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Surrender to Temptation #1-6
Surrender to Temptation
In this stunning romance, Lauren Jameson presents a story of unexpected desire in which two strangers play a dangerous game in the quest for incredible pleasure. But winning comes with a price....
After walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Devon Reid decides to seek solace in the small California town she’s often visited on vacation. Instead, she finds herself consumed by a mysterious man who sets her ablaze with one simple look.
Devon has always been the good girl, but Zach’s touch turns her into something primal, especially when he persuades her to give up control to him. But while Zach can make her burn, he seduces Devon one moment and turns her away the next.
When Devon starts her new job at Phyrefly Aviation, she learns that Zach is actually founder and CEO of the massive corporation. And while Devon knows she should keep things between them strictly professional, his overwhelming magnetism makes it impossible to stay away....
After walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Devon Reid decides to seek solace in the small California town she’s often visited on vacation. Instead, she finds herself consumed by a mysterious man who sets her ablaze with one simple look.
Devon has always been the good girl, but Zach’s touch turns her into something primal, especially when he persuades her to give up control to him. But while Zach can make her burn, he seduces Devon one moment and turns her away the next.
When Devon starts her new job at Phyrefly Aviation, she learns that Zach is actually founder and CEO of the massive corporation. And while Devon knows she should keep things between them strictly professional, his overwhelming magnetism makes it impossible to stay away....
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2013
11 people are currently reading
585 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
July 26, 2016
4 Tempting Stars
Surrender to Temptation is a mild BDSM read with a hint of dominance, steam and sexy billionaire Hero.
Devon walked in on her boyfriend cheating. She is devastated and decides to quit her job and move away. She ends up in a little town and as she eats dinner she sees a handsome stranger who can’t keep his eyes off of her. Zach is handsome, rich and is very dominate. He offers Devon a job at his company and Devon happily accepts.
Surrender to Temptation has everything a mild BDSM read needs.
Rich CEO billionaire with damaged past CHECK
Newbie submissive Heroine CHECK
Steamy BDSM scenes CHECK
Devon and Zach at first are attracted to each other and to my surprise it wasn’t insta-lust. There was nice tension and chasing on Zach’s part. Zach is very Dominate. He knows what he wants and what he wants is sex with Devon, but sex his way. He doesn’t do “vanilla” sex. Devon is jilted by her ex and she isn’t model thin so she doubts herself. When sexy Zach shows her interests, it’s hard for Devon not to follow his lead, even though she’s a bit scared.
Surrender to Temptation was an easy short read. I really did enjoy it and the steamy factor was nice. The tension between Devon and Zach is up and down. Zach is very hot and cold. Many times Zach pushes Devon away and I got a bit frustrated at the end. I wanted to tell Zach, “Okay enough!” I was happy that Devon wasn’t too much like a puppy and pushed Zach back a bit.
I’ve read a lot of BDSM reads, so I tend to go towards the darker, harsher reads, but every once in a while, it’s nice to read a short sweet one.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
Note: Surrender to Temptation is also available in five parts.
AMAZON
Series Order (Six Parts)
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
For more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
Surrender to Temptation is a mild BDSM read with a hint of dominance, steam and sexy billionaire Hero.
Devon walked in on her boyfriend cheating. She is devastated and decides to quit her job and move away. She ends up in a little town and as she eats dinner she sees a handsome stranger who can’t keep his eyes off of her. Zach is handsome, rich and is very dominate. He offers Devon a job at his company and Devon happily accepts.
Surrender to Temptation has everything a mild BDSM read needs.
Rich CEO billionaire with damaged past CHECK
Newbie submissive Heroine CHECK
Steamy BDSM scenes CHECK
Devon and Zach at first are attracted to each other and to my surprise it wasn’t insta-lust. There was nice tension and chasing on Zach’s part. Zach is very Dominate. He knows what he wants and what he wants is sex with Devon, but sex his way. He doesn’t do “vanilla” sex. Devon is jilted by her ex and she isn’t model thin so she doubts herself. When sexy Zach shows her interests, it’s hard for Devon not to follow his lead, even though she’s a bit scared.
Surrender to Temptation was an easy short read. I really did enjoy it and the steamy factor was nice. The tension between Devon and Zach is up and down. Zach is very hot and cold. Many times Zach pushes Devon away and I got a bit frustrated at the end. I wanted to tell Zach, “Okay enough!” I was happy that Devon wasn’t too much like a puppy and pushed Zach back a bit.
I’ve read a lot of BDSM reads, so I tend to go towards the darker, harsher reads, but every once in a while, it’s nice to read a short sweet one.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
Note: Surrender to Temptation is also available in five parts.
AMAZONSeries Order (Six Parts)
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZON
AMAZONFor more reviews, http://jacquelinesreads.blogspot.com
May 24, 2014
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: I think every woman has had that one friend who breaks up and reunites with her sleaze ball boyfriend so many times that it’s not worth commenting on. Devon is that friend and this book gets just as tiring after only the second of many breakups with Zach. Equal parts annoying, predictable and erotic, I couldn’t help but compare Surrender to Temptation with that other wildly popular trilogy about a young girl who’s introduced to the BDSM world by a captain of industry.
Opening Sentence: All I wanted was to feel sexy.
The Review:
Devon Reid doesn’t fight for what she wants and she certainly doesn’t confront people who’ve wronged her. Even when she finds her boyfriend, who she just moved in with, having sex with another woman from the law firm where they work. No one to turn to, no job and nowhere to live, she runs to the small town her now-deceased parents used to take her on vacations with little more than the thought to escape from her humiliation.
Like all heavy-set girls do in times of emotional turmoil, Devon hopes to drown her sorrow in a plate of chicken fried steak (What? You mean you don’t do this?). Instead, she finds herself the center of a hot guy’s attention. Combustible insta-lust ensues between the two, with desire and want emanating between them like the neon glow of the Vegas strip. She’s clearly out of her league but still the beautiful man sitting across the diner comes over and begins erotically feeding her whipped cream covered strawberries. Despite the fact that he’s practically screwing her with his eyes, he leaves abruptly when she asks him an apparently too-personal question. Which leads to a rehashing of her self-esteem issues because, honestly, what guy that good looking would want to be with a girl who isn’t wearing makeup or a push up bra?
Yet, somehow the man finds her as she’s approaching her motel later that night. Though the stalker-ish behavior and his manhandling on the street should concern her, Devon is more than OK with the completely messed up situation. Like any girl with self-esteem issues, she’s just happy that an attractive guy is paying attention to her. (Insert eye roll here.) Offering her a job is the least the guy can do after aggressively pawing at and practically threatening her with bodily harm if he ever sees her again. Since it’d be impossible for her to find any other job in California, Devon travels to San Francisco to apply for any job that she’s qualified for at Phyrefly Aviation in the hopes of running into the dangerous hottie.
For once luck seems to be on her side because the man who groped her is none other than Zach St. Brenton, the owner and CEO of the megacorporation she now works for. As it turns out, Zach’s traumatic childhood left him with a need for control that made him the successful businessman he is today. It also made a BDSM relationship the only one he wants. Devon is more than happy to be his new BDSM initiate, despite constantly stating how she wants more than what he’s capable of offering. A predictable pattern emerges where he pushes her sexual boundaries and she likes it. She wants a deeper emotional connection but he can’t give it to her. They break up (for good this time, she means it!) until he sees her with another man and entices her back with sex. This repeats several times, with some emotional revelations along the way, until I became so tired of the angst that I couldn’t wait for the story to end.
Though I know it’s unfair and completely random, the majority of my dislike for this story stems from the way it was compiled. My understanding is that Jameson originally published Surrender to Temptation as a six-part serial, a story format that’s neither a stand-alone nor a full-fledged series like a trilogy. Instead, a serial story is like a favorite TV show; each weekly episode moves the overarching story arc forward but has its own unique subplot. Or, at least, it’s supposed to. I wouldn’t watch a TV show where the characters did the same thing week after week and I certainly didn’t enjoy the written equivalent. Combining it into an omnibus seemed to emphasize the weak characterization and stagnant plot. It also highlighted the similarities with the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy – something that could be good or bad depending on where you fall on the spectrum for that story.
All said Surrender to Temptation was a technically well-written story. There were no glaring editorial mistakes like misspelled words or grammatical errors and the sexy times are what you’d expect to find in an erotic BDSM-themed story. Even though Devon is a weak character and I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities in Zach, I can see how the individual parts could be entertaining if enough time passed to forget all but the juicy bits between readings.
