The Game Maker

By: Kitty Thomas

Narrated by: Shirl Rae

Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

I was too isolated. I was about to be evicted. I made a final desperate call to the man who ruined my life, but he didn't come for me.

Someone else did.

And then there was Seven. When I first woke in the cell, I thought he was my captor, but he is a pawn, like me.

Seven is beautiful and kind. I want him so much I can barely breathe. He wants to protect me from our captor, but he can't.

We are both locked inside a game neither of us can ever hope to win, and even though it's wrong, I'm starting to want both men, not just the good one...the monster as well.

This is a stand-alone dark contemporary romance.

©2020 Kitty Thomas (P)2020 Kitty Thomas

yes and no

On one hand I really enjoyed this and I kinda didnt. I seriously struggled with the FMC. Her inner dialog and direct explanation/rationalizations took me out of the story several times. I love a dark and twisty captive with dub-con abound which is totally fine in this setting for me. The ending had me rolling my eyes but ok. As an overall escape and good sex scenarios to loose yourself in this totally worked.
Shirl Rae narration is different but I appreciate and enjoyed it.

There is no winning or losing this game...

When you're so far down on your luck, you've got nothing, is there someone you trust that you can call? Someone to offer a helping hand or allow you to couch surf until you're back on your feet? How far would you go for the security of not living on the street?

Kate Mitchell was practically penniless; she had lost her job and was days away from being evicted from her apartment. In a last-ditch effort to stay off the streets, she calls her ex-boyfriend to beg for a place to stay. He greedily acquiesces on the condition of Kate becoming his live-in whore. Unfortunately for Kate, someone else takes her home instead. A mysterious man has captured her and locked her in a cell with another man and welcomes her to his game. The rules are simple: do as the disembodied voice commands and live...or don't, and starve.

THE GAME MAKER by Kitty Thomas delivers an erotically twisted and less gruesome Saw. Two strangers locked in a room and ordered about by a game master...who breaks first? Time holds no meaning when there's no hope of escape, so what is the harm in giving in and playing the game? It is better to eat and survive with a little forced pleasure than it is to starve in fear, right?

Kitty Thomas provides all the Kitty-goodness readers have come to love with THE GAME MAKER. Told in first-person perspective from Kate's point of view, readers feel as if they are playing the game, too. THE GAME MAKER brings with it a Kitty twist...and as the game master planned, the reader may think they see the twist coming, but they aren't prepared; it's just the next level of the game. As the stakes are raised, so are the rewards: Kate's heart is on the line, but so is the reader's. The only sure thing? Win or lose, a good time will be had by all.

THE GAME MAKER drags in victims while unconscious - so those against dubious consent may want to steer clear, though Kitty Thomas does her best to keep the twisted alpha male trope tamed into some form of consent-driven lovable character. The game master is always watching, so anyone against exhibitionism or voyeurism may need to give this a pass, as well as those against group sex. Those that don't mind any of this are the real winners here; the story unfolds beautifully and leaves the reader satisfied, if not begging for more.

In the audio version, Shirl Rae performs magnificently, bringing Kate and the story to life with passion. Her varied voices easily differentiate between each character and the audio comes through nice and clear.

Another great Kitty book!

Another Kitty book to add to my favorites!! In true Kitty fashion, we get darkness, unconventional romance, twists, turns, and a whole lot of sexy time. If you’ve read previous Kitty books you know what I’m talking about. If this is your first, it’s definitely a good introduction to dark romance. I’m not even sure what I can say because it seems like everything I want to say is a spoiler LOL but needless to say, I loved it! I loved Seven and the captor. I loved Kate and how she doesn’t fight her urges too much. To be completely honest, I loved this book so much, I want more in this world! I want more of these 3 characters. I want to see what’s beyond the ending. I want them to be in another “dark” situation. I’m not sure what that says about me but I can’t get enough of Kitty’s books! And don’t even get me started on that gorgeous cover! The first cover to have a male model. Hello, gorgeous! It rivals my favorite cover of Kitty’s which is “Persephone”.

Shirl Rae does a phenomenal job at bringing these characters to life! She’s quickly becoming a favorite narrator.

This book is a MUST, MUST, MUST read!

I enjoyed this one.

I really had a God time listening to this book. it was unique and while the main character had a definite case of stockholm syndrome, there was no doubt that it was still enjoyable to listen to. The end felt a little rushed with Kate falling into her new life so willingly and quickly, and although it was obvious the guys cared for her, it didn't feel like this was conveyed strongly enough. I understand they're sociopaths, but all the same I was hoping for just a little more love expressed between them all. Either way, I liked the writing and the performance was awesome so I really shouldn't have any complaints!

Great read

This book is about a woman named Kate who's ex has blacklisted her from finding a job and is about to be homeless. On the day she agrees to return to her ex she's kidnapped and placed into a cell and forced to play a dangerous game. Who can she trust her cellmate? Her captor? Herself? Can she figure a way out of her predicament in one piece?

Kate was very strong but gentle. She was dealt a shit hand and tries to do her best with a bad situation. When she wakes up in the cell I had a lot of thoughts. The ending was definitely surprising. Another great read!

I would recommend this book if you like suspense, surprises, hot bad guys, sex, fear and twist endings!

I love Shirl she's such a great narrator and she did well narrating all the different characters and made the story come alive a great listen.

Loved it

I enjoyed the narrator. She had a pleasant voice and I liked how she changed her voice for the different characters. Made the story that much better!

This is another great book by this author! She knows how to write them and keep you interested and twitching in your seat! If you've never read this author then this is a great one to start. It isn't attached to any of her other stories and it doesn't end in a cliffhanger. And if you have ever read any of this author's books then you know you can expect the best kind of dark romance she can come up with!

Twisted and steamy games!!

I had previously read the book and loved it but the audible is outstanding. The narrator did an awesome job. Listening to the book made you feel all of the emotions and made the story come alive. I highly recommend listening to this book to experience these dark and twisted games!!!

Dark & twisty & fascinating!!!

What an intriguing, dark, twisty tale this was, but I totally loved it! Kate’s life has pretty much fallen apart (thanks to a man no less), when she makes a rash decision while sitting at a bar, and makes a phone call that changes everything. She wakes up in a cell, with a man, and another man calling the shots. And this is where things start turning a bit dark & some twists come in. And you can’t put it down!! Gripping & fascinating! And Shirl Rae does a phenomenal job narrating this story. I’m telling you, it’s a definite must listen to!!

Fabulous Book!

Love this twisted tale. The build up and climax are expertly done, one of my favorite Kitty reads. Listening to it while I cleaned house was like the book coming to life, fantastic! Shirl Rae is an awesome narrator!

My favorite from Kitty so far!

The game is dark, devious, depraved, and yet so tempting. Kate may be a manipulated captive but something in her aches in fascination for it. Its all so twisted but yet perfect at the same time. I was pulled into the story with this narrator's soothing, alluring voice.

This tale is best when going in blind. You'll understand once you've read or listened. It's impossible not to dive in and escape, you yourself will become a captive in its lustful grip. One woman, one man, one captor, the possibilities are eternal.