shadowy Solutions Book 1)’ by Nicky James. This book was released by the author on May 30, 3034, and is 367 pgs long. The audiobook version of this story was narrated by Nick J. Russo.  It was released on May 31, 2024, and is 10 hrs and 55 mins long. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. Why I read this book:  A Valor and Doyle spin-off?…

[jessread-s]

Thanks to @penguinteen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review 

✩💰💎Review:

Lewis’ debut novel is a thrilling must-read that is entertaining to no end!

“Thieves’ Gambit” follows 17-year-old Rossalyn Quest, a master thief  who plans to run away from her notorious family to leave behind her life of crime. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when her last job goes sideways, leaving her mother’s life in the balance. In a desperate bid to save her, Ross enters the Thieves’ Gambit, a legendary, yet dangerous competition in which the world’s top teen thieves go head to head for the ultimate prize—a granted wish for anything in the world. 

There are no dull moments in this book! Lewis’ high stakes, fast-paced storyline made it impossible for me to put it down. I was endlessly entertained and engaged by the series of heists Ross had to complete in the tournament, the cinematic feel of Lewis’ writing, and the backstabbing, lying, and cheating amongst competitors amidst the chaos.

As much as I loved the novel’s plot, I loved Rossalyn Quest as a protagonist even more! Caught between her dream of a normal life and staying loyal to her family of thieves, Ross’ internal conflict is complex and relatable. Her fierce love for her mother is admirable and I found myself rooting for her to win the wish the entire time! The only thing standing in her way is her struggle to trust others. This layer of intrigue only deepens when her fellow competitor Devroe Kenzie begins to break through her walls with his charm and persistence. I adored their partnership and couldn’t help but audibly scream when it turned into something more. 

“Thieves’ Gambit” is full of love and betrayal and I could not get enough despite the ending absolutely destroying me. I need book two immediately and hope that Lionsgate Studios moves forward with the development of Lewis’ debut so that I can see it on the big screen! 

Cross-posted to: Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads | StoryGraph

[archergrid]

GIRL WITH NO NAME Chapter 2 is live! Substack Serial • Sapphic Heist Romance

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Butch/femme 💰 Steal from the rich 👾 Latina hacker main character 🌹 Asian lesbian love interest 🌶️ spicy love scenes

[lovebooksforeversblog]

My Colleen Hoover books ratings 📚🖤✨

[gregor-samsung]

怪物 (Kaibutsu) [Monster] (Kore-eda Hirokazu, 2023)

[percontaion-points]

The Chemist chapter 28

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Chapter 28

“But the second you’re separated from Carston, he’ll double-cross you.”

This is a joke, right? The dude has already sold Julie out so many times. 

Fool me 10 times, shame on you…

“I told you I’d be there when you needed backup,” he said. The elevator doors closed.

Chapter 28 summary: The three of them sit around and Julie tells them her plan. Daniel is obviously on board, but Val needs more convincing. Before you ask what the plan is… We don’t actually get to find this out. Val only comes around when Julie and Daniel suggest making Daniel no longer look like Kevin. 

Julie then goes to the zoo, where she knows Carston’s daughter and granddaughter would be. She looks around for a while, which takes up so much time for no real reason. I get that finding a specific mother and child at the zoo takes time, but holy shit, we didn’t need the details of every red herring Julie followed around! When she catches up to Erin pushing Olivia around in a stroller, she then drugs Erin to get mom out of the way. And then she knocks Olivia out so that she doesn’t put up a fight that she’s being kidnapped. 

Back at the apartment, Val meets Julie in the parking structure with a cart so that they can get Olivia inside without the cameras seeing. Inside, Julie is startled with the makeover Val had given Daniel. And I mean, so impressed that she will not shut up about it for TWO PAGES. Then we spend another TWO PAGES with Julie simply staging a scene to make it look like she intends to torture Olivia. Before anybody says anything, Julie never intends to allow Olivia to wake up at any point. 

Val then leaves for a second, which allows Julie to say her goodbyes to Daniel. He’s coming, but only as the driver. With his makeover, she insists that he has to play a role of “Only doing this for the money”. She tells him about the passports and IDs she’d stolen from Kevin earlier, and to use them if things go sideways. And also gives him another of her knock-out rings.