Notable Scene:
“I am a very successful man, Devon. I’ve had to be ruthless to make my way.” His eyes narrowed, judging my response, but I found that his harsh words only made me tremble with need.
“That ruthlessness applies to all areas of my life. I am not a nice man.” His expression dared me to argue with him. I wasn’t about to. He seemed like a lot of things right in that moment, but nice wasn’t one of them.
“I don’t care.” It was naive, I knew, but I truly didn’t. Part of me thrilled at his violent words, a part of me that I would never have guessed even existed.
Something flashed through his expression, gone so fast it was hard to believe that it had even been there, but I knew what I’d seen.
He liked the way that I responded to him. Liked it a lot.
FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Surrender to Temptation. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: I think every woman has had that one friend who breaks up and reunites with her sleaze ball boyfriend so many times that it’s not worth commenting on. Devon is that friend and this book gets just as tiring after only the second of many breakups with Zach. Equal parts annoying, predictable and erotic, I couldn’t help but compare Surrender to Temptation with that other wildly popular trilogy about a young girl who’s introduced to the BDSM world by a captain of industry.
Opening Sentence: All I wanted was to feel sexy.
The Review:
Devon Reid doesn’t fight for what she wants and she certainly doesn’t confront people who’ve wronged her. Even when she finds her boyfriend, who she just moved in with, having sex with another woman from the law firm where they work. No one to turn to, no job and nowhere to live, she runs to the small town her now-deceased parents used to take her on vacations with little more than the thought to escape from her humiliation.
Like all heavy-set girls do in times of emotional turmoil, Devon hopes to drown her sorrow in a plate of chicken fried steak (What? You mean you don’t do this?). Instead, she finds herself the center of a hot guy’s attention. Combustible insta-lust ensues between the two, with desire and want emanating between them like the neon glow of the Vegas strip. She’s clearly out of her league but still the beautiful man sitting across the diner comes over and begins erotically feeding her whipped cream covered strawberries. Despite the fact that he’s practically screwing her with his eyes, he leaves abruptly when she asks him an apparently too-personal question. Which leads to a rehashing of her self-esteem issues because, honestly, what guy that good looking would want to be with a girl who isn’t wearing makeup or a push up bra?
Yet, somehow the man finds her as she’s approaching her motel later that night. Though the stalker-ish behavior and his manhandling on the street should concern her, Devon is more than OK with the completely messed up situation. Like any girl with self-esteem issues, she’s just happy that an attractive guy is paying attention to her. (Insert eye roll here.) Offering her a job is the least the guy can do after aggressively pawing at and practically threatening her with bodily harm if he ever sees her again. Since it’d be impossible for her to find any other job in California, Devon travels to San Francisco to apply for any job that she’s qualified for at Phyrefly Aviation in the hopes of running into the dangerous hottie.
For once luck seems to be on her side because the man who groped her is none other than Zach St. Brenton, the owner and CEO of the megacorporation she now works for. As it turns out, Zach’s traumatic childhood left him with a need for control that made him the successful businessman he is today. It also made a BDSM relationship the only one he wants. Devon is more than happy to be his new BDSM initiate, despite constantly stating how she wants more than what he’s capable of offering. A predictable pattern emerges where he pushes her sexual boundaries and she likes it. She wants a deeper emotional connection but he can’t give it to her. They break up (for good this time, she means it!) until he sees her with another man and entices her back with sex. This repeats several times, with some emotional revelations along the way, until I became so tired of the angst that I couldn’t wait for the story to end.
Though I know it’s unfair and completely random, the majority of my dislike for this story stems from the way it was compiled. My understanding is that Jameson originally published Surrender to Temptation as a six-part serial, a story format that’s neither a stand-alone nor a full-fledged series like a trilogy. Instead, a serial story is like a favorite TV show; each weekly episode moves the overarching story arc forward but has its own unique subplot. Or, at least, it’s supposed to. I wouldn’t watch a TV show where the characters did the same thing week after week and I certainly didn’t enjoy the written equivalent. Combining it into an omnibus seemed to emphasize the weak characterization and stagnant plot. It also highlighted the similarities with the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy – something that could be good or bad depending on where you fall on the spectrum for that story.
All said Surrender to Temptation was a technically well-written story. There were no glaring editorial mistakes like misspelled words or grammatical errors and the sexy times are what you’d expect to find in an erotic BDSM-themed story. Even though Devon is a weak character and I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities in Zach, I can see how the individual parts could be entertaining if enough time passed to forget all but the juicy bits between readings.
Notable Scene:
“I am a very successful man, Devon. I’ve had to be ruthless to make my way.” His eyes narrowed, judging my response, but I found that his harsh words only made me tremble with need.
“That ruthlessness applies to all areas of my life. I am not a nice man.” His expression dared me to argue with him. I wasn’t about to. He seemed like a lot of things right in that moment, but nice wasn’t one of them.
“I don’t care.” It was naive, I knew, but I truly didn’t. Part of me thrilled at his violent words, a part of me that I would never have guessed even existed.
Something flashed through his expression, gone so fast it was hard to believe that it had even been there, but I knew what I’d seen.
He liked the way that I responded to him. Liked it a lot.
FTC Advisory: NAL/Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Surrender to Temptation. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
January 26, 2019
I should have checked the "shelves" list on this book before I began reading. I am no longer a fan of BDSM, in fact it bores me. Fortunately, it was mild bdsm & limited. I feel as though I've read this story before, or at least something very similar. The characters in this book were likable, the storyline somewhat enjoyable but at times predictable. In my humble opinion, the book was well written & I offer no complaints there. This is something that others might enjoy, but as I've said before, this trope is not for me.
April 1, 2014
Shadow‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
It is so much fun to discover a new author who writes books you want to read. Lauren Jameson drew me right in with Tempted to Surrender.
After finding her fiancé cheating on her, Devon leaves town, moves to a new city and decides she deserves more than she’s settling for. She meets the mysterious “Zach” and the chemistry between them sizzles-in spite of the fact he tells her to stay away from him. He gives a business card and tells her to apply for a job at the company. She lands the job at the multi-billion dollar company and then discovers Zach is the owner of the business.
Zach keeps pulling her in for amazing sex, but won’t open up emotionally. He keeps pushing her away, then brings her back. He tells her he needs to be in control, and she knows he feels more for her than he admits, but he can’t bring himself to let her know up front how he feels. Every time he pushes her away, it play’s into Devon’s insecurities, but when he is with her he also builds up the knowledge that she can live her life for her, not for others. And she can’t bring herself to stay away.
Can these two unlikely lovers find a way to happiness?
This book was originally published as a series. Happily, I read the entire the book at once, instead of in serial form, which I despise. However, it was well written, with two very interesting characters and a captivating plot. There was a little too much push away, pull in for me, but the motivation is very clear.
Expect some mild BDSM: spanking, bondage, whipping, and anal play,
Overall, this was an entertaining read and I will be looking for more from this author.
4 STARS
Review copy provided for an honest review
It is so much fun to discover a new author who writes books you want to read. Lauren Jameson drew me right in with Tempted to Surrender.
After finding her fiancé cheating on her, Devon leaves town, moves to a new city and decides she deserves more than she’s settling for. She meets the mysterious “Zach” and the chemistry between them sizzles-in spite of the fact he tells her to stay away from him. He gives a business card and tells her to apply for a job at the company. She lands the job at the multi-billion dollar company and then discovers Zach is the owner of the business.
Zach keeps pulling her in for amazing sex, but won’t open up emotionally. He keeps pushing her away, then brings her back. He tells her he needs to be in control, and she knows he feels more for her than he admits, but he can’t bring himself to let her know up front how he feels. Every time he pushes her away, it play’s into Devon’s insecurities, but when he is with her he also builds up the knowledge that she can live her life for her, not for others. And she can’t bring herself to stay away.
Can these two unlikely lovers find a way to happiness?
This book was originally published as a series. Happily, I read the entire the book at once, instead of in serial form, which I despise. However, it was well written, with two very interesting characters and a captivating plot. There was a little too much push away, pull in for me, but the motivation is very clear.
Expect some mild BDSM: spanking, bondage, whipping, and anal play,
Overall, this was an entertaining read and I will be looking for more from this author.
November 23, 2014
Why am I not surprise this ended with a sex scene and some porno music. God, at least it's over.
This review can also be found at BookShelfery.Surrender to Temptation made me want to surrender...my eardrums. And all memories associated with this audio.
