Thirsty

ONE OF THE BEST ROMANCE NOVELS OF THE YEAR. "A powerful, honest look at love as both a motivation and a risk." -The Washington Post "Thirsty held me captivated from its first page to its last. A singular reading experience." USA Today "Thirsty offers readers a powerful redemption arc while avoiding the casually racist escape narrative. Sal and Vanessa don't want to leave their neighborhood; they want to make it stronger. The book is unusual for being from a hero's-only point of view, but Hopkins' portrayal of Sal and Vanessa's love story is fully satisfying." -Kirkus Reviews "A brilliant read. There are good writers, and then there are writers that just leave you in awe. And Hopkins has definitely left me in awe." -Hypable "Sexy and soul-wrenching, with Sal's irresistible voice luring you through a living, breathing Los Angeles." -USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone "An amazing read! I stayed up way too late to finish and haven't stopped thinking about the characters. Highly recommended!" -USA Today bestselling author Molly O'Keefe A gangster hiding from his past. A single mom fighting for her future. Can she show this bad boy the man he's meant to be? My name is Salvador Rosas. Back in the barrio, my past is written on the walls: ESHB. Short for East Side Hollenbeck, my father's gang—my gang. Hell, it's a family tradition, one that sent both my brothers away. They used to call me "Ghost" because I haunted people's dreams. Now I've got nothing going for me except a hipster gringo mentoring me in a new career. An ex-con making craft beer? No mames. Still, people in this neighborhood look out for one another. That's how I became Vanessa Velasco's unwelcome tenant. Chiquita pero picosa. She's little, but with curves so sweet they're dangerous. I remember Vanessa from the old days, the straight-A student with big plans. Plans that were derailed by another kid stupid enough to think he was bulletproof. Now Vanessa knows better than to believe in empty promises. There's fire in her...and if I touch her, I might get burned. I'm trying everything I can to go straight. But when East Side Hollenbeck comes calling, I might have to risk it all to find out if there's a future for Vanessa and me. Because she's the only one who can quench my thirst for something real.