Things I Liked
Nothing.
There was nothing about this book that I enjoyed. Not one goddamned thing.
Things I Didn't Like
Everything: the characters, the plot. But mostly the characters. And the plot.
At the beginning of Surrender to Temptation, I actually did enjoy it. It reminded me of Bared to You by Sylvia Day, except on the the west coast. A lot of the plot lines were similarly drawn: Wealthy CEO of a self-built corporation meets a girl who eventually is in his employ; both have emotional issues and baggage and (surprise!) they are sexually attracted to each other.
But where Bared To You is a story about two characters struggling with themselves and each other, Surrender To Temptation is just a lot of fuckin'. Fuckin' here, fuckin' there, fuckin' everywhere! Which I wouldn't mind if I actually liked the characters.
The characters
Zach and Devon are two very damaged people. The reader/listener spends most of the novel trying to figure out why Zach is so messed up, while eye-rolling Devon who spends the majority of her time whining about her misfortunes. Her baggage is merely explained as "boyfriend troubles" and "lost parents in car wreck" without exploring the issues any deeper. As my husband would say, all they were doing, was tying each other up and fuckin'. There was simply too much sex. I actually don't mind sex in novels, as long as it's done well. The majority of Surrender To Temptation takes place in the bedroom (or the car, elevator, office, beach, side of the road, bathroom...), and little of it is spent on growing as characters. There was zero character growth in this novel. I personally enjoy character growth throughout a book, but in Surrender To Temptation, we kind of leave exactly where we start off: with a passive female MC who just wants to be screwed hard and good by her boyfriend. The end.
Devon, Zach & BDSM
Devon discovered her boyfriend in bed with another woman, and didn't even have the ovaries to say anything. She left a note and then ran off to Cambria, where she then met Zach. There is no fight in her, no repercussions for the cheating boyfriend when she finds him. If that had been me, my fist would have met his nuts. Maybe a few times. But nope, she runs. In fact, she spends a lot of time in the novel running, either from or to, depending on who's doing the beckoning.
Zach is a total douchecanoe. He is domineering, brooding and neither of these things in any way makes him sexy like I normally find domineering and broody male MCs. A lot of time is spent wondering by the reader/listener just what could possibly have messed him up so bad that he needs to be a Dom. It does get explained, but honestly, when I heard the reason, I rolled my eyes so far back in my head, I'm pretty sure I saw my brain. It was literally the biggest cop-out ever. I won't spoil it for those who actually want to read this drivel, but I, in no way, found his reason for wanting to be a Dom believable. Anyway, Zach's hot and cold attitude would normally turn me on to him as a male MC, but his personality was so awful in general, that I just wanted to stab my eardrums.
There is literally no reason for the BDSM in this novel. None.* Not only is it unbelievable that Devon would go from a completely normal relationship to full-on anal beads, Ben Wa balls, whips and chains, and be completely submissive in the bedroom (alright that part isn't so hard to believe), it's also never explored why. While she does come across as a very passive character in general (another reason I just didn't like her), there is no reason for her to just start being submissive and liking it, out of the blue. She is also inconsistent: on occasion she tires of being submissive and stands up for herself, only to cower back down because Zach delivers a glower in her direction. Grow a pair, lady! Either you want to be spanked and bossed around, or you don't. You can't have it both ways!
To his credit, Zach consistently was Dom. *applause* /sarcasm
*I just thought of one reason for the BDSM: content filler.
The Plot
What plot?
Too much dumb shit happens that doesn't make any sense.
Lots of stupid things happen in Surrender To Temptation. Examples:
Devon learns to surf without any lessons - of any kind. She stands on the first try. Yeah, I totally believe that an unathletic girl can successfully surf her very first time with zero lessons. Magic!
In bed, Zach flips her over on to her stomach, and then proceeds to suckle on her boob. Either she has old lady breasts or there are lots of bedroom gymnastics at play here. Or it was just poor editing. I'm banking on the last.
After banging in the car, Devon is unable to face Zach's driver - whom she has met before (after sexathons) and already knows - because she and Zach just had sex and her makeup is smeared. Give me a break, lady. Face it, you are acting like a glorified call girl and we may as well just call you Vivian. At least Vivian wasn't ashamed of herself. JFC.
Zach nicks himself on his leg and a small bead of blood pops to the surface, which she smells, describing its coppery scent. Look, I have the nose of a bloodhound and even *I* wouldn't be able to smell my husband's blood if he pricked himself shaving or whatever.
There are a lot of cheesy lines in this book.
The narrator was hit or miss. Her voice kind of annoyed me and she couldn't do "gruff" very well. I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid her, except now I associate her voice with this hot mess.
Oh yeah, and there was porno music at the end of the audio version.
FML. FML so hard. *weeps*
I did not enjoy it even a little.
Between the characters, the lack of plot and just in general how much I loathed myself while listening to it, I would only recommend this to my worst enemies. So if I don't like you, I think you should totally read it.
This review can also be found at BookShelfery.Surrender to Temptation made me want to surrender...my eardrums. And all memories associated with this audio.
Things I Liked
Nothing.
There was nothing about this book that I enjoyed. Not one goddamned thing.
Things I Didn't Like
Everything: the characters, the plot. But mostly the characters. And the plot.
At the beginning of Surrender to Temptation, I actually did enjoy it. It reminded me of Bared to You by Sylvia Day, except on the the west coast. A lot of the plot lines were similarly drawn: Wealthy CEO of a self-built corporation meets a girl who eventually is in his employ; both have emotional issues and baggage and (surprise!) they are sexually attracted to each other.
But where Bared To You is a story about two characters struggling with themselves and each other, Surrender To Temptation is just a lot of fuckin'. Fuckin' here, fuckin' there, fuckin' everywhere! Which I wouldn't mind if I actually liked the characters.
The characters
Zach and Devon are two very damaged people. The reader/listener spends most of the novel trying to figure out why Zach is so messed up, while eye-rolling Devon who spends the majority of her time whining about her misfortunes. Her baggage is merely explained as "boyfriend troubles" and "lost parents in car wreck" without exploring the issues any deeper. As my husband would say, all they were doing, was tying each other up and fuckin'. There was simply too much sex. I actually don't mind sex in novels, as long as it's done well. The majority of Surrender To Temptation takes place in the bedroom (or the car, elevator, office, beach, side of the road, bathroom...), and little of it is spent on growing as characters. There was zero character growth in this novel. I personally enjoy character growth throughout a book, but in Surrender To Temptation, we kind of leave exactly where we start off: with a passive female MC who just wants to be screwed hard and good by her boyfriend. The end.
Devon, Zach & BDSM
Devon discovered her boyfriend in bed with another woman, and didn't even have the ovaries to say anything. She left a note and then ran off to Cambria, where she then met Zach. There is no fight in her, no repercussions for the cheating boyfriend when she finds him. If that had been me, my fist would have met his nuts. Maybe a few times. But nope, she runs. In fact, she spends a lot of time in the novel running, either from or to, depending on who's doing the beckoning.
Zach is a total douchecanoe. He is domineering, brooding and neither of these things in any way makes him sexy like I normally find domineering and broody male MCs. A lot of time is spent wondering by the reader/listener just what could possibly have messed him up so bad that he needs to be a Dom. It does get explained, but honestly, when I heard the reason, I rolled my eyes so far back in my head, I'm pretty sure I saw my brain. It was literally the biggest cop-out ever. I won't spoil it for those who actually want to read this drivel, but I, in no way, found his reason for wanting to be a Dom believable. Anyway, Zach's hot and cold attitude would normally turn me on to him as a male MC, but his personality was so awful in general, that I just wanted to stab my eardrums.
There is literally no reason for the BDSM in this novel. None.* Not only is it unbelievable that Devon would go from a completely normal relationship to full-on anal beads, Ben Wa balls, whips and chains, and be completely submissive in the bedroom (alright that part isn't so hard to believe), it's also never explored why. While she does come across as a very passive character in general (another reason I just didn't like her), there is no reason for her to just start being submissive and liking it, out of the blue. She is also inconsistent: on occasion she tires of being submissive and stands up for herself, only to cower back down because Zach delivers a glower in her direction. Grow a pair, lady! Either you want to be spanked and bossed around, or you don't. You can't have it both ways!
To his credit, Zach consistently was Dom. *applause* /sarcasm
*I just thought of one reason for the BDSM: content filler.
The Plot
What plot?
Too much dumb shit happens that doesn't make any sense.
Lots of stupid things happen in Surrender To Temptation. Examples:
Devon learns to surf without any lessons - of any kind. She stands on the first try. Yeah, I totally believe that an unathletic girl can successfully surf her very first time with zero lessons. Magic!
In bed, Zach flips her over on to her stomach, and then proceeds to suckle on her boob. Either she has old lady breasts or there are lots of bedroom gymnastics at play here. Or it was just poor editing. I'm banking on the last.
After banging in the car, Devon is unable to face Zach's driver - whom she has met before (after sexathons) and already knows - because she and Zach just had sex and her makeup is smeared. Give me a break, lady. Face it, you are acting like a glorified call girl and we may as well just call you Vivian. At least Vivian wasn't ashamed of herself. JFC.
Zach nicks himself on his leg and a small bead of blood pops to the surface, which she smells, describing its coppery scent. Look, I have the nose of a bloodhound and even *I* wouldn't be able to smell my husband's blood if he pricked himself shaving or whatever.
There are a lot of cheesy lines in this book.
Lemme quote them for you:
"I'm going to drink your sweet pussy for hours."
"Look at that ass. So pretty. So pink. You did SO well."
"You have a choice: we can talk, or if you're not in the mood for conversation, you can suck my cock."
And my personal favorite:
"...opening her labia like a flower to the sun."
Labias open like flowers? Excuse me, I'll be right back. I need to check some things.
The narrator was hit or miss. Her voice kind of annoyed me and she couldn't do "gruff" very well. I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid her, except now I associate her voice with this hot mess.
Oh yeah, and there was porno music at the end of the audio version.
FML. FML so hard. *weeps*
I did not enjoy it even a little.
Between the characters, the lack of plot and just in general how much I loathed myself while listening to it, I would only recommend this to my worst enemies. So if I don't like you, I think you should totally read it.
March 27, 2014
After she walked in on her boyfriend with another woman, Devon Reid vows to change her life. She quits her job so that she doesn’t have to see her former boyfriend anymore and she finds herself retreating to a small California town she has visited on vacation before. There, in the local restaurant she meets a man who incinerates her with a single look.
After a brief interaction, he hands her a business card and tells her that if she needs a job, she will find one there. Devon fronts up to Phyrefly Aviation for an interview and is placed in the accounting section. It isn’t until after she’s given a job that she realises the mysterious man from the restaurant is Zach St Brenton, owner and CEO of Phyrefly. A billionaire going places, Devon knows that Zach is hopelessly out of her league. That doesn’t stop her from wanting him though. And it doesn’t seem to stop him from wanting her either.
But Zach’s needs are different to what Devon is accustomed to. Zach isn’t satisfied by vanilla sex and demands his lovers give up full control to him. Devon isn’t sure she likes being told what to do, or surrendering her decisions to Zach, but she doesn’t want to lose him either. Even though they both want different things and she’s pretty sure only heartbreak will await her at the end, she decides to give herself fully to him and let him guide her experiences. And maybe, just maybe, she might be enough for him to want to stay.
When I first started reading this book, I was confused. I knew I’d read the first chapter before and I couldn’t figure out how given it’s a new novel that’s only just being published (I think it was published elsewhere, perhaps online or eBook, in several parts but I knew I wouldn’t have read it there). Finally I figured out that it was a sneak peak in a copy of another Lauren Jameson novel I read recently. The beginning of this novel is very promising – Devon is buying herself some lingerie in an expensive store in the hope that her boyfriend might sleep with her in a position other than the boring missionary. When in the store she hears something about him that trips her suspicion and she goes to his place, only to find him getting busy with someone else, who wears expensive lingerie from the same store – only in a much smaller size than Devon.
After she has fled, Devon crosses paths with Zach St Brenton, an undeniably attractive and rich man who unleashes a little of the inner bad girl in Devon. She wants to experiment with him but Zach runs hot and cold, tracking her down and pushing her away before finally admitting that he wants her but he isn’t sure she’d be into what he desires. He wants a submissive, someone who will hand him complete control. Zach desires to always be in control.
I’ve read several of these types of books recently and they all hinge around the Dom knowing that the woman wants to submit to him fully deep down, even if they don’t know it themselves yet. I don’t really know about this – it doesn’t really sit right with me because I thought that BDSM was about a mutual exploration of fantasy with the Dom desiring to control and the submissive keen to explore their willingness to give up that control. Expecting someone to give that up when they don’t even know they want to sounds a little backwards to me. And the thing that concerned me in this novel is that Devon, once she decides to do what Zach wants, has a safe word. Which is fine, it’s good. However, there are a few times in the novel when she clearly feels like she might want to use it but doesn’t because she knows she’ll never see Zach again if she does. That is not the right reason not to use your safe word! That bothers me because I’m not sure it’s what a safe, consensual BDSM relationship should be about if there is a safeword involved. I know there are couples out there who choose not to have one – the submissive gives up full control to the Dom, trusting them to know their limits and push them only as far as they can go, pain and pleasure wise. However if there is a safeword then a sub shouldn’t feel like they can’t use it for fear that the Dom will spurn them and run away. A Dom should guide a sub through all of the facets of the relationship, including giving them breathing space and time to regroup if they need it. Especially when they’re totally new to everything and didn’t come into the relationship with a desire to actively submit. They should also be able to refuse an act, should they not feel comfortable. It doesn’t mean they’ll never want to do it again. However I get the feeling that some think this is ‘topping from the bottom’ when really, all it does is make a safeword useless and ineffective. I do wish that these novels would portray the message that sometimes, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure. And to say no, if that’s how you feel. And not be scared that the guy will leave you because you questioned his judgement.
Apart from that issue (which I do admit, is kind of a big one for me) the rest of the book was okay. There’s a decent amount of chemistry between the characters and I liked Devon’s backstory but I felt that her history could have been better explored. Zach is damaged, as so many of them are but I didn’t predict what had caused it and it was certainly different to what I’d read before. I also understood how that event might’ve led to him becoming the way he was, but like Devon, I do feel like more of the book could’ve been devoted to exploring this. A bit less sex and a bit more depth and I would’ve really enjoyed this. I like a well-written sex scene but not at the expense of character and plot development. This isn’t a long book (or series of short interludes) and it could definitely have carried a bit more of the heavier stuff to really flesh it out.
After a brief interaction, he hands her a business card and tells her that if she needs a job, she will find one there. Devon fronts up to Phyrefly Aviation for an interview and is placed in the accounting section. It isn’t until after she’s given a job that she realises the mysterious man from the restaurant is Zach St Brenton, owner and CEO of Phyrefly. A billionaire going places, Devon knows that Zach is hopelessly out of her league. That doesn’t stop her from wanting him though. And it doesn’t seem to stop him from wanting her either.
But Zach’s needs are different to what Devon is accustomed to. Zach isn’t satisfied by vanilla sex and demands his lovers give up full control to him. Devon isn’t sure she likes being told what to do, or surrendering her decisions to Zach, but she doesn’t want to lose him either. Even though they both want different things and she’s pretty sure only heartbreak will await her at the end, she decides to give herself fully to him and let him guide her experiences. And maybe, just maybe, she might be enough for him to want to stay.
When I first started reading this book, I was confused. I knew I’d read the first chapter before and I couldn’t figure out how given it’s a new novel that’s only just being published (I think it was published elsewhere, perhaps online or eBook, in several parts but I knew I wouldn’t have read it there). Finally I figured out that it was a sneak peak in a copy of another Lauren Jameson novel I read recently. The beginning of this novel is very promising – Devon is buying herself some lingerie in an expensive store in the hope that her boyfriend might sleep with her in a position other than the boring missionary. When in the store she hears something about him that trips her suspicion and she goes to his place, only to find him getting busy with someone else, who wears expensive lingerie from the same store – only in a much smaller size than Devon.
After she has fled, Devon crosses paths with Zach St Brenton, an undeniably attractive and rich man who unleashes a little of the inner bad girl in Devon. She wants to experiment with him but Zach runs hot and cold, tracking her down and pushing her away before finally admitting that he wants her but he isn’t sure she’d be into what he desires. He wants a submissive, someone who will hand him complete control. Zach desires to always be in control.
I’ve read several of these types of books recently and they all hinge around the Dom knowing that the woman wants to submit to him fully deep down, even if they don’t know it themselves yet. I don’t really know about this – it doesn’t really sit right with me because I thought that BDSM was about a mutual exploration of fantasy with the Dom desiring to control and the submissive keen to explore their willingness to give up that control. Expecting someone to give that up when they don’t even know they want to sounds a little backwards to me. And the thing that concerned me in this novel is that Devon, once she decides to do what Zach wants, has a safe word. Which is fine, it’s good. However, there are a few times in the novel when she clearly feels like she might want to use it but doesn’t because she knows she’ll never see Zach again if she does. That is not the right reason not to use your safe word! That bothers me because I’m not sure it’s what a safe, consensual BDSM relationship should be about if there is a safeword involved. I know there are couples out there who choose not to have one – the submissive gives up full control to the Dom, trusting them to know their limits and push them only as far as they can go, pain and pleasure wise. However if there is a safeword then a sub shouldn’t feel like they can’t use it for fear that the Dom will spurn them and run away. A Dom should guide a sub through all of the facets of the relationship, including giving them breathing space and time to regroup if they need it. Especially when they’re totally new to everything and didn’t come into the relationship with a desire to actively submit. They should also be able to refuse an act, should they not feel comfortable. It doesn’t mean they’ll never want to do it again. However I get the feeling that some think this is ‘topping from the bottom’ when really, all it does is make a safeword useless and ineffective. I do wish that these novels would portray the message that sometimes, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure. And to say no, if that’s how you feel. And not be scared that the guy will leave you because you questioned his judgement.
Apart from that issue (which I do admit, is kind of a big one for me) the rest of the book was okay. There’s a decent amount of chemistry between the characters and I liked Devon’s backstory but I felt that her history could have been better explored. Zach is damaged, as so many of them are but I didn’t predict what had caused it and it was certainly different to what I’d read before. I also understood how that event might’ve led to him becoming the way he was, but like Devon, I do feel like more of the book could’ve been devoted to exploring this. A bit less sex and a bit more depth and I would’ve really enjoyed this. I like a well-written sex scene but not at the expense of character and plot development. This isn’t a long book (or series of short interludes) and it could definitely have carried a bit more of the heavier stuff to really flesh it out.
April 17, 2024
Okayyyy. Reminded me of 50 Shades a little bit. The spice was nice. 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼 However, every time the FMC was upset and ran, she’d be back in his arms 24 hours later. 🙄 She’d forgive instantly and be upset three hours later. I don’t think they spent 24 hours together without her being upset at some point. Felt like there was a spicy scene every other page, which can be nice, but I skimmed the last couple chapters cause I wanted to see what happened in the story. Felt kinda rushed towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2016
This was a Goodreads win. I was pleased to win the book but did not realize that it was a story of BDSM. I'm sorry it was all too much for my taste. I read 50 Shades of Grey a few years back and decided at that time to avoid that type of reading. Surrender was only 300 some pages fortunately, but just not my bailiwick.
September 7, 2018
This book was ok. Very simular to so many other books out there. Would have liked alittle more of a plot but sex scenes were great!
December 23, 2020
Had a decent storyline in the beginning then it all but disappeared in the middle of all the sex scenes.
April 29, 2014
Lauren Jameson's Surrender to Temptation series was originally formatted as a six part novella serial. Now it has been redone and formed into one novel under the original series title. Readers who are familiar with the series will enjoy reading it again all at one time and those who are just being introduced to it don't have to wait to get to the good stuff. The series focuses on Devon, a young woman who is looking for change in her life and Zach, a man who is a true enigma. Jameson has a trademark wit and does a fantastic job with dialogue and romantic banter. Her steamy sex scenes and light BDSM materiel gives this book heat and eroticism that just won't quit.
What I liked:
I loved the way this book was put together. I have read other books by Jameson, including Breathe, which was an excellent book. But I didn't know that she had done the Surrender to temptation in a serialized form. I don't always enjoy novella's because I don't think the author has enough time to truly develop the characters and situations. I like them when they are a part of bigger series or something like that, because I already have the background I need to fill in the blanks that the page constraints leave. Putting all six parts of this series in one book was genius. I think it really allows the reader to get the full scope of what the author was thinking and feeling as she wrote Devon and Zach's story.
Devon was a great lead character. She was sensitive and somewhat naive. She had a sweetness about her, a type of innocence. Readers quickly pick up on her issues. She is self-conscious and shy. But when she finds that her boyfriend has been cheating she isn't afraid to take a stand and find the change that she needs in her life. I loved watching her bloom and become the woman she truly wanted to be. She gave herself a fresh start. I think I wanted a little more for her than what I thought Zach was giving her for much of the book. I realized he had his reasons, but they weren't quite enough for me to warrant his actions.
Zach was a character I wanted to like, but I couldn't quite make it. There were parts of his character that were intriguing and he definitely had it going on in the erotic portions of the book, but it just wasn't enough. I liked the corporate bad boy attitude. The dominance he showed in every area of his life and his passion. But he was wishy-washy when it came to Devon. he would draw her in like a moth to flame and then sabotage his own happy ending. Each section or part of the book was a cycle with Zach. He would bring Devon in close and then step back. One step forward, two steps back. I felt like I was being pulled right along with her and I couldn't help but wish he would just jump in with both feet or run for cover. It was exhausting at times.
That's not to say that I didn't understand what the author was trying to do here. Zach had this ultimate secret that he couldn't share with Devon until the very end and that secret was what kept him putting her at arms length. But the passion inside of him, kept wanting to go back and pull her closer. He was very conflicted and when it all comes out, it just wasn't that extreme. I don't know what I was expecting. It was interesting for sure, but again not enough to make me feel like he treated Devon with respect or with love.
The sex was hot, they don't call it erotica for nothing. Jameson really excels at that part of the book. She knows how to set the scene and pull the reader in. Her language isn't overly graphic nor does it make the reader feel like they are in a smut film, but it gets the motor running and the emotions revving. She uses some light BDSM, from spanking to tying and that sort of thing. Nothing that will shock the reader, though it might enlighten them. Zach's form of control was more of trust than anything else. He wanted Devon to believe he would take her to edge but never let her fall off. That was quite intriguing. Loved the scene on the car. Readers might need a cold drink for that one.
What I didn't like:
I can sum it up by saying I didn't like Zach or the push and pull relationship he created with Devon. I liked them together and I understood why they needed to be apart to provide conflict for the book. Once or twice would have been fine, but there was a bit of overkill with this one. And it came across as self-serving and disrespectful to Devon. She was a sweetheart. She deserved a little better.
Bottom Line:
This is an extremely hard fought HEA. These two characters fight it tooth and nail. I liked Devon, had issues with Zach, but found their bedroom and beyond scenes very sensual and passionate. So there were good parts and bad. Take it with a grain of salt and see what you think.
What I liked:
I loved the way this book was put together. I have read other books by Jameson, including Breathe, which was an excellent book. But I didn't know that she had done the Surrender to temptation in a serialized form. I don't always enjoy novella's because I don't think the author has enough time to truly develop the characters and situations. I like them when they are a part of bigger series or something like that, because I already have the background I need to fill in the blanks that the page constraints leave. Putting all six parts of this series in one book was genius. I think it really allows the reader to get the full scope of what the author was thinking and feeling as she wrote Devon and Zach's story.
Devon was a great lead character. She was sensitive and somewhat naive. She had a sweetness about her, a type of innocence. Readers quickly pick up on her issues. She is self-conscious and shy. But when she finds that her boyfriend has been cheating she isn't afraid to take a stand and find the change that she needs in her life. I loved watching her bloom and become the woman she truly wanted to be. She gave herself a fresh start. I think I wanted a little more for her than what I thought Zach was giving her for much of the book. I realized he had his reasons, but they weren't quite enough for me to warrant his actions.
Zach was a character I wanted to like, but I couldn't quite make it. There were parts of his character that were intriguing and he definitely had it going on in the erotic portions of the book, but it just wasn't enough. I liked the corporate bad boy attitude. The dominance he showed in every area of his life and his passion. But he was wishy-washy when it came to Devon. he would draw her in like a moth to flame and then sabotage his own happy ending. Each section or part of the book was a cycle with Zach. He would bring Devon in close and then step back. One step forward, two steps back. I felt like I was being pulled right along with her and I couldn't help but wish he would just jump in with both feet or run for cover. It was exhausting at times.
That's not to say that I didn't understand what the author was trying to do here. Zach had this ultimate secret that he couldn't share with Devon until the very end and that secret was what kept him putting her at arms length. But the passion inside of him, kept wanting to go back and pull her closer. He was very conflicted and when it all comes out, it just wasn't that extreme. I don't know what I was expecting. It was interesting for sure, but again not enough to make me feel like he treated Devon with respect or with love.
The sex was hot, they don't call it erotica for nothing. Jameson really excels at that part of the book. She knows how to set the scene and pull the reader in. Her language isn't overly graphic nor does it make the reader feel like they are in a smut film, but it gets the motor running and the emotions revving. She uses some light BDSM, from spanking to tying and that sort of thing. Nothing that will shock the reader, though it might enlighten them. Zach's form of control was more of trust than anything else. He wanted Devon to believe he would take her to edge but never let her fall off. That was quite intriguing. Loved the scene on the car. Readers might need a cold drink for that one.
What I didn't like:
I can sum it up by saying I didn't like Zach or the push and pull relationship he created with Devon. I liked them together and I understood why they needed to be apart to provide conflict for the book. Once or twice would have been fine, but there was a bit of overkill with this one. And it came across as self-serving and disrespectful to Devon. She was a sweetheart. She deserved a little better.
Bottom Line:
This is an extremely hard fought HEA. These two characters fight it tooth and nail. I liked Devon, had issues with Zach, but found their bedroom and beyond scenes very sensual and passionate. So there were good parts and bad. Take it with a grain of salt and see what you think.
April 6, 2014
3.5 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 1,2014
In this stunning romance, Lauren Jameson presents a story of unexpected desire in which two strangers play a dangerous game in the quest for incredible pleasure. But winning comes with a price....
After walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Devon Reid decides to seek solace in the small California town she’s often visited on vacation. Instead, she finds herself consumed by a mysterious man who sets her ablaze with one simple look.
Devon has always been the good girl, but Zach’s touch turns her into something primal, especially when he persuades her to give up control to him. But while Zach can make her burn, he seduces Devon one moment and turns her away the next.
When Devon starts her new job at Phyrefly Aviation, she learns that Zach is actually founder and CEO of the massive corporation. And while Devon knows she should keep things between them strictly professional, his overwhelming magnetism makes it impossible to stay away....
REVIEW: SURRENDER TO TEMPTATION is an adult, contemporary, erotic romance story (originally released in a six part serial format) from the pen of author Lauren Jameson that focuses on billionaire/Dom Zach St. Brenton and former paralegal Devon Reid. When Devon finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman, she packs up and moves across country only to find herself face to face with the man who would one day be her future and her heartbreak. The storyline is written from Devon’s first person POV
The storyline focuses on Devon as she moves forward with her life. Meeting Zach at a local restaurant, he will begin to pull Devon into a world she never knew-but a world of which will dominate her daily life. Zach is a Dom-a man who doesn’t do relationships because of his past-but a man who needs and wants control and, Devon is ripe for the picking. As the storyline builds, so too, does their relationship but Zach is a man who refuses to let his feelings take control. Most of the storyline focuses on the building relationship; Zach’s need for control; and Devon’s desire to be loved. Zach is a man whose emotions are buried deep and in this his character comes across cold and uncaring.
The relationship between Zach and Devon is complicated at best. He is her boss; the man to whom she must submit both in and outside of the bedroom. But their relationship is definitely not equal as Zach demands obedience and submission from Devon in everything. From work, to home, to the bedroom, Zach is a man in charge-until he loses his heart to a woman who only wants to be loved.
Devon is a heroine who is pulled into a lifestyle-not of her choosing-but a lifestyle Zach believes is for her. Although the Dom/sub relationships are usually equal in their pleasure/pain -give and take- I did not feel the connection between our leading couple. Devon is a reluctant submissive and Zach pushes Devon at every opportunity. In this, Zach is a man who needs to control and Devon is the woman he chooses to control. In my opinion, Devon had a need to feel wanted and Zach’s need to control gave Devon the illusion that Zach and the lifestyle-are for her. There were a few spots where the storyline becomes convoluted-the entire ‘surfing scenario’ felt disjointed from the story and was another demonstration about who is the dominate in the relationship.
Lauren Jameson has written an interesting storyline that follows a similar outline to many of the best selling erotic/BDSM/Dom/sub series. Our hero believes his need for control is because of his past and our heroine is a naïve, young woman looking for love-in all the wrong men.
Copy supplied by the publisher
www.thereadigncafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 1,2014
In this stunning romance, Lauren Jameson presents a story of unexpected desire in which two strangers play a dangerous game in the quest for incredible pleasure. But winning comes with a price....
After walking in on her boyfriend with another woman, Devon Reid decides to seek solace in the small California town she’s often visited on vacation. Instead, she finds herself consumed by a mysterious man who sets her ablaze with one simple look.
Devon has always been the good girl, but Zach’s touch turns her into something primal, especially when he persuades her to give up control to him. But while Zach can make her burn, he seduces Devon one moment and turns her away the next.
When Devon starts her new job at Phyrefly Aviation, she learns that Zach is actually founder and CEO of the massive corporation. And while Devon knows she should keep things between them strictly professional, his overwhelming magnetism makes it impossible to stay away....
REVIEW: SURRENDER TO TEMPTATION is an adult, contemporary, erotic romance story (originally released in a six part serial format) from the pen of author Lauren Jameson that focuses on billionaire/Dom Zach St. Brenton and former paralegal Devon Reid. When Devon finds her boyfriend in bed with another woman, she packs up and moves across country only to find herself face to face with the man who would one day be her future and her heartbreak. The storyline is written from Devon’s first person POV
The storyline focuses on Devon as she moves forward with her life. Meeting Zach at a local restaurant, he will begin to pull Devon into a world she never knew-but a world of which will dominate her daily life. Zach is a Dom-a man who doesn’t do relationships because of his past-but a man who needs and wants control and, Devon is ripe for the picking. As the storyline builds, so too, does their relationship but Zach is a man who refuses to let his feelings take control. Most of the storyline focuses on the building relationship; Zach’s need for control; and Devon’s desire to be loved. Zach is a man whose emotions are buried deep and in this his character comes across cold and uncaring.
The relationship between Zach and Devon is complicated at best. He is her boss; the man to whom she must submit both in and outside of the bedroom. But their relationship is definitely not equal as Zach demands obedience and submission from Devon in everything. From work, to home, to the bedroom, Zach is a man in charge-until he loses his heart to a woman who only wants to be loved.
Devon is a heroine who is pulled into a lifestyle-not of her choosing-but a lifestyle Zach believes is for her. Although the Dom/sub relationships are usually equal in their pleasure/pain -give and take- I did not feel the connection between our leading couple. Devon is a reluctant submissive and Zach pushes Devon at every opportunity. In this, Zach is a man who needs to control and Devon is the woman he chooses to control. In my opinion, Devon had a need to feel wanted and Zach’s need to control gave Devon the illusion that Zach and the lifestyle-are for her. There were a few spots where the storyline becomes convoluted-the entire ‘surfing scenario’ felt disjointed from the story and was another demonstration about who is the dominate in the relationship.
Lauren Jameson has written an interesting storyline that follows a similar outline to many of the best selling erotic/BDSM/Dom/sub series. Our hero believes his need for control is because of his past and our heroine is a naïve, young woman looking for love-in all the wrong men.
Copy supplied by the publisher
www.thereadigncafe.com
April 1, 2014
There was a lot to like in Surrender to Tempation - mystery, secrets, passion. There were also some elements that frustrated me beyond reason.
If there's one thing I hate, it's when the female MC in a story is a glutton for punishment. Devon seemed to GORGE herself on punishment like she would a pint of Chunky Monkey. She had a lot of doormat-ish qualities that made me want to shake her. After catching her boyfriend cheating on her, she leaves him a note (are you KIDDING ME?) telling him she's leaving him, and takes off for her favorite place in upstate CA. Leaving was the bravest thing she did in this book.
While in the beach town, she meets an enigmatic stranger who gets her heart racing. After spilling her guts to him, he offers her a job at his company in San Fransisco. She accepts the job and Zack accepts that she interests him more than she should. Thus sets off a relationship of extreme highs and lows, perpetrated by Zack's hot and cold demeanor.
I love the bookish guys that you have a hard time figuring out - the ones that seem to love you one minute and merely tolerate you the next. Their secrets and motivations are always so compelling, and the person in me who likes fixing people loves watching the love between the guy and the girl who captures his heart unfold. One of the other aspects of those types of stories that I love are the girls who don't put up with their crap.
Sadly, Devon was not one of those girls. She and Zack would have an amazing time together (which always included amazing sex, of course), he would then brush her off, she would go home and cry for a few days, and then when he contacted her again, she very willingly and readily went back to him. Over and over and over again, this is what happened. Just once, I wanted Devon to tell him NO. It made me more than a little crazy.
Surrender to Temptation included some mild BDSM. BDSM is not my favorite type of book. I really hate the master vs. submissive relationship. Thankfully, although Zack is definitely an alpha male and Devon is a submmissive female, their relationship was never degraded to that degree. Surrender to Temptation probably would've been a DNF for me, if that had been the case.
Although I had problems with Devon's lack of ability to stand up for herself in regards to Zack, I did enjoy watching her break down his walls, nonetheless. The HEA at the end was really nice too. I'm glad I read this book, and am also glad I got to read all the parts to the story at the same time. The endings of some of them would've killed me if I would've had to wait!
If there's one thing I hate, it's when the female MC in a story is a glutton for punishment. Devon seemed to GORGE herself on punishment like she would a pint of Chunky Monkey. She had a lot of doormat-ish qualities that made me want to shake her. After catching her boyfriend cheating on her, she leaves him a note (are you KIDDING ME?) telling him she's leaving him, and takes off for her favorite place in upstate CA. Leaving was the bravest thing she did in this book.
While in the beach town, she meets an enigmatic stranger who gets her heart racing. After spilling her guts to him, he offers her a job at his company in San Fransisco. She accepts the job and Zack accepts that she interests him more than she should. Thus sets off a relationship of extreme highs and lows, perpetrated by Zack's hot and cold demeanor.
I love the bookish guys that you have a hard time figuring out - the ones that seem to love you one minute and merely tolerate you the next. Their secrets and motivations are always so compelling, and the person in me who likes fixing people loves watching the love between the guy and the girl who captures his heart unfold. One of the other aspects of those types of stories that I love are the girls who don't put up with their crap.
Sadly, Devon was not one of those girls. She and Zack would have an amazing time together (which always included amazing sex, of course), he would then brush her off, she would go home and cry for a few days, and then when he contacted her again, she very willingly and readily went back to him. Over and over and over again, this is what happened. Just once, I wanted Devon to tell him NO. It made me more than a little crazy.
Surrender to Temptation included some mild BDSM. BDSM is not my favorite type of book. I really hate the master vs. submissive relationship. Thankfully, although Zack is definitely an alpha male and Devon is a submmissive female, their relationship was never degraded to that degree. Surrender to Temptation probably would've been a DNF for me, if that had been the case.
Although I had problems with Devon's lack of ability to stand up for herself in regards to Zack, I did enjoy watching her break down his walls, nonetheless. The HEA at the end was really nice too. I'm glad I read this book, and am also glad I got to read all the parts to the story at the same time. The endings of some of them would've killed me if I would've had to wait!
May 5, 2014
If you liked Fifty Shades of Gray you should enjoy this book. It goes more into bondage with master and submissive than Fifty Shades. Devon flees Sacramento after finding her boyfriend with another woman. She quits her job at the law firm where they both worked and lands up in San Francisco. She gets a hotel room and decides to look for a job the next day. Devon goes to a bar to unwind. She meets a mysterious stranger there who get her blood hot. His name is Zacharias. He gives her a business card telling her to call if she's looking for a job. She calls the next day and goes in for the interview. She's hired for a position in the accounting department. When she sees Zach again and finds out he owns the company, she's astonished. Even more so when he takes her into the conference room and things get hot. Things get pretty wild between the two of them. His driver Charles stares at her because Zach tell her he never took a woman to his house before. He introduces her to sex toys and bondage equipment. Will Devon break through to the real Zach before her heart breaks? Can she take him on at his worst? Read on for a good story underneath the sex. This is a first read win and I have given my honest opinions.
August 17, 2016
When Devon caught her boyfriend and co-worker having sex she decided she needed a change. She quit her job and moved to where she thought she needed to go and regroup and get her life back in order. She never thought that by sitting in a diner she would get a business card that would change her life.
When Zach first saw Devon he thought that she would just be another conquest. He never thought that by hiring her and seeing her every day she would get under his skin and make him want to change his ways.
Devon stood up for herself. She wanted all or nothing from Zach. She just didn’t want the sex she wanted the love that went along with it. When she told Zach what she wanted he told her that they couldn’t be together. But they were always drawn together. He always found her at work and took her away.
The end of the book Zach finally admitted that he loved her and wanted her just like she wanted him. He finally realized that he needed Devon in his life and he didn’t care how. Devon finally got her happy ending. She has a job she loved and a man she loved.
I loved this book. The author was amazing. I love that her female character had a backbone and knew what she deserved. I would love to see what the author’s next book is about.
When Zach first saw Devon he thought that she would just be another conquest. He never thought that by hiring her and seeing her every day she would get under his skin and make him want to change his ways.
Devon stood up for herself. She wanted all or nothing from Zach. She just didn’t want the sex she wanted the love that went along with it. When she told Zach what she wanted he told her that they couldn’t be together. But they were always drawn together. He always found her at work and took her away.
The end of the book Zach finally admitted that he loved her and wanted her just like she wanted him. He finally realized that he needed Devon in his life and he didn’t care how. Devon finally got her happy ending. She has a job she loved and a man she loved.
I loved this book. The author was amazing. I love that her female character had a backbone and knew what she deserved. I would love to see what the author’s next book is about.
October 12, 2024
DNF
The book revolves around Devon and Zach heavily, which isn't too bad. However, the author leaves no suspense for the reader to think "When will they meet again?" because the scene skips from Devon being cheated to her meeting Zach, within two pages. There's not a lot of mystery between the two characters because you know that they are just going to fuck. It's very similar to 50 shades in that she's new to BDSM (but she isn't a virgin, unlike Anna Steele), he's a hot shot of some massive company (so naturally, he's controlling, pulling all the strings and such), and he proposes to her and he has some dark past which is one of the main reason as to why he is into BDSM. Myth buster: just because you have a dark past doesn't mean you end up like Zach or Christian Grey. You can have a perfectly safe, warm and loving childhood and still be into BDSM. I feel like the book may have been better if she had a bit more backbone. I'm not saying she's a spineless jellyfish with no brain or anything of the sort, but I mean if she played more hard to get, be sassier, the struggle between the two would be a lot more suspenseful, and not just because of his troubling past.
The book revolves around Devon and Zach heavily, which isn't too bad. However, the author leaves no suspense for the reader to think "When will they meet again?" because the scene skips from Devon being cheated to her meeting Zach, within two pages. There's not a lot of mystery between the two characters because you know that they are just going to fuck. It's very similar to 50 shades in that she's new to BDSM (but she isn't a virgin, unlike Anna Steele), he's a hot shot of some massive company (so naturally, he's controlling, pulling all the strings and such), and he proposes to her and he has some dark past which is one of the main reason as to why he is into BDSM. Myth buster: just because you have a dark past doesn't mean you end up like Zach or Christian Grey. You can have a perfectly safe, warm and loving childhood and still be into BDSM. I feel like the book may have been better if she had a bit more backbone. I'm not saying she's a spineless jellyfish with no brain or anything of the sort, but I mean if she played more hard to get, be sassier, the struggle between the two would be a lot more suspenseful, and not just because of his troubling past.
April 24, 2014
*Disclaimer- I won this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaways*
As a 53 yo grandmother I have to admit I chuckled throughout this book. Why? As anyone who has been in a relationship knows it is hard enough to keep sex exciting over the years and with all the toys/positions/clothes/etc that Devon and Zach needed to get themselves hot and to the "other side"; I suspect that they will be downing the anti-inflammatories and the viagra like candy in order to keep it up 25 years from now. So I read this book thinking of two 50ish people doing all these things and I almost wet my pants...and not from desire but because I was cracking up. High heels...forget it. Thong underwear ...not so sexy as you age.
That said, the author knows how to write sizzling BD sex scenes and if it is the type of thing you fantasize about then it will be a great read. Jameson starts it hot and keeps it hot from the first page to the last. It may not be my type of reading but it is done well and she knows how to tell a story.
As a 53 yo grandmother I have to admit I chuckled throughout this book. Why? As anyone who has been in a relationship knows it is hard enough to keep sex exciting over the years and with all the toys/positions/clothes/etc that Devon and Zach needed to get themselves hot and to the "other side"; I suspect that they will be downing the anti-inflammatories and the viagra like candy in order to keep it up 25 years from now. So I read this book thinking of two 50ish people doing all these things and I almost wet my pants...and not from desire but because I was cracking up. High heels...forget it. Thong underwear ...not so sexy as you age.
That said, the author knows how to write sizzling BD sex scenes and if it is the type of thing you fantasize about then it will be a great read. Jameson starts it hot and keeps it hot from the first page to the last. It may not be my type of reading but it is done well and she knows how to tell a story.
May 12, 2014
When Devon Reid finds her boyfriend in a compromising position, she’s out of there. She leaves behind her cheating boyfriend, her job, and her home, and heads to the California beach town of Cambria, to regroup. When she runs into larger than Zack St. Brenton, the CEO of Phyrefly Aviation, things start to smolder. But it isn’t until Devon takes up Zack’s job offer that the all consuming fire really takes hold.
St. Brenton is a dominant alpha male, both in the boardroom and in the bedroom. When Devon finds herself in the position of being able to give up control of her body, she is introduced to a whole different world of sexual pleasure. But Zack has a few demons of his own to slay. His past prevents him from accepting love, and each time the relationship between Devon and Zack swerves from the sexual to the emotional Zack puts up walls to protect himself. But is Devon the one who can finally break through all of his resistance, allowing the two to find the love and pleasure they both crave?
This book is incredibly erotic.
St. Brenton is a dominant alpha male, both in the boardroom and in the bedroom. When Devon finds herself in the position of being able to give up control of her body, she is introduced to a whole different world of sexual pleasure. But Zack has a few demons of his own to slay. His past prevents him from accepting love, and each time the relationship between Devon and Zack swerves from the sexual to the emotional Zack puts up walls to protect himself. But is Devon the one who can finally break through all of his resistance, allowing the two to find the love and pleasure they both crave?
This book is incredibly erotic.
April 19, 2014
While I didn't love this one as much as I have Lauren Jameson's other books, this one was still a pretty fantastic read. I was intrigued by Jameson's approach to BDSM in Surrender to Temptation, since I thought the introduction was different that the typical book.
As always, there is a hunk of a man in Surrender to Temptation (in typical Lauren Jameson fashion). Though, there was a lot about Zach and his past that wasn't revealed, just hinted at. I would have loved to learn more about the man in the present's past. The romance between Devon and Zach is hot, yet there is a lot of ups and downs with them.
I loved a lot of the minor characters in this one - especially Devon's coworkers. They added something special to the story.
I breezed through this one in a day . . . a perfect vacation read. I always enjoy Lauren Jameson's books, and already I cannot wait for another to be released.
As always, there is a hunk of a man in Surrender to Temptation (in typical Lauren Jameson fashion). Though, there was a lot about Zach and his past that wasn't revealed, just hinted at. I would have loved to learn more about the man in the present's past. The romance between Devon and Zach is hot, yet there is a lot of ups and downs with them.
I loved a lot of the minor characters in this one - especially Devon's coworkers. They added something special to the story.
I breezed through this one in a day . . . a perfect vacation read. I always enjoy Lauren Jameson's books, and already I cannot wait for another to be released.
April 11, 2014
Free from Goodreads Giveaway.
The only reason I'm giving this a 1-star review is that I did not finish. I read the first part (of six) and decided that, for now, it is not a book I want to read. The writing is technically fine, the plot must be going somewhere, but three major things put me off the rest.
First, it jumps right into the sex. And not just sex, but a dominant-submissive relationship...only it's not really a relationship. It's weird, especially in light of the second issue: the reader (at least this one) doesn't get a sense of the heroine's motivation in submitting to the hero's wishes. Sure, he's hot and she's just out of a bad relationship, but other than that...? And finally, the reader learns absolutely nothing about what's driving the hero, though it's quite obvious that SOMETHING is driving him.
Basically, it was a lot of sexual situations with no emotional (or even logical) backup. If/when I come back to this book, I'll adjust my review accordingly.
The only reason I'm giving this a 1-star review is that I did not finish. I read the first part (of six) and decided that, for now, it is not a book I want to read. The writing is technically fine, the plot must be going somewhere, but three major things put me off the rest.
First, it jumps right into the sex. And not just sex, but a dominant-submissive relationship...only it's not really a relationship. It's weird, especially in light of the second issue: the reader (at least this one) doesn't get a sense of the heroine's motivation in submitting to the hero's wishes. Sure, he's hot and she's just out of a bad relationship, but other than that...? And finally, the reader learns absolutely nothing about what's driving the hero, though it's quite obvious that SOMETHING is driving him.
Basically, it was a lot of sexual situations with no emotional (or even logical) backup. If/when I come back to this book, I'll adjust my review accordingly.
March 31, 2014
This book through me off at first. I was not expecting the language that was used in this book. I never have been a fan if lovey romance books. This one is about a women who walked in on her bf cheating. So she left and started a "fling" with another man she starts to love.
I don't want to give any spoilers. I gave it 3 because I felt like the story replied over and over through the book the same situation happens a few times which left me bored. I loved it at first. The story kept me wondering how it was going to end. But the repetitiveness left me wanting to just know the absolute end.
The words and descriptions used within were amazing. This is not intended for those that are not comfortable with sexual usage. But it doesn't get to me and it made it an interesting story for sure. Totally different then what I go for. It makes me want to maybe read another book from the author to see how other stories are different.
I don't want to give any spoilers. I gave it 3 because I felt like the story replied over and over through the book the same situation happens a few times which left me bored. I loved it at first. The story kept me wondering how it was going to end. But the repetitiveness left me wanting to just know the absolute end.
The words and descriptions used within were amazing. This is not intended for those that are not comfortable with sexual usage. But it doesn't get to me and it made it an interesting story for sure. Totally different then what I go for. It makes me want to maybe read another book from the author to see how other stories are different.
August 14, 2014
I received this free from a Goodreads Giveaway.
You can read the other reviews to find out the main plot and idea for the book. My opinion, just a rip-off of other BDSM books out there. I assume after awhile, they all start to sound the same but this was a little too similar. The main character was such a doormat, it was frustrating to read at times. Although, I like that you see her growing and evolving into a strong woman while at the same time getting into a submissive sexual relationship. The sexual relationship is typical BDSM which I thought was well written.
Bascially, if these are the types of books you enjoy, you will find it right up your alley regardless of the plot or characters. But if you want a bit more of a story, maybe try something else.
You can read the other reviews to find out the main plot and idea for the book. My opinion, just a rip-off of other BDSM books out there. I assume after awhile, they all start to sound the same but this was a little too similar. The main character was such a doormat, it was frustrating to read at times. Although, I like that you see her growing and evolving into a strong woman while at the same time getting into a submissive sexual relationship. The sexual relationship is typical BDSM which I thought was well written.
Bascially, if these are the types of books you enjoy, you will find it right up your alley regardless of the plot or characters. But if you want a bit more of a story, maybe try something else.
April 23, 2014
I received a free copy of this book through the GoodReads First Reads program.
I enjoyed this book pretty well. I haven't read too much in this sort of genre before (actually, the only thing in this genre that I *have* read is FSOG), but I did like it. To be fair, part of how much I liked it actually may have been from comparing it to the only other book I've read in this genre -- this book had all the BDSM promised in FSOG and then some, but was actually well-written and captured my attention as well. Lauren Jameson's "Surrender to Temptation" is a fun page-turner that flies by because, well, you're having fun.
I enjoyed this book pretty well. I haven't read too much in this sort of genre before (actually, the only thing in this genre that I *have* read is FSOG), but I did like it. To be fair, part of how much I liked it actually may have been from comparing it to the only other book I've read in this genre -- this book had all the BDSM promised in FSOG and then some, but was actually well-written and captured my attention as well. Lauren Jameson's "Surrender to Temptation" is a fun page-turner that flies by because, well, you're having fun.
January 10, 2016
I felt like they just copied 50 shades of grey but it's dirtier there's no story line really I mean I guess there is but, most of this book is just sex sex sex. So I guess if your just wanting to read about sex it's perfect for you but it gets boring after a while I skimmed most of it
May 31, 2014
Reviewed for RT Book Reviews April 2014 issue: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/surrender-temptation
March 16, 2014
Review to come
July 23, 2016
I got to read this thanks to First Reads. Very good easy read - Romantic & erotic all in one. :) Can't wait to read more from this author!
March 30, 2014
Full review to come. Seriously hot
January 20, 2015
If there is an equivalent for B-Movie in erotica, well this is it!
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